Jaime slumped back in his chair, his eyes closed and his hand holding his head as his elbow bent on the arm of the chair. Gwen awoke before him, her arm causing her some pain and stopping her from freely moving in the night. She sat up and pulled her skirts down her body as she looked at the swelling of her arm and groaned. She knew it was going to be more of a hindrance than she cared to admit. She watched Jaime for a few moments as he stirred in his sleep.
She couldn't help but feel the emotion swell up within her as she saw him again. She had grown to see a different side to him during the journey with Brienne and it had often kept her awake at night, pondering why she felt like she did. After Beren she had vowed never to let another man close to her. She had promised herself that she would remain hidden and not fall for anyone else. And then Jaime had to change.
She knew she was a long way off coming to terms with what he did to poor Bran. He had crippled a child so easily. She often wondered if he regretted it. If he felt any sympathy for his actions. But he was slowly redeeming himself. He was slowly proving that he wasn't the man who she thought he was. He'd changed and escaped from his sister's snare.
"You're awake."
Jaime's statement snapped Gwen from the daze she had found herself in as she offered him a small smile. He sat up, his back aching as he did so and she crossed one leg over the other whilst watching him intently.
"I am," she concluded. "And you are too. You should have woken me instead of sitting on that chair all night."
"I'm fine," he promised her and she smirked at the lie they often told each other. He finally stood up and moved for his golden hand as Gwen watched him try to attach it to the stump and she couldn't help but roll her eyes at the extravagance of it.
"We need to go," Gwen declared as Jaime sat next to her on the bed and continued fiddling with his makeshift hand whilst Gwen watched him struggle due to his unnaturalness with the left hand. She took his arm into her own hand and he said nothing as he allowed her to take the lead.
"We will go as soon as we have ate," Jaime promised her and Gwen held her tongue, still not enthralled with Jaime coming with her. She didn't want his entire crew with them. People would whisper and Gwen was certain that the whispers would reach Lady Stoneheart's ears. She didn't know what her old employer would do.
"Are you sure that you think it is wise to bring your entire flock with us?" Gwen asked as Jaime rested his stump across her lap and she fixed his hand for him. He watched her intently for a few moments as she completed the action and then her gaze found his once more. "If Lady Stark gets word of you all being with me then she will think I've turned and changed-"
"-She will not do anything," Jaime interrupted her. "We had this debate last night, Gwen. She will do nothing until your time is completed. Now, where have you been searching for young Sansa?"
"Where haven't we been?" Gwen responded, completely lost with everything that was happening as she released Jaime and stood up, pacing up and down his room. He stood too and poured her a goblet of water as she ran her hand through her hair in exasperation and Jaime focused on the task he was completing. "We've been to Duskendale, Maidenpool, Riverlands...Quiet Isle...Saltpans..."
"So you haven't been back to Winterfell?" Jaime wondered and handed Gwen the goblet of water which he had poured. She took it from him as he stood opposite her and she shook her head, contemplating what he had asked her.
"No. There is nothing left in Winterfell. Besides, surely that is the first place your sister would think to look." Gwen contemplated and Jaime shook his head at hearing her.
"Cersei is in no position to be doing anything at this moment in time," he assured her and Gwen arched a brow, wondering what he was talking about. Jaime took a deep breath and shook his head, turning his eyes to the side as he prepared to tell Gwen what had happened between him and his sister.
"Cersei awaits trial in the Great Sept of Baelor...she's been accused of capital crimes and she has no hope of freedom. She did have hope. She asked me to come and stand for her in a trial by combat. Begged me...and I didn't reply...I've had the letter for days, wondering what I should do. Should I go and help her or should I leave her?"
The question hung in the air as Gwen kept her hand tightly wrapped around the goblet, her eyes looking at Jaime as it became apparent she wasn't going to answer the question.
"She is a making of her own destruction. She apologised for everything. She told me that she still loved me and needed me. She told me how she should never have taken other men into her bed. She poured her heart out, I do not doubt it." Jaime shook his head in disbelief and Gwen cocked her head to the side, wondering what else he was going to say to her.
"And then you came last night. You came here and I sat and read the letter. I felt pity for her. She is my sister after all. But I couldn't go to her. I don't want to go to her. And so I burnt the letter. I watched it die in the flames and I chose to come with you. I chose to come with you and save Sansa and the wench. What does that really say about me?" Jaime asked her and Gwen drained some of her water before moving closer to him, resting her hand on his cheek.
He took a deep breath and looked down at her with a small smile. He knew what it said about him. It just scared him. All of his life there had only been Cersei. She was all that he wanted and needed. All of the decisions which he made had been for her. It had been to keep her happy.
"Only you know what you want to do," Gwen informed him. "But if you want to help me then you know how grateful I am."
