"Barren?"
The word rang through Sarah's ears as she sipped her water the following morning. She pouted once, her lips pressing together as she wondered if the water tasted odd to her. She wasn't too sure, but she didn't complain in the slightest.
"Yes," the King spoke, looking over to his wife as she sat to his right on the long bench. Winterfell had been quiet that morning for the feast before had meant a lot of people had not been able to leave their rooms. Sarah was sure that Tyrion was suffering from a pounding head the most.
"Sweetling," Cersei said; her voice calm and quiet as she looked over to the girl. "Is this true?"
"No," Sarah replied, unable to lie. "I mean, why would this rumour come about?"
"Dear Gods, girl, rumours begin everywhere," the King sniped back and Sarah profusely blinked. She didn't know why the King was suddenly acting on it now. "There have been whispers of it for a while. Whispers as to why Stannis kept you on Dragonstone."
"That is not the reason, your Grace," Sarah interrupted, sitting up straight and resting her hands on her lap. She did her best to hold her tongue as she took a few moments to think. "Father kept me for mother's sake. He would not have let me left if I was barren."
"Every girl needs to marry, regardless of her circumstances," Cersei drawled back to her, holding her goblet of wine as she watched Sarah finish off her water and the moon's tea inside of it.
"But I cannot give a barren girl to Robb Stark," the King's gruff voice snapped out. "He does not deserve that."
Wincing, Sarah kept quiet and she closed her eyes for a moment. She knew that there had been whispers before. Of course everyone speculated why she had been kept on Dragonstone for so long.
"No," agreed Cersei. "Well, we shall have to wait and see if your moon's blood appears. Only then can we be sure about the future."
"Until that time...well...what happens?" Sarah wondered. "I am certain that I am not barren. I can assure you of that. I do not know why anyone would say differently."
"Well, we shall see," repeated Cersei to Sarah.
Not that the girl minded. If the rumour meant that she didn't have to marry Robb then she wouldn't care. She would return to Dragonstone as soon as possible. She would be a disgrace. No one of worth would marry her.
"You'll come back to King's Landing in the meantime," the Queen told her. "We shall search for a new husband there. Don't worry, sweetling."
"No," Sarah replied. "I am not worried in the slightest."
Perhaps the Starks had started the rumour? Perhaps her father had done it to stop her impending marriage? She didn't know, but she did know that it was false.
"Good," Cersei said. "Why don't you go and rest? I trust this news has shocked you."
Sarah knew that was her invitation to leave the room. She stood and curtseyed. She couldn't help but think how quiet the King had been. No doubt he was still suffering from all of the wine last night. Sarah didn't know, nor did she care.
She held her skirts in her hands and moved down the corridors, listening as people whispered about her. Her mind was still in shock at this news. She was free again. A smile came over her before she bumped into Jaime in the corridor. Her shoulder brushed against his and he stood still, looking down at her as she looked up to him.
"I trust you've heard the news?" she checked with him.
"It is all this cold place can talk about this morning," replied Jaime, his hand pushing his hair from his face. "I did not know you were barren."
"Nor did I," Sarah replied, a coy look on her face whilst Jaime watched her for a moment, his eyes wide. She did not seem bothered by the news. Of course, she wouldn't be. The lie meant she didn't need to marry the Stark boy.
If only she knew what his sister was doing.
"I trust you have told no one of my father's letter?" Sarah checked with Jaime. "Nothing has been said about it."
"Nothing will be said about it," Jaime replied. "There is enough hassle without Stannis becoming involved. Although, I have noticed that you aren't attempting to escape."
"What is the point?" wondered Sarah. "The entire city is swarming with people now, not to mention members of the Kingsguard."
"Good to know," replied Jaime. "You also know that I don't believe you, don't you? I know you. You'll try something soon enough."
"Your faith in me is lacking," Sarah replied mockingly.
"Can you blame me?" Jaime replied. "You've never really given me just reason to trust you."
