Gwen kept quiet during the days ride, refusing to speak to Jaime and he did the same. He looked content enough in his own world, his eyes scanning the landscape before them. Gwen didn't move up to ride beside Arya for she didn't want Jaime following her. If she had her way then she would keep him away from the girls. She would prefer to keep him away from her if she could.
She had seen Jon leave the congregation, heading on his own path whilst everyone else took the road to Kingslanding. Gwen felt her eyes begin to droop as tiredness came over her and she saw Jon finally leave from her sight.
"Odd," Jaime finally spoke his first word to her and she looked across to him, trying not to yawn loudly in front of him.
"What is odd, Ser Jaime?" she wondered and his eyes continued to look into the direction of where Jon had left along with his younger brother. Gwen tracked his gaze and he spoke again, his voice low enough for only her to hear.
"The Snow boy," he concluded. "He seems to be going away for a lifetime of celibacy and coldness. Pledging allegiance and staying there for life. It must be dull. Nothing that I would consider anyway."
"And what exactly is the Kingsguard?" Gwen enquired. "For is it not just the same yet in the company of the King? Oh...I suppose some people do not take the oath seriously though. That must be the difference. The Night's Watch are more honourable."
"Oh, you do wound me," Jaime chuckled lowly to her and she rolled her eyes at him before the yawn did escape from her mouth. "Well, at least the climate is much more favourable in the South with the King."
Gwen said nothing to him as the congregation stopped and the wind blew in the air. She said nothing as Jaime dropped down from his horse and offered her his hand. She took hold of it, knowing that she was unable to get down from the horse without falling flat on her face. She placed her feet on the ground and let go of him.
"Don't wander too far," he smirked at her and she turned around and began to walk towards Sansa and Arya who looked tired and fed up. The sky was blue and empty of clouds yet the air was still chilly.
"You said that you would come ride with me," Arya complained, holding her arms out for Gwen to help her onto solid ground. Gwen wrapped her hands around her arms and held her up in the air for a moment before swinging her to the ground. Gwen had to admit that she had grown since the last time she had held her in the air.
"And I would have," Gwen assured her. "Yet Ser Jaime kept me behind to ride with him. He wanted to make sure that I was kept safe."
"I would have kept you safe," Arya challenged and Gwen ran her hand down her hair as Sansa stood up on the wagon.
"You would not." Sansa dared to speak. "You are a Lady, Arya. Only a man is supposed to protect a woman."
"I disagree," Arya muttered so that her sister could not hear her. She looked to the back of the wagon where the pair of direwolves sat. Nymeria and Lady looked at their owners with wide eyes, quickly shaking the fur of their coats.
Gwen held her hand to Sansa who managed to delicately jump to the ground and the Septa remained where she was. Her eyes were closed and her mouth open as she slept soundly on the bench. Gwen wondered how she could have fallen asleep in such an uncomfortable position. Yet she supposed if she was tired then it would be possible.
"I think your wolves need a run," Gwen said simply and they barked at their owners. Sansa grinned widely and aided Lady down from the wagon. Nymeria simply leapt down, the pair of them sitting by their owners feet and waiting for a command to be given to them.
"Come on," she said to the girls. "We'll go for a walk whilst the King and Lord Stark drink and eat for a few moments."
The girls nodded hastily, walking alongside Gwen as they watched the wolves run ahead, rushing hastily into the trees on the hill.
"I cannot believe your luck," Sansa admitted, a dreamy smile on her face whilst her sister rolled her eyes. It was all Sansa had been talking about for the past few hours. Arya knew that the journey would take longer than she had initially thought if her sister kept swooning at everything.
"Ser Jaime is so handsome and you have him all to yourself for this journey," Sansa commented. "I wish I had my Prince with me. It would make this journey so much more interesting."
"I doubt that," Arya challenged.
"Are you calling my betrothed uninteresting?" Sansa asked and Gwen held her hands up between the girls.
"Don't argue," she urged them. "There is no point in doing so, you two."
