Chapter Three

"Kailyah." Kailyah paused, schooling her features into a winning smile before turning to meet her Uncle's eyes.

"Uncle Jaime! What brings you here today?" Jaime arched a brow, arms crossed over his chest.

"Apparently a little niece who didn't want to attend her harp lessons, and thought the best way to get out of them would be to slip her guard and sneak down to the slums of Kings Landing by herself. Again."

"It worked didn't it?"

"Kailyah."

"How grounded am I?"

"No lessons for a week."

"Awww."

"Don't start. Let's go."

"How do you always find me?" Kailyah whined, stalling.

"I'm not telling, you'll learn to change it." Jaime smirked. "But… you've been coming here a lot lately, Kai. Why?"

"I dunno. I like it." The nine year old lied, shrugging her shoulders. She had been coming here frequently, and she knew Jaime would pick up on it. But she had a target in mind, and she was waiting for the right opportunity to strike.

"What is there to like in Flea Bottom?" Jaime sneered, wrinkling his nose.

"Filthy brat! You think you can take from me?!" Kailyah's head snapped up, and she bit her lip to hide her glee. 'She'd finally been caught.' Kailyah'd been watching this girl for months, and it finally happened.

The little girl was a couple years older than her, but she was small, malnourished. She was a pickpocket, and a pretty good one at that, the only mistake she made was she frequently stole apples and bread from this vendor's cart. Kailyah knew the vendor was starting to notice too, he had never caught her stealing, but things always seemed to go missing when she was around.

"Jaime?" Kailyah whispered, forcing her eyes to widen as she slipped a half step closer to him, teeth digging into her lower lip as she gripped Jaime's pristine white cloak in a fist. Jaime glanced down and noticed the fear on the little Princess' face and placed an arm in front of her, pushing her slightly behind him.

"It's alright, Kai-"

"I'll show you!" The vendor gripped the girl's wrist, slamming it onto his cart and holding it there as he pulled out a wicked looking butcher's knife. The dark haired girl sobbed, fighting frantically as the man raised the knife high in the air, sun glinting off the blade.

"Jaime, stop him!" Kailyah shouted, and Jaime moved. One moment he was there, the next he had the vendor disarmed and on his knees, as the little girl scrambled back and away.

"That's enough of that, I think." Jaime drawled, glancing back, keeping his niece in sight. Kailyah darted forward, kneeling over the little girl and whispering to her quietly.

"Mi'lord-" The vendor stuttered. "I- it's a common law for a thief to lose their hand."

"It is, in Pentos. In Westeros, we hold a trail."

"Mi'lord-"

"We do not maim children in the streets."

"She has been stealing for months, mi'lord, I know it."

"How much?" Kailyah asked, and Jaime glanced over, finding his niece standing tall, the peasant girls hand in her own.

"I- my Lady-"

"Princess." Jaime corrected.

"I will pay her debt." Kailyah announced.

"Kailyah-" Jaime started, silenced by the stubborn look in her eyes. He knew there'd be no talking her out of it, and he sighed, already feeling a headache coming on. Cersei would not be happy.

"Will this do?" Kailyah pushed back her tattered sleeve, (and Jaime had no idea where she kept getting peasants clothes, because he knew those didn't belong to her. She must've traded her gown, the clever little thing) revealing a delicate gold chain with a single pearl in the middle.

"Yes, Princess!" The man smiled hungrily, reaching forward before Jaime yanked him back, glaring at him.

"You only caught her stealing today, yes? Then she will only pay for today's goods." The man went to protest, but Jaime's hand fell to the hilt of his sword. The vendor's jaw tightened but he agreed, taking the gold dragon that Jaime handed him. "Let's go, Kailee."

"Okay!"

"Kailyah."

"Yes?"

"Your little friend will have to stay behind."

"No she's not, I'm keeping her."

"No."

"Yes!"

"What would you even do with her, Kai?"

"She'll be my handmaiden."

"You have handmaidens."

"I don't like those ones."

"Kailyah Joanna."

"Jaime… Tywin?"

"No."

"What if I promise not to go to Flea Bottom anymore." Here, Jaime paused, staring at her consideringly.

"Promise not to skip your lessons and stay with a guard." Kailyah wrinkled her nose.

