"Cersei," Rhaegar sighed, walking after his wife as she carried their daughter through the keep. Though it had been just a moon since Daena's birth, the Queen had regained most of her figure and all of her speed. He had to hurry to keep up with her despite his much longer stride. "Cersei, by the Gods stop walking!" He exclaimed, grabbing her shoulder and nearly earning himself a slap for his trouble. "You can't bring her with us, this is an important and lengthy visit, it wouldn't do to bring her…"
"You would have me leave our child at home, in the care of some stranger, while we got to Dorne?" She growled, the anger in her eyes winning out over her protective fears. "No. I won't leave her here; I would rather stay with her than go. I don't see why you want me to go anyway."
"You are my wife," He reminded her, though the simple statement carried much more weight. Cersei felt it, and her glare hardened like cold rolled steel.
She paused a moment, fining him with a look of fury. "If you're going to make me go and do as my duty commands, please you as you like, as your wife, then say it." She spat darkly. It had been a habit of hers to use the defense, to play on his love for her and his desire to see her nothing but happy in order to get the things she wanted. Weak power, but all the power she could get. Being Queen carried little weight inside the keep, and though she could expend it elsewhere, she refused to leave Daena. The girl hadn't even known a wet nurse, as the Queen insisted on caring for her herself and always had the girl at her side.
Turning Rhaegar's care against him was dangerous, she knew, and she could see the exasperation in his eyes when she did it. But he never raised his voice or a hand to her in protest of the choice, and she hoped he never would.
The King stepped back and swallowed. "Fine you and Daena can stay here, and I will enjoy all that Dorne has to offer, alone." The words sent ice into Cersei's stomach, for he was playing the same game she was. He knew all her fears by now, save the most important one, and he played them expertly just as she did his. Her glare and mask crumpling, she gave him a last look before she turned away and began walking briskly through the keep. Though her gaze was hard and she refrained from running, hot tears dripped down her pale cheeks. Dorne, Dornish customs, and especially Dornish girls… she knew what most lords were like, and she wouldn't have been surprised if Rhaegar took full advantage of her remaining in King's Landing. The thought of him with someone else made her stomach lurch and she sat against the wall, leaning back. Daena whimpered in her arms and Cersei looked down at her, caressing the soft wisps of silver hair. "My good girl," She whispered, though Daena still whimpered and started to fuss, something she did rarely even with the summer heat. Tension made for unhappy children, Cersei recalled hearing somewhere, and held her closer, kissing her brow. "Shhh, little dragon," She whispered, more of a plea than anything, "It's not time to cry now. Shhh."
The tiny princess didn't quiet, instead fussing more intently and letting out a cry, signaling a rare tantrum. With a sigh, the Queen stood up again and carried her to her private chambers. "Do not let anyone in," she told the guard with all the authority she felt she deserved, "Not even the King." The guard gave her a look but didn't question it, opening the door for her.
Once safely inside Cersei loosened her bodice and let Daena nurse, chewing her own lip as her daughter seemed to quiet with the distraction. The Queen looked out the window to King's Landing, her thoughts drifting aimlessly on the wind that blew through the gossamer drapes, bringing only more of the wet sea heat. Finally she made her way to her bedroom and nearly jumping out of her skin.
"I was wondering when you'd show up," Rhaegar sighed, looking up at her from where he sat on her bed. Their bed, more often than not.
She bit her lip and ignored him, waking to her vanity with the princess still at her breast.
"Cersei," he huffed, "Don't you want to know why I'm here? I have a diplomatic envoy to organize."
"Of which I'm well aware. You're welcome to leave," she muttered, her lip between her teeth. "I would bet you simply can't wait to see how many girls you can fuck with your wife at home." Her gaze flicked up to him, teary, but masked behind anger.
He didn't need to see it to understand. Within a breath he was next to her, giving her an exasperated look. "You are an idiot. The prettiest idiot I've yet to meet, and the cleverest, but an idiot."
"I am not-" he put his finger to her lips.
"Why would I want whores when I have you? What reason have I given you to doubt me?"
Cersei paused, looking down at Daena and realizing the truth in his words, though her pride would not allow her to admit it. "None, but things are different in Dorne. I have heard their men take many lovers, as do their women… I wouldn't be surprised if you…"
"I wouldn't. And I would certainly hope you would be surprised!" The King sounded more offended than Cersei had meant to make him, and she sighed.
"I didn't mean to offend you, my lord…" She sighed, looking away from him and standing, rocking Daena gently.
The King rolled his eyes. "My wife thinks me unfaithful, of course I'm offended," He huffed, following her. "I have never given you a single reason to doubt me. And I never will, Dorne regardless." He turned her to him and rested a hand on her shoulder, and another on Daena's back. "You're worrying her with all of this…"
Cersei bitterly looked down, but pulled the girl closer to her. "You're the one who doesn't want her to come and is making me stay home." She turned away, the anger rolling off her in waves even though she understood he meant to comfort her. Maybe it was tension more than anger, and she closed her eyes for a moment before she laid Daena on her small cot. "What do you want me to say, Rhaegar? What is it you need from me?"
