Chapter Nine
A/N: Thank you to magnus374 for reviewing the last chapter.
It took more than a fortnight for Cersei to convince her father to allow her to visit King's Landing with him, and in that fortnight, the girl did not lay eyes on her brother once. He took his meals in the training yard, or she with her companions, and the two only moved through corridors when no sound echoed from the gold-veined walls. Cersei did not know quite why she did it, when she wanted nothing more than to clear the air before she rode out; mayhaps she believed their separation would be easier to bear, if she were the one to orchestrate it.
As her father gave the final instructions for his absence to the guards, Cersei watched the great wooden doors, scarcely taking the time to blink. Some small part of her still believed that Jaime would come running, sweep her up in his arms and whisper promises in her ear, that one day they would be together again.
He never did.
"Cersei." Lord Tywin called, from where he rode at the head of the group. He did not speak loudly, but he did not have to- even an hour into their journey, his guards were waiting on his every word.
"Yes, Father." she responded, kicking her horse into a trot to reach the man's side. Her heart was pounding, the way it always did when her father called for her of late. It seemed that with her budding engagement, she was more a commodity than a daughter.
"You seem miserable, child." the man observed. His voice seemed almost gentle, the way he had spoken to his daughter long ago, before her mother had died. "For all the effort you put into persuading me, I would have thought you would be satisfied with the outcome."
"I am, Father, I promise." she protested, summoning a strength in her voice she did not truly feel. "I suppose I am missing home."
"After only an hour's ride?" Tywin pressed, incredulous. He sounded as if he were presiding over a criminal's fate, a voice she had heard from him far too many a time. "That does not bode well for the moons ahead. Mayhaps the guards ought to escort you back?"
"Father, there's no need, I promise." Her voice was not quite as strong now- Lord Tywin had a knack for beating the determination out of someone with a single look- but it seemed to suffice for the time being.
A few minutes of silence ensued, enough that Cersei almost summoned the courage to urge her horse back to her septa, but just as she dug her feet into the stirrups, her father spoke again. "Are you eager to see the prince again?"
"Of course, Father." she answered quickly, smiling her most beautiful smile. It was not difficult to be joyful at the thought of seeing Rhaegar once more; in truth, it was near the only thing that had spurred her to leave the Rock. "It would be wonderful to spend more time with him, get to know him further."
"Take care not to lose yourself in leisure." It was only a simple instruction, but the threat was thinly veiled. "You have a role to play in King's Landing, and you must play it well, else all we have worked for may come to naught."
'And what is that role?' she wanted to ask, frustration beginning to simmer in her veins. 'Do you wish me to be the doting daughter, to obey every instruction mindlessly, or do you wish me to be cunning and strong, as a lioness would be? It seems that my role changes day by day, but no one will ever tell me to what aim.'
She wished she had the courage to speak those words. Instead, she simply nodded. "I understand, Father."
Seemingly satisfied, the man removed one hand from his reins, a dismissive gesture that caused his daughter more than a little relief. She eased up on her own veins, urging her horse to slow and allow her father's guards to pass. The moment she was back at her septa's side, the woman began to chatter, idle stories about King's Landing and the potential for good that the Faith could do in the city. Cersei slowly trotted along, allowing her mind to drift to the adventure that awaited her.
Throughout the rest of the journey, Cersei did not speak a word, spending most of her time pondering her father's warning. Lord Tywin had always valued family above the individual, that much had been abundantly clear since her childhood. And yet why would he warn her against growing to care for Prince Rhaegar, if that would make his legacy so much easier to fulfil?
A face swam into view behind her eyes, more a dream than a memory. Her father had never been the same since her mother's untimely death, his heart as good as buried with her in the Hall of Heroes. Mayhaps there was the smallest part of him that wanted to protect his daughter from that same fate.
Cersei pondered so long that she did not notice the coastline appear again at her side, lost to them since they had set off through the Reach. She scarcely noticed the Red Keep until it towered above her, as beautiful as it was threatening. She would have thought that, being almost a woman grown, she would no longer be intimidated by the capital. And she had been wrong.
"Cersei." Lord Tywin instructed from the head of the company. The girl clicked her heels, urging her mare to her father's side once more. It was a position of honour she had rarely been allowed on a journey; Jaime always rode by their father's side, while she was forced to stay behind with the septa and her foolish little brother. But Tyrion was not here now. Nor Jaime.
They had not expected a grand welcome, the royals having still been travelling home when the party set off from the Rock, but as they trotted into the courtyard, a flash of silver hair caught Cersei's eye. Aerys, she feared for a mere moment, before she recognised the gentle smile. Rhaegar.
"Lord Tywin, Lady Cersei." the prince greeted warmly. The older man dismounted his horse with the strength and speed of a soldier, a skill that only made him more intimidating, given his age. When it came to Cersei, Rhaegar shooed the guards away, instead lifting her from the saddle himself. "It is a pleasure to welcome you to King's Landing. I hope you will find your stay here fruitful."
"Thank you, my prince." Cersei answered. Her face turned beet red as she realised the statement ought to have been answered by her father, but Rhaegar merely chuckled under his breath.
"My lord?" the prince continued, turning to face Lord Tywin. "I wonder if I might have the honour of escorting your daughter through the gardens. Darkness will be upon us soon and they are too magnificent a sight to wait for."
"Yes, yes, of course." the Hand replied, as dismissively as he could without seeming rude. With a satisfied nod, Rhaegar reached out his arm, and Cersei wound her fingers gently around it. There was something in the gesture that sent a warm tingle running through her veins.
And for the first time since she had left the Rock, Jaime was forgotten.
A/N: Hope you guys enjoyed this; I'm always quite interested in interactions between Tywin and Cersei, so I wanted to include one. Please review!
