A knock on her door roused Cersei from her chair, as her guard called into her "Your Grace, Prince Tommen, Princess Myrcella and Lord Tyrion are here to see you"
"Let them in" replied Cersei, absently fiddling with her gown
As the evening had worn on, Cersei had grown increasingly anxious about the children's visit. What if her children hated her for birthing a dwarf? Her thoughts had grown increasingly paranoid until she snapped herself out of it. She was a lion and these were her cubs. Besides, it was the reaction of Joffrey that worried her the most. She must not dwell on it now, not when her younger children needed her to be strong.
The door creaked open and Myrcella entered followed by Tommen and Tyrion behind them.
"Hello Mother" said her children in chorus, looking rather nervous
"I missed you both. Have you been good?" said Cersei, pulling both children into her arms
"We have" confirmed Myrcella as Tommen nodded against her shoulder
"Are you ok Mother?" asked Tommen shyly, green eyes rising to meet hers
"I'm fine" she reassured "I knew my brave little lions were strong enough to survive without me for a couple of days"
"We were" said Myrcella quickly "but we did miss you"
"It was lonely with Septa Morgan" added Tommen
Cersei's heart swelled to hear her children had missed her.
"Well we're back together now. I won't leave you alone again" she said stroking the back of their hair
"Uncle Tyrion looked after us" murmured Tommen to Cersei's disgust
The Imp was standing awkwardly to one side, trying not to watch their reunion but making no move to leave either. Cersei sighed internally - she knew there would be no getting rid of him. Pulling back from her children, Cersei took a moment longer to enjoy their perfect faces before she would have to address the baby problem.
"What did you tell them?" Cersei asked sharply, pulling Tyrion's gaze from the cradle at the other end of the room
"Nothing. It was not my place" he answered with a shrug
"Tommen, Myrcella come sit down" Cersei said, leading the children to her large bed where they obediently sat
Small baby giggles could be heard from the cradle, and both children's eyes wandered in the direction of the cradle. Her little brother also visibly relaxed at the sign his nephew was still alive.
"You both know I have a new baby" Cersei started, wondering if Tyrion telling them might have been better.
The children looked at her expectantly.
"Is it a Prince or Princess?" asked Myrcella, after Cersei made no move to continue
'Neither my sweet girl' thought Cersei sadly
"It's a brother" she said eventually, getting smiles from both children
"Can we see him?" asked Tommen quietly, hopeful eyes looking at her
"Of course" Cersei said, standing from the bed and moving towards the cradle. Tyrion's eyes followed her the whole way, though he had not moved from where he stood against the wall. All afternoon Cersei had practiced what she was going to tell the children. How she would explain the new child was a dwarf like their uncle. Coming face to face with them, Cersei found her practiced words escaped her. It was better to show them. Easier to show them.
The baby giggled more as Cersei lifted him from the cradle, the plain blanket still swaddling him. She knelt in front of her children who sat on the bed, still hiding the child from their view.
"Hold your arms out" she instructed, as Myrcella opened her arms and Tommen scooted closer to see the baby. Hesitantly, she passed the child over to his new siblings.
"He's cute" said Myrcella, upon seeing her baby brother's face. A smile lighting up her face
"He looks happy" said Tommen, gazing at his new brother
Cersei had been careful to wrap the baby so only his face was visible, but now it was time for them to know.
"Yes, he is happy" agreed Cersei
"He's so little" said Myrcella, noticing how small the blanketed bundle was
Cersei could practically feel the tension coming from her little brother as he stood silently watching. Stupid Imp. As if he had any reason to be nervous?
"You see darlings" started Cersei, drawing their attention to her "your brother is not normal. He is not a strong, perfect lion like you two and Joffrey"
The Queen Regent was surprised her words didn't elicit a response from her brother, but he remained silent, watching them from a distance.
"What's wrong with him?" asked Tommen, concern twisting his face into a frown
Cersei reached for the bundle in Myrcella's arms and pulled the blanket open to reveal his shortened limbs. The baby laughed lightly at the contact as Tommen and Myrcella leaned in for a closer look. Cersei lowered her gaze and waited on their judgement. The shrieks of horror and denial would start any moment.
"Aww he's like Uncle Tyrion" squealed Myrcella in delight, tickling the child's stomach
"I'm your big brother" said Tommen reaching over to grasp his tiny hand
"You're not upset?" she asked in bewilderment, as they tickled and poked the baby
"He's so cute" confirmed Myrcella, gazing at his smiling face
Cute? That was a novel approach to take. Cersei stood from where she had been kneeling in front of the bed and glanced towards Tyrion. The fool was watching the proceedings with the most sorrowful look on his face Cersei recalled seeing. Cersei felt a small twinge in her chest. It took her a moment to realise it was a pang of sympathy for her little brother. His birth had certainly not been met with cuddles and delight. He had also, most certainly, never been described as cute. It had been resentment and scorn from his family, all but Jamie anyway.
A knock on the door broke Cersei from her thoughts as her children fussed over their brother and Tyrion stood watching them. The air of melancholy that surrounded him was unusual when he was with his nephew and niece. He normally went overboard to charm and cheer them.
Moving to the door, Cersei called through "What is it?"
"Begging your pardon your Grace, but the King has requested the Lord Hands presence in the throne room"
Cersei's heart dropped. What could Joff possibly need this late in the evening?
"Well it appears I have work to do" said Tyrion, plastering a smile on his face as he faced the children
"Can't you stay Uncle?" asked Myrcella, looking up from the baby
"Duty calls my dear" he answered "I will come back later and take you both to bed, if your mother wishes?"
