EDITED 16/12/20 - some rather crucial changes
Awaking that morning in a feather bed with plump pillows and embroidered sheets, rather than a forest floor or hard dungeon wall, was rather surreal for Jaime. It was dawn, and she did not wake to dozens of men preparing to ride off for the day, but instead to two girls - my daughters, and didn't that thought make her smile - sleeping soundly, the morning sunlight blocked by thick curtains. It felt strange to wake up and not find Brien's broad face glowering down at her.
Jaime silently slid out from under the blankets, trying not to wake Helia. Instead of simply sleeping in the same clothes she'd been wearing for weeks, she'd had the luxury of changing into a soft nightgown, white and spotlessly clean. Well, until she'd worn it, at least. She needed a bath desperately, and grimaced at the travel dust and grim she had left on the pristine sheets, greying the edges of her nightgown.
Deciding to chance that her old rooms were still hers, she padded barefoot out of her daughters' chambers and down the corridor. Thankfully, her belongings were untouched, the room was unoccupied, and she found Pia there already awake, leafing through her wardrobe with an expression of mild awe. Jaime cleared her throat.
"Oh!" The girl jumped, eyes wide. "I'm so sorry, milady, I - "
"You're a lady's maid, it's your job to go through my dresses," She shrugged. Pia smiled rather sheepishly. "You can have one of the plainer ones, if you like, I'll give you coin to get it altered. You still look like a girl from a buttery,"
"Really?" The girl beamed, forgetting her title as she often had during their weeks travelling from Harrenhal. Jaime had to laugh.
"Yes, really," She moved over to the window, taking in the familiar view over Blackwater Bay. It's as if no time has passed at all. "Pick one out for me, too, and send someone for bath water," Her stomach rumbled, reminding her she hadn't eaten since noon the day before. "And breakfast,"
After her bath, she found that all her clothes fit poorly, and not only for the obvious reason that her chest had rather unevenly halved in size. Jaime had known that since Riverrun that she had lost weight, but hadn't fully appreciated it in the borrowed collection of clothes she had worn. It was startling to see how gowns that had once fitted like a glove hung off her, how the bodice gaped loose even on the side of her chest that hadn't been mutilated.
Pia chose well, however, selecting a rarely-worn, high-necked gown of dark red, which concealed the fact she was stuffing half her chest at least. Despite the ill-fitting clothes, Jaime felt more like herself than she had done in months as she sat down to eat. She had never been a lady to religiously watch what she ate, as training with a sword took care of her figure, but now ate intentionally more than she would normally, intending to get her strength back as soon as she could.
It was still early morning when the door to her chambers burst open and two dark haired blurs flew in.
"Mother!" She was scarcely on her feet before they collided with her legs. Jaime felt a lump rising in her throat as she knelt on the ground beside her youngest daughters, flinging her arms tightly around both of them, unable to say a word. They smelt the same, she realised, both dressed in their nightclothes still. At least they're glad to see me. But Argella and Roanna were too young to understand everything that had happened. There was no guarantee that the others would be as enthused by her return. A tired, caught-off-guard Helia was one thing. I'd be surprised if Orryn could even look at me, and gods, Myrcella.
Jaime pulled back after a while, and the questions started almost immediately.
"You look different, Mother," Argella frowned.
"Why's your hair all short?" Roanna.
"It was much prettier when it was long,"
"You're still pretty now, though," Jaime had to laugh, hugging them both again, burying her face in Roanna's curly dark hair. The twins were still small, but definitely not as small as they had been when she last saw them.
"I'll be wondering why in less than an hour, but gods, I missed you both. Irritating little hellions that you are," Both girls gave identical grins, but her eyes had turned to the door, where Myrcella stood with Steffon, Helia behind them. All three were dressed, but had clearly done so in a hurry.
Her daughter was golden and beautiful and wore a prettily crafted smile on her face, not at all like her usual mischievous grin. On the other hand, her youngest son's face was as closed and reserved as ever, but she saw the happiness and relief shining in his eyes. Jaime got to her feet.
"You've grown," She said to both of them, unable to stop herself beaming. "Steffon, you'll be taller than me soon, and Cella you'll be twice as beautiful," The girl's expression faltered slightly, although the look did seem more genuine than that pretty smile. I'm your mother even if I've done a poor job of it. You can't pretend with me.
"I'm glad to see you again, Mother," Her daughter said, perfectly politely, still holding back. Jaime would have to deal with that soon, but for now just turned to Steffon.
"I heard you finally let Arthur take you into the training yard," Helia had told her the night before. Her son smiled a small smile at that.
"It wasn't so bad, really," He said. "I'm not as good as Arthur was, but not as bad as Joff - " He broke off, giving her a wary look, but Jaime just smiled.
"Even Orryn wasn't as good as Arthur was," She said. "Now, come here. I've missed you," She held out her arms to the boy, and luckily he wasn't too much like his father, for he gladly flung himself into her arms. The height he was, resting his head against her chest, put pressure on her still-healing wound in a way the twins had not, and Jaime winced, drawing back slightly, which didn't go unnoticed.
"Are you hurt?" Helia asked with a frown. Steffon stepped away, and Myrcella was eyeing her carefully, concern in her green eyes.
