𝐈𝐍𝐅𝐄𝐑𝐍𝐀𝐋 || 𝐉𝐚𝐢𝐦𝐞 𝐋𝐚𝐧𝐧𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫

Chapter 6

As Cersei looked me up and down, I squirmed in my seat, wishing I could be anywhere else but here. She arched a perfectly sculpted eyebrow at me and I avoided her gaze.

"Are you frightened, little dove?" she asked, her tone held a mixture of elegance and sardonic pride.

I swallowed before meeting her emerald green eyes, not answering her question. She smiled at me but it felt fake as she sat her glass of wine down on the table.

"No need for that, my dear. I only asked you here to talk - woman to woman," she spoke, leaning back in her chair, "Of course, I'm more than a woman - I'm a mother."

"And as a mother," she continued, I have to look out for my children and make they're safe - that no one can hurt them. But being Queen as well makes my job that much harder. I have to make sure that their intended is a good match for them as well as the Kingdom."

Anxiety rose up inside me as I thought back to yesterday in the garden with Joffrey. And how I had slapped him. Cersei looked down her nose at me and I closed my eyes briefly, preparing for the worst.

"That is why I regret to inform you, Lady Joan, that you will not be the betrothed of my son, Prince Joffrey, any longer," she said.

My cocoa-brown eyes snapped to hers as she started to speak once more.

"It seems as if the King has decided that your sister, the Lady Sansa, will be a better match for him." her eyes watched me closely as she spoke.

I could barely contain my joy as her words sank in. I wouldn't have to marry Joffrey! After that, Her Highness released me from her chambers and as I walked through the stone corridors, it felt like a huge weight had been lifted off my shoulders. I would no longer be the future Queen of King's Landing, no longer would I soon be a Baratheon - and I couldn't be happier. A grin found itself on my face as I walked, thoughts of my future now not as bleak as before.

Suddenly, my body slammed into that of another. I stepped back abruptly, looking up to see who I'd run into. A familiar smirk made me blush crimson.

"My lady, we have to stop meeting like this," Jaime smiled down at me," I assumed your audience with the Queen would have lasted longer."

"I thought so as well, Ser, but apparently I am no longer to wed the Prince. Isn't that wonderful news?" I said gleefully.

My hand flew to my mouth and I blushed again, this time from embarrassment.

"I apologize, Ser Jaime, I should not have said that. It was wildly inappropriate of me," I said, looking down at my shoes.

He chuckled then, making my gaze flicker back to his.

"It is alright, my lady. I, too, understand what it is like to have to be around the Prince," he said, his soft masculine voice holding a tinge of amusement.

I smiled gratefully as he continued.

"Although, I, of all people, should not think such things,"

I cocked my head.

"Because your Prince Joffrey's uncle?" I asked and I thought I saw him grimace slightly.

"Something like that." he smiled sadly.

Before we parted ways, Jaime leaned down and placed a chaste kiss on my hand before I began the walk back to my room. As I walked, I brushed my fingertips over the back of my hand that Jaime had pressed his lips against. Biting my lip, I remembered the soft warmth of them. I was so lost in my own thoughts that as I passed by the open doorway leading to the gardens, I barely noticed my father standing out there talking to Queen Cersei. But the snippets of their words drifted to me, stopping me in my tracks. Those horrible words would keep me awake that night.

"Jaime and I are more than brother and sister, we shared a womb, came into this world together, we belong together."