Jaime couldn't get an ounce of sleep that night. He closed his eyes, waiting for the darkness to take hold of him but something prevented it from taking over. He groaned lightly to himself, peeling one eye open and looking down to Gwen who still rested against him. Her head was on his shoulder and her eyes were closed, light snores coming from her body.
He'd seen Brienne watching him for quite some time, her gaze not the normal one of accusation. He'd looked back, wondering what she wanted from him until she'd turned away, closing her own eyes and not opening them again.
Jaime had allowed his hand to move down Gwen's limp curls and he could feel how dry they were. He'd been repeating the motion for quite a few hours for reasons unbeknownst to him. He willed for sleep to come, his body sore and tired after a few days travelling on the open road. But nothing happened. Perhaps he was completing his promise to Gwen? Maybe the Gods were forcing him to stay awake so that nothing else could happen to her.
He didn't know.
All he knew was that morning came around far too quickly for his liking.
The men in the camp began to stir, eating their breakfast with soft murmurs to each other. The sound travelled to the makeshift prison against trees and Jaime felt Gwen begin to move against him. She opened her eyes slowly, willing for the pain in her legs to stop and leave her be. She looked above her, the sight of Jaime's green eyes not something which she had planned to see. She made no move to remove herself from him, instead she closed her eyes again and Jaime's hand rested on her back.
"Gwen," he whispered her name and she kept her eyes closed. He said nothing, fully intent on asking how she felt but he realised it was a stupid question. How did he expect her to feel? She had been violated in ways she had never known before. Jaime kept his mouth shut then, deciding not to say anything to her.
"Rise and shine!" a voice shouted out and Gwen groaned as she felt a hand wrap around her arm, the feeling of long and bony fingers unwelcoming to her as he pulled her to her feet.
"And how are you this morning, beautiful?" Hoat asked from Gwen as he wrapped both of his hands around her upper arms, forcing her to face him as she looked anywhere but his calloused eyes. He chuckled at seeing her defiance and noted the bruise on her cheek and her split lip. "My men say that you were a maiden...Foney was ever so happy to be the first inside of you. He thought the Kingslayer might have had that honour."
Gwen felt her stomach churn once more as he shook her in his arms, waiting for her to respond to him.
"It's a rare thing these days," Hoat informed Gwen, removing one hand and grabbing her chin, forcing her to look at him as he squeezed tightly on her skin, her cheeks puffing out as a result. "To have a maiden wandering through the woods...it makes the trip more enjoyable for them...and if they're happy then it makes my life easier."
Gwen acted quickly and moved her hand, slapping Hoat across the cheek as he released her chin, watching as she tried to push herself from his other arm. Anger glazed his eyes and he moved his own hand, the back of it connecting with her cheek and pushing her away from him. Gwen grunted in pain as she fell to the floor, her hands outstretched to stop her face from hitting the dirt. Hoat moved down to kneel aside of her, his hand wrapping into her blond hair once again.
"You dumb bitch," he hissed at her. "Do you think your life means anything?"
"Get off of me," Gwen spat and she felt her dress fall from underneath her arms and she knew she needed a pin to keep it together. Jaime's cloak was the only thing covering her and she was grateful for that as Hoat slapped her once more and allowed her to tumble onto her side.
"Stop it," Jaime spoke out as he saw Hoat move his boot, fully intent on allowing it to make contact with Gwen's back. "You know as well as I that she is worth something if she is returned alive."
"And how do I know you're not lying?" Hoat wondered from Jaime. "How do I know she really is a traitor?"
"Because my sister sent ravens to all of the Seven Kingdoms demanding for her to be returned. You can ask your Lord Bolton once we see him," Jaime said. "And if not then you can call me a liar."
Hoat considered for a moment and said nothing in response as Gwen remained laid on her side, her eyes finding Jaime as he continued to stare at Hoat, his green gaze full of knowing.
"If not then it is on your head, Kingslayer."
"Fine," Jaime answered and Hoat was soon joined by some of his men. They entered the camp and untied Jaime and Brienne from their trees, keeping a tight leash on both of them as Gwen pulled at her dress from over the cloak, trying to push it back up her body.
"Come on, lovely."
