Chapter 93

…

Tyrion sat before the fire in the library of Greywater Watch, drinking from a large goblet of wine that one of Howland Reed's servants had provided, a large fur draped over his lap. He'd found himself unable to sleep, as he had for much of the journey North, and decided to seek out the room that made him the most comfortable. Even as a small child, Tyrion had felt most at home in the large library at Casterly Rock.

He'd enjoyed traveling with the Queen, Ser Jorah and Ser Barristan for the past few weeks, though the ride itself was punishing on his body. Despite that, Tyrion had enjoyed their company, and began to feel that he was accepted by all of them. He knew that Ser Barristan had disapproved of Tyrion – due to his kinslaying and relation to Jaime – but it seemed the old knight saw that he had the queen's best interests at heart. They also shared a mistrust of the Spider, and both had been glad that Lord Varys remained behind in the capitol.

He knew that he'd also enjoyed the trip because of the absence of his lady wife, who also remained in King's Landing. Margaery was always kind to him, but he did not trust her and he found it exhausting to constantly have his guard up. Mercifully, her delicate condition had kept her behind, and it gave him a certain freedom. He didn't have to be vigilant about potential ways that he could be killed. He didn't have to ponder Margaery's every action, wondering what her ulterior motives were.

Tyrion took another sip of wine, enjoying the taste of it in his mouth. Of course, I won't be away from Margaery forever. He had not expected her to announce that she was with child so soon. Truthfully, he'd hoped his lady wife would prove to be barren. He had never believed he would be a father. He'd given up on all thoughts of marrying and having children after Tysha. What sort of father will I make? Tyrion knew that Lord Tywin's example wasn't much of an inspiration for good fathering. Though, it seemed Jaime was managing rather well as a father. The little red-haired babe he had with Sansa had appeared happy. She'd appeared to love her father. Jaime has Sansa to guide him and help him be a good father. I'll have Margaery. Tyrion supposed the child would be cunning, if nothing else.

With any luck, Tyrion hoped to be away from King's Landing for the majority of his wife's pregnancy. He knew that she would try to use the child to get closer to him. To find her way into his heart. Many times during this trip, he'd pondered whether he would love the child when he did not love the mother.

Tyrion shook his head and took another large drink of wine, pulling the furs tighter around him as the fire crackled merrily. The royal party at stopped at each keep they passed on their way to Winterfell, at Tyrion's urging, so that her subjects could swear fealty. The further North they traveled, the more hesitant the smallfolk were about Daenerys. He knew that the North had always longed to return to a time when they were their own kingdom, but the Queen was not willing to allow any part of the Realm to have its independence. The presence of Jorah Mormont did not help matters. He had been sentenced to death by Eddard Stark for being a slaver, and the entire Realm knew that he had fled to the Free cities to avoid his punishment.

Howland Reed had received them politely. What choice did the man have when he heard the dragons screaming and saw the Unsullied marching? Tyrion saw that they were not truly welcome in the Neck. He had asked after Lord Reed's children, and had received a deliberately vague response about their location. Perhaps they joined the Starks in re-taking Winterfell and he fears that the Queen still sees them as an enemy. Tyrion recalled passing through the Neck on his way to Winterfell, as part of another royal party several years earlier. He could not have known then what was to come. Tyrion often wondered what would have been different if Jon Arryn had lived. If Robert had not insisted on naming Eddard Stark as his Hand.

Over the past few weeks, the queen had not once mentioned Jaime, and her silence on the subject worried him. He feared that she'd given Varys permission to send someone after him in the Free Cities. The Queen mercifully did not yet know that Tommen was alive and living with Jaime and Sansa in Lys, but he knew she would find out if men were sent after them. Varys was present when she burned the boy Lord Tyrell told her was Tommen. She'd know that Varys misled her just as Tyrion had. Though he was consumed with worry for his brother, Tyrion was afraid to bring the topic up to his queen. He wanted to ask if any decisions had been made about Jaime. At least Ser Addam dispatched a message to Jaime. I can only hope that it reaches him before anyone else does.

There had been quite a lot of time for thought during their travels, as Tyrion rode along on his horse. He had continued to ponder the words he'd read in Prince Rhaeger's journals. The dragon has three heads. The three of them will ride again and save the Realm. He had not mentioned the journals to Daenerys. Tyrion wanted to figure out for himself what they meant, before bringing it to the queen. If he'd learned nothing from his father, Tyrion had learned the value in information. Especially information known to no one else.

Tyrion had wracked his brain, trying to remember the many stories Jaime had told him about the war and the books he had read on the subject. Tyrion had only been a boy, kept locked away at the Rock with Aunt Genna until the war ended and Cersei wed Robert Baratheon.

"Do you mind if I join you, my lord Hand?"

