Serena and Cersei laughed as they drank some wine and ate some fruits. Serena had just told the story of the time her and Sansa had "sheep shifted" Arya's bed in retaliation for pranking Sansa.
"You did not!"
"I did."
The pair were laughing hysterically at the comment. This was a different side of Cersei that anyone had ever seen. Typically the blonde was always serious about everything. The war,her children,her family,everything. Never had the Queen ever been seen even cracking a smile unless it was with her children. It was actually kind of nice to see this more laid back Cersei rather than the bitchy Queen people typically saw. No one ever saw her smile besides her own children.
Cersei picked up the pitcher and filled up her cup with wine and was stopped by Serena's hand covering the goblet. Ceresi cocked her head to the side.
"Please no more." She said giggling. "I don't have the same tolerance as you southerners."
Cersei smiled.
"What if I made it a royal command?"
The dark haired girl sat back in the chair letting her hand slip from the goblet opening and the wine flowed from the pitcher into the goblet. Serena didn't know how much more wine she could handle living down south. It would be divine intervention for her to not be completely drunk by supper time. Once the glass was full Cersei lifted her cup saying 'drink' and the pair took a drink. Serena was starting to struggle to hold the drink down and Cersei noticed chuckling.
"We will have to work on your wine tolerance." She said. "Go ahead. If you want water get a cup of water."
Serena thanked the Queen and got up to get some water. Cersei took the cup of wine not wanting any of the red liquid to go to waste. Serena found a new cup near the flagon of water and filled it with the clear non alcoholic beverage.
"How do you southerners drink so much? Don't you like remembering your days?"
Cersei let a slight giggle escape her lips as she took another sip of her wine.
"There are many days I would like to forget."
"Which days are those?" Serena asked intrigued and taking advantage of this new Cersei. "Would you want to forget me?"
"No my little wolf." Cersei said standing up and approaching the girl. "You have been a divine gift and I enjoy every moment we're together."
Then a knock came at the door. Stopping Cersei let out a 'come in'. A servant entered the room.
"Your Grace...Lord Tyrion has called a meeting of the Small Council. A messenger has arrived from the Stark encampment."
Cersei thanked the servant and with a bow he took his leave. The Queen regent seemed upset when Tyrion was mentioned. She hated the fact that Tywin had entrusted Tyrion with such duties while he led the Lannister forces to war against the Stark's. Perhaps she wanted Jaime to be given the responsibility which would be hard to carry out from a cell. Perhaps maybe she wanted that honor herself to consolidate her own power as Hand and Regent even if it was for a short time?
"It seems duty calls." She said before walking towards the door.
The blonde stopped and turned around.
"Are you coming?"
Serena was shocked at the question. Go where? She wasn't on the small council.
"Coming? I'm not on the Small Council."
Cersei took a few steps forward.
"I don't care. I want you there to advise me. You know the Stark's better than any of us do. Your input would be invaluable."
Serena picked up the cup of wine left on the desk by the Queen taking a big sip of it to ease the stress beginning to rise within her and stood up following her to the Small Council chambers. When they arrived the council had already arrived. Tyrion sat at the head of the table with with other seats being occupied by Lord Varys,Lord Baelish,and Grand Maester Pycelle. All had a look of confusion when they saw the northerner enter the room.
"May I ask what she is doing here?" Tyrion asked. "I believe this is a Small Council meeting."
"I'm aware this is a Small Council meeting. I've asked Serena to join us to advise us in this endeavor. She knows the Stark's better than all of us. Who better to give us advice."
Tyrion liked and trusted Serena despite his reaction to her entrance to the chambers. Of course he wanted to try and keep everything official with the faith his father was putting in him to rule in Kings Landing until the war was over.
"If you insist sweet sister. Of course anything we can use to get an edge in this war."
With that Cersei and Serena took a seat at the table. A man was called into the room. He had short golden hair no doubt a Lannister. A guard closed the door behind him as he approached the table stopping a few steps in front of it.
"So cousin Alton the Stark's sent you with peace terms?" Tyrion questioned the man.
"Yes My Lord."
"Well then...what does Lord Stark ask of us?" Cersei asked.
Alton gulped.
"First the Stark's wish all Lannister Troops he pulled back from the North and Riverlands. Second they demand Joffrey renounce his title and pass the crown to his uncle Stannis. They also wish his brother Tommen and sister Myrcella renounce all claims to the Iron Throne. Lastly they wish Sansa,Arya,and Serena be returned unharmed."
Cersei held back a chuckle while Tyrion stayed silent thinking about a response to the terms. Serena just sat there silent waiting for someone to say something.
"Well cousin you will have to inform the Stark's that we reject their proposal. However we do offer a counter proposal." Tyrion started. "The Northerners will be allowed to lay down their arms and return home. However Ned Stark must turn himself into the crown in which case we will send him to the Nights Watch. Robb can have Sansa and Arya back if they return Jaime to us unharmed."
It was a good offer. Serena wasn't so thrilled with the exiling Ned part but at least Tyrion wasn't going to have him killed. However hopefully Ned would refuse as everyone knew he would. Joffrey had no right to the throne and she feared for Sansa's safety. She kept quiet however on Tyrion using Arya as a bargaining chip as Arya hasn't been seen since their arrest. Of course it wouldn't be good to admit they lost the daughter of a great Lord.
