Chapter 42: Chapter 42 (Revamped)
(Cersei Lannister, The Goldroad)
Cersei sat in her wheelhouse, having been traveling along this accursed road for weeks on end, with only her hateful aunt as company. At least when the old bitch wasn't riding as she was currently doing.
There had been suggestions at stopping at Deep Den when they had passed by it, but the little monster refused, not wanting to impose on the House, what with the old Lord Badger having died in the burning with the rest of the self-important sheep.
She sniffed in disgust at the fool's weakness, the Lyddens should be proud their lord had died for the Lions' cause. Despite being tired of sleeping in the wheelhouse, the foul beast didn't care a bit for her discomfort, wanting to press on as fast as possible.
If her father had still been alive, these fools wouldn't have dared deny her.
At least Uncle Kevan had the sense to suggest stopping for a bit, in order to recuperate from traveling for so long. Her imbecile of a brother had only acquiesced when the old man brought it up after a particularly long day.
Never mind the fact that she was the one who suggested it in the first place.
Riders had been sent ahead, ensuring everything was up to standard and the area was safe. No one wanted to stay in a pig squalor or a town filled with bandits.
She scoffed at the idea that someone would dare attack a Lannister.
"My Lady, we are approaching the inn." A handmaiden said quietly, not raising her head to meet Cersei's eyes.
"About time. How dare those buffoons take so long!."
The handmaiden wisely remained silent, whilst it was well known that Cersei had little true power in House Lannister, especially after the near extinction of the branch lines, she was still a noble lady of a Great House. Hardly something any commoner or servant could compare with.
Not noticing or caring for the girl's trepidation, Cersei exited the wheelhouse with all the grace that could be mustered after a long day of traveling.
Immediately several Lannister guardsmen surrounded her as they made their way to the inn. Her handmaiden quietly trailed behind her as no one dared to speak a word to her for fear of arousing her anger. As it should be.
They approached the inn soon enough.
To say Cersei was incensed would be putting it mildly, the inn that they were going to stay in could barely be considered habitable. What kind of lowborn scum did they think she was to have her stay in this repulsive building.
Her wretched brother sent her a victorious smirk as she passed him, clearly taking pleasure in her reaction. She wanted to strangle the beast right then and there.
The warning look in her Aunt's eyes stopped her in her tracks.
Her Uncle's reaction didn't help, "Get over yourself niece, it isn't that bad." Gerion spoke up condescendingly.
"YOU EXPECT TO STAY IN THAT!" She screeched for all to hear.
"Come on dear sister, it's not that bad," Tyrion said.
Before she could rush to strangle the little shit, her Aunt Genna swiftly moved and grabbed her arms, dragging her as they made their way to the Inn.
"You wanted a break from the Wheelhouse, this is it," Genna spoke calmly, not in the slightest bothered by the deranged look in her niece's eye.
Cersei could only follow her Aunt, attempting to look dignified as Genna dragged her.
Moments later they were inside the inn, which looked somewhat cleaner than its exterior. The innkeeper and what she assumed was his family bowed their heads toward the Lannister family as soon as they entered the building.
"Grim Inn is yours my Lord." The innspeaker said to Tyrion respectfully.
"A pleasure to be here." Tyrion said good-naturedly to the nervous man.
"Thank you, my Lord. All rooms have been prepared as specified and the food is ready to be sent to your rooms whenever you want."
"Good, though I'll be coming down here for my meal in a short while."
"As you wish my Lord."
Nodding towards the innkeepers, Tyrion followed one of the maids who guided him to his room.
The same happened with the rest of the family, as a maid stood nervously before Cersei, ready to guide her when she wanted.
"M… Myy… My Lady." the maid stuttered as Cersei eyed her with irritation, earning a scoff from the annoyed lioness. Still, she chose to follow the stupid girl, if only so she could simmer her anger in peace.
"How long has this Inn been around?" Her Aunt asked, distracting the vapid doe and no doubt still hovering over her to make sure she didn't take out her anger on the stupid girl.
"About four moons or so, my Lady." seeming more at ease with the older Lannister, how presumptuous of her.
"So recent?"
"It was the war my Lady, Pa didn't know if it was safe to open again, so he saved what coin we had and waited for things to quiet down."
"Wise man. I'm sure your family will do well in the coming years then," Genna assured the girl.
A snort escaped Cersei as she watched the girl's eyes light up at her Aunt's words, recognition from a Great House would no doubt bring this inn a lot of prestige that the rats would no doubt use to their own profit.
Though she remained silent after her Aunt sent her a stern look.
