Hello my dear readers!I have to inform you that the next chapter is the last for this second part of IBTY. There will be a surprise if you didn't found out first. And for the look of it, it might be longer than the two parts :PAlso, I thank you for adding to favorite/alert this story and my profile. It means much to me, I know you like the story and help me to continue.I will stop talking (or in this case writing) and as always, I don't own A Song of Ice and Fire books and GOT show, except for my OCs and part of the story. English is my second (foreign) language, Spanish is my first. Sorry for the typos.
Enjoy!
Chapter 9
JOANNA
Six Months Later…
Men closing a door…
Sharp and burning pain in my right shoulder and the left side of my back… The sound of the bolt piercing my skin… The sound of skins pierced… The smell of death and blood…
…screams and the sound of galloping horses were behind me… the pain of my back, chest and belly were burning… North, South… no matter where I was going I need to escape… They are going to kill me…
My sight turns blurry… a side of my body hit so hard on the ground and everything was spinning… I need to keep going… I need to live…
I ran and ran inside the forest… I stopped when I found a swollen river growling loudly… men screaming at me… calling me…
The river was taking me to an unknown place… I began to swallow mud and water, but I was doing my best to breathe air… Everything turned black…
I woke up coughing and trying to find some air in my lungs, still feeling the taste of water and mud in my mouth. Once the coughs subsided and only I had spams, I found myself sat in the bed. I turned to the nightstand, to grab the glass of water I left every night there in case I wake up at the middle of the night thirsty. When I drank all the water, I grab the small notebook and I started to write what I could remember about that dream I had.
It wasn't the first time I had these strange dreams since I woke up in my world; some were the same, others were new, and others were a mix of both. What I could notice about those strange dreams it's that all have in common medieval scenery. I didn't know if those dreams were created from my mind based on the time I was in Westeros, or this have some message from Kyra the Red Witch.
After I finish writing, I look at my phone and indicate 3:55 am. Too early… I couldn't sleep anymore, I was scared to find myself again running scared through the woods, the river taking me to an unknown place while I was drowning.
I went to the couch to watch TV and forget what I dreamt. I was zapping channels, until I found a comedy movie, making me forget what I dreamt.
RIIING… RIIING…
I didn't know when I fall asleep again, but a strange bell woke me up with a sharp pain in my neck and tiredness. What the fuck it's that sound…
RIIING… RIIING…
Then I remind me myself that the sound was the bell from my apartment. There were times in which I forgot where I was or how things worked, such as managing my phone, using the computer, and even I'm still managing to turn on the stove from the kitchen. Those almost two years in Westeros made me forget about the technology from my world.
As the best I could, I got up and search for my black satin sleeping gown, and I went to check who it was through the peep hole.
There's nobody…
I grab the baseball bat I have at one side of the door, ready if I had to defend myself from a psycho, and open the door carefully.
There was nobody, only a box enveloped with a rustic cord and had a piece of paper with my name on it, in a perfect cursive letter.
What the hell…?
I checked first outside my apartment if there's no one stalking me or something, but there were no signs of anyone. I saw the box again, and I was nervous but curious of its content.
"Fuck it. Its better be good and inoffensive thing." I said when my curiousness was killing me. I look around before grabbing the box and getting inside.
I leave the strange package on the kitchen counter. I grab the piece of paper to read it.
Two paths. One is moving, and the other is forming.
Two paths. One you can't control, and the other is changeable.
Two paths. One is fixed, and the other have many paths.
Two paths. Both are written with different ink.
Unable to be rewritten, unable to return, unable to live twice.
Wish a path, and I will be revealed.
Wish a path, and you will be there.
I was confused for the message, trying to figure it out. But I couldn't understand.
I search for a knife to cut the cords and open the box. Inside there were five thick old books, all of them bound in leather, and marked in Roman numbers each book in their spine; they were one beside the other, arranged from left to right according to their number. I grab the first of the books and open it.
I found a very colorful cover page, the background was blue and it has drawn the pommel and part of a sword in silver and black colors. The shape of the pommel was familiar, but I couldn't figure it out when I saw it.
But in the next page, I found a title, apparently written in cursive letter and black ink. It is a title that I never thought to read it again.
A Song of Ice and Fire
A Game of Thrones
What…?
I skim the book and I found myself as Lylian in it. No… this cannot be…
I skim the second book, which has also a very colorful cover page, with the difference that instead of a blue background and the sword, it was a golden background with a bronze-golden crown and says with the same cursive letter and black ink…
A Song of Ice and Fire
A Clash of Kings
In there, I was Lylian Lannister, and it has my point of view until I loose conscience that night when the Lannister envoy helped Jaime to escape. Without thinking, I put my hand over my stomach.
