"What have you-"
"-Keep your voice down," Jaime snapped back before Brienne could say anything more to him. She looked on as the Kingslayer glared at her and then moved his gaze back down to Gwen who was nestled at his side. Brienne arched a brow as Jaime closed his eyes, shifting his body against the tree as he did so.
"What have you done to her?" Brienne hissed and dropped the wood on the ground. Jaime's eyes widened and frown lines appeared on his forehead.
"I've done nothing to her," Jaime replied. "She fell asleep waiting for you to come back with the wood."
"I don't know how can she stand being so close to you," Brienne muttered and Jaime said nothing as Gwen moved in her sleep and he looked back at her as her head moved closer against his chest, her blonde curls tickling against his neck.
"You can wake her up," Brienne told him. "I'm back and can start a fire."
"She'll wake up if she wants to," Jaime muttered, trying to allow sleep to find him. Brienne said nothing further, looking at the pair of them and shaking her head. She abandoned the idea of starting a fire and simply made do with lying on the ground, resting her body for the night.
...
Jaime was shocked when he opened his eyes and the sun greeted him. He hadn't expected to have been so relaxed that his body would be able to slip into sleep. He sat up, noting the warmth that had been against him had been removed. He said nothing and just looked around.
"Get up."
Jaime winced as he felt Brienne's hand on his elbow, hauling him to his feet without a moment to allow him to gather his bearings. Jaime looked at her, a smug smirk on his face as he did so.
"Good Morning is a much nicer greeting in the morning in comparison to what you offered," Jaime informed Brienne and she shook her head, pushing him forwards and keeping him on the chain he had tied around his waist. "Where is our doting maid?"
"She is checking her wound," Brienne said and Jaime said nothing more when he saw Gwen moved back to them, limping on her legs and Brienne ground her teeth together. She knew that bringing the girl would cause more of a hindrance than a help and she had been right. She didn't voice her opinion, choosing to keep it to herself.
"Ah, here she is," Jaime smiled widely as Gwen looked up from the ground and met his stare. "I was just asking Brienne about you."
"How considerate of you to do so," Gwen replied and Jaime looked at her for a brief moment as she turned on her heel and began to walk alongside them. He watched as she limped by his side and Brienne kept her distance behind them.
"I like to think I'm a considerate person," Jaime said back to her and Gwen snorted at his jovial tone as Brienne rolled her eyes. She pushed Jaime through a bush and out into an open field whilst Gwen followed them at her own leisurely pace.
"Do you know how long it will take us to get to Kings Landing walking through fields and forests?"
"Yes," Brienne hissed back and Jaime sighed.
"How shall we pass the time?" he wondered aloud. "I already know all about Gwen's past life."
"Do you?" Brienne wondered, keeping her thoughts to herself. She didn't know whether the maid was on this journey for the Stark girls or for him. She had seen the way she acted around the Kingslayer. Even after all he had done she treated him with respect and looked after him. Brienne couldn't understand it.
"Yes," Jaime said as Gwen almost tripped over her own skirts. Jaime chuckled and she hit him around the arm quickly, giving him a warning glare which silenced him from saying anymore about her. "How did you come into Lady Stark's service, wench?"
"It's not your concern, Kingslayer," Brienne said as they moved back into another forest, walking amongst the trees and Jaime saw Gwen almost trip again. He knew her leg was giving her more pain than she cared to let on. She wasn't as brave as she liked to think she was.
"Gwen," Jaime whispered her name and she looked to him, a small tear in her eye as her leg ached and pain shot through the rest of her body. He looked at her with an understanding glance and she instantly had her hands on his shoulders as he picked her up once more.
"Thank you," she mumbled.
"A Lannister always repays his debts," he reminded her. "You looked after me so I will look after you."
Gwen said nothing then, smiling softly at him as he tossed his head back to look at Brienne, going back to his line of questioning as the blonde knight looked at the sight before her. She didn't know how she could trust Gwen when she showed so much kindness towards the Kingslayer.
"So, how did you come into her service?" Jaime asked her again. "It had to be recently."
"Why?" Brienne wondered.
"Because I was in Winterfell and you weren't with her there. Gwen was...she managed to capture my attention by injuring herself in my presence but I never noticed your dour head smacking into the archways."
