Chapter 45
CERSEI LANNISTER
The outcome of the war had been something that no one had expected. Many within the castle, including herself had begun to think of Steffon as dead ever since news of him being captured by Stannis had reached the Red Keep.
Joffrey had been specially joyous over the news and had offered the dour man no terms at all for the return of his own brother. Even Cersei was helpless to do anything but dispatch some knights to rescue her child, but even she knew in her heart that the effort was more inclined to fail than succeed.
Still, Steffon was the best of her children and that became ever more apparent as Joffrey's cruelty lost them their only allies in the war. The Starks were barbarians indeed, but even barbarians had their use in war.
Their alliance with the Starks was the only thing keeping their enemies at bay, and Joffrey had lost them that alliance because of his stupidity. She had sent the girl to him to secure the alliance, but Joffrey had left her scarred for life.
She had seen the wounds on her body herself, and had been horrified by it all. Never before had she ever lamented the fact that Joffrey had been born the eldest, but in that moment she had cursed the Gods for making her the eldest son.
They had tried to keep the assault a secret, but the Red Keep was filled with too many ears and the Stark girl's screams had been heard by all. Keeping the assault a secret was simply impossible.
So, the Starks had turned their backs on the alliance and with Renly's armies surrounding the city, many thought the war to be all but lost. Only the fear of Lannister justice kept the men ready, and just when the time came for the final battle, her prayers were answered.
The Gods showed them a miracle, and Renly's armies found themselves under attack from three sides. The Red Cloaks and the levies from the city led by her uncle in the front, the Lannister armies led by her father from one side and a small host led by her second son from the other side.
Renly had the numbers to put up a fight, but he was no commander. He was unable to recover from the shock of it all, and as he tried to push forward he found himself facing Steffon himself.
He had cut through the hoard to strike at Renly himself, and so they fought just as Robert had fought against Rhaegar, but Renly was no Robert and could not match Steffon's talent with the blade.
The war was won, but the victory tore up her family. Neither Steffon nor her father had forgotten about Joffrey's actions and so her eldest was quickly confined to a secluded part of the castle, and the line of succession was changed citing his declining health.
It was a lie, yet none dared to speak in opposition of the Old Lion himself. Joffrey had made few friends in his time as King, and so now even as his brother ruled the Seven Kingdoms he was nothing more than a prisoner in the very castle he had once ruled.
"If you are here to speak of Joffrey, then don't," Steffon's words were scathing, and the war and its tragedies had changed him. Before the war, he had been a boy, but now he was a man and that came with arrogance of knowing better.
"He is your brother," she implored, but Steffon simply shrugged.
"That is the only reason he is still alive," he countered, and it pained her to see her children fighting like this.
"You call this mercy," she countered, and he had been left to rot in a small room with no visitors. He was allowed no visitors, and no guests. Even Cersei was forbidden from seeing him, and the only way she would learn of him was through the servant who would go to serve him food.
"You are treating him even worse than the Starks," and there were rumors within the castle that the Stark girl had spent a night in Steffon's chambers, and while that would not matter she feared that the girl had poisoned his mind against his own kin.
"Well, the Starks never did quite try to kill me," and the words made her wince.
"He was wrong," she admitted, but he was his brother.
"But you cannot let that Stark girl influence..."
"Do you really think that I am doing this for Sansa Stark?" he asked, and she shrugged.
"Women do have ways of influencing men, and I know well that she spent a night inside your chambers," and she knew well what kind of person Steffon was.
He was not the kind to sleep around with women just to satiate his pride. No. That gesture, it meant something greater and the court had been wondering for some time now as to who Steffon would chose to be his Queen.
He was King now, and he was not lacking in suitors but the two most obvious choices were Margaery Tyrell and Sansa Stark, and each came with baggage of its own.
"If I were to heed her words, I would have cut off his head by now," Steffon countered, as he looked directly into her eyes.
"But I won't, but only because he is my brother. I have offered him all the mercy I had," and so his mind was made, and Steffon could be quite stubborn.
Cersei wanted to say more, but she had expected such an outcome when she had come here. Steffon and Joffrey had a history of animosity, and the war had done nothing to lessen it.
At one time in the war, it had seemed as if the battle would swallow them all but it was some solace that they were all alive now. Steffon had been King for a short while still, yet he had proven himself to be a far better King than either Robert or Joffrey.
"I had hoped that you would change your mind," but Steffon seemed set in his conviction.
