Chapter 11
I was pretty confident Mama was taking us to meet the Queen. Details on her were sparse in my past life but Mama did state that she was a friend of Queen Rhaella in the throne room.
If details of Mama Jo were sparse, I knew even less of Rhaella Targaryen.
Rhaella Targaryen, mother of Rhaegar, Viserys, and Daenerys.
Oh fuck.
Did I just butterfly Viserys and Daenerys out of existence?
No, no, that wouldn't make any sense right? There was no guarantee they would have been born either way since my very insertion into the world may have invalidated potential future events anyway.
Yup. That's my story and I was sticking with it.
What else did I know about Rhaella Targaryen?
Her marriage to Aerys was a loveless one and done with great reluctance if I remember correctly. Didn't she love some lowly knight who ended up joining a knightly order after her marriage?
Also, didn't she suffer greatly through multiple stillbirths and miscarriages?
Fuck. I wish I knew what year Viserys was born. Was the child in her belly currently Viserys?
We were slowing down so I brought my attention back to the present.
Oh. That was Maegor's Holdfast. A squat square thing ringed by a moat with barbed iron spikes and some high rather walls.
A castle within a castle was quite the apt description. Simpler in aesthetic and fit more for function. If foes breached this deeply, then this place was truly the final line of defense.
Some dozen feet away, we were approaching a draw bridge where half a dozen guards stood watch but more importantly, a single man in clean white armor and cloak stood alongside them.
As we got closer, I could see it was the Dornishman.
"Ser Lewyn," my mother greeted the Kingsguard.
"Lady Joanna," the man returned with a smile.
"A visit was arranged for my children and me to visit Her Grace." Mother stated.
"A welcome visit." He replied. "The Queen's latest pregnancy has been most trying. Her Grace will be glad to see her friend after so long."
"I hope so but speaking of friends, Ser Lewyn, how is your sister? I have missed her letters most dearly."
Lewyn's sister? Would that be Oberyn and Elia's mom, the current ruler of Dorne?
Lewyn's smile widened at the mention of his family. "From her letters, she is afflicted with the usual tolls of motherhood. Both Doran and Oberyn have proven to be tempered children easing her burdens but the health of little Elia constantly weighs upon her head."
"Little Elia," my mother began, after taking a moment to seemingly gather her thoughts. "Not so little I think. A maiden flowered at this time no?"
"Oh aye, a maiden true. A maiden on the search for a husband," he said with a glimmer in his eyes and I could see them flick momentarily to Jaime. "My sister writes she will soon depart to tour for suitable suitors for her sole daughter. She plans to visit Oldtown before continuing on to Casterly Rock."
Mama Jo's voice had an upbeat twinge to it as she replied. "I will have to prepare for her arrival then. Oh, it shall be so good to see Sarella once more."
JaimeXElia?
I mean I've shipped it before.
"Ser Lewyn," I greeted with a curtsy.
"Ah, you must be Cersei Lannister. Only your daughter could rival your beauty, Joanna," he said with a charming smile.
I giggled while Mama smiled.
"A pleasure to meet you. Ser Lewyn. I wished to know how old Elia is?"
"Oh? My niece is currently ten and five." He answered
Hm.
Fifteen is quite a large gap from the six Jaime was currently. Jaime would have to wait until he was at least twelve or thirteen so another six or seven years before he could even marry her.
Hell, she would be twenty-one or twenty-two.
Though thinking about it, the idea wasn't exactly terrible. Childbearing was safest in the twenties if I recall and canonically, Elia did have childbearing issues so this might actually be a blessing in disguise.
Wait, why was I even being a fuddy-duddy about this? If Jaime liked her and I approved, it was good enough for me.
SS JaimeXElia is a go! Full steam ahead!
"Well, I can't wait to meet her!" I say exuberantly. Elia's canon fate was horrific which could easily be averted if Elia just married Jaime. Also, my twin deserved a girl he could wholeheartedly devote himself to. "Here," I say while pulling Jaime front and center to give Lewyn a look at his potential good nephew. "This is my twin brother, Jaime."
My brother flushed at his sudden entrance into the conversation.
"Well met, young Jaime. You've got a warrior's frame to you." Lewyn complimented and I could see Jaime preen at the words of the Kingsguard.
"Well, he otta! Jaime has promised me he'll be the best swordsman in the Seven Kingdoms," I started before saying slyly. "Perhaps you can show him a thing or two Ser Lewyn."