"Arya spoke out of turn," Sansa defended herself and Gwen shook her head, a small smirk on her face as she listened to the two sisters bickering about nothing.
"I did not!"
"Come along," Gwen urged them softly. "I am sure Lady Arya meant nothing by it and if she did then she knows to apologise."
"But she won't!" Sansa snapped, moving her head to look around Gwen's body and to her little sister who immaturely shook her head, folding her arms over her chest and looking to Gwen.
"I did nothing wrong!"
"Honestly, you two," Gwen smirked at them. "You need not argue. There is no point. Now, how has the journey been so far?"
"Dull," Arya complained. "Nothing is happening in the wagon and the Septa insists on giving us a history lesson every two minutes. Can you not just leave the Kingslayer?"
"Why should she want to?" Sansa enquired. "Ser Jaime is the most handsome man in the North and the South."
"Even better looking than your beautiful Prince?" Arya wondered and Sansa shook her head quickly.
"I did not mean that," Sansa decided to simply say back to her. "What has Ser Jaime been talking about with you?"
"Nothing," Gwen said to her. "We have hardly spoken. He is a Knight and I am a maid, my Lady. I have no right to speak with such a man. He is simply there to make sure no harm comes to us."
"You must have said something," Sansa urged her, stepping over the root of a tree and Gwen shook her head in disagreement.
"No, my Lady," she said. She didn't really speak to Jaime and what they had spoken of was of no concern to the girls. "Anyway, we should be going back. This was only supposed to be a quick break along the way."
"Can you please try and come and talk to us?" Arya pleaded with Gwen. "The Septa is driving us stir crazy. I fear for my sanity and if we will make it to the camp later on this afternoon without dying of boredom."
"I shall try, my Lady," Gwen promised her and Arya smiled warmly whilst Sansa sighed. "Now go and shout your wolves back to you. I hope they have no wondered off too far."
"Nymeria!"
"Lady!"
It took moments for the direwolves to come running back to their owners, their feet hitting the ground at record pace and they walked beside the girls once more. Gwen watched them, unable to believe how loyal they really were to the girls. They walked back to the congregation which was preparing to set off again.
Gwen aided the girls to their seats before moving back to her own horse. Jaime was already sat atop of his horse, his eyes watching as Gwen struggled onto the saddle. It took her a couple of attempts and when she was finally seated her hair was ruffled around her and her ill fitting blue gown was askew around her body.
"You look a mess," he pointed out to her as she held onto the reins. She said nothing as she looked at him and then pulled at her gown and ran a hand down her hair to flatten it. Jaime smirked as he watched her and he spoke again, a mocking tone in his voice. "We cannot all be as good looking as others."
"When do we leave?" Gwen decided to ask, not caring for Jaime and his taunting. She could not quite understand why he made such an effort to annoy her. She knew that she was not going to tell anyone of him and his sister for it really was not worth her life. She also knew that no one would believe her. It was pointless.
"In a moment," Jaime said. "Where have you been? Lord Stark was asking after his daughter's."
"For a walk," Gwen said. "Lady Sansa and Lady Arya were becoming restless and bored in the wagon. Their direwolves also needed to run for a while."
Jaime wrinkled his nose at hearing that, his head shaking back and forth and Gwen wondered what his issue was with her now.
"The wolves are not supposed to be kept as pets. They are dangerous. Does Lord Stark not know that?"
"I disagree."
"I thought you would."
"The wolves have never caused any harm to anyone. They are loyal and protect their owners. I admit I have never seen such a thing before in animal form."
"I suppose chickens don't hold that attraction," Jaime said to her and she arched a brow. "I imagine they are the only animals you have seen what with being a maid."
"Do you think that we simply live off of eggs and chickens?" Gwen wondered from him and pulled at her reins, her horse beginning to walk underneath her. She continued to look at Jaime who had shrugged, idleness coming across him as he held tightly onto his helmet which sat in between his legs.
"I do not know what the life of a maid entails," he said to her. "I can only imagine it is constant boredom and waiting on people. I am sure you find some enjoyment in the evening."
