Chapter 112

As he stood in the throne room, considering the new Queen, Jaime couldn't help thinking back to the last time that he was in that room with a Targaryen ruler – when he slew the Mad King. He would wager that Daenerys Targaryen was thinking of the same thing. He knew that she would never think of him as anything other than an oathbreaker. A Kingslayer. He wondered if she planned to harm him, despite what she had told Tyrion. He couldn't figure out why the queen would want to speak to him away from Sansa and the children.

Jaime knew that Sansa had not wanted to leave him alone with the Queen. She had been so uneasy over their return to Westeros – and to King's Landing in particular. Jaime had tried to ease her fears, and she smiled and seemed at peace during their days on the ship, while they were with the children. But at night, she would sleep fitfully and often wake with a start as if from a terrible nightmare. Or a terrible memory, in her case. It had been many moons since Sansa had suffered nightmares and Jaime thought that the years they had spent together – at the Rock and in Lys – had wiped away the horrors she had suffered. But they were only buried beneath the surface and the prospect of walking the halls of the Red Keep once again had brought it all back.

He had to admit that his curiosity was piqued when the Queen asked to speak with him alone. After the last time they had met – when she'd condemned him to death and proclaimed that his wife was to marry Petyr Baelish – Jaime had expected the woman to avoid him and his family during their time in the capitol. His pardon was not due to any affection she held for him. It had to be a political maneuver engineered by Tyrion. Jaime had thought they would only catch a glimpse of the queen at the tournament and her coronation – events where she could not avoid being in the same place as the Lord and Lady of the Rock.

Of course, Julianna would have been crushed if that were the case. From the moment they set sail, Julianna had been so excited at the prospect of meeting a real queen. She had made Sansa teach her a proper curtsey which, even Jaime had acknowledged, the little one had perfected during their journey. Not even Cersei herself could have found fault with Julianna's introduction to the Queen. His little girl was every inch the proper lady.

Now that they were alone, with only Tyrion and her guards present, the young Queen seemed at a loss for what to say and stood there silently, considering him. Jaime looked over at Tyrion and raised an eyebrow in question, though his brother merely shrugged in response. Jaime reminded himself that Tyrion would not have led them into danger.

There were many things Jaime wished to discuss with his brother. Lord Tywin's death. Tysha. Tyrion's betrayal when the Unsullied took Casterly Rock. All of those things had weighed on Jaime during his years in exile. Though, the moment his brother stepped aboard The Laughing Lion, Jaime had forgotten any anger that he harbored and embraced him. He had not realized how much he had missed Tyrion until that moment. Whatever had happened between them in the past, Jaime knew that his brother was one of the few people who he could trust with his family. Tyrion would not have brought us here if he were not certain of our safety.

"Ser Jaime, would you join me in the small council room?" the Queen asked, turning on her heel without waiting for a response. She stopped after a few steps, when her guards began to follow. "Wait here. We can manage on our own."

"Your grace," Tyrion began, exchanging looks with her guards, "certainly I could be of service to both of you –"

"No, Tyrion. I would like to speak to your brother alone." The Queen turned then and strode from the room, clearly expecting that Jaime would follow her. He looked at Tyrion who shrugged and Jaime reluctantly followed her into the small council room.

The Queen was small in stature, though she had a presence that dominated the small council room. "I was informed, not long after taking the throne, that your…son…Tommen…who once sat on the iron throne was alive and living with you in the Free Cities. Most would not allow a usurper to return to the kingdom that was stolen. But…Tyrion assured me that he was not an ambitious boy. Tyrion insisted that Tommen would not hesitate to bend the knee and disavow any claim to the throne. Has the boy been told the terms of his pardon and return to Westeros?"

"Tommen knows his duty."

"And he is your son?" she persisted. They both knew the answer, but for some reason, she wanted to hear him say it. She wants to see if I will admit my sin. She wants to see the kind of man I am.

"I never considered Tommen to be my son. From the moment he was born…he was Cersei's and Robert's not mine. That only changed recently. When he came to live with me and Sansa. The first time I was allowed to take care of him and get to know him." Jaime looked up and met the Queen's gaze. "Yes, Tommen is my son."

"And your lady wife accepts him? She accepts your bastard as part of her family?"

Jaime's eyes narrowed, wondering why the Queen was trying to provoke him. "Sansa loves Tommen as if he were her own child. I understand you've taken in the child of an enemy – the child of a man you saw burned to death by your dragons. Certainly you can understand loving a child despite its parentage." She nodded quickly. "I wonder," Jaime continued, pacing the length of the chamber, "If you think so little of Tommen…if you consider him a monster…a bastard born of incest…a traitor and usurper…why would you offer the girl you've raised these past years as his betrothed? I would think you would want better for her. Or perhaps you don't care for her after all."

