p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Evelyn stood standing next to her horse, staring at Winterfell. Would she ever see it again? Probably not for a while… a few years give or take. She looked over at where Arya and Sansa were seated in the wagon and Jaime was saddling his horse not far away…. He was her family now…. She would wake every morning to him and fall asleep next to him…./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""Eve," a familiar voice said./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Evelyn turned to see Jon and Robb standing there. The sight of the two brought tears to her eyes. She might not see Robb for a while, but she may never see Jon again. He was joining the Night's Watch. Who knows when they would meet again./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Evelyn brought Robb into a tight hug before letting a few tears fall into his jacket./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""Take care of Sansa and Arya. Please take care of yourself," Robb whispered./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Evelyn nodded before forcing a smile, "Don't forget to write. I know you're not the writing type, but it would mean the world."br /Robb smiled and nodded, "I'll force myself to write you every week."br /Evelyn chuckled before turning to Jon. The boy was on the verge of tears, so she brought him into a desperate hug./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""Don't do anything stupid. Stay strong… be you," she whispered in his ear./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Jon nodded and smiled, wiping the tears from his eyes. Evelyn brought her fist up and Jon smiled, giving her a fist bump./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""I'll miss you two knuckleheads. Robb…. If Bran wakes up…. Tell him I miss him and tell him to write immediately."br /Robb nodded, "I will."br /The girl then felt two little arms around her legs and saw Rickon bury his face in her waist. Evelyn got down on her knees and wrapped her little brother in a tight hug./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""Stay safe okay?" she whispered, "Listen to Robb and mother. Keep an eye on Bran for me."br /Rickon nodded against her shoulder before sniffling, "I love you Evie!"br /This brought a smile to her face before she ruffled his hair and smiled, "I love you too little wolf."br /With that she mounted up and turned to look at her brothers. Gosh she was going to miss them!/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"She sensed a presence behind her and turned to see Jaime also on his horse, a smile on his face./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""Are you alright?" he asked./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Evelyn nodded, "I will be."br /Jaime smiled before reaching over to grip her hand, "You'll see them again… all of them."br /The girl found herself smiling at those words, but she didn't know whether to believe them or not./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;" /p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"*******/p
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p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"It had been two very long weeks they had been on the road. It seemed that it would never end and for Jaime, it was pure torture. Evelyn wouldn't come to bed until Arya was asleep and that was sometimes not until midnight for Arya would have Evelyn sing her a song to get her to sleep and sometimes three! Evelyn would then return to the tent that she shared with Jaime and would change silently behind a curtain before coming to bed and turning with her back to Jaime. /p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Jaime had forced himself to not draw her into a hug every time he saw her pull the sheets over her shoulder. He would occupy himself petting Zinzi who had become tolerant of him until he got tired and fell asleep himself. In the morning Evelyn was always up before him having walked around camp, brushed her horse and packed up most of her things already. Jaime thought he was an early riser… but not anymore./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"One particular evening Jaime was trying to build up the courage to ask Sansa to give Evelyn a break and put Arya to bed so he could at least talk with Evelyn before she fell asleep. He was pacing back and forth in front of his tent, sometimes walking all the way around the tent which earned a puzzled look from Tyrion who was sitting outside his own tent nearby, reading./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""You're like a caged lion," Tyrion mused, not trying to crack a joke./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""They've been gone a while," Jaime admitted, indicating the girls. Arya and Sansa had been gone for hours and Evelyn had been with Myrcella sewing the whole time. Jaime contemplated interrupting the sewing session, but he knew how much it meant to Myrcella and he couldn't take that away from her. Evelyn was just what Myrcella needed./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""Ser Jaime," Tyrion's squire Podrick panted as he approached. "Lord Tyrion…. You are both needed in the King's tent."br /"What's wrong lad?" Tyrion asked, getting up./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""Lady Arya's wolf attacked Prince Joffrey."/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Tyrion turned to Jaime, only to see that his brother had already run towards Robert's tent. Jaime knew what that meant. Cersei would see the wolf killed…. And not only would it hurt Arya, but it would hurt Evelyn. Evelyn hated to see innocent people killed or harmed and most of all she hated seeing her family hurt./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"When Jaime entered the tent, Arya and Sansa were yelling at each other while Ned Stark was trying to break them up./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""She's as wild as the beast," Cersei hissed./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""Now calm down!" Robert bellowed, "These are children! Children fight all the time. Ned, see that your daughter is punished, and I will do the same."br /Ned bowed, "With pleasure sire."br /"What about the dog?" Cersei hissed./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Jaime cringed. Here it comes. He scanned the crowd but there was no sign of Evelyn./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""I almost forgot about the beast," Robert remarked thoughtfully./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""She ran off," Cersei hissed, "But we have two."