Sarah had been at Casterly Rock for two weeks and she could not have imagined being anywhere else or being any happier when she allowed herself to forget the war which raged on. Jaime had been a gracious host for two weeks, offering to show Sarah and Shireen Lannisport. Shireen had been particularly enthralled with the charming town where people inclined their heads and had the common sense not to look at the scars on her face. But she had been much more impressed when Jaime had shown her the library of Casterly Rock.
"This used to by my brother Tyrion's favourite room," Jaime commented as the girl wandered into the room and looked around in awe. It was finely decorated with golden touches, a spiral staircase in the corner by a bookshelf led up to a balcony with more books.
Sarah stood by Jaime's side near the doorway, her hand running down his arm to take hold of his hand, holding it tightly. They hid their entwined hands within the confines of Sarah's skirt as Shireen turned around to look back at them.
"And I can read whenever I want?" Shireen checked with him.
Sarah smiled warmly as Jaime brushed his thumb over her knuckles and looked to the little girl, wondering why people had a fascination with books. They were the most boring thing he had ever known in his life, yet people loved them more than he could ever imagine.
"I suspect so," Jaime said, "so long as your sister agrees."
"Please, Sarah," Shireen said and Sarah moved her other hand to run up Jaime's arm as she looked to him and then to her sister.
"I don't see why not," Sarah replied. "Knowing you, you will probably spend every spare moment in here."
"Can I pick a book now?" Shireen asked excitedly and Jaime nodded.
"I shall send a servant for you when dinner is served," he informed her and the young girl studied the books on the shelves as Sarah continued to move her thumb over Jaime's coat covered arm as he swiftly bent to kiss the top of her head whilst her sister had her back turned.
"I have never seen her look so happy," Sarah said and Jaime began to lead her from the room, knowing that he had matters to discuss with her. Her time in Casterly Rock had been some of the happiest times Jaime had known. Long gone were the days when he associated his home with his sister and their excursions. It now all came down to Sarah Baratheon and how he could have her be his wife right here.
"I suspect she deserves some happiness," Jaime muttered. "I know what it is like for my brother...was like..."
"Your brother will be alive somewhere," Sarah tried to give him some hope, but Jaime was not sure. He had heard nothing from Tyrion and he wondered when he would see him again. He only hoped that it would be soon for he missed his brother more than he cared to admit. He had always been close to Tyrion, refusing to see him fall into ruin.
But he had harboured one secret from his brother; the secret about his wife before she was taken from him. Jaime had never told him and he never wanted to tell him. Tyrion would detest him if he knew, but Jaime had been given no other option but to go along with what his father had wanted. He had been foolish to do so, but Jaime had made some foolish choices in the past.
"And has there been word of Brienne?" Sarah suddenly asked, Jaime removing his hand from hers to wrap it around her arm, their hips bumping together as they wandered the corridors. "Did she make it to the Capital?"
"I did mean to tell you of the news," Jaime spoke. "Brienne has Sansa Stark, but no one has seen the youngest girl. Some say she married the Bolton Bastard, but some whisper that is not her. Brienne continues to seek her out, but Sansa is back with her mother and Robb Stark."
"And where is Robb?"
Jaime didn't know why he always felt a bit of annoyance inside of him at the mention of the boy, but he did.
"Holed up at Riverrun," Jaime spoke. "He has no forces to continue this war, but I think the boy grows tired of fighting. House Frey and House Bolton lost half of their forces in this war and they grow weary too."
"Everyone is tired of the bloodshed," Sarah said as Jaime led her onto an open balcony which overlooked the ocean. She stood against the curve of the stone as Jaime dropped his hands to her waist and held it lightly, his golden hand annoying him more than he cared to admit. It took him a few moments before she turned in his arms and his hand splayed over her stomach and she stared towards the sea.
"You worry about him," Jaime spoke.
"Both of them," Sarah whispered back as Jaime ran his golden hand to push her hair from her face. "My mother and father. I worry where they are and what will happen to them. There was a time before all of this when my mother had been...she had been someone I admired more than anyone. She spent hours braiding my hair and promising me that she would always be there for me...read to me during her pregnancies and held me at night when she suffered miscarriages...that was before the Red Woman arrived and changed everything. Nothing was the same since."
Jaime kissed her on the side of her neck softly and she rested her head on top of his as his cheek sat on her shoulder.
"But everything is going to be fine now," Sarah adamantly replied. "My father cannot lose the Iron Throne. How could he?"
It was at that moment in time when the answer seemingly presented itself to them.
"My Lord!" A servant suddenly exclaimed and Jaime quickly released Sarah from his hold and whirled around to see the boy running towards him, his cheeks puffed red and his breath leaving him. Jaime took a few moments to arch a brow and look at him expectantly.
"Your brother...Lord Tyrion...he is here...in the library..."
"Tyrion," Jaime whispered and he nodded at the servant. What did Tyrion want? How did Jaime respond to him? What did he want?
"I should fetch Shireen," Sarah snapped Jaime from his thoughts, her hand on his arm and he nodded to her. They walked side by side towards the library, opening the doors wide to come across the sight of Tyrion lounged in a seat which Shireen stood next to him, showing him a book she had picked out. A goblet of wine occupied his hands and he looked different than usual.
"Oh, dear brother," he said, but the irony sat heavily on his face as he noted Sarah close to his brother's side. "How could it is to see you again."
"What are you doing here?" Jaime wondered and Sarah held her hand out for Shireen to take it.
"Come along, Shireen. We should leave Ser Jaime and Lord Tyrion to speak."
