The Other Stark girl

Spokes on A Wheel

                Eve had always dreamt of being a mother.After all, when their mother was not around, she would be one to her younger siblings.Never did she think, however that  she would bear the Kingslayer children.It was a thought that had never crossed her mind.When she caught a glimpse of him in Winterfell for the very first time, she thought him a handsome man, one whom she thought was the most handsome man she'd ever seen, save Robb, Nedd and Jon, but she never liked him the way a lover should fancy their lover, or the way a wife should desire her husband, or the way Cersei fancied Jaime.She had never thought of him that way, yet here she was, wed to him and now carrying his child.He was also much older than Eve, but she supposed all matches were like that.Her father had been older than her mother, her aunt Lysa was scores younger than her late husband, Sansa was much younger than Lord Tyrion, Walder Frey's wives were young enough to be his granddaughters.

           The one thing that did vex her ,though , was that she was married to a man who tried to slay her father once at Petyr Baelish's brothel, a man who joined the Kingsguard so he could be with his sister, a man whose father killed her dearest brother Robb and her lady mother.She had tried to love him.She truly did, but she could not.There were times when she would look at Jaime, and be in awe of him, admiring his features, his physique,  a feeling of arousal stirring in the pit of her stomach, in her loins, but then she'd remember the man she was so shamelessly ogling was Jaime Lannister, the man who had almost slain her father, the man whose family was responsible for her suffering.

"Eve" Cersei said, eyeing her stomach."Jaime and you have been married for less than a month and look at you" she gestured towards her belly "with child already".Eve feigned a smile at the remark, instinctively placing a hand on her stomach. She had not known what to say to that."I hope the babe does not take after you or anyone in your family, for that matter.I pray to the Mother that it shall be a blonde babe who takes after the Lannisters, after Jaime". Damn the bitch. "I swear the child will be doomed if it is born with your plain looks.It's a miracle Jaime even agreed to bed you" she continued her monologue "he's bedded prettier ladies and whores".

        A lie. A big lie. The only woman he was ever with before we were married was you. "Yes, I hope the child takes after you all, with your pretty faces and your pretty blonde hair".Cersei smiled at that."Jaime has been neglecting his duties towards His Grace and me".That made Eve smirk a little."Well then I believe he ought to be reprimanded, Your Grace" Eve stated coolly.

        "The King should be Lord Jaime's utmost priority.He is the King of the Realm and must be protected at all costs".Eve laced her hands with each other right above her navel as she and Cersei continued to stroll through the gardens.The sun spilled its rays upon every corner in the gardens, a glorious sight, something out of a painting."I see you've finally been tamed.Motherhood is suiting you" she had a tight-lipped smile on her face that Eve could not tell was genuine or indeed forced."Thank you, Your Grace".Eve had been wearing a low-cut sky-blue dress with long sleeves."Lord Kevan has been most kind to me.He is an endearing man" Eve said to make conversation."Yes, he is most kind" Cersei said with gritted teeth."I'm glad he is kind to you.I wish he'd be kind to me as well".Eve's eyebrows furrowed at that, choosing to continue looking down."You must be looking for a bride for His Grace, mustn't you?" she chimed.Cersei stared daggers at her, but spoke calmly.

       "King Tommen is much too young for me to begin looking for a bride for him.He has his whole life ahead of him". She's only saying that so she can remain Queen Regent. If if were up to her, even Joffrey would not have married. "I cannot disagree, Your Grace.Indeed, the King is far too young to have a bride" she spoke the lie right through her teeth. A bride will not force Tommen to shirk his duties as King of the Realm. Margaery would be perfect for him.Marrying his brother's widow would please the Gods, surely. I cannot displease Cersei. I have to make her think I'm on her side. "Margaery does not seem to hold the same view.No sooner had Joffrey's body gone cold that she began to wrap yet another son of mine around her finger.Tommen is enamored by the girl".

          Yes!. How wonderful. "Oh, Your Grace, I am ever so sorry.I am a Lannister now, perhaps not by blood but by marriage.I would appreciate it if you consider me a friend.Asking you to consider me a sister would perhaps be too much ask of you at the moment, given the way things are, but I would be grateful if you considered me a friend.That's all I ask, Your Grace" Eve regarded her with a smile, one which she hoped appeared sincere to Cersei. She expected a glare or perhaps a harsh retort in return, but to Eve's delight, she received a small smile."Thank you Eve.I truly feel I have no friends in the capital.I never have, but since you're extending a hand of friendship towards me, it would perhaps be unreasonable not to accept it.Very well, we are to be friends". Eve was shocked as to how this little scheme of hers was working, how she had The Queen Regent, of all people fooled. It had taken her a month of tolerating Cersei's crude remarks about her marital bed, snark remarks about her looks and her family, about how her brother was married to a Northern savage, and her responding with praises of Cersei, instead of pulling her hair and striking her until she breathed her last, which she so wished to do.She held her tongue all those times.

           "I am grateful, Your Grace.Now look at this place, Your Grace.It is so glorious that if one were to go to any other Kingdom, one would not be able to find the words to describe this to those who have never had the good fortune to set their eyes upon this beautiful city" Eve said, demanding herself not to link her arm with Cersei's as she had come to learn she hated it."I was not quite fond of the North, come to think of it.I truly was not.Nothing but snow for miles all year 'round.In my time away from my family, I have come to realize that the South is my true home.This is where I belong".Cersei raised an eyebrow at that, wondering if what Eve said was truly what she thought."I will bear Ser Jaime a child, give House Lannister an heir as is my duty".Cersei's piercing, loathing look returned."Yes, I have heard the two of you share the same chamber" she said with contempt in her tone. How ironic. Her condemning me for having intimate relations with a man who is my husband. "We do, indeed, Your Grace.If you feel that we should not, Your Grace, I will happily comply". A fleeting smile could be seen on Cersei's face, and soon after she whipped her head around to glower at Eve."What exactly do you mean by that?.Why should I take issue with that?". Eve mentally winced. Have I just ruined everything?.

         "Well, Your Grace...you are not only Princess Mycrella and the King's mother, but are Mother of the Realm as well.You often say I do not deserve a man like Lord Jaime and therefore do not deserve his attention.You also mentioned he was neglecting his duty towards you and the King.It would be wise of me to heed your counsel and no longer share a chamber with Lord Jaime.I am with child now.There is no need for us to be sleeping in the same chamber.After all, it is not very wise of anyone to set aside the advice of a mother, now is it, Your Grace?" Eve stopped to see how she was going to react to her words, or in other words to see if she had truly been the fool she had attempted to make of her.She feared her efforts had been for naught. Cersei had on her face a satisfied smirk."Why, you are most obedient, Eve.You truly have been tamed.It is a good thing you have come to know your place.Be my friend at court and nothing more, Eve" Cersei said, facing her now and holding her hands. Eve was surprised at Cersei extending an olive branch to her. My plan is working. "Whatever you say, Your Grace".