章節 52: Chapter 52

Her children's weddings should have been motives for celebration; instead Cersei Stark was worried. She could not rejoice in her sons' weddings. Robb and Tommen were perfect, waiting for their respective wives. Prince Gendry walked with both women. They wore ceremonial robes but not of their own houses. Those were robes made for them last minute.

Cersei was restless Arya and Joanna were by the side with their father. They spoke in hushed tones. She held Rickon to her. Jon was by her side with Bran next to him. Tyrion, his wife and father were on the other side. They were all dressed for the feasts that would follow. Eddard and her did not plan for such big festivities but Tyrion and surprisingly father insisted on such splurging.

The couples were married and then they proceeded to go back to the castle where Tommen and his bride were the picture of bliss. Cersei saw her boy lift and dance with Cassana for most of the night and saw his anxious face when the time of the bedding came, his face was anxious because of the girl's welfare.

In contrast Robb and his wife were complete strangers and her son did not attempt to engage the girl. His second eldest seemed in a mission drink as much wine and spirits as he could before falling to stupor. He did not care to see his wife for the bedding instead he hung his head. Cersei knew her son would not be able to perform his husbandly duties. The feast continued and drunk they got, or at least Tyrion and Eddard did. The feasts were not only for the weddings but also for the end of the wars in the Seven Kingdoms.

Cersei placed Rickon with Osha and Bran followed them to the children's quarters. Jon left the festivities early as well. Her son worried her. Cersei followed him to the Godswoods.

"Jon, where are you going?" She asked as they walked deeper into the forests.

"Away from here, away from them all." Jon growled and she noticed Ghost and Lan trailing after them.

She lifted her skirts and followed her son. "Jon."

They stopped near a clearing. "This is where I met her for the first time."

Lady Stark did not understand at first but then came to the realization that he spoke of his wildling. "Jon, she is gone. She will not come back." She tried to say with some empathy for her child.

"I know mother." Jon replied with hard eyes.

"It was because of her mother, because of her brother. This war, this all happened because of Southern politics. Tyrells, Martells, Tullys, Baratheons, all living south of the Neck. She would have never gone there had it not been for the dammed war." Her son said with hatred.

Cersei caressed his cheek, "Had the war not happened you would still be heart broken. She would have not consented to being your whore. She was a spear wife son, they are not suited to stay in a keep."

Jon shook his head and then cried. Cersei held her son and let him cry and hold her until they both shivered from the cold.

"We must go inside. Your father and uncle have had many cups." She kissed his forehead.

"Let me stay here for a while." He said at some trees while wiping some tears. Cersei nodded and walked back, Ghost and Lan trailed after her.

She walked back to the Halls but decided against it. Cersei went upstairs to check on her younger children. She found Rickon asleep and Bran reading some of his books.

"I will go to sleep soon mother." He said and kissed her cheek as farewell.

Cersei was on her way back to the Halls when she heard Ned's laughter. She remembered decades ago when they were in a similar situation.

She went near him, "My lady wife. I have had too many ales and wines with my dearest brother in law and future son in law." He laughed and tried to open her gown.

"Do you remember our bedding ceremony?" Her husband asked. He did not get drunk too often. Eddard did not partake, he was too responsible for it and now he was as drunk as that time.

"Vaguely." She replied while leaning to kiss him; the taste was not awful but it was not as pleasant as his usual taste.

"I don't. I remember Robert's first visit." He grabbed her breast and kissed her neck.

Cersei laughed but then moaned when he pushed her to a nearby wall. "Ned." She moaned when his hands tried to pull her skirts down.

"Where are our quarters?" He kissed her with need.

She smiled wickedly and pulled him until they reached their doors. "I want to fuck you against the wall." He growled and tried to turn her around.

"Once we are inside our rooms." Cersei closed the door and laughed when Eddard ripped the bodice and pushed the skirts up.

He pushed his breeches down and fucked her against the wall. Cersei growled when he nipped at her collarbones and bit her neck. She bit back and ran her nails on his back. They were not as young or energetic but the passion in them was just as strong as when they conceived Robb. They slept on the floor until she woke up in the middle of the morning and convinced him to relocate to the bed.

Ned held her to him all day. He nursed a terrible headache the following morning, as did Tyrion and Robb. They were there for breakfast. Father was as pleasant as ever and asked Robb if he managed to perform his duty.

"I must see Jon." He stood up and left the hall.

