After the talk with Tywin, Visenya had chosen to retreat early. She knew Tywin would take more time to finish with his work, choosing never to leave them in the middle. She helped him partially but he dismissed her soon after since the rest of the things could easily be handled.
After all, it was merely a few letters sent as a reply and some reports he had to check double; left by Tyrion's lack of organization.
Visenya had asked one of the handmaidens to draw her a bath but dismissed her soon after, wishing to be alone while bathing. She had learnt from a young age to be independent of almost everything, whether it be reading, training, riding, getting ready or even bathing.
She thought the idea of being dependent on someone else, especially for the most basic of notions, was ridiculous. Common folk women did everything just fine on their own, and few were truly rich to have had handmaidens rushing behind them.
She also believed that handmaidens could never truly be trusted, for they could easily be intimidated, bribed or tortured for information. They were often known to gossip and sometimes their loyalty might ally to someone else.
She did not wish to take such risks and was always very closed when it came to any helper she had over the many years she had been alive. Accepting the basic help when needed, she often did things on her own; that proved far more useful on the battlefield as well.
After the bath was done and the water had grown cold, the Dragoness chose to return to her chambers. She doubted Tywin would have returned and she could choose to read a book while waiting since she had yet to receive a reply from her spies in the East.
Visenya chose a simple red dress that she mostly had for when spending time in her chambers or in private. It was made of thin silk, a very light material and quite airy. It fell on her body and offered modesty but also fluidity in her range of motions. The dress had an open neckline and exposed her shoulders while the sleeves stopped halfway through her elbow.
She had pinned her hair up into a messy bun to keep them off the water, having taken care of them the day prior and she did not wish to go into all that trouble of letting them dry. Tywin had often commented that he preferred them being long and she had reached them halfway through her back, which was the maximum length she would allow herself and he accepted it.
She entered her chambers and was surprised to find that she was not alone.
"Cersei," she greeted the Queen Regent and her step-daughter.
The lioness was sitting on one of the armchairs, which she had turned to face the door and was simply waiting for her good-mother to return. She had already made herself scarce to her parents' private wine stock and had filled herself a goblet, which she held in one hand.
"Good-mother," she greeted as she sat a little more relaxed on the armchair as if the chambers were hers and not of the man she was always terrified of. As the Dragoness approached, the Lioness took notice of the markings by the side of her neck and the faint traces lower towards her chest, as well as the bruises around her wrists. "I see father has been busy. No wonder he was in an oddly good mood in the morning."
When Cersei met him early in the morning, he was indeed in a better mood than she had expected him to be. He even went as far as to tell her he would meet Tyrion, which was how she had ended up in his chambers in the first place.
She suspected her father had an equally aggressive or at least dominating nature in bed as well, for it would be unlike him to have any softness whatsoever. However, she knew that those marks were different... different from the ones Robert had given her.
When Robert would get drunk, he would try to have his way with her and even when she fought him off, he would insist. She barely allowed him to finish and impregnate her but the marks on her body remained nonetheless.
In her mind, she could suspect that her father and Robert could be similar in that part of their lives but she quickly killed it with her doubts. No matter who her father was, he would never fall so low as to be like Robert.
She did though wonder if her 'angelic' and 'perfect' good-mother enjoyed it nonetheless. Honestly, Cersei was curious but could never truly understand what kind of relationship those two had.
It was impossible for Tywin to truly show affection and the Dragoness did not seem like the most devoted and caring person either. There was simply more political benefit in staying together than anything else if one would consider that Visenya could no longer produce any heirs for him.
"And I can see that you have thoughts in your mind, most likely want something from me. Otherwise, you wouldn't have come directly to me, risking being found by your father," she said, choosing not to stay on the topic.
Visenya was much aware of the abusive nature of Robert when drunk, having seen the faint marks on Cersei whenever she visited. The lioness had barely confessed to her, trying her hardest to dismiss it and claim it was nothing.
To say that the Dragoness was not pissed would be an understatement, for she had witnessed such behaviour from her brother to their sister, especially in the latest years. She did not truly have any power at the moment to stop him, so all she could do was advise Cersei.
Advised her to make him drunk enough that he could not truly do much and then please him in other ways, to ensure he would get his release and not remember anything the following morning.
Her words had helped Cersei but had also shocked her, not expecting the mighty and 'high-born' Princess to know of such things or tell them so easily. One would think she would do the same to her husband but Tywin was too smart to allow that.
Many would be shocked but only because they would forget that in the end, Visenya was a woman. She knew what she could do with her body and she knew how easily men could be tempted and finished without much work.
After all, her years in 'exile' in Dragonstone had allowed her to travel to Pentos, Essos and other Eastern Cities where she learnt firsthand from women how easily men could be controlled through their carnal desires.
She had learnt all those things in case she would ever end up with a Lord Husband she could not stand because her pride would not allow a man beneath her to impregnate her in any way or touch her body nonetheless.
