Taywin the Lioness

A Younger Cersei

I rounded the corner and down the hall, my heels clicking off the stone as my handmaidens and ladies in waiting struggled to keep in step with my long strides, many had said that my height was a gift from my uncle. He was the best knight I knew, I trusted him more than anyone for it was uncle Jamie who had taught me everything, from fighting to horseback riding.

I was going to see Lord Arryn, or should I say the late Hand of King Robert the first of his name. Lord Arryn and I were close, like two peas in a pod. I stepped into the throne room where his body was, this might have been the hardest time in my life so far, the Silent Sisters were praying the same prayer that had sent other souls on to the afterlife. I had only hoped that Lord Arryn had not been sent to one of the Seven Hells. I waved my hand to the handmaidens and ladies in waiting, they followed me everywhere but knew not to tempt a Lannister or Baratheon. No one wanted to ever step on the lion's toes.

When the hens were gone I stepped forward to Jon Arryn's corpse, cold and stinking of death. The best teacher I had when it came to academics, I never did trust Grand Maester Pycelle, always to reassuring that one. But Lord Arryn was my friend; I told him my heart's desire, I learned from him and saw in his eyes that I was the daughter he never had, and he was the father that had been taken away from me.

I love my Father but he never says much to me unless he's drunk, or he's off hunting for whores or boars. Whatever he does he hurts others, in the end, he'd throw mother away for some painted whore. I understand my mother was a cunt at times and whenever she opened her beautiful lips her grandfather's voice came rolling out like a lash, a ceaseless whip ready for victims. 

Standing over Arryn's corpse I gave a small pray out to the Father in hopes that my only father could hear me but I knew it not to be true. . . The dead is dead, nothing will change that.

"Taywin." A small voice spoke from behind me, it was my youngest sibling, Tommen, he was always a softy, the only one besides Myrcella, my little sister. I turned around to find them both standing there, I never did cry in front of anyone, not even Jon Arryn. Weakness was not allowed during court. Anyone who was someone knew that.

They rushed forward and hugged me at the same time leaving me to stroke their golden heads, I always loved their silky hair," What is it?" My voice was just like my Mothers, strong but ladylike and very stern but when it came to my little brother and sister I knew to be nice and caring. I rarely sounded angry unless you say I am.

As Myrcella spoke her sweet voice cracked," Will we ever see Lord Arryn again?"

I patted her long blonde hair," Not in this life Myrcella, but in our own afterlife, we will. There we will be happy and carefree."

Little Tommen the spoke up," How do you know?"

I bent down as best as I could in my tight corset and gazed into younger siblings bright green eyes," I know because I believe, I believe that there is an adventure to be had and a new life beyond, just as you should too." I squeezed them, I knew that we all died but I didn't want to scare the little ones. I let them go but they still looked unconvinced," Come now, you have some afternoon lessons."

They both blurted it at the same time," Who will teach us?"

I smiled softly and made my voice smooth out like when a weary queen lays her head on a feather pillow, relaxing and demanding," I will now step lively with me."

-Cersei-

I watched as my eldest daughter take her younger sibling's small delicate hands and lead them down the throne room, I had been here all morning for as long as I could and hoping not to be seen but he always found me. He could find me among the dark with a candle that will not light or in a crowd of golden heads or a bushel wheat.

I heard his footsteps approach and turned my head for a split second before my eyes locked back into Jon Arryn's cold corpse expecting him to come to life and spout his nonsense.

He came to my right side and leaned on the pillar next to me as I watched over the corpse of the late Hand of the King, my brother breathed out sharply," As your brother, I feel it is my duty to warn you- you're worrying too much, it's starting to show."

I turned to him, he was my twin and was everything to me. My life and my love," What if he told someone. What if he told my husband."

Jamie looked at me and Lord Arryn's dead body," If he had told anyone then our heads would be fixed on the spikes over the city's gates by now. Relax, he didn't tell anyone."

I sighed and shifted my gaze to my eldest daughter again, a ghost of myself walking around the Red Keep, her hair was brighter than any of my children and her eyes even a glimmering green and her tongue sharper. She was my Father all over again. Jamie held my gaze," I remember when we were that young," his eyes met mine, Taywin's eyes," Taywin resembles you in every aspect, Cersei. She is you, all of you and every bit as much like me but she has your beauty."

I laughed softly," She fearless like you and her temper is of our Father's, I would say she is the second Tywin."

My brother snorted," She gets her temper from you, sister. I see what you mean about our Father, though, she will be some battle-axe for any man. Should she be Queen someday I don't think we'll have to worry about the Seven Kingdoms, she'll rule the King and the Kingdom."

I gave him a glare," No man will ever allow a woman to rule them, I hope that she never has to marry a man like Robert."

Jamie chuckled," She won't have to because she will kill him before the wedding night, you forget Cersei. She has your dangerous heart."

"A heart you were able to tame." I looked up to my brother," You should be Hand of the King."

Jamie then became more serious which was unlike him but it quickly disappeared," That is an honor I could do without, their days are too long and their lives are too short."

I smiled at my other half, he was right. Not one Hand of the King lived very long. Age or not.