He felt restless, annoyed. Yes, annoyed it was. Annoyed that he had seen his children and his princess keeping some grand secret that they wouldn't reveal. Annoyed by all the people who looked at him as if he was some rare animal... But most of all he was annoyed that he had to search for his squire, again, after the boy had wandered off.
At his wife's behest, he had taken Edric Dayne as his squire. And the boy was as dedicated and most of the time as reliable as anyone could hope for his squire to be. But Edric was still young... and curious... and tended to walk off to explore at inopportune times. Just as he had done now.
The melee would start soon and though Jaime would not fight in the melee, he still wanted to watch it. It would be his son's first time fighting in a tournament after all. But he also needed to get ready for the Jousting after the melee and for that he needed his squire. They had little time to waste, yet Jaime had to search the entire city of tents to find Edric.
Luckily the entire area was mostly deserted now, except for the few guards that were left to keep the possessions of their lords and ladies safe. But even now Jaime could catch everyone watching him curiously, talking in hushed voices behind his back. Ser Jaime Lannister, the Kingslayer, the last loyal Kingsguard who protected the daughter of Rhaegar Targaryen, the venerable son and former heir of Tywin Lannister. He was known for many things, but he knew that most people outside of Dorne and The Reach called him simply the Kingslayer, because that is what their fat king would call him.
He knew that he had already wandered too closely to the area, where the king and his entourage had set up their camp, but the curious sound of a barking dog... or any other canine animal, there were more than just dogs at this camp, drew him in. But as far as Jaime knew there were no dogs anywhere near the king's tents, his sister hated dogs and wouldn't tolerate them anywhere near her. The only thing that would qualify as a canine creature here are the direwolves that Lord Stark had brought. And if this was indeed a direwolf, then he was curious what had caused the animal to be so agitated.
"Nymeria, sit. Don't interfere!" He heard a girl command. Judging by her voice she was young, but he could not recognize the voice. And that name, the only Nymeria he knew is Oberyn's second daughter, Nymeria Sand. And anyone who would try to command her like this would regret it dearly.
Then he got closer, close enough to see them. First he saw the animal. A direwolf, not yet fully grown, but already bigger than most dogs. Then he saw two children fight with sticks. A small girl, with dark hair and a challenging smirk on her face that Jaime had not yet seen on any girl's face before. He had seen martial girls before, but never one who seemed to enjoy fighting as much as this girl apparently does. And then he recognized the one she was fighting.
"EDRIC!" He yelled sternly when he saw his squire. The boy immediately dropped the stick in his hand and looked mortified at Jaime. Rightfully so, as far as the Lannister knight was concerned. "By the Seven, what do you think you're doing?"
"Ser Jaime... I..."
"You what? Have you forgotten all that I have tried to teach you about knightly behavior? No man should ever hit a woman, no matter the reason. A knight swears to protect women and children, he swears to devote himself to justice! If you cannot learn this lesson, then you will never be able to follow in your uncle's footsteps. Only those worthy of Dawn may wield the greatsword of your family." Jaime knew that he was quite harsh with the boy, but Edric had set himself the goal to become the next Sword of the Morning, so Jaime had to do his utmost to turn the boy into a true knight, just like his uncle was before him.
"But she asked for it!" Edric muttered, looking at his feet the entire time.
Jaime wasn't sure what to think of this statement, so he looked over to the girl, who stood there with a curious look in her dark gray eyes. The large wolf stood next to her now, protectively, growling at him. It was easy to guess to whom this girl belonged... she was Stark, no doubt about that.
"You are Jaime Lannister, the White Lion of Dorne." The girl said curiously. She did not looked awed like most children her age in the south would do, nor with the fear and distrust that was instilled into most children in the rest of the Seven Kingdoms. And it was odd to here her call him by this old moniker he had received at the time, when he was still regarded as a member of the Kingsguard, before Robert Baratheon had him banished from the Kingsguard as punishment for protecting Rhaenys Targaryen. In those parts of the realm that were loyal to the Usurper he was usually only known as the Kingslayer.
"And what is your name, young one?"
