Author's Note: Thanks so much for the alerts I keep getting for reviews, favorites, and follows for my story. It means a lot that you guys are still reading this even though I don't get to update nearly as much as I would like. Hopefully, once I get more into the swing of things with work, I can update more than once every two weeks. Without further delay, here is the next update I've kept you all waiting for. I made it a tad longer to try to make up for the wait I keep putting you all through. Hope you enjoy it!
Time you left. Jaime's parting words to Amarah in the dungeons replayed over and over in her mind long into the darkest hours of the night. As she tossed and turned between the cool, silk sheets of her bed, trying in vain to drift into slumber, she wondered why his words troubled her so. She should be rejoicing in the knowledge that she would soon be free of this wretched city once again, but the niggling thought that she would be leaving Jaime behind as well kept prodding at her already troubled mind.
As Amarah finally managed to fall into a fitful sleep, thoughts of the golden lion still plagued her into her dreams. It was with great relief when she felt Alayaya's hand gently shaking her bare shoulder to rouse her from sleep. Suppressing a loud yawn, Amarah gradually opened her eyes, allowing them to adjust to the yellow sunlight that streamed through the windows overlooking the bed where she slept. It was a bright, sunny day in the capital, but despite the cheery warmth, Amarah felt a melancholy sadness settle over her.
Forcing a smile to her trembling lips, Amarah quickly rose from the bed and bid Alayaya a quick good morning before shedding her silk sleeping gown in favor of her rough spun traveling clothes that had been discarded days before. The clothes had been cleaned of the dust of travel since she had last worn them, but they felt confining and heavy in comparison to the light, silk dresses she had been wearing since taking up residence in the brothel. Ignoring the slight feeling of discomfort at being back in her own clothes once again, Amarah looked to Alayaya with a true smile this time in thanks of all the girl had done for her.
"I shall never forget your kindness to me, Alayaya" Amarah told her sincerely as she gave the girl's shoulder a quick squeeze of appreciation.
As Amarah's hand fell away, Alayaya shyly bowed her head in acceptance of her gratitude. "I was pleased to be of service to you my lady. If only…" But her voice trailed off then, leaving the rest of the thought unspoken.
"If only what?" Amarah prodded her to continue.
Alayaya looked back at her again then with a wistful smile. "If only you were ruler of the kingdoms rather than the Lannisters. Perhaps then the city would have fared better."
"I'm not a ruler, Alayaya" Amarah refuted the girl's assertion with a firm shake of her head. "There are others who are better suited to the task than myself."
"Who might you have in mind for the task, my lady?" a sly, whispery voice which was becoming so familiar of late, smoothly interjected into their conversation.
Amarah turned to regard Varys with a veiled smile that closely resembled his own enigmatic expression. "No one at all, my lord."
With that vague response, she turned back again to grace Alayaya with a smile of farewell. Once their goodbyes were finished, Amarah followed Varys as he led her from the brothel back to the red keep. They walked along in silence as was their usual custom when Varys shepherded Amarah back-and-forth between the brothel and the palace. The journey seemed longer than usual, but they finally reached the walls of the keep before Varys quickly smuggled her inside through the use of the secret passageway.
They followed a slightly different path than usual, but Amarah knew the reason for the different route was due to Jaime's request that she meet in him his solar at the top of the keep rather than in his chambers where they had conducted their previous meetings. Varys led her to another hidden door along the passage of the tunnel that swung open to reveal one of the keep's many stone passageway's rather than the room that Amarah had expected.
She turned to regard Varys with a puzzled expression, but he simply returned it with a slight shake of his bald head. "This is where we must part, my lady. I trust you know the way well enough yourself."
Amarah barely had enough time to nod her head in automatic response to his assumption that she knew the way before he disappeared into the wall once more, leaving her in the passage by herself. Quickly shrinking further into the shadowed depths of her hood, Amarah began her way towards Jaime's solar. It was more of a risk walking about the keep in the open light of day, but Varys's sudden abandonment had left her little choice. She did indeed know the way as he had presumed and remembered Jaime's solar was close by.
It didn't take long before the door leading to her destination was in Amarah's sights, but as she reached out to push it open, she quickly drew her hand back at the sound of raised voices. Instantly recognizing the sound of Cersei's harsh voice, Amarah hurriedly withdrew into a nearby alcove, but the sound of raised voices still clearly echoed off the stone walls, allowing Amarah to hear every word of the Lannister's siblings' intense conversation.
