(Disclaimer: I do not own A Song of Ice and Fire nor its characters. Those all belong to George R. R. Martin, aside from my OC.)
(Goldroad, the Westerlands)
Cersei sat in her wheelhouse, having been traveling along this accursed road for weeks on end with only her hateful aunt as company. At least when the bitch wasn't riding as she was currently doing.
There had been suggestions on stopping at Deep Den when they had passed by it, but the little monster had refused, not wanting to impose on the House Lord Badger had died in the burning with the rest of the sheep.
She sniffed in disgust at the fool's weakness, the Lyddens should be proud their Lord had died for the Lions' cause. Though tired of sleeping in the wheelhouse, the foul beast didn't care a bit for her discomfort, wanting to press on as fast as possible.
If her father had still been alive, they wouldn't have dared deny her.
At least Uncle Kevan had the sense to suggest stopping for a bit to recuperate from traveling for so long. Her imbecile of a brother had only acquiesced when the old man brought it up.
Never mind the fact that she was the one who suggested it in the first place.
Riders had been sent ahead, ensuring everything was up to standard and the area was safe. No one wanted to stay in a pig squalor or a town filled with bandits.
She scoffed at the idea that someone would dare attack a Lannister.
"My Lady, we are approaching the inn." A handmaiden said, not raising her head to meet Cersei's eyes.
"About time, what took those buffoons so long."
The handmaiden wisely remained silent, whilst it was well known that Cersei had little true power in House Lannister, especially after the near extinction of the branch lines, she was still a noble lady of a Great House. Hardly something any commoner or servant could compare with.
Not noticing or caring for the girl's trepidation, Cersei exited the wheelhouse with all the grace that could be mustered.
Immediately several Lannister guardsmen surrounded her as they made their way to the inn. Her handmaiden quietly trailed behind her as no one dared to speak a word to her for fear of arousing her anger. As it should be.
They approached the inn soon enough.
To say Cersei was incensed would be putting it mildly, the inn that they would be staying in could barely be considered habitable. What kind of lowborn scum did they think she was to have her stay in this repulsive building.
Her wretched brother sent her a victorious smirk as she passed him, clearly taking pleasure in her reaction. She wanted to strangle the beast right then and there.
Though the warning look her Aunt sent her kept her from doing so.
Her reaction was, "Get over yourself niece, it isn't that bad." Uncle Gerion spoke up.
"YOU EXPECT TO STAY IN THAT!" She screeched for all to hear.
"Come on dear sister, it's not that bad," Tyrion said.
Before she could rush to strangle the little shit, her Aunt Genna swiftly moved and grabbed her arms, dragging her as she made her way to the Inn.
"You wanted a break from the Wheelhouse, this is it," Genna spoke calmly not in the slightest bothered by the deranged look in her niece's eye.
Cersei could only follow her Aunt, attempting to look dignified as Genna dragged her.
Moments later they were inside the inn, which looked somewhat clean. The innkeeper and what she assumed was his family bowed their heads toward the Lannister family as soon as they entered the building.
"Grim Inn is yours My Lord." The innspeaker said to Tyrion.
"A pleasure to be here." Tyrion spoke good-naturedly to the nervous man.
"Thank you, my Lord, all rooms have been prepared as specified and the food is ready to be sent to your rooms whenever you want."
"Good, though I'll be coming down here in a short while."
"As you wish my Lord."
Nodding towards the innkeepers, Tyrion followed one of the maids who guided him to his room.
The same happened with the rest of the family, as a maid stood nervously before Cersei, ready to guide her when she wanted.
"M… Myy… My Lady." the maid stuttered as Cersei eyed her with irritation, earning a scoff from the annoyed lioness.
Still, she chose to follow the stupid girl, if only so she could simmer her anger in peace.
"How long has this Inn been around." Her Aunt asked, no doubt still hovering over her to make sure she didn't take out her anger on the girl.
"About eleven moons My Lady." seeming more at ease with the older Lannister.
"So new?"
"It was the war my Lady, Pa didn't know if it was safe to open again after the war."
"I'm sure your family will do well in the coming years then," Genna assured the girl.
A snort escaped Cersei as she watched the girl's eyes light up at her Aunt's words., Though she remained silent after her Aunt sent her a stern look.
"Pa sure hopes so, he says it was only thanks to the King that he opened up the inn." The girl said excitedly.
"King?" that caught Cersei's interest. "What does the King have to do with this shack."
Averting her eyes from Cersei, the girl spoke more softly, "The Banners have been getting rid of any bandits they can find."
"With fewer bandits to worry about, more travelers would stop at the inn on their way to wherever they're going." Genna reasoned, getting a nod from the girl as they finally reached their rooms.
"Pa was worried they'd come and rob the Inn like they did with the Jeffersons." The maid explained. "The King's men made short work of those bad men real quick."
"Thank you, you may leave now." Throwing a silver coin towards the maid, ushering Cersei into her room for now.
Delighted, the girl bowed her head to the two Lannister women deeply before rushing back to her family. Cersei's and Genna's handmaidens waited just outside the door in case they were needed.
Seating themselves on what would be her bed for the night, Cersei glared at her aunt, who was staring at her with disappointment.
"Your mother would weep at what's become of you," Genna said.
"That beast killed my mother." Cersei retorted heatedly.
"He is your brother, you will address him as such."
"My only brother burned alongside father." plunging the room into silence before a loud slap could be heard.
"ENOUGH!." The fury in Genna's voice was audible to all nearby.
Holding her pained cheek, Cersei merely glared at her aunt.
"You will be wed to a loyal lord as soon as we return from the tournament."
"No…"
"You will do your duty to House Lannister. There is no discussing this."
"You can't do this to me. I'm a Lioness." Cersei tried to argue.
"A lioness who has consistently undermined her pride. At least this way you would finally contribute to House Lannister instead of ruining it." Genna shook her head at her foolish niece.
"Father would not have stood for this."
"Don't be ridiculous niece, we both know he would have done so if properly incentivized."
"This… This…"
Not wanting to hear any more of this, Genna stood up and made her way out of the room, "We tried to keep the peace, dear Niece, you just refused to heed it." were her last words before she left.
Moments later, a loud screech of anger and frustration could be heard coming from Cersei's room before all went silent.
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