Here we are, a Jaime chapter after so long. It happens one year after the events in the previous chapter. To Tativi, I swear, this is the last time gap of this sort in this story.


JAIME II

The sun wasn't very high in the sky. They were in the middle of the morning. There were no clouds to be seen, so it was a very clear and sunny day. Jaime Lannister knew that at the other side of the city, outside the walls, between the Kingsroad and Blackwater Bay, men were preparing the ground for the tournament of Joffrey's name day. However, from where he stood, he couldn't see anything of the preparations, and truth be told he didn't care. Cersei was only talking about it, always complaining they didn't make enough for Joffrey's sixteenth name day, requiring something more each day to make it greater.

Joffrey wasn't better. He spent his time bragging all around the Red Keep that he was a man now, and said to everyone he would participate to the tourney and defeat anyone who would dare to challenge him. The thought almost made Jaime laugh. Even if Joffrey did have the courage to take part to his tourney, Cersei would never allow him. She would never allow her son to put himself into danger.

There were times Jaime wondered if Joffrey really was his seed. He made him think more of Robert than himself. However, he knew Cersei never allowed Robert to put a child into her. Her children were all his. If so, then Joffrey had to come from him. Cersei should let him fight, go into the world, see it with his own eyes, not keep him inside the Red Keep with her, where he was surrounded by servants, courtiers and sycophants who kept praising him at every turn. He didn't see much reason to organize a tourney for this pampered boy's name day.

It didn't matter. Joffrey was Cersei's son, and if she wanted to organize the greatest tourney in history for him, that was her choice, and her right. Robert and Jon Arryn couldn't deny her, no matter the Hand's repeated comments about the increasing cost of the event. They only had to ask Littlefinger to rub more coins together and more than enough would appear to pay for the expenses. And if that wasn't enough, they only had to borrow money from Tyrion like they borrowed from their father long ago.

Tyrion. His little brother. It had been two years now since the last time he saw him. That was when their father had died. How things had changed since. Well, things had not changed that much. Robert kept drinking and whoring, Jaime and his sworn brothers kept defending him, and Jon Arryn kept the whole Realm going on and picking up the pieces his friend left behind him. His father's death hadn't changed the world. People kept living, eating, drinking, fucking, working, fighting, squabbling and dying like before. The sun kept rising in the east and setting in the west, rain kept falling on certain days while it didn't on other days, and everything went on just like before.

It was Cersei who had changed most of all. She had always been vindictive, rash, impetuous, but after their father's death, things had gone worse. Jaime suspected that had something to do with the fact she couldn't get everything she wanted anymore. Their father's name, gold and power had always been there to protect her, and to serve her interests. As soon as the name of Tywin Lannister came out, that was enough to make anyone do as she willed. Now, Tywin Lannister was dead. His name was no cause for fear anymore. Cersei still had more than enough gold, and the red cloaks as well, and she was the queen, but Jaime realized that their father's name really was the thing that gave them the most power. People were mocking House Lannister now. Not openly, in front of him or Cersei, but in secret, or when only in the king's presence. They would never have dared to do so when their father was alive. They said the Lannisters were ruled by a toothless little lion and an innocent rose. Littlefinger said that brothels would be more profitable than ever with all the gold of Casterly Rock at Tyrion's disposal. Jaime was called Kingslayer more than ever. Cersei took it quite bad. She drank more wine than ever, sometimes in the morning, as soon as she woke up. She was more vengeful than ever, and more protective over her children than anyone could imagine.