"Cersei!" he looked embarrassed as he loudly whispered at me but Lewyn just barked in laughter.
Now is the time for networking dear brother! We can get away with so much more when we can still play the innocent child card.
Mwahaha!
"Best swordsman in the Seven Kingdoms eh? Have you already started your training, Jaime?" He asked.
"I have, Ser Lewyn," Jaime wasn't embarrassed enough to not answer the question seriously. "My Uncle Tygett was teaching me at Casterly Rock."
"Tygett Lannister. A fearsome man with a sword in hand. I see." Lewyn's eye shift to assessing him. I could see them flick to Joanna but Mama just had a soft smile on her face. "With permission, why don't you come to the White Sword Tower tomorrow morning? I can introduce you to my brothers and see where you're at."
Jaime's eyes lit up at that. "I'll be there Ser Lewyn. The crack of dawn you'll see me there. I swear it!"
"Good lad. I shall see you tomorrow then." He said to Jaime approvingly before turning his attention back to Mama Jo. "Lest she'll have my hide, I shan't keep you from the Queen any longer, Lady Joanna."
"It was a pleasure speaking to you, do send my dearest regards to Sarella in your letters if you will," Mama replied.
"I shall. Have a fine day." He finished.
With that, we were allowed passage through the draw bridge.
I could see Jaime still clearly riding high on his emotions.
"That was a kind thing you did for your brother, Cersei," Mama said.
That snapped Jaime out of his thoughts. "Thanks, Cersei. I can't believe I get to train with the Kingsguard."
"No need. You wanted to be the best so it's only fair you ask to be trained by some of the best," I deferred. Accepting compliments was never one I was comfortable with.
"I still can't believe you just asked him though, Cersei." He said. "You were braver than me."
He mumbled that last bit.
No sad Jaime.
"Jaime," I called out, turning his attention to me. "Without trying, one will not know; only through trying will one understand."
The words flowed out before I even thought about what I was going to say.
The fuck?
Those weren't my words.
Both Jaime and Mama were looking at me weirdly.
"It means there's no harm in trying, Jaime. You miss one hundred percent of the shots you don't take and well… The worst that can happen is they say no." I say hastily with a shrug.
Those were my words.
Jaime's eyes lit up in understanding.
"Sage advice, Jaime. Do take it to heart. Though Cersei, where did you hear such wisdom?" Mama asked.
"The servants." I immediately tossed out. "I overheard some talking but I think they were talking about a girl."
Mama only hid a smile at that.
"Well, it was applicable here all the same."
Without trying, one will not know; only through trying will one understand.
I mulled over the words. It certainly didn't ring any bells in my thoughts, none.
So where the fuck did it come from?
It had a bit of an Eastern feel to it but even after translating it to Chinese in my head, nothing stood out.
It certainly wasn't from this life and it wasn't from my past modern life…
Then that left my previous reincarnations.
Huh.
That's kinda trippy but it made sense I guess. We saw nearly none of that aspect in the shows but I remember the books had way more emphasis on the whole reincarnation of past life thing.
I wonder if there was more bleedthrough that I hadn't noticed.
We continued until we arrived at a little garden area where a table and seats had been laid out while surrounded by servants garbed in the Targaryen livery.
The important thing was a person who slowly stood at our approach.
A woman of silver hair and bright purple eyes.
Rhaella Targaryen.
Really, it was unfair how pretty Targaryen women were. There was a bit of an ethereal quality to them but I'm pretty sure it was the silver hair.
It just screamed fantasy.
The surprising bit was she seemed healthy enough which also made me realize my mental image of her was a battered and abused woman which was kinda messed up in hindsight.
I couldn't detect any sign of heavy make-up for covering up scars and bruises as far as I could see which meant I had to assume Aerys only started truly abusing his wife after he went mad and his aphrodisiac of choice was people people being burned alive.
Whoops.
Sorry, Aerys.
But also not really.
I was going to have to resolve myself to putting quite a few deserving people into the fucking ground as the Avatar. This was Westeros after all and I was no pacifistic airbender.
"Joanna," Queen Rhaella greeted my mother with a barely restrained smile.
"Rhaella," my mother said in turn before she took the Queen in her embrace.
The Queen had a bit of a baby bump to her but I had no idea how far along she was.
"It has been much too long Joanna," Rhaella told my mother.
"I am sorry for my seldom visits, Rhaella. My duties to my husband and house take up much of my time." Mama said.