/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Sansa's voice split through the voices at that, "Lady didn't hurt anyone!"br /"Not Lady!" Arya cried, suddenly forgetting her anger at Sansa and fearing for the wolf's life./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""The wolf is innocent sire," Ned added. "You would harm an innocent creature?"br /Robert rolled his eyes, losing his patience on such a childish issue, "Just do it will you…."br /"You cannot," a calm voice spoke out./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"All eyes turned to the speaker and Jaime felt his heart relax. It was Evelyn. She stood behind her family and now as her family parted, she stood before the king with her hands at her sides, her head high and a calm look on her face./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""Why not?" Cersei hissed, forcing herself to not call Evelyn something that would get her in trouble with Jaime./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Evelyn smiled coldly at Cersei, "Because I take Lady under my protection."br /"How will that save the wolf?" Robert inquired, rather intrigued by what Evelyn had to say./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""Zinzi is my child just as Lady is Sansa's and Nymeria is Arya's. As such, Zinzi is a Lannister just as I am a Lannister. In that case, I take Lady under my protection. You wouldn't kill a Lannister would you sire?"br /Robert's eyes widened at this. Cersei glared at Evelyn, hating the fact that the girl was smart enough to use her new house to her advantage. However, Jaime was grinning ridiculously from ear to ear. Evelyn admitted she was a Lannister…. And almost sounded happy about it!/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""Well…." Robert mused./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""If your child attacked a man because the man angered or frightened him, you wouldn't execute your son, would you?" Evelyn pushed./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Cersei was about to yell at Evelyn, but Robert rose to his feet and approached Evelyn. Jaime was prepared to push through the crowd, but he saw the smile on Robert's face./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""You are truly wise child," Robert said fondly, patting the girl's shoulder, "If you promise that this won't happen again…"br /Evelyn nodded which made Robert chuckle, "Very well. The dog will be spared… but if the wolf that attacked returns, we will have to kill it."br /With that, everyone began to disperse, and Jaime approached the Starks as Evelyn approached her sisters./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""Thank you, Evelyn!" Sansa cried, hugging her sister./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""Evelyn, what about Nymeria?" Arya cried./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Evelyn knelt down in front of Arya and gripped her shoulders, "We cannot do anything to save Nymeria from the king Arya. It is safest for her in the woods. It would be better if she remained there."br /Arya nodded and bowed her head. Evelyn smiled and hugged her sister./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""You can play with Zinzi whenever you like," the girl remarked./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""But what if Zinzi…." Arya started but Evelyn shook her head./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""I'll make sure she won't."br /Arya smiled and hugged her sister back before Ned escorted the two girls to their tent for the night. Evelyn looked up then and saw Jaime standing there, an adoring smile on his face. The girl smiled back, and Jaime realized with shock that it was genuine./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;" /p
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p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Jaime wasn't prepared when Evelyn entered the tent much earlier than usual. It was barely eight in the evening when she returned with both Lady and Zinzi at her heels. Jaime was sitting on the edge of the bed, his boots still on as well as his pants and shirt./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""Arya fell asleep fast tonight," Evelyne explained, slipping her shawl off her shoulders and tiptoeing across the tent to the bed. "I think everything tired her out."br /Jaime nodded as he watched Evelyn intensely as she sat on her side of the bed and pulled on a pair of socks. She climbed onto the bed and sat cross-legged near the end where Zinzi was already curled up. She patted the bed next to Zinzi and called to Lady. The wolf hesitated before she daintily jumped up and laid down next to her sister./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Evelyn smiled and stroked Lady's hair. "I know this is different for you but you cannot stay with Sansa now. Arya and Sansa are safe. I promise."br /The wolf seemed to relax at those words and laid her head down between her paws, drifting off to sleep. /p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""You weren't joking earlier," Jaime mused./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Evelyn turned to see that Jaime was sitting with his back against the pillows, watching her./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""You said that Zinzi is like your child. I believe it."br /Evelyn smiled and stroked Zinzi and Lady before scuttling under the sheets to get warm and sitting about an arm's length from Jaime, her back to the pillows./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""The prospect of having a family always intrigued me since I was little," Evelyn explained. "I guess coming from a large family was part of it… my mother says that it's part of my genes. I just naturally want to mother children just like she did."br /Jaime smiled, "That's nothing to be ashamed of. Very few people now value life."br /Evelyn nodded before laying her head back on the pillows and looking up at the top of the tent./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Jaime watched her out of the corner of his eye for a moment before turning onto his side, resting his head against his hand to prop him up./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""How come you were afraid when your brother got hurt, but you showed no fear when the king and my sister threatened the wolf?" he inquired./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Evelyn smiled but didn't turn to look at him, "I was afraid. I was terrified actually. When Bran got hurt… I was more afraid and couldn't hide my fear because it had already happened…. I couldn't prevent his fall. However, with Lady… I was afraid but was able to hide it because it hadn't happened yet… and I had a chance at preventing it."br /Jaime smiled and reached over, touching her hand with his but not placing his over hers, "How come you are not afraid of the king or Cersei?"