The game is on.
The head is an important thing, which is what she'd been told as a child, through it a person could see, they could hear, they could taste and they could smell. It contains a person's defining characteristics, the brain, among other things. It could be so hard to remove a person's head especially if a decent amount of force is lacking, to take everything from them... their sight, their hearing, their senses of smell and taste and even their mind.
A man quakes as his hands are tired, then the tears begin to well within his eyes as he waits for death to strike him. The crowds jeer loudly, their screams calling for his head.
Only a great, milkglass blade that flies through the air silently, sharp edge dripping ruby, could get the job done. His head falls with a dull thunk, lying upon the ground while his eyes stare up with the hatred in his expression perfect in that moment.
Any other man might have faltered at that, but Eliana was brought up to kill her enemies just the same as men were and she marvelled at the sight of the steel sliding through his neck as smoothly as a knife through butter, his head rolling across the ground as a shrill shriek rung out through the air to greet her.
"Good, you're here…" Eliana ignored the alarmed look on Catelyn's face, and the shriek that fell from her lips. "I need you to stay with my son."
There was a moment of horrified silence, and then Catelyn edged forwards. "Lia… what did you do?" Her mother questioned her slowly, watching as her daughter reached for the head that a rolled just before her feet, picking it up by the hair.
"He tried to kill Alaric…" She paused, throwing her mother a glance as she rose to her feet. "I did what any sane mother would have done, I protected my child."
Still rather confused at the scene before her, Catelyn's brow deepened in worry. "What do you mean, Eliana, what happened just now?"
Eliana sighed, feeling irritation overcome her for a split second. "An assassin was paid by the Lannisters to kill him, that's all I managed to get from him before I decided to remove his head from his shoulders if it meant he would not rise again." She explained plainly.
Grasping her sword firmly in her hand and sheathing it, Eliana tightened her grip of the head of hair and started towards the door while Catelyn drifted towards the cradle in which her grandson was lying quietly. "Where are you going?" She breathed, taking the infant into her arms.
"To present this before this boy king and see what he makes of it…" Lia shrugged, staring at the head oddly. "Or his mother? I haven't quite decided yet."
Her brow deepened as she shook her head, "Don't do that, Lia."
"The game is on, mother."
She never liked crowds, they irritated her… everyone was always in the way and causing difficulty one way or another. She had to resort to forcing her way through the crowd, shoving when it was necessary or when the lords and ladies didn't move out of the way for her. They complained when she would shove them from her path, startle in surprise at the sheer force of her pushes and shoves.
She could them toasting to the new king, hear them chant long may he reign! But how long would Tommen truly reign? How long before someone else sat where he thought he belonged? She guessed not long, but he'd be a better king than those before him but perhaps that is to be expected, anyone could be as much of a drunken fool like Robert, neither could anyone be as needlessly cruel… Eliana knew Tommen would be a good king, one who would realise his mistakes and learn from them.
She wondered if he would give her the justice she sought… but as long as his mother clutched him tight, she doubted that would ever happen. However, Margaery lurked close as well and she also knew that Tommen would do anything to win her heart… even if it meant to betray the loyalty of his mother.
She passed Mace Tyrell who was boasted about something to a small gathering, stepping back into her as she passed him. "Oh- goodness! Princess Eliana, I am sorry… what's wrong?" He questioned, but she continued, ignoring the man as he called after her.
"Get your hand off of me, you stupid oaf," She growled when his hand encircled around his forearm, hauling her back. Her words made him step back in shock, clearly not expected such words to leave her mouth.
"Lady Eliana!" Mace spoke, astounded by her words.
"Princess, My Lord." Eliana then gradually continued until the crowds finally parted and she could see the steps which led to the throne on which Tommen sat upon in all his undesirable glory. She tilted her head at him before climbing the steps to greet him.
Unlike his brother before him, Eliana bowed her head in respect which took the boy by surprise. She liked the boy; she had done since he visited Winterfell, him and Mrycella both… purely because they were so unlike their relatives?
However, Tommen hadn't met her gaze and instead his eyes were glued to her hands.
Glancing down at her hands, she realised what he must've been staring at; the blood that had stained her usual snowy skin. The sight made her laugh while Tommen merely stared at her in intrigue. "Princess Eliana, what is wrong?"
Ignoring her hands, she clasped them behind her back and let out a deep breath. "Do you think you'll be a good king, Your Grace?" Eliana questioned in interest, watching him as his brow furrowed in confusion.
