Chapter 1: The First and Last

Jaime

Cursing under his breath at how long it had taken him to navigate the Red Keep, Ser Jaime Lannister jogged up the last flight of stairs and tried to calm his mind. His sister Cersei, the Queen, had gone into labour in the afternoon and, of course, no one had thought to let him know before now. Evening had approached and left again and now night encompassed the land like a protective blanket. It was a calm, peaceful night but Jaime could not appreciate it as his heart was pounding in his chest painfully.

His twin sister, the love of his life, was giving birth to her first child. A child that may or may not be the future King. He had laughed at the many soothsayers and wise men who had claimed to know not only the babies sex but also the exact time on the exact day it would be born. They had all said it would be a boy born in the morning in three weeks' time. Jaime snorted to himself as he reached the top of the stairs where a large arch displayed the night sky beautifully.

'Bound to be a girl now.' He thought sarcastically, grinning to himself.

Striding purposefully towards the door to Cersei's bedchamber, Jaime nodded to the two members of the Kings Guard who stood guarding the door. At his approach one of them stepped forward nervously and opened his mouth to speak.

"I'm going in there to see my sister whether you like it or not so either get out of my way or get our your sword. Make up your mind one way or the other." Jaime snapped, his hand flexing on the hilt of his sword. He was itching to take out some of his frustration and anxieties on someone and this guard's arrogance was giving him the perfect excuse.

Upon seeing how serious Jaime was, the two guards decided perhaps it was best that the Kingslayer was permitted to see his sister and put his mind to rest with regards to her condition. Bowing out of his way they opened the great doors for him and closed them quickly once he'd entered the room, sighing with relief that he had been too concerned for his sister to actually do anything to them.

"Bloody idiots." Jaime murmured to himself, walking with purpose to the bed where his sister was sitting hunched over.

Her long golden hair hung about her shoulders damp with sweat, hiding her face as she looked down at the small bundle in front of her.

"Where is everyone?" Jaime asked uncertainly, suddenly feeling very nervous that his sister had been left alone.

"Is that…?" He asked, suddenly noticing the bundle for the first time. Watching with amazement, Jaime saw the blankets move and heard the sound of a tiny whine.

When Cersei didn't respond Jaime went to her, sitting beside her on the bed and looking down at the small bundle she was staring at so intently. Inside a small, pink baby with an adorable face and an expression that almost looked like a smile was peering up at him. He couldn't help but smile as he took in his sister's perfect child who looked both healthy and happy to be there.

"She's so small." Cersei whispered to him, wiping her hair out of her face. She wasn't actually touching the child or its blankets, just staring down at it with an expression Jaime hoped was wonder but a big part of him was sure it knew his sister well enough to know that wasn't a joyful expression in the least.

"No, she's a good size considering she's only what, an hour old? And she? Is that what you're so worried about? Trust me, first try I don't think Robert will be too concerned. Especially with how quickly you got pregnant. It's barely been 11 months…" Jaime stopped, looking down at the small child and feeling his heart squeeze.

"She's gorgeous; I doubt he'll even think about it." He looked up into his sister's face for the first time and realised that what he was saying wasn't comforting her at all.

"Look." She said simply, pulling the blankets up a bit to show a small black curl of hair on the top of the small child's head.

"True Baratheon." He muttered, stroking the hair and watching the baby girl sigh as her eyes closed.

"Exactly. What if she's just like him?" Cersei snapped harshly, glaring down at the child with barely concealed contempt.

"Hey, hey, look I know you've realised that Robert's not exactly the best husband but that doesn't mean his child is going to be anything like him."

"The same blood runs through her veins." She sneered, sitting up as if to physically distance herself from her daughter.

"The same blood runs through the veins of Stannis and Renly and yet neither of them is anything like Robert, or each other. And you forget, she may be his daughter but she is also yours."

Jaime saw Cersei's lip wobble slightly as she looked down at her child. She looked up into his eyes and then down at her lap.

Following her eyes, Jaime noticed for the first time that Cersei was clutching a pillow to her stomach.

"I tried… but I couldn't… she just kept looking at me." Cersei whispered, stroking the pillow whilst once again staring intently at her child.

Jaime was lost for a second, wondering what on earth his sister was talking about. Shaking his head in confusion he looked from the pillow to the sleeping child and then to his sisters face. He watched as a single tear rolled down her face and the realisation behind her words hit him like a blow to the stomach.

"Cersei! No, how could you? She's just a child!"

