CHAPTER IX- The She-Wolf and the Lion
Author's Note: Thanks again for everyone who reviews, they really help motivate me as well as give me new ideas with fresh input. Fairly soon we shall have a time jump because i'm rather eager for the young ones to start aging as they are the ones the story is truly about.
Disclaimer- I OWN NOTHING
Princess Lyanna Targaryen watched across the balcony as Ser Jaime Lannister kept little Princess Rhaenys entertained with his rather animated tales. He was amazingly good with her which Lyanna counted as a blessing after everything the child had been through. Lyanna was glad that Rhaenys remembered meeting her. They had not had to explain much of anything as she was so amazingly clever. She couldn't help but feel a stab of guilt as she looked at her, however irrational she told herself it was. She knew she didn't kill her mother, but that thought didn't comfort her truly. Those that did the deed would pay, that she promised. Lyanna had liked Princess Elia the few times they had met. Rhaegar and Elia's marriage was political match, but they were fond of one another. That Elia had approved of her brought her little comfort as both she and her Silver Prince were gone. So much had been lost. So much destroyed; and all for what?
Her little boy stirred in her arms, and blinked sleepily as he gave her a gummy smile. Oh how she loved her pup, her little dragon. He was beautifeul, and he would be even more so than his father was. Her Jon was truly the perfect blending of herself and Rhaegar, though she grudgingly admitted that perhaps there was a little more of her Prince in him than of her. His blond hair was of a darker shade than Rhaegar's, more of an ash blond. His eyes were where you could see the trues split of his parentage. Their overall colour was the icy silver-grey of her own. However the flecks of deep violet within them gave them the look of shining stars. They were truly a beauty to behold. As she looked down at her little King she knew that all of the sacrifices had been worth it just to have him with her.
She looked over at her pup's sister again. Rhaenys was a beautiful child. She had dark brown hair and lightly sun-kissed skin. Her pretty heart-shaped face was made almost exotic with her eyes shining a deep violet; an exact replica of her father's. She promised herself that she would do everything in her power to try and be a mother to her. She had suffered so much, and was now without any parents to look out for her. She and Rhaella had discussed it, and the Queen was pleased that she seemed willing to try and be as a mother to her. She knew she could never replace Princess Elia, and she had no intention of trying. But, she would do her best. Lyanna vowed to herself that she would love that little girl as if she were her own.
She listened as Ser Jaime made the young princess squeal with delight as he spun her around after playing a game of lets try to chase Balerion-her large black cat. The cat always won. "Did you have fun with Ser Jaime little princess?" she asked Rhaenys.
"Yes, My Princess" she said sweetly.
"Please Sweetling, just call me Lya. There's no need for fomalities" said Lyanna.
"Yes My..I mean yes Lya" she said with a smile. "Lya? May I see my brother?"
"Of course Darling" said Lyanna as she sat down next to Rhaenys. She gently positioned her son into his sister's arms. Rhaenys cradled him gently as her little brother looks up at her and smiles. He's always such a happy child. Rhaenys lightly kisses him on the cheek.
"I love you little brother, and i'll always be there for you. I'll never let anyone hurt you," Rhaenys whispered to her only remaining brother.
Lyanna eyes watered as she listened to the young girl. She put her arm around both Rhaenys and her son and said, "And i'll always be here for you Sweet Girl. I'd never try and replace your lady mother, but I give you my word that i'll always be there for you and love you as if you were mine own daughter. We're family and family sticks together; now and always."
Rhaenys hugs her tightly back in response. Her septa came in then.
"Now why don't you go with Septa Margot and then we'll have dinner with Grandmother and Aunt Rhaena" Lyanna said. She places one more kiss on her little brother's cheek befire leaving with her new Septa. Lyanna leans back against the sofa with a sigh when a voice calls her attention.
"You're really very good with her My Princess. I wasn't sure how well she would respond to all the changes her life has undergone so recently" came the voice of Jaime Lannister.
"I can't even begin to imagine how much she has gone through. She's the sweetest and brightest child i've ever encountered. None of this can be easy for her, but hopefully when she's back home it might help in establishing a sense of stability back in her life." said Lyanna.
Jaime's reply of, "she had no form of real stability in that hell of a castle," prompted Lyanna's curiosity.
"What do you mean Ser Jaime?" Lyanna questioned.
Jaime mulled over his response for a moment before stating, "Princess Rhaenys has never known a stable home My Princess. She was born around the time the King was growing increasingly more erratic in his behaviour. Prince Rhaegar would try to bring his daughter and Princess Elia to Dragonstone as often as possible, but Aerys' paranoia just kept becoming worse. He would rarely let his heir out of his control. Princess Elia became a hostage in all but name as well for her brother's good behaviour. As you know, she was often ill as well which left Rhaenys to her own devices. Life in the Red Keep became truly dangerous for anyone in it even before the rebellion began. The gods forsaken keep was probably the worst place imaginable to bring up a young child."
