Chapter 56

Cersei walked with Ned. They were in the Eyrie; her lord husband insisted on showing her all his favorite spots from when he was a boy training with Robert.

She enjoyed the calm afternoons and the solitude of the Eyrie. "Jon Arryn used to hold meetings with us here in this very room." Ned was less apprehensive as they trekked North. They spent many afternoons alone in the Eyrie. Rickon usually nearby; Bran with Tyrion or Robb. Ned was more relaxed in the East.

It was a contrast from their weeks in Tommen's lands. He was not happy in the Riverlands with all the Tullys. He advised their son to keep some of the Northern host and her boy heeded that advice. They were to cross through the Neck after three weeks in the Riverlands but Cersei had wanted to visit Robb and Tyrion for that matter.

Ned had smirked at her, "Fond of your baby brother are you now?"

She held Rickon to her, "I want to see how our son is faring."

"Fine. We will go to the Eyrie, but we might have to stay for a few months until the roads clear from the upcoming storm." Her husband explained carefully.

"Do we have enough provisions to stay a few months with Robb?" she asked before he announced the detour to the Eyrie.

"We have enough." He smiled. "To the Eyrie it is."

Cersei had been greeted with hugs and kisses from Sansa, Robb and Tyrion. "Oh how wonderful to see you little dove." She gushed and hugged Sansa.

She looked at Margaery who smiled but looked uncomfortable. "Lady Stark, I have to tell you so many things."

Robb kissed her cheek and then pulled his father to ask for counsel. Tyrion went with them.

Sansa was in her element. Cersei saw as the servants deferred to her. They were polite to the Tyrell girl but it was clear Sansa was the lady of the castle. She told her of the castle and the mundane happenings. Robb was fine; he was ruling like he was born to rule. She suspected Tyrion and his counsel were the reason behind Robb's easy time ruling the Eyrie.

She was in one of the drawing chambers with Rickon playing around with Lan. Sansa had her needlepoint and Margaery looked peaky.

"I think I am with child." Margaery said with a small smile.

Cersei nodded carefully. She would have liked Sansa as daughter in law. The Tyrell girl was too ambitious, too clever for her own good. Sansa was docile, more manageable and decidedly better bred.

"Great news, may the newest Stark be as healthy as my Jon was when he was born." Cersei said with a small smile. Margaery tired and retired to her quarters. Bran limped into the room and took Rickon with him. One of the knights accompanied them to one of the snowy courtyards.

Cersei and Sansa were alone then; Margaery was usually with them at all times. Margaery felt threatened by Sansa; understandable since the redheaded girl was in her home while Margaery was still a guest. The Tyrell woman was a stranger; a hated one since her family's alliance to the Tyrells was condemning. "What do you think of Robb and Margaery?"

Sansa looked surprised, "May I be frank?"

"Of course." Cersei replied with an affable smile.

"They are fine. Your son visits her chambers every night and will be very happy to know that she will bear him an heir." Sansa said and then whispered, "Him and my lord husband drink sometimes. Not often, but when they do Robb asks about a woman, a healer, Talisa, is her name I believe."

"Margaery seems happy and tries to spend more time with him but Robb is always busy with the Knights of the Vale. He is as busy as my husband is." Sansa said with a frown.

"How is your marriage to my brother?" Lady Stark inquired.

Sansa did not meet her gaze. "He has a handmaiden that he frequents every night."

Cersei frowned deeply and gazed at her, "Soon she will be with child. You will have a bastard on your hands. What will you do then?"

Sansa's eyes watered, "I don't want him to have that handmaiden."

"Have you shared his bed yet?" Cersei asked with genuine curiosity. She was softening in her old age or perhaps it was the fact that she missed Arya and Joanna. Lady Stark wanted Sansa to thrive but the girl was stubborn and refused to take her advice.

The redheaded young woman shook her head, "I tried lady Stark and I couldn't do it."

Cersei immediately thought that it had to do with her younger brother's dwarfish appearance. "Do you hold any affection for my brother?"

The young girl nodded, "We spend at least an hour reading and talking everyday but when nightfall comes he always leaves. I don't know what to do."

Cersei smiled at young Sansa and gave her the same advice she gave Joanna. "I am told Tyrion is an expert on women. Let him take the lead and explain your situation. He will be gentle with you. My brother has a good soul, and women are one of weaknesses."

Sansa dried some of her tears. "would that work? Would he stop going to her then?"

Cersei nodded, "if you play your cards well. You have to get Tyrion to love you. He feels affection for you. You have to make this marriage work Sansa; it is for your benefit. You are Lady Lannister, future Wardeness of the West. Tyrion will undoubtedly parade his whores once he is in the West. The West is his to rule and there will be no one to restrain him. He has some consideration here because this is your home and the Vale knights would surely have his head if he were to humiliate you by overtly bringing whores into your castle. We have spoken of this dear; I am afraid you will rue the consequences if you do not take action."

Sansa looked at her with a determined gaze. "I don't want Tyrion to have whores."

"Very well." Cersei replied and tried to give her some idea of what to expect from Tyrion.

Sansa was pale but something told Cersei that the young woman had grown to care more for Tyrion and would act on her advice this time.