"Promise not to dodge the guards I like and not to leave the castle by myself anymore."

"Without an adult."

"…fine. I won't dodge all my guards and I won't leave the Keep without an adult anymore. If I do, Maya can't stay with me anymore. Deal?" Jaime glanced over at the peasant girl, who was staring at Kailyah, stunned, like she was performing miracles. When she noticed his stare, she shrank into herself slightly, glaring right back.

"Deal." Jaime agreed reluctantly. Hopefully, Kailyah would grow bored with her in a couple months, and life would go on.

TLR

"Did you mean what you said?" Kailyah glanced up, her 'sweet little Princess' mask fading into a smug smirk. Kailyah had dragged her into the palace, negotiating the same deal with her parents before getting her bathed, giving her new clothes, and making sure she was fed. Maya had taken it all eagerly, though she kept a wary eye on the girl.

Maya hadn't expected much when she was saved, planned to slip away into the crowd while the knight and Vendor were occupied, but before she could move, the little girl was hovering over her. She pulled Maya to her feet, wrapping her arms around Maya and hugging her like they were the best of friends.

"Work for me and your family will never have to work again." She whispered into Maya's ear, voice suddenly lower and adult-like, any childlike fear disappeared completely. Maya froze, and the little Princess pulled back, arching an eyebrow. "Lannisters pay their debts. What will it be?" Maya hesitated, mind racing. She knew that a deal that sounded this good was too good to be true, but it was also too good of an offer to pass up.

Petyr Baelish was a snake, he made sure his girls were fed, but it was up to them to care for their children. Mum had just miscarried, and she wasn't getting enough business. She was starving, and so were Maya's sisters. If Maya could help them- she had too. So she nodded, and the Princess had rewarded her with a beautiful smile before turning to barter with the Vendor and her guard.

"I did."

"How?"

"I've been watching you, Maya. You're a pickpocket, you're quick and good at remaining unseen."

"You don't want me to be a Lady in waiting."

"I want you to pretend to be one."

"While doing what?"

"Don't play dumb, you're smarter than that. Varys has been watching you too, you know about him."

"So what? You want me to be your- 'little bird'?"

"Something like that. I don't want a thousand birds scattered across the continent. I don't care what happens there. I want to know what's happening here, in my city. You're good at blending in, at making friends and hearing things you shouldn't."

"Friends?"

"Nobles are on guard in the castle. They know there are eyes everywhere. And yes, I need eyes of my own here, but I'm more concerned with what happens outside our gates. People aren't on their best behavior there, they aren't careful. Especially in the brothels."

"Baelish's girls won't turn on him. They're too scared."

"Their children might. The ones who've seen what he does to their mothers, their fathers. The ones who know what's in store for them. The ones who want other options, for themselves, for their siblings."

"Men underestimate children."

"Their mistake." Kailyah grinned.

"Why me?"

"Like I said, I've been watching. I've seen you lead scams, I've seen you make a group of starving kids work together so they all get a share. They trust you, they follow you. I need them to keep following you."

"Not you?"

"We all have a part to play in this game. Sweet little Princesses can't run with street kids."

"But I can."

"And you can help others too. Most importantly, I can get your Mother and sisters far away from Petyr Baelish. So, do we have a deal?"

"How do we start?"

TLR

"You know the way out?" Kailyah kept her voice low, not wanting the guard outside her bedroom door to hear. It was dark already, and after spending four months discussing her plan with her new friend and teaching her to read and write, it was finally time to start recruiting.

"Through the tunnels, past the dragon skeleton's, follow the sound of water. It lets out in a cave beneath the docks."

"Good. Remember, we need someone who can read first, someone we can get into the local Rookery."

"So the kid's can send their report to."

"And if you can't find any-"

"Offer lessons."

"And-"

"Don't tell them who I'm working for."

"Good." Kailyah handed her friend a few small bags of coins, watching curiously as she slipped them into various hidden pockets in her tattered clothes. "Be back before morning. Watch out for Varys, he wanders the tunnels too."

"I will." Maya slipped the hood of her tattered cloak over her dark brown curls, taking a small lit candelabra and slipped through the wall, disappearing into the dark, one hand trailing along the stone wall to keep track of where she was. Kailyah pulled the wall back into place over the escape tunnel, swearing softly at the loud groaning noise it made, before sprinting back to her bed and yanking the covers over herself as she heard a hesitant knock at her door."