"I don't need anything," He told her calmly, wrapping his arms around her middle and guiding her to him. "I don't need or want anything besides you, by my side." Holding her though she had only stiffened in his arms, he kissed her hair. "Cersei… Cersei… my Cersei. The light of the West… my Visenya." He leaned in and kissed her ear. "Why would I need anyone else when I have you?"
She swallowed, but leaned into him after a moment. "Don't go. Stay here, until Daena's older… and then I'll come with you. It's still summer, and it shows no sign of ending…"
He sighed. "I suppose… how long? I cannot keep the Martell's waiting forever."
"You give them too much freedom as it is."
"Would you have me go to war on Dorne, my Queen?" he teased, thumbing along her stomach. "Lay siege where even Aegon the conqueror failed? Think of how long I'd be apart from you then."
She rolled her eyes and looked at him. "Of course not. You're being ridiculous." She turned to him and rested her hand on the black robes he wore. Her nails ran over the fine crimson embroidery and she looked up at him. "If you went to war… I would be alone far too long. Make other men fight your wars, Rhaegar."
Staring at him for a moment, Cersei was dead serious, but she soon heard the King's laugh and let out dark huff of air. "Fine. Go to Dorne. But take Jaime with you, at least he'll tell me if you fuck anyone else."
She felt Rhaegar look down at her and his hands on her cheeks, raising her gaze. "I have already said I would rather wait and have you accompany me, not your twin. The Kingslayer is a poor replacement for you, as similar as you look."" He laughed when she scowled and cupped her cheek. "You know how I feel about your brother, you don't need to worry."
"You know how I feel about that title," She grumbled, though she did so half-heartedly and smiled at him. "You will wait though?"
"I'll wait," He nodded. Cersei knew how much patience it must have took for him to talk through each of their little arguments when she was so petulant. With that realization, she felt suddenly guilty and looked down.
She looked up after another moment and leaned up to kiss him softly. "Thank you, my king." An apology lingered thick on her tongue like clotted cream, but her pride held her lips closed and her tongue stiff in its iron fist.
"Of course,"' Rhaegar smiled softly. He kissed her softly. "I'll stay here, and relax. And the we will go to Dorne and both enjoy all it has to offer." She smiled, and he kissed her softly again.
In three months the King and Queen left for Dorne, leaving the Princess in the care of Cersei's favorite handmaiden, a capable wet-nurse, and under the watchful eyes of Tywin and Jaime. Cersei hadn't been comfortable at first with letting her twin leave her side. Of course, since her marriage they had grown apart in many ways, and now that he was back with her, there was still a rift between them. She no longer longed for him in the way that she once had. Rhaegar was everything she had dreamed of, and though there were moments when she wished she could confide in Jaime, or where she yearned for the feeling of his hands on her, his mouth, but then she would stop herself. Jaime… Jaime… Jaime still loved her, in the way that he had before he left. She could see it in his eyes when he watched her, as she laughed with her husband or held her daughter. She knew the lord commander of the Kingsguard didn't permit him to stand guard outside her rooms, but she suspected he heard her with the King anyway. Why she couldn't fathom.
He was unhappy, but unwilling to leave her. And when she asked him to watch Daena, she watched his face fall, but he forced a smile. "You can't come, Jaime…" she sighed, keeping her voice down as she led him down the hall. "And you love Daena."
"Of course I do," He sighed, looking down at her and taking her hand. "She's your daughter." Cersei knew he imagined that she was theirs, wishing as he always had that they had been able to marry. He used to joke about it as children, running away to the free cities with her. But she had her King now, she was the Queen, and she was happy. But Jaime… Jaime would never be.
Still, Cersei squeezed his hand and pulled hers back. "I know you'll take care of her, Jaime. You know how hard it is for me to leave her here."
He nodded. "I will, but she has a wet-nurse. I'm not much good to her yet. I thought you wanted to take her with you..."
"I did. But... I don't think Dorne is any place to bring an infant."
"I suppose." Jaime sighed. "I'll watch her. And I'll walk with her in the gardens like you do." At seventeen, they still looked similar enough, though had shorn his golden locks off when he joined the Kingsguard. He knew how tender Cersei was with her child, and under the guise of protector he would be as well.
Cersei smiled brilliantly at him and kissed his cheek. He tried to turn his face and get her lips, but she pulled away. "Thank you. I'll see you in a month."
The next day he held the princess against the cool plate of his white armor, watching his sister ride off with the king. The ache in his chest was more pressing than he expected as the princess squirmed in his arms. Jaime had no idea how long he stood there, only that by the time he left the carriage and horses (who would have thought Cersei would choose to ride her horse out of the city) had long since slipped from view.
