The Lion's Knight

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It had been a curiously windy morning, with a storm approaching soon, so had the clouds said with their grey accents. Cersei wondered how long the storm would last, as they usually could last days, drowning crops and flooding mines. Nevertheless, it was the day Cersei had arranged for Adrian Sapner to be knighted. It would ensure his loyalty and her protection. She wouldn't consider him a friend, but surely he would see this a gift. She had sent guards to escort him here, and perhaps he was on his way.  Cersei arrived prematurely, and she knew such. She waited in her carriage for him to arrive. The steps to the Great Sept of Baelor stood ahead. She could hear the rabble of commoners. Some shouted names, and few gave praise. She hadn't expected them to awake this early, but they weren't royalty and were poor, and had to work. Cersei looked at the carriage driver through the silken curtains, and as pulling her curtains back, he started to whistle. "The Bear and the Maiden Fair?" Cersei asked. She shown interest. He shook his head yes. "Then stop whistling, or you and your wives," Cersei pointed to the horses, "will be riding in Essos." Gods know that's where all the other exiles pout, she thought.  Luckily Cersei had brought blackberry wine with her, or likely she'd have Adrian killed before he could be knighted. So she drunk, and drunk.

- -
Adrian Sapner

[Adrian Sapner]

Adrian had spent so long looking forward to this day. He'd spent ages looking forward to the ceremony, that he hadn't actually prepared himself for the vigil. He'd spent the first part of the night fantasizing about his knighthood, and by the time he'd grown tired of that, it was still early in the night. He'd wished his queen had been there with him, that would have kept him awake. Instead, he was incredibly tired by the time dawn broke. He'd gotten dressed in his armor, pale blue steel with gold accents, and taken his sword, and headed for the Great Sept of Baelor.

Her grace had been kind enough to send guards to take him there, although he still felt uneasy around Lannister Guards. Especially when he recognized some of them from that day in the garden. Perhaps he was imagining their glares due to a lack of sleep, or perhaps they truly were glaring at him. He wouldn't be surprised, he would likely be jealous if he were in their position. The queen was a beautiful woman, and Adrian was able to have her, be with her, when he was just some squire, a minor lord, and she was Queen of the Seven Kingdoms. Her detractors would insist on the title being Queen Regent, but even after Sansa took her place as Queen, Cersei would still be Adrian's Queen.

He was surprised, in fact, to see that she had already arrived before he had. He gave Cersei a smile, despite his weariness, her being there was comforting.

@bonsai

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Cersei didn't smile when the boy had arrived. "Your ceremony is delayed. The Septon is praying," she whispered as the wind had picked up.  "I think he is fucking his whores," she frowned. She almost had half a mind to send in her guards to seize him, but apparently the seven would frown. They couldn't frown no more than Cersei had. For what seemed like an hour, Cersei's pale gold gown was frantically dancing in the wind. Two sapphires were dismantled and blown on to the streets. Cersei gave a blazing stare at the citizen who fought for it. She smiled. It looks like Joff didn't have to put them in pits to kill each other, she thought to herself. Cersei's ears had begun to chill, so she flavored a scarlet hood over her head. It was much so warm, but she hated them. She felt covered in rough spin rags with hoods, but it was on the contrary that her dress was clad in sapphires and rubies, with golden threads braided into the hem of her hood. She had a beautiful Valyrian necklace around her neck. It was made of ebony diamonds, with a large Firestone in the middle. It was hot to the touch. "The dragons breathed into this necklace," her mother had said. Although she hated Valyria, the Targaryens, and superstition, it remained close to Cersei's heart. She never knew if it truly came from Valyria, but a strange beat shackles her heart each time she wears it. Once, Tyrion advised her to sell it to cover the debt House Lannister was in, but of course that's what the imp would want to do. Kill her mother, then take away everything left of her mother. "You will be a knight to House Lannister and to me, not Sansa," Cersei said in a strict tone. Varys had reported her what relationship was held between the two. An oath for Sansa, a ceremony and vows in the sight of the seven for me, she reflected.

- -
Adrian Sapner

[Adrian Sapner]

Adrian frowned at Cersei talking about the High Septon. He'd heard the rumors about the man, but he hadn't believed them, although he trusted Cersei. The fact that the gods lacked a vessel to speak through bothered Adrian slightly, but he supposed he could wait, especially if his queen was there waiting alongside him. He understood her not reciprocating the smile, she wanted to keep appearances up. He doubted she smiled at every squire getting knighted, so she didn't smile at him.

Cersei looked as beautiful as ever, wearing one of her spectacularly elaborate gowns that left Adrian's heart pounding. He wanted to have her, right there on the steps of the sept, or to at the very least be able to kiss her, but he knew how important it was to keep their relationship secret. If people found out... he had no idea how the king would take it, and even if Joffrey accepted their relationship, he didn't particularly want to be the focus of King's Landing's gossip, although he did hear about the occasional rumor, likely from one of Cersei's guards spilling secrets over ale.

Adrian nodded faintly, as Cersei reassured his loyalty. He didn't like the implication that Sansa and Cersei would come to blows of a sort, and he especially didn't like the implication that he might be carrying out some of those blows. He dismissed that possibility, though. His queen wouldn't want something like that, he was sure she had just misspoke. "My queen, I am more loyal to you than anything else," Adrian whispered, bowing his head slightly. "You made me a man, and now you're making me a knight. I am yours." He worried for a moment someone might have heard him, other than Cersei, but it seemed he had gotten lucky, or if anyone had heard, they didn't react.