Lyanna had known that Jaime Lannister was a good young man, arrogant and flippant, but good. But she had not thought of how it truly must have fealt to be surrounded constantly by the things he had to endure during the previous reign.
She said, "I'm sorry she and even you had to live like that and I thank you for keeping her entertained. I don't really have much experience yet with being a parent, but I hope I'm able to make her life better. I want her and my son to grow up as safe and happy as possible."
"You're doing a wonderful job My Princess. Rhaenys already adores you. You're very good with her. Our little King is a luckier little boy than most. You're an excellent mother," he told her sincerely.
"Truly?" she asked, with her large silver eyes looking up at him.
"Truly," Jaime said, and meaning it.
She gave him a beaming smile in response that momentarily took Jaime's breath away. Lyanna Stark was truly one of the most beautiful women he had ever met. He could readily understand why Prince Rhaegar had fallen so hopelessly in love with her, just as he could easily understand the lengths that drunken bafoon Robert Baratheon went to get her back. She was different from alot of women in many respects and it wasn't just her pleasing appearance that set her apart. She had a certain spark, a kind of charasmatic charm that just drew people in. Her wit was pleasingly sharp and she possessed an infectious sense of humour. One would find it near impossible to be melancholy in her presence. She could also be a fierce she-wolf. Jaime came upon her actually sparring with Ser Arthur the other morning. He had been hugely impressed. For such a small thing she was actually very good. He had also been utterly stunned to learn that the infamous Knight of the Laughing Tree from the Tourney of Harrenhall had been none other than Lyanna Stark herself.
She appeared very content with what he told her, which was nothing but the truth. She surprised him however when she lightly touched his hand. " Please, Ser Jaime. When we're by ourselves just call me Lyanna. You're the only person around that's about my own age other than Ned, and he's well...a bit stuffy at times. I can only talk politics and battle plans so much with the others before I well...you're simply more fun to be around." she said laughing lightly.
"I would be honoured to My Lady Lyanna, and in return I am simply your ever so humble knight Jaime," he said with a playful grin that was full of boyish charm.
Her hand was still laying atop his when the door opened to admit her mother Princess Rhaena. She had not even noticed how closely the two had sat near each other before her mother's entrance. Ser Jaime stood up quickly as if scalded. She must have been seeing things for she would almost swear she had seen a blush on his cheeks. Of all the things she knew, one of life's certainties was that Jaime Lannister did not blush. She must be seeing things she thought to herself. Ser Jaime had quickly excused himself and her mother now sat beside her calmly with a single arched eyebrow.
Of the many things that could be said of Rhaena Targaryen-Stark, blind or unobservant were not among them. Her mother was uncommonly perceptive so it should come as little surprise that the first words out of her mouth were, "Did I actually just see the Jaime Lannister blushing?"
"I have no idea what you mean Mother," Lyanna replied evasively.
Her mother gave an un-ladylike snort in response.
"I'm not daft Sweetling. I've seen the way you look at him."
Lyann said, "I have no idea what your speaking of Mother."
Of course Lyanna was no fool. She knew perfectly well what her mother was referring to. She could admit, to herself if no one else, that she was attracted to Jaime Lannister. She liked him even. He was ridiculously handsome. He was also absolutely hilarious in her humble opinion, and she had always loved being around people that could make her laugh. He brought out the still very much alive teenage spirit within her. He also was, to her mind, one of the most valiant and truly noble knitghts she had ever met. He risked everything he was to save an orphaned little girl and he still made sure even now that she was kept smiling; always willing to play a game with her or go on one of her exploring the castle adventures. However, she knew it could never be. He was of the Kingsguard and they were allowed no love, no wife. She still missed her Silver Prince, but it had been a year and a half since he had fallen on the Trident. Besides, it was most likely pointless anyway. She must surely have imagined the spark she sometimes fealt was between them. Afterall, she knew half the country still privately considered her some type of whore or schemer. Not all that many people truly understood the truth. Not to mention she already had a child. Who happend to be the King of the Seven Kingdoms. Everything she did could have reprecussions on her son's reign till he was a man grown. She was brought out of her thoughts by her mother's next statement.
"I approve of him daughter," Rhaena said.
"What?" Lyanna sputtered. She was sure she must have misheard what her mother was saying.
Rhaena calmly said, "I said I approve. Jaime Lannister would be a fine match for you. You're still very young. Your life has not ended only because you were married young and have a son. Even if that son is the King. You deserve somebody like him, and you are almost the same age. He is a good boy and has gone beyond the call of duty in proving his loyalty."
"But Mother," Lyanna protested. "Even if he were interested, he is of the Kingsguard. He is not allowed a wife. Despite what some in the realm may think, I am no man's whore."
