Chapter 4

ASHARA

It was early morning and Jaime and Ashara lay entwined in her tent. Ashara was awake in Jaime's arms who was still sleeping. She didn't want to wake him partly because he looked so naive in his sleep but mainly because he had a big day ahead of him. He was down to the last four knights remaining in the jousts. He needed all the rest he could get before today's big round. He was facing the legendary Ser Barriston Selmy while her brother faced the Prince. Jaime was confident about being crowned the champion but she felt that it was the farthest he could go. Not that she wasn't proud of him, people were already talking about Jaime's ability. To go so far in the jousts at such a young age was no small feat. However, the other knights remaining in the tourney were veterans and much more experienced than him.

Another reason Ashara was content in letting Jaime sleep was that it provided her with some quiet to think. It was the day before the final day of the tourney. They would leave for their homes after that. She wanted to trust Jaime, trust that he would talk to his father and that he would be able to convince him for their betrothal. However, all her friends told her not to get her hopes high. They had been advising her against seeing him since the beginning of the tourney. They told her of the rumors of Jaime laying with many women. She wasn't bothered by these rumors and didn't care even if they were true because she trusted Jaime to know that he was a changed man and would never dishonor her in any way. What worried her were the words of Princess Elia. She told her that a match between Jaime and her was going to be difficult as Lord Tywin would rather have a match for his son that would benefit House Lannister one way or another. She told him that the Great Lion was not one to be affected by emotions and was more pragmatic in these regards.

She heard some voices growing outside her tent which caused her to stir and then a man barged into her room which made her pull the sheets up to cover herself with one hand while her other hand clutched Jaime's arm real hard.

"What is the meaning of this?" she demanded as Jaime woke up and instantly put himself between her and the man who she now realized was wearing Lannister armor. Her guards posted outside her tent also came inside sword drawn.

"Apologies my Lady, but he wouldn't listen and forced his way past me," answered her guard probably ashamed that he was unable to do his job.

"Are you soft in the head boy? Or you just weren't taught the basic courtesies before entering a Lady's tent?" asked Jaime annoyed with this whole incident. Seeing Jaime not worried calmed her down and made her realize that Jaime might know this guard.

"My apologies Ser but you must come with me immediately," he answered.

"You can put your sword away. There is no need for concern here," Jaime told her guard who was still at guard. To his credit he kept his sword drawn and looked towards her for her permission and sheathed his sword only after receiving her nod which Jaime didn't fail to notice.

"Don't worry my lady, he is my sister's guard. You would have to forgive my family, it's just that everything falls apart when I am not around," he said jestingly and she was amazed at his ability to never be serious.

"You can go now. I will find my sister in time for breakfast," he told the Lannister guard.

"I was told to get you myself, Ser. It is a matter of utmost importance. We have half the Lannister household looking for you. Lady Cersei told me that I might find you here and that I was to escort you immediately."

The way that guard gave Ashara a feeling that something terrible had happened.

"You better go, Jaime. We'll meet later," she told him and he nodded, got dressed, and left immediately.

JAMIE

He walked into the halls of the wings allotted to the Lannisters for their stay in Harrenhall and could hear Cersei shouting about taking someone's head from quite a distance away. This did not worry him as Cersei wanting somebody's head was not a rare scene in the Lannister household. He walked into the room where they were all gathered and the room fell silent as soon as they saw him. There was Cersei, his uncle Kevin, Tyrion, and his aunt Genna in the room.

"This came for you from King's Landing," said Uncle Kevin as he walked towards him and handed him a letter. Jaime examined it saw that it bore the King's seal which was already broken. He opened the letter and as he started reading the contents, he could feel the ground shake beneath him.

"Treason?" he asked bewildered. Jaime felt sick and could not continue reading further, the letters dancing in front of his eyes as they used to since he was a child.

"This is a royal command. Your father is stripped of all titles and lands that he holds. You are to ride to the capital within a fortnight and swear an oath of fealty to the King. Failing to do so would brand you as the enemy of the crown," said Aunt Jenna who understood his difficulties and decided to make it easy for him.

"There has to be a mistake. He has served as the Hand for decades now. There has to be. Perhaps I can go and clear things out" asked Jaime to no one in particular. At this point, he was just thinking out loud.

"That would have been our thoughts as well, had we not received this," said Uncle Kevin handing him another letter.

"Grand Maester Pycelle has been under your father's influence for quite a while now. While the King had all the Lannister men hunted and killed, and all the ravens shot down, Pycelle was able to send this with a rider."

Jaime took a deep breath and started reading. He felt getting angrier with every word that he read. His mother... That mad man had his mother.

