The Lion And The Dragon

The Birthing Hour - Cersei Lannister POV

I had not been unnerved by the news from Pentos. I sent my spies, they have their reports. When I was given them, I was a bit shocked. Connington is alive, we thought he must've died by now, a random Valyrian looking young man claims to be a Targaryen and Illyrio Mopatis and Varys are scheming. What else is new? I was told by the Maesters that I shall give birth this week. I am not afraid. I am a lioness, and I have done this before. Three times, in fact. They're warning me about my age, like I'm some sort of old hag who cannot handle one more birth. Fools.

"Your Grace, my Queen." I heard an irritating voice say. The damn Maester took his time.
"Took you long enough. Didn't you say I should give birth this week? It's Sunday. I am feeling no pain, no anything."
"And do you feel the baby moving, my Queen?"
That question cut me deep. The entire week, the baby hasn't moved. I reached for my stomach, hoping that my touch would help my little angel move. It didn't.
"My Queen?"
".... No. My baby.. hasn't moved for a week."
"And you're saying that now, Your Grace? We have to cut you open, if there's any chance that your baby might live!" The Maester had insisted.
"And what about me?! Will you let me bleed to death?! No! I can't, I can't allow it!" Remembering the case of Aemma Arryn, something I was taught about, made me uneasy.
"We will do our greatest effort to save you both, Your Grace."
I didn't trust him. Yet I agreed. For the sake of my little angel. Or was it out of spite? Spiting Maggy the Frog, who claimed I'd only have three children? I'd show that scheming old witch wrong. I'll have this baby.

I was placed upon a bed, with people holding me, when several Maesters began to cut me open. I screamed, I felt a great deal of pain, I bled, I tried to reach Jaime but he wasn't there. Then I fell asleep. I didn't die, though. I passed out.

Meanwhile, two Maesters took care of me while the remaining ones worked on my baby. It was a little boy, I was told, with green eyes but the black hair of a Greyjoy. So it was Euron's. When I had awoken, the pain was still there. Way less, but still there.
"Where's my baby?" I asked, hopefully expecting to hold it soon.
"My Queen, you had a son." The Maester saw my smile, but then he continued, "he was stillborn. We have done everything we could have done to save him."
No. No! No! Not another child, not another boy of mine dead! I had screamed and sobbed, pushed away a handmaiden who wanted to comfort me. Who does she think she is? Touching a Queen with those dirty, lowborn hands. When I had recovered myself, which took me a long time, I called the Maesters and the handmaiden who dared to lay hands on royal blood.

"I have come here to pass my sentence on all of you." I started, fear filling their eyes. I smirked at their suffering. The Maesters killed my son and the dirty whore insulted me. They'd die.
"All of the Maesters who took care of me during birth will be executed for failing to save my son." A sense of mercy, quite rare, came over me as I looked at the girl.
"And for you, you disgusting bitch, you'll serve as.. a silent sister, perhaps? Mayhaps that's to your liking?"
The Maesters begged for mercy while the girl was thankful. The Kingsguard took them away, and Jaime entered my room.

"Jaime. You're here."
"I heard about that stillbirth. I'm sorry. What's the Kingsguard doing with those people?" Jaime asked with concern written all over his face.
"The Maesters are getting executed for treason and murdering my child, while the youngling will serve as a silent sister." I had only laughed at their fate. They had deserved it. They tried to destroy me, a Lannister. They killed my son. And a Lannister always pays back her debts.
"By the Father, Cersei! What have you done?! I was told you were treated well, and that they have tried to save your child. You're overreacting, it's from the grief, I suppose. Grant them mercy, for my sake, your sake, and the realm's sake."
"What are you even trying to say? Traitors everywhere, enemies everywhere, and you expect me to be merciful? It's what Father would've done."
"Even Father wasn't this cruel. Or even mad, I'd say. Did he execute the Maester who had been with our Lady Mother when she gave birth to our brother?" Jaime was disgusted with me. I saw it. But I didn't care. They were enemies.
"Your brother, you mean. The Imp isn't my kin. End of story." I had left Jame who was disgusted, horrified and enraged at me.

A few days later, at their execution, I had only smiled. Jaime looked at me the entire time, and I smiled at him as well. He only shook his head. What if he, for once, saw things the way I do? I needed his help to make it through my son's funeral. And he isn't even being helpful at my moment of sweet revenge. Pathetic. The Grand Maester was eaten by lions in an arena. The other Maesters were burned at a stake during night to serve as lights during one of my great feasts. This act of my supposed "cruelty" only angered my enemies. Tyrant? Mad Queen? Nonsense! This was necessary. It's what Lord Tywin would've done.

At my dear son's funeral, Jaime wasn't there to hold me. He wasn't there to comfort me. I stood there, alone. When we had buried him, I heard.. rumours. That Jaime is fleeing to Pentos to join fake Aegon's cause. He betrayed me once again. That's alright. Until I realised.. the valonqar.