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Princess Myrcella rode behind her guard on the philly that King Tommen had sent to her on her nameday. She named it Cotton because of the soft coat on its shoulders. Behind her rode a small group. Her two personnal ladies and boy. Ahead rode two Lannister guards and further behind another four with their wagon. 

Myrcella turned to speak to Nym, ‘We should stop for lunch soon.”  They were a short way out of the city, but had been riding since before dawn.

‘We cannot, little Princess. Prince Doran wants you aboard ship tonight. If we stop for lunch you will never make it back in time.’ The sand snake said  

She kicked Cotton and sped up. She was hoping that Trystane would be able to spend some time with her before she had to sail. But she understood that the Prince was very sick and his son needed to be with him. When her father, King Robert, had died from being gored by that wild pig. His friend Eddard and Joffrey had been called to his side. It must be the same she thought.

Over the next rise she spotted the sparkle of sunshine off the towers of Sunspear. Her heart began to race. It had been 3 years that she had been back to Kings Landing 

The letter she had packed away already for King Tommen, she smiled to her self and thought of the fat little brother she had kissed and hugged on the day she had sailed to Dorne and to her betrothed. Now he is King Tommen. Then she thought of Joffrey.  He was never nice to her or Tommen, but she had never wanted anything bad to happen to him. 

Her guard slowed before her and she sat up a little taller in her saddle. Releasing some of the pressure of her legs around Cottons sides. The horse slowed to match the speed of the others until finally they were walking on the road to the city. The people ahead of them all moved off to the side to allow the Pricess’ party to go through ahead of them. 

The guards closed in around Nym and herself as they passed through the crowds ar the gate. Beyond the walls she could see the Lanister flag at the top of a large masted ship. Below it flew the Flag of House Martell. 

The Princes own ship would be taking Myrcella and her company to Kings landing. Along with a half dozen other ships some that were already out in the harbour waiting to escort her home. All of them filled with supplies oranges, wheat, wine. 

Trystane had explained to her that with a long winter expected and the cost of the war in the north. In Dorne everything above them was considered ‘the north’, that King Tommen and the other houses needed supplies. He told her when he arrived in a couple months for the wedding, he would bring another dozen ships filled again with more supplies.

‘But I thought the war was over.’ Myrcella had said just a few evening before. ‘You said that the Starks were holding Winterfelland that Greyjoys held Pike. The Dragon Queen was still on Dragonstone and her army was still held across the sea in Mureen.’

Trystane had smiled and reached for both her hands to try and calm her. “that was all true. But during war things happen.’ He smiled. ‘Dorne has ten thousand spears and fifty war ships ready to travel north at my fathers command. His smile faded at the mention of his father. 

Prince Doran’s health had seemed worse when he told Trystane that he was sending Myrcella home. He had raised his voice to his father before calming himself and listening to his fathers words of concern for her safety. He had explained to the boy about the letter he had already sent to King Tommen.

Trystane had started to protest. Telling his father that he had many summers still to see. But Doran Martell’s look told him he was wrong. His father would not see him married to Myrcella.  

 xxxxxxx

Cercei stood looking out the window of her apartments. The city was just awakening and she could see the smoke rising from fires all around her. This was the seventh day in a row that the temperature had dropped below fifty degrees mark though the night. Her girl had come in before she awoke and had added wood to the fire. 

The queen regent had ordered the servants to make sure that the fires in King Tommen and his new Queens suites were kept lit through the nights. It was really a way for the servants to keep an eye on the newlyweds. To be sure that they did not sleep in the same bed until after her sons name day celebration. It had been months now since they were married and the servants had told her that the couple was spending more and more time together. Staying up later in the evening talking and laughing.

Damn that Margaery Tyrell. And her whole family. If it had not been for the Tyrell army camped outside Kings landing. Cercei would have put them all into the black cells.

She heard a soft knock on the door and after a moment she heard the handle turn and Abigail entered with a platter of hot drinks, fruit and breads for her to break her fast. ‘Your Grace the girl said bowing slightly at the waist so she did not overturn the platter.

