Lady Stark rode away from Kings Landing before the night fell, moving slowly and allowing her eyes to scan around the landscape for the maid. Gwen came into view as soon as she was far enough away from the wall, her horse by her side as she walked from the forest. She had taken refuge in there as soon as Jaime had disappeared from her sight and she decided to wait for Catelyn until the night fell on them.

"The Queen has sent a raven to each kingdom demanding your immediate arrest if they are to see you," Lady Stark said as soon as Gwen stood before her. The maid felt her pulse quicken whilst her head shook back and forth.

"But the majority of the kingdoms do not know what I look like," Gwen said back to her. "They have no reason to fear me. Besides, I shall be returning back to Winterfell...I assume Lord Robb is looking after it?"

"My son is," Catelyn nodded at the girl. "He will not have you taken prisoner. No one need know you returned there as long as we keep you hidden."

"Thank you, my Lady," Gwen smiled at her and Catelyn returned the tender smile to the girl.

"I promised your mother that I would protect you, Gwen," Catelyn spoke. "I do not go back on my word. We head for the Crossroads tonight and find rest there. Only then will we go and return to Winterfell."

"Yes, Lady Stark," Gwen agreed. "Did you speak with Lord Stark successfully?"

Catelyn smiled, remembering the words of her husband and how she had held onto him tightly. How she had missed his embrace for the past few weeks. She had missed being held and simply feeling content.

"I did," was all that she said to the maid. Gwen pulled her hood on top of her head and looked back at Kings Landing, seeing how it became smaller with each passing step. She took a deep breath, realising that maybe she had finally escaped.

...

"Go and freshen up, Gwen." Lady Stark urged her once they reached the Crossroads and she looked to her as she smiled kindly. Rodrik sat across from them, smiling and laughing as he drank. Gwen sat beside Catelyn in the room and she looked around at all the other people there who were drinking and eating before retiring to bed.

"Are you sure, my Lady?" Gwen wondered from her and she stood up from the seat she had taken.

"I am positive, Gwen. You look like you are in need of a rest and a good bath."

Gwen did not know whether or not she should be insulted or grateful for the leave which she had been given. She curtseyed quickly anyway, rushing along the ground until she came to the steps. She heard Rodrik's voice from a mile away, the elderly man informing the Lady Stark that it was not wise for her to be in their presence. Catelyn snapped back, telling the man how Gwen was a trusted member of her staff.

She smiled as she heard her defend her and Gwen finally came to the room which the Lady Stark had taken for the evening. She deemed it necessary for at least one good night's sleep to occur. She knew how long she had been travelling and the Lady Stark was no fool, she could see Gwen needed good sleep or she would no doubt collapse on the floor.

Gwen saw that a bath had been prepared for her already and she smiled, pulling herself from her dirty gown and then resting in the water. It was not warm but it was not freezing. She ducked down under the water, submerging her entire body underneath the reflective sheet.

She held her breath for as long as she dared to before coming up for air. She gasped loudly, shaking her head back and forth and running her hands down her cheek. Pushing her fingers through her blonde locks she leant back in the tub, her hands curling around the wood and she thought about Jaime for some unknown reason.

She sat there, wondering why he had been so kind. She wondered why he had helped her, why he had deemed it necessary to aid her in her escape. She kept silent, her brow arching as she heard an uproar from beneath the wooden floorboards. She sat up again, looking down at the ground and wondering what was happening.

"Gwen!"

The maid bolted upright as the man pounded on the door and she fell out the tub, looking for something to cover her modesty as he snapped her name again.

"What is it?"

"We need to leave. We need to go immediately."

"Why?"

"Lady Stark will explain."

Rodrik said nothing more to her and Gwen wondered what was happening. She did as she was told; changing into her blue dress once more, noting that it was still covered in dirt. She wriggled her body into the dress and screwed her hair into a ball, allowing the drops of water tumbling down her locks to fall back into the tub.

She placed her cloak onto her body and rushed down from the room, her hands tugging her hair. The inn seemed to have emptied and Gwen looked around with concern before leaving for the stables. She looked on as Lady Stark stood back, watching a group of men tie a small man by his wrists, placing a bag over his head. Her eyes widened as she knew of only one man who could be so small.

"Is that Lord Tyrion?"

"It is indeed," she heard the halfman call out. "Excellent deduction skills."

Gwen frowned as Lady Catelyn took hold of her arm, pulling her out into the fresh air yet her eyes still remained focused on the Lord.

