𝕋𝕙𝕖 man standing before Cersei's throne was homely, with the demeanor of what would be an imposing pirate were he not so obviously much more full of himself than could possibly be warranted by his accomplishments. He had announced himself as Lord Euron Greyjoy - Theon's uncle. The memory of my father's ward seemed to come from a lifetime ago, the place and people I had once called home felt disconnected from the person I was now. I stood alone in the gallery surrounding the throne room, this was a private reception, but Cersei had made an exception for me - she wanted me present at all her meetings. "The moment I was chosen Lord of the Iron Islands, they turned on me." Euron laughed, only adding to his haughty appearance. "Their own uncle. They stole my best ships and ran. Sailed them right across the world and gave them to the dragon queen, so she could bring her armies here to attack you." He pointed at Cersei, who watched him with cold indifference. Were we not in such dire need of allies, she would have never received this arrogant captain in the first place. But this wasn't the first we were hearing of Daenerys Targaryen's alleged return to Westeros with three full-grown dragons and an army of Dothraki and Unsullied at her back, and those allegations seemed pretty much indisputable now. So we needed allies before she snatched them all up like she already had Tyrion, Olenna, Theon and his sister and, though I tried hard to forget it, even my own siblings. Because if those dragons came for us, the Old Gods and the new themselves would not be able to help us... I understood that, and so did Cersei. She had been thrown into the first bloom of a war with the beginning of her regency, the seeds of which had been sown over a long time by the incompetent kings who came before her, both crowned and self-declared. Euron spoke on. "It's nothing compared to the treason you suffered at the hands of a family member, from what I hear. But still, it bothers me." He spread his arms wide and grinned. Cersei shifted uneasily, looking equal parts annoyed and disconcerted by this strange man. Said man began pacing, as if standing still for too long would leave him rooted in place. A lifetime on a ship gave you such habits, I supposed. "Murdering them would make me feel a lot better. And since it appears that all our treasonous family members are fighting for the same side, I thought we rightful monarchs could murder them together." I could see right through what he was doing. He was trying to flatter her, validating her claim so she would back his cause. The issue was that Cersei, for all the cunning she possessed, was rather susceptible to flattery, and I did not trust this pirate one bit. Declare himself a lord as he might, in his heart he was nothing but a ruthless opportunist. The only context in which I had ever heard his name was when he had been pillaging coastal villages, stealing their belongings, killing the men and raping the women. That had told me all I needed to know. 

Euron made to walk up the steps to the throne, but Gregor Clegane stepped in his way, heavy armor clinking. From Cersei's side, Jaime cut in, "You're not a rightful monarch though, are you?" Euron smiled tensely and retreated as Jaime went on. "The Greyjoys rebelled against the throne for the right to be monarchs, but as I recall, you were... soundly defeated. Come to mention it, weren't you the one who started that rebellion by sailing to Casterly Rock and burning the Lannister fleet?" Cersei smiled at her brother contently. She enjoyed seeing the man humbled as much as I did. "You certainly caught us there. Very smart move on your part." The fool actually had the nerve to grin proudly and bow, as if this was a genuine compliment. "Of course, we all made it to the Iron Islands anyway. I was there." "I remember very well", Euron replied, still acting as if he owned the room and this was just a friendly conversation between old companions. "I saw you. I heard so much talk - the best in the world, no one can stop him. I didn't believe it, to be honest. But I must say, when you rushed through the breach and started cutting people down-" His voice dropped to a whisper, like he was letting Jaime in on a secret. "-it was glorious. Like a dance." "The people I was cutting down were your own kin", Jaime countered, visibly alienated. "Place was getting crowded", Euron jested nonchalantly. I supressed a shiver. How could he joke about his family's death so coldly? The ghosts of mine still haunted me, though less frequently than they used to. "I enjoyed watching it. I truly did." This man was a monster. "And I enjoyed killing Greyjoys", Jaime simply said, clearly fed up with this conversation too. The threat hung in the air, but of course Euron went on unbothered. "A good thing for me. If you hadn't crushed us, I wouldn't have gone into exile. And if I hadn't done that, I wouldn't be the greatest captain on the fourteen seas." Cersei had been watching their exchange and finally spoke up again. "You're not the most humble." She sounded mildly amused, but knowing her, it was more to hide her annoyance at this unnecessarily long recollection. "You're not humble", Euron said probingly, looking as though he was studying a fascinating bug he had found. Cersei tilted her head with a false smile that seemed to say that he had exactly one chance to amend this slight. And amend he did, smooth bastard that he was. "You're the queen of a great nation. You don't care about the Iron Islands, they are nothing but rocks and bird shit and a lot of unattractive people." He scoffed. "The Iron Fleet, on the other hand... that's something else entirely." So that was what he was offering us. Talk about getting to the point, I thought wryly. But what would be the price? 

