Warning: adult content towards the end

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Chapter 78

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Jaime walked silently between the hoard of Unsullied that escorted him to his chambers. Escorted was a polite word for it, since they all knew he was a prisoner who was soon to be executed. He had to lead the way himself, since no one in his entourage, save Tyrion, knew the way to the Lord's chambers and his brother had not taken the lead. Tyrion continued to follow behind all of the Unsullied, confirming Jaime's belief that his brother wished to speak with him. Though I can't imagine what more he could wish to say to me after his actions today.

He carried Julianna in his arms, and she held onto him tightly, looking fearfully at the strangers that had invaded their home. He entered his chamber and sat in a chair before the fire, watching as the Unsullied secured every entrance and exit, ensuring that Jaime could not escape. As if I could attempt some daring escape with one hand and a baby in my arms.

His whole body screamed at him to put up a fight rather than doing as the Targaryen girl ordered. It wasn't in his nature to be compliant with an enemy – especially one that wanted him dead – but Jaime knew that she would be more likely to execute Sansa and Julianna along with him if he fought or tried to escape. I'll sacrifice anything for Sansa. Even my life. I promised to protect her always, and that's what I mean to do.

Tyrion sat in the chair beside him, after stoking the fire, though Jaime ignored his brother in favor of quietly assuring Julianna that she was safe. He held her against his chest, rubbing her back to comfort her and stop her fearful whining. She was still a bit shaken by the stranger holding her hostage – not that she understood the implications – but she seemed to know that Sansa had been terrified by the soldier holding her. She had only begun to speak a few words, and repeated "dada" over and over against his shoulder.

"Shh…you're safe, little lioness. I love you, Julianna," he whispered in her ear, quietly, so no one else could hear. He didn't expect Sansa would succeed in changing his fate and he needed to prepare himself for what was to come. Julianna's even younger than I was when my mother died. I only have a few memories of Lady Joanna. Jaime looked down at the babe in his arms. She won't even remember me. He continued to speak quietly to Julianna, ignoring everyone around him. He didn't know if she understood, but he wanted his daughter to know that he loved her. Even if she doesn't remember me, Sansa will make sure she knows how much I loved her. He wished that was enough, but it wasn't.

He felt Tyrion watching him with the babe, but Jaime didn't acknowledge his gaze. "You've learned to be a father," Tyrion remarked quietly, when they were finally alone. "I'm surprised. You never showed any interest. In the others."

"I could do without your company," Jaime murmured, his attention still on Julianna. Tyrion rose to his feet and Jaime thought he was leaving, before he noticed that Tyrion appeared to be searching the room. "What are you doing?"

"Making certain we're really alone. They tell me these Unsullied only speak High Valaryan, but I can't be too careful." Jaime finally turned away from Julianna, wondering what Tyrion was about. "Why are you even here with me? Shouldn't you be taking inventory of your new castle? Counting the silver and that sort of thing. Or perhaps you're here to look at what will be your new bedchamber…once I'm dead," Jaime ground out, placing Julianna on the ground. She remained close to him, holding onto his leg as she stood and regarded Tyrion curiously.

"A Lannister always pays his debts," Tyrion murmured. "That is what I promised you, last we spoke in King's Landing-"

Before Tyrion could finish, Jaime moved toward his brother and gripped his throat with his good hand, pressing him into the chair. "And I now owe you a debt brother. I could kill you now. I only need one hand to strangle the life out of you. Cersei could attest to that."

Tyrion struggled for breath as Jaime cut off his air. "You'd kill me in front of her?" Tyrion whispered, gesturing toward Julianna who was sitting on the fur in front of the fire.

"She won't remember it. Just like she won't remember me when she grows up, once your Khaleesi has her way." Jaime felt the same sadness and anger he'd felt at Cersei's betrayal. "I never believed you'd wish me dead."

"I don't," he whispered, looking at Jaime meaningfully. He loosened his grip, so Tyrion could speak, but kept his hand at his throat. "Thoughts of revenge were all that allowed me to survive when I left the capitol. Thoughts of raping our bitch of a sister while you watched, and then killing the both of you...it comforted me at night. Plotting my triumphant return to Westeros. I was going to make you all pay. Hate and revenge are powerful motivators. I admit, it did cheer me to hear Cersei was dead. My only regret is not having killed her with my own hand." Tyrion looked at Julianna, then back at Jaime and he saw a flash of the brother he remembered, rather than the hateful stranger claimed by the dragon. "I hated her and I hated our father and I don't regret their deaths but...I could never manage to truly wish you dead...I…try as I might, I couldn't seem to forget the kindness…the love you showed me all our lives. Save one moment that destroyed me."