Tommen and his bride did not leave their quarters. Margaery Tyrell did not break fast with them. She remained in her quarters until three days after the wedding when they were heading to the Eyrie.

She watched as Jon and Robb said their goodbyes. Her eldest son would not be accompanying them. There must always be a Stark in Winterfell, the best choice would have been Bran but Jon offered to stay. Her poor Bran, he would not see the world, not as his brothers would. Ned accepted their eldest request.

The brothers hugged each other, "You will come and visit. See the Vale and meet the girls." Robb smiled.

Arya and Joanna hugged and cried. He understood why Arya would cry but Joanna did not have much reason. They would be returning to the North as soon as Arya married Gendry.

"She is sensitive." Ned replied and kissed her hands. As lord of Winterfell he had to instruct their son in some last minute details. Cersei thought it would not have been necessary since Jon had been in charge of Winterfell and the North for more than a year. Their son knew how to run the estate.

They set out for the Eyrie early in the morning. Cersei remained in her carriage with Bran and Rickon while her other sons rode. Joanna graciously offered to travel with her new daughters in law. She dragged Arya with her as well. Cersei smiled, her daughters had grown closer during the past years.

Their company rested for the night near the Neck, not quite there yet. Ned joined them and spent time with his youngest sons. Rickon was very wary of him but Bran's eyes lit up when he saw his father.

They were resting. Rickon was asleep by her side, Bran on her other side and Ned was at the end of the canvas and furs.

"Father I had dreams that came true." Bran said quietly, as if thinking she was asleep.

"Tell me about them." Ned said.

Her boy explained, "Mother, nor uncle believe me, but sometimes I become Summer sometimes. I go hunting with him. I can feel all my legs running and the beating heart of the things I am about to eat. I hunted a deer three weeks before you arrived."

Ned remained silent, "I hunted and I saw things father. I saw you and my brothers come back. Uncle Benjen came and said there were white walkers. Father the walkers are real. I saw them. Jon will fight them. He will fight them with fire."

She frowned; this was Benjen's fault. Him and Osha filled Bran's head with tales of giants and the undead. She was about to interject when Ned answered, "I will send more men to your uncle. Will that help him fight the walkers?"

"Yes father. The wildlings will fight as well." Bran said with a small voice.

"Very well. I shall send the Tallharts, the Umbers and the Karstarks to help your uncle Benjen and the Night's Watch." Ned promised. "What else did you see Bran?"

Bran stayed silent and then explained, "I saw you and mother, younger but you were not married. You were enemies and my mother was not my mother but the dead queen. There was no Joanna, Tommen or Rickon and Jon was a bastard, your son but not mother's."

Cersei stiffened, "That was a bad dream Bran." Ned asked him more questions about his legs and his horse. He did not approach the dreams anymore. Bran fell asleep and Ned moved him to a smaller canvas.

"Are you truly sending our forces to the Night's Watch?" Cersei asked when Ned hugged her.

"I am." He replied honestly.

"You believe his dreams." Cersei stated while he run patterns on her belly with his fingers.

"I do. He is special, always has been." Ned said simply and closed his eyes.

Cersei barely slept that night or the following nights. She was worried about Bran and Jon as well as Robb who barely spent any time with his bride; instead he hunted, rode and shied away from her.

They arrived to the Eyrie. The Lord of the Vale received Ned and Sansa Arryn with open arms and smiles. The rest of them received looks of distrust and outright hatred in the case of Tywin Lannister. The servants all looked at Lady Sansa and rejoiced. She was in her element. The Eyrie was her home and the lords treated her as the Lady of The Vale.

"Lady Arryn." An old woman exclaimed and wiped tears from her eyes.

"It's good to see you Tansy." Sansa toured her castle and conferred with her when it came to putting the rooms in use.

"Do as best as you can darling." Cersei kissed her forehead. She liked Sansa best out of them all. Margaery was a snake she was sure, and Cassana would take away her Tommen.

So they settled in the Eyrie for a week before going to the Riverlands. Cersei enjoyed the castle to some extent. It was a hard place, the trek to the Arryn's ancestral home was perilous, not all their men stayed in the castle. Only the lords and ladies and their servants made the trek.

Cersei enjoyed the quiet and the views from the big windows. Robb and Ned remained in long meetings with the lords of the Vale, meetings that would define the fates of the region or so Ned said. The lords of the Vale were not so keen to learn of Sansa Arryn's wedding or the choice of bride for the new ruler of the Vale.

