This is delicious Myrcella." Tommen moaned as he bit into one of the stuffed green peppers that Nymeria had prepared for them. "I can understand why you love this so much. We must get ourselves a Dornish chef here full-time."
Myrcella nodded her agreement. "I definitely miss the Dornish delights. Nymeria isn't the best cook in the world but she does well enough for until we get a proper Dornish cook."
"This isn't the best?" Tommen exclaimed in delight. "I can hardly imagine any better!"
Nymeria curtsied. "You flatter me, Your Grace."
"Your Grace," Ser Loras Tyrell stood in the doorway waiting for the King to bid him admittance to join them. "The Queen-Mother Cersei has called for an emergency council meeting."
Ser Loras was the newest member of the Kings Guard having joined with her father's resignation. Good-Grandmum Olenna had suggested that he take a place on the guard to help Queen Margaery feel safe with someone she could trust protecting her. Just in case a trial of combat was needed. Tommen had jumped at her suggestion and ordered the new Lord Commander Ser Balon Swann to put him on the Kings guard.
Tommen stood up and offered his hand to Myrcella. "Come sister, shall we go see what mother wants?"
Myrcella took his hand and rose to her feet but shook her head. "I'm not a part of the council, Tommen."
Tommen frowned slightly. "Neither is mother but she will still be there. I insist that you join us."
Myrcella smiled. "In that case, I would be honored to attend a council meeting with you." She bent down and kissed her husband on the cheek before linking her arm with Tommen's and they followed Ser Loras out of the kitchen and to the council room.
She wondered what it would be about. Would Tommen direct it? Would mother? Would Uncle Kevan? Was she allowed to say anything during the meeting? This would be an enlightening experience and a useful one if she was to be the lady of Casterly Rock one day.
When they entered the room it was clear that they had already started without her or Tommen. Mother was sitting at the head of the table when they entered the room with Ser Loras guarding the door behind them.
"We should be sending all of our forces north." Their mother demanded. She froze when she saw Tommen and Myrcella enter the room. "You don't need to be here Tommen, Myrcella. We can handle this for you."
Tommen scowled. "I am the King, this is my council. I very much have to be here, it's you who does not need to be here. Now I believe you are in my chair."
Cersei reluctantly got up and moved down the table. "Myrcella should not be here, she has no place on this council." She insisted.
Tommen took his seat at the head of the table and gestured to a serving girl to get a chair for Myrcella which she placed on the end of the table next to Tommen. "Neither do you mother, I insist that Myrcella stay with me. If anyone is not welcome here it is you."
Her mother frowned and her nostrils flared but she did not comment again even as Myrcella took her seat by Tommen's side.
Tommen folded his hands over his lap and sat straight-backed in his chair. "Now, what news was so urgent to call an emergency council meeting?"
"We have news from the wall, Your Grace." An older man with warm blue eyes that Myrcella did not recognize answered. "Apparently the Lord Commander Jon Snow did not stay dead when he was killed in service. He rose out of his funeral pyre seven days later, alive and unburnt. Apparently, during the choosing for the next Lord Commander, he got lit on fire again and was still unharmed. They believe that he is a Targaryen, the son of Lyanna Stark's rape."
"It's all lies of course," Cersei interjected. "Just a power-hungry bastard trying to steal the throne from my son."
"Lord Qyburn," Uncle Kevan addressed the old man who had given the report previously, so that was his name. "How reliable are your sources? Is this just a silly rumor spread by some peasant desperate for some coin?"
"I can't vouch for my sources, they aren't ones I've relied on too heavily before. A dozen ravens came today from Castle Black all sharing the same tale of Jon Snow being a Targaryen and unburnt." Lord Qyburn shared.
"The whole thing is preposterous, I tell you." An older man rasped who Myrcella vaguely recognized as Grand Maester Pycelle. "Fire always burns, there is no such thing as magic. This is obviously nothing but a lie." Pycelle echoed Cersei's previous statements.
"It is a lie by a bastard desperate for power. We should send all of our armies south in order to crush this fool like we did his brother." Her mother snarled.
"Your Grace," Uncle Kevan Lannister, Hand of The King asked. "The new Lord Commander of The Night's Watch is Ser Davos Seaworth, hand to Stannis Baratheon. Did we consider the possibility that they want us to send all of our armies North?"
"The Bolton's reported Shireen Baratheon as missing after Stannis's defeat. They claimed that some soldiers said that Stannis had sacrificed her to the Lord of Light but what if that was a lie? What if Ser Davos is claiming that the late Jon Snow is a Targaryen so we would send our armies north and leave the capital undefended when Shireen comes to take the crown."
Mace Tyrell nodded eagerly. "I was just going to say that. It's an obvious ploy by the mockery of a knight, Davos Seaworth. We must keep our armies here and be prepared for war here in Kings Landing. Let the Boltons deal with Jon Snow."
"Why not send the Lannister forces already marching to Riverrun to reinforce the Boltons. The capital would not be any more vulnerable if we did and the chances of Jon Snow winning if this is not a ploy would be significantly lower." Uncle Kevan suggested.
Tommen nodded. "See that it is done then, Lord Kevan."
"Lady Olenna," Myrcella curtsied as she took her seat at the table. Olenna Tyrell had invited her to join her for tea today. She had wanted to get to know her good-granddaughter, she claimed. Myrcella was all too eager to accept, the capital had quickly lost its luster with everyone at each other's throats. Mother wanted her husband dead, Jamie was gone and Tommen had refused to leave her side at all when he could prevent it. He had been very clingy without his wife and Myrcella was all too grateful to accept the offer to have some time away from him. She loved her brother dearly but she needed some space on occasion.
"Princess Myrcella, please you can call me Grandmum if you like, King Tommen does so and you are his sister after all," Olenna replied with a smile.
Myrcella giggled. "I've never had a Grandmum before, I would be honored to call you that."
"Tell me, Princess, how are you enjoying being back in King's Landing after a year away?" Olenna asked.
"You can just call me Myrcella, Grandmum. I've never been one for all the formalities." Myrcella said and then took a sip of her tea.
"Me neither." Olenna smiled and placed one of her wrinkled hands over Myrcella's smoother hand.
"It has been nice. I love Dorne but I didn't realize how much I missed the people here until I saw them again, F-Uncle Jamie, Allya, Catelyn, Maria, Uncle Kevan, Mother…" Myrcella hid her grimace at the mention of her mother behind a sip of tea. "I've really enjoyed seeing everyone again. I missed them."
Olenna smiled knowingly. "But not King Tommen."
Myrcella shook her head. "No, I did miss my brother-"
"He's just a bit clingy," Olenna interjected.
Myrcella glanced down at her teacup and gave the barest of nods.
Olenna sighed. "Tommen didn't use to be like this. When I first met the King he was a happy child. He was a bit naive but he was sweet and kind yet strong at the same time. Alas, I fear that Margaery's imprisonment has taken a toll on him."
Myrcella forced a small smile. "I'm sure that once Queen Margaery is freed in three days, Tommen will go back to his usual self," Myrcella said with a hope she did not really feel.
Lady Olenna looked forlorn and dabbed at the corner of her eyes with her handkerchief. "I'm afraid that Margaery will not be freed," Olenna confessed. "Your mother has done a good job procuring witnesses willing to lie about Margaery. There is too much-fabricated evidence against my grand-daughter for her to be deemed innocent."