Gwen winced as the recognisable voice spoke to her and Foney dragged her from the floor, moving her forwards so that she walked behind Jaime. Gwen said nothing as he pushed her past Hoat's horse and the leader looked down at her before speaking.
"Put the girl with the Kingslayer. I told him that he had my permission to look after her and that's what he will do."
"Yes, sir," Foney agreed and moved to the middle of the ranks where Jaime sat. He hauled Gwen onto the horse, grabbing her waist as she reached for Jaime's hand, allowing him to help her up and onto the creature.
"Until tonight, pretty." Foney said and Gwen choked for a moment, her throat clenching and she thought she was going to be sick right on the spot. Jaime ground his teeth together and wrapped his arm around Gwen's waist, making sure she didn't fall from the horse.
She remained silent for most of the journey, looking down to the ground and calculating the jump from the horse. The men had failed to tie her up, thinking her too weak to actually escape. But that was what she had been considering. What would happen if she just ran and left? She could make it by herself.
Jaime often caught her looking to the ground and then at the trees which surrounded them and his grip around her increased. He knew that if he let her go then they would find her. She would never be able to run that far and when they found her they would punish her more than she already had been.
"No," Jaime whispered into her ear and she looked up to him, her face emotionless as he spoke through thinly parted lips so that no one could hear him. "I know what you're thinking about. You've been studying the area for quite some time, Gwen."
"I...I can't do it again..." she whispered to him. "I can't cope...I'm not strong. I'm not strong enough for this..."
"No woman is," Jaime assured her. "But if you jump now then how far do you think you will get? You're weak, Gwen. You may be fast but these men are faster. And what do you think will happen when they find you? Do you think they will simply kill you?"
She said nothing, knowing that Jaime was right deep down. He was always right. She said nothing for a moment and went back to leaning against him as he looked down at her, realising that she had given up on her escape attempt.
"When...if...we reach Kings Landing," Gwen said for the prospect seemed far away and unachievable to her at that moment in time. "Your sister will know me. You have told them I am a traitor. They will know...Lord Bolton is sure to know...she'll find me...and you know she will kill me..."
"She won't," Jaime said rather confidently. "Everyone knows about our secret now. It won't matter to her that you know. She'll consider you insignificant."
"And if she doesn't?" Gwen wondered in a small voice. "Then what happens?"
"Gwen," Jaime spoke to her. "What have I told you about a Lannister? They always repay their debts. I will not let her kill you just like you did not let Robb Stark kill me."
"He was never going to kill you," Gwen reminded him. "You were too valuable to him alive."
"With the amount of food and water he wanted me to live on I was a dead man walking," Jaime said to her. "I know how you brought me more than you should. I saw the look he gave you sometimes...heard of how you treated me better than he ever would..."
Gwen said nothing then, not sure of what she should say to him. She shrugged gently as Jaime watched her.
"You saved my life in the forest that day. I made sure that I saved yours," she spoke. "I suppose we're indebted to each other quite a bit."
"It would seem that way," Jaime agreed and they both lapsed into silence. He knew that Gwen was simply waiting until the night fell upon them and they made camp once more. The day was spent travelling with only one break to be held. Brienne was tied to the same tree as Gwen and Jaime, the maid in between the pair of them for the five minutes rest.
"Lady Gwen," Brienne whispered her name and Gwen turned to look at her as she tried to tie the material of her dress together, pushing Jaime's cloak behind her shoulder. Matters were made more difficult considering they had decided to tie her hands together. Brienne was simply bound by rope around her shoulders whilst Jaime's chains kept them pinned to the tree.
Gwen looked over to Brienne who saw she was struggling and the woman picked up a twig from the floor, snapping off a pointy part and she moved closer to Gwen. The maid watched as Brienne pushed it through the ripped material, holding it together before managing to tie a knot into it.
"Thank you," Gwen managed to say to her as she helped her with the other side awkwardly.
"I never was any good at needlework when I was a child," Brienne contemplated. "I much preferred to be outside with a sword."
"Really?" Jaime wondered, his voice sarcastic. "I'd never have guessed."
The woman ignored his comment and Gwen pulled his cloak around her shoulders once more, the sharpness of the twig digging into her arm but she ignored it, knowing that her body had dealt with worse pains.
