Note: This story is set in an alternate universe in which Robert did not survive to see the end of his rebellion. Instead, Ned Stark took the throne to rule as regent on behalf of his nephew Aegon VI (Jon Snow). Tywin was executed for his role in the deaths of Elia and her children as well as for the Sack. Jaime and Kevan were given the option to take the black and have joined the Night's Watch. Tyrion is the new Lord of Casterly Rock. His uncle Tygett rules on his behalf until he comes of age. Genna is trying to rally the West against the King in swaddling clothes and his uncle.

The fire in the hearth had almost gone out, but the heat of the embers lingered in the small chamber.

The woman's breasts were pointed, her skin radiant in the warm glow of candlelight. Jaime nuzzled her hair, burying his head in her long golden curls. "You remind me of my sister," he muttered as he entered her.

The woman laughed. "You like fucking your sister?"

Oh, you have no idea. He grabbed her teats firmly with both hands, biting her neck. "I like fucking you."

That made her squirm and giggle. Her teeth were crooked, and her eyes were brown instead of green. Come to think of it, she looked nothing like Cersei.

For a moment, he wanted to close his eyes and try to imagine himself back at the Rock in his sister's arms, but there was no use in make-belief. This is my life now.

The chamber was so small, his foot hit the chair behind the bed when he came, knocking over the sword propped up against it and sending it to the floor with a loud clanking sound.

Somewhere above them, a dog started barking. Jaime wiped his cock and pulled up his fur-lined breeches.

The woman was sprawled on the bed, watching him as he dressed. "All my other customers like to complain about the great injustices done to them that brought them to the Wall. They tell me all their stories, if I want to hear them or not; how they didn't rape that girl, didn't kill that man, didn't steal that loaf of bread. But you? You never talk about yourself."

Here we go again, Jaime thought. He had no patience for questions about his past.

"Ah, don't tell me! You're a prince!" She laughed, pressing her legs together. "I have princely seed in my cunt. Who knows, perhaps it will quicken, and I'll give birth to a dragon. Tell me, do the Targaryens still pay the mothers of their bastards in gold?"

"I wouldn't know. I'm a brother of the Night's Watch," Jaime said curtly.

"Aye, I can see that. But you were someone before you became a brother." She cocked her head, studying him. "Everyone was."

I was a member of the Kingsguard, he almost said before stopping himself just in time. And a lord's son. My baby brother is the Lord of Casterly Rock, would you believe it? "It makes no matter who I was."

"As you say." The woman smiled. "But I'll bet you a gold dragon you're a prince."

Jaime laced up his high boots and put on his black greatcloak. "You just lost a dragon then," he grinned. "You can pay me later. I need to go. We're leaving for a range at sunrise. Wouldn't want to be late for that."

"Well, I hope you'll honor us again soon, brother." She bowed her head mockingly.

The whores of Mole's Town seemed to enjoy his company more than that of most of his brothers. They still wanted his money though. He pulled out a handful of coppers from his pocket and put them on the chair.

As he made his way up from the cellars and stepped outside, the cold hit him in the face like an iron fist, taking his breath away. He covered his face with his cloak as he hurried towards the town gate.

The guard standing sentry acknowledged him with a curt nod.

Raids were common towards the end of winter as hunger and desperation sent wildlings across the Wall. Even to the south of them, the number of brigands soared the longer winter dragged on.

But everything seemed quiet enough as Jaime passed through the gate.

The road from Mole's Town was like a long, narrow tunnel carved out between the walls of snow and ice towering on each side. There had been no snowfall in almost a moon's turn, but it would be many more months until all the snow that had accumulated over the winter had melted. Jaime's brothers had told him that sometimes even by the end of summer much of the ice was still there.

The sky was a dark blue when he reached Castle Black, but in the distance, the horizon had begun to turn a pale shade of pink.

Most of the castle was still asleep, but there was light in the stables, and Maester Aemon was up as well, heading for the Lord Commander's Keep. "Good morning, Jaime," he said. The old maester was in his mid-eighties and near-blind, but he could tell a man by his steps.

"And a good morning to you!" Jaime smiled. While some of the men at the Wall called him Kingslayer to his face, Aemon Targaryen, great-uncle to the man he had killed, always treated him with kindness.

Jaime hurried towards the old Flint Barracks. The brothers he shared a cell with were still fast asleep. He suddenly wished he could lie down and get a good night's sleep, but it was too late for that. He packed a set of spare clothes, his warm sheepskin jerkin, and a woolen blanket before leaving as quietly as he could.

Ser Kevan was up by the time he was back in the courtyard, heading for the common hall to break his fast. His uncle liked to keep to himself, taking his meals earlier than the other brothers, making sure to avoid the busiest hours in the dining hall when it was impossible to escape conversation.

He greeted his nephew, a tired smile on his face. "Jaime. Come join me. It's not good to travel on an empty stomach."

"I can't," Jaime said. "I'll be late." He looks so old, he thought. Once a stout man, his uncle had lost a lot of weight since coming to the Wall, making his pale face look drawn and haggard.

Lord Commander Qorgyle had made him master-at-arms, and Ser Kevan did his duty, but he took no joy in it. New recruits called him Ser Sorrow behind his back, Jaime knew.

His uncle missed his wife, and he missed his sons. Most of all, he missed his brother. Tywin would have known how to get us out of here, he always said. He would have known how to fix this. But Tywin was dead, and they were on their own now.

Ser Kevan gave his nephew a quick, awkward hug. "I'll see you when you return then," he said, leaving the rest unspoken: Don't you dare disappear beyond the Wall. You are all I have left.

Jaime watched him hurry off towards the common hall before heading in the opposite direction to meet his brothers in the stables.