"I was," Jaime shrugged. "Not too badly, but it takes time to heal,"
"How were you hurt?" Myrcella spoke with narrowed eyes, sounding like the daughter she knew for the first time rather than a pretty talking doll.
"Just a scratch that got infected," There was no chance she was telling any of her children that there were men out there who had held their mother down, stripped her half-naked and cut off her breast with a Dothraki sword. "Hardly a heroic war wound. I'm fine now, a maester saw to it,"
There was a pause, and Helia opened her mouth, but was cut off by the door bursting open again, and Arthur barrelled into the room, fully dressed and clearly intending to go to the training yard before he had heard she was back.
Her third son had grown the most of all of them, and Jaime blinked at the sight of him; he had always looked more of a Lannister despite his dark hair and blue eyes, but now he looked just like a young Cersen, wearing Jaime's own grin rather than a smirk, straight hair rather than curly and with the larger nose of Stannis Baratheon.
"You're back!" He was several inches taller than she was now, taller than Helia, though was still skinny and beanpole-like, not having filled out yet. There was no tense silence, no awkward courtesies, Arthur simply threw his arms around her, actually lifting her off the ground slightly, making her wince again, but this time she was careful to hide it.
"I don't think even the twins gave me such an enthusiastic welcome," She couldn't help but smirk when he let her go. "Why haven't the other squires mocked being a mother's boy out of you, yet?"
"They might try, but they know better," He grinned. "I beat them into the dust every day in the yard,"
"There's the cocky little brat I know," She reached up to ruffle his hair, knowing he disliked it. Sure enough, he ducked away, pulling a face. "It's not my fault you haven't had a haircut in weeks,"
"As you can see, Arthur's trying to grow his hair to match mine," Helia smiled teasingly, turning to her brother. "I think it's longer than Mother's, now. You'll have to get the twins to braid it for you,"
"Yes, yes, yes," Argella - having moved on some time ago to bothering Pia (who seemed perfectly happy to indulge them... or at least didn't look to need saving yet) - beamed, rushing up to her brother, who glared at Helia.
"Cella showed us how," Roanna added.
"I've got new red ribbons,"
"You'll look like a girl," Both twins burst out laughing. Helia looked rather pleased with herself, Myrcella was smiling in amusement, whilst Arthur gave them both a dirty look.
"Where is Orryn?" Jaime asked. "He's the only one of you I haven't seen yet," Joffrey was dead, and she'd even seen him before her second son.
"He'll already be in meetings," Helia said with a slight frown. It was scarcely an hour past dawn; who could he possibly be meeting with? Jaime's confusion must have shown on her face. "Joff and Uncle Cersen left us all in quite a mess," The girl continued with a grim smile. Jaime noticed how none of the others blinked at the mention of their brother, or even looked sad. Worst of all, she couldn't bring herself to blame them.
"Have you seen Uncle Cersen yet?" Myrcella asked abruptly, falling flat in attempting her usual amused grin. Jaime turned to stare at her. As did all the others. The little twins were oblivious, backing to hassling Pia, but Arthur nudged his sister none too subtly in the side, whilst Helia shot her a rather Tywin-like glare. Even Steffon stared, looking eerily like his father.
"I saw him yesterday, when I returned," Jaime smiled. She wasn't going to lie to her daughter, but she was hardly going to tell her the entire truth either. I fucked your uncle-father in the sept, next to the corpse of your brother, our bastard son. That would surely go down well.
"Very late, then," Myrcella said, in the same tone the best fakers at court used. "Helia said you didn't make it to our chambers until midnight,"
"Cella," Arthur murmured, but Jaime silenced him with a look. Good, that still works.
"One of the first things your uncle said to me was to ask if I could talk him into Orryn's good graces," She said, looking straight at her daughter, smile gone. "Then he asked why I took so long to come back. 'Joffrey died without his mother at his side', I believe were Cersen's kind words. I left shortly after, to see your grandfather," None of that was technically untrue. Myrcella's pretty smile had dropped too. Green eyes met green, and they seemed to come to an understanding. We'll talk later.
There was a silence.
"I heard someone saying a brave young knight brought you home safely," Arthur cut in, deftly turning the conversation around with a mocking grin her way. "Did you play the damsel in distress, Mother? Reward him with a kiss?"
"Why you little - " Jaime slapped his arm sharply, catching him even as he dodged away. She grinned back nonetheless. "I wouldn't say he brought me home safely. We were attacked several times, wounded, held prisoner - " Mutilated, raped... ended up in a bear pit... "Though the man can fight, I'll give him that," Her smile sharpened. "I'd like to see him knock some of your corners off in the training yard,"
"I beat nine out of every ten men they put against me," Her son scoffed.
"You haven't beaten your mother yet," She said. "Cocky little shit that you are. He did," She paused. "Though I was in chains at the time, and weak from the dungeon," Either way, he's got over half a foot on you, along with eight years experience, and is built like an aurochs.
"He beat you?" That was all Arthur had taken from her words, sounding slightly awed. Then his expression turned mischievous. "You don't seem to have many of your corners knocked off,"
"Gods, why on earth did I want to come back?" Jaime cut him off, shaking her head. "I'll take you to meet Ser Brien later, if that's what you want," The look on Brien's face at the boy would be amusing, at least. "Don't try on your own, he's locked up in a tower cell,"
"Why?" Arthur said, but was cut off by Helia's slight gasp.
