Another swift update! I finished this update the same day I had finished the previous one and I had already decided to sit on it until next week while I got some more chapters done but I thought...why the hell not? I'm already half way through the next chapter and I pretty much have all coming chapters' content planned. Please feel free to review with any suggestions or just general thoughts and opinions, in regard to how any of it sounds to you or anything to do with AU and little details. Please let me know if there are any inaccuracies I can try and fix. Thanks a bunch for reading!

Addam

The week seemed to pass by effortlessly, as if no time had passed at all. Addam took up much of his time managing the surrounding lands with his father and training with the household knights with Ser Jaime -as well as Duncan for that matter. And though Addam tried to distract himself as hard as he could by hiding it in the back of his mind, he grew more restless as his betrothed's arrival loomed ever closer.
His father had chosen for him a young bride from the Crownlands, Addam was partly relieved that he had not had to choose for himself, for he was sure he would not be able to come to any sort of a conclusion. He never imagined getting married, or having a wedding, but here he was, waiting for his bride-to-be to arrive so that he could marry her right after his younger sister said her vows. He thought of Steffon Trant then, a fine young lad, but still, despite his and Janyne's insistence and assurances to Reina that he was a good choice -they would not be sending her away with him were he not, he still saw the heavy reluctance in Reina's eyes, and the slight slither of fear.
He had tried to talk to her privately about it as well,

"You should not worry so much, sister." He had said,
"What else is there to do?" She had shrugged to him then.
She was right about that at least, giving himself the time to think of his own circumstances, he could do nothing but worry once more about what was to become of him, of all of them. Would Margot Manning even like him enough to try? Would Steffon Trant be good to his sister as he had promised?

He tried to think of trivial things, logistics. Like how long he would exactly have to get to know Margot for before he was to be married to her. It would have to be soon after Reina's marriage, as she would leave to the Stormlands and she would want to be there to bear witness as well as the fact that Margot's brother, Lord of Gallowsgrey will be accompanying her to give her away but can not stay long. There was Duncan to think of as well, and his impending leave to King's Landing. He found himself worrying about all of them all at once, and found that for the first time in years Lorraine was the only one he was not worried about.

Perhaps it is best for her not to be a popular choice for marriage. Though it pained him to think that way of his own sister, he was also a realistic man and could not ignore that from an outsider's point of view, Lorraine's "limitation" made her a queer choice for a match, especially when there was no shortage of beautiful women of the same noble birth.

Whilst everyone was rushing around making preparations for all that was to come over the course of the next fortnight, Addam found Lorraine serene, spending more and more time with his friend Ser Jaime. It was still pleasant for him knowing she was getting along very well with Jaime, though he did keep a somewhat distant eye at times -force of habit, he also found that they preferred one another's company alone, acting as if someone had shattered a surrounding glass pane around them whenever anyone dared to impose on their interactions. It was strange, not only had Addam never known his sister to so willingly give her company to someone she did not know, but in all his years of knowing Jaime Lannister he never thought he would see him so engrossed with things that were ordinarily to him so...trivial. Addam never thought Jaime Lannister would want to spend the earlier part of his mornings playing chess, afternoons reading volumes or helping Lorraine chase cats, evenings in the outer hall letting her show him all the constellations she had memorised.

Perhaps he sees what all of us see in her. And he almost felt bitter that it was not just them anymore.

He knew it had only been a week, but thus far Jaime Lannister had given no indication that he wished to leave or return to the capital soon, and Addam was glad for it -he could use the company. He could really use Jaime to keep his mind off things, off his responsibilities, duties, his soon to be wife.

Again he thought of her. Margot. It was a lovely name, he liked her name. But then again he had known many women with lovely names, and they had not always been so pretty -or nice. Did he even want her to be nice? He did not know. All that mattered to his father it seemed was that she was a highborn lady, with her maidenhead in tact, capable of bearing children.

How can they even tell if a woman is capable of bearing children? He wondered almost childishly, picturing in his mind a maester probing around some woman's private parts looking for some secret button to indicate she was fertile. It doesn't matter anyway, father will have no shortage of grandchildren to take my place if I do not produce an heir. Janyne has her pups, Reina will have hers, Elaine, Duncan. Nevertheless, he knew it was his duty to try. I must try.

Would he try with her? Or would he not need to? For some reason he could not picture her as some hopelessly romantic maiden who dreams of marrying a knight and sings songs of love and beauty. He was a knight, but he surely was not that knight. He could not strum to her songs or provide her with any words she would deem romantic. He was glad he could not imagine her as a lovestruck maiden waiting for him to be her knight in shining armour, he would not be able to live with that kind of disappointment.