"Princess?" Kailyah closed her eyes, pretending to sleep as the door cracked open, a soft light flooding into her dark room. "Princess?" Trant asked carefully, before a sharp voice snapped behind him.

"What are you doing?"

"Y- your Grace! I- uh-"

"What are you doing in my daughter's room?"

"My Queen, I- I heard a strange noise." There was silence for a moment before the door opened wider, and Kailyah heard the sound of hurried footsteps approaching her bed. She kept her eyes closed, doing her best to make her breaths soft and even, and a moment later her blankets were pulled back slightly, and she felt her Mother's gentle fingers tracing over her features.

"Search the room, all of you."

"Yes, your Grace." Kailyah heard the soft clanking of armor and rustling of capes as her Mother's guard entered her chambers, searching for any kind of threat, before gentle fingers combed through her hair.

"Kailyah? Are you awake, my love?" Kailyah allowed her eyebrows to furrow, face creasing in distress as she whined childishly, turning and burying her face in her Mother's skirts, doing her best to emulate a child who wasn't pleased about waking up. It worked well enough, and her Mothers fingers combed through her raven locks as she hushed her gently. "Shh, my love. Everything is alright, you are safe, sweetling."

"Nothing, your Grace." A voice called a few minutes later.

"And you've searched everywhere?"

"Yes, your Grace. There is no one else here."

"Leave us." The sound of footsteps, and a soft creak as the door closed behind the guards. Her Mother didn't move, didn't speak for several minutes, only sitting and combing her fingers through her daughter's hair. Kailyah really was on the verge of sleep when she finally spoke.

"The King will have twenty two children. You will raise three." Her Mother whispered, and Kailyah jolted slightly, remembering the image of her Mother as a child at the Raven had shown her. Thankfully, her Mother was too lost in thought to notice. "Gold will be their crowns. Gold, their shrouds." Kailyah stayed silent, as did her Mother, for nearly half an hour, Her Mother mindlessly playing with her hair. She fought to stay awake despite it, knowing that something was wrong. (1)

"Cersei?" Her Mother's fingers went still as the door creaked open, and a moment later it closed and nearly silent footsteps approached the bed. A warm weight settled next to her Mother as a familiar hand rubbed up and down Kailyah's spine, making her melt. "She's safe, Cersei. They all are. I've arranged for extra guards tonight-"

"I can't lose my children, Jaime. I can't."

"You won't. They are safe, all of them-"

"No. No one in this fucking city is safe, no one in this world! There are monsters everywhere, and I can't- I can't protect them."

"Cersei-"

"Let's go."

"What?"

"We can take the children, we'll just go. To Essos, to- somewhere! Jaime, if Robert finds out-"

"Shh." Kailyah heard a muffled gasp, and her Mothers fingers tightened in her hair. "Shh. Listen to me." There was a muffled sob, and Kailyah shifted, settling when Jaime's hand returned to stroking her back. "You are safe. Your children are safe. If I ever even suspect that Robert will find out, I'll have all of us on a ship out of Westeros in an hour. But your children are safe. All of them. No one will hurt them."

"She said I would have three children, Jaime."

"She?"

"The witch. She- she said three children."

"And you've had them. So?"

"What about this one?" Jaime's breath stopped, as did Kailyah's did a moment later. "I can't lose my baby, Jaime. None of them."

'Marcella'

TLR

Jaime watched the twins from a few paces back as they lounged in the sun, bent over one of Jasper's books. They were flipping back and forth through the pages, arguing quietly as they pointed out different parts of the text.

He hadn't expected to love them. Jaime had never been particularly fond of children, always focused on Cersei or Tyrion or honing his skill as a knight. To him, children were loud distractions who took you away from more important things. He supposed he and Tywin were the same in that way, though Uncle Kevan always said it was different when it is yours.

It wasn't. There were small, fleeting moments of joy when he looked at his son, Joffrey, at this thing he and Cersei had created together, but they never lasted long, not since the boy learned to talk. As beautiful as their creation was, he was a spoiled, selfish, increasingly violent brat. Kailyah and Jasper had worked together to temper him, but Jaime swore he could see the beginnings of madness in his eyes.

