Jaime had managed to secure a new dress for Sarah to journey in without Lord Bolton knowing. He now found himself stood outside, trying to climb onto his horse whilst Sarah was stood opposite Lord Bolton. He looked at her as though she was a piece of meat; something for him to taunt with a sinister look in his eye. Jaime could only imagine what Stannis would think if he saw Lord Bolton tuck Sarah's hair behind her ear as though he could intimidate her.

"You weren't blessed with the charming looks which many Baratheons have," Bolton spoke and Jaime remained stood by his horse, listening into the conversation.

Sarah remained still, her head held high and her chin jutting out. She refused to be intimidated by the man they called the Leech Lord.

"Although, you would make a fine match with my son," Bolton commented. "I am certain Ramsay would enjoy having you in ways you never thought possible. Perhaps I shall write to the Queen? Marrying you off to Ramsay would certainly anger Stannis Baratheon."

"Your son?" Jaime suddenly interjected, lazily turning around to look at Roose as Bolton turned his eyes over to Jaime, his face stoic and his arms folded over his chest. "I've heard tales of the bastard of the Dreadfort. I don't think you could hate the Princess enough to send her there."

"She is no Princess," Bolton responded. "And I thought that you would have learned how to hold your tongue by now."

"Oh, I never learn," Jaime spoke and offered his hand out to Sarah.

She looked at him with caution before Jaime nodded stiffly, urging her to get away from Lord Bolton. She moved over to him, delicately placing her hand inside of Jaime's fingers.

"Now, we should be on the way," Jaime spoke. "And you should be leaving for the Twins. You would hate to be late for the wedding."

Lord Bolton watched as Jaime helped Sarah onto his horse, both of them making a difficult job of it. His hand moved to her upper thigh, pushing her onto the saddle before he tried to climb on. Sarah helped him get his leg on the other side of the creature, his arm moving around her body to take hold of the reins.

"Be safe on your travels, Ser Jaime," Lord Bolton spoke. "And do your best not to let the Lady Sarah escape. No doubt she will give it a go."

"No doubt," Jaime spoke back; his foot tapping the side of the horse and the creature began to move forwards.

Sarah startled at the sudden motion, doing her best not to slip down the creature. Jaime grinned at the sight of her before he spoke;

"You can put your arm around my waist," he informed her. "It might keep you balanced in comparison to your usual clumsy state."

Sarah did as he had said, her arm moving around his back, underneath his cloak. It was then when Jaime spoke to her of what he intended to do. He had held Sarah tenderly the previous night, his arms cradling her against his chest as she sobbed, confessing to him how she worried what would happen once she reached King's Landing. It was then when Jaime knew that he had to get her to Dragonstone without entering King's Landing. He would strike soon enough. He would tell her to ride and hard and true the night before they reached the Capital. She could make it on her own; he didn't doubt that.

"We need to talk," Jaime told her in a soft tone, whispering to her and she looked back up to him, her brows furrowing as she did so. "When night falls then I shall tell you of how we return you to Dragonstone."

Sarah could scarcely wait for night. The men set up camp, drinking and cheering. Not one of them seemed too bothered about her as a prisoner. None of them seemed too bothered about her and Jaime wandering around together, whispering intently as they went. The night was dark, not even the moon helping to shed too much light on them. Jaime had slumped down against a tree, Sarah besides him as she brought her knees up to her chin and turned her head to look at Jaime, waiting for him to say something.

"And what is your plan?" she wondered.

"Ah, yes, the plan," Jaime spoke. "It is quite simple really. The men here should be easy enough to escape. They seem more interested in drinking and feasting than anything else. They don't look at you with disgust like I had suspected."

"You want to fool them?"

"It is not what I need to do, but it is what needs to be done," Jaime responded. "The night before we reach the Capital then you take a horse and go. You ride for the port at King's Landing and travel back to Dragonstone."

"With what money?" Sarah asked him back.

"The money I steal from a guard," Jaime spoke and Sarah smiled at him as he looked to the sky, the stars hiding behind the clouds above. He took a few seconds before he looked down to his stump. "Although I don't think I could fight him off if he noticed."

"I bet you are just as able with your left hand."

"Believe me, I am not," Jaime informed her.

"Then you will simply have to train," Sarah responded as if it were simple enough.

"I suspect so, Princess," Jaime mumbled back.

