Escaping the capital city was anything but easy, despite the ruined state it was in after the sacking had begun. Especially with a young girl that was unable to react or act at all due to her state of shock. But Jaime Lannister was not a man who would give up easily. He had made his choice and did anything in his power to succeed. But with Lannister men everywhere and the people fleeing in terror, it was not an easy task to get away. He even had to watch with some horror, as parts of the city still ended up in flames, despite Aerys' death. Fires most likely started by the looting men of Tywin Lannister's forces.

He knew he had to hurry. His actions, his treason was most likely no longer a secret. And soon the city would be crawling with even more soldiers. Not just his father's men, but also those of the rebellious houses Baratheon, Stark and their allies. The rebels had only been a few hours away from the city, when Aerys made the fateful mistake to trust Tywin Lannister.

Jaime's gilded armor, once a sign of his pride and honor, was now a hindrance, as it slowed him down and made him easy to identify. He was the last Kingsguard in the capital and even the lowest born child knew about that. The people had watched Rhaegar and the rest of guard leave after all. But he had no time to change, and so he ran, hoping that he could escape with the many other frightened people that ran for their lives.

But his luck was apparently not supposed to hold this day. While he had Rhaenys still clutched to his chest, he ran into a group of soldiers, all wearing the red of the Lannister men. And they were not alone.

"Ser Jaime! By the gods what are you doing out here? I've already reported to your Lord father and he is on his way to the Red Keep, searching for you!" Of all the people, he had to run into Ser Elys Westerling for a second time that day. Jaime wasn't sure whether he should curse the gods for their obvious punishment of him... though not much later he would regard this meeting as a stroke of luck.

"Ser Elys..." Jaime said cautiously. He couldn't be sure on whose side this man would be on. His or his father's. Not in a situation such as this.

"This child... who is she? Why are you..."

"Enough, Ser Elys." Jaime said curtly, "This child is mine... born of one of Princess Elia's ladies at the keep. I want her brought to safety for I do not know what my father would do to a bastard of Lannister blood. I cannot trust him with her safety." He lied quickly, hoping to convince Elys and his men. He pressed Rhaenys head to his chest, to hide her eyes from sight. Though Rhaenys looked much like her mother, like a true dornish princess, she still had her father's dark lilac eyes. Targaryen eyes that would give her identity away. But as long as he kept those eyes hidden he could still claim that the girl was the daughter of one princess Elia's ladies in waiting from Dorne. He had visited the capital often enough in the past, to give this lie some credibility. He would not be the only young lord with an unclaimed bastard in the capital... and most likely he would not be the last one as well.

Luckily Rhaenys did not move and Elys Westerling obviously believed the lie. "I will have my most trusted men escort her to safety, Ser Jaime. No harm shall befall the child." He said dutifully, almost eagerly. Jaime could only guess that the man still believed that he stood in front of the future Lord of Casterly Rock and that by doing this small favor, he would gain his own house more support from his future liege lord. Not to mention that knowledge of his liege lord's secret bastard would be very valuable.

"No. I shall bring her to safety myself. I mean no disrespect to your men, but I won't trust anyone with her safety. Not now, not any time soon. Help me leave the city without my father's notice or get out of my way and pretend we have not met!" Jaime said more forcefully. He could almost see the gears working inside Westerling's head, as the man contemplated his options. Jaime wondered what would become of his reputation if word got out that he had a supposed bastard daughter. He was mere seventeen and people would believe this girl to be the child of his first attempts as a lover, a girl born from the ardor of a lustful idiot. Luckily no one but his late mother knew about his earliest and only encounters, shared with his twin sister, Cersei.

For a moment his thoughts drifted to his beloved twin. His actions here would separate them for years... if he survived this day or those following. She would be furious with him. He made the decision to put this child's survival over their relationship and he knew that she would not forgive him so easily. Neither would she forgive Rhaenys, though the girl had no guilt in all of this. But his sister was very protective of those she loved, sometimes even beyond reason. She loved her mother dearly and would never forgive her brother Tyrion for his part in her death, though it was not his fault at all. And just like this she would blame Rhaenys for his decision.