"Pa sure hopes so, he says it was only thanks to the King's assurance that he opened up the inn again." The girl said excitedly.
"King?" that caught Cersei's interest. "What does the King have to do with this shack?"
Averting her eyes from Cersei, the girl spoke more softly, "The Banners have been getting rid of any bandits they can find."
"With fewer bandits to worry about, more travelers and merchants would stop at the inn on their way to wherever they're going." Genna reasoned, getting a nod from the girl as they finally reached their rooms.
"Pa was worried they'd come and rob the Inn like they did with the Jeffersons." The maid explained. "The King's men made short work of those bad men real quick."
"Thank you, you may leave now." Throwing a silver coin towards the maid, ushering Cersei into her room for now.
Delighted, the girl bowed her head to the two Lannister women deeply before rushing back to her family. Cersei's and Genna's handmaidens waited just outside the door in case they were needed.
Seating themselves on what would be her bed for the night, Cersei glared at her aunt, who was staring at her with that same damned disappointed look.
"Your mother would weep at what's become of you," Genna said.
"That beast killed my mother." Cersei retorted heatedly.
"He is your brother, you will address him as such."
"My only brother burned alongside father." plunging the room into silence before a loud slap could be heard.
"ENOUGH!." The fury in Genna's voice was audible to all nearby.
Holding her pained cheek, Cersei merely glared at her aunt. The old bitch always cared more for the stunted shit.
"You will be wed to a loyal lord as soon as we return from the tournament." Genna said uncaringly.
"No…"
"You will do your duty to House Lannister. There is no discussing this."
"You can't do this to me. I'm a Lioness, I will not be humiliated!" Cersei tried to argue.
"A lioness who has consistently undermined her pride. At least this way you would finally contribute to House Lannister instead of dividing it." Genna shook her head at her foolish niece.
"Father would never have stood for this."
"Don't be so ridiculous niece, we both know he would have done so if properly incentivized."
"This… This…"
Not wanting to hear any more of this, Genna stood up and made her way out of the room, "We tried to keep the peace dear Niece, you just refused to heed it." were her last words before she left.
Moments later, a loud screech of anger and frustration could be heard coming from Cersei's room before all went silent.
…
(Stannis Durrandon, Bronzegate)
Stannis sat alongside his wife at the high table, having been placed in the position of honor by his leal vassal Ralph Buckler.
It was due to his wife's insistence and the word of his sworn sword Brus Buckler that he agreed to spend the night at Bronzegate, having originally intended to camp out. Worry about her health and the need for proper rest, was what convinced him to stay within Bronzegate.
Steffon sat at the lower tables, conversing with the Buckler heir and the other younger members of the castle. No doubt discussing the upcoming tournament or such.
His son had inherited the charisma that both his father and brother had been well known for, holding the attention of the whole table as he spoke of tales about his prowess and skill. The boy was growing up tall and strong just like his predecessors, something that relieved Stannis.
The elder Steffon had been able to befriend Tywin Lannister of all people, if there was one person Stannis hoped his son would embody, it would be his father.
There was some worry that the Siege of Storm's End would have left its mark on him as it had done with Renly, thankfully those worries never came to fruition.
Rolling his eyes at the antics of his son, Stannis turned to his wife, sending a concerned glance towards her.
Jeyne was now pregnant with their second child and he had been wary of bringing her to travel with them. His wife, being her usual stubborn self, had adamantly refused to stay behind in Storm's End and had forced her way into the trip as per usual.
She was at the moment conversing with Lady Buckler, who also happened to be pregnant. The two were practically in their own world not caring a wit for what was occurring around them as they talked about their experiences and gave each other advice on how to deal with their respective pregnancies.
He had a headache already thinking about all the changes Jeyne was planning for Storm's End once they got back from the tournament. Something about a turnip he assumed.
Still, it kept the Bucklers close and Ralph certainly looked pleased that his wife had managed to get close to Jeyne. Ralph was of the reliable sort, but like every other lord, he too sought to be closer to the Durrandons, now that Erlend's favor on them was clear for all to see.
Politics gave him a headache, he was just glad no one was pushing to put him on a long gone throne.
This stop had at least brought some relief to his retinue, they had traveled the Kingsroad and slept in tents for quite a while now, and the stormy weather that the Kingdom was known for had not helped whatsoever.
Thankfully the weather began to change for the better and it was expected for it to be much calmer when they continued their trip.
Normally this wouldn't be a problem, but dozens of handmaidens and caretakers had been brought in to take care of his wife and son. Many of them were unprepared for the difficulties of the trip.
"My Lord, I take it you haven't heard of the new changes in the Riverlands?" Bucklers spoke, interrupting his thoughts.
