Cersei Lannister (The Lion and the Dragon)

## QueenCersei Lannister

Queen **Cersei Lannister** is the eldest child of Lord Tywin Lannister and his wife, Lady Joanna Lannister. She is the twin of her younger brother, Ser Jaime Lannister and has two other younger brothers: Tyrion and Lancel, and a younger sister: Tyshara. Cersei is married to King Rhaegar I Targaryen and together they have three children; Rhaenys, Aegon and Visenya of House Targaryen.

## Appearance and Character

When they were children, Cersei and her twin-brother, Jaime, looked so alike not even their father, Tywin, could tell them apart. As adults, they still significantly resemble each other. Cersei is a strikingly beautiful woman, with golden hair, emerald green eyes, fair skin, and a slender, graceful figure.

Cersei is willful, ambitious and has a certain low cunning. She is hungry and greedy for power. Cersei believes herself to be subtle and politically astute. She hates being excluded from power on account of her gender, and resents the customs and conventions put on her because she is female. She thinks of herself as a female version of her father, and feels slighted when people do not obey her commands as they would have done for Lord Tywin, but instead give her their counsel, or disagree with her, which she faults on her gender.

## History

### Early life

Cersei was born in 266 AC as the first-born child and only daughter to Ser Tywin Lannister, heir to Casterly Rock, and his wife, Lady Joanna. Cersei was born shortly before her twin brother Jaime, who was holding her foot. King Aerys II Targaryen sent the twins their weights in gold as a name day gift, and commanded Tywin to bring the children to court when they were old enough to travel. It is currently unknown whether this visit to King's Landing actually occurred, as the royal court came to Casterly Rock following the death of Lord Tytos Lannister in 276 AC. Cersei and Jaime did visit King's Landing in 272 AC, when their mother brought them from Casterly Rock for the Anniversary Tourney held to celebrate the tenth year of King Aerys's reign.

During their early childhood, Cersei and Jaime were inseparable. They looked so similar as children, up to the point that not even their father was able to keep them apart. Because of their similar looks, Cersei occasionally wore Jaime’s clothes and took lessons from the master-at-arms in his stead, without anyone realizing. They played in the bowels of Casterly Rock, where the caged lions of Cersei's late grandfather, Tytos, were kept. Cersei and Jaime would dare each other to climb into the cage. Cersei once dared to go as far as touch one of the lions, until her brother pulled her away. Cersei and Jaime slept together in the same bed when they were very young, and experimented together in a sexual manner at a young age. During one of these encounters, they were caught by a servant who informed their mother. A guard was placed near Cersei's bedchamber, whilst Jaime's bedchamber was moved to the other side of the castle. The twins were told never to do anything like that ever again, as Joanna would otherwise be forced to tell their father.

Cersei's mother gave birth to a second son, Tyrion, not long after discovering the twins antics. Jaime was happy to have a brother, but Cersei was dismissive of the baby, fearing it would take attention away from her and her brother. Soon after Tyrion's birth, Loreza, the Princess of Dorne travelled to Casterly Rock and proposed a betrothal between Cersei and Oberyn, but she was refused, and Tywin informed her that Cersei was meant as a bride for Prince Rhaegar Targaryen.

### Betrothal to Rhaegar Targaryen

Lord Tywin Lannister first informed Cersei of his wish to betroth her to the crown prince when she was no older than six or seven, though he told her never to speak of it until a betrothal was officially announced. Cersei drew a picture of her and Rhaegar on a dragon, once, though she claimed it depicted King Jaehaerys I Targaryen and his sister-wife, Alysanne, when Jaime discovered it. At the age of ten in 276 AC, Cersei became infatuated with Rhaegar after meeting him for the first time during the tournament in honor of Viserys's birth at Lannisport. Before the tourney began Cersei's aunt, Lady Genna, informed Cersei that her betrothal to Rhaegar would be announced during the final feast of the tourney.

After being separated from Jaime following their mother's discovery of their sexual experimenting, Cersei had numerous bedmaids and companions, daughters of Tywin's bannermen and household knights who were of an age with her. While Cersei occasionally appreciated their company, she had not liked any of them, believing them weak and convinced they were trying to come between her and Jaime.

During the celebratory feast of the tourney, the King announced to the attendees that Cersei was to be betrothed to Rhaegar, thus bringing the Lion and Dragon closer together. The news made Cersei feel elated, and immediately after the announcement she travelled with the royal party back to King's Landing, joining her father.