TRIAL BY COMBAT
JAIME
He was taken to the dungeons and the first person to see him is Cersei. "Jaime! Jaime…Are you alright?"
"As fine as I can be."
"They said you confessed."
He sighs, "I did."
"Why in seven hells would you do such a thing?"
"I don't know…Her voice…It was hypnotic…I couldn't help myself. This power came over me and all I could do was obey."
"Promise me you will win this."
He smiles, "I'm the best sword in the Seven Kingdoms. Who in the world could they get to champion Stark."
"I hear Stark himself will face you. You once told me that Stark defeated Ser Dayne at the Tower of Joy."
He sighs, "Yes I did."
"Do you think you can beat him?"
"We shall see."
She kisses him, "Win."
Jaime tries to sleep, but it does not come easy, when he is about to face the man who killed the greatest swordsman who ever lived. Jaime stands up and practices fighting moves until he feels tired enough to sleep. The trial by combat will take place an hour after noon, so Jaime is able to get enough sleep. When he awakens he requests, friend eggs, bacon, and sour dough bread. Then a guard helps him to get dressed in his armor and he is taken to the courtyard.
Prince Maegyr is waiting with his wife Princess Margaery. Eddard Stark is already waiting dressed in the drab colors of the North. Jaime wears his red and gold armor with a lionhead on his chest and one on each shoulder. Jaime doesn't use a shield and neither does Stark. "Here we go." He says to himself.
"May the gods bare witness and judge rightly as these two men. Lord Jaime Lannister and Lord Eddard Stark…face each other in trial by combat. Begin!" The High Septon says.
Stark switches sword hands, not a good sign. Jaime is proficient with his right, but he has never learned to fight with the left. Eddard or Ned as his friends called him initiates the combat with a series of fast combo attacks. Jaime blocks easily enough and counters. He thrusts and then arcs his sword. They lock swords, a mistake as Stark has more strength. Jaime is shoved back and Eddard Stark is on him. "Jaime!" Cersei screams. He wanted to tell her to wait in her room for the outcome, but he hadn't the heart. Her presence was strength to him.
He rolls across the ground and manages to swing his sword for Eddard's legs. Stark leaps at the last minute and Jaime is able to get to knees, before Eddard can take advantage. Neither man had drawn first blood. Jaime ducks an attack and comes up with a swing aiming for Eddard's head. He misses and receives a deep but non-fatal cut to the upper arm.
Jaime was younger, so he decides to try and wear the old man down and goes on the defensive. But being a war veteran and damn good swordsman, it doesn't take him long to realize what Jaime is doing and backs off. "Shit." Jaime tries a different strategy and goes on the attack. He unleashes his full set of skills on Eddard Stark. The Lion roars as he feints, dashes, spins, and changes directions in mid-swing.
Stark backs away and switches sword hands. Then he too comes at Jaime and their swords are a blur as they battle each other to the full extent of their skills. Jaime flourishes his sword and manages to kick Eddard in the knee, down he goes. He knocks Eddard's sword from his hand and opens his throat. Jaime sneers at him, this man couldn't have defeated Ser Author Dayne alone. He swings his sword again and beheads him.
"By the law of gods and men. Ser Jaime is innocent of the crime he was accused of."
Cersei runs into the arena, "Jaime!" She says hugging and kissing him.
MAEGYR AND JOSSETTE
"Come on brother…He confessed. You can't allow him to just leave like that."
"The law is the law little sister…I am beholden to uphold the law."
"Well at least send Lord Star's body home with an honor guard."
"Of course." She tries to take some wine, "Get out of that! Just because mother isn't here to watch you doesn't mean I'm going to let you break the rules."
"You use to be the fun brother."
CATELYN – WINTERFELL
The Raven arrives from the Capital. There will be no justice for House Stark. Lady Catelyn refuses food, drink, and the company of others. Her heart had been rent in two. After three weeks the body of Lord Eddard Stark arrives first by ship in White Harbor, then across land with a Royal escort. Great Jon, Howland Reed, Lord Glover, the Mormonts, Benjen, and many others came to offer their condolences and pay their respects. Ned's body is carried on a black and gold carriage with the Dire Wolf of House Stark on a banner draped over his body.