"It's the greatest armada Westeros has ever seen. With the Iron Fleet, you own the seas." A smirk tugged at Cersei's mouth, she saw through his strategy same as I. "You can defeat the invaders in the east, and the pretenders in the north and south." "What do you want in return?", Cersei asked. Euron pretended to consider. "Ever since I was a little boy, I wanted to grow up and marry the most beautiful woman in the world." My chest clenched at his words. There was no doubt he meant Cersei. We needed this alliance, badly, but... could I bear sharing Cersei for it? I knew she would reject him if I asked her to, and that responsibility weighed heavy on my heart. Also, more importantly than the question of her bedding another, could I allow her to subject herself to yet another loveless marriage to a brute? Officially, this choice was hers alone, but regardless of her own potential resolve to sacrifice, she would not give him an outright yes until she had consulted me. So what would I say? My thoughts whirled around my head like a thunderstorm as the conversation continued at the edge of my awareness. "So here I am, with a thousand ships, and a cock." I hardly gave thought to the jab at me, of course he had heard the rumors, everyone had. I doubted he even knew it was me watching them. "I decline your proposal." Cersei did not hesitate for a second, nor acknowledge the joke. My head snapped up. "Why?", Euron inquired. His voice betrayed his hurt pride. "I am not up for marriage. My heart belongs to another... even without ships and a cock." She whispered the last part in the same conspiratorial way he had earlier, smirking. I sucked in a sharp breath, and my heartbeat thundered in my ears. She had just admitted to our relationship. Sure, it wasn't publically in front of the usual crowd gathered here, but her guards were all present. Euron was present. Jaime... well, Jaime already knew, but nobody else was aware of that. They'd expect him to scorn his sister for such 'perversions', which he presently showed no sign of. His own had conveniently been all but forgotten over the spreading suspicion of mine. Euron's smile slipped from his face, and his eyes drifted over to mine, as if suddenly understanding who I was and why I was here. But he said nothing in my regard. "Well, that is a shame", he growled. "I suppose the throne has no need of my ships after all." "But we do", Cersei said, almost regrettingly. "I have another offer for you, one you will surely appreciate as much as a bride: free roam of the western coast and all its towns and villages, to pillage as you like." "The western coast?", Euron asked, raising his eyebrows. "That includes... Lannisport? The entire Westerlands?" It sounded as if he nearly didn't dare to say it. Cersei nodded once, her lips drawn in a tight line. She was selling out her own first home to avoid this marriage. "I can raid anywhere I like", Euron mused. "Why would I need your permission?" "There will be no repercussions, no retaliation. No one can convict you for these raids. And we both know you've never dared to set foot near Casterly Rock since your little rebellion, out of fear for exactly that." This time, Euron seriously considered his answer. Finally, he succumbed to his greed. "Fine. I'll take your offer. But don't think I won't stop asking for your hand. If you ever tire of the whore, I'll be your first choice. Swear it." "I swear it", Cersei said lightheartedly. She wouldn't ever need to make good on this promise. "Then it's done. My ships are yours to use." He bowed and strode toward the doors, not sparing me another glance.