They rode through the city on horseback, Cersei's cheeks burning from smiling the whole way by the time they were on the Kings road. She glanced over at her husband and nudged her horse closer. "I've never been to Dorne, you know. The Martells visited us at Casterly Rock once, but we never visited them. Father doesn't care for the heat."
"I do believe it is the customs he doesn't care for,' Rhaegar corrected with a smirk. "But he can't stop me from showing his daughter all that the place has to offer, now that I have stolen her."
She laughed and smirked softly, "You hardly stole me,' She winked, "In fact, I think it was I who made the first move on you." Of course, she'd long since told him of the embarrassing amount of planning that went into that chance encounter, but it still called a soft blush to her cheeks.
The King just laughed. "You are a brazen one, my Queen." Out of anyone else's mouth it would have been an insult, but from him she adored the compliment. "And I can tell from that smirk of yours you know just how much I adore it."
"And if I do?"
He winked. "Then I think… we should relocate to the carriage so I can show you just how much I adore it."
Cersei stared at him for a moment and laughed, rolling her eyes. "We're not in Dorne yet, my lord. And I will not have you showing me anything while we're in a carriage." She may be no simpering wife, in or out of the bedchamber, but she was raised to have certain standards. Letting the King, husband or not, have her in a moving carriage where any number of his guard could hear or see did not even remotely fall within those guidelines. So she simply rolled her eyes at him again and urged her horse a little faster. "Ask me again when we stop for the night," She teased, smirking wickedly.
It was lovely to ride and to tease Rhaegar, but eventually Cersei grew sore and retreated to the carriage, making her Lord Husband come with her so she could lay her head on his shoulder. He was a patient man, that much could be said for him. She rested her head in his lap since no one could see them, having to loosen her corset after lying there and feeling it press against her ribs. At least in Dorne she could forgo wearing one, and dress in the looser, more flowing styles she had commissioned, similar to those of old Valyria. She would look like a true Targaryen bride now.
The journey progressed rather relaxed, though the stop in the Stormlands on the fourth day was nearly extended to a fortnight. Cersei wished to visit Lyanna and her new babe, and Robert was still trying to make peace with the King and Queen. In truth, if not for the close relationship between Lyanna and Cersei they may not have stopped there at all.
"I miss Daena," Cersei sighed, laying across the bed and watching her closest friend hold her son. Unlikely friends, but closer now than ever. "I know Jaime will care for her… but I do wish she could have come."
"You seem to be enjoying yourself," Lyanna hummed, stroking the soft black hair on Joffery's head, laughing when his little face scrunched up. "I doubt the wailing of an infant would improve your trip."
The Queen watched her and sighed wistfully. "She hardly cries. Even when she's hungry she fusses more than anything, though that may be because I am never away from her long enough to worry her. But she has her father's temperament, or Jaime's. According to my septas I was a very demanding child."
Lyanna grinned and arched a brow. "Somehow that is very easy to believe, my Queen," she teased. "But you're lucky. This one is a right screamer. Definitely Baratheon… he's far too loud to have much Stark in him." There was a wistful tone to her voice, for it was all too easy to see the husband she was quickly coming to detest in her new son. Of course she loved him, with all her heart, but she hoped her next babe would have grey eyes and paler skin, and be of her blood more than this one. For Robert may claim to love her, but when he crawled over her stinking of whores and Dornish sour she lost faith in his words.
Still, he was the handsome Lordling she loved and had loved, and there were times that he was a good as she could imagine.
Cersei picked up on the melancholy but didn't press. There were things they did not talk about, and Lyanna's marriage had become one of them. Best to focus on the children. "You are lucky to have born a boy though," She mused, "Rhaegar claims he does not care what sex our children are… but all men want sons don't they?" She sighed, sitting up a little. "I'm beginning to think my father only wants me to bear boys, so I may carry on both the Targaryen and Lannister lines. He'd brave the seven hells before he left it to Tyrion."
Lyanna knew all too well of Cersei's hatred of her youngest brother. "The Imp," She sighed, "Is the lord of Casterly Rock. He will be Warden of the West someday, lest you can convince your husband to remove his titles. As if you would sacrifice Lannister pride like that. And besides," she rocked Joffrey, hoping to quiet him, "Rhaegar seemed intrigued by him."
With a huff, Cersei sat up fully. "I'm all too aware of that fact. He wouldn't remove him, no matter how much father or I desire it. He thinks he's clever." She rolled her eyes, but Lyanna shook her head.
"Don't be so hard on him," she sighed, "He may surprise you."
"That's what I'm afraid of."
After a moment Lyanna laughed softly and Cersei joined her after a moment. After a minute they roused Joffrey, who started to wail, his small face rumpled and reddening. Certainly Baratheon then.
"I'll leave you to that…" The Queen laughed, not one for wailing children, since Daena was so passive and quiet. But Lyanna stopped her, rested a hand on her arm and calling the wet nurse to handle the child. "Come, I want to show you around Storm's End. At least it's not actually storming, for once."
