Chapter 4: Into the Lion's den (1/5)

Raziel Baratheon:

The journey to the Westerlands wasn't very interesting for the Prince. He had to spend the entire time inside the Royal carriage with his mother. It made him really resent his poor horse riding skills. Raziel was good with animals but it always seemed like horses disliked him for some reason since they always tried their best to make him fall from them.

He had to endure the entire journey dealing with his mother's kisses and hugs which made him uncomfortable most of the time. Though he never had the courage to complain because he knew she would be upset if he did. Once when he was four, his mother went to sleep in his bed like she often did and his father complained about it, saying that he was too old for her to sleep in his bed. She responded by smashing him in the back of the head with a candle holder knocking him out cold. Robert never complained to her again after that and claimed to not remember what she did. But Raziel remembers that moment every time he thought about trying to complain to her. He also was thinking about Daenerys and how hard it was to say goodbye to her.

"Dany, I have to go now," Raziel told his friend.

"Okay," Daenerys looked down and turned her back to him. "Just walk out of the door, I just stay like this so I won't have to see you go."

Raziel felt guilt settling in his stomach, and really wanted to do something about it. He decided to do something that he would probably end up regretting later. He wrapped his arms around Daenerys and whispered something in her ear that might have done more damage than good "I love you."

Raziel kept thinking and cursing himself for saying that. Daenerys just busted into tears afterwards and grabbed him into a hug. He had to leave her like that before people went looking for him and ended up finding her.

His arrival at Casterly Rock, on the other hand, was pleasant. Raziel couldn't believe how colossal was the stone hill that the castle was on top of it. Raziel could swear it resembled a Lion. And even more exciting than leaving the carriage was meeting the rest of his family.

His grandfather Tywin, who intimidated him a bit due to his intimidating gaze.

His uncle Jaime who looked somewhat like his mother, whom Raziel was looking forward to meeting since Ser Barristan said that he was a great swordsman.

Raziel thought his aunt Lynesse was beautiful and resembled Daenerys a bit.

His cousin Myrcella whom he thought looked a lot like his mother.

His cousin Tommen who he didn't speak much to yet.

And last, his uncle Tyrion whom he actually liked right away for some reason.

After they were all done with the introductions, his mother showed him the castle. The only thing that Raziel really noticed about the castle was that it was exceptionally extravagant. The Red Keep was also but it felt like they did not hold back when trying to demonstrate their wealth at Casterly Rock. But Raziel already knew about that since his mother constantly bragged about it. During the tour Raziel remembered the story of Lann the Clever, the man that founded house Lannister. The only story he remembered was how Lann supposedly swindled Casterly Rock from the Casterlys using nothing but his wits. Though that was Raziel's least favorite story from the age of heroes. His personal favorites were Symeon Star-Eyes and the Grey King.

The tour on the castle ended and Cersei took him to his chambers.

"This is going to be your room," Cersei declared with a bit of enthusiasm.

The room was large and well decorated, mostly painted with the color red and had some engraving of the Lannister symbols on the walls.

"It used to belong to your uncle Jaime, I slept here myself a few times when we were children." Something was telling Raziel that she was going to start doing it again. "Though this room has been empty for a while now."

Raziel just looked at the details in the room for a time. Now thinking about his favorite song, The Rains of Castamere.

"Raziel, there going to be a feast for our arrival," his mother interrupts his thoughts again.

"When?"

"At Nightfall," Cersei told him. "Now come with me." She extended her hand.

Raziel didn't question or asked where they were going, he simply grabbed his mother's hand and followed her.

He was only presented to the main parts of the Rock, so he didn't know where his mother was taking him.

"Don't let anyone come in," She told one of the guards.

As they entered the door, he realized that it was a bathing room and he instantly didn't like. Raziel's mother had a tendency of always bathing him herself but he was uncomfortable with the way she touches him when she does it, but there was nothing he could do about it now.

"You need to look your best at the feast tonight," Cersei explained. "Especially since the whole family will be there."

