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Chapter 9

Harrenhal was massive. Cersei tried to not be awed by its sheer size. Most of the noble houses were in attendance. Cersei had knights and lords bow to her every five minutes. There were the Freys, the Manderlys, the Tyrells, the Florents, the Martells. There were even northerners. Tyrion knew every sigil. "Those are Baratheons." He said, Cersei looked at a strong man.

"My lady." The man said with a laughing smile. He was possibly the biggest man she ever saw.

Cersei smiled, "Robert Baratheon, lord of Storm's End." He said.

There was another man beside him. He introduced himself, "Brandon Stark." He said and boldly kissed her hand. He was taller and more handsome. Cersei was a little impressed by him.

"We are looking for our brother." She smiled their way.

"And who might you be fair maiden?" The man smiled gallantly.

"Cersei of house Lannister." She said simply.

Both men bowed again and pointed her to a clearing. "He is training with my youngest brother."

Cersei and Tyrion walked away, not before Brandon Stark winked at her. Cersei did not react.

Jaime was not training with anyone. He was talking to Oberyn Martell. Cersei frowned, "Prince Oberyn." She said in greeting.

"Lady Cersei, you grow more beautiful by the hour." He said and kissed her hand.

Tyrion wandered off to talk to people. "Father will dine with the king in private tonight." She told her brother who readied to joust.

Jaime smiled, "why are you here Cersei?"

She frowned, "father said to make sure you were on your best behavior."

Jaime laughed, "you want to see him. Don't you?"

Cersei blushed, "no. I just want to make sure you are fine."

"Sweet sister, you cannot lie to me. I am your twin." He said arrogantly. "He is inside the castle."

Cersei felt absurd. She should have remained back. "Tyrion, we have to find our places."

Tyrion wandered away and talked to a young man. "Let him make friends. That is Benjen Stark."

Cersei nodded and left her brother. She walked through the forest and heard some sounds. She followed the sounds of a sword and armor. She walked deeper into the woods. It was as if she was beckoned to do so.

What she found was incredible. It was a young woman changing into armor. Cersei gasped when they locked eyes. "Please don't tell anyone."

"Why are you dressing as a knight?" Cersei asked the girl. She appeared to be at least a year younger than her.

"I have to avenge my father's bannerman." She said clearly. The girl had grey eyes and black hair, as black as night.

"I am Cersei Lannister." She said.

"Lyanna Stark." The girl replied. "Will you keep my secret?"

Cersei looked at her, "are you any good?"

"Better than Benjen and Ned." She said proudly. "I may be exaggerating about Ned."

Cersei looked at her suspiciously, "are they real knights?"

Lyanna shook her head, "my brothers."

Cersei was curious, "I met one of them but he said his name was Brandon."

Lyanna put on her helmet, "I have to joust now Cersei. I will come and find you after the feast."

The girl mounted her horse and left. Cersei went back to her seat and watched the jousts. Lyanna Stark won time and time again that same day.

Tyrion was in awe. They watched Jaime move up the lists and cheered. Jaime promised to crown her queen of love and beauty by the end of the Tourney.

Cersei and Jaime attended the feast that night. Tyrion was too tired and fell asleep almost immediately. Father, the King and Lord Whent were in a separate chamber. Jaime left her to talk to some lords. She watched as prince Rhaegar and princess Elia came into the hall. The Dornish princess looked tired and sat with her ladies while Prince Rhaegar played music for the hall. It was hauntingly beautiful. All the ladies were in a trance. A few cried at the beauty of the music, including one Lyanna Stark.

Cersei waited patiently. She made for the door after half an hour. Lyanna followed discreetly.

"You kept my secret." She said with a small smile.

Cersei frowned, "no one would have believed me."

Lyanna nodded and walked with her, "this is the last Tourney I will attend in a while."

"I am going to run away." She said with a grin.

Cersei frowned more pronouncedly, "why are you telling me that?"

Lyanna shrugged, "you won't tell anyone."

"You won quite a few times." Cersei remarked. She was a little impressed by this girl.

"I told you I was good." She continued. "Are you not going to ask?" The other girl stopped walking with her.

Cersei turned around, "ask what?"

Lyanna sighed, "I am betrothed to Robert Baratheon."

"I met him. The Stormlord?" Cersei replied.

"Yes, he's Ned's best friend. They are like brothers."

Cersei failed to see how this would be interesting or worthwhile but something made her like this girl.

"I like him. He's fine but he's not for me." Lyanna continued. "He doesn't love me. He has a daughter in the Eyre."

"What are you going to do?" Cersei asked her.

"I'll run away to Essos and join a sellsword company. I've heard some of them take women and I'm good." The girl said with a smile. She was eager, "Ned, Benjen and I will journey back North together. Brandon will go to Riverrun. He's to marry Catelyn Tully. It is the perfect opportunity for me."

