REGINA

There was one thing that Regina loved about her step-daughter and that was her complete lack of judgement. The girl's naivety enabled the former Queen to do as she wished and the sickening couple didn't know any different. Idiots. Oh if only they knew what she had planned for them. That bastard brat of theirs will be in her hands soon, Salladhor Saan had better not disappoint. Lord Baelish had suggested that they use more of secretive way of transferring the tainted child back to Westeros where she belonged.

David and now Mary Lannister were living their perfect lives and staying far from Regina as possible. That being said however, the newly weds still had the ability to anger her furiously. Varys had taken too much pleasure in delivering the news that her place on the small council had been replaced by that bug of a Penrose. A man of a lesser house taking her place!? She had demanded to know as to the reasoning but the spider had merely shrugged. She knew all too well that it would have been him who had suggested it. He must have heard of her exploits with his little fingered rival.

'If anyone asks I am at the Sept,' Regina muttered absently as she admired her new dress. It wasn't hard to manipulate the Master of Coin. Not hearing even a grumble of an answer from her personal guardsman she turned raising an eyebrow. She could tell by studying the knight's eyes and the tightness around his jaw that he was inwardly seething, despite staring ahead blankly. 'You weren't so silent last night Ser Graham.' She teased sultrily and she smirked victoriously when his eyes snapped to hers.

'I will do as you ask milady.' He said curtly with an incline of his head. Ser Graham was a rather handsome member of the Kingsguard. Previously he had been a young wolf of the North but a royal visit had him soon taking his vows. A quiet word in her husband's ear had worked in her favour back then.

'Come now Graham, there are no spiders in my private quarters. I thought we were past such formalities.' Regina tutted as she moved to run her nails lightly across the beard that graced his chin. The same that she loved to feel tickle across the nape of her neck.

'When were you going to tell me?' He asked a little gruffly for her liking. She braced herself for some ill spread rumour that had been going around. Graham had been her only release from her husband, to experience pleasure that wasn't forced on for a drunken fool. The reluctant knight had at first politely declined her advances. A King could whet his appetite with the local whores but the gods forbid that the Queen do the same. He came around soon enough, she could be very persuasive.

'I assure you that I do not know what you may be referring to.' She replied tracing the embossed patterns of his armour. She honestly didn't as it could be many things that she hadn't divulged with her secret lover. His disloyalties would only stretch so far with such an honourable man as Ser Graham. If he heard of her scheme he would try and dissuade her. That wasn't going to happen.

'Regina, don't play me for a fool. I know where you go when you say you are at the Sept.' His face was hard set but had tones of underlying concern.

'Be careful what you say, dear,' Regina warned, her hand instantly retracted from the gold of his breastplate. She didn't admit to anything knowing that he could not possibly know. She had always been so careful on those visits. 'You are meddling where you shouldn't be.'

'Isn't that what your banished Maester does down in the hidden cells? Meddling in practices that got him expelled from the Citadel?' Graham accused and Regina's calm countenance flared with anger. How had he found out? He would escort her halfway and then she would disappear and return to him an hour later.

'How did you come by this information!? I will not have you accuse me of such things, have you been conversing with Varys? If you have Graham I swear…' If this was the work of Varys yet again than her already weakened position at King's Landing would be finally silenced at the clean swipe of Ser Illyn Payne's blade. Engaging with a banished Maester could possibly be deemed worthy of punishment, but it would be what the Maester may tell them if he were found that would seal her fate.

'Lord Varys? I avoid him as you ask. You cannot deny this and you are making yourself out to be a fool if you continue with this charade.' Graham had never been so forceful with her before. She wasn't sure if it were because he knew of her diminished power or if he was becoming too comfortable in their relationship.

'Tell me where you heard of such a thing! Now Graham before I lose patience.' She demanded because if it wasn't Varys then that could be even more dangerous.

'I heard of it from no one.' Graham revealed after a few moments of uncomfortable silence. He knew not to anger her but what he had to say would probably do that. 'I was assigned yesterday to the cells when you dining with the King and Queen. I was told that there had been prisoners going missing before execution and no one knew how or why.'