"It is of little matter." Rhaella dismisses. "You are here now, are you not? And I am well aware of the necessity of wifely duties," I wouldn't have been surprised if there was bitterness in her voice but I didn't know Rhaella well enough to hear it. "Though no doubt these twins of yours no doubt keep you just as busy."
The Queen turned and acknowledged us.
"An honor to meet you, Your Grace," I curtsied.
"An honor, Your Grace," Jaime hastily echoed.
"Cersei and Jaime correct? Your mother has written to me about the two of you." She said welcomingly.
"All good things I hope?"
Rhaella let loose a soft laugh. "Many good things. Come, come. Sit. I've had the kitchens prepare us something."
She led us back to a little table with little snacks and drinks.
Oooooo.
I liked snacks and sweet juices.
"How many moons are you into your cycle, Rhaella?" I heard Mother ask while I was helping myself to some honey cake.
Westerosi stuff wasn't sweet enough for what my modern palette demanded but they didn't exactly have refined sugar here.
Which made things slightly healthier, absolutely, but I was an American who wanted his high fructose corn syrup!
"About six moons. Pycelle reports that the babe is healthy," Rhaella replied happily.
"I will keep the babe in my prayers," Joanna said.
"None more so than mine," Rhaella said sadly. "After Prince Daeron and Princess Shaena, I worried."
Should we be here for this?
Oh!
An apple cake! Don't mind if I do.
"Have you thought of any names?" Mama asked.
"I have a few in mind, yes. Aegon or Jaehaerys for boys and Daenerys for a girl."
Not Viserys? Well, shoot. Flap away butterflies!
"Strong names. With hope, our future prince or princess be as wise and legendary as their forefathers,"
"I do hope so. Of course, the final decision rests upon His Grace," I watched Queen Rhaella's expression flick through a myriad of different ones before she continued quickly. "Enough of that, have you heard from Sarella?"
"I have not received any letters but they may have been delivered to Casterly Rock. Though I had the fortune of speaking to Ser Lewyn just before."
"She plans to visit King's Landing over the next year or so."
And there they go, off in small talk.
I kinda felt like Jaime and I were third-wheeling on this. No doubt there were more serious matters they wanted to talk about considering how they've been dancing around the whole Aerys thing.
A quick side glance showed me Jaime was in exactly the same situation as I was. Well, he was at least more reserved than I was with eating.
I was washing down my third sweet cake with another sweet juice of some kind and reaching out for a fourth.
Mother's conversation with Rhaella didn't even break stride but I could see her eyes momentarily dart over to my figure with an intensity, an unspoken demand to stop reaching me.
Being the dutiful, well-bred, and mannered child of highborn nobility, I pretended not to see her and wrapped my grubby hands around yet another cake.
From the corner of my eye, Rhaella hid her smile behind her goblet before replying to one of my mother's questions.
It would be too gauche for Mama Jo to reprimand me in public but that would do nothing to stop the tongue-lashing I was no doubt in for later but weighing the lashing against the sweetness on my tongue, I decided it was a fair trade.
Unfortunately, my plans didn't account for Jaime. It might have been gauche for a parent to reprimand a child in this situation, but another child doing so? Well, that was just precociousness.
So it was with surprise when I went to reach for another tasty snack that Jaime stopped me.
"That's enough, Cersei," Jaime whispered to me though I knew that both the grown-ups could hear us.
"But they're tasty," I whined truthfully.
"I know," Jaime said in agreement. "But you're going to get fat."
I squawked in outrage at his blunt words.
"Excuse me?" I shot back with a raised brow.
I could hear both Mama Jo and Rhaella laughing openly in the background now.
"You'll get pudgy," He reiterated.
As if changing the word reduced the insult behind them.
"Brother of mine, it's rude to call girls fat."
"Then you should stop eating." He retorted firmly.
I don't get fat! It's the washerwoman shrinking my dresses! And bending burns a lot of calories so it all balances out!
"Fineee," and with great reluctance, I put down my sweet roll. It wasn't a joke when science said things tasted sweeter as a child.
I wanted to appreciate all my little sweet-tasting taste buds while I still could.
"Your brother speaks true, Cersei." Whoops. Since Jaime was the one who mentioned it, Mama could freely step into the conversation. "You've had enough for the day. Or perhaps the rest of this moon considering how you indulged."
"Oh Joanna, she's a child. And look how skinny she is. Another would surely not hurt her." The Queen came to my defence.
Wow, I am now a Targaryen loyalist! Long live House Targaryen! A thousand praises to Kind Queen Rhaella!
