No bells were rung at the passing of the former queen. No one mourned her loss, no one toasted her life, no one cried. No one other than Jaime and Tyrion Lannister. As they mourned their sister, terrible as she was, Rhaena cared for little Joanna so that they need not worry for her. All of her words to Cersei had been lies, of course they had been. She would never dream of hurting an innocent babe, not as Cersei would. Instead, she cradled and jostled the girl when she fussed and sang lullabies to coax her to sleep, releasing her only to allow the wetnurse to feed her from her breast. In anticipation of the arrival, Rhaena had already had the nursery prepared in the castle so that Joanna had every comfort and care. Even her wetnurse was provided with ample food and the finest cuts of meats so that she provided only the best milk for Joanna. The child wanted for nothing, and Rhaena was determined to see to it that she would not grow into a second Cersei. Already plans were being made in her head, thinking of what best to do for the child. She would have to come with them to King's Landing, of course, but she was far too young to travel. She would have to remain on Dragonstone for several months at least. Jaime of course would want to remain, and so Rhaena decided that she would return to Dragonstone to help take care of Joanna as well as see to her own duties, and fly back and forth to King's Landing as she was needed. Perhaps she would also invite Sansa here. It would be cold and dull, but it might not be so terrible if they were there to entertain one another.
As for Cersei, her body was washed and neatened, a gold lion pendant resting upon her breast whilst dressed in a gown of fine samite with her hair trimmed and brushed so that it settled neatly around her head. In death, Cersei looked quite peaceful, though this might have been Rhaena's own bias. She had always viewed Cersei to have worn an expression that seemed as if she was constantly smelling something unpleasant. Her body was to be taken to Lannisport to be buried in the catacombs of her family House. Jaime was to escort her, given leave to go by Rhaena who knew that he would want to return her home since he had been the one to escort her from Casterly Rock to her wedding all those years ago. He grieved for her, but he was not as inconsolable as Rhaena might have expected. He bore it well, as if he had long since accepted that his sister was gone. She left him to his vigil, focusing upon Joanna who quickly became a delight and fascination. She was the only cheerful thing about Dragonstone, and soon all the maidservants were besotted with her.
Tyrion adored her just as deeply, and though he longed to stay, his place was in King's Landing. He departed after visiting Joanna one last time in her nursery, kissing her little toes and the top of her head before drawing away. He embraced and kissed Rhaena too, thanking her for everything that she had done. Her fingers brushed at the curling locks of his hair and the fullness of his beard which Tyrion seemed reluctant to trim. "But of course, what else could I have done? Joanna will remain here until she is ready to travel to King's Landing, and then you can shirk your duties playing with her in the nursery whilst the kingdom unravels around us." Amused by the notion, Tyrion peppered a final kiss to Rhaena's cheek before leaving as the boat was ready to leave. Jaime lingered longer when he came to say his farewell, holding his hand over Joanna so that her fingers curled around his, so small and tiny compared to him. He watched her contently for more than half an hour until Rhaena gently reminded him that the boat could not wait any longer, and neither could Cersei.
"You're right." Sighing heavily, Jaime took one last look at his daughter before forcing himself away. "You will keep her safe?"
"Do you think anyone shall be able to take her from me, Jaime? Or that I would allow any harm to befall my ward?" Starting in surprise, Rhaena allowed herself the amusement of Jaime's expression. "So long as she is on Dragonstone, she is my ward. Once you return, you may think what might be best for her, but until then she will remain in my care. Fear not, Jaime Lannister. A dragon is just as fearsome as a lion." Settled and confident that Joanna was perhaps in the safest hands in all of Westeros and Essos, Jaime bowed to her and offered her his thanks. She watched them go, waving from the shore as the boat carried them to the ship that lay waiting for them, and once they were out of sight Rhaena climbed all the way to Rhaegal's nest at the top of the cliff so that she could watch the ship unfurl its sails and glide away back to King's Landing. From there, Jaime would take the Gold Road back to his ancestral home, and there Cersei would be buried. A slightly dissatisfying ending for the woman who had tormented Rhaena for so long, but death was death and there was nothing that could be done to change it. Time to let it go and move forwards, it seemed. Looking up, Rhaegal chittered at her as he curled around his nest of charred bones and scorched earth. It appeared he had recently hunted a dolphin or small whale of some king. The smell of melting fat and blubber were still in the air. "The winds are shifting. Can you feel it, Rhaegal?" As if to answer her, Rhaegal lifted his head and sniffed at the air before growling, flaring his nostrils before laying his head down to rest once more as Rhaena hummed softly. "I agree. They are much calmer now."