Chapter 20

There was outrage all around the Seven Kingdoms. Cersei Stark received the ravens before her husband told her the news. Jaime wrote to her, he did not bother to write as often. Tywin Lannister wrote to her every month, they were cold missives, informative but cold. Tyrion wrote to his nephews. He had yet to meet Arya and Bran but he sent them letters and gifts nonetheless.

She was in her solar teaching Arya and Joanna languages and how to play instruments. Surprisingly neither girl was interested. Joanna at least tried to play along for her sake but Arya was possibly the most hardheaded creature in the Seven Kingdoms. She refused to pay attention. "I want to go fishing with the boys." Joanna stayed quiet. Cersei noticed her eldest was dying to tell her little sister off but remained quiet because of her. "Absolutely not." Lady Stark said primly.

"Why? It is not fair. Bran is going and he does not even like fishing. I like fishing." Joanna rolled her eyes and continued writing in high Valyrian.

"I said no, and this matter is not up for discussion. You are a lady."

"I am not." Arya fussed and her braids shook with the movement.

"You will be one. Even if I have to take away all your lessons." Cersei gave her the best do not try me look.

Arya backed down and scribbled. The raven arrived; she read the letter and did not know what to think about those outcomes. King Robert legitimized one of his bastards. There were sixteen in all. He legitimized the eldest male. Gendry Baratheon, first of his name and heir to the throne. Catelyn must be seething in King's Landing. Jaime wrote to her about the outcome. In his letter he stated that the king had been made aware that the queen could no longer give him any heirs. The Crown had four princesses; Myrcella, Lyanna, Alayne and Cassana. All useless, the crown demanded a male heir. According to her twin the king could not set Catelyn aside. Riverrun would rebel with more than enough reason. Instability could not be tolerated, not now. Stannis would have been the better option but Robert Baratheon did not believe his younger brother could be king. Stannis's wife gave birth to a baby girl and Renly had Storm's End to take care of. The king and Jon Arryn decreed that the eldest bastard boy would do as heir to the Seven Kingdoms. Gendry Baratheon was as old as Robb, perhaps older and had been raised in Flea Bottom until a year ago. His mother, a tavern wench, likely a whore was dead and had been so since the boy was three years old. Jon Arryn gave him to a blacksmith to apprentice and then made sure he was close to him.

Now the bastard boy was to be king. Cersei shook her head. She would no doubt hear from her lord father. The crown owed the Lannisters at least half the kingdoms. Tywin inched closer and closer to King's Landing to become the Hand of the King. Jon Arryn was the only impediment; she was a bit surprised the old man was still alive. If she were her father she would have killed the man years ago. After all Tywin was the next feasible option to be Hand of the king.

Ned came to the bedchamber late, after she saw all the children to bed. In reality she only visited Bran and Arya's chambers. Bran was her last baby and it was hard to let go while with her youngest daughter it was a matter of making sure she was tucked safely in bed and not wandering around the castle or worse the stables. At least half the men called her Arya underfoot. Cersei had been incensed when Ned refused to punish the men.

He kissed her lips and slipped next to her. "Robert legitimized one of his bastards." The word bastard always left a bad after taste in her husband's mouth. She chose to ignore his uncomfortable tone and act surprised at his statement.

"Why?" She asked while lying on his chest.

"The queen cannot give him more children. Do not play coy Cersei. You have probably known that little fact for years, perhaps since the youngest princess was born."

She looked up and saw turmoil behind his eyes. Ned was not one to worry about politics. The North was safe and away from all the intrigues and dirty power plays. "I worry about Jon." That definitely captured her attention.

"He is the heir of Winterfell. We made sure of that." She kissed his chest. Ned caressed her long hair. "People know he's a bastard."

"He is not. He is mine own. I nursed him; I took care of him when he almost died. It was me who stayed up all night. I cured fevers; I kissed his scrapes. He calls me mother. You will not take that away from me." Cersei said fiercely.

Ned kissed her angry scowl. "My love, have you ever thought that it would be best if Jon knew about his birth? He should know you did not birth him."

Cersei paled and retreated from her husband. "Not if I can help it. He will never know. You will not tell him Ned, promise me." She said.

"I can't. He will ask, Cersei and we will not have any other choice but to tell him the truth." She shook her head and faced her dresser instead of her husband.

