It was unsettling for Ser Jamie Lannister to watch his beloved sister as she was now. So full of vengeance, bitterness, anger and greed.
But then again Cersei Lannister had never been satisfied with just what she had. She had always wanted more. More things, more trinkets, just more. And what Cersei wanted she usually got. If not from father, because Tywin Lannister would only indulge her for so long before he would tell her to act like a lion she was, then she would get whatever she wanted from him. And if he could not do it, then she would do anything, kill anyone to get exactly what she wanted, when she wanted, how she wanted.
And if she didn't, everyone – bar their father – bore the brunt of her anger. Many serving girls had been slain all because of his sister's jealous temper and many people had been paid to keep their silence after her rash actions.
Her determination to have what she wanted superseded everyone else.
And she had always wanted to be Queen. As kids leading into their teenage years, she would weave tales about her marrying the king, killing him and then as queen she would make him, Jamie, her king. Like how the Targaryen's use to marry their siblings, so she would too.
And so she had married Robert Baratheon. Not exactly the King she wanted to marry but it was the king she got. Ensuring that father had brokered the deal to that would have her as Queen. Even though she and the whole kingdom knew him to be a whore-mongering drunk, she married him anyways. Because she wanted to be queen. And what Cersei wanted she got.
And while the King slept with whomever he wanted when he wanted, Cersei found comfort in his arms and in his bed.
And as Targaryen as it sounded, he fell hopelessly, helplessly in love with his sister, and had promised to do whatever he could to make her happy.
She had wanted children by him, so he gave her three, beautiful blonde haired, green-eyed children to whom she had dedicated her life to.
She had wanted her husband dead so he had help set that plan into motion.
She had wanted the Stark brat silenced so he pushed him out the window.
His dedication to her had been without question. Without thought. Without conscience. He had been willing to do anything and kill anyone just for his sister's happiness.
But that was before Brienne. Tall, hefty, man-like Brienne of Tarth who had the ability to kill any man who got in her way. Tall, hefty, man-like Brienne of Tarth who ignored the trappings of society and became a knight, and a damn good one at that. Tall, hefty man-like Brienne of Tarth who opened his eyes to another world that wasn't centred on Cersei and her wants or needs. Tall, hefty man-like Brienne of Tarth who made him see the beauty within one's person and not just the trappings of the outside.
But he had loved his sister, and she was the love of his life. And he had fought his way back to her parting amicably with the woman warrior, but her light of – goodness? – had tainted Jamie's otherwise darkened soul so that now he looked at his sister with different eyes.
Had she always been this demanding? Had she always been this insufferable when she did not get her way and had she always been this devious? Had his love for his sister blinded him in all her past actions?
Because now, as a man seasoned with war, life and heartache, he watched as his sister, his beautiful, regal sister slowly declined into a world of insanity, spitting out unobtainable demands and calling for her champion, Ser Gregor Clegane – to chop off anyone's head who dared oppose her.
It was like the Mad King all over again.
Like now, with him trying to explain how futile it was to take the Targaryen girl on in a hand to hand battle, and Cersei thinking that she will win because she wanted it.
"You do not understand," Jamie said, taking a deep breath and resisting the urge to shake her to get her to understand. "We do not have the resources to withstand an invasion like this. The Targaryen girl has Unsullied soldiers, three dragons and also has a flood of Dothraki warriors at her beck and call. Warriors that we cannot even think to fight in a hand to hand combat. Only a fool would fight the Dothraki in an open field."
A strange look came over her face as she stared at him through narrowed eyes.
"They are without mercy, without conscience. Without fear –"he cupped her face trying to get her to understand. "Her husband is said to be one of the cruellest and one of the best fighters –"Jamie continued.
"He is a savage." Cersei snapped, pulling her face from his cupped hands and glaring at him.
"Savage he may be, but he is good at what he does. And that's killing. He and his army of 'savages' –"he emphasised the word, shooting her a look. " – are devoted to the Targaryen girl. They will fight for her. Die for her. Live for her."
Cersei sneered.
"And you don't think our men, our seasoned soldiers, many who have weathered many a war, will fight for me? Die for me?"
Jamie paused staring at her, knowing that if given a chance, those soldiers would kill her dead. After they raped her.
"No. No they won't." he told her softly.
"Then we send them anyway. If they die, they die, what do I care of the lives of peasants. " She dismissed, causing Jamie to close his eyes at her callousness.
Where was the sister he had grown up with? The loving sister that he had fallen in love with. The loving mother to their three children? Had all her compassion and her humanity died with their children?