"You do not understand it yet, but you will realize one day that the only people that truly matter in one's life are family," and Steffon leaned forward.
"Believe it or not, I am doing this for our family. Joffrey brought us to the brink of destruction with his actions. If either me or grandfather had been a day late, then Renly's armies would have taken over the city by now and you, Myrcella and Tommen would be facing death itself," and she would never have let it come to that.
"We may have won the war, but we have many enemies ready to pounce on us at any opportunity they can," and he spoke of the Targaryens, and they had been hearing some rather troubling whispers from across the Narrow Sea.
"Robert did not fear the Dothraki," and her son scoffed.
"I do not fear the Dothraki either, for they are dead," and she frowned at those words.
"What do you mean?" she asked.
"Viserys Targaryen has just slaughtered the largest and most powerful Khalasaar in all of Essos. He has slain Khal Drogo and his entire Khalasaar," and she knew of this Khal, for he had been married to the Beggar Prince's sister.
"But he was married to his sister, Daenerys?" and Steffon shrugged.
"We do not yet have the details, but he invited them to a feast and poisoned the food. The Unsullied led the attack, and slaughtered the entire Khalasaar," and Unsullied were little more than slaves.
"You are afraid of some cockles men," and Steffon raised a brow.
"I can assure you, their sword cuts just as deep as mine. But what I fear more is that this represents," and he was shaking his head now.
"The Magisters of Pentosh have long sought to end the plague that are the Dothraki, but few have ever dared to challenge the horse lords. But with Viserys Targaryen slaughtering the largest Khalasaar, the magisters will support him greatly so that he may rid them of the Dothraki's curse," and the magisters were rich, and with enough Gold the Targaryen Prince could land an army on their shores soon.
"You could assassinate him," and they had done the same for Robert.
"With what gold," Steffon scoffed.
"Our coffers are empty, and inly the reputation of Casterly Rock prevents us from the worst consequences of father's debauchery," and Steffon's burdens were great indeed.
"The realm is a mess. We have a war in the North, and the Vale and the Riverlands are rife with infighting and as King I must bring peace to the realm while preparing us to fight a war against Viserys Targaryen," and he rose from his chair, and walked up to the window.
"I cannot do that that while fearing treason from my own brother," and she understood it.
"He won't..."
"You and I both know that Joffrey will try to plot against me the second he steps out of that room and I cannot have that. I have too many burdens on my shoulder already," and what was she to say at that.
"Then share them with me," she offered, she spoke as she rose from the chair herself.
"I am your mother. Let me help you carry these burdens," she offered, and Steffon looked towards her. Her father had completely removed her presence from the court, and made her into a pathetic and powerless Dowager Queen.
The Old Lion had little patience for her, and Jaime after he had learned of their secret. He even refused to let her see him, and it pained her to see him ignore her like this.
"Well, you could help me," Steffon began, and he turned to face her again.
"How?" she asked, and Steffon took a second to answer.
"Jaime," and she understood the rest without him even uttering it.
"NO!" she was vehement in her refusal.
"The Westerlands are our strength. We cannot leave them heirless for so long. It would invite anarchy," and she was shaking her head.
"No. He already has an heir in that little monster," and Steffon shook his head.
"You and I both know that grandfather will never let uncle Tyrion have Casterly Rock. No. It has to be Jaime," he repeated.
"Did he put you up to this!" and she had to hand it to the Old Lion, for he had turned her own son against her.
"He is your fat..."
"ENOUGH!" and Steffon's voice roared as his gaze hardened, and she realised her mistake as his eyes darted towards the door.
He stepped forward.
"Never, and I mean never utter those words out of your mouth!" he whispered, menacingly to her, and Cersei nodded reluctantly.
"I am afraid there is no other way, but I know that you do not wish to leave his side so I have another proposition for you," and she scoffed.
"What plot has my father hatched for me?" and Steffon shook his head.
"Not him. No. Grandfather wanted to wed you to the Tyrells," and her eyes widened at that insinuation.
"What!" and Steffon nodded.
"Yes, though you need not worry about that. I have already put an end to that idea," and she was proud of him for that.
"You are the Queen Dowager, not livestock to further his legacy. You have a role to play as a grieving Queen, and you will do just that," and made him her offer.
"So, it would not be unnatural for you to go back to your ancestral home in search of peace after losing your husband to war....," and as she realised the offer being made, the door was opened as a servant walked in with Steffon's permission.
"Your grace, the Martells are here...."
"Have Lord Kevan escort our esteemed guests. I have other matters to tend to...."
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