The Stag Queen (on hiatus)

Five Years: Day Three

Cersei felt many things, but one feeling was more prominent than the others: anger. Some were towards her idiot of a husband for not seeing their daughter's plan from the start, some were at her daughter for tricking her husband in the first place, and the rest were on herself for not seeing it fast enough. Cersei knew her daughter better than most. She should have seen the mischievous look that she held and known that the minute her stupid husband said she could have whatever she wanted, she would use it to her advantage in the worst way. Now, Cersei had to worry about her daughter fighting in a tourney that she had no business entering. Cassana was headstrong and stubborn. She wanted what she wanted and would do whatever she could to get it, and that infuriated Cersei to no end, mainly because her daughter was exactly like her, and she knew she would pay for it. So Cersei, with as much restraint as she possesses, calmly walks towards her eldest chambers in hopes of convincing her to change her mind, and if that doesn't work, she is willing to beg her daughter. Cersei approaches her daughter's door, and just as she is about to knock, the door opens, revealing her daughter dressed in her outfit for the day.

"Mother? What are you doing here?" Cassana looked at her Mother, confused as to why she was at her door and not with her brothers and sister at their lessons or with her ladies. "I thought we could spend some time together, little dove." Cassana looked at her Mother unconvincingly before nodding, shutting her door, and holding her arm out for her Mother since she was to lead. "Well, I must welcome some of the lords that arrive today and prepare for the rest tomorrow per Father's instruction. There will be a small errand before that, so are you sure?" Cersei smiles at her daughter and how mature she is and takes her arm. "Lead the way, my love." Cassana smiles and leads her Mother through the many halls of the Red Keep before they reach their first destination, the kitchens.

Cersei was confused about why they were there but kept quiet as they made their way through a few doors until they reached where all the cooks were preparing meals for the day. At the door's opening, only a few turned to see who had entered the room, and when they did, they were stunned before bowing, which made others turn and do the same. "Your graces, we apologize for the mess." Cassana smiled at the older woman who spoke and left her Mother's side to help the woman up. "Rhea, what have I told you about the formalities? Please don't hurt your back more than it already is, especially for me." Cassana holds the woman's hands as she helps her stand and then pulls her in for a hug. Rhea is the head cook for the kitchen staff and someone Cassana considers a friend. Cassana visits when she can and asks about her family and health. Cersei was surprised at how familiar her daughter was with the older woman and the others in the room; as she also said hello to them, she was pulled from her thoughts as her daughter called her name. "Mother, I'd like to introduce you to Rhea. She helps me with the little errand I mentioned earlier."

Cersei walks toward her daughter and smiles at the woman before holding her hand out for the woman to take, which makes Cassana roll her eyes but continues introducing the two women. "Are the baskets ready, or do you still need help?" Rhea smiles at the princess before leading her to a table filled with baskets full of bread and some fruits wrapped in a cloth to keep them fresh. Cassana smiles while Cersei looks confused at what she is looking at. "Rhea, you've outdone yourself this time!" Cassana runs to the table, then turns back to the older woman and hugs her. "This is perfect, just perfect. Ser Allan, please bring me Ser Barristan, please." The guard nods to the princess while Cersei looks to her daughter for an explanation for her excitement. "I asked Rhea to use the extra food left over after we eat and give it to the people in the flea bottom, along with some fresh bread and fruit." Cersei looks at her daughter, surprised as she hadn't expected her to have done something like this, let alone organize it to this extent. "We've been doing this for a few months now, and I think it has been helping."