Robert Baratheon was dead.

You braced on hand against the wall to help you stay on your feet. The back of your other hand pressed against your lips as you tried to quiet your cries. You were mindless of the blood coating them from where you'd held your brother's hand as he died.

You'd expected Robert to die in battle or drink himself to death. Instead, he'd been felled by a boar. Cersei wailed from elsewhere in the castle and you stumbled away from the sound, not able to be anywhere near your sister-in-law right now. You weren't stupid. You knew Cersei didn't care for Robert. She would be eager to put that bastard Joffrey on the throne.

Yes, you knew your 'nephew' was not Robert's son. You'd known for some time in fact, had even told your brother, but he hadn't believed you. Perhaps he would have believed Ned Stark, but now you'd never know. Sobs tore from your throat and your knees buckled. Strong hands caught you before you collapsed to the floor. You were swept up and carried through the halls to a room. It only took you a moment to recognize it as Jaime's.

You and the kingslayer had been in a relationship for years. Everyone knew but no one talked about it. After all, if your brother the king approved why should anyone else have anything to say about it. You knew of Jaime's past with his sister. In fact, he was the one that told you he fathered Cersei's children. You also knew he regretted it and had tried his best to repair what he could behind the scenes.

He sat you on the edge of the bed, quickly returning with a wet rag. He scrubbed your hands to remove the drying blood from them. "She'll try to kill me now," you said as you finally focused on your lover. He knelt before you, his head bent as he concentrated on his task.

He looked up suddenly at your words and searched your eyes. "She'll do nothing of the sort, love. She knows how I feel about you."

You huffed a laugh. "That's exactly why she'll do it, my love. She has never forgiven me for taking your attention from her."

Worry flashed through his eyes for a brief moment before he tossed the rag on a nearby table. "That was a long time ago. Everything shall be fine."

***

Joffrey, the little shit, had just ordered Ned Stark's execution. You had started to say something, to scream out but Jaime stopped you. You left and went to your room. You were now waiting for Jaime. Several times, he was supposed to lead troops leaving King's Landing or take on a mission for the new king, but he always found a way out of it. He refused to leave your side. He evidently didn't trust Cersei as much as he wanted you to believe.

Suddenly, the door to the room flew open and you spun to face it. Four men stood in the opening. "Lady Baratheon, we are to take you into custody by order of the king."

Fear pierced through you but you swallowed past the lump in her throat unwilling to show it. "What are the charges?"

"Treason, my lady."

You scoffed. "He accuses me of treason?" As much as you disliked Joffrey you knew he wasn't the one behind this. No, this was Cersei's doing. "Fine." You placed your hands behind your back as you moved to follow them out and took the opportunity to slip the ring off your index finger. Jaime had given it to you two years ago and you hadn't taken it off since. It fell unnoticed to the carpet.

***

"No one has seen her?" Jaime asked again as he paced the floor in front of Cersei and Joffrey. It had been three days since Stark's execution. Three days since anyone would admit to having seen you.

Cersei sighed and rolled her eyes. "That's what I'm telling you, brother. Perhaps she fled with what was left of Eddard Stark's men."

"She wouldn't do that. She wouldn't leave without me," he insisted.

Cersei laughed. "Yes, because I am sure she is content to be your bed partner and nothing more. She never cared for me or my children, Jaime. She's taken the opportunity to flee. You should forget about her."

Jaime turned to look his sister in the eye while he fidgeted with your ring on his little finger. Whenever he had a moment's insecurity, when he started to believe Cersei, that ring told him otherwise. "Perhaps you're right, sister." With that he turned and left the room.

A messenger stopped him in the hall. "I was looking for you Ser Lannister. I have a missive from your father." Jaime took the letter and continued to his goal.

He glanced around the hall as he knocked on the door.

"Come in."

He slid into the room and shut the door behind him. "I need your help," he said to his brother and placed your ring on the table.

Tyrion knew exactly what he was looking at as he'd helped Jaime locate the jeweler that made it. You were one of his closest friends. "What do you want me to do?" he asked.