Rhaena said, "Of course your not sweetling. As for the Kingsguard well, Rhaella already has plans for that. Very soon, Tywin Lannister will be either dead or fled; his daughter as well. His only current heir is Tyrion who is not only a dwarf, but still a child. Rhaella plans on using her power as Queen Regent to remove Ser Jaime from the Kingsguard and re-instate him as the new Lord of Casterly Rock and Warden of the West. When that happens, there would be nothing preventing a match between the two of you."
Lyanna is completely thrown by this news. She had never thought it would have been possible. She hadn't even let herself think of it in the past months since he had arrived and they had become something like friends. However if she thought she was surprised, it was nothing compared to the thoughts lingering in the mind of Ser Jaime. He knew it was wrong, but he couldn't help himself. He had to know if Princess Rhaena was going to say anything to her daughter about them. So, he had eavesdropped; and came away with much more than he had anticipated.
He didn't know what to think. If his Queen wished for him to be Lord of the Rock, then Jaime would be Lord of the Rock. He had never even considered not being a member of the Kingsguard. The thought of having a wife and a family of his own was utterly alien to him. There had always only been only Cersei, then the Kingsguard; nothing else. However, if he was to be more, to re-take his birthright; he couldn't imagine anything better than having Lyanna at his side.
Those thoughts were at the forefront of Jaime's mind as his horse rode at the head of the column. Ned Stark at his side. They had been marching through the northern Stormlands and were entering the Crownlands. They had not wanted to force him to actually have to take part in the invasion of the Westerlands-his home. Instead, Ned Stark of all people had specifically requested he take a command in the host he was leading. That had suprised him greatly. He had not thought the honourable Ned Stark held him in any regard except disdain. Apparently, he had been wrong, for never once did the quiet man show him the least amount of discourtesy. A week into their travels he finaly found out why Lord Stark had seemed to hold him in contempt when he slew the Mad King. To his suprise, it was jealousy. He was wroth with Jaime simply because he had taken what he thought was his to kill. Apparently he had been making his way to Kings Landing after the Trident at such fast speeds for the more personal reason that he wanted it to be him who snuffed the light out of Mad Aerys' eyes. While their personalites marked them as exceedingly different, that did not mean he didn't respect Jaime's abilities and even found him amusing with his constant barbs and witty quips. As strange as it may seem, it appeared as if the ever stoic Eddard Stark simply enjoyed Jaime's company.
The Northern host was joined by the so-called Summerhall alliance at the border of the Crownlands. What had started out as only the Stormlords Cafferen, Fell, and Grandison; had gradually grown to become many more. Thousands of Baratheon men had joined them after recognizing Renly Baratheon as the Lord of Storm's End. Both Jaime and Lord Stark were shocked however when the were joined with the troops of House Swann and a great many of their bannermen. The Swann's had always been the second most powerful house in the Stormlands. The Stormlords had gone a step further and had sent patrols into the southern Crownlands before they even rendezvoued with the Northern host. They had cleared the land of many contingents of Lannister men trying to force the obedience of the Crownlords.
Ned Stark gazed around as Lords Massey and Bar Emmon aprroached them.
"My Lord Stark, it is good to see you and yours." Lord Massey stated.
Lord Bar Emmon continued, "We have cleared the Point of Lannister men and the Baratheon rogues Lord Stark. The bastards were stupid to think we would forget three hundred years of loyalty to the dragons only to become nothing more than Lannister dogs."
"Aye," said Lord Massey. "Perhaps things would have been different had Baratheon not made common cause with Lord Tywin, but we of the Crownlands shall not suffer the Lannister Butcher threatening ours when a True Dragon yet lives."
Both Lords Massey and Bar Emmon together with all the other Lords of Massey's Hook and the southern Crownlands got down on bended knee and laid their swords at Lord Stark's feet to formally pledge their fealty to his nephew King Jaehaegar I Targaryen and the Queen Regent Rhaella. Ned accepted their fealty with grace and ordered their host to join with his own. Together, they began the march once more.
After crossing the Wendwater they began encountering far more Lannister and Baratheon troops, but they rarely gave battle. This region of the Crownlands was rather lacking in population despite its close proximity to the Capitol. They stayed on the edge of the Kingswood as they continued onward. Ned had soon recieved word that the forces under Randall Tarly had completely cut off the Gold Road and stopped all supplies of men, arms, and food alike from reaching the capitol from the Westerlands. Tarly's host had followed the plan with one portion heading directly for Crakehall on a fast march while the main bulk of the Reacher forces pushed down the Rose Road towards the meeting point at a slower pace. The veteran men of the Riverlands had united with the new force of Northmen he had mustered at Riverrun. There, they found a Lannister host led by Stafford Lannister laying siege to the Tully stronghold. Scouts had been sent and coordinated between the Riverlanders and the Northerners. They struck the Lannister host from the north and the south of Riverrun. Stafford Lannister was captured, and the new Northern troops had tasted first blood. The host was now making for the Golden Tooth. Ned was now glad he had instructed his wife to come to Dragonstone. Hopefully, they should have arrived by now.