"Enough," Brienne snapped before Gwen had the chance to snap at Jaime for his rudeness. He juggled her in his arms for a moment before looking to the cloud covered sky.
"Were you pledged to Stannis?" Jaime asked her.
"Gods no," she spat back in digust.
"Ah, Renly." Jaime said with a grin. "Renly? Really? The only thing he was fit to rule over was a twelve course meal."
"Shut your mouth," Brienne replied and Gwen turned to look at the female knight and she noted something in her gaze. It was the same look which Gwen had seen before. Mainly on her own face and on any maid's face when she thought she was in love. Jaime continued his taunts before Gwen heard him ask her if she liked him.
"Jaime," Gwen hissed, turning his gaze back to her and he looked at her with wonder. Had she just called him by his first name? Had she dropped the title? No one called him that apart from his sister. He looked at her and she shook her head. "Leave her alone."
"I'm just shocked," Jaime spoke. "Did she not know that Renly preferred curly haired little girls like Loras Tyrell?"
"Stop it," Gwen warned him as he turned back to look at Brienne for a moment, her face stern and she wondered why the maid had decided to stick up for her considering she seemed so cosy with the Kingslayer. Jaime kept his mouth closed then as Gwen searched his gaze. "You said it yourself. You cannot help who you fall in love with."
He gulped at hearing that. Their previous conversation rang back into his ears and he moved his gaze away from Gwen as Brienne suddenly stopped, looking to the hill above them where a man walked alongside his horse. Gwen watched as he stopped and looked to the three of them and she could only imagine what a sight he had stumbled across.
"Where you heading then?" he wondered as Brienne stood in front of Jaime and Gwen, covering the chains which bound the Kingslayer.
"South," Jaime called back. "You?"
"Riverrun," the man answered back. "Staying off the Kingsroad are you? They get you no matter where you go."
"Well," Jaime spoke back. "I don't think my wife and I are in any danger of being caught."
Gwen felt shock come over her features as Jaime pressed his lips against her forehead, softly kissing her for a brief moment as the man chuckled in understanding. He nodded and continued walking slowly once more, his gaze still fixed on Brienne.
"No, I don't think you are with a woman like that guarding you," he assured Jaime. "I don't think anyone would spar with her. Seven Blessings to you all!"
"And you," Brienne said back to him.
He continued moving forwards then and Jaime watched him, his gaze intent.
"He knows who I am."
"How?" Gwen wondered from him. "He could barely see your face."
"What if you're wrong?" Jaime asked her. "What if he tells someone?"
"He won't," Brienne responded. "He's an innocent man. I won't kill him."
" Even more innocent than Lady Stark's daughters?" Jaime wondered and Gwen gulped at hearing that. She said nothing as Gwen pushed Jaime forwards once more, forcing him to walk and giving up on the conversation.
Gwen watched as the man disappeared from sight and Jaime looked down at her.
"You know that I am right," he responded to her. "He could easily go and tell someone about me."
"He didn't see your face," Gwen said back to him.
"How do you know for certain? I saw the way he looked at me and he definitely knows who I am. What would Lady Stark say if she knew that one man risked this journey? Do you think she would be forgiving?"
Gwen kept silent, her lips pushed tightly together as they moved on for the remainder of the day. She had her head bowed as her arms moved to wrap around Jaime's neck and he took a deep breath, the weight of carrying her finally effecting him. She watched the landscape change before she heard the running of water once more enter her ears.
Brienne moved them towards a bridge after deciding that it would be the safest way to get across the river.
"I need a rest," Jaime complained as he walked along the bridge. He finally came to a halt and dropped Gwen down onto the ledge of the wall on the bridge. His eyes met hers before he turned around and sat down on the dirt covered floor, resting his back against the stone and moss.
"She isn't as light as you think she is," Jaime said, pointing over his shoulder to Gwen who huffed loudly in disgust, nudging him with her knee.
"Get up," Brienne snapped at Jaime, tiring of his ignorant manner.
"I've been walking for miles in the same boots for too long. This heel is ruined...you would never believe it...and now I have Gwen to carry around and my feet ache more than they ever have done. If we had a horse then we could avoid this problem. We could stop walking and being in pain...unless Gwen sits side saddle...we both know what happens when you sit side saddle," he added on, turning his head to look up to her and she rolled her eyes, her hands resting beside her and holding the ledge.
