Chapter 69: Cersei | Jaime

Cersei

Cersei closed the door to Myrcella's chambers and ordered the grand maester to follow her. He wrung his hands but followed meekly and Cersei thanked the gods that he was weak. They reached her solar and she shut the door.

"Nobody is to know of this."

The grand maester stuttered and stammered but she wrung an agreement from him. He murmured about treatments and hopes of recovery but Cersei struggled to hear him. She dismissed him abruptly with a reminder to keep quiet. The same words kept repeating through her head and she struggled for breath. A sob threatened to choke her but she stifled it. She would not cry, not while Myrcella still drew breath.

Gold shall be their crowns and gold their shrouds

Cersei had kept guards close to her one remaining child. Myrcella rarely left the Red Keep. She should have been safe. Now she lay in her bed, weakened and wasting. The Grand Maester could not say what afflicted her. Cersei wanted to curse the gods but most of all she wanted to curse Maggy the Frog. The prophecy cannot be coming to pass.

Tales had reached her through Qyburn of dragons in Volantis. Daenerys Targaryen called herself Queen. Cersei feared what it meant but as much as she feared the false Targaryen queen on her way with dragons, her mind was more occupied with the Dragon already in Westeros

The city was in rebellion. Many of the Poor fellows had been harried out of the city and Cersei hoped they would trouble the Targaryen and his Northern friends. They did not take kindly to those who did not worship the Seven. The Warriors Sons were a different matter. It was war in the streets between them and the gold cloaks when Cersei tried to have them brought to heel. Their ranks swelled so quickly that the forces of the Westerlands were now required in addition to gold cloaks to subdue them.

A servant knocked at the door and announced that Ser Daven wanted to speak with her. Cersei knew what he wanted. The Warden in the West wanted to negotiate a surrender. Cersei was not going to hand herself over to them. The Westerlands would submit to her command. She remained the Lady of Casterley Rock.

Talks of a surrender might still be a farce.

She eagerly waited each day for news of Ser Robert. He had to succeed. News had travelled that the forces in the Riverlands had stopped moving and it filled her with hope. If the wolf bitch and the prince are dead the men will disband soon and beg for a pardon. It would end the immediate threat. It might put the prophecy to rest for good.

The rumours of the silver queen made Cersei doubt but the Stark girl fit the prophecy. She had been proclaimed queen albeit queen in the North, she was younger and the reference to casting Cersei down... Cersei still remembered the letter the girl wrote denouncing Cersei's rule. Since the girl was crowned it gained new meaning. She had begun to think of Lyanna Stark more than she had in years. This girl was said to be Lyanna come again. The singers were making much of the wolf queen and Cersei's threats only seemed to make it worse. She had not forgotten Rhaegar choosing to run away with the Stark girl.

She could not be more beautiful than me.

Cersei never met Lyanna Stark but she was certain the girl could not be more beautiful. This Arya could not be more beautiful. She picked up a looking glass. The years were beginning to take their toll. Her walk of shame had damaged her, she knew but she was still the same golden lioness who had been so admired. She was still the same woman Jaime loved.

Where is he?

She rose and went to meet her cousin. He unhappily accepted her rejection of his terms for surrender though not without protest. Cersei's irritation with him faded quickly when she heard that Sandor Clegane had been brought into the Throne room. She walked quickly, her skirts rustling and almost unable to believe the news. The scarred man kneeling before her was unmistakably the Hound.

"Your grace" he murmured in his gravelly voice keeping his eyes lowered. Guards were either side of him in an attempt to ensure he remained a prisoner.

Cersei's rage threatened to overwhelm her. "Tell me why I should not have you executed immediately."

His mouth twitched and Cersei studied him. He truly is hideous. "I have information you want about the wolf bitch and the dead prince."

Her heart leapt into her throat. "He is dead?" She could not keep the hope from her voice.

The Hound made a sound and she realised he was trying to stifle laughter. "Not as dead as my brother claimed he was."

The disappointment almost soured her stomach. "Tell me."

He gave the guards a look but they were slow to act until Cersei prompted them sharply to not waste her time. A helm, cloak and piece of parchment were offered to her. Cersei recognised the dented helm and looked at it in disbelief. She wrenched the parchment from the hand offering it and broke the Targaryen seal, trying to stop her fingers from shaking.

This cloak belonged to one of most loyal men I have ever known. I'm sure my regard for him will matter little to you given that you intended me to die in his place. I will hurt you for this and for much more. You would kill all those I love. Expect no mercy from me.

Fire and Blood

He did not sign it by name, only by his House words. I must not show weakness. She crumpled the parchment and threw the stained cloak at the guard.

"Dispose of this."

The helm seemed to be taunting her and she avoided looking at it.

"Rise" she barked at Clegane. "What of the girl?"

"She was bedridden from her injuries your grace. He mourned the Kingsguard knight but I expect that targeting her is what really did it."

Cersei fought the urge to pace. She wanted to throw something. "He is fucking her."

Clegane gave his disgusting laugh. "He wants to."

Cersei gave him a sharp look. Men know nothing. The prince was not doing all he did for a girl he wanted. It was too much for that.