"Surely the Gods will smile down on her and she'll win the trial? Even if it has to be by combat." Myrcella argued half-heartedly.
Olenna shook her head. "Perhaps but I'm worried that my grandson, Ser Loras will lose. He injured his knee only a few short weeks ago and who knows who the faith might choose as their champion. It could be anyone, they would have the advantage of knowing who Margaery's champion is and how they fight while Ser Loras would know nothing, not exactly favorable odds."
Myrcella frowned.
"As much as I'm worried about my grand-daughter, I worry just as much about Tommen," Olenna admitted. "Before you returned from Dorne, he was inconsolable. He would hide in his room and spend the whole day moping about and lamenting over his wife's suffering. I worry what would happen to him if Margaery is executed when your uncle returns to take you to Casterly Rock with him."
Myrcella frowned again. She knew that his wife's imprisonment had hit Tommen hard but she hadn't allowed herself to think of what he would be like if his wife was actually executed for these false charges. She had been looking forward to meeting Margaery and having some personal space again that she did not think about the alternative option if she was found guilty.
"Is there anything I can do to help Mar- The Queen?" Myrcella asked and chided herself quietly for using an informal address for a woman she had never met.
Olenna shook her head and dabbed at her eyes with her handkerchief once more. "I'm afraid not my dear, it's all in the hands of the gods now."
Myrcella's face fell even further. "I'll be praying for her at least."
The two of them sat there in a somber silence or a few minutes before Olenna spoke up again. "Actually, I hate to ask this of you but there is one thing you can do to help."
"I'll do it." Myrcella agreed before flushing when she realized she didn't know what that thing was.
"Thank you, my dear." Olenna smiled and once again wiped away her tears. "Your mother, as I'm sure you are aware of, is the one prosecuting Margaery. One of her witnesses is a sweet bard that Margaery was ever so fond of named Wat." Olenna then frowned and her voice hardened. "Your mother's man, Qyburn had the poor bard tortured until he spewed the lies they wanted him to tell about Margaery."
Myrcella frowned. She knew hew mother was capable of cruelty for her children but surely trying to get her good-daughter who Tommen loved killed by torturing another for them to lie had to be too far. "Mother wouldn't do that." She argued half-heartedly.
Olenna grimaced but hid it behind another soft smile. "Of course not, Qyburn was acting without your mother's knowledge in an attempt to please her. He's the one responsible for this tragedy, your mother hates Margaery and wants her gone but she wouldn't ever go this far. Qyburn acted in order to give your mother the evidence she wants with methods that she would not condone."
Myrcella was pretty sure that was a lie but the lie was sweeter than the truth so she ate it anyway. "So what can I do to stop him?" Myrcella asked.
"I know this isn't honorable or but I fear for my grand-daughter and grand-son," Olenna confessed with obvious shame. "With your uncle gone, as Heir to Casterly Rock you command the Lannister forces in King's Landing, your word is the law to them. Can you-" Olenna cut herself off as she sobbed.
Myrcella laced her hand with Olenna's in what she hoped was a comforting gesture. "Tell me what I can do to help." She demanded quietly.
Olenna wiped away her tears. "Your mother has men from Casterly Rock guarding the Black Cells, can you ask one of them to confess that Qyburn had Wat tortured until he agreed to lie? That the charges are all fabricated?" She asked before looking away from Myrcella embarrassed at her request.
Myrcella smiled softly. "Of course."
Olenna squeezed her hand tightly. "Thank you, my dear."
"We are gathered here today for the trial of the Queen, Margaery Tyrell on accounts of infidelity to His Grace, King Tommen, lewdness, adultery, fornication, adultery, lying before the Gods and high treason. May the Father grant us judgment and the Crone grant us the wisdom to discern the truth." The High Sparrow intoned. "Presiding over this trial is Roslin, Robert, Rhaena, James, Thomas, Lady Alys Bulwer, and myself the High Septon. Acting as the defendant for the accused is her brother Lord Willas Tyrell."
Myrcella had only ever been to one trial before, back when she thought King Robert Baratheon was still her father but this was certainly the oddest one she'd ever seen. The High Septon had chosen five commoners to sit as the jury over the trial. People who would be easily bribed or decide that their anger over their station or lack thereof would influence their decision making. That seemed like a foolish decision but from what Myrcella had heard of the High Sparrow he was a man of the people who considered the commoners equal to even the King in the eyes of the gods so it made sense for him to choose nobodies to preside over the Queen's trial.
Tommen was a bundle of nerves as his wife was brought out to the stand. She looked terrible, although less so than her mother did. She was pale and gaunt wearing a simple sackcloth as her only clothing, very unbecoming for a Queen. Despite her current state she stood tall and looked completely unfazed by her ordeal.
Despite his wife's appearance at the current time, Tommen was absolutely besotted with her. He looked at her with a clear desire in his eyes and his concern was palatable. He looked at her the same way Trystane looked at her and father did to her mother.
Her mother was glaring at the Queen and seemed joyful at her current state. Tommen blamed their mother for his wife's imprisonment as did Grandmum Olenna and while she wasn't so certain before, it seemed that it might be the case with the pure hatred their mother was openly displaying towards Queen Margaery. Myrcella couldn't understand why their mother couldn't just be happy that both her and Tommen were in love with their spouse like father was.
"Queen Margaery Tyrell, you have been accused of being unfaithful to your husband the King Tommen which is an act of treason and as such punishable by death. How do you plead?" The High Sparrow asked.
"Not guilty." Margaery declared her voice full of confidence but somewhat raspy due to her lack of speaking while imprisoned for the last few moons.
"There are witnesses against you, Queen Margaery." The High Sparrow said. "We shall hear their honest testimony first and then you will be allowed to call forth your own witnesses. You will not be permitted to speak until it is your turn and any infractions will be made a note."
"We understand, High Holiness." Lord Willas Tyrell spoke on his sister's behalf.
"The prosection calls forth it's first witness, Septa Moelle." The High Sparrow called out and in walked a rather large Septa with a mean face. "Septa Moelle do you swear in the sight of all of the Gods that you will speak only the truth and give honest testimony to the best of your knowledge?"
"I do." Moelle confirmed.
"Septa Moelle please share what you have to say then."
"When Queen Margaery was taken into the custody of the faith, I inspected the Queen's maidenhead to see if there was any validity to the charges leveled against her. Her maidenhead was already broken."
"Thank you, Septa Moelle." The High Sparrow declared with a slight inclination of his head. "The prosecution calls forth its next witness, Grand Maester Pycelle."
In walked an old friendly man that Myrcella knew well from how often he had treated her when they were children. He was, however, missing his long beard that when she had last seen him went past his waist but now he only had a chin full of peach fuzz. "Grand Maester Pycelle do you swear in the sight of all of the Gods that you will speak only the truth and give honest testimony to the best of your knowledge?"
"I do." Pycelle agreed as he bobbed his head sagely.
"Please give us your honest testimony then, Maester."
Pycelle pulled a scroll out of his robe and began to read off of it. "On the eighth day of the sixth month in the year three-hundred AC, Queen Margaery came to me asking for the herbal brew of tansy, a contraceptive more commonly referred to as Moon Tea. I granted her request and gave her a batch as was my duty as Grand Maester."