Jaime heard Brienne move closer to him and he acted as fast as he could. He lunged quickly, drawing a sword from its sheath and holding it in his hands as he turned around and sliced the chain which kept him connected to her. Gwen shrieked in shock whilst Brienne drew her own sword.
"Jaime!" Gwen snapped at him. "What are you doing?"
"I never understood the need for some knights to carry two swords," he informed Brienne and ignored Gwen as she yelled at him. "I suppose it is lucky for me now."
"Stop it!" Gwen snapped at him, standing up and looking at Jaime as he tossed the sword between his hands, completely at ease with the weapon he clung onto. He threw his cloak onto the floor, winking at Gwen as he walked past Brienne. He took hold of the young maid and forced her to sit back down on the wall, needing for her to stay out of the way.
Brienne turned and watched Jaime, her sword in the air and ready to strike.
"Can you both stop this?" Gwen snapped at them. "Drop the swords and stop it. We have to get off this bridge!"
They both ignored her before Jaime swung his sword in the air towards Brienne, the cocky smirk still on his face. Gwen stood up then, knowing that neither one of them would kill her if she got in the way. Before she could step between them Jaime had clashed his sword against Brienne's blade, the noise causing Gwen's blood to run cold as she saw them move down the bridge, both of them never giving up.
"Jaime!" Gwen roared at him. But he was too intent on the battle to listen to her as she watched on, completely mesmerised. "Jaime! Just stop it!"
She watched as Brienne knocked him to the side, moving her hand up and hitting him across the jaw. His grunts were heard loudly then as Brienne roared out loud with every hit which she made.
"Dear Gods..." Gwen complained. "You two need to pack it in! You're going to injure each other."
"That's the plan," Jaime responded and Gwen shook her head, knowing full well that it was a stupid plan.
"I am sure the war has produced enough deaths without adding you two to it," Gwen assured them as she stepped closer once more and Jaime regained his balance, his gaze never leaving Brienne's sword as he wondered what move she would produce next. He said nothing for a few moments, his grunts the only noise coming from him before Brienne pushed him to the floor with ease.
Gwen took a moment to sigh with relief before she looked up and to the sight of half a dozen horses moving closer to them. Jaime stood up, his mouth hanging open as his breath came out in short pants. He noted the banner immediately and turned to look at Gwen who stood further down the bridge.
He looked back and grabbed onto the sword he had dropped whilst Brienne remained behind him.
"Looks like your woman's getting the better of you," the man on the white horse spoke. "If you can call that a woman."
"Everyone enjoys a good fight," Jaime said back to him. "It gets the juices running."
Gwen wondered how he managed to stay so calm and collected in the face of danger.
"Flayed man of House Bolton," Jaime declared, finally recognising the banner. "A bit gruesome for my tastes."
"Are you sure he's the one?" the man on top of the horse asked and Gwen felt her heart sink as the man they had encountered earlier was pushed forwards. His eyes fixed on Jaime who turned around to give Gwen and Brienne a knowing look.
"That's him alright. I saw him fight at the tourney for the Frey's wedding," he declared and Jaime sighed. "He says he was on the way to Kings Landing with his wife over there."
Gwen looked up after hearing the lie and Jaime sighed heavily.
"I didn't know you were married, Kingslayer," the man spoke down to Jaime once more and he shrugged nonchalantly. He clearly knew it was all a lie. "Give the man his silver."
"Let us go," Jaime spoke, his voice level and commanding. "My father will give you whatever you want."
"Enough to buy me a new head? If the King of the North heard I had the Kingslayer and let him go he'd be taking it right off. I'd rather he takes yours."
Gwen gulped as the horses began to move upon them and Brienne and Jaime turned back around, walking towards her as she stood still on the spot. Brienne looked straight past her, anger coursing through her veins at the fact that they had managed to get themselves caught. Gwen gulped as Jaime came closer to her, moving his chained hands out to her and wrapping one around her arm.
"Remember what I told you," he hissed at her, his mouth close to her ear as he spoke quietly and quickly and she gulped loudly, unable to remember entirely what he had said to her.