"I know," Jaime mumbled to her and he watched her as she drank some more of her water. "Anyway, Cersei is no concern of mine. We should be going before noon is upon us."
"Agreed," Gwen mumbled and placed the goblet back down. Jaime offered her his arm and she wrapped her good one around it before he led her out the tent. She noted four other tents nearby and Jaime slowly introduced her to each one of the men who were there. She said her pleasantries and Jaime told them of the plan which was to be undertaken. Gwen had seen Ser Ilyn Payne along with Lewys Piper and Garrett Paege. The one named Peck blushed when Jaime told him to keep the noise down now that they had another female in their company. Pia had said nothing, boldly kissing him in front of Jaime who rolled his eyes. He said nothing as the men stocked supplies and he decided to set off before them, giving Gwen and him some space and it would make her more at ease. She was adamant that no one should go with her but Jaime had refused that notion.
"Seeing as how you lost your horse then you will ride with me," Jaime informed her and she rolled her eyes as he smirked. "Besides, you're a terrible rider when you're alone, never mind with you arm in a sling."
"Droll," Gwen responded and he smirked at her before helping her into the saddle. She looked down at him as he managed to hoist himself up without hesitation, his white cloak flailing around him as he sat behind her.
"And where exactly are we going?" Gwen wondered from him. "We have no idea where she could be. I was foolish to think I could find her in thirty five days."
"That's true," Jaime agreed. "Yet you always have been foolish. No. We need to think about this, Gwen. What family does she have?"
"I do not know," Gwen admitted. "I have no idea where Lady Arya could be. Stoneheart is convinced she is married yet we both know that to be a lie. All she really wanted was Lady Sansa. She must have fled somewhere."
"Think about it, Gwen," Jaime urged her. "She is a fair girl. She will need help, won't she? She is not strong enough to do this by herself. She is far too weak. She will need to seek shelter somewhere. There has to be somewhere that is still loyal to the Starks."
"Would she risk going anywhere like that?" Gwen wondered. "Lord Robb is dead. Lord Bran and Lord Rickon...I have no idea where they are. And Lord Snow is supposed to have taken the black. Lady Arya is my next main concern but I do not know if she would be with Lady Sansa. I can only think of Lady Stark's sister."
"The whore?" Jaime wondered. "Dear Gods, are we talking of Lysa Tully? There was talk of her having a bastard child by Littlefinger. And then my father had the audacity to try and get her to marry me."
"I didn't know that," Gwen admitted. "I did know that Petyr loved Lady Stark. He always had done. She had told me once how men would come to mean something to me. When Beren attacked me she said that things would get better. She told me of her younger days and of how Littlefinger had always been pleasant to her...how he had always been kind and considerate...but if he slept with her sister then...well...I don't know..."
"His power has grown," Jaime told her. "He is High Lord now. And there was something else."
"What?"
"I spoke to Tyrion before he escaped." Jaime said and a gleam came into his eye with knowing and Gwen watched him intently. "Cersei also told me how he offered to marry Sansa before Tyrion married her."
"That makes no sense," Gwen said, shaking her head back and forth. "Why would he do that? He can hardly love Sansa, can he? He is far too old for her."
"Sansa is a grown woman," Jaime informed Gwen who snorted once and shook her head. She didn't see it like that in the slightest. "Perhaps he helped her to escape."
"Perhaps," Gwen admitted. "But where would he have taken her? What land does he hold?"
"The last I heard he was in control of the Trident, Harrnehal and someone mentioned something about the Vale being under his control."
"Everywhere we haven't been," Gwen complained and Jaime smirked.
"I doubt Harrenhal will be where she is. My father bestowed it to him after the battle against Stannis Baratheon. But all of it is ruins. It is not strong enough nor hidden enough. I think we can rule it out. But Tyrion did mention something about sending him to meet with Lysa. I do not know what about but if the gossip is true and he is Lord Protector of the Vale then he could have taken her there. Besides, if Lysa Tully is the only remaining family then I am sure she will hide Sansa."
"So you think we should go to The Eyrie?" Gwen wondered, not completely at ease with the idea.
"The Eyrie is a fortress, Gwen," Jaime warned her and she gulped loudly, closing her eyes for a moment whilst Jaime tightened his grip on the reins and around her waist. "My sister would not have been foolish enough to send men there. She knows the three way castles guard it and make it impossible to attack. The chances of us even getting in to see if Lady Sansa is there are undoubtedly slim."
"But we have to try, don't we?" Gwen responded in a small voice and Jaime sighed at hearing her. He did nod once in agreement with what she had said and she sank back against him. He watched as she rested her head on his chest and he dropped his chin to sit on top of her blonde curls.
