"A Rose and a Lion" is back. I must admit I didn't realize it's been three months since I uploaded a chapter for this fanfiction. I apologize for all the people who were waiting, but with the final chapters of "A Shadow and a Wolf" and new writing projects, it was hard to find time to devote to ARAAL.
I'll do my best to upload a new chapter at least every two weeks, though I can't promise anything with my original works in progress that I'm working on at the same time. I can make you one promise though: I will never abandon ARAAL. The writing might be slower than for ASAAW, but I will never give up on this fanfiction. Never.
Three months ago, the story reached a turning point when Margaery finally discovered the truth about Jaime and Cersei, and also that Tyrion hid this from her. With the death of Loras, this revelation will strain the relationship between the Lord and the Lady of Casterly Rock.
In reaction to the death of his brother-in-law, the discoveries of Joffrey's participation into the attempt of murder on Brandon Stark and of Cersei's attempt to have Margaery murdered, and the "break-up" he experienced with his wifeafter he revealed the truth about Jaime and Cersei, Tyrion decided to leave the capital with Margaery and his army, leaving Joffrey, Cersei and Jaime to fare for themselves in King's Landing. Tyrion also brought with him Tommen Baratheon, Joffrey's little brother and heir, and Sansa Stark, Joffrey's betrothed, a ward to the Crown. They're heading back to Casterly Rock.
In the meantime, Stannis took back the Stormlands from Renly and is sailing for King's Landing, determined to take the city and the Iron Throne. The Tyrells and the Martells, who remained neutral so far, might change their position due to recent events. While Lysa Arryn remained entranched in the Vale and the Starks and the Tullys fought the Lannisters and their allies in the Riverlands, Riverrun was placed under siege and the North, left without defenses, was invaded by the Ironmen who seized Winterfell, Moat Cailin and Deepwood Motte. In the meantime, Daenerys Targaryen still lives on the other side of the Narrow Sea, and like so many, she only has one goal in mind: take the Iron Throne.
The die is cast. No one can remain neutral anymore. All is set for a war that will be everything but short. With Tyrion abandoning King's Landing, the War of the Five Kings will take an unexpected direction.
We are the night following Tyrion's departure and things don't look well for Cersei and Joffrey.
CERSEI V
Gold will be their crowns. Gold their shrouds.
His crown was gold. His shroud was gold.
The golden hair used to shine. Now it was dull. No brilliance, no shine, no glow. Nothing to see with the sun, or the gold. It looked like sand. Not the sand that flew between your toes and caressed the back of your feet. It was dirty sand, the kind that was to be seen on the coasts of Dragonstone, littered with small stone, brown, soiled. Were they all destined to this? Was this her fate, a body deprived of life, slowly turning to ashes?
And when your tears have drowned you, the valonqar shall wrap his hands about your pale white throat and choke the life from you.
She was crying. She cried the whole night. Because she couldn't cry for her dead son during the day, she did it in the night. And yet, despite the fact she drowned in her tears, the valonqar never came. He was away, with her other son.
She placed a comforting hand on the head of her beloved child.
Your Grace, something terrible happened!
Indeed, something terrible. Joffrey was dead. He was assassinated in the middle of the night. The gash was still visible were the collar's slit allowed to see his neck, right under his Adam's apple. a very small red line, only a part of the large scar left by the dagger that opened her son's throat. According to Fenken, who replaced Pycelle for the time being, he was in bed when it happened, probably asleep. The assassin attacked him from behind. He drowned in his own blood.
Her boy. Her sweet little boy, the first she held into her arms, the first to come out of her, the first she bore. He looked so much like Jaime. She caressed his hair, deprived of its luster, deprived of life. Her hand wandered on his cheek. It was cold. Only one day that he was dead, and it was already cold. The stones showed two green eyes staring at the ceiling. She removed one, only to meet eyelids that were shut. No longer would she see the green of his real eyes. All that was left were stones. Her hand followed her journey to his neck. Below the rich fabric of his clothes, she could feel the gash that was left by the traitorous dagger. As her fingers travelled on his body, she could feel the muscles. She stopped to the level where his cock was, then withdrew her hand to his arm. Small holes of water made their appearance on his clothes, showing the tears that her face left on her trail.
She closed her eyelids as a whine escaped her throat and tears fell in numbers from her eyes. He was her son, her small boy, and he was dead.
Tyrion killed him. He killed him just before he left with her army. Who knew what he had done to Tommen? Jaime might think the Imp brought him to Casterly Rock to protect him, Cersei knew the truth. At best, Tyrion kidnapped her other son and brought him to the Rock so he could control him and rule the Seven Kingdoms in her stead. Tommen would be easier to control than Joffrey. He would do as Tyrion and his whore said. The mere thought of it made her squeeze Joffrey's arm.
