Stannis was sat at Sarah's desk as his daughter packed her trunk, folding her dresses into neat parcels whilst Stannis wrote to his wife of this revelation.

"It is your duty to do as the King orders," Stannis continued to speak as he allowed his elegant sprawl to spread across the parchment he wrote on. "Of course I am fuming over this. I told him what I thought of this, but did he listen to me? No. Not once did he bother to consider my reasons for not liking this marriage."

Sarah remained silent whilst Stannis continued to rant. He had not been silent since he had walked with his daughter back to her chambers. The anger he felt had overwhelmed him for a while. Of course Robert wouldn't listen to him. His opinion was always the right one.

"Perhaps it will not be too bad," Sarah tried to persuade her father. She needed to stop him from speaking so ill of the Starks. It only added to her worry. "I know that Lord Stark has never been...well...you have never cared for him."

"Aye, you're right there, daughter," Stannis grunted his agreement to her. "I do not doubt that his son will care for you. He would not dare do anything but that. The honourable Lord Eddard Stark shall see to it."

Sarah kept quiet as Stannis dropped the quill to the desk and stood up. He remained stood where he was as his daughter continued to pack her belongings.

"Do you not require a maid?" Stannis wondered.

"No," she replied. "I can manage on my own, thank you, father."

"I will send the raven to Dragonstone tomorrow morning," Stannis said. "I doubt your mother will be impressed with this revelation. Then again, she would not be impressed with any man who was chosen for you. I know that."

Sarah kept quiet as she placed a shawl into the trunk and looked around for anything else to pack that night.

"I'll have some of my guards ride out with you tomorrow." Stannis assured her. "I shall see who Robert has chosen for you tomorrow."

"Yes, father," Sarah said and she continued to look down at her folded dresses.

Stannis watched his daughter for a few moments and he knew that she was apprehensive about what was going to happen. If only he knew that apprehensive was a tame word. Sarah had never been so scared in her entire life. She longed to run away and go back to Dragonstone.

She could try, of course she could. She doubted it would get her anywhere. Her father would find her in the end. She stood no chance against him.

"You're worried." Stannis commented.

Sarah looked up to him for a moment, her eyes wide as she did so. Stannis kept silent for a few moments before he decided to sit on the side of her bed. He could understand why his daughter was worried. She was leaving him. She was leaving the life she had known for someplace up North.

"I have my concerns," Sarah whispered, picking up one of her brushes from her dressing table. "I mean, I have never been so far as the North."

"I know," Stannis replied. "And if I could stop this marriage then I would."

Then why don't you? Thought Sarah in her mind.

"The King has spoken," Sarah replied to her father. "His word is final. We have to respect that."

Stannis bowed his head. He wanted to challenge her on that front, but he decided to leave it be. He knew that he had been the one to instil into her the need for duty and respect. Lord Stannis himself commanded it, and so did his brother.

"Aye, we do," Stannis told her. "You should get some rest, my daughter. The ride North is a tedious one."

"Yes, father." Sarah nodded to him.

Stannis moved to stand in front of Sarah, resting his large hands onto her shoulders before he kissed her on the top of her head.

"Everything shall be fine. You have been taught of marriage, Sarah. You know what is expected of you. You know what you are to do. You are a fine young woman. Robb Stark had best treat you well." Stannis told her.

Sarah thinly smiled at her father before kissing him on the cheek. She needed him to leave her alone. She needed him to go before she allowed herself to cry in front of him. He'd see that as a sign of weakness. His opinion was all that kept her from weeping.

"I hope so too, father," agreed Sarah.

Stannis's lips tugged up and he ran his hand down her hair.

"Get some rest," he urged her, leaving her alone in the room, finally giving her time to cry herself to sleep.

...

"I have been patient up until now," Stannis drawled as soon as he saw Ser Barristan Selmy the following morning. He looked across to where the royal party was. They were preparing horses for the long journey North.

It was then when Stannis had seen Ser Barristan who had told him who would be leading the party North. Stannis had looked across to where Jaime Lannister stood, his hand running down his white horse as he patiently waited for the arrival of the Lady Sarah.

"He is a fine knight," Selmy spoke.

"Aye," Stannis agreed, "and an even better Kingslayer."

"No harm shall come to your daughter. Robert knows that Ser Jaime is the best swordsman in the Kingsguard. It is an honour that he is sending him with your girl."

"An honour? I would say that it is a dishonour." Stannis snapped lowly.

He didn't want his daughter anywhere near that man. Robert had known that, yet he had done nothing. He had gone out of his way to anger Stannis further.

"His Grace would have seen the girl off," Barristan said. "He's currently with Jon Arryn."

"Why? What's wrong with him?" wondered Stannis.

"He was taken ill last night. I do not think it is anything to worry about," Barristan nodded. "A stomach infection, more than likely. They get around here like wildfire."