He saw Aerys, the Mad King, in the boy. He saw Joffrey's curiosity on their last trip to Highgarden, when Willas Tyrell had been knocked off his horse by Oberyn Martell, when his foot caught in the stirrups and he was dragged, screaming in agony the whole way. How he fought his Mother when she tried to turn him away, begging her to let him see. (2) He saw it in the gleeful glint in the boy's eyes during their last turney, when the Mountain had managed to impale a green boy during the joust.

He saw the awe in his eyes when he and Kailyah had found him and a screaming squire in an abandoned training yard. Apparently they'd decided they were ready for live steel, and Joffrey had managed to stab his short sword through the boy's cheek all the way out the other side of his mouth. Joffrey had no fear or remorse in his eyes, but a high, like he realized he had the power to hurt someone.

He saw so much of the Mad King in Joffrey, and he thanked the Seven every day that Jasper and Kailyah had been born first. That was another reason he found his relationship with his son… lacking. The twins.

Cersei was paranoid that someone would see the resemblance between him and Joffrey, so he'd never spent much time with the boy. He certainly had never planned to spend as much time as he did with the twins, but Kailyah hadn't given him much of a choice. She'd decided by the time she was four that Jaime was her favorite, and she hadn't let him stray too far since.

Jaime had expected to hate them. He certainly despised Robert, and anything that even remotely reminded him of the man, and how the Drunk King treated his sister. But- They looked so much like their Mother. Kailyah may have had Roberts coloring, and Jasper his eyes, but all he could see was her. The dimple on the right side of their mouths, her curls, her emerald eyes- it was all her. Besides, how could Jaime hate something she loved so much?

Jasper had all the makings of a good King, unlike his Father. He was genuinely a kind, caring young boy. He was patient, focused, and had a love for knowledge that reminded Jaime of his brother, Tyrion. Young as he still was, he was growing tall, and stocky from practicing his swordplay. Jasper could've been born with a sword in hand, he picked it up so quickly, He had a natural talent with it, and the majority of the time they spent together, they had their swords in hand, and Jaime loved sharing his craft with the boy.

Kailyah on the other hand, tended to demand as much of his time as she could. She was going to give him gray hairs, with her disappearing (though he always managed to find her) and her habit of picking up strays (children and animals). Kailyah was fearless, and Jaime cursed the day she discovered the tunnels beneath the Keep, as he'd been the one tasked with dragging her out of them since.

She was a curious, clever, independent little girl who had no care for guards or lessons, who'd rather spend her time exploring than minding her Septa. She was brilliant and playful and managed to steal every bit of his heart that Cersei didn't have already. Jaime didn't have a daughter, but if he did, he imagined she'd be something like Kailyah.

They were different, his niece and nephew. Tyrion was more of a Father to Jasper than Robert ever was, but Kailyah- Kailyah was his.

"Uncle Jaime!" Kailyah called, breaking the knight out of his thoughts. "Come tell Jasper he's wrong!"

"I'm not!" Her twin argued. "Such blatant disrespect- killing valuable prisoners- any Lord would consider it treason and execute them!"

"That Lord is responsible for a fifth of their Liege Lords army! If he's executed, you lose them immediately!"

"If you do nothing, you lose any respect your men have for you, and people start rebelling left and right!"

"I didn't say 'do nothing' I said 'don't chop his head off!' You have to find them a cushy cell-"

"So they're living in luxury after-"

"Still a cell, just becuase you're not in a dungeon doesn't mean it's not a punishment, it's psychological warfare-"

"But the others won't see it that way-"

"Alright, stop." Jaime ordered, kneeling next to his nephew and examining the papers in front of them. It didn't help him much, as it was mostly the names of Houses, numbers, and rough drawings of maps. "What are you doing?"

"Playing War."

"War?" Jaime asked, arching an eyebrow at his niece.

"It's a game! So right now, all the kingdoms are either at war or neutral, nobody has any allies outside of their Kingdom. The Starks and the Lannisters are at war. One of their vassal lords- Lord Karstark killed two high value prisoners without permission. Jasper thinks the Starks would behead him, but I think he should hold him in a prison cell as a hostage to keep the men he commanded."

"Does this Lord have a son?"

"I suppose he would, most people who go to war are old and stubborn and beyond reason, that's what Lady Olenna says." Jaime snorted, shaking his head.