Tyrion turned his head toward the doorway. "Call me Tyrion. There's no need for such formality. And this is your keep, you may go anywhere you wish. You're more than welcome to join me."

Howland Reed lowered himself into a chair opposite Tyrion, warming his hands in front of the fire. "My squire mentioned that you were in here. You're on your way to Winterfell? So that…your Queen can treat with Catelyn Stark?" Tyrion nodded. "If there's any truth to what we heard about her efforts to treat with your brother and his lady wife, I would not expect Catelyn Stark to welcome you."

As Tyrion feared, the Queen's reputation in the Realm was of a woman who would deceive and trick. A woman with no honor. If Littlefinger weren't dead, I would kill him now, myself. He had thought that nothing would prove more difficult that serving as Joffrey's Hand, but serving Daenerys was proving quite a challenge. He wondered why Lord Reed would care about the Queen's treatment of Jaime, before he realized that he would care about her treatment of Sansa. Eddard Stark's daughter.

"Are you well acquainted with Lady Stark? She and I…have had our difficulties." That's rather diplomatic. I very nearly plummeted to my death in the Eyrie, thanks to her efforts. "I did not get the chance to know Lord Stark well but, he seemed a good man. And I got to know his bastard – now Lord Commander of the Night's Watch. A bit severe, like his father, but…a good lad."

He saw Lord Reed stiffen a bit when he mentioned Eddard Stark's bastard, and feared he's offended him. "I meant no offense, Lord Reed. I understand you were friends with Eddard Stark, were you not?"

He nodded. "Lord Stark was my liege lord. I served beside him during the Rebellion."

"My brother, Jaime, led me to believe that you and Lord Stark were closer than that. He believed you were close friends. That you fought with him against Ser Arthur Dayne at the Tower of Joy. To recover Lady Lyanna."

Lord Reed stared into the fire for a long time before responding. "I met Ned and Lyanna…I met all of the Starks, at the Great Tourney at Harrenhal. Where it all began," he whispered.

Where what all began? Tyrion sipped his wine and maintained a neutral tone. "My father did not permit me to attend the tourney. Nor did he attend himself. In protest, I suppose. It was at the tourney that Jaime was given the white cloak. When the Mad King stole Lord Tywin's heir." Tyrion pushed aside his feelings of hurt and anger over his father's hatred for him – over his stubborn insistence that it was Jaime who would have the Rock. He had come to accept that his father only really loved Jaime. His heir. Tyrion and Cersei were nothing but pawns. "How did you meet the Starks? It seems…there's a story there."

"Lady Lyanna…she stepped in when I was being beaten by some of her father's bannermen. She wasn't afraid of anything. She, and her brothers, were very kind. Very honorable. They invited me to spend the tourney with them." Lord Reed smiled fondly at the memory. "Lyanna Stark…was determined to get revenge on the boys who had attacked me and she- well, I wonder, if she had not been helping me, perhaps the prince would never have noticed her."

"Jaime always said that Prince Rhaeger was a good man. That he could not believe that he took Lyanna Stark against her will. Of course, in Robert Baratheon's court, he could never voice such thoughts aloud." Tyrion watched the man carefully. "You agree with him, don't you?" The man remained silent, but he did not deny it either. They sat in silence for many minutes until Tyrion decided to risk sharing what he had learned with Lord Reed. It may be the only way to get the man to open up. "I did find some journals in the Red Keep…that belonged to Prince Rhaeger. I wonder if perhaps you could make sense of them?"

Tyrion and Howland Reed spoke well into the early morning. And in the end, it was decided that Lord Reed would travel with the royal party to Winterfell.

…

A soft, cool sea breeze blew through the Lysene marketplace, providing a welcome relief from the heat. Jaime glanced over at Sansa. She was kneeling beside Tommen as they looked over a table of sweets flavored with the rich spices of Lys. He'd noticed that her pregnancy made her even more willing than normal to indulge the sweet tooth she and Tommen shared. In addition to the exotic desserts favored by the Lysene people, he'd noticed the almost astonishing frequency that lemon cakes were baked in the kitchen of their villa.

They had been living in Lys for more than two moons, and Sansa's belly had begun to swell quite rapidly and noticeably. We'll have to tell the children soon that they will soon have a new baby to play with. Jaime knew that Julianna would not truly understand, though Tommen would. Sansa had suggested that this might provide Jaime with the chance to tell him that they were father and son, but Jaime was hesitant to tell the boy the truth. When he was alone, Jaime sometimes found his mind wandering to the last time he spoke with Myrcella. And that memory was enough to drive away any thoughts of telling Tommen the truth of his parentage.

