Disclaimer: Characters and past storylines belong to the series creators and George R.R. Martin.
Out through the fields and the woods and over the walls I have wended;
I have climbed the hills of view and looked at the world, and descended;
I have come by the highway home, and lo, it is ended…
Ah, when to the heart of man was it ever less than a treason
To go with the drift of things, to yield with a grace to reason,
And bow and accept the end of a love or a season?
from Reluctance by Robert Frost
Jaime
ø
Though it was cold, and the wet wind swirled around him, he stared south, imagining he could see Casterly Rock. He was surprised he longed to be back, not because he missed the land particularly, but because he'd grown fond it seemed, of the quiet way his life had been. And all this death about him, he could not take it much longer.
The door behind him opened suddenly, one of the Targaryen's eastern soldiers beckoned him inside. He turned once more to the sea, looking hard for one long moment, before turning back to the man he did not know, and entered the castle that was not his own.
Jaime followed him to where he knew she'd be only when he entered, the Queen was not alone. Theon Greyjoy, the one who'd gotten him involved in the affairs of Pyke, sat in a chair across from where she stood. There was an empty spot next to the ironborn, and he walked to it, bowing to her first before sitting steadily, knowing it was intended for him.
She nodded appreciatively, and spoke, "Now that Lady Yara holds the Iron Islands, I will sail North. I've sent word to King Jon and I will take a garrison of thirty men, mainly Unsullied though a few Dothraki riders have requested to go."
"Surely you realize, I intend you both to journey North in due time. You will both help me end the war with the Starks, my realm will have true peace throughout the kingdoms."
Greyjoy seemed both surprised and horrified at this information, but he only bowed his head. Jaime nodded as well, but he suspected he hadn't completely hidden his distaste at this request as she continued to speak. Her eyes on him, she smiled, as if she knew something he did not.
"For now, you will return to Casterly Rock, and secure the fealty of your men."
Though the two words that started her sentence confirmed that one day he'd leave, he felt relief. For the first time in his life perhaps, had he ever been excited to return home, and not because his sister was there.
She turned once more to the man sitting beside him.
"Theon, you will remain in Pyke at your sister's side. When it is time, you will make your apologies to the North and to King Jon. You will agree to whatever justice he seeks."
Again Greyjoy nodded, but he seemed resigned to the idea, as if he knew he'd have to face his demons sooner or later. Her gaze turned upon him then, her voice interrupted his thoughts.
"Lord Jaime, as head of House Lannister, you will journey North as well and seek to make peace with the Starks, and make your own apologies for what your house has done."
It was only what he deserved he knew, and so he too nodded without word. But for now, he would return home.
ø
He'd been in Casterly Rock only two days when three riders bearing no banners arrived at his castle seeking to speak with him. They were not enough to be trouble so he invited them in as far as his courtyard, though his men were on guard.
he recognized the man immediately though he hardly knew him and he was much changed since he'd last seen him.
"Podrick!" He exclaimed not unkindly.
He arrived with two men Jaime only knew were from the North by the bear sigil they bore under their cloaks. He did not want to worry because Brienne was not there; the man was her squire and it was normal she should send him as her messenger, but the sudden pit in his stomach did not take heed. Particularly as Podrick only barely smiled before him and his men dismounted.
"Lord Jaime," He said when he approached, with a nod of his head.
He returned the gesture. He knew then, that whatever Podrick had come to speak of, he did not want to do it here.
"Rollam," He waited for his squire to approach before he continued, "Take my friend's men inside, where they might rest from their journey. Have the kitchen bring them food and wine. Do the same for Podrick, we will be in the drawing room."
The boy of house Westerling nodded, and the two burly men silently followed him as he walked away.
They did not speak of much as they walked there, but once they arrived and their privacy secured, he did not hesitate. He spoke after he poured them each a cup of wine.
"I would say you're very far from home, but that would not be true strictly speaking, so I'll only ask, what brings you to Casterly Rock?"
Podrick reached into a small satchel attached to his belt and pulled out a small scroll, sealed with red wax.
"I have come to relay a message, my lord," He answered holding up the roll of paper for Jaime to take it. as he did, Podrick took the proffered cup of wine before sitting down.
Dubiously, he looked down at the letter, recognizing almost at once, the wolf sigil sealing it closed. Opening it, he saw it was from Lady Sansa herself. He felt his insides turn to ice when he realized it, for there was only one reason she would write to him, only one person they had in common. Lady Brienne, his friend, nay she was more than that to him but he could not say what.