Mama visibly sighed. "Give my daughter a hand, and she'll go for the entire arm. Best not do so, Rhaella."
Before she could continue, our soiree was interrupted as another person with silver hair approached our little table.
It sure wasn't the King and the Queen was right next to me so by my brilliant ROB given powers of deduction, it left Prince Rhaegar. First of his name, of the house Targaryen.
The man who would destroy his own house and plunge Westeros into civil war all for the sake of what exactly?
Prophecy?
It was a thought hidden from all but my head, but I did not exactly have a high opinion of the man approaching us.
I reassessed my opinion as he got closer. Perhaps I should have tempered my expectations a bit because the person approaching us was no man at all, but a boy yet nearing it with all the gangliness of body expected of the age.
Recalling what little I remembered from his Wiki page, I remembered he was of rather melancholic temperament.
He also sang sad songs that could drive maidens to tears.
Rhaegar looked to be about thirteen-ish at this point.
Oh ROB, was he going through some teenage Chuuni phase?
He was as beautiful as any other Targaryen, that I could admit easily. I didn't have hormones going yet but I could appreciate the aesthetic beauty that was Rhaegar.
Rhaegar Targaryen was totally catnip to women even disregarding his high noble standing. That aura of melancholy, the singing, the gentle features.
Unfortunately for him though, I too, was once a thirteen-year-old boy who felt sad at the world all while listening to sad music.
Sure didn't get me any dates but I wasn't rich and handsome.
Still, it was immunity all the same!
Jaime and I followed Mama Jo's lead as she rose from her chair to greet the Prince.
"Mother," Rhaegar said in greeting to Rhaella. "Lady Joanna,"
"My Prince," my mother returned with a curtsy.
Rhaegar gave my mother a complicated expression and I turned my gaze to the Kingsguard behind him.
A dusky-looking man was all I could see but I was pretty confident this was Arthur Dayne.
Unfortunately, his helmet covered up too much of his features for me to get any kind of read on him but from my memories, I could vaguely remember he was a close friend of Rhaegar's.
There was a distorted feeling of Earth from him though which was bothering me.
No…
It was from his sword.
Dawn.
Which was made of meteoric iron.
Fascinating.
"Have you finished your training for today, Rhaegar?" Rhaella asked gently.
"Yes, mother. I am done for the day. I had sought to visit you but it appears you are already with guests." The prince seemed to steel himself before he turned to speak to Mama. "Lady Joanna, I must apologize for my father's behavior. It was unbecoming of him."
Something dark crossed Mama Jo's eyes and in a flash, Mama Jo was gone, and in turn, stood Joanna Lannister, wife of Tywin Lannister and Lady of the Rock.
"It is nothing you must apologize for, my Prince," Joanna said without a trace of emotion. "The King does as he wills."
Rhaegar winced at that.
Rhaella only looked saddened but she said nothing.
Mama was mayhaps a bit short with him perhaps but it seemed King Aerys had no true allies at this table.
Aerys, why don't you go and do us all a favor and just die already?
Please, and thank you.
Manners maketh woman after all.
"Regardless, my father is still incapacitated so only I can say his words for him." Rhaegar insisted.
"Yet it is not from your lips I wish to hear these words from, Your Grace." Mother softly retorted.
Damn, Joanna ain't letting up.
Calm down girl, don't be killing him before Bobby B does.
"Rhaegar," Rhaella cut in. "It was a great dishonor Aerys laid upon Joanna and her children. It is not something which can be mended so readily."
"I… I apologize Lady Joanna. For mentioning it. How fares your time in King's Landing? It has been many seasons since you've last returned?"
Rhaegar seemed to have to social skills of a thirteen-year-old as well, which is about what I expected.
"It has been equally trying and pleasing at times."
The Prince looked like he was floundering.
"Rhaegar, would you not entertain Lady Joanna's children?" The Queen was tossing out a life ring it seemed.
"It would be my honor," Rhaegar said with perhaps a bit too much eagerness.
I stood up to introduce myself. "I am Cersei, my prince" I curtsied.
Jaime followed my lead and bowed. "Jaime, my prince."
"Cersei and Jaime. This is your first visit to King's Landing yes?" He said while starting to lead us away from the table.
I could also see the Queen dismissing all the servants with a wave of her hand as well so it looked like she and my mother could speak openly.
"It is," Jaime answered in place of me.
"What do you think so far?"
"We've seen little, Your Grace. Father has kept us confined since that day." I answered.
