The scene before Jaime was pathetic.

The great hall was decorated beautifully; banners of crimson, gold, lavender and silver hung above them. The air was warm and thick with the scents meat and wine. Tables were lined up and hosted plates of boar and mutton, sweet lemon cakes, fine wines from the Arbor, and guided goblets and plates.

Yet the hall that could host an army was only occupied by about one hundred people.

Though they were dressed in their finest clothes, donning their finest jewelry and brooches, everyone was wrapped in a blanket of tension. The men were deep in their cups, brooding rather than laughing and yelling out bawdy japes. The women sat stiffly, only smiling thin, fake smiles.

The only ones that dared to dance were the foolish members of his own household, the ones who had not been to a proper feast in ages. Mostly green boys and the ugly wenches that were never spared a second glance other wise. They loped around clumsily, looking like fools; all they lacked was motley. The ladies that had accompanied Lady Leia were completely unapproachable; they stabbed any man that offered his arm with eyes sharper than any dirk. The Knights kept a careful eye on the men that wore Lannister colors, and responded with stiff courtesy when spoken to.

Jaime Lannister slouched in his seat overlooking the affair, his cheek resting upon his good hand. Boredom overtook him the second he walked into the hall, and annoyance struck him when he observed how shameful this mummers farce was. It was all just a game; a game being played by his dead father.

No one wanted to be here, especially not Leia Dayne.

Her eyes were dark when she greeted Jaime, but her lips played a small smile. He noticed her face was torn somewhere between disgust and amusement when she took in the meager entertainment before her. At first, Jaime bristled at her reaction, finding it hard to hold his tongue. But then he noticed..

How much she looked like her elder sister, Ashara! He had not noticed it on the hill, with the wind tangling her hair and the sun in his eyes. But here, dressed in a lavender and silver gown, with her dark hair combed and laced with silver ribbon, Jaime thought he had been tossed back in time..

It took the malice in her eyes to bring him back to the present, and caused him to notice that she had subtle differences in her features. Leia was shorter and curvier, with full, pouty lips and curly hair. But her eyes were the most different. Where Ashara Dayne had piercing violet eyes, her younger sister had indigo eyes, more blue with just a hint of purple. Ashara's had danced with laughter, but Leia's eye were cold and angry. They sent chills down Jaime's back.

When his lady approached her place at the table, he went to pull out her chair. However, his newly polished golden hand caused him to fumble, making him awkwardly pull the chair out lopsidedly. Ser Erron Dayne covered a laugh with a poorly disguised cough, and Leia cut her knight an amused glance. Jaime flushed angrily, tough forced a smile.

"Have a seat, my Lady." He said, almost through gritted teeth.

Leia smiled with false politeness and sat down. Ser Erron made a point to adjust her seat properly, smiling at Jaime all the while.

"Well, this is truly...spectacular, ser." Erron beamed from his place beside Leia.

"Like I said earlier today, Ser Erron, most of my household is out cleaning up the realm. I'm not sure if you noticed, but we have been at war." Jaime said causing Erron to laugh.

"Oh, yes, I noticed. On the way from Dorne we passed a few ruffians, and many ruined towns. It really is such a shame your father put so much of his beloved realm to the torch like that."

"They were rebels, and a Lannister always-"

"Pays his debts." Lady Leia interjected with a wave of her hand. "Yes, we all know. Gods forbid you Lannisters fail to remind us." her tone was bored and mocking, and Jaime felt his mood grow dark.

"We tend to remind those whom forget, my lady."

"I promise I will not."

Leia's eyes met Jaime's, and the two sat in an icy stare that didn't break until the serving wench offered Leia some wine.

"Oh, yes, please. And keep it coming."


Leia was good and drunk and spinning around with Erron Dayne, laughing and smiling at everyone. After several cups of wine, Leia convinced her ladies and knights to take the floor, making them dance along with her. The Lannister men were still sullen, but the women allowed the Dayne knights to have their arms.

The sight made Jaime sick.

He watched her, thinking of her sister, of her brother.. his own sister and brother, and suddenly the hall was full of ghosts and shadows.

It was all too much.

Jaime Lannister stood from his chair and exited the hall, stumbling as the wine made itself to his head.

He made his way into the shadows and leaned against the wall, sighing and rubbing his golden hand.

Jaime could not marry Leia Dayne. She was a living, breathing symbol of everything Jaime had been, everything he had done. Failing his prince, slaying his king, turning his white cloak..and she knew it, and she hated him.

Leia saw through Jaime's crimson and gold, down into the dark pit inside. She could see the blood on his hands, on his sword. Leia saw Jaime as a turncloak and a murderer. It was all over her face when she looked at him, it was in her words when she spoke to him. He saw the same look in Leia's eyes that he saw in Ned Stark's the day he found him upon that damned iron throne..

"Ser Jaime."

He looked up and saw her lingering in the moonlight, her cheeks flushed and her eyes dangerous.

"Lady Leia. What brings you out here? You looked to be having such a lovely time." his voice was full of sarcasm, he didn't bother to hide it.

She smiled crookedly, drunkly. "I was. But I noticed you had departed, and I felt wretched for not asking you to dance with me, so I wanted to apologize." the closer she came to him, the warier Jaime became.

She leaned against the wall opposite of him and looked at him from under heavy eyelashes.

"Don't worry, my lady, that's not why I'd call you wretched."

She slapped him.

It was sloppy, and almost missed, just barley grazing his jaw, but it was enough to pique Jaime's anger.

He took her by the shoulders and pushed her against the wall.

"Be careful, dear Leia." he hissed, pinning her close.

Then she laughed. And laughed.

And laughed.

Jaime stared, his anger turning into annoyance, and let her go, allowing her to bend forward and...vomit.

Leia Dayne spilled the entire content of her stomach onto Jaime's boots.

"Seven hells.." he cursed, stepping back and kicking the vomit from his boots.

Leia grew quiet, her face hidden behind her hair that had fallen loose from the ribbon. Jaime almost felt sorry for the wench and reached out his golden hand.

Leia Dayne smacked it away, revulsion clear in her eyes.

"I do not desire you." she whispered softly.

"Excuse me?" Jaime glared at the woman crouching pathetically before him.

She looked up, her eyes full of anger and hatred.

"I do not desire to be here. I do not desire to wed you, to bed you, to push out your lion spawn. I'd give anything to have Ser Erron carve out your heart and present it to me. The sight of you sickens me, Jaime Lannister. Kingslayer. And if you ever presume to touch me again, I just might order him to."

Jaime laughed hoarsley. "Please, Lady Leia, that would truly make my day."

With a posionious glare, Leia Dayne gathered up her skirts, stepped over the puddle of vomit, and disapeared from Jaime's sight.

With his blood boiling and his stomach in knots, Jaime Lannister turned on his heel and headed to his chambers.