Gwen scoffed, shaking her head at his boldness. She had no idea where he had this image from. She looked down to the ground, feeling his gaze on her and she took a moment to think for herself.
"I know the minds of young men," Jaime assured her. "The eldest Stark boy surely must take advantage of having such a good looking maid on his staff...not to mention his bastard brother..."
"Then you are mistaken," Gwen promised him without another word. It wasn't particularly a matter which she wanted to discuss with him. She preferred to keep her life quiet and away from prying eyes. She decided to take a change of topic with him, not wanting to talk about her anymore. "When do we arrive this afternoon to camp?"
"Another couple of hours," Jaime drawled, still thinking of their previous conversation. "The King has the Starks a room in an inn along with him and my sister. Unfortunately you will be outside in a tent. There is not enough room at the inn."
"I see," Gwen said, slightly disappointed that her evening would be spent in a tent by herself.
"And you would not believe who has been sent to guard your tent?" Jaime said; the smug smirk back in place and Gwen groaned at hearing him. He chuckled at the sound and shook his head. "You do not seem happy, Gwen."
"I have simply had enough of your pleasant company this afternoon," she assured him and Jaime looked at her, the smirk still on his face as she decided to question him again. "Are you not supposed to be guarding the King?"
"I doubt he needs all of us outside his door whilst he sleeps this evening. Besides, I assume he would prefer to have rid of me. Apparently he cannot stand the smug faces of Lannister's."
"He is not the only one," Gwen mumbled under her breath so that he could not hear her. She kept quiet for the remainder of the journey, waiting until they reached the place they would be setting up camp at the Crossroads. Gwen had allowed her eyes to shut for a while, the tiredness of travelling coming over her as she allowed her mind to drift off.
Jaime watched the girl beside him as she fell into a mindless sleep and he chuckled to himself, looking around and wondering when they would reach the inn. He had to admit that she was proving to be a handful for him. She had a quick and smart mouth which he knew would get her into trouble if she were to use it in front of someone with a short temper. Yet he knew that he found it entertaining more than anything. He enjoyed watching himself get a response out of her. He finally saw the inn come into view and he called her name to no prevail. She didn't move and her eyes did not open. Jaime rolled his eyes and leaned across, his hand on her leg.
She jumped at that contact and looked at him.
"What was that for?" she wondered.
"We're almost there."
Gwen nodded in response and she finally stopped her horse from walking on any further. She slid down as Jaime climbed down from his horse and he saw the royal carriage further behind. The Queen was taking her leave as Jaime caught her eyes and anger instantly crossed her face.
He inwardly groaned to himself, knowing that he would have to soothe her when he next saw her alone. The fact that she became jealous so easily was something which caused Jaime to feel smug inside. He loved how only he could have that effect on her. Yet there was no need to be jealous of a girl like Gwen.
Jaime watched as she moved back to Lady Sansa and Lady Arya. He studied the way she held herself. She walked with intent, her shoulders stooping slightly yet her blonde hair helped to cover that up. He supposed she was not too bad looking for a maid. But she was nowhere near as vibrant as his Cersei. Honestly, the Queen had nothing to be worried about.
Jaime took his and Gwen's horse to the side, tying them to a post before he walked on the cobbled ground, heading into the inn where he had seen his sister disappear to. Members to the Kingsguard were unloading her trunks from the carriage and Jaime instantly helped to take one. Three of them took the luggage up to the inn, walking through the stone room and up the wooden steps.
Jaime took lead, knocking on the door and waiting for Cersei to answer him. She called for them to enter and Jaime opened the door, instructing the men where to leave the trunks. He could feel his sister's glare on him for the entire time and he was grateful when the men decided to take their leave.
He closed the door on them, instantly awaiting Cersei's yells to commence.
"Why are you riding with that little bitch?"
"Your husband instructed it," Jaime told his sister. "She is the only woman on horseback and Lord Stark sees her as precious cargo for his daughter's for some Godforsaken reason."