Cersei glanced at her brothers questioning face before nodding her assent. She stepped away from the door, as Tyrion headed out into the corridor. At least now she had the children to herself. Cersei pulled a chair over to the bed where Tommen and Myrcella held the baby. As much as she wanted to enjoy spending time with them, her thoughts kept drifting back to Joffrey. All she could do was wait and hope he had summoned Tyrion for a minor issue. She still had no idea how to address the baby issue with him.
Part of Tyrion was happy to get out of Cersei's chambers, as he moved along the dimly lit corridors towards the throne room. It had been truly touching to see Tommen and Myrcella looking at their baby brother with such love and affection, but he couldn't deny it hurt that his own birth was marred in tragedy and hate. Envy had stirred within Tyrion as he knew no-one had ever looked at him with such affection, in his darkest moments he feared even Jamie's friendship came from pity.
The throne room was a cold, empty hall, particularly this late in the evening. Tyrion headed to the centre of the room, to find Joffrey sprawled across the iron throne, Ser Meryn stood to one side, his face as dark and cruel as ever.
"You come at last, Uncle" said Joffrey sounding bored. Tyrion doubted he'd kept him waiting.
"Well, my legs are shorter than yours - takes me longer to get around" answered Tyrion "Why did you summon me?"
At that Joffrey straightened up in the throne "You're the Kings Hand. You serve me"
"Well, yes. I thought you had figured that out by now" said Tyrion, not entirely sure where his nephew was going with this
"Mind your tongue, imp" warned Ser Meryn. Tyrion had to admit feeling a bit uncomfortable with just Joff and Ser Meryn. He would normally have summoned Bronn to accompany him, but he'd been so distracted with Cersei and the baby.
"My mother hasn't been at court the past few days" commented Joffrey, as if he had only now realised
"No, she's been rather occupied"
"With what? What is more important than the Kings business?" said Joffrey in disbelief
At that, Tyrion merely stared at his nephew.
"You know she was with child?" he stated slowly
"Well, how long does it take to get a child out? There's no excuse for her neglecting her duties" complained Joffrey
"Your compassion for your mother is inspiring, your Grace. Did no-one explain to you that giving birth can at times be difficult?" asked Tyrion. He didn't like where this conversation was heading, though he supposed it was naïve to think Joffrey would remain oblivious forever.
Leaning forward, Joffrey sneered down at Tyrion "Oh, I know how difficult it can be. Mother often speaks of the monster that ripped her mother open"
Tyrion's hands clenched as he fought to control his anger. He hated being reminded of that. As if he had purposely killed the only person who may have loved him. As a child he had often wondered what life might have been like had his mother lived.
Joffrey must have been satisfied with the anger on his uncles face as he continued "Well? Where's the baby"
"With your mother" said Tyrion between gritted teeth
"What is it?" asked Joffrey, though Tyrion suspected he wasn't particularly interested
"Perhaps you should ask your mother"
"I'm asking you. As your King I command you tell me"
Tyrion considered refusing, but hopefully telling Joff would satisfy his curiosity.
"A boy" he said
The King considered this new information for a moment, before responding.
"Very well. Uncle, you will go and inform my mother I will visit her tomorrow" he declared before turning to Ser Meryn "I will have to keep this one away from Mother so it doesn't turn out weak like Tommen - his snivelling is pathetic. Do you remember how he cried when I showed him his dead cat?"
Ser Meryn joined the King in his laughter, as Tyrion felt his blood boil. He recalled that incident all too well. It was only last year that Tommen had adopted a young cat that had been found wandering through the Red Keep, claiming the creature as his new companion. After only a month Joffrey had brought the cat to his brother full of crossbow bolts. Cersei had told Tommen it was an accident and Joffrey hadn't meant to kill his cat, but unusually for Tommen, he had taken a stand. The little Prince had tried to tell his Mother it was no accident and the cat had been taken from his bed chamber but it fell on deaf ears. He told everyone he could find what his brother had done, desperate for someone to believe him. It didn't last long though. Tommen had been severely punished for slandering his brother, thus ending his mini rebellion. The boy had cried and cried to Tyrion after that. There was only his uncle and Myrcella who believed him after all. Any complaint Tommen and Myrcella had ever made against their brother was either overlooked or met with angry denial by their mother. It was little wonder both children were brow beaten into meek obedience.
"Cat got your tongue, Uncle?" taunted Joffrey, seeing Tyrion frozen to the spot
"She nearly did, your Grace" chimed in Ser Meryn
Joffrey exploded in laughter at the knight's joke.
"Haha, good one Ser Meryn!" said Joffrey between laughing "You may be weaker than Tommen, Uncle - surrendering to capture by a woman! The shame"
Both the King and Ser Meryn continued to laugh, as heat flooded Tyrions face at the reminder of his capture by Catelyn Stark. His father had condemned him enough for that. Bringing shame to house Lannister.
"I would rather a sword though the gut" continued Joffrey
'That could be arranged' thought Tyrion darkly
Oddly enough, Tyrion felt no urge to fight back tonight. The birth of his nephew had dislodged a surprising amount of old fears, resentments and hurt. He simply did not have the energy to defend himself. Gods know, no-one else ever had. In the dark of the throne room, Tyrion had to wonder if this is how Jamie saw the mad King. Callous, cruel and clearly mad.
Tyrion turned to leave when Joffrey called out to him.
"Are you sure you're a Lannister, Uncle?" he said "You seem more like a deformed cat than a Lion"
"Either way, I still have claws" Tyrion called, not looking back.