Silver Stag

You Win Or You Die

[King's Landing - Gardens]

Ned was sitting by himself in the gardens and appeared to be waiting for someone. Cersei then entered, walking up to him.

"You're in pain."

Ned used his cane to slowly stand.

"I've had worse, my lady."

"Perhaps it's time to go home. The South doesn't seem to agree with you."

"I know the truth Jon Arryn died for."

"Do you, Lord Stark? Is that why you called me here, to pose me riddles?"

Ned noticed the bruise still on Cersei's cheek.

"Has he done this before?" He indicated to the bruise.

"Jaime would have killed him. My brother is worth a thousand of your friend."

"Your brother....or your lover?"

Cersei realized the implication he was making and smirked, causing Ned to realize he was right.

"The Targaryens wed brothers and sisters for 300 years to keep bloodlines pure. Jaime and I are more than brother and sister. We shared a womb. We came into this world together. We belong together." Cersei spoke proudly.

"My son saw you with him.

There was a long pause as Cersei regarded Ned shrewdly.

"Do you love your children?" Cersei asked.

"With all my heart."

"No more than I love mine."

"And all but your eldest are Jaime's."

Cersei laughed. "Thank the Gods. In the rare event that Robert leaves his whores for long enough to stumble drunk into my bed, I finish him off in other ways. In the morning, he doesn't remember."

"You've alwys hated him..."

"Hated him? I worshiped him! Every girl in the Seven Kingdoms dreamed of him, but he was mine by oath. And when I finally saw him on our wedding day in the Sept of Baelor, lean and fierce and black-bearded, it was the happiest moment of my life. Then that night he crawled on top of me, stinking of wine and did what he did, what little he could do, and whispered in my ear, "Lyanna". Your sister was a corpse and I was a living girl and he loved her more than me."

"When the King returns from his hunt, I'll tell him the truth. You must be gone by then - you and your children. I will not have their blood on my hands. Go as far away as you can, with as many men as you can. Because wherever you go, Robert's wrath will follow you."

"And what of my wrath, Lord Stark? You should have taken the realm for yourself. Jaime told me about the day King's Landing fell: he was sitting in the Iron Throne and you made him give it up. All you needed to do was climb the steps yourself. Such a sad mistake."

"I've made many mistakes in my life, but that wasn't one of them."

"Oh, but it was. When you play the game of thrones, you win or you die. There is no middle ground."

Cersei left, Ned watching her go, a wary look on his face.

Little did he know, a certain Princess and her friend were hiding, watching.