KINGDOM FALL
— 15. Lioness

   Once dressing in the same dresses her mother once wore, Annalys made her way to the chamber of the Hand. Annalys stood in the door of the room once arriving, finding Tywin sitting at his desk, writing something on the parchment in front of him, "You sent for me," Annalys spoke up, growing impatient with the fact that Tywin still hadn't realized she was there.

Tywin looked up from his paper once hearing Annalys' voice. He nearly fainted at the way Annalys looked. It was as if Cersei in her younger years were standing before him. Annalys was dressed exactly as her mother used to. The fabric's print, the designs, the lion necklace Annalys wore upon her neck. Hell, even the way Annalys had her hair. Her hair was so long, it reached her lower back and the way it had been styled was exactly like Cersei used to and still did.

Tywin was practically horrified by how much Annalys resembled her mother. He never noticed it before but it was like Annalys was an exact copy of Cersei when she was her age. He also noticed the way Annalys stood before him, exactly like Jaime. She stood high and proud, feeling fearless despite Tywin being the most powerful man in Westeros. Olenna was right, Annalys was a spitting image of both his children.

"My children and grandchildren have disgraced the Lannister name for far too long," Tywin managed to speak up, snapping himself out of his thoughts, "I'll need you to restore our house to glory."

"And what do you expect me to do about it?" Annalys asked her grandfather curiously, walking over to the chair across from Tywin before taking a seat without asking as she was supposed to, "Last I checked, I was branded a treacherous whore by my brother."

  Tywin decided ignore Annalys' foul mouth. That was the only problem he ever saw in her being leader of Casterly Rock. She swore without a care in the world. He, along with Cersei and Jaime, found themselves wondering if Annalys was the most foul-mouthed person they had ever met, "You will marry Loras Tyrell," He informed his granddaughter, whose eyes widened in shock, "You will publicly announce that you were forced to marry Robb Stark because he threatened your life. You had no other choice but to side with him, fearing that House Lannister had already disowned you. You will say that you were the one to free Jaime Lannister from your husband's clutches."

Annalys fought back her tears, trying her hardest not to look saddened by the demands. She was married already. It was illegal to marry two people at once. She could be arrested and not by the crown, but by the High Septon. No one would be able to save her. There was also the most important problem, Robb would never forgive her, "Anything else?" She asked, her voice just above a whisper.

"Once you and Loras Tyrell produce an heir, they will become heir to Casterly Rock and Highgarden. If I've died before your child is born, as I expect, you will become Lady of Casterly Rock."

Annalys was shocked by Tywin demands, but she was also confused, "But I have two other brothers. Wouldn't Casterly Rock go to them? And what about Tyrion?" She asked Tywin in confusion.

"I am Hand of the King. I can make whomever I like heir to Casterly Rock. I'm growing old, I need someone reliable leading the Lannister armies. You've shown promising skills in both politics and warfare. It will be needed as Lady of Casterly Rock." He explained to Annalys in a calm tone.

Annalys slowly nodded her head in understanding, hiding the way she truly felt behind an unreadable expression, "Anything else?"

"Yes," Tywin responded and Annalys tensed up, clearly thinking the answer would be no, "Quit cowering like a dog. You're a lion and I'm not a fool. I'm not blind. I know it's an act and even if I don't know why you choose to do it, you will stop it and begin acting more like a Lannister. You should be preparing for your name day. Your mother has someone who will be fitting you for a dress."

Annalys nodded her head once more, staying silent, "Now, go. I have to send a raven to Casterly Rock. By tonight, it'll be official. You will be heir to Casterly Rock."

Annalys didn't say a single word as she stood up from her chair. She turned on her heel, leaving the room.

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    Annalys stood in Maegor's Holdfast at the center of the Red Keep. It was still daytime and Annalys held a bow in hand, just as Tommen, who stood next to her, did. They stood at one end of Maegor's Holdfast, while the target was directly across from them on the other end.

Annalys barely concentrated as she released the arrow she had nocked in her bow. It glided through the air, finding itself in the bullseye of the target along with the last three she shot.

Tommen felt uneasy, looking ahead to see that only one of his three arrows had gotten onto the target, but it was embedded in one of the outer rings, unlike Annalys'.

Annalys was smiling proudly until she looked down to see her younger brother looking sad. Her smile immediately faded and she knelt down in front of him, "Hey," She spoke up, grabbing him by the arms, which led to Tommen looking her in the eye, "I know. You have a lot to learn, but I will make sure you master at least one weapon by the time you're my age. You must learn to fight and not end up like your brother. Joffrey and Grandfather might say otherwise, but you shouldn't have other people fighting your battles for you. You must fight them yourself."

"No one ever taught me how to use a sword correctly," Tommen admitted, looking down at the ground in disappointed, "Mother said we didn't need to learn."

"That is why Uncle Jaime taught me in secret," Annalys informed Tommen in a calm tone, "Now, I am going to teach you how to fight. One day, another war will come and if you're old enough, you will be fighting alongside me. I promise you that."

"Don't put those thoughts into his head, Annalys," A familiar voice spoke up, causing Annalys to quickly rise to her feet and turn to face her mother, "Your brother is but a child and the War of the Queen and Five Kings is over. Neither one of you will be fighting in any war, not while I'm alive."

Annalys remained silent, not wanting to respond to her mother's comment and tell her how wrong she actually was. The war was far from over. It wouldn't be over until Stannis and Robb had Tywin and Joffrey's heads on spikes. The war wouldn't be over until her entire family was removed from the throne.

Cersei smiled softly, walking closer to the duo, "Tommen, why don't you get ready for supper?" She told her youngest son, looking down at him, "The three of us will be dining with Lady Margaery and her brother, Loras."

