Not Just a Kingslayer

Chapter 8

Cersei was waiting when they arrived at her chambers, a small smile playing across her lips as she thought about her plans. Jaime noticed it and tightened his grip on Daena; luckily he still had one good hand. He knows me so well, Cersei thought, he ought to just give up his act already. He must see that we belong together, he's never ignored it before.

"Your Grace, you look stunning this evening. Thank you for inviting us to have dinner with you."

"Thank you so much, you look beautiful as well, Daena. And it was my pleasure to invite my brother and his new bride to dinner. We really should get to know each other better seeing as we are now, shall we say, competing for his attention. Isn't that right, brother?" The corner of her mouth turned up in a smirk. Only a minute they've been here, and I've already had an opportunity to start. Perhaps this dinner won't be so bad after all.

"Sister," Jaime said in the flat voice that Cersei knew he used when trying to control himself,"what are you doing? Trying to scare my lady wife? I don't think that's necessary, I'm sure she's already heard enough stories about you for that."

Cersei heard the undercurrent of his words, especially on the 'what are you doing?'; she always knew what her twin was truly saying, it came from their days at the Rock when people were always trying to separate them. "Oh, don't you worry one bit, brother." She knew he would catch her meaning just as easily as she had his.

Meanwhile, Daena was watching the twins' banter uncomfortably. They looked practiced at not only annoying each other, but also at understanding things only meant for them. Why couldn't I just have a normal husband, without a crazy twin who might also be his lover for gods' sake?

"Come, have a seat, you two! You make me look like a terrible hostess." Daena and Jaime sat down across from Cersei. "Now what do you think of Tommen, Daena? Isn't he a nice boy? Not what one would expect from a Lannister after hearing the stories, no doubt." Cersei added a light laugh for effect.

"Well it must be the Baratheon in him. I haven't heard quite so many stories about their family as yours. Either way, much is turning out as I hadn't expected here."

"Well that is how things are usually, aren't they? Nothing ever turns out as expected. Especially when one plays the game of thrones...and I suppose you're right, perhaps it would be the Baratheon in him, although he doesn't look it. I've always thought he looked a lot like Jaime. Not nearly as much as Joffrey did though." She smiled sadly. "He was a strong one, like his father."

By now, it was Jaime who was looking on uncomfortably. What in seven hells is she doing? How could this possibly help her? He glared at Cersei. "Yes, King Robert was strong, without a doubt, sweet sister, but let us not get hung up on the past tonight."

"Why Jaime, I was only reminiscing about my son, I do have a right to be sad after that little monster killed him at his own wedding. He was your own nephew, and you didn't seem nearly sad enough when you came to see him afterwards," Cersei said, smirking when she caught her twin's reaction.

Daena inhaled sharply, and they turned to her. "I'm feeling a little hot in here, would you mind if I went to get some fresh air for a moment, Your Grace?"

"Not at all," Cersei said sweetly,"take your time."

Daena rushed away and made sure they could hear her going down the hallway, then crept back as quietly as she could to the door. She contented herself with listening, because if she tried to look around the door one of them would surely see her. She heard them talking and waited, nearly holding her breath with anticipation.

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"What in seven hells do you think you're doing, sister?" Jaime burst out as soon as they heard Daena's steps recede down the corridor. "Are you out of your mind?"

Cersei placed a pale finger against his lips. "Shhh brother, or they'll hear you all the way at the Wall. I'm simply having a bit of fun. Enjoy it, it'll make your whore last a little longer."

"I told you, Cersei, no harm is to come to her. And she's not a whore! If anyone is, it's you."

She slapped him across the face, her ring biting deep into his skin and leaving a scratch. "How dare you? I am the Queen!"

"We had this conversation before, sister. And as our lord father once said,''Anyone who must say,'I am the King,' is no true king.'' I think it goes for queens too."

She slapped him again, even harder than the first time.

He smiled ruefully. "And to make my point, I recall a conversation I once had with our dear brother Tyrion. He told me you were a lying whore, and you had been fucking Lancel and Ser Osmund and Moon Boy for all he knew. And you presume to be the one to slap me?"

"And when, pray tell, did this conversation take place? Tyrion was locked up for most of the time since you got back," she said icily.

I hope to the gods that you never find out, sweet sister. "A man can't speak to his brother before his sister tries to have him killed?"

Suddenly, they hear a yelp from the doorway and Daena falls to the floor in front of it.

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Daena was hanging on every word. She hadn't heard evidence of the rumors yet, but this conversation was turning out to be even more interesting. Suddenly, a voice whispered in her ear,"Spying on the Lannister twins, is it? Not many of my people are so daring. I could offer you a job." She yelped and fell to the floor in front of the doorway, looking up at her assailant. She didn't recognize him. "Are you alright," he asked, looking amused while he helped her up.

"Quite," she replied, dusting herself off. She heard rapid footsteps coming from within the room, and turned to see Jaime coming closer. Well two can play his game, she thought, stepping closer to the unknown man, their arms bumping against each other. She heard his slight chuckle before she said,"Hello, Kingslayer, did you miss me while I was gone? I suppose not, I'm sure your sister was plenty of company."

"I did miss you, as a matter of fact, although my sister is never short of...interesting. Hello, Littlefinger. Back so soon?"

Cersei joined them. "I'm surprised to see you, Lord Baelish. I'd heard you were coming back but who knew you would make the journey so quickly? Or come straight to my quarters?" She said this last with a raised eyebrow and a pointed stare.

"Well it's a good thing I was over here. I've never met you before, my lady," he spoke to Daena.

"My name is Daena, my lord."

"You remind me of somebody I knew very well a long time ago, my lady Daena. She too had lovely auburn hair."

"Ah," Cersei said,"Lady Catelyn Stark. It's such a shame she had to die so horrifically. And at a wedding too. You'd better watch out, brother, Lord Baelish still carries a torch for the late Lady Catelyn. You wouldn't want him to steal your wife away from you." Although perhaps I would. Hmmm...

"Well I'd heard you knew the orchestrator of that little debacle, Your Grace. You're right, it was a shame."

"Why I'd forgotten how...annoying...you are, Lord Baelish."

Littlefinger went on his way and the rest of the evening passed without any more excitement. Soon Jaime and Daena left, and Cersei went back to her plan-making.