"Changes?" Stannis responded.
"Rumor has it that the River Lords can no longer raise any new castles within the Riverlands without the express permission of His Majesty."
"What!" that alarmed Stannis greatly. "Are you sure?"
Ralph nodded his head. "His Majesty considers it a waste of time and resources, especially since the Great Fortresses now make it impossible for any army to invade the Riverland without first taking them."
"Only a fool would leave a heavily fortified hostile stronghold behind their backs."
"My thoughts are exactly, my Lord."
"What of the Riverlords, I doubt they would take the decision kindly," Stannis asked.
Lord Buckler took a while to think of a response. "There has been a mixed response from them, while many are unhappy, most chose to remain quiet."
"Of all the Lords within the Realm, I thought they'd show the most resistance to such a decision. As you know, our ancestors could rarely cow them for long whenever they held the Riverlands."
"Most believe it was done to mitigate the petty rivalries between the rivermen," Ralph said, earning him a baffled look from his liege.
It was his cousin Brus Buckler and Stannis's sworn sword that answered the question. "You might not know this my Lord, but if I have it right, shortly before the Greyjoy's incursions, two minor river houses entered into a blood feud where they reportedly slaughtered each other to the last man, to the point that only one child remained alive from either house."
"How is it we haven't received word of this and what does it have to do with not being able to build castles?" Stannis pressed.
"The blood feud started because one house chose to blatantly build a keep on disputed lands between them, the other house didn't take too kindly to it."
"Why didn't they take it up with the King and let him settle the matter?"
Brus shrugged at that, not knowing the answer to it. "Whatever the reason, it caused so much damage that it forced the King's hand. It's said that the reason he was so incensed about the whole matter was that a lot of villages were caught in the crossfire and suffered for it. As you know he has long been emphasizing the importance of avoiding needless slaughters."
Stannis inwardly snorted at such an assumption, this was rich coming from a man infamously known as the Butcher of the Great Grass Sea.
"Perhaps this will stop them from forming new blood feuds…" Ralph suggested.
"And Tywin Lannister would come back from the dead just to shit gold." was his brother's counter.
Stannis looked greatly annoyed by this new development. There was some worry that the King might apply this law to the rest of the Realm but so far outside of the Vale and the Iron Islands. Erlend had shown little interest in the other kingdoms, letting them rule autonomously for the most part.
It was odd, considering how ambitious the man had proved to be. Stannis might be loyal, but he was well aware of how much importance the King placed on centralizing authority.
He just hoped that the young conqueror wouldn't do anything too drastic.
The conversation between the three shifted slowly to other topics such as the rise of the triarchy and other such matters that concerned the Stormlands.
…
"Did you enjoy the feast, my love?" Jeyne smiled at her husband as they prepared themselves for bed.
"As well as I could." He answered.
Moving closer to her husband, the former Swann placed her hands on his cheeks before sharing a brief kiss with the Stag Lord.
Once they parted she sighed at her husband "You worry too much"
"Quite the opposite my dear, I worry too little." Jeyne rolled her eyes unimpressed by his retort.
Ignoring her eyes, Stannis helped his wife get on the bed, as she let out a relieved sigh at finally being able to relax on something soft and comfortable. "Why do you wish to travel to Firmridge so swiftly, many Lords and Ladies have yet to make it outside their castles." was the question that had been on her mind.
"So that Steffon can befriend the Crown Prince without any interference." was his reply.
"Love you're beginning to sound like my father."
Looking intently at the woman he loved, "Nothing like that, I just hope those two can be a good influence on each other. There is no position safer for Steffon to be in, than being friends with young Edmund." He explained.
"Like your brother and Eddard Stark?"
"Exactly."
Jeyne stared at her husband amusedly, "Poor Eddard certainly couldn't stop your brother from whoring around." Jeyne jested.
Ignoring her poor joke, Stannis simply held his wife in his arms as they lay on the bed, a comfortable silence filling the chambers.
His thoughts predictably shifted to the tournament. It should allow him to get a more in-depth view of his liege and his ambitions.
There was some hope that with the fall of the Iron Islands, Erlend might finally be satisfied with his current achievements, then again that seemed highly unlikely with the trouble brewing in Essos.
The Mudds' existence was too deeply intertwined with that continent for them to just ignore it.
Rumors had also spread of a valyrian Captain-General of the Golden Company having begun seeping into Westeros. Stannis dared not underestimate her just because she was a woman.
They had greatly underestimated Erlend and his banners and look where that got them.
"Mudds and Blackfyres. What next… Grumkins and Snarks."
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