Jaime sighed and sat back in his own chair, releasing his brother. "I wish I'd never told you the truth," he murmured quietly, smiling sadly at Julianna as she clumsily got to her feet and began trying to climb onto his chair to sit with him.

"You wish you'd never told me? You don't wish that you had not lied to me in the first place?"

Jaime sighed as he lifted Julianna onto his lap. "If I had not done as Father commanded…you would not have had a happy ending with Tysha. You must know that. He would have separated the two of you one way or another. But I spent my entire life, trying to make it up to you. I've always loved you. Always. And you would betray me for some mad Targaryen whelp."

"I suppose, in true Lannister fashion, we've betrayed and deceived one another."

"You're betrayal will kill me. You say you don't wish me dead but that's what you've done. After a lifetime of loving you and protecting you from Cersei – from anyone who would try to harm you. All of that forgotten over a lie that I told when I was still a boy. A lie our father ordered me to tell. I could not have foreseen what father would do. I never dreamed he would offer her up to his soldiers…and to you…as one of his sharp lessons."

Tyrion bristled at the reminder that he had joined in on Tysha's brutal rape, at his father's urging. "Your betrayal was more than that one lie, Jaime. You lied to me my whole life, as you saw what losing Tysha did to me. Every day you kept this secret from me was another lie you told me."

"After you came to me, crying, and told me what father did to her…and what you did to her, how could I tell you the truth? How? You kept saying that I was the only one who loved you. That I was all you had. I've wanted to tell you, so many times. Whenever I saw that you believed whores were the only women that would go to your bed, I wanted to tell you that you were wrong, that a woman had loved you without being given coin, but…I didn't want to lose my brother. And I thought you felt the same. But now it will end forever in a hail of dragon fire."

"I thought you didn't fear death."

"I don't. Not for myself. I fear what will become of Sansa and..." Jaime looked down at the babe in his arms and smoothed his hand over her bright red curls. "I fear all that I will miss. With Sansa and with her."

"So you've finally allowed yourself to love your wife."

Jaime returned Julianna's bright smile as she reached up and touched his face. "Losing my brother's love made me realize that I shouldn't take Sansa's love for granted. I'd lost the only other person who truly loved me when you left." He turned to his brother. "Well, Tyrion, you'll be the only one left, once your queen gets her vengeance on me. Mother, Father and Cersei are in the crypt already. I expect there will be nothing left of me to bury when her dragons have finished with me. Perhaps you could at least add my name to the stone."

"I've been meaning to ask...about Cersei. I heard of her death, all the way across the narrow sea. It seems Baelish has almost as many little birds as Varys did. News of a Queen's death travels quickly. Especially in times of war." Jaime leaned back in his chair, letting Julianna curl up on his chest as Tyrion continued. "Why did you kill her? After putting her first for so long?"

"An assassin sent by Stannis killed our sister. Did you not hear that across the narrow sea?"

Tyrion looked at his brother in disbelief. "We both know that's not what happened. Rather too covenient that an assassin would kill her here at the Rock. What happened? Did she harm Sansa?"

Jaime sighed. I suppose it doesn't matter now if he hears the truth. "She sent an assassin to rape and kill Sansa and...to kill the babe. Luckily he failed. Just barely." Tyrion nodded. "She sent red cloak she'd been fucking since before she married Robert…I never saw what she really was. I never realized that I was alone in my devotion to her. She got worse after you left. Paranoid and irrational. Since father...could not check her." Jaime kissed the top of Julianna's head. "I had hoped to see her grow up but…it seems I'm to be executed for what I always considered to be my finest act." Jaime had never told Tyrion why he'd killed the Mad King. He had only told Sansa. "Was there something else we needed to discuss? If not, I'd like to be alone with my daughter."

"Aren't you the least bit curious to hear how Littlefinger managed to get the ear of the dragon queen? He's the one pulling the strings now. Not me. Not her knights. Baelish would have burnt you to a crisp right there, as soon as he could take Sansa and her mother away from you."

"Why would she trust someone who served Robert for so long? The man she calls Usurper?"

Tyrion laughed. "By that logic, why would she trust me? I was Joffrey's Hand. I'm Tywin Lannister's son. Fortunate for me, she believes that I killed Joffrey and wishes to reward me with the Rock."

"Then she must be ecstatic over what you did to Father. What about Littlefinger? How did he earn her trust?"

