"Touching."
Gwen rolled her eyes as she heard his voice later on in the afternoon. The King had been adamant that they should spend the night travelling for they had a lot of ground to cover. Gwen had not complained but she had wished that they would stop for the night for she wanted to spend as much time as possible with the Stark girls. The night had fallen upon them and the only light came from the burning wood which the men held in their hands, walking alongside the horses. Gwen had closed her eyes, her mind trying to settle and find sleep.
But that was difficult when riding atop of a horse which was constantly moving. She took a deep breath as Jaime spoke once more to her and her eyes peeled open. He had known that she was not asleep for her eyelids continuously fluttered open for less than a few moments. Gwen had turned to look at him, her brow arched as she yawned loudly.
"What is?"
Jaime observed her for a moment before turning his attention back to the landscape in front of him. His brows furrowed together and he closed his eyes for a second, tiredness finding him eventually.
"Your dedication to the Stark girls," he admitted to her, turning his neck to once again glimpse at her. He studied her red rimmed eyes and nodded sternly at her. "I watched you today. I saw the way that you cared for them. Faking a smile so they wouldn't know how truly upset you were...making them laugh and forget the events of the morning with your tales...and how you sat with them on the grass, holding them and caring for them..."
He trailed off, shaking his head in disbelief at the words which had come from his mouth. He watched her smile sadly, tucking her hair behind her ears and pulling the hood to her cloak over her head.
"I care for them," Gwen admitted to him once more. "I don't want to see them suffer."
"Yet you both suffer," Jaime concluded. "For you do not get to see them anymore. Did you not think that this could happen? Both of the girls need to marry at some stage in your life. Did you think that you could stay with both of them as a maid?"
Gwen did not answer him for she did not truly know what to say in response to his question. She bit down on her bottom lip and shrugged nonchalantly.
"I knew that marriage would come," Gwen admitted to him. "I suppose I simply preferred to keep the idea from my mind...wish that things would stay as they were..."
"That is foolish," Jaime admitted to her. "That is why you do not care for people, Gwen. It makes it a lot easier on yourself. You wouldn't be feeling as you do now."
"I disagree," Gwen said and Jaime could not help the quirk of his lips as he smirked at her and she looked at him with a sad expression held in her eyes. "If you don't care for people then what is the point? Why be all alone in the world?"
"Have you ever seen a man die?"
"I saw my mother die," Gwen said and Jaime nodded thoughtfully. He pushed a hand through his hair, his armour clattering as he made the motion.
"Taking a life is so easy," he whispered, his horse moving closer to Gwen's as he spoke to her. "You come to realise that all we are made of is flesh and bones. We are nothing special nor are we indestructible. Yet...whenever you kill someone you realise that they have a history. That they have something beyond bones and flesh but you cannot think like that. You cannot afford to realise it for it is a weakness. Caring is a weakness."
Gwen took in his words, daring to whisper the question to him for she knew that what he told her could not all be true. She did not think he was so cold and callous like his sister.
"And do you care for your sister?" she wondered and Jaime winded, turning to look at the front.
"That is different," he concluded and Gwen shook her head at him.
"I do not see how it is," she replied. "How would you feel if she was to be taken from you? I can assume that you would care. You claim caring is a weakness yet it is one everybody has for not to care makes one...well...it makes someone seem not human."
"I am in a position where I can care," Jaime replied, bringing the conversation back to her dismissal. "The chances of me ever leaving her side is slim. You, however, should have known that the day would come when you would no longer be of us to the Stark girls."
"But how should I have known that it would have come so quickly? How could I have known it would happen so coldly?"
Jaime took a moment to think of her questions to him and he shrugged his shoulders once more, looking around the night sky at the stars which shone above them.
"You should learn to always prepare yourself for the worst," he told her. "For the worst is normally what happens."
"I am aware," Gwen nodded, a scoff escaping her lips as she spoke and Jaime grinned at hearing her before she stifled another yawn. The motion did not go unnoticed by Jaime and he jutted his chin out to her, his brows arched before he spoke;
"Get some sleep," he urged her. "We have a long ride ahead of us tomorrow."
Gwen said nothing more before she closed her eyes and Jaime watched her before turning his attention back to the horses in front of him. Occasionally he would find his mind wander back to her along with his sight. He admitted that Cersei's decision to rid her from the royal party was one which did not favour Jaime. He did not know what she would say when she returned to Winterfell. He knew that she had the chance to tell them of their relationship.
