A/N/ This is a "what if" moment, something that is not supposed to happen. I was just talking to a friend and the suggestion came. This is the very first time I'm writing Cersei, so she might not actually be what you expect her to be. I'm sorry in advance for butchering the character I so love. This also takes place right after the battle against the Night King and just as Jaime returns to the Red Keep with I assumed Lady Kyra. For good measure, princess Bäahal escorted him safely to King's Landing and should have been able to return to her sister, but Cersei decided to throw her in prison and keep her as leverage against Daenerys without Jaime's knowledge.
Xxxxxx
Cersei breeze-walked in the hallways of the Red Keep, her black dress twirled with each of her steps as she hastily paced towards the prisons downstairs. Her heart was beating fast, faster than it ever did when they were at Dragonspit and for a good reason. She finally had some leverage on the entitled silver-haired cunt who wanted to snatch the crown from her, and she wanted to savour her victory. Her hand rubbed her belly, believed to be potent and carrying the offspring she just made with Jaime. It had to be Jaime's. It had to be true as well. She had lost her children to the cruelty of men and the wrath of a woman, all senseless deaths she still was mourning for. Her thirst for revenge kept her awake at night, as she fantasized on the new and cruel ways she could destroy her enemies. Ellaria Sand was among them, one of the many victims who had their fate coming after she took the sweet Myrcella from her. Oh, it was glorious watching the distraught and bound face of hers scream gibberish as the blonde queen pressed her lips to her daughter's, effectively poisoning her. It sent shivers down her spine to watch this mother finally experience what she, Cersei, had to endure.
The eyes filled with unshed tears, the crease on her forehead as she was screaming all she could but was unable to say a single word because of the gag placed in her mouth. It was satisfying, yes, but it didn't take away the queen's pain. It didn't bring her children back. It didn't soothe her aching vindictive heart. It was the same as with the nun who tortured her. That evil cunt who humiliated her and forced Cersei to walk naked in front of her people. That old fool thought it would teach her humility? He thought that humiliating Cersei would eventually humble her? Little did he know that as she walked, she was fomenting a plan to get rid of him and of all of those who stood between Tommen and her. The Tyrells, some minor Lannisters bastards and all of those who didn't object to the existence of this preacher. All of those who laughed at her predicament. They were gone, turned into ashes now. Nothing worked to ease her soul and make her feel better. Her anger only intensified when Daenerys appeared. Dragonspit was the opportunity to see her enemy in the eye and look for weaknesses. Her dragons could be killed, Cersei made the mental note, but there also was someone new, someone, she had not heard of before. Bäahal. Her spies brought stories about this newcomer, they told her about her modest origins and the songs about her. Jaime, as he returned safely home, also provided more information on the princess. How soft-hearted she was, how hopeless as well. As they spoke, it became obvious that Bäahal was slowly growing feelings for Jaime whether she intended to or not. It already was upsetting that the golden Lion chose to honour his word and help the enemy against the dwights, but listening to him speak positively wrecked her heart. -although it had to be noted that he wasn't 'raving' about the princess. He just simply didn't trash her like Cersei wished he would.- She had to confront the woman, to see who earned Jaime's respect so she could crush her like she did Lady Brienne. As the mountain opened the cell, Cersei walked into it, only to find the princess pacing around.
« I see that you got used to your cell, Lady Bäahal. » -She put her hands together, assuming a calm position to upset Bäahal. Lady was said almost in a mocking tone, which didn't get lost on Bäahal's ear.-
« Let me go! » -Bäahal turned her head to face the blonde usurper, her purple hues seemed to glow in the dark of her cell.-
« No can do. » Cersei walked closer to her. «I know it is not comfortable for now, the chain around your feet is only there to prevent you from leaving your cell. » She looked down at Bäahal's feet. « But you're already used to chains aren't you? » She snickered, keeping a straight face while her heart was feeling warmer.
