Hey-o. First off, i'd like to start by saying that though I didn't have such a clear picture when I was writing the last chapter i'm actually really happy with how it came out -I never really planned on Jaime and Lorraine kissing before their wedding but I felt like that was the direction those two seemed to be headed.

Also, thanks for the kind words and support, it's reassuring to know that this energy is going towards something others seem to enjoy.

This chapter was damn near impossible to start because though I had a general plan of the themes I wanted to go over I had to sit my self down and think about what exactly i'd cover and how i'd go about covering it and ended up changing a few things.

I hope it's up to par, enjoy!

Jaime

He felt eyes on him as his sword dealt the final clash to a knight who's name he could not even recall. The knight's weight buckled under his shield as Jaime pressed his sword down against it and the nameless knight fell fully back onto the ground. Jaime helped the young man up then and shook his hand firmly commenting that it was a good spar.

In fact, any spar was a good spar to Jaime now. After having to leave Ilyne Payne back at King's Landing Jaime has had very little chance to practice fighting with his left hand -and Ashemark's up and coming household knights were the perfect targets for that. Furthermore, it did not hurt to keep his mind off of the frenzied preparations the castle was in for the wedding. His wedding. After his kiss with Lorraine he did not even know what to feel. He had promised himself not to touch her further before they were to be wed but a part of him could hardly contain his relief at the excitement she displayed after their kiss. He had come so far, gotten so close, and he wanted to do this right. He did not believe in the Gods -old or new, and he did not believe in sin -he was not sure what a man like him would do if he did. But Lorraine must have, and he wanted her to know normalcy for as long as she could for he did not know what would come later. But still, he thought, one kiss to a maiden is not the same as fucking. He still worried over that. And if he were to be honest with himself, he was not yet sure he could do it.

Yes, he felt immensely attracted to her. Yes, he thought of her constantly. Yes, he sometimes imagined how her naked body would feel against his. But he could not yet bring himself to imagine being inside her. Cersei was all he had ever known intimately, and the nature in which he conducted his business with her then was not the way Lorraine was or he would expect her to be. And it was not like swordplay; it was not as if he could practice.

And there was also the matter of Casterly Rock. He was glad that his return would now be imminent as apposed to open-ended but it did not resolve the issues growing in the region. It had been clear in the letter, the Western Lord were losing respect for his house. And that was something else entirely for the fact that the surrounding villages, as much as it pained him to admit, needed his assistance. Moreover, there was the Tully situation that he could not ignore and it did not make him feel all that great either to know Roslin Frey and her child would be joining her husband as his hostages. He did not like Edmure Tully, and he probably never will, but he understood why Edmure despised him in return. He had taken his home, which was understandable. But that was something he could have expected for siding -and continuing to side, with the losing team. Still, he wondered how everyone would feel -the hostages, himself and his new wife, that him and Lorraine would experience the first few weeks of marriage knowing that on some far end of the castle a new family was being held hostage under their own roof. How would Edmure Tully feel, he wondered, knowing I was taking my new wife to bed while he was still a prisoner in my own home?

He finally found the pair of eyes that had been tracing his every move and gave a curt smile to Addam. He wondered for a moment how Addam would feel if he knew Jaime's exact thoughts at that moment. Would he be offended or relieved that I was wondering if I could figure out how to make love to his youngest sister?

"Hoping to learn a thing or two, Ser?" He asked as he removed his gloved hand.

"I could ask the same of you, my lord." He stared him down before he returned his easy smile and gently pointed his sword at him.

"Proceed with caution, Ser." Addam gently moved the sword away as they both chuckled lightly and Jaime brought a rag to his sweaty face.

"You've been in the yard an awful lot as of recent."

"Do you feel neglected Ser? I would have thought your wife would keep you busy."

