A/N: Hey guys, thanks a lot for your comments and your well wishes - you're all fab!
It's a shorter chapter this time around, which you might remember means we're stopping by the Capital. Normal length will resume next time around.
Hope you enjoy, brief as it is.
:)
Interlude: Warning
Cersei
She knew why she had been summoned. Jaime was there too when she entered. There was little she had to say to him these days, not since he had betrayed her. She glowered at him. Without him she would have her daughter back here and safe by now. Without him Tommen would be the ruler of Westeros in its entirety, instead of him being denied two of his rightful kingdoms. Thankfully they were joined in the parlour before Jaime had a chance to speak to her. Her father and Tommen entered together, clearly having returned from council. She quashed the urge to scowl, still despising the fact that she was no longer invited to their meetings.
"Jaime, Cersei," her father greeted curtly, taking a seat to the immediate right to Tommen, who seated himself at the head of the table. "Wine!" he called to the serving girl, and she came forward immediately, pouring each of them a healthy measure.
"I suppose there has been some news," Jaime raised a brow, reclining easily in his chair.
"Indeed, Tommen?" their father turned to her son.
"From Winterfell, most joyous news," Tommen smiled heartily. He looked genuinely thrilled, if only he knew what his sister must be suffering. "Myrcella has delivered a healthy prince, and her own health remains well."
"Wonderful," Cersei said, forcing a smile.
"And does this prince have a name?" Jaime asked.
"Eddard Stark," Tommen said, and Cersei could no longer keep the false smile on her face.
"Now spring has arrived we will of course extend an invitation to the King and Queen in the North to visit us here in the Capital," her father spoke calmly. "There will be coin set aside for a modest tourney, to celebrate the thaw and of course to show the people that the alliance between the North and the southern kingdoms is as strong and secure as ever. This new prince seals it, ensuring a king with Lannister blood will succeed his father."
"Though, we pray not for many years," Tommen added, tactfully.
"Quite, for Myrcella's sake as much as anything else," Jaime agreed, shooting her a dark look.
"Of course," she forced another smile.
Talk then turned to details of the tourney. She barely listened, mind elsewhere entirely. Really, she ought to be happier. Robb Stark would soon be in the Capital, and so would her daughter. She wondered if they would bring the child as well. It wouldn't matter either way, they would not be returning north. Robb Stark would not last until the end of the tourney, and Myrcella would of course, naturally, want to remain with her family after such a tragedy. She didn't suppose it would be difficult – Stark would be bound to compete, he was still young after all. All she needed was to find the right opponent, and slip them enough coin. A simple, tragic, accident. Perhaps it was better that Jaime had failed her, this way was far neater, there was no way it could ever be pinned on her.
The simplicity of it all almost made her smile, but she kept it masked. She couldn't allow Jaime to become suspicious of her again, he already kept an irritatingly close eye on her. It would complicate her making her arrangements but it would not be impossible. When preparations began Jaime would no doubt be expected to aid in them – if Tommen were to head out to the tourney ground to survey it then Jaime, as head of his Kingsguard, would be obligated to accompany him. Yes, soon enough she would find the time to give him the slip and plan her own spectacle for the tourney.
"Well, we will discuss further plans when we receive a response to the invitation," Tommen pulled her back from her thoughts. "No doubt they will accept, though it will take at least a moon for them to travel here, especially if they bring the prince. We will begin preparations then, now, if you will excuse me, I must return to my queen – she has been feeling rather delicate due to her condition and I would make sure she is well tended."
"Of course, your Grace, you must send the queen our regards and sympathies," her father said.
"I hope she feels better soon," Cersei smiled, voice dripping with sweetness.
"I will accompany you, your Grace," Jaime rose as Tommen did. "Father, sister," he inclined his head to each of them in turn before following Tommen from the door. Only when it closed behind them did her father speak again.
"Well, it has taken many years, but finally my plan has come to fruition," he sounded satisfied.
"You mean your plan to sell my daughter to that savage," she spat, she had never forgiven him.
"Oh, Cersei," he chuckled. "After all these years I would have thought you would have finally realised that this was the best thing for our family. The Northern kings may always bear the name Stark but from now they will always have Lannister blood in their veins, thanks to Myrcella. She has done her duty well, you ought to be proud."
"Proud?!" she stared at him incredulously. "How could I be?! How can you be?! Do you have any idea what that savage is subjecting her to?! What she must be suffering?! Do you not care at all for your only granddaughter?!"
"Of course I care," he returned sharply. "I'll have you know I take a great interest in her well-being, and I have been assured of it on numerous occasions by the king, as he receives regular correspondence from her, and from Stark. I notice, that you cannot boast the same, Cersei, I wonder why that might be?"
"The correspondence I have with my daughter is private," she hissed at him.
"Oh, Cersei," he chuckled without humour. "Nothing here is private from me, you ought to remember that before you think of doing anything foolish."
"What do you mean?" she asked, to keep her features still as her heart pounded furiously in her chest.
"Did you really think I would not get it out of Jaime where he really went when he was supposedly reconsidering his future?" all pretence was gone now, her father fixing her with a dark look. "By all accounts it appears that Myrcella was rather angered by your presumption that she was being mistreated, not that I can blame her. Even think of pulling a stunt like that again, Cersei, and you will be banished to the Rock for the rest of your days, and believe me, I will ensure that you have no friends there. I'm sure Tyrion will be more than happy to keep you under close watch."
"You have no right to threaten me in such a manner – you do not have the authority to send me anywhere," she snarled.
"Perhaps not," he didn't falter. "But Tommen does, and he would. He is not Joffrey, Cersei, he has a good head on his shoulders and should you even think to do something to jeopardise the peace of the kingdoms he will ensure you can no longer be in any position to influence anything."
"Do you not think it would be better for Tommen to be king of a united Westeros?" she changed tact.
"In an ideal world, perhaps, but it is not to be," he returned dismissively.
"And why could it not be?!" she pressed.
"If Robb Stark were to die –" he began.
"Then Myrcella would be regent!" she interrupted, face flushing. "Don't you see?! She could give up the throne in her son's name."
"And you think the Northern lords would just allow that?" he was laughing properly now. "They would depose her in a moment, and take control of the child themselves. No, Robb Stark must live, and Myrcella must bear him more sons. You ought to know that a queen needs more than one son to secure the succession. When Stark dies I want him succeeded by a king who has been raised with his mother's influence, as well as his father's. If that happens to prematurely then Myrcella will have no say in his future – the boy will be brought up under the influence of the Northern lords, raised to be their puppet. That, I cannot allow. So, whatever you have planned, Cersei, forget it."
"But -" she tried once more.
"Forget it," he snapped formidably. "This is my final word, Cersei – I suggest you heed it."
A/N: Hope you enjoyed, I'll get another out to you soon!
Thanks for reading.
:)