She had been stunned by the declaration of the guard. The King is dead! She thought it was some sort of bad joke. It was Tyrion and Margaery who died, not Joffrey. Everything was arranged. She didn't believe this man when he insisted. He was lying. But Jaime dragged her from her bedchamber to their son's rooms where they found his body. His eyes were wide open, frozen into an expression of utter terror as he knew he was living his last moments. The blood had time to dry up, stains covered the bedsheets and the nightclothes the king wore. Ser Barristan, the Hound and Lancel all stood next to him.
She didn't remember the rest. All she knew was that she ordered Frenken to examine him, to not move his body, and she called a meeting of the small council.
"I want my brother's head. I want him dead."
That was the first thing she told the council. A council that was limited to Jaime and Ser Barristan Selmy, two men discussing in low voices when she entered. She just had time to get her maids to arrange her hair and a decent attire before she stormed into the room.
"Your Grace, I know you are grieving, but before you take any rash decision…" the Lord Commander of the Kingsguard started.
"Rash decision? My son is dead. He was murdered! I demand that the assassin be brought to me immediately."
"Cersei, our men are already searching every corner of the castle," Jaime said. "We'll find the man who did this."
"We all know who did this. It was Tyrion. And his wife. They're behind this. They killed my son. Bring them here."
He exchanged a look with Ser Barristan. "That's not possible."
"Why?"
"Because Tyrion and Margaery are gone, with all their army. They left in the night. All the soldiers of the Westerlands. They're gone."
The anger that was growing in her belly flared to her head. "Then order them to come back!"
"Why would they obey me? I'm not the Lord of Casterly Rock."
"You would be if only you seized the opportunity when you could."
"Your Grace, Lord Tyrion has King Tommen with him," Ser Barristan revealed. It was as if cold water was suddenly poured into her veins. "He left this message in his solar, with the badge of Hand."
Cersei snatched the parchment from the old man's hands.
To his Grace, Joffrey of the Houses Baratheon and Lannister, the First of his Name, King of the Andals, the First Men, and the Rhoynar, and Lord of the Seven Kingdoms,
I took the liberty to escort your brother, Prince Tommen, and your dear betrothed, Sansa Stark, to Casterly Rock for their safety. Stannis is closing on King's Landing and I am sure your Grace will agree that they will be safer in the Westerlands. I'm sorry to have taken that decision without consulting you first, but since your Grace entrusted me with the daily administration of the Realm and delegated most of his responsibilities to me, I considered you wouldn't mind me not bothering you with that matter.
I am sure your Grace will also agree that the prince and the Lady Sansa require a strong protection, which explains why I decided to accompany him with my troops. Your Grace will find great solace in the fact that the Lady Sansa and Prince Tommen are in good hands and protected from your enemies. If the city should fall and your Grace perish, you will have the consolation to know that your brother will be there to resume the fight you started, and your betrothed protected from any danger.
Yours respectfully,
Tyrion Lannister, Lord of Casterly Rock, Shield of Lannisport, Lord of the Westerlands, and Warden of the West.
As soon as she was done, Cersei tore it apart and let the pieces fall on the floor. "He did it. He killed my son."
"He didn't." Jaime said it in a whisper, but Cersei heard it nonetheless.
"He didn't? He didn't? How can you say that when he condemns himself with his own words?"
"I wouldn't say that, your Grace," Ser Barristan intervened. "I've come to know Lord Tyrion quite well since he became Hand of the King, and he doesn't strike me as a murderer. And this note proves he thought the king was still alive. I don't believe King Joffrey's death is his doing."
"Varys and Littlefinger." Jaime looked at her, his eyes mirroring a strange gleam. Something like excitement. Or was it hope? "We cannot find them. They're not in their apartments and they haven't answered to the call for the small council. They're nowhere to be found. They must have disappeared. It must be some conspiration from Stannis. They must be working for him…"
"Shut up you two," Cersei ordered. "Tyrion must be brought back here, and answer for his crimes."
The silence that followed proved to be very long. Cersei didn't spare any attention for Ser Barristan. He was old, unfit for anything. Her eyes were locked on Jaime who was staring away, his gaze hollow. She was waiting for him to do something. Their son was dead. He had to do something. He couldn't stand there and do nothing. Slowly, he turned and looked at her. Then he turned again and looked at Barristan Selmy.
"Ser Barristan, you should leave. You should leave King's Landing."
"Ser Jaime?" He looked skeptical.
"Joffrey is dead. Tommen is our king now. Your king. A king you swore to serve and to protect. You cannot protect him here. You must leave King's Landing and join the Lannister army that is heading for Casterly Rock. You must be at Tommen's side."
The old knight was looking at Jaime as if it was the first time he saw him, and Cersei's actions were no different right now.
