Hi guys, I'd like to Apologise for my awful spelling and grammar. I'm dyslexic and have tried to run a spell check. But my tablet doesn't seem to want to cooperate I am trying my hardest to correct my spelling, its quite hard to do as it looks right to me even though its miles off, and is difficult to pick out my many ridiculous mistakes. So sorry in advance.*
Ser Jamie has returned to kings landing after winning the siege of Riverrun, to find it in clouds of black smoke, Tommen has died, along with many others. Cersie is less than welcoming and holds him partly responsible for her being taken prisoner by the high septum and marched through streets, and questions h,is ability to serve and protect her, as he is not skilled with a sword since the loss of his hand.
Ser Jamie must find a suitable teacher to train him in secret if he is to remain in his position in the kings guard and close to his sister.
Dure in his time at Riverrun he met with Brianne of Tarth, who arranged a meeting with a friend of hers on his return to kings landing, who would be able to restore him to his former glory.
Jamie made his way to the meeting point as instructed by Brianne on the outskirts of kings landing, away from judging eyes. He was not exited by the prospects of being bested, especially when his teacher bared the name of the house Tarthen. A peace keeping family known for their kindness and compassion.
How could a descendant of this family teach him to fight?
His mood darkened as he trudged down the winding cliff steps to the old training platform.
He found it empty, with no sign of his trainer. His annoyance grew.
He slumped against an old tree stump emerging from the cliff wall at the bottom of the stairs, closing his eyes and letting the sun warm his face.
A sudden voice startled him, not a voice he was at all expecting.
"Am i interrupting your sun bathing Ser Jamie?"
In front of him stood a young woman. He squinted at her through the sun light, though he could not see her properly.
"may i be of some assistance milady?" he asked, the irritation still clear in his voice.
What was a woman doing unescorted outside the city walls.
"Well, i was under the impression that you required a trainer my lord."
She stood, hands folded behind her back, waiting for him to stand and face her.
With this he got to feet, the confusion clear on his face.
Now that the sun was no longer in his eyes, he saw her properly.
Only a petite woman, as high as his shoulder, skin as fine as porcelain,
dark wisps of hair escaping her braids framed her face. Her eyes were deep pools of shimmering blue, almost familiar to him in some unsettling way.
He cleared his throat, as if to compose himself, and finally found his voice, besides, he had not come to admire.
"Yes, you understand correctly, did he send you? i do not like to be kept waiting.", he remarked, trying to keep the annoyance out of his voice.
" I'm afraid you may be waiting a while if it is a man you wish to see."
Her eyebrows raised with a small smile pulling at the corners of her lips.
He stared at her with disbelief, his mouth hung open and lost for words. She turned on her heels and slowly took a few paces before turning to face him again.
"You?! I'm supposed to train with you?"
He scoffs as he begins to pace.
"whats the matter king slayer, afraid to be beaten by a woman, again?" she says, almost mocking him.
"yes ,Brianne told me she had expected you to be faster, and that she was rather disappointed with your oh so legendary skills"
He laughed to himself, knowing that Brianne surely thought this was an amusing idea, how could she seriously expect him to learn anything from this woman, she was no match, her size alone was surely a disadvantage, not like Brianne, who had then strength and build that could take on many worthy man.
"i do not wish to offend you my lady, but i hardly think we are compatible, even with me having certain disadvantages, it would not be fair for me to swing a sword at you, and a sparring sword at that", he explained, clearly amused.
He began to walk off making his way to the stone steps, shaking his head with disbelief.
Before he took the first step, he was stopped in his tracks, as a knife stuck firmly in the rotten tree trunk in front of him. His ear burned, as if held under a flame. His blood trickled down his jaw line, dripping on to the pale stone floor at his feet.
He turned to see the young woman facing him, hands still folded behind her back, eyes unreadable, with a smug smile on her face.
" Now Ser Jamie, shall we get to your training? or would you like me to even up your ears?" She teased.
He was still holding the small cut on the top of his ear, eyes wide with shock.
"well... i suppose i could give it a go." He just about whispered.
Now he was curious, it was not often someone managed to take him by surprise.
He drew his sparring sword, and took position.
"ladies first" He jested, a grin growing on his face.
She moved closer, drawing her wooden sword,
"you shall try to land a blow, and i shall try to avoid and defend"
Her voice laced with authority.
Jamie smirked, how hard could it be.
He lunged towards her, only to find him self almost falling to the ground.
She was fast.
He took position again, swinging his sword at her, whilst she gracefully dodged every attack.
This went on for some time, until Jamie had to stop to catch his breath.
He Thudded to the floor, exhausted. The woman came to sit beside him, hardly a hair out of place.
"who... i... never got your name" he managed to say between breaths.
She smiled at him, amused at his state. "Sarlah"
"I thought you were of house Tarthen?" He'd finally steadied his breathing.
"I am" her face was blank.
"i wasn't aware the Tarthens had a daughter, it was thought that the last members of your house perished many years ago in the fire at their home?" he carefully watched her face, knowing this could be a sensitive subject.
"Everyone did, but i survived, my mother and father... died when i was still a small child, sickness took them, my aunt and uncle took me in as one of their own and raised me along side their own son. when i was 13, a fire had started in the lower quarters of the house, everyone was asleep in late hours of the night. They all perished, all except me."
Her face still unreadable, but her voice betrayed her, laced with pain.
Jamie decided it was wise to change the subject.
"So, who trained you? ware did you learn to do that?" he waves his arm towards the training area.
She looked at him, not knowing if she should trust the kingslayer with this information. she chewed her lip, thinking about her answer.
"After my family was gone, i travelled north on my own. on my second week of travelling, a group of men followed me. I wasn't strong enough to fight them off, i thought my time had finally come" Her expression was dark. "Until a man saved me, he slayed my attackers with ease. i begged him to train me."
Jamie stared at her, waiting for her to finish her tale, although to his irritation, that seemed to be it.
"So he was the one to train you, Who was he?" he questioned, like a child, impatient to know the outcome of their bedtime story.
Sarlah smiled at him, a strange look on her face.
"He was no one."
"i travelled with him, i trained, by the time i was 19, i decided i had to come home, i couldn't keep running from my past. I visited my family's close friends, trying to give them some closure on the events that happened 6 years earlier. I visited Tarth, that's how i came to know Brianne."
Jamie smiled at the thought of Brianne, he could see why these two would be friends. Redefining what it ment to be a lady. Briannes words echoed in his head, 'i am no Lady.' The thought made him chuckle.
He got to his feet and took position again, he beckoned her foward, sparring sword at the ready. She stepped forward to meet his challenge, a large grin painted on her face