"If he has a son of age, I would send Lord Karstark to the Wall."

"Why?" Jasper asked. "Wouldn't his men still be mad?"

"Less mad than they would be if he lost his head or sat in a cell. You forget, in the North, the Night's Watch is an honorable place to serve, he could regain his honor, and still see his family occasionally, but it is a visible reminder of the consequences of disobeying your Lord while not giving his son a legal reason to betray their liege Lord."

"Ooh." The twins realized together, emerald and stormy blue eyes lighting with realization.

"How'd you know that, Uncle Jaime?" Kailyah asked.

"My Father and I used to play a similar game, it's called discussing battle tactics." Jaime chuckled, chucking the little girl under her chin.

"Ser Jaime." A voice called behind them, and Jaime rose to his feet as Arys Oakheart, another Kingsguard, approached. "Queen Cersei has sent for you, she asked me to relieve you of your shift."

"Of course." Jaime nodded, turning back to the children, smirking slightly when he found Kailyah pouting up at him. "I'll see you tonight. Stay with your guard, Kailyah." Kailyah stuck her tongue out at him, and Jasper laughed.

"We'll be good. Bye Uncle Jaime."

"Bye." He ruffled Jasper's blonde curls, and left. Ser Arys greeted the children before taking his place at the bottom of the stairs on the gazebo they'd taken over, and the twins turned back to their game.

"This is stupid." Jasper grumbled, glaring down at the papers scattered in front of them. "Why can't you just tell me what happens?"

"Cuz then you're not learning." Jasper made a face at her, and she giggled. "You love learning, Jas."

"I like reading. From a book. Not lectures."

"It's not a lecture! And talking is the same as reading, just out loud. It's a game, we play and then we debate."

"I do like debate." Jasper sighed, resting his cheek on his fist. "Okay, so you send Karstark to the Wall, his house won't leave you right away, but they'd still be mad. How do you know they won't leave anyway?"

"The North take their oaths seriously, the Karstark heir would lose a lot of respect if he took his army and left. They'd have to stay, though I suppose the Stark heir would have to be on the lookout for a betrayal."

"Like the Freys." Here, Kailyah paused, glancing up at her twin with an arched eyebrow. "Robb Stark promised to marry a Frey in exchange for their army and free crossing of their bridge so that he could outsmart Grandfather and take Jaime, right?"

"Right."

"Walder Frey doesn't take his oaths seriously, but he wouldn't take that lying down. Robb has to go North again eventually."

"Good." Kailyah praised, and Jasper beamed. "Now, you're Robb Stark. You've beheaded one of your bannermen and lost a thousand men. Your homes burned to the ground, you're separated from two thirds of your army. What do you do?" (3)

TLR

"She's so pretty." Kailyah cooed, letting baby Marcella squeeze her little fist around her finger. Cersei smiled tiredly, watching her eight year old play with her newborn baby sister.

"She is." Cersei kissed her eldests forehead, keeping an arm wrapped around her shoulders while she sat on the bed next to her, carefully cradling her three day old sister in her lap. Marcella was a pretty little thing, tiny and pink, with a little tuft of nearly invisible blond hair on the top of her head. She was far more well tempered than her older brother, Joffrey, who she had labored for three days for, and spent most of his first moons screaming. No, little Marcella was quiet and sweet, usually content being held. "Just like you are, my darling. A perfect little princess."

"We are going to be best friends." Kailyah said determinedly, making Cersei chuckle.

"Replacing your twin already?" She teased, making her eight year old wrinkle her nose.

"Jas is always reading, he never wants to explore anymore!"

"That's a good thing, Kailee, considering you always abandon your guard and disappear when you explore."

"They can't keep up." Kailyah shrugged carelessly. "Uncle Jaime always finds me anyway."

"They can't keep dragging your Uncle away from his post so he can spend hours tracking you down because you didn't want to attend your harp lessons."

"I don't like the harp!"

TLR

"Kailyah." Kailyah's eyes snapped open, and she straightened up in her seat, one hand lifting to rub at her tired eyes before they focused on her Mother. Cersei sat next to her with Marcella in her lap, carefully feeding the two year old cut up pears. "Are you alright, sweetling?"

"Yes, Mother, just tired. I didn't sleep well last night."

