Author's Note: Thanks to PriscilaOrglene (Thanks! I tried to keep Catelyn in character but it was hard) and Dark Alana (Sorry for the late update! I lost internet for a while...)

"I don't know what to do and I'm always in the dark. We're living in a powder keg and giving off sparks. I really need you tonight. Forever's gonna start tonight."-Total Eclipse of the Heart, Bonnie Tyler

XI. Cersei

The little whore walked through the godswood looking absolutely radiant in a dark blue gown and her maiden's cloak. Her long dark hair, almost darker than a Stark's ought to be, flowed down her shoulders and matched with her radiant grey eyes made Cersei loathe the brat. Those wide, doe like, grey eyes turned to Cersei and the queen felt a chill go down her back. The brat's eyes seemed to say, I see you and that was one thing she could not avoid. Robert Baratheon may have been a drunkard and a poor husband but if he found out Joffery, Myrcella, and Tommen were not his children but Jaime's she had no doubt she would be cast aside and possibly killed.

Cersei narrowed her eyes at the girl who stared so coolly back, allowing her uncle to guide her down the path to where Jaime waited. Jaime. Her Jaime and not this whore's. This girl was nothing to Jaime. For a moment Cersei believed that. Then she turned to look at Jaime.

Her brother was radiant as usual, dressed in the red and gold of the Lannister house. His golden curls were perfectly combed and the red cloak with its gold fastener was held easily on one arm. She expected Jaime's eyes to find hers, they always had before, but this day he had eyes for only one girl. His new bride. Cersei felt a prickle of jealousy but she forced it away. Jaime couldn't like the girl. It was all a show for everyone watching.

The Maester spoke the correct words as did the girl and Jaime but in Cersei's eyes they meant nothing. Lucia Stark was only a little girl Jaime would cast aside. Even tonight on his wedding night he would have no need of her. Even when the maiden's cloak was dropped from her shoulders to the ground and Jaime fastened the Lannister colors on to his new bride it meant nothing.

The sun was setting and the air was heavy with the cold when they all returned to Winterfell, Lucia riding with Jaime. Cersei rode alone on her own mount with Myrcella between her and Lady Catelyn. Both older women rode in silence with Myrcella chatting between them, going on and on about how pretty the Stark bastard had looked in her gown and decked out in Lannister colors. Cersei's mouth grew grimmer with each word that came out of her daughter's mouth and her mood tilted dangerously toward sour. Luckily halfway back to Winterfell Sansa Stark arrived and distracted Myrcella with talk about the dresses of every lady that had been present.

The festivities inside the castle were bright but Cersei wanted no part of them. She wanted Jaime. Cersei ate little and excused herself as soon as was politely possible, saying she needed some air. The Winterfell courtyard was dark and a freezing wind washed over her as she waited for Jaime. Sure enough her brother arrived moments after her exodus from the hall. He was so like a predictable puppy. "Are you all right sweet sister?" he asked with concern and Cersei smiled at the sweetness.

"Fine dear brother," she responded. "I just felt overheated and needed some fresh air."

"Surely you've had plenty and this chill is not good for you," Jaime said. "Let me walk you back inside." He offered her his arm and she took it, smiling almost smugly. They entered Winterfell once more but before they reached the revelry Cersei pulled Jaime into an adjoining hall and tried to kiss him. She was surprised and hurt when he pulled back. "Cersei-" he began but she silenced him by placing her hand on his mouth.

"Shush dear brother," she said as kindly as she could manage. "There's no need to apologize for your marriage. I know it was not your choice just as my marriage to that Baratheon fool was not my choice."

Jaime gently but firmly removed her hand from his mouth and said, "That was not what I was going to say sweet sister. I came out here to tell you that we cannot do this anymore."

"Do what?" Cersei asked, feeling bewildered and incredibly slow.

"You and I," Jaime said, motioning between the pair of them. "I am a married man now. Father will expect heirs-"

"Then get the brat pregnant and return to me," Cersei snapped impatiently, feeling that her brother was being incredibly foolish. Then she softened her voice and said, "There is no one else that matters Jaime. Only you. Stay with me." For a moment she saw the resolve in Jaime's eyes waver but then it hardened again.

"No," he said coldly and there was a tone of finality to his words. "Lucia and I will return to court with you but after a month we shall leave for Casterly Rock. I cannot say when we will return after that. I wish you the best of health Cersei." Then he turned and left her alone feeling hurt and angry.

When Cersei had been a young girl she had been prone to throwing fits when she did not get her way. She would wail and scream and her face would turn all manner of colors until whoever had angered her gave in or until her mother, Lady Joanna, came and scolded her for her bad behavior. That habit had faded as Cersei had matured but the urge to scream and rage was as strong as ever that night. Cersei clenched her hands in fists until her palms bled and glared with pure hatred in the direction of the main hall. First she would get rid of Jon Arryn, she decided. Then she would rid herself of Lucia Stark and Jaime would be hers again.