If, it was a word that Cersei loathed as a child, and grew to detest even more so as a queen. The power and prestige of a monarch shouldn't be contained by such a simple word, yet she always found herself bound by a single syllable where she would have once charged in, teeth bared and claws free. She would blame it on her husband.

"I wonder what the other ladies must say," A familiar voice teased as a full glass of wine was placed on the table, the goblet brushing the back of Cersei's pale hand. "The queen showing such... interest in the new master of coin."

If Cersei had lacked a life time of training in etiquette, she might have gone so far as to snort in disbelief at Ashara's claim as the Dornish women took a seat. Age and five pregnancies had left few marks on the golden queen, but even she found Ashara to grow more sublime by the season. The strands of silver that wove their way through her midnight black hair only highlighted her amethyst eyes, the way they caught the light at every turn. A lesser women would have grow jealous, but her husband's mistress was a needed ally in a court of enemies, all of whom willing to take advantage of her too good by-half husband.

"Let the hens cluck. I have no desire for a man named for the size of his cock." Cersei said, taking a small sip of wine as she scanned the hall. A lifetime of etiquette was like a warrior's armor, it is worn as desired and rarely among friends. Her eyes roamed until she found her husband in the arms of a young blonde woman. A small smile touched her lips as she watched her daughter dance with her father. She could only see the new Master of Coin out of the corner of her eye, chatting and jesting with various lords and ladies.

"Such crass words, My Lady. Lord Littlefinger has such a smile though." Like a snake, or one of the lizard-lions of her husband's homeland. A glance to her side was all she needed to know Ashara shared her opinions of the new council member.

"Yes, I can't imagine how dull my life must be to have never been subjected to the attentions of Lord Baelish. I almost feel like a maiden again, he gives me such shivers." Cersei quipped as she finished off her glass. "I believe I shall console myself with a dance." She would need time to think. To judge whether Baelish was a threat to be contained or removed. But for now, as steel grey eyes softened at the sight of her, and rough, callused hands took hold of her own with a quiet reverence, she would deal with the problem in the morning.

After all, what was a mockingbird but a lesser beast when met with a pack of she-wolves.

AN: I'll start off by saying this is hella AU. My imagined golden ending to Robert's Rebellion where everyone (with the noted exception of Walder Frey, Craster, Ramsey Bolton, and Littlefinger) get a happy ending. I got a good amount of background details if anyone is interested, but the basic info is that Ned is king, Cersei is queen, and Ashara is Ned's mistress/Cersei's co-conspirator, where the two women spend there time doing the dirty work that allows Ned to be a good, just, and loved king, without assholes like Baelish, or various other schemers.