People could laugh, but Jaime knew the laughing would stop one day, and maybe sooner than he thought. They were laughing of them because House Lannister was ruled by the Imp. If they weren't careful, they would find out very soon that Tyrion could be as dangerous as their father. Jaime didn't know much about ruling, but from what he knew, Tyrion was ruling the Westerlands quite well. He heard something about a treaty that brought the Westerlands and the Reach much closer, and that their cousin Daven was going to marry some lady from the Reach very soon. Tyrion was making alliances. Robert and Jon Arryn, and Littlefinger and Varys, and Stannis and Renly, they were all wrong when they thought Tyrion would be easy to deal with. In a coat of gold, or a coat of red, a lion still has claws. Tyrion may be small, but the small lion had claws. Jaime couldn't wait to see the day where Tyrion would plant his claws into all of them, the Starks, the Baratheons, the Arryns, the Tullys, the Martells…

In the meantime, Jaime couldn't wait to see his little brother again. He looked far away at the horizon, but he couldn't distinguish anything yet. They were supposed to arrive today. Tyrion had written to him and Cersei a few months ago to tell them he would come to King's Landing for Joffrey's name day. Cersei hadn't showed much enthusiasm at the prospect. If only she and Tyrion could set aside their quarrels. Jaime hoped foolishly that they could reconcile this time and forget about the incident the last time they saw each other, but it was very unlikely to happen. Cersei would never reconcile with Tyrion, not when he would bring his wife with him.

For two years, Tyrion's letters had been talking about his wife. Margaery Tyrell occupied at least half the space of each letter Tyrion sent to Jaime, when she didn't occupy all the space. It wasn't difficult for Jaime to see, even without seeing him, that his little brother was in love with his rose. Cersei had been furious when she learnt that the marriage had taken place. Apparently, she had tried to stop that marriage from happening, going as far as to plot with Robert and Jon Arryn to give Margaery Tyrell to Renly Baratheon. However, it looked like the Tyrells had decided they didn't care for the king's wishes, and they had gone to Casterly Rock all the same. The wedding had taken place, and now there was a new Lady of Casterly Rock.

Jaime had never met Margaery Tyrell, but he found it cruel and unfair that Cersei, Robert and the small council had tried to sabotage Tyrion's marriage. Tyrion had told him he wouldn't marry an unwilling bride. If the Tyrells went to Casterly Rock, then the girl had probably agreed, or at least her family had approved. Tyrion only wanted a nice wife, somebody to love and who would love him back, something more than just a whore with half a brain. The Tyrell girl had been his chance. That was the reason why Jaime was so enraged when he heard that Cersei wanted to force the girl into another marriage, with her brother's boyfriend. He had been relieved when he heard that they were wed. Cersei, on the contrary, had a rage like she never had in years. She had looked more beautiful than ever too.

Jaime wondered how the Rose of Highgarden looked like. He tried to remember the girl Tyrion had loved once, but he couldn't really recall how she looked like with precision. Jaime was happy that Tyrion had found himself another wife, and not any random girl. The Rose of Highgarden! Jaime was eager to see his brother back, and to meet his sister-in-law. He wanted to see the young woman who made Tyrion so happy in these last two years. Cersei could say what she wanted, Jaime wouldn't ignore someone who made his little brother happy, not after what their father did to that poor girl about ten years ago and how she died. Tyrion had loved his wife, and Jaime would never consider as an enemy a woman that Tyrion loved and who loved Tyrion (according to Tyrion himself). But he knew it was useless to argue about this with Cersei.

From the battlements over the Lion Gate, the Goldroad stretched far away. There was still no sign of Tyrion or any banner of House Lannister. They could be here anytime. There were twenty men in Lannister armor, twenty red cloaks, who waited with Jaime for their liege lord. They were leaning on the walls, or sitting on the grass and playing dice. They were there to escort their lord and his wife through the streets of King's Landing, and also to welcome him. Jaime wished Cersei had accepted to be there to welcome their brother, but she would have none of it. She wouldn't even allow Tommen and Myrcella to be present when their uncle would arrive. Jaime knew how fond of Tyrion were Cersei's youngest children. As for Joffrey, he wasn't even sure he would notice it if Tyrion or Jaime died tomorrow.

