𝔹𝕣𝕖𝕒𝕜𝕗𝕒𝕤𝕥 the next morning was a flirty exchange between a well-rested me and a very hungover Cersei. "I usually only have such headaches after an exhausting night with you", she was complaining. "Now I just got the pain and none of the fun. I feel deprived!" "Poor baby", I crooned, hiding my smile behind my fork. "I suppose we must make up for it later." "Amen to that", Cersei agreed, gesturing at me with her fork and groaning as her head punished her for the sudden movement. I looked at the cheese and pomegranate left on my plate, feeling full already. "You want a taste?", I asked. "Of you?" Cersei rubbed a hand up my leg and I rolled my eyes. "I actually meant the food, but I'm not opposed", I teased. "Fine", she said, "give it here." I piled some of the red seeds onto my fork and moved it to her mouth. She looked at me. "Seriously?" I only raised my eyebrows, looking back between the fork and her. Sighing, she leaned forward to try the fruit. She chewed and gave a dissatisfied grunt. "I don't know what you like about them, really", she said once her mouth was empty. "They're so sour." "As are you, dear", I said dryly and she hit my arm with her fist. I laughed and turned back to my food. "What are we going to do", Cersei mused suddenly. Sensing the change in her mood, I asked: "What do you mean?" "About Tyrion, and Jaime. We've kept ourselves safe by keeping ourselves secret, but what happens now that people know?" "People don't know", I said. "That's an exaggeration." "It doesn't matter! When two outsiders know, it isn't a secret anymore, and we aren't safe anymore." I frowned. "Tyrion promised not to tell. And as for Jaime, I told you-" "Oh, he promised", Cersei sneered. "All is well in the world then, isn't it? His word is as good as that of a man at swordpoint. He'll say anything to make me believe he's sympathetic, just so he can destroy me. He told me himself: 'A day will come when you think you're safe and happy-'" "'-and your joy will turn to ashes in your mouth', I know", I finished for her. "But his reasoning made sense, you have to admit that. He of all people knows what it's like to be forbidden from the one you love, do you really think he'd want to take that from you?" "Me being one of the people who forbade it, yes, I think so", she hissed, more desperate than angry. "You forget that people are capable of forgiveness", I reminded her. "Not my brother", Cersei insisted and I sighed, resolving to just accept her paranoia. That was something you had to put up with and do your best to soothe when being with Cersei Lannister. "Well, what of your other brother? I do believe I made quite the impression on him, but I can't guarantee he won't talk for exactly that reason. I think he should be our greater concern right now." She waved the thought away. "Oh, he'll keep his mouth shut - he stands to lose too much himself. What should he know of my intimate relations? He's too scared of people finding out about the previous scandal if he reveals the new one." I wished I could believe it to be that simple, but decided not to push further. Instead, I smiled and took Cersei's hand. "My scandalous wife", I said theatrically, "always need to cause a big deal, don't you?" Cersei grinned. "Weren't you the one who told me to save it for later?", she asked and got up. "Come on. We've still got a sept to visit, and we're running late."

The sept appeared empty when we entered save for a pair of guards stationed by the entrance, our footsteps echoing through the spacious marble dome. Already, the marital altar was erected underneath the great stained glass window in the shape of a seven-pointed star. Cersei leaned closer into my arm that was hooked through hers and said quietly: "I have a dream sometimes that takes place right here. I dream that one day, it will be you and me standing up there, being joined together for all eternity for everyone to see. We'll say our vows, exchange wedding cloaks, then we're going to throw the greatest feast King's Landing has ever seen. And after..." She smirked at me, but before she could continue, Joffrey, Margaery and her grandmother Olenna emerged from the back of the sept. "The venue looks marvellous", Margaery was saying. "Of course it does", Joffrey agreed. "I'm the king, if I don't get the most memorable wedding, what good is the celebration?" I thought he made himself look truly despicable by acting so self-entitled and full of himself, but Margaery chuckled sympathetically. "You're right, Your Grace. I have no doubt our big day will be glorious." "Glorious or not", Olenna interrupted from behind them, "what matters is that we get it over with. I can practically feel my wrinkles forming, this far from the Highgarden sun." "Grandmother", Margaery scolded, sounding both amused and shocked, "a royal wedding is nothing to be rushed. The presentation is just as important as the ceremony itself. We must set a good image for the people, show them our generosity and goodwill to make them feel safe under our rule." "Ha", Olenna barked, but swallowed whatever she was about to say next when she finally saw Cersei and me. "Mother", Margaery exclaimed, a wide smile spreading on her face as she made to embrace Cersei, somewhat forcing me from her side. "Not yet", Cersei reminded her, smiling mildly while her eyes showed nothing but contempt. "Right", Margaery corrected, "I keep forgetting we aren't married yet. It already feels so harmonic." "I'm sure it does", Cersei said with false sweetness. Joffrey was looking at me curiously, although I had no idea why. Then again, he never really needed a reason in picking his victims. "Come, walk with us", Margaery encouraged, taking my place by Cersei's side. "We have so much to talk about, no doubt. We have hardly gotten the chance to since the arrival of my brother and I." "Your brother", Cersei replied, tilting her head as if a thought had just come to her. "Yes, he fought quite valiantly, didn't he? What was that beautiful armor he was wearing, remind me? Was it Renly's?" Her tactic to get the Tyrells to admit to their family's shame did not work out, that much became apparent at Margaery's self-assured smirk. "It was, yes. The enemy soldiers thought him to be Renly himself returned from the dead. A brilliant plan, it swayed their confidence enough for your men to overpower them." Oh, she's good, I thought. But Cersei is better. "Some may call it brilliant, yes. Others may call Stannis' soldiers craven fools for believing in grumkins and snarks. Frightened by a metal suit, that's some army."