Lord Jaime,
We have never truly spoken, our houses are bitter enemies, yet I must ask that we meet. With the new Queen ruling in the South, there is no war between our kingdoms, so you have no need to fear any sort of trick or attack. My wish is only that we may speak, as there is much we need discuss and much I must say that ought be said in person.
Lady Sansa of House Stark
"Where does she propose we meet?" He asked Podrick, who was already enjoying the wine.
He could not bring himself to ask the young man about Brienne, he did not want to confirm what he feared was the reason of all this.
"So you agree to meet my lord?"
Jaime smiled before answering, "I only asked where she intends on meeting."
His brother's former squire lowered his cup suddenly somber, "I'm only to say if you agree."
He grinned, feeling amusement at his intention to safeguard the northern girl.
"Say I do, agree that is, what's to stop me from ambushing her once I know?"
Podrick returned the smirk, "Your word, my lord. Lady Sansa has faith that you will keep it."
His lips faltered and lowered, and he suddenly realized Lady Brienne was no longer the only who knew of his honour. Knowing he likely would not be able to deceive Podrick neither, he did not argue.
"Fine. I will meet her."
Payne seemed to accept this and finally answered, "She waits in Wayfarer's Rest."
The Riverlands? He was surprised to find out she was there, last he'd heard, she'd been in Winterfell with her bastard brother. He should not be so taken aback, now that her uncle Lord Edmure had taken back Riverrun and declared for House Stark, and their new King. Free of the Lannister thumb, without surprise the other houses, bannermen to the Tully's, followed suit.
Wayfarer's Rest was not far, though he would not be able to conceal his presence on their lands, no more than she would on his. He was not at war with the North, nor the Riverlands, but that hardly meant a truce.
"I am to take it that this is a secret rendezvous yes?" Jaime asked, though he was fairly certain already.
The not so young squire nodded, "She wishes to meet you at the Tooth."
He informed his household only that he intended to tour his kingdom and would start with the Pass at the Tooth. Podrick and his men left the day after their arrival, none the wiser of his secret message. His family served the Lannisters, and he wondered if Lady Sansa had sent Podrick for that very same reason.
The Lady of Tarth was too recognizable, that is why she hadn't been chosen for this mission. The northern girl needed her of course. He would see her soon he knew, standing guard at Sansa Stark's side, looking fierce and noble.
Brienne was alright, he told himself.
ø
He reached the Golden Tooth just after midday, where he was graciously received as he'd expected, just as he'd been when he'd gone to Fair Isle and the Banefort, and though it was genuine, he did not appreciate it.
He gave his men leave till the morning, and retired to wash up and rest from his journey. He did clean up but he didn't put his feet up, instead he returned to the stables and fetched his horse, and left word that he'd return in the evening.
He passed the village not stopping until he reached a small inn on the outskirts and he entered the main hall alone.
He saw Podrick immediately, a hooded figure who could be no one but the Stark girl sat across from him and as he walked over to where they sat, his nerves bundled in the pit of his stomach, he realized it was just the two of them. He looked around the room hoping to see Brienne standing taller than most men with her familiar scowl, yet he did not see her yellow locks anywhere.
He took a seat beside Lady Sansa, facing Podrick so as not to bring any attention to her. Their eyes met for a brief moment after he joined them, her expression soft in a way he had not expected nor hoped to see.
"Lord Jaime," She said lightly, her voice solemn. "Thank you for meeting me."
He nodded but for some reason, he could not bring himself to speak. Whether she realized this or not, he was not sure but she spoke in any case.
"How was your journey?" She asked trying to sound amiable, though it only sounded as if she was not interested in playing out niceties and idle conversation.
"Uneventful," He answered simply, looking over at Pod who was looking at him with pitiful eyes.
When it was clear he had no intention on saying anything else, she spoke again.
"There is something I must tell you, but first I must explain a few things. As Podrick has informed you, I come from Wayfarer's Rest, and Riverrun before that. "
Again he nodded, and remained silent, finding no reason to say anything. She would tell him the purpose of this rendezvous, and the quicker it would be if he kept his mouth shut. He looked around to see if anyone was paying them any mind, but the place was near full, and it was clear no one cared.
"What is not known, not to anyone outside the Riverlands, is that until very recently, Lord Baelish had been there as well."
In that moment a young girl arrived with a bottle of wine and three cups. As she set them on the table and filled them, Podrick asked for a kidney pie along with a pot of hot stew and it was not until the girl left that he spoke.
"What do you mean until recently?"
