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

𝟙𝟛 - 𝔸𝕣𝕣𝕠𝕨𝕤 𝕥𝕠 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕙𝕖𝕒𝕣𝕥

𝔹𝕣𝕖𝕒𝕜𝕗𝕒𝕤𝕥 the next morning was a flirty exchange between a well-rested me and a very hungover Cersei. "I usually only have such headaches after an exhausting night with you", she was complaining. "Now I just got the pain and none of the fun. I feel deprived!" "Poor baby", I crooned, hiding my smile behind my fork. "I suppose we must make up for it later." "Amen to that", Cersei agreed, gesturing at me with her fork and groaning as her head punished her for the sudden movement. I looked at the cheese and pomegranate left on my plate, feeling full already. "You want a taste?", I asked. "Of you?" Cersei rubbed a hand up my leg and I rolled my eyes. "I actually meant the food, but I'm not opposed", I teased. "Fine", she said, "give it here." I piled some of the red seeds onto my fork and moved it to her mouth. She looked at me. "Seriously?" I only raised my eyebrows, looking back between the fork and her. Sighing, she leaned forward to try the fruit. She chewed and gave a dissatisfied grunt. "I don't know what you like about them, really", she said once her mouth was empty. "They're so sour." "As are you, dear", I said dryly and she hit my arm with her fist. I laughed and turned back to my food. "What are we going to do", Cersei mused suddenly. Sensing the change in her mood, I asked: "What do you mean?" "About Tyrion, and Jaime. We've kept ourselves safe by keeping ourselves secret, but what happens now that people know?" "People don't know", I said. "That's an exaggeration." "It doesn't matter! When two outsiders know, it isn't a secret anymore, and we aren't safe anymore." I frowned. "Tyrion promised not to tell. And as for Jaime, I told you-" "Oh, he promised", Cersei sneered. "All is well in the world then, isn't it? His word is as good as that of a man at swordpoint. He'll say anything to make me believe he's sympathetic, just so he can destroy me. He told me himself: 'A day will come when you think you're safe and happy-'" "'-and your joy will turn to ashes in your mouth', I know", I finished for her. "But his reasoning made sense, you have to admit that. He of all people knows what it's like to be forbidden from the one you love, do you really think he'd want to take that from you?" "Me being one of the people who forbade it, yes, I think so", she hissed, more desperate than angry. "You forget that people are capable of forgiveness", I reminded her. "Not my brother", Cersei insisted and I sighed, resolving to just accept her paranoia. That was something you had to put up with and do your best to soothe when being with Cersei Lannister. "Well, what of your other brother? I do believe I made quite the impression on him, but I can't guarantee he won't talk for exactly that reason. I think he should be our greater concern right now." She waved the thought away. "Oh, he'll keep his mouth shut - he stands to lose too much himself. What should he know of my intimate relations? He's too scared of people finding out about the previous scandal if he reveals the new one." I wished I could believe it to be that simple, but decided not to push further. Instead, I smiled and took Cersei's hand. "My scandalous wife", I said theatrically, "always need to cause a big deal, don't you?" Cersei grinned. "Weren't you the one who told me to save it for later?", she asked and got up. "Come on. We've still got a sept to visit, and we're running late."

The sept appeared empty when we entered save for a pair of guards stationed by the entrance, our footsteps echoing through the spacious marble dome. Already, the marital altar was erected underneath the great stained glass window in the shape of a seven-pointed star. Cersei leaned closer into my arm that was hooked through hers and said quietly: "I have a dream sometimes that takes place right here. I dream that one day, it will be you and me standing up there, being joined together for all eternity for everyone to see. We'll say our vows, exchange wedding cloaks, then we're going to throw the greatest feast King's Landing has ever seen. And after..." She smirked at me, but before she could continue, Joffrey, Margaery and her grandmother Olenna emerged from the back of the sept. "The venue looks marvellous", Margaery was saying. "Of course it does", Joffrey agreed. "I'm the king, if I don't get the most memorable wedding, what good is the celebration?" I thought he made himself look truly despicable by acting so self-entitled and full of himself, but Margaery chuckled sympathetically. "You're right, Your Grace. I have no doubt our big day will be glorious." "Glorious or not", Olenna interrupted from behind them, "what matters is that we get it over with. I can practically feel my wrinkles forming, this far from the Highgarden sun." "Grandmother", Margaery scolded, sounding both amused and shocked, "a royal wedding is nothing to be rushed. The presentation is just as important as the ceremony itself. We must set a good image for the people, show them our generosity and goodwill to make them feel safe under our rule." "Ha", Olenna barked, but swallowed whatever she was about to say next when she finally saw Cersei and me. "Mother", Margaery exclaimed, a wide smile spreading on her face as she made to embrace Cersei, somewhat forcing me from her side. "Not yet", Cersei reminded her, smiling mildly while her eyes showed nothing but contempt. "Right", Margaery corrected, "I keep forgetting we aren't married yet. It already feels so harmonic." "I'm sure it does", Cersei said with false sweetness. Joffrey was looking at me curiously, although I had no idea why. Then again, he never really needed a reason in picking his victims. "Come, walk with us", Margaery encouraged, taking my place by Cersei's side. "We have so much to talk about, no doubt. We have hardly gotten the chance to since the arrival of my brother and I." "Your brother", Cersei replied, tilting her head as if a thought had just come to her. "Yes, he fought quite valiantly, didn't he? What was that beautiful armor he was wearing, remind me? Was it Renly's?" Her tactic to get the Tyrells to admit to their family's shame did not work out, that much became apparent at Margaery's self-assured smirk. "It was, yes. The enemy soldiers thought him to be Renly himself returned from the dead. A brilliant plan, it swayed their confidence enough for your men to overpower them." Oh, she's good, I thought. But Cersei is better. "Some may call it brilliant, yes. Others may call Stannis' soldiers craven fools for believing in grumkins and snarks. Frightened by a metal suit, that's some army."