The ride back to Evenfall Hall left Jaimie breathless, his heart pounding… he had only paused a moment to retrieve something he had considered important to what may come…
Podrick did not enter the great hall. Instead, he took his leave and vowed to return with his mistress… and promising, after some persuasion, to bring her straight to him by the safest route.
And as Jamie entered the Great Hall, he was met with a sea of raised voices and barely contained chaos.
It was a simple thing to reach out a hand and pluck a passing servant by their collar and demand, "What in the seven hells is happening?"
"Murder my Lord!"
By the Gods! It was the dramatic one!
Jamie didn't have the time for this!
"I know it is murder, squire… but of whom?"
"Loras Tyrell, Sir."
Despite the squires theatrically carved horror, Jamie felt his spirit soar… It was not Brienne who had perished… nor Sir Selwyn, his father or Cersei…
Cersei…
Where was Brienne?!
"His body was found this mid-morn, sir…" the squire continued, scrambling against Jaimie's grip and height, "In his armour with a mortal wound and washed up upon the shore."
Jamie's grip tightened, "A mortal wound?"
"The kingdoms most skilled physician is yet to determine the most likely cause, Sire…"
He released the child, who went scrambling about his business.
Loras was dead… Jamie allowed the knowledge to sink in before considering… his sisters betrothed…
What implications did that bring?
"Jamie!" Sir Selwyn exclaimed, immediately reaching out a hand and taking the other man's available elbow in a tight embrace as he whispered in his ear, "Where is my daughter?"
The question sent a jolt of panic straight through the Lannister as he looked, with some alarm, into the eyes of The Lord of Tarth and answered, "I do not know…"
Selwyn's eyes widened in horror before he seemed to change about, not allowing his concern to be viewed by others and announcing, "I am glad my daughters betrothed is safe in such perilous times!"
What in the hells was going on? Jamie wondered, before Selwyn dragged him close and said, "Meet me in my chambers in an hour."
So surprised by the request, Jamie could not refuse and was immediately excused from the Lord of Tarth's presence…
And still he knew no more than he had a few hours ago!
The sound of a door opening in the upper chamber caused Jamie to glance toward the first floor, glimpsing his sister exiting their father's chamber with some haste…
"Cersei," he called, but she did not respond and continued on her course to the opposite side of the landing.
Then his father came to the door, taking the time to shake his head and catch Jamie's eye…
"Father?" Jamie asked…
The Hand of the King rolled his eyes and closed himself back in his chamber.
For some reason the action brought a fire in Jamie's belly; what the in the hells were those two planning against Brienne?!
Suddenly his attention was taken by the sense of someone behind him and, though he was somewhat impeded now, his reaction was quick, swirling the assailant about and grasping their slender shoulder and jamming his golden hand as hard as he could against the other.
The hand-maiden gave a squeal; Jamie had to shake himself… a girl?
"What were you doing there" He asked…
"Looking for you my Lord," she admitted, face contorting as she strained against his grip… "I knew you may wish to hear what I know of the happenings here in Evenfall Hall since you departed…"
Jamie felt suspicion edge surprise, "And what do you owe me to grant me this favour?"
"My father, my Lord," she said quickly, "he was once your stable hand, but he grew old and had not buckled your steed causing you to fall…"
Jamie dimly recalled…
"Lord Tywin ordered him killed, but you changed his mind and merely had him reprimanded…" she looked him the eye, "his family have always owed you for that kindness…"
Could he trust her?
Either way, he had to know… "Tell me."
"It was this mid-morn Loras was found…"
"That I know child," he said through his teeth, "what else?"
"Your sister has said that she and Loras had been arguing with her about his meeting someone this morning… that he had donned his battle armour and told her it was a matter of honour and should he not return before noon that he would be dead though honourable combat for the sake of his family."
Jamie felt his head shake, not understanding what the servant was attempting to imply…
"But who should wish to duel with a Tyrell here, in Tarth?"
The servant blushed somewhat, "That is something my Lady Cersei wishes only to discuss with the Hand of the King, my Lord… so that the correct processes of law may be observed."
What was the girl saying?
"For there is but one, proud figure, now murdered whom Loras was famed to have borne great devotion…"
Jamie felt a dawning and he took a sudden hold on the girls arm, giving her a shake, "By the Gods, child; I have no wish to harm a woman but if you don't start to speak plainly then I swear by all that's holy…"
"The only other is Brienne!" The servant yelped at the tight flex of Jamie's hand, "That she petitioned Sir Loras and he, having fallen to her failed to defeat her once, met his demise at her sword."
Shock filtered through him… "Cersei accuses Brienne of the murder of Loras…"
The servant squirmed… "Sire… please…"
Quickly, Jamie released the girl and instructed her, "Leave."
The girl scurried off, leaving Jamie with but more questions…
How could Renly Baratheon be Cersei's way of hitting back at Brienne? Hadn't the Tyrells dispelled any suspicion of Brienne months past? The Lady Olenna, undisputed matriarch of the Tyrell household, had herself held Brienne in high esteem. Margaery had even beamed with joy at the site of the once Maid of Tarth… Would they change their opinions now simply at Cersie's say-so?