Cersei frowned once more, "you are making a mistake. You really are."

Lyanna shook her head, "I can't marry him. I don't love him."

"You sound like my brother." Cersei did not think she had more time for silly girls.

"Will you keep my secret then?" Lyanna asked her.

Cersei shrugged, "yes, but I would not run away. Stay and marry your Stormlord."

Lyanna smiled but then left to go to the forest. She would probably train more. Cersei sighed. She was a stupid girl after all. She was a little distracted and did not see the man coming towards her. She was startled when he bumped into her.

"My lady, I apologize." The stranger said. He had a nice voice. Cersei looked at him, grey eyes, tall, long face, tall, taller than her. He was a Stark, he looked like Brandon. This was Lyanna's other brother.

"You should watch where you walk." She said quickly. "She went into the woods." Cersei said.

"Thank you." The Stark left after his sister.

Cersei went back to her quarters and slept peacefully that night. Her and Tyrion watched the different jousts. Her peace did not last long. Father was increasingly prickly about things and decided that they would leave before the Tourney ended. Cersei was angrier than Jaime who was winning all of his jousts. She stormed out into the many fields in Harrenhal.

She ran and almost fell when she stumbled. Cersei walked blindly into the forest. She came to a clearing and found something that almost broke her. There, by a river was Prince Rhaegar kissing Lyanna Stark. It was not a forced kiss either. Lyanna caressed his face and he replied by leaning into the caress. Cersei turned and ran back without them seeing her. She was crying and didn't notice the rain or the fact that her dress was caught in a root. Cersei continued running but there was no more ground to run into. She fell and rolled into ground and hit her head.

"My lady." She heard someone say. It was the Stark man. It all came back to her. Lyanna and Rhaegar kissing. She cried, her heart ached.

Cersei opened her eyes and saw the man's worried face, "I saw you falling." He said and helped her sit down. Cersei kept crying. "It is fine. You only have small wound on your forehead." He said patiently and dabbed it with a cloth from his shirt.

Cersei wiped her face angrily. "I have to go back to the castle. We are leaving today." She tried to stand up and realized that there was a shooting pain on her left leg.

The Stark helped her. "Sit, my lady, may I look at it?"

"Are you a maester?" She asked a little exasperated that she could not cry alone.

"No, but I can tell if it is broken or not." He said quickly.

"Fine." She said and did not expect him to touch her leg. She yelped when he touched her ankle. "It's not broken, just sprained. You must not put your weight on it." The man said and carried her on his arms.

"What are you doing?" She said and tried to get down.

"You are hurt and it will be night soon." He said quickly.

Cersei frowned, "you can't take me back like this. People will think badly of me. You must set me down near the open fields and call for my brother."

"Something could happen to you." He said as he carried her. The man was strong, he walked fast and did not waver.

"You have to. I am Cersei Lannister, not some barmaid. I am a lady; my father would end you if he knew you touched my ankle." She said haughtily.

"Very well, as you wish." He said.

He set her on a rock at the edge of the forest. Cersei cried silently for a while. She wept once again because of Rhaegar. She decided no more. Enough was enough. She would not do so anymore. These were the last tears that she shed for him. She thought of how stupid she was and how ridiculous this all was. There she was, pining over him when the prince never looked at her. She shook a little, sobbing and hating herself for crying this much.

Jaime ran to her and it was all too much. She hugged him tight. "Cerse, it will be fine. I swear to you. I promise, I will make him pay. Dearest, calm down." Cersei kept shaking. Tyrion came to her side as well.

Jaime stood up and looked at the Stark man. He charged at the northerner. "What did you do to her?" Her brother yelled.

Jaime punched the Stark man. The northerner then punched Jaime. "Stop." Cersei stood up and regretted it immediately. She fell down once more.

Both men ran to her, "my lady, I told you. Do not put your weight on your foot."

Jaime pushed the Stark away, "Cersei, tell me. What did he do to you? I will kill him." Jaime said and grabbed her hands.

"Nothing Jaime. I ran and fell. Look at my ankle." She said carefully. Jaime glared at the man and then lifted her dress.

"Oh sister." He said. "We must get you to the maester. Are sure he did not do anything to you?" Jaime asked her once more.

"I am sure Jaime." She said and then her brother picked her up. She leaned into his chest and closed her eyes.

The Stark man bowed to her and then went his way. Tyrion fetched their father who had the maester fix her.

"It needs to heal. She will need a litter to travel." The maester replied. The Lannisters left that same night. Father did not let Jaime stay. He was to joust with the Prince the following morning.

Tyrion accompanied her on the litter. "Do not be so sad Cersei, you will be on your feet soon enough."

Cersei smiled gently at her baby brother. The reached an inn in two days and learned that Prince Rhaegar crowned one Lyanna Stark his queen of Love and Beauty. Father did not think much of it and there were no more words spoken about Harrenhal.