"Ser Brien of Tarth?" She asked with narrowed eyes. "That's the man who brought you back?"
"But he killed Uncle Renly," Myrcella exclaimed. In all truth, Jaime had forgotten about that.
"No he didn't,"
"Then why's he in a cell?"
"To stop Loras Tyrell trying to gut him, and getting himself killed in the process,"
"Because he killed Renly,"
"No," She took a deep breath, speaking rather shortly. "I give you my word that Ser Brien did not kill your uncle. And I know my word doesn't particularly count for much, not least because I'm a kingslayer myself, but - "
"They say Uncle Tyrion's a kingslayer," Myrcella said. That brought the whole conversation down as every single gaze darkened. "But I don't believe them. Tyrion hated Joffrey, but so did all of us, I know he didn't kill him. Mother, now you're back you have to do something, they've locked him away in a cell,"
"She's right," Arthur said. "I've tried to visit him, but the guards wouldn't let me in," He scowled. "I went to Orryn, but he said it's for the best. He's a hypocrite though, I know he's been to visit at least three times,"
"Orryn's spoken to Tyrion?" Jaime asked sharply. Truly, she did not know what to think of this whole matter. In her heart of hearts, she did not believe her brother would kill Joffrey, simply because he was her son. She had shown Tyrion nothing but kindness and love since he was born, despite their father and Cersen's hatred of him, and her little brother had no reason to want to hurt her. And even if Tyrion cared nothing for his sister, he was clever enough to make it look like more of an accident, rather than creating a spectacle in front of the whole court.
"Yes, but he doesn't tell us anything," Helia rolled her eyes. "Not even me. Of course, he hasn't said anything of it to Lord Tywin or Uncle Cersen about it either, which at least irritates them,"
This was good, Jaime supposed. Orryn was taking care to make his own judgements, rather than blindly following his advisors, his grandfather. But Orryn was not yet a man grown, so would not have the final say over Tyrion's fate. Except...
"Cersen isn't the regent anymore," She said slowly. She hadn't paid much thought to what her brother had said besides being irritated by it, hadn't taken time to understand what that truly meant. I'm the king's mother, I would have been Joffrey's regent if I was here, Cersen was simply the next best thing. "Who is?" Helia smiled.
"I think Orryn wanted it to be you," But Lord Tywin has the final say, of course, behind the scenes, for it's his armies supporting the king. He'd want someone he could easily control, who was unquestionably loyal to the Lannisters. Jaime would have been the perfect candidate... until her conversation with her father the previous night, where she had proven the exact opposite. Gods.
She didn't even want the position in truth, and knew she would loathe attending hours of small council meetings, but if it meant Tyrion's life, she'd do it all in a heartbeat.
"Your grace, Lady Jaime Baratheon to see you," The herald announced.
"Your grace," Jaime dipped into a flawless curtsey, though she did not lower her eyes, holding his gaze. He might be the king, but he was still her son, still a boy of four-and-ten.
"You don't have to do that," A faint smile played at Orryn's lips as he rose to meet her. He had grown, her son, inches over six feet even now, and unlike his brother Arthur had filled out a lot too. He almost looked a man grown. He did look a king, stood there at his desk, surrounded by parchments and advisors instructing him in dealing with the realm's finances, wearing that modest circlet on his brow. "It's good to see you, Mother,"
"It's good to see you too," She smiled back. "And I felt like I should curtsey at least once," Jaime moved to sit, as everyone present filed out of the king's solar at a wave of Orryn's hand. She doubted Robert had ever used this room, or even knew it existed. "Lest they start to say the new king lets his own mother disrespect him,"
"If Catelyn Stark had not disrespected her son, we would not have you back," Her son let a note of softness into his voice as he sat down. There was a pause, then he abruptly sat up somewhat straighter, to get down to business. "And we wouldn't be in so strong a position for negotiation,"
"You mean to negotiate with the Starks, then?" Her tone was carefully neutral, but Jaime was relieved. Continued war meant Orryn, and likely Arthur too, marching off to fight. Neither of them were Joffrey, content to sit safely behind castle walls whilst their grandfather won their battles for them. Likely the only reason Orryn hadn't already fought in the War of the Five Kings was the uncertain situation in the Stormlands that needed his presence to win back those foolish enough to side with Renly.
"Robb Stark rebelled against Joffrey for arresting and killing his father," Her son shrugged. "And the rumours about Joff and Myrcella only added fuel to the fire," Jaime grimaced, thankful when he continued without lingering on the matter. "I, however, did not kill Lord Eddard, and look unquestionably Baratheon. Surely Stark can see that now the Tyrells have finally joined our cause, and the Arryn's show no sign of declaring for the King in the North, that all hope is lost unless we offer terms?" Behind that visage of a strong king, confident in his decisions, Jaime was perhaps the only one who could see the slightly unsure boy asking reassurance.
"Some might say that offering peace terms makes you look weak," She raised an eyebrow. He gave a short laugh.
"That's what Grandfather said," Jaime blinked, not liking the comparison, but her son carried on. "In that same manner, as well. Testing me, not challenging me,"
"And what did you say to him?"
