The Gods Changes.
Chapter one
Cersei's Atonement
I own nothing, just playing with anothers toys. For those following A small change makes a big difference, I haven't given up the story, I had thought to just make this a one shot, and I will leave the other version up, inspiration has taken hold and won't let go. My muse has a mind of her own. While this started as a one shot I couldn't stop thinking about sending Cersei with this personality back to the end of the rebellion. Then another idea hit me, what if it wasn't just Cersei but Catelyn as well since in this story and in asoiaf, they are both killed by their good family.
Speech valid for this chapter and the next only.
"Speech" Old Gods.
"Speech" the Seven who are One.
"Speech" R'hllor.
"Speech" dragon gods.
Cersei
Cersei returned from her walk of atonement changed. Not in a bad way. The septa's and septons managed to help Cersei see the errors in her ways. The only thing that Cersei didn't confess to was that all her children weren't the kings. If Cersei had the chance she would go back and do it all over again, actually giving Robert children.
During her time in the septs cells she had come to realise that all the kingdom's current issues stemmed from the fact that Cersei hasn't birthed one child that was Roberts. All of her children should have been her husbands, even if his actions shamed her, it was her place not only as his wife, but as the mother of the realm to provide legitimate heirs for the kingdom.
She also came to see the fault in allowing her eldest Joffery to behead Ned Stark, the thing that had set off a war that spiralled out of control. Even now there is still open rebellion in the Riverlands and the North.
Cersei also came to realise that both her and Robert were to blame for how Joffery turned out. The streak of madness, his cruelty could have been tampered out of him. If and only if they had actually bothered to pay attention to how bad he was getting. Ultimately they were also at fault for his death, if he had been raised correctly no one would have felt like they needed to poison him.
Cersei actually took the time to get to know her youngest son, instead of trying to remake him in her old image. She learnt of how much of a sweet child he is and how caring he is about his people. She got to know about his dreams and his wants.
Cersei felt Tommen's love for her grow more because of the change. She became less verbal in her condemnations of his wife. Actually making herself useful in the court. She also went down to the Sept more often. Definitely more often as she would go every day, compared to her only when she felt like it.
She had even dismissed her spymaster Qyburn. After she saw the abomination that the mountain Gregor Clegane had become. Cersei knew that the man could not be allowed near her. Qyburn was an ungodly necromancer. She even informed the sparrows about his practice. Gregor had been humanely put down after that.
Cersei had become more devout, truly devout. Praying to the mother and the father daily for the safety of her last child. The one thing that her devotion has done is changed her trial date. The High Sparrow wanted to see if she had truly changed or if it was all a facade.
The High Sparrow even went as far as replacing all her guards with sparrows devoted to the cause. No more would Lannister guards to guard the queen mother, a change she readily accepted, the Lannister guards now only looked at her with contempt.
She was glad for the company of the sparrow. It gave her the chance to truly connect with Lancel, to truly apologise for her poor treatment of him, and the disregard for his feelings.
She also accepted her role as the queen mother. Knowing now that it isn't her place to rule beside her son. Cersei doesn't want to be her son's wife, only his mother. Tommon has a queen, a queen who is a good woman when it comes down to it. The septa that was tasked to change Cersei, made sure to point out to her how wrong it is to try ruling beside her son when she is not his wife nor is she her regent.
The septa's in control of both women had made them both have conversations in the cells of the Great Sept. at first both women wanted to have nothing to do with the conversations, but eventually the septa's managed to get through to both of them that they are on the same side. Cersei felt that they had finally gotten to understand each other. Margaery in Cersei's new opinion was a good woman for her son.
Cersei spent more time with Tommen, teaching him all the things that her father taught her and Jaime. Lansel would also weigh in not to deny what Cersei was teaching her son, but to bring the lessons in line with the teachings of the seven pointed star.
When he had time away from his duties her uncle Kevan would come and talk to her about his wife Dorna and her devoutness. Kevan would also take time to try to teach Tommen his place as king.
How the things that happened to his mother and wife could have been stopped if he had only acted more of a king and less of a child. In Cersei's mind that was uncalled for as Tommen was still a child in the eyes of the law, and man. Not even having reached his four and tenth name day.