"He is the one who pushed Bran from the tower that day," Lady Catelyn said and Gwen's eyes widened. She looked at the Lady with a sense of disbelief and then back to Tyrion who was flung over a horse by a man. "We found his dagger in the tower along with a Lannister blonde hair. The dagger had been won by Lord Tyrion in a bet on a tourney competition. He is the one who pushed Bran from a window. I am sure of it."

"Why?"

The simple question was asked by Gwen and Lady Stark said nothing for a moment, not too sure about what she should say to her in response. Gwen studied Catelyn, waiting for a response to be given to her question but none came. The Lady Stark said nothing, her head shaking back and forth as she thought.

"It is him," was all that she offered Gwen. "I intend to take him to The Eyrie where he can stand judgement. I have told the men we are taking him to Winterfell so that anyone who hears us can find him there. These are good people. They served my father and they now serve me."

"You're throwing them off the scent?" Gwen checked and she nodded at the girl.

"We take the Kingsroad...but I want you to continue on to Winterfell. If anyone were to place your face to the description given by the Queen then I fear what could happen to you. The ride to Winterfell shall not take long, Gwen. You go there and seek refuge with Robb. He shall protect you."

"But...my Lady...your sister resides in Eyrie."

"I know," Catelyn nodded. "But I cannot take the risk, Gwen. I have not seen my sister in years...I...you will go back and be safe..."

"Yes, my Lady," Gwen curtseyed and Catelyn smiled at her, resting a hand on her cheek and pushing her wet hair out of her face and tucking it behind her ears.

"I need you to ride beside Tyrion and stay out of anyone's gaze. He needs to be fed and watered. I do not want him to be in ill health for the journey. He needs to make it to trial before his death."

"Yes, my Lady." Gwen agreed and the two women moved back into the stables, taking hold of their horses. Gwen lurked behind, riding next to the man who held Tyrion on his horse. The small man had stopped his struggling, realising it to be pointless as they rode into the night.

Gwen occasionally glanced at Lord Tryion, wondering what he had been doing in the tower and she wondered why he would have pushed Bran. It dumfounded her slightly. She said nothing, waiting until they moved off the Kingsroad and lit a fire, opening up their pouches and producing food and water for a quick break before they continued on with their journey.

"That is not your horse."

Gwen turned around as she heard him speak and she saw him tied and sat down on the ground. His back rested against the trunk of the tree and his eyes were looking straight at her. She saw the green gaze and realised he had the same stare as his brother. She took hold of the water pouch, moving over to him and kneeling by him.

"You did not reply," he said back to her.

"I did not think I had to," Gwen replied and Tyrion smirked, taking hold of the water and draining its contents. She arched a brow as he dropped the empty pouch into his lap.

"I would know that horse from miles away," he informed her. "The white coat and the noble way it holds itself. That horse is property of a Lannister."

"Is it?" Gwen wondered aloud, not replying to him.

"I have heard of you," Tyrion informed her. "The escaped maid from Kings Landing. It seems my sister has quite a price for your head. Not nearly enough for she never mentioned how truly beautiful you were."

Gwen rolled her eyes as Tyrion smirked at her and he studied her for a moment.

"I thought that you had been at the Wall," she said slowly. "How did you hear of me?"

"Oh, I have many confidants," he responded. "Besides, I saw you that night with my brother in the corridor. You were both on the ground."

"I did not see you."

"No, you were too engrossed in my brother's company. Tell me, do you find him much handsomer than I?"

"I do not want to answer that for the answer would harm one of you," Gwen said after a moment and thinking democratically. Tyrion chuckled at her and looked back to the white horse, his eyes narrowing.

"Jaime keeps his horse in its own stable alongside all the other Knightsguards horses. The stable is not near the common stable which you would know of. You would never be able to find Jaime's horse...yet here it is..." Tyrion informed her. "Now, I would say that is entirely odd."

"What are you implying?" Gwen wondered, handing him a piece of bread and watching as he chewed it slowly, his eyes never leaving hers whilst she avoided his gaze.

"What are you willing to tell me?" Tyrion asked her. She pushed her hair behind her ears, shaking her head as Tyrion made a loud tut noise.

"Your brother told me that a Lannister always repays his debt," Gwen whispered so the men around her could not hear. He agreed with her by a swift nod of his head.

"They do," he agreed. "But what did he have to be indebted to you for?"

Tyrion wondered what to say to her and he wondered if she knew. He wondered how it would be possible for her to know. Yet why would his sister want a serving maid killed? Why would she want her found so badly for just speaking against her? No, the girl knew more than she was letting on.

"Jaime always has been the compassionate one," Tyrion chose to say when he realised that she wasn't going to answer his question. "He never resented me once in my life. He never mocked me for being the height I am. Some would say that he loves me dearly."

