iron throne of ice and fire

Chapter 451 Lion Cage
The lioness loves her cubs. Maybe she loves Joffrey more, but she loves Tommen just as much.

But………

Two sons... two kings... both were bewitched by the little rose and both quarreled with their mother over that woman.

The lioness felt a dull pain in her heart.

"Tommen, are you beginning to question your mother?"

"No, mother, I suspect those nuns..."

"You obviously suspect they are hiding something from me. Tommen, you disappoint me."

Hearing his mother's disappointment in him, Tommen quickly explained: "Mom, I really don't think so..."

A smile appeared on his mother's face that Tommen couldn't understand, and he couldn't help but tremble.

"What are you afraid of? Kings are fearless, Tommen."

Tommen stood obediently, not daring to look at his mother, and began to sob quietly.

After looking at Tommen for a while, Cersei sighed, reached out and stroked his hair, and said: "King Tommen, I am your mother. You have no right to order me around. Do you understand?"

Tommen lowered his eyes, sniffed, and whispered, "I know, but......"

Cersei frowned. "But what?"

After a pause, Tommen mustered up the courage to look at his mother: "I want to rescue Margaery. She told me that everyone must obey the king."

Cersei's fullness rose and fell in the water, and she was losing the last of her patience.

"Somebody come!"

With a bang, the bathroom door was pushed open and two red-robed guards from the Lannister family strode in.

"Until you come of age, I will rule the kingdom. Tommen, today I will teach you another lesson. Let me tell you what true power is."

Cersei said coldly to the guard standing behind Tommen: "My son is not feeling well. Please take him to his chambers to rest. No one is allowed to see him without my order, and he is not allowed to summon anyone."

"Mom..." Tommen cried.

Tommen's weakness made the lioness even angrier: "Lions don't cry. If you cry again, I don't mind giving you some sleeping wine."

After Tommen was carried away by two men in red robes, Lady Tanya appeared at the door.

She closed the door gently, walked to the bathtub, and said soothingly, "Oh, Your Majesty, I think your son is just asking his mother for his toys."

Splash—warm water flowed down Cersei's hair and thighs as she climbed out of the tub.

Lady Tanya took Cersei's hand and kissed it. "You are so terrible when you are angry. Oh, I pray I never offend you."

Tanya's tongue always made Cersei happy. She raised her chin slightly and said, "Everything I do, I do for my son."

Lady Tanya picked up the towel and gently wiped Cersei's body, saying, "Yes, the lioness is protecting her cubs."

After hesitating for a moment, she continued, "My Queen, I am a little worried...whether Margaery will ask for a trial by combat in the end to prove her innocence and honor."

Hearing Tanya's concerns, Cersei smiled and said, "That depends on the will of the gods. I will remind the High Sparrow about this matter."

The High Sparrow was so arrogant as to want the church to be above the royal family, so there was no way he would miss the opportunity she gave him.

Cersei raised her head. Once she had used the High Sparrow to remove Rosette's head, she could throw away the sword.

She was looking forward to the war between the Rose and the Church.

…………

"Is it going to rain?"

As the candlelight flickered, Tanya and her maid helped Cersei change her clothes. She wore a dark green off-shoulder dress inlaid with gold lace, and emeralds sparkled on her fingers and golden hair.

Cersei stood in front of the mirror and suddenly said, "I heard that the High Sparrow doesn't like women to dress fancy."

"Oh, yes, he and those who come to pray suggest changing into solemn clothing."

Tanya shrugged and added, "But you are the Queen Regent."

Cersei curled her lips and looked at herself in the mirror with her chin raised.

The young woman predicted by the witch is about to die. I hope that old liar is wailing in hell.

If the prophecy is blocked, the rest of it will not come true.

No golden shroud...

There is no brother's murderous hand......

She was finally going to be free from the witch's vicious curse.

A tear escaped from the corner of her eye. If she had been more fearless, perhaps the lioness's eldest cub would not have been killed.

Staring at Cersei in the mirror, she tells her that this is just the beginning of revenge and that she will appease Joffrey's soul with the blood of all the roses.

Using the action of lifting her hair to wipe away the tear, Cersei said coldly: "It's okay."