"Arya, of House Stark." She proclaimed proudly. Jaime couldn't help himself but smirk. All children of great houses showed great pride in their names and families, but most didn't know that their Houses deserved much less regard than they were willing to accept. Jaime had once been proud of House Lannister and his father, but that changed when the rebellion ended. His father wasn't the great man Jaime had always wanted him to be and this girl would one day learn about the faults of her own father, one way or another.
"And why has Ned Stark's daughter asked my squire to beat her up?" Bad choice of words, he could see that she was not happy about the implication that she was no match for Edric, no matter how true it may be.
"I wanted to train, but no one would fight me, except him." She pointed her stick at Edric, who still evaded Jaime's gaze with stubborn determination.
"A young lady shouldn't fight."
"Then I don't want to be a lady!" Arya retorted with an annoyed look.
This time Jaime had to laugh. "Are you sure Lord Stark is really your father? You remind me more of Oberyn's girls. Some of them are like you, fond of fighting."
"My, my. Has that dragon girl finally grown tired of your presence and sent you to watch the annoying children." A woman said, interrupting the conversation.
Jaime halted for a moment, when he heard her voice. A voice he remembered well, from his past. A voice he had not heard in fourteen years. When he turned around, he could finally see her. His sister. Cersei. Just as beautiful as she had been the last time he had seen her. The same golden hair, the same eyes, as green as his own. The same aristocratic haughtiness in her poise and expression. He had wondered so often what it would be like to see her again. In the early years of their separation he had also dreamed of her, her voice, her smell, her touch... but those dreams vanished, the almost feverish desire for her company waned... He was happy to see her again, but the craving and desire was gone. She was his beloved sister now, nothing more. The sister he would love, just like he loved his younger brother. But on her part he could see that her feelings had not changed. He could see it in her eyes, those green gems, filled with longing and desire.
"What, no words of greeting after more than a decade of separation, dear brother?" Cersei asked with mock indignation... or maybe the indignation was real, he couldn't really tell anymore.
"Much time has passed, Cersei." Jaime said almost somberly. He did not move towards her, but stayed next to Edric. This displeased his sister. She frowned, obviously expecting him to come and embrace her. Even she would have to understand that he wouldn't kiss her, even if he had wanted to, which was not the case. They were in the presence of not just Edric and Arya, but also a small group of Lannister guardsmen and a member of the Kingsguard. Jaime even recognized one of the men, Ser Addam Marbrand, a former childhood friend of his, from the days before he had joined the Kingsguard.
"And your time with that Targaryen and her ilk have obviously been bad for your manners. Is this how people in Dorne treat their family? With indifference and disrespect?"
"Careful, sister..."
"Why, Jaime? Why have you betrayed us?" He knew that with 'us' she only meant herself. "Why throw everything away for that worthless princess? Why allow them to marry you off to some dornish harlot?" Oh he could here the rage in her voice. She had always loathed all girls at Casterly Rock that had dreamed of being with him. Of course she would hate Allyria with a passion. And it was obvious that she had wanted to ask him this for a long time. The question 'why', was the first question all of his family members seemed to ask him these days.
"This is enough, Cersei. My wife is no harlot, you would do well to remember that. She is a good and beautiful lady from an honorable and important dornish family." He wouldn't let her badmouth Allyria, just because of her blasted jealousy. He loved his wife, the mother of his children. He had learned to love her in all those years they had been together. It was obvious that Cersei was neither able nor willing to allow herself to love her own husband. But that might also be Robert's fault, at least if the things Jaime has heard about him are true.
"So this is it, Jaime? You replace me, with her? You cast me aside because that wanton slut opened her legs for you and whispered treasonous thoughts into your ears?"
"Cersei!" Jaime yelled angrily. This was not what he had expected from their first meeting. He knew it had been naive to hope for a happy reunion. Cersei just wasn't a person to share what she believe to be hers. Cersei had always considered him as hers and now the hatred and jealousy made it almost impossible for her to allow a civil conversation with her brother, as long as he does not denounce his wife and return to his place at her feet.
