Chapter 1

They say that the birthing bed was a woman's battlefield, Cersei had thought differently months ago. She thought that the others were only exaggerating when they say that giving birth is the most painful experience of all. She had witness her mother die during child birth but she blamed it on her younger brother, Tyrion but now she would like to take back all her words. There were no words to explain the pain she felt.

She had been in the birthing bed for hours, screaming, grunting and panting every time she felt the discomfort in her womb grow. She doesn't know for how long she would suffer this torment but she knew that after this, her future will be secured. Once she'll give birth to her golden son, she'll become a real Queen and the most powerful woman in the realm for mothering the Crown Prince. And if her husband dies, she can be the Regent and rule for her son. It was the only thought that kept her from losing her consciousness and give up.

"It's time to push your grace; I can already see the head of the Prince." Maester Pycelle who was kneeling in front of her said.

They are really sure that I'm going to birth a prince, she thought. She never really imagined giving birth to a girl as firstborn, everyone expects it to be a boy so that the King will have an heir and of course, she also prays for a boy.

She screamed for several times and moved the muscles of her womb. It was too painful and she was already weak. She couldn't do this anymore. She wanted to give up.

"One more sweet sister, one more and everything will be over…" Jaime whispered on her ear as he continued to hold her hand.

She turned to meet the green eyes of her brother who was standing behind her, supporting her in her battle unlike her good for nothing and oaf of a husband who went outside to hunt. He should have been here instead of Jaime, he should have been here supporting her, holding her hand and encouraging her but no, Robert Baratheon was out and he was there trying to run after a boar that he claims as a gift for his firstborn.

She scowled at the thought. It was impossible of course, if she were not Queen, she would have left her stupid husband and would have gladly return to Casterly Rock and live her life there. But no, she'll endure this loveless marriage. A part of her however hopes that Robert might love her after she'll give him a son, and she pictured herself holding a beautiful black hair and blue eyed baby boy who looks just like his father.

"Push your grace! Push!" Maester Pycelle shouted at her and she suddenly snapped out of her thoughts and gritted her teeth in concentration.

"Ahhhhh!" She screamed and worked with abdominal muscles with the remaining force that she had pushing the baby outside of her body.

She felt something slimy went out of her body and she breathe roughly as the Maester pulled the baby away from her.

"You did it sister." Jaime whispered again and kissed the crown of her head before wiping the cold sweat from her brows.

However fear gripped her gut as she saw Maester Pycelle and a midwife looking at her baby with a shocked expression on their faces. She then realized that she didn't hear her babe cry. No, it can't be. She gripped Jaime's hand harder as she perceived what was happening. She gave birth to a dead baby. Tears stung her eyes as she angrily stared at the two people standing in front of the bed.

"What is happening!? Why is my son not crying?" She asked in a panicked tone and the maester and the midwife suddenly snapped from their trance.

"Nothing's wrong with the Princess, your grace. Her heart's beating normally, we just need to clean her up." Maester Pycelle answered and scrambled with the bloody babe on his hands.

A daughter, she thought. Was that the reason why the two looked appalled? Because she gave birth to a daughter? Is she the only queen who had a girl for a firstborn?

"You heard what they said Cersei, your daughter is fine, you should stop shaking. I'll go check on her." Jaime said as he let go of her hand and went to Maester Pycelle and the midwife who were washing her babe.

But her confusion only grew as Jaime shared the same look as Maester Pycelle when his eyes landed on the baby.

"Jaime? What's wrong?" She asked again.

"Nothing's wrong sweet sister." He said as he took the babe now wrapped in a white fabric from maester Pycelle. He walked towards her, still looking shocked and confused, and his eyes never leaving the baby.

"Give her to me." She muttered and Jaime handed her, her daughter.

She should be disappointed now, she had failed to give the King a firstborn son but she hoped that even if Robert will never love her, he would love their daughter, she could let him name her Lyanna if he wanted too. She won't care at all as long as her child is safe and cared for.

She sat up on her bed not caring if she looked dishevelled and sweat still clung on her shift. She wanted to hold her baby now and no one will stop her from doing so, not even her filthy appearance.

Jaime carefully placed the baby in her arms and Cersei furrowed her brows, there seemed to be nothing wrong with her daughter. The child was sleeping peacefully in her hands and she smiled as she traced the babe's pinkish small face. She looked nothing like Robert or her, she wondered if her child perhaps took after her side or Robert's for she doesn't look like a Lannister or a Baratheon.

"She's so beautiful." She murmured as she gently removed the white cloth that covered the baby's body to check if her limbs were complete and to find out what was the reason why the people surrounding her looked appalled at the sight of her perfect daughter.

But a gasp suddenly escaped her lips when she removed the part of the fabric that covered the baby's head. Without even looking at the mirror, she knew that her face had reflected the expressions Jaime and the Maester wore as they looked on her baby.

Her child didn't inherit Robert's jet black hair like she expected instead her hair was blonde, not like the golden blonde hair of the Lannisters but it was the silver gold hair of the Targaryens. And as if the child knew that she is being scrutinized that she opened her lids, Cersei's eyes even widened as she saw the color of her baby's orbs.

Baratheon blue and Lannister green. The babe's appearance then reminded her of Aegon the Unworthy's famous bastard daughter, Sheira Seastar.

Knowing her husband's anger with the Targaryens, Cersei felt fear for her child. What if Robert will try to kill the babe? What if he'll accuse her of adultery?

"Your grace, the King is here!" The page outside the door announced and Cersei glanced at the people surrounding her.

