Untouched Gold / Tywin Lannister / Avalon Targaryen (1)

28. Bloodline

"I, well lets see this seems messy." Avalon remarked. 

"Said to be the latest and greatest." Cersei countered. "I'm trying it too, I think I might be." 

"Oh honey thats wonderful. You and Jaime take such good care of Myrcella. Dont worry about Joffrey, he will grow out of it, I keep praying at least." Avalon murmured. 

"Robert-" Cersei couldnt even hide her surprise and try to back track into a lie. 

"Yes, yes but Jaime and you take care of the children. Myrcella loves Jaime. Robert is their 'father' but Jaime is the man they need." Avalon assured. 

"You know, you knew?" Cersei rasped. "Does father know?"

"Heavens no. You think he would be this calm if he knew, if he suspects he is forcing ignorance." Avalon offered. 

"You never said anything." Cersei remarked. 

"Well you see when you visit you are usually pregnant afterwards and maybe I'm doing my math wrong but Robert never joins you on these trips. Also the fact that every single baratheon in history has thick black hair."  Avalon shrugged. "What do I know?" 

"You are right." Cersei admitted. "Mum do you hate me?" 

"No, never. You know Targaryens wed brother and sister for years. I was almost engaged to Rhaegar before Elia." Avalon offered. 

"Gross." Cersei offered. 

"Rhaegar was nine years younger than me and I refused. My sister did as well luckily or else I wouldnt be here right now." 

"Maybe you would have because he never would have fallen for Lyanna if you and him were in love." 

"We werent in love though. I loved Rhaegar, he was my nephew and I miss him but we could never be in love not like how I love your father." Avalon assured. 

"So you really arent mad?" 

"I know that when the heart wants what it wants there is little anyone or anything else can do to stop it." Avalon assured her. "Are you having morning sickness yet? I had it all last moon and I think I'm finally done with that part of pregnancy. I keep thinking this is the last one but I love your father." Cersei's face scrunched up but a smile tugged her lips. 

"Just a bit, Joffrey was the worst labor, it was hours and hours and the whole pregnancy was just awful." 

"Well that should have been a warning." 

"Mother." Cersei begged. 

"I dont know whats going on with him. You tell me, why is he like this?" Avalon begged her. "Myrcella is sweet, Joffrey has always had a dark side." 

"Incest is said to bring out the worst qualities." Cersei murmured. "Thats what the maesters said in old books, why the Targaryens went mad..." her words faded. 

"My brother was an idiot." Avalon corrected. "Rhaegar was sweet, maybe a bit of an idiot like his father but my siblings were a product of incest for years, keep the bloodline pure and whatnot." Avalon agreed. "It doesnt seem like that big a difference from marrying a cousin or a nephew nowadays." she added. 

Tywin had married his cousin Joanna before all this. Rhaegar was the exception marrying a Martell. Avalon thought about the martells on occasion. Oberyn and Elia and Doran slipped into her mind. She knew the Martells and surely they thought she was dead, Elia was sweet and Avalon didnt like how Rhaegar treated her in the end, tossing her aside but she also couldnt hate him for it. He was in love and he had encouraged Avalon to leave with Tywin and have that love as well. 

Avalon wondered what would happen if she saw the martells again, what they would think or do, knowing she married Tywin.