Rolling her eyes, Sarah folded her arms over her stomach and looked around before finally looking Jaime in the eye. She needed a straight answer, and there was only one person who she could rely on for that. And that was the man in front of her. Jaime had been nothing but brutally honest for the entirety of the journey.
"Why has this suddenly happened?" she whispered to him. "What is going on here, Ser Jaime? There were rumours before I left King's Landing."
"Why would you think that I know?" Jaime wondered, shrugging his shoulders nonchalantly. "Little stag, the rumours grow. Rumours become large. They become what people will make them. If someone wants this to be the truth, then so be it."
"But why would anyone want this?" Sarah asked. "Why would someone want me not to marry Robb Stark?"
"I don't know, little stag," Jaime said. "Apparently someone doesn't want you in Winterfell."
"And what happens when I prove I'm not barren?" Sarah asked and she could have sworn that she saw Jaime wince in front of her. "Then what?"
You won't get a chance to prove that if Cersei has her way. People will see that you're barren and call you a liar when you try to make them see otherwise, thought Jaime to himself.
He shrugged again, beginning to walk backwards down the corridor;
"Then you can come back here and marry the future Lord of Winterfell," he called out to her. "If that is what you want."
Sarah looked down to the floor before she turned on her heel and began to move down the corridor, her mind still none the wiser to the news she had heard.
...
"She drank it without complaint," Cersei informed her brother as they wandered aimlessly through Winterfell, their conversation apparently innocent like it should be between brother and sister. People knew better than to walk near them whilst they ambled through the cold, a good distance between them as they went.
"How much more do you intend to give her?" Jaime wondered. "Surely it will take a fair amount of moon tea."
"Oh, a fair amount more," Cersei responded. "Not that the girl seemed too bothered about being unable to marry Robb Stark. Robert told me that the boy graciously responded to the calling off of the marriage."
"And is that not enough?" pondered Jaime. "You have done your damage, Cersei. You have stopped the wedding. The girl will say nothing more. She does not need to become barren to return to King's Landing. I believe she will willingly go along with the rumour. She does not want to be married in Winterfell."
"For a rumour to be believed, there needs to be proof that it is true," Cersei informed her brother. "Now, do you intend to keep quiet about this? Or do you intend to be argumentative?"
"What choice do I have?" asked Jaime.
"None," Cersei assured him, "especially if you want to meet me tomorrow in the Broken Tower."
And with that she walked away from him, her cloak around her shoulders and Jaime stood where he was, his hands on his hips as he heard a sudden yell of pain. His brow rose on his forehead and he wandered in the direction of the shouts.
"You little bitch! You're as crazy as that your mother of yours!"
Jaime turned the corner, a smirk coming into play on his face as he saw the sight in front of him. He did his best not to look too amused, knowing that the little stag would only snap back at him.
"Then do not say things about me," her shrill voice rang out. "You do not know who I am. You know nothing of me. Did you think that I would stand there and allow you to insult me? I've heard all about you, Greyjoy. I know more about your family than you do."
"And what is this?" Jaime finally asked, making himself known.
Theon Greyjoy stood tall, having no intention of being mocked by Jaime or Stannis's daughter.
"She's crazy," Theon said. "No wonder Robb is so grateful that this marriage has been called off."
"He isn't the only one," Sarah replied. "The Greyjoy boy was making snide comments. I deemed it acceptable to hit him."
Jaime's grin grew larger as he heard that and he resisted the urge to allow a laugh to escape him. Sarah tucked her hair behind her ear and she looked back to Theon as he jutted his chin out in front of her.
"You're-"
"-I suggest you keep quiet, Greyjoy," Jaime advised. "Surely a girl slapping you couldn't have hurt that much? I am sure Balon Greyjoy would not like to think of his son as a spineless young man."
Theon flounced away after that, his cloak flying behind him whilst Jaime stood with Sarah, the arrogant look still on his face.
"I've never hit anyone before," Sarah admitted and Jaime nodded at her.
"Was it liberating?" he wondered.
"Quite," she said. "I know that it was not ladylike, but he was hardly being a gentleman to me. He was tormenting me."
