83 Pleas & Requests

(Firmridge, the Riverlands)

It was the day after the Melee had ended.

The joust had not begun the day after the melee as he wanted to give the melee participants some reprieve, many of them did intend to participate in the joust after all.

He was now going through the paperwork that cropped up, the damned thing had been building up since the start of the Tourney, and he had been too busy overseeing the event to deal with his most loathsome foe properly.

Truly, this was the greatest danger to all rulers.

Huh… Another assassin tripped on his feet and fell off the fortress walls. Truly a tragedy.

You'd think they'd learn after the hundredth one died of natural causes. The poor fool had a heart attack right in front of his taskmaster.

There was a reason many considered that Career to be a risky one, why not even your heart could be trusted.

Cutting him from his musings was the entry of his most recent interest.

A gorgeous woman, with curly golden hair, emerald green eyes, fair skin, and a slender, graceful figure.

Cersei Lannister was a cut woman above the rest, Erlend reckoned that more than half the men in the tourney were already besotted her, be they spoken for or not.

Which made her presence in this solar even more amusing to him.

The young heiress bowed her head to him, her eyes remaining on his, lust and desire clear as day.

Uphased by her look, "Lady Lannister," He said, "Do have a seat."

"Thank you for having me you Majesty," Cersei said. "I hope I haven't caused you any issues by being so public with my request."

Erlend was aware of her intentions, the silly girl had made it public in hopes to anger his wife and lovers. Wanting to swoop in and earn his heart and whatnot, while his significant others were supposedly blinded by anger for his agreement.

Quite the conniving lioness, unfortunately for her, aside from Lyanna, none of his lovers were affected by her actions.

Waving her empty apologies away, "It's alright Lady Lannister, it would not do for a Sovereign to turn a blind eye to his subject's suffering."

"So what troubles you so?"

Looking hesitant, Cersei took a deep breath, before speaking her mind. "My brother wishes to sell me to some lordling. I suspect that I won't see the year's end if I go through the marriage."

This raised an eyebrow from Erlend, he was well aware of how fed up the Lannister pride was with Cersei, yet no such plans had been made to kill her off.

"That is quite the accusations you are levying my Lady, and to a Lord Paramount no less." Erlend said gravely, "Do you have any evidence that can confirm this?"

Shaking her head, the girl put on a pitiful expression, her eyes watering "We left Casterly Rock too suddenly, I did not have the time to gather enough evidence."

"Please your majesty, you must understand… I present a threat to my brother. He considers me a threat to his rule and won't abide for any longer."

She was going the whole nine yards with this mummery. Any potential threat she could have been was already stamped out by Kevan.

There's a reason the Lannister tree was now a few branches short.

Letting out an audible sigh, "Say I believe your words. I cannot just arrest your brother on your words alone."

"You need not do any of that, your Majesty," Cersei interrupted excitedly, a contrast to her teary-eyed look just a moment before. "I… I can simply stay in Firmridge, surely he wouldn't be able to do anything when I'm out of his reach."

That gave the King something to muse about, she wasn't the smartest Lannister, at least not yet. But it couldn't be denied that she knew how to be cunning when it benefited her.

"So be it." Erlend said, "You will become my wife's lady-in-waiting whilst I try and uncover this unsavory plot by your brother. As for the potential engagement, no need to fret, he won't be able to go through with it as long as you remain here."

Her lips thinned at the mention of his wife, but her eyes lit up at achieving her goal. "Thank you, your Majesty. I promise to do my best to repay you for these!"

As she said those words, she bowed again, this time emphasising her breasts to the young king who appreciated the view.

She was remarkably easy to read, Erlend wondered how long her defiant nature would remain once his wife was done with the proud girl.

Catelyn was not merciful to those who tried to drive a wedge between them and she could be quite sadistic. At least Cersei would still be alive by the end of it, she was of some use to him after all.

… 

It had been a few minutes since Cersei made her exit from his solar, with an enticing sway to her hips.

Erlend was now working through his papers once more, it seemed this monster would give him no time to rest.

A polite knock could be heard on the door.

Curious at who could be visiting, "You may enter." he said out loud.

She was a tall and fair lady, her long dark hair tumbled around her shoulders. With haunting violet eyes, Ashara Dayne did not disappoint.

Yet those eyes looked like they would stab him then and there if its owner felt she could get away with it.

Wanting to get straight to the point, "I suppose you're still angry that your brother has not been released yet." Erlend said.

Her response was to blink in surprise, though he didn't know why. She couldn't be more obvious with her anger after all.

Few would stare at him with such obvious vitriol, not if they wanted to avoid being met with dragon flames.

"Why has my brother not been released yet." She spoke, her tone almost accusatory.

"Perhaps the fact that he was an accomplice to the events that caused one of the most devastating conflicts in this continent's history would be a clue." The blunt answer took her aback.

She had the decency to look ashamed for a few seconds, her eldest brother had died due to those events after all. "You've released the Hightower though, what makes my brother any different."

Rolling his eyes at her, "Ser Gerold had no clue what the mad prince was up to, only finding out too late, by that point he had no choice in what he could do."

"You brother on the other hand had more than enough time to inform anyone, even King Scar of what his son was planning, yet he did nothing."

Frowning at that, the infamous beauty took a few moments to articulate a better response to that.

There was no way she could spin it in a way that her brother looked remotely innocent of his doings, she had been aware of at least some of the things going on.

The only reason no one called her out on it, well aside from her distant cousins who were now suspiciously dead was the fact that many lusted after her body and the power she held as lady regent of Starfall.

Erlend himself could've gone after her, but chose not to, simply because he couldn't give a rat's ass about the whole issue. 

It benefited him the most anyway and he had already dealt with the most troublesome ones.

Plus, Doran would do his best to hinder any more non-clear-cut investigations on his nobles who were associated with Rhaeger and his circle. There were far better things to do than play games with that snake.

"Is there any way I could prove my brother's innocence," There was a change in her tone, shifting Erlend's attention from his paperwork.

Raising his head to look at the raven-haired beauty, he blinked to find her looking at him with an appraising look.

The lady dared to look at him like he was a prized bull.

Well damn, this certainly would be interesting.

…

(Future Lemon)