Chapter Thirty-Seven
Does anyone have any burn cream I could use? All that fire and brimstone that was rained down upon me let a few marks…
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Melara was losing her nerve with Bronn and Tyrion sitting in front of her, drilling her with memories. She had awoken briefly when Jaime had been talking to Cersei, the voices she heard were muffled but she recognized Jaime's tone. He had knelt beside her bed but she did not want to open her eyes just yet, the pounding in her head so intense. She knew that each time she woke it would be painful, she just hoped the next time it wouldn't be worse than it was now. She had tasted a bit of Milk of the Poppy on her lips and knew that someone had forced the liquid down her throat to numb her pain. It would only make waking the next time much worse, and it had.
Jaime had spoken so softly to her, asking her how she felt, what she remembered and telling her that he would kill Joffrey for what he had done. She smiled at him, imagining the look on his face since she had yet to open her eyes. Melara told him that when she first woken up, as Jaime and Cersei had been talking, she had trouble remembering what had happened but it came back to her after she forced the memories to come forward. Jaime thanked the Seven that she didn't forget everything, but was stuck by a wayward thought of how things would be if Melara had forgotten. When Bran Stark had awoken with no memory of the reason he was crippled, Cersei had been worried at first but then saw that the boy posed very little threat. If Melara acted as if she remembered nothing it wouldn't save her, but it may give Jaime the time he needed to plan.
He told Melara his plan and she didn't think she could do it, she knew she couldn't do it. Jaime had reminded her that she had fooled Cersei once before, making her think it was Loras that Melara had loved. It seemed like ages ago when she had done that, but Melara reluctantly agreed after Jaime said it would only be temporary, and it would help keep her safe. Jaime just hoped that Cersei wouldn't catch on too quickly, before he could convince his father that Melara should be taken to Casterly Rock. He needed to keep everyone who knew Melara away from her if his plan were to work. He knew that Melara would cave at the sight of Sansa's tears or if Brienne started to apologize. When he told Melara to rest more she had not fought him and once her breathing slowed he waited until Tyrion had come, asking after Melara. Jaime did not tell his brother of his plan, the less people who knew the higher chances of this actually working. Jaime requested that Tyrion find him the most trusted or easily bought sword in the Keep to watch over Melara while he left to speak to Tywin. Tyrion offered Bronn without hesitation, knowing that Jaime wouldn't trust Melara in the hands of Brienne again. But Tyrion did not know the true reason behind Jaime's actions.
And so Melara had woken, with a worse pain in her head just as she expected. Her memories were a bit fuzzy, just like the time she had awoken next to Jaime, and she took a moment to think things through. She thought through Jaime's plans and knew that there would be no harm in trying to fool Cersei at this point. The woman already wanted her dead and gone, and Jaime had said it would just be temporary. He had told her to say she remembered nothing, not even her own name, when she woke up the next time. Melara wished that she would have asked him why she had to 'forget' everything and not just forget what had caused her injury. She would have to ask him when he returned. She focused back in the present on the men before her. It was easy for her to pretend she had forgotten who she was when it was a strange man who guarded her. It had been slightly more challenging to fool the Maester and she nearly thought that all was lost when Tyrion had started to speak to her. Quite a few times when he was telling her of his life she had almost interrupted him to correct the way events had happened. But she had held her tongue and put her trust in Jaime. She hoped that she had not placed her trust in the wrong man from the start.
"So…Joffrey is evil. But he is King. And my cousin. But not really my cousin, technically he's my nephew."
"Technically he's your son." Tyrion knew he shouldn't be enjoying this, but it was all just too ridiculous to believe. He turned to Bronn, who he had trusted to guard the girl while Jaime was called away to Tywin. "I think she's grasped it all rather well."
