Once again, we are in Cersei's head. That's strange how it can be interesting to be in the head of someone we hate so much. (At least for me, perhaps there are people reading this who love Cersei. But I don't.)

Of course, she sprinkles wine on someone. Wear your oldest clothes or the clothes you hate the most when you meet Cersei Lannister and there is wine close.


CERSEI II

The Queen Regent drank deeply from her cup of wine after another long day. It tasted victory. Two weeks passed since her father's death and she managed in so little time to solve so many problems that should have been taken care of so long ago. The construction of the royal fleet would begin very soon now, thanks to the large supply of ironwood Lord Rickard Morgryn promised her. She didn't know why Tyrion wasted so much time trying to have a contract with the Forresters, a family of traitors who would be destroyed very soon. Perhaps it was another soft spot he developed for former Stark's bannermen because of Sansa. All the same, everything was arranged now. To make sure the Crown would have enough money to build the new fleet, she decided to defer the repayment of the debts toward the Iron Bank of Braavos and the Holy Faith. Both would complain, but it didn't matter. They would wait.

She also named Lord Gyles Rosby to be the new Master of Coin and respected the decision her father took before his death to name Mace Tyrell Master of Ships. The Tyrells had complained for days for the delay on the wedding ceremony, but they kept calm after she offered this position to Mace Tyrell. That wasn't as if the oaf was a threat anyway, and she remembered the Tyrells who they were at the same time. Cersei wondered how House Tyrell could keep up with such an imbecile to lead it. She also added two thousand additional gold cloaks in the capital. With the money saved from the Iron Bank and the Faith, Lord Rosby could find enough money for it between two coughs. The only members of the small council she couldn't support were the eunuch and Pycelle, who always questioned her decisions. Perhaps it was time to replace them. Qyburn would make a good Master of Whisperers. However, she wouldn't do it now. She would wait after the trial.

The achievement she was the most proud of was the trial that would take place next week. Everything was arranged. Pycelle understood her father was murdered very quickly and finally confessed after the examination of the body that he was poisoned with a very rare substance called the tears of Lys. The Grand Maester also revealed that he had this poison in his personal rooms, but that some of it disappeared when Tyrion arrested him last year. He also said that her brother asked him for some essence of nightshade, supposedly to help his wife to sleep. Only by itself, the Grand Maester's testimony would be more than enough at the trial to incriminate Tyrion. She also made sure that half the kingsguards and Varys would testify. She would testify too, of course, and the assassin of her father would face judges who knew him for what he really was. She would get rid of this monster who threatened to kill her son. Oh, I'm a monster. Perhaps you should speak to me more softly, then. Monsters are dangerous and just now kings are dying like flies. He said it in front of all the members of the small council. If Cersei had the power then, she would have arrested him right away for threatening her son, the king.

Everything would be alright at the trial, though there were things that still needed to be cleared. Thanks to the Forrester girl, who she sent in Tyrion's cell with wine (he couldn't resist it, even less when it was a familiar young girl who brought it to him), she knew Tyrion had no witnesses. However, the man she charged to have his squire testify against him told her the boy refused. Cersei would have to take care of that, though she wasn't very hurried about it. After all, the boy was barely fifteen, probably even younger than Sansa. As for the sellsword, Cersei made sure he wouldn't do anything for his former master. A marriage with Lollys Stokeworth and promises of gold were enough to turn him against the little monster. Tyrion's wife wouldn't cause any problem, she was harmless, a perfect little dove. No one saw her these days. She hid in her chambers all day, even if Cersei granted the freedom of movement to everyone a week ago. People could walk inside the Red Keep, though she kept a close look on some of them (especially the Tyrells), but they couldn't leave. All entrances and exits were closed day and night. No one would leave or enter without her permission before the trial was over.

The only one that proved problematic was her brother Jaime. He refused to become the Hand of the King when she proposed him, and he refused to testify against their brother at his trial. He abandoned her again. Probably it was for the better. Jaime would have said good things about Tyrion at his trial, and they had no need for that. And since he refused to be Hand of the King, Cersei decided there would be no Hand. She was the only one Joffrey needed to be rightly advised. She wouldn't let someone hurt her son, and she would prove it when Tyrion's head would roll from the executioner's block. She would plant his head on a spike, finally. He should have died so long ago. He killed her mother. He sent Myrcella away among snakes. He tried to have Joffrey killed. Now he killed her father. She wouldn't let him kill Joffrey or Tommen or her. The words of Maggy the Frog would never come true. She would make sure of that.

