"They say that he will live if he makes it through the night," Sansa whispered, her voice nothing more than air coming from her mouth. She was sat at her dresser, wearing her white nightgown as Gwen ran a brush down her hair. Sansa stared lightly in front of her, catching the eye of the jewels which sat before her.

"And I am sure that he will make it through the night, my Lady," Gwen promised her, placing the brush back onto the wooden table. She watched as Sansa's eyes remained vacant and she squeezed her shoulder tightly, trying to assure her that everything would be alright and she had nothing to fear.

"Lord Bran is strong," Gwen told her lowly, running a hand down the elder Stark's hair soothingly. "The chances of him waking up are high. You need not worry, my Lady."

"I suppose," Sansa said back to her, biting down on her bottom lip for a moment. Gwen knew that she had done little to assure the girl of her brother's safety. "I just find it odd. Not once has he fallen before. He is a skilled climber."

"I know," Gwen agreed. She did find it suspicious but what else could it have been? No one entered the Broken Tower and no one was seen leaving it later on in the day. She could not help but think that it had to simply be a mistake. "But mistakes do happen, my Lady. Yet I would not fear. Your mother is with him for the night. I am certain she shall be keeping him strong."

"Yes," Sansa forced herself to smile in response to her. Gwen finished off the long braid in her hair and patted her shoulders quickly.

"Now come along," Gwen whispered softly. "Up you get and into bed, my Lady. We shall see what tomorrow holds but I am sure everything shall be just fine."

"Yes, Gwen," Sansa obeyed and moved from her stool. The maid pushed the stool back under the small dressing table and straightened the brush out on the surface. She tucked her own hair behind her ears and watched as Sansa climbed into her bed. She pulled her covers around her body and laid her head down on her pillow.

"Now try and get a good night sleep, my Lady," Gwen urged her, folding her cloak and hiding it away in the wardrobe. Sansa nodded against her pillow and stuffed one hand under the feather filled cover. She closed her eyes as Gwen bid her goodnight and left her room. The maid sighed when she realised where her next port of call would be.

Lady Stark had ordered her to make sure the Queen was comfortable before she retired for the evening. It was not a task which Gwen particularly wanted to complete for she had no knowledge of the Queen's mannerisms. She also knew that she was not in favour with one of the Lannister's and she doubted she would be able to change that with another. She moved down the halls, closing her eyes and praying for the safe recovery of Bran. She hoped nothing happened to the boy.

She also deemed it strange that he had fallen. No one had said anything, everyone placing it down to tragedy but Gwen knew everyone was silently thinking differently. She said nothing for she knew it was not her place to do so. Besides, there was no evidence to suggest otherwise.

Gwen snapped her attention from her thoughts as she heard conversing in the corridor before her. His voice was clear as day, the smugness radiating from it and keeping Gwen hidden in the shadows. She then heard the ice cold voice of the Queen. Yet she did not sound calm and collected like normal She seemed to be irate for some reason. Gwen was well aware that she should make her presence known. It would be the proper thing to do. But she could not do that for she found herself to be intrigued.

Remaining hidden around the corner she kept her hands by her side and her back pressed against the wall. The corridor was dimly lit and she hoped her shadow was not visible to the two people who spoke down their own private corridor.

"And what if Robert finds out, Jaime?" the Queen snapped at her brother who made an audible 'tut' noise at his sister. "We both know he is allowed to sleep with any whore he pleases yet if he found out about us then I doubt he would be accommodating."

"What did I tell you a moment ago?" Jaime wondered from her, his voice deep and low. Gwen closed her eyes, focusing on their words intently as her heart skipped a beat. She should run. She should go before she heard anymore. Pretend that she had never been there and never heard anything. It would be the proper thing to do. It would also be sensible.

"The King will not find out. I don't intend to tell him anything nor do you." Jaime snapped back at his sister. "We will continue in secret like we have done for years on end. And if he does find out then will gut him, Cersei. I will see to it that you are the one I wake up to every morning."

"You fool, do not say such things where we could be heard," Cersei replied snidely.

"No one is here, Cersei. It is your private corridor." Jaime pointed out.

"That is still no reason for you to act like an imbecile."

Gwen winced at the harsh tone of the Queen and she felt something shoot through her body. Her eyes widened as she realised that she had the irritable urge to sneeze. She placed a hand over her mouth as Cersei continued her rant at her brother. Gwen rushed back down the corridor, trying to hide the noise of her sneeze as she came to an alcove and hid within it. The noise was muffled yet she had no doubts that it had been heard.