Jaime saw a point appearing on the horizon. He couldn't distinguish the colour first. Then he had the impression it was red. His heart bumped all of sudden, but when he looked more attentively, it looked greener. He looked away to the city, a huge pile of buildings too great and too many for the space they had. Whenever a fire started, the city was in danger. If someone started multiple fires simultaneously at the right places… Burn them all! The words echoed through his head. Jaime looked back to the road.

When he brought his attention to the point he saw previously, he realized it wasn't green, or red. It was green and red. Jaime tried to take a better look and thought he saw a column. Why did they have green banners along with red banners? It dawned on Jaime. Tyrion's wife was a Tyrell. It was them. They had come. Jaime ran down the stairs of the gate and went through the people going in and out of the city.

"Alright, men. They're coming. Everyone in position."

The red cloaks immediately stopped whatever they were doing and took place behind Jaime, forming two lines. They put their helmets on their heads. Jaime kept his own off. He couldn't see from there as far as he could from the top of the gate, but after some time he perceived a long line of horse, escorting a huge wheelhouse. When they were close enough, he distinguished their banners. A golden rose on a green field, and a golden lion on a crimson field. They were here. They were coming. They had quite a long line of guards accompanying them. Jaime guessed there were about two hundred riders and men on foot, whether they wore green or red armor, plus many carts following them. The first men reached the gate before the wheelhouse. Some dismounted. One of them removed his helmet and Jaime discovered the face of his cousin, Daven.

"Jaime!" he roared. "All in white and shining gold!"

"Glad to see you, coz. I didn't expect you to come." Daven had never been someone for tourneys, so Jaime doubted that was why he came.

"You brother forced me. To meet my betrothed."

Jaime frowned. "Your betrothed?"

"Yes. Lady Desmera Redwyne."

"Desmera?" Jaime laughed. So that was the girl from the Reach Daven was supposed to marry. "How well do you like freckles?"

"It's no fault of mine. My father had been discussing with Paxter Redwyne for some time, and your brother arranged everything at Old Oak last year. I must take part to your nephew's tourney and meet her by the same occasion. Her father is bringing her here. When we'll ride back to Casterly Rock once this is all over, she'll be with us. And we will get married."

"Well, Tyrion knows how to be convincing."

"Especially when his wife is Lord Tyrell's daughter. Paxter Redwyne couldn't refuse the Lord of the Westerlands when his liege lord is his father-in-law."

"How is she? My new sister-in-law?"

Daven looked behind. The huge wheelhouse made of gold, green and red had stopped. Servants were running all around. "You'll find out soon," his cousin replied. "But be careful. She might look like a rose, but she has thorns," Daven added as he walked away among the escort.

A young boy came with a stool to place it under the carriage, then stood aside. Jaime thought his looks were familiar to him. The wheelhouse's door opened and a small frame got out of it. Jaime's little brother had not changed in the least since they last met. No taller, no smaller, no uglier, he was exactly like Jaime remembered. Well, not entirely. There was something he thought that had changed. He didn't move or walk the same way. His stance seemed different. Tyrion's eyes went immediately to his brother. He smiled immediately and walked directly to Jaime with his short legs.

"Hello, big brother."

"Hello, little brother."

They shook hands. It wouldn't have bothered Jaime if they hugged, but in a public place like this one, when people were coming in and out of the city, not to mention the guards at the gate, the red cloaks and all the retinue Tyrion had brought with him, it wouldn't do anymore in this place than him kissing Cersei on the lips in front of everyone.

"We've missed you, Tyrion," Jaime said.

"You? I have no doubt. Though for the others, I doubt it. But I assume life here must be dull when you don't enjoy brothels and wine," Tyrion replied.

"If those are the only things of interests in King's Landing, then I imagine the people missed your wits and japes more than everything." The person who just spoke was a young woman with thick and curly brown hair, green eyes and a round face. She walked in Jaime's direction and Tyrion stepped aside to let her come. "Ser Jaime, it's a pleasure to finally meet you."

She had to be around eighteen, no more. She wore a green light dress that seemed fitting for a warmer climate than King's Landing. She had a sweet smile that surprised Jaime more than it disarmed him.