"He got her across the narrow sea. She spent years in Slaver's Bay, dealing with their politics. Badly. Her foolish notions about freeing slaves so they would join her was…poorly thought out. She would have been stuck there for even more years if she continued with only Mormont and Selmy to advise her. They are soldiers, not political advisors. Baelish got her to Westeros. He helped her win against Stannis. She'll not turn away from his advice easily."

Jaime nodded. "He wants Sansa doesn't he?"

"Perhaps. In the short term. Honestly, I think he wants the Iron Throne. To be king. Daenerys will name him as her Hand and…if she continues to take his advice, the People will revolt. They'll unite against her. I expect that is when Baelish will make his move. It was at his insistence that the boy on the throne was burned. The smallfolk…she did not win their hearts or their trust with that act. She made them fear another mad Targaryen. When they learn of her actions here at the Rock – her trickery – she will alienate them further."

"Perhaps she's simply as mad as her father. He never cared what the smallfolk thought."

"She's not…She's not heartless. After the burning of the child she was visibly shaken when we returned to the palace. But Baelish continues to lead her down the wrong path."

"And you've not told her this? Warned her of his ambitions? Told her how many he has betrayed in the past?"

"I would only succeed in making an enemy of him. And possibly her. She won't listen. Not without proof of his treachery. You seem content in your life here with Sansa," Tyrion said, nodding toward the babe. Jaime looked down and saw that while Julianna was resting her head against Jaime's chest, she was watching Tyrion intently and smiling shyly. "She has sweet disposition…must take after her mother," Tyrion said dryly.

Jaime was in no mood for such pleasantries. "You said you don't wish me dead…do you plan to stop her or were those empty words?"

"I'll think of something, Jaime. You need to trust me."

Jaime laughed bitterly. "How can I trust you? After what you did today? After a sword was held to her throat because of you?"

"I didn't know Baelish told them to do that. I didn't even know you'd had a child with Sansa. I wasn't…in any state of mind to hear about your life after I fled the Realm. Jon Snow...he tried many times to speak to me about your marriage to Sansa but I refused to even hear your name. I didn't wish to participate in Littlefinger's treachery but…had I not agreed to his plan, what do you think would have happened? Just as you say you could not have stopped father from separating me from Tysha…I'm not in any position to stop Daenerys nor her dragons."

"I've accepted my fate, Tyrion. I don't need false promises. I don't expect anyone to change the girl's mind. Not you. And not Sansa."

"Whatever you think of me Jaime…after today and after…Lord Tywin…I do love the family I have left. Despite your considerable faults. Don't mistake me - I've not forgiven you but...I'm not ready to see what remains of my family dead, either. Speaking of family…where have you hidden young Tommen?"

Jaime looked Tyrion over carefully, not willing to trust him completely. Not whecould would soon face death because of Tyrion's actions. He knew this entire conversation could be a trick. To gain his trust and learn Tommen's whereabouts. Jaime reminded himself of how clever Tyrion could be. "You know better than I what became of him, when your Khaleesi punished him for his parents' sins."

"You've gained caution, Jaime. I suppose you're right not to trust me. Yet. I certainly would not." He rose to his feet so Jaime could be alone with Julianna. "I can't promise you anything but…I will do all I can to convince her that your permanent exile would secure her place on the throne."

Jaime nodded to himself after Tyrion left and wondered if he should trust his brother or if the man who tricked him into his current state of imprisonment was the real Tyrion.

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Not long after Tyrion left, the chamber door opened and Sansa entered, escorted by Ser Barristan. He could see that she was relieved to be reunited with him, even after such a short separation. She needs to prepare herself for what's to come. We're about to face a much more permanent separation. She hurried over to him, throwing herself into Jaime's arms, and he could fear her tears against his neck. Perhaps the Mad Queen's already refused to show any mercy. Jaime stroked her hair and held her tightly, looking at Selmy with a hard expression. "What did the girl do to her?"

"She listened to what your lady wife had to say. Which is more than you deserve. She'll make her decision tomorrow as to your…sentence." Jaime nodded, not holding much hope as to what the girl's decision would be. "You are married and, given your rank, she's agreed to allow the two of you to remain here together, with your child. You're entitled to the comfort of your wife's company." Jaime nodded, stroking her hair. "Lady Sansa?"

She turned and regarded the old knight. "I will speak to her. About our conversation. Your father…he would wish for me to speak on your behalf." Sansa nodded before turning back to Jaime, who was wondering what on earth she had said to the former Lord Commander.

Once they were alone, Sansa tilted her head up and met his eyes. "Have you found a way out of here?" she whispered. "Perhaps the secret room?"

"The Unsullied secured it. And any other way out of here."