Gwen realised that was the first time that Brienne had genuinely helped her and she wondered if she did it because she pitied her. She didn't have the chance to ask as the men returned, informing the prisoners that they were to begin travelling once again.
Gwen sat in front of Jaime, watching as the sun slowly moved behind the trees and she knew the time to set up camp would be upon them once again. Jaime's grip seemed to tighten on her as the men discussed where to stop and Gwen felt her hand grab onto his free one which had been resting on his thigh. He sighed, wondering why she clung on to him so much. Surely he was not comfort for her.
She said nothing as they were thrown onto the soiled ground by a fire, given just a bread roll to eat for the evening. She didn't touch her food, knowing that she would be unable to keep it down. She sat to the side of Jaime, hugging herself tightly as she rested her forehead on her kneecaps.
"You need to eat, Lady Gwen," Brienne urged her. Gwen ran a hand through her curls as she lifted her head to look at Brienne whose face was evidentially one of concern.
"The wench is right," Jaime told her and she turned her head to the side to look at him. "You need your strength."
"I feel sick," she simply replied.
"I do not doubt it," Jaime told her. "But not eating shall not stop what will happen." He said and she felt her eyes well with water once more as Jaime ate more of his bread roll. "You have to eat to keep yourself going. You know that and so do I. Now eat the bread roll."
Gwen slowly picked it up, tearing a bit of it off and popping it into her mouth, forcing herself to chew and then swallow. She repeated the motion under Jaime's watchful gaze until it was all gone and her stomach felt slightly better if she had to be honest. Jaime nodded once and quickly as the jeers of the men grew louder.
"Gwen," he spoke, snapping her attention back to him as the noise became louder and he saw her begin to cry once again. "Remember what I told you. Be strong...you have to think of Sansa and Arya...just think of them..."
She nodded back at him as he watched her and the men finally stopped. Jaime leaned forward then as they grabbed her and she resisted for a second. His hand rested on her arm and he looked at her quickly. He didn't know what he was going to say to her as the man in charge hauled her to her feet and set about removing the cloak from her shoulders.
Jaime winced as Hoat clapped quickly, moving to the scene as the three men ran their hands over Gwen's trembling body and Jaime instantly felt the need to get up and stop them. But he knew it would be no use. He couldn't save her from them and if he tried he would surely end up dead.
"Now, now, fellows," Hoat called out loud. "Not here...take her somewhere private..."
Brienne shook her head as she heard Gwen plead with them not to hurt her. She took one final glance up in time to see them disappear into the darkness, Gwen's gown being ripped apart one more time.
"She's lucky," Hoat said and he looked at Jaime who had his gaze focused entirely on the blaze of the fire. He couldn't hear Gwen screaming. He couldn't hear anything that was happening and he didn't know how to feel. He didn't know what to think. "I've told them not to finish in her. You should thank me for that, Kingslayer. You won't have to look after her with a bastard in her belly."
Jaime shook his head, slowly diverting his gaze up to look at Hoat, his eyes narrowed.
"Do you think I am going to thank you for anything that you have done?" Jaime wondered from him.
"That girl is innocent in all of this," Brienne interjected. "She has done nothing to harm you. Why do you insist on hurting her so?"
"Do you know how long it has been since these men have seen a woman? Since they have felt the tender flesh against their skin?"
"No," Brienne snapped back. "Nor do I care. They will rot in the Seven Hells for what they have done to her."
"You're lucky," Hoat informed her, trying to resist the urge to slap her and silence her once more. "If it wasn't for the Kingslayer then you'd be in the same position that she is."
Brienne looked across to Jaime, confusion on her face as to what he had exactly done for her. Jaime felt his throat clench at the thought. He had helped the wench but he had been unable to help the maid who had helped him so often. There was no logic in that.
Hoat chuckled once and walked away, leaving Brienne and Jaime to enjoy each other's company.
"What did you do?" Brienne wondered from him and Jaime shrugged nonchalantly, wanting to turn his head around and look into the woods to see if he could see Gwen. But he feared the sight which he may come across.