My baby… she or he died that night…
Then I reached the third book. Green background with a bronze helmet (which I guess it was The Usullied's helmet), and says with the same cursive letter and black ink…
A Song of Ice and Fire
A Storm of Swords
When I read the first chapter of the book, my heart broke when I read his first lines…
JAIME
An east wind blew through his tangled hair, as soft and fragrant as Lylian's fingers…
On the same chapter I search for the part in which he spoke with Cercei about throwing Bran through the window… and the scene is still the same as the original- no, it's not…
It was the fight they had after they arrived to King's Landing, after I told him, as Lylian, what happened on the woods and Sansa's direwolf.
"Joffrey attacked her!" he shout to his sister. "TO MY BETROTHED, CERCEI!"
"Our son was defending himself, that whore and her filthy wolf attack him."
He resisted to slap his twin. "Lylian was defending her sister from being killed-"
"Now the whore, has a name." Cercei said bitterly.
"If you call her again a whore-" He hissed but Cercei interrupt him.
"That wilding whore put a spell on you-" Jaime didn't let her finished and slapped her face. Cercei took her hand where she was hit. "What next? You will kill for her only because I naming her true name?"
"If you belittle her, speak ill of her or try to kill her. I will kill you surely." Jaime hissed.
"I'm the Queen-"
"I. Don't. Care."
Jaime could understand better why Lylian was so upset at him. The reputation of his family doesn't help that much being trustworthy at her. Jaime wanted to amend everything, to show Lylian he was trustworthy.
When Jaime was about to getting out from Cercei's bedchamber, his twin spoke again. "What about if the boy remembers anything? Ned Stark and the girl will say anything-"
Jaime turn to her still angry at her. "The boy will not remember anything. If he wakes we'll say he was dreaming, we'll call him a liar, and should worse come to worst I'll kill Ned Stark." He was praying to the gods for the boy's health, but also for the boy's memory. He was worried on Lylian's reaction about that. "This is over between us. I will marry her, and I will act as such." He said before leaving her chambers.
"What will happen if she finds out about what you did? Do you think she will forgive you?" Cercei's words stopped him and turn to her.
"She will never find out."
And Lylian found out, his little wife knew before the news were spread. Lylian hate him deeply for his actions, he could see it through her grey-steel eyes.
How did she know about Cercei and him? He was still confused about it…
I stopped reading him and saw other chapters. Lylian was almost in every Jaime's chapter, speaking or thinking about me. "Impossible…" I whispered as I turn the pages.
This can't be possible…
I search my A Song of Ice and Fire books and read Jaime's chapter. It was still the same, the original version of the author. No… I can't have this nor seeing this… I want to know about Jaime and my life in Westeros from a different point of view… But, I'm still broken…
I knew that the gift was from Kyra, and she knows that I'm still doubtful of returning to Westeros or returning to my old life here. For the moment, I put the old books back to the box and left it on the kitchen counter. I needed to think before reading those books. This was too much for me…
After preparing my breakfast and taking a quick bath, I dressed myself with a shirt, short jeans and snickers, and go out.
I walk and walk, without going to a specific place; my mind was thinking in thousands of things but at the same time was blank. Without noticing, I arrived to the beach. Everybody was there getting fun in their own way; kids, teens, adults, college students, and even old people… all of them enjoying the Spring Break, with the exception of myself who I have a disaster in my head.
I have to thank myself to bring me here, coming to the beach always made me relax and clear my head of everything; the sensation of the sand between the toes of my feet and the salty smell of the ocean relaxes me. I took off my shoes and decided to walk at the shores of the beach, trying to organize my head.
Returning to my world have its advantages. Everything it's cleaner and healthy here, you can use a toilet and taking a shower with shampoo and soap, also when I'm on my days I can use pads, tampons or menstrual cups, and washing your own clothes it's also easier; the medicine field here it's advance and of course, at the moment of treating wounds it's much cleaner, and in the case you have an infection, there are remedies for it; you can find a variety of food, eat whatever you want, and cooking it's easier, and in the case that you want to have leftovers for the next day or whatever you want to eat the same food again, you have a refrigerator and a microwave, both are lifesavers along with the kitchen; women here are at the same level of men in general terms, of course… there are occasions in which there are still men who consider women the weak sex, but still women can be and do whatever they want, including myself. They are some of the advantages here, but I wouldn't have the adventures I had in Westeros; no mounting a horse, no using swords or a bow and arrow… not seeing him.