He was sat in the solar a floor above all their rooms, the small windows providing a view of another stone wall of the castle, which Addam was glad for. It provided him with some kind of solitude, no obligations to look around the grounds. There were so many of them, every time he looked out onto the grounds he could always see at least one of his siblings wandering around.

But as his thoughts raced through everything that was coming and settled to furthermore consider the strange relationship between Ser Jaime and his sister, he wished for someone or something to interrupt him. For he knew there was no point in thinking about it, he would not dare say a word to Jaime about it in fear of offending him, and feared offending and upsetting Lorraine even more. It was just that it had been so long since he had witnessed Ser Jaime smile like that. He knew whatever was going on was innocent, Ser Jaime was too smart to get involved that way, and even if that was his wish why would he spend so much time doing trivial things with her -unless he truly enjoyed it? But still, Lorraine was a woman grown, she had been for a while, her youthful demeanour had always caused Addam to look upon her as a child, just like he had done with Duncan, but she was older than most highborn ladies at the time of their marriage -being three and twenty herself, and even Addam could not will himself to ignore that her body was not that of a child's. He saw all of his sister's as beautiful, but the notion of someone else finding them so always roused some sort of anger in him. He was a reasonable man, or at least tried to be as best he could. He reminded himself all the time that they would not always be just his sisters, one day they would become someone's wife, and that didn't give him the right to dismiss their comeliness in anyone else's eyes, especially since he himself had bedded women who surely were someone else's sister.

He trusted Jaime. That was something he knew. He would like to believe that amidst all the chaos and rumours and deceit that he knew his friend well enough to trust him. Even when those heinous rumours of unspeakable acts such as incest were roused he did not believe a single word of it. They had no basis besides the fact that the Queen and Ser Jaime were close. Of course they would be, Addam thought, they're twins! He did not have a twin but he loved all his sisters deeply, and would be just as outraged as Jaime had been if anyone had insinuated that something illicit was in play. Perhaps that is why he so ardently fought by Jaime's side, because he knew what it was like to have sisters, and sisters that he would do anything for. For a moment he even imagined sweet Elaine or Reina married to the late King Robert, how he would feel being in Jaime's position if he had been made to guard the very King that was dishonouring his sister so publicly, how Addam would feel watching any one of his sister's be constantly humiliated by the actions of her husband, how he would feel at seeing her love torn to shreds and her hope stomped on day after day.

He clenched his fists in a moment of pure rage, there is no King I would not kill for them.

Jaime

It had arrived. Word had arrived from King's Landing.

Standing in his chambers, staring at the unopened Baratheon seal and the unopened Lannister seal, he could only stare at the letters. Whatever was in them would change everything after this point.

He had tried not to think of it over the past week, instead focusing his attention on Lorraine and their daily endevaours. In truth, he had learned not to keep his expectations too high, and so he prepared himself for rejection, choosing to spend as much time with Lorraine as he possibly could -all the while also secretly hoping that he would find something disgusting within her that would repulse him away from his crazy thoughts.

He did not.

The more time he spent with her, the more he saw her by his side. Which was insane, crazy, he had never wanted anyone by his side. And he could not yet admit that he wanted Lorraine by his side, but she appeared everywhere he imagined himself. And moreover, he felt perfectly at ease by her side, adhering to her whims. Never in his life did Jaime Lannister think he would find any joy watching -and eventually helping, a lady, or anyone, chase cats. As he spent more and more time with Lorraine that is how he continued to see her, a Lady, for there were parts of her he could not dismiss or ignore regardless of her youthful vigour. Beneath the innocent smiles and childlike pursuits, she had the body of a woman, not without its imperfections he was sure, but every time her soft skin touched his in any way he could not help the want to see if she was soft everywhere else.

Shaking his head at the thought he decided to open his uncle Kevan's letter first, carelessly tearing open the seal in haste and unfolding the encased letter.

Ser Jaime,

My nephew, I know we have not always seen eye to eye, but I can not say I did not feel a slight tinge of pride when I received your letter. This is what my brother, your father, would have wanted for you. And I uncharacteristically am only too glad to give it to you.

As I had expected, I had met some resistance from our King, but I knew he could be convinced. Our sweet King only wants what you think is best, I fear at times that that will be his greatest downfall. After he had agreed to release you from the Kingsguard I had instructed him not to tell your sister, who has been released from her confinement in the Sept and has been sent back to the Red Keep awaiting her trial. It would do no one any good for her to find out and make a fuss about it, which she surely will. It would be useless seeing as she has no real power anymore.
I shall end this letter with the hopes that you make the Lannister name proud, and...happiness, in your endeavours to marry, be it soon or in the future. I know your mother would have wanted that for you, and she would be proud.
Your aunt Genna wishes you well as well, and has ordered me to instruct you to write to her as soon as you can.