…………

Cersei looked at the gray sky and stepped out of the gate of the Tower of Maegor.

Jaime had once told her that the hardest part of leading an army into battle was before the battle began, when one waited for the blood to be shed.

She felt that today's weather really gave the feeling that a storm was about to come.

Cersei had just sat down when the figure of the gold-cloaked commander, Osfryd Kettleblack, appeared outside the carriage window.

His worried voice came into the carriage: "Your Majesty, someone reported that people are gathering outside the Baylor Cathedral."

Cersei's brow furrowed slightly. "The people? What are they going to do?"

Lord Osfried shrugged slightly and replied, "They say they are calling Lady Margaery's name."

Hearing this, Cersei snorted coldly. These untouchables were really outrageous, standing up for their little pet Margaery.

"how many people?"

"There are more than a hundred people, and their goal is to get the Archbishop to release Little Rose."

After a pause, Ser Osfried asked Cersei, "Should we send the gold cloaks to drive them away?"

Shaking her head slightly, Cersei's tone became relaxed: "Don't worry about them. The High Sparrow only listens to the voice of the gods, and the people can't sway him."

The High Sparrow wore the Crystal Crown with the support of the mob, but now he has become the target of the mob's roar.

She smiled sarcastically. It was the High Sparrow's fault for selling the Archbishop's diadem so quickly.

"The church now has its own knights, and they can take care of themselves. Also, convey my order to immediately close the seven gates of King's Landing. Before the church's trial is over, no one can enter or leave King's Landing without my permission." After a pause, Cersei gave another order: "Oh, I almost forgot, send someone to inform Oren to let the royal fleet block the docks and be alert to strange ships and people."

"As you command, Your Majesty the Queen Mother."

…………

Cersei got off the carriage in front of the statue of "Baelor Blessed by God". Surrounded by the Kingsguard, red robes and gold robes, she walked towards the white marble stairs.

Cersei was pleased to find that under her rule, the mess of bones and garbage on the marble square had been cleared away. This was just a small achievement of the lioness's rule.

Later, she also discovered the mob that Osfryd had mentioned. Their number was not as large as the sparrows before, nor were they as unruly as the sparrows.

The mob stood in small groups, blocking the door of the cathedral and shouting. Several gray-robed monks held long wooden sticks and blocked their way.

As Cersei's group approached, no one stopped them, and the mob and septa stood aside.

While the others waited outside, Cersei and two maids entered the Great Sept of Baelor.

After entering, Cersei and others met three knights in the Hall of Lights, all wearing the rainbow striped cloaks of the Warrior's Sons.

"Where is the Archbishop?"

"The High Bishop is waiting for you. I am the 'real' Sir Theodore, formerly known as Sir Theodore Wells. Please allow me to lead the way."

As before, the High Sparrow knelt before the altar of the gods, this time praying to the statue of God the Father.

The arrival of the Queen Regent did not disturb the High Sparrow's prayers. He only stood up slowly when she became impatient.

The High Sparrow bowed to Cersei and said, "Your Majesty, this is a sad day."

“It’s very sad.”

Cersei answered casually, and then said, "I hope to visit Margaery."

The High Sparrow said gently, "As you wish...but you may not be able to talk to her."

Cersei raised her eyebrows in amusement, but her voice was angry: "High Septon, don't tell me that you hurt her. Before the trial, she was still my son's fiancée and the future queen of the Seven Kingdoms."

Facing Cersei's questioning, the High Sparrow's voice remained calm: "Under the watchful eyes of the Seven Gods, no one will hurt her. She became more and more pious. She prayed to the old woman (one of the Seven Gods, representing wisdom) for a day and a night, and she hasn't woken up yet."

What a weak little sheep.

However, Margaret has quite a few tricks up her sleeve...

Cersei almost laughed out loud. Was she praying so hard because she wanted to become a nun and escape trial?
She said coldly: "Besides me, my son is also keeping an eye on her. I just need to make sure she is okay."

Margaery Tyrell was imprisoned at the top of a tall tower in the Great Sept. The cell was so small that it could only accommodate a straw bunk bed and a chair for praying.