But if he told Cersei that she knew then he knew his sister would be uncompassionate. She would send for the girl to be killed without a moment of hesitation and Jaime was unsure whether or not he could carry it out. He knew it would rid him of problems and he knew that he had killed before without a second thought.
Seven Hells he had pushed a child from a window without a care or a single regard for the boy's life. He should have no problem killing a maid if he could do that. But he had not gotten a chance to know the boy. He had acted in the moment for he knew the boy came from a powerful family. He would have their protection. Jaime did not think that Gwen would have the protection of the Starks but he was coming to see how wrong he was. Lord Stark had already taken her side twice and the girls cared for her more than he had thought possible.
He had to shake his head, pushing the thoughts from his mind. He was a Lannister. He was the one they called Kingslayer. If the girl gave him just cause to kill her then he would do it. He owed it to Cersei.
Jaime's thoughts continued for a few moments before he looked back to Gwen and his eyes widened as he saw the sight unfold in front of him. Her eyes were firmly closed and her lips parted as she slept soundly and rather deeply. In her lack of awareness her hands untangled themselves from the reins, her grip on the horse loosening. He watched as she lost her balance, a disadvantage for choosing to sit side saddle.
"Gwen," Jaime hissed at her, urging her to wake up but it was not enough. The horse continued its bouncing walk, sliding Gwen down the side of it until she landed in a heap on the floor. She instantly awoke as the falling commenced, her eyes widening and a shriek escaping her lips as she landed on the hard grass ground.
Jaime slid down from his own horse as the procession behind them slowed down and Gwen and Jaime's horses were pulled out of the way by another member of the Kingsguard.
"Do you want us to stop the party, Ser Jaime?" he asked and Jaime shook his head, knowing how the King would be angered if he was told to stop the travelling for the sake of the serving maid who had been unable to share his bed.
"No," Jaime said, kneeling by Gwen as she sat up, her hand on her head, rubbing along her temple. "Leave the horses and continue on. I shall see to it that we continue."
The knight nodded in agreement with Jaime and released the reins, the two horses settling themselves for a few moments of rest.
"Can you stand?" Jaime asked and she nodded at him. He stood tall, watching her pick herself up from the ground and he led her to the side of the royal party, members of it still passing them by with quick glances in their direction. Jaime saw how the royal carriage passed and he fully expected Cersei to be there, staring at him with anger in her cold gaze. But her face did not appear and Jaime felt luck come over him.
"Does anywhere hurt?" he wondered and Gwen shook her head, the shock of the fall wearing off. She ran a hand down her side, knowing that there would be a few bruises in the morning.
"No," she assured him. "I am fine...probably just some bruising..."
"And your head?" Jaime asked, seeing how her hand instinctively travelled to her temple and she rubbed along it. "You hit it on the ground, Gwen. I'm amazed you have managed to stay conscious."
"No...I'm fine...it wasn't too bad..." she promised him, she took a moment to blink and moved her eyes around, checking that she could see everything alright. Jaime shook his head as he watched her and cocked a brow in the air.
"You really are accident prone," Jaime said to her. "You'll have to sit on the horse properly from now on."
Gwen's eyes widened and she shook her head at him defiantly.
"I can sit side saddle. It is not a problem," she assured him and he rolled his eyes at her defiance.
"Not unless you want break your leg," he said and she remained silent at hearing him. Jaime moved quickly, sensing that the congregation was moving beyond them and he helped Gwen into the saddle. She struggled to place one leg either side of the other and Jaime smirked as she reddened and pulled her skirts down her legs so that she could protect her modesty.
He watched her for a moment as she grabbed the reins and he made no effort of jumping onto his horse. He moved off after Gwen, staying by her side and making sure she did not have a repeat performance.
...
Jaime said nothing as he was summoned by Cersei the following day. She had slept peacefully in the royal carriage yet she had heard the news of the maid falling and her brother aiding her. She had fumed silently, wondering why he insisted on helping the little wench.
He walked over to the tent which housed his sister by herself. He had already seen the Lady Sansa being escorted by Prince Joffrey. He had watched them and resisted the need to roll his eyes at the falseness from Joffrey. He entered his sister's tend without considering announcing himself. He saw her stood there by the bed which had been set up for the night and her eyes glared into his.
"You summoned me," Jaime said and she nodded in agreement with his words.
"I did," she said. "I've become quite concerned. Why are you suddenly devoted to the maid?"