"Jaime, I present you my wife, Margaery." Tyrion looked at her in wonderment as he introduced her.

That was her. The new Lady of Casterly Rock. The Rose of Highgarden. Seeing how she was dressed, with only transparent fabric ribbons loosely wrapped to cover her arms and her dress hugging tightly against her forms, Jaime understood that his little brother fell in love with her. She was beautiful, though not as beautiful as Cersei. Still, Jaime's sister wouldn't like to see her, he was quite sure of that.

"The pleasure is mine, my lady." Jaime tried to see any resemblance with the girl Tyrion had married years ago, but he couldn't. "I was eager to meet you. Tyrion only talks about you in his letters."

"Really?" She took a surprised air, but it looked quite feigned to Jaime. She looked at his little brother.

"What else would I tell him?" Tyrion asked her. She didn't answer and only smiled at him, Tyrion returning it.

"So, she is the Rose of Highgarden?" asked Jaime to his brother.

"Of course. Who did you think she was? The Queen of Thorns?"

The young woman let a short laugh escape her throat. "I don't think so. She's much too old for that." Jaime replied before he could think about it.

Margaery looked at him with a neutral expression, but after a second she burst into laughs. "There's no doubt now, you are Tyrion's brother." Jaime noticed that Tyrion had looked at him in utter surprise when the jape had come out. Relief had succeeded, but he wasn't looking at Jaime without reproach now. "I suppose we should head to the Red Keep. Unless we want to stay here all day and slow down everyone coming this way."

She was right. People and carts were moving more slowly due to their presence at the Lion Gate. Hundreds of people couldn't stop on the road without slowing down the others using it. "Of course," he said. "The streets are too narrow for the wheelhouse to come through, but we have a litter."

"I'll take the litter. You both have surely a lot of things to tell each other. Unless you believe you can't survive a few minutes without me." Lady Margaery said the last words for Tyrion.

"I don't know. I suppose we'll find out when we arrive at the Red Keep. Organize good funerals if I can't."

She laughed again and walked to the litter with a few other girls. Jaime recognized his cousins Joy and Cerenna among them, unless it was Joy and Myrielle. He could never differentiate the twins. As she walked past Jaime, he noticed the way Tyrion was looking at her. His little brother was in love, obviously. Well, that was good enough for Jaime. Tyrion deserved some happiness in his life, and if he was happy with his wife, everything was all right for Jaime. The boy who brought the stool not long ago brought a big mare that Jaime recognized immediately.

"So, you received my present? I was afraid it wouldn't reach you." Jaime was afraid that Cersei might stop it.

"It's a very good mount, Jaime. Thank you."

As Jaime saddled, his attention went back to the boy helping Tyrion to mount. He knew who looked like it. "Are you a Frey?" Jaime asked.

The boy looked up at Jaime. "Yes, ser. We saw each other the last time you came at Casterly Rock. I'm Ser Emmon's son."

"Come on, Jaime," said Tyrion at this moment. "He bears our father's name."

Jaime's eyes widened. "Tywin Frey! I thought you were still in the cradle."

"I will be ten by the next moon," retorted the boy, insulted.

"I've been ten, me too. Everyone is ten if they don't die before. That's nothing to be proud of."

"Be kind with him, Jaime," Tyrion interrupted again. "He's my squire. Now let's go on and reach the Red Keep before the tourney begins."

Since the tourney would start next week, that said a lot. They rode through the Lion Gate, more than two hundred people, on horse, on foot or in a litter for Tyrion's wife. Tyrion and Jaime weren't far from it, but far enough to speak without any fear to be heard, in the front of the column.

"So, happy with your new wife?" Jaime asked his brother.

Tyrion looked at him as if he said the most stupid thing there was. "Of course, I am. Do you think I wrote all those letters to fool you? Of course, I'm happy."

"How is she like? Daven told me she has thorns."

Tyrion nodded. "She has. She takes after her grandmother on this."

