Thank you for the reviews all the people from Reddit, and my beta/co-mod RhaenaTargaryen who beta'd all the chapters so far including this one, and my fandom bestie Princess Rosalind of Underland
Having finally made their way to shore, Cersei felt so relieved that for a moment she forgot all of her troubles. She got out of the sailboat as soon as it was safe to do so, not even caring that her shoes got a bit wet in the process. It wouldn't matter. Soon they would be in a city and she would dry them by a fireplace. Tomorrow they would buy new clothes and throw these wretched things away.
Even her disheveled appearance would only embarrass her for a brief time. She was certain that some of the inns would send food to your room, just as had been common in Westeros with the more reputable inns. She would insist that they stay at such a place. Once there, she would order a hearty venison stew and some sweetgrass salad, and for dessert perhaps she would have a strawberry pie, all eaten under the comfort of several blankets.
She stretched her cramped muscles and ran further ahead, leaving Jaime behind to bring the boat ashore.
As she further examined her surroundings, she frowned. This did not look right.
She turned back towards Jaime, who was now catching up to her. He was stumbling, having obvious trouble walking, but right now they had more concerning matters to deal with.
"Are you sure this is Pentos? It doesn't look very busy or crowded," she said.
"We entered bay some im go. Course, m shhhure," he replied.
"The bay of Pentos, I hope you mean."
"Oft course e bay oftttt Pentooos, at other bay would I mean?" He asked.
"Well, this doesn't look like Pentos to me."
"Ow would you know at Pentos loooooked like?" He asked, stumbling past her.
She followed him reluctantly. "I don't, of course. But it should surely be more crowded than this!" She eyed him up and down, frowning disapprovingly. "Are you drunk?"
"I finishhhed booze en I saw that we would arrive soon." He paused as a hiccup escaped him. "We're on the outskits of Pentos. Let's walk for a bit, weee can't be far from the ity."
"The outskits and the ity? I suppose you meant outskirts of the city! And what in seven hells! I thought you knew how to steer a sailboat!"
"It an be difficult to get pre...precizzzze when you're not familiar with route."
"You mean precise. And you've been here before. You should know better," she stated, accusatorily.. His obvious drunkenness and poor speech were putting her in a piss poor mood, made even by the fact that he had been here before, shortly after she had birthed her black haired son. He should have never gone on that trip, but since he had he should have known the correct way.
"I wassssh ere once, decades ago," he said. He began to think back to that time, and why he had left. It had hurt him too much to see the black-haired boy Cersei had birthed. Worse, when he'd seen the way Cersei looked at Robert. That had devastated him and he had asked to be relieved of his duties for two fortnights. Due to the birth, Robert had been in an especially good mood, and had agreed without question. Jaime had even considered starting a new life in Pentos; but in the end, he had realized a life without Cersei would be empty and meaningless.
He had returned, vowing to win back her affections, nearly a week before the agreed-upon time. He had been determined to put a stop to any affection Cersei felt for her husband. Thank the gods he did come back because the little black-haired boy had died mere days after his return. The boy had made it to one month, but would not make it to two.
It may have been Robert who was with her when they took the boy away, but it was him who was with her in the days and weeks which followed. It had been he who held her every night while she sobbed for the child she would never hold again. When she refused to leave her quarters, it was he who made sure maids brought her food, and he who ensured that she ate it.
Thankfully, any affection she had for Robert died as he began to take up with his whores once again. He knew Robert hadn't ever stopped, he had only been more discreet when Cersei had begun to swell with the child, but Cersei hadn't known that. When he had started openly shaming her in public just days after the boy's death, she had vowed to Jaime later that night to never again birth a son of his seed.
The following year, Robert took Cersei to Estermont, and, of course, Jaime had come along to be her personal guard. "Who better to protect the Queen than her brother?" He had told Robert. Of course, the fool had agreed, even smiling and remarking how Impressed he was with their closeness. Jaime could barely hide his laughter when Robert remarked how himself, Stannis, and Renly had never been that close and how he wished they had been.
It had been on Estermont during one of Jaime's nights of "guarding" that they had conceived Joffrey.
"Perhaps we should get back in the boat and reset course," Cersei suggested, snapping him out of his thoughts.