It was true, for after Jaime returned from King's Landing he found that Addam had become quite taken by Margot. Sure, she was his wife and it was to be expected. But Jaime knew Addam's affections could only extend so far to anyone that was not family. But it seems they have both grown immensely on one another. What was even more surprising was the change in Margot. She was still shy by all counts, and did not speak often unless spoken to in the company of strangers, but her answers and statements seemed a lot clearer and were delivered with far more confidence than he had noticed her have before. Margot and Addam seemed to be happy. Margot and Addam stood closer to one another than they used to. Margot and Addam danced together when no one else would. And sometimes, when they thought no one was watching, Addam would whisper something Jaime immediately assumed to be wicked in Margot's ear and she would offer him a kiss on her little lips. It excited Lorraine to no end.

"She's with the girls now." He answered in true form and motioned for them to walk back inside.

"I see."

"You've no interest what it is they're doing?"

"Should I? What do you need for a wedding? Flowers, a pair of cloaks, a dress if one cares, and a bride and groom and someone to give her away."

"And a burning tree." Addam reminded him.

"Yes but that's extremely specific to Ashemark isn't it? Tell me, dear friend, why is it you've sought me out at this moment?" Addam looked down at that, laughing off the embarrassment at being caught. For Jaime was right; he did not come to him just to make idle small talk.

"I have been charged with something." He eyed him carefully from through his peripheral vision.

"Should I be worried?"

Addam stopped then, bringing his hand up to stop Jaime in his track as well. Jaime had to admit now that his curiosity had been peaked.

"My father wants to see you later, in his study. He'll be waiting for you before dinner." He looked on, dumbfounded, surprised that Addam would ask such a thing. He sighed out, bringing his face to a winced expression.

"I'm not sure I want to know anymore." Addam barked out in laughter and smacked Jaime's back with his palm. It seems all Marbrands are fond of hitting me places, has no one told them i'm the dreaded Kingslayer?

"Fear not, my lord. Now, as you mentioned, it seems I have a wife I have to fetch." He made his exit to the stairwell on their right and Jaime found himself once again left to his own devices.

The household knights were too tired to spar with him further, and he was not sure he could exhaust himself more than he already had. Lorraine was obviously being seen to already. Addam was off with Margot. He had always preferred his own company with the exception of Cersei and Tyrion, but it seems now he was at a loss.

Instead he made his way to his rooms to waste his time by writing another letter to Casterly Rock. He needed to remind them of the sensitivity regarding the hostages, and how they needed to be -and stay comfortable. It would not do for him to mistreat the Tully's and then send them on their merry way to King's Landing. No, he had to treat them with a level of dignity, even if he thought a weasel like Edmure Tully was undeserving of it.

Just as he began to write he felt the words escape him and his mind drifted back to Lorraine. He felt like a silly little girl, what business did he have gushing over a kiss? It was just that, a mere kiss. But it had taken him by surprise, which Lorraine seemed to do almost every time he spoke to her. He felt her warmth against him in that moment, and finally relished in the same lips his eyes had always wandered to. He was gentle, but the situation demanded it. And now, he found especially difficult to hold back his usual desires. She was tempting him and he could not tell if it was an accident or not. They had not kissed since that day and since then the tension in the air had only hovered over them. He thought of her more often at night now, and he imagined her sweet lips everywhere else on him.

Shaking the thought away at the sudden tightness in his breeches, Jaime tightened his grip on his quill and returned to the letter. Eventually his eyes strayed to the folded cloak sitting on the chair opposite him. Lorraine's Lannister cloak arrived from Casterly Rock as well as a pendant he had insisted on giving her as a wedding gift. They had both belonged to his mother and he had wondered what other use they may have had just lying there in Casterly Rock, it's not as if anyone would argue with him over what to do with them. He reached over to examine the chain, it had soft circles of rubies and emeralds hanging from smaller chains off of the main one and he returned it to the box as if his touch would ruin it. He tried returning to his letter, but instead thought of the cloak and how it would envelop Lorraine's frame when he put it on her. I wonder how light it would feel when i've removed it from her at the end of the night. His mind wandered to what Lorraine thought about when she lay in bed at night. Soon he would know.