"I take it that you mean Gwen," Jaime drawled and Cersei's eyes instantly flashed with anger.
"You call her by her name now, do you?"
"What would you prefer I call her?"
"Bitch...whore...chit..." Cersei rolled the names from her tongue and Jaime did his best not to snap at his sister for her ridiculous jealousy.
"You are being foolish," Jaime told his sister. "You know that she means nothing to me. Is it so wrong that I follow your husband's orders?"
"But you are not following them," Cersei snapped back, her hands balling into fists by her sides whilst Jaime grinned, his face smug as she narrowed her eyes at him. "You are helping her...talking to her...she fell of her horse and you took her to one side...tell me...did you fuck her the other night when you two were all alone?"
Jaime listened to her words and cocked his head to one side, chuckling at her and Cersei's anger built up once again.
"Do not laugh at me!"
"How can I do anything but that?" he asked of her. "You are being silly. Have you ever sat for hours on end in silence? It drives you mad. You need someone to talk with. And when she fell from her horse, what would you have me do? Leave her to be trampled by the congregation's horses? Are you mad?"
"And did you have her that night?" Cersei asked, refusing to stop the conversation. "Are you forgetting where your allegiance lies?"
"I doubt you would ever let me forget," Jaime told his sister. "And no. You know that I would not touch her. Besides, you have already dealt with her, haven't you?"
"It was right," Cersei responded. "She needs to go. She is not suitable to be a maid."
"She has managed for thirteen years with no problems," Jaime responded. "And your judgement looks out of place. It further alienates you from the Starks."
Cersei laughed at hearing him, her head shaking back and forth as she slowly moved around the tent, her eyes never leaving her brother's.
"She is a maid," Cersei reminded her brother. "She is not related to them and she holds no power over them. She is nothing and I can dispose of her if I wish."
"You seem to be wrong," Jaime told his sister. "Have you not heard how Eddard Stark has gone to the King and told him to take back the decision?"
"I did hear that," Cersei nodded. "And my husband backed up my decision. He told Lord Stark not to be so foolish. He said that maids could be replaced and incompetent ones were not welcome into the great palace. I don't think it helped that she refused to bed him."
"I hate to admit that Lord Stark is correct," Jaime said and he moved to the makeshift table made from a box. It contained a pitcher of wine along with a goblet. He took it upon himself to pour himself a drink, downing it quickly. "I watched her with the girls. I watched her look after them and they do respect her. They care for her as much as she cares for them."
Cersei watched her brother take to pouring himself another drink, placing the goblet to his lips and she seethed with anger.
"You've been watching her?" she checked. "You've been observing her with the children and you now think that you have an excellent opinion of her?"
"I am just telling you what I think."
"Do you think I should let the girl stay?"
"I think that is what the Stark girls would want," Jaime decided to say. "I care not what you do with the girl for I am not loyal to her like I am to you. I am just telling you to be careful. Getting rid of her may anger the Starks and you do not want to do that, especially because you are soon to become family."
Cersei laughed one more time at her brother's words and she shook her head in disbelief at what she was hearing. She had expected him to be the one to tell her that her decision had been correct. She had expected him to understand.
"Although I do not think you are ridding yourself of her because she is incompetent."
His sister once more turned on him, watching him place the goblet down and press his hands to his hips.
"Pray, do tell me why I am doing this?"
"It is obvious, Cersei," Jaime told his sister with a drawl. "You are jealous. Why else are you so concerned over me spending time with her? Why else would you accuse me of fucking her?"
Cersei said nothing to her brother and his face grew smug for one more time in front of her. He said nothing in response, choosing to keep himself busy by refilling the goblet. He took another moment to think before he spoke, trying to show his sister that she had nothing to be jealous about.
"The girl means nothing to me. She is simply the Stark's maid. She is not the one who holds my loyalty and you should know that by now," Jaime said and Cersei studied him for a few moments. She said nothing, wanting to do nothing more than arrive in Kings Landing and get rid of the girl. She wanted her to go back to the dark pit of Winterfell. Only then would she be happy once again.
"There is nothing more to say."
Jaime slammed the goblet down, hating it when his sister dismissed him such a manner. He had plenty of choice words for her. But she did not listen to him. She rarely did.
"The girl means nothing to me," Jaime assured her. "And if you cannot see beyond that then I worry what your jealousy will come to."
