Being summoned to her father's tent scarcely enthralled Sarah, but she did as Davos had asked her. She had refused at first, feeling too lethargic to move from her own tent and face him, but he had asked nicely. She had found that saying no to Davos when he asked sweetly was difficult. She entered the tent and Stannis silently motioned to a chair by his desk. Sarah sat down just as quietly, crossing one leg over the other before Stannis handed her a letter.
"What is this?" she wondered from him.
"Read it," he gruffly demanded from her and she snatched the letter from his fingertips and set her eyes down onto it. She did not note anything for a moment but the signature at the bottom of the parchment. Jaime Lannister. Sarah's eyes moved to the top again and Stannis settled down on the edge of his bed, watching as a small smile played on her face as she hastily read through the sentences.
"He wants me for a hostage," Sarah spoke lowly.
"He wants you to fuck because his sister doesn't want him," Stannis responded, his voice harsh, but there was nothing he could do to deny himself that the sight of her happiness made him feel something too. There was something about Sarah's smile which Stannis found intoxicating. She wanted to go. She wanted to be Jaime Lannister's whore.
"Perhaps he wants more than that?" Sarah suggested to her father. "An alliance between House Baratheon and House Lannister could be forged. His sister has no power and you have amassed an army to overthrow King Tommen and send him to safety."
"He has not stated that he wants your hand in marriage," Stannis replied. "Do you honestly believe that man is someone you should marry?"
"He is the only man I can even contemplate marriage to," Sarah replied. "You can gain the Iron Throne with his support, but he would crush you and have me regardless if you do not have his support."
Stannis groaned, knowing that his daughter was speaking sense. She took a few moments to push herself to her feet, dropping the letter to the floor and resting her hands on her father's shoulders. She knew that his bloody honour and pride would attempt to get in the way of him truly accepting this deal, but Sarah wanted it. She wanted him to accept so badly.
"I know that you do not like Jaime," Sarah spoke, "but I know that...I know that I can scarcely remember my time with him, but never before have I known a man like him. He is complex and I do care for him, and I think that he cares for me. Is that not enough for you to accept? He is offering to help you."
"He is offering to help me for his own gain."
"And giving me to him would be for your gain too. You said that taking the Iron Throne was your duty, father," Sarah said and Stannis wondered when the last time she had called him father had been. A small smile of disbelief played on his face as Sarah continued to plead with him. "Do your duty and let me be happy. If you cannot do this for me then do it for your own purely selfish need."
"I would do anything for you," Stannis suddenly promised his daughter and she nodded.
"Then let me go," she whispered. "Jaime may have played you, but no bad can come from it. No one suffers because of this negotiation."
And she was right. Stannis did not want to admit that she was right, but he could see the hope in her eyes. He could see the longing in her gaze as she clung onto him and he nodded his agreement. Sarah moved closer to him then, her head tucked under his chin as Stannis wrapped his arms around her and hugged her lightly.
"I would do anything to see you smile again," Stannis said to her. "The fact that no one here can bring you happiness fills me with woe...but to see you look happy...even with him..."
"I know that it is hard," Sarah mumbled against his chest and Stannis turned his cheek into her dark curls. "But I do love you...I know I do...even after everything you've done. How can I not love you; you're my father and all you've ever done is try to defend me and keep me safe. I disagree with some of your methods, but I do love you and always will."
Stannis sniffed as he heard her before he put her at arm's length and held onto her shoulders, wondering when he would see her again. He hoped that it would be soon. He resented Jaime Lannister for being the one to make her happy, but he wanted her to be happy. Stannis was not as cold as people would believe. He had a heart and it was his daughters who held a place inside of it.
"Take Shireen with you," Stannis said. "Selyse would have her punished, but she is merely a girl. Perhaps you could grow to love her like you once did?"
"I do love her," Sarah quickly defended herself. "I just...I don't know how to show it...or play with her and not think about where Jaime is...what could have happened to him...I was so worried until now."
"But you will take her and care for her?" Stannis checked with his daughter and she nodded.
"Of course," she said. "And you will be carefully here, won't you? This war still rages on and I do not wish to see it claim another King...or my father..."
"It will not," Stannis gave her a sad awkward smile as she stood on her toes to kiss him on the cheek like she always used to when they were all a family on Dragonstone. "I shall send your mother somewhere safe where. I doubt she will be happy with my decision to send you to the Rock."
Sarah's face wrinkled up and she took a deep breath before speaking; "Mother has spent too much time with the Red Woman. I worry she is not herself. Her mind is slowly becoming lost..."
"I know," Stannis responded and he pushed Sarah's hair behind her shoulder. "But I need the Red Woman. She knows more than you give her credit for."
"People fear her One True God," Sarah warned her father. "Just do not lose this war because of her."
"I have no intention of letting that happen," Stannis promised. "I will have my Throne and I will see you again, make no mistake about that."