Lorraine

Only a week left. Could it be? In a mere week I would be Lorraine Lannister and I would have a husband.

Even now, standing in the very dress I would be getting married in I could hardly bring myself to believe any of it was real. Granted, the dress was still a little bare looking, it was merely the first layer they were fitting on me for size before they could get work on all the additions. To my surprise, Elaine had been an enthused participant in it all and spoke of lace and embroidery and embellishments -I had to stop her once she got to feathers. The only thing anyone asked for my opinion of was the colour, and I strangely picked white. It was an uncommon colour for one to wear to one's own wedding -or at all, and white was always a colour that kind of scared me. But when I placed it against my maiden's cloak I knew it would make it look the richest. I suppose it'll make my Lannister cloak look just as bold.

The wedding preparations did not scare me. They were a little tedious, but I did not at all mind them. Especially not with Elaine and Margot by my side, it was refreshing seeing Margot have a strong opinion about something even if it was that the flowers should be orange instead of white since they were white at the last wedding we hosted. It seems that Ashemark's sept has become quite a popular wedding destination as of late.

It was, in fact, the preparations for our departure that intimidated me the most. I had asked Jaime once of the arrangements he said were being made for us at Casterly Rock and he was strangely vague about it. Could I really blame him though? My question was not as direct as it should have been. I have thus far been very open with Jaime and admit to having no fears around him, but I could not yet bring myself to look him square in the eye and ask him if we would be sharing chambers at the Rock.

Instead, I took it upon myself to guess. Surely there would be plenty of room at Casterly Rock and I would not be lacking in space, but would separate chambers be a given or even expected? Would Jaime even want to share a room with me?

Addam and Margot shared rooms. So did Father and Mother. And Janyne and Ronald. But I have no knowledge of how it is for Great Lords -regardless of how well they got on with their spouses. I did not yet know what I would want from Jaime in that respect. I silently hoped that even in case he in fact did not want to share our chambers that I would not feel dissapointed or offended by it, it would be all too telling to both me and Jaime.

I had rarely worn dresses with sleeves as long as this dress would reach, and so I hoped I did not overheat in it. I turned slightly in front of the mirror to examine the corset in the back when I spied Elaine eyeing me carefully,

"You're going to look beautiful, sister." She breathed out clapping her hands together,

"Truly, I can imagine it Lorraine." Chimed in Margot from the seat behind her.

I smiled back at them, there was no use in a disagreement -or a conversation about the matter anyway. They'd gush and tell me how pretty of a bride I will be and I'll shy away, and so on. They've both been fawning over me relentlessly, I think Elaine especially needs a distraction from her own nuptials -which I still strangely do not have any further news of.

Rolling my eyes and making one final check of how the dress fit I made my way to the changing screen and replaced the bare dress with my pale blue one. Once I reappeared from behind the screen I found that Margot had left and Elaine had stood up. I looked at Elaine questioningly and she responded without me having to do anything.

"Addam was looking for Margot so she joined him." I nodded, then returned my curious gaze to her once more. She looked back shyly and opened her mouth to speak once more,

"I fear I must be on my way as well. I still have a painting I wish to finish today." And with a quick kiss to my cheek, Elaine was gone as well, and I was left alone. I huffed out in exasperation and decided to amuse myself with a walk. I had no wish to disturb Jaime right now as I knew this is when he would be training the house guards and my legs could use some movement after standing stiffly for so long in one place.

It was at the covered bridge, the one encircled in ferns and Amber roses, where I found my betrothed on his way somewhere. As I approached him he noted me with his eye brows raised,

"I was just on my way to you. How was the...umm...the thing?" I could not help but walk away from him giggling, did he not yet realise he could stop pretending to be interested in all the trivialities? I was surprised he hadn't rolled his eyes into an early grave the last time we sat with Elaine who was trying to help pick centerpieces.

