"According to legend, Casterly Rock itself was founded and held by your house, after its founder, Corlos, slew two golden lions that lived in the cave below where this very castle sits. The caves were filled with gold. Great amounts of gold. Corlos himself was tricked into giving the Rock to your ancestor, Lann the Clever. Now, children, do you know how long ago this was? Lord Jaime?" Maester Creylen prompted hopefully.
Cersei looked at Jaime and he was watching a ship come in from the harbor of Lannisport from out the window.
"A thousand years ago, Maester, during the Age of Legends," Cersei cut in to save the painful process of Maester trying to extract an answer from Jaime, that he did not know. Yet again.
"Yes, um, Lady Cersei, that is correct," Maester smiled at her. That girl was far too clever for her own good.
"Maester," Cersei continued, trying to break the monotony of the lesson, "is it true that Lann the clever still haunts this fortress? I've heard the servants talking as such."
"Nay, Lady, those are just stories the small folk tell. There is nothing to fear here, my dear," Maester reassured her.
"Oh, I am not afraid. But I fear my brother is. He's afraid to go down to the caves now. Father says a Lannister is not to be afraid of anything, for a lion never fears the lambs," Cersei said, smiling mockingly at her brother.
Jaime muttered, "I was not afraid when I jumped off the cliff, was I, Sister?"
"Oh, but Jaime, you were afraid after Father caught you, hmm? Drowning in the Sunset Sea was the least of thy problems!"
Jaime's face colored at the memory. Tricked again by his twin, did she never tire? How could someone so cruel be so beautiful?
"Oh, well, I am not sure the caves are a place for children, Lady. Let us move on with our lesson, shall we?" Maester said launching into another history lesson.
Jaime glared at her from across the table, but Cersei just gave him an innocent look.
After Maester finally dismissed them from lessons, Jaime brushed past Cersei quickly.
"Jaime, you are so rude. You have the manners of a drunkard at a mummer festival!" Cersei chided.
"Pardon me, Lady, Ser Broom is expecting me for training. I am sure you do not mind if I am late again, but he certainly will," Jaime said quickening his step. He certainly did not want to get on Ser Broom's bad side. The man was not afraid to ring his helmet like a bell if he dropped his sword arm or got distracted. And the man hated lateness, he warned him if he was late one more time-
"Oh, before you go, have you seen my golden lion necklace? Father gave it me on my last name day," Cersei asked innocently.
"No, why in the Seven Hells would I notice your stupid necklace?" Jaime retorted sharply.
"Oh, I thought I saw your little whore stealing it from my quarters," Cersei said lightly. She went to push a lock of his golden hair behind his ear. He was hers from the start and would always be hers. No common slut would steal him away, Cersei thought.
"Cersei, you have a hundred gold necklaces. By the Seven, we live on top of a gold mine. And she is not my 'whore', I merely helped her pick up all that laundry when you knocked it out of her hands," Jaime said a little louder than he meant to.
"She was walking too fast in the corridor. We have priceless items that can get knocked over. If you like these servants go wild, they will destroy the whole castle. Mother would have never allowed such disrespect from them," Cersei said wide-eyed.
Jaime shook his head, "I heard Uncle Kevan telling Father he thought you were long overdue for a good spanking. I am starting to think he is correct. Drop this necklace ruse or I might be doing the spanking myself, do you understand?"
Cersei's face turned crimson. How dare he? No one took her to task anymore. She was to marry the prince someday and become Queen of the Seven Kingdoms. (Father told her that, but then told her not to tell anyone. But even still...) She raised her foot and stomped down as hard as possible on Jaime's foot. Then, she flounced off in blur of crimson silk down the hallway cursing and sighing.
"Cersei! I swear I am going to have a word with Father..." Jaime fumed, limping down the corridor.
"Jaime? Are you all right?" he heard a small voice call him. Only right sounds like "wight", which always made Jaime smile.
"Tyrion, lad, is that you?" Jaime asked.
"Yes, Jaime. I saw Cersei hurt you," Tyrion said peering up at his much larger brother.
"I am fine, Tyrion. You know how she gets when she is...well, herself. How are you? Are you doing your studies?" Jaime asked kindly.
Tyrion had his own tutor and septa to look after him. Jaime liked to have believe it was because he was so much younger than them. But mayhaps it was that Father really did not care if Tyrion learned or not.
"Yes, Jaime. But I want to learn swords with you. Can I be a knight, too?" Tyrion asked with awe.
"Of course. Speaking of, I must get to training or Serr Broom will thrash me...with a broom!" Jaime jested.
Tyrion laughed with glee. He liked puns and plays on words.