She cursed silently in her head and remained where she was for a moment.

Jaime stood opposite his sister who had her door held open, ready to retreat back into the safety of her room. The noise of sneezing was heard through the corridor and Jaime pressed a finger to his sister's lips, waiting for someone to round the corner. Cersei's eyes widened as she heard the noise and her voice dropped to a whisper as she hissed to her brother;

"Make sure they did not hear any of that," she pushed him. "And if they did then you know what to do. You've tried to kill a child. A simple servant should be no task for you."

Jaime rolled his eyes at hearing his sister and she glared at him for another moment. She backed into her room, the door slamming loudly on Jaime and he shook his head. His sister really was one to worry too much. He stalked off down the corridor, looking for the source of the noise. He did not have a long search for he noted a shadow coming from an alcove down the corridor.

He advanced closer towards it, stepping into the hidden stone and his eyes widened as he saw her there.

"You really are insufferable, aren't you?" he mumbled and Gwen's eyes widened. She had hoped that the shadows would hide her until he passed. Then she could go to the Queen and check on her before rushing to her own chamber and wondering what she had just heard.

"I do not know what you mean," Gwen denied any wrong she had done. Jaime allowed a smirk to occupy his face and he shook his head, stepping closer to her before he made a sudden move. Gwen gasped as she felt his hand around her throat, pushing her against the wall until his body was flush against hers.

"You were eavesdropping, were you not?" he checked from her and she gasped for breath as she felt his fingers squeeze around her flesh. What had happened to never harming a woman?

"No," Gwen denied as he brought his free hand up and ran his knuckles down her cheek. He felt her body shake against his as he continued to repeat the motion. It was such a soothing action yet it caused her spine to straighten and her face to pale. "I was on the way to see the Queen, Ser Jaime. I heard nothing."

"Why do I not believe you?" Jaime wondered from her. "You do know what lying entails, don't you?" he checked from her. "You could be sentenced to death, Gwen. I could have you killed or exiled."

"No," Gwen shook her head quickly and Jaime pressed a finger against her lips, silencing her protests as she struggled against his weight.

"Sh," he urged her soothingly. "Now, Gwen, what did you hear?"

"I..." Gwen choked out; her eyes looking over his shoulder, anywhere but into his green orbs for she feared what would happen if she did. Jaime watched as a tear shed down her cheek and he wiped it from her pale skin with his thumb. She shuddered at the motion yet did not move as he brought his hand under her chin, forcing her to look at him.

"Gwen," he said her name softly and he found her fearful gaze meet his. "Come along. What did you hear?"

She gulped for a moment, Jaime feeling the motion run down her throat as he eased up his hold on her and she shook her head.

"I did not mean to," she assured him. "I...I...the Queen...she..."

"Honestly, Gwen," Jaime scolded her simply. "You really do have a knack for getting into trouble, don't you? I don't think I've met such a maid in my past. I thought they were supposed to be silent wanderers?"

Gwen challenged his gaze, his words burning through her as annoyance took hold of her. She had not been the one to commit a crime. She had done nothing wrong.

"We are," she agreed with him. "Perhaps if you had your treasonous conversation in privacy then I would not know of this?" she suggested to him and the smug look from his face was removed as he released her for a second. Treasonous. The word hurt Jaime slightly. He was used to being called a traitor. He was used to being reminded of his actions for killing the Mad King. Yet it still pained him to hear the words.

"You have left me in a difficult situation, Gwen," Jaime admitted to her. He knew what he should do. She should suffer the same fate as Bran. But she was a serving maid. There were easier ways to scare her. She did not come from nobility. She had little and the little she had could be destroyed by Jaime with simple words.

"My sister would have me kill you on the spot," Jaime told her without any emotion and Gwen flinched at his words. He took a step back from her, his mind racing with ideas of how to get her to keep her mouth closed. He did not need the hassle of someone knowing.

"I thought that you did not strike women?" Gwen dared to whisper and Jaime looked at her for a second, his eyes narrowed and his brow arched on his forehead. Gwen instantly knew that she should have kept her mouth shut.

"I do not," he agreed with her. "Yet I can always have someone do it for me."

The warning rang through her and she realised what a mess she was in. She could not challenge him anymore. It would do her no good and it would only anger him further.