"I still say best way to handle it is to hit her. One quick blow will do it." Bronn had been adamant that all Melara needed was to be knocked out again. He nearly did it too, but Tyrion had stilled his hand. They had left Melara in her bed and took up post in the chairs beside her. Tyrion had called for Maester Gorman immediately once he discovered the state of Melara. He had given his reassurances that Melara would remember everything with time, having studied the condition in the medical tomes. He had suggested that Tyrion tell her of her life to spark memories within her. He had told her what he knew up to this point, leaving out a few horrific details of course, and she seemed to be handling things well. He thought he had even spotted a bit of recognition when he had mentioned Jaime. Melara hadn't changed much, a bit braver, but the only thing that seemed to be missing was her memories. It was odd since the books he had read on people losing their memories had all said the person would act different, be changed, because they didn't remember the experiences that had shaped them. The first seeds of doubt had been planted in Tyrion's mind but before he could act on any suspicions Jaime entered. Tyrion watched Melara for any signs of recognition but she had closed her eyes, scrunching them in pain. She either had truly forgotten everything or she was very smart. Or very stupid. Tyrion would have to think more before he could come up with his opinion on the situation.
"Melara, this is Jaime. Your husband." She cracked open one eye, knowing that the less she seemed to react to him the better.
"At least he's handsome." Tyrion let out a laugh and stood from his chair, Bronn following his lead. He had told Melara of her marriage and that she would be safe with Jaime. The girl seemed to believe him, almost too quickly, but he would linger on those thoughts later.
"Yes, well, I think your handsome husband would like some time alone with you. Will you be alright, Sweet Girl?"
"I'll scream for help if I need it." She had opened her eyes and Tyrion saw she was purposely looking away from Jaime now. He wanted to confront the pair, truly find out what the girl remembered, but would wait to get Jaime alone. It was easier to pull a lie from one person than from two. Bronn walked out of the room without acknowledging Jaime, and Tyrion only gave him a nod. Jaime watched them leave and waited a few more moments after the door had closed to approach his wife. He sat on the bed facing her, their thighs touching, and brought her hand to his lips. He placed a kiss to her palm before he spoke.
"How are you feeling, love?"
"I can't do this, Jaime. Tyrion will figure it out. Gods, what made you think this was a good idea?" She didn't waste any time letting her fears be known. She felt a bit relieved now that Jaime was with her and they were alone. She wouldn't have to pretend to be oblivious to everything. Jaime moved his lips to her wrist placing more soft kisses there. She did not pull away but she did not show any reactions either. Jaime could feel how worried she was, the tense state of her body betraying her thoughts.
"You only have to act like this until the week is out. Father agreed that the best place for you to go would be…well…I believe his exact words were, 'away from the fools.' I assumed he meant Joffrey and Cersei." He leaned forward so that his mouth could continue exploring the skin on the inside of Melara's arm. He spoke against her skin and finally heard her react to his ministrations in the form of a sigh. It wasn't the lust filled gasp he wanted to hear, but he would take what she would give him. "If one good thing has come from this, it is that Father sees now what Joffrey truly had become."
"Where will we go?" Jaime shifted his body so that he could lie next to her on his side, his body propped up on his elbow has his other hand rested lightly on the blanket that had pooled on her stomach. He slipped his hand beneath the fabric and took hold of Melara's hip, his thumb running along the material of her dress.
"Casterly Rock, where else?" He placed a kiss on her cheek, wanting to show Melara all the affection that Cersei had never allowed him to show to her. Melara gave him a weak smile, still not feeling strong enough to give him more of a response. Jaime smiled back as he placed another kiss against her skin, and another and another, each one lower than the one before it, until his lips rested on her neck. The sensations of his lips where making her forget about the pain in her head, just a bit, but she nonetheless she did not want him to stop. He did stop, but only for a second to speak to her, once again. "Tyrion and Sansa will be married in two days, and then Joffrey and Margaery will be married another two days after that. And then, we leave this Hell for Casterly Rock."