He saw that she was fighting to restrain her anger. "I agreed to this betrothal because Tyrion assured me that it was your sister who placed him on the throne and that the boy did not wish for such power. He assured me that…that Tommen is a very kind and gentle boy…He said that…that he would be kind to Shireen. Even if she is not as comely as your lady wife…she has a good heart and I was promised that your son does as well."

"Tyrion was right. Tommen is far better than either of his parents. He is a child that any man would be proud to call his own. Any woman would be lucky to have him as her lord husband…when he is grown."

"I have no intention of wedding two children. The boy will remain with you and your lady wife until he is grown. Until they are both grown and ready to marry." She looked at Jaime curiously then. "You say that you have come to consider him to be your son but…by returning here and accepting the terms of your pardon…you can never claim him as your own."

"Do you think I need to be reminded of that?" Jaime snarled.

He knew that it had hurt Tommen when he found out that he was to spend the rest of his life as Robert Baratheon's son. Though it was best for all of them to keep Jaime's true relation to Tommen a secret, he could see that a part of Tommen wished that Jaime could claim him as his son. That Julianna and the twins would know that he was their true brother. Jaime had never felt so torn about anything before. While there was a part of him that wished to claim Tommen as his son – to prove to Tommen that he loved him and wasn't ashamed of him - Jaime was relieved that Julianna, Gerion and Rickard would never know the ugly truth of his relationship with Cersei. The three of them all look up to me. They know nothing of my past. They don't know that I'm a kingslayer…and an oathbreaker. I'm a hero to them. Perhaps it was vanity, but Jaime enjoyed seeing the version of him that reflected back from the eyes of his children. He didn't want them to know about every act of dishonor in his past. He only wanted them to know the man he became after marrying Sansa.

During their journey back to Westeros, he and Sansa had both assured Tommen that nothing would change – that he was still part of their family just as he always had been – but Jaime knew him well enough now to see that the boy was feeling insecure about his place within their family. He was a sensitive lad and more than anything, Tommen wanted to be loved and accepted. He wanted to know that he belonged. Jaime turned his attention back to the Queen. She's baiting me. She must know that denying Tommen is mine has caused turmoil.

"I'm surprised that it troubles you so, Ser Jaime. You never claimed the boy as your own in all the years you spent in the Red Keep, seeing him every day. You never planned to call him your son."

"A great deal has changed during these years of war, my Queen."

She nodded. "Despite everything…it seems that these years away have treated you and Lady Sansa well. I recall my time in the Free Cities with fondness as well."

"Yet you left Essos and came here." The queen arched an eyebrow at his tone, which made it clear that he would have preferred she stay on the other side of the Narrow Sea.

"Yes, I did leave. And you left as well to return here and claim Casterly Rock. My understanding is that you and your lady wife were quite happy in Lys. It seems you and I both value what is rightfully ours."

They had both remained standing until this point, but the queen now sat in the chair reserved for her at the head of the table and motioned Jaime to take a seat as well. He sat in the Hand's chair. Tyrion's chair and his fathers before him.

"Let him be the king of ashes." She said it so quietly that Jaime thought he had imagined it. He met her violet eyes, and knew that he had not.

"Why would you say those words, your grace?"

"Have you heard of the House of the Undying?"

Jaime was puzzled as to how this test of his knowledge of Essos was an answer to his question, but he played along, waiting for her to make her point. "Of course I've heard of it. Why do you ask?"

She spoke slowly. Carefully. "I traveled to many places, during my journey here and for a time, we were in Qarth. I had to enter the House of the Undying. Did you know that before you're allowed entrance, the warlocks make you drink Shade of the Evening?" Jaime nodded, having heard of the blue liquid the warlocks of Qarth believed gave them their powers. It didn't sound particularly appealing to him. The Queen looked down and took several breaths.

"I take it their hospitality was somewhat lacking, your grace?"

She smiled faintly at that. "You could say that. I went through so many doors…around so many corners and saw…the strangest things. I saw Rhaeger. At least, I think it was him. I saw…a king at a feast…with a wolf's head in place of his own. And I saw the Iron Throne. There was a man on the throne with long white hair and a young man with golden hair and armor beside him. The man – the king – he was ranting and he said 'Let him be the king of ashes.' It was my father, wasn't it? He was going to burn the city to the ground and kill everyone."

Jaime leaned back in his chair, instantly recalling the ravings of the Mad King as Lord Tywin sacked the city. "Yes. As I recall…Sansa and I both mentioned this to you at Casterly Rock. Before you condemned me to death for treason. Because I chose to stop your father from killing everyone – himself included."