"And there are other members of the Kingsguard who can go with her," Cersei replied, folding her arms and walking across the simple room. Jaime looked at it and frowned. He had certainly not seen anything so dull in his life. The room was even worse than Winterfell's if that were even possible.
"I admit that jealousy is most becoming on you," Jaime said and his sister snarled at him, the grin on his face irritating her further than she had believed to be possible.
"Why would I be jealous of a little maid?" Cersei wondered.
"You are not jealous of her for she is nowhere near as radiant as you are, my dear sister," Jaime said soothingly to her and she retaliated;
"Flattery will get you nowhere." She assured him. "I also hear that she is the one who you shall be looking out for this evening. She will be sleeping in a tent guarded by you."
"You hear her correctly."
"Perhaps you can bed her then?" Cersei checked; her voice full of venom. "Considering you seem to be spending enough time with her. I would have assumed that would be the next logical step for you to take."
Jaime chuckled, his hands dropping to his hips as he longed to rid himself of his heavy armour for the night. It was becoming rather heavy on his tiring body.
"The girl has yet to bed anyone and I doubt I shall be her first," Jaime told Cersei. "You know where my loyalty lies. You have no need to become so jealous of the girl. She really is insufferable."
"She has yet to bed anyone?" Cersei checked with her brother and he frowned. That was the only thing which she had taken away from that conversation. "She is a maid. Surely the men of the Stark kingdom have bedded her?"
"Apparently not," Jaime murmured. "What does it matter? She is a maid and means nothing to me. You have no reason to bother with her."
"As long as she keeps away from me then I shall have nothing to say to her." Cersei spoke. "And what of the commotion from the previous night? Did you find them?"
Jaime took a second to look at his sister, wondering if he should tell her. He could only imagine what would happen if she found out. Cersei would demand her head at her feet. She would demand the girl be taken care of immediately and Jaime be the one to do it. But he did not intend to kill her.
"It was a serving boy looking for the King," he lied to her. "Foolish to believe that he would spend the night with you when there were new women in Winterfell."
"And did you kill him?"
"Of course," Jaime said without a moment of hesitation. "His body is rotting in a bush by the tower."
"Good," Cersei said. She wandered around her room, her hands held tightly together. "And the girl...as soon as we reach the Capital then Sansa will be requiring maids if she is to marry my Joffrey. I shall tell her the girl is not suitable and then cast her out. She can make her own way in the world. Perhaps she shall favour life in a brothel."
Jaime said nothing as he heard his sister speak and he shook his head. He didn't care what she did with her.
"It matters not," Jaime said. "I shall leave you to your thoughts. I assume help we be needed in the camps."
"Yes, go," Cersei agreed, tiring of his presence for the afternoon. He let her be, walking back down to the cobbled street and looking around. He made leave for his own tent, changing into his normal attire and resting his armour on the small bed which had been set up. He noted the other bed held a black cloak on it along with an opened trunk and a blue gown spilling out the side. He groaned at the thought of being so close to her but pushed the thought to one side.
He walked down the cobbled street before hearing the words of Ned Stark enter his ear.
"Ser Jaime," he said curtly and Jaime looked at him, a blonde brow arched. "I need some members of the Kingsguard to come with me and help find my daughter."
"Why?"
"She has gone missing."
"I gathered that is why you wanted her found," Jaime said in a drawl. "I meant why did you want my men? Do you not have enough of your own?"
"This is my daughter," Eddard snapped. "I want Arya found. The Prince Joffrey has been injured and she has gone missing."
"How was the Prince injured?" Jaime enquired.
"Arya...apparently her direwolf injured him..." Lord Stark and Jaime smirked, shaking his head back and forth.
"I told her they were not pets," he drawled and Eddard arched a brow, wondering what he was talking about but choosing not to question him. He had no chance and he had no time.
"Can you send some men?"
"I shall look into it," Jaime chose to answer and Stark nodded before rushing away from him. The knight sighed before assembling some members of the Kingsguard, telling them to leave and go to look for the young Lady.