"And everyone will leave us alone and we will live happily, like in the songs of love." He pulled his body away from Melara's, his hand leaving her hip to turn her face to him. He wished he could tell her that they would be left alone. That they would be free of all the death and pain and deceit of the world. He could hear it in her voice that even though she spoke the words herself, she did not believe them. Jaime's thumb traced the line of her jaw, becoming lost in her deep blue eyes. Maybe in another life that is what would have happened. But in this life, they were doomed to be thrown from one place to the next, never in control of their own lives. But as long as they were alive and together and as safe as one could be in Westeros, Jaime would take what he was given.
"No, love. It will never be like that. I'm to stay with you until you are with child, which will be soon according to Father, and then go back to leading an army."
"And Sansa? What will happen to her?" Jaime put his lips against hers, she did not fight him but she did not participate either. He didn't expect her to do much for the next few days besides lie still and heal. But that didn't mean that he wouldn't show her how he felt in the little ways that he could. He would never be grateful for what had happened to her, but it was given him the opportunity he needed to get her away. He just hoped that she would let him forget that he had promised to return Sansa to Lady Catelyn, but from her question he knew that she did not. Maybe it would have been easier if she had truly forgotten everything.
"Tyrion will make sure she is safe. And the wench hasn't left the girl's side since this happened to you." His hand brushed against the cloth wrapped around Melara's head, keeping the gash from becoming infected.
"Can I see them? I mean, really see them. Not just have them come in here and me pretend I don't know who they are?" He rested his head lightly against her shoulder, thinking that he was so close to ensuring Melara's safety that he could almost feel it. He only had to reassure her that Sansa would be safe as well. And he knew she would be, now that Tywin had seen the sickness that devoured Joffrey the boy would be kept on a tighter chain. If anyone knew how to handle a King mad with power it was Lord Tywin.
"No one but us can know the truth until we are away from here. It may be enough to keep Cersei from trying to kill you over the next few days. Let her think that she has time to make her own plans while you are locked away with no memory. Cersei is almost too cunning for her own good."
"Jaime?" He lifted his head at her questioning tone to catch her eyes. She looked tired, drained, and Jaime considered giving her more Milk of the Poppy seeing the rough shape that she was in. But then she may give away our lie. He hated himself for using Melara, no matter if it was for her own good or not. He felt no better than the rest of his family as her innocent eyes, so full of trust, kept looking at him. He couldn't pull himself to look away even if the fires of Hell were forcing him. "Tell me you love me."
Melara had thought she was about to die the night before, when he world had gone black. She hadn't really been listening when Tyrion had been speaking to her, making her look of detachment more believable. She had been thinking of Jaime and what would have happened if she would have died. Would he go back to Cersei? Would he mourn her? Did he really love her? He had only said it once, and it had been a whisper on the wind. She wanted to hear it again, to know that everything she had done and would do was not for nothing. She wanted to hear the words spill truthfully from his lips and he looked her in the eye. She had heard the love comes in through the eyes, and she wanted to see if it was true.
"I love you, Melara." He did not hesitate with his answer and Melara truly did believe that love came in through the eyes from the look he was giving her. If her body hadn't been in so much pain she would have given herself to him, fully wanting to be with him despite everything that had happened. She was already half way inside the lion's den, it was better to continue to the other side than try and chance going back. When he kissed her, she knew that she didn't want to go back. She would worry about everything else later, but for now she would only think of Jaime and the way that he made her feel.
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Did you all really think I would go the "amnesia" route? C'mon now. We are in King's Landing! You have to play the game! Oh, Jaime. Poor simple, naïve Jaime. Just because Cersei brushed off Bran after he didn't remember what he saw does NOT mean that she will do the same for Melara. So, please, stop sending hate-mail and to whoever set the flaming bag on my front steps…you own me a new pair of shoes. But seriously, ye who has little faith in me, might I have some love now? Maybe be given enough love that I won't be scared to continue, in fear that I will invoke the wrath of you lovely readers and reviewers?