***

You were hungry and thirsty. And so damn tired. You refused to eat anything they gave to you. You wouldn't put it past Cersei to poison it and make it look like an accident of some sort. You took sips of the water they offered from the communal bucket but that was all. Days had passed, you knew that much but couldn't say how many.

"Hello," you heard a voice bellow. Tyrion!

"What are you doing here?" a guard asked.

"Just inspecting the dungeons, good man. Go about your business." Tyrion sounded drunk. Your suspicions were confirmed when he began to sing a bawdy tavern song. You couldn't help but smirk. Like all the other prisoners, you moved to the door of your cell. Soon your friend came into sight accompanied by one of the guards.

His eyes widened slightly as he saw you and he gave a little wink before continuing on his merry way as if he'd seen nothing of interest. A recon mission then.

It was early the next morning when two guards came to retrieve you from the cell. They led you to the throne room. You heard Tyrion talking as the doors opened.

"It has come to my attention, King Joffrey, that there is a prisoner in the dungeons who hasn't had a trial. I was afraid she'd been overlooked in all the recent excitement." Several gasps were heard as you stepped into the room. "Ah, there she is now."

"Auntie? We thought you'd left," Joffrey said with a frown. "But why were you in the dungeons?"

"I was told you had accused me of treason, my king. An accusation I do not understand at all." You did your best to sound pathetic and confused.

"Well, you were friends with Eddard Stark were you not?" Cersei said with pursed lips.

"Mother?" Joffrey asked. You saw movement out of the corner of her eye as Jaime entered the room from another door. Relief flooded his eyes when he saw you but his frown deepened as he looked you over. Your eyes flicked over him and saw one finger tapping the end of his sword. You shifted your gaze to Tyrion and saw him doing the same thing to the dagger at his waist.

"We cannot trust her Joffrey. She has never cared for us," Cersei explained with an arched brow.

"I swear by the old gods and the new that I love all of my brother's children and would never commit a treasonous act against any of them," you said, earning another scowl from Cersei while Joffrey beamed at you. Jaime coughed and sent you a narrow-eyed look. You sighed. "But as I have been accused, I demand trial by combat as is my right."

"And who will be your champion?" Cersei said.

"I will," Jaime said striding into the middle of the room.

Cersei paled. "I thought you had been summoned by Father."

He shrugged. "In a manner of speaking. Name your champion, Joffrey."

"U-uncle?" Joffrey stuttered as he looked between Jaime and Cersei. Cersei on the other hand moved her glare between you and her brother.

"Gregor Clegane." A flash of triumph flared through her eyes as she said the name. Worry flooded you. Jaime was an excellent swordsman but the Mountain was just huge. How else do you get a name like the Mountain?

"My king, it is in your power to stop this," a voice said and you turned to see Tywin Lannister stepping through the crowd. "Or does your mother rule?"

"Grandfather," Joffrey exclaimed. "Of course not." He cleared his throat and stood. "I am the only one who can decide if someone is guilty of treason. I see no reason to even charge my aunt and order her immediate release. No trial is necessary."

Tywin glanced around the room. "Leave us," he ordered and people rushed to obey. Soon the only ones left in the room were you and the Lannisters. Tywin moved to your side and placed a kiss on her cheek. "Lady Baratheon." He'd always liked you.

"What is going on here?" Cersei demanded.

"I have come to offer my grandson my services as Hand of the King," Tywin decreed. "Your brother has left the king's guard and is marrying Lady Baratheon. They leave for Casterly Rock in the morning. Tyrion is going with them."

It was difficult for you to keep a straight face but somehow you managed. Jaime and Tyrion had been busy and may the gods bless them for it. Jaime came to stand by your side and slipped the ring back on your finger as he pressed a kiss to your temple.

"And when are they getting married?" Cersei asked in a tight voice.

"I was rather hoping Joffrey would do it now," Jaime announced.

"It would be my pleasure, uncle," Joffrey said and you graced him with a genuine smile as you moved to stand before him. In a few short moments you would be a Lannister. And by this time tomorrow you would be on your way to Casterly Rock with your husband and your best friend. For a while at least you'd have everything you wanted. Let the world burn around the bastard king and his mother once you were gone.