Jaime did not join them, deciding his efforts would be better spent finding the maid. If he found her then he would find the girl and all of this mess would be sorted. He also fancied gloating at her, if he had to be honest.
He was shocked when he found her within five minutes. She was wandering aimlessly on the way back to camp, her eyes looking to the sky as the sun set and she was clearly distracted. He checked how distracted she was, walking past her without a word and he chuckled. He turned quickly, grabbing her wrist and snapping her from the daze she had been in.
"Dear Gods," she snapped out, instantly startled at Jaime's sudden declaration of presence. "You scared me to death."
"Evidentially not for your pulse is still beating," Jaime said, his thumb instantly moving to her pulse and feeling it there. "Have you seen the two Stark girls?"
"Lady Sansa and Lady Arya ran off as soon as we arrived," Gwen said and Jaime dropped his hand from her wrist. "Lady Sansa went off with Prince Joffrey and Lady Arya did not tell me where she was going. Why?"
"There has been a slight incident," Jaime admitted to her. "Involving those direwolves you claimed were so loyal."
"What?" Gwen wondered, her eyes widening. "What has happened?"
"The young Stark's wolf attacked Prince Joffrey. Apparently the Prince is shaken up." Jaime decided to tell her and she wondered what to say in response. She struggled to believe what she was hearing.
"Was he seriously injured?"
"I am sure he is fine," Jaime shrugged off Joffrey's injuries. "It is about time the boy had some scars. And did I not tell you I was right about the wolves?"
"And Lady Arya...she is missing?" Gwen checked and Jaime sighed, huffing and dropping his hands to his hips.
"Yes," Jaime confirmed. "Can we just focus on how I was right and you were wrong?"
"Nymeria would not have harmed him without just cause," Gwen adamantly spoke. "I need to go and find her...Arya...she..."
"I think not," Jaime said, grabbing her wrist one more time as she tried to move past him, rushing to the forest by herself. "You have no idea where you are going and I do not feel like following you into a forest to make sure you do not kill yourself by tripping over a tree stump."
"I can hardly leave her," Gwen snapped at Jaime.
"Lord Stark has men with him trying to find her. I see the inn is building up with activity. It may be wise if you go and wait there for her return."
"I cannot," Gwen challenged him. "I cannot sit and do nothing."
"You have no choice," Jaime challenged her. "Now do not make me throw you over my shoulder and drag you into the inn."
The threat lay with Gwen and she realised she would not be rushing off trying to find Arya. He would not permit it. She sighed and walked by his side as they entered the inn. It was full of men, their bodies pressed tightly together as the King and Queen sat towards the back of the inn, Prince Joffrey by their sides. Gwen looked around for any sign of Arya or Sansa but there was nothing. There were no recognisable faces apart from Jaime's.
"I suppose I could have a drink," Jaime contemplated loudly, looking around the inn. "Do you want anything?"
"How can you be thinking of alcohol at a time like this?" Gwen wondered from him and he shrugged nonchalantly.
"They are not my children who have gone missing," he said and disappeared into the crowd. Gwen shook her head before she heard commotion appear before her and she saw Arya being pushed through the door roughly. Gwen rushed to her side, seeing the dirt on her face and the redness on her cheeks.
"Lady Arya," she called out as she grabbed onto her arm and took her from the men's hold, glaring at them as they did so.
"Nymeria...she did not do it...he was going to kill him..."
"Lady Arya, what are you talking about?" Gwen wondered as Arya cried and Gwen bent down. The girl wrapped her arms around Gwen's neck and continued to cry softly.
"He was going to kill the butcher's boy...my friend...he was going to kill him and Nymeria stopped him..."
"Is that the girl?" King Robert's voice snapped out loud and a path cleared for Arya to be seen by his grace. "Come forwards, girl."
Arya released Gwen and she stepped forwards. Gwen began to follow her but did not get far for a hand held her arm and brought her back, pressing her back flat against his chest.