She agreed, waiting for Lyanna to fix her dress and take her arm. "And I suppose your husband has completely corralled mine, yes?" They both knew Rhaegar held no love for Robert, only a thin respect. And after the Lord of the Stormlands failures in the Greyjoy rebellion, even that was waning.
"He seems to think he can bribe him with food, drink, and whores. Won't listen to me about it," she held up a hand, "I have already told him the King has no taste for baser pleasures. Robert evidently can't fathom a man being satisfied with his wife alone."
The Queen sighed and pursed her lips. "I will admit I had the same fear, when Rhaegar initially planned to go to Dorne. He was going to go without me… knowing my worries." A slight blushed appeared on her lightly tanned cheeks, brought to life by her walks with Daena in the gardens. Lyanna knew all in her heart save what she had with Jaime. The other woman had even replaced her twin in her confidence. Jaime still believed she would feel dissatisfied with Rhaegar and turn to him once more, but Cersei knew otherwise. She confided in Rhaegar and she confided in Lyanna, and that was what she needed. It only hurt Jaime to be as close to him as she once had, though they still spoke frequently and at length.
"We all know your worries, me especially, as I am part to blame for them." Lyanna sighed, leading her from her rooms, "In fact, while you were dressing your husband pulled me aside to ask that I stop filling your head with these worries."
"He what?" She gasped, stopping Lyanna in the corridor.
"Asked me to stop making you fear that he will turn out to be like my husband," she sighed, shrugging. "Let's go outside, you can see Shipbreaker Bay from here and it's fascinating."
They left Storms End after three days by ship, for the road to Dorne was not a passable one. Not unless the King wished to force his Queen to ride a sand stead through the desert. It was not an appetizing idea.
Still, neither the King nor Queen were fond of the sea, and spent most of the journey curled in their cabin below deck trying not to get sick. Once they arrived in Sunspear Cersei practically dragged her husband from the boat, legs shaky. "Careful, my Queen," a man called in front of her, his voice accented more than she had expected. Then again, most of the Dornishmen and women she had met had lived in the Capitol most of their lives.
Rhaegar straightened himself and took Cersei's arm. "Let's go, my love. The Prince of Dorne is expecting us."
Prince Oberyn Martell led them down the dock. He was eight years older than Cersei, exceedingly pleasing to the eye, and if the rumors were to be believed he was on a quest to bed everyone in the seven kingdoms. That would at least explain why he was flirting with the Queen and the King. Cersei found it tiresome and annoying, but Rhaegar laughed.
"You're very bold, prince Oberyn." The King laughed, "Though I think you'll find my wife is not inclined in the Dornish ways."
"Really?" Oberyn chuckled, walking beside the king but glancing over at Cersei. "From what I have heard of your married life, my King, that's not entirely true…"
That nearly got him slapped by the Queen. "What? Prince Oberyn, I think you have grossly overstepped-"
"In jest," he laughed, stepping next to her. "Don't be so uptight, my Queen. You will never enjoy your visit." Lannister pride would never permit her to engage in the activities and desires that Oberyn himself adored. It may do her some good, though, to relax and indulge.
He turned and led them up a path. Sunspear was set atop a low cliff only 50 feet above the ocean. Cersei followed the Prince wondering if everyone in Dorne was quite like this or if he was merely an exception. He was telling them about his daughters, which gave Cersei pause.
"I didn't know you were married…" she hummed.
"Oh, My Queen I think being married would be so boring, one must keep life interesting. No, I have four daughters, each with a different woman. Obara is my eldest, 11; she is the daughter of a whore that I enjoyed one night in Oldtown. Nymeria is the second oldest, she is 9. Her mother was a stunning woman from some fancy noble family in Volantis. After that is Tyene, she is 7 years old, her mother was septa… and so as you can imagine she looks rather pure. She is also closest with her cousin Arianne who you will meet if you choose to visit the Water Gardens, despite the fact that Arianne is between Nymeria and Obara in age. Last is Sarella, she is only 3 but already enjoys doing whatever she is told not to."
His explanation silenced the Queen, and she pointedly arched a brow at her husband. Rhaegar only smiled. "We will have to meet them all sometime, and yes, we were planning a visit to the water gardens in a few days time."
By this point they had reached the castle and began to wind their way through the halls of the castle to base of the Spear Tower. Oberyn lead them all the way to the top, asking Cersei about Daena and the capital. When the reached the top he opened a door for them, turned and left.
Rhaegar knew where they were of course, and that the tower itself was commonly reserved for highborn prisoners, but he held that from his wife. Cersei would take it as an offense while he clearly knew it to be the Prince of Dorne offering them both the privacy and luxury that the tower could afford. So he smiled at Oberyn and led Cersei inside.
"One room," she mused, though a delightedly saucy smile pulled at her lips. "This will be fun."
