The wagon lurched one final time as the driver reined in his horses. The vibrations from driving over uneven cobblestones stilled, and the girl waited impatiently for the bolts to be drawn back.

Cooler evening air rushed in, tainted with the distinctive scent of the Capital. She knew from experience that after half an hour or so of breathing it in you barely noticed, but it still made her screw up her nose. She scrambled to the opened end of the wagon, swung her legs over and dangled them off the edge. Good riddance wagon, she thought, I won't miss you.

Jaime stood nearby, the rest of the travelling party remaining mounted further away, in the centre of Cobbler's square. All around them crowded the hulking mass of the city, the ramparts and towers of the Red Keep squatting above them on the hill, oppressive even in the dimness. It takes a while to adjust to this place, the girl remembered. After being on the road. How people live their whole lives here, I can't imagine.

'I'm going to be a busy, for a while,' Jaime said. He talked quietly so none but her could hear. 'I have to go see my family, help Brienne attend to... things. The goldcloaks at the city gates told us that in two days -'

'Joffrey's wedding. I know.' Listening from inside the wagon as they'd entered the Capital, she'd heard the guard announce that the Red Keep was overcrowded with wedding guests. They'd set up numerous tents and pavilions in the outer and middle wards of the castle, and the Inns were full to capacity, he'd informed the Northmen. 'His Grace King Joffrey is to be wed two days hence. Are you lot here for the festivities?'

The goldcloaks didn't recognise Jaime, the girl thought. He won't like that. I wonder how different he looks? Or are they simply not expecting to see him, and so not paying attention?

Now she pushed off the wagon's boards and stood in front of him. It felt good to be upright, balancing on both feet. 'When will I see you, then? You owe me coin.' She stretched her arms, casual, trying to act as if coins were all she cared to see him for again.

But Jaime was having none of her indifference. He smiled and leaned forward to take her elbow, as if assisting her to stand, although she already was. 'I haven't forgotten what I owe,' he said, his voice soft, as his hand moved from her arm to brush against her hip. He rested it there and she could feel the warmth of his fingers through her clothes. 'I'm leaving three Dreadfort men here with you, and Steelshanks will return soon. He'll take you some place safe, and I'll come see you as soon as I'm able.' His thumb stroked her waist, teasing, and made her wish they were alone.

'Where will I be staying? An Inn?'

'They're all full, apparently. So no. Not unless you wish to spend the night surrounded by drunken Dornishmen trying to impregnate anything that moves, and Tyrell bannermen passed out on benches.'

'That sounds right up my alley.'

His hand pinched her flesh through the material of her top. 'I think your alley needs to be upgraded. Especially since I may want to spend time in it.'

She grinned at him cheekily. 'You're always welcome in... my alley.'

'Shhh girl, you're going to make it hard for me to ride out of here.' Jaime straightened up, gave her an all-over appraising look. 'You look good, better than I've seen you since... Locke.' He smoothed a strand of hair down the side of her face, for no reason she could tell, except maybe he was just looking for excuses to touch her. 'When I next see you, I may not recognise you at all.'

'Why?' she asked, suspicious. 'What deviousness have you planned for me?'

'Nothing, girl,' he looked innocent. 'Or should I say... Ivvy.'

She gaped at him, too surprised to feign ignorance of the name. He chuckled. 'The look on your face.'

'How did you...? Who?' she demanded.

'The Cole boy, of course. His last night by the fire we had a friendly chat, and he told me your name. I never thought you looked much like a Robberta.'

She narrowed her eyes. 'Was it you made him leave, as well?'

'He wanted to go. I merely lent him my horse and a blanket.'

I bet you did. She stared hard at him. 'Say it, then.'

'What?'

'My name. If you know it.'

'I'm not quite sure on the pronunciation. How do you say it?' His eyes dared her.

'It requires practise to get right,' she replied sweetly, then gestured to the rest of the group. '...and it seems as though people are waiting for you. Ser Jaime.'

''Ser Jaime is it now? Don't start showing me respect this late in our acquaintance. I've grown rather fond of your general insolence.' He gave her a last smile, then turned away. 'I will see you later, then. To... practise.'

'Later, then,' she replied, forcing briskness to her words. I miss you already. How pathetic.

Jaime paused, half-turned back. As if he'd forgotten something, but he just looked at her for a long moment. In the dim light his face was shaded, and the sunset leaking behind the castle walls edged his silhouette in gold.

