End of Youth / Tommen Baratheon (2.2)

23. Permission

"Arya and Bran too," Rieka agreed hugging Rickon. "We are all going to be together again." 

"Rieka." cersei interrupted. 

"I know this is bullshit." Rieka assured. "I dont want to hear this dragon bitch out but Jon must- Tyrion and Jon, both our brothers believe in her. A truce Cersei, Tommen i think we should listen to her." Rieka remarked. 

"Then we will agree to a truce." TOmmen agreed. 

"Then we need guidelines. We need some baseline rules that you two do not agree to anything without discussing it with me!" Cersei demanded. 

"Mother, I am the king." Tommen reminded her. 

"And I am your mother!" Cersei corrected. 

"Cersei, Tommen has to be able to make his own decisions." Jaime agreed. Rickon leaned into Rieka silently he knew when to speak up and when to shut up. 

"I am also Hand of the king."  Cersei added. 

"And we thank you for your knowledge but we don't need your permission." TOmmen reminded her. "I am the king and if I discuss with my queen and we agree then thats all that matters." Cersei was waiting for Rieka to defend her but RIeka smiled grabbing Tommen's hand. 

"Talking like a true king." Rieka agreed. 

"Rieka." Cersei begged. 

"They are my family Cersei." 

"Not the dragon bitch." Cersei corrected. Tommen looked between them as Rieka let go of Tommens hand moving to Cersei.  "You won't do this." she demanded. 

"I have never had to play the Queen card Cersei, don't make me start now." Rieka begged. 

"Rieka-"

"You have been good to me, family Cersei." Rieka reminded her. "So I'm giving you this courtesy now, dont fight me on this." Rickon took a hesitant step back, but Rieka was always fearless. 

"Mother I'm the king." TOmmen agreed. "I make the rules, the decisions." Cersei's gaze shifted to Tommen. "If Rieka wants to hear this dragon woman and her pleas-"

"Jon. I dont care about Daenerys." Rieka assured. "But Jon is my brother." Rieka demanded Cersei. "He is my blood. Mine." 

"It is useless you realize, they will want you to bend the knee." Cersei remarked. 

"Not yet." Rieka corrected. 

"But you will? You will give up the throne? Just like that?" Cersei hissed. "I thought you were stronger than that. I thought you were-"

"The queen." Rieka agreed. "I am the queen, Cersei. Not you anymore and we are agreeing to meet Jon. Hear them out, Jon wouldnt come here if he didnt think what he was doing was right." Rieka declared. Cersei clenched her jaw, staring daggers back at Rieka, the men in the room knew better than to speak up. "Well?" 

"You are the queen." Cersei agreed after a silent moment. Cersei took a step forward, her heels clicking on the ground, she breathed the same breath as Rieka now. "Don't you dare get my son killed." 

"Dont you know me at all by now Cersei?" Rieka countered. "I protect my family."

"I dont want you blinded by your blood." Cersei countered. 

"I won't- we," Rieka corrected looking to Tommen. "We won't agree to anything until we have discussed it. We are not bending, we are not breaking, we are hearing what Jon has to say." 

"Fine." Cersei agreed. 

"It's cute that you thought I was asking your permission." Rieka remarked as she turned around. "I am the queen now Cersei. I dont need anyone's permission."