"The Starks have held the North for eight thousand years," Orryn replied in a manner that showed he had gone over this many times already. "We can't leave the largest kingdom in turmoil for the coming winter, we need their taxes to pay off our own debts. No other house can hope to return those lands to order in such a short time. Robb Stark had fair reason to rebel, but now Joffrey is dead, this is his chance to retreat without losing too much face. Not to mention that many of his bannermen would welcome returning home, given that their lands, and Winterfell itself, are overrun with Ironborn,"
"You've thought it through, at least," Jaime sat back. "That's more than Joffrey or Robert ever did. Or Aerys, for that matter. Make peace with the Starks so they can march north and defeat the Ironborn. Two birds with one stone,"
"It's good to hear you approve of that, at least," He grimaced then, and she narrowed her eyes.
"What haven't you told me?"
"Our army will be marching north with them," Orryn said. "With me at its head. Along with Ser Kevan. It will take a lot more than signed paper to convince the Starks that the moment winter is over we won't just march to Winterfell and slaughter them all,"
"And why do we care what the Starks think of us?" Jaime snapped. "Peace terms are more than rebels deserve. They should be bloody grateful for it, and traipse obediently back to shiver in their cold miserable lands. Diplomacy is one thing, Orryn, but personally leading men into enemy lands... What is stopping Robb Stark from killing you the moment you break through Moat Cailin?"
"Honour," At least the boy smiled at that, acknowledging the emptiness of the word, so his mother didn't have to slap him around the head. She laughed in his face as it was. "If we fight at his side, he wouldn't betray us. Not to mention the army marching at my back will be Baratheon soldiers, not Lannisters, they've never faced the Starks in the field. Some likely even fought together in the rebellion,"
"And if Stark betrays you regardless?" She asked him. "What then?"
"He will not," Orryn sighed. "Allies in war is not the only way our two families will be linked," It took a second or so for his meaning to sink in.
"Of course not," Jaime slumped back in the chair, not at all surprised, her tone wry. "I did think Edmure Tully's wedding was cancelled rather suddenly," She knew what was coming, but that didn't make hearing it any easier.
"The Tullys and Starks both made a bitter enemy of the Freys in doing so, but better be hated by Walder Frey than by the Iron Throne," Orryn grimaced again, but didn't hesitate to speak on. "Edmure Tully will marry Helia instead of the Frey girl when we march north. It's in the peace terms,"
"Strategically," Jaime said, fighting her temper. "That is a good plan. A very good plan. I'm sure my father was beside himself with glee when he thought it up,"
"And otherwise?" He ignored the rather childish jibe at his lack of true power.
"Your sister is fourteen," She dug her nails into the palms of her hands. "Edmure Tully is a feeble-minded fool of a man, who is too fond of women by half and can sulk like a spoilt boy. Not to mention he kept me in that bloody dungeon for months," She held up a hand. "I won't try and stop the wedding, I'm not that idiotic. But I want you to know what you're doing," Her son nodded slowly.
"I understand," He said. You never will, but at least you try. "I am sorry, for Helia and for you," Yes, she could hardly forget she would be sold off to a Dornish man-whore or a Highgarden cripple soon enough. "But she and I are the only ones who will marry as a matter of urgency. The others can surely wait - "
"The others?" Jaime's eyes sharpened.
"Grandfather didn't tell you?" Orryn looked rather irritated. "I thought he would have, given it was his idea," She drew in a long suffering sigh, forcing a smile on her face.
"And how many of my children has my lord father sold off in my absence?"
"I will marry Margaery Tyrell," Her son said. "As you know. Helia will marry Edmure Tully. Argella is betrothed to Robert Arryn - the boy is eight now, so near enough in age - and Arthur to Sansa Stark," All of that made Jaime's head spin, but all she could focus on was the last.
"Sansa Stark? Firstly, she's married to Tyrion, and second, you will not get peace from her brother unless you give her back to her family. The only reason Lady Catelyn released me was to return her daughters safe and well. We don't even have Arya,"
"Tyrion never consummated the marriage," Orryn said. Well good on you, little brother, for not fucking your child bride. "Thankfully, as there are already plans to annul it. We'll return Sansa for three years or so, until she's six-and-ten. Then she travels south again to become Lady Baratheon," Oh yes, Arthur's a lord now. Gods help us.
"Right," Jaime sat heavily back in the chair, thinking. "Right," If it wasn't her children, she would applaud her father for what he had managed to do. To drag the kingdoms from the depths of war, through a pen and paper. Of course, the Starks still had to agree to the terms, but the West and the Stormlands were a given, the Tyrells were allies through marriage, and if these betrothals went ahead then they would have the Arryn's for sure, and likely the Riverlands too, albeit reluctantly. And if she was still meant to be sold off to Oberyn Martell, that meant they'd have Dorne too.
All her children, in all seven corners of Westeros, away from her.
"I'm coming to Helia's wedding," Her tone was not up for discussion. "Just me, of course, we don't want to give them any more hostages if things go wrong. But if they do, I'm not leaving her alone in that place,"
"Fine," Her son nodded.