"You did not think it was odd that the Queen was asking for Moon Tea?" The plump man sitting on the jury that Myrcella thought might have been Robert accused.
Grand Maester Pycelle shook his head. "I presumed that His Grace, King Tommen simply did not want an heir yet. I never imagined a scandal of this magnitude or that the Queen had taken another lover nor was it my place to, I serve the King and Queen not judge their choices.."
Margaery looked like she wanted to say something and she was visibly angry but her brother Willas whispered something in her ear and had a hand on her knee which seemed to be enough to contain her obvious anger.
"Thank you, Grand Maester Pycelle." The High Sparrow declared with a slight inclination of his head. "The prosecution calls forth its next witness, Wat the Bard."
Out walked a rather frail and sickly looking man in all blue who might have been called handsome once but no longer looked the part. His one remaining blue eye was beady and frantic and he was shaking as he walked to the stand. His hair was a blondish color that looked like he hadn't received a hair cut in a long while or even brushed it. His fingers were swollen and purple, unable to play an instrument ever again. His teeth were oddly pristine compared to the rest of his body, unnaturally white even. Judging by her mother's glowering look of accomplishment, it was obvious who was responsible for the bard's current state. Evidentally her mother was trying to fabricate evidence against Margaery. If she did that to get rid of Tommen's wife, would she do the same for her? Myrcella hoped not, she loved her husband.
"Wat the Bard, do you swear in the sight of all of the Gods that you will speak only the truth and give honest testimony to the best of your knowledge?"
"I-I-I d-do." The Bard stuttered as he looked directly at the floor in front of him.
"Please share your honest testimony then, Wat."
"S-sometimes L-lady Margaery would f-fondle herself while h-her c-cousins p-pleasured m-me w-with their m-mouths," Wat confessed, a stuttering wreck. If she had doubted Olenna was telling the truth about Wat being tortured into lying those doubts were gone now. "O-other t-times I-I-I would sing for h-her w-whilst she s-sated h-her l-l-lusts with other m-men."
"Who were those other men?" The High Sparrow prompted gently.
"S-Ser Tallad, L-lambert T-turnberry, J-Jalabhar Xho, Hugh Cl-clifton, and Os-osney Ket-kettleblack." Wat replied quietly as if he was afraid of being overheard.
"Thank you, for your testimony, Wat. The prosecution calls forth its next witness, Lady Alla Tyrell."
Out to the stand walked a rather beautiful maiden that she had seen around the red keep before but never met. The girl was maybe ten and four, she avoided making eye contact with anyone and instead stood with her head down as if she was the one on trial.
"Lady Alla Tyrell, do you swear in the sight of all of the Gods that you will speak only the truth and give honest testimony to the best of your knowledge?" The High Sparrow asked once more.
Alla Tyrell glanced at him before averting her eyes in favor of the sight of her own feet. "I do."
"Please share your testimony then, Lady Alla."
"My cousins Margaery, Elinor, and Megga along with myself would sometimes call for men to give us improper attention and pleasure." Alla never looked up as she spoke in a quiet voice. "I never partook, of course, only watched as my cousins pleasured themselves with men who were not their husband like some kind of whore." Her face was an unnatural red by the end as if this was the most scandalous thing she had ever seen.
Myrcella chances a look over at Grandmum Olenna who had an ugly sneer on her face as her own kin lied about Queen Margaery and did not even implicate herself. Myrcella couldn't help but share her sentiment. Margaery was very clearly hurt by the baseless accusations her cousin had no doubt been bribed into making by Myrcella's mother.
"Who were those men?" The High Sparrow prompted her.
"Ser Tallad the Tall, Hugh Clifton, Osney Kettleblack, Jalabar Xho, and... Wat the Bard," Alla replied with only the slightest hesitation. She finally lifted her eyes and looked at the High Sparrow at the end there.
Grandmum Olenna for some reason looked ecstatic at her response. It only took a minute for Myrcella to figure out why that was. Alla had left out Lambert Turnberry from her confession throwing Wat's recount into question.
"Thank you, Lady Alla." The High Sparrow dipped his head to her and she practically ran out of the room at her dismissal. "The prosecution calls forth its next witness, Hugh Clifton."
Out walked another man who well he didn't look nearly as bad as Wat had, he had obviously been tortured into selling Cersei's lie. He had fresh scars on his cheeks and his arms were wrapped in bandages.
"Hugh Clifton, do you swear in the sight of all of the Gods that you will speak only the truth and give honest testimony to the best of your knowledge?" The High Sparrow parroted the customary question he had asked so many times today.
"I do." Clifton confirmed with a slight nod.
"Please share your testimony now."
"I was assigned to guard the Queen when shortly after she was wed to Renly Baratheon. When she was married she rarely slept with her husband. Her husband usually found his way into a man's bed and she often would invite men who were not her husband into her bed with Lord Renly not only aware of those dalliances but encouraging them. I'll admit I myself was lured to their bed on more than one occasion."
She heard a shifting of armor behind her and looked back to see Ser Loras's face red with rage and it looked like it took all of his discipline to not leap down there and skewer Clifton for his likely lies. Everyone knew that Renly preferred men and everyone believed Ser Loras was one of Renly's more frequent lovers. This had to be hard for Ser Loras to listen to a man he once trusted to protect his sister slander both his sister and dead lover.
"I thought these dalliances would end once she was betrothed to Joffrey and later married to Tommen but to my horror they did not. To my unending shame, I continued to fall into her bed and had sexual relations with her even while she was married to His Grace, King Tommen. I can only beg the gods for forgiveness for my weakness."
"Thank you, Hugh Clifton. The gods forgive and by choosing to confess and repent you will find mercy." The High Sparrow spoke softly. "The prosecution calls forth its next witness, Ser Tallad."
Myrcella could see why he was called Ser Tallad the Tall when he entered the room and walked to the stand. He was as tall as anyone Myrcella had ever seen and was skinny as a rail. His face was soft and he did not carry himself like other large men such as Ser Robert Strong did but as someone much more demure."
"Ser Tallad, do you swear in the sight of all of the Gods that you will speak only the truth and give honest testimony to the best of your knowledge?" The High Sparrow parroted the customary question he had asked so many times today.
"I do." Ser Tallad confirmed with a slight nod. His voice was low and gravelly while his face showed no sign of his true emotions. "
"We ask that you share your testimony then."
"I was a lover to Queen Margaery since her days as a husband to Renly Baratheon. Renly had certain proclivities for men that left him unable to sate his wife's desires so she would call on me to warm her bed. After Renly's death, she still often called me to bed with her, even during her betrothal to King Joffrey and after she married King Tommen. I foolishly believed my lust to be love and I can only ask the father to show me mercy for my sins."
Ser Tallad was a good actor, if this was a lie of course. Evidentally her mother had offered him some substantial reward for his mummery as he betrayed his liege lord. He genuinely looked remorseful for his crimes and like he wanted to change. He looked ashamed as he confessed his treason and adultery to all the realm.
"Thank you, Ser Tallad. The gods forgive and by choosing to confess and repent you will find mercy." The High Sparrow spoke softly. "The prosecution calls forth its next witness, Jalabhar Xho."
