FALSE PROMISES
"Mikken had to make this specially to fit my hand. A castle-forged steel... which is nowhere near to Ice." Brandon's voice could be heard from inside of her father's solar.
"Your long-sword is heavier than anyone's and Valyrian steel is supposed to be lighter. Ain't it?" This was Jaime's voice that made her to frown. Allara looked at the misformed words on the parchment, that she was writing to the Masterly house Forrester, summoning the criminals to be bought to Winterfell, for justice. The words didn't exert any power. She had used too many 'pleases and requests' — fancy and polite. She crunched that parchment, trying to impart all her rage into that wasted piece of sheet instead of thinking about her big brother, who spent all his time with that arrogant Lannister boy.
She hated Jaime.
He was haughty and pompous, much to her disappointment and all the dreams of meeting a decent, noble man, shattered into pieces of broken glasses, when Jaime mocked her as a monster bearing girl, without even having a little of concern. Now, to add salt to her wound, Brandon had taken a great liking for Jaime, who happened to accompany Brandon everywhere. This was the same brother who boasted that he would make the lion cub run to Casterly Rock with his tails between the legs. She felt Brandon had even forgotten her existence. She wanted to give her peace of mind to Brandon had he not be seen always with Jaime.
One more week, I have to bear, then the arrogant boy will be gone. 'And then what?,' a voice popped into her head. I will get betrothed to him and one day I will marry him.
Her eyes stared at the empty stone wall, imagining how her life would be with Jaime Lannister, in Casterly Rock, alone and abandoned. All she saw was... nothing. Had he not spoken arrogantly, she might have fallen head over heels, for his skills in swinging a sword and that smile... which had cut like a knife.
"Ice cannot be used in a fight. It is too huge to swing, even though the blade is Valyrian." Brandon explained to Jaime as they entered the same chamber where she was sitting. Her brother didn't bother to give even a glance towards her direction, when he went straight towards the wall where Ice was placed. The unsheathing sound of Ice from its scabbard gave goose-flesh to her body. Both the men's eyes were wide in delight, seeing the dark spell-forged blade. Men and their toys.
"Can I hold it?" Jaime asked with wide emerald eyes, that was fixed only on the ripples of the blade. He drew his breath sharply when the sword was thrusted into his hand and started to swing it in the air. Had he not seen a Valyrian steel before? Or was this the only thing that made men get passionate about? The eagerness and devotion deduced from Jaime's wondering gaze had never occurred to her... ever.
"I can't believe House Lannister doesn't have a Valyrian steel." Brandon voiced her thoughts.
"Oh... I think there was one Valyrian sword, called Brightroar. But one of the Lannister Kings, lost himself and the sword in Valyria."
"That must be a pity..." She muttered aloud to her own surprise and when Jaime stared at her, she rolled her eyes in contempt.
"Yes, my lady. It is indeed a pity." Jaime said. Allara was determined to keep her mouth shut, but the leftover disappointment of meeting the wrong guy who had no manners, forced her to utter things like this. "But don't strain yourself, over a Lannister King or a Valyrian sword, which clearly... is not your forte. Perhaps, you must indulge in the tales and songs of Jonquil and Florian the fool. By the way, Aren't you supposed to be accompanied by a Septa?"
Her knuckles paled for the fist she made for calling her a girl who only should worry about tales and songs and before she opened her mouth to give curses, Brandon raised his hand defensively.
"Whoa... Jaime... That is not how you speak to my sister." Brandon awkwardly moved his weight from one foot to another thinking of better ways to calm the situation. "And what is this song about a fool? I never heard of it before... And why does Aly need to be with a Septa?"
"It is all their southern folly, Brandon... They imagine that all the noble ladies think of foolish knights and pray to the Seven to forgive their sins." She snapped while raising up from her chair. "Lord Jaime... Need I remind you that you are in Winterfell. The knights and the Seven has no power here, only the Old Gods rule..."
He chuckled in response. "Old Gods, old rules and... too old-fashioned." His eyes pitied her as though he was looking at a simple-minded girl. "Do you even know how esteemed it is to be a knight? One does not get knighted for the family he comes from, but for his valour, honor and skill in a battle, or in a tourney by the greatest of the knights." Allara found the same excitement in Jaime's face, that was there when he held Ice in his hands. "It comes with responsibilities, to protect the innocent, the weak and the women. It is glory..."