"I told them that Tarth was called the Sapphire Isle for all of the jewels which came from there," Jaime whispered, his eyes lowered and looking into the fire. "I said your father would pay your weight in gold if he got you back to him safe and sound."
"You...you did that...for me?" Brienne checked, her voice shocked and her eyes wide as she looked at Jaime for a few moments.
"Yes," he whispered. "I saved you...but I couldn't save her from this..."
"It hurts you, doesn't it?" Brienne said.
"Does it not make you feel pain when you see her in such a state? Do you not sympathise with what has happened to her?"
"Of course I do," Brienne snapped back. "I am a woman. I can sympathise with her. You're a man."
"And it that supposed to mean that I agree with what they do to her?" Jaime asked, his brow arched and his voice harsh towards Brienne. "You see me as the same as them, don't you? Do you think I understand? I've never been with anyone other than Cersei...I've never harmed a woman in such a way...never have I understood why men force themselves upon women..."
Brienne said nothing as Jaime watched her, wondering what was going through that dour head of hers as he concluded his argument.
"Not every man is the same." He spoke and Brienne looked ashamed for a moment.
"I watched you last night."
"I had noticed."
"I watched you with her," Brienne stated more clearly. "I watched you hold her...tell her to be strong...comfort her...you did all the things that I don't think I could have done for her. I wouldn't have known what to do."
"And you honestly think I did?" Jaime asked her and Brienne shrugged. "I could have told her to get over it. I could have told her that she should have been stronger and she should have coped. I could have told her not to cry like a weak little girl. But that would have been wrong, wouldn't it?"
"It would have been cruel," Brienne said to him. "And that is something that you're not with her."
"I can hardly be cruel when she goes through an act full of venom," Jaime whispered.
"I just wonder what she would have done if you weren't here," Brienne pondered and Jaime looked at her with wide eyes, confusion held in his orbs.
"She would have coped. She would have had to cope."
"She wouldn't have," Brienne said. "But she listens to you. She listens to you as if you speak sense. Without you then I don't know what she would be like...you're the only one who is able to comfort her and the Gods know that the girl needs someone like that now...and you..."
"What about me?"
"The way you look after her is almost as if you do have a heart," Brienne told him.
"Well, a heart is necessary if I'm to keep breathing," Jaime simply said back to her.
"Do you care about her?" Brienne asked and Jaime looked away from her, his gaze focusing on the fire as he thought about the question, unsure of how to answer it.
"I-"
"That's enough for one night, isn't it, beautiful?" a voice snapped and stopped Jaime from answering his question. He turned his head back around and saw the men pushing Gwen back to the fire which Jaime and Brienne huddled around. She looked in an even worse state then the night before. Her gown had been ripped once more as she pulled it upwards, trying to cover her modesty along with not losing her footing.
They left without another word, clearly having had their fill for the evening. Gwen knelt on the floor, her hands instantly grabbing Jaime's cloak as he and Brienne looked at her. She wrapped it around her shoulders, shivering once more as she leaned forwards, her waist bending over her bent knees as she coughed loudly. The sound was hollow and it hurt her throat as she felt herself gag.
Jaime looked at Brienne who was sat where she was, just watching the scene before her. He sighed and then moved his body, kneeling by her side as she emptied the contents of her stomach onto the ground in front of her.
He said nothing as he moved his hand to her back, patting it soothingly before running it up her spine and his tied hands took her hair from her face as she continued to wretch even when nothing came out.
Gwen remained doubled over, the pain in her stomach unbearable as she closed her eyes firmly shut. She shook her head back and forth then, Jaime's hand still on her back as she spoke, her hands gripping the cloak around her tightly.
"I can't do it," she whispered. "I can't."
Jaime looked at her for a moment, her face pale and he realised that nothing he could say to her would be enough. He could try and convince her to be strong. He could tell her that she had to accept it but he knew she couldn't. He knew that she couldn't go on as long as she was being harmed. The Gwen he knew in the camps had gone. They had destroyed her spirit and he wondered when they would destroy her body.
"Sh," Jaime urged her as Hoat came back into his sight of vision and he ordered for Gwen and Jaime to be tied to a tree before he went to sleep that night. Gwen was left on her own, choosing to crawl to sit beside Jaime as the Kingslayer groaned.