"I shall tell no one," Gwen promised him. "No one need know that you and your sister lie together...please..."

Jaime laughed at hearing her and he shook his head, his blonde hair falling around his face as he did so. He dropped a hand to his hip and tilted his head at her. Lie with her? Did she think that was what they did?

"Lie with my sister," he repeated to himself and then looked at Gwen's blue stare. The girl really was shameless. She would beg him for safety. She would forget what is right to keep herself safe. It would have been the honourable thing for her to go to the Starks and tell them. They would no doubt inform the King and then Jaime would have no choice but to kill him. He could not say that it would be a shame. He had imagined it many times.

"Please," Gwen whispered again, drawing his wandering mind back to her. "I will not say anything...I cannot..."

"Oh, Gwen," Jaime whispered gently, stepping closer to her again and running the back of his hand down from the side of her forehead to her ear, tucking her hair behind it. "You are willing to keep this from the King? And how can I believe you?"

"You have my word," Gwen admitted to him and Jaime shook his head solemnly, his fingers parting her hair as he ran his hands down the length of her blonde locks.

"Your word?" he checked with her. "Your word means nothing to me, Gwen. So we will have to do it this way."

Gwen wondered what he was talking about for a moment before she felt him take both her wrists into his hand. He turned her around, pushing her body against the wall as she gasped for breath. She turned her head to the side, her cheek resting on the cold stone as Jaime's gaze appeared before her, his free hand running up and down her neck.

"Believe me when I say that disposing of you would not be a problem, Gwen," he whispered to her. "Believe me when I tell you that I could have someone cut your throat and end your life right here and now. Seven Hells, even I could do it. There would be no hesitancy and I would grant you the honour of a quick death. You would be fine, Gwen."

"No," she began to sob, her eyes watering as the thought of death caused her to hyperventilate. "Please...Ser Jaime...I will not say anything...I will not..."

"Sh," he pushed her again. "Yet I assume someone would know of you being here. Someone would question your death for the Lady Stark holds you in high regard. I doubt they would accuse me but it could happen."

"No," Gwen said hastily, her eyes pleadingly looking into Jaime's and he searched her gaze. He should kill her. He should make sure that she could not speak to anyone.

"But you are far too pretty for a maid to kill," he said. "I am sure you help to brighten this dull place up. Besides, if you did go and speak to someone then who would believe you, Gwen? You may have a place in the Lady Stark's heart but you are still a serving maid. You are still someone who holds no power over me. Your accusations would be brushed aside with no second thought. Understand?"

She nodded at him and he smiled softly in reponse.

"Good," he said. "You know I am right, Gwen. And if you did say anything. If anyone did hear something from that smart mouth of yours then you would suffer. I would see to it that you are punished beyond anything you could imagine. You would be cast out of this protected life you live and you would end up with nothing. Imagine, Gwen...you may have to find work in a brothel..." he left his threat open to her and she closed her eyes, another tear slipping down her cheek as Jaime once again removed it from her pale skin.

He was certain she would say nothing. There would be no need for anymore blood to be spilled. He confessed himself fortunate that she was simply a maid. That she was weak and held no power over him.

"No need for tears, Gwen," Jaime told her sternly. He released her from against the wall, watching as she turned around and leant against the stone, facing him. He placed his hands on her cheeks, holding her in place as she wondered when it would end.

"Now," Jaime said. "You go and see the Queen. Attend to her wishes and act like nothing happened. You do not say another word of this incident. Just don't think about it, Gwen. It will be easier for you that way. Go about your simple business and pretend I was never here for I shall be leaving in a few days and we shall never cross paths again...well..." Jaime took a moment to muse. "I hope we never have to cross paths again for it can only mean something bad for you."

Gwen said nothing as he took another step closer to her, his hold on her cheeks increasing as he bent his head downwards, able to stare at her evenly then.

"Do we have an understanding, Gwen?" he checked with her and she curtly nodded in response. Jaime shook his head at her. "Let me hear it come from those pretty lips of yours."

"Yes," she whispered, her hot breath tickling his cheek. Jaime nodded once in agreement and the smirk reformed on his face as he released her from his grasp. Her head dropped once again and Jaime pushed a finger under her chin, forcing her gaze to his for one final time.