"House Umber is with you My Lady…Should your good son call on us for war. The North Remembers."
"Lord Umber…May I speak with you in private." Robb says.
Men of the North can be pig-headed and stubborn. Easily offended, this was not going to end well. So Cat follows them to a corner. "We all loved your father,, I fought beside him in the war with the Usurper against the Targaryens."
"Aye I know and he was my father. And my father fought Ser Jaime in a trial by combat. By the laws of gods and men…"
"Don't you say it!" Cat says speaking up, "Jaime Lannister is as innocent as a fox is in a hen house…He pushed my son…Your brother and he killed my husband your father."
"My heart is torn as much as yours mother, but what would have me do."
"Grow a backbone!" Great Jon says, "Call the Banners."
"Be careful Lord Umber…To you I may be a boy in your eyes, but this boy is the Lord of Winterfell and the Warden of the North…" They are joined by Grey Wind who growls at Great Jon. "This matter is not settled in my eyes, but the law is the law." He says patting Grey Wind on his head to calm the wolf down.
After the funeral rights, Catelyn stands watching as the Mason erects a statue of her husband. She is joined by Talisa, "Hi…I'm sorry for your loss."
She sighs, "Thank you."
"Lord Stark is all Robb talks about. He wants so much to be like him."
Cat smiles, "Thank you for saying that."
"His pain is my pain…We were hoping to tell everyone together…I am with child." Cat looks at her, "If it's a boy Robb wants to name him Eddard…"
Cat bursts into tears and hugs her, "I pray to the gods old and new that whatever he or she is…Is a healthy child."
They release one another. "Robb is my husband and that makes you my mother…I know how we can get revenge."
Cat looks at her, "How?" She asks whispering.
"The Braavosi have a saying. It is known all over Essos…Valar Morghulis…"
Both Talisa and Catelyn go to Robb with Talisa's plan. He sighs, "In the entire history of this House no Lord has ever used assassins." They are in his Solar.
"You don't want to go to war to avenge Ned…Your father…Well Jaime Lannister can pay without going to war." Cat says.
Robb looks at Talisa, "Can this be made to look like an accident?"
"To hell with accidents!" Catelyn says angry, "I want that son of bitch to suffer before he dies."
Talisa wraps her arm around Catelyn's shoulders, "The Faceless Men are the best in the world…My father has used them on more than one occasion to get rid of an enemy."
"How do we contact them?"
"Find anyone from Braavos and say the words Valar Morghulis…The Faceless Men will get the message."
"And how much will this cost?"
"Fifty thousand to be paid immediately and another one hundred thousand to be paid when the job is done. And another two hundred thousand for protection."
"Protection?" Robb asks.
"Yes…Unless your planning to have all the Lannisters killed. Then one of them will get it in their heads to do the same. Hire the Faceless Men to get at us."
Cat looks at Robb, "Is this really what you want?"
"I do…But if you are against it, then no."
Robb sighs, "My father is dead and my brother can't walk…" Robb has a man sent to White Harbor to be on the look out for any ships from Braavos. Three months later a man with red hair stands before Robb, his mother, and Catelyn. "What do we call sir?"
"A man is known as Jaqen H'aghar…"
"We wish to hire the faceless men…" Robb points to six large chests, "The payment is ready. Fifty thousand now and another one hundred thousand when the job is done. Plus another two hundred thousand for protection for the entire Stark family."
"Have the gold placed on a ship from Braavos…" He hands Robb a coin, "Give this to the Captain and tell him…Valar Dohearis…He will ensure that the gold gets where it needs to go…A man needs a name now."
"Jaime Lannister." Catelyn says with teary eyes.
"How does the Starks wish Jaime Lannister to die…"
Painfully…He must suffer to his last breath." Robb says.
"It will be done…Jacqen H'ghar needs a horse."
"You can ride with me I am heading for King's Landing to pledge an Oath to the Prince Maegyr."
CASTERLY ROCK
It would not leave his mind. He thought about it every hour, every second, his fight with Eddard Stark. The More Jaime thought about it the more he was convinced that somehow Eddard Stark had beaten Author Dayne is some dishonorable way. "You're melancholy for someone who just won a trial by combat." Tyrion says to his brother."