He moved quickly through the tent, the cool air on his skin one more time as he scanned the surrounding area. He saw men stood on the grass, preparing for another night's rest and Jaime knew that it would not be too long until they reached Kings Landing.
...
Gwen moved her eyes from the emerging figure of Jaime Lannister from Cersei's tent and she looked back to the girl in front of her. Arya had sat down opposite her, talking to her about how she would go back to Winterfell with Gwen. The maid had smiled at her, telling her not to be so silly. She had a duty to her family.
"Do you think it possible for me sneak back to Winterfell?" Arya wondered and Gwen shook her head, sternly looking to the young girl.
"No," Gwen replied hastily. "You have to stay, Lady Arya. You have to be here and look after Lady Sansa."
"But she is a liar...she may be family but she is a liar, Gwen."
"She was brought before the King," Gwen reminded her. "She could not tell the truth. You have to understand that. You have to understand and you must look after each other. And your father. You need to make sure you do everything which he says."
"But I don't want to stay with them," Arya complained. "I hate all of them."
"You do not mean that," Gwen scolded her. "You do not hate them. Hate is no emotion which you should hold, Lady Arya. It shall eat you up."
"It isn't fair, Gwen," she complained again, crossing her legs underneath her and Gwen smiled sadly, stroking her cheek lightly.
"I know," she said. "A lot of things aren't fair but you will come to understand that soon."
"Lady Arya."
Arya looked up to where the voice came from and Gwen did the same. The sight of Jaime Lannister came into her vision and the two girls stood hastily. Gwen smoothed her gown whilst Arya looked at Jaime, anger held in her eyes for the Kingslayer.
"What do you want?"
Jaime arched a brow, a smirk on his face at the girl and her boldness.
"I wish to speak with your maid for a moment, if possible," Jaime said and Arya looked to Gwen, seeing the girl's questionable glance. Gwen smiled softly at her, placing a hand on her shoulder and nodding.
"I will be fine, Lady Arya. You go ahead and I shall come and find you after I have spoke with Ser Jaime," Gwen promised her and she looked once more at the Kingslayer before agreeing to the command given to her. She walked away and Jaime watched her back, laughing as he saw her leave and Gwen stood by his side, her arms folded.
"Quite stubborn, isn't she?"
"I believe it is a trait of the Starks." Gwen admitted. "Lady Arya is quite protective for such a young girl."
"I can tell," Jaime admitted.
"What did you wish to speak about, Ser Jaime?" she decided to ask him.
"You need to do yourself a favour, Gwen," Jaime told her and she watched him for a moment. "You need to stay away from me. You need to keep yourself with the Stark girls and do nothing more."
"Stay away from you?" Gwen arched a brow before looking at him. "I have wanted nothing more but you have kept yourself too close for me to do that."
"That shall no longer be a problem," Jaime assured her. "I shall stay alongside you but keep my distance as long as you do the same."
"And why the sudden request?" Gwen enquired from him and he looked at her before back to the tent which his sister resided in. He was doing this to keep Cersei from becoming jealous. He did things for her to keep her calm.
"My sister has become rather jealous," Jaime admitted to her and Gwen shook her head. "I do not wish to upset her anymore. If she continues with her jealousy then I wonder what she will do. She wants you dead. She wants you away from her and she would have no hesitancy in having someone get rid of you. I wonder what that would do. The Starks seem to care deeply for you. She does not need to alienate herself from them. It would be dangerous. I doubt a full scale war would start over you but tensions should not be held."
She listened to all that he had said and she bit down on her bottom lip, shaking her head solemnly.
"I have done nothing wrong yet I am to be punished for it," Gwen said and Jaime shrugged back at her.
"It is like you said," he drawled, "life isn't fair."
He left her stood on the grass and she watched him retreat, his white cloak swishing behind him as he went. She said nothing as Arya came back to her, looking at her with quizzing eyes.
"What did he want?"
"Nothing important," Gwen shook her head. "Now come on, Lady Arya. Your sister should have finished with Prince Joffrey."
Gwen took hold of Arya's hand and they rushed along the green grass whilst Gwen thought of the problem that was the Queen.
Jaime had walked back to his own tent, thinking of what he had just told the girl. He pushed himself to believe that he did this for his sister. He did it to stop her from becoming unnecessarily jealous. Yet he may have just helped the girl. He may be doing this to keep her safe and away from Cersei's gaze. Either way, he knew how jealous his sister had been and he did not want to see that emotion in her.
...
A/N: Thanks to anyone reading and do let me know what you think!