Today was the day when Iona would dine with the Queen - her future mother-by-law. She could sense that the Queen was not fond of her, or any of the Starks for that matter. That did not affect Iona, for Iona knew how to play the game. She would be prepared to say anything if it meant winning over Cersei Lannister.
The servants ushered her into the small dining hall which had been allocated to the Baratheon-Lannister family for the duration of their stay. This morning it would only cater to the Queen and her twin brother - which gave Iona the best opportunity.
Joffrey was absent because he had accompanied his father in yet another hunting trip. Iona had excused herself from this one, because she felt terrible on Robb's behalf due to the fact that last time she had made more kills than him - or at least that's what she told them.
As she entered she smiled graciously at the Queen. Yes, thank you for allowing me to dine in mine own home.
Confidently she sat in the chair directly across from Cersei and bid them both a good morning.
"Little Wolf, you look so... radiant!" The Queen gushed.
"Thank you, your Grace, but nothing can compare to your magnificence."
The niceness was for show - even between the three of them. They all knew that this would be an interrogation.
The Queen did not hold back, "Do you look forward to Wedding my son?"
She replied instantaneously, "Of course, you Grace. Nothing pleases me more. I thank you also for taking me to the south, away from this dreary cold."
Ser Jaime's eyebrows quirked at this remark. Cersei's face gave away no emotion.
"Not fond of your home, my lady?" He asked
"Even us northerners feel the cold, Ser. Myself more so than others."
"Do you know what marrying my son will mean?"
Iona chose her answer to this carefully. She could not make it obvious that her main intention was to become Queen and remove Cersei from the post - that would not go down well.
"It will mean that I will give him heirs. It will mean that the most powerful house of the south and the north will be joined-"
"It will also mean that one day you will be Queen."
"Of course, your Grace." She paused for a moment before bursting into a speech that she had thought meticulously about. "I do hope you know that for your Son's safety and happiness I would betray my own family."
The Queen pretended to look taken aback and Iona would not have it.
"I know you do not like us your Grace, and I quite agree with you. My father is so honour-bound that it will one day destroy him. I often think I was born into the wrong family, I admit. They are all to good. They do not understand the horrors of the world, yet, I do. So please your Grace, hear this. Truly, if Joffrey's happiness meant the destruction of my family, so be it. My loyalty and allegiance lies with no one but the King and his family. What ever you ask of me, I shall do."
Jaime and Cersei shared a look of surprise and confusion. Jaime was more than happy with the girls statement, and had detected no hint of her lying.
"You will suit my nephew well, Lady Iona."
"I like to think so, Ser."
After a moment, Cersei spoke.
"Meet with me at the broken tower at noon. You can escort me to the Godswood. I still have not seen it."
After her departure Jaime turned to his sister and asked,
"What are you doing?"
"I am going to see if she breaks."
Iona arrived at the broken tower fifteen minutes before she was supposed to. It was never a bad thing to be prompt. She paced back and forth hoping to pass time quickly this way.
Glancing up, she spotted her brother, Bran, sitting on the window ledge of the tower. Iona rolled her eyes and sighed. Her mother had commanded him not to go climbing.
She was about to shout him down, when suddenly he flew out backwards and plummeted to the ground. The only way he could have fallen unnaturally backwards was if someone had pushed him, and the flash of golden hair gave everything away. Ser Jaime had pushed her brother out of the window to his possible death.
Iona could not do anything as her brother landed on the floor a few metres away from her feet. A sickening crack revealed the breaking of several bones.
What did she do? She could not betray Jaime Lannister, because that would ruin any chance of a good relationship with the Queen and her family. How would she cover this up?
Did she leave him here, or did she call for help and give a false story?
She turned away from her broken brother and marched towards the entrance.
There she waited anxiously for Ser Jaime to exit. It was not difficult to piece together why he had done it. She had no doubt that Bran must have seen something he should not have - that being the Queen with her brother.
First, came the Queen looking rather disheveled.
Her eyes widened at the sight of Iona. How would they explain this now? She'd have to get them both killed.
"My Queen, no. You must go to the Godswood as fast as you can. Wait for me there. Do you understand your Grace?"
Cersei was shocked, so shocked that she could not even utter a sentence.
"I told you did I not, if your family's safety meant the destruction of mine, then so be it. Go to the Godswood and wait for me there. I will fetch Ser Jaime and I will throw them off, I promise you."
"How can I trust you?"
"You cannot. But I am all you have. If I were to betray you, you could have my head. Now go!"
The Queen could not disagree with that, and so she fled. When she had gone, Iona ran into the broken tower to find Jaime.
When he saw her, he looked ready to attack.
"No. me out, I will tell them I found him, and you ran over to help me. We will say he slipped. He climbs all the time - it was bound to happen at some point. Cersei is waiting in the Godswood. If this all goes to plan, no one will suspect you. Am I clear?"
"Crystal. If you try anything funny, I will-"
"Kill you. Yes, yes. Now come one."
He followed her out to the distorted body of Bran Stark, who lay motionless upon the ground.
In a few moments, Iona had tears streaming down her face.
"Oh, Gods!" She wailed. She gestured for Jaime to pick her brother up.
He scooped him up into his arms and followed her back into the town, trying his hardest to look worried.
"Please! Oh Gods Please! Someone fetch the Maester!" Iona screamed "My brother! My brother! Oh Gods!"
Bran was somehow still breathing. The Maester had said that he had suffered great trauma to his spine. He could still make it, but he would probably never walk again.
When Iona had 'calmed down', she explained everything. Jaime stood at the edge of the room, ready to destroy her if she revealed anything.
"I-I was walking to the Godswood, ready to meet the Queen, and he was there - high up on the broken tower. He was right at the top when I saw him miss his grasp and oh Gods! He fell so quickly." She sobbed, falling into her father's arms. "I ran for help, and Ser Jaime was coming from the Solar. He carried Bran back here... If he had not have been there, I do not know if Bran would still be alive."
She took a big, dramatic breath before she said, "I left the Queen in the Godswood. Oh, she will hate me! Ser Jaime, please, go and find her. Bring her back and apologise for me?"
"Of course, my Lady."
Now, if that had not been enough to convince the Queen how loyal she was to the King and his family, she did not know what would.
