Chapter 28
CERSEI LANNISTER
Robert Baratheon had ended a dynasty three hundred years long with the swing of his hammer. The Targaryens had come to this continent with their dragons and conquered it all, and even after losing their dragons, they had kept the throne through oaths, tradition, and laws.
Many had tried to bring down the three-headed dragon, but only Robert's hammer had succeeded. Robert Baratheon was gone now, and he did not have a three-hundred-year-old legacy to bind the realm together.
Cersei had feared this, and now her fears had become reality. Stannis and Renly Baratheon had declared themselves as Kings, and the entire city was in riot at the murder of some hundred children.
Joffrey had not just ordered the murder of his brother but also of all of Robert's bastards. By the time she had learned about it, it was too late, and the only thing that kept the people at bay was the fear of swords, but if an army came to their gates and surrounded them whole, she feared even the fear of swords and pikes might not be enough to keep the people at bay.
Renly had the backing of the Reach, and was gathering a massive host for his cause, yet she cared little for him and his host. Cersei's worries lay across the bay, with the man ruling over Dragonstone, for in his grasp were her greatest treasures.
Joffrey and Steffon had always been antagonistic to one another, and yet she had never thought too much of it. They were young, and she had thought that the years would see them mature and put aside their differences, but she had been wrong.
The differences had turned into hatred, and in a most vile act, Joffrey had tried to have his own brother killed. He accused him of treason, and yet she knew that while Steffon did not love him, he would never do such a thing.
These were nothing but lies, whispered into his ears by that damned Spider. She had her men searching for him, but ever since that night, the man had vanished into thin air and was nowhere to be found.
She would make him suffer for her treachery, but first, she had put down this rebellion. Stannis had somehow learned about the true heritage of her children, and many flocked to his cause believe his word.
The Crown was alone, and if they were to survive this, then they would need allies, and thankfully, Robert had left them with the very ally who could help her turn the tide of this war.
"I will not marry that harlot," and she had written to her father, and though he had promised her his support, he had also ordered her to mend their ties with the Starks, for with the Starks came the Tullys, and they would have much need of their men if they were to win this war.
She did not trust Stark, but there was a way for her to cement their support.
"You will do as you are told," she thundered, and Cersei had long run out of patience with her son. His impudence had already cost him her son's life, and she would not let him threaten it any further.
"I am the King..." and she looked down at him.
"And if you wish to remain as such, then you will start listening to your mother," and she knew that shouting at him would not accomplish anything, but Cersei had not slept for days.
The mere thought of what Stannis may do to her son kept her awake at night, as she blamed herself for his predicament.
"Stannis's ships surround the city, and unless we act soon, we will have Stannis laying siege to our shores while Renly surrounds the city," and he scoffed.
"I am not afraid of some traitors," and he should be.
"We need the Starks and their armies if we are to win this war," and Robert had already made the betrothal, and she would only need to push it forward.
"It is why you should have let me go with Father. Then we would have no need to rely on such things. I could have ordered those men to fight for me directly," and his eyes lit up as he smiled.
"Perhaps I should do it now. Those lords swore an oath to me; it is time they keep their oaths," and if only oaths kept kingdoms together.
"You will have to wed the Stark girl one day or another. Your father betrothed the two of you before his death. There is no harm in doing so sooner rather than later," and the preparations were already underway for the marriage, and she would have them wedded by the end of the month.
"Where is grandfather? He has an army. He could help us deal with Renly's army," and he could.
"Your grandfather is gathering his army as we speak, but we will need the Tullys and the Starks if we are to save your brother," for the Lannister fleet had been burnt down by the Greyjoys years ago, and Lannisport was on the opposite end of the continent.
Stannis had control of the Royal Fleet, and the only fleets they could use were those of the Riverland and the Northern fleet, and even then, they hardly had the numbers to put up a fight.
"I don't care for him. I would much prefer it if he were to kill that traitor," and she wanted to slap him for that, and yet she held herself back.
"He is your brother, and if it comes out that you tried to have him killed, then you will lose whatever little support you still have," she warned him as she stepped closer and looked down at him.
"The people outside these walls will call you a kinslayer, and they will hang you and all of us before Renly or Stannis would even begin marching their armies," and he paled as he understood the severity of the situation they were in, and that was not even the worst thing Steffon could do.
He was the only one of her children who knew the truth about her and Jaime. Stannis could torture him for it, and while she could brush his allegations aside as nothing but whispers of a man hungering after the throne, she would not be able to deny her son's words.