The only window was about the size of an arrow hole, and above it were placed a large pitcher, a copy of the Seven Star Bible, and a candle.

Standing outside, Cersei peered through the small window in the cell door.

Margaret lay unconscious on the dirty bed like a dead person, her hair tangled, she was wearing only a rough nun's robe, her feet were bare and covered with mud and dirt.

It was a beautiful scene that Cersei had only seen in her dreams, the only thing missing being that she couldn't hear Margaery's pleading and crying.

Although continuing to appreciate it would make her feel happier, Cersei did not stay for long.

These were just appetizers. The lioness would give her real despair, and that was the scene she was looking forward to.

Four wrinkled old nuns escorted the Queen Mother down the tower steps to a long corridor lit by flickering torches.

The High Sparrow waited for Cersei in a small, heptagonal room with simple décor and faces of the Seven carved into the bare stone walls.

"Your Majesty, you seem relieved."

Cersei sat down gently, "Well, Margaery looks fine."

The Big Sparrow smiled kindly and said, "All mortals are sinners, and so am I, until I was forgiven by the gods..."

His eyes were deep. "But forgiveness requires repentance, and Margaery Tyrell is willing to pray devoutly, but she is unwilling to confess to the Seven Gods."

Cersei responded perfunctorily to the High Sparrow: "Perhaps she is innocent."

The High Sparrow shook his head with certainty. "She is not. The holy nuns have examined her body and found that she has lost her virginity. Many witnesses have confessed and sworn to the Seven Gods... She has drunk moon tea and has had pleasure with many men, both rich and poor."

A hint of pride flashed across Cersei's face, and she sighed: "The truth is always so cruel..."

She buried her face in her hands, looking sad. "What a sad day. She was the King's betrothed. I feel so sorry for the Seven Kingdoms and for my son."

When she looked up again, tears were already in her eyes. "Although I am very sad, I think if my son were here, he would definitely be grateful to you. For the sake of the Seven Kingdoms and the Seven Gods, and for the king, you and I, let's end this as soon as possible."

The High Sparrow nodded. "As you wish."

Cersei rose slowly. "Then I must return to the Red Keep. Please allow me to take Osney Kettleblack, the Confessor, away with me. The Small Council will question him personally and hear his accusations against Margaery."

"No." Surprisingly...the High Sparrow flatly rejected Cersei's proposal.

Cersei was slightly startled, she blinked and first confirmed whether she had heard correctly.

After a moment of solemn silence, she forced out a cold voice: "I promise you that Sir Osney will be safe."

The High Sparrow shook his head again. "Perhaps you should meet him."

At his signal, four old nuns carried in a half-dead naked man and then left.

After seeing clearly, Cersei's pupils shrank suddenly.

Is this Osney? It is obvious that he has been severely whipped, his flesh is bloody, and his body is covered with dense, criss-crossing scars.

The lioness said in disbelief, "High Sparrow, you actually treated him like this?!"

She was furious: "Osney voluntarily came to you to confess, but you tortured him?!"

"Your Majesty, Sparrow seeks the truth in the most humble way."

The High Sparrow seemed to be praying: "Without experiencing pain, there is no repentance. When I whip myself, I feel closest to the gods, and yet my deepest sins are nowhere near as dark as his."

Cersei stared at the High Sparrow and gritted her teeth: "The Church preaches the mercy of Our Lady..."

The High Sparrow smiled and interrupted, "Your Majesty, to our surprise... the more persistent the torture, the stranger Ser Osney's confession becomes. Now he insists that he has never touched Margaery Tyrell."

He said to Osney, who lay on the ground, "Is that so, Osney Kettleblack?"

Hearing the call, Osney slowly opened his eyelids. When he saw Cersei, he licked his swollen lips and said hoarsely: "The Wall... You promised to let me go to the Wall..."

Suddenly, panic flashed in Cersei's eyes. Osney dared to betray her? !

Her clear green eyes moved slightly, and she took a step back, distanced herself from Osney, and then announced: "He has gone crazy, and you drove him crazy. I think you should take the initiative to 'confess' to me and the Imperial Council, High Sparrow!"

(End of this chapter)