Jamie Lannister gazed towards the castle of Winterfell. As a king, his movement had become much more complicated than he'd wished it to be, being always followed by the kingsguard and getting more attention than he was accustomed.
The sky was clear. Snow had covered the castle since his last visit a lifetime ago. Back then, he was the chaperone to king Robert Baratheon, his sister and wife's first husband. Back then, he pretended to be someone he wasn't and done things he had since regretted. One of his greatest sins involved one of owners of the castle, Bran Stark. Jamie was informed that Bran had returned to his family home earlier that year and he hoped that incident wouldn't affect their negotiations. It could certainly endanger his wellbeing in that castle. However, as much as he didn't want to admit, he didn't care the slightest. His only concern was the look of dissapointment he would get from a certain blonde lady.
"The winter is coming", nothern people used to always say and time has validated them. For the first time in a thousand years king's landing was frozen. The once warm capital had now turned into a city of ghosts, as the city's population didn't adjust well to the cold and the upheaval it brought. His army got weak by the incessant war with Daenerys Targaryen and food supplies had decreased which led his people to starvation. They were rapidly losing every single advantage they had over Dany. Even the common folk seemed to warm up to the legendary Khaleesi that had stormed in to conquer Westeros, just like her ancestor Aegon once had.
Every single person in the kingdom felt the impending doom hanging over their heads. Everyone but Cersei. She was still deluding herself into thinking that everything was under their control, that they afforded to be on the offence instead of planning their exit strategy. Cersei's newest obsession was vengence against Sansa Stark. According to his sister, had Sansa managed to maintain Joffrey's interest towards her, they wouldn't have gotten involved with the Tyrrels and her son wouldn't end up dead.
Jamie had taken advantage of his sister's latest lunacy to visit the northerns. He knew that they were currently at an impasse and their last hope was reinstating their alliance with the Starks, a feat that was almost impossible. Especially since Jon Snow, the self proclaimed king of the North, was rumoured to have an intimate relationship with the Dragon queen. And Jamie had pushed his younger brother from a window. But desperate times called for desperate measures.
"When will we finally get to this bloody castle?", Bron cursed besides him, half asleep, his only co-traveler in the royal cartridge. Another change his new status forced on him.
"I don't get paid enough for this", Bron kept on playfully complaining, messing with his friend. Jamie was well aware that Bron was as loyal as it gets, he had proven plently of times, the most recent being him jumping in front of a dragon to save his life. Even if Bron would never admit it, Jamie knew that he was once again getting out of his way to protect Jamie from another suicide mission.
"Oh, just shut up, you would see how close we are if you stuck your neck out of the window", Jamie growled.
The guards opened the gates and there was no hint of the festive welcoming Robert Baratheon had received all these years ago. In fact there wasn't anything formal about this, everyone went on with their tasks without sparing a look towards the King of Westeros.
"The North remembers", another moto the notherns were all too fond of. And it does indeed. A series of mishandlings on the Southern Kings' part had these people declaring their own King.
Jon Snow was witnessing them over the porch alongside with his half sister Sansa Stark. "Welcome Sir Jamie", Jon adressed him. His position's symbolism wasn't lost on Jamie. The confidence he exhuded as he made his statement sound as regal as his title demanded.
Sansa Stark looked at her brother reassuringly, taking pride in his composure. Saying that the woman on the porch was radically different from the girl he remembered would be a vast understatement. It wasn't only the physical transformation, but also her entire posture and the maturity her eyes gave away.
Arya Stark stood a little further behind. The girl was dressed unlady-like, holding tightly her sword in her fist. Hadn't he known better, he would have passed her for the King's guard. And the truth was that, as he would find out later, Arya possesed all the qualities that could make her an excellent knight. Despite her short stature and her delicate features, she terrified Jaimie for a reason he couldn't quite pinpoint. It was probably the intensity and hostility she emitted towards him.
Jaimie felt more overwhelmed when he saw Tyrion unexpectedly show up and walk towards him. Jamie hadn't seen his brother in months, ever since they crossed paths in a battle that almost cost him his life. "Tyrion", Jamie muttered partly dumbfounded and secretly relived to have a trusted person in close proximity in what would turn out to be one of the most challenging periods of his life.
"Long time no see, brother" Tyrion exclaimed "Bron". His expression betrayed the joy he fought to conceal. "Let me escort you to your chambers".
"What are you now their servant?", Bron retorted, not intrested in sticking to the formalities in the slightest.
"No, my dear friend but a lot has happened since the last time we talked and I need to prepare you for what's to come.", Tyrion replied.
"And aren't you Dragonqueen's hand? What are you doing in Winterfelt? Other than taking their crap", Bron stated bluntly, unable to fathom Tyrion's obedience to their enemies.
Jamie didn't hear a word after that. A tall, clumsy, redhead man caught his attention. Well not the man himself, but the emotion his stare gave away. The wildling, as he could tell from his appearance, looked dumbfounded, thrilled even at the sight of the woman she desired. Jamie inferred that he was looking at the woman the man was infatuated with, even without following the direction of his eyes. "It must be one hell of a woman", Jamie thought to himself.
Curiosity took over him, as he turned his head inquisitively to spot the object of this wildling's affection. And damn was he right to be head over heels with the woman. Jamie had the honour to accompany Brienne of Tarth not so long ago and despite her less customary physical appearance, she was one rare Safire.
Brienne was brave, loyal to a fault and as he came to learn from experience extremely protective of the people she loved. She was the opposite of Jamie in so many ways. To begin with, she had never broken an oath in her life, unlike the Lannister knight that was a world-renowned oathbreaker. She was driven by a deep sense of honour which Jamie came to admire the most about her. Last but not least, behind her tough exterior hid a very sensitive soul that preserved her faith in humanity. There hasn't been a single person in his life than inspired him to be better more than Brienne of Tarth.
Even though, Jamie could admit that she could work on her sense of humour. Ohh and her stubborness. He wondered how she could possibly be one of the most serious people he has ever met, yet turn into a petulent child once they started bickering.
Brienne had just entered the yard, unaware of the occurrences. Once she felt Tormund's gaze onto her, she turned her head the other way, eager to escape from the unwanted attention. Another unique trait she possesed; she wore her emotions in a way that made them apparent even to the random observer. What had troubled Jamie was that he felt a profound relief over Brienne's ignorance towards the man.
It was Brienne's turn to spot Jamie amongst the crowd. The look on her face made him wish he had gotten the wilding treatment. Through her eyes, he could discern emotions he had only seen once they first met: contempt, hostility, aversion even. Therefore he could tell in a single look; she knew.