'I don't want to lose you, Ivvy,' he murmured.

The girl was puzzled. Why would you lose me? I am in no urgent rush to be elsewhere, and I visit the Capital every month or so anyway. I'm sure we'll find ways to see each other.

'You won't,' she reassured him.

He nodded, and left.

The night grew colder, and threatened rain. She hugged her coat around herself and buried her chin in the collar. Huffed on her hands to warm them. The Dreadfort men talked amongst themselves, discussing how soon they'd be returning to the North, who may or may not be present for the Royal Wedding, but ignoring her.

She was almost dozing off by the time Steelshanks' horse came clip-clopping out of the dark square towards them. Steelshanks dismounted, gave the driver instruction to tend to his horse along with the wagon horses, then indicated to the girl she accompany him on foot. She grabbed her bag and slung it across her shoulder. The three other Dreadfort men fell in behind as they set off.

She limped, but not badly. Her padded-out boot was coping well. 'Is it far?' she asked.

'Not far,' Steelshanks grunted.

The Sept of Baelor passed to their right, they turned one way, then another, the streets at first familiar then less so as they went onto other, narrower ones. Raucous voices rang out from all directions, and light spilled from taverns and Inns. People stumbled out into gutters and music rose and faded as they passed. It appears the celebrations have started early, the girl thought. King Joffrey, to be married in two days. I can only pity the poor bride.

The lanes became so narrow that she could have touched the walls of the buildings on either side with both hands. In the dark, following the black shape of Steelshanks' jacket, the girl had no real idea whereabouts she was. Her delivery work had kept her to the markets and main streets of industry. She'd never had cause to wander the rest of KingLanding. She was surprised when they stopped outside the bronze gates of the Red Keep, by a door in the wall.

'Why are we here?'

'Ask Ser Jaime the whys of it. I'm just the one takin' you,' Steelshanks said.

'We could have walked straight down the Street of Seeds from Cobbler's square but we went...'

'Yeah. The long way.'

'Why?'

Steelshanks didn't answer, just leaned over and pulled the girl's hood closed around her face. Then he rapped on the door and a guardsman let them in. They went through into the castle grounds, and the girl couldn't suppress a shudder. I never thought I would enter this place, she thought. Me, in the Red Keep? I have spent my whole life avoiding the Nobility, guards and soldiers, and here I am surrounded by the fuckers.

There were tents set up in every available space, along with open canopies hung between posts, and people. So many people, everywhere, a crush of humanity. The girl felt suffocated, panicky. Some of the crowd were settling themselves in for the night, but many were still rowdy and festive. Wedding guests she presumed, although not having been inside the Red Keep before, she had no idea how it normally looked. But surely it doesn't usually have hundreds of people, horses, dogs and marquees covering every inch of it.

Steelshanks, his men and the girl went past them all, skirted the castle walls and on into a building in the corner. Up some stairs. Her leg was beginning to ache, and she was glad when they reached a heavy oak door at the end of a landing which Steelshanks unlocked, holding it open for her to go in ahead of him.

The room was airy with a wide window, silk curtains blowing inwards from the breeze. Candles burned in sconces set by the doorway, and the walls hung with ornate drapes and tapestries. A large bed with intricately patterned coverlet sat off to one side, the bedhead made of some rich material inlaid with tiny jewels that shimmered in the flickering light. The whole place smelt of jasmine and roses.

The girl hesitated before entering, dumbstruck. The rugs on the floor looked plush, and her boots were dirty. Come to think of it, she thought, gazing into the room, all of me is dirty.

'I ain't standing here all day,' Steelshanks grumbled. 'I'm sure there's Inns in Fleabottom still open if you'd prefer.'

Maybe I would, she thought. This is terrifying.

The girl wiped her boots as best she could and hobbled into the room. She stood there, unsure quite what to do. She didn't really want to touch anything.

Steelshanks pointed to some folded clothes left on the bed. 'Them's yours,' he said. 'There's a bath tub through there, y' can heat water over the stove. Two of me men will stay outside the door, if you need 'em.' He made as if to leave.

'Thank you!' she blurted out, suddenly feeling ungracious.

'Y' can thank me when I come back with your Septa in the morning.'

'My... whaaaat?'

'Makes a change from black market deliveries, don't it? ' Steelshanks laughed, and closed the door behind him.

You're telling me, she thought. She stared at the closed door for a long time, wondering what the fuck she'd let herself in for.