Chapter 25

He was skittish around her still. It was almost five months since he came back to their quarters. Eight since he came back from his continent trip. Ned however had reservations. Cersei would say that these past months were hard work. Cersei dressed for the day. Ned was gone to a council meeting. Cersei reflected on their bedroom life, it was decreased. Ned used to seek her at least twice a day when she did not have her moonblood, that was before the incident. Ned now restrained himself, he bedded her maybe twice or three times in a fortnight. It was as if he fought a battle with himself. Cersei missed him terribly. She slept next to him. Ned did not ask her to move back to her quarters even after the children were situated in nearby quarters. She was in a good mood, her brothers would be with her soon. Father would be in King's Landing as well. She asked them on account of her name day. The celebrations would take place in three weeks. Cersei wanted them with her.

She walked to Daenerys' rooms first. The little girl sat with her handmaiden. Cersei braided the young girl's hair and then took her hand. They walked to Jon's quarters. They entered the room. Jon should have been dressed but instead was still in bed while the handmaiden placed cold rags on his forehead. Cersei walked closer.

"Your grace, the prince is sick." The young woman said. Cersei's eyes rounded as she came closer. "Take the princess back to her quarters." Cersei told the girl

Pycelle came in as well. He examined the babe. "You must leave." The older man said.

"I shall not." Cersei said and sat next to Jon.

"Your grace, I believe the Prince has the shivering fever. It is dangerous for you to be here." The older man said.

"No." Cersei said and took the rags from the servant girl.

"Tell me what to do." She said to the maester.

"He must be kept cold." The maester said. Cersei had the servant girl bring the bath for Jon. He was hot and sweaty.

"I must leave. I have to make him his medicine." The older man rasped.

Cersei had a thought then. "All of your medicines must be tested by me." She knew of her father's ways and the fact that Pycelle was in his father's pocket. She would not put it past Tywin Lannister to poison Jon.

"Your grace." Pycelle hobbled out of the chambers. Cersei remained with Jon and bathed him.

She had the sheets changed and then lied with him. He was clingy and shivered, his breathing ragged. It was two hours before the maester came back with the medicines.

Cersei tasted them first and then had Jon drink some of them. She kissed his forehead and continued to place cold rags on his forehead.

Jon cried pitifully and hugged her torso as she sang him a lullaby.

The handmaiden brought her food from the kitchens. Cersei ate some of it. "Have Daenerys stay in her quarters. She is to be well taken care of. Do not go into her rooms." The handmaiden knew. They had the fevers before. It was years ago, before Elia's announcement. This sickness was contagious. She was sure the maester contacted Ned.

She remained in bed with Jon until he started to shiver in his sleep. Cersei cried out to the handmaiden, "Get the maester." She yelled at the girl.

Pycelle was back and undressed Jon. "We must make sure that the child breathes. These oils will help. He brought out some flasks.

"I'll do it." Cersei started rubbing them on Jon and stayed awake as he settled to sleep. The maester did not leave the rooms this time.

"Is it like before? Is this the sweating sickness." Cersei asked fearful for Jon.

The maester shook his head, "no. You would be sick as would the handmaiden by now. This is something else."

"Why is our king not here?" Cersei asked.

The maester frowned, "I am afraid he does not know more than that your grace. The king is hunting in the Kingswoods."

"Why was he not told?" Cersei asked fiercely. She knew about the trip, it was a trip to celebrate Stannis' firstborn son, a boy named Gendry. Stannis, Renly, Ned and a few of the kingsguards were deep in the forest and would not come back until a fortnight.

"The Lord Hand did not think it appropriate." The old man said with a smirk. Pycelle did not like Arryn.

"Send for him at once. He should know." Cersei replied and tended to Jon who wet himself. Cersei cleaned him and shushed him when he whined about.

She fell asleep with Jon on her chest. They were on a great rocking chair because the bed was useless. She held the boy to her and sang old songs from when Tyrion was little. Cersei barely ate or sleep for the next three days. Jon began to eat by the fourth morning and Cersei breathed a sigh of relief when her boy lively talked to her. There was no explanation other than a childhood fever. Cersei had some experience with them. Tyrion suffered from a few but always recovered. Of course, no one would let her in the room, lest she catch whatever Tyrion had.

Cersei felt silly to have sent for Ned then. She planned to see Daenerys that evening when the ache began. She felt in her whole body. She needed to sleep. Cersei was tired after taking care of Jon. It could not be anything other than that. She retired to her quarters and reached her bed.

She felt cold and hot. The room spun around. She touched her chest, she could not breathe. Cersei gaped and fell asleep. The next thing she knew she heard far away voices. A woman yelling and then a man. Someone took her clothes and was touching her. It was not Ned. She shook their hands off and cried. No, no one could touch her but Ned.

"Ned, Ned, Ned." She kept saying but no one heard her.

"She's bleeding." A woman said. Who was bleeding? Did she have to help her? Was it Dany?

Cersei stopped thinking because she was cold then, unbearably cold, suddenly there was pain, so much pain in her belly and she cried for her dead mother and asked for her children and Tyrion.

She was cold once more and hot again. There was no more pain but she was hot. Cersei opened her eyes and saw light, blinding light. She was going to die she knew it so. "I want to see Jon and Daenerys. Bring them. I want to see my children."

She fell asleep and then she saw them, her babies. Her Jon and Dany. Dany was crying. Cersei wanted to pull her to her side and shush her.

"Don't cry my love. You have to be strong, you have to take care of Jon and Papa. You have to love Jon for he is your baby brother." Cersei heard herself saying to Daenerys. She remembered mother saying that.

"My babies, my babies, be good. I love you." She rushed before the strength left her. "Jon, you must be good. You must be a good prince. Promise me, promise you will be good for Papa."

"I promise mama." Jon said.

"Tyrion, where is Tyrion? I miss him and Jaime. Where are they?" Cersei cried and tried to stand up.

"My love, don't. You have to rest, you have to get better. They are coming soon. " Ned said.

Cersei blinked, "Ned? I'm sorry. Don't leave me. I will try. Ned, I'll try." She said desperately.

There was quiet then. Cersei closed her eyes and stopped fighting. It was easier to sleep. She wanted to stop hurting.