The Lion and the Lioness Square Off

[Red Keep]

"As you can see, my Lord. Bandits are constantly at my doorstep, demanding grain and taking m daughter whenever they like, I need help!"

Cersei watched her brother sit on the Iron Throne, doing her sons job like he was the King himself. That amongst others is the reason she has begun plotting against him, he trots around and giving orders, telling people to do what he wants them to, it irritates her to no end and she constantly hopes it ends soon.

"Of course I will. Damon." Her brother called forth their cousin, his beard getting bigger by the day. "Obviously this man and his daughter are in danger, they need assistance. Bring them and their stocks, their crops and possessions into the city." He declared and the generous offer was approved by most if only they saw the motive of stealing the meat and grain of a farmer. The court was dismissed and the Hand of the King stood to his feet and offered her his hand, she brushed it off and the two walked together.

"You should have let Joffrey do this, he is King." She stated and her brother turned to her and looked back to the Iron Throne.

"Are you sure it's that? or maybe, you only wish you sat upon the throne and gave judgment." He wasn't entirely false, she knew where her ambitions lie, and all those years of scraping as Roberts wife, she wanted to be King. A Queen can only do so much that men can, women in this world could only hope for a good match but she hated that, she wanted power. "Though I feel that soon my time will end, and hopefully I will get what I really want." She stopped and put a hand on his shoulder and the brother turned to her.

"What do you want? Isn't it enough that you are Hand. The second most powerful man in the Kingdoms, or third since our father is the real Hand." Her words cut deep at the end, she needed him to know that all the power he has will fade once their father returns to the city, and her littlest brother will simply be as he was, just an errand boy begging for approval that he will never truly have.

"If you want to say something, then say it!" He got to the point and she would oblige.

"Myrcella.. " trailed the Queen and watched her brother sigh and shake his head at it, "You and Tyrion sent her away, my daughter! And yet once I begged you not to the two of you simply said it was for her safety! What is safe for a Baratheon in Dorne, she is in more danger than ever!" She ranted and her brother's expression didn't move an inch, and it unnerved and angered her.

"She is marrying Trystane to get House Martell's cooperation. She was born for this and so were you when father gave you to Robert, maybe she might actually take to the boy unlike you- " Her hand acted on its own before another accursed word oozed from his mouth, she then stormed away but not before he grabbed her hand and pushed her against one of the pillars of the throne room, a hand upon her throat, his face centered close to her own and glared at her. "Let go of me!" She hissed and his grip only became tighter, though not so much that she was choking.

"Do you think I or our brothers didn't want to avenge you? When Robert would assault you day and night, drunk! You are my sister and I would murder the man if he yet lived." His words were etched is stern voice but his emotion carried them, his hand loosened and he stepped back, "If I am wrong, and the Martells harm my niece... I will ensure they join Elia in the Seven Hells." He left after that and she was shaken, anger is the Lions greatest weapon along with its mind and teeth, and she had seen her brother use all at the same time.

She wandered the castle for the remainder of the day and would stroke her neck, remembering the hand that tightened around it. She doesn't fear many, any but her father, but that moment of ferocity in the throne room caused her worry. Loren Lannister is a dangerous person, and having one so dangerous can put her and her children in grave danger despite his words about familial care towards her but that's what it was when he was born.

It was three months before her mother had passed from this world. She was a woman grown along with Jaime, Tyrion was still a young child, and Loren, Loren was a sound babe. He never truly cried and when he did, he was hungry. She was caring to him, that was her baby brother, the youngest lion and her personal favorite besides Jaime, Tyrion was more close to her twin than her. It wasn't until her mother died that she became even more motherly, she didn't bare him but cared for him anyway, she would see him every day and once every night, he was a happy child.

But then she was married to Robert and the abuses turned her from a cheerful and dreamful woman to a bitter and hateful one, only concerned for her children and her power, Loren was slowly forgotten as she never bothered to write him and one day it all stopped and then the Greyjoy Rebellion happened and her 'husband' went away and with Jaime, she was left with an unborn Myrcella. Years later came to the Tourney of Highgarden and her brother changed, he was stern and quiet, obvious traits taught by their father. Her baby brother soon became cold.

A sigh from her lips came as she turned back to her chambers, she needs a rest after the events of today.

The next day she went to see Tyrion and asked how the defenses are going. With the remaining fleet and 2,000 soldiers heading to Dragonstone, that left only 10,800 men within the city. Another 500 men have been conscripted to the Gold Cloaks and that decreased the number of homeless urchins on the cities streets below. She thanked him for keeping her informed and was going to leave before the second born son spoke out to her.

"I heard about yesterday. He had no right to touch you like that." She turned to the Imp, his expression was genuine as was his tone of voice.

"So you do care? He is like Joffrey, despite him saying otherwise. He will do what he likes to." She uttered before leaving and accidentally bumping into a handmaiden, never saw her before. "You are new?" She nodded and scurried away without a word, she sighed and went on her way as well with her guards following close behind. It was later that night when she called for her children and Lady Sansa to dine with her, her son hadn't taken his uncles teachings well, he complained about mostly everything and she couldn't agree more, Loren has no right to command.

As for Tommen, Loren also took hold and had the child become his squire for a time, teaching him how to fight and ride. He doesn't need it as she stated to her brother, demanding that he stops and Loren said that every Prince should wield a sword or ride a horse or squire for someone, he needs to grow. Yet another thing she hates about Loren coming to King's Landing.

"So how was your day, little dove?" She asked her ward, Sansa jumped at the question like she was being attacked. Most likely trauma from the riot that went on after seeing Myrcella off, though the soldiers of her brother put it down fast, having so many soldiers in the city will do that. As for the Stark, she was close to being raped if not for the Hound saving her.

"It was eventful, your grace. I spent the day in the gardens." Joffrey scoffed away at the girl who was still his betrothed. Sansa frowned at the comment he said.

"Stupid girl. You always spend time in the gardens, should I make you the royal gardener once I have Robb's head?" His words were cruel, even for herself but the fact remains, Robb Stark in the west, Renly in the south, and Stannis too it seemed. "Uncle Loren is grating my last nerve, mother. If only kinslaying wasn't a taboo." She turned her surprised eyes onto her son, would he do such a thing, to his own kin for that matter.

"Lets, let us simply enjoy our meals. Enough talk of gardens and Loren." She beckoned and Joffrey sighed out of boredom and continued eating his meal, a deer this time.

Three days pass on when she and the remaining members of the Small Council come to the council chambers and it was awkward between her and Loren, he didn't flinch when looking at her, no remorse for closely assaulting her in the throne room. She simply took a seat next to her son and Loren got the daily news within the city out of the way before nodding for Varys to speak.

"Just yesterday, in the night had Renly been assassinated. The Tyrells fled away and the Stormlord's flocked to Stannis." Loren's face became stone as he sighed in disappointment.

"Stannis now has an army to fight on both water and land, but if Wilhelm had succeeded, we might not have to fight the Lord of Dragonstone."

She sat in shock, happy mostly that they won't have to fight 100,000 men and instead just a mere 30,000 with a fleet. She hopes her plans with the Wildfire are enough to fight the Stag back.