"My men will never dare say anything about his birth but there will come a time when he will know." He hugged her but she refused to let him see her anxiety. Intellectually she understood that it was best to let Jon know. He would not lose any titles. He was the true heir of Winterfell, legitimized by the king and recognized by his father just as this Gendry boy was. Power shifts were in play and once again she wondered whether her father gained or lost in the game. She was not an active player. King Robert could whore and drink; she felt a need to write to her father for counsel. She laughed internally; her lord father would dismiss the letter without a second glance. It would not benefit for all Westeros to know that the heir to Winterfell was a legitimized bastard. Cersei would have to wait and reevaluate the game. She needn't worry. The game of thrones did not concern her. Jon would be heir of Winterfell. Robb would dispose of Casterly Rock. Joanna would marry Gendry Baratheon, heir to the throne. Tommen would marry Sansa Arryn and rule in the Eyre. Robin Arryn was a sickly child, too feeble to be the true warden of the Mountains and the Vale. Arya would be in Winterfell for as long as she could. Bran could marry one of the princesses and be a knight just like he wanted.

Cersei's plans for the future reassured her but could not keep the doubt in her heart that something was coming. Something that would shake the peaceful existence she kept.

Ned held her; he liked to hold her to him. She once asked him why he would hold her all night. "Making sure you do not run away from me." He mumbled half asleep. Cersei had rolled her eyes but now she welcomed his strength. Ned held her tight and whispered. "All of them will be safe. We all will be." She wanted to believe him but the uneasiness did not go away. She did not sleep that night.

Jon Arryn was dead. She barely knew the man but he had been like a father to Ned. She received the raven from Tyrion who also announced that the Royals and the Lannisters were riding North. She walked through the godswoods, and reached the weirwoods.

Her husband polished his great sword, Ice. She smiled when he looked into her eyes. "How are the they?" Ned asked.

"Arya and Joanna are in love with their direwolves. Arya named hers Nymeria and Joanna named hers Lady."

"Tommen named his Shaggy Dog." Ned chuckled and she sat next to him. "He has a sense of humor." Cersei chuckled. Tommen was an easygoing child with a kind soul, the kindest of her children.

"My love, we received a raven. Jon Arryn is dead. I am so sorry my love." She held him as he clutched her. It was sad news, Ned asked her for time to pray and ask guidance. She told him about the royal visit. He nodded but concentrated on his prayers.

She let him be in those woods. He needed the spiritual release that this place afforded him. The lady of Winterfell retreated to the castle. It had been four years since Gendry Baratheon took his place as true heir to the Crown. Cersei walked and thought about the repercussions for the visit. She understood that the King's visit was not a social one. He would ask her husband to be the new Hand of the King. Court was not a place for Ned; he was too honorable, too trusting and ethical for such place. He could not refuse however; it would be an insult to the king. She looked around, Jon and Robb trained together, sometimes she could not believe her boys were seven and ten and six and ten. Joanna and Tommen had just turned four and ten. Arya was three and ten and flowered. Bran her last boy was eight years old, hardly a babe.

The children found a dead direwolf with pups still nursing. Jon reasonably argued they had to take them in; after all it was the sigil of their house. They were in luck because there were seven direwolf pups. One for each heir and a spare, Farlen, the kennel master advised against the pups. There had not been any direwolves in Winterfell since the Targaryens arrived to Westeros. They were practically mythical creatures. Ned had relented when Bran pleaded. Her baby boy had gone to see his first execution, a deserter from the Wall. Cersei stalled as long as she could but Ned enforced his authority and took Bran along with the older boys.

She was not surprised to see Arya and Tommen sparring or Joanna with the pups sitting by the shade. Bran was probably trying to climb the walls. She saw him surefooted and grinning from a tower. He had not decided on a name for his pup yet. Robb called his Grey Wind and Jon called his albino pup Ghost.

Joanna grinned and grabbed her hand, "mother. Is it true? The prince is coming to Winterfell?" Cersei smiled, Joanna wanted to be queen and she would help her. "Yes, sweetling. We must prepare the castle and receive the royal party. Your uncles are coming too and grandfather." The blond beauty smiled, she was every bit Cersei when she was three and ten. She would make a beautiful queen. The lady of Winterfell called her youngest girl, Arya.

"Come Arya. We must advance your lessons…" Her youngest daughter rolled her eyes but dropped her wooden sword. Bran climbed down and joined Tommen. Cersei lectured her two daughters. "I want you to behave like ladies. No riding without your brothers, no sparring for you Arya. Joanna, no archery for you and I do not want to see you near Jeyne Poole. You have a sister, Arya, talk to her and confide in her. The same applies to you." Cersei watched as her daughters looked to each other and glared.