"It will prolly e quicker jut to alk," he argued.
"You want to walk? You've got only one shoe and can barely speak!"
In the excitement of getting to shore, he had forgotten all about his shoe predicament. Still, it couldn't be too bad if he were careful. As for the booze, he couldn't be that drunk. He'd only had two or three beers, or however many had been left. He'd finished them after their argument earlier. He'd never been much of a drinker, asnhis last time getting drunk had been sometime shortly after returning from Dorne with Myrcella's corpse. Cersei must be exaggerating. He couldn't be drunk, she was the drinker among them.
"I should have sailed a bit and steerrrred a bittt further soothhheast I oppose. We should just be e mile or so from pentos. We could use zeee exercise. We've been coop up on at aleboat for days. Not to mention all da time on da diggy."
"Fine. You had better be correct though on it only being a mile. I am tired, hungry, and thirsty."
"Am sorry I dank all da booze."
She sighed wearily. "Just be careful where you step. Even if your foot falls off I won't be stopping until we make it to Pentos."
"Ow would thhhhhatttt happen?"
She rolled her eyes at him. As they had made their way far enough from shore, they arrived at a path. She asked, "Which way is it? I'm guessing we go left?"
"I'm...hic...not...hic...sure but...I...dink...hic...so," he replied.
—-
She headed in that direction, hoping that it was correct. Jaime was now behind her, stumbling along the way. They walked for a few moments before she complained. "I have not seen a single person. I think we are farther from Pentos than a mile!"
*Hiccup,* was her only response.
Now more annoyed than ever, she continued on. They walked in silence, she was not in the mood to talk after their earlier conversation, and regardless, he was too drunk to carry on any conversation.
As they walked, they passed by much farmland. They saw crops and various farm animals. They saw chickens, cows, pigs, horses, donkeys, and even llamas. Every time they saw a cow, she couldn't help but think of the giant beast from Tarth. That had been one of her nicknames for her, of course. She gave a small smirk as she looked at the cows. She thought of several insulting comparisons she could make, and she did make some, but to add to her annoyance. Jaime was so drunk that he barely registered what she was saying, let alone that she was insulting Brienne.
A few moments passed before she realized how wrong she had been to ever call Brienne a giant cow. These cows were nowhere near as ugly as Brienne had been, and their breasts, which she had heard were actually called udders, were far bigger than the Maid of Tarts...err Tarths had been. Then she reminded herself that thanks to Jaime, Brienne was not a maid anymore, and her amusement quickly dissipated.
As they walked away from the cows and passed by a large meadow with horses, she wondered if they would see any elephants on their walk to Pentos. She knew they were wild animals, but if the Golden company had domesticated them perhaps others had as well. She wondered if she would be able to see one up close. She should have already done so, but the Golden Company had failed her with that as well. No wonder they had lost to the Dragon Queen. They hadn't even been competent enough to find a way to bring her elephants.
Along the way, they passed many farms, and many more open fields full of horses, or cows, or vegetables, but saw no signs of any people.
It was perhaps nearing an hour into their walk that she finally saw someone in the distance. A boy playing alone with some marbles on the porch of his family's small house. By now she was rather doubtful of Jaime's claim that they had landed only a mile from Pentos. They surely would have arrived in the city by now if that had been the case.
The boy looked to be just eight, or maybe nine, but since they didn't know when they would next see somebody she decided to cautiously approach him. "Excuse me, boy?"
The boy eyed her cautiously. "Yes?"
Old habits die hard and she started to reprimand the boy about his lack of respect, when Jaime's slurred voice cut in. "Cer..*hiccup* remememberrrr whhhho we are ow."
She stopped herself. "Nevermind about what I said about proper titles. I was just simply wondering if your mother or father was around. I'd like to ask them how far we are from Pentos."
"Oh. Daddy's on the farm somewhere and mommy's cooking dinner."
"Dinner! It is evening then?" She asked rhetorically.
"Of course. Didn't you learn how to tell time? When the sun is-"
"I do not need a lesson in time from some little country fool!"
"You're mean!"
"I am not! Now go and get your mother."
"No!"
"Cer-" Jaime cut in.
"Janos!" She was worried that in his drunken state he was about to use her old name.
