Previously on POTG: The white walkers finally invaded the wall. Jaime Lannister is freed by Nathalia and Steffon.
Chapter 22 Play the Games?
*Nathalia*
Jaime Lannister is being hosted inside Steffon's new large tent. The guards outside it are tense, afraid that the kingslayer would kill them to try and escape. Nathalia greets them with a smile. She doesn't miss the groan of disappointment of one since she's already changed to a gown. They obey her when she says that she can handle Jaime Lannister by herself and that they are free to eat their daily rations. Once they are gone, she opens the heavy cloth of the entrance, catching sight of the knight changing his tunic. She is given a small window to be alone with Jaime. This is the best time to inquire about the whisper she received about Cercei's rage directed at Sansa Stark because of a letter sent by her twin addressed to the Stark girl. Apparently, the kingslayer is not known for sending letters not related to war. What made the situation more interesting is that Jaime asked Lord Tyrion to give it to Sansa instead of using Lord Tywin's most trusted ravens. The rumour is spreading vastly, even hypnotizing singers to write love hymns of an affair between the Lion Knight and the Lady Wolf. Nathalia wonders how long it would take Robb Stark to hear of these scandalous songs.
"I finally get to recognize you at first sight," She comments lightly, making the Lannister golden boy grin and lift up the plain tunic given to him by Steffon. The breeches that he is wearing, however, belong to Jon since Steffon is too lean for Jaime's muscular build. Nathalia It took quite a sensual persuasion to make him give up his only other pair—that and the fact that he has to keep quiet that Jaime Lannister is bathing like a nobleman once more.
Unlike others, Jaime does not bow. She smiles at that and reminisce in the past when he is the first one to give up the formalities. "You don't know how dreadful it is…sitting on your own shit."
"Lucky you then," She winks, knowing that the statement is his way of thanking her and Steffon. "My sister is taking care of Sansa Stark in King's Landing."
He tries to hide it but the sudden interested gleam in his green eyes gives him away. "And you are telling me this….why?"
She shrugs, walking inside the room confidently. Steffon's tent appears larger that it really is. Perhaps it is the lack of decoration that gives the room such an isolated aura. "I thought you might be interested in her well-being."
He walks over to the basin filled with clean water. Besides a small tub and table, and a wide bed, there is nothing more inside the room. Nathalia wonders where Steffon hides his weapons and clothing. Shaking her head, she focuses on Jaime—who is avoiding eye contact."I haven't even met your sister."
"Sansa Stark." One name stops him from continuing his bathing. "A bit young for you, Jaime?"
Jaime shakes his head, cupping his hands to fill them with water and washing his face. Once he dries his face clean using a towel, he turns to her with eyes flushed and elated. "I'm not courting her."
"No?" She raises her eyebrows tauntingly. "A letter written by your own hand would say otherwise."
"It was forged."
"It was given by your brother claiming that you do not trust ravens enough to become messengers." With this, she knows she has won.
He finally sighs and quietly puts on the tunic, tucking them inside his breeches. "I like her." If he is this honest, the only explanation that Thalia has is that Sansa Stark has bewitched him fully. The Stark girl is beautiful, yes, but apparently she is the most enchanting girl if she took Jaime Lannister's loyalty from his twin sister and relished at the fact that it is now directed at her. She shakes her head. No no, the girl is too innocent to have such cunning thoughts.
He says this with so much emotion that it leaves her flustered for a moment. Suddenly, she finds herself smiling. Steffon does not know it but his plan is flawless. "Which is why I think you are perfect for the job."
"Ah. I was wondering when that might come up," He leans against the foundation of the tent, combing his hair using his hands. "I know that you did not free me without any consequences."
She stands straighter, walking towards him. When in front of him, her hands fly up to pat his rich cheekbones like a sister does to a brother. "I'm sending you to King's Landing with a fellow guardian. You will play the game—on my side, of course—along with your brother."
"My brother? Tyrion? Surely not him?" Surprise is evident in his voice.
Nathalia raises a taunting eyebrow. "Did it not cross your mind that Tyrion would actually side with someone besides his family?" She tsks, a smug gleam in her eyes. "Jaime, your brother is not as loyal to the Lannisters as you think…and apparently so are you."
He smiles at her, a smile that could melt every girl's hearts in Westeros. "Resulting from inappropriate feelings for a sixteen-year-old girl whose father was beheaded by my nephew, the king."
He would have never admitted that Joffrey is his own kin. "Play the games?"
Wearing his tunic properly, Jaime Lannister would be one of the handsomest players in the games. "I have been playing since I was knighted by the mad king."
A memory resurfaces in her mind. Some tricks used cannot be erased from one's mind. That is the move of Aerys Targaryen to forsake Tywin Lannister of his heir. "On my side, of course."