A summer islander with the native dark skin in a bright yellow vest with a feathered green cape practically floated out to the stand to share his testimony. He was dressed as a prince and not a man on trial with all his various jewels he wore one his person. Myrcella vaguely recognized him from his time in King Robert's court as an exiled prince begging for aid to reclaim his home.
"Jalabhar Xho, do you swear in the sight of all of the Gods that you will speak only the truth and give honest testimony to the best of your knowledge?" The High Sparrow asked once more.
Jalabhar grinned up at the box that the royal family was sitting in. "I do." His accent was thick and even if Myrcella did not know who he was she would immediately recognize he was from the Summer Isles based solely on his accent. No doubt he was trying to bedazzle her mother with his lies with that cocky and proud grin he sported on his face.
With how jubilant her mother was it seemed to be working, the trial was playing out exactly as her mother had wanted. Everyone was testifying the lies she had spoon-fed them and Lord Willas Tyrell was going to have a hard time digging Margaery out of the hole the prosecution had put her in.
"Please share your honest testimony when ready then."
"I served as a tutor to Queen Margaery, and her maidens, Alla, Megga, and Elinor." His voice was seemingly softer at the mention of the last name he gave but that might have just been Myrcella's imagination. "I would teach them the summer tongue and tell them stories of the beauty of the summer isles. Margaery would promise to bring my case before the King in exchange for the lessons."
Jalabhar sighed and flexed his hands. "I fell in love with the lady Elinor during those lessons despite her hand already being promised to Lord Alyn Ambrose. I will admit that I took her maidenhead but I will deny that I had any sexual relations with the Queen or the other ladies being accused and anyone whose claimed to have seen otherwise is nothing but a liar."
Jalabhar turned to glare at the box they were seated in. "Shortly after the Queen, Elinor, and the others were taken into custody on the senseless ramblings of a bard, the Queen-Mother Cersei had me taken into custody and thrown in a cell for cucking the King. She offered me the wall, in exchange for me confessing to having sexual relations with the Queen. She never tried to figure out if it was the truth just demanded a confession. Fearing that I might be tortured until I broke like that poor bard that my Lady Elinor was so fond of, I agreed to confess if I got the wall."
"I confess the truth as the gods have demanded." He declared. "I confess that I love my Lady Elinor." His gaze once again drifted to the royal box and he found her mother's furious eyes. "I confess that this trial is nothing but a farce organized by the Queen-Mother Cersei, in an attempt to take the crown from the rightful Queen's head."
If the High Sparrow was at all unnerved by the man's loud declarations then he gave no sign of it. "Thank you for your testimony, Jalabhar Xho." Jalabhar bowed and left the room to complete silence. "The prosecution had no more witnesses. We will adjourn briefly and then then the defendant will be allowed to present witnesses to share their testimony when we reconvene."
Myrcella chanced a glance at mother during the break and was pleased to see that she looked furious at Jalabhar's actually honest testimony. She was muttering under her breath and her hands were balled into fists at her side. Her face was red and she was trembling with pure rage. Myrcella couldn't help but wonder just why her mother hated Margaery so much, she knew she was protective of her and Tommen but this seemed to be too far. She didn't even hate Trystane half as much. She glanced over at her husband sitting by her side and he squeezed her hand in an attempt to comfort her. A vain one, sure but the sentiment was nice.
After what was probably only an hour, the High Sparrow banged his gavel and called for order. "We will now reconvene the trial of Margaery Tyrell with the defendant presenting their own witnesses before we reach a final verdict of guilt. Lord Willas, do you have any witnesses you would like to call forth?"
Lord Willas did not stand, seeing as how he was as cripple and just spoke from his wheelchair. "The defendant calls forth Maester Lomys to bear witness."
An elderly maester with a hooked nose stepped up to the stand. "Maester Lomys, do you swear in the sight of all of the Gods that you will speak only the truth and give honest testimony to the best of your knowledge?" The High Sparrow asked the maester.
"I do." The maester agreed without any hesitation.
"Maester Lomys, you have served as maester at Highgarden for eight and thirty years now, is that correct?" Lord Willas asked the maester.
"That is correct, my lord." The maester replied with a slight nod of his head.
"Can you share with the court when you first discovered Margaery's maidenhead had broken?" Willas prodded.
"I first discovered Queen Margaery's maidenhead had been broken on her routine checkup after her ninth nameday, before she had flowered. Queen Margaery had likely snapped hers during horseback riding as when she was younger she was quite the frequent rider. It is a common occurrence for a young girl to lose her maidenhead through non-sexual acts."
"Thank you, Maester Lomys. No more questions for you."
The old maester nodded and bowed towards Margaery and then he left the room.
"The defendant calls forth their next witness, Lady Elinor Tyrell." Willas declared and in waltzed the beautiful maiden that had stolen the heart of the exiled prince, Jalabhar Xho. It was not hard to see why her prince was so besotted with her, she was not at all lacking in beauty. Her auburn hair shone and her face was beautiful. She had a curvy figure and Myrcella noted one of the judges that she couldn't remember the name of was staring at her with visibly present lust in his gaze.
"Lady Elinor Tyrell, do you swear in the sight of all of the Gods that you will speak only the truth and give honest testimony to the best of your knowledge?" The High Sparrow asked once again.
The girl nodded and looked to where Jhalabar Xho was now seated after giving his own testimony. "I do."
"It has been alleged that you carried on an affair with Jhalabar Xho, are those accusations true?" Willas questioned calmly.
"They are." She confirmed. "We've been together since I first arrived in Kings Landing with Margaery, almost two years ago despite my hand being promised to Lord Ambrose."
"Was Queen Margaery aware of this affair?" Willas prodded.
"She was," Elinor confirmed.
"Did she help you hide your affair?" Willas asked immediately after her last answer.
"She did." Elinor agreed. "She would even ask for moon tea as she believed that her marriage to the King would stop people from investigating why it was needed. She knew it would be suspicious if I was the one to ask for it since I was not married and wanted my happiness. I'm ashamed that my own selfishness led to the false accusations about Margaery and caused her and Megga to suffer."
"No more questions. Thank you, Lady Elinor, for your testimony."
Elinor exchanged a sad smile with Jhalabar Xho before she left the stand joined her cousins in the audience.
"The defendant calls forth their next witness, Ser Loreon Lannister." Willas Tyrell called out and instantly people started muttering, shocked that the Tyrells would have a Lannister testify for Margaery and by extent against Cersei.
Myrcella had done as Grandmum Olenna had begged her to and told the guard of the Black Cells to confess of what Qyburn had done to Wat and the other prisoners. A part of Myrcella pitied the scorn Loreon would receive for stepping out against his family even if it was on her orders and a part of Myrcella wanted to tell mother he was doing it on her orders. But she refrained because she was afraid of losing her mother despite her recent cruelty so she said nothing letting Loreon take the scorn here for her.
"Loreon Lannister, do you swear in the sight of all of the Gods that you will speak only the truth and give honest testimony to the best of your knowledge?" The High Sparrow asked once the room had quieted down.
Loren looked towards the box Myrcella was seated in and a part of her wanted to hide away. She was afraid of her mother finding out but she needed her brother to have his love back. If she backed out Margaery could die and her death would be on Myrcella's hands so she met Loreon's gaze and nodded slightly, hopefully, an imperceptible gesture to her mother.