Annalys frowned at the revelation. She remained silent, though, not questioning her mother until Tommen handed over the bow he held and was out of sight. Annalys turned to face her mother, her eyebrows knitted together in confusion, "What do you mean we're dining with the Tyrells?" She asked, concern written all over her expression.

"Your grandfather wants you to get acquainted with your new betrothed. He convinced Olenna to not attend, but we couldn't get rid of Margaery. She insists that she wants to know her soon to be sister better," Cersei explained, clearly unhappy about the news, "I know you're far too smart to be tricked by them like Joff has, but I refuse to let you meet with them alone."

"And I'm thankful," Annalys confessed, a small smile on her face, "I'm afraid I'll need someone to keep me in check, I wouldn't want to make a fool of myself in front of my future husband."

Cersei noticed the faint smirk on Annalys' face as she spoke to her, "I'm surprised you agreed to the betrothal in the first place." She stated and Annalys turned her head to see the skeptical look on her mother's face.

"Well, if I don't like him, it won't be hard to have him end up like the rest," She bluntly remarked and Cersei found herself feeling a bit amused, "Would you help me?"

Cersei was quiet for a moment and Annalys patiently waited for her response, "The Tyrells are plotting to undermine our family, without a doubt. I'll do whatever it takes to protect our family."

"As will I." Annalys replied without hesitation, much to Cersei's shock.

"Really?" She questioned and Annalys could immediately hear the sarcasm in her mother's tone of voice, "Because it seems like you wanted nothing to do with this family before you came back."

Annalys felt herself becoming angered as she heard her mother's comment. She glared at her, which Cersei noticed, "You have no idea what I've done to protect this family while I was apart from you all, Mother," She snapped at her mother coldly before becoming quieter, "You have no idea what I'm going to do for the sake of this family. You know nothing about me or how I contribute to this family's survival. Whether or not you or Grandfather or anyone else wants to actually admit it."

"I do admit it. I have a feeling that you're the reason that Jaime only lost a hand and not a head by the time he returned back here," She explained and Annalys didn't say a single word in response, "For that, I'm eternally grateful."

"I'm surrounded by enemies," Annalys confessed, looking her mother in her eyes with a frustrated look, "I'm not stupid. Half of this city wants me dead for siding with the Starks."

"They can't hurt you," Cersei argued with Annalys, shaking her head.

"How would you know?" Annalys snapped at her mother coldly, but Cersei didn't seem bothered.

Cersei smiled assuringly, grabbing Annalys' hand. She squeezed them in comfort, standing in front of her daughter, "Because I won't let them. Neither will your grandfather. And neither will your Uncle Jaime," She explained and Annalys realized something.

She had nearly forgotten that her mother didn't know that Annalys knew the truth, "If they stand against us, we'll show them who we are. We will show them what Lannisters do to our enemies." She explained to Annalys confidently, "But you must remember to never make the same mistakes you did with Robb Stark. Do you remember what I told you as a child? About our family and enemies?"

"Anyone who isn't us is an enemy," Annalys stated in a calm tone, "I know that. Trust me, I do."

"Well, remember that tonight during dinner. Please," Cersei demanded, sighing in frustration as she let go of Annalys' hands, "I refuse to have another Tyrell sink their claws in one of my children."

"Trust me, if anyone's going to be sinking their claws into someone, it'll be me," Annalys commented and Cersei smiled, feeling somewhat proud of Annalys, "And, mother?"

"Yes, Annalys?" Cersei questioned Annalys curiously.

"The Tyrells don't have claws. Nobody in the south does," Annalys corrected Cersei, who didn't quite understand what she meant, "They have nails, but us? We have claws. We're Lannisters. We're lions. The Tyrells? They're weak little flowers who die when Winter comes. They may be our enemies, but if they wage war, we'll be the ones on top, not them. I'll make sure they end up just like House Reyne did." She paused, realizing something about her comment, "The Reynes were the second richest in the Seven Kingdoms before Grandfather ended them. Aren't the Tyrells the second richest now?"

"Yes, they are," Cersei replied, trying her hardest to hide how proud she was at that moment. A lioness through and through. Perhaps she hadn't lost Annalys to the wolves as she thought she had. Perhaps there was still some Lannister left in her.

  Cersei continued to smile, cupping Annalys' face with her hands before she kissed her eldest daughter on the forehead. She wrapped her arms around Annalys, hugging her tightly. Feeling comfort in her mother's arms, something she hadn't felt in a long time, Annalys wasted no time hugging her back.

Tears filled her eyes, realizing just how much she missed her mother. She missed her mother's touch. She missed her mother's protectiveness. She missed her mother's love.

"I missed you so much, my daughter," Cersei confessed, her voice just above a whisper as she tried her hardest not to cry, "I thought I lost you to the Starks. I thought they turned you into one of them. I was wrong. You're still a lioness. A powerful one. And I couldn't be happier."

Being in her mother's arms, once again, Annalys forgot her duties to the Starks. It was happening frequently and Annalys realized she was beginning to feel like she belonged in King's Landing, with her family. With Jaime. With Tommen. With her mother. With Tywin. Hell, even with Joffrey. She felt at peace. And she had no clue what would be her next step. She couldn't betray Robb. She knew that. She carried his children inside of her, but she couldn't betray her family either.

  She wasn't just going to stand back and watch as the Lannisters were slaughtered before her eyes when Robb took King's Landing alongside Stannis. She would die before she let that happen.

AUTHOR'S NOTE:

We're starting to see another side of Annalys, one that's more like Cersei.

Do you like this side of Annalys (and the fact that she's acting more like a Lannister)?