I couldn't get this idea out of my head last night so I decided to write a couple pages and just see what the reception is like.
Premise is basically what if Jaime was the one that interrupted Jon the first night of the King's stay at Winterfell instead of Tyrion and things progress from there. Let me know what you think.
Btw the title is a work in progress if you have any suggestions.
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Jaime Lannister
"I think he's dead!" I shouted cockily, startling the boy who nearly dropped his sword before turning to me.
As he turned I finally got a good look at the boy and casually sized him up. 'Not much Dayne in him' I idly note almost feeling disappointed at the fact. Yes, at first glance the boy was all Stark, grey eyes, dark brown hair. He did however have rather aristocratic cheekbones, I suppose he must of got those from Ashara.
"Ser Jaime," the boy started after finally collecting himself, "you are missing the feast."
"As are you," I replied with a chuckle, "We have yet to be properly introduced, I'm-"
"I know who you are, you're Ser Jaime Lannister, the Kingslayer." Bold boy to call me that to my face, foolish but bold nonetheless.
"Yes, and you're Jon Snow, bastard of Eddard Stark. I was merely being polite." I replied boredly before continuing with a sneer. "Bastard of the honorable Eddard Stark, truly is a concept. Quite ironic really, Stark sticking his nose down at the rest of us from his high horse while he's hiding you here in the barren wasteland, pretending he's not as honorless as the rest of us."
The bastard looked like he was deciding between crying or sticking me with the tourney sword in his hand by the time I was finished, I suppose this wasn't the best way of going about things. "Lord Stark," he finally gritted out with clenched fists and tears rolling down his face, "is more honorable than you by tenfold on his worst day Kingslayer."
"Oh I'm not denying that, truth be told I've never really put too much stock in 'honor' and the like," I reply trying to sound indifferent. "Why is it you weren't seated with the Starks at the feast anyways? Lord Stark certainly doesn't seem the type to hide his natural borns away in shame."
Snow seemed conflicted as to whether he should answer, I can't say I blame him though. If I were in his shoes I doubt I'd be telling a Lannister something like that. In fact I was surprised when he did answer, "Lady Stark believed the King would be slighted by my presence."
"You offending Robert?" I asked with a laugh. "Robert Baratheon has more bastards than any other high lord in Westeros." I finish with a shake of the head, "my sister... well my sister very well may have found slight in it but I wouldn't take it personal, my sister can find offence in just about anything if she sets her mind to it. I remember once when we were children, Cersei had a cook at the Rock dismissed because he asked her whether she preferred lamb or pork. Apparently pig is a dirty animal meant for peasants and even suggesting someone in her standing might like it was a slight."
That got a chuckle out of the boy "She seems...interesting."
"One way to put it," I replied dryly. "How old are you anyways kid?"
"Four and ten."
"Four and ten" I repeated, "when I was your age I was already a knight."
"Yeah I know the story. Knighted at four and ten by Ser Arthur Dayne, joined the kingsguard a year later at the tourney of Harrenhal." The 'I know how the story ends too' was left unsaid.
"What about you kid," I asked with fake disinterest, "any good with a sword?"
He buffed up at that, "Best in Winterfell." He said with unquestionable confidence.
I couldn't help but laugh at his arrogance, it almost reminded me of myself when I was his age. "Is that so?" I asked with a smirk, "well how about you practice on something with a pulse?" I finished as I walked over and grabbed a tourney sword.
The boy looked absolutely stunned at the suggestion. "Are you sure Ser Jaime?" he asked hesitantly before I replied that I wouldn't have offered if I wasn't. "What about armor?" He asked motioning to me, still wearing the dress clothes I wore at the feast.
"Oh I wouldn't worry about that," I replied with a laugh, "no reason to wear armor when there's no chance you'll be able to hit me." Once I was in position I sent a taunt his way before the boy finally gave in and decided to spar me.
The two of us went several rounds and true to my word the boy never got close to disarming me. However that's not to say the boy was bad with a sword in his hands. His skill was actually a pleasant surprise. The bastard was no sword of morning, not yet anyway, but he certainly knew his way around a sword.
He was able to parry the majority of my attacks and rarely misjudged my movements or overextended himself. He was clearly a very cautious swordsman by nature but he even surprised me with the occasional countermove. His style was extremely stoic and it was hard to get a read on his next move. I could understand why the boy had such a high opinion of his prowess with a sword.
As we sparred I couldn't help but make some mental notes on things the boy needed to improve, his footwork for one was lackluster. His movements were harsh and he lacked a true fluidity while moving around. He was also far too passive. Simply waiting for your opponent to make a mistake was enough to get by when you're clearly above your competition like the boy is likely use to in the tillyard, but in a real fight you need to force your opponent to make mistakes. Ironically enough I remember when Ser Arthur taught me that exact lesson when I was Snow's age while we hunted for the Kingswood Brotherhood.
After spending the better part of an hour sparring the two us finally decided to call it quits. "You know what Bastard," I started putting the tourney sword away, "I suppose you aren't as bad as I thought you'd be."
The boy replied completely out of breath, "That almost sounds like a compliment Kingslayer."
"You're right, it almost does." I replied with a chuckle before walking away. And as I laid down for the night and shut my eyes I realized with a smile that sparring with Jon Snow was the happiest time for me since the King decided to travel north to name Eddard Stark his hand, maybe even longer than that.
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"Jaime! Jaime! Ser Jaime look!" I opened my eyes and looked around and instantly recognized that I was in the Red Keep's flower gardens. I turned around to see who was calling my name before smiling and crouching down to meet her.
"Hello my dear princess." I replied with a huge smile on my face, "what's this?" I asked with overexaggerated confusion.
"It's a necklace Ser Jamie!" She said with a toothy grin, holding up the ring of flowers, "I made it for you Ser Jamie!"
"It's beautiful, princess." I say before looking at her, "did your mother give you permission to pick flowers from her garden?"
Rhaenys looked guilty for a moment before looking around and then whispering to me, "I wanted them to be a secret. I made three of them. One for mother, one for Uncle Lewyn, and one for you."
"You didn't make one for your father?"
The princess looked hesitant to answer, "I wasn't sure he would want one… last time he didn't even look at it," she finished with a sniffle. Seven damn you Rhaegar, this poor little girl deserves better than you.
"I think he would love one, he loves everything you make for him trust me." I reply with tears going down my face.
"Are you sure?" Rhaenys asked softly, now openly crying
"Of course he will." I reply with a smile. He better, if not I'll make him regret it, kingsguard be damned.
The princess smiled back at me with that before her smile turned into a grimace and she meekly called "Jaime?" Confused, I looked down and saw blood begin to seep through her dress.
"Princess!" I screamed as she fell into my arms, blood now pouring out of the young girl.
"What's happening Ser Jaime?" she asked softly as her eyes began to close.
"Nothing princess, you're going to be fine, just keep those eyes open for me princess."
"Ser Jaime…"
"Princess! Princess! Rhaenys!"
"BURN THEM ALL! BURN THEM ALL!"
"Kingslayer!"
"Ser Jaime….Ser Jaime…"
"Ser Jaime" I was shaken awake by Ser Boros, "Your shift guarding the royal family is about to begin. I nodded and then dismissed my useless fool of a "brother" before getting ready for my day.
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A/N Well there it is. No promises that this story is going to be updated any time soon, the concept has just been in my head all day and I just needed to get it written down. If the reception is well I'll definitely continue.
I haven't decided on a pairing yet for Jon if you have any ideas please just let me know.