Cersei's Chambers, Red Keep — King's Landing, CrownLands
The Former Queen Reagent was still dressed in black, sitting by the edge of her bed with one goblet in one hand. Her eyes were red from crying, her hands sore and her room was quite a mess; a victim of her rage.
Her hair was not the usual neat and taken care Of they usually were. Instead, they were rather wild and unkempt. She was staring at the wall ahead Of her, drinking and emptying one goblet after the other while the jug with the wine was by her feet.
She barely reacted when the door Of her chamber opened and closed again, she did not turn to acknowledge her latest visitor.
"Cersei" Visenya's voice reached her but even that did not make her move.
She had heard that Cersei had left her food untouched since the day prior and had refused to bathe or see any of her handmaidens. After the Sept, she had retreated in her room and according to the guards; she had not left them ever since.
This had worried Visenya, who knew personally how the loss of a child felt. A part of her told her not to do anything, considering how hypocritical it would be from her side to try and check on the mother, whose child she planned to kill.
Yet the Lioness was like her own daughter, even when Cersei reminded her every day that she did not like her. Visenya saw her as her own child, despite all the hatred and she wished to comfort her; knowing no one else would because no one else truly understood.
So, she had found the Lioness in her chambers but there was no reaction when she called her name at least twice.
Eventually, the Dragoness moved closer to the point she had to stand in front of the Lioness; obstructing her view of the wall with her red dress.
This seemed to snap Cersei from whatever deep thought she was trapped in and look at her.
Her green eyes were filled with hatred, pain and frustration. Her vision was constantly painted red and even her lip had been injured from her teeth in a futile attempt to contain some of the pain she wished to release.
"It's your fault," she spat, glaring at the older woman. "It's all your fault."
She continued as she stood up.
"How does it feel, huh? You always favoured that little... that little monster and now he killed my son!"
She accused, her grief getting the best of her. She lifted one fist, trying to hit Visenya but the Dragoness lifted her arm and instead, the Lioness started to hit the lower arm of her good-mother.
"How could you let him talk like that when my boy was laying dead right in front of us!"
She continued with her hits as she brought up what had happened at the Sept.
Cersei hated how Tywin chose to speak to Tommen about kings and even dared to bring up Joffrey, in front of his own corpse. He showed no respect for her poor boy, who was killed in front of her.
No remorse for her, who had to hold her son in her arms and watch him as his green eyes begged her to help him. Not a single break for her, who could do nothing to help her dear Joffrey other than watch and call his name; as if that miraculously would have saved him.
She kept hitting Visenya's arm, not caring if bruises would form.
Eventually, her hits became sloppier and slower. She had dropped the goblet to the floor to use both arms to deliver the punches but she had grown tired rather fast. She finally stopped, her breathing irregular and she felt her chest aching with every beat of her heart.
She was not sure if she wanted to cry, to mourn, to shout, to smash things... she was not sure what she even felt at that moment.
Her vision turned black for a moment, her stomach empty since yesterday. She had only drunk endless wine in hopes to forget and had even slept with Jaime but that had only dulled the pain temporarily.
Her body felt weak and for a moment, she was sure she was about to fall until a pair of warm arms stabilized her.
"I know," Visenya's voice said, a comforting motherly tone threatening to bypass all of Cersei's walls once again.
What do you know?
She wanted to spit but felt too tired to even move her mouth.
She hated her weakness and how she could not help her son. She hated that the one she saw as a brother took away what she loved the most.
She was furious by the fact that her mighty good-mother had come once again to comfort her and her body was actually asking for her touch.
She did not say anything, her head resting on Visenya's shoulder and her gaze was distant.
One hand rubbed her back and she just found her mind replaying memories of her son when he was younger and when he was closer to her. Even as he grew more distant, she never stopped loving him more than the others. He was always her firstborn, her first son. He was so much like her and Jaime, how could she not adore it?
Their first baby together, now a rotting corpse in the Sept.
Her hands hung limp to her sides but she did find the presence of Visenya offering some sort of comfort. Jaime tried to comfort her with sex and she accepted it but it did not help.
Somehow hers did seem to help although Cersei would never admit it out loud. A heavy sigh escaped her lips as reality settled in once again.
"He is gone," she said in a weaker tone. "My baby boy is gone."
Visenya moved one hand to be behind Cersei's head, her amber eyes staring at the other side of the wall. She did not like seeing Cersei so heartbroken, so much in pain. It reminded her of when she lost Rhaegar, for she had felt the same rage and numbness inside.
Back then, she knew the true killer and had witnessed it all. Back then, she had the chance to eventually get her revenge for her nephew.
Cersei, though, did not know who poisoned him. She thought it was Tyrion but she would never find the truth. She would never be satisfied because the little brother she hated so much was going to be freed by the end of his trial.
That made Visenya feel guilty because Cersei would not truly find closure in her grief. She felt the need to scoff as she took notice of herself in her mirror, seeing how she comforted a grieving mother when she had been part of the plan to take her son from her, forever.