Stannis grunted as he saw his daughter finally approach. She had a flurry of maids around her, carrying her trunk towards the horse which had the cart on its back. The supplies were vast for the journey, the Baratheon banner rose high in the air as men waited patiently to move out of the city walls.

"Sarah," Stannis called over to his daughter.

She walked over to him as her maids disbanded and Stannis's brow arched.

"Are no maids coming with you?" he asked from his daughter.

She shook her head at him, tugging at her cloak to pull it tighter around her body.

"No, the Queen has said that they need to stay here," she replied. "Apparently they are short of well trained maids."

Stannis could feel annoyance run through his body. There were people all through the city looking for work; most of them could perform the duty of a maid with ease. He didn't know why the lie had come from the Queen. He couldn't see her anywhere in the courtyard though. Perhaps she was keeping her distance.

He supposed that she had taken Sarah's maids from her to show her distaste. Besides, his daughter had Ser Jaime to take her North. The Queen had her brother taken from her.

"I should manage well enough," Sarah said. "I have lived most of my life without maids."

"You have," Stannis said, taking her arm and walking her to the horse next to Ser Jaime's. "The Kingslayer has been ordered to lead you North, daughter."

Sarah's gaze looked concerned then and Stannis shook his head, his teeth grinding together as he saw Ser Jaime moved towards them, his helmet under his arm. He stood proudly in his white uniform, watching as the little stag clutched to her father's arm.

The girl does fear me. Not to worry, she will soon be North and I will soon be back with Cersei, in my rightful place.

Jaime's thoughts consumed him before he glanced to Stannis.

"I never thought that you'd trust me with your daughter," Jaime began. "I assume that pride and duty of yours stopped you from contesting Robert's decision though."

"It stopped me, aye," Stannis said. "It doesn't stop me contesting it. I'm warning you, Lannister-"

"-Yes," Jaime nodded. "I can assume what you will say, and I do heed your warnings, Lord Stannis. The Gods know that I do. I will see her into Robb Stark's bed without any complications."

Jaime smirked slyly as he saw the girl's cheeks turn red and she looked down in an effort to conceal her blush.

"I would have a moment with my daughter, Ser Jaime," Stannis snarled. "And then you can begin your journey North."

"As you say," Jaime said and climbed onto his horse and patiently waited.

Stannis looked down to Sarah as she nervously looked at him. She wanted to cry. She wanted to weep and she wanted him to stop this. She knew that her tears would do no good. Her father would not care for them.

"The next time I see you shall be to walk you towards your husband," Stannis informed her. "I should bring your mother and Shireen with me to Winterfell. You would like that, would you not?"

Sarah nodded. "I would love that, father."

"Good," Stannis said. "Remember who you are, Sarah. Never forget that you are a true Baratheon."

"I promise," Sarah nodded at her father and he kissed her on the cheek before helping her onto her horse.

Stannis said nothing more as he watched his daughter leave through the gates for her future North. He turned on his heel and swept back inside, determined to see what had happened to Jon Arryn.

...

Sarah had kept quiet as she sat on her horse, riding beside the Kingslayer as the men followed. Jaime had said nothing to her, his mind travelling back to the conversation he'd had with his sister the previous night. She had been infuriated that her husband was sending her brother North. She had told Jaime that she would be waiting for him when he returned.

It was that news which kept him going North, further away from her.

The Kingsroad was quiet, much to Jaime's satisfaction as he declared that they would set up camp for the evening and find some game to catch instead of wasting the supplies they already had. Sarah had moved down from her horse, her derriere aching beyond belief as her feet hit the hard ground by the side of the Kingsroad.

She slowly wandered around as the men set up the camp. Her mind was elsewhere as she moved into the trees, looking up to the setting sun with wonder. The sun was a rare thing in Dragonstone. Cloud always seemed to hide it from her.

Jaime turned his attention from the men who had begun to set up tents and he wondered where the girl from Dragonstone had gotten to. He ground his teeth together before resting his hand on the hilt of his sword, prepared for any sign of danger which came his way.

He finally saw her walking amongst the trees, her cloak flowing behind her as she went. He stormed forwards, grabbing hold of her wrist and snapping her from the daze she was in. She squealed loudly as Jaime kept his hand on her bare wrist.

"What are you doing?" Jaime snapped, looking at her with a narrowed glare. "I thought it would be common sense not to wander off."

"I didn't mean to," Sarah replied to him, trying to snap her wrist from his fingers, but he kept a good grip on her. She looked at him with a pleading soft look on her face. "Honestly, I didn't think that I had gone too far."

Jaime didn't relent that easily.

"Well," he replied, "how about you do your best not to make my life difficult?"

"I didn't-"

"-mean to," Jaime finished off. "Just make sure that it doesn't happen again, little stag. I don't have time to be chasing around after you. I'm to get you to Robb Stark and that is it. I'd prefer to do it with ease."

"I'm sorry," Sarah said to him. "I'll stay close from now on."

