MYRCELLA
On her way to her classes she realized she'd forgotten her quill. She quickly returned to her apartment to get it. It wasn't on her writing desk so she made it for a seat by a window where she sometimes made her assignments. She'd just reached it when a door opened. It wasn't the servants' door she'd used herself, and she feared Joffrey had entered. He'd damaged or stolen her things before and he'd pester her for still being here, if he noticed her that was: this part of the room wasn't visible from the entrance. Myrcella made herself small against a wall.
"What were you thinking?" a woman angrily said. It took Myrcella a moment to understand it was Mother. "She's been here for less than a full day and already you obey her?"
"I've been here too long," a man, Uncle Jaime, said. "I was supposed to bring Tybalt home."
"Your queen wants you to stay."
"Our Lady Mother desires me to leave this very day."
Uncle Jaime sounded determined and Mother stamped the floor, or so Myrcella thought.
"Don't hit me again Cersei."
Myrcella gasped and, fearing she might have been heard, turned red at the idea of being caught eavesdropping.
"Stay Jaime. Stay with me."
"I can't."
"Weakling! Don't leave me alone with him!"
"Mother recalls us as two naughty seven year olds Cersei!"
Myrcella frowned. Had Mother and Uncle Jaime cut Lady Lannister's ribbons, like Joff had done with hers? Would their mother still be angry at that? Mother didn't reply instantly and when she did she only spoke two words, but she sounded afraid. "You think…"
There was a rustling of a skirt, followed by a whispered conversation.
"She won't do that," Uncle Jaime said in his normal voice. "She loves us."
"She never wanted me to be a queen."
"She never objected to you marrying Robert."
"It was not Robert I wanted, just like it wasn't that ugly cow you wanted."
"Don't call her that. Elia was beautiful. She was also a kind woman and a good mother."
"And I'm not?!"
Uncle Jaime sighed. "A compliment given to one woman isn't meant to insult another. You love your children very much. And if you want what's best for your children, listen to Mother."
"I've lived here for fifteen years. I can handle things without her. And what is there to be afraid of?"
"Everything."
More whispering and some moaning too, followed by a man's footsteps and a door falling shut. Mother cursed, then left the room too. Myrcella was puzzled. Was Mother afraid or not? She'd sounded afraid when she'd feared her lady mother, but Uncle Jaime had not been afraid of his mother. And yet he was afraid of something Mother didn't fear. But then: she herself feared spiders and Tommen did not while she didn't understand why he jumped at the sight of mice. Another strange thing was Uncle Jaime mentioning her and Tommen and Joffrey. Why? She shrugged and started her search. Stuck between two pillows was her quill. Picking it up she hasted to the door. Her shield stood waiting and followed her to her classroom.
After classes Myrcella, as was her custom, went to the royal sept. To her delight she found her grandmother there, staring at the statue of the Warrior. "I'm sorry Lady Grandmother. I didn't mean to disturb you in your piety."
"I'm not being pious little one. I came here to see if this place revokes memories and to talk to you. We never met after all and I should like to get to know you and your brothers as well. Are you pious?"
Myrcella was startled by the question, which was different from the chitchat or flattery most adults bestowed on her. Grandmother gestured her to sit next to her, but didn't press her for a reply. After giving it some thought Myrcella admitted that she liked the silence and scent of the sept. "It allows you to think things over, doesn't it?" grandmother replied. Relieved that Grandmother had found no fault in her reason for liking the sept, Myrcella nodded. "Have you regained memories Lady Grandmother?"
"I recalled them."
Not understanding what her grandmother meant, Myrcella smiled.
"Sometimes it's good to keep your questions to yourself. But if you have questions for me: ask them. Being in King's Landing made me recall my years here as a lady-in-waiting to Rhaella Targaryen. Seeing your mother and uncle Jaime hasn't made me regain the memories I lost though."
"You don't remember them at all?"
"I do: I remember the first seven years of their lives."
"What were they like then?"
"Sweet and mischievous."
Mischievous sounded too kind to describe ruining things, especially if it concerned Grandmother's belongings. Myrcella felt relieved. "Perhaps you still might regain your memory Lady Grandmother? I do hope you will. I tried to imagine what it must be like to not know about when I was young."
Grandmother smiled. "You're a sweet girl Myrcella."
Myrcella blushed. "Tommen's sweet."
"I plan to find out about that, but I'm sure you're right, just as I am."
Wanting to warn her grandmother Myrcella whispered: "Father doesn't like the Targaryens, do you recall that?"
"Good, you know that at times one needs to be quiet," Grandmother whispered back. Her breath smelled after mint. "Your lord grandfather told me about your father's dislike for the previous dynasty. Your father's paternal grandmother was a Targaryen but I doubt he cares to recall that."
"Did you know her, or Father's father?"
"I knew Steffon Baratheon. He was a friend of your Lannister grandfather and I too liked him. Your uncle Stannis resembles him. Oh, before I forget…"
As footsteps were nearing Grandmother produced a sealed letter. "I asked your cousin Myra to send you a message."
"She lives at Casterly Rock, doesn't she?" Myrcella said, holding the letter of her unknown relative as if it were a treasure.