"My fight with Stark…I did not fight a man who had bested the Greatest sword to ever live."
"What are you saying?"
"After I became a King's Guard I saw Ser Author spar against every member of the Guard…No one could touch him. Even when we teamed up against him. The man was everywhere and nowhere…"
"You think Stark cheated?" Kevan asks.
Jaime smiles, "Ser Barristan once told me that in the game of life and death there are no rules. So cheating is not the word I would use. I would say he had had help."
Five months Later Jaime is at meal with his family. A redheaded woman serves his wine at morning meal and leaves. "Cousin I would like to go hunting with you." Lancel says. He had been Knighted by Jaime.
Jaime coughs and starts breathing heavy. "Jaime!" Cersei says, "Jaime!" He stands up gasping for air and then he clutches his chest and falls to all fours.
"Jaime!" Tyrion yells running around the table.
"Call the Maester!" Kevan yells.
Jaime goes into the fetal position and then starts thrashing around on the floor. "Make way!" Maester Crylen says joining them. Blood runs from his nose, ears, and eyes. His mouth foams and he dies.
"Jaime! No…no…no…Not you! Jaime!"
Later Maester Crelyn informs them that it was poison. "What kind of poison?" Tyrion asks,
"Something exotic…something I have never seen before or heard of."
"The woman…The Redhead who served my brother, did you find him?" Tyrion asks looking at the Chief Steward.
"No My Lord Tyrion…We questioned all the servants twice."
"Question them a third time." Kevan says.
"Don't bother…" Cersei says with red teary hateful eyes, "We all know who did this."
"You want to share it with the rest of us." Lancel says, he had gotten a little bolder since being made a knight.
"She thinks the Starks are behind it." Tyrion says.
"I will not believe that unless we have undeniable proof." Kevan says.
"Are you blind Uncle?" Cersei asks getting angrier.
"Cersei calm down." Genna their Aunt says.
"I will not calm down. Those fucking Northern savages hired the Faceless Men to kill Jaime…I say we pay them back. The Lannisters always pay their debts."
MAEGYR
He summons Tyrion and Cersei to the Capital. "With Lord Jaime dead…I have decided to name Lord Tyrion Warden of the West and the Lord of Casterly Rock."
"With all due respect your Grace. I ask that you reconsider. My father…"
"Is dead…Lady Cersei. So is your brother."
"No thanks to the Starks."
"You have proof they were behind this?"
"I have logic…They accuse my husband of pushing that Stark boy. Eddard Stark dies in a trial by combat. So they hire the Faceless Men to kill Jaime."
"Your husband confessed."
"And we all know why?"
"Really why?" He says challenging her. No one really talked about what the Palidyns were capable of.
Tyrion looks at Cersei and shakes his head, "We would like to bring formal charges against the Starks."
"Fuck charges I say we go to war." Cersei says.
"There will be no war…In a few weeks I will be crowned King of Westeros…I am charged with keeping the peace. I cannot have the Starks and Lannisters tearing each other apart, besides you would not win."
"And why is that?"
"House Stark is allied with the Tullys…Out of an obligation House Arryn would stand beside them…And last but not least my Cousin Talisa is married to Lord Robb Stark…You would be utterly crushed. Now let this go."
"Let it go!" Cersei yells.
Tyrion grabs her hand, "Cersei!" He warns but she snatches her hand away.
"Yes let it go. The Starks accused Ser Jaime of pushing Bran Stark…Jaime Lannister is questioned and arrested. He asks for a trial by combat. He was found innocent in the eyes of the gods and the laws of men. Ser Jaime is poisoned, could have been done by any number of his enemies…And now you accuse the Starks of having him assassinated. No this cannot be allowed to escalate."
"Promise me that as a Lannister you will make those wolves suffer." Cersei whispers to Tyrion as they leave.
"I promise dear sister." It was a promise he would not be able to keep. They sent for the Faceless Men only to learn that the Starks had the good sense to pay for protection against retaliation. They couldn't even hire other assassins because all assassins feared the Faceless Men.