He twitched. "A shame. Well, Maegor's Holdfast is smaller, but it does have wonders of its own." He led us deeper into the castle.
It was a bit of an awkward silence as he walked us through the castle.
I hated awkward silence.
"The Queen Mother said you were training your Grace?" I said, breaking the silence.
Jaime perked up at the topic.
"I was, yes."
"Are you squired by chance?" I asked further. The mainline books had so little information on Rhaegar Targaryen and the Fire & Blood novels ended shortly after the Dance.
"No," He denied. "I have no knight master."
"Is it your Kingsguard who instructs you?" I turned to look at Arthur Dayne who followed behind us.
"When they have the time but Arthur has been teaching me much." He affirmed.
"You are Arthur Dayne, Sword of the Morning and wielder of Dawn, good ser?" I asked to confirm.
"I am, my lady," he replied, looming over my six-year-old frame.
"I am surprised you know the full title, Lady Cersei," Rhaegar spoke from beside me.
"There was a mention of Dawn in Archmaester Thurgood's Inventories which detailed all the Valyrian Steel Swords in Westeros and I asked Maester Creylen further about Dawn and House Dayne."
Of course, I wanted a Valyrian steel sword even if I couldn't wield it. There were roughly two-hundred and twenty-seven such swords which were known to exist in Westeros so I wanted to read about them.
The books only ever detailed a dozen or so but here, so many of them were owned by smaller houses which still baffled me that not a single one was willing to sell to Tywin when he asked, even when those houses were greatly impoverished.
In the end, though, I focused harder on the ones which had been considered lost.
There was a single Valyrian Steel sword which I had my eye on but I was currently too young to attempt to recover and potentially have reforged. Additionally, I had no clue if Tobho Mott was even on this side of the Narrow Sea.
"As Sword of the Morning, it implies you wield Dawn, Ser Arthur?"
Arthur nodded. "My family has deemed me worthy of bearing the ancient sword of our house."
"Would it be a bother if I asked to see it?" I asked eagerly. "Dawn is a sword which steps out of legend itself."
I wanted to touch the magic sword very much, but the minutes spent in its presence confirmed that it reacted to my bending senses. I could feel it gently making its presence known to me the same way the stones surrounding me did. It was much weaker but this was the first time I had ever sensed metal like so.
Arthur looked hesitant but Rhaegar didn't seem to mind the interruption so in one smooth motion, he unsheathed the sword before presenting it to us.
"Be mindful of its edge," he cautioned us and I could feel Jaime scooting closer.
It was a true greatsword, taller than even me. I ignored the hilt and handle, focusing on the blade itself.
It was gorgeous.
"Pale as milkglass and alive with inner light," I softly murmured while running my fingers along its length.
Eddard Stark's words were apt. I doubted it glowed because that would have definitely been mentioned but the metal just seemed to take in light and reflect it.
"It is truly one of a kind, Ser Arthur." I complimented.
"There is nothing else in all the lands," Arthur agreed, the barest hint of pride shining through his words.
I tapped my fingernail against the pale metal, I ignored the physical pinging sound and focused on what lit up in my inner eye.
The tiniest traces of meteoric iron within it which made me giddy with excitement.
If I could feel it, it meant it registered as bendable to my senses, and that meant it could be manipulated.
I cast my energy out into the sword, trying to bring it under my will like a stone about to be launched.
It resisted slightly but it fell sway as all stone did to earthbenders.
Well fuck. What do I do now?
What could I do?
As tempted as I was to start trying to flex the sword to prove I was metalbending, I didn't exactly want to ruin Dawn.
Ugh. Was this a pointless endeavor?
Well, it was progress at least.
Begrudgingly, I retreated from my senses.
"It is a thing of beauty," I said honestly. "One of a kind."
Jaime was still too awed to say anything.
"Is Dawn like Valyrian Steel? Does it need to be sharpened?" I inquired.
"It does not and I thank the Seven for it daily when I watch my brothers spend time honing their blades."
"Hm. Makes sense. Dawn has been in House Dayne's possession for thousands of years. I imagine it would have been honed to dust if sharpening was necessary."
"A wise observation," he agreed.
"Is it lighter than it seems like Valyrian Steel?" I asked further.
"Nay. Its weight is normal for a sword its size." He denied.
"Well, thank you for indulging my curiosities, Ser Arthur, Prince Rhaegar."
Jaime looked like he wanted to cry as Arthur sheathed Dawn once more.