"I do," Loreon confirmed loudly.
"Loreon Lannister, you serve as a guard to the Black Cells in the Red Keep?" Willas asked already knowing the answer.
"I do." He confirmed his eyes once again finding Myrcella's and again she wanted to flinch away.
"When was Wat first imprisoned in the black cells, was it before or after the arrest warrant went out and Margaery was arrested?
"A week before, the arrest of Margaery and a day more before the warrant was issued as far as I'm aware."
"Can you describe what you noticed of Wat's imprisonment in the Black Cells?" Willas prodded gently.
"Wat was taken into captivity as a healthy lad full of vigor and youthful energy even when thrown in chains. The day after he was put in captivity, Lord Qynburnt and later Cersei visited him. I was not permitted to join them in the cell during their interrogation but when I saw him again the next day all his enthusiasm was gone. One of his eyes had been removed and his teeth were riddled with holes, his finger and toenails had all been removed in an effort to make him talk. He was broken." Loreon admitted frequently glancing towards Myrcella in order to make sure that these confessions against her mother were okay.
In unison horrified gasps sounded all around the court as he described the brutal torture of Wat in the Black Cells. She couldn't help but be skeptical that they are all genuine and not just hiding their casual acceptance of it like her mother often did.
"No more questions. Thank you for your honest testimony, Loreon Lannister." Willas said sincerely. Loreon nodded once more in Myrcella's direction before leaving the stage without another word.
"The defendant calls forth their next witness, Archmaester Ebrose." Willas declared.
Out to the stand walked a silver man. Like all Archmaesters, Ebrose wore a half mask on his face, a ring, and a rod which for this particular Archmaester was silver in color. His robe was also an extravagant silver. His hair was even silver although that was likely due to his advanced age. Still, he looked much more impressive than the Grandmaester Pycelle ever had.
"Archmaester Ebrose, do you swear in the sight of all of the Gods that you will speak only the truth and give honest testimony to the best of your knowledge?" The High Sparrow asked once more.
The elderly maester did not hesitate. "I do."
"If I am not mistaken, Lord Qyburn served under you as an acolyte at the citadel before he was expelled."
"That is correct." The Archmaester confirmed.
"Can you detail for us why he was expelled from the citadel?"
"I personally expelled Qyburn. He was practicing forbidden necromantic arts and had taken to experimenting on still-living humans, even dissecting them before trying to put them back together. He was immediately stripped of his status and banished from the citadel, he was forbidden from ever serving as a Maester." Ebrose shared without hesitation.
"So would you consider torture a form of his expertise?" Willas asked quietly.
The Maester seemed to ponder it for a moment and then nodded. "I wouldn't use such crude terms but that does appear to be a field that his unique proclivities would be best suited for."
"Your High Holiness, I would like to petition that we have the testimony of Wat dismissed as the evidence provided by Archmaester Ebrose and Loreon Lannister that it came after extreme torture and illegal partitioning of human dissection by an ex-acolyte who was forbidden from ever practicing his craft when he was banished. He did this before an official arrest warrant was issued by the King. I would also suggest Lord Qyburn's immediate imprisonment for his crimes and violations of his oath." Willas pleaded.
The High Sparrow stood up once more and banged his gavel. "All in favor of having the testimony of Wat dismissed?" All of the members of the jury except one raised their hand to signify that Wat's testimony was meaningless. "The testimony of Wat will be stricken from the record."
"Sons of the Warrior, I ask that you take Lord Qyburn and hold him custody until his own trial." The High Sparrow ordered and Myrcella watched as Lord Qyburn was peacefully stood from his place beside her mother, patting Ser Robert on the shoulder and exited with the faith militant to occupy a cell of his own. Cersei tried to hide it behind a passive face but Myrcella knew how furious her mother was that her loyal dog was now a prisoner, that the man who could doom her with his testimony was now in the custody of the man she would be tried by later this week. He could expose all her secret plots- but mother would get off free of any consequences because of the ever so just, trial by combat.
After things had settled back down, the High Sparrow resumed the trial of Margaery Tyrell. "Does the defendant have any more witnesses that they would like to call forth and share their testimony." He asked of Lord Willas.
"Just one more. The defendant calls forth Ser Osney Kettleblack to bear testimony." Willas declared with a slight smirk.
"Ser Osney, do you swear in the sight of all of the Gods that you will speak only the truth and give honest testimony to the best of your knowledge?" The High Sparrow asked for what should be the final time today and since Cersei's trial would be by combat, hopefully, the last time Myrcella ever heard him say that.
Ser Osney turned his faze up to the top box and glared at Myrcella's mother. "I do.
"Ser Osney, can you detail for us the circumstances that led to your imprisonment by the faith?" Willas asked with a small smile.
"I can." Ser Osney agreed firmly before resuming his glare at Myrcella's mother. "Queen Cersei approached me and asked me to try to seduce Margaery Tyrell so she could imprison her for infidelity and have her executed. She wanted me to then confess my crime to the High Septon and I would be granted the mercy of taking the black where I was to kill the Lord Commander, Jon Snow. I would then be granted a pardon for my crimes and be given a Lordship and a highborn wife."
Shocked gasps rang around the room despite everyone having already assumed similar. It was only proper after all for one to be affronted and outraged by behavior like this. Myrcella simply scoffed.
"As an incentive to perform the task she fucked me, repeatedly." Ser Osney added with a slight chuckle.
This time it was Myrcella who was outraged. Mother loved father, she would never. He had to be lying. She believed that her mother was behind Margaery's current situation but she would never choose to sleep with someone else other than father.
"I failed in my task, Margaery was kind to me and would tease a little but I could never seduce her into breaking her vows to her husband. So instead the Queen asked me to lie to the gods and claim that I had fucked her. As an incentive for telling that lie, she fucked me again so I could tell it true when I said I fucked a Queen. I did as she bid but the Crone gave his High Holiness the wisdom to see the lie for what it was and now I stand here today telling the truth in the sight of the gods."
"Queen Margaery Tyrell is innocent of the charges leveled against her, they are nothing but fabrications by the Dowager Queen Cersei to the best of my knowledge. Cersei Lannister has at least attempted to coerce myself and other key witnesses, including Wat the Bard through either torture or reward. The only Queen guilty of any crime here is Cersei Lannister." Ser Osney roared his eyes never leaving the top box and Cersei.
Lord Willas Tyrell stood with a smug smile. "Thank you for your honest testimony, Ser Osney." He turned towards the High Sparrow once more. "The defendant does not feel the need to present any more witnesses, your High Holiness."
The High Sparrow stood once more. "I think we can all agree we are ready to reach a verdict on the guilt of Queen Margaery Tyrell. All those in favor of a guilty verdict?" He asked of the jury and only one person, the same one who wanted to count Wat's false testimony in the proceedings raised his hand. Likely a man loyal to her mother or whatever incentive she had bribed him with.
"All those opposed?" The High sparrows asked and the other six hands rose in the air.
The High Sparrow smiled and banged his gavel for the final time. "The Gods have spoken here today and delivered their justice. In the name of the seven, I hereby declare that Margaery Tyrell is not guilty of all charges."
Tommen turned to her with the biggest smile she had ever seen from him and pulled Myrcella into a crushing hug. "She's free!" He cheered.