How low have I fallen indeed, she thought and felt Cersei leaning more on her; her powers giving up.
None of the two women said anything and instead, the Dragoness helped her stepdaughter to lay on her bed, her skin paler from exhaustion and fasting. She was about to walk away when Cersei grabbed her wrist.
"Please stay... just for tonight..." she said rather numbly, eyes half-open and staring ahead at the other wall of her room.
"Okay," Visenya said, who under different occasions she would be happy for such favour to be asked from Cersei, of all people.
She moved and sat by the edge of the bed, right next to the Lioness, who just leaned her head on her shoulder and found some solace in the presence of someone else.
"He will pay for what he did," Cersei mumbled. "He will pay for taking away my son."
She continued, talking about Tyrion.
The Dragoness said nothing but simply wrapped her hand around her shoulders, letting her just find some peace in the moment. She pushed at the back of her head any feelings of guilt and self-loathing at the moment, trying her best to be there for Cersei.
If only you knew what kind of hypocrite I have turned out to be, Rhaegar, she thought and also stared ahead; none saying any other word.
King's Landing - Crownlands - The Following Morning
Tyrion sat against the wall in his small cell, his company for most of the day were the passing rats that were able to escape through small holes in the wall, ironically too small for a dwarf like him.
He had closed his eyes, trying to find something else to think of his impending doom until he heard the cell door opening; a sign that he had another visitor.
He opened his mismatched eyes and was actually surprised to see Visenya entering the gloomy and filthy cell. She stood out against all of it as per usual, with her expensive red dress and golden jewels.
"Hello, Tyrion," she said, her voice having the same motherly tone it always had but this time, Tyrion did not feel any effect from it.
He watched her as she took a few more steps towards him.
"Careful, good-mother, I am a Kingslayer now," he told her, his humour still intact although darker.
She came to a halt and shook her head faintly.
"No you are not and we both know it. Trystan and Jaime know it as well. You know it."
He scoffed, looking up at her through his dirty locks of blond hair.
"You sound very certain of it."
"I know you, Tyrion. I know you did not do it, just like I knew you never hired an assassin to harm that Stark boy," she told him.
The dwarf did not say something directly, trying his hardest not to let her words affect him. Hearing that she believed him offered him relief, but he fought it because something was not right. He had lots of time since he was imprisoned to think and rethink the whole poisoning scene that had taken place. So many things did not seem to make sense, but the one standing out the most was her.
Even now, her words sounded so certain as if she knew something more than the others.
And who says she does not? he wondered mentally.
"Why did you ask me to get that goblet?" he eventually asked, deciding to try and shed some light on all those theories.
She did not move from her place and her face did not give any of her thoughts away.
"I wanted to check for any poison residues like you did before you were about to hand it to me," she lied with ease, her words sounding so believable that surprised herself. "I had no idea Joffrey would point your way at the same time."
Tyrion kept looking at her but he did not comment on it. However, he did not truly believe her. There was this mistrust growing with him ever since the Red Wedding and now he had her capable of anything.
He had her capable of lying with ease and faking any sense of comfort and care, just like his father did.
A match made in Heaven or Hell, to be more precise, he said in his mind.
He eventually looked to the side, tired of craning his head to look at her tall form.
"Does it matter now? I am a dead man either way."
She let out a small sigh.
"You do not know that."
He scoffed.
"Oh please, Father will be the main judge as Hand of the King. He will spare me nothing and I know Cersei will ensure I am killed, even before the trial ends."
"Then don't let them win," she said, earning his attention back at her. "If the trial finds you guilty, ask for a Trial by Combat. You have Bronn, don't you? And you did survive the last trial," she reminded him.
This put Tyrion into thought, the idea sounding rather reasonable and perhaps the only thing that could save his head from the chopping board.
He said nothing else after that, clearly not in the mood to speak with her even if she was.
She understood the message and let a heavy sigh, before turning to leave the cell. She did not say anything, not even a goodbye and did not look at him above her shoulder one last time before she disappeared down the corridor.
Secret Shores of Blackwater Bay - King's Landing, Crownlands - A Few Hours Later
Jaime and Visenya were busy sparring, the Lion having improved with his technique. Now, he managed to last longer against her and even block some of her sneakier attacks.
However, he was still far from being the great swordsman he once was.
One strike by his side, made him move his sword and arm in an unnatural angle and lose his grip after her blade found his. The sword fell to the sand beneath them and he let out a sigh, clearly dissatisfied by his loss after doing so well.
"Do not let this stop you, Jaime. Everyone learns to fight with their dominant side and leave the other open for an attack. It is why left-handed swordsmen are far more dangerous in combat," she explained as he grabbed his sword and sheathed it.
"Hard to be dangerous with one hand," he commented.
She rolled her eyes and grabbed her pouch with the water from her waist.
"Aemond Targaryen had only one eye and yet he was one of the best swordsmen of his time," she told him, drinking some water before tossing it at him.