"Indeed," Rhaegar grinned, shutting the door and guiding her to the large balcony, overlooking the seas as far as the eye could see. "And no one to interrupt us…"
She leaned back into him as she watched the waves, lovely to see, but not for much else. "You did mention you needed to be here for the good of the realm…"
"Ah, caught me," he laughed, "After the feast tonight you can come back here or go see the rest of the palace, for I have to meet with Prince Doran. You and I both know Dorne is not the same as the other kingdoms. My father nearly broke the peace, and I have no interest in having them seek independence because of his madness."
"I know," She hummed, "But I would prefer to watch you rule. May I sit in?"
Rhaegar considered for a moment and nodded, though a bit reluctantly. "I suppose he won't mind. You are the only council I brought, after all. And becoming one of the best I have."
She grinned, turning to kiss him softly. "You won't regret it, my King."
Once they had regained themselves from the journey, and settled into their shared rooms (something which had surprised, and delighted, both the King and Queen), Cersei donned the lighter dresses she had commissioned for this trip. The scarlet silk tied around her neck and gathered beneath her breasts, still fuller than they would have been had she not been nursing Daena herself, and then hung down in loose folds to the floor. It was translucent, and even partially transparent. Obviously it was having an effect on the King, who ran his hands over her partially exposed back as he tied the dress at her neck.
"You like it?" She laughed softly, smirking as he rested his face in the cascade of her hair against her neck.
"Of course I do. And every other man at the feast will as well."
She rolled her eyes. "I've seen what the Dornish girls wear," she scoffed, "And I think that Prince has made it abundantly clear that I am not up to par."
Rhaegar sighed, "The prince has yet to see you like this. And you have to relax, Cersei. He was right, you need to let yourself enjoy Dorne. Eat, drink, dance, don't think of it as a chore." He turned and kissed her softly, moving a wisp of gold off her face. "You'll like it much more if you have some fun." With another short kiss, he released her, he slipped the lighter black robe over his shirt, fastening the silver clips and shaking out his hair.
Cersei watched him and smiled teasingly, taking a deep breath. "I'll try, my King." She purred, "Shall we?"
He guided her down from the tower and then they were escorted to the throne room. The palace at Sunspear had a seaside brilliance both King's Landing and Casterly Rock shared, but it was more open, with large views of the sea and flowing curtains of deep purple that blew with the sea wind. The fabric of Cersei's dress blew with the wind as well, and gathered around her slender legs. As starting an image that would have been for her to present in the capitol, once they entered the throne room, she realized it was tame.
At least half the women wore dresses nearly see-through, with plunging necklines. The Royal couple stood out plainly against the mass of people, wrapped in their red and black against the pale pastels of the Dornishmen and the deep purple of the Princes. Still, the crowd clapped and parted for them to enter and walk to the high table. Prince Doran bowed to them and kissed Cersei's hand. "Welcome to Sunspear." He grinned.
They enjoyed the feast, to a level that would have been out of place in King's Landing. Rhaegar made sure to get enough wine in his wife that she finally relaxed, allowing him to spin her around the room in elaborate dances and listen to her laugh. She made quite the favorable impression on Doran Martell while he danced with her and while they spoke over food. It was almost funny to watch Cersei eat, for she'd been craving the heat of Dornish food all through her pregnancy, and it had not waned.
By the end of the feast the Queen was far too tired for a meeting, as was the King, and the hour had grown late. It didn't truly matter than the meeting was postponed; Rhaegar had already achieved half of what he set out to Dorne to do. He had proved to Doran and the rest of the Martells that he was not his father, that he did not have aspirations of taking over or laying siege, and that he was of sound mind. He may be young, and he may have over indulged in the feast, but they didn't seem to mind that he had a good time. In fact, it probably did more for their camaraderie with Dorne than his father's snobbish treatment ever had.
"I'm going to trip," Cersei's voice startled him out of his thoughts as they made their way up the darkened stairwell to the tower. They were flanked by Kingsguard of course, and Rhaegar motioned to one somewhat jerkily.
"Help her up," he half-slurred, "Pick her up," he suggested after a moment.
The man raised an eyebrow and lifted the Queen, carrying her up the steps to their rooms and setting her back to her feet at the door. He and the other guard took up their places on either side of the double doors.
Cersei turned and took Rhaegar's hand, drawing him into their rooms and letting the heavy doors swing shut with resounding clang against their hinges. He kissed her once the door was shut, and worked his fingers into the light silks of her dress. It soon was joined by his robe on the floor, and then their small clothes before they fell into bed.
It was clumsy, their kisses uneven and desperate. He had wanted her since the journey began, having not had her since Daena, and she evidently shared the desire. Though it had been months, they fell into a familiar and eager rhythm, and after mere moments collapsed into the bed, a crumpled heap on the silken sheets and pillows.
When they woke in the morning the desert heat struck first, and they were all but stuck together. Cersei laughed and she pushed at her husband. "Rhaegar," she hummed, "My king…" she ran her hands up his spine, rolling out from underneath him. The sea breeze was warmer than she expected, and she walked to the window with nothing but her waist-length hair to cover her.