"Go away inside," he whispered to her and she looked at him, her eyes full of fear and worry about what would happen. Jaime had a good idea but he said nothing to her as they moved off from the bridge and she moved her hand down to his wrist, gripping tightly to it as her eyes looked ahead.
Jaime closed his eyes for a moment, bowing his head as he went against his better judgement and moved her hand from his wrist. She felt instant rejection for some unknown reason but Jaime knew that he could not offer her comfort. Comfort would make her weak and she had to be the opposite of that. She had to be strong.
...
Gwen looked past the shoulders of the men who were binding her wrists together, whispering things into her ear of how they could not wait until the night fell upon them. Gwen felt herself sicken at their words but refused to look into their eyes, knowing that if she did so then she would break. She would break and she didn't want to show any sign of weakness even thought she knew it was there.
She allowed them to place her on the horse which Jaime rode on and she looked around for Brienne who had her own horse. Jaime looked across to Brienne who had been taunting him of how she would have won their battle if she had been given more time. Jaime responded by telling her of how she would never have won if he was up to his usual standard.
Gwen sat against Jaime's back, feeling the bones pocking out from beneath his cloak. She knew that he was underfed and malnourished.
"Gwen," Jaime whispered to her as Brienne's horse moved further away from them and she turned her head to look to the side of his, both of their cheeks inches apart from each other.
"What?"
"I heard what they were saying to you," Jaime repeated to her and she inhaled sharply at the words which rang around in her ears. "You cannot fight them, Gwen," Jaime warned her and her eyes widened and she nudged his back with her elbow in annoyance with what he had just said.
"How dare you," she hissed out to him, anger flushing through her blood and filling with her hatred for the man she was tied to. "Would you let them do that to you? Would you willingly let them have their way?"
"If I was woman then I would have been killed by now," Jaime informed her and she shook her head, disbelief coming into her motion. "You need to remember what I told you. You have to disassociate yourself from it. You cannot fight them or they will kill you."
"I cannot lie there...and let them..." she trailed off, her stomach churning and bile rising in her throat at what Jaime had just asked her to do. She felt herself become light headed as the mere thought of being harmed in such a manner.
"If you fight them then they will kill you. You're of no use to them, Gwen. You know that and so do I. You will do well to remember it."
"How can you ask me not to fight?" Gwen whispered and Jaime closed his eyes, his mind whirling with answers to tell her.
"Because I do not want to see you hurt," he informed her. She remained silent at the piece of information and Jaime continued to whisper to her so that no one else could hear. "I know it is going to hurt you. I know that it pains a woman but I do not want you to suffer anymore. If you die then...well...Gods I'd be stuck with the wench and if I have to be honest I prefer your company much more than hers."
Gwen kept quiet then as Jaime leant his head back against her curls, trying to urge her to say something to him. She gulped loudly before muttering back to him.
"I'm scared," she admitted and Jaime winced at hearing her say those words. He nodded.
"I know you are." Was all that he offered her.
Gwen said nothing after that and neither did Jaime; both of them knew that when the night came then that was when the real pain began.
...
Gwen never thought that she would see Brienne look so petrified. Her blonde hair was a mess on top of her head and her eyes were looking into the roar of the fire, her mind occupied and somewhere else as she tried not to think about what would happen to her once the men had their way with her. Gwen watched her for a few moments before turning to look at Jaime, finding his gaze settled on her.
There was a glint in his eye that she had never recognised before and she didn't know whether or not she wanted to know. Time seemed to pass by slowly, cheers erupted from the main part of the camp where the men ate and drank, and ignoring the three prisoners they had managed to take.
"Here we go, boys," the leader spoke. Gwen had come to learn his name was Vargo Hoat, one of Lord Bolton's chief men. "You can start with the big one...save the best till last."
Gwen gulped as they began to untie Brienne and the knight instantly began her pleas.
"My Lord," Brienne spoke, "I am Brienne of Tarth. Lady Catelyn Stark sent me with Ser Jaime to go to Kings Landing."
"Lady Catelyn is a traitorous bitch," Hoat snapped back at Brienne which instantly shut her up. "The Kingslayer is wanted alive but no one said anything about you being intact."
Gwen watched on as Brienne fought against the men, giving as good as she could manage and worming about in their old as Hoat ordered them to take her away. Her cries could be heard through the forest and Gwen wormed around against the rope which tied her body to the tree.