She would prefer to lower her pride and please a man than to fully throw it away by giving her body, not when he was not worthy of it.
Cersei scoffed. "Why do you suspect I want something? Can I not choose to visit my good-mother?" she acted, rather badly in Visenya's eyes.
Visenya filled her own goblet with water, not in the mood to have more alcohol in her system. Sometimes, too much wine made the Dragon Dreams too wild and too intense, or so she believed.
"That acting only works for Tyrion. You do not have the softness nor the ability to joke or pull it off," she told her stepdaughter and sat on the other armchair, the one usually occupied by Tywin since Cersei had taken hers.
The Lioness scoffed but stopped beating around the bush, knowing that there was no need for it.
"I was informed you talked with that Tyrell girl today," she started, green eyes falling on the perfect straight back of the Dragoness.
Was this woman ever slouching? Or was this woman ever to stop being such a 'high-born' lady and a pain in the ass with her 'perfections'?
"You mean you had servants spying on Margaery and eventually you were told that I met with her," she pointed out, clearly aware of how she worked. "For your information, it was not planned but I took my chance nonetheless." She drank some water, eyes always on the Lioness.
"What do you think of her?" she finally asked the older woman.
Her response was an arched eyebrow. "You never truly cared for my opinion of others. Something happened, didn't it?"
Cersei bit the inside of her cheek in defiance and glanced to the side for a moment, her free hand clenching and unclenching her fist; something Tywin also did when in thought but also frustrated.
"Joffrey starts to like and defend her. She has already cast her spell around him and he listens less to me already," she admitted, recalling how just an hour prior she had a 'discussion' with her son on the topic.
After understanding what was going on, Cersei needed someone to vent and talk to. She was too prideful to go to Tyrion, especially after seeing her crying before the siege. She refused to show any weakness to Trystan, not after seeing his darker side and remembering his threats.
She could, obviously, not go to her father for he would dismiss her and Jaime was still a prisoner and far away from her. The only person left, much to Cersei's dismay, was the Dragoness, who ironically had already talked twice with the young rose.
"Hmm," Visenya exclaimed, copying her husband and she tapped her fingers at the arm of the armchair in thought. "She is a smart girl and cunning," she started, earning the attention of the Queen. "However, she is not as innocent as she acts to be. She clearly has her eyes on the Throne and it is evident that she will do anything to get it, even putting up with Joffrey and his...questionable character traits."
Cersei was about to drink some wine but stopped the action; the goblet held mid-air and looked at her good-mother with some hesitation and even the slightest amount of fear. Sometimes, the Dragoness was a threatening force by the fact that she knew more things than they had her capable of.
She wondered how much the older woman knew about Joffrey and his...attributes, the more violent ones nonetheless. Considering Aerys was of a similar nature, as much as it pained her to admit it, she feared what Visenya could and would do to prevent a second mad king from sitting on the Iron Throne.
She could easily tell Tywin but Cersei doubted he did not already know. Those two seemed to always know and if they didn't, it was only because they chose to ignore the fact and pretend it did not exist.
"I do not trust her. I can see through her lies but everyone else is smitten by her," she confessed and spat venom for the young rose.
Visenya was amused, evident by the swiftness of her lips and the need to curve upwards. "No mother truly trusts another woman around their son," she commented, partially admitting her feelings and thoughts as a mother. Her face then turned serious again. "It doesn't matter what you feel about her, Cersei. She is the key to ensuring the Throne for good. The Tyrells offer us allies, provisions and an army. Considering Stannis is still out there and the war with the Starks, we need all the 'friends' we can get, even those we do not truly like having around."
Cersei was silent for a moment, listening to her. She understood what she said, remembering how close they were to being taken by Stannis' men in the throne room and how the hungry people almost ate them after Myrcella had been seen off with the Dornish group.
However, she still felt that this was unnecessary. She was Queen, she commanded and controlled. Why should she give her son to a lying snake disguised as a harmless rose for an alliance? Why should she put up with everything because of a war that was started after her monster-for-a-brother got imprisoned?
"It is unfair. You once told me I would be the most powerful woman across the 7 Kingdoms and yet I see no power in my hands lately."
The lioness had kept Visenya's words the day before her marriage and had often repeated them when the abuse and the humiliation felt too much. Back then, she did have a lot of power but as Joffrey was becoming more independent from her, so did her power start to shrink.
"You were while your husband was King but now he is six feet underground and all your power comes from your son. Your teenage son is about to be wed," she reminded her, her voice having just a tad of motherly sternness. "Power comes and goes, Cersei. Like I said, it mostly relies on the husband; only a few times does it remain when that man is gone," she continued, letting out a sigh and leaning faintly on the chair. "You wish for my advice? Do not try to be the bad guy in this story. Margaery might be cunning and have ulterior motives but she is still an inexperienced girl. Play your cards right and you might end up with more power than your future would hold."