"You will wed the Stark girl, and everything else that I tell you to if you wish to keep the Crown on your head," and he was not happy at her words, and yet she was beyond caring about his feelings.
He gritted his teeth and stomped his foot as he walked away in defiance, but she would force him on that altar on the tip of a sword if she had to, but she would see him wedded to the Stark girl one way or another.
Still, as he left the balcony, Cersei fell to the sofa and once more rubbed her forehead.
"You should sleep," Jaime's reassuring voice came from behind, and in these troubling times, he was her only solace.
"I can't," she answered, and she had tried.
"The mere thought of Steffon being tortured in some dark and damp cell because of my sins makes me want to tear myself up," and Jaime's lips thinned at the mention of their son.
"Stannis is not the kind to torture his prisoners," and yet her son was a prisoner.
"He calls him a bastard. One born out of incest, and so I highly doubt he would be willing to treat him with the dignity deserved of a lord or a Prince," and Steffon bore no blame for the circumstances of his birth, and yet now he was the only one suffering.
"If he breaks him," and Jaime shook his head.
"The letter only mentioned that he had captured him," and Cersei wanted to scoff.
"Captured for what! He intends to harm my son, and no one is willing to do anything about it!" she raged, as she pushed herself to sit up.
"Father offers me nothing but platitudes, while no one has offered me a single way of rescuing my child," and she wanted him back.
"We have no ships to launch an attack," Jaime countered, and she knew that as well.
"Perhaps we could try smuggling him out of that wretched place," she suggested, and she was clinging to straws here.
"The entire island is surrounded by ships. We will never make it to shore," Jaime countered, and it was true. But she could not sit here and wait for her son to be killed by a madman.
"Then what do we do!" she asked, and pleaded at the same time.
"What do I do?" and it was her fault. All of it.
And even Jaime had nothing to say.
"Renly and his armies march on us as we speak. We must deal with him first, and then pray to the Gods for some mercy," and so that was what they were reduced to praying.
"But take heart, Steffon is no fool," Jaime added, as he put a hand on her shoulder.
"Steffon is smart. He has a quick head on his shoulder and has my talent with the blade," and there was little solace in that, but Cersei needed anything to hold onto in her current condition.
"He has learned the game from father himself. He is the best of both of us," just as Joffrey was the worst.
"If there is anyone who could turn the tides in his favor, then it is him," and that was true, but it pained her to abandon her son like this.
"I will kill him," she whispered, as a tear slid down her face.
"If he dares to harm my son, then I will quarter all those petty lords who dare to stand in our way," and Jaime nodded.
"Nothing will happen to him," and he had a Fossoway wife, and she could use that as leverage, but for that, they would need to capture those bastards first.
And she would. She sure as hell would.
She heard footsteps and looked up to see the Stark girl walk up to her nervously.
"You called for me, my Queen," and Jaime rose and took his position once more, as Cersei nodded.
"Yes, I did, my little dove," she answered with a smile and beckoned her forward.
"Come sit down," she said and pointed towards the seat right beside her.
Sansa Stark was young and beautiful. She had her mother's auburn red hair, and bright blue eyes. She was still young and coming into womanhood, but in a few years' time, she could see her turning into quite a beauty.
"What has happened to Prince Steffon is a tragedy. House Stark shares your sorrows, my Queen," and they sure did, as she offered her a smile.
"You are very kind, my little dove," and for all her beauty, the girl was naive, and she would have need of him.
"Robert did well in betrothing you to Joffrey. His brother's condition has left him rather worried," she lied, and the girl blushed at the words.
"Of course, my queen," and she reached for her hand.
"You are a good girl. You would make a fine Queen one day, but I am afraid that there are those who doubt your commitment to your King and betrothed," and the girl frowned.
"I would never betray Joffrey. I love him," and she pitied the naive girl, but she loved her son more.
"Tell me then, do you truly wish to wed my son?" and she nodded.
"Of course, your grace," the Stark girl answered.
"Your father has expressed his desire to delay the match, but war has come. And soon enough, Joffrey would have to ride into battle. Men can be rather fickle during times of war, do you understand?" and the girl frowned.
"I would not wish for such fraility to come between you, and even the Gods themselves are said to favor a man with a pious wife," and the girl was frowning.
"What do you ask of my your grace?"
"I wish for you and Joffrey to be wedded before he rides to war...."
.
.
.
In the gallows of Dragonstone, a little girl slid through the darkness and called out to a boy sitting in the dark corners of his confinement.
"Shhh," she called out, as green orbs opened and looked up in surprise.
"Shireen..."
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