"You are beaming."Everyone told her, and Cersei could not have felt happier in that moment. Her head was light, and she was afraid she would faint, but the smile never left her features. She had been taught how to smile and be polite many years ago, but now it only felt natural, all the lessons forgotten. I am marrying the King. I am marrying the most powerful man in the Seven Kingdoms.

As she walked down the aisle to reach the altar where her husband was waiting for her, she lowered her gaze, afraid that she would trip on her gown. Every pair of eyes in the room was on her, admiring her beauty, and she could not have been happier. When she dared to look at her husband, standing by her side in front of the septon, her breath stopped in her throat.

She had seen him before, but this time it was different. He towered over her, majestic in his black and yellow velvets, but his blue eyes were kind, and his smile felt sincere when she saw it. His hair was secured at the nape of his neck with a black ribbon, and his beard had been carefully trimmed. He looked every bit the King, and she could not keep herself from smiling back, a blush creeping on her pale skin.

When he fastened the cloak of his protection on her shoulders, placing his hands on her arms, she realized she had never felt safer in her whole life. This man would protect her, love her, respect her for all his life. They would be so happy together, ruling the Seven Kingdoms as man and wife, as King and Queen.

For I shall be your lady love, and you shall be my lord. His beard brushed against her skin as he leant in to kiss her, but his lips were warm on hers. He was hers by oath, and her trembling fingers reached up to gently cup his face in her hands. It tickled, and when the kiss was broken she was giggling like a little girl.

Everyone in the room was cheering for them, sharing their happiness and wishing them a long marriage. She turned to smile at the guests, holding hands with her new husband. He was so strong, his grip making her feel safe and protected. Nothing could hurt her now, and even her father's eyes felt kind as they looked at her. He is proud of me.

The feast went on for hours, with enough food to feed a whole army and wine so abundant that it felt like a pouring red river. She had a couple of cups, encouraged by her husband, but no more. No bride would want to be inebriated at her own wedding, it would not have been proper… and he is enough to make my head light.

He fed her choice pieces from every dish that was served, cutting the most tender meat for her and once in a while leaning in to kiss her cheek. He behaved like the perfect husband, and looked at her as if she was the only woman in the room.

When the musicians began to play, her husband danced with her the first song before passing her to her father as the custom decreed. She did not mind, cherishing the fact that for once she had made her father proud. In the next hours, she danced with more lords than he could remember, and everyone praised her beauty, told her how lucky the King was to have her by her side. She believed all of them. Why would they lie?

By the time she got back to her position by Robert's side, her feet ached from the dancing, but she felt happy. She noticed that her husband was having many cups of wine, but did not allow it to stain her joy. A man had the right to drink as much as he felt like at his wedding, and it was not her place to question it. She told herself that it was normal for him to look at the women that danced for him, and it had nothing to do with desire. He loves me. He married me, and I am his Queen. She was the most powerful woman in that room now.

She had expected him to spare her the bedding ceremony, but he did not. When the lords suggested it was time for the couple to be brought in the bedroom, he roared his approval and stood up from his seat. He was drunk, and leant on the table in order to keep his balance. She turned pale, when the lords began to walk towards her, and the ladies towards Robert.

She looked at her father, hoping that he would say something and prevent the bedding, but he sat in his seat. He is not going to do anything, she suddenly realized. When the lords began to touch her, pulling at the strings of her bodice or at the ribbons of her sleeves, she wanted to scream, to tell them to stop. Yet, everyone was laughing. She was supposed to enjoy it.

The lords she had danced with mere minutes ago turned into beasts in her eyes, tearing at her beautiful gown. No. Not my gown. It is silk and Myrish lace. Stop. Stop. Stop. She curled her arms around her chest to cover herself, and suddenly felt more exposed than she ever was. Everyone was shouting bawdy comments about her, but they were not telling her how beautiful she was anymore.

She was guided up the stairs, towards the chamber. When she reached the doors, she was left with just a sleeveless ivory slip and her smallclothes. The beautiful golden tresses the handmaidens had worked hours to achieve were now undone, and her hair hang loose on her shoulders and back. She wondered if her husband would like her anymore like this, afraid she did not look more regal than a common handmaiden now. At least she could pretend that the tears that had stained her cheeks were from happiness.

When they were left alone in the room, her lord husband's breath was short with laughter. He no longer wore his velvet doublet, and his vest was open on his chest as he stumbled towards her. She knew that the wine had gone to his brain, and for a moment she was afraid he would hurt her.

When he grabbed her wrists, however, he was almost gentle. Clumsily, he laid her on the bed and crawled on top of her. By now, Cersei knew what he wanted from her, and knew that she could not run from this. It felt good when Jaime did this. It will feel good with him as well. He was not her brother, however.

Abruptly, her husband's hands lifted her slip to her hips and unlaced her smallclothes, leaving her naked from the waist down. She was supposed to unlace his breeches, but her hands trembled too much, and she only succeeded to fumble with the laces. He was kind, pushing her hand away gently but firmly, and did the deed for her.

She turned her head away, unable to look at him, but Robert was not displeased. Maybe he never noticed.

Jaime was never drunk when he entered her, and no matter how strong he was his brother never hurt her. Robert was fierce and demanding as he took his husband's right on her, claiming her as his, and Cersei did her best to try to enjoy it. For a moment, she even felt pleasure from the act.

Until the moment he leant in to kiss her temple, and whispered a name in her ear. Lyanna. In that moment, Cersei felt her eyes stinging with tears as her husband came undone inside her. His grip on her was too strong, and his face was not her own mirror. He was not her brother, she mourned later that night as Robert slept by her side, the deep sleep of the drunkard.

She laid awake in the marriage bed, her mind focusing on the ache between her legs, telling herself that it was normal. Love would come with time, they had told her. You'll have to make him love you, she remembered her septa telling her. Be a dutiful wife and he will love you… it would not be too hard, to make him forget a dead young woman with common brown hair and the mouth of a boy. Yet, she stopped for a moment, not sure if that was really what she had prepared for all her life. Was this all the happiness she was going to get, she wondered.

My sweet brother, where are you?

Author's notes:

Good question about Jaime! It is true, no one saw him killing Aerys, but they know he allowed Elia and the children to escape. Everyone also knows that he was the only knight of the Kingsguard in King's Landing at the time. Knowing of Rhaegar's disagreements with his own father, people just assume that Jaime had a sort of agreement with Rhaegar to save the royal family should Robert win the war!

As for Elia's "claim" you are right, it is not really a claim, but she is the only person of age who is related to the Targaryen family - that makes her a threat to Robert's throne, especially since like you said she can ask for the help of Dorne!

I am aware that the chapter can seem a bit short, but I do it for 2 reasons: this way I am sure I can update once a week, and I am also sure I can begin and finish a scene in the same chapter, without interruptions!