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

𝟚𝟠 - 𝕋𝕙𝕖 𝕔𝕒𝕝𝕞 𝕓𝕖𝕗𝕠𝕣𝕖 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕤𝕥𝕠𝕣𝕞

𝕋𝕙𝕖 horizon had been a black, blurry line when I had looked out of the window this morning - ships. For a moment, I had feared we were under attack, but this fleet was not a threat to us at all, quite the contrary, in fact. Euron had brought the ships he had promised - and they lived up to the claims he had made about them. Moreover, they were full of the finest sellswords gold could buy: the Golden Company from Essos. Our chances of winning this war were suddenly looking a whole lot better. Daenerys - and my family, an uncomfortable voice inside me reminded me - was engaged with the White Walkers in the North, who had finally breached the Wall. I shuddered to think how they might have accomplished this. The Wall had not been broken, ever. Measuring 700 feet in height and 300 feet in width of solid ice and stretching for a hundred leagues, it was impenetrable... until now. But the North was a long way from here, and I just hoped we had enough time to prepare for our stand against whichever side came out victorious. I prayed it would be the living. Not just for my siblings' sake, but also because if the dead won, their army would only grow by the amount of defendants it slew. It was almost nightfall by the time we received the commander of the Golden Company in the throne room. "20,000 men, is it?", Cersei asked. "Yes, Your Grace. A few died in transit." "They cheated at dice", Euron said defensively by way of explanation, then seemed to reconsider. "Or maybe I cheated. Someone cheated." This is no time to make jokes, I thought, annoyed by his perpetual cockiness. These are the men that will stand between us and certain death. We cannot afford to lose them to this bastard's jests. The commander rolled his eyes. "They weren't good fighters, you won't miss them", Euron added conciliatorily. Cersei let out a deep breath. "Horses?" "2,000." "And elephants?" The man cleared his throat. "Uh, no elephants, Your Grace." "That's disappointing", Cersei commented. "I was told the Golden company had elephants." "They are excellent beasts, Your Grace, but not well suited to long sea voyages." What good would elephants be against dragons anyways? They'd only be bigger targets. What we need are men who can shoot, and weapons for them to use. But I did not voice my thoughts. I knew I had the right to, but it mattered not. Cersei knew more of strategies and battles than I. She would take care of those, and I would handle the diplomacy - a quality she did not always excel in. But that was why we ruled together. We each had our strong suits, and we played our parts accordingly. "In any event, you are most welcome here in King's Landing, Captain Strickland", Cersei said. "We look forward to fighting on your behalf, Your Grace", Strickland replied and bowed before leaving the hall. He had better manners than Euron, that much was certain - but that was a low bar anyways.

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We were walking down the hall to dinner later when Qyburn crossed our path. Cersei stopped him. "I have a message for you to deliver", she said quietly. "Locate Ser Bronn of the Blackwater. Tell him there's somebody I need him to kill, a score to be settled - on his behalf as much as on mine. My brothers made promises to him for his services often enough and never kept them, but he should know that this Lannister pays her debts. Have all the gold brought to him that he thinks the job is deserving of." "Whose death could be so important, Your Grace?", Qyburn asked. What she said next shocked me. "Tyrion's and Jaime's. Give Ser Bronn the crossbow Tyrion used to kill our father, I want that little imp to choke on his guilt. And Jaime, he betrayed me just as much. He would rather aid our enemies than stay and defend me, that much he made clear. I want them both dead. Ser Bronn will argue, he always liked my brothers, the wretched fool, but I trust that high enough of a reward - ensured, this time - will convince him." She stepped closer to Qyburn. "No matter what: Convince. Him. I will not have those two traitors come back and try to ruin my life for the hundredth time. Make sure they die at his hands." Qyburn nodded. "I will have the gold and crossbow prepared and seek him out as soon as I can." Cersei smiled contentedly, bowing her head at Qyburn in approval, and continued on her way. I followed, but an uneasy feeling nagged at me. She had allowed Jaime to leave, albeit in conflict, and now she ordered his death. She had offered me to join the fight in the North, too, and told me she would understand. Had that also been a lie? Could it just as well have been me being sent after right now, if I had gone? I did not want to believe she would do such a thing, not to me, but I was bewildered by her seeking vengeance on Jaime, too. I had not judged her resentment of his leaving to be so severe, and yet here she was, arranging his execution.