"Well, I don't envy you then. She must be insufferable."

"Be careful, Jaime. You're talking about my wife, and your lady. Would you like it if I spoke ill of our sister in your presence?"

Jaime looked at his brother with a warning on his face. That wasn't the place to say such things. Jaime only met a similar expression from Tyrion. He wasn't joking. Jaime surrendered. "I'm sorry, Tyrion. How is she, really?"

Tyrion looked away. "How to say that, Jaime? She's beautiful, wonderful, intelligent, clever, kind… She's perfect. There are still moments where I'm afraid I will wake up all of a sudden to realize that these last two years were only a dream."

"In this case, I hope the dream will continue for a long time."

"I don't want this to be a dream, Jaime. I want this to be true. She loves me." Tyrion was serious. He wasn't japing like he often did.

"Are you sure?"

"I am, strange as it is." Tyrion laughed. "You should see all the things she's doing in Casterly Rock and Lannisport. She's completely rearranging the northern hill, and all the works she's doing in the city is changing its face."

Cersei wouldn't like to hear it. Jaime wasn't sure what to make of that. Tyrion was a dwarf, Jaime knew that. He had no illusion concerning Tyrion's chances to find love one day. Women never looked at him. Still, there was one who had loved him. Was it possible that this young woman loved him now? Could the woman in the litter behind them love Tyrion for real?

"What about you? Do you love her?"

"I do." Tyrion looked at him with a smile Jaime never saw on his brother's face. Jaime couldn't be sure about Lady Margaery's feelings, but his brother loved her. Jaime would have to make sure this wouldn't end like the last time.

A heavy rain had fallen two days ago, so the streets of the capital were muddy, and the alleys were even worse. Tyrion's wife was wrong when she asked him if he could survive a few minutes without her. She should have asked for hours, because that's what they needed to reach the Reed Keep. Some people didn't dare to move past them with the horrible state of the ways. However, it was Tyrion's wife who delayed them the most. She stopped their escort not far from Flea Bottom and went to visit an orphanage. Tyrion accompanied her. They came back some time later, children following them. Lady Margaery was the center of most of their attention, but they seemed to like Tyrion, even if that may only be because they found him funny, being a dwarf. Because of that, Tyrion and his wife were all dirty when they arrived at the Red Keep to be welcomed by Ser Barrristan Selmy and Renly Baratheon. Robert's youngest brother was very courteous towards Margaery. That was no surprise considering the special relationship he had with her brother. Renly laughed out loud when he saw them covered with dust and mud, but Ser Barristan remained unmoved and welcomed them as if they were at an official event.

Once Tyrion and his wife were settled and changed, they went to the Great Hall where Robert Baratheon would receive for the first time their pledge in person. Tyrion had already pledged himself to Robert by raven, but not in his presence yet, in King's Landing. Jaime accompanied his brother and his new sister-in-law to the king, to have the surprise to find his sister sitting by her husband's side.

Cersei was richly dressed, more beautiful than ever, with a complicated headdress. She sat like a real queen, while Robert was drinking in a gigantic cup and asking for more wine from their cousin Lancel. Jaime wondered what his sister was doing here. She was avoiding her husband as much as she could, and there was no obligation for her to here today.

Robert stopped and somehow seemed to realize there were people standing before him. He glanced at them, then burst into laughs. Jaime looked at his brother and his wife, and he had to admit they were quite an odd pair. Though when he looked at Cersei and the fat king sitting at her side, he couldn't see much better.

"So, that's it. The Lord of Casterly Rock. The Imp." He burst in laughing again, and drank once more. Jaime looked at his brother once more, who didn't seem to enjoy the jape very much. Jaime had the impression to see his father again. "So, Kingslayer. How do you feel now? Seeing what your brother has and you could have? Do you think your father would like it?"

"I suppose he would like it as much as you enjoy being married to my sister," retorted Tyrion. That was where the resemblance between Tyrion and their father stopped. Tywin Lannister would only have stared icily to the man laughing at him and everyone would have known that the person making fun of the Lord of Casterly Rock would pay for it one day.

