Wife of the Wolf, Husband of the Sun

Chapter Seventy-Two

There was a hint of rain on the air, perhaps even threatening to turn into a storm. Jaime used to love rainstorms when he was a lad, the storms would come on from the Sunset Sea and the rain would never be cold and the drops would catch the sunlight and turn them into gold, it was like something out of a song that one of Cersei's companions would prattle on about.

Rain from King's Landing normally came up from the Stormlands and despite the warmth of the capital the rain from there was like a tempest, a hard driving rain that any would do well to take shelter from as soon as they saw it coming on the horizon. But if the Queen was concerned about getting wet then she did not seem to show it, among the flowers of her gardens she almost seemed to be at peace, her eyes shut in rest as she sat in the chair that one of the servants had carried out for her.

She looked younger with her eyes closed, utterly relaxed in this little sanctuary of her own and despite himself Jaime would hate to disturb her. He did not think that he had ever seen Queen Rhaella anything close to this...serene, for lack of a better word. The Queen always held herself in a way that seemed as though she was always waiting for something to happen, like she expected her life to be threatened at any moment.

Of course, she had lived with her husband longer than any of them and Jaime imagined that if he had been in her place then he would be terrified as well. No, that wasn't true. If he had been born a woman then he would be like Cersei and she would have smothered Aerys in his sleep the first time he had hurt and thus that was what he would do.

His sister had made no bones about the fact that she held her good mother in nothing less than sheer contempt, she had said as much after one of their nights together. She had the covers pulled up to her chin and her eyes were closed and her face was utterly relaxed and all the anger and rage she had carried seemed to have drained away and in the candle light her hair seemed to shine like the sun and Jaime had never found her more beautiful than he had done in that moment.

But when that moment passed all the rage had come flooding back to her, it always did and more quickly as of late. The blame for that could be laid solely on Rhaegar's feet and if Jaime needed another reason for which to hate him. If he had his blade he would have cut his throat open for what he had done to Cersei, the humiliation was so terrible that even he couldn't sooth her for long.

It had only gotten worse after Robert Baratheon had come riding up to the Red Keep, bellowing like a wounded boar about how Rhaegar had swooped in and stolen away his betrothed, had ran off with her. Lyanna Stark, in truth Jaime had not given the girl much attention so he knew nothing about her but only a fool would choose her over Cersei.

Not that Jaime cared, Rhaegar could have whoever he wanted and Jaime would not bat an eye about it but not when it came at the expense of his sister. Wherever it was that they had gone, Jaime hoped that they stayed gone. Viserys would be the heir then, but he was still a little boy and there was still hope that he wouldn't turn out mad like his Father and older brother.

A rumble of thunder brought Jaime out of his thoughts and when Jaime looked up the overcast sky the clouds had turned as dark as a pot of Maester's ink and Jaime knew it would only be a matter of moments before the heavens opened and he and the Queen would both be drenched. He walked over to where she was sitting and spoke to her. "Your Grace?"

The Queen did not respond to him and for a moment when Jaime could not breath he thought that she had died but then he noticed that her chest was softly rising and falling and Jaime could breath again. He leaned forward and rested his hand on her shoulder and gently shook her. "Your Grace? Would you please wake up?"

Queen Rhaella's violet eyes gently fluttered open and she turned her head to look at him and for half a moment Jaime regretted waking her, while she had been sleeping she had seemed at peace but now that she was looking at him Jaime could see that there was still the sorrow in her eyes that had always been there and he had to wonder if her sorrow even hounded her when she was asleep.

Even if it did, she would need what little rest she could get. The King had been insatiable as of late and there had not been a night when the Queen had been granted any reprieve from her brother and husband. Since three of their sworn brothers had gone off with the Prince it meant that more of the duty of guarding the King and his family had fallen on to the four that were left behind.

And in there laid another insult to his sister, the King wanted two of his white swords about him at all times and despite the fact that Queen Rhaella spent most of her time with her younger son the King had commanded that each of them was to be guarded by their own Kingsguard at all times, two with the King, one with the Queen and one with Prince Viserys and the other three away with Rhaegar where only the gods knew where.

