A/N: And we're back. We're working our way slowly to that wedding and were nearly there. But first...more character moments and conversations. With a rather interesting development at the end. Enjoy!

Chapter 35: Concerning Accusations

Tywin was not surprised to get a call from Olenna Tyrell in the days before the wedding, but it did put him on guard. He had been thinking about how to deal with Joffrey as quietly as possible at the Tyrell-Baratheon wedding—knowing that causing any sort of public disturbance could be used against them. And just as he was pondering solutions, the phone rang.

"Mrs. Tyrell," he said coolly in greeting. "Is there something wrong?"

"Why would there be something wrong, Mr. Lannister?" she asked. "I could be calling merely to catch up."

"We have never held a conversation for that reason," Tywin said. "And I ask because you are currently watching my granddaughter. I hope she isn't causing any trouble."

"Myrcella? No, no. She's a perfect little delight. Not much of her father in her. Not much of her mother either." There was an insult in there, but Tywin did not have the energy to take her bait. "I simply wondered if her stay would be extended past the wedding."

"Likely not," Tywin said. "From my understanding, Myrcella is ready to return."

"It will be a shame to see her go," Olenna said, and he could almost believe that she meant it. But he knew she hadn't given Myrcella much thought at all. That was not in her nature. "Will we be expecting all of your family for the wedding?"

"Most," Tywin said. "I won't pretend I know Tyrion's plans. But Jaime and Cersei will be there."

"All of the grandchildren as well?" Olenna asked. "Besides the one I've already got."

"Yes, why wouldn't they," Tywin said, his voice a bit flippant.

"I'm not sure. I know that Joffrey goes where he pleases. If he does come, I hope he won't make any trouble," Olenna said.

Tywin tapped two fingers against the desk. "If he does, I will put an end to it."

"That's good to hear," Olenna said. "I'd like my granddaughter's wedding to go smoothly. There will be so much press around, they'll be clamoring for every possible juicy rumor."

Tywin's eyes narrowed. It sounded suspiciously like a threat. And considering that she brought up Joffrey… did she know that he was involved in something? Or had she somehow gotten wind of him going missing. He wouldn't be surprised if Myrcella let it slip that he was in trouble. The girl didn't know how to temper her words in mixed company yet. Maybe Olenna was hoping for some sort of scandal she could use against his family. She was bringing Renly Baratheon into the fold after all. Both Stannis and Joffrey would be competition in her eyes.

"I'm sure that you will handle everything as you always do," Tywin said.

"I will," she agreed. "I hope you'll enjoy the wedding as well. I know it's not exactly your arena but so long as you're coming…" he could hear the smugness of her smile through the phone. "Try to have fun."

Jaime and Tyrion talked over the phone frequently, but that morning, their conversation started with a question rather uncharacteristic of Tyrion.

"Is something going on with Cersei?"

Usually, Tyrion would assume the answer was 'yes' and move on. He and Cersei hadn't gotten along practically since the moment he was born. At best, they maintained a truce at public and family events (at least the ones Tyrion bothered to attend). At worst, they were in a sort of blood feud with no end.

"Why do you ask?" Jaime managed after a pause.

"I called her today. Just to talk about the Tyrell wedding. I wanted to warn the family I'd be there so they can practice pretending that they don't know me," Tyrion said. "Usually Cersei and I snipe at each other, but today she really bit my head off."

"Isn't that normal?" Jaime asked.

"Well, more than usual," Tyrion said. "She seemed…off. Is it something father did? Or something Joffrey did?"

Jaime sighed. Even though Tyrion was often away from the family, he still knew them well. But this was one matter he wasn't sure he could tell Tyrion. His father would certainly be furious, but more than that, Jaime wasn't sure he had it in him to explain the whole thing. Maybe it would be better to wait until they had Joffrey well in hand.

"If there's family drama I just want a warning," Tyrion said. "That way I don't accidentally step in something in the middle of the reception. I only like angering father when it's intentional."

"Right," Jaime said. "It's…something with Joffrey."

"What did the little shit do now?"

Jaime ran his prosthetic hand over his hair. "It's…hard to explain. But it's bad."

Tyrion paused. When he spoke again, his voice was a bit less devil may care. "How bad?"

"I don't think I can explain fully," Jaime said.

"Hmm," Tyrion said. "If you won't tell even me, it must be really serious."

"I'm not required to tell you everything."

"No, but you usually do."

Jaime exhaled. "Just…if you see Joffrey at the wedding, let me know. Don't approach him. And if you see anything happening…ask me about it when it's all done."