"Men, open a path for Ser Jaime towards the River Gate." Westerling ordered his soldiers, before he stood next to Jaime in a protective stance, shield and sword ready to defend his lord's son. "Come, Ser Jaime, there are nearly no soldiers near that gate, your father's troops are still busy in the west and the Keep."

Jaime nodded, but remained silent otherwise, as he allowed Westerling and his men to lead him towards safety. At first he believed the gods had cursed him, but now it was obvious that the Seven must have blessed his decision to safe the princess. Why else had they sent him a gullible fool like Westerling, who readily believed the lie about a young man, protecting his poor bastard child from his ruthless father.

Westerling and his men did their job thoroughly, opening a path for their lord's son, shielding him both from possible danger as well as unwanted attention. In almost no time they had reached the gate, finding it wide open as people fled the city in great numbers. Jaime knew that this was his only chance to escape now... as well as his only chance to reconsider and return to his father's side. The latter action though would mean to condemn Rhaenys to death. He couldn't do that. This girl was all that was left of Rhaegar Targaryen now.

"I will leave now. Do not mention seeing me to anyone. Not the rebels, not the remaining Targaryen loyalists and especially not to my father. Do this and I will reward all of you greatly once my daughter is safe." Jaime said evenly. He could see the glint in the soldier's eyes, the greed. None of them had grown up like he had, with all the riches and splendor of a lord's son. Most of them were poor farmers, smiths or other lowborn workers with a family at home, that depended on them to feed them. He couldn't be angry with them for their wish to earn some extra gold. But they would not get anything for their help today. If anyone found out about their involvement in Rhaenys Targaryen's escape, they would be lucky to survive the wrath of Tywin Lannister.

"But your father... what shall I tell Lord Tywin?" Westerling asked.

"Tell him... tell him that the last time you saw me was in the throne room. I will return to his side once my girl is safe." Jaime said. Before he ran through the gate, surrounded by refuges. He could not believe that this had worked. That he had managed to get out of the city without a fight. He would have to thank the gods as soon as they found an appropriate place to do so. They must truly favor Rhaenys Targaryen.

For nearly a day he had traveled without stopping. He followed the way south, though he was careful to stay off the roads, just in case some rebels would come this far, searching for remaining Targaryen loyalists on the run. He wondered for a moment what he should call himself in all this. Was he a Targaryen loyalist? He was most definitely not a rebel, but killing King Aerys contradicted the loyalist idea... In a way he felt lost.

Night had already come and Jaime needed rest after traveling for such a long time without any real break, weighed down by his armor and the four year old child. And Rhaenys had still not shown any reaction. He tried talking to her, stroking her back soothingly, but nothing worked. She was still paralyzed by the shock of loosing her family. She was nothing like the happy child he had sometimes guarded when the king had no need of him.

But now the child was sleeping near a small fire he had started to keep her warm. At least in her sleep she seemed to spared of nightmares, as she slept calmly through the night. It gave Jaime some time to contemplate their situation.

He wondered where he should go, now that he had most likely become one of the most hunted men in the Seven Kingdoms. He wanted to return home, to return to Casterly Rock. He longed to see Cersei again. But he knew that as long as Rhaenys was with him, he would not be able to go there. His father would either kill her on the spot, to hide any further involvement with the Targaryens, or hand her over to the rebels. Jaime was certain that Robert Baratheon would kill the girl without any hint of remorse. He loathed Rhaegar and everything connected to him. And while the Lord of Winterfell, Eddard Stark, was an honorable man, he would not be able to be with the girl at all times. Robert would find a way to have her killed, that much was certain. And he himself would be sent to the Wall, to take the Black... if he was lucky. But be had no intention to join that... distinguished group of honorable men. Not by choice and not by outside force.

He jumped up, when he suddenly heard a sound nearby. A rustling in the undergrowth. He was quick to drawn his sword, ready to defend himself and the girl if it was an enemy or a wild animal. He had tried to be silent, but the clattering of his heavy armor had woken Rhaenys. She looked fearfully at Jaime, but made no sound.