'Can we skip to the part that I actually care about?' She insisted stiffly but noted that if he had known this since yesterday … he hadn't told anyone else. Perhaps she had underestimated his loyalty to her? Graham let out a small sigh before continuing.

'I offered one of the prisoners a trip to the wall instead of death and he graciously offered to tell me what he had seen the other night. Apparently a Maester keeps coming in the dead of night between the guard changes and makes off with men. They never come back but he said he sometimes hears screaming through the walls.'

'You listen to the ramblings of mad men facing the sword? You are too naïve Ser and to think you accuse me of harbouring the fugitive?' She laughed mockingly at him hiding the nervousness that invaded her mind.

'You need to curb that Maester's tongue Regina, he spoke of pleasing you when he stole the latest one. The prisoner heard your name being mentioned.' He added grimly, not even a smirk of triumph. How she hated this man sometimes. He felt betrayed by her secrets and didn't even take pleasure in unmasking them. What did he expect? It was her and her alone playing this game. The politics of the Iron Throne were not unknown to her. She had been a playing ever since her mother's arrangement of marriage. She thought of denying it once again but seeing as this man had shared her bed countless times she felt her barriers breaking.

'The man is under my protection. You will not tell anyone of this Graham. Not if you want to be the one propping my head on the battlements.' She wouldn't look her best that was for sure with her bloodied head dripping from a spike. Oh but best not forget that the good Queen had banned such practice. She might not enjoy Regina's head mounted but once she was Queen once more and ruling solely she would take immense pleasure of reinstating that practice just for her.

'You think so little of me that I would do such a thing?' The knight protested obviously hurt by the statement. Regina had to remember that she had been his first lover. The young wolf had spent his years in the training yard not in the whorehouses. 'I haven't told anyone, I hoped I could persuade you to…'

'Please don't,' Regina rolled her eyes and held up her hand. She knew it was only a matter of time before that sentence had poured from his lips. 'Don't try and change the decisions I have already made. Trust that I have a perfectly plausible reason for what I am doing.' She finished curtly.

'You won't tell me the reasoning?' He asked almost knowingly. He didn't believe that she would tell him. So he did know her well enough then?

'The less you know then the better it is for you. Believe it or not I don't wish blame to be pressed on you if it came to that.' A little sentimental for a part time lover but it was the truth. He had been good to her where her husband hadn't.

'If someone were to find out about this!' He fumed stepping around her to stand closer to the fire. The fire that had burned there now reduced to mere cinders.

'I've kept our little secret well enough haven't I?' She countered. Ser Graham was a secret that she kept close to her heart. Guarded well against the little birds and ears that overwhelmed the capital and that was no easy feat.

'But if they found out?' He repeated insistently.

'They won't,' Regina said simply, spinning slowly to follow him. Although that prisoner couldn't go to the wall. He would have to be dealt with swiftly and she would slap Maester Whale for putting her in this predicament. 'Not unless this stays between us.'

'It will.' He answered, finally turning back to look up at her a little defeated. Regina smiled once more. Ser Graham finding out had almost given her an element of relief. Having to carry so much weight on her shoulders was hard and even if he didn't know everything she was glad they shared the load. Of course that would be where her divulgence would end. No talk of magic tainted, scandalous bastards.

'If anyone asks I am at the Sept.' She repeated slowly with a smirk appearing on her lips. Graham responded with a small shake of his head but she spotted the upward curve creep from behind the frown. She studied him for a moment her tongue running across her bottom lip and moved across the floor. Her steps were muffled with the thick imported rugs from Dorne. They had served her well, soft enough to serve for times more adventurous than on the bed. Once at his side she hooked a finger where the armour plate begun at his neck. She pulled him down to lock her lips with his and she laughed breathlessly between breaks as he responded fervently. She pulled away teasingly despite his nuzzling for another and started for the door.

'Will I be seeing you tonight?' He called after her with notable heavy breathing. Regina paused, a devilish smile creasing her features.

'I'll be waiting.'