Jaime sat in silence as he dined with Sarah in his private solar that evening. He had been quiet for the better part of the day, merely grunting what it was that his brother had come to see him about. Sarah could sense that there was something wrong. She looked to Jaime, knowing full well that there was something amiss, but he did not appear to want to speak of it.

She picked up the goblet of water before tucking into her meat, looking across the table to note that Jaime had not touched any of his meal. It was only when the final serving maid left did Sarah lay her knife and fork down, her eyes staring at the man across the way from her.

"You have avoided me like the plague all afternoon and now you can barely look at me," Sarah said and Jaime finally had the nerve to look her in the eye.

"Not strictly true," he commented and Sarah rolled her eyes before leaning back in her seat and folding her legs underneath the table. Jaime could sense she was annoyed, and an annoyed stag was not to be further angered. He sighed lowly and Sarah watched him stand up, obviously not interested in dinner.

"If I tell you then I fear what you will think," he admitted to her and she cocked a brow as he turned his back on her and moved over to the balcony, his hands on his hips as he went. "It disgusts me...everything I have done in the past...it almost makes me unworthy of you...it does, anyway. I do not deserve someone so innocent to love me like you do."

Sarah stood then, cautiously moving to Jaime as he rested his hands on the balcony in front of him and Sarah ran her hands under his arms, pressing her cheek into his shoulder blades as Jaime allowed her to remain close to him.

"You had an incestuous relationship with your sister," Sarah whispered. "We overcame that. Can we not overcome this?"

Jaime looked her over his shoulder, his eyes straining to see her as she remained where she was. He slowly drew his left hand to capture her right one. He continued to stare out at the ocean, obviously more interested in that in comparison to telling Sarah of the truth.

"My brother was married once," Jaime began. "She was a young girl...but my father did not approve. She was a lowly commoner, not one to carry on the Lannister name. I often wondered whether my father would have let Tyrion be happy with anyone, but no. He...I was a silly fool for agreeing to my father's plan, but I did so. I agreed and I wish that I had never been so foolish. He had me tell Tyrion that the girl was nothing but a common whore. A whore who had used him and made him look silly. The girl was raped by all of my father's men and Tyrion was forced to watch."

Sarah's spine stiffened at his sudden news, but she did her best not to look revolted. She could sense that Jaime was suffering enough already. His face scrunched up and he gripped her hand tighter; almost as though he was more worried of her being taken from her.

"He came here today with the intent to kill me," Jaime said. "He killed father for that crime and he wanted to kill me, but he could not bring himself to do it."

Sarah took a deep breath as her grip increased on Jaime's hand and she moved to face him, her back pressing against the balcony ledge.

"And where has he been all this time?"

"He went to find the Targaryen girl...Sarah..." Jaime trailed off and she could sense that this was not the end of the bad news. The way he had whispered her name and ran his hand down her cheek told her enough. "The girl has dragons...three of them...and she is heading North to fight her cause. She believes the Iron Throne is hers by right."

It was then when Sarah finally understood what he was trying to tell her. Shaking her head, she felt Jaime's hands take her by the shoulders as she tried to escape his hold.

"Sarah," he whispered her name again, "she may try and save your father if he surrenders his claim. He may survive this war just yet."

"She has dragons!" Sarah snapped at Jaime and she pushed at his chest. "She has dragons and what does my father have? He has the Red Woman...the Red Woman against dragons...can you honestly tell me that he will survive? That she will certainly let him live?"

Jaime watched as she freed herself from his grip and moved back into the room, her arms holding her body and wrapping around her midriff as she felt a spell of dizziness take over her. Dragons would prevail over her father. How could they not? But how could Sarah be expected to accept that?

"When will we know anything?" Sarah wondered.

"My brother said the battle rages on as we speak."

"And did you have any intention to tell me?" Sarah snapped. "Were you going to keep it hidden?"

"I did not want to see you suffer," Jaime responded. "I did not want to fill you with worry unless it was necessary...unless the worst did happen...you need to believe me, Sarah."