The queen at least had the good grace to look embarrassed at the reminder of their last meeting. "You have to understand…my whole life, I was told over and over how you had betrayed my father…stabbing him in the back and giving the city to your father's army and the throne to the Usurper. I believed that most of the Realm longed for the day that a Targaryen would return and reclaim the throne. I was told that the smallfolk were sewing dragon banners, waiting for our return."

Jaime smirked. "And now you've seen that the smallfolk don't care who sits on the throne. All they care about is a full belly and a warm bed to sleep in at night." She nodded. "Tyrion wrote and said that Sansa and I would be permitted to return to Casterly Rock after the…festivities here in the Capitol. That is still your intention?"

"Yes, it is. The people of Lannisport want you and Lady Sansa as Lord and Lady of Casterly Rock. Tyrion's quite convinced me that they'll accept no one else. That's what they care about – their liege lord. Not who rules the Seven Kingdoms. The boy…Tommen…he may return with you until the time comes for he and Shireen to marry. Perhaps…it would make it easier on them if she were to visit with your family from time to time."

Jaime nodded. "She would be most welcome. Sansa will see to Lady Shireen's comfort whenever she wishes to visit."

The Queen rose to her feet then. "Don't mistake our…understanding for forgiveness. There is only one reason why I'm pardoning you. It is for the sake of Tyrion and Lady Sansa."

"I understand why you might wish to show kindness to Tyrion but why do you care anything about Sansa's feelings?" Sansa had told him how certain she had been before – at the Rock – that the Queen had listened to her and wished to let them go. It had made it all the more shocking to her when Daenerys condemned Jaime to death and Sansa to life as the wife of Petyr Baelish. That act of cruelty had confirmed that the Queen cared nothing for Sansa's wishes. That she was simply a means to an end – a prize to give to Littlefinger.

"Lady Sansa has given you a beautiful family. You are both…quite fortunate that a political marriage made during a time of war became a marriage of love. I was in your lady wife's position not too long ago. I was also wed to a man I didn't love. A man I didn't want to marry. My brother sold me for an army. All to take back the iron throne." Jaime had heard of her marriage to a Dothraki khal and of his death. "I came to love him…as Lady Sansa came to love you and…if I can spare her the pain I felt…" The queen trailed off, clearly uncomfortable to discuss something so personal with Jaime. "Tyrion will take you to your wife and children now."

Jaime rose, knowing that the queen was done addressing him and wished to be alone. He paused in the doorway, his back to her and spoke softly. "Thank you for this kindness to my lady wife. Not many have treated her kindly, since this war began." He left before she could respond, eager to join Sansa and his children.

…

Being back in King's Landing after so much time away was strange to Tommen. So much had changed since he was last in the Red Keep. He was no longer king. And he was no longer the son of Robert Baratheon. Not really. Though he would have to live the rest of his life with the Realm believing that he was a Baratheon. Tommen remembered how small and scared he had been the last time he walked the halls of the huge castle. Now he was nearly grown and Jaime had taught him how to swing the golden sword that hung at his waist. He was helpless no longer.

Though Tommen could no longer think of Jaime as his uncle, he also couldn't bring himself to call him "father." Not even in his head. Instead, he was just Jaime. He understood now why Myrcella was so angry when they last saw her. She knew the truth about Mother and Jaime. She knew that they were bastards. That they were the result of incest. When he found out the truth, Tommen had been scared that Sansa would hate him. His mother was so mean to her before she married Jaime and he was afraid that she would hate him because Jaime had fathered him with another woman – a woman Sansa hated. But Sansa had treated him just the same. She's always treated me just as she treats her own children. And Tommen loved her as if she were his own mother. He'd never felt as happy as he did living with Jaime and Sansa.

Now, Tommen was scared to be back in Westeros. He was scared that Jaime and Sansa weren't going to take care of him anymore. That he wouldn't get to live with them. He knew that his betrothal was a condition of his return, but he wasn't ready to leave them. He didn't feel that he was a grown man who should have his own keep. Jaime and Sansa had both told him that it would be several years before he was to marry, but he was afraid the Queen would change her mind. I want to stay with them and with Julianna and the twins. He wasn't ready to be away from them.

Tommen looked down at his little sister who was holding his hand and happily skipping along beside him as she pointed out everything beautiful that they passed while Sandor Clegane led them to the Tower of the Hand. He nodded along at her chattering and glanced behind him to see that Sansa and the twins were following. Sansa nodded and gave him a reassuring smile. She's uneasy being back here as well. Tommen knew that. He had seen the discomfort on her face from the moment they set sail.

