The wedding celebrations were coming to a close, the bride and the groom had been taken off for their bedding, and Robert and Cersei had retired for the evening. Usually, Robert would've joined in and made some gaudy remark, he certainly had done at Ned and Jon's weddings, and at his cousin Lomas's wedding. But now he found he didn't have the energy for such things, nor the patience. Whilst the revellers continued drinking and talking, Robert and his wife took a walk of the gardens. Arm in arm, with Ser Mandon Moore and Ser Barristan Selmy walking behind them, and Ser Jaime walking in front of them.

"Stannis kept on glowering until the vows were exchanged and he finally got to see his wife's face. Honestly, I don't know why he is such a spoil sport." Robert grumbled.

"I don't understand why the Florents insisted that Rhea Florent's face be covered until after the vows." Cersei replied.

"Something to do with some custom dating back to the time of the Gardeners. You know Stannis was telling me right up until the time the vows were taken that the Florents would likely try and petition me for Highgarden. I told him he was being daft. Everyone knows the Tyrells are there to stay. Not one of their bannermen wants the Florents in power other than the Florents themselves." Robert said as they turned down a hallway.

"Why do you think he continues to talk politics, even on his wedding night?" Cersei asked. "Surely he would have other things on his mind?"

Robert laughed. "Stannis only thinks about politics and the insults dealt him by me and by life. He does not think of anything else, I do not think he is even capable of thinking of anything else. If he is, then he has not shown it."

"Hopefully his wife will be able to remove that aspect of his personality." Cersei said.

"Let us hope so. We cannot afford to have the Florents getting angry because their daughter is unhappy with her husband." Robert said. "We only just managed to get the Martells to agree to the Hearth Tax, after a year and a half of arguing. And of course Oberyn Martell has since been allowed back into Sunspear."

Cersei tensed then. "Is that wise? I mean, yes I know that he swore before you that he would not try and start a rebellion, but is that wise? The man is known as the Red Viper for a reason. He has served three terms in exile, and he is only twenty-nine. What are we to make of him?"

Robert sighed. "What can we make of him? He is a Martell, and though I might not like the fact that they continue to claim the rights of a Prince, there is little I can do about that now. Not if I want their support for my reforms. The Hearth tax is just the beginning." He paused, looked around the continued. "Now that that has been agreed to, there will be several other things that need to be pushed through, including the moving of the Citadel, or at least the top members of the citadel to King's Landing."

"Why?" Cersei asked. "Why is that so important?"

"Because knowledge is power as well. And wherever the maesters are, there is knowledge, and where there is knowledge…" he replied.

"There is power." Cersei answered for him. "So, do you think the maesters will willingly agree to move? It took a holy King, who was also mad for the Faith to agree to move from Oldtown. The Maesters have been there far longer. They won't want to move unless they have reason to."

Robert smiled. "They are planning an extension on some of their rookeries. Lord Hightower told me about it today, mentioned that they've applied to him for permission. And he came straight to me rather than go to Lord Tyrell. If I slap on a two percent tax on the extension they will reconsider. I believe they are looking to exert almost complete control on the southern districts of Oldtown, something Lord Hightower does not want."

"That could work, but of course, it could also portray you as a tyrant. King Aegon the Fortunate slapped a tax onto the citadel, and the Hightower's bannermen rebelled in their name. He had to back down." Cersei pointed out.

"He only backed down because he was facing several other rebellions in the Riverlands and the Reach. And there was also the situation in the Westerlands to consider as well." Robert replied. "Speaking of which, what news from your father?"

Cersei shifted. "He's considering marrying Melessa Crakehall. Someone who would tie the Crakehalls closer to the Rock and lessen their attraction to Riverrun. And I also think she would bring a large dowry with her, as her father made his fortune as a merchant before ascending to knighthood."

Robert looked at his wife, and he could see the tension writ within her features. She did not like the idea of anyone else sitting where her mother had sat, and she did not like the idea of anyone displacing her in the succession. "I shall speak with Lord Crakehall, he and I are friends from the rebellion. I shall see whether he truly wants to give up such a large amount of money, considering the hefty taxes that Tywin has forced on him."

"He might well agree to my father's demand. Unless." Cersei trailed off then, a hand flitting to her stomach.

"Unless?" Robert asked.

Cersei looked at him. "Unless his marriage prospects are delayed until after our child is born."

"Our child?" Robert replied. "Are you?"

His wife smiled and took his hand. "Yes."

Robert grinned. "How long?"

"Three moons I think." His wife replied.

He took her in his arms and kissed her, then said. "I shall see what I can do about your father. we cannot have him doing anything foolish."

His wife smiled and then laid her head against his chest, and Robert found himself wondering how he'd become so fortunate. Two children already with a third on the way. He'd truly been blessed by the Gods.