And she did believe him. She placed her hands over her mouth as a low sob escaped her and Jaime was next to her in an instant, his hands around her as she tentatively grabbed onto the lapels of his coat, pulling him closer. She felt his hand run down her hair as tears fell down her face and she wondered just how much more suffering would occur in the Seven Kingdoms.

Jaime continued to hold Sarah to him as the girl sobbed on his shoulder. He didn't know how long had passed before he managed to get her into bed, slowly unlacing her from her gown as the tears dried up and her head pounded. Jaime helped her into his bed, knowing full well that he had no intention of leaving her alone.

She curled onto her side and Jaime curled around her in a protective way, his arm over her waist as she entwined her hands into his. The darkness shrouded them and Jaime pressed a kiss to her neck, not entirely sure of what he should say to her. She kept her back flush against his chest, her legs entwined against his.

Sarah closed her eyes and felt her mind slowly drift to sleep as she realised she could think no more of the pain her father was going through.

...

Shireen had awoken when she heard banging on the door next to hers. It was still the middle of the night, but Shireen couldn't sleep. She hadn't seen Sarah since before dinner, choosing to spend her time with her new friend who was the daughter of a serving maid.

Pushing herself from her bed, she wrapped her overly large robe around her body before moving to explore outside her chamber. She peered down the corridor to see a man she knew to be called Podrick. He was a tall boy but he blathered a lot, usually about nothing. He had come from King's Landing when Lord Tyrion had run away, the man claiming he would be safe at the Rock in comparison to King's Landing.

"Can I help you?" Shireen wondered and Pod looked over to her.

He had to admit that there was something about Shireen Baratheon which unnerved him. But the way he looked at her was enough to make her face scrunch up in confusion. She knew that she was not particularly attractive, but scrunching her face up scarcely helped matters.

"I have a letter for your sister, my Lady," he inclined his head. "It came from Robb Stark and is urgent."

"Is she asleep?" Shireen wondered and merely barged into her sister's room without knocking, her bare feet cold against the tiled floor beneath her. She looked around but there was no one there. Pod blushed as he had an idea where she would be.

"Perhaps she is with Ser Jaime," Pod spoke in a mutter.

"But it is late at night," Shireen responded. "I will come with you and find her. She might be hiding somewhere. She used to do that at Dragonstone sometimes."

Pod had no other option but to lead Shireen down the corridors until they came to Ser Jaime's chambers. Pod knocked persistently on the door, only for it to be opened by Jaime a while later. He wore his shirt loose and breeches on his body as his eyes narrowed to confirm he was seeing Pod.

"There had best be a good excuse for waking me," Jaime complained.

"Is Sarah with you?" Shireen asked him.

"Yes," Jaime grunted out and Shireen looked scandalised as she saw her sister slowly sit up through the crack of the door. She was in Jaime Lannister's bed in nothing but her underclothes.

"I have a letter for Lady Sarah." Pod handed the envelope to Jaime.

"Hm," Jaime grunted and Shireen pushed by him to walk into the room, Sarah finally noting her sister and the look of confusion on her face.

"Why are you sleeping in his bed, Sarah?" Shireen asked from her sister as Jaime rolled his eyes and began to light the candles by the bed on the metal holder. He handed the letter to Sarah as he did so and Sarah looked to her sister whilst biting her lip.

"Sometimes...a man and a woman...well...they just lay together," Sarah said. "There is nothing else, nor is there anything dangerous about it, Shireen. Do not fret."

"But you are not married."

"I know," Sarah said and she peeled the envelope open and began to read the letter, Shireen next to her only to watch as Sarah's face grew with horror at the words which stood out from the page. Jaime watched her as he lit the final candle and he knew that it was what he had expected. She burst into tears again as Shireen picked the letter up from her lap and read it for herself.