Margaery
The trial for Loras was a sham, the man that left the sept was not the same man that was dragged in. He was not her brother. Not any more, the sparrow that replaced him is a mere shadow of the man she had loved as her closest brother.
The dead eyed look, the not speaking, all of it brought Margaery's rage to the surface. Her happy, kind brother, destroyed for one woman's vanity. Margary would not stand for things to stay the same. Cersei destroyed her brother because she didn't want to give up control of the throne.
Margaery is glad that she has two other brothers that aren't broken. Willas and Garlen, both safe in Highgarden away from Cersei's plots. She didn't believe for a second that Cersei had changed. Black hearted women like her never change.
After all, Margaery hasn't changed, she only grew and adapted. Like any good grandchild of the Queen of Thorns Olenna Tyrell. She would play the sparrows game until she could kill them all at the same time.
That woman stole her brother from her. Margaery would have her revenge. The sparrows broke her brother, she will burn them all. No one hurts her family and gets away with it.
The only thing that is holding her back is the fact that Tommen seems to have fallen for his mothers pretty lies. Tommen needs to get stronger away from his mother. Margaery hoped that his seed had taken hold this time, and that a babe would grow in her belly.
With a babe she could pull him away from his mother easier. A babe in her belly would make him more attentive to her. In Margaery's opinion she could teach him how to rule better than his mother could. After all she learnt at the knee of her grandmother, who had ruled the Reach since she married Margaery's grandfather.
Cersei made a mistake though. She actually made Qyburn think that he had been fired. Qyburn came to her the instance that Cersei had made that mistake. She knew it was genuine as well since Qyburn spilled all of Cersei's secrets.
What secrets this man held made Margaery very happy. Cersei's trial would not end the way she wanted. If Margaery had anything to do with it, her trial will be the last thing she does.
Cersei
Cersei made her way down to the Great Sept by foot. On her way to her trial. The sparrows kept her protected from the small folk. The small folk no longer threw things at her, they did still yell at her. Cersei is used to the horrid things the small folk say.
Ever since her walk of atonement she never travelled any other way but by foot. It made her feel closer to the people she was meant to protect and care for.
"WHORE!"
"Queen Slut!"
"Show us your tits whore!"
"Gold Dragon for the Whore Queen to show her cunt."
More and more abuse rained down on her as she walked the streets. No longer using her palanquin. A more humble Cersei had emerged for her walk of atonement, knowing that she deserved it.
Margaery
"Is it ready?" Margaery asked with anticipation written on her face.
"Oh it's most ready, Your Grace." Qyburn said with a malicious smile. Margaery smiles back at Qyburn, leaving to go to another part of her plan.
Having distracted Tommen and Kevan into being late to leave for Cersei's trial. By saying that both needed to come with her to the Grand Maester. She already had Qyburn confirm her pregnancy.
Both are very pleased by the news. Both wanted to announce it at the end of Cersei's trial. Something Margaery would help them with. Good news would help with the bad.
She just used any excuse to keep them from the sept. she kept coming up with reasons to stop them leaving, she even knocked Ink on both of their clothes to keep them away until it was too late.
Cersei
Cersei was only just on time, as she had been told to be. She had been told that everyone that was coming needed to arrive before she did. It was to allow the Great Sept to be full of everyone that wanted to view her trial.
The High Sparrow was very pleased with her turn around. Seeing it as proof that the Seven who are One smile down on his actions.
The High Sparrow had even gone so far as to tell her she would get leaneance for her crimes. Something that wouldn't have been offered if she wasn't genuine.
Entering the sept Cersei took to her knees in front of the seven septons there to judge her. She had been told that she would be presented to the seven septons immediately upon her arrival.
"Cersei of house Lannister, former Queen of the Seven Kingdoms, former Queen Regent. Are you ready for your trial?" The High Sparrow asked.
"I am High Septon. But I beg a moment of your time to wait for my son, the King." Cersei says as she notices that neither her son nor The Hand her uncle Kevan were in the sept to support her.
"You shall be granted ten minutes for them to arrive. If they haven't arrived by then, we will proceed." the High Sparrow granted her, while the other six septons nodded in agreement.
As she looks around she also notices that her greatest supporter Lancel wasn't there either. That wasn't like him, he wouldn't leave her now that she needed him most. They had become closer to each other in the way cousins are meant to as friends since her atonement and her true devotion was revealed.