"Do not move," he warned her, his voice soft and commanding in her ear as his eye caught Cersei. She saw how close he was to the maid and her blood boiled for a moment. "You do not know what happened and the King would dispose of you in a moment if you spoke against him."
"I cannot leave her," Gwen said, trying to pull herself from his hand but he hauled her back again before the voice of Eddard Stark came into the room.
"Arya!" he called out loud and Gwen watched him sweep past her, his eyes intent on his daughter.
"I'm sorry...I'm so sorry..." Arya sobbed.
"Are you hurt?"
"No."
"Then you have nothing to apologise for." Ned assured his daughter, squeezing her tightly again before straightening himself up and looking to the King, his anger refusing to subside. "What is the meaning of this?"
"Do not speak to your King like that."
"Silence, woman," Robert interrupted her. "I never meant to frighten the girl. But we need to get this business dealt with quickly."
"Your girl's direwolf attacked my son," Cersei said, her voice soft as she looked to Joffrey and his arm. "That animal of hers nearly tore his arm off."
"That's not true!" Arya snapped. "She just bit him a little. He was hurting Micah."
"Joffrey told us what happened. You and that boy attacked my son with clubs."
"That's not what happened!"
"Yes it is! They all attacked me and she threw my sword in the river!"
"Liar!"
"Shut up!"
"Enough!" Robert intervened. "She tells me one thing. He tells me another. Seven Hells what am I to make of this. Where's your other daughter, Ned?"
Gwen watched on as Cersei called for Sansa to come forwards and the crowd parted once again and Gwen ran her hand down Sansa's arm as she passed her. Gwen didn't believe anything which she was hearing. The direwolf would not harm anyone.
And then Gwen saw Sansa mumble to the King of how she did not know what had happened. But she did not take Arya's side which caused the girl to lash out, slapping at her sister. Eddard pulled them apart and Gwen saw King Robert stand, telling them enough was enough and that children fight.
Gwen took a breath of relief as Jaime loosened his grip on her only for it to tighten when the Queen mentioned the punishment of the direwolf.
"No," Gwen whispered as it became apparent that Lady would suffer for Nymeria. Sansa shouted out loud, defending her wolf to the very end as Gwen tried to fight Jaime from her.
"Stop making a fuss," he demanded from her, his mouth irritatingly close to her ear as she saw tears begin to build in Sansa's eyes. Arya bowed her head in shock and Ned said how he would be the one to kill the wolf.
"Gwen," Eddard turned his attention to the girl and Jaime instantly released her. "Take the girls to their rooms."
"Yes, my Lord," she said and rushed forwards to them. Sansa instantly had her arms around Gwen as Arya took her hand and she led them from the room and to the wooden stairs at the side.
"Come now...come on..." she soothed them as she walked up the stairs, still cradling an arm around Sansa and holding Arya's hand. She pushed the door open to their joint room and Arya glared at her sister in disgust.
"You lied!" she snapped.
"Shut up!" Sansa replied. "My Lady is going to die because of you!"
"You should have told the truth!" Arya defended herself.
"Girls!" Gwen barked to silence them. They did as they were told, respecting the maid's anger and Gwen released them from her hold. Arya took to her bed whilst Sansa sat on hers, still allowing tears to fall down her cheeks. "What happened?"
"Sansa lied!"
"I...I had to..." Sansa whispered. "Prince Joffrey...he is my betrothed..." she muttered and Arya shook her head, folding her legs on the bed.
"I am your sister!"
"Lady Arya," Gwen whispered, urging her to step her yelling. Gwen turned back to look at Sansa, her eyes saddening as she heard the truth come from her. She understood both of them. It seemed that Joffrey was a nasty piece of work.
"You should have told the truth," Gwen informed Sansa as she urged her to stand up and she helped her with the laces on the back of her dress. Arya stuck her chin out defiantly at her sister as Gwen sighed once. "But I understand why you lied."
"What?" Arya barked at her.
"She will be living with the Prince Joffrey, Lady Arya," Gwen said, moving into the trunk and pulling out the white nightgown. "Did he ask you to lie for him?"