There was silence and for a moment, Jaime thought he might keep pressing. Then: "All right, brother. Just this once I'll let you get away with keeping secrets. But only if you promise me a full explanation when it's all over."

"I promise," Jaime said. "Also, there was one other thing. That girl you're seeing. Shae? Are you still with her?"

"Surprisingly yes," Tyrion said. "Or maybe not so surprising, considering my money."

"Has she mentioned anything about the recent murders of sex workers?" Jaime asked.

"Well, not all sex workers know each other, Jaime."

"I know. But I thought I'd ask."

"Why?"

"I'm on the case," Jaime said. "Or…I'm helping with the case. An old friend is letting me help and I'm trying to be as useful as possible to her. If Shae does know any of them, or the person they worked for, that might help."

"Hmm," Tyrion said. "She's mentioned a few of them. She knew one…what was her name… Ros I think. I'll ask her but if she doesn't want to talk, nothing I say will convince her."

"I understand," Jaime said. "Thanks, Tyrion."

When he hung up the phone he sat for a moment, turning the phone in his hand. This situation really was a mess if even Tyrion was concerned for Cersei. He couldn't imagine she was doing well. Jaime had been busying himself with Brienne and this new investigation. But he couldn't abandon his twin.

He took a deep breath and sent her a text.

J: Drinks tonight?

The response was almost immediate.

C: God, yes.

Jaime invited Cersei to his place. She never approved of his messy apartment which was much cheaper than he could afford. But she also insisted she didn't want to go out in public where their conversation could be overheard. And she wanted to get away from the house for a bit.

She walked through the door complaining about the mess, but it was almost half-hearted. And when Jaime handed her a drink, she downed it two gulps. And handed it back to him.

"Another."

"Promise to go slower with this one," Jaime said as he filled it.

"Are you criticizing me about my drinking?"

"No," Jaime said. "I just don't want you to drink up all of my reserves."

They sat at his table and drank in silence for a while. Jaime didn't know what to say or if he should say anything at all. For so much of their childhoods, Jaime and Cersei had been inseparable. When one of them fell, the other felt the sting. But time and age and pushed them further and further apart.

He still felt the sting though. All of her grief and anger and confusion radiated from her, and even if she was partially to blame, he could not help but feel sorry for her.

But what could he say? Her son was a murderer and on the run and possibly in danger from mysterious puppet master. What advice could he offer? What comfort could he provide besides his company and his alcohol?

"I hope the Tyrells don't skimp on the wine," Cersei observed. "They're wealthy. They own vineyards all over. If they don't have the best damn wine in the world, I'll have words with Olenna Tyrell."

"I like the image of you arguing with Olenna Tyrell," Jaime said. "She may be one of the few people scarier than father."

"She's a snake in the grass. I don't trust her one bit," Cersei said.

"I don't think anyone does," Jaime said. "But father manages to keep her at bay well enough."

"Might have some trouble with this new union," Cersei said. "A Baratheon and Tyrell partnership…"

"Can't happen as long as Stannis is in charge," Jaime said. "Not fully anyway. Renly can make all the plans he likes, but he won't get anything past Stannis."

"No," Cersei mused. "He's a stick in the mud, but he's a sharp stick. Doesn't miss a thing." She sipped her drink. "I hate him."

Jaime laughed. "I find him dreadfully boring myself. Still, I'm sure the Tyrells will have excellent wine."

"Good." Cersei turned her gaze to her glass. "Maybe I can drink enough to block the entire wedding."

Jaime studied her carefully. He was tempted to admonish the thought, but that wasn't what she needed right now. He didn't know what she needed.

Cersei let out a heavy breath, her green eyes suddenly very far away. "I failed my son, Jaime."

Jaime shook his head. "You didn't—"

"I did," Cersei said. "When I got pregnant with him, I was tempted to hate him. He put everything in my life on hold. He forced me to marry Robert Baratheon to avoid a scandal. If I could have gotten rid of him in the early stages, I might have tried. But then he was born and he was…he was such a happy baby. A spot of joy in this new life I no longer wanted. He kept me going through all of Robert's affairs and his drinking."

Jaime's jaw clenched. Robert was the worst of them in his opinion. A drunk and a fool who was never told 'no' once in his life. And he had humiliated Cersei so much. Part of Jaime wished he were still alive just so he could put him in the ground again.

"There were warning signs, of course," Cersei continued. "Little acts of cruelty. He was a bully practically from the moment he entered school. I think he was trying to mimic his father. But I brushed every little incident aside. 'He'll grow out of it' I told myself. 'It's a phase. He'll grow out of it'. He has to." She raised her glass. "And then one day I turned around…and he was worse than ever. And he wasn't listening to me anymore. There was nothing I could do but watch."