"Why did you leave?"

The Hound kept his head lowered. "I could not take commands from the Imp."

It all comes back to Tyrion. She could not resist the urge to pace now.

"Where have you been? It has been years."

"I had a run in with my brother's men your grace, my injuries almost killed me. I stayed in a refuge during my long recovery."

He had an answer for everything. Every time Cersei looked at him he still had his eyes lowered. He is ever the Hound.

"What were you doing with them?" she spat.

"I happened upon them on my way here. I heard about Gregor."

Cersei shot a look at the guards. They did not react to the name. They would be fools not to suspect. She looked at the helm again.

"How did they do it?"

He did not ask what she meant. "It was the red priest and the she-wolf. They burned him."

"What about you?" she asked sharply.

He looked up at her, eyes narrowed. "I hate fire."

Cersei knew that much was true.

"Why did they let you live? Why send you here to me?"

Clegane laughed at that. "They hoped you would kill me. The Targaryen hates Cleganes and his cousin is in his ear."

Cersei pictured Nymeria Sand, those viper eyes of hers full of malice as she schemed and plotted against Cersei with the Prince. She looked at Sandor Clegane in front of her. He should be killed, she knew that but she also knew him. He had served in her household and obeyed her and Joff, he knew their secrets. If not for Tyrion he might have been there to save Joff. She had a sudden thought, looking at Clegane waiting for instruction. Tyrion knew Joff was vulnerable without the Hound, he drove him away.

"What will they do if you return to them?"

He snorted. "They promised me gold. I doubt they have enough, they seemed to be struggling to collect any."

Cersei studied him again. "You will return but I will pay you more. There are things I need from you. First I want to hear more about the girl and the Prince."

The Hound knelt again, respectfully. "Yes, your grace."

Trusting him was a risk, she knew but Cersei Lannister had little remaining left to lose. There was no one else she could turn to, not even her own twin. He could not be dead, Cersei felt she would know it if he was. Where are you Jaime?

Jaime

Jaime still did not know how he had ended up in such a mess. Podrick Payne looked even more befuddled though that was not unusual for the boy. Brienne had assured him that Pod had no lack of courage but Jaime was yet to see much sense from him. If the boy was smart he would have gone with Brienne to Storm's End. Instead he insisted on staying with Jaime out of some notion that the quest for Sansa Stark would turn up Tyrion.

Tyrion is long gone and far from our sweet sister's reach.

Pod did not know of Jaime's role in Tyrion's escape. Jaime did not intend to enlighten him. The return of the other Stark girl to Winterfell followed by the rather shocking development that her youngest brother was alive and had joined her had changed things for them. Jaime had pursued a few dead ends before deciding to travel North to see if Sansa hiding with one of her brother's (or sister's he supposed) bannermen. He did not hold out much hope. If the girl was in the North it did not make much sense that she did not simply return to Winterfell.

They tried to avoid running into the Targaryen and his army. Jaime was more than certain that the boy would not be interested in hearing excuses as to why Jaime killed his grandfather. Alongside that stories spread far and wide of Arya Stark's determination to bring down his sweet sister. He was not interested in trusting his fate to her if he happened to cross her path.

If the tales are to be believed she will be as kind to me as Lady Stoneheart planned to be.

Jaime saw the walking corpse of Catelyn Stark when he closed his eyes to sleep at night. Catelyn Stark had been a handsome woman, even if she did have that insufferable sense of higher honour and harsh judgement of those who did not measure up. What the Freys did to her though... They deserved everything they got. Jaime had been kept by the Brotherhood for so long he began to fear he would never see daylight again. He had Brienne to thank for his release. He thought of her often since they separated, knowing it must be torturing her not looking for Sansa.

She is such a stubborn wench. Hopefully I can succeed in her place. That will make them all scratch their heads.

He needed to find the Stark girl not only for what remained of his honour but so that he could return to Cersei. She was on his mind constantly, his bitterness over Tyrion's confession about her competing with his memories. He did not know what he would do when he saw her. While Sansa Stark still eluded him he could not return to Kings Landing. The outlaws would kill him even if the Targaryen did not.

He and Pod were fortunate to avoid the Targaryen and the Northern army. Instead they were faced with another, unexpected set of armed men... and women. They weren't much to look at but looks mattered little given that it was hundreds of them against him and Pod and Jaime was unlikely to offer much opposition, even to men who looked like savages. They might be savages but they were savages armed with good steel.

There was a time he would have drawn his sword and killed as many as he could take down with him. Pod, the fool boy, tried to draw his own sword and Jaime had to stop him. He did not like the way they looked at his golden hand. They might have killed both of them anyway if it weren't for his tongue. He held up the golden hand.

"If you let us live I have much more of this." Assuming the Targaryen doesn't take Casterly Rock before I return. It galled him to use the tactic. He had never used it before and never intended to ever use it. That damned oath is to blame.

The clan leaders looked doubtful until he offered his name. Then he heard mutters of halfman and Tywin and Lannister. It was all Jaime could do not to laugh. He had heard of Tyrion's clansmen from the mountains of the Vale. He never expected to meet them. There was a round of introductions and Jaime met the Moon Brothers and the Stone Crows. The Stone Crows were led by Shagga who seemed to have decided he was spokesperson.