"Also," She smiled now. "There's this knight, who escorted me here at Lady Catelyn's request. Ser Brien of Tarth - "
"He fought for Renly," Orryn's eyes narrowed. "He killed Renly,"
"He didn't kill Renly, and I truly don't care who he fought for," Jaime said shortly, knowing all her children had cared deeply for their uncle. "He got me through the Riverlands alive, and as far as everyone else believes, killed a pretender to your throne, which most would think warrants the king's favour. This is your way out of publicly rewarding him - if you quietly give him a royal pardon and let him escort Lady Catelyn's daughter back to her, he'll fall at your feet and profess eternal loyalty," Her son raised an eyebrow, and she smirked. "He's a sentimental soul,"
"And he spent months travelling with you?" Her son's lips twitched. "You must have torn him to shreds," Jaime laughed.
"He's as tough as he looks, and ten times as stubborn," She said. "I did my best,"
"I'll have meet him," Orryn said. "When I'm not drowning in papers and debts and sycophants," For just a moment, he looked like the sulky little boy of eight he had been, having been made to sit in Maester Cressen's lessons instead of running amok with Helia.
"You're the king," Jaime said. "That's how it's meant to be. Of course, you can always spend your time shooting hares with a crossbow. I've been told that's how Joff liked to spend his days," Orryn actually rolled his eyes.
"I'd have brought him crates of the things. Shooting hares was the safest place for him,"
"I won't deny that," Jaime trailed off. "Orryn, Cersen told me you don't want him as regent - "
"I didn't truly believe that man was feeble enough to send his sister to get him into my good graces," Her son's face immediately twisted in anger. Even if she had been there to beg her son to let her brother back into the small council, she would have given up then; like his father, once the boy was dead set against something, there was no chance of anyone changing his mind. Cersen had clearly made himself enough of a nuisance to harden Orryn's resolve against him.
"I'm not here for him," She said. "I'm here for me," Her son looked confused. "I know my father has the final say in the matter of who becomes regent - don't make that face, you know I'm right - and I don't truly want the position, but if it means Tyrion - " She broke off. "I hear you've been visiting his cell a lot recently,"
"Tyrion didn't kill Joffrey," He said without question. "And I'm sure I could forgive him even if he did," Jaime had been thinking largely the same thing lately, but likely felt a lot worse about it. There was a pause.
"I'd like to speak to the Kingsguard," He looked up, curious.
"Why?"
"Joffrey died in front of them," She shrugged. "Whether they know if Tyrion did it or not, someone murdered my first son under their watch. I'll kill them myself if they let that to my second," She met Orryn's eyes, which softened.
"I did miss you," He admitted, quickly losing the softness. Jaime understood Catelyn Stark a little better then, seeing how her son turned so easily from a strong king to just a boy. "Send word to Ser Aredan if you want to speak to the Kingsguard,"
"Aredan the Unaware?" She raised an eyebrow. "Why would I - " She broke off, laughing, as it hit her. "Please don't tell me he's Lord Commander after Joff got rid of Selmy?"
"Compared to the others, he was the obvious choice," Orryn gave a small grin. "Unless you'd rather me appoint Meryn Trant or Boros Blount? Or our newest member, Loras Tyrell, who's almost as green as Arthur,"
"That's fair," She admitted, then sighed. "It seems I am to be rather busy. Berate seven white cloaks into doing their job better, convince my father to name me Lady Regent after our pleasant conversation last night, save my brother from the headsman's axe, persuade you not to ride north in person..." She trailed off. "And if I actually have to attend any small council meetings, I'll scarcely have time to be angry about my children all being married off," Her lip curled in disgust. "Gods, I hate politics," Her son laughed at that.
"Having sent far too much time blessed with Uncle Cersen's company these past few days, I'm starting to think that's a good thing,"
The dull coolness of the tower staircase contrasted greatly with the bright afternoon sunlight of the battlements she had just come from. Jaime had instructed her guard to wait at the bottom of the stairs, half expecting the man to protest - her father had clearly put the fear of the Stranger into the men from her guard that had made it out of the Whispering Wood without her, and now they stuck to her like limpets, even around the castle - but a quick glance at the long dagger at her belt had him nodding a 'yes milady', taking up position where instructed as she climbed the stairs.
She stopped when she reached the door guarded by two men.
"I'm here to see my brother," She said, knowing they had been informed of her visit beforehand, though they had clearly expected her to have a guard of her own.
"Right you are, milady," One of the men unlocked the door to one of the cells, helpfully announcing, "The Imp,"
"My thanks," Jaime said dryly. "You can shut that door after I go in,"
"What about the Imp, milday?" The other frowned. "He killed King Joffrey, I wouldn't put it past him to steal that knife of yours and make his escape,"
"I'm quite aware of the circumstances of my son's death, thank you," Jaime let an edge creep into her tone. "I also killed ten of Catelyn Stark's guards at the Whispering Wood. I'm sure I can keep my brother from taking my dagger," She smiled sharply as both men gawped at her. "I'll call for you when I leave," Without another word, she pushed open the door and brushed past him into the tower cell. The door shut behind her.
"Jaime," Her brother stood up from the narrow bed, hesitant but not apparently surprised. He'd likely heard her conversation with the guard. "I - " He broke off, but was clearly taking in her changed appearance.
"Didn't murder my son?" She raised an eyebrow, and he nodded. "Orryn said as much. Cersen didn't, but that's only to be expected,"
"And you?" Tyrion asked bitterly. "Do you believe I killed him, like everyone else seems to?"
