Sarah Baratheon spent the next two weeks working in a tavern off the main road. She kept her head low and her gaze even as people demanded ale and food be served to them. Sarah had been gracious to the man who had offered to take her in, smiling gently at him as he looked back at her with wonder. She had kept Shireen well hidden, telling her younger sister to spend her days sat in the back of the tavern by herself, reading her books.

The tavern housed the man in charge and whichever woman would warm his bed at night. Sarah and another girl worked there, but she was often the one who kept residence in the owner's bed. Sarah was grateful for her plain looks for once, knowing that they were keeping her away from his prying eyes. He had noted Shireen, but he had not asked questions of her greyscale. He simply snapped at her to stay out of the way and let Sarah do her job.

"Sarah," Shireen complained to her sister one evening once they returned to the small room they resided in by the stables. It was often cold at night and Shireen spent most of her time huddled in her dirtying cloak, trying to keep herself warm.

Sarah's teeth chattered as she looked around the small wooden room. The only furniture happened to be a bed and a candleholder. Shireen had two books on the floor which Sarah had bought for her one day, but apart from that there was nothing.

Sarah often wondered if she would be better off sending her sister back to their father. She would be safe at least. Stannis would never hurt her. He would contemplate yelling, and possibly even confine her to her chamber, but he would never hurt her. It was only when Sarah remembered the Red Woman did she know that it would be foolish to send Shireen home.

"Yes, darling?" Sarah wondered, sitting on the bed with her sister and wrapping her arm around her shoulders.

"I'm really tired and cold," Shireen complained. "I miss Dragonstone...I...why can't we go back?"

"You know why, Shireen," Sarah responded coldly and harshly to her. "Dragonstone is not safe for us now. Father and the Lady Melisandre have seen to that."

"But-"

"-I will try to provide for us," Sarah promised her. "You know that I am trying to do the best for us. I will find work somewhere else one day."

Shireen bit down on her tongue and nestled closer to her sister as Sarah closed her eyes, longing for sleep to take hold of her.

...

"You do know that we have been walking all day with no rest, don't you?" Jaime Lannister checked with the burly woman as she gave him a hard shove in the back, pushing him forwards and down the field by the side of the road. Jaime had no idea how far it would be until King's Landing entered his sight, but he knew that he could not wait for that moment.

He longed to be reunited with his sister. He suspected that even the sight of his brother may cause him to feel some form of joy.

But for now Jaime had to endure the female knight known as Brienne of Tarth. She scarcely resembled a woman, appearing to look much more like a man in comparison to normal females. It was safe to say that she disliked Jaime, and Jaime did not hold her in favour.

"Have we really?" she wondered back, her tone low and bored.

"Perhaps a nice inn with a pillow may be quaint?" Jaime wondered from her. "It could hardly do any harm. King's Landing will still be there by the time we arrive. However, you should stick to the main road. It would be much quicker."

"And much more visible," Brienne quipped back. "We are to go where I say."

Jaime rolled his eyes. "And Lady Stark trusts you to bring her daughter's back? She must be a fool."

"Lady Stark is anything but a fool," Brienne sniped and Jaime chuckled. He was slowly learning which buttons to press in order to annoy Brienne. He had to do something to pass the time.

The rest of the journey continued more or less the same. Jaime spoke taunts, Brienne snapping at the bait and responding in snarls and yells. She had tripped Jaime up twice and threatened him against a tree, but he still remained intent on annoying her. It was only when dusk fell did he see a sight which stopped his usual comments and taunts.

"And you intend to ask an innkeeper advice on which direction to take?" Jaime checked with Brienne as she noted the quiet inn by the side of the road. There seemed to be a lot of commotion inside of the building, but there was nothing happening outside.

Jaime remained weary as Brienne gulped. Getting lost has not been a part of her plan. She knew that she wasn't fully lost. She had a vague idea as to where she was, but advice would not go amiss. She also knew that she could not take the Kingslayer inside with her.

If anyone recognised him then they would challenge her.

She doubted anyone would notice him as the man he had been. His golden locks tumbled down to his chin now, matted and unkempt in comparison to the golden mane he had once had. His jaw was covered in stubble and cuts lined his face. His clothes hung dirtily around his body and his shoes were losing their soles. No, he looked nothing like a knight now.

"Wait," Jaime suddenly hissed as the door flung open suddenly. Brienne pulled on his rope, hiding both of their bodies behind a tree.