Jaime looked down at his little brother, with only five name days or so behind him, and his heart tore. He was so small, yet so clever. But as a dwarf, Tyrion would have been left to die, if he was not a Lannister. Jaime would do anything he could to protect him. Sadly, his greatest enemies were Father and Cersei. She was jealous of anyone Jaime liked and she knew Jaime loved Tyrion.
"Lord Tyrion!" the septa called.
"Ser Tyrion of the Rock, you are going to be in trouble as well. Get back to work and I will see you after supper," Jaime said limping off to training. Seven Hells, he could barely walk. That sister of his was really asking for it.
At supper that night, Tywin asked Jaime how his training went.
"Fair, Father," Jaime shared.
"Just fair?" Tywin prompted.
"I was a bit...late. Ser Broom drilled me rather hard and I injured my foot as well. That new sword has a perfect balance though. Thank you, Father," Jaime said in a lame attempt to change the subject.
"Jaime, I do not wish to hear that you are late again. I am going to ask Serr Broom for a full reporting of your training. I know you are good with the sword, but I want you working on the bow and lance also. Do you understand me, Son?" Tywin enunciated as if speaking to a very stupid child.
Jaime's face flushed and he mumbled, "Yes, Father, I do."
Cersei smirked silently cutting up her meat carefully.
"Now, my dear, how was your day?" Tywin said, almost smiling at his only daughter.
"Excellent, Father. We learned about the history of Casterly Rock today at lessons," Cersei shared.
"What did you learn, child?"
"Did you know that The Rock has been measured at three times the height of the Wall or the Hightower of Old Town?" Cersei asked in amazement.
"Why, yes, I did happen to know that. Did you know when I was a boy that my father used to keep real lions below? One night a lioness escaped and almost mauled Father, the kennelmaster saved his life. That man lost a leg in the attack himself. But my father was very grateful and gave him a small piece of land and a title. That is how House Clegane was formed," Tywin shared.
"I did not know that, Father," Jaime admitted.
"Well, you would have to start paying attention at lessons in order to know anything, dear brother," Cersei lectured.
"I pay attention. I just drift a bit when it gets dull," Jaime admitted.
"Jaime, I best not hear about you not attending to your lessons. I know you do not want me to tutor you again," Tywin said sharply.
"No, Father," Jaime said in embarrassment, casting a wary glance at Cersei. She was really furious about what he said earlier.
Cersei often mocked Jaime for Tywin having to teach him to read because the maesters and tutors could not. Tywin was not a patient instructor. He seemed to teach Jaime to read with sheer force of will and a ready switch.
Father finally excused them to bed with warnings to be live up to their names and all that.
Before her death, five years before, Lady Joanna had moved the twins' bedchambers as far as way from each other as possible. Cersei had managed to move much closer to Jaime's room last year. She was stalking off quickly. Jaime was still limping a bit, but managed to catch her arm.
"Cersei, I hope you are happy with yourself. What? I said you needed a hiding, so you try to get me thrashed? Is that it? Or are you still vexed over that servant girl? I am telling you, forget her. She is comely, but nothing to me, compared to you," Jaime confessed.
"Really, Jaime, you mean I am prettier?" Cersei said with a glint in her eye.
"Of course, you are. You are the most beautiful girl in the world," he said honestly.
For once, Cersei flushed, "I am sorry, Jaime. I do not want Father to cane you. I was angry though. I thought you liked that girl. I might have..."
"Cersei, what did you do?" Jaime asked firmly.
"Jaime! Jaime! Can we play swords?" Tyrion ran up to them excitedly.
Jaime picked him up and spun him around.
"Go play with your little imp. I guess you will find out tomorrow," Cersei said sharply rolling her eyes at Tyrion. A dwarf Lannister, why did Father allow such a thing?
Jaime entertained his little brother until the septa bade him leave. Father barely glanced at the child. Each time was a reminder that Joanna was dead and in her place was Tyrion. Jaime felt like he had to make up for Tyrion not having a mother or a father, or even a sister. He promised him that tomorrow they would go play in the Hall of Heroes together. Jaime had a bad feeling about what Cersei was up to now, but there was naught he could do about it.
Jaime was heading down to break his fast the next morning when he heard the ruckus near Cersei's bedchamber.
"Mistress, I did not steal anything. I swear it by the Seven," Jaime heard the girl call out. Leyla, that was her name. Jaime had only spoken to her a few times. She was lovely, but shy and hardworking.
The Mistress of the household staff was dragging the girl away roughly by the arm. Cersi was standing there smugly watching with the "lost" necklace in her hands.
"Then, whys come the necklace was in your quarters, lass? Can ya explain that?" she questioned the girl.
Jaime whispered loud enough for only his sister to hear, "Cersi, I told you not to do it."
"Do what, Brother? I am the victim here," Cersei said in a mock sweet voice.
Jaime shook his head and stalked off. He caught up to the Mistress shoving the girl into a storeroom off the kitchens.