Your Uncle, Ser Kevan Lannister.

He let out a breath he did not know he was containing. Partially also at the knowledge that Cersei wasn't locked up in a cell anymore, but he rid himself from those thoughts as quickly as they had come. He held the other letter, knowing that it was a Royal Decree and that there was no real need for him to read it over since he had already been told of what was to become of him, but for some reason he wanted to see it. He wanted to know it was real.

Carefully breaking the seal that lay in the way of him and the letter, a smaller letter dropped form the folds of the larger on. He examined the larger one first,

I, Tommen Baratheon, King of the Seven Kingdoms of Westeros, hereby release from the duties of my Kingsguard Ser Jaime Lannister after his years of Honourable service.

The rest of it went on to explain the grounds and the precedent, technicalities, but it was done. His white cloak was no longer his. He felt a tightening in his chest at the realisation that, now, he was no longer part of whatever was trying to be a part of for so long. He did not share anymore what he shared with the finest knights he had ever known. But he knew it was better this way. He could not protect Tommen if he had continued to be ruled by his pride. And although he knew Loras Tyrell was probably only there to protect his sister, Ser Jaime somehow knew he would prove a loyal and faithful knight for their sweet King.

Almost forgetting the smaller letter that lay on the table, he picked it up, immediately recognising Tommen's handwriting through the thin sheet of scroll.

Dear Uncle Jaime,

With this letter you have a royal decree releasing you of your duties. You have served long, and you have served well, and I thank you for protecting me and my father and brother before me. I can not say I am not sorry to dismiss you from court, as I miss your presence, it has gotten quite lonely around here. But I know where you belong, and I would never stand in your way. I only want you to be happy, Uncle, that is all I have ever wanted for you and for mother.

I'm sure you've heard of what has happened and what has been happening. We have all been through so much, my love and Queen is still imprisoned and I do not know what to do. But Uncle Kevan has been helping me, the same way Grandfather did, but in some ways nicer. I will not ask why you have not come during my mother's time of need, I know you are not on good terms. And I would not ask you to return unless you were on your way.

I wish you the best of luck, my dearest uncle. You shall be the finest Lord of the Rock, perhaps mother can come visit when all of this madness is over. Would you not agree she would be happy at Casterly Rock?

With all my love, your nephew, Tommen Baratheon.

He couldn't help but feel guilty as his first thoughts finishing the letter were, no, Cersei shan't come to Casterly Rock.

And even more guilty at the fact that he had not been there with them. If not for his men, then for his Tommen.

But he knew he meant it, he knew Tommen meant it. Tommen wanted Jaime to be happy. And Jaime would not dishonour that by sitting on this letter and letting it waste away, when he could do something.
For once, he could do the brave thing and come right out with it. It had to be done sooner or later, and he did not want to give Addam or Lord Marbrand reason to believe he had any calculating intentions. He must tell Addam and his father of this, today.

Suddenly it all became far too real, and he almost faltered as he made his way to Lord Marbrand's study. Am I really about to do this? Am I really going to tell them? Am I even sure?
And it had finally dawned on him that he wasn't sure at all, but he knew he wanted to try.

Still, the nerves did not leave him. He did not even know whether he was relieved or not to find Addam already in Lord Marbrand's study. Great, make this easier for me, will you?

"Ah, Ser Jaime! We were wondering where you had scurried off to" Bellowed Lord Marbrand and Jaime could only quietly smile in response. Addam turned his head to him and cocked his head to the side in curiosity,

"News from the Capital? The servant said it was from King's Landing." This was it, he thought, no going back.

"Yes, actually," he awkwardly began, not ready to look at Lord Damon or his friend yet as they stared on in suspense, choosing instead to look at his boots as he shuffled them about.

"There is actually something I wish to discuss with you. The both of you."

"Would you like to sit down, son?" Oh no, don't call me son just yet.

"No no, i'm fine standing."

"Is something the matter, Jaime?" Asked Addam,

"Not quite." Oh just come right out with it!

"I wrote to my nephew, the King, little over a week ago. And he has responded to my request, releasing me from the Kingsguard to take my place at Casterly Rock."

He looked back up at them to find them stunned into silence, eyes wide and bewildered at his statement.

"Leave the Kingsguard?" He heard Addam ask, though it sounded more of a statement.

"Yes, I'm of no use to my King with one lame hand."

"But what of all your work in the Riverlands? I daresay you handled that wonderfully."

