Chapter 83

Sansa watched in horror as Jaime slipped off the rocks, and disappeared beneath the water. She lunged toward him, but Jon held her back, covering her mouth to silence her scream. "You can't make a sound," he whispered urgently. "Someone in the castle will hear you and then we're all dead. The Kingslayer included."

She nodded and forced herself to remain silent. Every part of her was shaking with a desire to go to Jaime – to help him out of the water and back onto the rocks. Though she knew, in her head, that she would only be pulled into the freezing sea herself if she tried to help him. Jaime used to jump off the cliffs and into the Sunset Sea as a boy. He's a strong swimmer. He'll be fine. He has to be.

Ser Addam and her guards knelt at the edge of the water and reached in, trying to pull Jaime back onto the rocks. It was all she could do not force Jon to release her when she saw Jaime's head rise out of the water. He gasped for breath and struggled to keep from submerging once again beneath the freezing water. Jaime managed to grasp the rocks with his only hand, though they were covered with a slick coating of ice and he immediately slipped underwater once again. Sansa realized that Jaime's heavy cloak, now soaked with icy water, was pulling him underwater as he fought against it. Ser Addam must have noticed as well, and Sansa watched him rip the cloak from Jaime's shoulders, allowing it to sink into the blackness as he and two other guards wrenched Jaime out of the freezing sea.

Jon released her then, knowing she was no longer at risk of leaning over the edge of the rocks, and Sansa carefully made her way over to him, kneeling by his side. He was already shivering violently by the time she reached him. "Jaime?" she whispered, watching as the water in his hair turned to ice as it froze, creating the illusion that his hair was white. His skin was pale and cold to the touch and his lips were blue. Oh Gods…he could die from the cold.

"I'm a-a-all right, S-Sansa," he barely managed to gasp out. "Get- Get in the boat…with…with Julianna…"

"He's right. We have to keep moving. Until your ship carries you out of sight of the Rock, you're not safe," Ser Addam said gently, pulling Jaime to his feet, with the help of one of the guards. Sansa rested her hands on Jaime's cheeks, hoping the contact would warm him a bit. Before she could fuss over Jaime anymore, Sansa felt Jon grab her arm and pull her away, continuing their treacherous walk to the rowboat that awaited them.

"I have to help him." She looked back at Jaime nervously as Jon ushered her along next to him. Ghost walked beside her, easily padding along the slick rocks, and Sansa gripped his fur to keep her balance.

"They'll get him in the boat. Worry about yourself and the babe," Jon said, noticing her continuing to glance backwards. "I don't know how long we have until your escape is discovered. It's important to put distance between yourselves and Casterly Rock. If your ship is seen, the dragons will be sent after you."

She knew he was right. She knew how important it was that she and Jaime reached their ship. Sansa forced herself to walk forward slowly, careful not to lose her footing again. She could hear sounds of movement - more dragging than walking - behind her, though it reassured her that Jaime was following. When they reached the boat, Jon knelt down and held it steady, as those of her guard that were already inside and waiting reached for Sansa's arms and lifted her in, setting her down safely in the rowboat. She rubbed her hands over Julianna, who was snuggling against her for warmth beneath her cloak. Sansa watched as Addam practically dragged Jaime along the rocks, toward the rowboat.

"Take care of yourself and the babe," her brother whispered to her quietly, still kneeling beside the boat. "Don't worry about Arya or your mother. I promise you, I'll ensure they are safe. The Imp has already made plans for them and the other hostages from…the wedding." Jon could barely say the words, his pain over Robb's death quite apparent in his face.

"Thank you, Jon. For helping us. I know…I know it wasn't easy for you. Especially to help Jaime."

"I could never bear to see you cry. Not when you were a little girl and not now." Sansa smiled, remembering once, when she was only ten, and Arya four. Arya had broken her favorite doll and Sansa had cried and cried. In the morning, Jon had presented it to her – good as new. He must have stayed up all night fixing it for her. I seemed to have forgotten how kind he was to me when we were small. "You're certain you want this, Sansa? You want to go with him?"