"No! Shireen!"

Jaime froze as soon as he heard that name. He peered out from the tree, the sight greeting him one of wonder as he saw it. Two men strode out, the Frey House symbol sewn to their clothes as they carried a girl forwards, grabbing her by the arms and dragging her towards the stables where there horses rested.

Behind them was a taller girl, thrashing wildly as two other men held her, doing their best to restrain her, yet failing miserably. Jaime would have recognised her face anywhere, regardless of how dull it was. He noted her sharp nose wrinkle and her hair was behind her shoulders, revealing the large ears she hated to show so much.

"Come on boys! The Baratheon girls need to be tamed!"

"The Freys," Brienne mumbled, looking back to the youngest child who was covered in greyscale. It was then when she blinked profusely and Jaime shook his head. He knew that the Freys would send the two girls back to Dragonstone.

Stannis Baratheon had issued a reward for them and Lord Frey was not one to give up rewards. But Lord Frey was also not someone who was to be trusted. He would sell the girls back to King's Landing if there was a reward there for them. He went with the highest price.

"His daughters," Brienne suddenly spoke and Jaime looked at her with an arched brow. "Stannis's daughters..."

"Yes, your beloved Renly's nieces."

Brienne wondered what she felt for a moment. They were Renly's nieces but they were Stannis's daughters. They were his blood. And he had killed Renly. He had killed her King. But they had not killed Renly. They were not him, but they could be Brienne's ticket to revenge.

She watched on as Sarah was thrown forwards, a man yelling at her loudly;

"Not so fast, traitor," he hissed. "The King's offering a nice little sum for your head...teach your bastard father a lesson..."

"They're taking them to King's Landing," Brienne suddenly spoke, attempting to tie Jaime to a tree. The knight rolled his eyes as he saw them move into the stables and begin to prepare their horses, tying together the girls' wrists.

"I can help," Jaime assured her. "Give me a sword."

"And you think I trust you?" Brienne responded, her lip pulled upwards.

Jaime rolled his eyes and moved with haste, grabbing a sword from Brienne's sheath, slicing the rope which she held. He moved forwards slower than usual, his hands still bound as he noted Shireen being hoisted over a horse.

Why was he doing this? Why was he helping her? His feelings for Sarah spanned a short distance. He suspected he had grown to know the girl. He had spoken to her of a multitude of things. He had drunk her moon tea once before. He had continuously kept her safe during his time with her. She was not his responsibility now, but he felt a duty to stop her and her sister from being sold away.

King Joffrey would see to it that they were held hostage and he would have no hesitance about hurting them either.

Brienne rushed after Jaime, her sword in her hand too as she overtook him. They soon came to the stables, startling three of the men as one sat on a horse, hoisting Shireen to sit in front of him. The girl was sobbing as Sarah shook her head, tears streaming down her own face as one man pushed her to the ground of hay, drawing his sword.

Jaime may have been slow, but he was still more skilful thank a common sellsword. He moved with grace, watching as the blades clanged against each other. Brienne dealt with two men whilst Jaime tackled one. Sarah crawled on the ground, her hands tied together as she did her best to get back to her sister.

"Get her out of here!" one of the men yelled to the one on the horse.

Sarah scrambled to her feet as he nodded in agreement, pulling at the reigns to his horse.

"No!" Sarah yelled out as a man grunted in pain and fell to the floor. "Shireen! No!"

Jaime ignored the gut wrenching noises which were escaping Sarah at that moment in time, focusing on finally finishing the task in front of him. He ducked under a mistimed swing of the man's sword, fully intending on bringing his own blade up and plunging it into his opponent's chest. The man yelled out in pain and Jaime pushed his hair from his face as the man fell to the ground, Brienne taking it upon herself to finish him off with a cut in his throat before snatching her sword back from Jaime.

"Shireen!" Sarah was still screaming loudly after the horse which was galloping into the distance.

Jaime rushed after the girl as she stumbled along, trying to catch up with her sister. He knew that she had no chance of winning. He was well aware of that. He grabbed Sarah by the waist and hauled her back against his chest, listening with intent as the tavern doors opened and more men wearing the Frey's symbol rushed outside.

"Sarah," he spoke her name harshly. "We need to hide."

"No," she snapped back, tears still flowing freely down her cheeks.