"Because it did not require combat. What if my King's life was in immediate danger? I can not protect him. And should the King wish for me to ride with an envoy to solve any more political issues I will gladly oblige. But the Kingsguard, I lost the right to that the same moment I lost my hand." They stood in silence for a while, and Jaime knew that they were wondering why he was telling them all this. Why he was announcing it to them. It was now that he decided to take the final plunge.

"But it is with this news, this confirmation, now that I have a signed royal decree, that I now come to you in regard to another matter." He looked straight at Lord Marbrand, not daring to break contact, it would not do very well for him to think me a coward in regard to this, also simultaneously avoiding Addam's heated stare entirely.

"What is it I can do for you, Ser Jaime? Or should I now say Lord Lannister?" He said with a wide grin, and Jaime could not let himself feel guilt about wiping that grin off with what he was to say next. Holding his head high in a way akin to how he imagined his father might to do, he stated,

"I have come to ask for your permission, my Lord, and your blessing, to ask for your daughter's hand in marriage." Silence once again.

"Who?" He heard Addam ask quietly, and he almost winced as he replied.

"Lorraine, if it would please her to have me." He could see Lord Marbrand's features turn solemn slightly but that did not stop his words of kindness spilling out,

"My Lord, we would be honoured. But, are you...sure? About...Lorraine?"

"Yes" he answered frighteningly fast.

"Does she, does Lorraine know of this?"

"No...not at all. And I assure you I have no intention of taking her off guard in that way. If I were to be given your permission, my Lord, I wish to wait a while before formally asking her for her hand."

"What does that mean? Do you mean that you are asking for her hand while you are not entirely sure you want to marry her?" He heard Addam ask once again with just a tint of viciousness in his trembling voice, why was he the one asking all the questions?

"Not at all. I'm very sure of my intentions." He lied.

"It is just that I wish for Lorraine to get to know me better, for her to feel more comfortable in my presence. I do not wish to spring up a question that she could not possibly answer. I wish to give her time."

Jaime could not help but feel like they were looking at him as if he was taking something away from them.

Damon

He could only stare at Ser Jaime, dumbfounded by this sudden revelation. And it was exactly that, sudden, and extremely so.

He can not say that he had not noticed the growing relationship and understanding between Ser Jaime and his youngest daughter, but he would have never imagined to see it blossom into something that Ser Jaime was suggesting.

If he was being fair about it, half of his shock came from the very idea that he had accepted around the time that Lorraine was five years old: That she would probably not marry. Although it was an initial disappointment to him, he grew to not only accept but cherish the fact that his little girl would never leave him. That her and Addam would be the ones to stay by his side when he died, until he died.

The other half of his shock was at the fact that it was no ordinary nobleman that wanted his sweet daughter's hand, it was the new Lord Lannister. And although he did feel pride that this presented a well-off opportunity for his daughter, the thought of his daughter being torn from him into the arms of another gnawed at him.

Suddenly, it all made perfect sense to him. It hit him like a wave, how obvious it was that Jaime Lannister was interested in his daughter. In truth, if he had seen Jaime that attentive to Elaine he would have guessed it immediately, but thinking it was just sweet little Lorraine, it completely passed him by. And now here he was, dumbstruck at the realisation that Jaime Lannister, his new Liege Lord, wanted to grace him with the honour of making his own daughter Lady of the Rock.

"I was not expecting this, my Lord." he fiddled with this quill before returning his gaze back at Ser Jaime. He was a composed lad, Jaime Lannister, but at this moment all Damon could see were pleading green eyes, a near sheen of sweat on his brow, waiting for Damon to expand on his point.

Is Jaime Lannister worthy? And perhaps it is in the way he was looking at him, or the way that Damon had finally noticed him look at his Lorraine, that he decided that yes, Jaime Lannister was worthy.

"You have my complete permission. But I feel like I must remind you that my permission only extends as far as Lorraine's. In the end, it is her you will have to convince."

He smiled gratefully, who knew Jaime Lannister would ever be grateful to me?

He looked at Addam then, as if he had suddenly remembered he was in the room. In light of his blessing to Lorraine's potential engagement he feared that Addam may throw some sort of a fit, he knew him and Jaime were good friends but one could never know with Addam, and hearing his voice tremble earlier at the very mention of Lorraine's marriage Damon did not see it as out of the question for Addam to grow angry towards his friend. And Damon prayed his son would not forget himself.
But surprisingly, Addam stood up, shaking Jaime's hand and wrapping one arm around him, taking both he and Jaime in surprise.

"I feel I need not send you any thinly veiled threats Lannister." They all laughed boisterously at that.

"No," continued Jaime, recovering from his laugh, "you truly need not. But if it is not too much to ask, I do ask that we keep this a private matter. I do not wish for anyone else to know until I have Lorraine's permission."

They all nodded in agreement,

"You have my word, my lord Lannister."