She took Jon's hand and nodded. "I do, Jon. We love each other and…he makes me happy. Before Jaime…I'd not been happy for a long time. Jaime and I belong together, Jon. Julianna…and my marriage to Jaime are the only good things to come out of this war." He watched her for a long moment before nodding slowly in understanding. Jon continued to hold the boat steady as Ser Addam and the redcloaks lifted Jaime into the boat. Sansa quickly moved beside him, looking him over to see how badly he was suffering after falling into the water. She didn't like what she saw. He's freezing. We have to make it to the ship so I can get him out of these wet clothes and take care of him.

Ser Addam removed his own cloak and gave it to Sansa, for Jaime, before he leaned over and clapped Jaime on the shoulder. "Be careful. Both of you." Jaime covered Ser Addam's hand with his own and shakily nodded his thanks. "Sansa, when you get to the ship, make certain you get him warm quickly. Hypothermia's just as deadly as a sword."

Sansa nodded, wincing at how pale Jaime was as he shivered against her shoulder. She wrapped Ser Addam's cloak around Jaime's shoulders, but he continued to tremble, and his teeth were still chattering. She reached for the clasp on her own cloak to remove it and wrap it around him as well but his near-frozen hand covered hers, stopping her. "N…no. That's for…y..y…you and the babe." She took his hand and placed it in her lap, wrapping it in her cloak.

"Oh, Jaime." She could hear his teeth chattering as Jaime wrapped his arms around himself beneath Ser Addam's cloak. Sansa gathered Jaime against her, wrapping her arms around him and kissing his icy brow as Jon and Ser Addam gave the boat a shove toward the ship. One of the soldiers gave her a fur to wrap around him. "We don't have far to go," Sansa whispered against his ear, wincing at how cold he was. It was a lie. She had no idea how much farther they had to go, as it was nearly pitch black out and snow was beginning to fall on them. But she didn't want him to lose hope. Sansa wrapped the fur around Jaime's shoulders, though she knew that what he needed most was to get out of his wet, frozen clothes. "Just hold on a little longer, Jaime," she whispered.

Jaime was lying across her lap, freezing and miserable, as the soldiers slowly rowed them further out to sea. Sansa fearfully looked upward, expecting to see a dragon breathing its fire down on them at any moment. They're tied down. The dragons can't harm us. Sansa reminded herself that there was no reason to worry – Jon would not have allowed her to get into the boat if there was a possibility that she'd be burned to death. The howling wind caused the small rowboat to lurch back and forth violently – so much so that Sansa began to feel sick. She closed her eyes and held tightly to Jaime and Julianna. The babe was whining fearfully, as the angry water tossed their boat back and forth.

"Can't we go any faster?" Sansa asked her guards anxiously.

"We can barely see ten feet in front of us, my lady. If we row any faster, we could crash into the ship. We're getting there as quickly as possible, Lady Lannister, be assured of that." Sansa leaned over and kissed Jaime's brow. His eyes were closed and she could see that he was fighting the cold. He's freezing to death. Sansa spoke quietly to Jaime as they slowly progressed out into the sea. Even wrapped in furs, the freezing water from Jaime's clothes was seeping into her skirt, chilling her legs, though she didn't much care. Jaime's suffering far more than I. Sansa stared ahead as she rubbed her hands over Jaime, kissing him and trying to warm him as best she could.

She had not seen the ship Jaime had purchased for their voyage to the Free Cities. As it came into view, Sansa was astonished at the massive ship. We could live on the ship forever, it's so enormous. "We're here, Jaime. I'll get you warm very soon," she whispered, though her eyes were roaming over their ship, the likes of which she had never seen. It was nearly as large as the massive war ships she had seen from the windows of Maeger's Holdfast during the Battle of Blackwater. It was dark, but she could see the sails were red, and she saw that there were several oars coming out of the sides of the ship. I wonder if Jaime's men know how to sail this ship. As the rowboat slowed to a stop at the foot of the massive vessel, one other rowboat bobbed beside them in the water, and a rope ladder led the way onto the deck of the ship. Sansa tipped her head up and her heart sank as she saw how far they had to climb to board the ship.

How on earth is Jaime supposed to climb that in his current state, with only one hand? How am I to climb it? Jaime groaned and struggled to sit upright.

"La - Lady Sansa w..w…will climb first," he managed to stutter out between shivers.

"Why me first?"

"If you slip, there are- there are p-plenty of us to catch you."

