The Tower of Joy

"His name..." whispered Lyanna, her gray eyes red. "Is Maekar Targaryen. I loved Rheagar. We married under the Seven and before the Old Gods, with Elia's permission. I'm sorry, but I could not marry Robert. I never meant for all this to happen. I hope Father and Brandon forgive me. Protect him Ned, even if Robert doesn't kill him, Lannister will like he killed his brother and sister. You have to promise me. Promise me, Ned."

"I promise" whispered Ned through his tears.

She smiled finally after all this time. Her eyes looked into his own, free of tears. Then they closed and she was gone. All that Ned could hear were the cries of the babe.

King's Landing

"I won't have it Jaime" whispered Cersei, her green eyes wild.

Jaime signed.

"Are you sure its not mine? We..."

"I'm sure you idiot" she snapped. "I've been poorly since our wedding night. He put this fucking Stag in me the moment he whispered the Northern whore's name in my ear, I know it."

She looked at him beggingly. "Find me moon tea, anything. I can't have it. If I have a child, it'll be yours. Help me purge this one."

Jaime stared at her. The idea that Robert put a child in his sweet sister disgusted him, but this was her child. His nephew.

"Cersei... its done. Maybe have this one. Just one"

Her eyes flashed with betrayal. "You'd have me birth this... spawn. Fathered by the drunk Stag who thinks his worthy of the Iron Throne. Do I mean nothing to you brother?"

She began to weep. Jaime walked over and took her in his arms. "You are everything, Cersei."

"Then help me. Get rid of it."

His heart sinking into the blackness of temptation, he whispered. "Yes".

She nodded. "Tomorrow at nightfall. Here."

Jaime left the room. He though he heard something move beside him, but when he turned he saw nothing. He walked on.

"Oh, Jaime" whispered Tyrion after his brother went, emerging from behind a column.

The next evening, Jaime was entered his sister's chambers, a vial in hand. Moon tea.

It won't feel anything he told himself to quell his doubts. It won't suffer. Its not even alive yet. And thanks to me it never will be, he thought darkly.

Cersei greeted him with a kiss on the cheek. She was in no mood for anything else. But once the beast in her was dead, she'll give herself to her brother like never before.

"Thank you brother. I will never have to look that thing in the eyes." She took the vial.

"Oh but you will" said a voice and both brother and sister froze. In an instant, the vial was in pieces on the ground while Cersei struggled against the guard holding her by the wrist. Jaime's instincts yelled at him to wrestle the man of her, but he was paralyzed as he stared at his father whom had emerged from behind a tapestry. His green eyes were full of cold fury.

"Careful now" he told the guard. "The Queen must take good care of herself now doesn't she?" He said glaring at his daughter, whose own eyes were venomous but full of hatred. Tywin scoffed silently, then turned to his son.

"This man will stay very close to your sister from now on. Until she gives birth to our heir. Now, why don't you clean this mess up. The king will surely wish to visit his wife after I deliver the wonderful news."

Tywin turned as the man finally let go of Cersei, whom he could hear sliding in her chair to weep. "Clean yourself up as well daughter. You ought to be happy. You are pregnant. But I suppose the king ought to get used to these mood swings. They do make you make silly things. Thank the gods I happened to be in King's Landing when one of them occurred."

He left the room and found Tyrion kneeling by a pillar, grinning.

"You may be a curse on me and my house, but you have your uses" he said and Tyrion smiled slyly.

6 months later...

The pain was excruciating, she had been warned, but no words could describe what she felt when the little Stag monster was birthed. She couldn't stop the screams escaping her mouth though she did not want to. She wanted her brother to hear her pain. This was his fault. Had he been a strong proper man, they'll have gotten rid of this creature and she could be having their child now. She knew he was waiting outside the door with her damned husband.

Her father stood watching it all, ensuring she didn't try anything. His eyes made it worse. Her aunt Genna held her hand, giving her assuring words that meant little to her. She needed Jaime. She nearly screamed his name but choked it back lest Robert hear.

The idiot Maester get telling her to push. What the hell did he think she was doing? She prayed to the gods, make it stop. Just stop. Please. Please.

She didn't notice when the pain stopped. She hardly heard the cries. She barely heard the Maester speak.

"A healthy girl, your Grace."

She had prayed for a girl. She planned to have another baby with Jaime as soon as she could. A son, future king, the fruit of their love. Not a son of the drunken Stag. Her prayer was answered. The girl will be married of to some lord and sent away. Their son will be a glorious king, the greatest in the history of the Seven Kingdoms.

She realized the Maester was handing her that baby. She did her best not to drop it, though the repulsion she felt compelled her to push her back to the Maester. She could already see that she would have the Stag's hair, she could see little specks of black hair on her little head. She could see more of the Stag on her face. In the little nose and the shape of her head. Her eyes were closed.

Let her have mine, she begged. Let her have my eyes. I want even be able to look at her if she had his eyes. Slowly the eyes open and Cersei breathed heavily. Her eyes were green. Relief swept over her, and she found herself overwhelmed by a sudden warm. No, no I can't...

"Lyanna" she could here the drunken voice whisper in her ear as the memory came back. The contempt returned abd she did her best to mask it, but felt relived she avoided falling under the little Stag's spell.

"Splendid" said Aunt Genna. "Bring them in".

The doors opened and Robert entered, his forehead sweaty. Jaime followed closely behind with Barristan.

"A girl, your Grace" the Maester said. "In perfect health".

"Show me, show me" the Stag said excitedly. He practically snatched the baby from her, an act she welcomed. He held her in his arms. She could see some disappointment among the affection in his eyes that his firstborn was not a boy.

But she is far from your first born isn't she? she thought. Very far indeed.

It disgusted her to see him bring back tears. As if this child would know any real affection from him.

"What will you name her" asked Genna, wiping her own tears.

"Perhaps Lyanna" said Robert and Cersei's heart sunk.

"Your Grace" said Jon Arryn. When had he entered the room? His eyes darted knowingly from Robert to her and he almost seemed to look demanding and Robert begrudgingly nodded.

"Cassana?" he suggested to no one in particular, hus eyes weary for a moment as he seemed to shake off a memory. "Serra? Roslin? Sonya?"

"Perhaps Joanna, your Grace" said a voice she dreaded. The Imp entered the room, his eyes on the baby. "After the Queen's own dear mother?"

Robert hesitated, looking pathetically to Jon Arryn for guidance. Arryn nodded, as Cersei's heart sunk. Before she had time to react, Robert nodded.

"Write to the Lords of the Seven Kingdoms, announcing the birth of Joanna Baratheon, my firstborn and, until Cersei gives me a son, the heir to the Iron Throne".

He handed the baby to the nurse. "Now,I believe a feast is in order." He left, followed by Arryn, Barristan and Tyrion. She held contempt for all free. Its too painful for him to name her after his dead mother, but had no problem calling her Joanna Lannister's name. The Imp angered her the most. How dare he name her own daughter after the mother he stole from her?

Jaime stared at the babe with an almost confused look, before bowing and leaving her with her father like the coward he is. He'll have to work hard to earn back her favour. Very hard indeed.

Tywin Lannister stared at her for a long time as the Maester tended to her. The pain of his eyes was worse than childbirth. He soon walked over to her and knelt to whisper to her out of the earshot of the nurse and the Maester. Thankfully the babe was crying very much and they were preoccupied.

"I trust you've learned your lesson, daughter?"

"Yes, father" she whispered without hesitation.

He nodded and walked over to the baby. "Make us proud, Princess".

He left, and Cersei heaved a sign of relief. But the babe kept crying.