"Pardon me, Mistress, may I have a word with you," Jaime inquired trying to sound like a lord.
"Oh, my lord, of course," the Mistress bowed, telling Leyla to stay put.
"I am sorry to bother you, but I fear that Leyla is innocent. I believe my sister made a ... mistake," Jaime tried to explain carefully. She wasn't the first girl Cersei had framed.
"My lord, if your lady sister, caught her stealing then I must punish her. That is the way of it," the Mistress said plainly. He realized that this woman knew that Leyla had been framed.
"My sister is a liar," Jaime hissed. "Please do what you can to postpone this. I am going to speak with my Father."
The Mistresses eyes grew wide.
"Please, Lord, do not make it worse. I'll give her the strap and it will be done and over with. To anger your sister more is dangerous," she begged.
Jaime nodded realizing the truth in her words. All his father would do is bark, " A lion without teeth is a lion no one fears." Jaime would be lucky if he would not be bent over the desk with his breeches down for a session with his father's cane. That would be a double victory for his sister.
The woman went into the storage room and soon Jaime heard the sounds of the strap hitting bare skin. The girl was crying out and he wanted to cry himself. If there was one person who deserved the strap or cane, it was his sister.
Jaime avoided Cersei the rest of the day, he asked to sup with Tyrion in his quarters. Afterward, he took the boy to play in the Hall of Heroes. The Hall of Heroes was the tombs of the Lannister kin and heroes. The armor of Lannisters of old were displayed along the walls. Jaime had asked one of the Septa's helpers to come with them in case his plan worked. He had a suspicion that Cersei would follow him and he didn't want Tyrion to have to go back to his bed chamber alone. It was dark down here and Jaime had brought a torch.
"Brother," he heard Cersei call to him.
"You mean 'brothers" do you not?" Jaime said indicating Tyrion.
"Yes, hello, Tyrion. Be a good lad and leave Jaime and me to speak," Cersei said tightly. It took a great effort for her to be civil to the boy who killed her mother in her mind.
Jaime nodded to the helper to take the boy back. Jaime ruffled his hair and promised to break his fast with him tomorrow.
"You know, the more you coddle him, the harder it is going to be when he dies," Cersei said cruelly, moving the torch she was carrying up and down. The light bounced off the walls in terrifying patterns.
"Die? He is in perfect health. He is not dying when I am around," Jaime said plainly.
"He killed our mother, Jaime. Does that mean nothing to you?" Cersei raged.
"Cersei, he is innocent. He was a baby. It is not his fault. How can you even think that?" Jaime asked disgusted.
"You love that twisted little monster more than me," Cersei said, now weeping.
Although Jaime was angry with her, he could not stand it when she cried. He stepped forward and pulled her towards him. Cersei raised her face and kissed his cheek. He knew she wanted more, but it was not right. Is that not why Mother had moved them apart when the servant caught them sleeping in the same bed? He stroked her long blonde hair and breathed in the scent of the spicy scent of her soap. How could you love and hate someone so much at the same time?
"Jaime, we shared a womb. We should not be fighting," Cersei whispered.
"Cersei, I told you there was nothing between that servant girl and me. Yet, you framed her. She was getting a whipping in the storage room for something she did not do!" Jaime lamented.
"A whipping will help her mind her betters. It will do no harm," Cersei scoffed.
Anger blazed across Jaime's face.
"Did I not warn you about what I would do if you did not drop this?" Jaime said sternly, still clutching her arm. Cersei looked down as Jaime almost never took that tone with her. He raised her face to look at him.
"What did I say I would do, Cersei?" Jaime repeated.
"Spank me," she replied in a small voice.
When a lion roars, he must follow up with an attack...Was that not what Father said. Seven hells, it was something like that, Jaime thought. I must follow through.
"Yes, now come," Jaime said softly leading her down the hallway and into a side room with a rough wooden door. He wasn't sure what this room had been. Maybe a guard room or a secret hideaway.
Jaime took their torches and put them through the sconces. He then led his sister over to a couch up agains the wall. Jaime sat and held Cersei between his knees while he gripped her hands, lest she try to flee.
"I am loathe to do this, Cer, but you do not listen to me anymore. I told you that I had no interest in that girl. Now, take off your dress," Jaime demanded. Her knew how many layers of cloth her dresses were and he did not wish she fight through them.
Obeying silently, Cersei unbuttoned what she could and turned so Jaime could undo the rest. She always wore red and gold gowns in their Lannister. It suited her. He slipped the gown down and let it puddle on the floor.
Cersei stood shivering in her white shift.
"Come, Sister, it is time to warm thee up," Jaime japed, turning her slowly over his knees. He moved back as far as he could go to allow her body to be supported by the couch.