"I was a fool to come" Amarah hear Cersei rage at her brother. "You lacked the courage to avenge Joffrey, why would I think that you'd protect Tommen. Tell me, if the Imp had killed all three of your children, would that have made you wroth?" Amarah wondered why Tommen would be in need of protection, but her train of thought was interrupted by the sound of Jaime's voice.
"Tyiron is not going to harm Tommen or Myrcella. I am still not certain he killed Joffrey."
"How can you say that?" Cersei's incensed voice grew even louder at Jaime denial of Tyrion's guilt. "After all his threats – "
"Threats mean nothing" Jaime cut her off abruptly. Amarah couldn't help the small smile touched her lips at Jaime's faithful defense of he little brother. "He swears he did not do it."
"Oh, he swears, is that it?" Cersei responded in a tone more furious than before. "And dwarfs don't lie, is that what you think?"
At her cruel words, Amarah had to restrain the impulse not to march into that room and tell Cersei exactly what she thought of her unfeeling remarks against Tyrion, but she simply had to content herself with gritting her teeth in annoyance while they argued on.
"Not to me" Jaime continued to defend Tyrion's honor. "No more than you would." Amarah almost snorted in derision at Jaime's foolish notion that Cersei had always been honest with him, but she somehow managed to hold the urge in check.
"You great golden fool. He's lied a thousand times to you, and so have I." Amarah tried not to imagine the blow Cersei's words caused Jaime. She had tried to warn him, but he wouldn't listen. Now Cersei told the truth of the matter herself when Jaime was no longer of any use to her. "Think what you will" the heartless bitch continued on. "The little monster is in a black cell, and soon Ser Ilyn will have his head off. Perhaps you'd like it for a keepsake."
Jaime interrupted her tirade once again. The simmering rage Amarah had detected in his voice moments before was now more prominent in the face of his sister's cruel mockery. The same sister who had once professed to love him. "You had best go, Cersei. You're making me angry."
Cersei's maniacal laugh echoed off the stone walls of the keep sending shivers of revulsion through Amarah's still frame. "Oh, an angry cripple" she continued to berate him. "How terrifying. A pity Tywin Lannister never had a son. I could have been the heir he wanted, but I lacked the cock. And speaking of such, best tuck yours away, brother. It looks rather sad and small, hanging from your breeches like that."
After throwing that last cruel jibe at her brother, Cersei quickly strode through the door of the solar slamming it behind her with the force of fury behind the gesture. Amarah moved further back into the shadows to avoid detection, but in her current state of rage, Cersei was of no mind to observe her surroundings as she quickly strode off down the passageway. Amarah had the infantile urge to follow the woman and claw her green eyes from her head for the heartless things she had said regarding Jaime and Tyrion, but she determinedly ignored the impulse and instead looked back to the door the woman had just slammed closed before starting towards it once again.
Amarah cautiously entered the solar to find Jaime standing in the center of the room staring in front of him with a blank look on his face. She looked down to find his cock hanging out of his breeches just as Cersei had accused him of moments before, and Amarah felt an unwelcome surge of jealousy at the thought of how he had come to be in that present state. Jealous of Cersie Amarah groused inwardly. The gods are a cruel lot.
"You're prone to catch a chill standing about like that" Amarah then said acidly before striding past him to gaze out the window at the courtyard below.
Jaime turned to give her a surprised glance as she passed by him, indicating that he had been unaware of her presence when she first entered the room, before moving to set himself to rights once more.
"I hadn't expected you quite so soon as this" he said after he was presentable once more.
Amarah looked back at him before dropping her gaze conspicuously to his now laced breeches. "So I see" she murmured before raising her gaze to his once more. "But now that I have decided to grace you with my presence, perhaps you can tell me what you wished say to before I depart."
Jaime looked momentarily surprised that she hadn't questioned him about what had just occurred between him and his sister, but Amarah was grateful when he chose to follow her lead in avoiding that particular topic of conversation. She wasn't in the mood to discuss what went one between him and Cersei, and she had little wish for talk of their convoluted relationship to intrude on her last moments with Jaime.
"I've sent for your wench" Jaime informed her before rounding the desk that stood between them and resting one lean hip on the edge as he regarded her with a lazy expression. As he leaned on the solid oak table, she caught sight of a faint flicker of pain in his emerald eyes.
Any annoyance she felt towards him was quickly gone in the face of his discomfort. "Are you well, my lord?" When they had met in the dungeons the previous evening she had not noticed him displaying any signs of discomfort, but the dungeons had been dark and most of her attention had been for Tyrion instead of his golden brother.
