Jaime

As the Red Keep cane into view, Jaime's heart began to pound. So close, he thought, his mind full of Cercei as it had been since the night he had escaped Riverrun with the aid of the men he assumed had been sent by his brother. Riding furiously through the woods on his way back to her, he filled his thoughts with his twin, his soulmate, but now with their reunion so close at hand he was frightened. Will she love me now that I am a cripple? When he left the dugeons at Riverrun, he never would have questioned his sister's love, but not that Lord Bolton's man was calling up to the battlements to have the guards open the gate, doubt plagued him.

Once inside, he saw his horse stabled, and his escort shown to suitable chambers before setting off for the Queen's apartments. His feet followed the familiar path to the royal chambers and when he arrived, he was irritated to see that the Kinsguard who stood vigil at the door was not a man he recognized.

"Who are you, and what's your business with the Queen?" The new white cloak spat as he moved to block the door.

"Surely you recognize your own sworn brother, ser?" Jaime retorted coldly.

Confusion twisted the knight's features, "brother…" he murmured, before realization dawned across his face. "Ser Jaime?"

"One in the same, ser, now step aside. I mean to have words with my sweet sister."

"Of course, Lord Commander."

Jaime moved past him without another word, single minded in his pursuit of the Queen. He pushed the door open with his shoulder and strode into the solar to find his sister giggling on one end of a sofa while a man admired her from the other. He studied the man's face for a moment, jealousy rising is his chest, before realizing with a jolt that he shared the same crooked nose and lank black hair of the knight guarding the door. He cleared his throat to announce his presence.

His sister's reaction left much to be desired. He had known she wouldn't cry nor jump in his arms, but he had hoped for more than the stiff hug she gave him. When they parted, her eyes went immediately to his stump.

"So, it's true." It had not been a question, but he nodded nonetheless.

"An outrage!" She fumed, green eyes shining bright with her rage, "an insult against House Lannister that will not be tolerated!"

He turned from her then to face the man who had been so engrossed with his sister, and for the first time noticed the attractive, dark haired woman who was also in the room, "Could I have a private moment with my sister?" The woman stood and said a few quiet words to his sister before accepting the man's arm and departing, leaving him alone in the small room with his twin.

"Father was furious when he received word from Roose Bolton about your…incident," Cercei continued, ignoring the longing in his eyes, "the goat will pay dearly for….oh!" She squealed as Jaime wrapped his arms around her waist.

"Gods, Cercei…is this all you have to say to me?"

"Have you spoken to father yet?" She asked nonchalantly, pushing him away from her firmly.

"No. I came to you first," he replied, reaching for her again.

She backed away from his attempt to hold her and smiled a cruel, icy smile. "Go to him, brother. He has plans for you."