"So gallant, Lord Jaime." She mocked. "I am already falling to your feet, for the sway of your words. Sorry to crash your dream. There is no need of a knight here, when every northern man is as chivalrous as a southern knight. The harsh climate teaches us the value to help one another, without thinking about the glory and the songs that one might get sung about." His face paled for a moment and she couldn't help but smile. "It seems like you want to sing a song for yourself. Perhaps, we can name it as 'Jaime, the valiant and his seven sword' or 'Jaime, the sword fool...'" Jaime's parted lips was set tight in sheer embarrassment.
"Aly..." Brandon chided but Jaime left the solar instantly, while he dragged his fingers through those golden hairs.
Allara wondered if she crossed the boundary. "He is too uptight and takes himself too serious, Brandon. This might teach him some humility."
Brandon laughed to her surprise. "Aye, that he is. But... he is a good lad. I thought you will like him." It was her time to shift the weight between her legs. "He is brave and strong... and will protect you from any harm."
"I don't need anyone's protection." Allara snapped and waited for Brandon to leave, instead of having this annoying conversation. There was no way this match would go fruitful and perhaps, she should inform this to father before he accepted the proposal. When she finally dared to lift her head, she found Brandon's gray eyes that was trying to intimidate her. "You were the one who wanted me not to like him. Now, all you do is roam with him, everywhere... like you have already decided even before father has confirmed."
"I know... I thought he was an arse-"
"He is an arse, Brandon. I don't know how none of you can see that. He mocks me-"
Brandon sighed. "Stop putting all the blame on him. You haven't even given a chance to know him. You mock him at any earnest opportunity." Allara slumped on the chair making a long face. "If our father decides, he is the one-"
"I know..." She ended. There would be no way to escape from what Lord Rickard Stark would pass as his final words. Even Brandon was not spared. She was just a woman who had the least of her father's favour. "Fine... I will try to have a proper conversation with Jaime." Brandon raised his brow, suspiciously. "'Politely', brother." She added.
"Never in my wildest dream had I thought of a situation like this, where I have to be the one to teach you, 'politeness'." Brandon roared a thunder of laugh before leaving the chamber, letting her to work on the letter that she had been writing. But how could she write while her mind rehearsed the words she would use to parley with Jaime to sue for peace?
Allara stood by the entrance of the vast glass garden, tugging the ends of her long braid, when someone cleared his throat from behind. When she turned around, Jaime stood crossing his arms across his chest, while looking at her skeptically. With the setting sun falling behind his golden head, he appeared so handsome.
"Aly, Can I leave? I bought him to you, already." Benjen stomped his foot annoyingly like someone had poured hot-water.
"No... You cannot leave me alone-" She chided through gritted teeth, trying to bribe her brother to stay with her.
"I am not going to pick roses with you. Ned said he will teach me archery." Benjen screamed.
"I can teach you tomorrow, if you-" Allara tried to coerce him but her little brother ran so fast, with his feet hitting the back of his knees, before she even completed her sentence. All the while, she could sense Jaime's eyes roam all over her body. She started to fiddle with her fingers, when words failed to explain the reason why she had asked him to come. "I thought of asking, if-" Somehow, understanding her palpable discomfort, Jaime offered his arm, like a gallant knight. Perhaps, he would make a perfect knight. Without further thought, she wound her arm in his and entered the garden.
"It is too hot here." He commented looking above to find the yellow glass ceiling.
"It was constructed by Brandon the Builder." She echoed and walked by the footpath near the newly planted vegetables and fruits. This place was hot as summer and none of her brothers would visit for its heat. Only Lyanna dared to visit the place to pick the winter blue roses. She licked her dry chap lips and gathered some courage. "I hope it is not boring for your taste. I would have taken you to the Godswood but-"
"Well, this garden is very warm like the Rock. One cannot refuse to use all the warmth in the North." Jaime answered while gently brushing her knuckles with his thumb. Her foot slipped for that warm touch and her mind went blank for a moment, when Jaime pulled her carefully by her arms. "Are you fine, my lady? It looks like the heat doesn't suit you well."
