L
The Queen
Cersei had remained in the palace for the week leading up the battle. She'd used her "tour" of Osgiliath as an excuse to remain near Jaime, each day she'd offered some new excuse to explain why she wished to stay just a little while longer until finally Jaime was able to convince their father that on the eve of battle that it would be better for her to wait there in safety in the event the enemy had scouts on the Gondorian side of the river. In truth she'd cared little for studying the old ruins and monuments of the dead city, she was more interested in studying Jaime in her room in the dead of night.
Her time with Jaime, both in and out of the bedroom, helped ease some of her worries, and she had many. She worried for Tommen, back in Casterly Rock alone, and for Joffrey, still lost in the wilds somewhere. Myrcella was safe at least, she was staying with Jeyne Westerling back in Minas Tirith. She wasn't fond of the little tart but there were no other Westerosi ladies at court there yet, and she couldn't pass up the opportunity to see Jaime.
She worried for Jaime too, not because of the approaching battle, no man could match his blade, but because with her engagement to the Steward's son they would often be apart in the future. True there would be many visits between the two courts, but it would never be like it was in King's Landing again. Idly she wondered if there was some way Jaime could find some excuse to remain in Minas Tirith after the war, father would never allow him to remain in the Kingsguard now…
She even found herself wondering and worrying after Faramir, though little compared to the others. Rivendell… she'd been curious enough to seek out more information, but what she'd read only confused her more. At first she'd worried it was some famous city of whores like Yunkai in Essos, she had already decided that in this marriage at least her husband would not so openly shame her, but she'd been relieved to find it was merely a village, almost an outpost really, far in the wilderness. It was more notable for it's lord. Elrond was an elf, what exactly that meant eluded her, but he was said to be a great warrior and sorcerer, the type of man that other men would seek out for advice on matters of great importance.
She almost wished she had spent more time with Faramir when he'd been in Minas Tirith now, where Boromir reminded her of a young Robert Faramir seemed closer to… well perhaps not quite Rhaegar, but something close. After his marriage proposal he'd asked to speak with her privately, she was fully prepared to give herself to him then and there, but she'd been shocked that he'd instead asked for her help in a scheme to sneak out of the city. It had at least been a novel experience, Robert had seldom asked her for anything except for an unpleasant night in the bedroom or her father's coin. As for bedding... she had at first wondered if perhaps Faramir was a sodomite, but as he'd entered her chambers she'd noticed a very familiar male gaze upon her. She had not taken a man's virginity since Jaime's, if Faramir was indeed being truthful he would never look at another woman again.
She smiled at the thought as she sat on the balcony of the palace in Osgiliath, He could prove quite the useful husband. She turned her attention to the other side of the river, it was rare to be able to observe a battle from safety like this, and she wouldn't pass up the opportunity. She'd wanted to join her father in his command tower, but he'd adamantly refused, as had Lord Denethor. They would never have forbidden a man from observing… even Tommen would have been permitted to- her thought was interrupted by the drums of the enemy army.
Most of the battle was too far away to see in the dark, she could see the nearest of the barricades faintly by the light of the many torches the soldiers had lit, but Jaime was commanding in the center. She gestured for one of her guards to bring her more wine, only two tonight, most of the redcloaks were with either her father or Jaime.
She felt a strange mixture of boredom and anxiety, she couldn't see much and battle held little interest for her anyway, but at the same time she knew Jaime was there risking his life and she couldn't bring herself to look away. Finally she could take no more of the torture and left to go to the lower levels of the palace.
"Have any news of father or Jaime brought to me," she said, "I will be in my chambers." She walked to her room where she'd left a book she'd taken from Minas Tirith, Of Thranduil and the Woodland Realm. Minas Tirith had few texts on elves in any language she could read, while Westron and the Common Tongue were nearly the same language the books and scrolls involving elves were in Andunaic, a language that reminded her of Old Valyrian, or in Elvish itself. She poured another cup of wine as she read about the elven realm. Thranduil has ruled the elven realm of Mirkwood since the end of the Second Age, it is second only to the realm of Lothlorien in size and grandeur… She frowned, she knew enough to know the second age had ended thousands of years prior. Perhaps Thranduil was a house name like Tommen or Tytos…
Suddenly her door flew open, one of her guards was there, looking panicked, "Lady Cersei! The battle is turning, we need to evacuate immediately!"
"What happened? Where is father?" she asked, shocked.
"Lady Cersei we have to go now!"
She sighed angrily and got up, "Very well, has a carriage been prepared?"
"Yes, right this way your highness." They walked down the central staircase of the palace, a few other men were scurrying around below, gathering papers and anything else important. As they stepped outside the scope of the situation began to dawn on her, men were running every which way and shouting, it was so chaotic that it took her a moment to realize the enemy was not upon them already.
She saw her Uncle Kevan leading a group of a few hundred men towards the palace, "Kevan!" She called to him, "What has happened? Is the battle lost?"
