Should've Said No // Jaime Lannister (0.5)

4. Witch

Robert advanced west to Ashford, but he had been out maneurvered by Lord Randyll Tarly, the most experienced general under Lord Mace Tyrell. Tarly had assembled a strong force in record time and took this army's vanguard ahead of the main force. Despite being outnumbered by Robert's forces, he held them at bay long enough for the main Tyrell host to arrive. Desperately outnumbered, Robert was forced to withdraw from the field. Mace Tyrell took the credit for the victory, boasting how he had 'smashed' Robert's armies, but in reality Robert's forces remained more or less intact, and Tarly had done nearly all the fighting.

With the Tyrell armies now fully mobilised, Robert had no choice but to abandon the southern front and attempt to link up with his allies in the north. To this end he force-marched his troops north towards the Riverlands.

Rather than pursue, the Tyrells continued to march east and instead besieged Storm's End, held by Robert's brother Stannis.

Aerys had effectively robbed Tywin of his heir, which Tywin perceived as a great insult and resigned. During Robert's Rebellion Tywin remained neutral, answering neither the summons of the King nor the calls from the rebels, until the Battle of the Trident, after which it became clear that the rebels would win. Tywin marched with the full power of Casterly Rock to the capital, feigning that he had come to defend it from the rebellion. Aerys' advisors urged the King not to trust Tywin, even Jaime Lannister, who knew his father would never back the losing side in a war.

By this time, Aerys was furious with the lack of success in the war and replaced his Hand, Lord Owen Merryweather, with Ser Jon Connington. Connington was tasked with assembling an army out of the river lords who had remained loyal to the king, along with other forces from the Crownlands. Learning that Robert was marching north with his forces, Connington decided to intercept Robert and prevent his reunion with the northern armies. He succeeded in scattering Robert's forces. Robert himself went to ground in the town of Battle of Stoney Sept and Connington was unable to flush him out before another force led by Eddard Stark arrived, compelling Connington to withdraw. For his failure Connington was stripped of his rank and exiled to the Free Cities, and was replaced by Lord Qarlton Chelsted as Hand of the King, whilst Ser Jonothor Darry of the Kingsguard took command of his army.

Meanwhile, additional fighting had been taking place in the north. Ned Stark had returned north by sea to see to the muster of the northmen, but his ship was shipwrecked on Sweetsister. Lord Borrell knew that his liege lord, Lord Sunderland, although an Arryn bannerman, harboured royalist sympathies and would want Ned taken prisoner for a ransom. Lord Borrell chose to release Ned instead, and he returned home safely.

++

''We shouldn't be out here alone.' Taeylor said looking around nervously.

' Why not?' cersei questioned as they marched through the woods.

'If Uncle Tywin—'

'He'll never know we're gone.' Cersei assured.

'But if he finds out...'

'You don't need to be afraid of father.' Cersei told her. 'especially not after I hear what I need to.' the sound of insects buzzing around them as they got deeper into the woods made Taeylor want her uncle here. She felt safer but he was fighting to get Jaime back, to save Lyanna and bring down the mad king.

"Cersei...' she looked around nervously.

'We are here, stop being a baby.' Cersei demanded.

'Are you sure?'

'Yes.' Cersei said pompously.

'We shouldn't go in.' Taeylor said looking to the little hut. 'how did you even know about this place?" Taeylor questioned.

'Shut up, I have my ways and of course are going in.' The buzzing of the insects, screeches of birds, shrieks and little gasps escaped Taeylor's lips as the woman shot up towards them.

'Get out. Get out!!' she demanded and Taeylor grabbed Cersei's arm pulling her.

'Let's go.'

'No.' Cersei said defiantly.

'Listen to your friend.' The witch agreed.

'They said that you were terrifying with cat's teeth and three eyes. You're not terrifying. You're boring.' Cersei declared.

'Cersei!' Taeylor shouted still tugging on her arm.

'You don't know what I am.'

'I know you're a witch and you can see the future. Tell me mine.' Cersei demanded.

'I'm sorry, we are leaving!" Taeylor begged but cersei was stubborn.

'Everyone wants to know their future until they know their future.' The witch corrected

'This is my father's land. My land. Tell me my future or I'll have your two boring eyes gouged out of your head.' Cersei spat and Taeylor was appalled.

"I'm so sorry, she does not mean that!' Taeylor insisted. "Cersei, we are leaving!"

"Yes I do.' Cersei said bitterly. But the witch just chuckled.

'Your blood.' The witch instructed.

'what?" Taeylor questioned as the witch grabbed cersei's hand.

'Give me a taste.' She bit cerseis hand and Cersei whimpered out.

"What?" Taeylor shouted looking between them thoroughly confused.

'Three questions you get. You won't like the answers.'

'I heard my father talk of marriage to a prince, I've basically been promised to the prince. When will we marry?' Cersei said right away.

'You will never wed the prince. You will wed the king.'

'But I will be queen?' cersei went on.

'Oh, yes. You'll be queen. For a time. Then comes another, younger, more beautiful, to cast you down and take all you hold dear.' Cersei glared at her.

'Cersei we should go.' Taeylor begged.

'W-will the king and I have children?'

'No. The king will have 20 children and you will have three.'

'That doesn't make sense.' Cersei informed her aggressively.

'Gold will be their crowns. Gold their shrouds.' The witches laugh cackled through the hut.

'Come on, we have to go.' Taeylor begged the witches laughter echoed. 'We have to go! Cersei!'