Sansa woke next to Jaime the following morning, her mind full of all the ways that Cersei might kill her. She didn't understand why Jaime had brushed off the note; he of all people should know how dangerous Cersei Lannister was. Sansa remained snuggled against Jaime's side, her leg over his and her hand on his chest. His handless arm was wrapped around her. He was snoring softly and she had grown fond of the sound over their two weeks of marriage. She found it comforting; a sleeping Lion was a safe Lion. She watched his eyelids flutter as he slept and she felt the strong urge to kiss each of them, to wake him up and confess how she truly felt about him.

Her affection for Jaime Lannister confused her. He wasn't a terrible man but he had done terrible things in his past. So have I, she thought as she watched him sleep. Her most terrible acts were loving Joffrey, being unloving toward Arya, not appreciating her father more. His involved killing but she didn't care, not anymore. She wondered if loving him would be her biggest regret.

Jaime's arm tightened around her and she noticed that the snoring had stopped. He pulled her tight against him as his eyes opened; looking into that piercing green, Sansa knew that she couldn't deny the fact that she loved him. When she set aside the cruelties their Houses had inflicted upon the other and the hatred that came along with it, she realized that he was simply Jaime; so unlike the rest of the Lannisters, a kind man who protected her from harm. My husband.

He smiled at her before leaning over to kiss her forehead. She felt the strong urge to tell him but he pulled away and got out of bed. He was as naked as his nameday, Sansa forced herself to look away as she slid out of the furs they had slept under to find something suitable for a long day of riding. As she pulled on a shift, she felt a hand and wrist on her waist, stopping the progress of the material down her body. She looked over her shoulder and found Jaime right behind her. He ran his handless arm up her side, lifting the shift higher. Her breath caught in her throat as his other hand grazed her breast. He whispered in her ear, "If only we could stay in bed all day…"

His voice trailed off as he pressed his lips to her shoulder. She held back a moan as his teeth clamped onto her skin. She said, "We should be leaving."

He nodded in agreement. "We should." He kissed up her neck to her earlobe, which he bit lightly.

Sansa pushed away from him and said, "We shall have plenty of time for such activities when we reach Casterly Rock."

Jaime just looked at her. "Will we? The Stark army will be upon us, my head will adorn a pike near the gates of the Rock. You will be with your family again and I'll be dead."

Sansa's eyebrows furrowed and she saw the sadness in his eyes. She reached up and stroked his cheek. "I won't let that happen, Jaime. You will be unharmed. You are my husband." She pressed a kiss to his other cheek and with her lips against his skin, she murmured, "I wouldn't let them kill the man I love."

He leaned his head back from hers to look at her properly. "Did you just say you love me?"

She hesitated but answered, "I did, my lord."

Jaime kissed her quickly before saying, "And I love you, Sansa."

"You do?"

He nodded. "Yes. How could I not? The more time I spend with you, the more I thank the gods I no longer worship for allowing me to marry you."

She took his wrist on his handless arm in her hand and brought it to her lips, pressing them against the smooth skin of his stump. She looked up at him, lips against his skin, and saw a smile upon his face.

Their horses were saddled, ready for their departure. Jaime walked with Sansa on his arm to their party that had gathered in the courtyard. All of their guards were on their horses already, waiting for their lord and lady. Josmyn was waiting with the reins of their horses in hand.

Jaime helped Sansa onto her horse and was about to mount his own when he looked toward the castle again. Sansa followed his gaze and saw Maester Eldin hurrying across the yard to them. The old man was out of breath when he reached them and held out two scrolls. He said, "Ravens in the night, my lord."

Jaime unrolled the first scroll and Sansa watched as his eyebrows furrowed, reading. He muttered bitterly, "Always a delight, that woman." He handed Sansa the first note and went on to read the second.

Sansa looked down at the first one and frowned.

Jaime,

It's unclear as to what part of that letter made it seem as if I were requesting your presence in King's Landing. You are being summoned to sit on the jury for the Imp. Come to the capital now or I shall send red cloaks and Kingsguard to bring you back in chains. Perhaps Sansa's head will decorate a pike if you resist, she's only a Stark.

Cersei

He handed the second letter to Sansa, eyebrows still furrowed.

Ser Jaime Lannister,

As I'm sure you have been made aware by now, I will not go into detail over Tyrion's arrest. Cersei wishes you to join Oberyn Martell and myself on the jury but I have appointed Mace Tyrell in your stead. Your sister has a soft woman's heart, pay no mind to her.

Lord Tywin Lannister

Hand of the King

She gave both of the letters back to Jaime, who said to the maester, "Many thanks, Maester Eldin, for getting these to me at such an early hour."

"Safe travels, Ser Jaime, Lady Sansa."

The maester hurried back to the castle, out of the light rain that had started falling. Sansa pulled her hood over her head as Jaime mounted his horse. The Crakehall brothers kicked their horses into a full gallop after seeing the look on Jaime and Sansa's faces. Ser Steffon galloped after them followed by both Jaime and Sansa. Brienne of Tarth and the other four brought up the rear.

After nearly half an hour of full galloping, they slowed their horses to a brisk canter. Sansa said, "What if Cersei still sends red cloaks after us? She has ignored your father's wishes many-a time."