"Nathalia, one would be foolish not to accept your request of an alliance."
*Robb Stark*
Robb Stark is furious, shooting them daggers using his Tully eyes. How can they just think that he would let Jaime Lannister go in an instant? He's been king for a short while, he knows, but he also knows the importance of having the best swordsman in the entire realm as a prisoner. It means that his army is strong enough to survive the games.
"Jaime Lannister will not be joining you in King's Landing." His voice is firm, decided.
"You may go if you wish—the gods know that you can do whatever you want—but you cannot take him with you. It's bad enough that you've ordered his shackles removed."
"Your Grace, if you only listened to what was proposed, you would have realized the value of having Jaime Lannister play in our side. Having him as a prisoner is a good thing, yes I admit to that, but having him send us whispers and persuading his twin to unintentionally do our bidding is better." Nathalia lets Steffon defend their side. He has shown impressive skills at blending in to gather information. Now, she wants to test his persuading skills. So far, he's doing pretty well. Robb Stark has not tried to order his beheading.
"He's right," Robb Stark's mother surprises them all by taking the side of the guardians. She walks behind her son, placing a comforting hand on his tense shoulder. "In this way, Sansa might be returned to us."
The king's face visibly softens at the prospect of his sister being returned to them. He remains quiet, his face stoic and undeterminable. His gaze moves between the two guardians, sizing them up. Losing Jaime Lannister would lower the fear of his opponents; however, Sansa returned to them and under their watchful gazes would lessen her chances of being brainwashed by the Lannister's. Besides, they have two helpers on their side. With the infamous Nathalia openly doing his bidding, the others might realize that his side is the most honourable. "Bring me the kingslayer," he orders his men. Steffon and Nathalia bow their heads as they step aside to make room for the kingslayer to be questioned. While waiting, Robb takes his time to study Nathalia. Now fortunately dressed in a dark red gown, she appears more to be a temptress rather than her powerful true self. Robb could not help but take another appreciative glance at her alluring poker face before shaking his head of his thoughts. She belongs to your brother, he tells himself, you saw the evidence yourself this morning. He can never get the image of a bare-chested Jon touching a barely-dressed Nathalia out of his mind. Besides, he only feels attraction and his feelings are far stronger for a certain healer. Robb takes a mental note to ask Jon for tips on how to woo women.
The rustling of the tent stops his mind from straying too far from the current deliberation. Jaime Lannister, now clean and looking like the smug bastard that he is, is brought in front of him, the helpers, and his bannermen. It is a good thing that Lord Karstark has proclaimed illness that he decided to skip their meeting. It would only cause more trouble if he has a say in the final decisions.
"You're very lucky, Lannister, to have two guardians thinking that you are needed on our side of the war." He comments, a mocking tone overtaking his hostile one. Robb leans on his table, resting his head on his closed fists. "Tell me, do you plan to betray us?"
The man in question raises a curious brow at his blunt question, "I would say yes but that would be a lie."
"You're life will be a bargain for my sister's."
"At least Lady Sansa will be safe from my sister's influence," The lack of immaturity in his tone stills Robb for a second. The man seems to care about his sister more that he thought possible. Clips of his first conversation with the kingslayer flashes back on his mind.
"Your sister's fine, wolf king"
"How would you know that, Kingslayer?"
"We're…acquaintances"
"Have you lured Arya with swords?"
"Arya? I was talking about Lady Sansa, King of the North"
Is it possible for this man to care for anyone other than his own kin? His father, Eddard Stark, has always hated the man. In fact, when King Robert visited Winterfell, the knight was only tolerated but not really welcomed. Jaime Lannister has always been hated because he murdered the mad king. Robb will never admit to this but he has always been confused on why such detest is directed at the renowned kingslayer. Wasn't their main goal in the rebellion to kill the mad king? Aren't they supposed to be thankful that Jaime has defeated the king and has taken their side?
"Why do you care about my sister so much, kingslayer?" The question is out of his mouth before he can fully comprehend the reasons behind such a scandalous question. His mother squeezes his shoulders hard, a warning for him to keep his mouth shut.
From the corner of his eyes, he sees Nathalia and Steffon exchange a small glance.
"What?" He demands, surprising both helpers.
They don't say a word for a while, worrying him. What do they have to hide about Sansa and the kingslayer?
"Your grace," Nathalia finally says, looking confident despite her previous stance. "There has been…developments with the—uhm—singers."
"Singers?" Catelyn interrupts using the question he's supposed to ask. "What do the singers have to do with this?"
"There's been…hymns." She tells them reluctantly. "Jaime Lannister and Sansa Stark are the main theme." Her eyes are downcast, making both Starks curious and a bit apprehensive of what is to be said about their own kin with Jaime Lannister.