Tommen remembered what Joffrey had done to Sansa after her father was executed. Before Jaime came back and married her. Then Joffrey wasn't allowed to hurt her anymore. He rarely thought about his older brother, but he remembered being terrified of him. When Joffrey would begin to yell and tell the Hound or his Kingsguard to hurt people, Tommen remembered hiding in Myrcella's chambers where he thought no one would find him. He knew that he was a much better brother to his young siblings. He had promised himself long ago that he would always protect them. Even if they never know I'm their brother…I'll still protect them.

"Look at that, Tommen," Julianna breathed, pointing through one of the arches they passed.

"That's the moonlight garden. If you sit in it at night, all of the flowers look like they are glowing."

"How do you know?" she asked.

"I read it in a book." Tommen had never told Julianna that he once lived in the Red Keep. And he had certainly never told her that he was once King. When they began their trip back to Westeros, Tommen had thought about telling her. She always came to him, wanting to hear a story or to tell him about something wonderful she had heard. He knew that Julianna loved stories about knights and ladies and hearing about King's Landing would have enchanted her. But something had stopped him from telling her.

Because it was all a lie. I was never really King. That's why I never told her.

He supposed he had forgiven Jaime – and his mother – for their lies and for the relationship that had created him, Joffrey and Myrcella. He knew most people would find it disgusting and would call Tommen and Myrcella abominations. When he had first learned that Jaime was his father, he had not truly understood the implications of it. He had not realized what it meant – that House Lannister was as corrupted by incest as House Targaryen. But in time, as he grew older, he had understood. He remembered his grandfather Tywin speaking of the madness that cursed the Targaryens because they wed brother to sister. Tommen looked down at Julianna and returned her smile. He couldn't fathom having such a relationship with either of his sisters.

He thought about his mother often, though he never spoke of her to anyone. Once, Tommen had tried to ask Jaime about her and about their relationship, but the expression on Jaime's face at the mention of her name was enough to make the words evaporate on his lips. Tommen had long accepted that it didn't matter now why the Lannister twins had created three children together. Hearing how and why his parents had committed treason and sent all of Westeros spinning into war wouldn't change the past. If Sansa can move past it, surely I can as well.

The Hound led them into the Tower of the Hand and out onto the main terrace. The sun was shining brightly off the red stones that made up the Red Keep. Though he knew she lived there, Tommen was still surprised to see Margaery rise to greet them. He wasn't aware that he had stopped walking the moment his eyes fell on her until he felt Julianna pulling his hand and the twins and Sansa right on his heels.

He felt a sense of embarrassment come over him at seeing Margaery again. He was only a little boy – only eight years old – when they were wed. He had stupidly thought that she loved him and wanted to be his lady wife. Tommen remembered how earnestly he had said his marriage vows and how he had wanted to take care of her always. She never wanted to be my lady wife. She only wanted to be Queen.

He thought about the last time that he had seen her. She and Ser Loras had absconded with him in the middle of the night. She had come to his chamber in the dead of night and told him to dress quickly. She had told him that it was too dangerous for them in the capitol and that they had to flee south to Highgarden, where they would be safe. He had not minded, as long as he was with Ser Loras and his Queen. And then she had left him at Casterly Rock with Jaime and Sansa. She had not even told him that they would be parting. Though it had been several years, Tommen still remembered how sad and scared he had been to have another person abandon him in a strange place.

He felt Sansa's hand on his back. "Are you all right?" she whispered, her face etched in concern.

Sansa had already told him that his marriage to Margaery had been annulled by the High Septon and she told him that she was now wed to his Uncle Tyrion. And Tyrion himself had spoken to him as they rode from the ship to the capitol, and had asked if he would be all right seeing Margaery again. Tommen was a bit ashamed at the satisfaction he took in seeing that Margaery – who was never thrown by anything – seemed uneasy to see him as well. I was just a child when we were married. I must look different to her now. Tommen knew full well he looked like Jaime. Everyone knows how handsome Jaime is – everyone has always said as much. Tommen was no longer the chubby little boy that Margaery had wed. He felt a sense of satisfaction to have taken her off guard, even if it was ungenerous of him.

"Sansa," Margaery said, recovering herself and approaching. Tommen watched as she drew Sansa into an embrace.

"Who is that?" Julianna whispered, looking at Lady Margaery curiously. He knew that Julianna would like Margaery. She was beautiful and charming and everything that a high born lady should be. On the outside at least. Tommen had admired her as well. But now he knew how she had manipulated him when he was just a child – all so that she could be queen – Tommen realized that she was not as beautiful on the inside.