Another rustling, much closer this time. Jaime was sure that he could tell where it came from. A small bush close to him, not even as high as his waist. He approached the bush slowly, careful to not alert whatever was lurking there. His nerves were a wreck, as his own tiredness lead to all kinds of thoughts about possible monsters in these woods.

Then he was only one step away from the bush, his free hand grasping the twigs to pull them apart and reveal the lurking threat. But there was... nothing. Nothing was hiding there as it seemed. He felt so foolish for a moment. Scared by the wind, oh what a great and brave knight he was...

"Must have been the wind," Jaime said, as he was about to walk away. But the moment he turned around the rustling returned. Then a small growl. He turned around as fast as his armor allowed, but too late. Something had jumped him, causing him to stagger back in surprise. He tripped over a root and landed on his behind, as his eyes were now focused on the attacking animal on his lap... It was a cat. A small black cat with a torn ear... hissing at him, trying to scratch him through his armor.

"Balerion!" Jaime didn't know what shocked him more. The fact that he had been bested by a cat or the fact that Rhaenys had spoken for the first time since he had killed the man who had tried to murder her.

The cat seemed to react to the girl almost instantaneously. The black beast jumped over to the girl, obviously happy as it began to purr. Jaime remembered it now, the kitten that Rhaenys had kept as a pet in the palace. The little black plague, as Rhaegar had once called it. The little creature had not tolerated any men near the princess, not even Rhaegar himself. But the prince could not bring himself to take the kitten away from his daughter, despite the animals aggressive behavior towards him. And now... Jaime was astounded by this furry little beast. It must have followed its mistress all the way from King's Landing. A strange form of loyalty from an animal. But this little Balerion had managed what he had tried all the time. It got a reaction from Rhaenys. She hugged the small kitten to herself as if her life depended on it.

"That is one strange kitten you've got there." Jaime commented, as he stood up from the ground. "But you should get back to sleep now, princess. We still have a long way ahead of us."

Rhaenys looked at him worriedly for a moment, before she returned to the place where she had slept before. Balerion purred happily in her arms, as he snuggled closely to her. Jaime didn't know whether this girl trusted him or not, but at least she was no longer catatonic. That at least solved one problem. His next task would be finding a safe place for her to hide. He sat down, resting his back against a tree, as he watched Rhaenys sleep once more. He wanted to sleep as well, but he knew that it wasn't safe... but he was dead tired and sleep soon claimed him as well, despite all his efforts.

Jaime woke up the next morning, when the sound of Balerion's growling mingled with the dark chuckles of some unknown men. When he opened his eyes he realized some things. Firstly, Rhaenys was no longer sleeping, but next to him, clinging to him as she tried to hide herself. And secondly, they were no longer alone. Several men stood around them, weapons drawn. Oh how Jaime cursed himself for falling asleep for so long. He knew he had been exhausted, but now the enemy must have found him and his young princess.

"Now look at this, lads. A lonely Kingsguard on the run. A fine protector of the royal family you are." One of the men said mockingly. But Jaime could also hear the accusation in his voice. The man was accusing him of abandoning his duty to the Targaryens and the realm. Not too far from the truth, but...

Jaime looked at the man closely, studied his face in an attempt to recognize him. He was sure that he had seen the man before. The lined face with the black, viper like eyes, the black hair. He resembled one person he had failed to safe recently, though only loosely. Then Jaime's eyes traveled downward. Until they rested on man's armor and the coat of arms on it.

"Sorry, lad, though the rumors might suggest otherwise, I'm not into young boys who play knight. You are too... delusional to be fun..." The man said with a grin, causing his companions to laugh loudly.

He raised his sword lightly in Jaime's direction, causing the young Lannister to grab the hilt of his own weapon. A bad idea as it was rewarded with a knock on his head from behind. The men had already surrounded him completely. Rhaenys let out a frightened yelp, as she saw Jaime knocked to the ground again.

"I wouldn't try to be courageous if I were in your position, boy." The man said, as he crouched down in front of Jaime. "This golden hair... you are Jaime Lannister, Lord Tywin's oldest son."

"And you are a Martell," Jaime growled, "You are a long way from home."

The man laughed loudly, clearly amused by the words. "Yes indeed. This definitely is not Dorne. But I cannot return home before I have accomplished my goal. And you, my young friend, will help me with that."