"Jaime," she hissed at him, drawing his gaze back to her. His eyes had been closed, his mouth parted and a conflicted expression gracing his obscured features. "We have to help her...they can't..."
"Do you know who she is?" Jaime called out loudly, drawing Hoat's attention back to him.
"Some big, dumb bitch?" Hoat guessed and Jaime shook his head.
"She is Brienne of Tarth. Her father is the Lord of Tarth. Do you know that Tarth is known as the Sapphire Isle?"
Hoat remained quiet, Jaime seeming to have piqued his interest. The Kingslayer kept on talking, his voice low and controlled as Brienne continued to cry loudly.
"Every sapphire in Westeros came from Tarth. Every special blue gem...all of it came from Tarth," Jaime said. He knew men liked jewels. Men liked power and power came in the form of riches. If living amongst the court had taught him one thing it was that the more money you had then the more you were respected. "Her father would give her weight in sapphires to have her back...alive...and safe...and...well...pure..." Jaime finished and watched as Hoat seemed to consider his words.
"Bring her back!" he called into the darkness and Jaime nodded once, a smirk on his face as he realised he had saved the wench. He watched as Hoat made his way closer to Gwen and the smirk slowly fell from his face and he wondered what he was doing.
"And what about this one?" he asked as Brienne snapped at the men who tied her back against the tree, still too in shock at what had happened to consider anything else going on around her. Jaime felt his blood turn cold as Hoat grabbed onto Gwen's chin, squeezing it tightly as he forced her to turn to look at Jaime.
"Do you have a smart story to get this one out of trouble?" he asked and Jaime racked his brain.
"I assume you have heard of the Stark's maid?" he checked and Hoat shook his head. "My sister wants her for treason. She would be willing to pay you a handsome sum for her safe return."
"Would she?" Hoat asked and untied Gwen from the tree. The maid instantly moved, falling onto her hands and knees and crawling away, scurrying on the dirty floor as Hoat watched her for a moment. He walked forwards, grabbing onto her hair and hauling her to her knees. Gwen screamed loudly in pain as he watched Jaime, wondering what was going on in the Kingslayer's mind.
"And you would know what the Queen wants, wouldn't you?" Hoat checked. "We all know the rumours of you and her. Apparently she wants you back. Can't think why."
"I can assure you that if you leave Gwen untarnished than my sister will pay handsomely."
"I don't think your sister cares," Hoat spoke and dragged Gwen to her feet. The maid fought against him, her actions too weak for the man holding her. Jaime watched as Gwen began to cry, her cheeks turning red as anger ran through her body. He noted Hoat pull out a dagger from his pocket, moving it slowly to Gwen's back.
"But you on the other hand," Hoat drawled as he pulled Gwen's dress from her back, his knife slowly tearing down the middle of it as she shrieked loudly. "I think you care what happens to her. Have you been fucking her for yourself, is that it?"
"I assure you-"
"-I do not need your assurances," Hoat snapped back as Gwen's dress threatened to drop to her waist, the only thing keeping it up were her hands against her chest. "She's not worth anything. I am sure the Queen won't care."
"No!" Jaime snapped as he pushed Gwen forwards to the men that loitered by Brienne's tree. Jaime looked away as she fell to her knees before them and he knew that he was unable to handle anything further.
"Do not hurt her!" Brienne snapped and Hoat slapped her around the face, silencing her from saying anything.
Jaime listened as her screams echoed through the forest and he winced, his chin jutting out and his jaw clenched. Hoat looked at the Kingslayer and smirked. So there was a way to stop his cocky remarks. Hoat moved closer to Jaime then, bending down at the waist to whisper to him.
"Don't worry," he assured him as Gwen screamed loudly once more. "When they're done with her then I'll let you be the one to clean her up."
Jaime pulled at the chains which bound him to the tree as Hoat loosened them slightly, giving Jaime room to move against them. He stepped back and left the two prisoners where they were, the only thing they could listen to was the screams of the maid.
Brienne wondered how long had passed before Gwen was dragged back into the camp by Hoat. Her dress had been ripped from its sleeves, pooling at her waist and leaving her upper half bare. He dragged her by the hair once more, almost ripping her curls from her head before he pushed her to kneel down in front of the Kingslayer.