"No... I like the heat too." She answered untangling her arms from him and turned her head all around to see if any servants or guards roamed that area. Guilt was flooding inside her body, for being too close... or being too alone with him.
"Is it? Your palms are sweaty already." He asked by brushing his fingers to her palms.
"I assure you, it is not for the heat, my lord." She whispered so feebly and felt like a child when her cheeks went red. If he took notice of her flared cheeks, he didn't bother to show it in his face. Jaime hummed in response and took a stroll slowly, staring at the yellow glass of the garden with each step. "I must have not said those things, in the morning. It was wrong of me, my lord."
His eyes stared at hers, too deep, making her to turn red like a tomato, that she could have offered it to be exchanged for the vegetable, that was growing in that garden. "Jaime" He said. Allara was confused. But he gave one smile that cut straight to her heart. "Call me, Jaime. We can be friends, Allara." He offered his hand. Instantly, she shook it with a smile wide enough to set aside all her doubts and worries. "Now, tell me about your archery skill."
"Archery?" She raised a brow thinking of why or rather how he knew she used a bow and arrow. He sat on the long stone chair, by the winter flowers and patted next asking her to do the same. Then the memories of bribing Benjen flashed before her eyes, making her to chuckle. "You have a very sharp memory, Jaime."
"That I doubt... My brother, Tyrion, even though the smallest, is the brightest of the litter. I am the sword and my sister, Cersei, is the beauty." Jaime leaned forward and picked a perfect bright blue rose. "Although, I must admit I have found a rival even for my sister's beauty." He offered that flower to her, and she stared at him in utter disbelief. Is he courting me?
"About archery-" She wanted to change the topic, for her palms were getting sweaty again. "I am not a marksman but... Brandon takes me to hunting, so he taught me to shoot with a longbow."
"Your brother teaches you all these?" Jaime pondered.
"Yeah... Actually, he wanted me to ride like him in the horse but..." She shrugged with a smile and traced the blue petals with her fingers. "That is not me... it is my sister, Lyanna. They both ride like centaurs."
"You and your brother are like me and my sister, I suppose. But we both are twins and you both are not..." He almost said like a statement than a question, but his eyes never left hers.
"Well, he is my big brother. And I always look up to him."
Jaime's hand reached her wrist that was holding the flower and her heart skipped a beat when the fragrance of those blue winter roses mixed with a sudden gust of wind. When she dared to see his eyes, he carefully pushed a strand of hair out from her eyes, and tugged it behind her ears. "Do you want to come out with me, to the nearby inn? To say the truth, this place is quite boring."
"I wish I could. But the sun has set down-"
"I will be close to you. See, I have a sword with me and you have seen me swinging. Do you trust my sword fighting skills at least?"
Of course, she trusted him. Had she seen any man best Brandon in the yard? "I do have trust in you but if someone finds out that I went with you to the town, at this hour, then-"
"Brandon showed me a way in and out, without getting caught by the guards. Come with me... Please... I have something to show you." Jaime urged offering a hand to her, but she had never done such things before. Her first fear was what her father would say, if she got caught. Lord Stark might abdicate her or who knew, he might even disown her. When her confusion peaked, and she thought about it for a long time, Jaime kneeled before her placing one hand on her knee, and gave a warm smile that cheered her. "You know what.. Your eye colour changes along with the change in your feelings."
"What?" She asked in arrant confusion.
"Don't fear." He assured soothingly. "I will take you back to the castle safely." He promised while helping to her feet. She felt shy. Even though her senses screamed not to do this and get caught into a scandal, even before even getting betrothed to the boy, she was thrilled to follow him.
Jaime offered her a cloak to hood her head, as they trailed through the lich yard and reached the battlement of the north gate. When they emerged out, she found all sorts of men filling the void in Wintertown, by buying ponies, horses, lambs, cloth. Some were yelling and bargaining so aloud that created a chaos of events, when Jaime took a narrow path towards the right. Many times, she had visited the place to buy fine silk clothes, if they ever arrived from the Torrhen's squire but this new path was unfamiliar to her.
"Smoking Log is not this way. Are we really going to an inn?" She questioned.