Lord Stark had instructed Ser Jaime to make a fast march to prevent the the Lannister and Baratheon troops from making their way to the larger host of Lannister men that lay beyond Kings Landing and force them to give battle. They would be caught in a pincer movement and Ser Jaimes' forces would push them back to their deaths upon the encroaching Stark host Ned was leading.
The mounted forces Jaime was commanding rode hard and fast. They stayed on the edges of the Kingswood which hid them from view, but also made fast movement hazardous at best. However Jaime pressed on. That his troops numbered less than two thousand helped, but it still proved to be the most exhausting and treacherous ride any of them had ever attempted. His men were tired, but Jaime could afford them no more than a few hours of rest.
Then the scout from Lord Starks armies shot off the flaming signal into the air. Tired or not, it was time. It was times likes these that truly showed the difference between Tywin and his son Jaime. Instead of leading from the rearguard as Tywin was want to do; Ser Jaime Lannister led straight from the center of the vanguard. That the first men he encountered were Baratheon troops sparked Jaime to an even greater intensity as he thought of that oaf Robert and everything the idiot had done to the country just to get his hands on his fierce Lyanna. His sword rained down death upon the Usurper's men. He slashed his blade left, right, up, down. Block, parry, jab; on and on it went untill his sword was drenched in the blood of his foes. The forces of the Usurper had been taken completely by suprise and were ill-prepared for the ferocity of his mounted troops and he slaughtered them one after the other unmercifully.
He could just now begin to make out the banner of the Stark Direwolf. Lord Stark's men cutting them off utterly from any chance of escape. Before he can relay orders to begin the next phase he is confronted with a large knight bearing the sigil of a turtle. From the man's age and size he recognizes the man to be Errol Estermont; a man with a formidable reputation and cousin of Robert Baratheon. He sees the instant the man recognizes him as his Queen's brother and a so-called traitor to their cause. Their is unmistakable hatred in the man's eyes.
Lord Errol roars out a single word, "Traitor."
Jaime makes a comment which for him is par for the course as he bestows upon the man a jaunty smile. "How nice of you to inform us all of your failings Ser. Yes, I can see service to that drunken whoremongering child-killer of a cousin of yours has finaly forced you to acknowledge what you've become. So, sad my lord it took you this long to realize the depths of your own treachery."
If looks could kill, Jaime would be a dead man.
The man reacted just as Jaime thought he would, and with a howl of rage came barreling towards him with nothing but blind fury.
Jaime's sword is dancing in a symphony of blows as the two reign down steel upon steel. Slash, parry, block, and on it goes. Jaime has to give the man credit; he has a powerful arm and a lethal determination, but his rage fuelled blows are no match for him. As the great knight begins to tire Jaime finds openings in man's armour and is hacking and slashing with deadly precision. He has taken a few nips, but he barely feels them; his blood sings in his veins as battle-lust consumes him. When he decides to end the fight he feints to the left. Estermont moves to follow however Jaime's abrupt swerve to the right leaves the perfect opening for him to land the killing blow in the man's now unprotected side. He thrusts his blade clean through the man's ribs and twists. Estermont gurgles as blood comes from his mouth before falling off his horse. He's dead before his body hits the ground.
Jaime takes a moment to catch his breath and survey his surroundings. Their is death everywhere he looks. The Stark host has overwhelmed the Usurper's men and he can see what few remain laying down their arms in surrender. It was then he takes note of a curious thing. Nowhere in the carnage does he see the banners of the Lions of Lannister. His father was obviously up to something. The question is, what? Before Jaime had more time to ponder that thought, a bloodied but still riding strong Lord Eddard Stark came up to him. Jaime couldn't have been more surprised when after relaying news of a war council that evening, he gave his shoulder a slap and said, "He may just be worthy of his sister after all." 'Seven hells,' thought Jaime. 'Did everyone but the two of them notice?'
Later that evening a war council is convened. The Reachmen under the command of Randyll Tarly are encroaching upon the capitol. They've recieved word that the northern Crownlords have combined with the Valemen being led by Lord Royce, an old friend of Ned Stark's from his fostering in the Vale. Three days ago they fell upon a Lannister host at Rosby and what Westermen didn't manage to flee towards the capitol were destroyed utterly. All three hosts were beginning to converge on Kings Landings and its environs and would be forcing the main bulk of the Usurpers army to give battle. The Lannisters and Baratheons were trapped. While the Royal Fleet blockaded them from the sea, three separate hosts under the banners of King Jaehaegar I Targaryen were preparing to show the lions that the dragon most assuredly still had claws; and they were longer and sharper than theirs.