Podrick suddenly seemed very interested in his cup of wine and he realized Lady Sansa was likely waiting for his attention so he turned to her, unsurprised of her steady gaze on him.
"Littlefinger is dead," She said simply, though she kept her voice low.
Her blue eyes dropped from his then as she closed them shut, and with both defeat and shame in the action, he knew it was because of her.
They were no longer pretending not to be speaking to one another, and he could not bring himself to care. The pit he'd carried in his gut was gone, in its place he felt only impatience.
"I don't mean to be indelicate but I must ask you to get to your point, as I'm sure Littlefinger's death is not it."
Her eyelids fluttered open though she did not look so much shocked by his words but discouraged by them. But she spoke anyway.
"Petyr was a dangerous man, more than I'm sure you or almost anyone knew. For my family, I did what I knew I had to. I thought I could handle him, only I was wrong."
She paused for a moment, and reached for the cup of wine, taking a long sip. He knew what was coming by the large knot in his throat that kept him from speaking, and the tenseness of his body that kept him from moving.
"Lady Brienne…" She trailed off, her voice pained and guilt ridden.
"Please no…" He mumbled, he did not want to know it, he could not, but she did not hear him.
"She saved me, but I could not save her."
For only a second longer he remained still, but then he was shaking his head, and moving to stand. She could not be dead… he would not accept that… she was fine… she had to be… he could not lose her too…
And suddenly a warm hand descended over his own, soft but forceful. He looked into the blueness of her eyes, glassy like water, and he was reminded so much of Brienne and her sapphire isles, that he stopped moving, all at once overwhelmed by his grief.
"I am sorry Jaime," She said then. "It is my fault. If not for me-"
"She did her duty," He interrupted.
He wanted to blame her, but he knew it was not her fault, not truly. Brienne was too good for this world, too pure, too honourable. He'd known it long ago, when Cersei had laid eyes on her at their son's wedding. He'd sent her on a fool's mission not for his honour, not to save the Stark girls, but because he knew his sister would kill her. The Lady of Tarth was a fighter not a schemer, a knight in every sense of the word.
And all good knights die in the end.
He jerked his hand away from hers and stood to leave so he could rage and scream at the world alone. He left without another glance at either of them, suppressing his anger and hurt so as not to draw attention to himself.
Only when he was outside and finally alone he let it out, his golden hand swung hitting the side of the Inn's wall, the clang reverberating in his ears and in his stump. He took a deep ragged breath, feeling tears flood his eyes, but before he could let them out, he heard a voice behind him.
"Ser Jaime, please wait."
He quickly reigned his emotions in, blinking the wetness away, before finally turning to her, serious once more. He could not bring himself to speak, and only waited as she approached him. When she was finally in front of him, she spoke again.
"In her last-" She hesitated then continued, "She thought of you. She wanted me to tell you that it was an honour to know you."
The knot in his throat returned with full force at her words, he sucked in air in an effort to quell the sob lurking there.
"She loved you, Jaime. She could not say it, but she did."
Her words finally pushed him over the edge and a sob burst from his throat, strangled and pained before his tears finally over brimmed his eyes. He turned to leave again, ashamed of his emotions, or at least of her seeing them. He stilled though, when he felt her hand grasp his arm.
"Stay, eat with us. She would not want you to be alone."
He considered the notion, and it did not take long for him to face her once more as he realized he did not want that either. She kept hold and looked at him for a long moment, her expression soft before removing both and turning to the entrance of the inn, though she waited for him to move to her side before heading back inside.. He took another deep breath and wiped the tears from his eyes before he did.
They ate at first in companionable silence until Podrick split the pie and told them of the time he'd eaten one with Lady Brienne at the Crossroads Inn, and how they had been able to find Arya thanks to a well placed compliment and an out of place question.
The Stark girl shared a memory of her own, and They only spared him a moment's silence when his turn came up, and though he had many memories as well, he could not bring himself to share them. When he did not speak Lady Sansa told another. He spent the rest of the night listening to them, and though the pain of her death never left him, he at least did not feel alone in his grief.
a/n: This was gonna be a Tyrion chapter but I decided to cut out the middle man, and get to the good stuff. Finally a chapter featuring both parts of a pairing, and it's only the beginning! I'm not sure how many of you actually ship this pair, but if you don't, not to worry. Jon x Dany soon, like very soon.
Side note: I pulled House Westerling randomly from the list of sworn houses, I only recently have started reading ASoS and found out that in the books they play a larger role. Strange coincidence for those of you who know their story, though I won't be delving into it here.
Thanks for following my fic and for kudos and comments. You guys are the best.