"And what if I refuse?"

The man's laughter stopped and he looked at Jaime with a seriousness and an almost mad glint in his dark eyes. "Let's just say you wouldn't like the outcome."

"And what is it you want?" Jaime said, as he realized that he had not much of a choice. Defiance would not help him and he still had Rhaenys to think of. Alone he would have tried to make a run for it, to fight for his freedom when these men were distracted. But his choices were limited at the moment.

"You will accompany me to King's Landing. Your father will surely want you back, coward or not, so he will help me with the negotiations to free my sister from those damn rebels."

"Your sister?"

"Elia Martell, your crown princess, one of the people you have abandoned when you ran away." The man said coldly.

Jaime recognized the man now. He had seen him before. "You are Oberyn Martell," He remembered the time when Oberyn and Elia had once visited Casterly Rock in an attempt to reach a marriage agreement between the houses Martell and Lannister. His own father had been mad with grief at that time, because of his wife's death, mere days before the visit, and shot down all proposals in the most vicious manner.

"Yes, Lannister. And you are now my prisoner. You and your little girl here. But don't worry, we do not harm children. She will be perfectly safe, I can't guarantee the same treatment for you though."

"You would be well advised to keep your hands off the girl or I will have to remove it," Jaime growled.

"Big words from a defeated man. What is she to you, your bastard?"

Ironic, when he escaped from the capital he had claimed that Rhaenys was his bastard child to keep her safe. But now the idea of her being called a bastard sounded utterly offending. "You will not call her a bastard again. You owe this child respect. She is Rhaenys Targaryen, last of her house outside of Dragonstone and daughter of Rhaegar Targaryen. Your sister would not have approved of you calling her only daughter a bastard child." Jaime said hotly, as he glared at Oberyn.

Oberyn himself looked at the frightened child with wide eyes, only now realizing that the girl had indeed a striking resemblance to his sister. Jaime could hear him take a sharp breath, before Oberyn stood up and pulled him up along with him.

"Why is my niece here and not with her mother?" He demanded in a furious whisper.

"Because I do not wish to see the child dead."

"Dead!"

"Your sister and her son Aegon were murdered. I could only save Rhaenys and smuggle her out of the city before the rebels could find her." Jaime said. He did feel guilty for abandoning Elia, but at least he had managed to save one life that day.

Oberyn paled, a look of shock passing over his face. Then there was sadness, soon replaced by anger, then great fury. "Who? Who has killed my sister?" He shouted at Jaime.

"Ser Gregor Clegane, on my father's orders." Jaime knew that it would be no use to lie about this. In King's Landing even the walls had ears and everything that had happened would soon be known far and wide. Rumors tend to travel faster than men. Better telling the truth now and face the wrath of the Martells after telling them personally, instead of waiting for them to find out from someone else. And he felt that wrath. Without warning Oberyn punched him in the face, blinded by his anger. Jaime knew that Oberyn had loved his sister dearly, a notion that Jaime understood all too well.

When he was hit by the angry man's fist, Jaime staggered backward and fell to the ground. Blood was dripping from his lips, where the punch had split them.. Rhaenys was by his side almost immediately, clinging to him once more. She looked at her uncle with wide, fearful eyes. A sight that both shocked and disturbed Oberyn. The girl looked just like his sister. The same way Elia had looked when she was this young, except for her eyes. But this small girl looked at him with fear, his sister had never had a reason to fear him... and her daughter should not fear him either.

"Why? Why are you here with my niece, when it was your father who has murdered my sister and nephew?"

"Because I owe it to her father." Jaime replied defiantly. "And I am not a monster that watches innocent children getting killed. I may have been the worst kind of Kingsguard, but I will protect the princess with my life if necessary."

"And what about the king? You owe fealty to him, you have sworn an oath, yet you ran away. How can I be sure that you won't betray my niece as well?"

"The king is dead. I killed him when he ordered his pyromancer to burn King's Landing and everyone inside the city."

"A Kingslayer then. Even less reason to trust you and your word."

"I only have my word and my sword, but I pledge myself to the princess, to protect her from harm."