"Who will catch you?" she whispered, resting her hands on his cheeks. He was so pale and Sansa feared he was too weak for the climb up to the deck of the ship. Not even to mention that he only had one hand. The thought of them coming so close, only to fail now, terrified her.

"Don't worry for m-me, sweet girl. Get yourself and Julianna to the top. Don't- Don't look down. Don't look back at me. P-Promise me."

She nodded. "Promise me I'll see you at the top," she said, hearing her voice waver in fear.

"I promise," he whispered. Jaime shakily parted Sansa's cloak and kissed the babe's head before kissing Sansa full on the mouth. "I-I love you, Sansa."

She hugged him tightly. "I love you, too, Jaime," she whispered against his neck before taking one of the guard's hands as he helped her grip the rope ladder.

"Slowly and steady, my lady," he said quietly. "You'll do fine. And we'll make certain Lord Lannister makes it to the top." Sansa took a deep breath and checked the bindings holding Julianna against her chest before she began to carefully climb to the top. She wanted more than anything to see how Jaime fared, but she was so afraid of falling that she forced herself to concentrate on the task at hand. The wind was blowing hard and the ladder was shifting from side to side, making it impossible to move quickly. Even the slow pace she was traveling at was exhausting her, as she fought the wind and cold. She stopped for a moment to catch her breath and felt the ladder pull down a bit, telling her that someone else had begun to climb. As she held herself steady, Sansa carefully glanced down and saw that Jaime had begun his climb, though once she saw how high she was, Sansa wished she'd not looked down.

"Ma…ma…" Sansa smiled down at Julianna as she tried to get her attention.

"We're almost safe, sweetling," she whispered. Sansa wanted to wait for Jaime to catch up with her, but she heard him urging her to keep climbing. She sighed, wishing she could help him somehow, but she resolutely continued to climb the rope ladder. Sansa finally reached the top rung and felt strong arms lift her onto the deck of the ship. She murmured her thanks and lifted her eyes, expecting to see a red cloak, but instead, met the eyes of a man, dressed all in black, that she did not recognize. He was older than Jaime, though he had the look of a knight.

"You couldn't possibly be anyone but Lady Sansa," he said, studying her face.

She felt nervous under his gaze, though Julianna's whining distracted her. "Shh…it's all right, Julianna." She pulled at the fastenings that bound her daughter against her chest and allowed her a bit more freedom to move. The man watched her closely as she kissed the babe's head. He was making her uneasy and Sansa wanted to ask who he was, but she was more concerned with Jaime. She moved toward the railings, watching as Jaime climbed towards the top.

Pia appeared at her side and took the babe from her arms, quietly assuring her that she would take Julianna somewhere warm, below deck with Tommen. Sansa nodded her thanks, turning her attention back to Jaime. He lost his footing a few times, terrifying her each time, though he quickly recovered. She knew that it was only sheer stubbornness that allowed him to make this climb, despite how much he must be suffering physically.

As Jaime reached the top of the ladder, Sansa moved toward him, to help him onto the deck, but the man in black gently moved her aside and pulled Jaime onto the deck himself. Sansa winced as her husband nearly collapsed in a heap onto the deck of the ship. She knelt beside him and wrapped her arm around his waist. Jaime took the help she offered, leaning heavily against her as she helped him to his feet, his head resting atop hers.

"What in the seven hells are you doing here?" Jaime ground out as he looked warily at the man. Sansa noticed that Jaime reached for his sword before realizing that he wasn't armed.

"You look like hell, Lannister. Even worse than the last time I saw you. Fell into the drink, did you?" Sansa held Jaime tighter, wondering who the man was and now fearing that he might be a threat to them.

"What are you doing here," Jaime repeated.

"The Imp's men found me down by the harbor a few days ago – when the dragon girl began her siege. It took me some time to reach Lannisport from the Riverlands by sea, but…I made it. He agreed not to throw me in the dungeons with the Northerners if I waited on your ship, and helped him when he needed it." The stranger was still looking at Sansa intently, searching her face, and she clutched Jaime tighter.

"You're sc-scaring your niece, Tully," Jaime managed with yet another shiver. Sansa realized then that the man was her mother's Uncle Brynden. The Blackfish. She remembered how he had threatened and insulted Jaime during the siege at Riverrun and stepped in front of Jaime, hoping that would stop the old knight from harming him, though the man chuckled at her action.

