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

𝟚𝟟 - 𝕎𝕚𝕟𝕖 𝕣𝕦𝕟𝕤 𝕥𝕙𝕚𝕔𝕜𝕖𝕣 𝕥𝕙𝕒𝕟 𝕓𝕝𝕠𝕠𝕕

𝕋𝕙𝕖 smell of lavender filled my nose as I slowly regained consciousness in Cersei's bed. The sun was already shining brightly into the chamber, we had been sleeping for a long time. But it had been a long day, too. I lay unmoving in the soft sheets, relishing the quiet of the moment, a peace we so rarely got to feel these days. Eventually, Cersei stirred next to me, and I looked over at her. "Morning, love", I said softly and kissed her temple. She blinked up at me with a sleepy smile. "Up so early?" "It's not early", I chuckled. "We slept in almost to noon, I think." Cersei ran a hand over her face. "That long? I don't even remember falling asleep." "Me neither", I laughed. "But I needed this. Now we're well rested to prepare our troops for the march north." Cersei suddenly grew still. "What is it?", I asked. "Did you want to wait longer? We should gather them as quickly as possible so they can still arrive up at the Wall in time." She still didn't reply, only avoided my eyes, nodding slowly, evasively, like someone who wanted to object but didn't dare to. A horrible suspicion dawned on me. I didn't want to speak the words, but I had to. I had to know if I was interpreting her silence right. "Except you're not going to send them at all, are you?" Cersei looked up at me fearfully, her face confession enough, and I sat up straight. "Then why did you promise to? I thought I had gotten through to you yesterday, we cannot risk the dead breaching the North! Or have you forgotten about the turning-corpses-into-new-soldiers thing they have going on?" "I have not", Cersei said, her voice equal parts defensive and close to tears. "So why would you offer false help? They will expect our armies now, they will rely on them! Without us, we don't know if they can hold the North!" "Do you think I don't know that?", Cersei exclaimed, sitting up too. "But I cannot afford to misplace my trust, not while our position is so brittle and we have a war on our doorstep that we are severely understocked for! If they were telling the truth and they will lay down their arms until the Army of the Dead is defeated, I'm sorry for my distrust. But if they use this chance to march on us while our soldiers are walking to nowhere, I'll be glad of it." "How can you still doubt that?", I asked, incredulous. "You saw the dead man, you have heard the stories - clearly this threat is real!" "And how do I know they truly prioritize it over stealing my throne?", she shot back. "With that power, it would be even easier for them to defeat these walking dead." "Which is exactly why we need to help them, given that we currently have that power", I said. "And who wouldn't focus on an army of nearly unkillable, necromancing ice soldiers first?" "That's just the thing, I don't know if they would", Cersei insisted. "Don't you see? I cannot trust them."

"Then trust me", I begged. "They're my family. They would not lie to me. And as estranged as we may be - even fighting as we may be now - I won't let them die. I know they want to do the right thing. My sister, my half-brother - they will not let Daenerys risk plunging the Seven Kingdoms into death and destruction over a throne that won't matter if the White Walkers invade." "Death and destruction is exactly what she's after. Didn't you see her dragons yesterday? Tyrion told you himself that she wanted to bring fire and blood, not a parlay." Her voice softened. "But... I understand your concern for your family. If you want to join them, it's alright. I will not send my armies, and my decision on that is final, but you are free to go wherever you please. If you wish to fight with them, you don't need my permission." I sighed. Without even intending to, she had won. "I wouldn't be of much help", I admitted. "I'd rather stay here and defend you if it becomes necessary. You asked me once if I could make my choice between you and my family, and I have. I made it a long, long time ago. Don't doubt for a second that it will always be you." She took my hand. "I appreciate that. I really do." I leaned in and kissed her. "We should still get up, though. Before we know it, we'll have spent the whole day in bed." She swung her legs over the side of the mattress. "On it." I watched her naked body as she retrieved her dressing gown. Coming up behind her as quietly as I could, I wrapped my arms around her waist before she could put it on. She squeaked in surprise, leaning into me, and I laid my head on her shoulder. "When all this is over, we should travel somewhere. Anywhere. Just find a quiet place where it'll only be us two. No wars, no crises, no responsibilities, just for a little while. We both need it." "How I wish that was possible", Cersei sighed, resting her cheek against my hair. "But I have seven kingdoms to rule. I can't get away." "Rulers can still travel", I countered. "We can mask it as a political voyage. Just think about where we could go. Dorne, perhaps. They wouldn't judge us like the people here do." She shook her head, the motion rocking through me. "Not Dorne. I don't ever want to set foot in the place that got my daughter killed." "Right. Not Dorne, then. What about the Reach? Now that the Tyrells are all gone, we could enjoy its beauty in peace." "Maybe", she hummed. "It really doesn't matter to me, as long as we're together. I just want to get this war over with so we can finally make plans for peacetime again, any at all. It's no good dreaming of a kingdom that you can't be sure will survive the year." I spun her out of my embrace and held her hands in mine. "We will survive. I know you, Cersei, I've known you for nearly a third of my life now, and I know that if anyone can keep these kingdoms safe and prospering, it's you. We will have all you dream of and more, my love. Much more."