/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"The girl was silent for a while before she turned and looked at him, her eyes earnest and shining gold, "I am not afraid emof/em them…. I'm afraid emfor /emthem."br /Jaime cocked his head to the side in perplexity which brought a smile to the girl's face./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""They have such a strong power that they could do so much good in this world…. But they could also do so much evil. It could either help them one day, or it could bring them down," Evelyn explained. "That is why I am afraid."br /"But you do not even like the king or my sister. Why would you be afraid for them?"br /The girl smiled, "I don't wish ill on anyone… but I am also afraid of the people they would bring down with them. Myrcella, Tommen, Joffrey, your brother…. You. I can see the love that you all share as a family and I respect it. Just as I love my brothers, my sisters and my parents, you and Tyrion love your nephews and niece and your sister and each other. In the same way they love you back. I do not wish ruin on any family. No person is perfect so to hate a person who has made mistakes is putting oneself above another when really, we are just as guilty. You do not have to love someone Ser Jaime to care about them."br /Jaime slowly propped himself up on his elbow so he could look down at her better, "Do you care about me?"br /Evelyn studied him a moment, her golden eyes softening at the desperation and even fear in his blue eyes. /p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""I believe I do," she replied softly, smiling./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Jaime laid down on his side before wrapping his arm around Evelyn and pulling her flush against him with her back to his chest. He nestled his face in her hair, not caring if she punched him in return./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""I can live with that."br /Evelyn chuckled softly before closing her eyes to sleep. Just as she was dozing off, Jaime's voice whispered in her hair./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""Do you think you could grow to love me?"br /She knew that Jaime wasn't expecting an answer, the man believing she was already asleep but she smiled at the words and gently held his hands close to her in her sleep./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"'I think it very likely.'/p
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p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""Eve," a familiar voice said./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Evelyn turned to see Jon and Robb standing there. The sight of the two brought tears to her eyes. She might not see Robb for a while, but she may never see Jon again. He was joining the Night's Watch. Who knows when they would meet again./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Evelyn brought Robb into a tight hug before letting a few tears fall into his jacket./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""Take care of Sansa and Arya. Please take care of yourself," Robb whispered./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Evelyn nodded before forcing a smile, "Don't forget to write. I know you're not the writing type, but it would mean the world."br /Robb smiled and nodded, "I'll force myself to write you every week."br /Evelyn chuckled before turning to Jon. The boy was on the verge of tears, so she brought him into a desperate hug./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""Don't do anything stupid. Stay strong… be you," she whispered in his ear./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Jon nodded and smiled, wiping the tears from his eyes. Evelyn brought her fist up and Jon smiled, giving her a fist bump./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""I'll miss you two knuckleheads. Robb…. If Bran wakes up…. Tell him I miss him and tell him to write immediately."br /Robb nodded, "I will."br /The girl then felt two little arms around her legs and saw Rickon bury his face in her waist. Evelyn got down on her knees and wrapped her little brother in a tight hug./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""Stay safe okay?" she whispered, "Listen to Robb and mother. Keep an eye on Bran for me."br /Rickon nodded against her shoulder before sniffling, "I love you Evie!"br /This brought a smile to her face before she ruffled his hair and smiled, "I love you too little wolf."br /With that she mounted up and turned to look at her brothers. Gosh she was going to miss them!/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"She sensed a presence behind her and turned to see Jaime also on his horse, a smile on his face./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""Are you alright?" he asked./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Evelyn nodded, "I will be."br /Jaime smiled before reaching over to grip her hand, "You'll see them again… all of them."br /The girl found herself smiling at those words, but she didn't know whether to believe them or not./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;" /p