"I find it odd," Sarah suddenly spoke, her back against the trunk and she closed her eyes. She could feel Jaime looking at her, but she did her best to ignore his glance. "I'm eager to return back to the place I ran away from; the place I realised my father was willing to kill anyone who stood in his way...and yet...there is a small part of me that craves to see my father again...and mother...Shireen most of all..."

Jaime's lip curled and he thought to his own father. As much as he couldn't help but detest the way his father spoke to him; he was still his father.

"But he is still your father regardless of everything," Jaime responded.

"I know," Sarah whispered into the darkness. "And Dragonstone is safer than King's Landing."

"That is true enough," Jaime responded. "Regardless, you shall be back home soon enough."

Sarah opened her eyes and then turned to look at Jaime as he closed his own eyes. A scar formed across his cheek where his beard ended but he still looked as handsome as ever; that was something she could never deny. Even Jaime didn't attempt to deny it.

"Stop staring," Jaime mumbled and Sarah smiled into her lap as Jaime peeled his orbs open to look back at her. "And don't even ask the question of why I am willing to help you. I don't even know myself. I think I might be going soft."

"I think you've become more human," Sarah responded and Jaime chuckled at hearing that. "There is something about you which is truly different during this journey-"

"-Well I did lose a hand and that is different, I suppose," Jaime said and Sarah laughed lightly, the sound enough to make Jaime grin along with her.

"But you are still as witty as ever," she commented. "It had almost been a pleasure being in your company."

"Almost?" Jaime checked from her and she nodded at him. "You wound me, Princess."

"Don't call me Princess," Sarah whispered, her smile leaving her face and Jaime cocked his brow. "We both know that my father does not sit on the Iron Throne and I am not a Princess...besides...I can only imagine how people would mock me if I were a Princess. That was one thing about Dragonstone; it can protect people from harsh whispers."

Jaime shook his head as soon as he heard her. He grew tired of her always putting herself down. She should not listen to those who whispered. They were not important. She was more important than people gave her credit for.

"Do you not think people will talk about me?" Jaime wondered. "I am a cripple now...I think that is worse than having the Florent's large ears."

"You're right," Sarah responded. "You always do tend to be right recently."

"Is it a trait which you hate?"

"Detest," Sarah clarified and Jaime bared his teeth in an open smile.

"Don't bite the hand which feeds you," Jaime taunted her. "I'm willing to help you escape this place."

"And I thank you for that," Sarah said, moving over to quickly peck him on the cheek.

The motion came as a shock to Jaime as he felt her lips against his cheek, the motion one to make his blood run warm. How long had it been since a woman had touched him in such a manner? Jaime was merely missing Cersei.

So why was it that he put his free hand to her cheek to stop her from moving away from him? Sarah's eyes widened as Jaime's hand softly caressed her cheek, his fingers rough against her smooth pale skin. It was then when Jaime turned his head, his eyes searching hers and he did his best to try and think about something coherent. But he couldn't. All he could think about was how it would feel to kiss her.

And so he did.

...

Stannis Baratheon was waiting for the Lady Melisandre to return to Dragonstone. She had been gone for over a week now and he had heard no word of what mission she was on. His wife had kept herself isolated and his youngest daughter had been confined to her chambers. Stannis had not been angry with Shireen, but he was annoyed with Selyse. She had ignored Shireen, telling her youngest daughter that she would swap her for Sarah without a second thought.

"My Lord."

Stannis looked up from the table he had been peering down on. His eyes had been set on the map of Westeros. He noted a guard stood in the doorway and he looked at him, expecting him to say something else, but he remained mute.

It was not until another figure entered the room did Stannis feel his hands rest on the table to steady himself. She stood in the room as the guard closed the door and Stannis kept his eyes on her, a feeling he had never known before swept over him.

"Sarah," Stannis whispered his daughter's name.

"Father," Sarah replied, unsure of what to do as she kept her hands in her red skirts.

Stannis moved over to his daughter and Sarah felt herself weaken. She had promised to remain strong, not allowing herself to cry once she saw her father and felt the safety of home around her. Stannis wrapped his arms around his daughter, his hand holding the back of her head as she flung her arms around his neck and closed her eyes.

She was back home now. She was home and safe.

So why was she crying with Ser Jaime Lannister's image in her mind?