"That didn't stop Robert with Rhaegar Targaryen's children did it?"

"That's different… Cersei…" He was lost for words as he stared down at the bundle, unable to understand what would make his sister want to kill her first child. She may be a Baratheon but she was no monster.

"Jaime I can't… Not his child… If it was yours it would be different…" She whispered, tears flowing down her young, beautiful face.

Jaime felt as if someone was trying to claw his heart out. He adored his sister, loved her as he had never loved any other woman, nor ever would, but he had also loved his niece the second he saw her and he couldn't help but feel an almost fatherly need to protect her. She was his blood and she was so small and harmless.

"She won't be a smaller version of Robert, love, you'll bring her up and she'll be like her mother." He smiled in what he hoped was an encouraging way but he could see almost instantly that it didn't comfort her.

"Please… you have to do it… I wasn't strong enough Jaime." She implored him, pushing the pillow into his hands with wide, pleading eyes.

His heart froze and he stared at her, unable to believe she was truly asking this of him. He had always said he would do anything for her, but this? Could he really kill an innocent child, one so small it had not been alive long enough to sin, just because Cersei couldn't bear to bring up a child that would grow to be like her husband?

Swallowing hard, Jaime watched his hands clutch the pillow and slowly lower it towards the sleeping child. He placed it gently on top of the baby. Cersei watched eagerly, gripping onto his shoulder as she waited for him to press down. His muscles were tense and his heart was hammering inside his ribcage.

Revulsion hit him like a wave and he threw the pillow away, bending down to check he hadn't hurt the girl. But she slumbered on soundly; unaware of the danger she had been in.

Cersei began to cry, holding her face in her hands and sobbing loudly.

Jaime tried to ignore her as he attempted to gather his mind and work out what to do next.

"Cersei…" But he couldn't finish his sentence, he had nothing to saw and knew of nothing he could do that would bring comfort to the weeping mother.

"I couldn't do it either… she's so small." Hugging her knees to her Cersei rocked backwards and forwards, moaning as if in agony.

"She's done nothing wrong love. She doesn't even look like him, she looks like you." Jaime said softly, stroking Cersei's back and clutching her to him to stop her motion. He kissed her head and held her close, attempting to bring her comfort physically since he had no idea how to do so verbally.

"But with his hair." She said simply, staring down with empty eyes.

Jaime opened his mouth to reply but heard shouts from the guards outside. Jumping up Jaime bowed as the King, Robert Baratheon, entered his wife's birthing chamber. He was taller than Jaime, with wide, broad shoulders and a fierce look in his eyes.

Raising his eyebrow at his weeping wife, Robert looked at Jaime uneasily. Realising what Robert must be thinking, Jaime moved to the bed and carefully picked up the sleeping bundle.

"Cersei is just very proud to present to you your first child, a royal daughter." Bending down on one knee, Jaime offered Robert his daughter.

Robert took the small child uneasily and looked down at her with a curious expression. Behind him, a number of maids stood watching against the wall whilst Robert's brothers Stannis and Renly looked at the bundle with interest. Stannis was a serious man only a few years younger than Robert himself, but already with a far more severe receding hairline than his older brother. Renly however was still a child of almost 8, looking very handsome with his boyish charms and black curls. His bright and expensive clothing, however, Jaime felt to be somewhat garish and overly grand.

Robert held his daughter awkwardly and stared into her face for a while before he laughed and a smile spread itself all over his face. Turning to pronounce his daughter proudly to the onlookers there was a loud burst of applause. This petered out quickly when it awoke the child causing screams of distress. Robert quieted his daughter expertly and with a loving smile.

"So, what shall we name her?" Robert asked his wife, excitement visible clearly on his face.

Cersei thought about it and sighed, rubbing her tired eyes.

"I thought you already had a girl's name in mind? I liked that one…"

Jaime thought he might be the only one to notice the slightly bored tinge to his sister's voice as she pulled a heavy dressing gown over herself and stood up gingerly.

"I did yes… Amara."

"Princess Amara of House Baratheon then." Stannis said, smiling as if he liked the sound of his niece's name.

The baby girl gurgled in delight and Jaime felt like a weight had been lifted off his shoulders. The only person present who did not seem to have fallen in love with the princess at first sight was his sister and he felt sure that even she had felt something akin to love.

Smiling at the thought that the child would not grow up starved of affection Jaime bowed and took his leave of his King, Queen and new born Princess in order to go and send word to his father and brother back home at Casterly Rock that a healthy Baratheon Princess had been born.