Lady Stark went to her chambers where she found Eddard on their bed. "What is it my love?" She asked when she joined him.

"Robb is miserable." Eddard replied.

Cersei felt a wave of sadness, "He was in love with someone named Talisa. Was he not?"

Eddard looked surprised but nodded, "He was. Talisa Maegyr from Volantis, a healer who fell in love with Tommen."

Ned caressed her face, "Our son made his choice. He knew Talisa did not want him and saw the benefits of ruling the Eyrie."

Cersei was surprised, Robb had always been the more gregarious of her children. He had endless of girls trailing after him. Her child never settled for any woman but Ned told her he fell in love with a volantese woman.

"He made a sensible decision. I raised him to rule the West but the East is just as good." She continued. "Margaery is with child."

Ned frowned, "So soon."

"Robb will have to love her after she bears him an heir." Cersei said. "You did."

Ned looked at her, "I did not fall in love because you bore my children. I fell in love the moment you accepted Jon as your own."

He kissed her mouth and trailed a fire of kisses down to her breasts. "We have worn our welcome in this castle my lady. It is time for us to go back to our home." Cersei moaned when he grasped her breast and rolled a nipple through the dress.

"I wanted to stay for a few more weeks." She stared at his grey eyes.

"No. I want to go to Winterfell." He tried to lower her gown without much success. He bit her ear. "I want us to make love in our bed and smell snow; real snow not this watered down earthy snow." His hands made his way under her dress. Ned parted her legs, he did not wait for them to be undressed but rather pushed her dress to her middle and then rubbed her there. Cersei tried to scratch his trousers but Ned had a better idea, he dropped the trousers and rubbed himself against her throbbing crotch. She smiled when he entered her.

"Ned." She said breathlessly.

He smirked and moved in and out of her. "I want to hear you scream my name. I will take you in our rooms, the highest tower of Winterfell, the stables, our pools near the Godswoods. I will have you beg for me once we are back home."

Cersei grew aroused with every word he said and agreed to go back home. Cersei longed for home too.

There was a very generous feast the following day. Robb looked rested, happier now that he knew he would have a child. Margaery looked sick but she endured the feast with a politeness. Sansa looked radiant with her lavender dress and loose hair. Tyrion raised a cup of wine to her.

Cersei wanted to speak with her baby brother too. She enjoyed the feast and watched as Ned smiled and played with Bran and Rickon who now loved his lord father. Lady Stark saw the perfect opportunity to approach Tyrion. She smiled at his brother. "I know about your little whore."

Tyrion smiled, "stay out of this sister. My wife and I are happy as it is."

"I will." She laughed when he frowned at her. Cersei kissed his cheek, "one day you will thank me for my advice." She laughed with merriment when Robb stood up and led her to the dance floor.

Lady Stark danced with his second oldest son and then danced with her Lord husband. She felt happy, rested for a change.

Winterfell was her home. She felt incredible peace when she entered the gates. Jon was there to greet them. He looked better, happier, not like her boy, but like his father. He looked a lot like Ned. She hugged him and kissed his cheek.

"I am glad you are here." She kissed his forehead and smiled at her firstborn.

"Mother." He hugged her.

Ned hugged their son too. "Tell me how is our land." As soon as that her husband and son went into the study.

Cersei looked at Bran, "What do you say we get some supper and then I tell you and Rickon some stories?"

Bran was tired from the endless hours of travelling and acquiesced almost immediately. She spent time with her little ones until they were fast asleep.

Cersei went to her study and found her letters. Most of them were Joanna's. Cersei read her daughter's words carefully. "I am fine. Shireen and I are wonderful. My lord husband smiled at me yesterday night. He stayed on my bed until the next morning. Mother, I truly love him. He is a fair and noble man. I have not received any letters from Arya as of yet. Osha is learning to read, Shireen is teaching her. Stannis spends all of his nights with me now. He talks to me more. Mother I am so happy." She read excerpts from all of Joanna's letters. She could not believe it was almost nine months since she last saw her girl.

Cersei smiled and wrote a lengthy letter asking her about her life as queen and how her marriage fared.

Eddard found her writing the last paragraph of her letter to Joanna. "She is happy." He said tentatively.

She grinned and kissed him, "her letters lead me to believe so. The singers across the lands sing of Joanna's radiant smile; the princess's intelligence and the king's good reign. All the songs are about happiness and the queen's smile." She was smug and showed it through her eyes.

Ned pulled her up, "I am going to take you here."

She smiled wickedly, "My lord Stark, your sons could hear."

He growled, "naked now."

She demurely smiled and undid her dress. Eddard sat on the chair she occupied just now. Cersei was done playing demure, little woman. She kissed his chin and then straddled him. Lady Stark disrobed him and then mounted him. She manhandled him; soon she was bouncing up and down his cock. Cersei loved when he tightened his hold on her hips and playfully bit her chest. She called his name and that drove him wild. Ned sped up and thrust up until he was spent and she reached climax.

"You promised to take me in our bedroom, the springs, and the highest tower of Winterfell." She licked his neck and moved her hips. He was still inside of her.

Ned laughed, "And I shall my lady wife." He stood up and carried her to a wall.

"You are still so strong." She whispered and giggled when he pinched her bottom.