B L O O M

Sisterless

     "Father!" Screamed Rose, sprinting into the hall of Casterly Rock.  Her pale lavender dress flowing as she ran as fast as her three-year-old legs could handle.

Her bare feet running across the cold stone floor to her father's chair, not caring that his soldiers were in the room. The other children of Tywin, who already stood off to the side of the room, looked at each other in distress.

      "What's wrong sweetling?" Tywin asks, alarmed as his youngest flings herself into his arms while sobbing uncontrollably.

   "Dismissed." Jaime ordered promptly, making everyone in the room quickly file out. Tywin glances around the room until all of the people in the hall had left except for his other three children, who approach their baby sister and father.

   "What's wrong little lion?" Asks Tyrion's gentle voice as he extends a hand until it reaches the quaking form of Rose.

   "Did someone harm you?" Questioned Cersei harshly as she gazed at her sibling with pure adoration and protectiveness.

    "I shall make them pay for whatever they have done to you!" Screams Jaime, already thinking over what he would do when he found whoever made her cry. Angry at himself for not protecting his favorite sibling, other than Cersei of course.

     "Why did you not tell me Cersei is marrying the king and leaving me?" Questioned the heartbroken girl as she finally released her hold on her father to look at her family.

    Her chocolate eyes holding sorrow as tears continued to flow undisturbed down her blotchy cheeks, her strawberry hair sticking to her soaked skin. 

     As the Lannister family realized the meaning of the youngest's words, Jaime, Cersei and Tyrion froze while Tywin's hold on his daughter's shaking form tightened.

     "My cub how do you know this?" Tywin asked as he looked at his daughter, his gentle eyes hiding the anger.

     They had planned on telling her about Cersei's marriage to King Robert Baratheon soon, but they had been hesitant because of Rose's love for Cersei and feared her reaction.

       Rose had immediately become fascinated with swords and bows like Jaime after her second birthday, much to Tywin's disappointment. Her knowledge and love for books she shared with Tyrion, who she relentlessly loved despite him being a dwarf. But despite the close relationship she had with the two boys, she had a special bond with Cersei because Cersei raised her in a way the two boys couldn't.

      Cersei had stepped up and raised Rose as if she was her own, only allowing the wet nurses to breastfeed the littlest lion. Cersei and Rose were so close that it even took a while before Cersei let Jaime hold her, let alone Tyrion who Cersei still believed murdered her mother.

   Cersei always supported little Rose as she eagerly read thousands of books and trained with Jaime, despite Tywin's hesitance little Rose always persisted. But Cersei was always there, if Rose ever needed to set down her bow and pick up a needle or if she needed a shoulder to cry upon.

      While Rose held a strong bond with all of her family, she always knew that Cersei would do anything for her and vice versa.

     "I overheard my septa talking about her marrying the king and moving to king's landing," spoke Rose, her gentle voice shaking, "tell me it isn't true!" Her gentle voice turning into a scream as she escaped her father's grasp to instead cling to her sister's gown.

     "I'm afraid that it is true Rosie." Confirmed Jaime as he pried Rose off of his twin's dress, opting to lift her up and rest her on his hip. Rose looked into his green eyes, tearing up in disbelief.

     "No."

"I'm sorry Rose, but I received a raven from the young King himself for one of my daughter's hand in marriage. Seeing as Cersei is due for a husband and you are but a child, I asked her. We were planning on telling you soon." Stated Tywin as he stood closer to the cluster of his children.

   "I'm upset as well, my Rose. I promise that you will still see me and Jaime, if he accompanies me. I'll send a raven the morrow after I begin my travels to King's Landing if you wish." Reassured Cersei.

"Jaime can't go too. Who will train me? I don't want you to leave." Rose yelled as she sobbed. Prompting Cersei who took Rose out of Jaime's arms to hold her close.

"I promise it will be okay, my Rose." Cersei swore, swaying back and forth to calm the distressed child.

    "Promise?" Asked little Rose. The sadness in her eyes joined by fragile trust, hope and love.

      "I owe you as much. I swear to pay you back for everything you've done for me, little cub." Spoke Cersei, determined to fulfill her promise to her baby sister.

    "Believe her little Rose," jested Tyrion, "A Lannister always pays their debts."