He turned to her, his face corpse white, "A great black rider… he came upon us like death itself Cersei, men fled before him." He took a deep breath and steadied himself, "The barricades are lost, the enemy will soon take the bridge and this side of the river. We will withdraw to Minas Tirith and see what can be done."
"Where is father? Where is Jaime uncle?" she asked breathlessly
A sudden screeching horse startled them and they looked to see that a man had accidentally released one of the carriage horses which had bolted into the crowd, "Stop that horse!" Kevan roared, sending several men running after it. He sighed and turned back to Cersei, "They were… the last I saw of them they were attempting to retake the bridge fortifications. The enemy commander, he came upon them suddenly and all men fled before him."
She felt the world fall away from her, Jaime… "The bridge?" she repeated slowly, "They were at the bridge?"
"It is lost now," Kevan said quietly. "I… I fear that Tywin and Jaime are lost as well."
"Coward!" She screamed suddenly, she looked around at the shocked men, "Cowards all of you! What kind of men are you that would abandon your lord and his son like this?"
"Cersei please-" Kevan began, but it only enraged her further.
"If none of you are man enough to go back for Jaime I will do it myself!" she walked forward and made as if to grab a crossbow from one of the watching men, but Kevan grabbed her wrist.
He sighed a moment, "You are right… I will gather men to go back and see if Jaime and Tywin have escaped somehow." He looked around to the assembled men, "We return to the bridge, form up! Crossbowmen reload!" They hesitated a moment, "Now!" he barked.
"I'm going with you!" Cersei said suddenly Jaime, she looked again to the other side of the river where fires blazeds, lighting the night sky, these fools would leave you to die without my urging.
"No you are not Cersei," Kevan said firmly, "We will be marching into danger, perhaps death. A battlefield is no place for a woman."
"You already abandoned father once, I won't let you do so again!" she replied angrily.
He was quiet a moment, his face red with shame, "Stay close to us, and stay behind the men. We will only go to see if Tywin and Jaime still stand, if they don't you will come with me back to Minas Tirith." She glared at him but nodded. They walked back towards the bridge as other men ran around them.
"Peasant levys," Kevan said derisively, "You there!" he yelled, pointing to one group, "With me now!" the men looked at each other and for a moment Cersei thought they would flee. She thought a moment of the Gondorian soldiers, she'd heard many claim they would die for her… Would men of her own land?
"Fall in line, in battle you may escape death, in flight you will not," Cersei cried out. Kevan and all of the men looked back to her, shocked to hear a woman speak to them in that manner, but Kevan still repeated her demand.
"You heard her! Fall in line!" They began marching in the column as well, Kevan held back, waiting for her to walk near him. "Cersei…" He sighed, "Mad times… mad times…" He pulled a long dagger from his belt, "Take this, if the men seem uneasy wave it around and say a few words about the family, glory and honor and all that. If need be… defend yourself." He paused a moment, "Do not believe yourself a capable warrior simply because steel is in hand, if the enemy comes flee, that dagger is for when all else fails you."
Cersei took the dagger in hand and felt a rush of excitement, but then thought on her uncle's words, "I'm no fool," she said, "I am my father's daughter after all." Kevan made no reply, the party of men moved towards the bridge in silence as well, the distant sounds of battle occupying any void which speech might have filled.
They arrived at the bridge to see Boromir frantically riding about, holding a white tree standard high, "Hold! Stand Men of Gondor! Of the Westerlands! They must not cross this bridge!"
"Lord Boromir we are at your command!" Kevan called.
Boromir looked relieved to see the reinforcements, and a smile came over his face, "Lord Kevan," his eyes lingered over her a moment, confusion on his face, "Lady Cersei, Timett of the Burned Men brought lord Tywin over the bridge a few minutes ago. He is wounded badly, but he still lives."
Cersei felt relief wash over her, "Where is he now?" She asked.
"The clansmen took him to the rear with the rest of the wounded."
She and Kevan made eye contact for a moment, "What of Jaime?" she asked. As if in answer the sun rose over the mountains, drifting slowly over the battlefield bathing them in golden light. A cry went up from the men and she looked upwards towards the tower on the bridge. A figure bathed in white light battled a fierce dark shape, every time their swords touched there was a green explosion of sparks, and every time it happened the men cheered.
"Jaime!" She breathed, somehow someone had heard her and soon all of the men were shouting.
"Jaime! JAIME!" they cried, the light hit his golden armor in full now and he was like a second sun, shining over the battlefield as he dueled that terrible black shadow.
"JAIME!" Boromir echoed, he turned back to them for a second, his gaze lingering on Cersei and Kevan, "I'm going to him, don't let them take this bridge!" With that he was off, he rode through the orcs and Easterlings on the bridge, his sword cutting down any who stood in his way.
She suddenly remembered her uncle's words and held the dagger high, "HOLD THE BRIDGE!" she shouted, He will bring Jaime back, she thought desperately. Seeing her the men rushed forward into the approaching orcs, Kevan briefly walked to her side.
"Perhaps you are your father's daughter after all…" He pulled his sword from the scabbard and rushed to the line of men holding the enemy at bay, pushing his blade into the visor of one of the Easterlings that had rushed towards their side of the bridge.