Jaime put his left arm over her back and rested his hand on her backside, patting it slightly. Aside from a few playful swats, he had never spanked anyone. Having been on the receiving end did not prepare him much.
"Jaime, you made your point. I will not do it again. Let me up," Cersei breathed.
Jaime's answer was a hard whack to her backside. He figured he would let the flat of his palm doing the talking. Crack! Smack! Whap!
By the fourth spank, Cerei knew she was in trouble. The whacks were stinging more than she thought possible. Jaime was swatting her hand and keeping his hand loose. Whack! Whack! Whack!
"It has been far too long since you were in this position. I shall not make that mistake again," Jaime said. He was not sure why he was still getting thrashed all the time, when no one had touched his sister in years. Jaime realized half the whippings he got were because of his sister. That needed to end, he said to himself.
"Seven hells, Jaime. The jest is up. Stop now. Ouch!" Cersei gasped. She never imagined that he would spank her this hard. Her behind was stinging and burning through her shift and small clothes. They did not provide much protection at all.
She squealed and braced herself for more.
Crack! Crack! Crack! Crack! Crack!
The next five smacks came down hard randomly all over her cloth covered backside. She was kicking down and trying to pull herself up.
Jaime paused, a little out of breath.
"Finally, Jaime, you let me up right now so I can tell Father what you did to me. You will get such a whipping. You shall not sit for a fortnight! I can not wait to see it-" Cersei started until she felt her shift get flipped up and her small clothes yanked down.
"Jaime!" she howled in rage. Surely, he wouldn't think of spanking her on her bare bottom.
Spank! Spank! Spank!
Cersei was not taking this spanking well. She started weeping and begging for the spanking to stop. Then, she continued to threaten, but Jaime just brought his hand down again and again. She was kicking as much as she could and fighting to move her pink backside away from the hand administering the punishment. As she tried to rock from side to side, Jaime pinned her down harder with his arm.
Jaime decided to spank a bit harder and faster. When he lowered his swats to right above her thighs, he noticed the reaction from her. Aye, that was the spot. He paddled her firmly with his palm until her screaming stopped and her kicking tapered off. His hand ached and Cersei seemed to finally accept that she was getting this spanking whether she liked it or not.
"Are you going to listen to me the next time I tell you to do something?" Jaime asked, swatting the middle of her behind when she failed to answer.
"Yes! I will listen. I swear it by all the gods. Bloody stop!" Cersei pleaded.
"If you disobey me like that again, you won't just get a spanking on your bare behind, you get a few good licks with my scabbard belt. And that hurts like the seven hells. You know how I know? Because every time you made me late, I got whipped with one," Jaime scolded.
"I am sorry. I did not know. Jaime please, stop!" Cersei begged.
"Almost done, but the next time you misbehave, I want you to think of how sore you are right now," Jaime said, spanking her as firmly as he could another ten fast whacks. These last spanks reignited the fire he had lit and she wailed in shock.
With her backside bright red, Jaime stopped spanking and started rubbing tenderly.
"I love you, Cersei, and you will not behave like this again as long as I am around," Jaime promised.
Cersei continue to cry until he pulled her up gently. He pulled up her small clothes and she immediately started hopping around and trying to rub out the sting. Jaime smiled to see her act so childishly again. He pulled her hands away from her backside and sat her on his lap. She wiggled when her bottom rested on his hard leg.
"I mean it Cersei, I will put you over my knee every time you act like this if I have too. You will apologize to that girl and give her enough gold to compensate," Jaime demanded. Cersei opened her mouth to protest, but stopped when Jaime went to swat her aching behind again.
"Yes, Brother," Cersei said obediently.
"I love only you. I will never leave you," Jaime said kissing her cheek and rocking her.
"Now, we best get up there before we both get a spanking for disappearing," Jaime said wondering how long this had taken. He would really have some explaining to do if someone noticed her behind. He hoped she would not let her maids see.
"Gods, no. I cannot take another spanking. You really have a hard hand, you know that?" Cersei said in awe. She did not like the burning sting she felt now, but she liked it when Jaime acted like the lion.
After getting redressed, she felt the burning start to turn into a pleasant warmth. They walked back up to the castle arm in arm.
Later that night, she slipped into Jaime's bed like she did when they were younger and let him hold her all night. She felt safe and chastened.
"Jaime, do you forgive me? Sometimes I cannot help myself. When I saw you helping that girl, I wanted her dead," Cersei said truthfully.
"I forgive you now, but you need not be jealous. I swear by the god that I will never take another lover or wife. Do you hear me? Never," Jaime vowed. That was an oath he never broke for the next 25 years.
She smiled and stroked his golden hair. If Jaime was by her side, she would never be alone.
Now if she could just get rid of that twisted monster, Tyrion, she could truly have Jaime all to herself, she thought as she drifted to sleep.