"I think a missing eye would be better than a missing hand, Good-Mother," he said and drank some water.
Visenya sat by the sand and motioned for him to join her, deciding to take a break for now. He joined her soon after, both leaving a sigh around the same time.
"I heard of what you did," she finally said, bringing her knees up to rest her hands in a rather casual manner that was unlike her.
"What did I do this time?"
She offered him a small smile.
"Relax, I am not questioning or accusing you," she said upon sensing how quickly he went into the defensive but she did not blame him. "I mean about Brienne. Giving her your sword and Podrick, asking her to go find Sansa and fulfil your part of the promise."
Jaime did not say something at first, nor did he rush to excuse his actions like he used to. Instead, he stared forward into the sea.
"I am not regretting it and I am not apologizing about it either. I did what I had to do."
Jaime did not say something at first, nor did he rush to excuse his actions like he used to. Instead, he stared forward into the sea.
"I am not regretting it and I am not apologizing about it either. I did what I had to do."
Visenya smiled with pride and placed her hand on top of his good one, making him look at her and see just how prideful she looked.
"Good. This is what I meant when I would always tell you to stand up for yourself and that you did the right thing."
Her words and her touch made him smile a little bit, glad to know there was at least one person in this damn family he had yet to fail; except for Trystan. His half-brother was simply never going to let him down or go against him, their bond different from the one they shared with Tyrion.
As he thought of Tyrion, his smile disappeared and he looked ahead again.
"The Trial is coming up soon," he said, changing the topic.
She withdrew her hand and let out a sigh.
"I know and I am not looking forward to it," she confessed.
"He is innocent, you know... Tyrion is innocent."
"Oh I know and I told him myself."
"Father and Cersei wish him dead, they won't let him escape this trial alive," he said, glancing at her.
She pressed her lips into a thin line because she knew that he was right. Cersei, especially, would never rest and if Tyrion were to be found innocent; she would try to kill him herself. She was the wild card in the plan but she chose not to worry about it since other pieces had first to take their respectful places.
"Your father might not, not dead at least. If you are asking me to try and change his mind, know that I cannot... not this time," she said, her eyes moving to look at him as her head turned a little bit as well.
"I wouldn't ask you of that," Jaime defended rather quickly, surprised by her words.
He let out a sigh.
"I know Father is not the best with you either and that he can be just as tough and challenging... if not worse..." he confessed, proving that despite his act he was rather observant for that matter. "I don't know what my siblings have asked of you but I would never ask you to put your head into the Lion's mouth for me."
Jaime did not know the truth of the marriage between her and his father, nor the unique relationship those two had behind closed doors. All he knew was the fact that this was a marriage of opportunity and political prowess; back then when the Mad King was ruling.
He knew that his father kept her around because of her intellect in combat but also because she was the last Dragon, something rare that could easily be shown around; and of course kept a few Targaryen Loyalists as close allies. He doubted his father had any true love for her, similarly with his children.
The Lion was not an idiot and he knew that she was also a prisoner of his father as they all were. Sometimes he hated that, he hated how both he and his father had the blood of her family in their hands, and yet she stayed with them and cared for them.
He admired how she remained by Tywin's side and took his own children as hers, being there for them even when Tyrion and Cersei kept pushing her away; kept accusing and hating her when she did not interfere during their punishments of their father.
Jaime never did, because he understood, that her hands were bound just like theirs. Hers even more so, considering her condition. More than once he would spy on her during social events, seeing that fake smile she offered everyone and how his father's hand was always around her waist or her arm like some sort of leash, being the one guiding her; not once letting her alone.
Visenya placed her warm hand against his cheek. Despite the wind blowing their way or the temperatures falling, she was always warm while his skin could already be felt as cold due to the environment around them.
"You are a very good son, Jaime," she told him and pecked his forehead. "Do not accuse your siblings of trying. Sometimes, they simply wish to try everything in hopes of something actually changing and I will face your father until my last breath; if I ever have to truly defend you from him and his decisions," she said, her thumb caressing his skin.
He placed his left hand on top of hers, something about his words offering him comfort. The fact that she was willing to truly try her best to help them, to make their life better even when they did not appreciate or care for her... even when she had most likely faced the wrath of the Old Lion... spoke far more to him than one would expect.
Yet, those words could easily foreshadow her actions. If Tyrion were to be found guilty, she would most likely try her hardest to save him somehow. If this were to happen... Jaime shivered at the idea, of what wrath she might face from her husband.
He was worried about her, worried that she might suffer the same fate as her sister did to the Mad King. He knew his father would never be that violent but he still had a temper and he could be physical, if not just enough to make his point to pass and ensure no one would dare to challenge his decisions.
He did it with his children, who said he would not do it with his second wife?
Jaime made a mental note that he was not going to let her take the blame and all the rage of the Lion. He made a promise to himself that this time, he would do what was right and protect his family; even for the sake of his happiness.