I did not have my notepad with me, so I could not explain to him exactly what I had felt trying on my not-yet wedding dress, so I merely motioned my thumb up to signify it was good, fine, but I believe my facial expression spoke louder volumes as the only response I got was a resounding laugh that echoed through the enclosed space.

He extended his arm out towards me in order for me to hold on to it and I almost took it but hesitated at the last moment, instead choosing to return my arm to my side and lean my back on the wall behind me. I stared him down lazily, like his questioning look was unjustified. Soon the element of surprise wore off and Jaime returned as I knew him, proud and a little depraved -but that same darkness I saw in his eyes right before we kissed returned and I could not help but wonder in slight panic, were we about to kiss once more? Is Jaime Lannister going to kiss me?

I worried after we had kissed whether I had done it correctly, I have no experience. Or I suppose I can now only correctly say I had no experience. Had I gone about it all wrong? Is there a trick to this I should know about? It's not like I can practice.

He stepped toward me and reached his hand to rest against the wall near where my head was and brought his frame in closer to mine, still careful not to touch me.

"You'd stay careful not to defy me, my lady." He said, his voice low and thick. Yes, we were definitely alone now. I looked away, pretending to not have heard his comment at all and raised my eyes to the ceiling, making sure not to return them to his until I was confident I would not laugh.

Somehow, I succeeded, and met his heated stare with my own. He leaned in further and I could feel his heavy breath caressing my cheek,

"Does this perhaps, bother you at all? My lady?" Still somehow holding a breath I had not known I had taken, I shook my head slowly, careful not to break eye contact. For I was swimming in green, I was bathing in green, and I did not wish to be anywhere other than here -pinned by emeralds.

To my surprise, he moved his other hand closer to my frame and it touched my middle. Faintly, very faintly it whisped against my side until it settled right by my ribs. I tried to let out my breath slowly, so as not to show that I had been keeping it in and did my best not to flinch at the contact.

"And this?" He asked, and I did not miss the teasing tone in his now husky voice.

I wondered then, could this be misconstrued as seduction? Am I being tempting? Could my defying lean signal something far more wicked to someone like my betrothed? Perhaps he is not the only depraved one. I smiled slightly at that revelation; it turns out that perhaps I am not the passionless Septa every one thought I was.

My face was awash in red now and I am biting my lip -hard. Yet I stood my ground and did not move. I wanted to see play this out, and see how far Jaime would go on his own without me having to instigate anything further. He leaned in to me once more and now our noses were touching, I could almost feel the dampness of his lips on mine.

But to my astonishment, my awaiting lips were not awarded with my intended's once more. Instead, I felt that same dampness on the spot between my jaw and cheek; the same spot I had kissed him before.

I had no idea what my expression must have been when he finally braved to look at me, but i'm sure it was not as passive as I would have liked it to be as his grin grew from ear to ear.

And not a moment later, the sound of footsteps was heard and the heat between us vanished as he pushed himself away from me -almost regretfully. To both our chagrins, Addam stood in the direction where the foot steps had been coming from with an extremely uncomfortable expression on his face, I could barely even look at him.

Instead, I looked to Jaime, who looked bored and weary all of a sudden, returning to his lazy nonchalance. I tried to pinch myself for the thought I had next. But it would seem I would be trying to pinch myself for the remainder of the evening as well; all I could think of was how I wished to be alone with him again -with no interruptions. I could laugh at myself for the mere thought, but it was a recurring "what if" in my mind. What if, what if what if?

By the Gods, what will become of me?

Addam

He never thought he would have to worry more than what was expected. So far, he imagined he had been worried far less for Lorraine than what was normal -he trusted Jaime. And he had to remind himself that even now after catching them in some sort of heated exchange, that he still did trust him.

