Holy shit this chapter was frustrating as all hell to write (which is why I'm a little late with my updating)! I mean, seriously, it did not want to get written! The first part went by smoothly, but dammit, when I got to the second part, it went "Nope!" and I had to force it out, kicking and screaming. The reason for this is, I did include a wedding ceremony under the religion of the Lord of the Light in the second part. Considering that the great George R.R. Martin has never given any indication that there are Lord of Light marriage ceremonies, let alone hints of how they go, I had to make it all up as I went along.

And I am not happy with it.

Not happy at all.

With that being said:

ujemaima: Yes, I do plan on shit majorly hitting the fan with Theonax and Arianne and Doran. In fact, this secret wedding they just had, is the catalyst for the entirety of Theonax's plot-line for this fic. Jaime and Ashara's, well . . . ehh, not so much yet.

As always, thank you, Bella-Swan11, thank you for reviewing. They are great, as always.

So, without further ado:

Read, review, and enjoy!

- Nagiana

"The chain of wedlock is so heavy that it takes two to carry it - and sometimes three."

– Heraclitus

The gardens looked ominous at night, Ashara decided, as she and Jaime swiftly cleared them in the direction of the Great Sept. They passed guardsmen on their nightly rounds that, thankfully, ignored them instead of harassing them thanks to Jaime, however, their presence in the gardens at night nevertheless lent the beautiful area a certain threatening tone that it didn't possess during the mornings and afternoons, when the light of day bathed everything in a beautiful, innocent light.

A guardsman passed them and immediately – reflexively - Ashara shrank away from him, avoiding his eyes as she did so. The guard sent her a curious look and slowed, looking like he was going to stop them. However, he continued on when Jaime thankfully negated that by pulling her closer into his side and shooting the guardsman a dark look. The guard looked away, not wanting his gaze to linger on Jaime's for long. Hand or no hand, swordsman or no swordsman, Jaime was still a Lannister, and, thanks to Tywin, still part of a very much feared family.

Their fingers intertwined and she hurried to keep up with his much larger gait. "How much longer?" She hissed, and Jaime spared her merely a glance over his shoulder before returning his eyes onto the path ahead of them.

"Not very much longer now," He sent her a small, comforting smile next. "Don't be nervous. You're safe with me, Ash."

Ashara wanted to say that she would have felt truly safe with the Jaime who still possessed his sword hand, but immediately bit back her tongue. She didn't care about his sword hand – never had, and she had made that quite plain quite frequently. And she was sure he was still a force to be reckoned with, with his other hand, although maybe not to the degree he had been with his dominant hand. She knew it was just the palpable air of the gardens at night, as well as the reason exactly why they were on their way to the Sept of Baelor in the middle of the night, that made her as nervous as she was. She also knew the words would hurt him much more than she ever wished to, so she quickly cast them from her mind. That, and he still had his reputation and his family name. Those two things were more fearsome than any sword he could have wielded, she thought.

When they finally reached the towering edifice of the Sept, they slowed, for which Ashara was thankful. She thought she had started to develop a stitch in her chest at the pace they had been going, and was glad she could finally take a breather, even if it was for but a second. She had also been thankful the roads had been semi-clear the entire way there. They hadn't taken a litter or a horse for anonymity sake, and she could sense Jaime's tenseness the entire time, and knew he had been raking his brain over what he would do if they were attacked. The Lannisters weren't well liked in King's Landing, especially the Kingslayer and the Queen's incestuous brother. And she doubted she would be looked at any better for being his wife.

She caught him looking over his shoulder multiple times as they moved, scanning the area behind them for followers. A look of uneasiness would often be on his face – a look that would not disappear, only soften, when his eyes would inevitably lock with hers. It warmed her heart, knowing that look and his tenseness was because he was worried for her. He didn't relish her being out on the streets of King's Landing alone at night, even with him. Especially with him, now that it was common knowledge he was no longer a major threat in any skirmish.