Cersei did not say anything for a moment, merely swirled the red liquid in her goblet as she was rethinking and processing everything the wiser older woman had told her. It did make sense and she guessed she could play fake smiles more with the Tyrell girl but that did not mean she liked that alternative.
Suddenly, the door to the chambers was pushed open and Tywin stood in all his glory by the entrance. He had just finished with his work and did not expect to see someone else than his wife in his chambers, of all places.
"Father," Cersei exclaimed and almost dropped the goblet. She managed to leave it on the table and quickly stood up along with Visenya as if they had been caught in the act of plotting treason and a coup.
"Cersei," he said but it was clear from both his face and his tone that he was not happy to see her. No, he was suspicious and annoyed; a dangerous combination and very volatile. "If you wished to see me you could have found me in my study, at normal hours." He continued and walked into the room, making it feel smaller with his commanding presence. "What is your reason for being in my chambers late at night?"
The Lioness glanced at her feet for a moment, unable to hold his sharp and interrogating gaze for long. She tried to find an excuse, one believable enough when Visenya, much to her surprise, stepped between them.
"I invited her," she said, taking the full blame on her as she stood like a protective wall between father and daughter. "I wanted to speak with Cersei on a private matter but did not wish to do so in her chambers."
His green eyes fell fully on her since she blocked his view of his daughter. They narrowed dangerously, clearly not believing her words or not pleased with such little information.
"What private matters?" he demanded, not even truly asking at this point—but when did he truly ask anyone?
Despite the sharp warning gaze and the towering intimidating form of the Old Lion, Visenya stood her ground with defiance and pride; not once letting her eyes look anywhere else.
"From a mother to another," she started, easily lying. "Joffrey is about to be wed and she wished my advice on certain matters, which I offered her and she was about to leave," she continued, not even having to look at Cersei to know she read between the lines.
Tywin kept staring her down, his right hand flexing his fist faintly and for a moment Cersei thought he would act upon his impulses. He did not, though, but he also did not seem pleased with any of these things.
Any father would love having their daughters coming to them for advice or at least seeing their second wife coming closer with his children from his first marriage. But Tywin was not like any father out there.
He was a strict, suspicious and controlling man. He knew his daughter too well to know their meeting was far from innocent. He did not comment on it, surprisingly, but his glare towards his daughter was evident.
"Return to your chambers, Cersei," he ordered her, not caring for her title as Queen Regent at that moment.
She could easily snap back and use her title and power but she hesitated and in the end, she gave up. Tywin commanded Kings and Queens alike, whether allies, friends or even family.
Her words would have no impact other than direct his anger on her and worsen the situation.
She took a deep breath and lifted her head, trying to have as much Lannister confidence and pride as possible. "Goodnight, Father, Good-mother," she said and walked out of the room, barely stealing Visenya a glance.
However, there was this gratitude within her. Tywin would have acted far worse if they were alone or if she had not interfered. It was not common for her to step in so boldly and face the angry Lion but Cersei had come to understand that when it came to their father, no one truly could do anything he did not wish them to do.
Yet, that small talk and the fact of how she defended him would not be forgotten by Cersei, who from that night onward would see Visenya with a different eye and a different mindset.
Once Cersei was gone, Tywin moved closer to Visenya; effectively trapping her between him and the armchair. She felt the back of her knees brushing with the furniture, one step more and she would have fallen back.
That's what he wanted... but she would not give it to him. Not tonight.
"What did she truly want?" he asked, although the demand and order was there.
Visenya kept her chin high, not once looking away from his gaze. She was the only one who never felt intimidated by it, never bowed her head to him out of fear or submission. If she ever did, it was because she wanted to and mostly to show she understood she was at fault—but never because Tywin's presence forced her to do so.
"Like I said, she is a mother and about to marry her son. She is worried, as it is expected and despite not being the most successful in politics; she is your daughter," she started. "She suspects that Margaery plans something and can see through her acting as easily as each one of us can."
This seemed to ease his anger just a tad but did not truly have that much effect on him. "She plans to sabotage this alliance," he pointed out, quickly rushing to an accusation.
Visenya grabbed his lower arm, drawing his attention fully to her. "No, she doesn't. She is sceptical but I ensured she will not act in any way that could endanger our latest alliance," she informed him.
There was silence for a full minute, just existing between them. Their gazes never broke, none of them looked anywhere but deep into each other's eyes—a silent fight for dominance. Tension was thick in the room; the presence of Cersei had shifted the mood rather drastically.
In the end, it was Tywin who broke the silence. "Hmm," he exclaimed and walked around his wife, heading for the bed. "For our sake, she better listen. She has messed things up enough already," he said and started to unbutton his jacket. "Nonetheless, we better sleep early today to be ready for tomorrow. We will have to deal with the biggest thorn yet," he reminded her.
She did not have to be told more to know to whom he was referring.
Olenna Tyrell nee Redwyne, the Queen of Thorns.