"That's a good girl," he whispered simply and backed out of the alcove. He moved down the corridor, whistling as he went and Gwen placed a hand over her mouth. She felt her knees give way from underneath her and she took a moment to sit on the floor, recovering from the ordeal with Jaime Lannister.

She took a deep breath, her hand pressing against the wall as she drew herself from the ground and straightened out her appearance. She did not know how she could go to the Queen now. She did not know how she could face the woman knowing full well what she did with her own brother. But she had to.

Gwen walked to the door, knocking on the wood only for the ice cold voice to tell her to enter. She did so slowly, closing the door and seeing the Queen stood by her bed, her hands in her hair and pushing it from her face.

"Lady Stark sent me," Gwen whispered to the Queen. "She wanted to make sure that you have everything which you need, my Queen."

"I see," Cersei replied with a lack of emotion as she realised how cold the room was and how the fire was going out. "Well, you can place more wood in the fire and then leave me be."

Gwen curtseyed politely and the Queen finally realised where she had seen her face from. It was the girl who her brother had aided at the feast the previous night. Her beliefs were only confirmed when she saw the bandage on her hand.

"You are the serving girl from last night, are you not?" Cersei checked as Gwen continued to place wood from the tin into the fire, poking at it and allowing the flames to soar higher than they had been doing. "The one who my brother helped?"

"Yes, my Queen," Gwen confirmed, leaving the fire at the height it was and she stood up again. She placed the tin back to the side of the grand fireplace as Cersei sat at the foot of her bed.

So this was the girl who had managed to hold her brother's attention for the previous night. She could not see anything extraordinary about her. She was bland. She had lifeless curls in her hair and her eyes held no particular fire.

"Jaime informed me of your incompetence," Cersei said, her voice loud and cold as Gwen stood before her, waiting to be dismissed. But Cersei needed her to know who she was. She needed her to know that she meant nothing.

She was Queen. She was the only one who her brother was to look at. She was the only one who could have him.

"I am surprised the Lady Stark allowed you to come here knowing how clumsy you are," Cersei said back to her and Gwen looked her in the eye for a moment.

"Last night was an accident, my Queen," Gwen dared to whisper. "Ser Jaime was simply kind enough to help me."

"Was he?" Cersei checked and she stood up, turning her back and walking around the room as she spoke to her. "My brother has been called many things. Kind is not one of them. I suppose you think yourself special?"

"No, my Queen," Gwen said back to her quickly, wondering where the conversation was going. The Queen smirked, her smile a miserable attempt to show kindness to the girl.

"You do not need to pretend with me," Cersei assured her. "My brother is a handsome man. You must have seen him as some knight in shining armour?"

"No, my Queen," Gwen repeated for her. She kept her tongue in check, not wanting to speak of Jaime to her. She could easily burst the confident bubble which she held herself in. How Gwen would not mind seeing her smirk wiped from her face.

"I know you lie, girl," Cersei promised, her smile never faltering. "I am simply looking out for you. I do not want you to have any ideas of my brother falling for you and whisking you away from the dull life you lead."

The idea caused Gwen to scoff silently and she shook her head at the Queen, her hands sweating and holding onto her skirts to stop them from shaking.

"No, my Queen." Gwen said. "I never thought of it."

"Of course you did," Cersei spoke back, her voice still light and cold. "Most women have. I am simply telling you not to. My brother is a member of the Kingsguard as well as being of Lannister blood. He would not look twice at such a simple serving maid."

"I know, my Queen."

"Good," Cersei clapped her hands once and smiled again. "I do not want you punished for any reason."

"I see, my Queen," Gwen said. If she did not know her dirty secret then the conversation would have appeared off to Gwen. But she knew. She knew why the Queen was telling her this. She was warning Gwen away from her lover when there really was no need to do that.

"I am glad," Cersei said, waving a dismissive hand at the girl. "Now go and leave me be."

"Yes, my Queen," Gwen dropped into a curtsey and rushed from the room, her breathing becoming erratic as she walked back down the corridors, wanting to do nothing more than hide away in her chamber and forget of the Lannisters. If only she knew that would not be possible.

...

A/N: Hope you enjoyed another chapter of this one! Anyway, thank you to Yakitori-Chan, Jofrench22, moonlight1fly, Heartless-Princess33, Hendrickx E, 5daysofsummer and Guest for reviewing the past couple of chapters! And thank you to anyone following this.

I do hope you will let me know what you think of it so far!