"It wasn't just you," Jaime murmured. "His father should have done something. Our father should have done something. Hell, maybe even I could have done something."

"But I'm his mother," Cersei said.

"It still doesn't all fall on you," Jaime said. "Some of it, sure. You shouldn't of hid what he did that night, but I think you know that. But there are a lot of people to blame for this. Let's not forget Joffrey himself."

Cersei finished her drink, setting the empty glass on the table. "I know. I know there were others. But I can't be angry at Robert anymore. He's dead and I don't want to waste thought on him. Being angry at father has never done me any good. And being angry at Joffrey…" she shrugged helplessly. "That leaves me."

"Well, you can't be all bad," Jaime said. "You have Myrcella and Tommen. They're wonderful. They make friends with everyone they meet. No one has a cross word to say about them."

Cersei's mouth twitched. "They both turned out well. But sometimes I think that's in spite of me."

"I doubt they would agree if you asked them."

"Yes, but that's because they're sweet. I haven't a clue where they got it from." She sighed. "I don't need you to excuse what I've done, Jaime. I think I've had enough of those. Excuses…they eat a family up from the inside out."

"Then what do you need?" he asked softly.

"One more drink," Cersei said, raising her glass. "A drink, no judgement, and my idiot of a twin brother. That's what I need."

Jaime gave a smile and stood, taking the empty glass. "I think I can give you that."

Catelyn hadn't been sleeping much lately. There were so many matters to attend to. Helping Robb fend off the board at work, all well hiding what she had learned about Joffrey so as not to distract him. Preparing for the wedding where she and her family may once again be in the spotlight. And then Joffrey. The boy who had killed her husband. According to Arya, he would be at the wedding. Tywin Lannister had promised to deal with him justly, but she could not help but doubt the word of a Lannister.

And then, in the midst of it all, she received an invitation to lunch from Lysa.

She and Lysa hadn't been close in many years. Not since they'd both been married. Catelyn tried to reach out to her many times, but Lysa rarely returned her calls, or when she did, she simply made excuses. When they did meet, she made sniping comments about Catelyn's husband and her children, hidden behind a smile. Catelyn loved her sister, yes. But she had lost her patience with her. Lysa would do what Lysa wanted and there was nothing Catelyn could do to change that.

So the invitation…it surprised Catelyn. She couldn't remember the last time Lysa invited her to anything that wasn't a larger social function. Catelyn didn't really want to say yes. She had so much on her plate. But something, maybe her eldest sister instinct, made her agree.

Lysa invited her to the Arryn family mansion. Another strange thing. Catelyn would have assumed she wanted to meet on neutral ground. Some crowded restaurant where they only had to endure each other's company for an hour. She had been to the Arryn mansion many times, but always for more public functions.

Something isn't right, she thought as she parked in the driveway and made her way up the steps. But she wasn't sure if that was her paranoia from recent events talking. After everything that had happened… nothing had seemed right for a long time.

So she steeled herself and stepped through the doors.

Lysa had lunch ready in one of the parlor rooms—a beautifully furnished area with windows overlooking the gardens. One of the maids escorted Catelyn there and offered to take her jacket. Catelyn thanked the young woman and sat down in her seat in front of Lysa who was delicately stirring her tea.

"I'm glad you could come, Cat," she said. "I've missed you."

Have you, Catelyn thought. Or do you want something?

It was a terrible thing to be suspicious of one's family, but Catelyn could not help it. Still, she smiled. "I've missed you too, Lysa. You look well."

"So do you."

"How is Robin?"

"He's well. Getting bigger every day. Big and strong. How are your children?"

"They're well."

"Good. I'm glad."

It was all meaningless small talk and Catelyn could sense Lysa was holding something back. But she played along, picking at her lunch, and waiting for the other shoe to drop. She watched her sister for her telltale signs of nervousness. Her tongue darting across her lips. A twitch of her eye when she smiled. Wringing her napkin under the table. Catelyn picked up all three and eventually she could not stand waiting anymore.

"Lysa," she said. "Why did you ask me to lunch today?"

"You're my sister," Lysa said.

"That doesn't answer my question," Catelyn said. "I've been your sister your whole life. But it's been a very long time since you've extended an invitation."

Lysa sniffed. "You haven't extended me one in some time either."

"That's because I got used to you rejecting them," Catelyn said.

Lysa smoothed her wrinkled napkin in her lap again. "I did ask you here because you are my sister. Because I'm worried for you. I…I have something to tell you that I've been holding back for some time."

"Why?" Catelyn asked. She had more questions than that, but that was all she could manage in the moment.