Jaime watched as Shireen rushed to Sarah and took her hand, the two sisters leaving the room and Jaime alone with his brother. Jaime slowly moved over to the spare seat opposite his brother by the vast window overlooking the ocean. He kept silent, leaning back in his seat and running his hands down his thighs to straighten out the coat which sat on top of them.
"You are wanted for the murder of Joffrey and our father."
"Your father," Jaime replied. "I do not want to associate with that animal."
"He was your father," Jaime replied. "Why did you do it, Tyrion?"
"He told me the truth," Tyrion said, his piercing gaze then turning to look to his brother. "He told me everything about Tysha when I caught him in bed with another whore I had managed to fall in love with. Although Tysah was no whore, was she, brother dear? She was my wife and you knew that."
"Tyrion-"
"-And so I sliced into him," Tyrion replied. "I killed him after he finished taunting me. I fled Westeros and found the rightful Queen of the Iron Throne."
"The Targaryen girl?"
"The one and only," Tyrion nodded back. "She heads North as we speak...her and her dragons. There is a war up there. I will find much more out when I ride North after we have had this little conversation...and I decide whether or not I have the guts to kill you. I intended to...trust me...you have no sword hand."
"I am good enough with my left hand." Jaime promised him. "I never meant to hurt you, Tyrion. Father gave me no choice...I would never have done anything to hurt you purposefully..."
Tyrion's jaw clenched and he looked out of the window. Even now he could not bring himself to kill his brother or end his life. He wanted to do it. He wanted Jaime to suffer, but he didn't know how he could do that. He had the knife he had used to kill his father concealed in his cloak underneath.
"I intended to save Cersei for last, but she seems to be suffering enough," Tyrion informed his brother. "I hear she is facing trial for heinous crimes. Daenerys promised me revenge on you and her for what you had done. In return I helped her to Westeros, but now...now I look at you and I can't even begin to think of what I want to do..."
"Killing me will not bring you peace," Jaime whispered.
"And it would ruin your new whore," Tyrion changed the conversation, his eyes widening to blink back the tears which wanted to form there. "Sarah Baratheon has quite the hold on you. How did you manage to bring her to Casterly Rock?"
Jaime shifted one leg over the other and leant back in his chair slightly, still on edge as his brother glowered at him.
"I promised Stannis I would not send Lannister forces to crush him," Jaime said. "He gave me his daughter in return. Sarah has been through a lot and I would not have her suffer through another war."
"She will suffer enough when she hears that her father has died," Tyrion spoke. "The Targaryen girl has dragons. How long do you think Stannis can hold out before they kill him? She has promised to kill all of those who do not bend the knee. I doubt Stannis will bend the knee. He is too proud for that."
Jaime gulped at hearing that. The thought of Stannis Baratheon dying filled him with fear, but not for his sake, for Sarah's sake. She would be crushed if that were to happen. She had just poured her heart out to Jaime about her father. He knew that she woke in the middle of the night, fearing the worst. She would move from the bed they shared and stand at the balcony before Jaime woke and dragged her back to bed, cradling her to him as she feared the worst until exhaustion took hold of her.
"He thinks himself the One God's True Champion," Tyrion continued, noting his brother's worried facial expression. "I am sure Daenerys can prove him wrong."
"And if he bends the knee?"
"He may be allowed to live his life out on Dragonstone," Tyrion shrugged. "I doubt it will happen however. I can see Stannis Baratheon being foolish enough to die by the very God who he serves."
"He may not," Jaime muttered back, knowing that his brother had a point.
"He will," Tyrion remained adamant. He placed his goblet back down on the table and then stood up, eyeing his brother with suspicion. "Killing Cersei will do nothing to effect you now, or so it seems."
"She ruined everything on her own accord," Jaime responded.
"And killing you...it appeals...so much..."
"But you will not do it," Jaime shook his head. "I was not the one who took Tysha from you. That was father. I regret it...I truly do...but it will not bring her back, nor will it help you."
"But taking your precious Baratheon whore from you would hurt, wouldn't it? It would ruin you more than you would ever care to admit."
"I would beg on my knees if it stopped you from harming her," Jaime replied and he stood too, looking down on his brother. Tyrion continued to glare before snorting and a laugh escaped him as he began to move from the room. He should have known he did not have the heart to kill Jaime. He never did have the heart.
"You do not deserve someone so innocent," Tyrion spoke. "I would warn the girl of her father's impending fate however. Let her grieve for his impending death...and only hope you never have anything taken from you that means the world to you."
Jaime gulped as Tyrion slammed the door to the library. Jaime stood to his feet and followed his brother, making sure he left in the opposite direction to Sarah's chambers before Jaime moved to them. He pushed the door open; the sight of Sarah sat brushing Shireen's hair enough to make something ache inside of his chest. She looked to him and his mouth dried up and he wondered if he should warn her.
"Is everything alright?" she wondered and Jaime looked her in the eye for a few moments.
"Perfect."
The word tumbled from Jaime's lips before he could stop it. He would tell her nothing until he knew something for certain. He couldn't put her through more pain. He would not put her through more pain. He may be called a coward, but he could not do it. Perhaps he loved her too much?
...
A/N: Wow, thank you so much to everyone who reviewed! To 5, mellielannister, cc, Richasa, blacksparrow125, nesspasimio9, chen, xFictionalMenRTheRealThingx and CupcakesAndAlice for reviewing the previous chapter. I do hope you will let me know what you think! I anticipate about three chapters left until the end!