When Rhaegar opened his eyes it was to the view of his wife backlit by the midmorning sun, and one he wished he could save forever. "Cersei," He mumbled, her name strung out on his lips.
"We're supposed to speak with the Prince in an hour," she hummed, "Out of bed, my King. Or you'll not make a very good impression. And isn't that why we're here?"
"Too early to be clever," The King grumbled with a laugh, watching her as she turned to him, thinking she was going to rejoin him when she walked out of sight. "I had them draw us a hot bath," she hummed from out of his line of sight, and with a sigh the King ambled out of bed and walking into the attached room, seeing his Queen already immersed in a large tub.
The visit turned out to be largely pleasure and very little business. Doran and Rhaegar met about shipping rights and wine taxes for all of an afternoon while Cersei got to see the Shadow City (or what little of it there truly was to see) beyond the castle walls.
They spent the first week about Sunspear, as apparently there was little else to see but sand in Dorne. Rhaegar was persuaded to visit the vineyards, and the King and Queen drank themselves content on the finest Dornish wines. The next week they were shown around the deserts, though Cersei cared nothing for it. She went to water gardens a day ahead of Rhaegar in company of Prince Doran.
"The Water Gardens are my favorite place in this world," The Prince told her, and Cersei smiled brightly. She much preferred him to his younger brother, his more quiet nature reminding her of both her father and her husband. She found it comforting. "They are where many children are raised, here in Dorne, but I enjoy them just as much. And I think you will as well."
She did. They rode the short three leagues to the private palace, and she was shown about the gardens before her rooms. Seeing them made her truly wish she had brought Daena. Numerous children played in the pools and around them, ran down the marble pathways and into buildings. It was chaotic, and yet innocent and calmingly peaceful at the same time. Cersei sat next to Prince Doran and hummed. "I wish there were a place like this in King's Landing," she mused, "I can… picture my daughter here."
"You're welcome to bring her if you should visit again," Doran smiled softly, "Dorne is different from the rest of the Kingdoms. I am surprised you like it so well, My Queen, since the Westerlands are nothing like it."
She chuckled softly. "Perhaps that is why I like it so much. Maybe… my mother might have known. She had once thought I should marry Oberyn." She shook her head, "Having met him now…"
"It would not have been a good match," Doran nodded. "I cannot picture my brother married to anyone, least of all a woman such as yourself. I mean no offense by that. You two are simply very different."
The Queen nodded, letting out a sigh. "I have been very lucky, I think."
"You're the Queen, of course you have!" Doran laughed, watching her, "Ah. But it's more than that. You do love the King don't you? And a rare thing that is, in a highborn lady's marriage." He paused, looking out at the sea. "Be careful, my queen. Love sours like wine in the sun"
She looked up at him in sharp surprise, but before she could ask if he meant his own marriage, several girls approached them. The elder three bowed, all save one who carried a toddler in her arms.
"Ah, Arienne." Doran hummed, though Cersei knew not which girl he meant. At first she assumed the others were Highborn as well, until she considered.
"And Oberyn's daughters?" She asked quietly.
"Yes, my Queen," One of the older girls smiled. "I'm Arienne Martell, and these are the Sand Sisters." The other girls smiled, and Cersei found herself unsure of what to do next. She hadn't been brought up to expect to be greeted by bastards. But seeing the little one a smile tugged at her lips, despite herself.
"Your father was telling me of you four," she nodded, "Lovely to meet you all." Her smile was only partially false, but she shifted uncomfortably on the stone bench. The second youngest one, seven, if she recalled, looked up at her. "You're prettier than I thought you would be," She giggled, "I like your hair."
Cersei stared at her for a moment and then laughed softly. "Why thank you, little one."
She spent the day in the water gardens with all five girls, or at least four when the eldest wandered off. And when Rhaegar and Oberyn arrived that night, both were surprised to find her telling Sarella and Tyene stories.
When they left the water gardens a week later, the girl's were sad to see her go. Nymeria and Arienne had made her a crown of water lilies and braided it into her hair, and she kept it in until they returned to sunspear.
"You enjoyed the visit more than I thought you would," Rhaegar hummed as they broke their final fast in the Spear tower.
"I did," Cersei nodded, "Prince Doran reminds me of you and father. We get on well."
The King nodded. He had seen it, and he presumed much of the reason the visit had been such a success was her rapport with the elder Martell bother. "He has extended an invitation to you if you would ever want it. Dorne is a safe place to be, Cersei. Should we ever end up in a war, it would be prudent to send you here."
She arched a brow. "Are you planning a war?"
"No," he scoffed, "But it's also a good place to travel in the winter. King's Landing gets cold, and full of beggars." he saw her nose turn up slightly, and laughed. "Precisely."
Cersei rolled her eyes and laughed softly. "I wouldn't leave you, Rhaegar. Though if it ever does come to a war I may consider it. I can weather a winter."