"This can't be... There must be..." he said trying to gather his words. He felt his feet buckle and somehow managed to sit down at an empty chair.

"That's all you have to say," said Cersei who till now had been surprisingly quiet. "That monster is out there raping our mother every day. Putting his disgusting dirty hands on our sweet innocent mother while our father is rotting in the black cells. I want his head, Jaime. He cannot get away with this. Gather our armies and march at the capital at once."

"Now calm down Cersei. We have to think about this rationally. There might be an option for diplomacy here. Let me go to the capital on your behalf and begin negotiations with the King. There must be a way out of this," said Uncle Kevin.

"You dress like him. You talk like him. You act like him. But today you showed that you will never be him. Because you are a coward," replied Cersei with venom in her voice.

"Do you have any idea of what you are talking about little girl? A war we lose could mean the end of House Lannister."

"Quiet both of you," snapped Aunt Jenna. "Jaime, you are the lord of Casterly Rock in your father's absence. It is your decision, my boy. But you have to make it now. Only a handful of people know this yet but the entire world is going to know soon. We cannot wait any longer," she told him.

Suddenly, Jaime felt all sets of eyes focused on him. Even little Tyrion was looking towards him, his eyes scared. He shouldn't have been here, Jaime thought. He shouldn't have had to listen to all of this at such a young age. Nobody here thought about that. Not even Aunt Jenna. They were all clearly focused on the bigger problem. Mother would have thought of that, he thought.

"Call our banners, Uncle. All of them," he said. "We leave for Casterly Rock tonight. I want a full night's march before they realize we are gone."

"Are you sure Jaime? This is a big step, a step that you cannot take back. There is no knowing what the King might do when he hears of this rebellion. He has your parents in captivity remember," replied Uncle Kevin.

"I am sure. If my father and mother's words were unable to make the King understand then I doubt that you will have a better chance. My decision is final. Prepare for war."

TYWIN

It had been weeks since he had last seen the sun. He felt weak, dizzy, and sleepy all the time and yet he hadn't slept in days. How had it come to this? What was the mistake he made to end up here and more importantly, how does he get out of it? To add to his frustration he had no idea of what was going on outside. Pycelle hadn't come to see him or sent him any news of outside, of his wife. He sometimes wondered why he even paid that fool. He wished his wife was safe but he knew that it was not likely. Every time he thinks about the Mad King's dirty hands on his beautiful wife his blood starts to boil. No, he had to calm himself. Calm thinking and intelligence were the only way he was getting out of this.

The door opened and the light of the fire from the torch nearly blinded him for a minute. He expected it to be Pycelly but after his eyes adjusted to the light he saw the face of Varys, the King's spymaster.

"My lord. Allow me to offer you my condolences," he began.

"I.. I'm... I am not dead yet," replied Tywin barely able to get his words out because of how dry his throat was. He did not even realize how thirsty he was. Varys handed him a flask of water and he began drinking it down.

"Slowly my lord. People have died of thirst in here," he said. "I tried very hard to persuade the King to see reason and let you and your wife free my lord but he did not listen to my advice,".

"Why are you here?" asked Tywin. He had no patience for false words.

"Your son, my lord," he replied.

"What about him?" asked Tywin.

"He has called your banners. He must have over 100,000 men gathered at Casterly Rock and even more arrive to join him every day," replied Varys.

Tywin took a moment to ponder over this. Jaime had always been rash and quick to react. 100,000 men were not going to be enough. But this was the only choice apart from surrender and admitting defeat.

"He's a Lannister. I expected nothing less from him," replied Tywin.

"He is just a boy. A green boy. You know very well my lord that 100,000 men won't be enough. One kingdom won't beat six."

"Why are you here?" asked Tywin again.

"To try and stop House Lannister from dying. The king does not know about your son's treason yet but I won't be able to delay giving him this information much longer. And as soon as he knows about this, yours will be the first body he burns. House Lannister will die and you are the only one who can save it. Write to your son. Tell him to swear fealty to the King and he will let rest of your family live and keep their titles," said Varys.

"Tell my son to bend his knee to the mad man who rapes his mother?"

"Terrible my lord, I know. Extremely terrible. But we suffer so our children can live. Sacrifice the present to save the future. Think about it my lord. But don't take too long for you only have a little time to save House Lannister,"

Author's note:

Happy new year guys. Even I don't where this came from. Sitting around the house on a normal day and suddenly had a thought to update one of my stories. So, Here We Go.

Do let me know what you guys think.

I might even update the other stories too. I have had a great idea of the next chapter of the Accidental king but haven't been able to write it yet. We'll see.

Take care everyone. Ciao.