@bonsai

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At the mention of making him a man, Cersei stirred lightly. She could surely crave what he had given her, but it was clear he wouldn't forget what she gave him. Perhaps she wasn't as lonely as she thought, with Jaime gone. But nevertheless, Adrian was her plan.  Before she could reply, the Sept doors had barged open, and the grubby man of a sept strolled out. His Holyness is late. The gods don't run for my time, and I don't run on their's," thought Cersei. She glanced at her guards, and then strode up the steps of the sept, and entered the holy chambers. It was seemingly small on the insire, but looked wholly large on the contrary, on the exterior. Cersei pulled down her hood, and she felt the friction of her thick locks fall to her back. She had them curled in heated ironbars. Though she normally hadn't had to worry about curling her hair, as they naturally slew in ringlets. She half-smiled, and whispered quietly in the holy house, "Any words you must say before your vigil, then speak them now," she hissed. Though I may not even listen, she thought.

- -
Adrian Sapner

[Adrian Sapner]

Adrian was almost disappointed that the Septon barged out of the Sept before Cersei was able to reply. The look she had given him made him blush. Regardless, he followed the fat septon into the sept, along with Cersei and her guards. He watched Cersei pull off her hood, releasing her hair that was like spun gold. He loved her hair, he felt a fluttering in his stomach, but reminded himself he was being knighted, it wasn't time for that.

When she asked him if he had any words, he paused for a moment. He didn't honestly know. He felt truly good about where he was, which was surprising. He hadn't expected to be happy after hearing of his father's death and having to go to the Red Keep, but after being in the capitol for a while, he was happy. He was going to be knighted, and he'd met Cersei. He wanted to marry Cersei, one day. She was older than him, of course, but she was perfect for him.

"You're the most beautiful woman I've ever met. I need you as soon as the ceremony is complete." Adrian whispered back. He made sure to keep his voice down this time. He was elated, but there was a small part of him that felt nothing but dread, as though all of this was wrong.

@bonsai

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Cersei's eyes widened slightly. "Then you'll be disappointed," she responded. She liked what was beneath the armor and clothes. She liked his hardened body against her soft breasts, and his man' gift. She hadn't reciprocated his very feelings. But she didn't want to lose his loyalty. And that could prove problematic. But, he would do much for her woman's affection, so it had seemed. And yet, he was like the fifteen year-old Jaime that Cersei loved and always loved. She wasn't sure Jaime would be happy knowing his sister would bed anyone who shared his looks. Many shared similar looks, and many shared his personality. She also was unsure if Jaime would know. Certainly it wasn't anything to be overly discreet about as her relationship with her brother had been. It wasn't incest. It was quite normal actually. But father would disapprove anything further than the bed.  Cersei spotted the sept sorting through the holy oils and creams. He had them laid out in vials of all colors of the gods.  He approached Adrian. "Is His Lordship contempt to begin the ceremony?" He asked. "He is contempt. Do see that his ceremony is started right away," she said dryly.

- -
Adrian Sapner

[Adrian Sapner]

Adrian blushed and frowned as his Queen turned him down. He had to wonder if he had done something to upset her. Whatever it was, he would fix it as soon as possible, he didn't like the idea of losing Cersei. Before he could say anything more to her, the Septon approached. Cersei seemed to want this over as soon as possible. Despite his feelings for Cersei, Adrian had to admit, he hadn't expected his ceremony to go anything like this. Dismissing that thought, he bowed his head to the Septon. "Yes, I am ready for the ceremony, your holiness."

Adrian gave Cersei a look that begged for her forgiveness, for whatever he had done wrong. He wasn't sure what it was that had upset Cersei so, but whatever it was, he'd repent in an instant. It wasn't fitting for a knight to have his Queen upset with him.Adrian knelt before the Septon, who began anointing him with the seven holy oils. He should have been ecstatic with pride, but instead his mind was clouded with thoughts of Cersei. He wanted her, he needed her, yet she seemed upset with him. Once he was a knight, he'd make it up to her, undoubtedly.

@bonsai

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Cersei watched as Adrian had made odd faces that made Cersei want to slap him. Although she wouldn't slap him, and couldn't. She had missed Jaime dearly, and it would feel as if she was slapping him. She watched as the sleezy High Septon lazily did his job. It wasn't the seven who anointed his position, Cersei mocked silently. She hadn't intended to stay through the vigil fully, but she did intend to stay long enough for the naive Sapner to believe Cersei cared for him. Perhaps she did, but only out of selfish needs. As the High Septon finished pouring and smoothing the oils, he turned around and Cersei and gave a scowl that made Cersei, out of anger, glared at him for many familiar heartbeats. He shimmied away. The queer fears me. That is good, she thought. She began to recall Tyrion making this man the High Septon, which to Cersei's taste, she disapproves highly. She would prefer the beginning of knighthood to start with a few words and the killing a few choices, to which the thought made Cersei chuckled. She had heard rumors that Adrian Sapner can kill a man easier than Jaime, but she had a few victims for him to practice, and a critique to come.  "Go faster," Cersei urged the Septon. He ignored her. "Perhaps my guards can show a new Septon standing over your lifeless body?" Cersei threatened. The Septon scowled and made a wheezy groan. "I'm sure the seven—" his rasp was interrupted, "Stare at a water clock all day and don't want to wait any longer," she interrupted. He made a small and stiff bow, and quickly continued. Cersei was now content that she wouldn't drunken herself before the evening.

- -
Adrian Sapner