She emptied her cup and refilled it. Osmund Kettleblack entered at this moment. "Your Grace, your brother wishes to see you. He says it is of the utmost importance."

Cersei didn't want to see Jaime ever since he refused to help her as he should have, protecting their poor little brother as always. He chose the little monster who murdered their father instead of her and she couldn't support it. He was her other half and he should follow her. However, Cersei had nothing to do right now and she couldn't send away the Lord Commander of the Kingsguard without a good excuse when he said he had something important to talk with the queen. Perhaps he finally saw the light and decided to follow her. If that was the case, she may not be alone in her bed tonight.

"Let him in."

Ser Osmund left the room and Jaime entered soon after, closing the door behind him. He stood tall before her. He was so handsome. Cersei wanted nothing more than to take him to her bed and feel whole again as he entered her. It had been too long since the last time they were together. Furthermore, she needed to celebrate her victory over her enemies. Jaime wouldn't celebrate with her if she told him about it, but she didn't have to. She only needed to make him understand that she wanted him and he would come with her. In the end, Jaime was like every man, his cock doing half his thinking, even more sometimes. Cersei experimented it many times up to now and it proved very useful to reach her goals.

"You look so tired Jaime. Perhaps you need some rest. We could take some time together, like in the old times." She could see confusion on his face. "I'm sorry I was so harsh with you. With our father's death and the many duties I have now I tend to act without thinking. I hope you forgive me. You know I love you."

Confusion was still conspicuous on her lover's face. She rose from her chair behind her desk, previously her father's desk. "Let's go to my chambers. Or we can do it here right now if you wish."

For a moment her brother looked about to jump on her and make love to her after so much time, but his face turned hard as quickly as the desire appeared. "It's over. Your little games, they're over." He put his hand inside tunic and produced a parchment he dropped immediately before her on the desk. It was Cersei's turn to be confused.

"What does it mean?"

"Read it. It comes from our son."

Cersei took the parchment. The seal of the king was on it. She broke it, opened the paper and began to read it. As she read, she had to refrain her screams. How could her son do something like this?

I, Joffrey of the House Baratheon, the First of my Name, King of the Andals, the First Men and the Rhoynar, Lord of the Seven Kingdoms and Protector of the Realm, hereby proclaim my grand-uncle, Ser Kevan of the House Lannister, Hand of the King.

I also recuse myself as judge in the trial of my uncle, Lord Tyrion Lannister, previously the Master of Coin, and name the Hand of the King to act as main judge in my stead. Ser Kevan Lannister is to organize the trial as soon as he will arrive in King's Landing.

In the objective to lessen the burden on my mother, Cersei Lannister, the Queen Regent, after the unforeseen death of her father and my grandfather, Lord Tywin Lannister, I remove her from any participation in the organization of the trial against my uncle.

Let it be known that it is my will.

Cersei couldn't believe what she was reading. Her son, her own son, was turning against her. Why? She looked at her brother, searching for an explanation. Then she saw it, the smirk on his face. All ideas of sleeping with him left her.

"This is your doing?"

"Are you surprised? You're not the only one who knows how to play games."

Cersei couldn't support this little smile on Jaime's lips. She looked again at the document. Did he really think a piece of paper would be enough to stop her? She fixed him and tore the paper very slowly to emphasize her gesture, until only very small parts remained of it. It was her turn to smile with satisfaction. "You think a piece of paper will be enough to protect Tyrion? The trial will take place tomorrow. That's all you won with it."

Strangely, Jaime didn't seem affected by this. "Some of the other kingsguards told me you had a passion for tearing papers. Tyrion said the same when I visited him a few days ago and he suggested I had two identical decrees written, sealed, and signed by Joffrey. I see now he was right."

That was too much. He had gone to talk with their brother. She had given orders to the guards to let no one see Tyrion without her authorization. She would make sure the guards would never repeat their mistake or any mistake ever.