They were in bed when Ned explained the dilemma, "They do not want the Tyrell girl. They wanted Sansa to rule the Eyrie alongside Robb. They proposed it to Tywin who refused and then were stumped when Robb married the Highgarden girl."

"What will happen now?" She asked.

"Not much. They will have to accept Robb. There is no other option. Your father's and the Highgarden girl's crops and supplies feed and clothe their men. They were far too gracious when they imposed Robb. Tywin intended for Tyrion to rule in his stead.

"Our son will rule." Cersei pointed out.

"He will but Tywin is appeased because it will be Robb speaking but Tyrion ruling. Your brother has a better mind for administration than does our son. He will help our boy and then go to his lands and rule there." Ned explained.

"I trust Tyrion as well." Cersei said pensively. Her husband laughed some. "Never in a million years would I have thought you would say that about your baby brother."

"I happen to like him now." Cersei then kissed him so he would quiet.

Lady Stark spent the last day of her stay with Lady Sansa in one of the small gardens. It was snowing and Sansa was walking quietly.

"We leave for the Riverlands in the morrow." Cersei said as they sat near the small garden but not quite outside, strong walls sheltered them from the wind and snow.

"Yes, Tommen and Cassana are quite happy." Sansa replied politely.

Cersei smiled gently, "Your guess is as good as mine. They barely leave their quarters." The couple was in love more than in love. They were obsessed with each other. It would not be long before they announced the arrival of her first grandchild. Cersei always thought it would be Robb. She thought he would be the one to make her a grandmother.

Sansa smiled, "My lord husband said that we would stay here."

Cersei nodded, "I thought you would be happier with the news."

"I am happy." She said with a smile that did not reach her eyes.

"You could be happy. You choose not to. My brother will not wait much longer for you. He is getting tired and has many needs. He will find a servant girl that will please him and you will be considered a fool in your own lands." The older woman said.

"You sent his whore away. You promised." Sansa said with sad eyes. "He promised to wait as well."

Cersei looked at the sad little doll, "Robb is here. Those two together will find a whorehouse and set it in your own castle if you and that little rose let them. Do not be a fool Sansa, become Sansa Lannister once and for all."

"I can't." Sansa cried bitterly.

"Rumor has it my brother is more than capable to satisfy a woman. He is ugly but even I am fond of him. He is a good man and in the night when the lights are gone you could be able to welcome her into your bed." The girl broke crying.

The girl cried desperately and Cersei felt pity for her. "I must tell you something but you have to promise to never tell your brother." She said once she was calmer.

"I am not a maiden anymore." Cersei almost rolled her eyes but she kept listening to the girl.

"Lord Baelish took me, that's why I escaped and your brother rescued me. Lord Baelish forced me. I did not want to. I can't be with your brother because he would know I am not a maiden and then he would return me. I would have to live as a peasant in my own lands." She cried more.

Cersei gasped and held her hand. "Lady Stark, please, do not say anything. Tyrion must never know."

She nodded but fully intended to tell her younger brother. Tyrion deserved to understand this girl's coldness and her crying. Cersei stayed with her and let her cry. Sansa's actions and her moods were understandable to a certain extent. Sansa cried on her lap for hours and told her what happened with details that Cersei did not expect from the girl.

"If father were alive. It would have never happened." She cried pitifully.

"Your father is not with us. Sansa, you have to help Tyrion and Robb. They will need someone who understands the Eyrie better than they do. You have to advise your husband and he will advise my son." Cersei carefully carded her fingers through the girl's hair.

"Listen to me." Cersei said and Sansa looked up and sat by her. "You are Lady Lannister the only Lady Lannister future Wardeness of the West. Start here, in your home, learn and help rule Tyrion and Robb.

"Shouldn't Margaery do that?" Sansa asked while Lady Stark wiped her tears.

"Yes, but she will need your help. They will all listen to you. This is your home, your lands, and your people. They will see you and know they are well protected."

"Could I write to you Lady Stark?" the girl asked with a trembling voice.

"Of course." Cersei replied and hugged the young girl.

Sansa wiped her tears, "I must go freshen up before dinner."

"Go along little dove. If you find my daughters tell them I will be in the parlor near the moondoor." They walked back to the East wing and parted ways.

Cersei went to Tyrion's study. She promised the girl but her allegiance was to Tyrion and he would finally understand the girl's attitudes.

