Night fell over the Red Keep.
Torches crackled in the throne room. Cast flickering light on Robert Baratheon's brooding face.
His massive body sank into the cold Iron Throne. Wine cup in hand. Eyes unfocused.
He'd been thinking all day.
Still no answer.
Schemes were never his strength.
"War..."
Robert muttered.
The word weighed a thousand pounds. Crushed his chest.
He hated the Lannisters. Hated Cersei.
But he feared losing the hard-won peace even more.
He'd started Robert's Rebellion.
No one knew war's cruelty better than him.
"DAMN IT!"
He hurled his cup. It rolled across the floor.
"Ned. What do I do?"
His voice was almost pleading. Looking at his only trusted friend.
Ned Stark's brow furrowed.
He was equally trapped.
Execute Cersei—civil war erupts. Westeros burns.
Spare Cersei—where's the king's authority? Where's the sanctity of trial by combat?
"Your Grace."
Lynn, silent until now, spoke.
"If the queen demands trial by combat—give her trial by combat."
Robert's head snapped up. Glared at Lynn.
"She has no champion! How can there be a trial?"
"Should I fight for that viper myself?"
"Of course not."
Lynn's face was calm.
"You're the king. You can't be a champion. It wouldn't be proper."
"Then what do you suggest?!"
Robert roared.
Lynn met the king's fury with steady eyes.
"Your Grace. You need a proxy."
"Someone who can win. And who's absolutely loyal to you."
Robert's wine-soaked brain lagged.
He stared. Then followed Lynn's logic.
Someone who can win...
Someone loyal...
In all of King's Landing—no, all the Seven Kingdoms—
Who better than the man before me?
He'd toyed with the Hound. Defeated Jaime. Crushed Loras Tyrell.
His prowess was undeniable.
And he was Ned's man. Completely trustworthy.
More than that—I knighted him myself.
His loyalty is beyond question.
If he betrays me, all Seven Kingdoms will curse him.
Robert's eyes blazed.
"YES!"
He slapped his thigh. Shot up from the throne.
Nearly stumbled from excitement.
"Lynn! You!"
"You'll be Cersei's champion!"
Ned was stunned.
Lynn... fight for Cersei?
This is...
"Your Grace, this isn't proper..."
Ned protested instinctively.
"After all, Lynn is a knight you dubbed. Having him fight for Cersei—"
"Proper? I AM THE LAW!"
Robert threw an arm around Lynn's shoulders. Turned to Ned. His clouded eyes blazing.
"Think about it, Ned!"
"Lynn fights! He'll win!"
"When he wins, Cersei's cleared—the gods proved her innocent! Tywin has no reason to rebel!"
"And everyone knows Lynn is my man!"
"If he wins for Cersei, people will think I—the king—was merciful. Gave my foolish queen a chance!"
"My honor's intact. Lannister honor's intact. No war!"
"It's genius!"
Robert grew more excited. Already seeing the perfect ending.
Ned opened his mouth. Found he couldn't argue.
It is the only solution.
Go through the motions. Save everyone's face. Defuse the coming storm.
"Lynn. This is an order."
Robert's face turned serious.
"You must win. And win decisively."
"As you command, Your Grace."
Lynn knew.
From this moment, Cersei's fate is in my hands.
I should thank Lord Baelish.
First gold. Now leverage.
What a generous man.
Maegor's Holdfast
Cersei walked barefoot across the cold floor.
Fear crashed over her fragile nerves in waves.
One day.
Robert gave me one day.
Now only one night remains.
Tomorrow—trial by combat.
Jaime was useless. The Mountain was in the Westerlands.
No other Lannister knight in King's Landing dared step forward.
Who would champion me?
Who could guarantee victory?
Tourneys aren't games.
Losers die.
If I lose—I'm beheaded.
I'm going to die.
The thought wouldn't leave.
I don't want to die.
I have Joffrey. Myrcella. Tommen.
Suddenly, a black figure surfaced in her mind.
Lynn.
The man who'd stripped away all her masks. Who held all her secrets.
Him.
Only him.
He can fix this.
He'd beaten Jaime. Proven his strength.
If he's willing...
A desperate idea took root.
Beg him.
Abandon all pride. All dignity. Grovel like a dog.
The thought made her sick.
But survival crushed everything else.
She rushed to her maid's wardrobe. Tore through it.
Found the plainest gray dress.
Wrapped her golden hair in a dull headscarf.
Stared at the stranger in the mirror.
Her blue eyes held only humiliation.
Lynn's Estate
Deep into the night.
Candles still burned in Lynn's study.