"Cersei we are sending these men to their deaths in a war we won't win."
"Then do something!" she fumed, throwing her wine goblet at his feet. She was never without a glass, these days. Her drinking like her sanity worsening as their children died one by one. "You stand here telling me what I can't do, then do something I can." She insisted her lips twisted into an all too familiar sneer. "Call to the seven houses and get them to call on their banner men. We are at war, and they are to serve their Queen!"
"The houses are silent." Jamie told her, trying to call for patience. He had told her this already. Many times. "House Martell want nothing to do with us after the killing of Oberyn. As with House Tyrell, House Tully and House Baratheon –"
"They should fight for me! I am their queen and –"
"They do not support us." Jamie said firmly, silencing her. "– we have Casterly Rock of course and maybe could get the support of the Greyjoys – "
"Then we get them." She flung he hands out as if that settled the matter.
It didn't.
Jamie closed his eyes, taking a deep breath.
"We still do not have enough men. It is said that the Targaryen girl is to be housed up at Winterfell. She has the support of the north, Cersei. They are the biggest house in all of Westeros, with the most men. Men who will pledge their allegiance to Daenerys Targaryen."
"They are nothing. They are run by a bastard –"
"Who has his brothers and sisters by his side. Sansa, Arya and Rickon Stark live. And they are with their brother at Winterfell."
"That little cunt!" the Queen sneered, pushing herself to her feet and pacing. "She killed my Joffrey and now she plans on taking my throne. I want her dead!" she hissed.
"She is not the problem –"
"She is!" Cersei insisted.
"No dammit Cersei, she's not. Sansa Stark is not the problem. Daenerys Targaryen is!"
Jamie watched as she turned to him, staring at him through narrowed eyes.
"Then tell me, dear brother, what am I to do?" she asked him softly, and for Jamie it was like watching mask come over her face. While just moments ago she was ranting now she was a picture of calm collectedness. It would be a fascinating watch if it wasn't so frustrating at the same time. "Do you want to parlay with the traitorous bitch who dares to take my throne from me? Invite her into my home under the guise of peace and then kill her?"
Jamie shook his head. As much as he wished that would happen it never would.
"They would never fall for that. Her council would never allow her do that."
Their brother Tyrion was her hand, there was no way he would send his queen into the lion's den. Especially with Cersei being the head lion.
"Oooorrrr." She drawled out, moving towards him slowly, distracting Jamie with the sensuous way she moved. Despite her descent into madness she still was able to make his heart pound and his body respond. Would he never be free of the hold she had over him? "Do you plan to invite her here, into my home, offer my throne to some blonde cunt and then marry her? Taking my crown and my throne from me?" she lifted a hand to cup his face almost lovingly, and Jamie leaned towards her, once again snared in her web. "You can't have it." she whispered, taking a step back, leaving Jamie bereft of her touch. "No one can! Ser Gregor!" she turned towards the man that once was Gregor Clegane and now was some maester experiment gone wrong. "Take my brother away. He is a traitor to the crown and to the realm."
"Cersei!" Jamie watched as the same madness that turned Aerys insane fill his sister's beautiful green eyes. A moment too late he felt the Mountain land a massive hand on his shoulder, squeezing none too gently. Jamie turned reaching to draw his sword only to have the Mountain squeeze his shoulder harder, the shoulder of his good hand, and Jamie heard the sickening crunch of bones before he felt searing pain.
"Cersei!" he whispered, staring at her but not seeing his sister, but someone else entirely.
"Enough! You betrayed me one too many times, brother, but because of my love for you, you will not lose your life. Instead you will rot in the same dungeons that our brother was supposed to rot it. You know, our brother who you helped escape? The one who killed father and you betrayed me for?" she sneered, stepping away from him.
"I demand trial by combat!" Jamie said through his pain.
"Denied." She whispered, staring at him before inclining her head at the man behind him.
"Cersei, wait –"Jamie began before he felt a sharp pain in the back of his head and everything went black.
And as Cersei Lannister, First of her name, Queen of the Andals and the First men, Protector of the Seven Kingdoms, watched as her champion lifted her brother and carry him out of her rooms, all she could think of was, if Daenerys Targaryen wanted a war. Then a war she would have.
Reminder that characters will be OOC so this Cersei is the one I made up in my head! Kinda struggled with this one too... trying to get into Cersei's mind wasn't as easy as I hoped so I jumped to Jamie who is actually sane. Please don't be too harsh... haha
