Chapter Two

Cersei

I, Cersei Lannister, a lady in name as well as in essence. I was born of nobility to House Lannister and bore two sons who would each become king. I was born to power and wealth. Though I am a woman and had no true claim to all that my brothers and father had I did not flounder by any means. In truth I accomplished a thousand times more what many others could never do even in a thousand life times. I married a king, I ruled as the queen regent, and was forever bathed in luxury.

I was born at Casterly Rock, my father's castle, and was treated as if I were a princess from the moment I arrived even if I was only a noblewoman. I will never forget how my mother and our maids cooed over me as a child. Even my father found me irresistible, and he wasn't exactly known for his warmth and affectionate nature. But somehow through it all he saw that I was given the very finest things. So fine that even the Targaryen princesses grew envious.

The day had come when at last I was determined to see what my father was hiding. I was almost eleven now and still had not seen my baby brother. Jamie agreed with me that the secrecy had gone on much too long.
"I'm going to see him," I said to him while we played in the garden one afternoon. "I'm tired of waiting."
"Me too."
I tossed a small ball to one of our dogs. "No," I said. "You can't come."
"Why not? He's my brother too."
"I know, but I think two of us will be to tricky. And someone needs to provide a distraction so the other one can sneak off to that room."
Jamie nodded thoughtfully. "Yes, but why me and not you?"
"Because I'm quieter and quicker. I'll be able to get in and get out easy."
"What are you saying?"
I retrieved the ball from the dog's mouth, wiping it on my sleeve first. "That I am much more nimble than you." We watched as the ball flew past the rose bushes, the small black dog eagerly chasing after it.
"Not true!" He argued. "Sword fighting takes a great deal of grace, a lot more than needle point. Therefore I'm much better suited for the task."
I couldn't deny this. Sword fighting did in fact require much more agility than any of my activities. But, I wasn't going to let him see our brother before I did.
"You're right," I said. "But you must also admit that it could provide a greater distraction. After all, people watch you spar more than they watch me sew or play the harp." I had flattered his ego, this would ensure that he would do what I said.
"I suppose you're right," he conceded. "But promise me something."
"Anything."
"Tell me everything."
I smirked. "What kind of sister would I be if I didn't?"

From my bedroom I watched Jamie practice his swordsmanship outside. He made sure he could also see me from where he stood, insuring that he would be able to see me give the signal.
Beyond Jamie I could see a menagerie of onlookers in the garden. I looked past them to see father and his guards nearing Jamie's area, I knew it was time. I looked down once more at Jamie until he looked back at me. Once our eyes met I nodded and pulled my curtains closed.
I waited until I heard Jamie cry out, fooling everyone into believing he was injured and causing everyone to come to his aid.I heard a scream and hurried footsteps outside my window. Jamie was very punctual.
I hurried from my bedchamber and down the empty corridor, careful not to make unneeded noises. As I ran I imagined what my brother may look like, what had caused my father to call him a "monster" and a "freak". Perhaps he had horns, or a tail. I imagined a baby with a tail, and what kind of tail it was. Was it like a horse's, a dog's,or even a rabbit's? Then again, Jamie and myself were perfectly normal. Why should our brother be any different?
Before entering the forbidden room I swept a last glance at the corridor to make certain that I was still alone. I found myself trying to keep my breathing even. I hadn't realized I was so very anxious. My trembling hand found it's way to the latch, and slowly lifted it. The metal latch creaked as it rose, as though it hadn't been touched in a very long time. I glanced behind me once more to make sure no one was around, someone easily could have heard the latch being removed. Still alone, Jaime was such a talented actor when he wanted to be.
I pushed the door inwards, but only enough to allow myself to slip inside. I could see that no candles were lit, the only light came from a small window that hardly passed for more than a skinny little crack in between the bricks. I began to believe that this room was empty and our father was keeping our brother somewhere else entirely. It would be like father, to make everyone believe the strange newborn was hidden in here when in fact he was somewhere else so no one could find him. I squinted in the dimness of the chamber, following the sliver of light. Finally I could see the shadowy outline of a tiny cradle. I drew closer to it, to peer at the small lump that lay swaddled in thin blankets.
Barely peeking out was a thin curl of pale blonde hair. His hair was like ours, so the rest of him must be normal too. Perhaps father was just angry with him because he had killed our mother. Eagerly I drew back the blanket, happy to see my new baby brother. I thought about how much fun he would be to play with. Jaime and I could teach him to ride, to fight and he was still small enough that I could put him in my dolls clothes. I was imagining how precious that would be when I revealed him.
I had been wrong, the wisp of Lannister blonde hair had been deceiving.
He was nothing like Jaime or myself. His head seemed so much larger, and his body was much too small for a head that size. The small legs were twisted, I doubted that he would ever be able to walk, it seemed silly that I had thought to teach him to ride. Even if he ever did walk, the smallest pony we owned would be too big. And his tiny feet would never reach the stirrups if a saddle no matter how small. I looked to his arms, much like his legs they seemed twisted and bent in the wrong places. As though he came out of our mother's womb with his arms already broken. I thought that perhaps they were, and that maybe his legs were too. Gently I picked him up, holding his small little figure in outstretched arms. His eyes began to blink as he awoke from his slumber. It was then that I saw his eyes. They were not the emerald green eyes of House Lannister. Well, at least one was, but it seemed cloudy not at all sparkling and gem like. But the other eye was dark, black even. It was like someone had cut out his real eye and replaced it with a perfectly shaped piece of coal.
His strange eyes watched me as I took in his ugly face. Much like his arms and legs the face just didn't look right. His brow much too large, his nose upturned like a pig's and the entire face seemed much too round to be human. He seemed to sense my disapproval and began to squirm, his small hands reached out to me. When he could not reach my face he clutched my sleeves. So his arms and hands could work. I felt him kicking and learned that his legs worked just as well.
Even so his was a horrible thing to look at, I no longer wondered why father had kept him locked away. If he was my child I may have done the exact same.
I felt his fingers digging into my arms, his fingernails were sharp for an infant's. Had I not been wearing long sleeves he may have drawn blood if he chose to do so.
Outside the door I could hear footsteps and the rush of fabric on the cobblestone floors, I had stayed much too long.
Hastily I tossed my baby brother back into the cradle, not bothering to swaddle him the way I had found him I was in too much of a hurry. No longer bothering to tip toe I ran from the cell that served as a nursery, I could hear him crying behind me. Ahead of me the corridor was still deserted, whoever was heading this way was still only in the stair well. I kicked the door shut behind me, clumsily replacing the lock and hurried to Jaime's bed chambers where I was to meet him.