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

𝟚𝟡 - 𝔸𝕟𝕕 𝕤𝕠 𝕚𝕥 𝕓𝕖𝕘𝕚𝕟𝕤

𝔼𝕦𝕣𝕠𝕟'𝕤 military support already proved useful before the real battle began. On their way back to Dragonstone, Daenerys' forces had been anticipated by his fleet. But not only were many of their ships destroyed, no, Euron had managed something far greater: he had killed one of the dragons. Under different circumstances, I might have mourned the loss of such rare magic, but right now, it was a massive help to us. And there was something else that had come from this incident too. We had a hostage - Missandei, the dragon queen's advisor and best friend. With her in our grasp, our choices were no longer plead for mercy or fight and pray. Now, we could potentially force Daenerys to surrender. Surely she would not sacrifice her own friend for a throne that never belonged to her in the first place, in a country she did not know, especially when she already had a significant region to rule elsewhere. All of a sudden, we had a leverage. Just to be safe, though, Cersei created another. I stood beside her at the window as people flooded in through the gates, desperate to get into the safety of the castle walls. Even up here, high in one of the spires of the Red Keep, you could faintly hear the noise arising from the masses; children crying, men shouting, guards calling orders to each other to keep the flow of people under control. "Human shields", I remarked. "Clever. But are you sure they'll work, once they're all that stands between her and the throne? These are your supporters, after all. Daenerys might see them as her enemies and send you a fiery thank you for the easy way to rid herself of them all." Cersei shook her head. "From what we've heard, her empathy for the defenseless is her one defining quality. She's like you, kind-hearted. She won't risk hurting them, even if they are on our side." "I've learned to play the game", I objected. "I'd do whatever's necessary." Cersei smiled and ran her hand in circles over the small of my back. "Oh, you have for sure. Let's hope she hasn't."

"Everything will be decided in these coming days", I said. "Who sits on the throne, how this country will be shaped, whether we will live or die - it will all be determined, now. It feels strange to think that so much can change in such a short time." "Nothing will change", Cersei replied firmly. "We will continue to rule, the dragon queen will surrender or die, and we will finally have peace. We can go on that journey we talked about, or stay right here, whatever you want. We'll bribe a septon and get married, and then I can rightfully call you my consort - even though you've always been my wife, no matter if we have the gods' blessing or not - and life will be good. It's only a matter of time, not a question." I went to pour myself a glass of wine, and Cersei followed me. "I want to believe that", I began cautiously, taking a sip, "but... just in case." I took her hands and held her gaze steadily. "If we don't survive this, I want you to know how much I love you. I want you to know that my life would have been nothing without you, and I cannot imagine a world in which I would not have had you. I am yours, and you are mine, in this life and whatever comes after, whenever it comes." Cersei repeated the vows under her breath, not wanting to interrupt me. "Together, we have been through Hell and back, and we have also known all the Seven Heavens. Everything I do, I do for you; I live for you, I breathe for you, I have devoted myself to you like others devote their lives to a god or seven. And death itself could not keep me from you, that much I promise you." Cersei's eyes were glistening with tears. "I can only agree with all you have said. You and me, we are forever, in this life or the next. But this one will still go on for quite a while, because we will not die in this war. Just think of all the things we have been through. That time you drank a whole bottle of poison during the Battle of the Blackwater, I thought for sure you would die, but you did not. And when I was nearly shot with an arrow, somehow, you saw it coming and saved me. After that, Joffrey would have likely had us killed, but that didn't happen either. We have always braved all odds and protected each other. Remember, how we had to pretend to be enemies in front of my father!" I laughed as the memory came back to me. "He totally believed it, meanwhile we were enjoying ourselves greatly - at least I was." "How was I to know you'd like me strangling you?", Cersei grinned, shaking her head. "But then, you always were good at taking pain. I'll never forget how you stood up to the Faith when you were imprisoned with me." "It was nothing against your resilience when they made you take that horrible Walk of Atonement. I could have never, I would have just broken down in the street and refused to get back up. Yet you stayed strong throughout all of it." "Oh, I don't believe that. You're tougher than you think. You would have made it too", Cersei smiled.