For a second, the king didn't react, but then he laughed again. "Well, at least he knows how to make jokes. That will make a funny lord. We need it here."

If anyone wasn't laughing in the Great Hall right now, it was Cersei. She looked furiously at Tyrion, with the same icy stare like their father's that Tyrion displayed a moment ago. Margaery Tyrell didn't look unmoved by anything happening around. It was a chance that the courtiers weren't there. Only the kingsguards would be witnesses of the scene.

"Your Grace," Tyrion began, "I have come to renew my pledge to you as your…"

"Yes, yes, I know. No need to go through all of it. That's boring." Robert Baratheon dealt with everything at court as he always did. He looked at Margaery. "I suppose this is the new Lady Lannister?"

Lady Margaery walked forward to the steps of the dais, though she didn't climb them. "Your Grace, it is an honor to meet you."

"Yes, I'm sure of that. My brother once showed me a little statue of you. I don't know why he did. It didn't look like you at all. The man who did this didn't make a good job."

"Maybe the sculptor never saw me?"

Robert didn't seem to care about the supposition. With his heavy weight, he stood up from the Iron Throne. "I welcome you to King's Landing, and wish you a good stay."

He walked out without another word, followed by Ser Barristan and Ser Arys. The only people left in the Throne Room were Tyrion, his wife, Cersei, Jaime and two of his fellow kingsguards. Lady Margaery didn't look bothered by the king's departure either. She looked at Cersei who still sat beside the Iron Throne.

"Your Grace." Margaery Tyrell curtsied. Jaime wondered all of a sudden if there had been a single time when she hadn't smiled since they met. "It is a pleasure and an honor to meet you."

"It is a pleasure to meet, for me too," Jaime's sister replied.

Cersei left her seat and walked down the steps. Then she stood before Margaery, a frozen expression with a false smile on her face. Jaime knew that Cersei was everything but happy about the young woman's presence in the capital. He remembered the number of glasses that were broken when Cersei heard Tyrion was wed.

"So, here is the young woman who married my brother," Cersei added.

Her smile was false. Jaime saw that Tyrion's wife kept smiling despite the uncomfortable circumstances. Cersei was taller than her, and so close that her position was threatening. They could have kissed. She observed Margaery, who kept smiling as if nothing was amiss. Cersei's smile suddenly left her face. She looked in utter hatred at Tyrion's wife.

"Welcome to King's Landing. We'll have more time to discuss at dinner. I invite you and my brothers to dine with me and my children."

"It will be our pleasure, your Grace," replied the girl, all smile.

"Yes, I suppose it will be."

Then Cersei just walked away, or more precisely stormed outside the room with the two other kingsguards. The Great Hall wasn't silent for a very long time after she left.

"Sorry. You just met my lovely big sister," Tyrion said to his wife in an apologetic way.

"Yes, I think I noticed." There was some mockery in her voice.

"Better go to our rooms and rest. This dinner tonight will be an ordeal."

"Go forward. I'll walk with your brother. We'll get to know each other better this way."

"As you wish, my lady. Jaime, if anything happens to my wife while you're walking her, remember that a Lannister always pays his debts."

"Don't worry, Tyrion. I'll keep an eye on her," Jaime assured.

On that threat that wasn't really one, Tyrion left and Jaime found himself alone with his sister-in-law. She spoke as soon as Tyrion was away.

"Your sister and her husband have a very particular way to welcome their guests."

"Don't worry, the king is always like that. As for Cersei… she didn't have an easy day. And she doesn't get along quite well with Tyrion."

"I know. Tyrion told me. And I know from Lord Renly that his Grace isn't very interested in ruling."

Robert isn't interested at all by ruling. "We should walk."

Jaime led the way and offered his arm to Lady Margaery, who took it without hesitation. "I suppose it mustn't be easy. To have a brother and a sister who quarrel all the time."