"You are his brother," Gwen said. "I am sure he does care for you."

"Yet he seems to care for you too," Tyrion said and her eyes shot up again, looking at him eagerly. "You do not need to look so worried, Gwen. I shall tell no one."

"There is nothing to tell," Gwen assured him, shaking her head and eating a piece of bread for her own.

"He gave you his horse," Tyrion concluded and Gwen did nothing to deny the action of his brother. She knew there was no point. The imp would be able to tell if she was lying without a moment of hesitation. "He gave you his horse and let you escape my sister's gaze. Why would he do that, Gwen? Why did he help you? You said a Lannister always repays his debt. He gave you his horse because you were in debt to him, weren't you?"

Gwen took in his words, thinking of how she could respond to him and worm her way out of the conversation.

"Do not tell me that he took my advice and broke his oath and now there is his child embedded in your womb?" Tyrion said and Gwen's mouth hung open. "I would hardly say that a horse makes up for fathering a bastard."

"Do not be silly!" she hissed and Tyrion laughed deeply once more before speaking;

"He would never do such a thing. He is far too much in love with another for you."

Gwen kept her body sat where it was, her back straight as her bottom rested on her heels and she picked at the bread.

"If you are not going to eat it then you may as well give it to me. Were you taught not to play with your food?" Tyrion demanded from her and she did as he had asked. "You know, don't you?"

Gwen peered up to look at him, her gaze softening in the shadows of the fire. She saw him eating his bread as his brow arched in front of her. Her stare told him enough and Tyrion sighed, rolling his eyes and wondering how his siblings could have been so foolish.

Tyrion had never said anything about them. He chose to keep quiet, not wanting anyone to know what his siblings did in their spare time. He did not doubt that they loved each other but he knew it was not a healthy love.

"How did you find out?" Tyrion asked her. "My siblings are very clever. It makes sense as to why my sister wants you. She fears you may talk."

Gwen gulped, shaking her head and realising that there was no use in lying to him.

"I overheard them," Gwen admitted. "But I do not intend to say anything."

"Why not?" Tyrion wondered. "You could start a war with the knowledge you have."

"And you know," Gwen reminded him. "You have as much power as I do."

"They are my siblings," he reminded her. "Lannister's do not betray each other. It is a foolish notion but one which must be honoured. Tell me, do you say nothing because you care for my brother?"

"No," Gwen denied. "I do this because I care for the Stark girls."

Tyrion took a moment to understand what she had just said. Clearly she knew that they could be hurt if the secret was found out. Tyrion nodded, comprehending why she did what she did. She was compassionate; there was no doubt about that.

"I see," Tyrion drawled. "I take it that you intend to seek refuge in Winterfell. They will not harm you there. You are one of their own."

"I hope so," Gwen replied simply and Tyrion smirked for a moment.

"The Queen is not one to be trifled with. It seems you have managed to anger her. Never wise. Yet...her beloved Jaime went behind her back. He let you leave Kings Landing. Dear Gods, he gave you his horse." Tyrion laughed, unable to believe what he was hearing. Gwen shook her head, standing up after feeling the back of her legs tense.

"It seems my brother is rather besotted."

"I do not think so," Gwen said to the dwarf. "Your brother was repaying his debt."

"If you believe that then you have the intellect of a maid."

"I am a maid." Gwen responded.

"You do not need to act like one." Tyrion responded with a snap. Gwen glared at him for a moment, her hands held together in front of her.

"Why did you push Lord Bran?" she decided to ask of him and Tyrion shook his head.

"I didn't," he said. "If you do not think like a maid then this should be quite easy for you to comprehend. Why would I leave a dagger to be found? Do you honestly think that I would be so stupid?"

She studied him for a couple more moments and then decided to shake her head at him. She did not think he was that stupid. Tyrion nodded once, closing his eyes for a second and knowing that they would be moving again soon.

"You can tell Lady Catelyn of your beliefs but I do not think it would prove a point. She is determined to blame me for her son's injuries."

"If it was not you," Gwen wondered, "then who was it?"

"I do not know," Tyrion replied in a whisper. "But seen as you've become quite the excellent secret discoverer then maybe you will find out."

Gwen smirked at his comment and turned on her heel, wandering back to her horse and running her hand down its neck in a soothing manner. She looked at it and then back to Tyrion, his stare still full of curiosity.

...

A/N: Thank you to everyone who has reviewed and followed and to anyone who has read this far! Please do let me know what you think! I cannot wait until I get Jaime back into the plot again!