"Hoat," he snapped out. "Do you think it possible for me to lie down?" he wondered. "I'm not what I used to be and my back isn't all too clever. My father would pay you well if you saw to it that I was returned in fine condition."
"Would he?"
"Of course. He would hate to see me incapacitated."
"You use some big words, fancy man," Hoat contemplated and Jaime shrugged as he begun to untie Jaime from the tree and Gwen wondered what he was doing.
"My father used to make me read for hours on end as a little boy," Jaime informed Hoat as he felt his restraints loosen. "I never was any good. I preferred to be outside as boy...much more enjoyable than learning fancy big words."
"I can imagine," Hoat said and Jaime sighed in relief as the restraint was removed from his body.
"Thank you," Jaime said. "I shall tell my father to reward you kindly."
Jaime looked at Gwen, urging her to stay silent as she watched him and wondered what he was doing. He knew that if he managed to persuade the men that they would paid handsomely then they may let them go. And if they let them go then Jaime could stop Gwen's pain.
"In that case," Hoat said, "how about a meal?"
"Lovely," Jaime agreed and was hauled to his feet.
Gwen watched as they moved him through the trees and she rested one hand on the tree as she saw him being dragged to a tree stump. She watched intently as Jaime continued talking to them, telling them that their generosity would not go unnoticed. Gwen knew something wasn't right. She could tell straight away that something was happening. And when they pushed Jaime to the floor she knew she was right.
She pushed her aching body to stand as Brienne pulled against the rope restraining her. Gwen moved forwards, her body complaining as Hoat drew his sword, pressing it against Jaime's eye.
"No!" Gwen shrieked as one of the men blocked her way towards Jaime, his hands around her waist as she kicked against him. "Don't hurt him! Leave him alone!" she begged them.
"All you have to do when you get in trouble is say your father," Hoat taunted Jaime, moving his sword away from his eye slightly. "Well your daddy isn't here anymore. There's no one to save you."
Gwen took a deep breath as Hoat stepped back from Jaime and smirked at the men, his eye catching Gwen's before he spoke again.
"Here. This should help you remember."
Gwen struggled to comprehend what happened then as his sword went flying through the air. It landed sharply against the tree stump before being removed and Jaime's scream rang around the woods as Gwen's eyes widened and her stomach churned once more at what she was seeing.
"No," she whispered as Jaime pushed himself back from the stump, his eyes set on his arm which was missing a vital part. His hand remained on the wooden stump, sat there away from his body as Gwen looked at it.
She pushed herself from the man holding her as Hoat nodded at him before she rushed over to Jaime, kneeling by him as his screams subsided into harsh pants of breath.
"Jaime," she whispered his name. "Jaime...stay with me...please...Jaime..."
"Give the girl a bandage. She can look after him like he looked after her," Hoat declared as Jaime's eyes remained transfixed on his stump before he looked back to the hand which sat on the tree.
He said nothing, his mind whirling with confusion and pain from his arm. His entire arm felt like it was on fire, burning all the way to his shoulder as Gwen looked at the wound, knowing that he needed a maester to sort it out. The best she could do would be to cover it.
"Jaime...look at me..." she urged him, knowing that he would pass out if he continued to look at his incomplete arm. She moved her hand to his cheek, drawing his gaze to her as his eyes widened and she saw the tears within them. "You're going to be okay...you're going to be fine...I'm here...I'll look after you...I promise..."
Jaime wanted to snap at her, telling her that everything was far from being fine. But he said nothing. He couldn't say anything as his throat clenched and Gwen pressed her hand tighter against his cheek before the medical supplies were brought towards her. She snatched them from the men quickly, resting Jaime's head in her lap as he closed his eyes, unable to look at the missing part of him anymore.
...
A/N: That scene gets to me all the time! Anyway, I would like to thank all of my reviewers in the form of Kay1104, Guest, Jofrench22, moonlight1ify, trustbroccoli23, PurpleMokona101, x XRoweenJAugustineX x and zenstarrflower! Thanks for reviewing and taking the time to read this story! Anyway, possible update later on in the day depending on how much essay writing I get done. Reviews are welcome as always!