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p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"It had been two very long weeks they had been on the road. It seemed that it would never end and for Jaime, it was pure torture. Evelyn wouldn't come to bed until Arya was asleep and that was sometimes not until midnight for Arya would have Evelyn sing her a song to get her to sleep and sometimes three! Evelyn would then return to the tent that she shared with Jaime and would change silently behind a curtain before coming to bed and turning with her back to Jaime. /p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Jaime had forced himself to not draw her into a hug every time he saw her pull the sheets over her shoulder. He would occupy himself petting Zinzi who had become tolerant of him until he got tired and fell asleep himself. In the morning Evelyn was always up before him having walked around camp, brushed her horse and packed up most of her things already. Jaime thought he was an early riser… but not anymore./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"One particular evening Jaime was trying to build up the courage to ask Sansa to give Evelyn a break and put Arya to bed so he could at least talk with Evelyn before she fell asleep. He was pacing back and forth in front of his tent, sometimes walking all the way around the tent which earned a puzzled look from Tyrion who was sitting outside his own tent nearby, reading./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""You're like a caged lion," Tyrion mused, not trying to crack a joke./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""They've been gone a while," Jaime admitted, indicating the girls. Arya and Sansa had been gone for hours and Evelyn had been with Myrcella sewing the whole time. Jaime contemplated interrupting the sewing session, but he knew how much it meant to Myrcella and he couldn't take that away from her. Evelyn was just what Myrcella needed./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""Ser Jaime," Tyrion's squire Podrick panted as he approached. "Lord Tyrion…. You are both needed in the King's tent."br /"What's wrong lad?" Tyrion asked, getting up./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""Lady Arya's wolf attacked Prince Joffrey."/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Tyrion turned to Jaime, only to see that his brother had already run towards Robert's tent. Jaime knew what that meant. Cersei would see the wolf killed…. And not only would it hurt Arya, but it would hurt Evelyn. Evelyn hated to see innocent people killed or harmed and most of all she hated seeing her family hurt./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"When Jaime entered the tent, Arya and Sansa were yelling at each other while Ned Stark was trying to break them up./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""She's as wild as the beast," Cersei hissed./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""Now calm down!" Robert bellowed, "These are children! Children fight all the time. Ned, see that your daughter is punished, and I will do the same."br /Ned bowed, "With pleasure sire."br /"What about the dog?" Cersei hissed./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Jaime cringed. Here it comes. He scanned the crowd but there was no sign of Evelyn./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""I almost forgot about the beast," Robert remarked thoughtfully./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""She ran off," Cersei hissed, "But we have two."/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Sansa's voice split through the voices at that, "Lady didn't hurt anyone!"br /"Not Lady!" Arya cried, suddenly forgetting her anger at Sansa and fearing for the wolf's life./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""The wolf is innocent sire," Ned added. "You would harm an innocent creature?"br /Robert rolled his eyes, losing his patience on such a childish issue, "Just do it will you…."br /"You cannot," a calm voice spoke out./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"All eyes turned to the speaker and Jaime felt his heart relax. It was Evelyn. She stood behind her family and now as her family parted, she stood before the king with her hands at her sides, her head high and a calm look on her face./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""Why not?" Cersei hissed, forcing herself to not call Evelyn something that would get her in trouble with Jaime./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Evelyn smiled coldly at Cersei, "Because I take Lady under my protection."br /"How will that save the wolf?" Robert inquired, rather intrigued by what Evelyn had to say./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""Zinzi is my child just as Lady is Sansa's and Nymeria is Arya's. As such, Zinzi is a Lannister just as I am a Lannister. In that case, I take Lady under my protection. You wouldn't kill a Lannister would you sire?"br /Robert's eyes widened at this. Cersei glared at Evelyn, hating the fact that the girl was smart enough to use her new house to her advantage. However, Jaime was grinning ridiculously from ear to ear. Evelyn admitted she was a Lannister…. And almost sounded happy about it!/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""Well…." Robert mused./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""If your child attacked a man because the man angered or frightened him, you wouldn't execute your son, would you?" Evelyn pushed./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Cersei was about to yell at Evelyn, but Robert rose to his feet and approached Evelyn. Jaime was prepared to push through the crowd, but he saw the smile on Robert's face./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""You are truly wise child," Robert said fondly, patting the girl's shoulder, "If you promise that this won't happen again…"br /Evelyn nodded which made Robert chuckle, "Very well. The dog will be spared… but if the wolf that attacked returns, we will have to kill it."br /With that, everyone began to disperse, and Jaime approached the Starks as Evelyn approached her sisters./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""Thank you, Evelyn!" Sansa cried, hugging her sister./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""Evelyn, what about Nymeria?" Arya cried./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Evelyn knelt down in front of Arya and gripped her shoulders, "We cannot do anything to save Nymeria from the king Arya. It is safest for her in the woods. It would be better if she remained there."br /Arya nodded and bowed her head. Evelyn smiled and hugged her sister./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""You can play with Zinzi whenever you like," the girl remarked./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""But what if Zinzi…." Arya started but Evelyn shook her head./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""I'll make sure she won't."br /Arya smiled and hugged her sister back before Ned escorted the two girls to their tent for the night. Evelyn looked up then and saw Jaime standing there, an adoring smile on his face. The girl smiled back, and Jaime realized with shock that it was genuine./p