"No..." Jaime answered uncovering his own golden head by pushing away the hood, as he stood before a small door of the stone building, where mild music was coming from. But that didn't look like a front entrance, it was the back entrance. "Come" He took her inside by pushing that screeching steel gate. The light was so low that she had to adjust her eyes, to see those awful number of people swarming inside.
All drunk men cursing a woman, in front of her desk, in wild-filthy language. This didn't look like a tavern or... a place safe for that matter. "Jaime, what is this place?" She tugged his cloak in panic and he gave a smirk before clutching her wrist in his hand.
"I said follow me." He dragged her on the staircase, as he climbed and her eyes stung for how wide it went, when she saw women walking naked, with their breasts spilled out, displaying it to some men who stood before them. At a corner, if she was not wrong there was a man fucking a whore, with loud cries of pleasure reaching all the way to her ears.
"You bastard! Did you take me a whorehouse!" She shrieked trying to wriggle her wrist.
"Aye... But you came all this way long. Don't you want to see why I bought you here for, my lady?" He used a sick smile before opening the window of a chamber where light was spilling from. She glowered at him. Anger touched the tip of her nose, making it flare, but she simply rose on the tip of her feet, to peek in. The ambience of that chamber was so calm, filled with fragrance of lavender oil. Pleasure moans of a man and a woman were audible enough to know they were fucking. For a moment she thought of giving a clout to Jaime's ear but curiosity or eagerness pushed her to take a peep inside and she saw Brandon. He was naked, and a whore was doing unspeakable... or unimaginable things... kneeling down before him. When her eyes viewed her brother's naked body, a disturbing twist curled in her guts, and she swirled to give a fisted punch to Jaime's chest.
"How dare you?" Allara seethed clenching her fingers around his collar but he laughed like a madman.
"What were you saying about all northern men being knights? Well, listen little-wolf, all men are men. And your dearest brother is the worst of them all." He pulled her hand down. "He has no honour or valour that you proudly bragged about, in the morning. Your sweet brother gives a visit here almost every day. I like him truly... He is hot blooded-" When tears rolled from her cheeks, he paused to take a notice of her red nose. "Why are you crying? I didn't-"
She pushed his arm away from her hand when tears endlessly rolled down and she stumbled forward clutching to her cloak tightly, trying to run through the stairway where they came from. Suddenly, a man huge and tall, like a giant loomed before her, trying to hold her wrist, with a sick grin.
"And how much does this beauty cost?" The ugly man leaned forward to hold her chin. But his hands were stopped by Jaime.
"If I were I would not lay even my eyes over her." Jaime threatened pointing a sharp steel of a dagger near the ugly man's throat.
There was cursing from both the ends, and so many people started gathering near her. Shame, guilt, embarrassment — all at once took over her body, and she ran till her legs touched the back of her knees, towards Winterfell, not wishing to be recognized by anyone, especially by Brandon. She trusted Jaime, that he was... romantic. Oh... How stupid of her to expect that? When she crossed the battlements, towards the exit near the lich yard, she tried to push away all the tears, instead they kept spilling and she sat near the stone walls pulling her knees up to her chest while she tried so hard to forget that it was her big brother, who she always admired as a hero was fucking a whore. How much ever she tried, that image of him, refused to leave her head.
"Seven save me... I was worried sick of you, when you left me running like that." Jaime kneeled planting his hand on her knees. "What if someone got hold of you?" He blathered.
She slapped his hand away from her body. "Are you not happy of hurting me? Taking me to a whorehouse? Showing my own brother fucking a whore? What else do you want to do that you are trying to flirt again?"
His eyes bulged, but she utterly despised him, for showing Brandon like that. She had worshipped her brother and now... there was a disgusting feeling that lingered in her heart. She wouldn't go there. If she thought Brandon to be the wrong one, then it meant Jaime had won hurting her. So, she managed to gather herself and walk away when Jaime kept following her. It annoyed more than what he had done.
"Stop it, Jaime. Go your own way."
"Allara... I am sorry. I didn't think it will hurt you this much. I thought if you saw him that way-"
"What?" She screeched. "That I will say, you will become one of the greatest knights. My brother was supposed to be perfect in my unhappy life. And you destroyed it. I just hate you. I wish you never came here." He looked so stunned. "You said you and your sister were close. Imagine the pain you will feel, if you ever see her fucking a man." Allara didn't have any feeling left over to anticipate his expression which almost appeared regretful. So, she left to her solar, with a heaving chest, and curled up beneath the layers of fur, as she tried healing her broken heart that was filled with a huge pile of crappy hopes that Jaime actually tried to court her. Her pathetic little heart felt so wounded. A winter blue rose petal fell to her fingers from her hair and she plucked that stupid flower, which only gave false promises. She hated the flower... and Jaime even more.
