Chương 15: Chapter 15

They were to leave the riverlands as soon as Cersei and the babies were able to withstand the journey up north. It took them three weeks to make the journey. The queen decided she would stay in her ancestral home. She gave birth to another girl. The last one if the maester was to be believed. Sometimes they weren't as accurate as they ought to be. She was not supposed to have children and yet she birthed three healthy children.

Queen Catelyn seemed resigned to her fate; she named the girl Cassana after the king's late mother. This child as the previous one had the queen's coloring, hair and eyes. The queen had only confided in her and her maester. No one else knew about her failures or supposed barred state. Cersei was sure the next few years would prove interesting in the capital. She was too busy with her twin babies to pay much attention to southern ambitions. She had Winterfell to worry about. This little trip south had been extended too much.

Ned twitched at the mention of his home. The king invited them to King's Landing but her husband declined. The Starks headed back to their ancestral home an early morning after the king and his men left the river lands. The journey back was just as long and cumbersome. Cersei decided that she would not have more children. She loved all her children dearly, but she couldn't think about having another child after she had these ones to contend with. Jon was more independent now and tried to be with his father as much as possible. Ned returned with him in the early evening praising him for his tries at archery and riding. Cersei frowned, "he shouldn't ride, not yet."

"He rides with me lioness." Ned would assure her and kiss her cheek.

Robb and the babies needed her full attention. Her second oldest spent most of his time with her except for when Tyrion deigned them with his presence; he took an affinity to Robb. She did not discourage her brother. Tyrion was the heir to the Westerlands whether father wanted it or not. By laws older than their own empire Tyrion was to inherit it all. Robb was Tyrion's heir; it would do well if they got along. Jaime was under oath for life and no matter what father did he wouldn't break it. Her twin unlike her and Tyrion did not thirst for power. He was a warrior; he liked fighting but did not have the mind or the willingness for politics. He was to be in the fields, just like Robert was. Her baby brother and her had a mind for manipulation and politics just like father did. Cersei did not want to have any relationship with Tyrion. She still remembered the prophecy; her valonqar would be her demise. Cersei held onto that little part, she thanked the gods because she had four children all with dark hair. Her twins had dark blond hair almost light brown. None of them had golden hair, which meant no golden shrouds, and she was not queen. Sometimes Cersei wondered if prophecies were left to interpretation. Melara had died that same night, which fulfilled her prophecy.

The babies drained all of her energy and she longed for the walls of Winterfell. In the castle she would be able to have help from the servants and old Nan who would keep Jon and Robb entertained for more than a few hours. She would not have to suffer through Tyrion's comments or even see him if she did not want to. For now, she had to be content with Tyrion and Robb playing by the fires. They would play dragons and knights. Robb was knight and Tyrion the dragon. Cersei ordered her brother to play outside but when the temperatures dropped she had no other choice but to stay with them in her tent. The twins were not much trouble and slept for more hours than Robb or Jon had for that matter. They were two however and when one wanted the teat the other wanted to sleep or needed to be changed. Myra proved to be as useless as always. Cersei dismissed her as soon as they were by the Neck. Myra had cried but lady Stark was determined, she could not withstand her ineptitude any longer and she didn't like the way she flushed or happened to be near when Ned visited her. She had seen how the servant eyed her lord husband. Ned smiled at her once and the foolish girl blushed and smiled back. Cersei decided Myra would do well in Greywater Watch.

She had her handmaidens but it would take weeks to train them to her liking so she was in charge of the babies. Ned loved his children and spent time with all of them but he could absolutely not be trusted to keep a baby clean, or happy. He liked to hold his new children when they were asleep or about to sleep.

"I cannot wait to be in Winterfell." She sighed against his chest. They were a week away from the castle. Ned tried to slip a hand under her shift. "Not until we are in our home and I have moon tea."

Ned slumped back in the bed. "No more children then." He stated.

"No more." She replied, "You have an heir, two spares and a daughter to marry off. That is more than enough."

"Do not speak of our children in that matter Cersei." He said seriously and with a calm voice.

"I am stating facts my lord." She cheekily bit his neck. "I do like the process of making little heir and heiresses." Ned growled and pinned her under him. "I doubt you would get with child tonight." He forced a leg between hers and rubbed it against her core, as she liked it.

"How would you know lord Stark?" She batted her eyelashes and pouted. Ned liked it when she acted ladylike.