Arthur only nodded but Rhaegar spoke up. "I was quite taken with the blade too the first time I witnessed it. You have an interest in swords, Lady Cersei?"
"I enjoy the spectacle of it, I cannot deny. Unfortunately, the training yard is not the place for us womanfolk so my talents lay elsewhere. It is a regrettable thing that not every woman can be a Visenya."
Rhaegar nodded in agreement at that. "Visenya was a woman unto herself. Were you aware it was because of her we have the Kingsguards?"
I chuckled. "I am. It is said she drew Dark Sister and laid a cut upon the Conqueror's cheek before declaring how she could cut him down in that very moment."
"Would you take up the sword if you could?" Rhaegar suddenly asked.
I had something better but he didn't know that. "I would not mind it. It is women who are most in need to defend themselves in this world. Again, it is not my place so I will have to rely on the swords of my husband and house."
"You mentioned a book earlier, do you read much, Lady Cersei?"
"I do when I have the time." It wasn't even a lie. Fiction wasn't much of a thing here but I did enjoy reading different things because this was Westeros after all. I trawled through wikis and discussions and stuff in a past life just to try and get more information about the world of Westeros, now that I was here? Of course, I was going to explore the setting further.
"Archmaester Thurgood's Inventories. What made you read it?" He asked curiously.
"Maester Creylen discussed House Lannister's lost blade, Brightroar, and when I asked about other swords, he passed the book to me."
"The Red Keep has a copy," Rhaegar said after a moment of thought. "A rather dry read if I recall."
I shrugged and blatantly plagiarized Tyrion's words for my next ones. "A mind needs books to keep its edge just as a sword requires a whetstone." I might have mangled the phrase a bit but I thought it got the point across. "Learning more can never hurt anyone."
"Perhaps there is too much. Many have whispered I am bookish to a fault. That my mother swallowed a book and candle during her pregnancy."
"Ignore the whispering of dull men and duller minds, Your Grace." Maester Creylen told me some lords can't even read which I honestly found ridiculous. "Is this why you picked up the sword?" I learned during the trip here that Rhaegar only recently picked up the sword. It was why our house's gift to him was a sword.
"It is but one reason. Another is because it is expected of me."
"Expectations." I saw commiseratingly. "A chain we all are bound with."
"Expectations and fate," He said rather unexpectedly.
Huh. I shouldn't be surprised. Rhaegar was big into things like prophecy and fate from what little I could recall of him.
"Fate?" I questioned.
"Do you believe in fate?"
"I do not," There was a damn good reason I was staying away from Maggy the Frog. "I do not like the idea that we are all bound to the whims of fate, that we humans have no true free will. The idea that we are slaved to such a thing is one I reject."
Maybe I was taking this all a bit too seriously but fuck prophecy. Precognition was a thing here, in vague visions and across lands so I knew it was real, as chagrined as the thought made me. I could only hope that whatever ROB inserted Bending and I into Westeros also dropped a large metaphorical boulder into the still waters of prophecy and destiny, disturbing and shattering it all.
I hoped I was some kind of Outside Context Problem but I didn't think I was that lucky.
Both the Prince and Jaime looked taken aback at the sudden and strong words.
"You deny fate?" He asked, as if bewildered.
"I deny it utterly." I declared. "For acknowledging it only gives it power over you."
"You feel strongly about this."
"I will forge mine own path forward, for good or ill. Wherever lies at the end of my journey will be the culmination of my own decisions, not some pre-ordained thing." More plagiarizing time. "A man chooses, a slave obeys."
"A… Most interesting viewpoint." Rhaegar looked like he was about to argue further but he chose against it. "I cannot say I agree, but your thoughts are your own, m'lady."
"As are yours, my prince," I tell him.
"Please, just call me Rhaegar. You've given me thoughts to ponder."
"Then just call me Cersei," I returned. "And a thoughtful prince is never an ill thing for the realm."
He only gave a wry smile at that. "How many name days have you seen, Cersei?"
"Six," I replied.
"Six…" He murmured, mulling over the word. "You are a most eloquent child."
…
Oops.
"Cersei has always been smart," Jaime says in agreement.
"I read a lot," I offer up weakly, unsure of what else to say.
"It shows." He said with a wry smile. "And it seems we've finally arrived. This is the Queen's Ballroom."
I let out a breath as Rhaegar dropped the topic and started describing the features of the ballroom.
Thankfully, the rest of the tour was simpler. He showed us several places before having us escorted back to Joanna.
Which meant my further explorations of metalbending could continue!
I just needed some metal.