"I wasn't there," Jaime sat down on the bed. "If it's any consolation, none of my other children care if you did it or not. They like you more than they ever liked him,"
"I can't blame them for that," He snorted darkly, then shot her an apologetic look. "Sorry. Believe me, Jaime, it wasn't me that killed him. He was your son. Vile though he was," There was a pause.
"He was more Cersen's son than he ever was mine," She said quietly, and her brother shot her a look.
"There's much I can say on the subject of bad decisions - "
"If you start talking about why one brother should receive special treatment and not the other, I'm leaving you to your ugly fate," Jaime's tone was wry, and got a short laugh out of Tyrion, along with a disgusted face she hadn't seen him pull since he was ten years old.
"I was going to say, 'but I'm hardly in a place to judge'," She laughed herself at that as he came to sit beside her, and they fell into an easy silence.
"Jaime, you can't trust him," Her brother spoke in a hurried, low voice, seeming to anticipate her disliking what he had to say. "Cersen, I mean. Before Father arrived, when I was still Hand, I was doing some investigations..."
"Investigations? Into what?" She was unsure why this was relevant, but dropped her own voice regardless. Had anyone but Tyrion started a conversation this way, she would have feared they would ask of her affair with Cersen, but of course, her little brother already knew.
"Into your husband's death," She hadn't been expecting that. "I spoke to Pycelle. Well," He gave a rather wicked smile. "I got him to speak, anyway. Turns out our old maester had kept rather quiet on some of his discoveries after examining Stannis' body. There were traces of Basilisk venom in his blood,"
"Poison?" Jaime asked, genuinely shocked. "But he didn't - I thought I - wasn't it that blow to the head that killed him?" The blow I dealt him. "All the other men who became mad with that sickness were fine a few days later,"
"Basilisk venom causes its victims to go mad," Tyrion said grimly, though his eyes were shining and he was clearly excited to tell her this news. "To become violent and easily angered," She remembered the feel of Stannis' large hands throttling her, backhanding her across the room after barely any provocation, when she'd said so much worse to him before. "And a large enough dose can kill,"
"Pycelle said the madness was because of the bad stew," She shook her head. "And we all believed that?" Jaime was suddenly angry. She hadn't loved her husband, but had enjoyed his company at times, despite, well, everything. He hadn't deserved the death he had got. "I suppose it wasn't Pycelle to actually poison him, he just covered it up,"
"And who do you think it was to do the deed?" Her brother asked with a meaningful look.
"I know what you want me to say," Jaime said quietly. "I know that Pycelle is a Lannister lackey first and foremost,"
"You knew?" Tyrion didn't seem to be judging, simply curious. "Knew Cersen..."
"No, I didn't," She laughed weakly. "I suspected, perhaps, when he arrived here sick. Given the rather convenient deaths of Lyonel and Maris. But then he died - it was such a strange thing to die of - and when the other men fell sick, I - I didn't know he could put that much care into his plans. I should've. There is nothing Cersen wouldn't have done to get Joffrey on the throne," She abruptly turned to her brother with a sharp look. "You haven't told Orryn this, have you? Father would not stand for any moves against his golden heir,"
"Of course I haven't told Orryn," Tyrion scoffed. "He'd want Cersen's head if he knew, and we all know how Father would take that. No, our dear brother's fall from grace is entirely down to his charming personality, and the mess he made of his regency. Speaking of," He gave her a meaningful look. "Now you're back, you should have his position, as the king's mother,"
In truth, she had been wondering why Lord Tywin hadn't put his foot down and insisted to Orryn that his uncle would remain regent. Though if these tales of Cersen and Joffrey's mess of a reign were true, perhaps their father did not put so much faith in his eldest son anymore? Interesting. Equally, it could simply be because Cersen had ceased obeying his every order to the letter, and Lord Tywin wanted someone easier to control.
"That only occurred to me this morning," She grimaced. "After I yelled at Father that I was not going to marry whichever man he sold me to, and wasn't his to control anymore," Tyrion winced. "I didn't even care at first - it's not like I revel in endless council meetings - until it occurred to me that it might be the only way to get you free,"
"Talk to him, today," Her brother urged. "Tell him what he wants to hear,"
"That I'll be a good little puppet and sign whatever he tells me?" She grinned slightly, even though the thought was distasteful. "Fine by me. That means I don't have to read anything,"
"Whatever you do, don't grovel," Tyrion said, smirking.
"Lannisters do not bow and scrape in the dirt like common smallfolk," Jaime imitated Lord Tywin's manner, pulling a face and making her brother laugh. Overcome with a sudden wave of affection for him, she put an arm around Tyrion's shoulder and pulled him close to her side. "I missed you, you know,"
"I missed you," Her brother replied honestly, hugging her back. There was a pause, then he looked closely up at her. "Jaime, are you alright?" The question took her aback slightly. "Orryn said that a rogue band of sellswords had captured you," He elaborated. "That doesn't tend to be the most comfortable travelling arrangements for pretty highborn women. Or any women at all," She could hear the concern in his voice; it made her feel sad, warm and angry all at once.
"What are you talking about?" She forced a smile on her face. "The food was truly excellent - stale bread and horse piss - and you know how I've always loved sleeping tied to a tree in the dirt," Much like how she did not wish to damage her children's perception of their mother any more than it had been already, neither did she have any desire to let Tyrion hear how his big sister had been treated, how helpless she had been.