I would have to keep a more watchful eye on them. He reminded himself as he made the long walk back to his chambers. He did not know what use it would be to keep an eye on the pair of them -especially since their wedding was next week. It's not as if he did not have a thousand other things to do and worry about already. But there was something in the way they looked, the way they were that felt strange to Addam. No one could expect him to enjoy seeing his sister that way with someone -regardless of who they were. He had mostly left them alone to their own devices and in each other's company since their engagement, he knew Jaime well enough to know he would not try such an obvious attempt at her honour in her own home like that. And Addam still didn't think Jaime would do that, or that Jaime would hurt her in any way.

Maybe that was the issue. He of course wanted his sister to be beloved by whomever would have her, but some unsaid thing made Addam seriously question any ill-will he may have thought Jaime may have ever had towards his sister. And it scared him, that someone could know so little of another person and yet still want to treat them that way.

When he returned to his room he found Margot sitting by her dresser in her robe, the room smelling freshly of honeysuckle. She was combing her hair and smiled sweetly in the mirror at him and he returned it with a curt nod. Immediately her eye brows furrowed and she turned to him,

"Is something the matter?" She asked, her voice in a slightly higher pitch that it usually was. It was her tell-tale sign that she was worried. He sat down on the bed then, removing his boots and sighing out at the relief he felt. He lay down, looking up at nothing, trying to think of how he could formulate an answer.

"I just...saw something strange. That's all." She moved to the bed then, sitting on it with one knee on the mattress and the other grazing the floor. He balanced himself on his elbows so he could look up at her.

She had grown, and only grown more beautiful to him. She was less fearful of asking him things, sometimes he even felt like she demanded it of him -but he would never say so to her in fear of embarrassing her enough to stop. After their wedding night things started looking up considerably -not that they were not already, but far more progress had been made. Not just with Margot herself, but between the pair of them. He was almost ashamed to admit that the physical part of it all helped the both of them immensely. It was a language that did not need speaking. It sorted things between them when they disagree, it comforted them when they were emotional, and surprisingly Margot has been quite receptive to his more ...aggressive advances.

"What is it?" He sighed out loud, almost groaning as he thought of the other thing that has been plaguing him. He decided this was the best time to get it off his chest. If he could not tell his wife who else could he tell?

He moved up further and reached for her hand, stroking his thumb across her fair skin gently. He licked his lips before speaking again,

"It's my father. He is not well." Her eyes widened. Surely Margot, you are not so naïve as to believe that he is as well as he claims.

"He complains of his heart and he has chest pains. He's getting weaker." He explained further,

"Will he be alright?" Oh sweet Margot, one does not get alright so easily at this age.

"I don't know." He almost whispered, "Whatever it is, we must be there for him. Do you understand me, Margot?" She nodded her head immediately,

"Of course. Of course I understand."

"May I ask you of something, my darling?" He had realised that "darling" was an affectionate term appreciated dearly by his new wife.

"Any thing." He did not know if she enunciated each syllable on purpose, but instead returned his attention to her fingers that he was now fiddling with. Returning his gaze to her he steadily said,

"Not a word of this can reach Lorraine. She can never know. Not now." Margot nodded slowly this time, as if processing each part of his statement. She pulled him closer by the hand and planted a soft kiss to his slightly opened mouth.

"I promise."

Hope you enjoyed this. I really powered through to get this out. I felt like if I stopped I would have forgotten what I wanted to get in and a lot of what i've written came to me in the moment. I, for one, am going to enjoy a nice long 12 hour sleep after posting this so I better wake up to a lot of gratitude. I'm only joking! ...kinda.

I've fixed any spelling/grammar mistakes the best way I could. Please let me know if there are any issues.

I'm gonna keep on writing cause I really want to get the next two chapters done before I start uni again but I may not publish them in quick succession and instead choose to make you guys sweat a little, yall have been spoiled rotten.