"I understand your concerns, Ser Jaime. Tommen is our king, you're right. However, even I must admit that Lord Tyrion's behavior is unusual. He's abandoning the capital, leaving with the king's brother and heir the very night he is assassinated. I'm not sure…"
"Tyrion has nothing to do with that. I can swear it to you with everything I have. Tyrion would never kill someone of his own blood. In fact, it's probably the reason why he left."
"What do you mean?"
"Cersei tried to kill Lady Margaery." Before Cersei could react, Jaime went on. "She ordered Ser Mandon Moore to kill her during their journey in the Stormlands. That's why he never came back. He was stopped, and someone killed him before he could do the job. Joffrey sent an assassin to murder Brandon Stark. A man tried to kill him…"
"Wait a minute. What are you talking about?"
"Cersei sent Mandon Moore with Lady Margaery so he could have the opportunity to kill her. She tried to kill Tyrion's wife. And Joffrey was mad, and stupid. He sent someone to kill Brandon Stark. You can ask Clegane. He's the one who hired the assassin."
Both Cersei and Ser Barristan were stunned by Jaime's words.
"Jaime… What… What…" She couldn't find the words to say.
"Tyrion could not continue to be the Hand of Joffrey, and he couldn't continue to stay here with Cersei. That's why he left. Because had he stayed, one way or another, he would have ended killing them both. He couldn't do that because they were his own blood. He left so he wouldn't have to kill them."
The Lord Commander of the Kingsguard turned to her. "Is it true?"
She couldn't answer. She didn't understand what was going on here. The old knight's stare wandered from her to Jaime. Their eyes locked.
"Jon Arryn?" Ser Barristan asked.
After a moment, Jaime answered. "Cersei killed him. She wanted me to be Hand of the King. She also murdered Robert. I helped her, and so did Ser Lancel by getting him drunk."
Not a sound could be heard. Slowly, Ser Barristan's stare changed from incredulity to scorn. His hand gripped the handle of his sword. Jaime gripped his own.
"I think you should leave, Ser Barristan. Your king needs you. I will stay in King's Landing with Ser Lancel and Clegane to defend the city from Stannis. You and Ser Preston should join King Tommen and ensure his security."
For some time, the two men faced each other. Then Ser Barristan walked away and left the room, pushing the door so strongly that they rammed into the wall. For a long time, they stood alone, brother and sister, saying nothing. Managing to recover from what just happened, Cersei finally spoke.
"What have you done?"
"Something I should have done a long time ago," he replied.
"You just told that man…"
"That you tried to kill the Lady of Casterly Rock and succeeded to kill your husband the king, and that your son the king tried to kill a boy of ten, the son of the Warden of the North. Did I forget something? Yes, I forgot. I also told him that you killed Jon Arryn."
"Are you mad?"
"Mad? Did you look at you? Or at your son? I'd say if someone is mad in the family, it's you both."
"Don't you dare say it. I am the queen."
"Yes, you are the queen. So have me executed. Then you'll find yourself alone when Stannis comes. Is that really what you want?"
"You're not the only one who follows me?"
"Really? Tyrion is gone, along with his armies and his wife, which means the Westerlands and the Reach turned their back on us, and Ser Barristan just abandoned you. If you get rid of me, who will lead your armies?"
"That doesn't concern a kingsguard." She would find someone to lead her armies later.
"Strange. Not long ago, you wanted this kingsguard to be your son's Hand."
"One of my greatest mistake. The king is dead." Her voice shivered. "My son is dead. Our son… is dead." Her voice broke.
"Yes, he's dead, and he's dead because of us."
"No, he's not. We're not responsible."
"He was our son. You just said it. We made him together. And he was a monster."
"No, he wasn't!" She shouted this time.
"Yes, he was. Just like I am, and you too. He tried to kill the Stark boy. We would have done it if we could."
"We were trying to protect the family."
"No. We were trying to protect ourselves. That's not a family."
"We are the Lannisters. We are a family."
"What about Tyrion?!" This time Jaime's voice raised as well. "What about Margaery?"
"Don't talk about her…"
"She was his wife and you tried to kill her. She's a Lannister too."
"She is not. She is a whore who fell into our brother's bed."
"She's his wife, and he loves her, just like I love you. I would never have allowed that Tyrion tried to kill you. I would have split his head if he had? Would you think that I would tolerate that you try to kill my sister-in-law?"
"She's taking away what is ours."
"So you tried to kill her?"
"I did what no one else dared to do."
"Yes, and because of that Tyrion is gone. And your son is dead. By the gods, you tried to kill his wife. What were you expecting? That he would thank you for that?"
"No. And that's why he killed our son."
Jaime's mouth was shut for a moment before he replied. "He didn't do it, Cersei."