"He said to take a side door – that the ceremony would take place in a Septon's chambers, not in the main hall." She spoke, and Jaime quickly nodded. Looking down the alleyway running alongside the Sept and deeming it safe, he started off quickly down the alley to the side service door. Ashara's hand was clammy in his, and he didn't blame her. The same thoughts running through her mind, were the exact same thoughts that were probably running through his, along with a few choice others, that was.

The door opened when they neared it, revealing an anxious looking Theonax. He relaxed when he saw it was them, though, and held the door open wider. "Finally, you two made it!" He hissed, and Ashara glanced up at Jaime as they came to a stop. He was looking around, again, on high alert, leaving Ashara to answer her brother.

"Sorry. We came as fast as we were able." She told him, and Theonax nodded, still appearing slightly anxious. He opened the door so that they could enter.

"Well, come on, then. Let's get this over with."

Ashara nodded as she entered first. Jaime hung back, his hand appearing on Theonax's forearm as he did so, in a tight, warning grip. Immediately, Theonax's eyes darkened, causing Jaime to give a tight smile. "You do realize what you're doing, right?"

"Doing what?"

"This!" Jaime answered, his upper lip curling as he hissed out the word. "What you are doing, risks war. What you are doing, if found out, can condemn everyone here. You do know what that means, right?"

Theonax didn't yank his hand out of his brother-in-law's grip - knowing it was too strong - but every line of his body was tense, as if he was readying himself for a potential fight. "It won't come to that."

Jaime smirked. "Oh really? Then what else could possibly come of this? You are marrying the heiress and the Princess of Dorne behind her father's back, and without a marriage contract being signed beforehand. If that doesn't have: "Let's go start a war!" written all over it, then I don't know what does!" He shook his head. "I have to say, Theonax . . . I never would have pegged you as doing something as stupid as this."

"Then why are you here?" Theonax snarled, his violet eyes lighting up with anger, and Jaime's jaw hardened.

"I'm here for Ash. I'm here because she asked me to be here. I'm here to make sure you don't make her do anything else as stupid and reputation shattering as being a witness to a marriage that shouldn't be taking place!"

Theonax gave a snort of laughter. "Oh, so you're here to protect her? Because you care for her?" He asked, and Jaime nodded, feeling his jaw harden again at the younger man's tone. He didn't like it – not one bit.

"Yes. I'm here because, as her husband, I'm her protector. And yes, I'm also here because I care for her. In fact, I'm doing what you should be doing!"

"How dare -!" Theonax snarled, but Jaime was already on a roll and showed no hint of stopping. He shook his head.

"I'd be damned if I ever would have allowed my sister to be a witness to something like this! I'd be damned if I would ever have allowed myself to willingly put her in as much hot water as this will put Ash in as soon as this is found out."

He remembered the sight of Bran Stark's shocked face as he pulled him up into view from his fragile hold on the stone windowsill; the sight of his small, broken body lying on the ground stories below them, and immediately took that back.

Theonax smirked, bringing Jaime out of his thoughts. It was a smirk that immediately made Jaime know he wasn't going to like what Theonax was going to say next. "Well, we all know you've done things for your sister that I would never dream of doing to Ash, so, excuse me if I don't think the two of you are a good example."

White hot anger filled Jaime's entire being for a moment – so hot and so all-encompassing that - for a brief moment - Jaime's vision darkened until he was almost blind with rage. He stepped closer to him and immediately, Theonax tensed further, his jaw hardening and his hands rolling into fists at his sides. "If you think I would ever hurt Ash, or let anything hurt her, then you -!"

A small, tentative voice speaking his name caused Jaime's head to immediately cool, and his voice to come to an abrupt stop. The both of them turned to see a clearly nervous Ashara standing a couple feet away from them, hands wringing slightly in front of her stomach. Her wide eyes were on Jaime, and for a moment, he stood there, wondering how long she had been there and how much she had heard. Theonax, too, held a look on his face that suggested he, too, was a little afraid at what she had heard.

"The . . . things are ready to begin. Arianne is waiting for you, brother." She spoke, quietly, and the both of them nodded. Jaime swallowed and released Theonax, who slowly withdrew his arm and stepped back from the older man. Avoiding his sister's gaze, he moved past her and down the corridor towards the Septon's quarters where Arianne and Oberyn were most probably waiting for them - leaving Jaime and Ashara alone together.