"I felt the bandages," Her brother said flatly, clearly not convinced. "All around your back. Have you been wounded?"
"A small scratch that got infected," The lie that had rolled off her tongue in front of her children seemed rather clunky when faced with Tyrion's shrewd stare.
"Please tell me you've had a maester look at it, or at least told someone?"
"Cersen knows," She replied automatically, ignoring the look on his face. "And Father. I had a maester tend it at Harrenhal; he travelled back here with us," Jaime gritted her teeth slightly. There was a silence. "Oh, fuck it. I'm too tired to lie to you as well. No, I'm not bloody alright," She ignored how Tyrion's eyes widened. "They stripped me half naked the first night and cut off my breast with a Dothraki sword,"
"Jaime..." For once, her little brother was lost for words.
"I shouldn't have said that," She turned her head away, hoping that the guards outside hadn't heard her outburst. "I only told Father so he could ensure that... justice was done. And Cersen - " She stopped talking, not wanting to get into that with Tyrion. "The children don't know. And won't, ever," He nodded.
"That wasn't all they did, was it?" Her brother asked quietly, no glint in his eye aside from anger.
"Don't, Tyrion," Her warning tone was rather more pleading than she would've liked, but thankfully he didn't question her any further.
"So," His bright tone was clearly forced, but she smiled faintly in appreciation. "Tell me about the dashing young knight that brought you back to us,"
"So? Did you talk some sense into the boy?"
Jaime shut the door, raising her eyes to her brother, stood in the middle of her chambers. It was late afternoon now, having spent hours talking easily with Tyrion, and she still had to talk to her father. Having had no time to eat lunch, she would have expected her stomach to be growling, if she hadn't been living on next to nothing for the past months.
"Hello to you too, Cersen," She moved forward, stopping in front of him. She hadn't forgotten what Tyrion had said about the basilisk venom, nor that the last time she had seen him he was ordering her out of the sept after fucking her next to her dead son, but was able to put both to the back of her mind for now. She'd always been good at that when it came to Cersen. Though I used to be better.
"Stop playing around, Jaime," He snapped, irritation clear in his expression. "I know you went to see him this morning,"
"Orryn is my son, who I haven't seen in a year," She replied, already rather weary and not bothering to hide it; she rarely hid anything from her twin. "Besides, you know as well as I do that the choice of regent is not entirely up to the king. Why badger me, when you can get better results from father?"
"Father is humouring the boy," Her brother scowled. "Some tripe about a ruler learning to make his own decisions and live with the consequences," Jaime bit back a smirk; if her father didn't truly support Orryn's decision, then Cersen would still be in power. "It's a foolish idea. The king must learn to listen to those older and more experienced than himself; he is much too arrogant already," She closed her eyes briefly, not even entertaining the sheer hypocrisy of that statement (regarding himself) and blind ignorance (regarding Joffrey), before replying.
"Did you say that to Father's face?"
"Of course I didn't," He said impatiently, missing her sarcasm. "Well? Did you tell your son to give me back what is mine?"
"The position is only yours if you hold it, which you do not," She shook her head, wryly amused, as she sat down on the end of her bed. "No, I did not go and grovel to my fourteen-year-old son to give you back the regency. Feel free to do so yourself,"
"What is wrong with you?" Cersen snapped, moving to loom over her where she sat, aiming to intimidate. But though Jaime had felt many things towards her brother, fear had never been one of them. "What use are you, Jaime, if you won't even try to control your own children?" She did not miss the disdainful glance he gave the breast he knew was missing, and misliked what it implied.
"Like you controlled Joffrey?" She shot back. "Cutting off Ned Stark's head was your idea, was it? And what about beating Sansa Stark in front of the court?" Tyrion had told her all about how the girl had been treated by her son and her brother. "Was that some ingenious ploy to win support to our house?"
"How can a mother speak so callously about her dead son?" Anger flashed in Cersen's eyes. "Joffrey was a good king, strong, brave and true - "
"The boy was brave, I'll give him that," Jaime snorted. "If bravery is throwing yourself into everything with full confidence, without even knowing that such things as consequences exist. You're blind Cersen, to yourself and to him. I loved Joffrey because he was my son, but knew him well enough to hate him too. I love you, but I've known your faults for a long time. You let Joffrey make a mess of his reign, and no doubt contributed yourself as well. No, I will not go grovelling to Father, or to Orryn, to make you regent again,"
For a moment, her brother seemed stunned at the way she'd spoken to him. Then he opened his mouth.
"Strong words, for an ageing, mutilated woman," Cersen's words were spiteful, full of anger, each one designed to hurt. "It never used to matter that your head was full of empty space, but now your beauty is fading, and you're only half a woman, what are you good for now?" Jaime wanted to cry, but was too angry even for that. Any doubts she had about what she was going to say to her father, any lingering guilt for her brother, went up in smoke in that moment.
"Strong words," She repeated back to him mockingly. "From the man who wouldn't dare say such things to his sister if she had a sword in her hand," With that, Jaime turned on her heel and strode from the room, heading for the Tower of the Hand and ignoring whatever he shouted after her.
"You?" Lord Tywin raised an eyebrow. "You want to be regent? You, who has never shown interest of any kind at all in ruling and politics, who has little to no experience in such things, and loathes them besides?"