"What if she isn't there?" Gwen wondered in a whisper. "What happens if we have it all wrong and Baelish isn't involved? What if we're jumping to conclusions?"
"Then we look elsewhere," Jaime responded. "What else did you think we would do?"
"I don't know," Gwen admitted. "You know that I can't kill you...maybe if I didn't care for you so much then I would be able to."
"I'm wounded," Jaime complained and she rolled her eyes, doubting he was concerned. "If we don't find her then I will do my best to free the wench. I wouldn't want her death on your conscience."
"How very kind of you," Gwen managed to mumble and Jaime glanced down at her one more time as she closed her eyes and felt overwhelmed by everything. "Besides, I doubt I could actually kill a member of the Kingsguard."
"My swordsmanship isn't want it used to be," Jaime replied to her with a small smirk. "Although I have been training with my left hand. Payne has seen to that, the miserable old goat."
"How are you faring?"
"Well enough," Jaime told her.
"Maybe I should try," Gwen mumbled and Jaime looked concerned for a moment. He couldn't imagine her in battle. She was far too delicate. Battle for women was unheard of. "I seem to end up in tight situations."
"And do you think it would ever come in handy?" Jaime wondered and she shrugged.
"Who knows? I wouldn't be so defenceless then."
He said nothing as he took a moment to think about what she had said before he decided on what he would do for her.
...
Jaime had told Gwen that they had to set up camp as the darkness shrouded them. Travelling in the dark would do them no good and Jaime needed to buy time to think up a plan of what he would do once he reached the Eyrie. Truth be known, he was completely unsure.
Gwen had been sat with Pia who had skinned a rabbit and Gwen had shown her how it was done in Winterfell. The girl seemed to be pleasant towards Gwen, her hand covering her mouth which contained her broken teeth as she spoke. Jaime had sparred with Payne for a while before eating dinner sat on the ground and watching Gwen as she laughed at whatever Peck had said.
It was a rare moment to see her laugh heartedly. Jaime knew that the troubles of finding Sansa played on her mind. So when she forgot them for a moment he couldn't help but feel something swell inside of him. He didn't know what it truly was. But he knew he couldn't look away from her.
She helped to tidy everything away as Jaime's squires set up tents for the evening and Payne remained by himself, watching and thinking as he did so. Jaime declined his offer to spar later on in the evening, choosing to hand a spare sword to Gwen.
Shock radiated through her body as she saw Jaime drop the sword at her feet whilst she managed push herself to stand with one hand.
"And this is?" she wondered from him.
"A sword. I thought it was self explanatory," Jaime replied to her and she picked it up with her good hand and looked at it. "You said you wanted to learn."
"I have one hand."
"That won't stop opponents and it hasn't stopped me," Jaime reminded her and she pursed her lips as she looked at the blade and only just managed to hold it upright. She didn't think it would be so heavy. "Besides, your arm will mend soon enough. Just follow my lead."
"Are you sure about this?" Gwen wondered and Jaime nodded, sheathing his own sword before he stood behind Gwen. She followed his movements, her head looking over her shoulder as Jaime's arms encircled her waist and his good hand rested on her wrist whilst his other one splayed over her stomach. He felt her breathing hitch and he grinned, resting his chin on her shoulder.
"You should never extend your arms towards you opponent. Try to keep your elbow bent and close to your body. It helps to keep your balance and move quickly." He explained whilst drawing her elbow closer to her body and bending it.
"Always try to assess the situation and look for what your opponent is going to do," Jaime whispered into her ear. "Hold tightly onto the handle and step forwards, always keeping your balance as you do so."
Gwen moved forwards with him as he guided her and she looked at the blade as Jaime took hold of the handle above her hand and he sliced it through the air. She kept her feet grounded the entire time and Jaime nodded once at her.
"Do not lose your ground. It gives weakness and the enemy can see that," he informed her and she nodded back at him. "And if someone does attack then you need to be quick and duck as fast as you can. But don't be shocked. Their miss can play to your strengths."
"I can barely hold the sword," Gwen complained and he chuckled which caused the hairs on the back of her neck to stand on edge. "Never mind attack anyone. Surely I will be clumsy."
"Of course you will be clumsy," Jaime assured her, pulling the sword from her hand and holding it in his own, his arm refusing to move from around her waist as he completed the motion. "But you will learn in time if that is what you want to do."
"I just thought it would be practical," Gwen admitted with a nonchalant shrug and she tucked her hair behind her ear before she turned back to look at him.
"You're probably right," he admitted to her and moved his arms from her to sheathe the sword once more. She watched him with interest and he looked to the dying fire in the camp before he smirked once more at her.