He was writing to Robb. Telling him he'd return to the North soon. Detailing Winter's feeding and training.
A soft knock.
"My lord. A woman claiming to be the queen's maid requests an audience."
A knowing smile curved Lynn's lips.
He hadn't gone to Cersei.
That would've made his help seem cheap.
He wanted the proud swan to know—his aid had a price.
The fish has bitten.
"Let her in."
The door opened.
A figure in a gray dress entered. Head covered. Body trembling.
"Everyone out."
Lynn waved dismissively.
When the door closed—
—only the two of them remained.
The figure slowly raised her head.
The scarf slipped. Golden hair cascaded down.
Cersei.
Queen of the Seven Kingdoms.
Her face held no pride or madness.
Only pale despair.
She stared at Lynn. Lips moving. No words came.
She stood. Lynn said nothing.
Finally.
THUD.
The Queen of the Seven Kingdoms.
Duke Tywin's proudest daughter.
Knelt before Lynn.
"Please..."
Her voice was strangled. Like a nightingale with a crushed throat.
"Please... save me..."
Cersei crawled forward.
Tried to clutch his leg.
Lynn stepped aside.
"The king has ordered me to be your champion."
He looked down at the woman at his feet. No pity in his eyes.
She hasn't tasted power's peak yet. Right now she's just a lost girl.
But she has no other options.
As long as Robert lives, she's suppressed. Powerless.
If she doesn't dare kill Robert, I can safely claim three dragons in Essos. Build my forces.
If she does kill him—I have justification to profit from Westeros's chaos.
Either way, I win.
As long as I'm not the kingslayer.
But if Cersei—or someone else—does it? That changes everything.
Cersei froze.
Robert... made him my champion?
Wild joy flooded her mind.
"Really? He really—"
"But."
Lynn cut her off.
"Why should I fight my hardest to win?"
Cersei's smile froze.
"What do you mean?"
"It's simple."
Lynn crouched. Met her eyes.
"If I win, you're cleared. You live."
"But what do I gain?"
"You're the king's knight! This is the king's order!"
"Order?"
Lynn smiled.
"If I lose, His Grace will scold me."
"But you, Your Grace—your pretty head rolls."
Cersei felt ice in her veins.
Our positions were never equal.
My life is in his hands.
He decides if I live or die.
"What... what do you want?"
Her voice was helpless.
"I want a guarantee."
Lynn stood. Returned to his chair.
"One that ensures you—your father—all of House Lannister—obey forever."
He stared at her despairing face.
"I want Myrcella."
"I want you to send her to me."
"NO!"
Cersei shrieked like a stepped-on cat.
"Never! Anything but her!"
"You like my body, don't you?"
"If you want—right now, right here—I'll satisfy every desire!"
She's not yet the ruthless woman she'll become.
She still has things she cares about.
"Apologies, Your Grace. I'm not interested in you anymore."
Lynn's tone went cold.
"And I'm not negotiating."
"You have no leverage."
Lynn grabbed her chin. Forced her to meet his eyes.
"I'm crossing the Narrow Sea soon. Return uncertain."
"I need a hostage to ensure the Lannisters behave while I'm gone."
"Myrcella will stay with me—officially as a companion."
"I'll hire the best tutors. Guarantee her safety and dignity."
"She'll remain a Baratheon princess."
"Just under my protection."
"You..."
Cersei's tears fell again.
This is crueler than killing me.
Trading Myrcella's freedom for my life.
My innocent Myrcella...
Lynn didn't give her time to think.
"This is your only choice, Cersei."
He released her. Let her collapse.
"Accept my terms. You and your three children live."
"Or refuse."
"Tomorrow, I'll watch your head mounted on Maegor's walls."
"Then Joffrey. Then Tommen. Then Myrcella."
"None will escape."
"You have one night."
Lynn turned back to his desk. Continued writing to Robb.
The room filled with Cersei's muffled sobs.
Finally, the crying stopped.
"I accept."
Her voice was hollow. Numb.
She stood shakily. Didn't look at him. Stumbled toward the door.
At the threshold, Lynn's voice followed.
"Tomorrow, Arya and Sansa will take her—officially as companions. How you explain it to Sansa is your problem."
"Don't play games, Cersei."
"Her life is in my hands. Think carefully before you act."
"My patience has limits."
Cersei's body stiffened.
She didn't turn back.
Pulled the door open. Walked out.
The night wind caught her gray dress.
Her silhouette was lonely as a ghost.
Lynn set down his quill. Walked to the window.
Watched her disappear into darkness.
The realm's fiercest lioness—collared.
Win the trial, and I can leave for Essos in peace.
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