Jaime nodded. "She has. That's why I wish to put as much distance between us and King's Landing. She may have already sent them after us, just after we left the city." He fell silent for several minutes before saying, "She never would hurt Tyrion if I were still in King's Landing."

"Why do you say that, Jaime?"

"Cersei never harmed Tyrion for fear I wouldn't forgive her." He said, staring at the road ahead of them. "Now that I think on it, Tyrion promised me to never harm Cersei for the same reason."

"Your siblings do love you." She commented, thinking of her own siblings, even Jon.

"They do, but they despise each other." He looked at her as he said, "Tyrion even asked me to be his champion during his first trial by combat. Due to your…lovely Aunt Lysa stating that the trial was to be carried out that day, I was unable to stand for my little brother."

"Is that how Bronn came into Lord Tyrion's service?"

"Yes, it is."

"The gods hold Tyrion's life now." Sansa reminded him.

"Yes, the gods. The ever-merciful gods." Jaime sighed in disgust. "They gave him his life once before. I don't know if they allow someone more than one mercy."

"The gods are merciful to the innocent, as you believe Tyrion to be."

"The gods are nothing to Cersei's wrath. She holds a grudge and she has never forgiven Tyrion for killing our mother, something he had no control over. My father won't spare him either, he resents him too for the same act. Tyrion's as good as dead."

Jaime fell silent again and Sansa let him be. They rode for nearly an hour in silence, both lost to their own thoughts. Sansa wondered what Robb would actually do to Jaime, if he would listen to her. She honestly didn't know if he would listen. War does terrible things to people, Robb was likely a changed man.

Sansa finally asked, tired of her own worries, "Do you think Tyrion will ask you to be his champion this time?"

Jaime looked at her and said, "This time? He hasn't demanded a trial by combat." Sansa gave him a look. "Who am I fooling? Of course he'll demand one, it's his nature. And he will want me to champion him. But, I can't fight with my left hand. I'm useless."

"You're not useless, Jaime. You just have to train your hand." She said. "But it would please me for you to sit out Tyrion's trial. I won't have you die so soon into our marriage."

Jaime actually smiled.

They made camp that night an hour after the sky had darkened. They ate quickly over a low fire before retiring to their tents. Ser Samwell took the first watch with Josmyn Peckledon. Jaime and Sansa retired to their tent. Sansa undressed with her back to Jaime. Down to her shift, she felt his hands on her waist. He spun her around to face him and she was surprised to find him completely naked.

"Eager, are we?" She joked, glancing down for a moment before returning her gaze to his eyes.

"I don't wish to deny myself the pleasure of your company any longer."

"My company? Is that what you crave?"

"Among other things." He said, smiling. He leaned down to kiss the spot where her shoulder met her neck as his hand untied the laces of the shift. Jaime pushed the material over her shoulders and it fell to the ground. Jaime's eyes looked up and down her body, a smile spread across his face. Sansa rose up on her toes, pressing her lips to his. Jaime's arms wrapped around her waist and pulled them together. His tongue slipped into her mouth and she met it with hers. What is this spark I feel? she thought as they continued to kiss.

They finally broke apart minutes later and Jaime said, eyes dazed with lust, "Lay down."

She lowered herself onto their sleeping mat and watched as Jaime stared at her hungrily. He lowered himself over her and his lips found hers. His hand traveled down her body, pausing at her breast, before continuing down to her womanhood. He rubbed tight circles over her clit as he nudged her legs apart to put himself between them. Still rubbing her, he maneuvered his manhood to her opening. She let out a gasp when he slipped into her. He didn't waste any time in starting a fast pace in and out of her. She held onto his shoulders as continued with his grueling rhythm, slamming into her. She let out a moan as his finger changed the direction it was rubbing. Jaime kissed her roughly and he removed his hand to cup her cheek, deepening the kiss. She slid her hands from his shoulders to his neck, hooking her thumbs behind his ears, holding him in place.

The tent flap open suddenly causing Jaime to still his movements and to pull away from their kiss. His squire, Josmyn Peckledon, was the source of the intrusion. He was staring at what he had interrupted. Josmyn's eyes raked over Sansa's naked body beneath Jaime's.

"I urge you to raise your eyes, Peck, or I shall rip them from their sockets." Jaime said, jaw clenching.

Josmyn cleared his throat uncomfortably as he looked at Jaime. "My apologies, my lord, my lady." He pointed out of the tent before saying, "Riders in the night."

"What kind of riders?"

"The unfriendly kind, my lord." He said, backing out of the tent.

Jaime didn't say a word. He pulled out of Sansa and dressed as quickly as he could with only one hand. Sansa rose to help him. He said, "My armor."

"You can't be serious. You told me earlier you are unable to fight."

He didn't look at her as he repeated, "My armor, Sansa."

She helped him fasten it, growing more upset with each strap she tightened. She put his sword on and stood back. Jaime turned to leave but returned to her, pulling her against him. He kissed her full on the lips, whispering against them, "Don't leave the tent." With that, he was gone.

Sansa stood shivering, wondering if she would see him alive again.