« I see you've done your homework. » Bäahal put her hands on her waist. « If you're trying to hurt me, it's not going to work. I've felt worse. I've seen worse. I've lived worse. »
« I am not trying to challenge the horrors you've experienced. Although... » She smirked. « Although, I wouldn't challenge me if I were you. I could come up with creative ways to make someone suffer. »
« Ah...Are we going there? Is this the part where you're threatening me? Lord Jaime gave his word to-- »
« I am /not/ my brother. I didn't give my word to you wretched sister. I didn't give my word to you. I certainly do not feel the way Jaime feels about you. » She snarled and furrowed her brows. The words came out too of her lips too fast but she decided not to let it show on her face.
« You mean you are incapable of feeling anything for someone who isn't you. »
Bäahal's tongue snapped. She ran her hand into her white mane out of frustration. Cersei was exactly how she portrayed her to be. She was beautiful beyond words. Bäahal had to admit it to herself, even if she didn't want to. Cersei's golden short locks and bright emerald eyes were to be revered. Her delicate features and the pale skin of hers attracted the light and the gaze of anyone who would set their eyes on her. Her good looks were ruined, however, each time her mouth opened to spew hateful words. Her voice was deceivingly soft but her words ached. Her words were like daggers she used to stab her in her heart. Cersei smiled, which put the princess off and had her look down.
« Is this what you tell yourself to sleep better at night, Lady Bäahall? Is this how your sister sleeps at night as well? Thinking I am a monster worth being destroyed? »
« This isn't your crown. You're a usurper. » Bäahal's words bit Cersei who clenched her fists.
« I have /earned/ it! » Cersei paused. Her green hues averted from the floor to the princess' beautiful face. « I have been denied my destiny the day your brother chose to marry Elia Martel. To add insult to injury he even had the nerves to fall in love with Lyanna Stark. Now that I think of it, how fitting it is that your sister fell in love with Jon Snow, further rubbing salt in my wounds. » She shrugged and closed her eyes. « I have earned my crown. Robert earned his crown after he rebelled against your father, yes the mad king who was about to burn his own people. He put an end to the reign of degenerates for the people. He was a rightful king and I was his wife. I endured his love for yet another Stark, his constant disrespect, his violence towards me and because my children died, I got to wear the crown. »
« You murdered your way to the crown. This is what you did. You destroy everything you touch, Lady Cersei. Everything and everyone. » -Bäahal spat at her, her eyes glowing brighter before she walked back to her bed and sat on it. « You could have prevented everything, the unnecessary deaths, the pain, the sorrow... »
« What could you possibly know of my life? Not so long ago you were property to your masters in the South. Your very existence was to serve. » She said with a soft chuckle. « And now you dare lecture me about my life? About my choices? About my legitimacy? »
She walked closer to the princess, taking in her raw beauty. Her spies told her she was called the Jewel of Mereen, the Sun of Astapor and the legends weren't far from the truth. Her long silver locks framed a perfect black face. Her almond purple eyes, the plump brown lips and wide nose were exotic features Cersei had rarely seen. Her skin seemed to be soft, her body toned like a dancer's should be. Did Jaime see the same thing as she did? Did he notice those curious almond eyes set on him when he wasn't looking? Did he notice her chest heave up and down as he addressed the princess? Did he notice her perfect face? That plump body? It irritated Cersei to think that maybe, he found this woman attractive and maybe he was having a soft spot for her which could explain why he was being nice or didn't speak ill of her. Her words seemed to have an impact on the princess whose body language betrayed how uneasy she quickly was becoming. She didn't say anything, mostly because she refused to play Cersei's mind game, but it only encouraged the queen to continue. She wanted to see how upset Bäahal could be and push her to her limits.
« Your sister will try to take you back and I am counting on it. I know you screamed you wanted to be killed but I would not allow for it to happen » She grinned and cupped the princess' chin she lifted so she could see. Her smirk never left her lips as she stared into the Bastard Targaryen's face.