Suddenly one of the orcs broke through the line, it made eye contact with her and screeched, rushing towards her with reckless abandon, it's blade raised high. Kevan saw and rushed to intercept it, his sword just barely blocking the beast's from striking her face. Without thinking she pushed Kevan's blade towards the creature, the steel disappearing into it's chest. She watched in shock as it growled one last time before dropping, staining the blade with black blood.
Kevan looked at her in amazement before smiling, "Your father's daughter indeed…"
She felt a terrible fear suddenly, a chill in her very bones. Looking to the bridge she saw many black riders coming towards them, the men ran from them leaving only her standing in their way. She tried to raise her dagger, but her fingers grew numb and it fell from her hands. They rode past her on either side, one last one with terrible red eyes seemed to stare at her as it rode by, it slowed to a trot, locking eyes with her.
"A new world for old words Cersei Lannister, give your brothers my regards" with that the dark rider's horse reared up, neighing loudly, before he rode after his fellows through the ruins city.
The terror subsided as they left, old words, she thought. What does he mean… Maggy? she pushed it from her mind and picked up the dagger again, "Kevan!" she called. Suddenly there was a crashing sound, she looked to the bridge to see a number of flying stones collide with the support columns, bringing the bridge down. A number of enemy soldiers were stranded on their side of the divide…
"Kill them!" She cried, "Kill them all!" The Westerlands men rushed forward, screaming like madmen. The Gondorians hesitated a moment before joining them, running forward with their swords held high.
She sighed watching them and fell backwards against a building, slowly sinking to a sitting position. She stared at the black blood on Kevan's blade, no, her blade. She looked down to see her golden cuirass with the gems set in it was now splattered with blood, her noticed idly that her dress was covered in blood as well. Ruined, she thought, this dress is ruined. She felt something building within her and she surprised herself by laughing madly, the euphoria of continued life rushing over her. In the corner of her vision she saw Kevan walking to her.
"Cersei… the battle is decided, we must see to Tywin," his eyes lingered on the stained blade. "Cersei… niece, area you well?"
She felt herself draw a deep breath, "Yes. Yes I am well uncle..." He held out a hand and she grasped it as he pulled her up. The two of them looked towards the broken bridge in silence, the orcs were gathering on the far side, yelling angrily at them. A few arrows and bolts passed between the two sides, but it was a futile and angry gesture for both. A splashing noise drew her attention and she saw two men swimming away from the tower. Jaime… "There they are!" she pointed to the water.
Kevan nodded, "It seems Jaime lives," he turned to her and said something more, but Cersei was already running towards the riverfront.
She found Boromir and Jaime alone, a strange music echoing on the air. He was wearing nothing but his leathers and smallclothes now, though Brightroar was still strapped across his back. A strange music echoed on the air and in spite of everything she stopped to listen to it for a moment, A harp? The sound brought her a peace she hadn't known since she was a girl. As it faded she saw Jaime standing on the beach getting his bearings. He said something to Boromir and the two began walking towards her and Kevan.
"Jaime!" she called excitedly, but Jaime would not meet her gaze.
"We must go to the men who stayed behind," he said solemnly. She saw that at some point he had thrown away his golden armor.
"Forget them Jaime," she said, "Come to me, to father, he is wounded and would welcome your company."
He hesitated a moment before Boromir spoke again, "I will go across the river. Jaime, there is no other man I would have at my side."
Jaime nodded, "The boats, we must find Timett!"
He is exhausted, reason has left him, she decided, "Jaime you will go no further, let others take up this burden!" He looked at her for a moment, sad.
"Cersei…" he collected himself again with a great sigh, "I am going to those men. When I come back we need to talk of… of things." He looked at he a moment, "See to father." With that he was gone, running off after Boromir wearing nothing but soaked leathers and cotton smallclothes.
You looked better in gold Jaime, she thought bitterly. Still she walked back up to the side of the river their army controlled. This side of the river at least was peaceful, and she continued on the roads back to the palace alone.
A/N: Merry Christmas everyone.
L'etranger0 - The Paynes are around so Podrick will probably show up at some point.
DigitalSorceress - High praise indeed! Anyways I probably won't do a complete story for each house but when this is all over I might write a few omakes for each of them as a sort of "victory lap" for finishing this thing.
Malgalad3153019 - Valyrian steel is pretty high quality even before getting into the magic aspect. It's described in the books as having whorls and waves all over it which makes me think Martin imagined it more like Damascus steel which is some of the finest stuff a pre-industrial society can produce. As an aside if you've never seen Damascus steel go google it or something, it looks pretty cool.
Weylandcorp4 - Valyrian steel carries some powerful enchantments, whether the Nazgul are close enough to White Walkers for them to go into effect has been a subject of some debate on the forums I've posted this story on.
Cyricist001 - The Witch King seems to have heard about it at some point and went with the "no man can slay me" interpretation... obviously that kind of screwed him over in canon.
