Lord Lannister comes, in a furious storm of armored men and deadly grim faces. Melara feels Cersei grip her hand, and the girl trembles. The Lord Lannister's teeth grind. Melara sucks in a breath at the fact that her Uncle is among his people, his face growing increasingly furious as he takes in the sigh of Jeyne the Maid tied to the whipping post.
She clutches her mother's necklace in her hand, and despite everything, she is afraid.
Because her tormentor is looking at her and is vividly angry.
"What," The Lord of Casterly Rock's voice is dead and cold and careful, "Is the meaning of this !? A lady beat in my castle?"
Melara blinks. Opens her mouth to speak-
"Melara, sweetling, what have you done to our poor cousin Jeyne? Have you gone MAD ?!"
Fury blooms. Erupts.
"YOU BEAT ME!" She shrieks, "YOU HURT ME WITH THIS WRETCHED BITCH! THIS IS A FRACTION OF WHAT YOU'VE DONE TO ME!"
Tywin Lannister clicks his tongue, eyes narrowing.
"Girl, mind your tongue in front of my daughter," he says cooly.
"My Lord, it is very obvious that my niece is not well- She has had these fits since her parents died. I apologize . She has turned violent-"
He stalks closer. His fists clenched tight. Melara refuses to flinch. Never again.
"YOU PHYSCO MOTHERFUCK BEAT ME! YOU HAVE FOR OVER A YEAR!"
"Lady Melara, control your tongue or I will have it removed, " hisses Lord Lannister, "We will get to the bottom of this. Tygett get the lady off the post. The King is to arrive tomorrow and I need not a drama of a vicious girl-"
"NO FATHER, LOOK AT MELARA'S BACK. LOOK AT IT!"
" Cersei enough -"
Cersei wrenches her violently, to expose the mess of her back.
Silence.
"He's been beating my friend. He's lying , father, " cried Cersei, and yet she trembled.
"Fuck," Melara looks to see the wide-eyed gaze of Ser Tygett Lannister, "Tywin, I think the girls are telling the truth."
Melara turns back.
The great Lion's face is stone.
"Restrain-"
Her Lord Uncle is already moving. His sword drawn as he runs.
Ser Tygett looks at Melara with wide eyes. His large hand reaches for his own sword. Melara sees a flash of light- and her Uncle swipes his sword across her throat.
She falls back into Cersei, still clutching her mother's necklace and pearls. She gurgles in shock.
"I will not go down myself, Melara !"
Cersei wails .
And Melara bleeds. She does not die quickly, sprawled across Cersei's lap, as she digs her fingertips to Melara's gushing throat.
And this time Cersei is screaming for her, instead of the other way around.
Death comes slow for her.
But all things do.