"Is there another secret exit. There must be a way out. There were not too many guards outside. Perhaps…we could fight them and-"

"We?" he asked with a raised eyebrow.

"I'll help you. Whatever I can do, I'll do it. I promise. Anything. We have to get out of here. I don't wish to risk the Queen refusing to show mercy."

He could see that she was working herself up into a state. "Sansa, let's not waste…the time we have together with plans that are doomed to fail."

"What's wrong with you?" she asked, tears forming in her eyes. "You're giving up. Why are you giving up? Where is your fight, Jaime? You have to fight. For me. Please. This isn't you. You don't give up and you don't accept your fate. You fight. That's who you are."

Sansa was shaking and crying as she urged him to do something.

"If you won't save yourself, then I will do it for you." She began to move toward the door and Jaime grabbed her around the waist, holding her against him as she cried and struggled. "There must be a way out. Jaime, please."

"Stop, stop," he held her arms, restraining her as she struggled against him. "Shh…please, Sansa."

"Why is there no fight in you, Jaime? Of all times. I can't…I can't lose you, Jaime. I can't."

Jaime forced her to sit on the bed, holding onto her and resting his head on her shoulder. "You need to stay calm, Sansa." He looked over and saw tears welling in Julianna's eyes at her mother's obvious distress. He held his hand out to her and she clumsily toddled over, holding her arms up until Jaime lifted her onto his lap. She gripped the both of them tightly, beginning to whine.

"I'm sorry…I'm sorry," she whispered, kissing the top of Julianna's head. He saw her forcing herself to be calm, for the sake of the baby. He closed his eyes as Sansa leaned into his chest, caging Julianna between them. "I can't lose you, Jaime. I can't lose this," she whispered against his neck. "I meant what I said. If she…kills you. Then she should kill me as well."

He wanted to shake her and yell at her for even suggesting such a thing but he knew she was terrified. "Sansa. You must not say such things. Even if…she does not show mercy, you have to go on. Julianna needs her mother."

"She needs you, too." The babe curled up in Jaime's arms, her little fingers tightly gripping the fabric of his tunic, as if she were stopping someone from pulling them apart. Jaime sat back on the bed and Sansa had curled up next to him as he spoke to Julianna, telling her how much he loved her. He was trying to remain strong for them, but he couldn't stop his voice from breaking at the thought of losing his wife and child. He had hoped Sansa wouldn't notice, but he felt her rest her hand on the back of his neck, her thumb rubbing soft circles on the back of his neck to comfort him as he calmed their daughter.

Once the babe fell asleep, Jaime rose to his feet, carrying Julianna across the room to her crib. "You won't…keep her with us tonight?" he heard Sansa ask softly.

He smiled sadly, gently placing her in the crib before turning back to his wife. "I just want you, first."

He saw her face crumble, as he sat on the bed beside her. Neither of them said it, but they both knew this could be the last time they would be together. He gently touched her cheek, holding her still as he leaned in to kiss her. He closed his eyes, breathing in her scent as he rested his head against her forehead.

"Promise me, something, Sansa."

"What?"

"Don't let them defeat you. Whatever happens…you must find the strength to endure this. You are so strong. Even stronger than you think you are. You can't give up. Promise me."

"I promise," she said, her eyes filling with tears. He kissed her again before moving He behind her and brushing her hair aside, kissing the back of her neck. As he slowly unlaced her gown, Jaime rested his head against the back of her neck, his arm with the golden hand wrapped around her waist.

He slowly removed her clothing, touching and kissing every inch of her that he uncovered. I'll need this memory of her to go away inside. I'll need her to get through the pain ahead. She helped him lift her shift over her head, revealing her perfect breasts to his gaze. He felt her stroking his hair as he leaned forward to rest his head between her breasts, closing his eyes and wishing that he could make everything stop. Wishing he could die right there in her arms. I'll think of her as I die. Only her. I will die in her arms.

His eyes moved over her breasts, watching his hand cup one of them, his fingers teasing her nipple. Jaime began kissing her breasts and heard her breath catch. He looked up and saw tears running down her face and shook his head. "Don't cry," he whispered, gently kissing away her tears. "Don't cry, sweet girl."

She nodded bravely, wrapping her arms around his neck and holding him tightly as he rubbed her back, relishing the feel of her silky skin beneath his hand. He slid his hand inside the back of her small clothes, gently caressing her arse before stripping off her last piece of clothing. Once she was naked, he waited, and just looked at her body, knowing she would want the chance to similarly explore his body. To memorize him as he had memorized her.

She crouched between his knees and gently ran her fingers down the side of his face, nuzzling against his neck as she gently kissed the shell of his ear. "I love you so much, Jaime," she whispered.