"Mo...Mother...I can wash myself," Raziel tried to argue. But Cersei gave him the same stare she gave his father when he complained about her sleeping in his bed.

Raziel instantly stopped talking and started to take off his clothes. First, he sat down to remove his shoes but before he could do it, his mother did it for him. Then she pulled his tunic off by his head and the shirt he had underneath. She undid the laces on his trousers and pulled them down. He stood up and stayed still, waiting for his mother to say something but all she did was stare at him while he stood there naked attempting to cover himself. She smiled a bit and finally spoke up.

"Now get inside," Cersei ordered.

The bath was a reasonable size. It wasn't too big or too small which didn't really matter to Raziel, he just wanted to get that over with. He entered the bath, the water wasn't hot or cold which he was thankful. But as soon Raziel got inside, he turned to the side and noticed his mother was starting to take off her clothes as well. Which made Raziel more uncomfortable.

There were times when Cersei bathed with him and Raziel detested it. Usually because her touches were much worse. All he could do was watch as she undid the laces of her dress.

Jaime Lannister:

Jaime Lannister was having a somewhat unpleasant day. He finally got to see his sister after 6 years since they saw each other last, when Cersei became pregnant with their son Joffrey who was stillborn. Jaime received a raven from her begging him to visit her, but his father forbade it.

But since then, Cersei had stopped speaking with him completely. He had sent several letters and attempted to visit sometimes but there was always an interruption from his father. But now he was hoping that he could finally talk to her, but he couldn't find her anywhere.

He could never bear to be long apart from his twin. Even as children, they would creep into each other's beds and sleep with their arms entwined. But now, when he finally saw Cersei again she looked more beautiful than the last time he saw her. But he felt something horrible in the ice-cold tone that she spoke with when she greeted him. He was also disturbed by the strangely warm tone she spoke with her son. She has never spoken to anyone like that, not even him.

Was he Jealous of the boy? He didn't know. All he knew is that he needed to talk to searched for her until one of the servants told him she was bathing her son in the Bathing room she used to use as a child. Jaime thought it was strange since the boy looked big enough to bath himself. He, of course, knew the room since he and Cersei used to bath there together as children.

After a small walk, he found the room and was about to go in.

"My Lord, the Queen asked to not be disturbed." The stupid guard told Jaime.

"Are you going to stop me?" Jaime stood high in front of the guard, challenging him to try to stop him.

The guard just shut up and move aside. "Smart man."

Jaime then entered the room. But at moment he went in he saw something that he didn't quite know how to describe. Cersei and her son were in the bath together, her breasts were pressing his back and her arms were wrapped around his stomach. Cersei looked relaxed but the boy looked really uncomfortable.

"What do you want?" Cersei asked with the same ice-cold voice.

"I...I needed to speak with you," it had been some time since he saw Cersei naked.

"Then speak," She said while petting her son's head like he was a kitten.

"In private," Jaime said nodding at her son. Cersei looked deeply annoyed by his presence which he has figured it out just by looking at her face. "Okay sweetie, go back to your room and get dressed." The amount of warning in her voice disturbed Jaime.

The boy just moved his head up and down.

A strange pause started in the room until Cersei finally spoke up.

"Get out!" Cersei ordered Jaime.

Jaime then realized that the boy was waiting for him to leave. He just turned around and waited outside a bit. It took only two minutes for his nephew to walk out with his trousers and shoes but without his tunic and shirt. Jaime couldn't help but notice that the boy looked strange. Did she do something to him in there? Jaime asked himself. But he didn't really care.

After the boy was far enough, he entered the room.

Jaime found his sister sitting down on a chair, wearing a red robe.

"What do you want Jaime?" She asked with the same ice tone from before.

"I needed to talk to you," Jaime responded.

"Then talk brother."

"I... I wanted to apologize for... um-" Jaime was having trouble finding the right words.

"For not being there when our baby died?" She stated in a low voice so only Jaime would hear it. "I waited for you and you never came."
"

Cersei I-" Jaime tried to speak but she lift her finger up.