"She does. Do you have a particular friend here, a girl your age?"
"I have Tommen," Myrcella said. A movement at the entrance to the sept caught her eye. Seeing that it was her septa, she rose. "I have to practice my needlework," she softly told Grandmother.
"My thoughts are with you," Grandmother replied. It wasn't until Myrcella tried to undo some ugly stitches that she understood that Lady Lannister had made a joke. It made her giggle.
GERION
Having escorted his lady to the Great Sept of Baelor Gerion left her there, well protected by Westerlanders even though in this city it barely seemed necessary for a Lannister to have a guard. Gerion took his nephew into King's Landing. For Tion it was the first time in the capital and the boy looked around wide eyed. He'd not been born during Robert's Rebellion and his surname was Frey, but he enjoyed the enthusiastic greeting they received. "Hail Lannister!" people in inns would cry out and they'd raise their goblets: "To the king!" Some men would pretend to fall asleep after that, to general merriment.
"Shall we visit some blacksmiths ser?" Tion asked after they'd spent a pleasant half an hour or so being feasted.
Make sure Tion doesn't return home carrying a venereal disease, Joanna had told Gerion. And do not visit the Street of Steel. "I'll take you to the Dragonpit."
"Will you go on a heroic journey again Uncle? I mean ser. My apologies."
"We're not at court, so by all means style me uncle. As to heroic journeys, if you manage to leave King's Landing unscratched, you're half a hero already."
The boy grinned along with the red cloaks accompanying them, but Gerion doubted that he understood why. He didn't have much of Genna in him.
"But will you go to foreign countries again soon?"
"If I did, would you like to come with me?"
"If Lord Lannister agrees, I would Uncle."
Lord versus plain uncle huh? Gerion thought with bitterness but as he looked at his nephew, whose eyes were sparkling for being where he was and for the possibility of travelling further, Gerion could only laugh. "If my Lord Brother can spare you lad, I'll take you with me. My companion of my last travels isn't around after all." Tion would hardly be a replacement for Sandor Clegane, but there was no need to say that.
It was a long walk, if only because it was very warm and Tion, acting like a visitor rather than a squire, stopped often to gaze at things. Their slow pace made Gerion feel various muscles. Unlike his nephew he hadn't yet recovered from the exhausting ride to King's Landing. They bought some garlic bread from a comely woman, who winked at Tion and laughed when the boy turned beet-red.
Halfway the Street of the Sisters Tion winkled his nose in disgust. "That Tion is the stink of Flea Bottom. Don't go there by yourself or my sister will skin me if Lady Lannister doesn't get to it first."
An old man wearing a cloth over his eyes who'd played 'Oh, Lay My Sweet Lass Down in the Grass' changed his tune to 'The Light of the West'. Gerion dropped some pennies in his nap.
They returned to the Red Keep late in the afternoon. Wanting to check on his horse he dismissed his red cloaks and walked to the stables. Tion obediently followed him. Lord Renly stood outside, surrounded by his squires, chatting and laughing with a Bar Emmon and a Celtigar. A handsome stable boy of about fourteen told the king's youngest brother that his palfrey had been taken good care of. Gerion felt that the boy behaved rather boldly. Had the lad addressed Lord Lannister like that, he would not have found a new job until after he'd left the Westerlands. Well, Gerion admitted as he nodded at Renly and entered the stables, he didn't appreciate the boy's behaviour either. He shook his head at having something in common with the Great Lion.
Triumph's beauty had attracted several admirers and Gerion took pride in that. The most daring knights and squires complimented him on his horse before returning to their own animals. Triumph looked rested and didn't lack for food and water. He caressed her neck and a spot behind her ears that always made her whiny. Lyget Lydden greeted him and since the young knight seemed eager to talk to a fellow Westerlander, Gerion asked him how he liked King's Landing. As Ser Lyget shared his impressions, a high pitched boy's voice cried out: "Now! Do it now!" Part of the noise in the stables died away. Another voice started to apologize, but was cut short by the sound of a whip. "No!" the second voice cried out and there was a bang of body against body and bodies falling to the floor. "Get him! Hold him!" the first voice said. There was the sound of a whip and cries of pain. Two boys fighting, well they'd get hurt a bit. Gerion didn't think of interfering for there must be plenty of men watching and one of them would pluck the lads asunder before things got out of hand. When he heard a calm female voice command to stop Gerion, followed by Ser Lyget and Tion, hurried to the spot where the noise had come from. He saw Prince Joffrey holding a riding whip. The boy looked confused, and the stable hands and knights who'd gathered to watch the fight now stood by quietly.
"Grandmother. I can handle this," Joffrey said, raising his whip.
"I told you to stop. Explain what is going on."
Joanna had used her Lady Lannister voice and Gerion wasn't surprised that Joffrey lowered his arm and nervously cleared his throat. "This boy… I told him to saddle my horse. But he disobeyed my order! He felt it was more important to place a stupid puppy in the straw."
Gerion took a few steps forward to get a better view. Joffrey's breeches were muddied and there was straw clinging to his doublet. A stable boy of about eight was held by a knight of the Kingsguard.