Lyanna wiped the layer of sweat that formed on her skin, with the back of her hand, while she kept knocking at that tall oaken door in front of her. She was annoyed or more irritated from everyone's behaviour for the past five days, especially her siblings' and she knew who might have been the cause for all of it. Just when she raised her hand to the door, Benjen interrupted.
"I will train with you, now. Don't do anything stupid, Lya."
Lyanna stared at her little brother, grinding her teeth, for refusing to continue their sword fight, just moments before, saying silly excuses and now when she wanted to confront to the person who caused the problem, Benjen was trying to back away.
"Go away. I will ask him myself of why he keeps disturbing our practices." She pushed Ben out of her way, and tried to give another knock, but the door was missing, replaced by a tall boy.
"And who this boy might be, Benjen?" Jaime asked with a frown on his face.
Lya scowled at Jaime for addressing her as a boy for the second time. She pulled her braid to the front of her body and pushed him aside as she entered his chamber. "I am a girl... My father's-" She bit her tongue and corrected. "Lord Stark's second daughter, Lyanna Stark." There was a shining green apple that caught her eyes and she grabbed it to take a long bite of that juicy fruit.
"So... What do you want?"
"Why are you flooding Allara's chamber with unwanted things? That too using my brother as a messenger?" Lya questioned taking another bite to the fruit.
Jaime's eyes widened, but he appeared less annoyed than before. "Did she read my last letter?" He approached Lyanna anxiously. "Did she even open my last present? I got a beautiful-"
"Brooch..." Lyanna ended his line while jumping to sit on the windowsill, that was too tall for her height. "A pretty golden lion brooch as a cloak clasp." She answered and finally her effort succeeded when she adjusted to sit comfortably.
Jaime gave a wide pleasant smile. "Good... She accepted it then."
"No... She didn't even care to open. So, I did... See, I have your beautiful lion brooch." Lya picked it from her pocket and threw at him, which he didn't fail to catch. His face became long and dull same as Benjen's who tugged Jaime's wrist, with tired eyes.
"Jaime... I can't be your messenger, hereafter. Allara had never yelled at me, even once. For the first time, in my whole life..." Ben sighed letting out his grievance in being a mediator for them. "Forget it. Just don't ask me anymore to deliver your presents and letters." Jaime started brooding as he carefully analyzed Benjen's words. "Lya... Do you want to practice?"
"You go, first. I will follow you soon." Lya bit into the last flesh of the apple when Benjen exited the chamber. Lya didn't want to get involved in a lover's squabble but something was amiss. Her sister would never refuse a present even if it was offered by some poor peasant who gave his last share of honey. And her sweet sister had been avoiding Brandon — the brother who she worshipped as God, like a plague. Lya nagged at her sister for hours to tell the reason, but her sister wouldn't cave in. "Why are you making my sister cry?"
Jaime looked baffled, but no answer came from him and finally he landed himself onto a chair while struggling to decide if he was going to tell Lya the reason or not. "I am trying to make my amends but I can't even get to see her. How fair is that?"
"It depends on what crime you did to make amends. And how my brother, Brandon, got involved in all of this?" Lyanna was never interested to know anything about lords' and ladies' gossips and unwanted information. But this was her sister, and she had to know if this Lannister boy tried to misbehave with Allara. In which case, Lya could easily stab him with her knife that was tugged inside her boots, unaware but... first she just wanted to confirm.
"Its- I took- I-" Jaime leaned back on the chair and stared at the ceiling in frustration. "I was an arse to her, when she really thought nice about me. I was arrogant, and... I hope she will forgive me before I leave the North."
"What the hell did you do?" Lya jumped from the windowsill listening more curiously to Jaime's confession but the boy didn't even bother to look at her eyes. Her sister snapped at Brandon, if he even opened his mouth to utter words and there must be some strong reason behind it, for Allara to go that mad. Lyanna was curious to know the details but to her disappointment Jaime just shook his head.