Jaime was the first to break it – unable to stand the suddenly uncomfortable silence between them. "Look, Ash, I don't -"

"I want to apologize for my brother. Sometimes, Theonax speaks before he registers what he says," She spoke, interrupting him. Her eyes were on the tiled marble floor underneath their feet, avoiding his gaze. "But he is still my brother, and he is protective of me. I know . . ." She swallowed hard. "I know you know how that is. And he did not . . . coerce me into doing this – in the end, I asked you to do this of my own volition, Jaime. I wanted to be a witness because he is my brother, and I love him, and I want him to be happy, too. And he is happy with Arianne," She finally turned her eyes up onto his then, her gaze holding a fierce gleam that he had not seen there before and which made him smile. He was happy to know his new wife could have a little bite to her. "Jaime, if we were in their places, Theonax would agree to be a witness with no hesitation, what-so-ever. I think you know that."

It took a moment of Jaime watching her with that unnervingly expressionless look on his face (was that expression inherent of all Lannisters?) before he gave a small smile and a nod. Moving over to her, hand taking hers, he gave another nod. "I know. And I'm sorry, too. I was the older one in the situation – I should have known better than to let Theonax's words get to me, especially considering they are not true anymore!"

She knew he was referring to the below-the-belt quip her brother had made about him and Cersei (and which quips he was often fond of making. He took a perverse pleasure in seeing the faces of his adversaries drain of color and become speechless), but ignored it. She didn't like being reminded of that fact – that part of her husband's history. She didn't like knowing that her husband's longest relationship had been with his own sister, and that his three children were their incestuous love children. In fact, if she was being perfectly honest, she would have rather buried her head in the sand in denial, than believe that the relationship between them had ever taken place. That the blonde locks of Joffrey, Myrcella and Tommen were due to extremely dominant Lannister genes, instead of . . . that.

She supposed - in that regard, anyway - that she and Tywin Lannister were not all that different.

After a moment, she gave a small smile and a nod. "I know. I take comfort in that," She confessed, and Jaime shared her smile before bending down and planting a soft kiss at the corner of her mouth. A hand came up to grip his neck as he pulled away from her, catching him before he move too far away. "You call that a kiss, Kingslayer?" She whispered, and his smile grew just a bit bigger before he leaned again. This time, he pressed his lips to hers in a sweet, loving kiss that lasted for mere seconds before he pulled away again.

"Come, we should go join them. I'll kiss you later, when we get back to the privacy of our rooms, and I can kiss you as much as I please!" He murmured, and Ashara couldn't help but allow her smile to grow bigger, as well. Taking his hand, she turned around and led him into the Septon's chambers, where the others were, indeed, waiting for them. Arianne and Theonax stood in front of the Septon, who was standing before his own little personal alter of the Seven. Oberyn was standing with Ellaria beside Arianne, the both of them shooting suspicious, untrusting glances towards Jaime, but impassive ones towards her. Jaime ignored their gazes, however, and silently followed her to her place beside her brother. Arianne and Theonax, though, had eyes only for the other.

"Did we look at each other like that? By the Seven, I hope we didn't!" Jaime asked her, voice barely above a whisper, and Ashara smiled and gently prodded him in the side with her elbow upon catching the slightly teasing tone of his voice. After that, she gave a shrug.

"Maybe – possibly. I like to think we did."

The ceremony started out the same as Jaime and Ashara's did – with Theonax placing his cloak with the black and gold colors of the Tytos house, around Arianne's shoulders. The smile Oberyn gifted his niece with, warmed Ashara's heart, and for a moment, she couldn't fathom why Arianne's father couldn't bear the thought of his daughter happy, while her uncle could. But then, she remembered that her father hadn't cared a whit for his children's happiness - only the political ramifications of their matches. She had lucked out with Jaime, and Theonax with Arianne. It was pure luck that the instant attraction had been there upon first sight, and that they were two people his children could and would be happy with. After all, their father could have handed them off to Freys and then have washed his hands clean of them, although she severely doubted it would have gone that far.