"Dada…dada!" Julianna said, patting his shoulder urgently and pointing at a man walking through the marketplace with a large red parrot on his shoulder. She smiled happily, excited by everything there was to see in the bustling marketplace. She never tired of going and was endlessly fascinated by the sights. Any lingering doubts Jaime had about leaving Westeros behind vanished when he saw how happy Julianna, Tommen and Sansa were in Lys. He watched as Sansa closed her eyes and turned her face up to the sun, smiling as she felt the warmth on her face and shoulders.

Sansa was lured to the market every week by the smell of spices and the prospect of buying fine fabrics and scented soaps. He had noticed that she also enjoyed watching the Lysene people in the market, and frequently saw her studying the clothing the women wore. She'd begun making her own clothing, still in the Lysene style, though she deemed her creations "more appropriate" for a woman who was with child. Though that may be true, her new gowns would be considered inappropriate in Westeros, and he was glad to see Sansa let go of her propriety – a little – and embrace the Lysene culture.

A young boy had come up to them a week earlier at the market, bearing a letter with the seal of Ser Addam. Jaime did not know how the letter reached them, or how the boy knew who they were, but he was grateful for it all the same. The letter brought news of Sansa's family. They had successfully escaped Casterly Rock as well, and conquered both the Twins and Winterfell. Sansa had wept with joy upon hearing that her family home had been reclaimed from the Boltons. And he knew that she took some small satisfaction that Walder Frey and Roose Bolton had been executed for their betrayal of her brother Robb. That night, he and Sansa had lain in bed and spoken about the future of the North. Sansa said that Arya was now heir to Winterfell, since she herself was no longer in Westeros.

Jaime wondered how Arya was faring in their absence. He knew she and Sansa had not been close before the war, but they had come to be so, after losing so much of their family. Though he was loathe to admit it, he found himself missing Sansa's little sister. When Sansa asked him if it might be possible to see her sister again someday, he had not hesitated in his promise to make that happen for her, suggesting what when she was older, Arya could travel to Lys to visit them. Both had agreed that Arya would like that very much. All their talk of Sansa's family had made Jaime think about Tyrion. He hoped that he was doing well. Ser Addam's letter mentioned that Tyrion had wed Margaery Tyrell, which had dismayed them both. Perhaps one day Tyrion and I will meet again as well.

Sansa returned to his side, a small bag of candies clutched in her hand. Julianna reached for her mother, and she gladly took the babe from Jaime, pressing a kiss to her forehead. "What would you like to spend our gold on next?" he asked with a smile.

"The cook asked if we could bring back some fish for dinner," she said, ignoring his teasing. They both knew that while Sansa did spend a lot of time in the marketplace and normally returned with many baskets and crates of goods, she was a shrewd negotiator and they were in no danger of running out of gold. Jaime had put her in charge of the household finances, knowing that she had been trained by her mother in such things. He had turned his back on learning to be Lord of the Rock, and spent his time swinging a sword and serving as a glorified bodyguard. His little wife was far better equipped than he to ensure their continued financial stability.

"Are we going to the pier for fish?" Tommen asked happily. Both of the children enjoyed walking on the docks, watching the pelicans dive for fish and seeing the schools of dolphins jump out of the water. Julianna would shriek with laughter and grip Tommen's arm as they watched together. And Tommen would hold his sister securely, making sure that she did not fall or harm herself. He's a good, kind brother to her. Even if he doesn't know it.

They strolled down to the piers adjoining the marketplace. Sansa carried Julianna in her arms and rested her hand on Jaime's arm. Their guards trailed along behind them as Sansa decided which of the fishmongers she wished to purchase their dinner from. As soon as they reached the fishmongers, Sansa dropped his arm and strode toward them purposefully. Jaime stifled a smile, rather enjoying watching her merciless negotiations with the merchants.

"Can we go see the pelicans, Uncle Jaime?" Tommen asked, tugging at his hand. Jaime nodded and walked with Tommen towards the edge of the dock. There were quite a few people on the pier, enjoying the views of the Sea and the smell of the salt air. "I don't ever want to leave here," the boy said, holding tight to Jaime's hand as he gazed at the sea birds diving over the water.

"I'm glad you're happy here. You like Lys better than King's Landing even?" Jaime asked with a smile and Tommen nodded enthusiastically.

"Look, Uncle!" Tommen said, running through the crowd, toward a man pulling a wagon with a small cage in it. "They're kittens."

The man saw Tommen coming and stopped, smiling kindly. "They're Shadowcats," he said in a thick Eastern accent and Jaime could see the boy's delight from where he was. "Would you like to pet them?"

Tommen nodded with excitement, following the man as he wheeled the cart down the dock. Jaime leaned against the railings, watching Tommen as another man, clad all in black linen approached him. Jaime turned his head, raising his eyebrows in question.

"I'm so sorry."