Sarah hugged Stannis again before closing her eyes and wondering what it would feel like to be back in Jaime's hold again.
...
Jaime Lannister waited with patience for the arrival of Baratheon banners. He had stood on the battlements of Casterly Rock by himself, his gaze peering into the distance as he waited for any sign of Sarah. He had noted how Lannisport was bristling with activity in the distance, normal people continuing with their normal work. How different there would must be.
It didn't take long before Jaime finally saw the banners in the distance. He moved from the battlements and wandered into the courtyard, standing lazily as servants bristled around him and went about their duties. He had been holed up in his chambers for the majority of his stay at the Rock, waiting for word from Stannis. But the Lord of Dragonstone had agreed to his terms and Sarah was to be his hostage, along with her sister.
But Jaime would not keep her as his hostage for long. If he was to be Lord of Casterly Rock then he would see to it that he found a wife. He would do what his father had wanted him to do for a long time, but he would do it for himself, not for his deceased parent. He would do this because he had grown tired of fighting and had no longing to serve a King in a city which despised him. If this was how he gained Sarah then he would marry her and make her Lady of Casterly Rock.
His father would be turning in his grave, but the Rock was not his now. It was Jaime's and he would as he pleased as the Lord.
His thoughts consumed him until he finally saw her enter through the gate atop of her horse, her sister riding a small pony besides her. Her guards helped her down from the creature and Jaime moved over to her, knowing that he could not kiss her there and then if rumours were to begin. He suspected there were some, but he would not add to them yet. He would not act as though they were betrothed when he needed permission from Stannis for that.
"Lady Sarah," his voice rasped out and he saw the girl look to him as she helped her sister from her pony. Sarah gave a neat curtsey whilst Shireen looked between the Kingslayer and her sister. How old was Jaime Lannister anyway? Shireen wondered if it was right for Sarah to be in love with him.
"Ser Jaime," Sarah responded. "You have met my sister, Shireen?"
"I have had the pleasure," Jaime bowed his head to the younger Princess before he offered his arm to Sarah.
She felt a tingle run through her as she rested her hand on top of his arm, her free hand holding her sister's hand as Jaime walked with her through the courtyard in the blazing sun.
"I trust you are tired after a long ride," Jaime said. "I shall show you to your chambers."
It was only once Jaime had shown Shireen to her chamber did he take Sarah by the hand and lead her to the room next door, closing the door behind him before he grabbed her waist and kissed her forcefully, pushing her back against the wood. She groaned lowly as Jaime's lips moved down her neck and she felt his hips push against hers.
"I thought I may never see you again," Sarah groaned as her hands moved to the lapels of his jacket, forcing his gaze back to hers before he kissed her forcefully again. "I worried about you every day...what could have happened..."
"You had no need to worry, Princess," Jaime assured her, his hands finding the small of her back and pressing into the crevice there. She groaned as she felt him run his hands down to her backside and grope her forcefully. "I would not die before seeing you again. I thought long and hard about how to get you back and it worked. Your father's desire for the Iron Throne caused him to see sense."
"Not just that," Sarah replied as Jaime moved his hands to her upper thighs and picked her up from the floor, her legs wrapping around his waist as he carried her through the vast chamber. She scarcely looked at the objects in the room, her eyes too intent on Jaime's face. "He wanted me to be happy too. He is not as cold hearted as he would like people to believe. He asked me to bring Shireen to keep her from loneliness."
"As you wish," Jaime went back to nibbling on her neck as Sarah kept her arms around his neck.
"I've missed you," she suddenly declared, moving her hand to his chin to force him to look her in the eye. "I've missed you so much, Jaime."
"And I you, Princess," he promised her, realising that his lust would need to be suspended as he saw Sarah's tearful gaze. "More than I care to admit."
She sniffed before Jaime sat down on the edge of her bed, still holding her to straddle his lap as he wiped a tear from her eyes. She bent her forehead against his and Jaime kissed away another tear.
"I did not realise I made you cry," Jaime commented and she closed her eyes as her hands ran down his cheeks.
"It's scary," Sarah said. "I scarcely know you, but I know that I love you. Why does it make no sense?"
"Life rarely does," Jaime said, gulping as he heard her declare her love for him. "But I will not allow your affections go to waste. You are the most important woman in my life now and I do not deserve you, but I will not allow anyone else to have you."
Sarah forced herself to smile. "So you intend to ask for my hand?"
"Once this war is done," Jaime promised her. "I shall ask Stannis's permission to make you my wife and Lady of Casterly Rock."
Sarah laughed lightly before Jaime went back to kissing her.
If only he knew then and there that he would never gain the chance to ask Stannis Baratheon for his permission.
...
A/N: Sorry for the cliffhanger, but there are not many chapters left of this story now! Please do let me know what you think of the story so far as we draw near to conclusion!