The return journey to King's Landing was worse than the initial voyage. Though Rhaegar seemed to fare far better, Cersei spent nearly the entirety of the journey sick to her stomach.
Rhaegar watched her, smoothing back her hair and having servants bring her tea and wafers, but little soothed her. After the fourth day he sat next her and rubbed her back. "Cersei," He murmured, "Do not take offense, but when was the last time you bled?"
There was a pause, and then Cersei laughed. "You don't think… so soon?"
"I don't see why not," he shrugged, "I had you often while we were in Dorne, and you've been unusually sick."
She closed her eyes and thought for a moment, "it could be. I did not bleed on the visit."
He nodded and took her hand, kissing her fingers. After a moment he turned to kiss her, caressing her cheek. He had learned after the last time that it was better to focus on Cersei, on the miracle that she was giving him and not on the prophecy that she was helping to fulfill. So unlike the last time he kissed her deeply and rested his hands on her stomach.
"I hope..." She murmured against his lips. "I hope it's a boy this time. A Prince."
"A prince or a princess. It matters not to me," he promised, his hands remaining over her stomach as he kissed her brow. This time he would not spend the first months with his wife embittered and distant. Instead the king doted on her, worshipping her in bed and out of it. For the first several months she still carried Daena about, but soon it became too cumbersome.
Earlier than before the queen soon no longer fit her stylish dresses, but in the heat of summer she wore silks and Dornish gowns that gathered beneath her full breasts and accommodated the swell of her stomach. But her sheer size worried her. "This can't be normal." She sighed as the older septa dressed her, measuring out silks for her gown for a feast.
"How far are you?" The older woman smiled, switching fabrics.
"Pycell claims about 5 months," the Queen nodded, running her fingers over the gold embroidery.
The woman rested a hand on her arm with a bright smile. "Two, then. You will have two."
The certainty in her voice startled Cersei, but she wasn't entirely surprised by the words. She had never been this large with Daena, this early at least, nor had she been this sickly and tired. But two... It made a sort of sense. Still, Cersei didn't tell Rhaegar, and kept the possibility close to her heart. She was still fearful that she would bear more girls, and that there would never be an heir for the kingdoms.
She needn't have worried
Her twins came as the white ravens announcing autumn were sent out, in quick succession of each other after a surprisingly brief labor. Both boys screamed louder than Daena had in her entire short life, but were healthy.
Cersei lay back in the birthing bed with one of the boys in her arms, the room still dimly lit with early morning light. "They look like you," she mused, the exhaustion clear in her voice. She could barely keep her eyes open as she held the first boy, his eyes already open and peering up at her. "Except... Well."
The twins had mismatched eyes. Each painfully bright in it's own color, but one violet and the other Cersei's own emerald. It was startling, but the maesters claimed they were healthy.
"They're perfect," Rhaegar grinned, kissing her hair softly. The boy in his arms was the louder of the two, making soft noises as his father held him. "And hungry, by the sound of it..."
He placed the boy in her arms and Cersei attempted to nurse both twins. It wasn't as easy as with Daena but she managed, though Rhaegar had his doubts. "We might need a wet nurse this time, you've not yet weaned Daena and with two more..."
She nodded, her eyes already closing again.
"...You're going to need the help." He finished, running his fingers through her hair and rubbing her scalp, soothing her.
The dragon must have three heads, and he had them. Cersei had given him three perfect children in barely a year and he could not love her more for it. Not only that... But she had satisfied the realm, by giving him heirs. Two, no less. But it was more than that. Rhaegar knew that most marriages were not like his own. Most high lords did not consider their wives allies and companions beyond the making of heirs. Most scoffed at the way he treated his wife. Most had little care for their younger children, even less if they were girls, and would not dote on Daena the way he did. His was not just a family in name but in practice and he adored all that had come to be. It further proved to him he was not like his father.
Without realizing it Rhaegar too fell asleep, still sitting in a chair beside his wife, their sons curled on her chest. Cersei woke first, smiling adoringly down at the boys. "You need names," she hummed, glancing over at Rhaegar. "And your father is asleep."
"Not...asleep," the King muttered, forcing his eyes open and to focus on her. "What were you saying?"
"Names, love," she laughed, glancing down at her sons.
"Of course," he smiled, waking more and taking one- he wasn't sure which- from her. "You should name one of them. They may be Targaryens but they have as much Lannister blood..."
She was shaking her head and he stopped. "Look at them. They already look like you. They're Targaryen children. They need Targaryen names." Else she would feel too close to Jaime, who had always wanted them to have twins of their own. Lannister twins were one soul torn in two, and she would not wish that on her sons. After a pause she looked up at him, a slight furrow on her brow. "Your prophecy. The prince that was promised?" He gave a surprised nod. They hadn't spoken of it for nearly a year. "Well... They need strong Targaryen names. And the three heads of the dragon... Aegon Targaryen. That's what we'll name the first one," she smiled, reaching out to rest her hand on the blanket covered back of the newborn Rhaegar held. "Aegon Targaryen, sixth of his name."