The boy, on the other hand, thought Jaime was saying Ser and addressing him. He'd never been called a ser before! "Yes?" He asked eagerly.
" I apol...apol...sorry...for my wiffs behay...hay...ver. Pleassse ring your motherrrr out."
"You're talking how my daddy talks when he is mean to mommy," the boy stated sadly.
"Maybe if yer mammy wash nicerrrr to him he won't be mean to er," Jaime stated insensitively.
Anger flashed in the young boy's eyes. "Go away! Both of you!"
"I will not!" She protested.
"Et's go," Jaime stated, tripping and only not falling because she had grabbed him to steady him.
"Fine. I see another house further down the road anyway." She stated, annoyance flickering in her eyes.
They walked further down the road. This time there was nobody outside. She decided to knock on the door, but first instructed Jaime to stay behind a bit. In his drunken state, he would be of no use.
"Come in!" Shouted a female voice. Cersei frowned, unsure if she should enter. She hesitated a moment before deciding that she may as well. She needed to know how long they had until they got to Pentos, and all they could see in the distance was more farmland. If it was too far perhaps they could buy a horse from these people. They certainly looked to have plenty.
As she stepped into the house she saw a teenage girl sitting on the sofa. Her long golden blonde hair looked identical to how Myrcella's had been. Cersei stared in disbelief, lost for words.
When Cersei's eyes met hers the girl stood up in alarm, clearly expecting someone else to have entered.
"I...I thought you were the neighbor," the girl explained, sounding a bit frightened.
Cersei inched closer and could now clearly see that the girl's eyes were an icy blue, like that of Robert, Euron, and that Tarth beast. Seeing this she quickly snapped out of whatever trance she had been in. She was about to say something, when the frightened girl yelled out. "Father! Mother! There is a beggar in the house!"
A beggar?! This girl thought...how dare she! She was about to give the girl a piece of her mind when a woman and man around her and Jaime's age came rushing in from one direction, followed by a stumbling drunken Jaime wielding Widow's Wail from the other direction. Damn it! She had told him to stay put.
The father spoke first. "What do you two want?" He asked suspiciously.
Her stomach rumbled as she noticed a wonderful smell that temporarily made her forget the girl's rude comment. Clearly, dinner was being cooked. She wished she could have some of the tasty food, but her pride would not allow her to ask for such a thing. They would be in Pentos soon and she was certain the food there would be superior, in addition to being more plentiful.
"Oh my! They both reek! And the man looks drunk," commented the mother.
Before she could form a retort, Jaime said. "Pentos...hic...we...hic...where...is...Pentos?"
"Is that all you want?" Asked the mother. "It is eleven miles that way." Eleven miles! She felt as if they had already walked that much. Luckily the woman had pointed in the direction they had been heading, elsewise she might have strangled Jaime right then and there.
"Eleven miles?! That is too far for us to walk. We will require a horse. Surely you will sell us one," suggested Cersei.
The woman scoffed. "Sell you one? You look as though you cannot even afford the ragged clothes on your back!"
She burned with anger, but to her surprise, the man spoke up in her defense. "I think these two might just surprise us. You shouldn't be so rude, Helaenah." He turned towards Jaime. "We will trade you a horse for that sword you are carrying."
"But that man cannot-" The girl began before her father shushed her. "Let the man consider it for a moment. Eleven miles is not so long of a ways to walk, but his wife looks to be pregnant and sunset will surely come before they reach Pentos."
"My dearest Jaqio, why should we care about them?" Stated the woman, who Cersei realized must be Helaenah. Cersei could see the rage in her eyes, and in another time, another place she may have even been impressed, but now she was just worried. Had the man realized Widow's Wail was no ordinary sword?
"It's the polite thing to do," replied Jaqio.
Cersei eyed Jaime cautiously. Even in his drunken state, he seemed to realize the trade was not a fair one. Widow's Wail was worth far more than any horse! But they needed to get to Pentos and the jewels they carried hidden in their sack were also far more valuable than any horse. There could be no fair trade. He furrowed his brow. "Borrow?" He asked finally.
"Of course. Just give us the sword and take a horse, or even two. You can come back another day and we will trade back," said Jaqio.