"I was afraid," Lysa said. "Afraid to tell anyone. I thought my boy and I would be safer if we just…kept quiet about it all. But Cat, I can't. I just can't any longer."

Her sister reached across the table to grasp her hand. Catelyn did not grasp it back, but only because she was confused. A little frightened. What did she mean to tell her? Could Cat even take any additional news.

"My husband. Jon," Lysa said. "I know he was old. Quite a bit older than me. You and father always made a point to mention it. But Cat, he was healthy. He should have had years left ahead of him." She shook her head. "He didn't just die, Cat. He was murdered."

Catelyn swallowed hard. That, at least, she already suspected, but to have Lysa confirm it after all of this time…the news still fell into the pit of her stomach. "Oh?"

"I know you'll think me paranoid or mad," Lysa said. "But it's true. It really is."

I may have thought you paranoid, Catelyn thought. If my life was not currently wrapped up in some awful conspiracy.

"All right," Catelyn said at last. "How was he killed then."

"Some form of poison," Lysa said. "They found traces of it in his blood."

Catleyn's brow furrowed. "Then why didn't you go to the police."

"I couldn't, Cat," Lysa said. "They warned me not to. Warned me there would be consequences if I did. I had to think of Robin." She shrugged helplessly. "And then they made the evidence disappear."

"Who's they," Catelyn asked.

"I don't know for sure," Lysa leaned forward. "But I have a very strong theory. Shortly before he got sick…Jon met with Cersei Lannister. It was over some contract between our airlines and the Lannister family business. I wasn't there of course. But she was the last person he saw before he started to grow ill."

Catelyn's brow furrowed. "You think that Cersei Lannister murdered your husband?"

"Why not? I wouldn't be surprised if she killed Robert too. The alcohol may have hid it, but his death so soon after Jon's. It's not a coincidence." Lysa tapped the table between them. She sounded wired and if not for recent events, Catelyn would have been concerned for her health. "Tell me, who else has the resources to make something like that go away in the blink of an eye?"

"They may have the money," Catelyn said. "But why would Cersei kill your husband? Maybe she'd have a motive to kill Robert, but not Jon."

"Maybe Jon was making himself too much of a problem for the Lannisters. Maybe they wanted to destabilize the other wealthy families of King's Landing," Lysa said. "I don't know for sure. I never got involved with Jon's business, so I don't know what they talked about that night. But you know as well as me how ruthless the Lannisters can be. Cersei, Tywin, the whole lot of them."

"They are ruthless," Catelyn said slowly. "But they've never had to resort to murder."

Even as she stated it, she felt unsure. Because just recently, she discovered Joffrey had killed her husband in a car accident at the behest of some mysterious puppet master. And his mother had covered it up. And Tywin Lannister, she never could read his exact intentions. Ned said he was the hardest, cruelest man he ever knew. He was completely capable of murder if it suited him. So did it? Was all of the help he was giving them just a clever way of making sure he and his family did not take the blame?

No, she thought. No. He may be cruel. But he shows it by destroying businesses. He wouldn't need to poison Jon Arryn. Just buy him out. But Cersei. Would she, if she had the right motive?

"You can believe me or not," Lysa said. "But your husband died close to mine, and I can't help but think he was caught up in it too. You need to be careful of the Lannisters. Stay far away from them if you can."

Far too late for that, Catelyn thought. "I appreciate your concern, Lysa," Catelyn said. "I don't suppose you'll be going to the police with this."

"No," Lysa said. "The threat still stands. Robin and I could still be in danger. I just don't want to see anything happen to you and the children you have left. You've already lost so much."

Catelyn's grip tightened on her napkin. Yes. She had. And she did not intend to lose anymore. But if it was the Lannisters behind all of this… what the hell was she supposed to do with this information.

"Thank you," she said softly. "For telling me, Lysa."

"Of course, Cat," Lysa said. "I'm sorry it took me so long."

Whether she was truly sorry or not, Catelyn didn't know. But her mind was still spinning when she left the house that day as it tried to piece together the information. Three CEOs dead within a month of each other. One from natural causes. One from alcoholism. One from a car accident. Now different people had claimed all three to be murders. There were suspects. There were even confirmed culprits. But nothing that led to a mastermind behind it all. There was no one answer. Only questions on top of questions on top of questions. And what was Catelyn meant to do with it all?

Wait until after the wedding, Catelyn thought. We will see what they do with Joffrey. If Tywin Lannister if keeps his word. If he does not…

If he does not, I may go to war with him.

A/N: Catelyn is having to process a LOT you know? I never give the characters rest. Or you guys. Hope you enjoyed. Review, subscribe and I'll see you next time!