-Chapter 88-
-19th day of the 2nd moon of the year 301 AC-
-POV Cersei Lannister-
"We did it," I said, watching my newly formed army parade beneath the balcony.
Qyburn remarked, "An army of 60,000 peasants that looks deceptively like a real one."
I frowned because he was right, but I had spoken with the army captains, and they assured me it would take only a few weeks to turn them into a true force.
"It will become a proper army after a few more weeks of training on the roads," I said, repeating what the captains of my new army had told me.
Qyburn said nothing, but I could easily detect his disapproval in his gaze, which irritated me.
"Mother," Tommen said, appearing behind me and surprising me slightly.
I turned around, surprised, and placed my hand on my son's cheek.
"What are you doing here, my sweet lion?"
"I came to see our soldiers," he replied.
I smiled proudly and said, "Come, observe the army that will defend our banners."
Tommen observed the marching army for a while before saying, "Thank you, Mother."
I knew my son well enough to see that he was hesitant to tell me something, but he chose to remain silent.
"What's on your mind?" I asked, encouraging him to reveal his thoughts.
"I was wondering… if we're right to send all these people to die for…"
"Yes, it is their duty to defend their rightful sovereign, and you must never doubt that," I said, cupping his face to make him look me in the eye.
'He must never doubt, or his vassals will devour him whole,' I thought.
"Yes, Mother," Tommen said, nodding quickly.
I sighed lightly in relief before letting him go and added, "Very well. Go rest now. You'll need to be in good shape to deliver the speech I've prepared for you tomorrow. They need courage to fight properly."
"Yes, Mother," he replied, nodding.
'Nothing and no one will endanger him. I won't lose him as I lost Joffrey.'
---
-POV Tommen Lannister-
I lowered my eyes to the floor, replaying my mother's words in my mind.
"Yes, it is their duty to defend their rightful sovereign, and you must never doubt that."
But another phrase resonated deeply within me.
"If your men do not believe in you, if they are not convinced they are fighting for justice, if they do not understand who or what they are fighting for, then even the greatest army can be defeated by peasants."
I remained lost in thought until we reached my chambers.
As I was about to enter, I stopped abruptly.
I hesitated for a moment before turning to my Kingsguard—the only ones who had neither deserted nor been captured since Ronnet betrayed us.
"Is it right to send them to war to defend my throne?" I asked.
"Of course, Your Grace. As soldiers, we are always ready to bleed for Your Majesty," Ser Balon Swann replied after a brief hesitation.
"And what about you?" I asked Ser Sandor.
He looked at me for a moment before responding, "It's not my place to think for you. That's not my role. I'm here to ensure your safety."
"It's a royal order," I said, injecting more firmness into my tone, hoping he would confirm what I already suspected.
'That he would give me the courage to do what must be done, to be a worthy king,' I thought.
"You won't be punished for your honesty," I added, seeing he was still hesitant.
'He probably fears I'll act like Joffrey,' I thought.
"I think your mother and House Lannister made a grave mistake betraying Lord Connington. If you truly want to inspire people, you should take a page from his book and fight for your battles instead of sending others to fight for you while you hide in your castle… Your Grace," he said.
I frowned and entered my chambers without a word, lost in thought.
'We'll see tomorrow,' I thought.
---
-POV Roose Bolton-
"It's time to strike," Greatjon Umber said.
"We can't strike while the North is on the brink of one of the harshest winters we've ever seen…"
"Rubbish! We've prepared well for winter, and we could prepare even better if we reclaimed the Riverlands," bellowed the Lord of House Umber, his frustration cutting off even his king, who was desperate to free his son still held hostage by the Southerners.
"That's not my only concern!" Robb Stark shouted back.
"Your only concern is bedding your foreign whore!" Rickard Karstark roared, plunging the room into a deadly silence.
"What did you just say?" the 'King' Robb growled.
Rickard Karstark was about to repeat himself when I intervened, standing and saying, "What Lord Karstark is trying to say is that we made you king, Your Grace, because we saw a fire in you—a fire of victory and vengeance. And… I speak for many here when I say that, lately, it feels as though that fire has gone out."
The king turned to the gathered lords.
Even those who weren't aligned with our cause couldn't hide their agreement.
From the start of the conflict between the Lannisters and Conningtons, we had missed countless opportunities to benefit, frustrating many.
'Not to mention the heirs still in the Griffon's clutches,' I thought.
"An army is coming from the North, while two others battle in the South. We should be grateful we haven't yet been dragged into this war…" Robb Stark tried to justify his inaction.
"But we will be, sooner or later," I interrupted.
"You want me to attack Connington's forces to free your heirs, but have you considered that Ronnet Connington could simply execute them before any battle begins?" he countered.
"He wouldn't, as he would lose his advantage and couldn't…"
"And how can you be so sure?" he cut me off aggressively, silencing my argument.
"You can't know! Just as I can't! So, until further notice, no one is allowed to raise an army towards the South. Am I clear?" he said, placing a hand on his wolf's neck, which began growling in our direction.
I restrained myself from narrowing my eyes, nodded, and left with the other lords, all as furious as I was.
'Though not for the same reasons,' I thought, regretting not being able to force Stark's hand to claim the Lannister bounty.
I noticed Rickard Karstark on the verge of drawing his sword to march back into the Great Hall and slit our 'King's' throat.
"Don't do anything reckless," I warned him.
"He's only king because we allow it," he muttered coldly, teetering on the edge of treason.
"What exactly are you saying?" I asked, intrigued.
"It's time for a capable king to wear this crown and defend our interests," he replied.
I studied him, surprised. "You…"
He cut me off harshly, "I lost both my sons for him—for this incompetent man, incapable of granting me vengeance or retrieving the son he bartered to the Southerners for his sisters and mother, whom he didn't even get in the end."
Rickard Karstark paused, then added, "I've tried everything to reason with him. I know I'll damn myself for this, but I won't lose my only living son because our king is too busy bedding his foreign whore."
"Hmm… And why tell me?" I asked.
"Because you're the only one who can give me what I want. Everyone knows Dustin and Ryswell march for you. With my 100 men, we'd have over 800 in this castle and 10,000 across the North."
"If we execute this correctly, the castle will be ours in under an hour," I said, skeptical yet aware this was my last chance before retreating to my lands.
'And who knows when we'll all be under the same roof again,' I thought.
"When do we act?" he asked.
"Tomorrow, at dinner, you'll give the signal," I replied.
"How?" he pressed.
"You know how," I said coldly, my gaze conveying everything he needed to understand.
He remained silent for a moment before finally nodding.
"Perfect," I said, walking away.