Chapter 7

"Mother…" started Tommen "are you going to kill the baby?"

Since Tyrion had left, Cersei had sat in her chair watching the children interact with the baby. She had thought Tommen was preparing to ask something, as the happy look on his face had faded as he played with his little brother. She had never dreamed it would be that question, however.

"Darling, why would you ask such a thing?" Cersei asked, trying to keep a neutral voice. If she rebuked him now, he was likely to stop talking and Cersei needed to know what he was thinking. What would make him think that of his mother?

Tommen fidgeted with the edge of the baby's blanket "Well…it's just…."

"You can tell me" Cersei coaxed

"He's like Uncle Tyrion" Tommen said quickly, averting his eyes as he said it

Cersei's heart clenched.

"Why would you think I would kill the baby because of that?" Cersei asked, trying hard to control her voice. What had her stupid brother being telling them?

This time Myrcella answered, raising her pale green eyes to meet her mothers, "When Uncle Tyrion was captured, you said you didn't want him back"

"You hoped they'd kill him" added Tommen, snuffling slightly

Myrcella quickly said "We know you don't like him because he's a dwarf, and your mother died when he was born"

Cersei's mind swirled trying to make sense of what she was hearing "Did your uncle tell you this?"

"No" they said in unison

"We said you didn't like him, and he said you were immune to his charm" said Tommen, looking guiltily away

"Mother, please don't kill our brother because he's a dwarf. It's not his fault" begged Myrcella, eyes darting between her mother and the baby

"Please don't!" joined Tommen "We'll look after him, promise!"

"My silly little lions, I will not harm your brother" Cersei said. Her beloved children were looking at her like she was a monster. Her chest burned as if she'd been impaled.

Her children looked at her, not willing to believe her words.

"Or your uncle" she added as an afterthought. Cersei wasn't entirely sure she meant it, but the children relaxed slightly.

"Promise?" asked Tommen

"Of course" Cersei said, hurt that they doubted her

The Queen Regent rose from her chair and sank on to the bed next to Myrcella, who was still clutching her little brother.

"My sweet little lions, I could never hurt any of my children, understand?" they nodded slowly "I may not always get along with your uncle, but he's my brother and I must endure him"

At that Tommen giggled "Uncle Jamie used to say that about you"

Cersei felt her already battered heart clench at the mention of Jamie, but hid her pain well. Softly stroking Myrcellas golden hair she continued "Growing up, your grandfather always spoke of how family is everything. Nothing else matters, but your family. Nothing else matters to me, but my four children"

"And Uncle Tyrion and Uncle Jamie?" questioned Myrcella

Cersei laughed a little "Them too"

The children finally seemed convinced she had no plans to kill either their little brother or her own, and they lapsed back into chatting with the baby and making him smile.

Did she mean it though?

Tyrion had believed she would kill the child and offered to raise it himself. Her own children had not believed she meant no harm. Was she so monstrous? Despite what she had told her little brother and herself about getting rid of the child, deep in her heart she knew she hadn't meant it. The child was a piece of her and a piece of Jamie. If Jamie did not escape from the Starks, it could be the last piece of him she would ever have.

The evening wore on, until a knock sounded on the door announcing the return of Tyrion.

"You're back!" said Myrcella as Tyrion made his way into Cersei's chambers once more

"I am" he replied, forcing a grin

The two children were holding the baby between them with their mother sat on the far side of Myrcella.

"I think it may be time for my cubs to go to bed" said Cersei, her eyes trained on Tyrion. He could feel the question she was silently asking; what did Joffrey want? But first, the children.

"Can we not stay a little longer Mother?" begged Tommen,

"Your little brother is getting tired, I'm sure he'd love to see you both tomorrow after a long nap" Cersei answered

Tyrion hesitantly approached the bed. He'd kept his distance when he came earlier, but he had to see him. He needed to check his new nephew was ok.

"Have you two had fun?" asked Tyrion, his eyes wandering to the baby. The child was smiling happily, even as his eyes kept drifting closed.

"We did Uncle" enthused Myrcella "Isn't he cute?"

"He certainly is" agreed Tyrion softly.

He could feel Cersei's eyes following him and didn't feel like lingering too long. It was fortunate she'd let him come back at all.

"Myrcella, pass the baby to your Uncle and I'll get someone to take you both to bed" said Cersei, much to Tyrion's astonishment

A moment later the small bundle was passed back into his arms and Tyrion adjusted his grip as Cersei had shown him earlier. The child stirred slightly, before blinking sleepily at his uncle and settling against his chest.

"I thought Uncle Tyrion was taking us to bed" asked Tommen, appearing upset by the change of plans as Cersei hugged him in the doorway

"I need to speak to him a moment, my sweet. He will come and tell you both a story though, if you're good little lions and ready for bed when he gets there" Cersei promised, glancing back in his direction

"Of course" he promised. After his encounter with Joffrey, Tyrion wanted only to drown his sorrows in his own chamber, but he couldn't stand to see his nephew and niece disappointed. Although they were royal children, their lives were not particularly joyful.

The door clicked shut and the sounds of the children faded down the corridor. His sister turned to him, her gaze penetrating before gesturing him to follow her to the cradle.

"What did Joffrey want?" Cersei asked, holding her arms out to take the now sleeping baby from him

"He has noticed your absence at court" said Tyrion "Wondered why you were not there"

"It took him three days to notice?"

"It would appear so"

"What did he actually say?" Cersei said, depositing the baby in the cradle and covering him with the blankets. She looked weary and Tyrion felt sorry for her. It must hurt for your eldest child to show such little regard for you.

"He asked about the child and demanded information from me. I told him it was a boy, and he said he will visit you tomorrow" getting the whole story out quickly seemed the simplest way

Cersei sat heavily in a chair near the cradle, looking nothing like the ferocious Queen she usually was.

"What am I going to do? Joffrey will hate me and the boy" she said, her voice cracking

"Have you considered my offer?" Tyrion murmured, shifting uneasily on the spot

"Your offer? No. I will not give you my son. He will stay here" Cersei bit back

"I don't know how you will handle Joffrey"

"How we will handle Joffrey" Cersei said

"You want me here?" Tyrion asked, confusion crossing his face

"Yes. I will not be alone when he comes"

"You know he hates me. My presence alone will infuriate him"

"Infuriate him then"

Tyrion stopped, unsure how to reply. Much like his earlier conversation with Cersei, this was uncharted territory compared to their usual arguments and he had no idea how to react to it.

Cersei broke the silence, fixing him with a haunted stare.

"Why are you still here? It will be a long day tomorrow little brother and you still have a bedtime story to tell"