"You don't need to explain yourself to me, little stag," Jaime held his hands up and watched her as a small smile came over her face and she messed with the ends of her hair.
"I should go," she told him. "I assume there is another great feast tonight?"
"You assume correctly," Jaime replied. "The enthusiasm can hardly be contained by both of us. I can sense it."
Scoffing, Sarah rolled her eyes and turned on her heel, holding her hand as she left Jaime stood alone without another word coming from her.
...
Jaime saw her. He was no fool. He was sat near his sister as he watched her pour the liquid into the young woman's cup. Sarah sat to Jaime's right as Cersei finished pouring the goblet of water, the extra liquid slipping out from her sleeve.
She looked at him with a sly gaze before ordering him to hand the water down to Sarah. The girl was quietly sat, her hands in her lap as she dared to chew on the sausage.
"How did you sleep last night, sweetling?" Cersei asked as Tommen and Myrcella ate quietly. Looking up, Sarah saw that the Queen was staring straight ahead and at her. Nodding, the young Baratheon finished chewing her sausage and then looked up to the Queen.
"Quite well, your Grace," Sarah spoke. "Thank you for asking."
"I am glad to hear it," Cersei said and Jaime watched as Sarah picked up the goblet that was laced with Moon Tea.
He didn't know what possessed him. He didn't know why he did it. His thoughts seemed to become incomprehensible as his hand rested on her wrist and he stopped her from pressing the goblet to her lips. Cersei felt rage bubble up inside of her, but she kept composed, her pale face focused on her brother and the little chit.
"I drank from that," Jaime told Sarah, easily lying to her.
He handed her his own goblet and watched as her brow furrowed. She didn't question him. She took the goblet from his hand and sipped on the normal water. Jaime placed the laced one by his plate and turned his steady green gaze to look at Cersei, both of them saying nothing in the presence of others.
Jaime was well aware that his sister would berate him for his actions. He didn't doubt it, but when he watched the little stag walk away from the Hall after breakfast, he did not care for his sister's harsh words to him.
...
"Beren," Sarah whispered as soon as she saw her father's guard by the kennels. She had been under Jaime's watchful eye and Beren had been sent on pointless journeys into Winterfell, giving her no chance to speak to him.
"Lady Sarah," he replied. "I have not seen you in a while, my girl."
"I know," Sarah spoke. "I trust you know the news of the wedding."
"Or lack of."
"Yes, that too," Sarah said to him. "You remember the night when I tried to escape, don't you?"
"Can't forget it," he told her, scratching at his balding head. "Lannister never told me why you did it. I've never had chance to ask."
"Father sent me this," Sarah said, pulling the letter from her pocket. She passed it to him, looking around to make sure that no one could see them or hear them. Jaime was her main concern. She didn't need him loitering around anymore. She needed to go.
"Wonder what is wrong with Lord Stannis," he commented and Sarah nodded.
"I do not know," she said. "You know that I have to go, don't you, Beren?"
"Aye, if our Lord of Dragonstone commands it," he agreed with a swift nod. "You know that I'll do anything to obey Stannis."
A small smile played on Sarah's lips as she heard him say that. It was exactly what she had wanted to hear from his kind mouth. Beren was one of the few she could trust.
"I need your help, Beren," Sarah whispered. "I wouldn't ask unless I was desperate."
"I know that, my Lady," chuckled Beren. "This stays between us, I trust."
"Yes," Sarah said. "It is imperative that it does."
"Give me a day, my girl," Beren urged her, his hand on her shoulder as he nodded. "I'll help you."
"Thank you," Sarah whispered softly. "It means a lot to me, Beren."
"Aye, and it should mean a lot to Lord Stannis too. Perhaps if the Onion Knight can be named a Ser then there is hope for me too."
Politely smiling, Sarah inclined her head and left him alone, constantly looking around and wondering where Jaime was. He usually jumped out at her. She walked off, keeping quiet. Little did she know that she had no need to worry about Jaime Lannister. He was far too busy in the Broken Tower with his sister.