"What do you mean?" Their Tully eyes are alerted.
Well they are bound to find out sooner or later. Why not say it in a moment where they cannot kill Jaime? "Apparently, people are whispering about their—" she doesn't know how to put it mildly, "—affair.
"Affair?" Robb beats his mother from exclaiming. He turns his accusing eyes towards the Lannister—who seems to be amused by the revelation—, furious that people would believe that Sansa could be having an inappropriate relationship with the man. After a couple of moments of staring, he begins to think. Why would the singers create such songs if there hasn't been any reason to? "What happened in King's Landing?" He surprises everyone by being calm. Robb is no fool. Rage does not fix everything—especially not in a council.
"There have been rumours of your sister being traded by the king. Most songs feature a casual walk in the gardens or a playful whisper in Lady Sansa's ears in public," Nathalia explains. "You needn't worry for more."
"And this helps my son allowing Jaime Lannister to go back to his sister's cruel hands, how?" Catelyn Stark is a powerful force to be reckoned with.
The helper sighs, looking at Steffon as if she is appearing to be bored explaining. The male helper is only too eager to fight for their decisions. "If Jaime Lannister returns without Lady Sansa suddenly disappearing, seeing as she does not wish to return to your company without Lady Arya, it would lessen the Queen Regent's suspicions on which side your sister is truly with."
"And if I asked you to bring back Sansa without her permission?" The king counters, looking mildly triumphant.
Steffon tsks. "Kidnapping is not part of our duties."
A smile threatens to break through his hard exterior. His past cupbearer is surely humorous enough to sway his mind a little.
"Jaime Lannister is still a valued asset," He declares. "My mother's mind is not swayed easily."
A knowing smile graces the helper's lips. "Does this mean that yours was?"
*Alessandra*
A violent wind causes their chanting to sound forced and unsure. They are outside the borders, holding each others' hands to create a large circle. Frictions of orange and yellow mass are staring to surround every entrance available to enter the wall. Fire is consuming the ice, turning the white ground into moving liquid.
"I thought fire could not kill wights!" Patria, a female guardian, shouts through the circling vortex of fire surrounding them.
"I told you it'd slow them down." Alessandra cries, feeling her energy quickly draining in the extent use of her powers.
They all raise their voices, making the circle of fire send balls of heat in the direction of the wights. The smell of burning rotten flesh is quick to spread that it takes her will power not to break the chain made by their hands to cover her nose. The wights' noises of pain reaches their ears like nails scratching thin surfaces—high-pitched and irritable. Every wight who dare get closer to the wall of fire surrounding them end up burning and returning to the large army created by their leader.
Knowing that they could not continue using all of their energy with a simple fire spell, Alessandra breaks it. There is a lull after; the only sound is the wights attempting to put out the fire created by them. Through the short flicks of empty space the roaring fire gives, traces of growls and deathly glares from their leader can be seen. Gods, how could I fight that?
"AEDEN!" Dyllon breaks the tension by commanding his protégée from the newest guardians. Lately, both of them have been practicing spear throwing—an activity that confused her. Why would they use those when there are perfectly capable swords available?
The guardian in training steps forward, producing a spear with a sharp end of dragonglass. He positions himself expertly for a boy who just started learning the art. Then he throws the weapon.
The throw is hard enough it to produce a whizzing sound as it goes straight for the heart of an unready wight. The target is made, the spear successfully going through the bodies of three wights standing behind each other before it falls prostrate on the ground. A power of shadowy smoke is left of the already-dead bodies of the walkers.
The declaration of an open war is made by that move.
The leader pounds his icy staff on the ground before riding his poor dead horse as quick as he could. For moments, the sounds of the hooves in contact with the icy ground are heard. Then the master of the white walkers easily rides through the heated flames, riding to avenge his fallen soldiers.
Aaaaah I don't really know how to write an action-packed scene.
Review Replies:
bfireworks5 : You'll have to find out in the next chapters *cue sly face* things are going to start moving fast from this chapter.
mariihamadeh: Sorry it took soooo damn long for me to update…but here it goes
Anonymous: I love your review! It gives me a moment to remind my readers that Sansa has yet to find out about Jaime's incest and the fact that he's the reason why Bran is unable to walk. For now, she just doesn't believe every gossip about him since she got to know him and she always depends on her memory of him saving her as a reason why she's not currently breaking down.
Lycan Lover 411: Aaaaah always love your reviews! Hahaha I'm surprised to find out that you're worked up with Jaime being released. I just couldn't resist writing more fluff.
Snowball A.K.A. WinterWolf: Well here's more
In the next chapter: The battle of the wall and wights continues. Jaime returns to King's Landing. Nathalia ponders on a dream.