Brienne looked on as Jaime took the girl over his shoulder, rushing into the forest with Brienne close on their trail. The female knight looked puzzled as Jaime deposited Sarah on the ground, her fists still thumping against his back but leaving no mark nor causing him pain. He knelt in front of her, his hands on her shoulders as she continued to thrash. Her back leant against the tree as Jaime knelt in between her bent legs, his chest almost pressed against hers.

"Let me go...I have to find her...I have to save her...I need to..." Sarah incoherently rambled whilst Jaime shook his head back and forth.

"She will be sent to King's Landing," Jaime replied to Sarah. "The only thing you can do now is send a letter to your father and tell him where she is. The raven will reach Dragonstone before they make it back to the Twins."

"I promised her...I promised her I would keep her safe...I promised and now...she has gone..." Sarah remained inconsolable as Jaime moved his bound hands to push her hair behind her shoulders, the motion seemingly tender for him. His brow furrowed as soon as his fingers touched her hair.

"And where do you suggest we find a raven?" Brienne wondered and Jaime fell onto his behind, exhaustion taking hold of him. He hadn't moved so fast in weeks.

"Why not go and find one wench? I will spend the evening resting here."

"And you think I will leave you here alone?" Brienne wondered and she shook her head. "How do I know that I can trust you both? She is the daughter of Stannis Baratheon!"

"Does she look as though she is going anywhere?" Jaime wondered from Brienne, the two of them looking at Sarah as she continued to sob wildly. She hadn't even bothered to ask Jaime what he was doing or why he had helped her. She was beyond that. "She ran away from her father. She left Dragonstone. Do you think she is in league with him?"

Brienne grunted and shook her head quickly. "She can come with us. We shall stop near another inn and find a raven to send a message. Staying here and leaving you two alone is too risky."

Jaime rolled his eyes and worked on releasing Sarah from the ropes which bound her wrists together, doing his best not to cause her skin to redden as she sniffed loudly and her eyes finally found his. Her black hair was a mess around her face and her cheeks were stained a scarlet colour as she slowly found her breath again.

"Why are you here?"

"I have a habit of turning up wherever you are," Jaime nonchalantly responded and Brienne dropped her hands to her hips

"I am returning Ser Jaime to King's Landing in return for Lady Stark's daughters," Brienne informed Sarah.

"Well, that's the proper answer," Jaime nonchalantly responded. "And what were you doing in an inn? It was hardly inconspicuous."

"I was working there until this afternoon," Sarah replied, finally being freed from the ropes so that she could run her fingers over her wrist, the motion causing her worry to grow once more. She stood up with haste, her dress swirling to her feet as Jaime also made a move to stand.

Brienne grabbed hold of the shortened length of rope which bound him and he took another moment to regard the girl.

"Should a Princess be working in such a place?" Jaime wondered.

"Don't," she warned him. "Don't you dare taunt me, or mock me, or do anything to anger me further. I am warning you."

Jaime seemed amused for a second as Sarah began to stride forwards, seemingly intent on finding another inn in order to send a message to her father. The only issue was the direction she was walking in. Jaime was certain that she was walking north.

"My Lady," Brienne was the one to speak. "We travel south."

Sarah looked over her shoulder and back to the pair of them. "I have no intention of going anywhere with you."

"Then you have no protection," Jaime replied quickly. "Do not be foolish. We have no intention of leaving you in King's Landing. You can send a raven and then you can inform your father of your location."

"I am not returning to Dragonstone," Sarah declared.

"Your sister hopefully will be," Jaime replied and Sarah gulped loudly. "Unless we are not in time and by then she will be sent to King's Landing to be a hostage against your father. Surely you will want to be with her if that is the case. The North holds nothing for you now."

Sarah took a moment before she spun on her heel and moved back towards Jaime, looking between him and Brienne and nodding sternly. Crying would not bring her sister back. Crying would not help her nor would it save her. She had to be strong.

"We do not rest until a raven has been sent," Sarah said. "My father will return Shireen to Dragonstone. She will not be at the mercy of King Joffrey."

"That is the plan," Jaime nodded.

Sarah nodded, regarding Brienne with caution as the female knight did the same with her. It was only when Sarah looked back into Jaime's familiar gaze did she feel her eyes prickle with tears again. She barged past Jaime and began to walk in front of the pair of them. Jaime looked on as she went and kept his mouth closed for once, any witty comment failing him as he saw Sarah look tormented.