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"What are we doing?", I asked as Cersei led me down the dark corridors late at night a few days later. "I want to show you something", Cersei replied, practically beaming with excitement. She kept tugging me along lightly by my wrist. "In the throne room?", I wondered when we approached the great double doors. Cersei nodded eagerly. "Just wait." She lifted her chin to the guards to make them open the doors. In the faint moonlight shining in through the windows, I could barely make out the Iron Throne in the distance. But as we got closer, I could see the second shape standing on its right, currently hidden in the shadows. "Is that-" The words died in my throat as I stood before it and could see for myself that I was right. The chair was carved from a Weirwood tree, the white wood contrasted by a crimson cushion and upholstered backrest. Wolves and lions chasing each other were eternally frozen in the carvings that ran from the intricately twisting top over the sides onto the armrests. The feet were in the shape of clawed feet that could belong to either beast. It was a consort's throne. "I had it made for you after that audience with Euron. I thought if I'm already going to be telling people about it, I might as well have you by my side properly." She said it casually, but I could read the meaning behind her words in her face as I turned to her. I pulled her into a hug. "Thank you", I whispered into her ear. "And I want you to know that I'm ready to stand by your side. I'm so tired of hiding. People will talk, but who cares? You've already shattered their idea of what's possible when you became the first real Queen of the Seven Kingdoms. And now that you're queen, who could do anything to us? We will see this through together like we were always meant to, you and I, side by side." "Always", Cersei replied, her low voice sending warm tingles down my spine. "We can do anything, face anything, together. This war will come to pass, and maybe another, and yet another, but we will stand strong through it all. No matter if I have to see the world burn, we'll be standing unharmed amidst the ashes, because we've got each other. I promise that I will always keep you safe, and I know you'll do the same for me." She pressed a kiss to my hair. "Now go try out your throne." I reluctantly pulled out of her embrace and turned back to the consort throne. Running a hand over the engraved lines in the armrest and feeling the smoothness of the wood beneath my fingers, I could not help but notice that I felt somehow connected to it. It felt like home. I sat down on the soft cushion, straightening my back and putting both my arms out to my sides. It instantly made me feel like a queen. I was surprised at how much you looked down on the floor of the hall from just this little dais, I had not noticed it the one time I had sat on the throne with Cersei. She took her place on the Iron Throne beside me and looked over at me, smiling. "How does it feel?" "Regal", I commented, returning the smile. "We'll get here tomorrow before the court arrives", she said. "They'll gawk all the same, but at least you won't be watched walking up here. I think if they were left to wonder who the throne is for, it'd give them even more to rumor about." I agreed with her logic. The next morning would be a decisive and nerve-wracking moment. We needed to sell it just right so no one would question my presence too much. But we would work it out somehow. We always did.

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I walked down the rows of courtiers to take my place next to Cersei. I did not mind their looks, it had become a habit by now. Besides, I had more important things to do than to dwell on the judgment of people who did not even know me. "Whore queen", someone hissed. That had become their habit. Whore queen, whore Queen Consort, the insult varied, but the essence was the same, as was the ease with which I ignored it. I did not by any means enjoy being called a whore, but if that was what they wanted to see in me, so be it. I had never expected it to be easy. They'd get used to me sooner rather than later, it had been little more than a month. Cersei looked at me expectantly as I sat down next to her and leaned over to her. "Euron has returned to the city with his fleet and... a little surprise for you, from what I hear." Cersei quirked an eyebrow, but I said nothing more. Shortly after, the Greyjoy rode in on his horse, accompanied by a half dozen knights and met with great applause. Dragged behind him in chains were two women I did not know, Dornish by the looks of it. Euron dismounted and tugged them forward. "My queen", he announced, ignoring me despite the flicker of anger and surprise I could see in his eyes as they passed over me, "please accept this gift on behalf of all of your loyal subjects in the Iron Islands." He yanked the women to the ground. Cersei's face twisted with contempt, clearly she knew who they were. "I give you what no one else could give: justice." He pranced around the dais as if it was his natural right, addressing the crowd like an actor in a play. "Justice for your murdered daughter." Of course! One of the Dornish women had to be Ellaria Sand, the woman who poisoned Myrcella before her return to King's Landing in a fit of grotesque vengeance. I presumed it was the older one, as she spat defiantly on the floor in front of Cersei. The latter struggled to control her breathing as hatred seeped from her every pore at the murderer in front of her. "You've proven yourself the greatest captain on the fourteen seas", Cersei acknowledged loudly, "and a true friend to the Crown." Euron leaned in closer. "You deserve more than a true friend." "And you deserve a proper reward for your heroism", Cersei deigned. "There's only one reward I want", Euron stated keenly. Cersei's expression froze and became unreadable. "Like we agreed last time, you are the first one I'll turn to should... anything change. That will have to be good enough, my Lord." He was allowed to ask any reward of her, but a queen could always refuse. "Qyburn? Take Lord Greyjoy to collect a worthy reward from the treasury, he shall have his pick." The old man nodded and beckoned for Euron to follow. After grinding his teeth discontentedly for another moment, the captain complied. We had one major ally in our pocket, unpleasant though he may be. Hopefully, he wouldn't stay the only one. The War of the Five Kings was over, but the War of the Two Queens was coming.