Of course they would; they still intended to marry Tyrells into the Lannister line…
During his musings Jamie had found his way to his father's chambers… hammering on the door with his golden hand, enjoying the resounding echo of metal and wood until it was stopped by the opening.
"You," his father acknowledged, "inside."
He had hardly stepped over the threshold before he demanded, "When are you going to tell me what the f-"
"I think Margaery Tyrell will do."
Jamie halted mid-stride and blanched… "What?"
Tywin hardly turned back to his son, "Given the Tyrells are a necessary ally and they have lost their only son and heir of the House Tyrell… it's only fitting we repay them one heir to another…"
"You're…" No, Jamie could find no words, "What?"
Tywin had rounded on him, "Tarth is about to come under a very large and very uncomfortable microscope thanks to your intended."
Jamie's golden hand smashed against the wall, "You mean my sister!"
Tywin straightened in surprise, the smallest smile spreading on his lips, "You have never questioned your sister's intentions before…"
Shit! Jamie looked at his hands, ignoring the smugness on his father's face, he had dented his hand…
"No matter," Tywin said dismissively, "Loras is dead and Brienne is the only viable culprit here in the sapphire seas."
"She didn't do it!"
"It leaves you in want of a wife," Tywin continued, as though Jamie had not spoken at all… "And Margaery is available."
"And she was going to marry my s-" Jamie stopped himself as Tywin shot a look his way… "Sisters son…"
"The Tyrells will want to find who killed Loras."
"Then find the murderer; don't blame Brienne!"
"If not Brienne then there is but one other who would be cast into suspicion," Tywin exploded, "So should I let your sister fall under suspicion?"
Jamie startled, "Then you know…"
The Hand of the King took a breath to calm himself, "I have no other alternative, Jamie. You will hve to adjust to the idea that your convenient marriage sham is at an end and we have to leave!"
The room whirled about him – what the hells…
Tywin had already paced past him, out of the room and into the landing before Jamie had reacted with a pathetic, "Father, you can't…"
"I can!" Tywin whirled, "And as soon as I find your absent fiancée, I will…"
Jamie followed him down the stair of the hall, trying to find words when the sudden emergence of the Lord of Tarth was quickly followed by Cersei, Lannister and Tarth soldiers alike and Brienne, in chains, with Podrick, also chained, and dragged before them.
"This is an outrage!" Selwyn was shouting…
"She killed him," Cersei declared, "She killed Loras because he accused her of Renleys murder!"
"Preposterous!" The Lord of Tarth declared.
"My Lady is innocent!" Podrick screeched, making a lunge at one of the five soldiers holding Brienne down to kneel before Tywin Lannister, situated a few stairs above the gathered witnesses of family, servants and soldiers…
"Silence!" Tywin ordered.
All obeyed.
"Brienne of Tarth," the Hand of the King intoned… "Where were you last night?"
For the first time since the ruckus, Brienne raised her eyes to meet her accuser; they then turned from Cersei to acknowledge the oldest Lannister… "I was in the woodland."
Tywin drew his head back, circling his shoulders, "Were you alone?"
The question caused Brienne to glance Jamie's way… hesitating to answer.
Could he let this happen?
Could he hells!
"She was with me," Jamie answered, watching all about the hall turn to him and withstanding their gaze to hold that of purest sapphire focused on him, "we stole away to a secret ceremony where we were bound in marriage."
A collective gasp ensued and Jaimie passed his father; joining Brienne, pushing away the blades at her back and throat he helped her stand to her full and proud height before turning to his father and looking him square in the face…
"Brienne was with me all of the night and on to the morning…" and he looked to her father, dipping his head to show some form of apology, "where I claimed her as my own and enthusiastically sealed our union."
Silence reigned…
The servants and soldiers were stunned…
Lord Selwyn looked to Brienne aghast…
Tywin seemed somewhat pleased and yet aggrieved for the sudden predicament in which he was placed, with no easy culprit for the death of Loras…
Cersei was pale…
Podrick hid his face…
And Brienne… Jaime could not look on her to see the betrayal he was sure to find there.
"Married," Tywin said, the word echoing through the hall…
Jamie went about unbinding Brienne and helping her stand tall, trying to easily throw an arm about her… "Our love needed to be spent and I would not have her without first making her mine in the eyes of the Gods."
Tywin gave an overly theatrical nod… "Your love may have needed to be spent but your consummation now requires proof, Jamie…"
Damn him! Jamie thought, disgusted with the request made so many weeks ago and the way in which it was to be fulfilled.
He gave a grim nod, "On one condition, father…"
Jamie recalled the price… it was a sickening bargain but proved to be a fortunate thing… this would seal Brienne's innocence; even if it would wreck any trust she had in him for the entirety of their remaining years…
"Podrick… my travel bag…"
The boy took a moment before rushing off, for what felt like a life-time, and returning…
The tension in the room was palpable and Jamie looked to Brienne, stoic, as ever…
She was so strong… Gods, he hoped she would forgive him…
"Podrick… remove the sheets you took from the Lady Brienne's bed last night…"
The servant hesitated, making Jamie feel sickly… even Pod detested him in this moment.
But the sheet was taken out and laid at Tywins feet… sweat and sex and blood quite evident on the material…
"She could not have killed Sir Loras," Jamie declared loudly to all who would hear, "because she was in bed with me."
Silence reigned about the hall.
()()