Cersei was for all intents left unguarded as the King would not allow their Father's guards to stay in the capital to guard her so unless Cersei chose to spend her time with the Queen, which she had not shown a willingness to do, it left her completely unguarded but of course the King said that his dear good daughter had nothing to fear, who would dare strike at her in the heart of the Red Keep after all?

Considering the man that said that saw enemies and traitors in every single shadow it was not a comforting thought, and Jaime could not forget the way that he had smirked when he had informed Cersei of his decision and the way that he had looked at her...

Ever since he had came to court he had heard the rumors of the King's fascination with his Lady Mother, how he had showed her both favor and a great deal of attention to Lady Joanna, how morose he apparently had seemed when it was announced that she was going to be marrying Lord Tywin and how after that his friendship with his Father had become frayed and how he had become enraged when the Queen had dismissed Joanna from her service without a word from him.

He still remembered the day of the tourney where he and his sister had been invited to join the royal family in their tent, at Prince Rhaegar's invitation while the Queen had invited Eddard Stark, the Martells and Oberyn Martell's bastard daughters. When Uncle Kevan, Aunt Genna and Tyrion had entered the tent for a moment Jaime had been so happy to see all of them but of course it didn't last when the King had started to question his Father's absence, his most pointed questions aimed at Cersei.

But the King had soon turned his glare to his Queen when Cersei had reminded him that it had been the Queen who had dismissed their Mother from her service and how she would not be able to stay in the capital after that. The King had agreed and asked his wife for her reasons for dismissing her and the Queen had replied that she wouldn't let her friend be turned into the King's whore.

Plenty of people had said that Cersei had all of their mother's beauty and the King had left her unguarded and in the Red Keep Aerys could do as he pleased...Jaime would kill him if he tried anything, his vows didn't matter. Not when it came to Cersei, he would cut the madman's throat if he even took a step towards her that seemed to bear ill intent and he would wear the consequences of it as the highest honor, so long as he knew that Cersei was safe.

He threw those thoughts out of his head for the moment, regardless of what the King might do and what Jaime would do in response he was still a Kingsguard and he had duties to fulfill. "I am sorry for waking for you, your Grace but a storm is coming in and I think it would be wise for us to return inside. The King would be wroth if your health was put in danger."

"Oh, I doubt that a very great deal Ser Jaime but I thank you for your concern." The Queen spoke, her voice as soft and sad as it ever was as Jaime held out a hand for her to take so he could help her to stand up and lead her back inside of Maegor's Holdfast, the chair was left in the gardens to endure the rain alone but no doubt some servants would come to bring it inside once the storm had come to an end.

"I know your Mother, you know? She was a dear friend of mine." The Queen spoke as they crossed the drawbridge into Maegor's as the first raindrops began to fall on to their heads, a rumble overhead like a great dragon in the skies hurt Jaime's ears.

"I was aware of that your Grace, my Mother was one of your companions when you were both younger, before either of you had been married." Jaime had to wonder what would have been different if both women had married different men, Queen Rhaella would certainly be happier he had no doubt about that but he also couldn't help but wonder if his Mother would still be alive?

Perhaps she would, she would most likely have been married to a landed knight in the Westerlands and ruled and ran his keep as well as she had ever run Casterly Rock, perhaps she would have had a dozen children, all strong and perfectly formed and she would have lived a long life, dying warm in her bed surrounded by her children and her grandchildren and knowing nothing of the life she could have lived and died before her time.

But what did that matter now? It was not how things had happened and Jaime was what he was more because of his Father and his uncles, if his Mother had named another little boy Jaime then that boy would not be him. And he would not have Cersei and he would not have Tyrion, this was his life and it was the one that he wanted.

The Queen said nothing more as they made there way through the corridors of Maegor's, the storm outside having fully arrived now and pounding the old walls with a downpour of rain.

They soon arrived at the nursery where Prince Viserys was terrorizing a wooden village with a cloth dragon, using it to knock down buildings and shoving wooden sheep into it's mouth, all this chaos happening under the watchful eye of Lewyn Martell of Dorne, a small smile on his face.

