Author's Note: Another chapter here again. Let me know what you guys think! I like hearing from readers. Hope y'all like it:)

The stone hallway echoed with sounds of heavy breathing and the rapid fall of footsteps as Amarah Baratheon quickly made her way to her father's chambers. She could hardly believe the latest report that had reached her ears and she intended to confront him to see if it was indeed true.

As she approached his chamber she halted in surprise at the sight of Jaime Lannister. His presence here seemed to indicate that he was not aware of the recent report from the ravens regarding Tyrion. Masking her startled reaction at his presence she approached him slowly. As she drew near he regarded her with surprise he did not bother to hide.

"Here to see the king?" he asked her with raised brows. She assumed his surprise stemmed from the fact that she had never sought out her father's company unless it was specifically requested that she attend him in his chambers.

"No" she answered with sarcastic impatience. "I thought I would come here and stare at you for amusement."

"Well I could hardly blame you for…' but she interrupted him before he could finish the thought.

"I'm in no mood for games, Ser Jaime. I wish to see my father now." Her use of his proper name must have been startling enough to spur him into action for he opened the door to the king's chambers without another word. Spotting her father behind his desk nursing a glass of wine she marched over with deadly intent.

"Get out" she told the half-wit Lancel without giving him so much as a glance. She must have sounded quite frightening because the next thing she heard was him scuffling out the door as quick as those skinny legs could manage.

"Is it true?" she asked without any preamble.

"Is what true?" the king replied in an angry tone. "What do you mean by interruptin' me here in the middle of the day with a question like that?"

"Oh forgive my interruption to your tedious work of drinking, shitting, and fucking" she replied throwing his earlier words back in his face. "Is it true you released Uncle Ned from his duties?"

"He defied me!" Robert stood up roaring across the wooden table. "And don't you defend him to me, girl!"

"Defied you?" she asked with incredulous disbelief. "When have you ever done anything worth defying? You sit on your arse all day getting fat and spending the kingdom's money on drink and whores!"

Her father's angry expression only became stormier at her words. "If you were not my daughter I would have you killed for that."

"Oh but without me how would you remember your precious Lyanna" she replied with a sneer. After hearing the news about Uncle Ned, it seemed like all the resentment she had built up against her father since he had abandoned her all those years ago had come rushing to the forefront.

"What do you mean?" he demanded as if he was confused by what she said.

"Don't pretend, Father, and make fools of us both. You only care about me because I remind you of the only person you ever loved besides yourself. You've made me into a living memory of your dead wife. I'm not a person to you but a shrine. Something to be looked at and admired to remind you of the woman you lost. You care nothing for me. Only the one who carried me in her womb with your seed."

"That's your mother your speakin' about" he said in a warning tone.

"And your wife" she threw back. "But the difference is I never knew her. I never loved her."

Sitting back down most likely due to shock over what he had just heard, Robert regarded her with an astounded expression. "How dare you say such a thing about your own mother?"

"How dare I?" she repeated. "How can I love someone I have never known? How can I love the woman who was the reason you rejected me as a child? The only mother I've ever known was Catelyn Stark, but you saw to that the day you abandoned me at Winterfell. You could not bear to look into the face of a child that reminded you of your loss. So you left me without a word. It didn't matter that I cried and screamed and pleaded for you to take me with you. No, the only father I had ever known left me without a second glance. Why do I not love the mother I've never known? Because of you, my king. Because of you."

His irate expression had slowly morphed into one as disbelief as her rant had continued on. Once she had run out of accusations to hurl in his face he was silent for a few moments as if pondering what she had just said. "You think I left you there because I couldn't stand to look at you?" he asked still in seeming disbelief.

"What other reason could you have had for such an unfeeling act?" Her voice shook with the rage she was trying to suppress.

"I left you there to keep you safe, my girl" he said finally rising from his seat and slowly walking around the desk to where she stood. "After the war was over and we found your mother dead, I was stricken with grief. When we returned to Winterfell where you were stayin' with your aunt and little cousin Robb, all I could think was 'She was safe here. She'll always be safe here.' And I left you because I was too afraid to have you near me. Do you know what I was thinkin' while you cried and screamed behind me?" he asked, his voice raising as he grabbed her by the shoulders and hugged her to him. Amarah could barely contain her shock over his actions. After the terrible things she had just said she wouldn't have been surprised if he had decided to lock her up for weeks without bread and water. But here he was trying to comfort her. It was all quite confusing to her agitated mind.