Margaery was still smirking. "They say Renly's ghost wasn't the only one to stay after the battle", she said in a hushed, mysterious voice. "Allegedly, some of Stannis' men still prowl the city after what happened on the Blackwater, waiting for revenge." She laughed. "People will really believe anything in times such as these, won't they? A royal wedding will be just the joyous relief they need, I hope." Cersei smiled through gritted teeth. "Relieving, yes." "As we shall relieve you now", Olenna chimed in. "We've taken up enough of your time, haven't we? Come, my dear, you have so much to prepare. Let's give the queen and her son some room to themselves." I could practically hear Cersei grinding her teeth at the natural claim the Tyrells laid to Joffrey. "And... their friend? Sorry, dear, I'm not quite sure who you are." Realizing I had been adressed, I hastened to reply: "A friend, yes", accompanied by an innocent smile. Olenna and Margaery Tyrell left, and Joffrey rocked on his heels, a slimy grin still plastered on his face. "What do you think of her, mother?", he asked. Cersei's reply was not what he wanted to hear. "I don't trust her", she hissed. "Why not?" "Don't you see? She's manipulating you! She's manipulating everyone around her." That's what I once thought about you, and look where we are now, the parallel crossed my mind. But I, too, could see how obviously Margaery sought influence over the most important players of the game. Joffrey seemed to have totally fallen for it as well. "No she isn't. You're just upset you won't be queen anymore", he accused. "She's no competition", Cersei raged. "Marrying you may make her queen in name, but she can learn the easy way or the hard way how real power is distributed. People like her... They may rise quickly, but it's a long fall from the ladder of falsehood." "I'm sure you'd know", Joffrey said cheerfully. Cersei looked as though she was about to slap him. "How dare you-", she was saying when I heard another noise beside her voice: the whoosh of something flying through the air very quickly.

That was when I saw the arrow coming toward her. "Cersei!", I screamed and slammed into her, wrapping my arms around her protectively before we both tumbled to the ground right before the arrow could hit its target. Breathing heavily, paralyzed with adrenaline, I stayed on the ground for a moment, then sat up, supporting Cersei's back with an arm. "Are you alright?", I panted, scanning her face and body for any damage the attack could have done. She nodded, the only bruises she would have were from her fall to the floor. I wanted to kiss her in relief, but knew better than to show any affection in front of everyone present. "Who shot that?", Cersei asked in a monotonous voice, speaking more to herself. "Find whoever fired that arrow and kill him", she ordered the guards by the door, who saluted and left, the faint sound of a struggle becoming audible moments later outside the doors. I got up and helped Cersei to her feet, touching her elbow and meeting her eyes one more time before attempting to walk away, the earlier conversation clearly having come to an abrupt end. "Stop", Joffrey commanded. I turned back around. "Yes, Your Grace?" "What you just said... You screamed 'Cersei', not 'Your Grace' or at least 'my lady'." My eyelids fluttered at the realization of my mistake, but I kept my voice steady. "Her life was in danger", I argued. "I didn't have time to think about titles." He regarded me coldly. "No, you didn't think about titles. But any other Lady of the court would have. You on the other hand, you used her name like you were used to it." I didn't give him the satisfaction of letting my nervousness show, but remained silent, waiting for him to elaborate. "I think", he said, shifting his weight to his other foot, "that you're more than just some Lady - more to my mother, anyways." So that was what that look earlier had been about. Had one of his uncles told him? "I do not have a say in your personal opinion, Your Grace. Think what you will", I replied, unbothered. My nonchalance angered him and he took a step toward me. "Let's find out whether it's just my personal opinion, shall we? Step closer to her." I looked at Joffrey and Cersei in turn uncertainly. "Go on", the king ordered, irritated. I took a few steps toward Cersei and stopped, looking back at Joffrey. "Closer", he urged. Another step. "Closer", he repeated, growing annoyed. I was now standing only a few inches away from Cersei and avoided her eyes. "Put your arms around her waist", Joffrey commanded while circling us with an amused look in his eyes. "If Her Grace consents to me touching her...", I began, but I didn't get to finish. "You touched her before without her permission", he snapped, "I'm sure she won't mind." I was saving her life, I wanted to growl back, but stopped myself, especially upon remembering that we had been walking arm in arm before he had officially noticed us. Instead, I looked at Cersei for confirmation and then hugged her waist awkwardly. Joffrey chuckled quietly. "Very good. But you can do better, can you not? No matter", he said, not waiting for me to change my position. "One last thing. Since you insist you're treating her like any court lady would... a kiss on the cheek, what do you say?" This required me to look Cersei in the eye. I hated being so distant and courteous to her, and worried that my eyes would betray me when they met hers. But I managed to somehow press a quick kiss to both of her cheeks in a controlled manner, my lips only brushing her skin lightly as was expected of me, and Joffrey finally let me off the hook.

🐺🦁🐺🦁🐺🦁🐺🦁🐺🦁🐺🦁

That evening, I rushed to Cersei's chambers immediately after supper with my sister, pulling her into a tight embrace as soon as she opened the door. "I'm sorry for being so cold earlier", I whispered. "I had to, or he would have noticed something. I didn't even get to properly check on you yet, after..." My voice trailed off when I caught the fearful look in her eye and I pulled back. "What is it?", I asked, my hand on the back of her neck, then followed her pleading stare, slowly turning around. I silently cursed myself when I saw none other than Joffrey facing me, the grin on his face both content and disgusted.