Ch. 3 Maegor's Holdfast

The Seventh Day of the Second Moon, of the year 298 A.C.

Ser Barristan Selmy stood at the side of the sparring circle in admiration. Ser Jaime Lannister and Ser Lancel Lannister were in the midst of one of the fastest-paced and skillful duels Ser Barristan had ever witnessed. He was greatly reminded of Ser Arthur Dayne, the Sword of the Morning.

The sight of two natural swordsmen in a heated contest was awe-inspiring for all who watched from the sides. Their swords were a blur of movement, their footwork was graceful and balanced. The sight of the two knights reminded Ser Barristan of a steel storm.

Ser Barristan noted that the most frightening thing about the sparring match between the Lannisters was that both seemed to be visibly improving the longer they fought. And the longer they fought, the more their duel turned into a graceful dance of steel and death.

While to many of the spectators the two combatants appeared to be of evenly matched, Ser Barristan knew better. Ser Jaime was moving with blinding speed and tenacity, but Ser Lancel was matching every strike sent his way. This is were Barristan's admiration came from. It was not the fact that Ser Lancel was able to match one of the most skilled swordsmen in Westeros, but the fact Ser Lancel appeared to be holding himself back.

With Ser Barristan's experience, he could spot the subtle shifts in Lancel's movements and constantly roving eyes. Ser Lancel was not in the circle for some misguided delusion of pride or honor. He was in the circle to train, and that is what he was doing.

Instead of attacking with superior speed or strength, Lancel was holding back his physical advantages and honing his swordsmanship. That was the actual purpose of the sparring circle. Not to knock your opponent into the dirt, but to learn and improve.

Ser Barristan came to a decision. Once the two Lannister knights were finished, he would give Ser Lancel a moment to recover before stepping into the circle himself. A small smile spread across Ser Barristan's weathered face at the building anticipation of facing one of the most naturally gifted swordsmen he had ever seen.

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Ser Jaime Lannister steadily crossed the drawbridge to Maegor's Holdfast, a fortress and royal living quarters inside the Red Keep. With every servant and maid personally picked by Queen Cersei herself, there was little fear of being overheard by spies. Even so, Ser Jaime was followed by a harpist and a piper.

After only a few minutes, Ser Jaime and the two musicians entered into the inner gardens of Maegor's Holdfast. Seated on a stone bench facing a tall marble fountain, was Jaime's sister, Cersei.

Despite Queen Cersei's curious glance towards the two musicians, Jaime said not a word. He directed the harpist and piper to a second bench a few paces away. Once the two men began playing a rendition of 'Jenny of Oldstones', Jaime took a seat beside his incestuous lover.

"This doesn't seem like you," Cersei softly said as she stared into her brother's green eyes.

Jaime gave a hum before answering. "Lancel suggested prudence was needed for this conversation," Jaime humorously stated.

Cersei's brow came together as she attempted to force an answer from Jaime with her eyes.

Well aware of his sister's intentions, Jaime smirked at her efforts. After forcing Cersei to wait a moment, Jaime let the smirk fall from his face. "Jon Arryn knows," Jaime said in a hushed tone. "He knows the truth about the royal children."

A look of horror flashed through Cersei's eyes before being replaced with ice and murder. "How?" Cersei seethed. "Lancel told you this? How did he find out?" Cersei rapidly questioned.

"Yes, Lancel told me," Jaime carelessly announced. "Apparently, he went hunting and caught a little bird," Jaime said with a touch of humor in his voice.

Cersei was stared in disbelief for a moment. "Varys knows as well?" Cersei asked.

"The Spider only knows what Jon and Stannis suspected," Jaime casually dismissed. "They have no proof of anything."

With a stern gaze cast at her brother, "They obviously found something, or they wouldn't be plotting something," Cersei said with vexed agitation.

After a moment of listening to the music playing, Jaime looked deeply into his sister's eyes. "Bastards," Jaime supplied. "They found several of Robert's bastards."

A murderous light flashed through Cersei's eyes. "Robert's bastards will be of little use to their scheme as corpses," Cersei emotionlessly declared. "So, we eliminate Robert's spawn, and their proof disappears."

Jaime silently stared at his secret lover. "Or, we allow Lancel time to find all of Robert's bastards," Jaime countered. "Especially the ones that resemble the mother more than Robert."

Cersei turned away from her brother's green eyes and began to think over what she just heard. It opened up possibilities, but it promised nothing.

Seeing that Cersei wasn't convinced, Jaime attempted a different approach. "Robert has bedded a thousand whores since his coronation. If some bowlegged whore declares her child as Robert's bastard, how can they prove her wrong?"

Jaime's sculpted smile quickly fell from his face when he realized how that statement could be taken. Before Cersei had time to voice a word, Jaime swiftly continued speaking. "Besides, Jon Arryn has no true heir," Jaime attempted to evade Cersei's anger. "Sweetrobin resembles more of Petyr Baelish than either Lysa or Jon," Jaime finished with a touch of humor in his voice.

Cersei took on a contemplative look as she turned to watch the piper. After a moment of listening to the music, the Queen turned to face her brother again. "Lancel told you all of this," Cersei stated. "Did he mention anything about Myrcella?" Cersei anxiously asked.

Understanding what his sister was truly asking, Jaime took on a rarely seen face. "I don't think Lancel believes it," Jaime declared with a reassuring tone in his voice. "The fact he sees it as a scheme and is taking measures to counter it should be proof of his thoughts," Jaime reassured Cersei.

Jaime was taken-aback when his sister let out a relieved sigh. He didn't anticipate Cersei holding so much value in the thoughts of their cousin. Even if the said cousin is betrothed to their daughter.

Cersei glanced at Jaime's inquisitive gaze for a brief moment before turning to look over the garden flowers. Once her thoughts were in order, Cersei looked to her twin. "I have been talking with Myrcella about Lancel," the Queen said. Taking note of Jaime's confused look, "About how they are to be married and what that entails," Cersei explained.

Jaime lets out a loud scoff. "She is only ten," Jaime said in surprise.

"They will be married in a few years," Cersei smoothly countered. "She needs to learn what that means and how to control him."

Jaime snorted and looked away at his sister's explanation. "Father has been grooming him for the better part of a decade," Jaime refuted. "You won't be able to control him through Myrcella," Jaime reasoned.

Cersei took on an unexpectedly pleased expression as she shook her head. "If he thinks the best course to handle Jon and Stannis is to be reactive, then he hasn't taken to father's lessons," Cersei announced. "Fear not, brother, I will see to things."