"Neither did Jas, he was up all night reading." Joffrey tattled, and Jasper scowled, throwing the crust of his bread at the boy sitting next to him.

"Stay out of my room!"

"I asked if I could come in!"

"No you didn't!"

"Did too! You were reading!"

"Boys!" Their mother jumped in, making them go quiet, shrinking slightly in their chairs under their mothers stern gaze. "Both of you should've been in bed last night."

"Yes, Mother." They both mumbled, and Cersei nodded, turning her attention back to her eldest daughter.

"Go to bed early tonight, Kailyah. I'll tell your Septa's lessons can wait til tomorrow."

"Yes, Mother." Kailyah agreed, eyes drooping, before she shook her head and stood from her chair. "I think I'll go lay down now."

"Alright, darling. Sleep well." Kailyah simply nodded, stumbling out of the room, and Jaime, her current guard, knelt and scooped her up into his arms when she nearly walked into a wall.

"What kept you up all night, little one?" Jaime asked, letting the ten year old grab his cape, wrapping it around herself as he carried her towards her room.

"I had a nightmare." Kailyah mumbled, eyes closing slowly.

"What about?"

"I don't remember." Kailyah lied.

"Well, whatever it was, you know I'd never let anything hurt you." Jaime promised, setting her down as they reached her bedroom.

"I know, Uncle Jaime. You'll keep me safe."

"Always, little lioness."

TLR

"Lady Daena Archyr was going from brothel to brothel yesterday, looking for someone who resembled her husband."

"Oh?"

"Mm. They've been married for almost five years, and no children yet. Well, rumor has it that before they married, Daena had two bastards. I'd bet my life that he was barren, but of course, the Septon is saying that the Seven have cursed her barren as punishment for her sins. Not sure if he has room to talk, he got Baelish to let him go a round with Brady."

"Brady is fourteen, isn't he?"

"Fifteen. Septon Albett paid extra, I think he's been skimming from the donation bowl. Anyway, he had enough to convince Baelish to let him keep Brady, he's taking him on as a choir boy."

"We can get him out, I'm sure I can find a place for him in the kennels or as a stableboy."

"You told your Uncle you wouldn't run around Flea Bottom anymore, or I'd have to leave."

"I won't go to Flea Bottom. I'll 'take an interest in the Seven' and ask Pycelle a few questions, he'll offer to take me to service and I'll get Brady on the way out. They've gotten used to me picking up strays by now." Kailyah grinned impishly. It had been four years since she and Maya had made their deal, and things were going well. Kailyah had stayed true to her word, paying her friend well enough to get her mother and three sisters out of Baelish's brothel, and continued to help support them, promising all three girls a place in the Keep when they got older. Mira, who was around Kailyah's age, had already started in the kitchens, and she was Kailyah's first spy, besides Maya of course.

Maya had kept her word, quietly recruiting the children at Baelish's brothels, and a few other places around King's Landing. Baelish had no qualms about selling children or adolescents to anyone with a dime, and while some stayed where they were, watching Baelish and his clients and reporting to Maya, several of the youngest ones asked Maya for help, who in turn went to Kailyah, who found them a starting job in the Red Keep or occasionally at their minor houses.

It was a win-win situation for Kailyah. As cold as it sounds, Kailyah didn't particularly care about those she doesn't choose to love. That didn't mean that the perversion and abuse these children suffered didn't disgust her, and she was more than happy to get them somewhere safer. Of course, they didn't stop spying when they settled in, which meant Kailyah and Maya were slowly building a network of spies through not only King's Landing, but the Red Keep as well. Her parents struggled to deny her anything, and while picking up 'strays', her reputation of a 'caring Princess with a gentle heart' only grew.

And, hoping to endear themselves to the little Princess (believing children easier to manipulate than adults), several Ladies of Court came to her, offering open places in their Houses, playing at Kailyah's 'bleeding heart'. Kailyah milked it for all it was worth, placing as many spies in as many Houses as she could, relishing in the wealth of information it provided her.

"Brady's willing to stay, for a price. He wants his little sister safe. She's eleven."

"Bring her to the Keep tomorrow, send her to the garden's, or housekeeping. If they're full, I'll ask Lady Daena to take her in. I'd very much like to know if she 'miraculously' gets pregnant soon. Can she write?"