All of them were looking shocked, scared and dumbfounded as they froze on their spots. She looked at Jaime who was looking at her worriedly and mouthed "it's going to be fine" silently. She nodded at her twin and covered her daughter's head again and readied herself for the King's presence.

Robert entered the room reeking of sweat and alcohol, his doublet and breeches still bloody from the blood of the boar he had probably killed in success. Cersei frowned at the appearance of her husband, didn't he even thought that the child was still just newborn and quite sensitive to dirt and surroundings?

But why would he even know? He so far had fathered a lot of bastards and she bets that he didn't even care about the birth of those children.

"Where's my boy?" He then asked in his slurry voice that made Cersei wince.

He did expect for a boy after all, she thought and tried to take deep breath to cover the fear that she was feeling. How would he react if he'll learn that his child doesn't even look like a Baratheon or a Lannister but a Targaryen? The gods must be punishing him for killing Rhaegar that they gave him a Targaryen looking child.

"It's a girl your grace." She answered softly and Robert's face turned into disappointment before turning back to joy again.

"Let me. Give her to me." He said as he kneeled beside her bed.

She bit her cheek to prevent herself from crying. Robert's voice was full of care. She gently handed him the baby and as the man received and studied the baby, his face turned into stone as he removed the white cloth and saw the silver hair in their daughter's head.

"What will you name her, your grace?" She asked before Robert could even try to say one word.

Robert blinked rapidly clearly surprised by her words and gave her a questioning look. She just gave him a fake smile and nodded. Robert seemed to have considered for a minute and then gave a sigh before handing back the baby to her.

"Rhaelle. Her name is Rhaelle."

Eight years later...

"If it weren't for the blue in her eye, her headstrong attitude and her liking for the wooden war hammer I gave her, I would have thought that you secretly seduced Rhaegar Targaryen, sister."

Cersei scowled as she heard Jaime's voice and footsteps from her behind. She was sitting on the balcony of her solar, doing her needlework while occasionally watching her two daughters outside.

Rhaelle, her older daughter was playing with her wooden war hammer with her Uncle Renly who seemed to be very fond of the young girl. Myrcella on the other hand was sitting on the lap of her nursemaid watching her sister eagerly and clapping her small hands everytime Rhaelle's weapon touches Renly's body.

She had been angry at her daughter's liking to weapons and her boyish attitude but whenever she looks at Rhaelle, she can't help but think of the time when she was young and loathed the idea of being a girl.

"Stop mentioning his name here, you know how Robert reacts when he hears the dragon prince's name." She hissed at her brother who now sat on the chair beside her, his arms crossed on his chest.

"I know but he can't forever hate his oldest daughter for taking in his Targaryen blood. Rhaelle's innocent of Rhaegar Targaryen's sins and she doesn't even know the man. Your husband acts like the child is Rhaegar's bastard when she is not." Jaime muttered angrily as his eyes also directed on her silver haired daughter.

He was right, Robert hated Rhaelle ever since the day she was born for being a living reminder of the man who stole her father's first love and betrothed. Her daughter was innocent of the crimes of her relatives and Robert should have never thought of that, instead, he had loathed his firstborn and neglected her more than her siblings.

Robert was never a good father but he never failed to show affection to their other children; Joffrey, Tommen and Myrcella. But when it comes to Rhaelle, Robert will do his best to avoid the child and sometimes he would punish her for a sin she never even committed. Cersei somehow feared for her child and somehow felt sorry for her, if Robert knew that the children he dotted wasn't his seed, would he be treating his daughter the same?

Then Robert's words from last night came back to her and she placed her needlework on her lap and bit her lips. Nine years in the capitol had changed her, she was no longer the soft spoken and loving child from Casterly Rock, and instead now, she was a proud and haughty schemer, a player of the game, a Queen who hated her husband more and more each day.

And though King's Landing and her husband turned her heart into stone, she was still able to feel love and happiness with her children. She may love Joffrey more because of him being her firstborn son; still he had equal love for the others and a special love for her oldest child, Rhaelle.

"Robert wants Rhaelle to be sent to Dragonstone and be fostered by Stannis Baratheon and his bitter wife Selyse Florent." She said angrily as she stared at the unfinished lion embroidery on the tunic she was making for Joffrey.

Jaime looked surprised with her words and suddenly became angry, his hand went to the hilt of his golden sword and his lips turned into a grimace.

At times like this, she felt herself even loving her brother more. Jaime may not be Rhaelle's father but he tries to fill the gap that Robert made despite Cersei's objections. He never acted like this with their children, with his own children but when it comes to Rhaelle, he was always trying his best to protect the child and make her happy.

She doesn't know why her brother and lover were fond of the daughter of the man who stole her away from him but she was thankful that he had Jaime to care for Rhaelle. Her daughter deserves to be love and cared for.

"I'll go talk to Renly and tell him to convince Robert not to send Rhaelle to Dragonstone." He said as he reached for her hand and squeezed it gently but she shook her head and pulled away. Tears forming in her eyes.

Jaime sighed and added, "Or perhaps you can try to sway him to send the Princess to Casterly Rock instead. Tyrion will be delighted to have his niece there."

She frowned at the mention of her imp brother but although she hated the dwarf, she would prefer Rhaelle staying in the West with Tyrion than living in the gloomy and dark island of Dragonstone with Robert's serious and uncaring brother and his eerie wife. However she already pressed this issue with Robert and the answer was no, perhaps it was better this way, Rhaelle would be away from her father, away from his hateful words and eyes.

"No, the King has already decided and there's nothing I can do to stop him." She said bitterly as she let the heavy tears fall from her eyes. I'm sorry child, she thought as she looked at her laughing daughter again.

What do you think? ^^