"Back to 'my lord' are we, Princess?" Jaime asked ignoring her question about his health.
Amarah ignored his attempt to change the subject and simply stood in silence waiting for him to answer the question. When he saw that she would not be satisfied, Jaime gave a resigned sigh before finally giving in.
"I proved most wonderfully to Ser Marbrand how capable I am of fighting with one hand" Jaime said in a voice that rang with false sincerity and self-disgust.
Amarah was not of a mind to pander to his feelings of self-pity, but she couldn't completely ignore his vulnerability in the face of Cersei's cruelty only moments before. "It took you a lifetime to learn to fight with the right" she answered reasonably. "No one expects you to suddenly be able to slay men with the left."
His false smile suddenly turned to a dark sneer at her words. "My father is not most men, Princess."
"Your father," she answered back in a hard voice, "is a cruel bastard who killed innocent children in order to further his own hold over the kindoms. Who cares what he thinks?"
Despite her assurance, Jaime simply shook his head in dejected defeat. "Unfortunately, I do."
Amarah realized then that no matter what she said to soothe his wounded pride, Jaime would have to come to terms with the loss of his hand on his own. She could assure him of his worthiness until she had no breath left to speak, but her words were worthless if he didn't see the truth himself. She opened her mouth to speak these thoughts aloud, but was interrupted by the sound of someone else entering the tower.
"My lady!" Brienne gasped as she saw Amarah standing there with Jaime. "I had feared the worst for you every day you were out of my sight."
Brienne quickly followed that loyal sentiment by dropping to her knees before Amarah in a show of fealty and respect. Amarah was touched by her knight's gesture, but quickly waved her up once again. "Thank you for your concern, Brienne, but as you can see I am most well. How have you fared since we last spoke?"
"Well enough my lady once I was released from the tower." She then shot Jaime a dark scowl at these words which he only returned with a lazy smile meant to infuriate her further.
Quickly attempting to distract her knight from Jaime's rude behavior, Amarah questioned her once again. "What have you been doing while at the keep?"
"Ser Jaime has allowed me to train with his men, my lady, in preparation for our journey" Brienne said quietly, as if reluctant to admit that Jaime had behaved towards her in any way that would indicate a shred of decency on his part.
"She fit in most well with my men" Jaime assured Amarah from his spot behind the ladies. "They might be a bit prettier than the wench here, but on most days one would be hard pressed to see the difference. I have no doubt I am leaving you in very capable hands."
Brienne scowled at Jaime once again in response to his insulting remarks regarding her looks, but Amarah noted that the scowl was a bit less fierce than the one before. After all, despite Jaime's rude remarks on her appearance, he had also made certain to complement her skills as a knight.
Ignoring Brienne's scowl Jaime moved to retrieve to heavy saddlebags before dropping them in Brienne's large hands. "You'll find plenty of gold dragons and silver stags in there to last you and your lady for as long as you wish" he said indicating the overstuffed bags. "Also, I've had Tommen sign a letter stating you are both about on the king's business and not to be hindered in carrying out his orders."
Brienne looked momentarily shocked by the thoughtful gesture before responding. "Thank you, my lord. That was most kind."
"I'm not kind." Jaime shot her a scowl of his own as if she had just accused him of dancing about the court like one of the king's fools. "I am a practical man, and these are necessary supplies in order to remove the princess from this city. Also, I have a sword for you to carry about, wench, so that you might better protect the girl, seeing as she has a propensity to find trouble."
Amarah opened her mouth to refute his claim before snapping it shut in the realization that he spoke truthfully. She did seem to have a penchant for finding trouble. He gave her a smug smile before turning once again to retrieve a sword and scabbard that he promptly turned over to Brienne.
"One of my men has armor and mail waiting for you as well" he informed her. "He's expecting you. Once you're ready to depart, return here to collect the princess and you shall both be on your way."
Brienne turned to give Amarah an uncertain glance, before Amarah nodded her head reassuringly. "Do as he asks" she ordered her knight. "I shall be here when you return."
"As you wish, my lady" Brienne nodded her head in obedience before departing. She made certain to send one last dark look of warning to Jaime before she departed.
"She acts as if I'll shorten you by a head before she returns" Jaime grumbled before returning to his previous position of leaning on the side of his massive desk.
Amarah observed him give another slight wince of discomfort before replying. "She's learned not to trust men, and you can hardly argue that it's an unfounded fear."