She hadn't beaten around the bush. Once they were past the stiff greetings, Jaime had just said what she came to say, and waited for her expressionless father to speak.
"Me," She pressed forward. "Who will do everything you ask of me, not interfere in your decisions in any way and am already unquestionably loyal to our house and the king. I promise you that," She was getting rather sick of that penetrating stare.
"And what brought on this sudden change of heart?" Her father asked. "I presume you want me to call off marriage negotiations - for your hand, or your daughters perhaps?" His tone heavily implied that this was not going to happen.
"I want Tyrion declared innocent," Was her reply.
"Of course," Jaime could glean nothing from his neutral reply.
"I spoke to him today, and you know Orryn has been down there several times this week. He didn't kill Joffrey - you know he'd have not made such a botch of it if he had," She said. "I'll be your puppet in court, do whatever you tell me to do without speaking a word against you, if you let him go, an innocent man,"
"Very well," The easy reply left her shocked, but she quickly schooled her face back to normal. "From now on, you are Lady Regent of the Seven Kingdoms, and Tyrion will be released, innocent. But the king's assassination cannot go unpunished, and I expect a murderer to be found before the dwarf leaves the cells," A murderer, not the murderer. Find a decent scapegoat. She could do that. Jaime nodded. "I also expect no resistance on the topic of your children's betrothals. You are not entirely stupid, I'm sure you appreciate the need for allegiances,"
She nodded again, gritting her teeth, but couldn't help but add, "And what of my own marriage?"
"Dorne is not a great enough threat to give away one of your daughters, to a landless prince," He said flatly. "Yet we cannot insult them, and they are enough of a threat to want an alliance with. Oberyn Martell has already taken up the position of Master of Laws here in the city. You and he will wed and remain in King's Landing, not as a matter of urgency, but at some time in the near future,"
Jaime opened her mouth to angrily protest, having only sworn quite vehemently the other night that she would never marry again, but a raise of his eyebrow had her furiously biting her tongue. She knew what was at stake, and wouldn't put it past him condemning Tyrion to the Wall just to show her the price of her defiance.
"Fine," She ground out. "Just don't expect me to be popping out any more grandchildren for you to marry off. The last birth near killed me, and the rate Prince Oberyn sires bastards, we likely have at least twenty children between us already,"
"Good," His reply made her blink in surprise. "I did not make you Regent to sit around coddling children. I expect you at every small council meeting, every court function,"
"Yes, Father," Her reply was wry and weary. Jaime imagined she'd be saying that a lot in the coming months.
"Needless to say, Cersen will not be pleased by your appointment," He continued. "Your brother can be... foolish. It may be enough to damage ties between him and the king for a while. Unfortunate, given he is to be the next Lord of Casterly Rock," That was true. And might even undermine the ties between the West and the Crown that Lord Tywin had dedicated his entire life to forming.
"Then why not give him what he wants?" She had to ask out of curiosity, for he clearly was displeased by this.
"Cersen would cause infinitely more damage as Lord Regent than he would as a bitter and slighted Lord Lannister," Her father said. "Besides, Tychus is his heir, and the boy is no fool," Her father had more respect for that boy than he had for any of his own children. Unspoken was Tychus' unfortunate resemblance to a young Tywin, the precocious heir dealing with an inept father. "If the worst should occur, a betrothal can always be made between Tychus and one of your other daughters,"
"Not Myrcella," She said without thinking.
"And why is that?"
"She looks too much like me," Was the first thing she could think of. "And he looks too much like Cersen," He didn't, he looked more like their father with red hair. "It would hardly help all those rumours,"
"This is only idle speculation," Her father narrowed his eyes at her. "A rather desperate solution to a problem I hope never to occur. I will not let Cersen damage relations to the crown so much that a betrothal is necessary," Jaime hoped he was right.
There was a silence.
"I should go," She said. "I promised the children I'd eat with them tonight," And tell them they're soon to have a new father. Her father nodded in clear dismissal, looking back at his papers before she'd even gotten to her feet to leave.
Lots of conversations in this chapter and not much action I'm afraid. Hope you enjoyed and that it wasn't too wordy, I promise it picks up again in future chapters. As always, comments and criticisms are very welcome. Thanks for reading!
Why Jaime believes so easily that Tyrion didn't kill Joffrey: for one, she trusts Cersen less blindly than male Jaime trusted Cersei at this point, and takes his claims with a grain of salt. Second, Lady Jaime had nothing to do with the Tysha fiasco, being in the Stormlands at the time, therefore she knows Tyrion has no reason to hate her. Third, all her children are on Tyrion's side, including the king. In the books, Jaime always doubted that Tyrion did it - partly why he helped him escape - and it was only until Tyrion yelled that he killed Joffrey in Jaime's face out of spite that Jaime was convinced.
Why Jaime seems so politically savvy: male Jaime actually gave Cersei very sound advice after their father's death. But she didn't like what he had to say, and he wouldn't be her Hand, so she sent him away to subdue the Riverlands, which he does, largely peacefully aside from a few Tywin-esque threats, relying on his reputation as the dishonourable Kingslayer. Jaime is good at politics, he just hates it, and refuses to play the game. Here, Lady Jaime has a reason to get involved, and is in a stronger position (basically Cersei's before she messed it all up).