"All the way down the path I heard your screams and they tore into my heart like a thousand daggers. You were the thing left in this world I loved most and I had to leave you where I knew you would be safest. I knew you would be sad, even angry, but I never thought you would hate me for it."

Pulling away to look her father in the eyes Amarah wondered if he could be telling the truth. But why would he have reason to lie? Still confused by the admission she shook her head in bewilderment. "Then why tear me away from the only home I had ever known? Why take me from where I was safe? Why keep me from the m…" but she broke off quickly before finishing that last thought. Her love for Robb was her secret alone.

"Things had settled down by then" he said gazing over her shoulder as if seeing the events unfold before him. Looking back at her he continued. "I missed you. I didn't think you would resent me for it."

"Why did you never tell me any of this?" she asked in a much calmer voice than before.

"Because it made me sound weak" he replied with a resigned shrug. "No man wants anyone to think him weak. Not even his own daughter."

"I wouldn't have thought that."

Looking at her with a sad smile he shook his head. "Yes you would have, my girl. Better for you to think me a heartless king than a weak-minded fool."

Smarting from the unintended insult that loving her was a weakness, Amarah suddenly remembered the reason for her visit. Deciding the conversation was becoming too sentimental for her taste, Amarah stubbornly shoved the feelings of resentment inside once again in order to return to the topic at hand. "How did Uncle Ned defy you?"

"I'll not talk to you of matters regarding the council" he replied returning to his gruff demeanor. "It's not a woman's place to know these things."

Suppressing the urge to defend her sex Amarah continued to badger him for the truth. "You know if you do not tell me I will simply find out on my own."

"Fine" he answered with a sigh of resignation. "Your uncle was against my plans to kill the Targaryen girl."

"Daenerys Targaryen?"

"How do you know about her?" Robert asked in surprise.

"I know much more than you give me credit for" she replied. Without waiting for his response to that revelation she continued on. "Why kill Daenerys Targaren? She's only a girl. What threat could she be to you?"

"She's married a Dothraki barbarian and she's got his child in her belly" he defended his actions. "She'll come here and take my throne if we don't stop her now."

"And how do you expect she'll arrive?" Amarah questioned. "On the wings of a dragon? A Dothraki horde can ride many places but not across the sea."

Her father gave her a hard, displeased look over her assessment of his plans. "I warn you. Don't mock me, girl. I did what has to be done."

"What has to be done? I think you would take any excuse to kill a Targaryen. That girl is not the reason my mother died. She was only a child at the time. If Daenerys Targaryen ever does decide to take the throne you'll be dead and gone by the time she raises the strength necessary to claim it. The only one that needs to fear her if Joffrey, and I doubt he'd be a better ruler in any case."

"Be careful" he warned. "That's your brother you're speakin' about. He may be useless and worthless but he's still my son." Amarah decided to hold her tongue over that particular sentiment.

"Change your order, father" she urged him in a reasonable tone. "Daenerys Targaryen poses no threat to you, but if you persist with this ridiculous plan, Uncle Ned will leave King's Landing. He is the only person in this city honorable enough to trust. You cannot lose that."

"I'll think about it" was the only promise she could induce him to give. Giving him a quick hug and peck on the cheek she urged him to make amends with Ned.

"Don't go on about it now" he waved her off. "I'll call him in as soon as he comes back from the gods know where. I haven't seen him since our argument over this whole business."

Thanking her father once again for seeing reason Amarah departed with other matters on her mind that needed to be settled. As soon as she had exited her father's chambers she turned to regard Jaime Lannister who still stood at his post. He was looking her with a most curious expression that caused her to forget momentarily her trepidation of broaching a dangerous subject with him. However, the curious expression was gone as quickly as it appeared before he returned to his old, mocking self.

He regarded her baffled expression with curiosity. "Something else, princess?"

"As a matter-of-fact there is something else."

"And what might that be? Finally ready to take me up on that offer? I'm sure the king wouldn't notice if I just slipped you into that darkened corridor and taught you the ways a woman pleases a man."