"How did you convince Joffrey to sign it?" She had to know how Jaime had done this. He couldn't have threatened their son. Joffrey was too brave to fear his uncle.

"I only made him understand that a trial would be very annoying with very long procedures and I hinted that a king had more important matters to attend. I also pointed out that his mother was taking all the decisions ever since his grandfather died, including those to confine him to his chambers, to cancel his wedding, and to prevent him from seeing his bride-to-be. It was probably time that he decides again who was to serve him. I inserted the name of Kevan in the conversation and Joffrey chose him immediately. He told me he once thought about entrusting the North in his hands, and since our uncle is already on his way to the capital, Joffrey believed he was the best choice."

Uncle Kevan? On his way to King's Landing? That was impossible! "How does it come he's riding for King's Landing? I allowed no ravens to be sent in the past two weeks."

"Do you think Pycelle follows your orders when his life is threatened?" Jaime took another parchment, much smaller than the previous and obviously made for a raven to carry it. He dropped it on the table as well. "Here's the answer of our uncle to my message."

Cersei unrolled the small piece of paper and read it.

The new of Tywin's death is horrible. I'm riding right now for King's Landing with an escort. I should be there very soon to pay my respect to my brother. In the meantime, nothing is to happen to Tyrion and he shall be granted accommodations suited to his name. I'll settle this matter as soon as I'll arrive.

As she was done reading it, Cersei tore apart the message. "You think you can act against me like this, you and our uncle? The trial will take place tomorrow, no matter what you do."

"I'm afraid it won't. Joffrey saw the message before I brought it to you. He decided to wait for our uncle's return before the trial took place. Everyone in the Red Keep already knows about it now. And Joffrey started again to spend time with Margaery. She entertains him very much."

Cersei couldn't believe what she heard. She wanted to smash her lover's face. How could she wish to take him into her bed a few minutes ago? Everything she did these last days had been destroyed in a single one by Jaime. How was it possible? Jaime never thought, he laughed at everything and everyone. He said whatever came into his head. He was a handsome fool. He could never have worked out such an elaborate plan. It was the Tyrells, she knew it. Margaery, the little doe-eye whore, or her grandmother, the Queen of Thorns. They were behind it, she had her proofs now. They were working with Tyrion against her, and Jaime stupidly conspired with them to help Tyrion. She would burn them all for this.

Jaime suddenly spoke again. "I think you should drink less, Cersei. It's not good to keep clear ideas, and it makes us quite unaware of what's going on around us." Cersei sprinkled the content of her cup on her brother for the first time in two weeks. "I think I should wear worn and old clothes when I visit you from now on."

"Ser Osmund!" The kingsguard entered the room immediately. For once he was quick. "Bring my brother to the black cells, the one next to my other brother. If he loves him so much, I'm sure he won't complain about it."

Ser Osmund didn't react immediately. In fact, he took even more time than usual to respond. It allowed Jaime to talk. "Ser Osmund, I am your Lord Commander, chosen by the king himself, my nephew. How do you think he will react when he learns you put both his uncles in prison?" The knight didn't move.

"Your queen orders you to arrest him!" She shouted at the man, but he did nothing.

"Ser Osmund, I think you are tired. You may go to sleep. I'll call Ser Balon Swann to take over." At Jaime's words, the former sellsword left quickly after a bow. He only was a coward. Cersei was surrounded by cowards and traitors, including her own twin. "By the way, Cersei, Joffrey ordered you to be confined to your own quarters for the next month. He says a week of confinement for him is worth two for anyone else, and since you confined both him and his future wife for a week, he considers it is more than fitting for you. I love you, dear sister."

Jaime left the room on these words and Cersei fell into despair. Her son turned against her. It was Margaery's work, for sure. She was working with Tyrion. She would have her strangled in her bed for that. When Cersei would get out, it would be too late. Her uncle Kevan would have arrived. He didn't know what Tyrion did. He would listen to foolish Jaime and release the little monster. However, there was still a chance. She had to get to Joffrey and speak with him. She could still change everything. She walked furiously toward the door, but when she opened it, half a dozen Lannister guards led by captain Vylarr blocked her path.

"Your Grace, I'm sorry but you are not to leave your rooms. Orders from the king." Vylarr spoke firmly when he said that. He was a traitor as well. Cersei turned her heels. It was useless to try an escape. She would take care of all these traitors as soon as she would be free. She had a month to prepare plans for that and to determine how to make her uncle see the truth about Tyrion.