"I know." He responded and kissed her savagely. They had not done more than kiss or touch each other when the fire in his eyes burned high. She took pity on him more than once and licked his member to bring him relief. Ned wouldn't be appeased by some licks and kisses tonight. He wanted to be inside of her and told her so. The twins were five months today. This was the longest they had not been together since he was gone to the Iron Islands. After almost six years of marriage Ned was not shy or introverted in their bed anymore. He demanded and gave equally. She shivered when she heard of all the things he wanted to do to her body. Cersei ought to have said no, Ned would have listened to her but she gave in when he licked his lips and yanked her nightgown in a swift move of his own. She moaned when his kisses made their way to her core. He parted flesh and licked her so deliciously slow that she urged him to used his fingers. She was glad Robb and Jon were with a handmaid in another tent and the babies were so asleep they did not wake when she yelped.

"My lioness." He licked her breasts and sucked. She would not have expected Eddard Stark to like to suckle milk out of her teats or enjoy when she was on all fours under him. She was delighted when he placed her on all fours and knocked her arms to the feather bed. Ned took her slowly, adjusting her to his size and then pounded her, she moaned and bit her lips to not cry out. Ned grabbed her hips and pushed her to him. She climaxed and asked him to pull out. "Pull out, you're close I know it, pull out." She moaned but Ned was too far-gone to care. He spilled inside of her. Cersei was too tired to berate him.

Two months later she yanked Ned's hair in front of Greatjon Umber. She was enraged. "I'm pregnant you fool." Cersei noticed Umber only when he let a big laugh. She ran away crying and did not speak to Ned for a day. He asked for forgiveness but he was not sorry. She knew that when he rubbed her belly and kissed her neck. It was hard to be wroth with him when he kissed her and give her more and more power in Winterfell.

"You love power." He told her when she was in her fifth month and they said goodbye to Tyrion. Robb and Jon were by the gates saying goodbye. The twins said their goodbyes earlier before their naps.

"In other circumstances you and I could have been enemies my lioness." He kissed her hand. "Never." She replied trying to sound as offended as possible.

Robb cried when he saw his uncle leave. Jon sulked for a day and half until Tyrion promised them both to write every week and send dragon toys and new ponies for their name days.

They were with Farlen, the kennel master. Ned let them go to the kennels and see the new puppies. Cersei agreed because after all they would be sad to not see Tyrion anymore. Her brother was not likely to come back for some time. Their relationship had not improved in the least. They stayed away from each other as much as humanly possible. Ned served as intermediary most of the time. He was weary and did not like his role. Tyrion loved her children but detested her. Cersei detested him but coveted his titles.

Ned looked at her with a smirk and a knowing look. "Your brother thinks you want him to name Robb his heir. He says you are not as clever as you think. He loves all four of our children."

Cersei rolled her eyes, "He is a bitter little man. He does not have an heir. It is only natural that he name one of his nephews to Casterly Rock." Ned shook his head. "Tyrion will marry and his children will inherit the Rock."

She laughed, "My brother does not want to marry. Our father will roll in his grave when he names Robb heir of the Westerlands. A wolfling will be Warden of the West." She laughed.

Ned smiled, "You and Tyrion have more in common than you both care to admit. He said the same thing." Cersei looked confused, "Tywin Lannister's prosperous lands will be Stark's. His legacy dead," your brother plans to stop the Lannister name with him." Cersei laughed delightedly. Her husband frowned. She wiped his frown with a kiss. She placed his hands on her belly. He could never stay angry with her when he touched her pregnant belly.

"Do you know why I accepted your hand?" He asked with his forehead against hers. His recriminations were forgotten because he pushed her blond hair away from her face gently.

Cersei shook her head, "I suppose because I was the most acceptable option or because I was the only option." She said simply.

"You were not the only option. The Tyrells and Tullys offered me brides, so did the Redwynes, Florents and even Mormonts." Ned said quietly, stating facts. He was not a man to be presumptuous or conceited.

"All lesser houses, perhaps not the Tullys and the Tyrells but the rest of them are minor houses." She said dismissively.

"I chose you because I knew you were a threat." Cersei looked puzzled.

"Your father wanted to marry you to Robert. I convinced Robert to marry Catelyn instead." He kissed her cheek.

Cersei fisted his tunic. "You will have Lannisters crawling up your arse Robert. Remember what happened to the last king who trusted her lot. Lannisters are not to be trusted." He said and kissed her mouth roughly. He left her there with a stunned expression in her face.