"Of course not" he agreed with a careless shrug of his shoulders that seemed to cause him another twinge of pain. "We men are a despicable lot."
Amarah gave a faint smile in response to his claim before slowly approaching where he stood. "I would have agreed with that sentiment once."
"What changed your mind, Princess?" he asked half-seriously as she came closer.
She didn't say anything at first but simply took a moment to drink in the sight of him. This might be the last time she would ever see him again, and the thought hit her like an agonizing blow. Resolutely pushing the painful realization from her mind, she gave him a gentle smile before replying. "You did."
His lazy smile faltered just a bit in the face of that confession. "And how did I manage such a feat?"
"You gave me hope" she answered, now past all thought of teasing or jokes. This might be the last time she would ever speak to him, and she had no intention of wasting their last few, precious moments together. "When I was broken with no one left in this world to cling to, you gave me something to lean on. A place to find strength, and I shall never forget your kindness towards me. You say you are not a kind man, but I know different. No one has ever shown me such kindness as you."
He made no immediate reply, but slowly reached his good hand up to caress her face with a gentle smile. After cradling her face in his hand for a few moments, he finally spoke. "Only for you, Princess."
She tried valiantly to hold back the tears that threatened to wash over her at his gentle touch and tender words, but she couldn't stop the stray tear that slowly trailed down her pale cheek and onto his thumb that rested there. Brushing the tear away, Jaime stood and quickly pulled her to his chest as he held her locked in a tight embrace. Amarah stayed contentedly within his grasp, listening to the soothing beat of his heart beneath her ear as she rested her weary head against his solid chest. She felt a few more tears escape her closed eyes, but they were quickly absorbed by the wool of his tunic. He seemed not to mind though and simply continued to hold her in his arms.
"If you ever need me, Princess, I will be sure to find you" she felt him murmur softly into her hair as he stroked his arm up and down her back in a soothing motion.
"How will you know if I need you?" she mumbled back, her voice muffled by the fabric of his tunic.
She felt a slight rumble in his chest as he chuckled at her words. "I will know" was all he said in reply.
After that short exchange they fell silent as he continued to cradle her curly head against his chest and run his arm reassuringly up and down her back as if soothing a frightened animal. Amarah wasn't certain how long they stood locked in that embrace, but eventually they were interrupted by the sound of Brienne's return. Amarah lifted her head at the sound of the wooden door squeaking on its hinges, and Jaime quickly dropped his arms as Brienne's face appeared in the doorway.
"It's time my lady."
Amarah nodded her head in acknowledgement before Brienne prudently closed the door once more and awaited her on the other side. Amarah looked back at Jaime once more and gave him a sad smile before whispering a soft goodbye.
"Thank you for everything" she told him most sincerely before turning to go.
As she moved to leave, she was surprised to feel him quickly reach out to capture her small hand in his. She glanced at him once again with a questioning gaze, but he kept his green eyes focused on the small hand that he held captive between his strong fingers. After gazing intently at her hand for what seemed an eternity, he slowly lifted it to his mouth and brushed his lips softly across her bent fingers before raising his eyes to hers once again.
"Goodbye, Amarah."
It was the first time she had ever heard her name cross his lips, and she prayed most fervently to the gods that it would not be the last. He said her name like a benediction, a prayer. Like a holy thing. It stirred something inside her heart. Something that was both beautiful and painful.
He continued to hold her small hand in his firm grasp, and she was loathe to let him go for she knew once her fingers left his, they would be parted. Once she let go, she would disappear from this city and from his life. She didn't want to let go, but she knew she must. She had to let him go. So she did.
"Goodbye, Jaime" she quietly returned his farewell before withdrawing her hand from his. Then she turned and walked away from him one last time.
Okay, before any of you decide to kill me for separating them, just know that the next chapter will be a time jump and pick up after almost all the events of book four. It was never my intention to change the cannon of George Martin's story, but instead weave my own character into the fabric of the original story. Since I'm not the biggest fan of books four and five, a time jump is the simple solution to keep all those events in tact without having to write about goings on that didn't really interest me. It's just much easier for me to skip over book four, which is basically just Brienne wandering around looking for Sansa and not accomplishing very much. Any events from that book that are relevant to my story will be referenced, so nobody will be confused or lost. Anyway, with the time jump into the next chapter, the separation will not be nearly as long for me and you the readers as it will be for Amarah and Jaime. But as they say, "Absence makes the heart grow fonder":) Let me know what you all think! I love getting to read all your wonderful comments about my story. Thank you so much for checking it out!