Jaime was about to ask what the man is sorry about, before he realized. A sorrowful man. Time seemed to slow down as he saw the flash of silver – Valaryan steel – in the man's hand and heard Sansa scream his name. Jaime ignored the threat before him and turned his head towards her. No! They can't kill her. He feared she was under attack as well, but he saw that she had merely seen the man approach Jaime and draw his dagger. Jaime had been enjoying the day with his family and let his guard down. That's when he struck.

She began to run towards him and Jaime turned back to the sorrowful man. Jaime's concern for Sansa had cost him precious seconds, and Jaime felt the blade pressing against his belly. Then, in a moment, it was gone and the man slumped against him and slid to the ground. The crowd on the pier parted and nearly vanished when they realized the danger, leaving no one of the pier but Jaime's party and the dead assassin at his feet.

"Jaime! Help him, quickly," Sansa shouted at their guards. She put the baby down beside her on the pier and began pulling at his tunic in a panic and Jaime realized he was covered in blood. The assassin's blood. Tommen stood beside Julianna, holding her hand and Jaime saw that the man with the shadowcats had also disappeared. He lured Tommen away. Sansa urged him to sit down as she struggled to find an injury on him. Julianna was crying and Tommen was shaking in terror, staring at the blood covering Jaime's tunic.

Jaime grabbed Sansa's hands, stilling her. "I'm all right. It's not my blood. I'm not injured." She met his eyes then and he saw there were tears in her eyes and she was consumed with fear. He ignored modesty and removed the bloody tunic, tossing it on the ground and pulling Sansa into his arms, kissing the top of her hair. "It's all right. We're all safe," he murmured.

"He could have…killed you," she sobbed against him. He felt Sansa's tears on his chest and felt Julianna gripping his leg as she continued to cry. Jaime let go of Sansa long enough to pick the babe up and hold her as she clung to him fearfully.

"Uncle Jaime?" Tommen asked uncertainly, his voice shaking with fear.

"We're all safe, Tommen. No one's hurt," he said, patting the top of his head. Their guards had tossed the sorrowful man's body into the sea and now stood surrounding Jaime, Sansa and the children with their swords drawn. He called for his guards to take them to their boat. We have to get home. Where we're safe.

"What happened?" Sansa asked as they hurried toward their skiff. "Who was he?"

"He was a sorrowful man," Jaime whispered.

Once he'd boarded the vessel himself, Jaime saw Sansa pale and look around fearfully. "Who sent him?" she asked quietly, as if there were other assassins listening to their conversation. Perhaps there are. I've grown far too comfortable…far too complacent. I've forgotten we are at war. I've forgotten there's a Targaryen in Westeros who wants my head.

Jaime met her eyes, looking at her meaningfully. "I'm sure you can determine who would have sent an assassin for me. There's only one person who wants me dead…Daenerys Targaryen. The new queen."

"How did she find us?"

Jaime shook his head. "We'll talk later. We should return home, quickly." Sansa nodded, gripping Tommen and Jaime's hands, as they walked among the many boats docked in the harbor, in search of their own.

"To which of you do I owe my thanks?" Jaime asked his men, grateful that they were there. I'd have been dead on the docks – murdered in front of Sansa and my children - had someone not intervened. Jaime held her hand tighter and looked at his men expectantly.

All four of them seemed embarrassed. "We were guarding Lady Sansa and the boy, as you instructed," one of them said hesitantly. Jaime recalled that, not long after they began making these trips to the marketplace, he had spoken to his men privately and ordered them to make the safety of Sansa and the children a priority. Even over Jaime's own safety. The sorrowful men have been watching us. They knew to wait until I was separated from Sansa and the children.

"Then who killed him?" Sansa asked

"Not to any of the men you employ," says a mocking voice behind him. "Tywin would be rather disappointed. I had heard you grew to become best sword in the seven kingdoms. I did not expect the bloody assassin would be able to get that close to you – let alone draw his weapon. Has living in Lys taken the Lannister of you?"

As his guards pulled their swords, Jaime turned and met the piercing green eyes of an older man dressed in light brown linen, golden hair atop his head and a glittering golden greatsword on his back. The years had been good to him, and Jaime felt transported back to his childhood at the Rock, as Tyrion recited Longstrider's sixteen wonders.

The man laughed at his soldiers, his teeth white and feline. "The lot of you didn't even notice me there. Lys may be a paradise, but you're still guarding the heir to Casterly Rock. Truly, Jaime, your father would call you a fool and say you lost your senses." He glanced at Sansa then, looking her up and down. "I'd say you found a worthy distraction. Though, perhaps not one worth dying over."

Jaime pushed past his guards, walking closer to the old lion, who seemed so pleased with himself. "Uncle Gerion."

…

As always, please let me know your thoughts.

Next chapter: The royal party (and Howland Reed) arrive at Winterfell & Jaime introduces Sansa to his long lost uncle