Viserys looked up from his play when he heard the door opened and his little violet eyes widen and a wide smile crossed his face. "Mama!" He cried, jumping to his feet and throwing his dragon to the side before running over to his Mother and throwing his arms around her legs before he looked up at her face. "Mama! I missed you, it's been forever and ever and ever!"

"My love, it has only been a few days at the very most." The Queen spoke gently as she stroked her son's hair that to Jaime's eyes looked very much like his Mother's. The Queen had been apart from her son for a time, The King choosing to kept her confined to her quarters so he could more easily visit her and thus left the care of their son to the septa.

Prince Viserys choose to ignore his Mother's words and instead tugged at her skirts so he could lead her over to where he had been playing and set about setting up the wooden town again, picking up the cloth dragon and commanding his Mother to be the princess that was being held captive by the dragon before then commanding Jaime and Ser Lewyn to be the knights that had to save his Mother.

Jaime had to admit that he found himself enjoying the role that the prince had cast him in, it reminded him fondly of Tyrion when he had been younger and he had been the only playmate that his poor little brother had, shut away from the world as he had been and Jaime had been the only one to be kind to him locked away in the Rock.

Thrice did they have to save the Queen before the Prince was satisfied and he yawned and the Queen picked him up so he might rest against her, as the Prince fell into a slumber to the door to the nursery opened and Ser Jonothor Darry walked into the room, his face set into a firm scowl and Jaime had to wonder if it had truly been chiseled out of stone as he had never seen the man's face so much as twitch.

"Pardon the intrusion Your Grace, if you please." The knight spoke to Queen Rhaella before turning his attention to Jaime. "Ser Jaime, I have been sent to relieve you. The King has summoned a meeting of the small council and he wishes for you to guard him for the duration of it. The Queen and the Prince shall be safe enough with myself and Ser Lewyn."

Jaime nodded and got to his feet and bowed his head to the Queen before walking out of the nursery and making his way towards the small council chamber, the servant at the door of the chamber bowed his head and pulled the door open for him and the herald on the inside of the chamber announced him as he strode over to stand to the left of the chair at the head of the table.

The entirety of the Small Council had been gathered, Pycelle was nervously stroking his great white beard with one hand while the other was twisting around the great chain around his neck, Qarlton Chelsted the Master of Coin who was ever so quick to stroke the King's ego and stay in his good graces looked conflicted about what ever the meeting was about.

Jaime had always found the Master of Laws to be a quiet man, Symond Staunton said little and seemed to do little else. The King's justice ruled in the capital, the king decided what crime to take an eye for, a hand for and what to take a life for and the Master of Laws simply seemed to be grateful for his life.

The Master of Ships was Lucerys Velaryon, with his silver hair, pale skin and purple eyes he looked like a Targaryen and Jaime knew that the man had hoped that one of his own daughters might have been a bride for Prince Rhaegar but they kept getting passed over, apparently they weren't Valyrian enough anymore and Jaime had caught him shooting dirty glares at Cersei when he thought no one was looking.

The young Hand of the King looked troubled as well, in truth Jaime was surprised to see that Jon Connington was hear as it was mainly the efforts of Prince Rhaegar that had got him named to the office that he now held and Jaime thought that what ever madness that Rhaegar was attempting that he would be right along side it, considering the man was in love with the Prince after all.

Varys was simpering something from where he sat at the King's right, his tone so low and soft that Jaime could scarcely make out a single word but while the Eunuch's tone might have been sweet, the words most not have been as Jaime could see the rage on Aerys face as he stood next to him.

Jaime glanced at Ser Barristan, hoping that he might know anything and he would be able to tell something from his face but the old knight was starring straight ahead and would not look at him.

The sound of the King slamming his hand down on the great table that stretched the length of the chamber drew Jaime's attention back to him. "Traitors!" The King shrieked as he glanced from left to right, his silver hair shaking from side to side as the King shook from the rage that he felt. "I will see them dead, all of them! I will burn all of them to ashes and when I'm done with that I will burn all of their castles to ashes as well."