"Seven hells!" she said in disgust at his behavior. "Can you not be serious for one moment? Must you always be such a vile beast?"

Laughing at her irritation he attempted to put on a more serious expression. "Pray tell me, princess, what is so important that you must discuss with me."

"It concerns Tyrion" she said almost too quietly for him to hear.

At hearing his brother's name, Jaime's mocking expression became deadly serious. "What about my brother?" She hesitated for a moment wondering about the wisdom of sharing this information with him. She knew how dangerous he could be and she feared for whom he decided to punish for the recent transgression against his brother.

"I asked you a question, princess. What about my brother?" As she had already mentioned the matter it was too late to turn back now.

"He's been taken captive" she said in the same quiet tone so that he had to lean forward to catch the words.

The serious expression on his face was swiftly turning into one of anger. While that same expression from her father just moments before had frightened her not at all, she was suddenly overcome by a feeling of imminent danger. She must tread carefully with this man or those she loved would pay dearly for it.

"And who would be stupid enough to take a Lannister captive?"

"Lady Catelyn Stark." She didn't realize until after she had replied that she had inadvertently called her aunt stupid.

Oblivious to her distress, Jaime continued to press her for answers. "Where did this happen? On whose orders?"

"Stop shouting at me, Kingslayer!" She was becoming increasingly annoyed with his behavior. She still feared the anger in his eyes but she doubted he would strike her down in front of the king's chambers.

"You would do best to answer the questions, princess." As he spoke he leaned forward as close as their positions would allow. There was no hint of seduction in his gaze now. Only menacing fury. If he was trying to frighten her, it was working most admirably, but she determined not to let him see her fear.

"You should be grateful I brought this to your attention, Kingslayer." She pressed on again before he could interrupt with more threats. "I am telling you this because you are the only other person who cares enough for Tyrion to do anything about it. Lady Catelyn took him captive sometime yesterday at an inn on the kingsroad. She accused him of treachery against the Starks by attempting to kill Bran. I love my aunt but when it comes to her family she can be very fierce. I fear for the safety of Tyrion's life."

"On whose orders was this done?" His voice was kept low to keep others from hearing but she could hear the irate fury in his question.

"I do not know."

"Was it Ned Stark?" Frightened by the deadly intent in his eyes at the mention of her Uncle's name, she leaped to defend his honor.

"My uncle would never have made a decision as rash as this!"

"I hope for his sake he has not" Jaime replied in a menacing tone.

He started to leave soon after these ominous words. "Where are you going?"

"To question Lord Stark about what I have just heard."

Running towards his quickly retreating figure, she quickly stepped in front of him. His glare would have stopped a lesser woman but Amarah would not be cowed by him.

"Do not kill him" was the only warning she gave.

"And how do you intend to stop me? He's not the Hand of the King anymore. He doesn't have the protection of the crown, and if my brother has been harmed he will pay for it with his head."

Pushed from paralyzing fear into rage over his arrogant words Amarah stood her ground. "I warn you, Kingslayer. If you take his life I will make you pay."

"You have no hope in the seven hells of killing me, princess" he replied with that arrogant smirk.

"Who said anything about killing you? The way to wound is through the heart. If my uncle dies then I will make you long for something as sweet as death."

"Very brave, my lady, but I will deal with your Uncle however I see fit no matter what you threaten me with."

He started to walk away again before she tried one last attempt to reason with him. "Do you know why people hate you?" He halted momentarily at her words. "They say you have no honor. The Kingslayer who would break his vows to kill the man he swore to protect has shit for honor. I did not have to tell you about Tyrion's capture but I did because I care about him and I knew you were the only other person in the seven kingdoms who felt the same. I paid you a kindness in this. Do not repay my kindness to save someone you love with the death of one I love. Prove you have some honor, Lannister."

He didn't turn back to look at her but she knew he heard. After a few moments of torturous silence he spoke. "I'll make you no promises not to hurt him."

"Just don't kill him." She was not foolish enough to ask for more than that. Jaime Lannister in a rage was the most unreasonable man in all of Westeros.

After these last words the Lion of Lannister left her there with only the sound of his retreating footsteps. As he departed, Amarah did something she had not attempted in quite some time. She prayed.