I'm sorry this wasn't posted before the premiere as promised! I have no excuse, really, just been feeling discouraged when I see how much more popular other fics are. I wish more people, or anyone really would review. It's very discouraging to post a chapter here and get no reviews.
Cersei arrived at Qyburn's chambers and knocked, not that she needed to as this was her castle, but Qyburn was one of the few people she showed this respect to. It was a day shy of being a fortnight since the day she had sent him away with the others and she was a little worried that he had arrived back earlier than planned. Hopefully, he did not have terrible news to report.
"Come in," Qyburn stated.
He was sitting in behind his desk, looking at his dragon horn research when Cersei entered the room.
"Qyburn! My daughter...is she alright?"
"Your daughter is fine, my Queen."
"What happened then?! I heard of how Tyene was found dead outside what used to be Littlefingers brothel."
"Ah yes. I killed Tyene when she attempted to kill your daughter. As for your daughter, she is fine, and safely away from you now."
"I am relieved to hear that. I'm glad you have returned to me so soon. You should have sent a raven or immediately headed back here to inform me of what happened! I've been out of my mind with worry these past two weeks!"
"My apologies. I did think news of Tyene's death would reach you so quick, nor did I think it would be wise to ride back to the red keep and leave Bronn and Dorea alone with your daughter. I was not thinking clearly, I should have known the news would get back to you and sent a raven."
"I have been such a mess! I even sent Bethany out to find and return my daughter to me! Oh and Maggy is dead too...she killed herself the horrible old bat! But before she did she told me that my daughter's fate hadn't changed, or at least her visions of me at a funeral and cradling a small body hadn't changed! I don't know what to do!" exclaimed Cersei, clearly upset.
"I am grieved to hear that. Would you like to sit a while? We should talk some. Is there any good news to report? I am most curious if in my absence you've learned anything more on Ser Jaime's whereabouts?"
"I have not. I am sure he must be in the north by now though. No doubt fighting alongside my worst enemies. I do wonder how the dragon whore has taken his arrival. He did, after all, kill her father. But in spite of that Euron is confident Jaime is in castle black. He has been annoyingly insistent that when the time comes we send a raven there to inform Jaime of our child's birth. That cannot, and will not happen!"
"Any more sightings of Jaime on the road?" asked Qyburn curiously.
"No new ones. Nothing since him supposedly being seen in that inn so long ago. I suppose he must be wearing a glove over his golden hand so as to go unnoticed."
"I see. Refresh my memory, which inn was this again?"
"Are you feeling, alright, Qyburn? You do know how much I dislike repeating things. You should remember something as important enough as Jaime's last sighting, even if it was several weeks ago that we discussed such."
"You have me working so much that it's hard to remember such details. Do you really believe he is in the north now though? Are you sure?"
"I do! He must be. Where else would he go? He has become obsessed with his honor in these past few years. I am sure he just could not help himself and went to castle black. He must have taken side roads and such. Golden hand covered or not, someone would have had to have eventually recognized him if he were traveling populated roads."
"I suppose that makes sense. It's unfortunate he did not stay here with you. I guess even Jaime could not stand it here. No wonder, this place smells like dung."
"What an odd thing to say! And rather rude! Qyburn, you seem to be a bit off since your return. I will credit your obviously foul mood to a lack of proper rest. How about you take the rest of the day to relax? If you are feeling better tomorrow I would like you to restart up work on the dragon horn. Also, I have a surprise for you."
"There will be no need for that. I am feeling quite fine. At my elderly age, a faulty memory should not be that shocking. Now, what's this surprise?"
"I have decided to allow you to time to work on the project you have been looking forward to. Don't let it consume you. The dragonhorn still should be your first priority. However, I think you have more than earned the right to a couple of hours a day to work on your dream project. I will even let you help choose which prisoner we allow to become Ser Gregor's equal!"
"Aye, so yet another innocent whose life you would like to ruin eh?"
"Innocent...I'd hardly call any of these prisoners such," laughed Cersei.
"Aye, well, I suppose we all have our ideas of what innocence means. Some of us, of course, are more out of touch with the term than the others."
Cersei was confused by that reply and even more confused as to why Qyburn was frowning at her. He should be happy. This had been what he had wanted for months, a chance to create another Ser Gregor, this time with a fresher corpse and more preparation.
"Qyburn, this is to be my way of showing my gratitude for all that you have done for me. I thought you would be rather pleased. Though I already miss my daughter so much. I am grateful she is safe and that you know her whereabouts. And thank you of course for protecting her from that little sand bitch! I look forward to the day I am reunited with my Gemma. You, of course, know where she is and will tell me where when the time is right, which is all that is keeping me going anymore honestly."
"I will not. No one will ever tell you that information."
"Excuse me? It was agreed that you would tell me so when it was safe. Of course, that is some time away, but your manner of speaking makes it seem as if it will be never!"
"Oh did we now? I think it is best that you don't know. And better for her if she never knows her mother. And what a mother you would be to her! You raised your eldest to be a cruel and evil boy. Or perhaps that's from the fact that he was born of incest. Such a shame an innocent boy had to become a cripple because he spotted what you and your brother were doing. Yet another senseless casualty of many, just so that you and your brother could do as you pleased. Then there's your daughter, Myrcella. Murdered by people just as evil as you in a chain of events that all started because you had so much hate for your younger brother. I would think it karma, but Myrcella was good and kind. And of course, we cannot forget your youngest son, the one you drove to suicide. Such a kind boy who just couldn't live with the guilt after his mother killed thousands in her attack on the sept. You even killed his wife. I suppose it didn't occur to you that he may have loved her. Or perhaps it did and you just did not care. It's not like you ever truly cared about any of your children's happiness anyway."
Cersei was left speechless and in tears as Qyburn hurled these cruel jabs at her. Her most trusted advisor, the only friend she thought she had and the only person left alive she thought she could still trust. Had one trip away from the red keep really changed him this much? What had that greedy sellsword said to him to turn him against her? She was about to open up her mouth to call for her guards to take this traitor away. However, before she could do so, he was suddenly in front of her with a sword to her throat as he quickly placed his other hand over her mouth, stifling her screams.
Sorry for the cliffhanger! (evil laughter) Please review!