Margaery was finally free. Myrcella was going to get to meet her good-sister. She smiled brightly as well as she hugged Tommen back. Cersei, on the other hand, had an ugly scowl on her face that she made no effort to hide from anyone. Why couldn't their mother just be happy both her and Tommen were happy and in love like their father was.
Their mother did not look nearly so jubilant as they went to her own trial today. She was escorted down onto the stage by the faith militant where she would be held for the duration of the trial to prevent her from attempting to flee.
Ser Robert Strong had been conspicuously absent this morning as mother's shadow at breakfast and as they rode to her trial but Myrcella supposed he was just preparing for the trial by combat elsewhere since he would undoubtedly be named as her champion.
Myrcella took her seat in between Tommen and her husband and took both of their hands, intertwining fingers needing some comfort as she watched her mother's life be put on the line in a trial by combat. She was sure Ser Robert would defeat whoever he had to face but it was still nerve-wracking to know that one misstep by him would cost her mother her life. She was mad at her mother and maybe even hated her a little bit but she did not want her mother to die.
The trial for her mother was surprisingly lacking in attendees, at least in comparison to that of Queen Margaery. The section reserved for the members of the faith militant was particularly lacking with maybe half as many people there today as there was the previous day. She supposed most of them must just be squeamish and did not want to watch Ser Robert rip someone in half. Myrcella could understand that herself, she didn't particularly want to watch such carnage either.
The High Sparrow stood to his feet and the hushed murmurs silenced. "We are gathered here today for the trial of the Queen-Mother, Cersei Lannister on accounts of infidelity to the late King Robert of House Baratheon, the first of his name, lewdness, adultery, fornication, lying before the Gods and conspiring against the Queen Margaery Tyrell, which is an act of high treason. May the Father grant us judgment and the Crone grant us the wisdom to discern the truth." The High Sparrow intoned. "Presiding over this trial is Rose, Joana, Tytus, Lord Janos Wendwater, Miriam, Thomas Waters, and myself the High Septon. Acting as the defendant for the accused will be herself, the Queen-Mother Cersei Lannister."
"Queen-Mother Cersei Lannister, you have been accused of being unfaithful to your late-husband, King Robert of House Baratheon, the first of his name, lewdness, adultery, fornication, lying before the Gods and conspiring against the Queen Margaery Tyrell, which is an act of high treason and as such punishable by death. How do you plead?" The High Sparrow asked.
Cersei naturally did not respond to the accusations. "The gods know that I am innocent but I can not trust foolish men to find the truth so I leave it in the hands of the gods. I demand a trial by combat." She sniffed and held her head up high.
"A trial by combat you will have then. In accordance with the precedent set by King Aegon, the champion for any member of the royal family must be one of the king's sworn seven."
Her mother smiled gracefully. "Of course, I name Ser Robert Strong as my champion."
The High Sparrow frowned. "I'm afraid that is not possible, Your Grace."
Cersei scowled at him in confusion. "What do you mean that's not possible? Ser Robert was sworn in as a member of the Kingsguard. He is the champion of my innocence."
The High Sparrow actually scowled back at her although his tone was nothing if not polite. "Ser Robert Strong attacked the Great Sept of Baelor last night and absconded with Lord Qyburn after slaughtering all of the sons of the warrior present at the Sept last night in the escape."
Oh gods. Myrcella did this, sure she didn't kill them all herself but she was the reason Qyburn was arrested. She told Loreon to testify against him at Margaery's trial and as a result, Ser Robert had slaughtered men to rescue him from his imprisonment and likely death. All because of her actions at the behest of Grandmum Olenna. Olenna looked just as horrified as Myrcella felt she had a hand over her mouth and her eyes were wide as she stared at the High Septon in complete disbelief. This was an unexpected consequence for them all of Qyburn's arrest and imprisonment.
Her mother, Cersei looked scared for the first time Myrcella could remember seeing. She had been sad and shaken before but never truly terrified like she was right now. She was visibly trembling as she tried to regain control of the situation. "I name Ser Osmund Kettleblack as my champion." She declared in a shaky voice.
Ser Osmund limped forward. "I'm afraid I must decline, Your Grace. I injured myself in a spar yesterday and would not be able to aptly defend your honor." He said politely but it was obvious that he was upset with her for what had happened to his brother at Cersei's behest.
"Ser Loras Tyrell!" Cersei cried out desperately and Queen Margaery chuckled.
The High Sparrow shook his head. "I'm afraid not, Your Grace. Ser Loras was already chosen as the faith's champion by the Warrior for your trial if you chose one to have it be by combat before he was sworn in the Kingsguard."
Oh gods, Grandmum Olenna had planned for this to happen, Myrcella by telling Loreon to testify had doomed her own mother to death. She had been stupid and fell for the lie about them wanting to only punish Qyburn for torturing Wat and imprisoning Queen Margaery. She had thought they were doing it for Tommen's sake, to get Margaery back but this was always about punishing her mother's foolishness.
She curled into her husband's side and cried into his shoulder. "It's my fault." She sobbed. Trystane did his best to comfort her by rubbing circles on her back but it was largely ineffectual.
"Ser Jamie Lannister!" Her mother shrieked. "I choose Jamie as my champion."
Most of the room laughed at that response. Whether it was because he was a cripple or not a member of the Kingsguard she could not say why they did but they laughed all the same at her desperateness to have someone capable fight for her.
Myrcella was incredibly glad that Jamie had hung up his white cloak. She knew father would lose to Ser Loras and mother was going to die in this trial regardless she could not lose father as well.
"Your Grace," Queen Margaery called out two seats over from Myrcella. "Ser Jamie is no longer a knight of the Kingsguard. He resigned a moon ago. I understand how you could forget, however, with all that has been going on in the last few days. I'm sure it has been a very upsetting week for you." She taunted.
Trystane's chest heaved and it only took a moment for Myrcella to realize that this time her husband was one of the people who laughed at her mother. She angrily tore herself from his grip and turned to Tommen only to find him smiling as well. She scowled and pulled her hands away from both of them instead just crossing her arms over her chest, making no efforts to hide her tears.
She understood why her husband hated Cersei, and he was justified in doing so but he could at least pretended to care about her for Myrcella's sake, She might have gotten his favorite uncle killed and the Lannister's did murder his cousins as children. Myrcella just wanted an understanding shoulder to cry on.
Tommen was even easier to understand because Myrcella felt mostly the same. She too hated mother right now for her actions and interference in her love life. She still loved her, however, and certainly did not want her dead. Tommen, on the other hand, seemed to not care if their mother died, perhaps it was simply because he was a child who did not understand that she would really be gone forever. Or perhaps Myrcella would feel the same if it was Trystane that their mother had conspired to kill.
Her mother sighed and hung her head, resigned to her fate. "I name Ser Balon Swann as my champion."
Surely, he couldn't be that terrible of a fighter right? He was who her father had chosen as his successor as Lord Commander of the King's Guard. He could beat the tourney champion knight Ser Loras in single combat, right?
Ser Balon stepped forward and bowed. "I would be honored to fight as your champion, Your Grace."