"You can't seriously be proposing such an offer?" Cersei asked her brother.
"I am dear sister. The North rose in rebellion to save their Liege Lord thinking he'd be killed. Knowing your son he probably would have killed him. However he managed to escape and has committed treason by speaking out against Joffrey and for now assuming command of the Northern army. However as that state of affairs is quite recent its still possible to send him to exile. The war will end and he will be excommunicated from society freezing his balls off at the edge of the world with his bastard son. What greater punishment then a slow cold death?"
"What would stop the Northerners from trying to rescue him?"
"You forget Cersei once a man takes the black he is out of reach of any Lord or Lady even the King."
Cersei clenched her fist really taking this seriously. Ned nor Robb would even think of accepting this offer even if it saved Ned and got Sansa back in their embrace.
"What say you Serena?" The blonde asked.
"I uhh." Serena didn't know what to say.
"You know these people better than all of us. What do you say?"
"I agree with Lord Tyrion."
Cersei's face dropped. Anger filled the woman felling betrayed by her lover.
"You do? I was starting to believe we were beginning to agree on things."
"In war compromises with ones enemy are hard to make. You would rather crush them then give them some kind of victory. The Stark's are an old and beloved House. They command more loyalty than any Westerosi House. No man or woman in the North would betray the Stark's. Not for gold nor glory. If Lord Stark is executed the war never ends. If he is sent to take the Black the war ends. Peace return to Westeros and him surrendering cuts out any legitimacy to his claim."
Cersei contemplated what the girl said. In truth Cersei would wage war on the North until not one northerner was left standing but being Queen Regnant she had to be level headed about such things.
"Fine tell Lord Stark he can take the Black if he surrenders only after he declares Joffrey the true King of Westeros."
"Alright then. Bring the Stark's are counter offer then cousin. Safe travels."
He bowed his head and left the room escorted by a few soldiers. It was them Tyrion stood up concluding the meeting as the business had been stranded to.
"Well. Unless anyone has other business for the council I have an appointment to keep." Tyrion said sliding his chair back and jumping off of it.
Everyone stop up and bowed to Tyrion a few giving a 'My Lord Hand' as he walked passed smile on his face enjoying what power he had for however long he had it.
"Not you dear sister."
Both Cersei and Serena stopped and turned around. The door to the chamber slammed as the others left leaning the three of them in the chamber.
"Serena if I could a moment alone with my sister."
Serena went to bow and respect the wishes of the acting Hand but was stopped by Cersei's voice.
"Anything you want to say to me you can say in front of Serena."
"I...this is a family matter."
Cersei persisted however clearly frustrating Tyrion.
"It's not a big deal your grace. I don't want to get involved in personal matters."
Tyrion extended his hands in a "see?" motion.
"Are you afraid of me sister? The Queen Regent afraid of the half man." He stopped to chuckle. "The great Ceresi Lannister afraid of the dwarf."
"Not afraid." Cersei started. "I just don't trust you."
Tyrion grinned and decided to proceed with the conversation he wanted to have with her conceding the victory.
"Fine then. We need to talk about the slaughter of dozens of children across Kings Landing by the city's own Gold Cloaks."
Serena looked to Cersei. She had heard of the massacre. The entire city knew of it within hours. They'll be hearing about this in the North by the end of the night. Gold Cloaks massacring children would not be a good look to the Lannister's or the ruling regime in Kings Landing.
"Why'd you do it? What did you have to gain from having a dozen children murdered? You put us in a bad decision."
Cersei again just stood silent. The look on the blonde's face told everything. It was one of sadness and surprise. Like she truly had no idea what Tyrion was talking about. Tyrion seemed to notice it as he leaned back on the chair his facial expression turning to one of shock.
"It wasn't you was it? You didn't know?" He stopped.
Tyrion knew...heck the whole country knew it's been Cersei running the show in Kings Landing since Robert died. Hell even before his death she solidified her grip on the city. Now all the power was hers until her youngest brother arrived to serve as Hand of the King. She knew he wouldn't tolerate her plots.
"Or did he tell you? That would make it even worse."
Serena wasn't surprised at the realization. Joffrey was more like a wild animal than a King. Ruthless and unpredictable. Everyone felt Cersei and Tyrion being in the capital they could keep the young boy King in line. Serena kind of hoped her presence would do the same. She hoped Joffrey would lean on her so she could temper his worst impulses but that job was a failure.
"Cersei you need to keep that boy in line. We are at war. We don't need to give the Stark's or the Baratheon's anything they can use to rally the people against us. Your son just gave them the ultimate weapon. 'King orders murders of children including baby.'"
"You think I don't know that!" Cersei spat back.
She stopped herself and took a deep breath. Serena just stood there like a statue. Really she felt like this was not her fight. This was a bit of a family matter as well as a realm matter.
"Get him in line. That boy will be in for a rude awakening when father arrives."
No truer statement was ever made. There was no way Tywin would put up with Joffrey's childish behavior. He'd have the King confined for weeks if he was here serving his rightful role as Hand.
"Anything else Tyrion?"
"No...you may leave."