Cersei realized for certain that this man must have realized the sword was special in some way, even if he perhaps hadn't realized it to be Valyrian Steel. She doubted this man had any intention of returning their sword to them if Jaime agreed to this deal. "No. We..." she started, not sure how to finish.
Jaime on the other hand was too drunk to notice the cunning in the man's eye. "Of...hic...cores...corts...course," he stammered. moving closer to make the trade.
"Janos! No!" Cersei exclaimed, positioning herself in front of him.
Jaqio smiled, amused at her antics."Move aside lady, and let the men make their trade."
She was aghast. It was bad enough they had forever lost one of their family swords to Jaime's stupidity. She wasn't about to lose another. Not this time. Of course, Jaime had foolishly lost it himself before Tyrion managed to retrieve it for him, but she wasn't about to lose it for good. They may have to sell their jewels to make a home and have wealth to live on, but not the sword. No, they would hand down that sword to their child one day. On their deathbed, they would tell the story of who they were and what that sword represented. She'd be damned if some country fools would prevent that from happening.
She spoke with the authority of a Queen though she no longer was one. "We will do no such thing! Janos! We need to leave now."
"Doooo you really whant tooooo...hic...alk to Pentos?" Asked Jaime.
"Of course not! But think about it you fool! How will you defend me with no sword?" They hadn't had the one that Jaime had used to kill Euron. It had been left behind. All they had was Widow's Wail, which Tyrion had returned to Jaime after resurrecting him. Cersei felt slight annoyance towards Tyrion for that. The other sword may not have been Valyrian Steel, but she would have gladly wielded it. She made a note that when they settled somewhere Jaime would help her remember how to use a sword. Though she had just been a girl when she had last done so, it was something she still missed.
Jaime looked at her closely before reluctantly slurring out his agreement.
"We will walk to Pentos if need be. We do not require a horse from you," said Cersei.
"Your drunkard of a husband doesn't look as though he could even stay on a horse anyway. Get out!" Commanded Helaenah.
"That is no way to talk to our guests," scolded Jaqio gently. "You are correct though. Perhaps the two should sleep it off here and head out when morning comes."
"Are you insane? These two came from who knows where, smelling and looking as though they laid down with rats!" Protested Helaenah.
Cersei began to fear that if they turned and left now the man would use violence to acquire the sword. Quickly, she decided on a diversion to buy them some time."Excuse me, we would love to stay here. However, my husband here has to use the privy. Might we find one somewhere nearby?"
"No I don't!" Protested Jaime.
"Yes you do!" She argued.
"Of course, it's just up-" started Jaqio.
Helaenah cut him off. "He can use the outhouse outside!"
Cersei repressed a smile. She had been hoping that Helaenah would suggest that, so that they could discreetly get away from these two. She pulled Jaime away. In his drunken state, he followed murmuring slurred words of protest. As they descended the steps, Cersei glanced back to see Jaqio whispering something in Helaenah's ear.
A few minutes later, Helaenah rushed out after them, apologizing profusely for her previous behavior, and even going so far as to detail the tasty food they would be served. Cersei pulled a confused Jaime away as he slurred out how wonderful it would be to stay. The daughter came out and asked Helaenah what she was doing. Jaqio came out as well, inquiring as to why they were walking away from the house.
"We need some air first. We'll return in a few minutes. Just wait inside for us," Cersei lied. She continued ushering Jaime away, fear in her heart.
"The food is warm now. You can talk a walk after," said Helaenah.
"No. I'm afraid we need air now. My husband here is rather drunk, and when he gets drunk the cool air helps," said Cersei.
Jaqio and Helaenah continued trying to convince them to come back inside as Cersei slowly dragged a stumbling Jaime away. The daughter even tried to convince them to come back in the house, though she seemed unaware of why her parents were so adamant on it.
After several attempts, the family gave up their attempts to persuade them and retreated inside. Cersei breathed a huge sigh of relief.
She continued to guide a drunken, stumbling Jaime away from the house. After a few moments, she let go of him. He was drunk but not so drunk that he couldn't walk without help. She glanced back to see that Jaqio was coming after them with a sword. Shit.
This might be the last chapter for a long while. The previous one I thought was pretty well done, and yet outside of my friends and people from exchanges on Reddit it got no comments, so I'm gonna focus on the fics that get comments outside of those.