"Here," he spoke. "I told you that you could look after her."
Jaime ground his teeth together and said nothing, simply watching as Hoat moved away from him. He moved his body, kneeling before Gwen as she continued to sob, the sound hollow and painful.
"Gwen," he spoke her name and grabbed onto the dress which bunched at her waist. He pulled it up along her bare sides until he covered her breasts and she moved her own hands, holding onto the material and tucking it under her arms so that it could stay there.
"I tried to do as you said," Gwen whispered to him and Jaime fiddled with the clasp to his cloak, trying to get it off from his shoulders. "I couldn't...they..."
"Sh," Jaime urged her soothingly.
He had never had to look after Cersei before. Not once had she shown pain in front of him. Worry and concern, yes. But she had never openly cried and he had never had to comfort her. He didn't truly know how to comfort anyone.
He could have sat there and told her that she should have been braver and stronger. He could have told her that she should have followed his advice. He could tell her to wipe her own tears and clean herself up so that she didn't appear weak. These were all of the things that he could have done but he chose not to. He chose to remain silent as he grabbed his cloak and managed to wrap it around her shoulders awkwardly.
"I can't...it hurts...it hurts so much..." Gwen incoherently cried until her tears fell silently and her body simply shook on the ground before Jaime.
"Gwen," he spoke her name softly once more and ran his finger over her split lip. He proceeded to wipe the dirt from her face as she held tightly onto the lapels of his cloak, her knuckles turning white as she did so. "Sh...you are safe now..."
"No," she shook her head, fear building in her eyes once more as her orbs found Jaime's. "No...they'll...it will happen again...and I can't...I can't handle it...I don't..."
"Come now," Jaime spoke, his voice slightly sterner than before as his hands cradled her dirty face softly. He moved his forehead to rest against hers, watching as she closed her eyes and her lips parted, her warm breath hitting his face.
"You once told me that death is never welcoming," Jaime reminded her and her eyes opened to meet his once more. "You have...you can't let them win, Gwen. You can't let them beat you. You have something to hold on for. The Stark girls need you. They need you to take them back to Winterfell and you need them. You need to keep going. You have to do this, Gwen."
"How?" she whispered to him. He looked at her then, studying her intently and he realised that she had lost any small amount of fight which she had in her. He shrugged, his thumb moving in circles over her pale skin.
"Only you know what is worth continuing on for," he informed her, his voice nothing but a mutter. "I can...I can only imagine what just happened...and even then I don't want to imagine...Gwen...but it is done...you are safe now..."
"Until the next time," she whispered and Jaime shook his head.
"I...cannot promise you it will not happen again," Jaime told her and she sobbed once more as her eyes closed and he stroked her blonde hair behind her ears. "But you need to think of Arya and Sansa...you need to understand that you cannot let them break you. You are stronger than this, Gwen. I know you. I've seen it. You would do anything to get them girls back and in the end I know that is what you are going to do."
Gwen said nothing to Jaime then as he slowly released her from his hands and she looked at him for a few moments. He nodded at her sternly, moving one of his chained hands to take hold of hers.
"Get some rest," he urged her. "Try to sleep."
"I...what if..." Gwen began to speak, panic rising inside of her whilst Jaime shook his head.
"I won't let anything else happen to you on this night," he chose his words deliberately and watched Gwen as he drew her to rest against the tree. She leant next to him, her body still in shock and shaking as Jaime moved his arm around her shoulders, trying to keep her warm.
He wasn't prepared to feel her nestle closer to him, her body curled next to his as her head rest on his shoulder and she felt his beard rub against her forehead. Jaime said nothing further as he allowed Gwen to cry herself to sleep, his gaze meeting Brienne's who had been silent for the entire time.
She looked at him in a different light, wondering who the Kingslayer truly was.
...
A/N: And nothing ever goes smoothly in a Game of Thrones. I know that this chapter was depressing but not everything can have a light tone to it. But the relationship between the pair of them shall improve. Anyway, once again, overwhelmed by how many of you are reading this and actually enjoying it! So, thanks to Zamya, Yakitori-Chan, Miss. Lori MacManus, ks, Jofrench22, MissCarolineForbes, KingofTruands, zenstarrflower and Lottie du Bois for reviewing! It really means a lot guys! Thank you for reading thus far!