"In the sight of gods and men, we gather to ascertain the guilt or innocence of this...woman Cersei of House Lannister. The champion for Cersei of House Lannister, Queen-Mother of, His Grace, King Tommen is Ser Balon Swann. The champion of the Gods choosing to represent the faith is Ser Loras Tyrell. May the Mother grant them mercy. May the Father give them such justice as they deserve. And may the Warrior guide the hand of our champion to determine the truth." The High Sparrow declared, and with that, the trial by combat began.
Ser Balon Swann was in the traditional garb he wore as a member of the Kingsguard. He wore the same silver armor he always did with a white cloak clasped to his shoulders by an ivory stag for the King's House and an onyx swan for his own. He wore a full helmet with swan wings at the edges of his eyes with a narrow slit at his eye level so he could see his opponent and his chain mail left him protected at his neck from any glancing blows. He carried a morningstar with a six-foot reach in his right hand and a small plain round shield on his left arm.
Ser Loras Tyrell was much more flashy. He wore his usual fanciful silver armor with twining black vines embroidered on it and the plate was adjourned with sparkling sapphires that shined beneath the bright sun. His helmet with a caged guard that protected his face from any broader strikes but a small blade could pass through the slits. His helmet was equally as lavish with roses of solid gold embroidered on it. He carried a more traditional bastard sword with a larger rectangular shield on his other arm bearing the seven-pointed star of the faith he was championing for.
Her husband tutted at Ser Loras's taste in weapon for the fight in what she assumed was an attempt to comfort her. "Choosing a sword against an armored opponent was unwise," he explained to her. "He'll do very little when he lands a blow against the heavy plate of Ser Balon."
When he noted Ser Balon's weapons of choice he nodded in approval. "The morning star is a much better weapon for this fight. Ser Balon is strong and one solid hit to the chest or head and he could kill Ser Loras instantly. He had more reach than Ser Loras as well with his weapon. Ser Loras will have to be quick and dance around him to win this fight."
There was a chance that her mother actually won this then, a chance that she would survive this trial. All it took was for the warrior to smile down on Ser Balon and let him get a single lucky hit in and he would win. Ser Loras was obviously the better and more capable of the combatants but all it took was one mistake and he could be dead and mother would live.
As soon as the trumpets sounded to declare the trial had begun, Ser Loras lunged towards Ser Balon with a swift strike at his flank. Ser Balon easily deflected it with his shield and tried to club Ser Loras's side with his mace but Ser Loras easily spun out of the way.
Ser Loras jabbed once more and again Ser Balon easily blocked it before attempting to club Ser Loras's skull but he spun away once more and lunged forward, this time he was too quick for Ser Balon to block and he took a glancing blow to his shoulder that seemed to not faze him at all as he scratched at his armor.
Ser Balon lunged forward this time with an overhead strike with the mace that Ser Loras narrowly managed to get his shield up in time to deflect the blow. He shoved off with his shield and glided backward, once again putting some distance between them.
Ser Balon immediately lunged forwards once more with a side strike that was deflected this time by Ser Loras's sword and well the weapon was blocked by the sword, he stepped forward and shoved Ser Balon's chest with his shield, causing the larger knight to stumble backward.
That was an opportunity that Ser Loras did not fail to take advantage of as he forced Ser Balon on the backfoot with a flurry of rapid strikes that Ser Balon only just managed to block before the next blow would come raining down on him. A hit got through and nicked his chest, another one scratched the side of his head. A third against his knee. Ser Balon was clearly losing this fight.
Luckily, the gods were on her mother's side and Ser Loras randomly stumbled while advancing, allowing Ser Balon to put some distance between them again and go back on the offensive with a swift strike towards Ser Loras's middle.
He of course parried that and took a step back before lunging forward once more. With a blow that was easily deflected by Ser Balon's Mace. They danced that way for a good few minutes with each person parrying the others blow with the greatest of ease as neither managed to land a single hit.
Myrcella felt hope with every blow that Ser Balon parried and every step that Ser Loras took back. Soon his back would be against the wall and he would have no chance to dance out of the way of Ser Balon's blows. "She might win," Myrcella muttered quietly.
"I doubt it." Trystane scoffed. "Every second this fight foes one for, Ser Loras's victory becomes much more likely." He explained to her. "Ser Balon has thicker and heavier armor with a weapon that requires more brute force than finesse. He tires as the fight drags on and soon Ser Loras will be able to defeat him with little difficulty."
Her husband really sucked at reassuring her and giving her false hope. At least he didn't sound so giddy about her mother dying anymore. He was at least trying to pretend he wanted Ser Balon to win and mother to live.
Ser Balon made a broad overhanded stroke with his morning star and Ser Loras lifted his sword to block the strike. Steel rang across steel as the blades clashed with Ser Balon putting all his force into the blow. Then Ser Loras actually dropped his sword.
Ser Balon could actually win this fight. Mother would live.
Ser Balon immediately pressed his newfound advantage and took quick strides forward with Ser Loras blocking each blow with his shield as Ser Balon made sure to back Ser Loras away from the sword so he could not recover the blade. Ser Loras blocked the next blow with his shield and unsheathed a smaller two-foot-long short-sword from his belt. With such little range it would no doubt be extremely difficult for Ser Loras to do anything more than block and hope Ser Balon made a mistake.
Ser Loras was almost up against the wall and soon he would have no room left to dance away from the mace, instead being forced to block every strike until eventually one landed and he died so that her mother could live.
That time had come as when Ser Loras spun out of the way of the next swing from the mace that was aimed at his rib cage. He danced away from the blow but his back was up against the wall and he was unable to survive with fancy footwork any more.
Myrcella looked away from the combat at the Queen sitting a few seats over, looking very much terrified that her brother would soon be dead. Tommen's face was impassive as if he couldn't care less if their mother lived or if his good-brother did. Mother looked ecstatic as she watched Ser Balon frantically hack at a very defensive Ser Loras and soon she would be free from the truthful accusations of treason.
Ser Balon took another broad swing with his mace that Ser Loras barely managed to block in time with his heavily dented shield and the force behind the blow was finally enough to put a hole in the shield. All Ser Loras had now was half of a shield and a short-sword. Surely, this was the end of this wretched trial.
Ser Balon took a wide swing, intent on caging in Ser Loras's skull with the morning star and ending this fight in an instant. Rather than try to dodge the life-ending blow or block it with the short-sword, Ser Loras stepped forward into it and thrust forward with his blade at Ser Balon's eyes.
The metal shaft of the morning star banged against the helm of Ser Loras but Ser Loras struck true and his blade found the spot between Ser Balon's eyes, the blade inserted narrowly through his visor.
Myrcella's joy turned into ashes in her mouth as Ser Balon fell to the ground with a sword jabbed in his visor. Myrcella was no warrior but even she knew that a strike between the eyes would kill him. Ser Loras also fell to the ground and Myrcella could only pray that he too was dead and the High Sparrow would declare that he had died first so mother won and would continue to live. She buried her head into her husband's shoulder to scared to look and see the truth.
Her hopes were crushed when the crowd roared and the trumpets sounded. She knew Ser Loras had survived and mother would die. This was all her fault. She had caused this by telling Loreon to rat out Qyburn and caused Ser Robert to flee leaving her mother with that man protecting her. This was all her fault.
"The gods have made their will known. Cersei Lannister, in the name of King Tommen of the House Baratheon, First of His Name, you are hereby sentenced to death." The High Sparrow declared pompously. "She will be beheaded tomorrow morning."