The girls were not as friendly to each other as she would have liked them to be. They were different. Joanna loved stories with princes and princesses. She was strong and liked archery but could not be compelled to try sword fighting. She wanted to be queen, to have children and a family. Arya was a warrior; she wanted to be Nymeria reborn. She wanted to be like Brienne of Tarth, who was victorious in tourneys and had some fame in the Stormlands. Cersei watched her and suffered for her. If only she were a little more like Joanna, who was more ladylike. Arya was a force to be reckoned with and volatile, much more so than she had been at that age.

"But mother, Jeyne is my best friend. Arya is so…" Cersei dared her daughter say anything unkind about her little sister. She had heard the horrible moniker that steward's daughter called her little girl. Arya Horseface. Her daughter of course tried to pay no heed to such things beneath her. Cersei however knew her little girl and those comments hurt her. It did not help that Joanna shunned her for Jeyne and then Arya lashed against both girls. This was their opportunity to rekindle their friendship.

"She is so Arya." Joanna said with a hopeless voice. Arya glared at her. "Well I certainly do not want to spend time with someone as stupid as you." She frowned. "I can stay with Jon or Robb."

"You will not. I said no swordplay and your brothers would be far too busy once the Royals come." They were in her solar. Cersei lectured and asked them to help with the preparations. She included Arya. No daughter of hers would do as she pleased. Arya was strong but so was Cersei Stark.

"Arya and Joanna, you will like each other and make sure to friend the princesses. Your father would be disappointed if you did not. King Robert is his best friend." Those words used to work on Arya but now the little girl was not as swayed as before.

"I bet you will have no problem getting along. They probably are as stupid as you are Joanna." Arya said mockingly.

"Shut up horseface." Joanna said with a frown marring her beautiful face.

Cersei glared at them. "Apologize to each other. You will stop Arya Stark, need I remind you that Joanna is your sister. Joanna, I you will not call your sister that name ever again."

"What are our words?" She hissed.

"Winter is Coming." They said at unison.

"Correct, you will need each other. You are sisters and nothing will ever change that. There will come a time when you will need each other."

Supper was a grim affair. She rounded the children and explained that Jon Arryn had died. None of them knew the man, but understood that their father held the man in great esteem. Jon was named after him after all.

Ned was quiet more so than any other day. He did not smile when Joanna told him about Lady's antics or when Tommen spoke about his progress in archery or when he mentioned the little direwolf pup that had no owner. The last pup remained nameless and was the most aggressive one. Robb attempted to lighten the mood. "Nuncle Tyrion will be coming with the royal party."

Cersei nodded, Robb and Jon were particularly fond of the Imp. The twins were too young to remember anything about their uncle while Arya and Bran had never met any Lannisters.

"Your grandfather will be here too." She commented. None of her children had met Tywin Lannister. Ned shifted uncomfortably; he avoided all talk about Tywin.

"Uncle Jaime will be happy to see you too." She commented and continued to converse with her older children who told stories of Jaime when they met him.

Ned sought her that night and had her with single-minded intent. She was but an instrument for his pleasure. She welcomed him and his desperation. Once spent above her he rolled next to her. "Winter is coming my love." He rasped and kissed her sweaty brow. They were under think furs and the fires were alight.

She moved his hair away from his face. "You are worried about father." She could sense his trepidation; it was the same feeling she had. She did not really understand why father would bother to come north. It was not something she cared to think about too much.

Cersei kissed his chest. "Lysa Arryn and her children have fled to the Eyre." She whispered.

"How have you acquired this knowledge?" Ned asked her with his hands rubbing her back.

"Tyrion wrote to me about it." She said simply and kissed his throat. His hands went lower to her right ass cheek.

"I thought you despised your brother." He teased her.

"I do but we are Lannisters and family comes first." She said with a wicked smile. All the Seven Kingdoms knew about his righteousness but they did not know how her wicked little smile reduced him to a grunting animal. He growled and pinned her underneath him.

"Stark. You are Cersei Stark." He pushed her legs apart and entered her. Cersei rocked her hips against his. She bared her neck for him to mark her. Ned had moods in which he loved to bite and lick her. She had come to like the stinging sensation of his teeth sinking into her flesh and then his tongue laving her marked skin. She moaned when he pulled both her legs to his shoulders and claimed her. She was exhausted by the end of the night. Ned sought solace in her, he was troubled but could not say the words. Cersei helped him, just as he helped her so many times.