That's when she felt it, a great tremble. Then a roar. The last thing Cersei saw was the High sparrow being enveloped in green flames.
Tommen
The meeting with the maester had made Tommen's day, now all he needed was his mother to be free of her trial and everything would be as it should be.
Tommen didn't understand why Margaery kept trying to delay them from leaving, he hoped that it was just because she was nervous for him.
What if it didn't go the way he hoped for. What if they imprisoned his mother for the rest of her life. What if they forced her to join the silent sisters.
He had returned to his chamber to change again after Margaery accidentally spilt ink on both his clothes and his uncles. He knew that he would now be very late to his mother's trial. He just hoped that she could forgive him and Margaery for this delay.
That's when it happened he felt a great tremble go through the Red Keep. He walked out onto his balcony to see what had happened. looking out over his city he saw his worst nightmare, he saw the Great Sept go up in flames then explode.
Horror.
Desolation.
Angry.
Margaey had done this.
Sadness.
In that moment of sadness Tommen took off his crown, throwing it to the ground. He took a few steps back into his room, before turning back around and walking off the balcony.
Margaery
She thought she would feel happy at the death of all those that had hurt her family. But now all she feels is desolation. Her third husband is dead. Not even the babe in her belly was enough to stop him from killing himself.
There was nothing left for her to do but try to pick up the broken pieces of her city and try to put them back together after she broke it.
Margaery made a mistake and she would pay for it for the rest of her life.
Celestial Plane.
"This wasn't meant to happen. Seven this is all your fault." many voices sounded at once, sounding as if they are the very wind. The sound echoing all over the Celestial Plane
"Don't blame us. It was your children who brought about the cold ones in the first place." seven voices spoke in harmony. Like the sound of a song.
"We aren't talking about the walkers you idiots. We are talking about the war of five kings, the silencing of so many voices, now two bitch queens in a row. You sort one out for another to take her place." the voices sounded like thunder.
"Brothers, Sisters. Please this is no one's fault. We gave the mortal free will, what they did with it was up to them." a voice that sounds like a crackling fire says into the void
"R'hllor, this isn't your fight back off." They sounded like an angry song with less melody and more cacophony of seven out of tune singers.
"I think you will find that it is. All life dying will hurt me just as much as it will hurt everyone. I am here because I have had a thought. And I have the ability to pull it off with a bit of help from both of you."
"What is your plan?" the calming voice of the winds asks.
"I have the power to bring humans back to life, the stranger can shield their souls and knowledge, while you Old Gods use your Weirwood network to send them back into the past at the end of Robert's Rebellion. We have two perfect souls to use, two souls that are in the right places to make changes."
"Which souls, and why them?" The harmony returned and was more contemplative, a tentative tune.
"The changed being known as Cersei Lannister, and the mother known as Catelyn Stark. As for why it's simple one is the mother of the Kingdom the other is the step mother of my chosen Prince the one to bring the dawn. The other reason is both were betrayed by their good families it will forge a bond between the women we can use to take them back." R'hllor's fiery voice crackled with glee.
"I think we need to show these women the fate of their loved ones before we can get them to work together. We will also need to show Catelyn, Cersei's change." a kindly old woman's voice said out of the melody, the other voices had joined her but hers overshadowed theirs.
"The Crone aspect of our being has the power to show them." all seven voices said in harmony again.
"As do we" the soothing voices of the wind replied, "while you can show them we can help them feel what their loved ones feel."
"You are not sending them back, not if I'm not allowed to give a prince who was promised a few gifts" The roar of a thousand dragons accompanied the voice.
"What gift, brothers?"
"Not telling."
"Impetuous as always, childish as usual."
"It's not our fault the creator made us this way." the dragon gods let out a deep breath that rushed through the plane.
"I agree to let our brothers give the Prince some gifts but no memories. Allow him to be a child while he can. He's not just your champion brothers, he's a champion of all of us. All in agreement of all plans"
"Agreed."
"Agreed."
"Agreed."
"Deal done, all agree, none shall break. "
With that a flash of blinding light went through the Celestial plane. An agreement between the gods has been reached.
Not sure if I'm fully happy with how the conversation between the gods played out. Especially since the dragon Gods hadn't been a part of my plans they just pushed themselves in like a bunch of starving teenagers in front of a fridge.