Chapter 2

Aeryelle' s heart pounded hard when she charged again. She couldn't think, all she wanted was to knock him out cold, so he couldn't give her away. She started thrashing at him and lost her focus only hoping to end it fast and before she realised his blade was at her throat.

„A pity you lost patience. I would have like to enjoy this workout a little longer!" Jamie said smug, before pulling back his blade.

He raised his arms in victory to the cheers of the king's party and Aeryelle tried to disappear.

„You! Approach!" King Robert ordered. It took all her self-control to kneel in front of him.

„Rise. What's your name?" He said.

„Alexandria Sand, your grace." She answered dutifully.

„Sand? How does a bastard from Dorne end up in Winterfell?" The king asked laughing.

„I have travelled far and Lord Stark was kind enough to allow me to pledge my sword to him."

Robert laughed. „You pledged your sword to him? I'll be dammed! And what a sword that is! I have rarely seen the Kingslayer struggling that hard to keep a fighter at bay. Well done!" The word Kingslayer stung both Jamie and Aeryelle.

„You earned this." Robert shouted and had his squire hand him a coin, which he threw. She caught it easily in flight.

„Much appreciated, you grace. May I retire? I have duties to attend." She said with a careful look to Lord Stark, who nodded slightly.

„Yes, yes." The king replied already busy with his skin getting the last wine out of it.

Aeryelle left the courtyard as fast as she could.

The knock woke Ser Barristan. He had lain down for a nap before the feast.

„Come in." He shouted, already putting his armour back on. It was Ser Jamie. Ser Barristan had been expecting him already.

„Is it really her?" The younger knight asked very concerned.

Ser Barristan sighed, wondering if he should simply lie. He had recognized the princess the moment he laid eyes on her, how couldn't he? He practically had brought her up. The only thing he cared about was protecting her and once he had thought that Ser Jamie was the same.

They were the same age and had been closed when they trained together. On occasions he had wondered if he should put an end to their friendship. Then the rebellion came and a sword in the Mad King's back. Suddenly Ser Jamie's twin was the queen. Would Ser Jamie still honour an oath he swore 19 years ago over the oath he swore to King Robert?

He didn't make a conscious decision before saying: „Could there be any doubt?"

Ser Jamie's face was a picture of astonishment. „But how? After the sacking she was never heard of again. I thought she had died!"

„So did I. How did she even get out of the Red Keep?" Ser Barristan asked.

„Through the Raven Tunnel." Jamie replied without thinking.

„But only the king and…" Ser Barristan's voice trailed off before adding „… the kingsguard know about it."

„Of course. But we had sworn to protect her, right? It was the only thing I could think of. I got her out just in time." Jamie explained.

„Just before you murdered her father, you mean?" The older man snapped at him and Jamie looked honestly hurt. Ser Barristan knew he was being a bit of a hypocrite because although he had always kept his oath, he had often thought about killing the Mad King. The only difference was that Ser Jamie had acted on it.

„So what shall we do?" Ser Jamie asked.

„What do you want to do?" Ser Barristan asked back, carefully observing his face. He wondered what he would do, if Ser Jamie suggested revealing her identity.

„Well, since nobody knows who she is and since she has never made any attempt on the King's life, I see no problem. We keep her secret and let her live in peace. I mean you can't get any further from King's Landing than Winterfell. She is clearly hiding, why should we have her killed, only for Robert to dip into his blood lust against the Targaryens? What would be the point?"

Ser Barristan was pleasantly surprised that Ser Jamie was trying to convince him to do the right thing and nodded.

„Exactly. Let her live in peace, she has suffered enough." He said.

Aeryelle had packed her things as quickly as she could. She had excused herself from the battlements, claiming she had fallen ill. She had thrown the only possessions she cared about into the saddle bag. Her armour was hidden safely with her sword Dark Sister in the Lost Forest. She would get them later. She was trying to think of an excuse for leaving for the forest, when someone knocked on her door.

"Who is this?" She tried to keep her voice steady.

„Ser Jamie Lannister." He answered, his voice calm.

She hadn't expected for them to come for her so boldly but rather seizing her in the courtyard or something. She wouldn't go down without a fight however. She took a few long breaths determined not to make the same mistake as before. She would fight him level-headed. She drew her sword.

„Come in." She said coolly.

When he entered and saw her with the sword, he quickly closed the door.

„Are you mad? Put that away, what would they think if they saw you threatening an unarmed kingsguard?" He explained urgently.

„What? But aren't you here to…" She stammered.

„Of course not. Have you forgotten? I have sworn to protect you and haven't my actions over the years proven my loyalty to you?" He looked at her and the sadness in his eyes made her lower the sword.

„You never told anyone?" She whispered.

„Never. I'll take your, our secret to the grave." They looked at each other for a long time, the years that separated them dwindling. His smug facade had crumbled and the gentle knight she once knew stood in front of her. She was glad to be Aeryelle again.

„I have missed you princess." He finally said before hugging her tightly.

They had talked for a while and Jamie had told her, what he and Ser Barristan had agreed upon. Since nobody else knew who she was she could stay at Winterfell, where she had found happiness and peace for the first time in her life.

When he was gone, she was left with mixed emotions. She knew him to still be in love with Cersei and yet his presence still had an intoxicating effect on her. She was a grown woman and no longer an adolescent but still. She grinned remembering his shocked face, when she told him she knew he was in love with his sister. But he had relaxed when he realised she wasn't judging him, because he parents had been brother and sister as well.

She washed herself before putting back on her doublet. Jory had ordered her to stand guard in the great hall and she was grateful, since it would be a bitter cold night.

The feast was in full bloom and everybody was having a good time. Aeryelle couldn't eat or drink with them but at least she could enjoy the music. She loved the northern way of life. It was so different from the stiff festivities she had endured in King's Landing. She was standing behind the King's seat of honour and the kingsguard was flanking the sides.

She couldn't help herself but to observe Jamie and was shocked to see that he had returned to his arrogant and smug behaviour. He played his role so perfectly that she wondered which the role was and which his real self. Then she remembered that she was still alive because he had kept her identity a secret and knew. She shook her head slightly and scanned the room.

Lord Eddard approached and took the seat next to the king.

"I have missed this Ned. Cersei always insists on these proper feasts: Many rules and no fun!" The king blabbed taking another gulp of his goblet.

"I am glad you're enjoying yourself. About the offer…" Ned started.

"Not now. I want you to sleep on it before answering Ned. I need you and I have plans for you. Our fight isn't done yet!" The king insisted.

"The war has been over for 17 years Robert. We have won!" Lord Stark said patiently as if speaking to a child

"No, not yet. Not while they're still alive." The king burped audibly.

"Who?" Ned asked confused and took the goblet a maid offered him.

"The Targaryens." Robert shouted over the music. Aeryelle swallowed hard at the sound of her family name. It seemed the past was everywhere today.

"The beggar king and his sister? They are hardy a threat Robert. They've got nothing! Last thing I heard was they were selling their mothers jewels and her crown to stay alive." Lord Eddard explained beginning to lose patience. The king had often written him letters about how they had to sail across the Narrow Sea and apprehend them. He had grown weary of the subject. He was tired of war and had fought more than enough for two lifetimes.

"There are still those asking for his reinstatement! But the spider has eyes and ears even in Pentos and when the time is right; I will strike and once and for all end the line of these silver haired bastards." Then he grabbed a maid that was passing by and kissed her forcefully. She laughed heartily but left as soon as he would let go of her.

Aeryelle had listened without moving a muscle and knew that her time of peace was coming to an end.