"Of course your Grace, such can be the only response to such an action." Varys tutted, shaking his head. "It is a sad state of affairs when treason is so naked, so blatant. But we must take some heart, when villains are in our midst we also have fast friends and loyal servants who will come to our aid when we truly needed them."

"Yes. Yes, Varys you are right. Pycelle! Send a raven, Lord Tywin Lannister and Lord Mace Tyrell are to come to King's Landing at once with all their strength. Well? Do it now you old fool!" The King shirked and with a speed that did not seem possible for such an old man, Pycelle fled from the chamber without looking back.

So, it had happened then. In truth, Jaime imagined that it was always going to come. There was only so much insanity that the kingdoms would be able to suffer through. Had it been the Stormlands? Their young lord was rotting in the black cells underneath the Red Keep after all, perhaps it had been the North? Robert Baratheon and Ned Stark had been fostered together after all, perhaps the new heir to Winterfell had convinced his Father to go to war for that?

Maybe in truth it was Dorne, the Dornish were a passionate and fiery people and perhaps the insult to their dear Elia had been to much for them to bear and by now the spears were marching up through the Red Mountains? In the end, Jaime supposed that it didn't matter. He was sworn to protect the King, and that meant whoever had rebelled was his enemy.

But he was glad that it wasn't his Father, he wasn't sure he would be able to face Lord Tywin in battle if it came to it and if their Father had been the one to rebel then Jaime had to imagine that neither he nor Cersei would be alive for very much longer.

"Summon the Court and the order of the Pyromancers and bring up Baratheon from the Black Cells, and his fellow traitors as well. And someone go and get the boy!" The King commanded as he stood from his chair and swooped out of the chamber and Barristan and Jaime followed after him, as silent as spirits as they followed the King through the halls until they arrived at the throne room.

Jaime and Barristan took their places on the dais at either side of the Iron Throne as the King sat upon it, the Pyromancers were the next to enter and they began to build a pyre and Jaime had to wonder how many more times he would have to see this? How many more times would he watch someone be burned until the screams didn't matter anymore? How many more times before the smell of burning flesh did not even reach his nose.

As the pyre grew, the great doors of the throne room were thrown open and the rest of the court began to flood into the chamber, lords and ladies who were all resigned to what they were about to see. The Queen took her place in the gallery, holding on to her young son's hand with all the strength that she had in herself.

Cersei followed behind her, dressed in green and gold Jaime was always surprised that she could only grew more beautiful with every single day that passed. She took her place next to the Queen in the gallery and Jaime stared at her for a long moment, gathering what strength he could before turning his attention back to what was going to happen.

And his other sworn brothers came in last, both taking their places at the bottom steps of the dais with their hands resting on the hilts of their swords.

The pyre was finished and the Court was settled when the doors to the throne room opened once again and the younger Baratheon brother walked in, the man had come as soon as the King had commanded it like a dutiful second son but the day he had arrived the King had him imprisoned as well. He had wanted to put him in the Black Cells along with his brother but the Hand had managed to convince him to put him in a tower cell instead.

"Ah, young Stannis. It is Stannis, isn't it?" The King spoke, softly and sweetly but everyone in the throne room could hear the venom underneath the thin disguise of the courtesy. "I do hope you will forgive me for perhaps the harsh way in which you were treated upon your arrive, but treachery abounds and it runs in the blood."

To give the man his credit, he did not falter. His face was a mask of stone and when he spoke his words were even, any fear that he might have felt in that moment was carefully hidden. "I am a humble and loyal servant of your Grace, as is our entire family. Robert's blood runs thick with passion and with foolishness in equal measure and he is very fond of the Stark girl, but I assure his grace that he is no traitor."

"Is that so? Do you mean to tell me that what I saw and heard did not happen?" The King spoke again and while his voice was low and softness, any sweetness, was now gone. "Much of the court was present at the time, when your brute of a brother came riding up to my gates, atop a warhorse fully armored and armed and calling for my son and heir to come out and die, in those words. Many will attest to it and when guards were sent out to apprehend him, many died, your noble brother killed five himself."