The girl had no fight in her. She simply accepted what he said to her. She simply did as was told of her.

Jaime let go or her wrist and her hand fell back to rest by her side as he looked at her with annoyance. He was being kept from his sister, a real woman, for this girl. Jaime could hardly believe his luck, or lack of it.

"You're forgiven," Jaime said; his hand going back to rest on the hilt of his sword. "Now come along, we're having dinner soon before retiring. We ride again at first light."

"Yes, Ser Jaime," Sarah whispered.

She kept her pace as fast as Jaime's, walking besides him with her eyes focused on the floor. Jaime did his best to keep his eyes from wandering over to her. She really was weak.

She sat in silence as the men laughed and joked during dinner. They had managed to find a rabbit and had spent their time skewering it. The girl ate by herself, perched on a log as she pulled at the rabbit with her pale hands.

Jaime had ignored the men for most of the evening, only deeming it necessary to talk to them when he gave the instructions about what would happen the next day. And then they began to retell their stories of women who had warmed their beds, each one trying to outdo each other.

Jaime had no time for that talk. He'd only been with one woman and she was plenty for him. His eyes moved over to the little stag as she walked into her tent and the flap slithered behind her. Jaime stood up and followed her, deciding to tell her what was to happen the following day.

He walked in unannounced and the sight he saw was enough to make him stand still in surprise. The little stag had already begun to rummage around in her trunk, her body covered in her smallclothes and nothing more.

"Did you knock?" she snapped as soon as she saw him.

She grabbed a cover from the bed and held it in front of her chest. She had nothing to fear. Jaime was not impressed by her un-shapely form.

"Knocking would hardly work," Jaime told her. "Worry not, little stag. You have nothing that I have not seen before. Besides, you will need to get used to being naked around a man."

"Yes," Sarah said; her cheeks inflaming with each passing second. "Around my husband, not you."

"Your modesty is still covered," Jaime told her. "I needed to speak with you about tomorrow."

"What of it?" she wondered, doing her best not to sound irritable.

"We leave at first light and travel along the Kingsroad until we reach an inn. One night guarding your tent is enough for me. I'd prefer to sleep in comfort for the rest of the journey."

"Fine," Sarah said, tucking the sheet underneath her arms as she pushed her hair behind one shoulder and went back to searching for her nightgown in her trunk. She rummaged through it, her hands shaking as she did so. Jaime noted how her fingers trembled as she brought them up to push her hair from her face.

She was nervous. What was she nervous of? The girl looked as if she was about to hit breaking point. Jaime remained confused for a moment as he watched her.

"What are you doing?" Jaime wondered. "Why are you shaking? Do you honestly find me to be unnerving?"

She did her best not to scoff at hearing him speak like that. Why did he think everything was about him? None of her worries were about him.

"No," Sarah replied. "And I am not shaking."

"Yes, you are," Jaime replied, taking a step closer to her and grabbing her wrist in his fingers again. A roar of laughter came from outside as Sarah looked down as Jaime's hand held her. "What is it?"

"Nothing," Sarah said. "I just want to find my nightdress."

"You're shaking because of that?" Jaime checked; scepticism and amusement in his voice.

"No," Sarah admitted, snatching her wrist from him. "Could you please leave me be? I'm tired from the ride. I just want to go to sleep."

Jaime stood back from her, his hands held up in surrender as he walked away from her and towards the entrance of the tent.

"As the Lady wishes," nodded Jaime and he moved away from her. He did not care what issues she faced. He doubted they were large. Of course she would be worried about marrying Robb Stark, but she would soon get over that.

"Thank you," Sarah whispered and finally pulled out the white garment which had given her so much hassle. "Goodnight, Ser Jaime."

"Goodnight, little stag."

Jaime moved back into the cold dark air, listening as the men roared from outside.

He sent them all to their beds that night, telling them that they needed to get some sleep for the long journey tomorrow. They moaned, but did as they were told. That was all Jaime asked.

He noted something on the floor by the resting horse and saw that it was a book of some king. He assumed it must have fallen from Sarah's trunk. None of the men had time for reading during their busy schedule of competing with each other to see who was manlier.

He picked it up and moved to her tent, preparing to announce himself this time for her. He paused as he heard a muffled sound from inside the tent. Quietly, he pulled the flap back and looked inside, making sure she didn't spot him as he saw her.

She was knelt on the floor, her arms on the bed as she had her head buried into the material, her hair splaying over her pale arms. She was shaking, her body dressed only in the nightgown now.

Jaime pulled back out the tent, his thoughts quiet as he listened to the little stag and said nothing to her. He shook his head in disbelief. Of course the Baratheon would never cry in front of a Lannister, or in front of anyone. The stag was proud; it kept its feelings to itself in front of people. But alone...alone...that was a different story.

...

A/N: Thanks to anyone reading and I do hope you will review, and I hope the updates aren't coming too fast!