"He'd kill us all if he could."
"Who could blame him?"
Her brother's words were like a slap. "You would forgive everything he does."
"Since we forgive each other everything we do, I don't see why it would be any different with Tyrion."
Jaime kept walking around while Cersei looked at him with more contempt than she would have if she looked at a beggar.
"You remember," Jaime began. "Father used to tell us that the family name is all that lives on. Well, in this case, we're both going to disappear. We cannot carry on the family name. I'm a kingsguard, you're a woman. Only Tyrion can carry it. So it's probably better that we take the blame for everything. For the Stark boy, for Jon Arryn, for Eddard Stark. This way the Lannisters will not disappear. Wouldn't Father be proud of us? Sacrificing our lives so the family name may live on, so that his grandchildren can rule over Casterly Rock."
Her brother was mad, there was no doubt about it.
"You are just a fool," she said.
"Maybe, but I'm a fool who's going to protect you. The last one who's willing to. Stannis will be there within days. I'll organize the defense of the city. We still have the gold cloaks and some bannermen loyal to us in the Crownlands. We may be able to hold the walls with some luck."
He walked away but Cersei stopped him. "I didn't allow you to leave."
"And how are you going to stop me? There's no one left to obey you, Cersei. You're the queen of nothing. Just a queen."
She found herself alone. The small council table was surrounded by empty chairs. Slowly, Cersei walked to the place where she usually took place, where Joffrey should have sit had he been present to the meetings of the small council. Next to it was the chair where Tyrion used to sit. She should have killed him, put something in his wine so he would die. He drank at every meeting. Had she done this, her son would still be alive.
Jaime didn't understand that. On her side, she didn't understand how she could love such a fool. She believed at the right moment, he would stand by her side, but he didn't. He chose that little man he called a brother instead of her, the woman who came with him into the world, who preceded him in this world. She came first out of their mother's belly. He was her little brother. She was the elder, and yet he opposed her. If only she was a man.
Frenken came in at this moment. "Your Grace, I was told you were here."
"What do you want?" Cersei had no time to lose. She wanted to come to the point right away.
"I finished my examination of the king's body, your Grace. I thought you would like to know what I discovered."
"Go on."
"Well, my examination confirmed that the death was caused by the opening of the veins in the neck with a cutting object, most probably a blade. We couldn't find the weapon. The assassin must have left with it."
"Of course. Tyrion is not a fool. He wouldn't have left the dagger behind."
The maester frowned. "Your Grace believes Lord Tyrion killed the king?"
"I know he did."
The maester said nothing for some time. "I doubt it, your Grace."
"You don't know my brother. You don't know what he's capable of."
"Maybe, but I know what he's incapable of, your Grace, and Lord Tyrion couldn't have dragged the king to his bed, then forced him down on his back before he slit his throat."
"What do you mean?"
"There were marks on the body of the king, and the position and the state of his body when he died shows he wasn't sleeping. From what I can say, the king fought with his assassin, and some of the fighting happened while he was on his feet. The marks he left suggest he fought with someone wearing an armor, just like the torn bedsheets. His assailant seized him and gagged him, then dragged him to his bed where he slit his throat. This means the assassin was strong and tall enough to do it, and Lord Tyrion doesn't have the physical condition to do this."
Cersei barely listened to him. "He must have sent one of his men to do the job."
"It's too early to determine who did this, but I asked questions to the servants and the guards. Apparently, the red cloaks abandoned their station during the night. That must have been the moment when the assassin attacked. He used the deserted corridors and the confusion caused by the departure of the army to commit his crime."
"You're dismissed, maester."
"Excuse me, your Grace, but I thought you would like to know…"
"I told you to leave me alone."
She looked at him in a way to make him understand he should leave if he cared for his life. He seemed to understand as he walked away with the usual courtesies.
She left the room as well not long after and went to the Throne Room, that was empty as well. There was no one to sit on the Iron Throne. He was free. So she took it and sat in her rightful place for the first time.
That was who she was during the day. She was a queen. No, she was the queen. But for the night, she was the mother with her son, caressing his once shining hair, holding his hand, mourning him. She refused to let someone move his body. She had him bathed and dressed by the Silent Sisters, but she forbade them from doing anything more. She wouldn't have him moved into a crypt. He would stay by her side. Joffrey belonged to her, and he would stay with her. He was all that was left to her.
I'm not going to tell you who killed Joffrey, before anyone asks. All I can tell you is that the answer to your possible question lies in the previous chapters of ARAAL.
As I said, I cannot guarantee you another chapter in two weeks, as I didn't even start to write the next one. I'm trying to finish a first original short story before, but as soon as a new chapter is ready for ARAAL, it will be uploaded.
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Next chapter: Tyrion