Jaime himself had been there that day and he could not deny the truth of it, for such a big man he could move and one hit from that warhammer of his would be enough to put anyone down and when Jaime had crossed blades with him, he had nearly died twice and most likely would have died if not for Ser Barristan and Prince Lewyn.

"If it please your Grace, I did not call him noble. My brother is a brute and a fool and in the message that you sent you gave mention of the death my brother had brought with him. That can not be so easily forgiven and I am aware of that, men who only did their duty died because of my brother and there must be justice for them." For half a moment, Stannis Baratheon's features softened if only an inch and if only for a moment. "Your Grace, there must be a punishment but I would beg for mercy."

The King was silent as he stared down at Stannis from where he sat on the Iron Throne. "You were part of Lady Lyanna Stark's honor guard, were you not? Alongside Eddard Stark? It might interest you to know that I summoned Eddard Stark, along with his Father and Jon Arryn to come to King's Landing so they might submit to questioning. They have not come."

"In fact, according to my Master of Whispers, the Northern lords are marching their armies towards the city of White Harbor, no doubt to launch some attack from the sea." As the King spoke, Jaime wondered if the King was aware that the Northern lords didn't have any power at sea and hadn't for centuries. "Jon Arryn has not bestirred himself from his seat, but he has sent ravens across the Vale and his bannermen are moving. I did not command him to do so, you traveled with Eddard Stark, did you know of this?"

Stannis Baratheon shook his head. "No, your Grace I did not but the treachery is blatant. The Stormlands stand ready to defend your Grace at a moment's notice."

The King narrowed his eyes at Stannis and tightened his grip on one of the armrests of the throne and Jaime wondered if it was likely that the King would need to be carried to Pycelle before this was over. Then his grip loosened and a smile spread across his face. "Perhaps, you are right. I was young once, and passionate and in love. There must be a punishment but it does not have to be without mercy. Come." The King snapped his fingers and two servants rushed up and placed a high back, padded chair on the dais next to the throne. "Sit by me."

Stannis Baratheon had the good sense to look for a trap but in the end it was not as though he was able to refuse and so he began to stride across the length of the throne room down to the dais, climbing the steps and taking the seat that the King had provided. "Thank you, your Grace. You honor me."

"Such a polite young man, are you certain that you're Robert's brother?" The King spoke and then shook his head. "Ah, no matter. There will be time for all of that latter, justice can not wait. Bring in the first prisoner." The doors of the throne room opened once again and one of the men who had followed Robert Baratheon into the grave was marched into the throne room by two guards.

In truth, when Baratheon had come riding up to the gates he had not paid much attention to his companions and he had been to busy fighting against them trying to stop them from getting into the keep, he did not see their devices so he did not know to which houses they belong but back then as now it didn't matter, they would all die the same.

The man was gaunt and pale from the black cells and the herald named him and his crimes and the man cried out for mercy but the King had none for him, he called on Ser Lewyn to strike of his head and the knight did as he was bid and the guardsman who brought in the man carried his body out. And that was how it went for all of them.

They were brought in, asked for mercy, were given none and then carried back out. The pyre loomed over all and as the day stretched on Lewyn's blade grew bloodier and Jaime wondered what his sworn brother was thinking, did he think that when he became a member of the Kingsguard that one day he would become a butcher?

Soon, all the men that Robert had brought with him were dead and at Lewyn's feet was a large puddle of dried blood, Stannis Baratheon was pale but that was all that he was. The doors to the throne room opened once last time and Robert Baratheon was brought in and at the sight of his brother, Stannis stood from his seat.

The other men had been pale and thin, but Robert was worse. His shirt was gone and his chest was covered with bruises and cuts, the bruises were black with a sickly yellow ting to them and the cuts were purple around the edges, bloody craters were where his nipples should have been, his face was bruised heavily and his right eye was swollen shut but his other eye was open and when he saw his brother his mouth opened and a river of blood flowed out from the red crater that had been made.

