A Lion's Heart [Game Of Thrones] [Robb Stark]

I - Northern Weather

The carriage that held the queen bumped along the road slower than she would have liked. Queen Cersei Barathenon herself was much like the northern weather: cold, distant, and unfeeling. She kept an annoyed temperament most times, but especially on this wretched day. 

Cersei wished many times over that it could be Jaime sat across from her for the long journey instead of her pestering half-sister, Lyra. Lyra, Lyra, Lyra. She was persistent, worse even than young Myrcella and Tommen.

Do you suppose it snows often in Winterfell? How far North are we now? How far from the Wall? What do you suppose is on the other side of the Wall? Do you really believe there is land that far North, or do you suppose the world really just ends right there?

Cersei neither knew the answer to any of Lyra's questions nor did she care.

Isn't the snow beautiful?

Cersei did not find the snow beautiful. She thought it was cold and awful and it made her want to tell the driver to turn the carriage around that instant and ride back to King's Landing. She pulled her shawl closer and shivered just at the thought of it. She had none of the same appreciation for the North that the younger lioness possessed. In fact, she was quite over it already, and they had not yet arrived in Winterfell.

Myrcella rested her head against her aunt's shoulder, an act that made Cersei's eyes flare with jealousy. Her children were her only reprieve, and they were hers. Only hers. She wrapped an arm around Tommen as her rebuttal move in this game.

A game Lyra was not aware they were playing.

The carriage rocked and rattled along the path steadily as they grew closer to their destination. Cersei took this time to study her half-sibling carefully as the girl tended to her niece.

Lyra had no children of her own, though she was certainly old enough. Her family was too afraid that the fragile girl would break from the pressure.

Sometimes Cersei wished they would let her try. Just for an experiment.

The girl leaned out of the window and called to her older brother. Cersei's Jaime. "Are we nearly there?"

"Nearly," he answered. Cersei could hear the easy joy in his voice, and it made her frown. It seemed everyone was fond of the young lion, save the queen herself. It was aggravating, to say the least.

Just when Cersei was about at her breaking point, the King's party had finally made it to Winterfell.

In rode the Lannister and Barathenon banners. Next was Cersei's eldest son Joffrey, the heir to the Iron Throne. Cersei would make sure that one day he would sit upon it. Behind him rode the Hound, the boy's bodyguard. Then Cersei's beloved twin brother Jaime, the Kingslayer. The red carriage holding the Queen's inner circle was next, thank the Gods. Bringing up the rear was the King, Robert Barathenon.

Finally, they had arrived. Never did Cersei think she would be excited to see Winterfell, of all places. However, after that ride, she was just happy she would soon be free of the carriage.

Lord Eddard Stark and his family were lined up and ready to meet the King. When he stepped down from his horse, the people bowed.

"Your Grace."

Robert regarded Lord Stark with a long stare before finally stating, "You've got fat."

The surrounding people were silent. Ned gave the King a look that said, "Look who's talking", to which Robert let out a loud guffaw. They embraced as only best friends could while the tension seemed to physically dissipate from the air.