The Septon spoke as he wrapped a length of cloth around Arianne and Theonax's clasped hand: "Let it be known, that on this day, Arianne, of House Martell, and Theonax, of House Tytos, are one heart and one flesh," He unwound the length of cloth from their hands, and they shared another smile. "And one soul. Cursed be he who sought to tear them asunder."

Giddy smiles were on their faces as they turned to each other – love and adoration the likes of which Ashara had never before seen, shining in their eyes. "With this kiss, I pledge my love for Arianne of House Martell and House Tytos. I pledge to be her ardent protector, the General of her Armies – her fierce Eagle. With this kiss, I pledge my undying devotion to the most beautiful woman I have ever seen or known."

Arianne continued to smile, despite the wet sheen in her eyes and the slightly smug expression, before reaching up to frame his face with her hands. Pulling him down to her, she pressed her lips to his in a passionate kiss that had Oberyn grinning and clapping. Ashara, Jaime and Ellaria gave softer, more polite applause. When they broke apart, Arianne flitted over to Ellaria, where they gave each other a beaming, tight hug, as Oberyn moved over to thank the Septon for performing this taboo, secret wedding that he had personally set up. Theonax moved over to Ashara, who smiled and gave her brother a tight hug of her own. When they broke apart, Theonax glanced anxiously at Jaime before speaking.

"There is another ceremony we are partaking in tonight." He spoke, and immediately, Ashara and Jaime adopted look of confusion on their face.

"Another ceremony?" She spoke, and Theonax nodded.

"I only agreed to the Seven because of legal reasons – to have my marriage accepted by both church and state. But I don't believe in them, Ash, and you don't either," He spoke, and out of the corner of her eye, as her smile faded from her face, she saw Jaime send her a curious, interested look. "Before tonight, I sought out the few Red Priests still here in King's Landing, and found one – Sheera of Lys. I asked her if she would perform a marriage ceremony observed by those who worship R'hllor, my God – our God – the God of our mother - and she agreed. I think she was pleased to know there were followers of the Lord of Light in King's Landing after all," He shot another look at Jaime, who cocked an amused brow, before turning his gaze back onto his sister's "Here's your chance, sister. The both of you, come with us. Have a true ceremony of your own – a ceremony that will be accepted and observed by the God you worship!"

Ashara stood there for a moment, unable to comprehend what he had just asked her. Truth be told, while she did believe in R'hllor like their mother raised her and Theonax to be, she had contemplated on converting to the Seven if it had bothered Jaime if she believed differently than he did. Before that night, she had yet to figure out how she was going to tell him she believed differently, but, apparently, that conversation would be coming much quicker than she had anticipated thanks to her brother. She wasn't ready.

After a moment, she shook her head. "Theonax, I don't think it's appropriate -"

"Sure."

Ashara and Theonax's eyes both widened upon Jaime speaking, and when they both turned to face him, he gave a nonchalant shrug. "Sure, why not?" He repeated, before giving her a smile. "It's not every day a nonbeliever witnesses a Red Ritual. And, besides, if Ashara is a believer and wishes for this to happen, then so do I. Anything to make her happy."

Ashara couldn't help but allow a broad grin to spread across her face. "Are you sure?" She asked, and Jaime nodded.

"Of course. Why wouldn't I be?" He gave a laugh. "I was never a big believer of the Seven, anyway. What have they ever done for me?"

Ashara turned back to Theonax and nodded. He smiled. "You sure?"

She nodded, and glanced back at Jaime before nodding herself. "Of course! Lead the way."

The Red Priestess operated out of her modestly sized home, which was both her abode and a ramshackle temple to R'hllor, along the River Row. Ashara imagined it mainly catered to those sailors from Essos who identified as followers of R'hllor, and for a moment, she wondered why there wasn't actually a legitimate temple to the Red God, considering King's Landing possessed the biggest harbor in Westeros, rivaled only by that of Oldtown, who did possess a Red Temple. Then, she remembered that King's Landing was also the seat of the Seven, and realized why.

