𝔹𝕦𝕥 𝕔𝕦𝕓𝕤 𝕙𝕒𝕧𝕖 𝕥𝕖𝕖𝕥𝕙 𝕥𝕠𝕠 ; (ℂ𝕖𝕣𝕤𝕖𝕚 𝕩 𝕆ℂ🐺🦁)

𝟡 - 𝔹𝕝𝕒𝕔𝕜𝕨𝕒𝕥𝕖𝕣

𝕀 was already sitting on one of the bunk beds with my sister and her handmaiden Shae when Cersei finally entered with Tommen, dressed in a red gown and an elaborate gold corset imprinted with flames - the feminine, queenly equivalent of battle armor. "I don't know why she wants me here", Sansa whispered. "She's always saying how stupid I am, she hates me." "Maybe she hates you less than she hates everyone else", Shae pointed out. I smirked. Everyone didn't quite hit the mark. She didn't hate me - far from it. "I doubt it", Sansa replied in a low voice, looking over to where Cersei had taken a much more comfortable seat than our own and received her first wine of many that night. "Maybe", Shae continued, "she's jealous of you." Sansa's voice grew even quieter. "Why would she be jealous?" At that moment, Cersei called us over to her. "Sansa? Vallery?" We got up and approached her. "I was wondering where our little doves had flown", she said while having her wine cup refilled already. She turned to Sansa first, purposefully avoiding giving me any extraordinary attention. "You look pale, child." She did indeed. "Pour Lady Sansa and Lady Vallery some wine", she ordered. "I'm not thirsty, Your Grace", Sansa politely declined, while I eagerly took the cup from Cersei's hands. "So? I didn't offer you water", Cersei dryly remarked. Sansa hesitantly accepted the glass, then looked with unease at Ilyn Payne, the man who had killed our father, standing in the corner. "What's he doing here?", she asked, a hint of an edge in her voice. "Ser Ilyn? He's here to defend us. When the axes smash down those doors, you may be glad to have him." Defend us with our father's own sword, I thought bitterly. A southerner had no right to wield Ice, it was a blade as tough and cold as the North we were made of. "But we have guards to defend us", Sansa objected. Guards that answer to the highest bidder. "Guards we have paid. Should the city fall, they'll be the first ones out of the doors", Cersei expressed my thoughts exactly. Was Ser Ilyn any more loyal to her, though? When she had asked Joffrey to spare my father, had he stopped the execution? I worried he might be no better than the guards, worse actually, because he couldn't even announce his treason in advance in lack of a tongue. He was a silent killer whose intentions you had no way of knowing, plus he too was hired, albeit sworn. Yes, I doubted he'd be of any more use guarding than those Cersei was so disparaging about. 

An armored man entered swiftly, halted and bowed before Cersei and reported: "The lads caught a groom and two maids trying to sneak away with a stolen horse and gold cups." "The battle's first traitors", Cersei commented with sarcastic fascination. "Have Ser Ilyn see to them. Put their heads on spikes outside the stables as a warning." The man nodded and retreated with Ilyn Payne in tow. Cersei turned back to us, swirling her wine. "The only way to keep the smallfolk loyal is to make certain they fear you more than they fear the enemy. Remember that, if you ever hope to become a queen." I couldn't tell who that last part was truly addressed to. Probably Sansa, as she would be queen as soon as she married Joffrey, but if there was a way for me to marry Cersei... what would that make me? "You said he was here to protect us", Sansa said. Cersei drank deep, keeping eye contact with my sister, then simply said: "He is. Traitors are a danger to us all. More wine." She held out her cup once again for refilling. I chugged down the last of mine and handed it over as well. Drunk Cersei was best spoken to in equal drunkenness, I had found, and she was looking to be drinking a lot tonight. Since she appeared to be done with the conversation, Sansa returned to the other women, but I stayed behind. "Are you done ignoring me now?", I teased. "Vallery, I-" "I know, I know, we must stay inconspicuous", I was quick to calm her. "So, my little cub, tell me something. Anything. I am dying of boredom, and yours is the only company in here I can stand." "More than stand, I should hope", I interrupted her. She only smirked and looked at me expectantly. "What do you want me to tell you?", I asked. Cersei shrugged, so I continued. "I can tell you that I love you, but I imagine you're quite bored of hearing that by now, too." "Never", she said. "Okay. I love you. I love you. I love-" "Alright, maybe you could think of something else", Cersei smiled. I put a hand to my chin. "Hmm... we could practice our Valyrian." "I'm not in the mood for such tasks", Cersei sighed, "and way too drunk to focus, anyways." As if to emphasize her point, she refilled her glass yet again. "My sister thinks you hate her", I said, changing the topic. "Is her judgement correct?" Cersei regarded me for a moment over the rim of her cup. "Yes and no", she finally said. "I have my reasons for... being wary of her, and I admit I could think of better matches for Joffrey, someone more strong-willed like him. But I could never hate someone close to you. Besides, she's a sweet enough girl who has endured a lot, although I must say she's not the smartest. Speaking of, what is your sister doing?"