"I don't understand father?" She said with a puzzled brow. "Baratheon is to marry one of the Tully girls." Cersei felt such anger toward her father. "What am I to make of this father?" "You are to marry Eddard Stark, Lord of Winterfell."
So begins Lady Stark
, by Jpena, which follows an increasingly popular story format: What if Cersei Lannister married Eddard Stark and becomes the Lady of Winterfell, rather than Queen of the Seven Kingdoms? With over 1,900 reviews, the completed story is a well-detailed take on Cersei's life if she wasn't Queen.
Lady Stark has the following tropes:
- By the Hair: An angry Cersei does this to Ned once she finds out that she is pregnant yet again. Greatjon Umber thought the act was pretty hilarious.
- Character Development: For Cersei, as it shows what happens if she was Lord Eddard Stark's wife rather than being the Queen to King Robert Baratheon.
- For Want Of A Nail: Cersei Lannister marries Ned Stark, taking the place of Catelyn Tully, who married Robert Baratheon. As a result, Cersei is not as power-hungry nor spiteful as she is in canon. Conversely, Catelyn becomes a very spiteful and hate filled woman on a slippery slope of sanity.
- Happily Adopted: Jon Stark, Ned's bastard son. (actually, Lyanna's son)
- Happily Married: Ned and Cersei, for the most part. Also, Tyrion and Sansa Lannister (Lysa's daughter), and Stannis Baratheon and Joanna Stark.
- In Spite of a Nail:
- Cersei still loses three of her children.
- Ygritte still dies, but not at The Wall.
- Cersei's oldest son still dies in her arms. This time it is Robb.
- Pet the Dog: Tywin Lannister, of all people, is quite fond of his granddaughters.
- Sanity Slippage: Catelyn Baratheon, as she is unable to give Robert a male heir to the Iron Throne, forcing Robert to legitimize Gendry instead.
- Spared by the Adaptation: Ned Stark lives.