Lit braziers were at all four corners of the house, and roared constantly, Ashara figured. They were all scented – the air choked with frankincense and myrrh and other sharp, smoky incense. The woman who greeted them, clad in long red robes, was an older woman – face marred by wrinkles and hair so fine and white, it seemed to be made of spider silk. She was small and delicate underneath her red robes – almost as if she would blow away in the right breeze, and greeted them with a smile as warm as the fires surrounding them.

"You must be Ser. Theonax. I am Sheera of Lys – it is good to finally make your acquaintance," She spoke, and Theonax nodded as she turned her eyes onto Ashara and Jamie. Her smiled widened but did not lose any of its warmth. "And you . . . you are Ashara Tytos and Jaime Lannister."

"How did you know?" Ashara asked, her eyebrows furrowing gently in curiosity, and the old Priestess' smile took on a slightly secretive edge.

"The flames foretold of you and your husband's arrival," She spoke before giving a shrug. "And, the fact that your marriage is still being whispered about by the small folk. Choose whichever one you wish to believe," She turned back to Theonax. "I understand that you wish for a marriage ceremony to be performed?"

Theonax gave a nod before motioning towards Ashara and Jaime. Glancing at him, Ashara noticed Arianne sticking as close to Theonax as she could – gazing at the space around them with thinly veiled distrust. Ashara wondered if Arianne was a follower of the Seven, and if Theonax had to persuade her into taking part in this ceremony of his.

"Correct. Ash and Jaime want one too."

Sheera of Lys turned an interested look onto them then. "You do too? I must confess, Ser. Jaime - I had not expected to ever see a Lannister step foot in a temple dedicated to the Red God."

Jaime gave a shrug, although Ashara noticed the tenseness of his frame as he stood behind her, a protective arm looped around her middle. "Whatever it takes to make Ash happy." He spoke, and Sheera nodded, a look on her face that they couldn't rightly place.

"Interesting . . . mayhap you two are who was foretold . . ."

"Foretold?" Theonax spoke, looks of confusion entering the gazes of everyone there, and Sheera of Lys adopted an almost amused smile as she nodded and turned around, where she moved up to the alter of R'hllor behind her. She spoke as she moved, her voice strong despite her size and age:

"'Under the eye of the Great Other, among caverns of gold, a child shall be birthed, from dragon fire and limbs of gold. A blade, he shall forge – one of light and life and flame – Lightbringer, fit for a Conqueror and a friend.'" She turned around to face them then, that same amused smile on her face. "Take that as you will."

They all stood there in confusion for a moment, before she nodded to Jaime and Ashara. "Lord and Lady Lannister, would you like to go first?" Glancing at each other before throwing one at a bewildered Theonax and a clearly uncomfortable Arianne standing beside him, Jaime and Ashara moved to stand before her. "Have either of you ever witnessed a wedding ceremony to the Fire God before?" Sheera asked, gazing at Ashara in particular. Swallowing hard, she shook her head. Sheera nodded. "Nothing to it, dear one. But first, I need something from the both of you. You two, as well, when it comes your time." She spoke, nodding to Theonax and Arianne, as well.

Ashara hesitated, thinking for a moment, before she reached up and untied the scarlet colored ribbon tying her hair back. Locks of black and scarlet fell down her back in a cascading waterfall as she held the ribbon out to her. Sheera gazed upon her tresses with yet another look of amusement on her face. "Your hair . . . such a peculiar color . . . does your mother hail from Asshai?"

Ashara and Theonax both recoiled in surprise, and Ashara nodded. "Y-yes. So she claims, anyway." She spoke, and Sheera nodded.

"The color - it runs through the mother's line, or so they say. Her hair is the color of roses, is it not?" Once again, Ashara and Theonax both nodded, wondering how she knew these things, and Sheera gave a slow nod of her own. "Your line is an illustrious one, I can tell – full of Red Priests, Shadowbinders, and Warlocks and Spellsingers – fit to fill a Mummer's song, I bet! Mayhap one day, one of you will care to learn of it," She stayed silent for a moment before giving Ashara a pointed gaze. "Listen to your mother well and often, child – the both of you!" She spoke, glancing between the two Tytos' as she did so. "Like all the Asshai'i, she can be a great friend or an even greater enemy. And with the paths both of your lives will take, her advice will be richer than any amount of Lannister gold!"