"No, it's not, but I got used to it."

"Why do they despise each other so much?"

"Well, that's a long story. A very long story." Jaime didn't want to start a long development on the many possible reasons why Tyrion and Cersei hated each other. Sometimes he wanted to smash both their heads and force them to reconcile, even if that would only last a minute.

"Does it have anything to do with Lady Joanna's death?" Jaime looked at her, taken aback. "I know about it, Ser Jaime."

"Well, yes. Cersei hated Tyrion when he was born because our mother died that same day. And she never got over it."

"What about you?"

Jaime sighed. "Tyrion is my brother. Yes, our mother died, but that's not as if Tyrion had wanted it. He was a baby. He didn't come into the world, deciding that he would kill our mother by the way."

Lady Margaery's face turned sad. "It must have been terrible for you all the same. To lose your mother. Both of you."

"Yes." He nodded.

"I just wish your sister, the queen, could get past it. I have lived with Tyrion for two years now, and I have rarely seen someone so kind in my life."

Jaime had no doubt he was kind with her. She was his wife, after all. "I have wished the same very often."

A long moment with a huge silence followed, which Jaime's sister-in-law broke in the end. "Do you think she could try something against your brother?"

Jaime sighed. "I hope not."

"But could she?"

"Maybe. I'm not sure. But she would never try to kill him if that's what you're worried about. We are family, after all."

He said that while laughing, and the young lady joined him. She was really smiling and laughing all the time. Jaime understood why Tyrion loved her, if she was always like that. She really was a rose, like the symbols on her gown reminded everyone. Jaime would be able to reassure Cersei. This girl was no threat at all. If that was the Rose of Highgarden, then Jaime was happy that Tyrion had married her. If she made him happy, and cared about him like she just showed, then Jaime was happy to welcome her into House Lannister.

"Still," she resumed, "if she was to try something, if she tried to cause harm to Tyrion, what do you think you would do?"

Jaime stopped to look at the young woman. He would reassure her once and for all. "Cersei will never do anything against Tyrion. He is our brother. You don't have to worry about it. And if she was to try anything against him, then I would stop her. I wouldn't let her hurt him."

Instead of relief, he saw confusion on her face. "You wouldn't allow another member of your family to hurt your brother?"

"Never." He would never allow that to happen. Never.

"Then in this case, where were you when Tysha was raped?"

Jaime couldn't have been more stuck by surprise. He stopped to breath, his members were frozen and unable to move, his own mind couldn't think clearly anymore. His eyes were kept by Margaery Tyrell's hateful stare. He didn't know how long it lasted. His head had gone numb. Tysha. She knew it. She was judging him. And unlike the people usually judging him, she didn't judge him for being a kingslayer or an oathbreaker. She judged him for something horrible he really did. He couldn't find an answer. Finally, she spoke again.

"Tyrion loves you, because you're his brother. But myself, I do not see Jaime Lannister, the man who allowed his father to force Tyrion to rape his own wife, and who stepped aside while the girl was being raped by other men, under Tyrion's eyes, as someone who deserves to be called the brother of my husband. Your sister has already tried to turn some of Tyrion's bannermen against him. I hope this time you won't remain idle. Because if you do, then I will be the one to stop Cersei, and I may not be merciful towards a woman who tried to overthrow me and Tyrion. I think I'll walk the rest of the way by myself. Thank you, ser."

She left him there, to ponder her words. As Jaime looked at Margaery Tyrell walking to his brother, he realized how wrong he had been about her. Cersei was capable of playing to bring people to do her biddings. She was capable of putting an act, to fool everyone. Margaery Tyrell wasn't that different. She had fooled him with smiles and jokes. Daven was right. The rose had thorns.


Jaime and Cersei just met the new Lady Lannister. It went well. :-D

Wait to see when Margaery meets Joffrey, Myrcella and Tommen, along with Margaery's first real conversation with Cersei.

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Next chapter: Cersei