Jaime…
The thought of him hurts. On the one hand, his mistakes and dark secrets hurt me on the process, for me it was hard seeing him. On the other hand, I miss him so much; his strong arms, his kisses, his stupid arrogance, his body cover me while we are making love…
Then my thoughts turned to Peter when I saw a couple laughing and eating their ice creams. Their complicity and the act of showing their love, remind me of something, an old memory…
…Peter and I were walking at the shores of the beach, until he decided to lift me from his back, he complaint that I walk so slow, but actually it was his high stature and long legs that he takes long steps; me at his side, I was very small and short legs.
"Can I ask you something?" Peter asked.
"Depending on the question." I joked as I was chuckling because of his sudden action of lifting me.
"Do you want to live with me?" he asked. His question slapped me on the face, I was so shocked. I knew that Peter noticed my silence when he stopped and put me down, then he turned to look at me. His face looked guilty, then he spoke quickly as he grabbed my hands. "I understand if you don't want to do that. It's too soon-"
I knew it was too soon to move out with someone, but I want to be with him more frequently, and maybe something more… "I want to move with you." I interrupt him and I could sense his smile. "But I have two conditions."
"What is it?"
"You will not interrupt my studies. I need to finish."
"I will help you with it. And that includes the payment of your tuition."
"No-"
"I earn enough money to maintain us. Little Italy is a success, and it will be better if the restaurant increases the number of clients. If it's in my possibilities, I will help you in the payment of your tuition." When I was going to insist him, he spoke quickly. "I know that Robert is paying you most of your studies and the apartment, and I've seen you're capable of working on your field or any other job, all in order to pay the tuition. I don't want you to be in debt to anyone. The lesser, the better. Don't deny me this because all I want is good for you."
I sigh resigned that Peter was going to help me, no matter if I like it or not. "The other condition is that there will be days in which I will need to stay in my apartment. I like the idea of starting to living with you, but my apartment is closer to the university."
"I'm agree if you let me stay with you there. Of course… I will respect the days when you are busy studying and you don't want me around."
"I will let you know when I'm busy." I told him before we kissed.
That proposal was when we had almost three years together. At the beginning I was a little bit insecure of the decision, because he was the first boyfriend who I started to live with and get serious. I didn't know if living together was going to improve our relationship, or getting worse. But days, weeks and months passed, and my decision was the correct one.
The man I love is in Westeros, but also I had one here, Peter Russo…
According to the few memories I had about him, Peter Russo and I met in high school, I was in 7th grade and he was in 9th grade; also, we were neighbors and his older sister was Daniel's girlfriend for a time. We became closer on Christmas holidays in 2012, I was spending my holidays at my parents' house and he was doing the same; on Christmas we talk, we got along, I began to date him and eight months later we were together, making it official to our respective families. The development of our relationship was a slower one, he was very patient with me, and he understood how busy I was because of the jobs I had in order pay my studies.
Peter was very handsome. He had the same height as Jaime approximately, and he was slender; living in California is usual to see tanned people, however Peter was pale; his eyes were dark brown, but his pale skin made his eyes look darker; straight black hair, sometimes he let it grow until the base of his neck. Also, Peter was good-hearted, patient, proud, outgoing and honest; like every Italian descendant I've known, he loves being surrounded by his family and close friends, and of course, pasta everywhere; with a lot of hard work, he accomplished his dream of being an owner of a restaurant, he called it Little Italy, in which serves traditional Italian food.
During our relationship, he made me grow up as a person, thanks to his wise words and intelligence. And at the same time, I didn't know exactly when I changed during my relationship with Peter, but between my 23-24 years old, I abandon the parties and drinking, and I changed it to a quiet life by staying at my apartment or Peter's apartment and focus on finish my Art studies. I wasn't that 19-or-20 young girl who liked parties; however, there was still a small part of me that wanted some adventure. Since I had this change, it's when I decided to get serious with Peter.
I was very happy with Peter, I love him so much. He was my first love, the first who I wanted everything with him. He proposed me to be his wife, and I accepted because I loved him, I wanted to share my life with him…
But then… On the biggest day of my life, exposing in a museum for the first time my creations, my art, what I love… That accident happened. Killing my parents and the man I loved on the process… No… what kill them was my time in Westeros, making me forget my life here. Making me having this amnesia that impedes me to remember them.
He's dead… They are dead… I will never recover those memories, and that hurts…
I sat on the sand, looking at the infinite ocean before me, while my skin is receiving a sunbath and starting to cry in silence.