"Yes...him and the Queen..." Sansa sniffed and Gwen nodded, understanding how the truth was something which scared her. She had been too afraid to tell her father what really happened.
"Lady Arya," Gwen said, turning to the young girl. "Your sister lied because if she did not then the betrothal may have been in danger. She did it to keep the peace. I know it was wrong but you need to understand why she did it. You are both suffering now and your constant bickering will not make you feel any better."
The girls remained silent, evidentially not going to speak to each other but they each understood the other. Gwen helped them change, still telling them of how everything would be okay and how the direwolves would go to a better place. She had tucked them into their beds and wished them a good night, warning them to sleep and not to argue with each other.
Gwen had closed the door, leaving them to rest and she took the steps back down to the main hall of the inn which was deserted except for one. He sat with his eyes watching the stairs as she moved down them, a goblet of wine in his hands as he downed it quickly.
"You did not need to wait for me," Gwen said and Jaime shrugged.
"I thought it best," he assured her. "There are members out there who are not of the Kingsguard and who have had too much to drink. With you being the only female then things could get out of hand."
Gwen nodded once in agreement with him and he stood up, straightening his coat out and walking by her side into the cold air.
"Well, that was a lurid affair," he complained of the previous incident.
"The girls are distraught," Gwen shook her head, looking to the floor and thinking of the tears she had wiped away. "Lady Sansa more than Lady Arya. Her wolf is to be put to death."
"Still, they are not creatures which should be kept as pets."
"They were loyal." Gwen continued to defend them as Jaime entered the tent first and she followed him. The air inside of it was cold and Gwen instantly took to sitting on her bed, her legs crossed underneath her and her gown flowing down the side of the small bed. "The wolf would not have attacked without just cause."
"And you think Joffrey gave it just cause? You believe the Stark girl over him?"
"Yes," Gwen said without hesitation and Jaime nodded for a moment.
"You know that I could have you punished for that?" he checked with her and she rolled her eyes at him. "You have spoken against the word of the Prince? The son of the King?"
"I have gone with the truth," Gwen said simply. "I trust Lady Arya more than Prince Joffrey."
"Hmm," Jaime agreed, stripping out of his clothes. Gwen's eyes widened as she watched him remove his jacket and set about removing his other items of clothing. If he had to be honest then he did not particularly believe Joffrey. The boy may be his in blood but that was it as far as he was concerned. He knew how the boy could be vindictive. Besides, he was a Lannister.
"What are you doing?"
"Getting ready for bed," he replied as if it were obvious. Gwen blushed quickly and shook her head at him.
"I thought you were supposed to be protecting me," she replied and he chuckled at her, continuing to dispose of his clothing as she pulled her cloak around her shoulders, keeping her body warm.
"Did you think I was going to sit outside the tent all night and make sure nothing happened?" he wondered and she bit her lip. "Besides, I need sleep as much as you do and I sleep with a sword. If anyone comes in then just scream."
Gwen shook her head and pulled the covers to her bed back and climbed into them as he watched with bemusement.
"Do you not intend to change? I promise I won't look."
"I'm fine as I am," Gwen lied, not wanting to shed her clothing in front of him. She rested on her side, her back facing him as her eyes remained wide open and she finally heard him settle before he spoke again;
"If it is all the same to you," he spoke into the darkness. "I don't know if I truly believe the word of Joffrey."
"Then why did you not say anything?"
"I thought you of all people would have known that you do not speak when you do not have the right to," Jaime said and she sighed. She was well aware of that.
He turned onto his own side, his eyes scanning her back before he closed them and spoke again;
"Besides, I did warn you of the direwolf."
He peeled one eye open again, fully expecting her to say something back to his remark but nothing came his way. He smirked and then rested his eyes one more time, waiting for sleep to claim him.
...
A/N: So another chapter! Thank you to Jofrench22, moonlight1fly, Hendrickx E and Yakitori-Chan for reviewing Chapter 4! I do hope you will all let me know what you think!