"Don't worry, girl, I don't plan to kill your husband…even if he has earned it many times over. I struck a bargain with the Imp – the Kingslayer's freedom for Cat and Edmure's. Your certain you wish to go with him, girl? To live in exile?"

"Yes."

"And your mother? She's sanctioned this?"

"I'm a woman grown," Sansa said, standing a bit taller. "And he's my lord husband and the father of my daughter. My place is by his side."

He nodded gravely. "You may not resemble your father physically but…you have his sense of duty."

"Will you help my mother escape?" she asked quietly, as her guards climbed up onto the deck and began dispersing throughout the ship, preparing for their voyage.

"Aye. I came here to get Catelyn and Edmure their freedom. I'd planned to liberate you as well but…it seems my help is not needed. You go on with your husband and your babe…the Imp says you're all in danger of being burned alive by dragons if you remain." He took her hand and kissed it. "I'm glad we've finally met, Lady Sansa. I've heard much about you, your whole life. You look about to keel over, Kingslayer. I'll let your lady wife attend you."

"Raise the anchor and set sail," the Blackfish called out to the red cloaks, climbing down over the side, and swinging into the rowboat they had just arrived in.

Jaime seemed to deflate a bit once the Blackfish left and the stubbornness that had fueled his climb wore off. He began trembling violently once again and Sansa turned her attention back to him, resting her hand on the back of his neck. "I have to get you warm. You're hurting aren't you?" She could see that the cold and pain from the injuries he had inflicted on himself while he was held prisoner in the dungeon were beginning to set in. She knew Jaime must be suffering badly when he didn't disagree with her, as he normally would refuse to admit any weakness.

"Is there anything I can do to help, m'lady?" Gendry gripped Jaime's other side, helping Sansa keep him upright. "Pia sent me up here. She said you might need help with Lord Lannister."

"We need to get Jaime into bed and warm him as quickly as possible."

Sansa and Gendry helped Jaime down the narrow stairs leading to the staterooms. Sansa was vaguely aware of the gentle movement of the ship as they began to sail away from Casterly Rock, and toward their new life in the Free Cities. At least we're on our way to freedom. She glanced up at Jaime and sighed, kissing his cheek. Now I just have to make certain Jaime is all right. After some struggling, Sansa and Gendry got Jaime into their stateroom and onto the bed. "Is there anything else I can do to help, Lady Lannister?"

Sansa shook her head. "Thank you, Gendry. I appreciate you for helping us as you have."

"Thank you, m'lady. For allowing me to come with you." Gendry had walked with Tommen and Pia up from the forge, carrying Tommen's kittens. When he saw Sansa, he had asked if he might be allowed accompany them to the Free Cities, since Jaime had told him that the Targaryen Queen might execute him if she learned who he was. Sansa had not hesitated to allow him to accompany them, remembering how he had helped Jaime survive after he was injured fighting the White Walkers. "If there's nothing else I can do, I'll go back below deck and help the men with the ship."

Sansa nodded, turning her attention to Jaime. She knew she had to get him out of his wet clothes if she had any hope of warming him up. Sansa threw off her cape and sat on the bed, unlacing his boots. Pia shoved some hot rocks, wrapped in cloth, along the foot of the bed, and placed a kettle on the table beside the bed. "Tommen and the babe are in the little room adjoining yours. He's playing with her. I'm afraid we cannot light the fires yet, m'lady, other than the small cooking fire in the kitchen. Is there anything else I can do?"

Sansa shook her head, removing Ser Addam's cloak from Jaime's shoulder. "No. Thank you." She removed Jaime's tunic – which was practically frozen to his body - and saw that his skin was no longer golden but pale, with a sickly blue beneath the skin. He also had many bruises, though those were the least of her concern at the moment. Jaime's eyes were closed as he continued shuddering from the cold, and she quickly unlaced his breeches and pulled them off his legs. Once Jaime had been stripped naked, she helped him under the large pile of furs, and gently removed the golden hand, which was cold as ice. Sansa piled more furs on top of him as he curled up in a ball beneath them.

"J-J-Join me, S-Sansa," he whispered, shaking violently.