"Tyrion son of Tywin promised us the Vale."

Jaime had to laugh this time. Of course he did.

They met at the Crossroads and Jaime thought for that to be the end of it but he was wrong. He and Pod became guests of the clansmen. They proceeded down the High Road towards the Vale. The road was dangerous for most but as a guest of the clans Jaime was assured safety. As they reached the foothills they found themselves in the midst of all the mountain clans of the Vale.

The clans had a queer sort of sense of honour. Tyrion and their lord father had armed and armoured a number of them and upon the others hearing the Lannister name there was talk of more arms and armour. Jaime was happy to agree to their requests if it kept him and Pod alive. They wanted the Vale and Jaime was disinclined to interfere. He could not even if he wanted if he hoped to escape alive.

The mountain clans had a base set up in the foothills, not far from the Bloody Gate. It was there that Jaime and Pod were allowed to stop. A council of sorts was held and Jaime watched with fascination as grievances were resolved with brutal violence. Two men died in the course of discussions before attention turned to Jaime.

"You did not bring me all this way for my wit and good looks did you?"

Shagga laughed loudly as did others in the gathering before he held his hand up and silence fell.

"We were promised the Vale. Halfman said Lannisters pay debts."

"This is true" Jaime replied trying to determine how in seven hells he was supposed to deliver. "What would you have me do?"

"They are cowards" one of the Black Ears pronounced. "They won't come out to face us. You can get in the gates. Tell them what we want."

They will certainly love me for that. Their answer might be to put my head on a pike.

"And if they refuse?" Jaime asked. "What are your terms?" Shagga whipped out two axes, one in each hand and grinned. Jaime marvelled once again that he still had his skin. "Very well then."

He approached the Bloody Gate with Pod early the next day. Knights rode out to meet them, looking at Jaime with scorn when he gave his name. They escorted him to the gate where the Knight of the Gate was equally scornful.

"I come to speak to the Lord Protector, Lord Petyr Baelish. I come as an envoy."

"He is no longer Lord Protector" the knight announced. It was not a man Jaime knew. "Lord Robert has passed."

I wonder how Littlefinger is going to come out on top this time.

"Mayhaps I still wish to speak with him" Jaime replied. "I would also speak with the new Lord of the Eyrie."

He could see they wanted to refuse him. "Lannisters still have friends" he told them, bristling that they resisted him so much. "I am coming on an important matter."

"Lord Baelish is away" the knight finally offered. "We will escort you to the Gates of the Moon. From there you may meet with Lord Harrold if he wishes."

It took most of the day to reach the Gates of the Moon. They were escorted into chambers and told that because it was late they would be seen in the morning. When morning came, he and Pod were shown into an audience chamber and greeted by the Lady Myranda Royce.

"Ser Jaime Lannister" she pronounced with a wicked smile. "I have heard such tales of you."

Jaime gave her his most charming smile and introduced Pod who stammered and looked at his boots. The questions had hardly begun when a young woman entered the chamber and froze. Pod made a strange squeaking noise beside him and Jaime saw that the young man's gaze was no longer on his boots but fixed on the new arrival instead. Jaime glanced at her and saw nothing startling, she was beautiful but it did not warrant the reaction.

"Excuse me my lady" he said to Lady Myranda and bent to speak with Pod.

"Ser" the lad whispered "it is my lady."

Jaime glanced at the young dark haired woman again. She had begun to approach but was moving like a cornered animal.

"This is Alayne Stone" Lady Myranda announced. "The natural daughter of Lord Petyr Baelish."

Jaime began to pay far more attention as Pod gripped the sleeve of his coat more tightly.

. Baelish has no bastard daughter.

He leaned close to Pod again, pulling him aside to not be overheard.

"The lady" Pod stammered in a whisper. "The lady Sansa."

Lady Myranda Royce looked at them curiously and Jaime moved to dissuade her curiosity. They were not welcome visitors, despite Lady Myranda's interest in them. He would bide his time to find out what the story was with the girl. She curtsied very gracefully, her eyes lowered.

"Alayne" he said smoothly, watching to see she did not even react to the name. She was dressed as suited a high born bastard. Even her behaviour mas muted compared to what one might expect from a high born lady. He could see it though when he examined her features, the resemblance was there. "I see you took all your looks from your mother."

Somebody had trained her well. The Lady Sansa did not even break character. Jaime saw her go a little pale but her smile was as radiant as the ones Cersei used to bestow upon him. Jaime's own smile grew in response. Things have become very interesting indeed.

A/N: So this one was catch up for both POV's. I expect the next time we see Jaime it will be a (hopefully) more interesting read covering current events. It should also show his character better (I hope). I know I have done a woeful job of dealing with the time jump for certain characters, it did make things very hard trying to explain two missing years. That is why GRRM abandoned his own planned time jump.

The next chapter will be Aegon's POV but I plan to come back to the Vale quickly, probably the following chapter because there is too much to cover with Jaime and Sansa to leave it there for too many chapters :D