Tyrion was with Bronn. She managed to hear the name Shae. "You better have been speaking about how you know nothing of your whore." She entered the quarters and sat in front of her brother.

"Bronn, please find Robb I must speak with him." Bronn understood that he was to leave the quarters at once.

"What is the meaning of your visit dearest sister?" Tyrion asked as he poured them wine.

"Lady Lannister was raped by Lord Baelish." Cersei said with a stony face.

Tyrion paled, "How have you gathered this knowledge?"

"The little dove told me herself. I swore not to tell you. She believes you will cast her aside as soon as you find out that she is not a maiden anymore. She fears she will be a peasant in her own lands. She is terrified and convinced you will never understand her and do much worse." Cersei explained.

"I will not cast her aside. She is my wife." Tyrion said while drinking more wine.

"Sweet brother, do listen to me. You must not tell her what you know. Sansa trusted me to keep the knowledge to myself."

"I won't tell her. This is why she shies away from me." Tyrion said with a sad face.

"I believe so as well. The poor dove is afraid you will do as have many other men." Cersei looked at her brother with wide eyes.

"She will write to you. Sansa likes you. I don't rightly understand why but she looks up to you." Tyrion continued and poured more wine.

"I will of course write to you as well Tyrion." She smiled. "You must help Robb and keep that little whore in line." Cersei and Tyrion understood each other.

"I will but you have to help with Sansa." Tyrion bargained.

"She holds you to some appreciation. You will need to gain her trust." Cersei grabbed his goblet. "Do not drink as much as you do. Show her your wit, spend time with her, Sansa is but a young girl. Your wife has been hurt deeply but there is still a young girl in her, a girl that believes in songs and knights.

Tyrion nodded and they spoke of the Eyrie and Robb's role as Warden of the East. "The lords will listen to him or at least that is what Ned tells me."

Her brother spoke clearly with her, "he shies away from the girl because he believes himself to be in love with someone else."

Cersei chuckled good naturedly, "this is unbelievable. What is happening to my children? They all seem to believe themselves in love and waste away. Jon and now him."

Tyrion smirked, "insensitive woman. He told me she was Volantese and in love with Tommen."

She frowned, "Your husband gave him the option to accept the Eyrie and Margaery. He chose the Eyrie; your wolfling is not completely impulsive or senseless. He has good instincts and is ready to listen." Tyrion appeased her. She had not seen Robb take any interest in his new lands.

"He will be a good ruler." Tyrion comforted her.

"Of course I will be a good ruler." Robb entered the rooms and sat next to her.

"Absolutely darling." She kissed his hands. Robb then kissed her cheek.

"I must meet father." Tyrion waddled out of the room.

"What was her name?" Cersei asked.

"Father told you." Robb shook his head a little.

"He did not have to. You have not looked at your wife twice in the past weeks. My sweetling, you show more affection to Grey Wind that you show her."

"I am not in love with her. That does not mean I love another." Robb said with a stubborn voice.

Cersei smiled, "Your father was not in love with me but he visited my chambers every night. There is no sense in lying to your mother."

"She is beautiful and in love with my brother. She is a Volantese nurse, has dark hair, dark eyes and loves Tommen. She took care of him and confessed to me when I tried to court her." Robb said with a sad smile that reminded her of Jaime.

"I don't like your new wife." Cersei caressed his face "But you must find solace in her."

He laughed, "maybe but not yet. I still think of her every night, maybe in a few months." Robb and her spoke some but nothing of importance really.

The Starks and their parties said goodbye the following morning. Tyrion and her hugged, her new daughter in law kissed her cheek and offered her a fake smile. Sansa Lannister hugged her tightly and wiped her tears. "Take care little dove." Cersei kissed her forehead and then went into her carriage. Robb would see them to the Bloody Gate.

The time came for her to say goodbye to Robb and it was hard. She was dignified and hugged him. "Write to your mother and trust your uncle." She kissed him goodbye. Her boy smiled and she noticed for the first time that he was a man and not a little boy. He was older and looked as handsome as Ned was when he was his young.

The Riverlands were as plentiful and beautiful as she remembered. They spent a few days without any eventful news. They were ready to leave for the Kingsroad. She was not worried about Tommen. He was level headed and was just like Ned had been when he was younger. Maester Luwin, her and Ned had taught him well and the Riverlands were not as vast as the North. Riverrun was beautiful but small compared to Winterfell. He would do well.

They travelled in haste to the kingsroad when it happened. No one could find Prince Gendry and lady Arya Stark.