King's Landing, 297 AC
Aylis is walking away with huge strides, Stannis walking behind her. Tears running on her cheeks, she wishes she could fly away from him. Although, after a moment, she stops walking, her heart hammering in her chest, and turns to him:
"Why now? Why so soon?"
A few moments earlier, Stannis has told her Aistan would live for Casterly Rock, in a fortnight. Aylis does not understand: she has never been opposed to this, she has ended up thinking it was a great idea indeed, but she thought she would have more time with her son. Usually, fostered children leave home when they are 7. Aistan is only 5. She stares at Stannis, who does not look down, but who does not answer. His behavior angers her even more and she quickly walks to him, punching his chest violently, yelling at him to answer her. Her husband grabs her wrists to calm her down and she bursts into tears. He tries to hug her but she moves away with a raging shout.
"Aistan is not a baby anymore, Aylis. You need to realize that. You need to see him as he is: look at him! He is as tall as children who turned seven on their last name day! He is a better fighter than Robert at the same age! He is growing up, Aylis, and I will not let you keep him with you as your sister does with Jon's poor child!" he almost yells the last words, and Aylis's eyes turn dark with anger, and, her sight blurred with tears, she slaps his face as hard as she can. He does not even stagger under the hit, he remains steady and calm, but she notices blood dripping from his lip. Aylis does not feel sorry, not even a bit. Stannis wipes the blood away and looks at it for some seconds, before going back in the Red Keep. Aylis collapses on a bench and cries her eyes out, whimpering, her arms hugging herself.
"Now, now… What is it? Trouble in paradise?"
She turns her face to the Queen, standing in front of her, a mocking smile on her lips. The last person she wishes to see, but she quickly wipes her tears away, even though she knows harm is done. Cersei has probably been watching the whole scene secretly. She sits by the young lady's side, and takes a handkerchief out of her sleeve, wipes Aylis's face sweetly, to her great surprise. She can't stop herself from shaking when their skins touch each others, and the emerald eyes stare at her.
"This", she nods at the handkerchief as she slides it back in her sleeve, "has wiped many tears caused by the Baratheons."
Aylis holds back a bitter laugh: how can she compare her couple with Aylis's? Stannis truly loves her, when Robert has married Cersei for politics.
"What has he done to you so you are like this?" she takes Aylis's hands in hers, and Aylis perfectly knows it is more to hold her back than to comfort her.
"I do not think you need to ask me, your Grace", Aylis whispers, almost defiantly. "You perfectly know what happened."
The emerald eyes narrow and the queen's mouth twists in an angered pout.
"You were speaking out loud", she says, before getting her face close. "Do you think I want my home to have a Baratheon wandering around, mh? Eating in my plates, sleeping in my sheets, where my brother and I used to sleep?"
She is insane, Aylis thinks. Totally insane. What have we done to her that she hates us so?
Unable to answer, Aylis just stares at her, when she goes on:
"My father is a fool. He says I am stupid, but I am not. Oh, no, I am not. I know what you foresee; I know what you are planning to do…"
Her eyes have a strange glimpse, and Aylis have never felt more scared in her whole life. She knows she is not as strong as the Queen, and she knows it would be useless to pretend she is. Cersei's nails are digging in her skin, and she gasps with pain:
"Your Grace, I swear… I don't know what you are talking about… Please… you're hurting me…"
Cersei keeps staring at her, the same glimpse in her eyes, a mad glimpse, and she suddenly, and brutally lets her go. Her face becomes sweet and smiling again, her eyes laying a nice look on her sister-in-law. For a second, Aylis thinks it is just a dream. But it's not. Cersei stands up, brushes the fabric of her dress and turns to her:
"If you, or your husband, betray me, I will have your sweet little son killed. I will cut him into pieces, and I will send them to you, one by one, finger by finger, eye by eye, organ by organ."
Aylis shivers violently, despite the warmth of the sun on her skin, and Cersei suddenly flashes a warm smile:
"I wish you a good day, my Lady."
With those words, she walks back in, following the same path Stannis has walked. Aylis needs to wait for her legs to stop shaking before coming back in turn. When she gets to their chamber, she sees Stannis talking with Aistan, a hand on his shoulder. The boy is staring at his father's face, and nods often, before forcing himself to smile. Aylis observes silently, knowing that Stannis is telling their son he will leave to Casterly Rock soon. She hides when Aistan leaves, and gets in the chamber once she is sure Stannis is alone. She locks the door behind her. Her husband looks at her:
"Are you calmed down?" he asks her.
She shakes violently, and tries to say as calmly as she can:
"Husband, I beseech you… don't send him here. Please. You can find someone else who would foster him. Lord Stark would be happy, I am sure of that. But, please, for the love of our son, do not send him to the Lannisters."
Stannis sighs and looks at her, standing by their bed:
"You have no right to interfere in my decision", he growls and she interrupts him.
"I am his mother!" she shouts outraged.
"You see the Lannisters as enemies!" he talks loud too before biting his cheek and whispering. "Tywin Lannister is the smartest man I know. He is not perfect, but he will be an asset for our son. I know so. The only thing you see is that Cersei is nasty and Ser Jaime a hypocrite. They are not all the Lannisters!"
"If you really want a Lannister, why not Ser Kevan?" she proposes hopeful.
"Ser Kevan is a household knight, not a Lord. Aistan deserves better, although I acknowledge he would make a great Lord", Stannis nods and Aylis can't help whimpering with despair.
He joins her and hugs her tight, and she does not push him away. She holds onto him tight, as tight as she can and whispers in his ear:
"I have a bad feeling… Please… please listen to me… I…. I feel if you send him here, we will never see him again…"
As an answer, he hugs her tighter.
A fortnight later, Aistan bravely hugs his parents and his siblings before getting on his pony, by Tywin's side, himself riding a huge stallion. The difference strikes Aylis in the guts and, as she holds back her tears to wave him goodbye, she promises herself to never forgive Stannis if something happens to her son. As he disappears after a last smile, Stannis wraps an arm around his wife's shoulders. She brutally recoils, takes her children and gets back in the Red Keep.