Tommen nodded gravely, "I would like to think so… yes, why?" He pressed in concern, leaning forward on the throne.
"Someone tried to kill my son, Your Grace."
The words were foreign to Tommen, at first he didn't understand them nor did he believe them at first but when he saw the dead look flash within her gaze, he knew that she told him no lie. "Whoever was responsible I will bring to justice, I give you my word." He'd never known Eliana Stark to be a liar, her father was just and honourable as was her brother… he could see it in her too, so he knew to believe her.
"Will you?" Eliana inquired with a smirk, nodding her slightly in understanding. She chose to leave out the bit, even if it was your mother? Having guessed that would rouse more suspicion within him. "You're kind-hearted unlike your brother was which is a relief to me I can assure as he hated my family without true cause however; it will get you killed in this game."
Tommen frowned suddenly, not understanding at all what she was getting at. "What do you mean?" He breathed out, hanging on her every word without realising so.
Eliana took a step back, letting out another small sigh of contentment. "You have to be a ruthless as the opposing side if you are to prevail." She spoke softly, seeing his face fall into utter perplexity.
"I don't understand…"
"Of course, you don't." She concluded with a curt nod, looking down at the golden haired boy before her with her teeth gritted, allowing a sigh to pass through her lips. "In this game, you win or you die."
Still hanging on every word, Tommen lent towards her, his hands gripping the arms of the throne. "And how do you win?" He asked in a hushed tone.
She smiled.
The cell he found himself in wasn't as rundown as Eliana's; there was a window defaced with bars but rays of light still danced through to the brighten the room however, the smell made him choke, the mixture of piss and shit made him feel sick to his stomach and successfully made him wretch.
"To tell you the truth, this isn't so bad. Four walls, a pot to piss in." Jaime tried to offer his brother some comfort, especially what he was going through, being held for regicide. "I was chained to a wooden post covered in my own shit for months."
Slumped against a wooden post, Tyrion glanced over at his brother, his arms folded over his chest while stumble broke out across his chin. "Is that supposed to make me feel better?" Tyrion asked quietly, his voice betraying him in that moment.
Jaime shrugged, "Maybe a bit." He paused out of guilt, knowing he shouldn't have left him brother down here without company for so long. "I'm sorry I didn't come sooner." He apologised gravely, refusing to meet his gaze.
"It's complicated, yes... Lia told me you'd been busy, as had she… especially considering she'd given birth but somehow she still managed to visit. I should expect to see her on the morrow as well." Tyrion explained with a smile, remembering the quick but welcomed visit from his brother's lady-love, and how it had hurt that not even his family had ventured down before a Stark. "So... how is our sister?"
Jaime stared blankly at him, "How do you think? Her son died in her arms."
Tyrion tilted his head in question, "Her son?" He repeated, watching Jaime's face grow stern and harden at the words.
"Don't." His voice was composed as she spoke, momentarily glancing away from Tyrion to stare at the ground. "You know what's coming?"
He gave a small nod, how could he not know? "My trial for regicide." Tyrion announced joylessly, feeling despair fill him at the subject of his trial. "Yes, I know… I know the whole bloody country thinks I'm guilty. I know that one of my three judges has wished me dead more times than I can count and that judge is my father." He paused briefly, glowering at the air before his eyes met his brother's. "As for Cersei, well, she's probably working on a way to avoid a trial altogether by having me killed."
Jaime rubbed his right wrist absently, "Now that you mention it, she did ask." Jaime informed him with a hint of a joking tone lurking within his voice, hoping to lessen Tyrion's concern.
"So, should I turn around and close my eyes?"
Shrugging once more, Jaime narrowed his haze at his brother. "Depends… did you do it?"
Tyrion let out a small smile at his thought on his brother's inquiry. "The Kingslayer brothers. You like it? I like it." Tyrion's face then dropped, his jaw becoming more prominent as he gritted his teeth in irritation. "You're really asking if I killed your son?"
"Are you really asking if I'd kill my brother?" There was a moment of silence as Jaime stared at Tyrion but his brother couldn't hold his gaze. "How can I help you?" He asked unexpectedly, bring Tyrion's glance back to him.
"Well, you could set me free." Tyrion suggested.
Jaime shook his head, "You know I can't."
"Lia would do it."
Clenching his fist, Jaime turned his attention away from his brother, angry that he was bringing up his lady-love to blackmail him into doing something he didn't want to do. "I'm not here to talk about Li… Eliana Stark." Somehow he managed to get the words, despite how much of a struggle it was.