Cersei went back to her desk and smashed a jug of wine on the wall. When she finally calmed an hour later, she poured herself another cup of wine from another jug. That was an unexpected turn of events, but she would turn it against her enemies. She swore it. If her uncle came and decided to hold a trial for Tyrion all the same, and she would make sure there was a trial, the case she built against him was more than enough to prove to anyone that he killed the Hand of the King and plotted to kill the king. Cersei would have her revenge, sooner or later.

However, she was afraid too. There were some uncertainties. Her brother would tell Kevan that Tyrion was innocent and he may value Jaime's point of view because he was a man. Also, Tyrion's squire refused to testify against him, and there was his whore too. She escaped. Varys told her she took a ship not long after Tyrion's arrest. The eunuch hadn't been able to discover which ship, but he thought she probably left for the Free Cities and so was out of reach. Cersei wanted to put a bounty for everyone who would bring her back, but the Master of Whisperers pointed out that it would cause too much problem. The girl wasn't easily recognizable and it would bring whores from all across the world to King's Landing because of all the opportunists who would bring the first whore they saw with black hair and black eyes in the hope it would be her. Finally Cersei abandoned the idea of the bounty. She didn't want to see hundreds of whores processing before her. All the same, she wished she put her hand on the girl before she left. The whore could have said so much about the monster during the trial. She should have taken care of her as soon as her father died, but she had better things to do back then than to worry about whores.

She looked at her father's chest on the desk. She couldn't find the keys to open it and no one in the Red Keep was able to open it without them. She let her left hand wander under the desk as she continued to drink. However, at one moment, her hand brushed a bulge under the desk's surface. She gripped it and felt something that looked like a knob. She tried to pull it, but nothing happened. She then tried to turn it. There was a click and a little trapdoor appeared right before her on the desk. There was a single key inside. How clever her father had been. She knew what the key was for. She retrieved it and used it on the chest. It opened.

Inside were some golden coins, but essentially official papers. Cersei didn't think her father would complain about her opening his letters since he was dead. She was his one true daughter and had the task to continue his work. Most of the documents were royal decrees or letters her father made not long before his death. None of them were quite important. However, there was a paper that brought her attention. It didn't bear the seal of the Hand of the King or the stag, but the lion sigil. It was the seal of the Lord of Casterly Rock. The words this letter contained surprised her. It was a will. From the date on it, it was written the day preceding her father's death. It seemed strange to her that her father would write a new will right before he was killed.

The beginning of the will wasn't surprising in itself. Her father once again made Jaime his heir. However, as she read the rest, fury spread through all her body. Her father only let her gold. It was a lot of gold, but it didn't matter. She wasn't mentioned a single time about the inheritance of Casterly Rock. She was his daughter. If Jaime refused Casterly Rock, it should be hers by all rights. Instead, he named Tyrion's son his heir if Jaime refused to inherit. He made Kevan the Regent of the Rock if the boy was unable to rule and, even worse, made Tyrion Regent if Kevan was dead. Cersei couldn't swallow it. Casterly Rock was hers. It didn't belong to this monster. She burnt the will with a candle and watched the last words of her father burn away. No one would ever know about it. That couldn't be the last words of her father.

Realization came to Cersei then. Of course, it wasn't her father's work. She knew from Varys that Tyrion visited their father late the day before he died. That was probably the time when he poisoned him, but he could also have written a false will that would give him Casterly Rock. Tyrion already had Winterfell through his wife, but of course he wouldn't settle only for the North. He wanted the Westerlands as well, and probably the Iron Throne once she and her children would be dead. She held him now. She had discovered all his secret plans and would use them against him. It didn't matter that she was confined in her rooms.

Cersei emptied another glass of wine. How much did she take this evening? She didn't know and didn't care. She was condemned to stay in these rooms for a long time, so better enjoy it. When she would leave, they would all pay for their treachery. Jaime, Vylarr, Ser Osmund, Margaery, Pycelle, Olenna Tyrell, all the other people of the Reach, and especially Tyrion. He would be the first to pay for what he did. The first to suffer the anger of the lioness.


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