"Of course you are being trained by the best," Jaime said and she rolled her eyes before moving past him and back to the tent which the pair of them were to share.
"Your ego knows no bounds," she said and Jaime lunged for her, grabbing her wrist and drawing her closer to him as she laughed heartedly at his fingers tickling against her sides. She looked up to him as she rested her hand on his shoulder and he rested his forehead against her own.
"Perhaps you would like to soothe my ego for me?" he wondered from her and she rolled her eyes at hearing him before standing on her tiptoes and pressing her lips against the side of his jaw.
"I doubt it would do any good," she responded and he grinned.
"You can try," he assured her before capturing her mouth against his and dropping his hands to her hips, pulling her closer against him as she ran a hand down the back of his neck.
Jaime groaned as he closed his eyes and he mercilessly moved his hand up her spine, making her shiver before he ran it over her shoulder, playing with the hair which sat there. He knew that he was going too far when he moved his hand over her shoulder and onto the bare skin of her chest as he felt her stiffen against him. Her lips stopped moving as his hand finally cupped one of her breasts and she pulled back from him, looking down at where his hand sat and he followed her gaze. He closed his eyes and his face scrunched up as he removed his hand from the top of her dress and he saw her look to the ground, her cheeks red.
"I'm sorry," she was the one to mumble. "I just...I don't..."
"No," Jaime replied quickly. "I'm the one who should be sorry. I didn't think and it was foolish of me."
"Maybe we should call it a night?" Gwen suggested and Jaime nodded in agreement as she forced herself to smile at him and nod curtly.
"Gwen," Jaime spoke as he followed her into their tent. "I am sorry. You know that I would never-"
"-I know," Gwen promised him before moving her good hand to the back of her dress, determined to rid herself of the tight material. "You're not like them, Jaime. I know you're not. I'd just prefer it if we...well...didn't do that."
"I understand," Jaime said and he moved to help her unlace her dress.
"It's probably not the best idea helping me," Gwen said and Jaime shook his head.
"I can control myself," he promised her. "Besides, we should be at the Vale in another day if we wake early and travel hard. Once we reach there then I do not know what will happen, Gwen. Do you understand what I am saying?"
She gulped loudly before she felt her dress loosen and she sighed in relief, pressing a hand to the material to keep it in place before she sat on the edge of the bed. Jaime sat beside her and continued to watch her intently.
"I understand," she promised him. "But I have to try and find her."
"And try we will," Jaime promised. "You should get some sleep. We have a long few days ahead of us."
"Where are you going to sleep?" Gwen wondered as he stood up and looked to the dreaded wooden chair. She shook her head before he could say anything and she pushed herself from the bed.
"You go to sleep on the bed," she said. "I'll be fine in the chair."
"Of course you will," Jaime said sarcastically and Gwen looked at him with an arched brow. "Now go to sleep."
"I insist," Gwen protested. "Besides, I don't see why we can't just share the bed. It is surely big enough for both of us and we both know each other."
"Do you consider it proper?" Jaime wondered and she rolled her eyes at him before lying on the bed comfortably.
"Nothing is really proper anymore," she reminded him and he cocked his head contemplatively at hearing that sentence before he moved slow but surely to the other side of the bed. Gwen closed her eyes as she felt him pull at some of the furs and drape it over her. The bed lowered as Jaime lay next to her, his breath tickling her neck as he kept both of his arms by his sides uncomfortably. He moved one from under his weight and slowly moved it underneath Gwen's body. The maid did not complain as she felt his hand worm its way around her waist before the other one draped over it, his stump resting on her stomach.
"This bed is hardly big enough for both of us," Jaime complained. "I suppose this is the only way for us to sleep."
"If you say so," Gwen said; her tone one of open scepticism whilst Jaime smirked.
"Are you doubting my words, Gwen?" Jaime wondered and she said nothing as she smiled softly into the impending darkness from the dwindling light of the candle.
"Not at all," she responded and closed her eyes. "Now be quiet and get some sleep."
"How I've missed you and your smart mouth," Jaime mumbled but closed his eyes and prepared to let sleep take him. That was until he heard the moan from the tent next door.
"Please tell me they're not going to be up all night."
"We could try and rival them?" Jaime suggested ludicrously and Gwen knew he was joking as she nudged him in the stomach. "That's a no then."
"Most definitely." Gwen said with a small smile before she allowed Jaime's snores to echo into her ears and send her to sleep.
...
A/N: Just a quick filler chapter before action once more! Anyway, so sorry for not updating often but thanks to KoishNoish, chen, moonlight1ify, Duchess426, Jofrench22, x XRoweenaJAugustineX x, smilin steph, KittyxCat1509, meri, KingofTruands and Miss. Lori MacManus for reviewing the previous chapter!
Until next time...