Rising to his feet, Tyrion began to walk around the cell, though there was hardly any space for him to wander around. "Then there's really nothing else to say." He let out, his agitation getting the better of him in that moment.
"What do you want me to do?!" Jaime proclaimed in outrage, "Kill the guards? Sneak you out of the city in the back of a cart?" He questioned, allowing his anger to rule his words instead of his head. "I'm the Lord Commander of the Kingsguard."
"Sorry, I'd forgotten." Tyrion raised his hands in defence, glowering at Jaime as he paced back and forth. "I'd hate for you to do something inappropriate."
Jaime stifled a laugh, "Inappropriate?" He repeated slowly, turning his body to fully face his brother. "You're accused of killing the king, freeing you is treason."
"Except I didn't do it." He let out in exasperation, running his hands through his hair.
Jaime nodded, "Which is why we're having a trial." He added, watching as Tyrion scoffed at the news.
"A trial... If the killer threw himself before the Iron Throne, confessed to his crimes, and gave irrefutable evidence of his guilt, it wouldn't matter to Cersei." Tyrion raged, wanting his brother to understand their sister's undying loathing for him, despite having done nothing to offend her int he first place! "She won't rest until my head's on a spike."
Jaime knew what he was about to say, would do little to settle Tyrion's worries. "Not just yours. She's offering a knighthood to whomever finds Sansa Stark."
Tyrion folded his arms over his chest, shaking his head at Jaime's words. "Sansa couldn't have done this." He denied passionately, refusing to believe the young Stark girl would consider murder… her sister, however…
"She had more reason than anyone in the Seven Kingdoms. Do you think it's a coincidence she disappeared the same night Joffrey died?"
Tyrion refused to believe it, Sansa wouldn't do such a thing, and she was too kind and too forgiving to do such a thing. "No, but... Sansa's not a killer." He let out a sigh of defeat, "Not yet, anyway."
Rushing like a ravine, the liquid spilled into the glass, bubbles layering the surface of the beverage as she brought it to her lips, taking a large gulp as the knocking echoed through her chamber. Cersei barely heard the door open as she settled into her chair, glowering at the wine in her hand.
"You sent for me, Your Grace?" Her brother's voice rung out through the chamber as he entered, stopping to see his sister sat with a wine glass clutched firmly in her hand.
Cersei scoffed, "Your Grace." She repeated, staring off into nowhere, "How formal of you… how many Kingsguards are posted outside Tommen's door?" She questioned, still not bothering to look at him while he closed the door.
Jaime sighed, "Ser Boros is on duty tonight. Tomorrow I believe- "
"So one?" Cersei cut him off, her words harsh as the northern storms. "You have one man guarding the future king?"
Edging towards her, Jaime frowned when she still didn't look at him, and instead continued to clasp her wine glass. "I promise you Tommen's safe, we're protecting him." He vowed with caution, having no intention to anger his sister.
Finally, she threw a glance his way, her eyes like slits that reminded him of Oberyn's sour gaze. "The way you protected Joffrey?" Her words hurt him, as they were meant to but he was the first one to their son, but she pushed him away. "Why did Catelyn Stark set you free?"
"What?"
Tilting her head at him, Cersei 's brow deepened in thought. "I've been wondering for months… ever since that cunt brought you back to the capital." She rose to her feet, however, as did the glass that still sat comfortably in her hand. "Why did she set you free?" She wondered aloud.
Jaime rolled his eyes at his sister, "You know why, she'd hoped I'd send her daughters back to her." He explained honestly – it was the truth, there had been no lie in what he'd said, that had been the sole reason for his freedom.
"She hoped or did you promise?" Cersei mused, nearing him gradually.
"I swore by all the gods that if her daughters were alive, I'd return them to her." Jaime replied to his sister's distaste.
Cersei nodded and concluded, "So you made a sacred vow to the enemy." She assumed, glowering at him suddenly.
"I wanted to get back to you… should I have told her to fuck off?"
Cersei hummed with a small smile, her face contorting in displeasure. "You didn't mean it, then? You have no loyalty to Catelyn Stark?" She speculated, wanting nothing more than to truly know what happened between her brother and Catelyn Stark.
Jaime kept his head high as he answered. "No."
Cersei glanced down, peering into her wine glass. "What about her daughter, Eliana?" She doubted, knowing about his fascination with the girl and it hurt her… right to her core, it ruptured her heart to know that Jaime was in with another.