"Don't!" She raged at him.

"Don't try to justify!"

"I'm not I just-" He tried to spoke again but she interrupted.

"Just shut up. Now if you'll excuse me, my son is waiting for me," the moment she said "My son" there was a sudden change in her voice that Jaime couldn't help but notice.

"Speaking of him, since when do you like the boy?" Jaime was trying to understand, when he visited her after his birth Cersei resented him and barely spoke of him.

"Since I realized how beautiful and strong he is. Unlike you."

"What's that supposed to mean!?" Jaime was now getting enraged by her words.

"That you're a coward," She was now provoking him. "You didn't come to me when I needed you because you were afraid of our father."

"That's not true!" Jaime argued.

"Yes, it is and if you had to pick between fighting a dragon or stand up to father we both know what you'd pick." Jaime wanted to argue but he knew that was the truth. He would pick the dragon in a heartbeat.

"Look I-"

Before he could finish, Cersei walked out of the door and Jaime followed behind her. The two walked through the corridor in complete silence with Jaime trying to think of something to say to her. But as the two kept getting closer to the Prince's room, they heard something. Music. Jaime was paralyzed at first because he recognized the melody. He looked at his sister only to find Cersei smiling. Her smiles were always some type of smirk or arrogant grin but this one was a genuine smile. So beautiful. He thought. Before they noticed it whoever was playing the music, a voice started to sing as well, it was an angelical voice.

Fight and shine like a warrior
And fly, persist, overcome any barrier
Face fearlessly your destiny
And will be a winner with the light that guides you

The dangers face, and elevate your strength
And victory will come tomorrow
A heart that can reach
The flame that raises hope
Your wings in the sky will open
And the hearts will smile again!

She kept walking towards the music until they finally arrived in the Prince's room. She opened the door slowly and they found Raziel playing the harp. Jaime was shocked. The moment he saw it, he recognized the silver strings harp. But what really surprised him was that the Prince was playing just like Rhaegar used to play it. Jaime never heard the song he was playing before, he wondered what it was because he liked the lyrics.

"If you don't have anything else to say, just get out," Cersei ordered not breaking her gaze from her son.

But the boy heard what she said and stopped playing the harp immediately. and stared at them with his blue eyes. Cersei approached him and kissed his forehead then praised him on his musical skills.

Jaime now took a good look at Raziel Baratheon. He was obviously a Baratheon though he saw some Lannister features.

"Are you deaf? Get out!" Cersei ordered once again breaking Jaime from his thoughts.

Jaime knowing he couldn't continue this conversation with the boy in the room decided to do so. Though he still planned to talk with his sister.

Cersei Lannister:

Cersei was having a pleasant day until her twin had to ruin it. She was having a very relaxing bath with her beloved son, cleaning his beautiful soft pale skin and washing his soft and shiny straight black hair. Though Cersei always wished he had her blond curls instead. But Jaime had to interrupt her in order to give his pathetic excuses as to why he didn't come for her after their Joffrey died. Though she was able to cheer up after hearing Raziel play that beautiful song on his harp. Yes, the harp was his now, such a beautiful instrument should belong to her beautiful son anyway.

She was now preparing for the feast, she decided to wear a crimson dress with some of the Lannister symbols on it. She was a Lioness of the Rock and it was time to introduce her perfect cub. The Queen also made sure that the Prince wore his best outfit, she always made sure that he always dressed in the finest and most expensive clothes. After her hair was finally done she went to fetch her son, He will enter with her for the entire Rock to see how beautiful her son is.

The moment she arrived at the door of his new room, she entered without bothering to knock. She opened the door slowly only to catch Raziel trying to do the laces of his crimson doublet. He was wearing black leather shoes, black trousers and a white shirt. The sleeveless doublet had gold tracery and was made of the finest materials just like the rest of his clothes.

It didn't take long for him to notice her like always all she did was smile and walk towards him. She kneeled down and did the rest of his laces for him.

"Are you ready for the feast my angel?" Cersei asked.