« I still stand corrected. I cannot speak of what you did in the past for I wasn't there. I can only speak for the present and this war you're ushering us all into because you refuse to give the crown to my sister. She is the rightful queen. »
« I am the rightful queen, my dear. Robert defeated the Targaryens. He crushed them on his heel like the cockroaches they all are and yet, just like those beasts, one of them survived. Oh, I'm sorry, two of them if we consider half-breed to be part of the family. »
« I gave Lord Jaime my word that Lady Kyra and he would return safely to the Red Keep. I promised him we wouldn't harm them on their way home and I kept my word. He promised that in turn, I would be able to leave and join my sister again. »
Jaime again. She would have rolled her eyes if it were anyone else but she refrained from doing so. It was /her/ moment, not Jaime's and yet his name still found its way in her enemy's mouth. Cersei already had a gut feeling about Bäahal's fancy interest in her brother and while her first reaction was to be overprotective and reclaim her influence on him, she realized that there was the opportunity to turn the tables on the princess. Insulting her because of her blood or her past would not work. Her loyalty and blind faith to Daenerys didn't seem to waver either for the moment so she would attack where it hurt and that would be her interest on her brother. She noticed the way the princess said his name, adding a little exotic twist each time it left her lips. She noticed the slightly crooked smile and how for a second she would avoid looking at Cersei straight in the eyes. She was in denial, which would be even more enjoyable for the queen to destroy.
« You fancy my brother? » -The words felt like a slap in the face. Bäahal felt her cheeks turn red from the question and looked away from Cersei who still kept a hold on her chin. « You don't have to answer, I know you do. I can tell. » Bäahal's chest heaved up and down at a faster pace as she found herself unable to answer. « Jaime is a very handsome man, the golden boy of the Lannisters. He always had women fawning over him for his good looks. I don't blame you for falling for him, even if he had lost a limb, even if he had cut his beautiful hair and grew a beard I cannot stand to see. I don't blame you for thinking he's beautiful and for wanting to kiss him. Do you want to kiss him? »
« …... » Bäahal bit her bottom lip and knitted her brows in anxiety. She felt the pressure in the room increase, both because of the question that was sending her into panic mode, but also because Cersei was breaching her personal space. She was all up in her face, leaving her nowhere to escape to. Her body shivered as it struggled with the pressure in her chest and she clenched the fabric of her dress.
« I know you do. I bet you've been looking at him since you first laid your eyes on him. You were a slave, so you are not innocent anymore. I am sure you and I can understand how disgusting men can be. Your masters, Robert...they were the same, clawing their ways into your body, ruining it from the inside. » the purple eyes grew wide as unpleasant memories filled the princess' mind. A painful groan escaped from her lips and she tried to swath Cersei's hand away. « I know, I know....it's horrible isn't it? And then you saw my brother and you imagined how sweet he could be with you, haven't you? » Bäahal blushed, fresh unshed tears rushed to her eyes as she wanted to cry but refused to do so. Cersei relished in the pain she was inflicting the princess, knowing she had touched a sensitive nerve and was now invading her mind.
« I do not fancy your brother. » The silver-haired princess wanted it to stop. She knew the mountain would prevent her from hurting Cersei and wasn't fool enough to try. Daenerys' reputation was at stake here and she had to be the less problematic prisoner she could be. Her words were weak, her resolve was barely resisting the pressure that kept building up.