"… No."
Nodding, she continued. "So if I told you to leave the capital right now and find Sansa, if I told you to find that murderous little bitch and bring me her head, would you do it?" Cersei pressed, her eyes never leaving him as she spoke. "… I know you went to see Tyrion… that creature who murdered our son."
Jaime looked downwards. "I had to see him. I had to know for myself." He replied tenderly, hating hearing her speak about their brother in such a way.
"And?" Cersei prompted.
Moving towards her, Jaime shook his head in retaliation. "He didn't do it, Cersei." He said, pleading with her to believe him.
Laughing, Cersei stepped away from him, wandering around the chamber to put distance between her and Jaime. "You've always pitied him. Our poor little brother, abused by the world, despised by his father and sister. He'd kill us all if he could." Taking a large gulp of her drink, she swiftly turned back to face him. "I want four men at Tommen's door day and night. That will be all, Lord Commander."
Jaime watched her quietly as she turned away from him again but he didn't move, he didn't deserve to be treated like that, he'd done so much for her and she had the audacity to throw it all back in his face? Scoffing, Jaime turned away from her and clenched his remaining fist irritably. However, when he was about to flee the room his eyes fell upon something else that caught his attention and held it.
He wasn't sure if his eyes were playing tricks on him but it look so real from where he stood that he had to take a look. Starting towards the bed, Jaime allowed his curiosity to get the better of him and soon his eyes widened at the sight before him. "What in the hells…"
"Have you not gone yet?" Cersei's voice echoed throughout the chamber, she turned to see him stood by the bed, his back to her. "What are you doing? You cannot honestly think I'll let you into my- "
"Cersei." Jaime growled, reaching forward to clasp what he'd discovered, taking it into his hand before turning back to face his sister. "Who did you piss off this time?" He pressed, lifting it to show her.
Cersei's eyes widened when she saw the blood drip to stain the floor, the skin severed and slightly jagged but other than that, it was a clean cut for a beheading. She recognised the head and whom it had belonged to and she also knew how it had found its way into her bed.
"Oh, wonderful… she killed him and returned him." Cersei muttered sourly as Jaime eyed her suspiciously. "Don't look at me like that; you think I asked for this assassin's head to turn up in my bed?"
"Whoa, wait… he was an assassin?" Jaime questioned in turn, narrowing his eyes further if it was even possible. "Who was he meant to kill?" Jaime added, unable to stop himself, knowing she antagonized the person to react in such a way to force them to behead the man.
Cersei downed the remaining of her wine and sighed. "It was an easy job, all he had to do was get in, kill the babe, and then leave." She rambled, feeling her power slipping through her fingers as her men continued to die. "That bitch!" Out of fury, Cersei turned and launched her glass at the way, seething as it shatter into tiny pieces.
Jaime's mouth fell agape, the realisation hitting him finally. "You didn't… how could you?!" He roared, dropping the head and seizing her arm, gripping it tightly as he bared his teeth. "That babe had done nothing to you! How could you!"
"Oh, calm yourself." Cersei drawled while she rolled her eyes, "The rat isn't dead; it appears his mother got to my weapon before he had the chance to finish the job." She hissed, ripping herself free of his hold.
"You are a cruel woman, Cersei Lannister. A woman I find myself regretting ever being involved with, you've ruined me but guess what?" Jaime's face was mere inches from her own as he stared her down. "At least I have someone who values my existence, who accepts me for who I am, for what I've become."
"And what is that exactly?" Cersei pressured with intrigue, her eyes flickering to his lips and back to his eyes. "What have you become?"
Jaime didn't answer her questions, he didn't have to nor did he wish to so, turning on his heel, Jaime marched out of the chamber, leaving his sister standing there and staring in utter shock at his sudden exit, and that he'd also tossed her aside. He was done being her pawn in a game she seemed to be losing.
It was all so clear to him in that moment, as he parted ways from his sister, he knew what he was to do. From that moment onward, he would only ally himself with Eliana, he would only fight for Eliana... he would only love Eliana and he would only die for Eliana.
A/N: Sorry for the long delay, but hopefully you enjoy this update all the same.
The reviews are fantastic as always - I'm glad that most of you are still loving it, but for those of you that I feel are frustrated for the story line and my writing, I'm truly sorry but I'm going with the majority here. I hope you understand, also, GUESTS please sign up so I can reply to your future reviews.
Please read and review, I cherish the attention this story gets... thank you.
Ezeiel