"Not yet."

"Have Mira start teaching her."

"Of course."

"Anything else?"

"The usual clients and their perversions, I'll leave the notes on your desk. I told them all to be on the lookout for that Dornish Party next week."

"But?" Kailyah asked, sensing her hesitance.

"Baelish is getting suspicious."

"Has anyone told him?"

"They know better, and any mothers who have figured out what's happening are too grateful their kids are safe to say anything."

"Who's figured it out?"

"Recently? Alaric's mother."

"The boy in the Rookery?"

"Yes. She tried to buy him back from Lord Deremond, he told her that Alaric escaped. Apparently she was distraught, one of our girl's sent her to the Rookery, and he told her he was safe, and making enough to get her out of the brothel soon."

"And the others?"

"All they know is that their kids are reporting to someone in the castle, they don't know who. Most assumed it Varys. Baelish has figured that much out at least, he's noticing the children going missing. He's been sniffing around the Keep since he saw Iriya in the gardens."

"Hm. Remind everyone on the grounds to Keep their silence, imply they're my Mothers or Varys' if he won't stop."

"That won't keep him away for long."

"I'll handle it.

TLR

Cersei smiled, watching Kailyah spin Marcella around the dance floor. Kailyah's words when she met Marcella proved true, Marcella absolutely adored her elder sister, and the sweet girl followed her everywhere, when she could get away with it. Kailyah always indulged her. Kailyah loved all of her siblings, anyone could see that.

The twins clung to each other no matter how much they grew, Kailyah always dragged her slightly introverted twin into mischief while the clever boy always managed to get them out of trouble. Kailyah always gave Joffrey the time and attention he needed, teaching and playing with him as often as she could, never letting the temperamental boy feel neglected.

She loved both of her brothers, but the bond she shared with her only sister seemed special, unbreakable. Cersei sometimes worried that people would notice how different the girls looked, but she'd only tried to separate them once. The devastation on both girls' faces broke her, and they were happily playing again within hours.

Cersei had been lost in thought for a while, it seemed. She came back to Marcella's third name day ball to find Kailyah tugging on her skirt, her little sister clinging to her hand, both with a breathless smile on their face. Cersei allowed her girls to lead her to the dance floor, amused, and the Lords and Ladies cheered louder than they ever had as Cersei joined her daughters in a fast paced, twirling dance she hadn't indulged in since before she was married, over ten summers ago.

"Gentle Mother, strength of women,

Help our daughters through this fray.

Soothe the wrath and tame the fury,

Teach us all a kinder way."

(1) Okay, so I know the reason Maggie the Witch told Cersei she'd have three kids is because in the books, she never had any babys with Robert Baratheon, but it bothered me and I've been obsessing over it since I started watching the series. I don't know if that was just Cersei trying to manipulate Catelynn or if it's just somthing the writers added to make her more likable, but it bothered me, and it doesn't work for my story, so I changed the wording to make it work. So in my story, Cersei gets the same prophecy that she did in the TV series, except Maggie says 'raise three' intstead of 'have three'. Jasper wasn't supposed to live, Cersei wasn't supposed to have Kailyah, but the Raven created Kailyah and made sure both babes lived

(2) I know in the last chapter I said that Willas had already had his accident, but we're gonna ignore that because I wanted to do somthing with Jaime's thoughts in this chapter because there is no way he wouldn't have noticed Joffreys violent streak and compared him to Aerys.

(3) Kailyah hasn't told Jasper much about her visions, only what she thinks he needs to know. She'd telling him about various battles because she doesnt want him to make the mistakes other people did, and she turned it into a kind of roleplaying game- she tells him what army he's commanding and what circomstances theyre in and what numbers they have and who theyre fighting and where, and they act it out. Sometimes he does the same thing the Lords did, somtimes he does better, and they talk about what really happened and how they could've done things differently after. Also, she did not tell Jasper about Cersei and Jaime.

Lotsa time jumps in this chapter! Our first chapter followed the twins from birth to four years, our second was from four to six/seven, and this one went from six/seven to ten/eleven! I have one more that wll be twelve to sixteen, and then we're jumping into the series! This chapter and next chapter were combines when I started writing this story, but I keep getting new ideas and adding to it, so I had to split it in two.