They nodded, and when Ashara turned her eyes onto Jaime, his face was expressionless again, however, there was also a glint to his eyes that she couldn't rightly place. She tried to give him a small smile, but was interrupted by Sheera of Lys adopting a smile brighter than any she had given them before, as she turned her attention onto Jaime. She held out her hand. "Well, Ser. Jaime? Your item, please."

Jaime jumped and returned her smile with one of his own as he dropped a ring into her hand. Sheera's eyebrows rose – threatening to disappear into her hairline as she gazed down at it. She turned her eyes up to his. "Are you sure?" She asked, slowly, and Jaime nodded.

"Quite. I have no use for it, anymore. It was given to me by a woman who no longer matters to me."

Ashara had a feeling she knew who he meant, and couldn't help but feel a bolt of warmth spear through her heart. Smiling, she took his hand, and he sent her a smile of his own – that gaze of expressionless and that strange glint to his eyes, gone, in favor of the Jaime she knew and was quickly growing to love. The Jaime with the charming smile and the mischievous gazes and the gentle touches. Sheera nodded and held their items out to the other.

"Take these. I'll tell you what to do with them in a moment." She told them, and they nodded as Jaime took her ribbon, and Ashara, his ring. Turning it over in her fingers, she saw it was an expensive white gold, with a place for a portrait on the front. She did not open the delicate cover, knowing she would find a miniature of Cersei inside.

She felt a sick sense of satisfaction in her stomach, knowing that one of Cersei's gifts would be part of the binds tying them together.

Sheera, facing the alter behind them with the small brazier of flame, finally spoke, her voice strong and unwavering. "Lord of Light, we beseech your favor this night, for tonight, we bind together two of your faithful in fiery matrimony. Ashara, of House Tytos, wishes to wed Jaime, of House Lannister – a marriage that will only grow stronger with your blessing. Ser Jaime vows to protect her from the shadows, for the night is dark, and full of terrors, and in return, Lady Ashara vows to bare him children, with the blood of R'hllor fire and the roar of lions,"

Ashara's eyes widened, recognizing the line her mother had spoken to her many times before. Sheera continued:

"So we beseech you, Lord of Light, for your favor over the marriage of your faithful . . ." Stepping back, she gestured for them to step forward. "Place the items in the brazier. We will know if the Red God gives his blessing after a moment."

They nodded and stepped forward. Jaime acted first by holding out the ribbon over the brazier. The flames licked at the silk but did not ignite it. "I, Jaime Lannister, of House Lannister, vow to protect my wife and our children, for . . ." He pursed his lips slightly. "For the night is dark, and full of terrors."

He opened his hand and the silk ribbons floated down gently into the flames, where they seemed to gobble up the length of silk with a ravenousness that was almost disturbing. It was Ashara's turn now, and she swallowed hard, feeling the words catch ever-so-slightly in her throat. "And I, Ashara Tytos, of House Tytos, vow to bare to my husband children, with the blood of R'hllor fire and the roar of lions. For the night is dark, and full of terrors."

Opening her hand, she allowed the gold ring to fall into the flames. It tumbled over the hot coals until finally coming to a stop, and it was then that they moved to step back. They stood beside Sheera, a sense of heavy silence falling over the small temple as they waited for whatever sign that their marriage had been looked upon with favor by the Lord of Light . . . whatever that sign would be.

After a moment, the fire flickered and jumped before turning a deep, emerald green. Their eyes widened in surprise, and Sheera smiled and gave a satisfied nod. The two items were completely gone by then – eaten up by the flames that seemed hotter than any they had ever witnessed before. "Your marriage has been looked up with favor. Congratulations, Lord and Lady Lannister – your destinies have been chosen, your lives, bound together by the Red God," Turning around, she gave them both an amused, slightly conspiratorial smile. "Take heart, young ones, for I daresay the world will tremble in the wake what you two will accomplish together."