"I can't tell that to anyone, Stark. You can ask your sister if you really want to know but I doubt any lady would reveal that. It is not really a tale to gossip with pink women in feasts."
"Ugh... You both kissed. Is that it?" All the ladies in the whole of North, spoke only about the eligible men that they had an eye for whenever they gathered for a feast. All the stories of stolen kisses would be exchanged secretly for another gossip, which Lyanna hated the most.
"What? No..." Jaime jumped from his chair and stared at her intensely. "You look more like Benjen than your sister Allara. Sometimes, I feel I am speaking with your brother. Are you sure, you are a girl?"
Lyanna gave a punch to his chest, making him to slump down to the chair that he was sitting moments before. "This is the third time you are calling me a boy. One more time, you tell me that, I will pluck your eyes out and feed it to the crows."
Jaime gave a muffled laugh in response. "Are you both Stark girls, master in punching men's chest?" He gave a feigned pain in response, while touching his heart. "Although, your punch is much stronger than your sister's. Better I move far away from you." That earned a proud smirk from Lya and when she tried to leave his chamber, he called from behind. "Will you help me?"
Lyanna tugged at her tunic thinking if she should help him. He didn't seem to be bad like the other boys. Benjen said he was levelheaded with everyone and bested whoever came to raise a sword against him in the court-yard. How badly she wanted to learn in the court-yard, with Ser Rodrick's help? And immediately an idea sprung to her head.
"And what will I get in return?"
Jaime observed her coolly. "You can keep that golden brooch. Or-"
"You can keep your golden brooch. I want you to train with me, for the next two days, before you leave Winterfell. Will you?"
A laugh loud as thunder filled the room before he calmed himself. "Do you think you will be able to even lift a sword in that tiny hand of yours?"
"Try me... and you will know." Everyone underestimated her, but she was better than Benjen.
"Fine... But will you make sure your sister hears me? I want to speak with her once... before I leave."
Lya scrunched her nose, unable to contemplate any reasons why her perfect-sister avoided Jaime but there must be some good reason for it. Yet, how did that matter to her, if she could swing a sword with the boy who bested Brandon in the ground?
"I will let you speak with her, alone. But I can't promise to make your amends." Jaime's smile vanished and there was guilt sparkling in his eyes, when it came about her sister. It was so sad to watch him that way. So, she patted his shoulder. "Don't worry. My sister always comes around. You should have seen me and her bickering a few years ago. She always come back."
"But I won't be here, till she comes around. In two days, I will leave to the Rock."
Lyanna wondered if this was how love-struck fools, worried in their life. Gods... She was glad there was no such worry for her. "Yeah... So, we will make the best use of your time. Now, come to the Godswoods and we both shall dance with a sword."
Happy new year... I wanted to publish this chapter on New-year. But time went on. Hope you guys don't hate me for making Jaime do that.
Guest Thank you. Rhaegar and her meeting will take a few chapters. I am just setting the base for her character, instead of jumping into Rhaegar.
Hercules Oh... How I love when quotes are drawn from my story. Thank you. Jaime is a prodigy, in cannon, so I made him more powerful. And yeah... men are men, no drama. Moreover Jaime would like Brandon immediately. They both are hot-blooded.
Kathy None taken. Trust me, I understand this question. But Allara is not anywhere close to Lyanna's wildness and my story will deviate from cannon after a while. Once I read a beautiful fanfiction of Lyanna and the author had nailed it. But the problem was when the author wrote it, he/she had taken away the core character of Lyanna making it less believable when she makes some decisions. So, I didn't want to do that in my story. Also, they both are widely different but Rhaegar will marry Elia.
Koinaka That's a proper observation for a trivial detail. I promise Jaime will tell it in the next chapter. Thanks you for reading my story :)
Arianna Le Fay Rickard is very abstract, and he has motives. I wanted to convey that their family is nowhere near perfect. Rhaegar has a life before meeting her and she has her life before meeting him. They will fall in love. I hope I will do justify of that in my writing. Also, Jaime is not betrothed to Allara, so far. He has come on Tywin's orders to send a message to Lord Stark. It's cannon of what happened with Lysa Tully. The rest I'll write in the story.