Her hands had moved to the front of his tunic, as she began removing his clothes. He helped her along, raising his arms as she stripped him to the waist. She covered his mouth with her own, and he couldn't resist returning her kiss with passion, though he had every intention of moving slowly. Jaime wrapped his arm around her waist, sighing into her mouth at the feel of her nipples against his bare chest. She eased him back until he was lying on the bed, looking up at her as she straddled his waist.

Gods, she's so beautiful. He watched her face as she gently traced her fingers over his chest, the pads of her thumbs rubbing over his nipples. He began petting her hair as she kissed his chest, her hands moving down over the muscles of his stomach. His breath caught as she began unlacing his breeches. He closed his eyes in utter bliss as her hand closed around his length. He loved feeling her hands on his body. She thinks I've given up but she's wrong. I'd do anything to be with her forever. But I won't risk her life to save my own.

Once she's removed his breeches and smallclothes, Jaime sat up, gently shifting her onto her back. He leaned over her, doing nothing more than studying her face for a long moment. His vision clouded and he felt her thumb brush under his cheek as she wiped away the tears he had not realized he had shed. He shook his head and looked away from her to get his emotions under control. Sansa reached out and turned his face back to her.

"You don't have to be brave for me," she whispered, her voice breaking as she pulled him down for a kiss. He forced his mind to shut off – at least for a while – as he lost himself in kissing her. Right now…we're the only two people on earth who matter.

Jaime focused on Sansa and desire quickly took the place of pain and fear as he felt her long legs wrap around his body. Remember every moment of this. Sansa pressed her tongue against his lips, and Jaime kissed her as if it were the last time. Jaime had to force himself to slow down, not wishing to rush his time with her. He smiled at Sansa's little chirps of pleasure as his mouth moved to her neck and down to her breasts. She threaded her fingers through his hair as he suckled on her breasts, though he continued moving lower until he crouched between her thighs. He needed to taste her, not wanting to forget a single thing about her. She gasped as his mouth closed over her and his tongue began teasing her pleasure spot.

He was already hard with need and want, but the sounds she was making only pushed him further toward the edge of desire. "Come for me, Sansa," he murmured against her as he continued working her with his mouth, his good hand stroking her hip. She began panting his name as pleasure overtook her. He scarce gave her the chance to catch her breath before he sheathed himself inside her and groaned in pleasure.

Sansa wrapped legs around his waist again and moved her hands to his shoulders. Jaime kissed her forehead and her nose, before moving to her lips. "I love you," he murmured against her lips as he slowly moved inside of her. She smiled sadly and brushed his hair back off his forehead as she returned the sentiment. He closed his eyes and buried his face in her hair, enjoying the feel of being completely enveloped by her. He moved to look into her eyes as his orgasm took over. She held him tightly as his body shook and he moaned her name.

He didn't know how much time passed as they lay in each other's arms after, exchanging soft kisses and running their hands over each other's bodies. Jaime was reluctant to spoil their time in each other's arms, but he needed to talk to her. He needed to be certain that she would not do something foolish when the Targaryen girl pronounced her decision.

"Sansa," he whispered, kissing her temple. "You need to prepare yourself for tomorrow." She stiffened in his arms as he spoke and he held her tighter, trying to reassure her. "I know you did all you could to change her mind, sweet girl, but, I don't expect she will show me any mercy."

She shook her head, laying across his chest and meeting his eyes. "I don't believe that, Jaime. She listened to me. I told her how much I love you and how…" He stroked her hair as she began to cry. "We haven't had enough time together," she whispered, looking down at his chest, as her tears landed on his skin.

He laughed softly and tilted her face up to him. "Even if we had fifty years together…it wouldn't be enough for me." Sansa hugged him tightly and rested her head on his shoulder. Neither of them slept at all that night, because they didn't want to miss a moment together. The morning still came far too soon.

…

I know that was a lot of drama at the end...I may have shed a tear or two writing it :) I think the Jaime/Tyrion dynamic will be interesting if they ever meet again in the books and I wanted to explore that. Tyrion has a lot of anger towards Jaime, but he was also the one person Tyrion could truly count on and I don't think the love between them would just disappear.

I struggled a lot with how Jaime would behave as a prisoner in this situation. If he didn't have Sansa & Julianna, I believe he would fight (and probably die doing so, with sword in hand) but he's in a very different situation than he's ever been in. Jaime actually has people he cares about more than himself and I think he would cooperate if he thought it could save him. Of course, reasonable minds may differ on that.

Next Chapter: Daenerys tells Jaime his fate

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