"I will, Jaime," she murmured, smiling softly. She knew enough from growing up in the North that the heat from her body would warm him quickly. Growing up she'd heard Northern boys joke about throwing themselves into the icy river so that a pretty girl might have to lie naked with them, and warm them up. He's lucky I'm a northerner. I know how to take care of him. "First, I want to get some of this hot ale in you, Jaime. It will warm you from the inside." She poured him a cup from the steaming kettle beside the bed. Sansa propped Jaime up against some pillows and pulled the furs and blankets up to his chin. "Drink slowly," she said, holding the cup to his lips and resting her free hand on the back of his neck.

"I can do it," he said, grasping the cup with his shaking hand and using his stump to steady it a bit.

"I wish you weren't so stubborn," she said, pulling the furs up over his shoulders. "Drink all of it," she whispered, kissing the top of his head.

She stuck her head in the adjoining room and saw that Tommen was lying down on a small bed that was low to the ground. Julianna had curled up next to him. The kittens were at his feet and he was sleepily talking to her about what he'd seen in the forge, though Sansa could see Julianna was almost dead asleep, her hands clutching Tommen's tunic. They'll be all right together for the night. She was glad that brother and sister were together and finding comfort in one another.

Sansa pulled the door most of the way closed and then returned to Jaime, stripping off her own clothes by the side of the bed. It wasn't terribly warm inside the stateroom, due to the lack of fire, but it was much warmer than outside. She saw Jaime watching her as she removed her clothes.

"I wish I could enjoy this more," he murmured with a smirk, as she pulled her shift over her head, exposing her breasts, and his eyes roamed over her near-naked body. "Though the sight of you has raised my temperature a bit."

She saw that he could barely hold the cup in his hand and shook her head. Sansa quickly removed her smallclothes before she slipped under the furs beside Jaime. She poured him another cup of ale and held it for him to drink. She gently kissed his temple and ran her free hand back and forth over his shoulders, trying to warm his cold skin. "We can't light the fires yet…we're still too close to the Rock and they could see the flames in the darkness," she whispered regretfully. He quickly swallowed down the entire cup and then Sansa urged him to lie down. Jaime rested his head on her shoulder as she stroked his hair and brought her legs up to wrap around his waist. "I love you so much, Jaime," she whispered. "I know you're going to be all right."

"I love you too, sweet girl," he said weakly, kissing her shoulder. Despite his freezing state, she felt his hand moving over the bare skin of her back. He's still so cold. Sansa almost felt like she was going to start shaking herself from cold as she shared her body heat with him. She felt so safe in his arms, despite the dire circumstances, that she didn't even care. She and Jaime held each other as tightly as possible. She smiled as Jaime burrowed against her, nestling his head beneath the furs, against her breasts.

He began softly kissing her breasts as he held her tightly. "You should save your energy," she said, sighing in pleasure, though she thought perhaps he did not feel as miserable as she had thought.

"I thought the point was to make me warmer…this is certainly succeeding," he whispered weakly. Before she could respond, Jaime rolled onto his back, pulling Sansa so she covered his body, her thighs straddling his hips. She stroked his hair as she lay sprawled on his chest. She felt his stump against her lower back as he tightened his grip on her with his right arm, while his left hand roamed over her bottom. "For once I'm the ice and you're the fire."

"Are you feeling warmer? Truly."

He kissed her softly and she felt him practically melt into the mattress, as he prepared to sleep for the night. "My circumstances at present are much improved from what they were, now that I have you in my arms."

"You're still so cold. Try to stay awake and talk to me for a while…until you're warmer. People die from cold all the time in the North. And you're not used to the cold."

His eyes were closed, but he nodded faintly. "I'm rather glad you grew up in the frozen tundra of the North," he murmured, pressing a kiss to her temple. "My sweet girl…" Sansa wrapped her arms around his shoulders, and tucked her head beneath his chin, and continued to speak quietly to him until she was satisfied that it was safe to allow sleep to claim him.

…

No cliffhanger :) As always, let me know your thoughts. I know many of you want to see Jaime and Sansa as Lord and Lady of Casterly Rock and...who knows. The story's not over yet. Rather than just follow Jaime and Sansa there will be a few short chapters from other character's perspectives set in Westeros, covering what's going on in the Realm, while Jaime and Sansa are making their way to the Free Cities.

Next chapter: Jaime and Sansa's disappearance, and that of the other hostages – including the Northerners – is discovered