"Tommen," Margaery purred. "I scarce recognized you. You were just a boy when we parted at Casterly Rock and now you have nearly grown into a man."

She offered him her hand and Tommen took it, bringing it to his lips. "Hello, Lady Margaery. Though I should call you aunt, should I not?"

Her smile faltered for a moment before she turned her attention to Julianna at his side. "This must be the little Lady Julianna. I remember when you were just a babe in your mother's arms."

Sansa rested her hand on Julianna's shoulder, and introduced her and the twins to Margaery. She was just as charming as Tommen remembered. He remembered how much he had liked her and the attention that she gave to him when he was a lonely little king. He saw a little girl – the age of the twins – hovering in one of the archways leading out to the terrace.

"Mama?" she asked, looking to Margaery.

"Come here, Sweetling," she murmured, holding her hand out to the little girl.

She wasn't as beautiful as he would have expected the daughter of Margaery Tyrell to be, but she had bright sparkly eyes and a huge smile on her face. He could see glimpses of both her mother and father in her looks. His Uncle Tyrion had told him that he would meet his cousin Tabytha, and that he hoped that Tommen and the other children would get to know her. He wants us all to be friends. It had seemed important to Tyrion that his daughter was accepted by Jaime's children, so Tommen knelt down and introduced the twins to her. Julianna and Gerion met her enthusiastically, though Rickard was predictably shy and would only peek out from between Tommen and Sansa.

"Tabytha, Sweetling, would you like to take your cousins to your room to play?" Margaery smiled at his little brothers and sisters, before leaning down to speak to Julianna. "And I'm sure you'll keep an eye on all of them for us?"

Julianna smiled brightly and nodded. She does so love being in charge. Tabytha, Gerion and Julianna took off in the direction of the little girl's room, though Rickard hesitantly stood beside Tommen, holding his hand. Tyrion and Margaery's daughter ran back and offered Rickard her hand.

"Play with us?" she whispered.

"It's all right, Darling," Sansa murmured quietly. "We'll be right here." Rickard looked between Sansa and Tabytha uncertainly before he slowly took his cousin's hand and allowed her to lead him away with Gerion and Julianna.

Margaery clapped her hands together and called for refreshments. Tommen held Sansa's chair out for her and sat beside her on the terrace – as far from Maragery as possible. He wondered if she would talk about all that had happened in the past, or if she would pretend that she had not gone to such great lengths to be Queen. She's not a Queen now. Tommen wondered how Margaery felt about being married to his Uncle. Tyrion was powerful - he was Hand of the Queen. Tommen decided that was probably enough for Margaery. She doesn't seem to care about being in love. He looked over at Sansa and saw the worry on her face. He knew she would be anxious until Jaime returned. Margaery doesn't love Uncle Tyrion as Sansa loves Jaime.

"You must both tell me about the past few years," Margaery said pleasantly. "It has been so long since the three of us were together. We were always good friends. I so want to hear everything about your adventures in the Free Cities. I've never been there myself."

"It's very beautiful there," Sansa said distractedly, glancing back at the doorway. "Very warm...very different from the North."

Margaery smiled, and seemed to understand Sansa's distraction. "Tommen, you look so much like your – like your Uncle Jaime. So tall and handsome. You seem to have fared well living with Ser Jaime and Lady Sansa. You've been happy?" He looked at Sansa uncertainly but was saved from such an uncomfortable conversation.

"They all appear happy. So much so, I'm surprised they would return here. Though I am grateful to have my family back. Perhaps we should journey to the Free Cities, my lady wife."

Tommen smiled gratefully at his Uncle Tyrion and felt Jaime squeeze his shoulder before he sat beside Sansa. He watched as Sansa took Jaime's hand in both of hers. Tommen was just as relieved as Sansa that he had not been harmed. Jaime leaned over and kissed his wife, and Sansa did not seem to care about his lack of propriety, though he knew Julianna would have scolded her father for showing such affection publicly.

"So, my dear good sister," Jaime said, picking up a small bunch of grapes and leaning back in his chair casually as he considered Margaery, "We really must catch up before Sansa and the children and I return to the Rock."

Tommen had heard Jaime ranting about Margaery Tyrell to Sansa after receiving one of Uncle Tyrion's letters. He did not appreciate her thirst for power, nor did he care for her treatment of Tommen and Tyrion. He had even heard Jaime say that she had helped to kill Joffrey. He looked between Jaime and Margaery and knew that the lady was not in for a comfortable afternoon.

…

I know the chapters are coming out a little slower, but I'm still writing :)

Next chapter: Jon, Arya and Bran arrive in King's Landing and the Tournament begins!