"Ah, yes I am afraid that the chief gaelor can sometimes get quite ahead of him." The King mused as he looked down at the ruin of a man that had been made at his orders, his head tilted to the side as though he was looking a flank of meat that had been slightly burnt before he turned that same gaze on to Stannis. "Are you quite certain that you would like me to show him mercy, look at him, he's hardly much of anything any more. In fact, I am afraid he's not really a man anymore either. Even if the Stark girl was here, he would not be able to fulfill his duties."

Stannis Baratheon turned paler but he swallowed and his voice was cold stone when he spoke. "Your Grace, if I understand your meaning...surely this is punishment enough? He will have no children now and he has suffered much, please your Grace. I beg of you, mercy."

The King hummed, glancing between both Baratheon brothers even as Robert tried to get to his feet but all one of the guards had to do was push on his shoulder and he fell back down. "Hm, perhaps. But what would stop him from coming after me and mine? I've taken much from him, I doubt your brother is a forgiving sort." The King clapped his hands together. "I have an idea! Young Stannis! I will give your brother mercy, if you agree to take his punishment instead!"

Robert roared again which caused more blood to flow from his mouth as he got to his feet and this time both guards had to try to keep him down and Stannis took a step back and glanced between his brother and the pyre, his eyes sliding shut and his mouth flattening into a determined line. "Your Grace, if my brother is shown mercy then I will submit to any punishment that you deem necessary."

The King smiled, slow and cruel before he nodded and turned his attention. "Oh, Ser Lewyn. Mercy for Lord Baratheon." The Dornish man in white nodded, walked over to where Robert was being held down, drew his sword and brought it down on to his neck. It did not sever as the Lord Paramount of the Stormlands neck was too thick and the skin only broke and Lewyn had to strike again and again and again.

It was not a clean end nor a quick one, perhaps the blade had been dulled from the amount of heads it had severed but in the end Robert's head did not come completely clean away, a little skin and muscle kept it attached to the neck. Lewyn stood back, dropping the sword on the flood and his own eyes were dull.

"You said you'd be merciful." Stannis spoke silently as he stared at his brother's corpse and Jaime saw that he was shaking.

"Oh, but I was. I've been very merciful, so many of these men who came before me asked for mercy and I granted it to all of them." The King smiled as the younger Baratheon looked up at him with confusion and outrage burning in his eyes. "The punishment for treason, is burning. A quick and clean sword to the neck is quite merciful."

"Now, it's your turn." The guardsmen who had been holding down Robert now came for Stannis but the young man reeled back, glaring at them with such hate and scorn that they stopped in their stride.

"You will not touch me." Stannis spoke as stepped down from the dais and the King was about to roar at the guards to seize him but he did not need to as Stannis walked over to the pyre and stood in front of it, waiting to be bound to it. "Get this over with."

The King indulged him, the pyromancers bound him hand and foot to the pyre and stoked the flames and soon the pyre was burning and the smell of roasting flesh filled the air once again.

But Stannis Baratheon never screamed, he merely kept his blue eyes locked on to the King until the flames burnt them to ashes.

And outside, the storm raged.

End of Chapter Seventy-Two.

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WELP.

Okay, so a few notes.

One, Jaime's character. Jaime here has a much harsher opinion of Rhaegar than he does in canon, please keep in mind that in canon Jaime doesn't know Elia that well and we don't really know what he thought of her but we know that he does love Cersei and considering they are mutually obsessed with one another...

Yeah, hurting and shaming Cersei is not good if you want Jaime to like you.

Stannis and Robert, this is going to upset a lot of people but this was always the way it was going to go. Now, some might argue that Stannis going to KL is out of character but consider what he says in ACOK. Choosing between Aerys and Robert was hard for him as he had sworn to be loyal to the King and Robert had already gone.

His brother was a captive and his King had commanded him, Jon Arryn wrote a letter to him to stay where he was but whose Jon to him? Certainly not a king and Stannis doesn't know anything about the Rebellion.

So...yeah.

Poor Renly

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Discordant Symphony