Surprised, but delighted, Rhaegar grinned down at the boy. "Aegon. Even your father would approve. And for the other?"
She laughed softly at the mention of her father. "We are not naming our son Tywin. But... It should sound similar enough to Aegon." He trusted her, in that. She was the one with the twin brother after all.
"Aemon?" She wrinkled her nose and he laughed. "Okay. Um... Well, not Aerys. God no." His expression darkened for a moment and he shook his head. "What about Aerion? It has a bit of Lannister to it as well..."
She nodded slowly and looked down at the boy nestled against her chest. "Aerion. Aegon and Aerion Targaryen."
In the next month the Capitol prepared for a feast to rival that of the royal wedding. It was Rhaegar's choice, one that Cersei protested vehemently. Or as vehemently as she could when she spent at least half of each day with the children. Dany was walking and talking now, quite the tiny terror. She really only listened to Cersei, and had discovered that if she managed to find the blonde woman before anyone else found her, she wouldn't get scolded
"Sei!" She chirped, running to the queen in the pavilion on chubby legs. "Sei! Sei! Sei!"
Cersei laughed and set Daena on the chaise, stepping closer and scooping the tiny princess up. At all of three she was closer to the queens own children than her brothers, and the queen treated her as such. Dany sat beside Daena and giggled, playing with the princess. Though Dany was a year older, the two were inseparable at this age.
Cersei watched then while they played, Daena following Daenerys as best she could while still unsure in her footing.
The twins had wet nurses, though they were still outside with the Queen and she doted on them as much as she could. Lying back on the chaise Cersei pulled the boys onto the lap and let then make a mess of her hair. A loud commotion drew her attention to the far side if the garden and the horse lane there. Viserys was coming through, obviously out of control of his horse. Even if Cersei hadn't already hated the boy, the sight of him careening toward them on horseback would have frightened her.
In a second she had stood and grabbed the twins, the nurse grabbing Daena and her guard Dany. They moved just in time for the horse to hit the pavilion and Viserys to go flying off, underfoot.
"Seven Hells!" Cersei screamed, jumping back further and nearly dropping Aerion as the pavilion fell, the startled horse shaking off the debris and running off.
After a stilled, choking silence settled on the gardens, the Kingsguard rushed forward and started to pull back the pieces of the wreck.
Cersei didn't realize she was shaking until they escorted them away from the scene and she could barely walk. It wasn't that she cared for Viserys... Not in the least. But seeing that... She felt arms around her and startled further. The twins were no longer in her arms, and she panicked further, trying to get out of the arms around her.
"Cersei! Cersei!" Jaime's voice. It cut into her thoughts as he pulled her closer to his chest and tried to stop her shaking. "Cersei. Calm down! You're safe. Your children are safe."
She shook in his arms and tears streamed down her cheeks. There was debris in her long hair, and a tear in her dress though she was otherwise unharmed. He turned her and cradled her against his armor. "Cersei... You are fine. Listen to me. The twins and Daena and the princess are in the nursery. They are shaken, but fine. You need to calm down. Now." It didn't seem to make a dent in her panic, and she was hiccupping on each breath.
Jaime pulled her tighter to him though the armor could not have been comfortable. She eventually calmed, looking up at him. "Where are the children?" It was more if a demand than a question, and Jaime watched as Cersei hardened into his queen before his eyes. She drew herself up and walked to the nursery.
That was where Rhaegar found her several hours later, on Daena's small cot surrounded by all four children. He sat at the edge of the bed and caressed her hair, holding Daenerys in his lap.
"Rhaegar?"
He glanced at Cersei and saw her sit up, managing to avoid sending their three moons old sons into a crying fit by waking them. "Yes," he breathed, frowning as he held his sister. "Viserys... They couldn't do anything." The boy had been crushed to death, beneath the pavilion and the horse's hooves. He had heard the report from a number of witnesses, and he didn't need to hear what Cersei had to say. Obviously she was shaken enough.
She reached up and caressed his cheek. "I'm so sorry, my love..." He leaned into her hand though he knew Cersei had not cared much for the boy. Honestly, neither had he, but he was still of his blood. And to die in such a way...
"Are you alright?" He asked abruptly. "I know you barely missed being hit." Losing his brother was one thing, losing Cersei or one of his own children another entirely. The boy was troublesome and dangerous, mean to his sister and Daena. No one in the Capitol would mourn him, as they would have anyone else.
Cersei looked down at the children for a moment and nodded. "I will be. I... I believe I was in shock for a while. It... It's a bit unclear."
Watching her he could see that she wasn't all okay, and sighed. " I spoke with ser Jaime. He told me... You were in panic Cersei." He didn't mean to offend her; merely that he was worried for her.
"Of course I was," she whispered. "If I hadn't been watching..."
"But you were. And I won't let anything happen to you."