"Mother...and father..." Shireen said, a lump forming in her throat before Sarah picked her up underneath her arms and hauled her into her lap. Shireen felt tears in her eyes as Sarah loudly sobbed and Jaime took his turn to read the letter.

The Wolf King had fought alongside Stannis Baratheon against White Walkers, but he had refused to bend the knee to Queen Daenerys. His wife had been found dead once he sent her on her way to safety, but his death had come by fire. The one thing he thought would always be his protector. The death of Stannis Baratheon had finally come.

Jaime watched on as Sarah held Shireen to her, cradling her body tightly in her arms as both of the black haired girls cried together. He kept stood still, Sarah's eyes finally looking over Shireen into his orbs and he opened his mouth, preparing to say something but failing miserably. Instead he simply reached out for the hand she extended to him from underneath Shireen's arm.

His fingers wrapped into hers and Sarah kept hold of his hand until Shireen had fallen to sleep. Sarah made to carry her from the room, but Jaime shook his head.

"No," he said. "Keep her in here if you wish. I will sleep in another chamber. Do not disturb her."

"You are certain?" Sarah replied, her eyes rimmed red and Jaime nodded as Sarah rested her sister against a pillow.

"Come here," Jaime whispered and he drew her into his arms again, holding her tightly as final tears began to fall and Sarah ran her hands down Jaime's back. "It will get easier with time. Everything does, Sarah. It just takes time...and I will be here for you for that time. Make no mistake about that."

She closed her eyes at hearing him comfort her so and she finally felt herself drift off to sleep once Jaime guided her back to the bed and she held onto Shireen. The last thing she remembered was Jaime blowing out the candles and plunging her into darkness.

...

The news broke the following morning and Jaime could scarcely believe what he was seeing outside of Casterly Rock. He stood on the balcony, looking at the three creatures which circled the skies. Podrick had rushed to him early that morning and told him of the news. Daenerys Targaryen was heading to Casterly Rock.

There were still some of Stannis's men who wished to see his daughter take the Iron Throne. Sarah Baratheon could still be a threat to the Targaryen girl. Jaime pulled his coat tightly around his body before rushing down the corridor to find Sarah, wondering what he should do with her. Would Daenerys have her killed like she did Stannis? Sarah would not want the Iron Throne. She was certainly no threat. It was just having people see that.

"Sarah!" Jaime snapped her name once he entered his chamber. He found her already dressed; Shireen in her own chamber bathing before dressing.

"What is it?" Sarah wondered, her eyes still red after crying for hours on end.

Jaime took hold of her hand and dragged her out to the balcony, pushing through the drapes until he saw the three creatures in the distance. Sarah followed his gaze and her eyes widened as she increased her grip on Jaime's hand.

"Dragons," she whispered. "The Targaryen girl...she..."

"She is coming for you," Jaime warned Sarah. "Men intend to rally to your side...the believers of the Red God. You are Stannis's only heir, regardless of you being a female."

"But I do not want the Iron Throne," Sarah complained, turning to face Jaime as her body shook and he held her by her arms. "How far away is she?"

"Less than half a day," Jaime warned her. "I can try and sneak you out of Casterly Rock, Sarah. I can do that if you wish it."

"And would she find that treasonous?" Sarah worried. "If I tell her that I intend to do nothing with this power? I don't want a Throne...I want to be here...with you..."

Jaime ran his fingers down her cheek and nodded at her as she clasped his wrist into her hands. She remained silent as Jaime pushed his fingertips through her black curls.

"Explain to her," Jaime urged Sarah. "I will see to it that Shireen is kept safe and I will stay by your side the entire time. I will not let her hurt you."

Nodding, Sarah rested her head on Jaime's shoulder as he continued to hold her in his embrace, his eyes set on the dragons in the distance. There was no way he could outrun dragons or the army which approached them. No, Sarah was merely going to have to try and talk her way to safety; something Jaime thought she could do.

...

A/N: So thank you to mellielannister for reviewing. I do hope that you will let me know what you think and we have two more chapters left!