"Why?" Oberyn asked simply, his eyes full of distrust.

"Because I have never been the kind of knight I always aspired to be. I've never been a good knight and an even worse Kingsguard. But I can protect this one child, this future queen of the Seven Kingdoms. And by my honor, I will do so till my dieing breath."

"Big words... from a Lannister." Oberyn said, unconvinced. His attention soon shifted to his niece, who still cowered behind Jaime. "Come here, child. Come to uncle Oberyn. I will bring you home to Dorne, your mother's true home." He offered his hand to the girl, to help her up from the ground. But she wouldn't react to him. Instead she hid even more behind the young Lannister. But her cat, Balerion, jumped in front of her and hissed at Oberyn.

"Look at that, the girl has tamed more than one cat," one of Oberyn's companions said laughingly, much to the great amusement of all men present. Jaime couldn't help but feel offended by that. He wasn't a cat. He was a Lannister, a lion. The words of his house are 'Hear me roar', not hear me hiss. And there was no one who could tame Jamie Lannister.

"Rhaenys does not trust you, Martell. It is obvious who she trusts though. And I shall never betray her."

"Like you never betrayed King Aerys," Oberyn said sarcastically. He didn't like this situation. He didn't like this Lannister. This man... no, this boy had admitted slaying the king. With or without good reason this was still an oath he had broken. Under normal circumstances he would either face death or exile to the Wall. And his father was responsible for the death of Elia and her son Aegon. Another reason not to trust the word of a Lannister. But... he did save Rhaenys, pledged to protect her without making any demands for himself... a foolish boy with delusions of knightly honor. One of many who had allowed themselves to be inspired by Ser Arthur Dayne, the most noble and honorable knight the Seven Kingdoms had ever seen. So if he truly kept his word and protects Rhaenys... "Fine. You shall come with us to Dorne. My Lord brother shall decide your fate."

Jaime merely nodded, content with this decision. He knew it was the best he could hope for at the moment. The Martells could still try to make him pay for his father's crime... but as long as Rhaenys trusts only him and as long as he can act as her knight, his life would be safe. And maybe he could find a way to gain Oberyn's trust. It was a long way to Dorne from here, especially with a young child that needed to be hidden from sight.

"Someone give this knight a different set of clothes. Can't have him ride all the way in that fancy golden armor. He sticks out like a sore thumb." Oberyn said loudly. "And you, Lannister, are responsible for my niece's safe arrival in Dorne. Every scratch she has, you will share and more. Is that understood?"

"Yes. And I don't need your petty threats to keep the princess safe. It is my duty!" Jamie hissed back, looking darkly at the Martell before him. He and Oberyn stared at each other for a long moment, before Oberyn started laughing. A humorless laugh, as Oberyn was still grieving.

"Good. Do your job well and you might have a future in Dorne. Try at least to keep this one vow, Jamie Lannister. I will watch you closely and be your judge when the time comes." Oberyn said, before he finally turned around and walked away. This was a sad day for Dorne, but the survival of Elia's daughter would at least mend some wounds... but they would never forget Elia's death and those who are responsible for it.

Jaime finally allowed the tenseness he felt to disappear from his mind and body. He wasn't safe, but this was by far the best outcome he could have wished for. The gods must truly favor Rhaenys, all of this couldn't be coincidence. He stood up from the ground and looked around. The other men were still watching him, most of them with great distrust visible on their faces. He couldn't even fault them for that. He knew he would be judged for his actions during the sacking of King's Landing. He even allowed himself to wonder how things would have turned out, if someone much more righteous than Oberyn Martell would be the one to judge him. Someone like Eddard Stark, a man whose righteousness was only surpassed by King Aerys' madness. But he knew it wouldn't do to dwell on these thoughts. He had chosen a different path. But where would it lead him? Would he become more like Ser Arthur Dayne or would he end up as the second coming of the Smiling Knight? Only time would tell now.

"Come, princess. Time to bring you home," He said gently to the child, as he had held his hand out to her. She took it, albeit reluctantly, and allowed him to lead her away, as he followed Oberyn. Her black cat Balerion was immediately by her side. Such a strange little pet...