Her mother did not cry, instead, she cackled as she heard she was going to die. "Jamie was the valonqar." She screeched. "Why didn't I see it? Jamie was the valonqar."
I always planned on killing off Cersei here. Cersei is quite frankly a terrible main antagonist as if she was Queen, every single person in the seven-kingdoms would flock to Daenerys to see her on the throne since you really can't do worse than Cersei. It's much more interesting to have a more morally gray antagonist and not a Mad Queen. In case, you haven't realized it by now, this is not just a rehashing of cannon but a new story. If you want to see Cersei as a villain just watch season 7 and 8. In this, Tommen will remain King for the time being and the Tyrells will remain on his side, not Dany's. There are no Mad Queens or Kings, for that matter, in this story.
I find it utterly ridiculous that while Cersei was imprisoned, the idea that Olenna would not use the time alone with him, to manipulate Tommen against Cersei. When Tommen is alone without his wife and mother, he's going to latch onto any contact and it's very plausible that she would poison him against Cersei for taking Margaery away from him. She also uses the familial connection and Myrcella's care towards Tommen to manipulate her as well into dooming her mother. As Myrcella is heir to House Lannister and the Westerlands, it makes sense that her authority regarding Lannister soldiers would trump Cersei's. Cersei is obviously never going to use the Gold Cloaks that are not loyal to her for something so important.
Tyrion's trial is one of the most memorable scenes in both the books and the show but they show surprisingly little detail in both of the oaths they say or how the proceedings actually go, it's primarily just summaries of the happenings. Also, a trial by the High Sparrow is bound to be different than when by Tywin Lannister. Do they have defendants for the accused in ASOIAF? I'm saying yes and no one was willing to serve as one for Tyrion or maybe it's a case by case thing. Regardless, Margaery has one because, after months of solitary confinement, it's hard to believe that Margaery would aptly be able to defend herself.
I realize in the books that the High Sparrow has septons and silent sisters presiding over the trials but in the show, he yammers on and on about how the lowest of the common folk are equal to a King and even him so from my perspective, it seems more logical for him to use those common folk as the jury for his trials.
I tried to follow Cersei's plan for the trial from the books but quite frankly her plan is moronic. She wants to offer an exiled prince the wall because she thinks he's a beggar? There are men who would rather die instead of go to the wall. Even if the wall was fine, why would he not try for a better deal from the Tyrells? Why would any of them for that matter? Even if he is guilty, he still has no reason to take her proposed deal. She succeeds in getting some of them to confess but not all. With the "deal" the Tyrells gave him, he gets to retain his freedom and marry "his love" a beautiful maiden who now has no value to anyone else in marriage proposals due to him supposedly sullying her honor.
I know modern literature likes to make it out like a hymen is some virginity detector but they commonly break before one has sexual relations. Horseback riding is one of the most common ways, in fact, and in medieval times it's absurd to believe that most highborn ladies don't have their hymens broken before marriage. As a rich and powerful family with their own Maester, they had to have already known her hymen was broken if it was. The Maester giving a timestamp on when it happens, as the Maesters are sworn to hold no loyalty to who they serve, should essentially be the final word on that evidence being used against her.
Torture is common place in medieval times and isn't really used to dismiss an accusation. Why it's dismissed here is because it's Qyburn, an ex-acolyte forbidden from practicing his forbidden craft who does such things to Watt. The fact that he dissected and experimented on Wat without a license basically that is so unforgivable. Also, there is common folk on the jury who are less predisposed towards torture so they'll be more likely to forgive it. I originally had Sandor killing Gregor as the faith's champion in the trial of combat but that seemed way too cliche and I still want Ser Gregor around for later. Qyburn being imprisoned for continuing to practice his craft and ordering Ser Gregor who is essentially a mindless zombie to rescue him lets me keep both of them in the story while having Cersei lose her trial by combat as I planned.
I intentionally left Margaery's trial extremely open-ended on if she's actually guilty or not in spite of the verdict. Is Jalabhar just taking the deal that does not get him the wall or death? Is Elinor trying to save Margaery's life or being honest? One of their key sources was the Maester of High Garden, did they win his loyalty? Did he lie about how and when Margaery's hymen broke? Does it even matter?
Cersei was never going to risk her trial not being one by combat. She does love her children and doesn't want any ugly truths to come out that could threaten them or make them doubt her children's legitimacy. She can be executed for fucking Lancel, Kettleblack, and even Jamie but none of those mean Robert isn't their father. She wasn't on trial for claiming Tommen is legitimate but for cheating on Robert. Jamie wouldn't ever face any punishment for fucking Cersei because in a medieval society, no one cares if the men sleep around, only if the females do.
Although does it matter if Tommen/Myrcella are legitimate? In the show, Cersei becomes Queen after the death of Tommen despite having no Baratheon blood. This means that the succession line of Westeros is next of kin not next of kin within the same house since that's the only reason Cersei could become Queen since as his mother she is his closest living kin. So does it matter if they're Robert's children as long as Joffrey is? I guess the bastard status stops them from having a claim so Tommen has to be legitimate. Myrcella does not, if Tommen were to hypothetically legitimize Myrcella as a Lannister and Jamie's son with Cersei, she would still be next in line for the throne as Tommen's closest kin until he has a child of his own.
We know that Ser Loras is extremely hot-headed. He recklessly attacks Dragonstone and nearly dies in the process in the books. He executes the King's Guard on duty when Renly dies without thinking twice about it. He has horrible anger management. When Cersei is imprisoned alongside Margaery, it's very possible he goes to the Sparrow and demands to be the champion against Cersei, wanting her to pay for her actions. He admits his decision to Olenna who would rather her grandson not die so she manipulates it so he won't face a champion he can not defeat. Kettleblack is a sellsword and can obviously be bought out of being her champion, Jamie was never a threat and once he resigns, Ser Loras fills the gap so she has only five choices. When they get rid of Ser Gregor, everyone is very defeatable by him.
GOT has an obsession with everyone using swords against armored opponents for some reason which is stupid since they're not very effective against them. Using a heavier mace that can actually dent armor as Ser Balon was in this is much more logical. Hopefully, the combat scene was decent, it was my first time ever writing one.
What about the Valonqar prophecy? You could argue it's fulfilled by Myrcella ordering Loreon to testify against her (Or Jamie in Cersei's mind) or you could argue it's fulfilled by Ser Loras (A younger brother) being the one to kill her champion. In truth, it doesn't matter at all since the Valonqar prophecy is outright false in the show as in episode two, Cersei reveals her and Robert had a trueborn child with dark hair that died as a babe which since the prophecy says she had three children and none of them are Robert's the prophecy is entirely invalidated by that decision by the showrunners.
There won't be an execution scene because her insane cackle at the trial result shows enough and Myrcella's emotional state at seeing her mother executed is much the same to her losing the trial. Also, executions are really boring to write and feel aniti-climactic. This seems like a better place to end the chapter. Cersei is actually dead, she was just beheaded off-screen.
Thanks for reading, make sure to review and leave a favorite if you enjoyed this chapter and follow so you don't miss any future updates. On Tuesday we go back to Ser Davos who is now Lord Commander of the Night's Watch and get to see his vision for the Watch.