Jory wanted to take her back to Ned's tent, but she insisted that she needed some air after the encounter. He nodded in understanding, telling her to come back when she felt more at ease. She walked over to the treeline, as she sunk down onto the ground, her back against the bark. She pulled her hair back behind her face, as she let out a shaky breath. She didn't feel like she thought she would. She thought she should be haunted by the man's burning face, but she wasn't. She didn't take joy in watching him die but…knowing he was going to hurt and that she had the power to stop it felt…good.
"First kills are never easy on the soul" A voice informed her.
She looked up to see no other than Jaime Lannister, who seemed to be avoiding her eyes again.
"It feels a little too easy on my soul" She confessed.
"It was self-defence" Jaime insisted.
"If it was self defence I would have stopped the fire from killing him" She retorted, standing up to come to his level.
Jaime then looked her in the eye, as he finally realised what he had found so intriguing the first time he had seen her. There was a spark of red behind her dark blue eyes. Fire. There was so much more to the girl than first appeared, he realised.
"I have killed many for less" He told her.
"If you have come out here because you think I will not keep your secret, you needn't worry. What you do with your sister in the shadows is none of my concern" Keaira explained, as he looked at her more intensely.
"You should watch your tongue" He warned her.
"Or what? Will you kill me?" Keaira inquired, taking a step towards him.
Her eyes seemed to change colour once again, as they darkened, as he felt fear seep into his bones. And something else. Keaira seemed to realise what she had said a moment later, as she looked away, appearing much timider instantly.
"My apologises, Ser. I am tired. I do not know what I am saying" Keaira exclaimed.
"If you ever tell anyone what you saw-" Jaime began, but she cut him off.
"I won't. I swear it" She promised, as their eyes connected once again.
She quickly excused herself as Jaime watched her go with a frown. He had thought only a few people in the whole Kingdom could challenge him, and they were all men. However, when she challenged him…he enjoyed it.
Keaira sighed as she heard the whispers all around her. It seemed everyone had heard of her first kill, and they were all much uneasy because of it. The only person who didn't treat her any differently was Arya, who seemed a little too happy about it. She was walking towards the Starks tent when she almost bumped into a large man who had been turning a corner at the same time as her. She jumped back when she realised who it was. The Hound. She heard that he could murder someone with one punch, which she was not eager to found out whether it was true. Keaira was more surprised when she saw him jump back even further. The fear in his eyes when he looked at her was almost unfathomable. She saw his hand instantly grab his sword, as if expecting her to attack him any moment. It was then that she noticed the awful burns covering half of his face.
"My apologises…I should have been looking where I was going" Keaira announced.
"Stay away from me" The Hound gritted out, his hand gripping his sword tighter.
"Now that is no way to speak to a lady. Apologise, Hound" A voice insisted from behind her, as she turned to see Tyrion Lannister.
"I…I'm sorry…" The Hound trailed off, before quickly retreating the way he had just come.
"Gods be good, I have never seen the Hound look scared in my entire life" Tyrion said, in awe.
"I tend to have that effect" Keaira exclaimed.
"It will pass" Tyrion shook his head.
"I doubt it. Everyone looks at me like I'm some…monster" She spat out.
"They have been looking at me like that my entire life. It will pass. Or you will stop noticing it" Tyrion explained.
"You don't seem scared" Keaira frowned.
"Do you want to hurt me?" Tyrion asked.
"No. Of course not" She replied.
"Then I have nothing to fear" He said, as they began walking together.
"I haven't had the chance to thank you yet. For saving my siblings" Tyrion went on.
"Anyone would have done the same" Keaira shrugged.
"We both know that is not true" Tyrion retorted.
"They were defenceless" Keaira added.
"I don't think I have seen Jaime without a sword by his side in years…why did he take it off?" Tyrion questioned, as Keaira averted her eyes.
"Ah…you know" Tyrion realised.
"I knew before" She confessed.
"Really? How?" He inquired, curious.
"At the feast at Winterfell. She was…jealous. Not in a sisterly way" Keaira whispered.
"And you haven't said anything to anyone?" Tyrion queried.
"No. Like I said to your brother. I won't" Keaira told him, as he nodded.
"How long have you known?" She couldn't help but ask.
"Many years" He answered.
"It doesn't…bother you?" She questioned.
"I am not partaking in it, so why should it? Does it bother you?" Tyrion suggested.
"A little. It seems…unnatural" She confessed.
"She took him into her bed when they were only twelve years of age. He hasn't known anything else" Tyrion theorised.
"Shouldn't it be him taking her into his bed?" Keaira inquired.
"Clearly you don't know my sister very well" Tyrion smirked.
"Should we really be discussing this so publicly?" Keaira went on.
"It's the worst kept secret in the Kingdom" Tyrion shrugged.
"I suppose it does explain some things" Keaira added.
"In what way?" Tyrion frowned.
"Why the Prince is the way he is" She answered.
"Joffrey has always been like his mother…Tommen and Myrcella on the other hand, are more like Jaime" Tyrion explained.
"You seem to have a lot to say on the subject" She stated.
"I must confess it is rather nice to converse openly about it for a change" Tyrion admitted.
"How do you know you can trust me?" Keaira asked.
"Someone who couldn't be trusted would not be placing doubt on themselves" Tyrion exclaimed.
"They would if they wanted to hide their true intentions" Keaira suggested, as Tyrion grinned.
"Have I mentioned how glad I am that you joined us on our journey?" He smiled.
Author's Notes: I hope you all enjoyed this chapter! It's going to be interesting to see Keaira's relationship grow with the two brothers, but what will happen when Cersei founds out how close she's getting? Please leave a review:)
Padfootette: Thank you for the review!