Asoiaf: I Have a Wolverine Template

Chapter 12

Chapter 12: Ladies of the West
...
Joanna Lannister POV

Two thousand feet atop Casterly Rock, the wind carried the salt of the nearby sea, and I sat in a quiet courtyard garden, watching my son and daughter spar with small wooden swords.

Cersei's progress had been remarkable over the past few moons. Her strikes were sharp, her movements swift. She had even started sewing with patience, something I had feared might never come. My unruly little girl had turned a corner, causing less mischief, showing more restraint.

What pleased me most was how she'd grown apart from Jaime. Not too long ago, when I asked if she wanted to share a room with him again, as they had when they were younger, she'd flatly refused. It surprised me, but I was relieved.

My efforts to keep them separate, to stop the troubling closeness between them, seemed to be working. She was growing, maturing.

And yet, there was still a shadow in my heart. Lately, Cersei had been talking nonstop about a hooded man—a strange figure she claimed had took her out of casterly and they went to the beach, or Lannisport, or some "playground."

All fantasies, of course, but at nearly eight years old, I had hoped she would have grown past such tales. If this continues, I may have to take firmer steps. I can't allow her to lose herself in childish dreams.

The sharp clack of wood breaking my thoughts pulled my gaze back to the yard. Jaime had dropped his sword, his small fists clenched in frustration, while Cersei stood beaming triumphantly, unladylike but radiant in her joy. For a moment, she was wild and free, her golden hair tangled in the breeze as she laughed, while Jaime, stubborn as ever, snatched up his wooden sword and charged back into the fray.

I couldn't help but smile. They were my children—my precious twins—and seeing them like this, so full of life, filled me with a deep sense of love and pride.

A sudden kick from within my belly made me look down. I placed my hand over the swell, feeling the strong movement beneath my skin. "Now, now," I whispered to the child I carried. "Don't be jealous. I'll love you just as much when you arrive." My voice softened into a lullaby as I stroked my growing belly.

A servant approached quietly, bowing before offering me a letter sealed with the lion sigil. I opened it to find Tywin's familiar writing. His words were brief but welcome—he would be returning next moon, having been granted leave from King's Landing in time for the birth. For once, Aerys had allowed it.

I set the letter aside, my hand resting protectively over my unborn child. My thoughts shifted, lighter now, as I watched Cersei and Jaime continue their sparring. Laughter echoed in the courtyard, filling the air with joy.

For a moment, everything felt right. Peaceful. I closed my eyes, breathing in the scent of the sea and the earth, letting myself believe—just for a little while—that this happiness could last.
...
Maria POV

In Richard solar of the Lionheart mansion, I sat with my daughter, poring over the endless stacks of documents that kept the family's business running. The weight of it all felt crushing at times, and I couldn't help but marvel at how Richard managed it. How did he carry this burden, lead the family, and keep track of every detail without succumbing to the pressure?

Thankfully, I wasn't alone in this. Alicent, along with her friends Sharra and Rosa, had become my constant companions, assisting with the paperwork. The previous madam of the brothel I once worked at had taught me how to read and speak with elegance, skills I'd passed down to them. I used to be one of the best, able to coax information out of merchants and lords, but those days were behind me. I didn't look back anymore, not with Alicent to brighten my world.