« Keep telling yourself that. I know better. » She smirked and stroked the back of the princess' cheek. « I will tell you this. Jaime feels good. He has always felt good. He feels good when he kisses me. He feels good when he sucks on my teat or when he's deep inside of me. He feels even better when he whispers my name as he fucks me. » She then knelt before the tiny princess and cupped both of her cheeks. « And this is something you have to keep in mind, Lady Bäahal. His heart belongs to me. His body belongs with me. He is in love with me ever since we were kids and this.is. Not. Going to change. Not now, not ever. Jaime doesn't care about you, he would never fancy you. He will never say your name the way he whispers mine, he will never touch you the way he touches me and he will never ever return to you like he just did. »
« You do not deserve his love. You're destroying him. »
Bäahal managed to say, while her heart was in flames, burned by each and every word the usurper was saying. Bäahal knew Jaime had only eyes for his twin sister. His heart belonged to Cersei because he willingly gave it to her and no amount of rationality would make him change his mind. It would never have been a problem if Cersei wasn't the evil cunt she was. Bäahal would have liked it better if he chose a loving woman but Cersei wasn't loving nor was she caring. She used Jaime, even now she did so to hurt the princess and it worked. It worked so well. Her body felt hot, her tears were burning her eyes but she still couldn't cry them, not in front of her enemy. She refused to focus on her feelings because she didn't know how to manage them. Love was a concept she was starting to grasp. Friendship, family those types of love were understood and worked on. After all these months spent by her sister's side, Bäahal opened up to having a family and people who cared for her. War only made her realize how precious those lives were to her and how much she gained since she tasted freedom. Romantic Love, however, was something she wanted to avoid. In this world, true love was a myth and only the chosen ones were able to experience it. Those who did usually ended up losing everything, like Tywin Lannister and Joanna. Like Rhaegal Targaryen and Lyanna Stark, like Ned and Caitlyn Stark and she wished and hoped that Jon Snow and Daenerys Targaryen wouldn't experience loss, after having fallen in love so intensely before. They were allowed a second chance, but they were special. They were special and Bäahal wasn't. She never stopped to think of how Jaime made her feel and refused to do so because she sensed it would do her no good. Yet, she couldn't escape from it and the cruel reality just slapped her in the face, in the form of Cersei gloating about Jaime's love for her.
« Ahahaha... Lady Bäahal, you would be cute if you weren't my enemy. I can see it now, how naive and passionate you are when you speak of him. How highly you think of Jaime is almost endearing. You think that because you spent a few weeks with Jaime you know him? You think you could possibly know him better than I do? » She chuckled darkly and planted a kiss on top of her head, achieving her goal as the princess didn't react to her.
« You are destroying him. »
« He has destroyed me before. » She pointed out. « When he walked away to assist your sister in defeating the Night King? When he put his life on the line while I'm expecting his child? »
« …. »
« Oh ?.. You didn't know? » Bäahal looked at her face and saw the evil grin that had crept onto the blonde queen's face. « I am offering him a new beginning and he will take that opportunity whether you like it or not. You should pray for your sister to quickly come and retrieve you. If she doesn't, you will be forced to stay here and I will make it a point to come and present you with the child I will have with the only man you fell in love with. You will have a taste of the very thing you cannot have: Jaime's love. »
She then stood back up and turned on her heels. It was the first visit, something she did to impress her opponent and leave an everlasting mark on her. Cersei knew it worked, the words she spat like venom hit the princess full strength and despite not seeing her cry actual tears, she was certain she heard Bäahal's heartbreak. As she exited the room, Bäahal finally could express herself. She stood back up, ran her hand over her face to wipe the touch of Cersei from it. She couldn't seem to find her breath and went next to the window of her cell. She hit the wall with her fist over and over until she couldn't and started to cry. It was silly, Jon warned her that it might have been a trap but she trusted Jaime and Lady Kyra. She believed Cersei would at least let her leave and had not expected to face and fight the mountain, only to be defeated as if she was nothing but a fly on a wall. She couldn't breathe, not even after she hit the wall, so she turned on her heels and slowly let her body fall onto the floor. It couldn't be true. Cersei couldn't be right and even if she was, all Bäahal wanted was for Jaime to be free of this evil woman. It didn't matter what could become of their relationship as soon as he and Lady Kyra were far away from this evil bitch. It wasn't even the most important as of now. What mattered most was that Daenerys didn't try to rescue her. They were at war and if Bäahal had to die then so be it. She would.
-TBC-
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