‘Set it down and go’ the queen regent said with out looking back. When she heard the door close she turned around and walked towards the table. She inhaled deeply and forced herself not to smile. ‘DAMN that girl.’ She said again reaching down and lifting the hot drink. She could smell the strong beans that had been ground and roasted in her drink. She sipped and felt the hot liquid burning slightly down her throat. Right away she felt her spirits rising from the stimulants in the drink. She sat down and tried to find issue with the biscuits on the tray.

It was all that Tyrell girls fault. She had brought her own cook in to prepare her and Tommens meals. It was Tommen who had first convinced his mother to try the morning drink. 

Cercei had asked Qyburn to find out what the cook was putting into the food, hoping she could accuse the little queen of trying to poison herself or her son. But he came back and said that everything was fine. The beans and sweetners that the cook was using were from across the seas and that he could find nothing wrong with any of it.

She took another drink and could not help smiling. She reached down and took the creamy pad and spread it across the biscuit. When she bit into it again she stiffened at the sweetness and dropped the remaining piece back on the tray. 

‘DAMN her.’ She said again.

After breaking her fast she dressed and walked to the garden. It was there that Qyburn caught up with her. ‘Your Grace,’ he said bowing at the waist.

When she stopped and turned towards him. She saw the message in his outstretched hand. She looked at the wax seal of Sunspear and gasped. ‘is it Myrcella?’ 

‘Yes’ your Grace and news of Prince Doran Martell.’ He handed her the note. ‘He has died my Queen.

The note told of the Prince’s final days. That he knew that he had no more tme left and that he had put Myrcella on a ship back to Kings Landing. He was worried of her safety and prayed that King Tommen would see to it that the marriage of his son, Tristayne and the kings sister, Myrcella, could go on with out him. He said that he would make plans for his son to follow his betrothal after a brief morning period.

Cercei could no longer keep the smile from filling her face. She almost grabbed Qyburn and hugged him to her. ‘When should we expect my daughters return?’ she asked.

‘It seems that the cold winds are working against the Princess’ ship, but within a fortnight for sure, your Grace.’ The Maester said. ‘Would you like to send a response?’

‘No there will be time for that later. Have you told Tommen yet?’ she asked starting to step past him.

‘Yes your Grace.’  He shrugged his shoulders ‘ the king has commanded that he hear all news before any other for now on, if you remember.’

She nodded and her good mood had slipped slightly. She had thought she should be the one to bring him the good news.

‘I told the King and Queen this morning when I saw them on the grounds.’ He continued. ‘They were up very early saying their prayers to the Seven.’

Cercei’s mood dampened even more. 

‘The King asked to have ships sent to meet the Princess’ escort as soon as possible.’ Qyburn said.

‘Good. Good.’ She said. She wanted her daughter out of the hands of Dorne as soon as possible. She thought of the Pirates that had been harassing the sea travels around westerios. But did not worry if Dorne had sent ships to safeguard her daughters ship.

‘Your Grace there was another bird.’ Qyburn said almost apologetically. When she turned back around he was handing her another note. ‘This was addressed to you, your Grace.’

When she took the message she saw the seal of the Iron Islands. She noticed it had not been broken. ‘Do you know what is in here?’ she asked.

The maester lowered his eyes. ‘ A marriage proposal, your Grace.’

Cercei broke the seal and unrolled the message. Walking towards the window, she stopped short and gave a mirthful laugh. ‘Is this some kind of jest.’ She said to the top of Qyburns head.

‘It doesn’t seem to be.’ He said. ‘Euron Greyjoy is not known for his humour.’

The letter announced his intensions of traveling south to Kings Landing with his fleet and pronouncing his intension of joining houses Greyjoy and Lannister. 

He was under the belief that Cercei was still of an age to bear children otherwise he would consider a betrothal of Myrcella to himself or his brother Victarion. 

In exchange he would offer his ships to the King to help defend Westerios against the Dragon Queen, Danaerys Targaeryn.

She started to laugh aloud and the halted. ‘Myrcella.’ She remembered that her daughter was at sea presently. Traveling towards Kings Landing.

‘The ships from the iron islands will be swifter and traveling with the aid of the wind,’ Qyburn said pulling a map from his sleeve and spreading it across the table, ‘it should be very close behind the princess’ ship.

Cercei looked over the map and tried to reason out what needed be done.