"At which point you hurt him."
"Only the dog! The boy then attacked me. So I hurt him too."
"What is your name ser?" Joanna asked the Kingsguard. The man had lost his tongue. "This is Ser Meryn Trant my lady," Gerion said.
Joanna nodded her thanks. "You are holding a harmless frightened boy Ser Meryn."
"Prince's orders my lady."
"You will remember that you are a knight, sworn to protect the weak."
Ser Meryn let go of the boy, who was too frightened to move. "Tion, could you bring the boy – what's your name?"
"Symon my lady," the boy managed.
" – Symon and his puppy to a maester?"
Tion looked panicked and Joanna arranged for a bystander to show the boys the way. The stable boy, bleeding from a nasty cut near his eye, carefully scooped up his softly whimpering dog. Lady Lannister ordered those who didn't have to work in the stables to leave. Several riders, Ser Lyget included, made themselves scarce. Joffrey had recovered enough to take a few steps toward his grandmother. "You've lost your memory Grandmother, but I trust you do know that I'm a prince of the realm and I will not be challenged by anyone, not even –"
The boy stopped talking when his grandmother held his chin between her thumb and fingers. Ser Meryn took a small step back. Gerion felt like laughing, but he repressed it. Joffrey looked at his grandmother wide-eyed. Gerion couldn't see Joanna's face, but whatever it was her grandson saw there made the boy stammer an apology.
"Accepted. You will also apologize to Symon and hurt him no further nor have him hurt. Don't think he's just a stable boy. You were wrong and hurting your future subjects will not endear them to you."
Letting go of Joffrey Lady Lannister turned to Ser Meryn, who swallowed hard. "The prince no longer feels like riding Ser Meryn. Please escort him to his chambers."
"I'd planned to spend some time with Joffrey," Joanna told Gerion as they walked to her apartment. Ahead of them and out of earshot walked the prince and the White Cloak. "This isn't what I had in mind. I read every letter Cersei sent over the years and I'd come to expect a second Aemon the Dragonknight. Ser Meryn isn't his shield, is he?"
"No, he isn't. That honour falls to Ser Todric Dondarrion. Myrcella has a shield from the Westerlands and Tommen's shield hails from the Reach."
They took a short cut through the Throne Room and were met there by Lord Stannis who, after curtly greeting them, addressed Joanna: "My bannerman Lord Velaryon informed me of the state of his property. He asked me to pass you his and his sister's respectful greetings."
"Thank you Lord Stannis." The master of ships inclined his head and was to leave, but Joanna stopped him with a question: 'I was told that Lady Daenera was my ward for some time. She's part of Lord Valeryon's household?" Stannis nodded. "I learned that she and I got along well. Do you think she might be prevailed to visit me at Casterly Rock? So far I haven't regained my memory but perhaps she might trigger it."
"I could write her brother if you like."
"I'd appreciate that Lord Stannis."
"I didn't know he had that many words in him," Gerion said when the two of them were on their way again.
"He strikes me as a thoughtful man."
"That's one way to put it. Did my lord brother remind you of Lady Daenera?" At Joanna's nod, Gerion asked: "Does it upset you that you still don't remember?"
"Of course it does," she said, looking at the floor and leaning on his arm at bit heavier than she had. Behind their backs courtiers whispered along.
JAIME
Three days later than his mother had commanded Jaime and his men made to leave the Red Keep.
"He likes her!" Cersei angrily whispered so the red cloaks in the courtyard wouldn't overhear. She wore a hooded cloak: this early in the morning it was chilly.
"Who likes whom?"
"The oaf likes Mother! What does she have that I don't?"
They both looked at Lady Lannister, who stood at a small distance talking to Jaime's squires Oberon Wyl and Hendry Bracken. Jaime reasoned it couldn't hurt if he and his twin parted in anger. "Do you desire his friendship?"
"Ser!"
Jaime grinned at his enraged love. He taunted her some more: "She doesn't yell at him or treat him as if he's a cockroach."
"She ought to: he's been unfaithful to me from the start."
And you repaid him, like a good lioness does. "Mother knows how to handle kings. You might learn from her." His arm received a slap. "Wrinkles!" he warned. While his sister's features grew smooth again her eyes continued to speak daggers at him.
They watched Mother talk to the captain of Jaime's red cloaks. "She asked me about my life after my seventh year. She really didn't have a clue. She tried to make me like her by reminding me of my swordplay. As if she wasn't the one who put a stop to that." Jaime knew it had been by their father's order that Cersei had been given a needle instead of a wooden sword but he refrained from commenting Cersei's cherished grieve. "And she asked whether I'd ever picked up on her offer to learn to throw knives instead. Ha! What is a knife to a sword?"
After inclining his head to his lady the captain mounted his horse.
"Ere the week is done I will have made sure that she's on her way back to Casterly Rock. I'm not afraid of her."
Yes you are. You were terrified when I let you know that she knew and you nearly lost your water during dinner yesterday. Jaime knew that Cersei had the same incident in mind when her next words were: "She should stay away from the way I raise my children."
"I think she has a good influence on them."
Mother approached them and Cersei's lips curved into a smile.