Asoiaf: I Have a Wolverine Template

Chapter 10

Chapter 10: I can fix her
...
Richard POV

The night air clung to me as I scaled the cliffs of Casterly Rock, the sea breeze biting at my skin. The wind carried the salty tang of the ocean, but I barely noticed it. My focus was fixed on the climb, each movement precise as my adamantium claws carved into the rock. This ascent would have been impossible for most, but for me, it was second nature—an effortless journey to the balcony above.

Once I reached the top, I paused, glancing around to ensure I was alone before pulling myself over the ledge. The room beyond was dim, lit only by the flicker of a few candles. The shadows danced lazily across the stone walls, casting long, uneven shapes, but my attention was drawn to the small figure sitting in the corner.

Cersei. A little girl with golden hair, her wide green eyes—so much like mine—lifted toward me as soon as I entered. Her pout was evident, her small lips pressed into a frown, and guilt tugged at my chest. I had been away too long, too busy with my own family, my growing responsibilities. I hadn't been able to visit her like I should have.

Quietly, I crossed the room, my steps soundless. I set my leather bag down on the small table, unpacking the plate and utensils with care. From within, I pulled out the pancakes I had brought, their warmth still clinging to them. As I drizzled honey over the stack, the sweet scent filled the air, and I saw her expression shift. The frown melted away, replaced by a smile that lit up her face.

"Pancakes!" she squealed, her earlier annoyance forgotten as she darted toward me, reaching eagerly for the plate.

"Here you go," I said, handing it to her. Her excitement was pure, untainted, and I couldn't help but smile as she hurried back to her bed, settling in with the plate on her lap. She dug into the pancakes, her small hands working quickly, and for a moment, the room was filled only with the sound of her eating.

But as I watched her, the joy I felt was bittersweet. Beneath it all, the weight of my decision pressed down on me. Three moons ago, I had almost killed her. I'd come here ready to stop the future John Falcon had shown me—a future where this innocent child would become a cruel, manipulative queen, one who would bring ruin to countless lives.

But when I saw her, this small girl with fear in her eyes, I couldn't do it. I had hesitated, and that hesitation changed everything.

Instead of taking her life, I made a different choice. I decided to try to mold her into someone better, someone who wouldn't grow into the woman I had seen in Falcon's memories. I wasn't naive—I knew how dangerous this could be. But I was good with kids. I had learned that from years of taking care of Alicent and others in my family. Hundreds of them, really. And children, in their innocence, were easy to guide.

So, I began visiting her regularly. I brought her food from John Falcon's world—pancakes quickly became her favorite. At first, she was wary of me, scared of the stranger who appeared in the night. But the food won her over. Slowly, she started opening up to me. Children are easy to fool when you give them what they want.

Each week, on the seventh night, I would come. We'd have dessert, and then we'd spar. She was quick, stronger than most would expect for her age. She even bragged about besting her brother, Jaime, in practice. I could see the potential in her—the same potential that could turn her into something dark, but also, with enough guidance, into something better.

My methods were working. Little by little, I was steering her away from the path Falcon had shown me. She was still just a child, after all, and children could be shaped, changed.

For now, I had time.

I was still deep in thought when Cersei suddenly piped up, her voice cutting through the silence. "I finished eating. Now let's duel!" She hopped off the bed, placing her plate on the table with a clatter.