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p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Jaime wasn't prepared when Evelyn entered the tent much earlier than usual. It was barely eight in the evening when she returned with both Lady and Zinzi at her heels. Jaime was sitting on the edge of the bed, his boots still on as well as his pants and shirt./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""Arya fell asleep fast tonight," Evelyne explained, slipping her shawl off her shoulders and tiptoeing across the tent to the bed. "I think everything tired her out."br /Jaime nodded as he watched Evelyn intensely as she sat on her side of the bed and pulled on a pair of socks. She climbed onto the bed and sat cross-legged near the end where Zinzi was already curled up. She patted the bed next to Zinzi and called to Lady. The wolf hesitated before she daintily jumped up and laid down next to her sister./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Evelyn smiled and stroked Lady's hair. "I know this is different for you but you cannot stay with Sansa now. Arya and Sansa are safe. I promise."br /The wolf seemed to relax at those words and laid her head down between her paws, drifting off to sleep. /p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""You weren't joking earlier," Jaime mused./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Evelyn turned to see that Jaime was sitting with his back against the pillows, watching her./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""You said that Zinzi is like your child. I believe it."br /Evelyn smiled and stroked Zinzi and Lady before scuttling under the sheets to get warm and sitting about an arm's length from Jaime, her back to the pillows./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""The prospect of having a family always intrigued me since I was little," Evelyn explained. "I guess coming from a large family was part of it… my mother says that it's part of my genes. I just naturally want to mother children just like she did."br /Jaime smiled, "That's nothing to be ashamed of. Very few people now value life."br /Evelyn nodded before laying her head back on the pillows and looking up at the top of the tent./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Jaime watched her out of the corner of his eye for a moment before turning onto his side, resting his head against his hand to prop him up./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""How come you were afraid when your brother got hurt, but you showed no fear when the king and my sister threatened the wolf?" he inquired./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Evelyn smiled but didn't turn to look at him, "I was afraid. I was terrified actually. When Bran got hurt… I was more afraid and couldn't hide my fear because it had already happened…. I couldn't prevent his fall. However, with Lady… I was afraid but was able to hide it because it hadn't happened yet… and I had a chance at preventing it."br /Jaime smiled and reached over, touching her hand with his but not placing his over hers, "How come you are not afraid of the king or Cersei?"/p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"The girl was silent for a while before she turned and looked at him, her eyes earnest and shining gold, "I am not afraid emof/em them…. I'm afraid emfor /emthem."br /Jaime cocked his head to the side in perplexity which brought a smile to the girl's face./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""They have such a strong power that they could do so much good in this world…. But they could also do so much evil. It could either help them one day, or it could bring them down," Evelyn explained. "That is why I am afraid."br /"But you do not even like the king or my sister. Why would you be afraid for them?"br /The girl smiled, "I don't wish ill on anyone… but I am also afraid of the people they would bring down with them. Myrcella, Tommen, Joffrey, your brother…. You. I can see the love that you all share as a family and I respect it. Just as I love my brothers, my sisters and my parents, you and Tyrion love your nephews and niece and your sister and each other. In the same way they love you back. I do not wish ruin on any family. No person is perfect so to hate a person who has made mistakes is putting oneself above another when really, we are just as guilty. You do not have to love someone Ser Jaime to care about them."br /Jaime slowly propped himself up on his elbow so he could look down at her better, "Do you care about me?"br /Evelyn studied him a moment, her golden eyes softening at the desperation and even fear in his blue eyes. /p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""I believe I do," she replied softly, smiling./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"Jaime laid down on his side before wrapping his arm around Evelyn and pulling her flush against him with her back to his chest. He nestled his face in her hair, not caring if she punched him in return./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""I can live with that."br /Evelyn chuckled softly before closing her eyes to sleep. Just as she was dozing off, Jaime's voice whispered in her hair./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;""Do you think you could grow to love me?"br /She knew that Jaime wasn't expecting an answer, the man believing she was already asleep but she smiled at the words and gently held his hands close to her in her sleep./p
p style="margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-size: medium; font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"'I think it very likely.'/p
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