"I guess," Raziel said with a noticeable lack of enthusiasm.

"What's bothering you?" Cersei didn't like it when her son was sad or displeased.

"I'm worried about Dany." He responded.

"I guess the story is repeating itself." Cersei thought, remembering her own feeling towards Rhaegar. "Don't worry sweetie, I have people in King's landing looking after her."

"You do?" Raziel asked with a puzzled look.

"Varys isn't the only one with eyes around the castle. Don't worry, I made sure she would keep receiving the books you used to give her and whatever letters or gifts you wish to send her, we'll make sure she will get it." If this were anyone else Cersei would be lying right now but she knew Raziel would be heartbroken if she lied so she'd make sure the Dragon girl was taken care of. Who knows, she might even become useful to Cersei later.

"Thank you, Mother." Raziel thanked her.

"Anything for you my perfect little Prince."

The Queen and the Prince were finally making their way to the feast. She has instructed Raziel to be on his best behaviour tonight, though Cersei never had to say it since he was always a polite boy. As the two finally arrived at the main wall she realized that her father has invited most of the sworn houses of house Lannister. They quickly went to sit with Tywin and the rest of the family on the high table.

Cersei could tell that her son was impressed by the surroundings judging by how much he was staring at the room. Her father didn't save any sort of expenses in the feast.

It didn't take long for the two to be greeted by the rest of the family. She sat on the table alongside Jaime and her father. Jaime's wife was there as well but Cersei didn't want to knowledge her. Raziel sat on the table with the rest of the children. For her luck, the imp was nowhere to be seen.

Cersei couldn't help but notice some things that were happening in the feast. First of all, it was Raziel making his cousins laugh a lot, specially Myrcella. Second, was how much Raziel was eating. Raziel was a big eater though not as much as his father which Cersei was thankful of. Third, was that Jaime had been staring at her a lot since she and Raziel walked in.

But she ignored him and just watched Raziel filling his plate for the fourth time, wondering where he found space for so much food. Raziel was tall for a six-year-old. Sometimes Cersei forgot he was six because there were times when he did not act as such. For starters he took sword lessons at age four which was already an impressive thing since most boys start at age seven at least, and not to mention he learned how to read at three. Pyrcella said that the Prince might finish his lessons before he was ten. His nameday was in a month, and Robert wanted to wait until he was seven to go on his fosterings but Cersei insisted on going early. She was wondering if Tywin would throw a tourney for his nameday.

While he was eating he made a funny face that made little Tommen and Myrcella laugh.

"Sister?" She heard her twin call her.

"Yes?" She replied in a polite tone.

"Will you give me the honor of this dance?" Jaime asked her with his pathetic arrogant smirk. That smile looked much better on her son.

"Of course." She said under a false courtesy.

Cersei took her twin's hand and the two went to the middle of the hall where everyone was dancing.

Raziel Baratheon:

The Prince was having a nice time at the feast. He was telling some jokes for his cousins and some stories about his adventures with Brown. Tommen was easy to make it laugh, all he needed to do was make a funny face and he would burst in laughter.

Right now, he was filling his fifth plate. This time he was filling with sweets. He was a bit disappointed that there was no strawberry pie. So he settled for honey cake.

"By the Seven boys, how much more are you gonna eat?" Raziel turned his head, a piece of cake still on his mouth.

It was his dwarf uncle Tyrion.

"Wh't? I L'o'e c''ke." Raziel tried to say with his mouth still full

Tyrion just laughed at his attempt to speak.

Raziel finally swallows the cake. "Are you enjoying the feast?"

"Oh very much," he said while drinking a cup of wine like Raziel's father always did. "Though I would have enjoyed eating some." He pointed at the last piece of the honey cake.

Raziel just grabbed and gave it to his uncle. "Enjoy it," he said as he walked away back to his cousins.

The rest of the feast was uneventful but Raziel got to know his cousins but he noticed that his mother was suddenly absent from the feast.

Where did mother go? Raziel asked himself.