But his sister also looked stumped for a moment when she saw his anger. She had not expected him to resist her. She had not expected that he might have lost the unnatural affection, which they had shared in the past. But also those around them looked alarmed. The guardsmen had their hands on the hilts of their swords, the sole Kingsguard already had his sword in hand, ready to push his queen behind himself to shield her from harm.
"If this is how you want it, so be it." Cersei said briskly, as she tried to look calm and uncaring, but her eyes betrayed her once again. Jaime could see the hurt in them. "Ser Arys, the next time this man speaks to me in any disrespectful manner, kill him for conspiring against the Iron Throne." The Kingsguard looked conflicted for a moment, before nodded curtly. Everyone could see that this man would likely not follow her command, but he couldn't oppose her this openly at the moment. "I give you one more chance, Jaime. Return to my side before this Tourney is over and denounce those abominable dornish traitors or you will never have a place in the Seven Kingdoms again." She didn't wait for an answer, she just turned around and left in a fast pace, her guards hurrying to follow her in their heavy armor. Only one of them remained, Ser Addam Marbrand.
Jaime looked wearily at the man, still slightly unsettled by Cersei's wrath. Right now he wouldn't put it past her to use men like Marbrand to do her dirty work. Though he had been friends with Addam in the past, he still had not seen the man for decades. There was no way knowing how he had changed. He also heard Arya mutter something that must have been a profanity, but he wasn't really sure. He had not heard those particular words connected in the same sentence before.
"Your sister always had a temper, but this kind of tantrum tops it all. Lord Tywin will be most displeased by her behavior... she displeases him very often lately." Marbrand said with a chuckle, as he approached Jaime. "But his has to be the first time I ever saw the two of you fighting."
"How many years has it been, since we last saw each other?" Jaime asked curiously. An innocent question to start their conversation, but also a small attempt to gauge the man's reaction and see his intentions.
"About seventeen years, give or take some months. And even after all these years it is still so easy to recognize you. The young lion is always a sight to behold, now more than ever. It is good to see you again. Not a moon passed without news about the elusive son of Lord Tywin." Marbrand said.
Jaime raised a single eyebrow, as he looked at the man. "Seventeen years and now you stay here to talk to me, instead of doing your duty to guard my sister? Don't be offended, but this has to be the worst excuse I've ever heard and I have a daughter and a squire who come up with new excuses on the fly, every time to skip their training or education." He looked at Edric for a moment, before his gaze returned to Marbrand.
"Actually I have never been on guard duty. Not for her at least. I simply followed her around, hoping that we would run into you."
"Let me guess, my father has ordered you to try and talk me into sending my children with him to Casterly Rock?"
"Yes, that sums it up quite nicely. He was most displeased after your last dinner and contemplates different ways to get his heirs to the Rock." Marbrand chuckled lightly, as he studied Jaime closely. "You can't imagine how relieved everyone was on the day Lord Tywin announced that a male heir to Casterly Rock had been born. No one wants to see your father's bannermen fight amongst each other to have their preferred heir take the lordship. Neither does anyone want to see your sister as lady of the West."
"Can't figure why." Arya muttered behind them.
"But I have also been tasked with another duty by your father. But I'm not sure whether you are going to like it."
"Oh. And what has Lord Tywin ordered you to do?"
"I have been tasked with the protection of your wife and children. Your lord father does not trust the Dornishmen with their safety and wants men from the West to guard his family. I am the first, but should you allow it, he would sent a whole house hold guard with your family back to Dorne if need be." Marbrand smiled confidently, one hand pushing some coppery hair from his face.
Jaime was about to retort, to voice his objection to this, but he had no time for that. "Ser Jaime! SER JAIME!" He looked around, until he saw one of Oberyn's daughters, Obara, running towards him with a distressed expression that worried Jaime. The woman was out of breath when she reached him, as it was obvious that she had run to find him. Whatever she had to say, he knew that it would be bad... and that it somehow involved Rhaenys and his children. Obara was with them when he last saw her.
"Calm down, Obara. What is going on? Why are you so upset?"
"It's your son. He is in trouble." A grave expression spread on Jaime's face, as he tried to hide his worry. Marbrand was watching all of them with a suspicious look, obviously waiting for Obara's next words. "He was fighting in the melee against the Usurper's son, when the fat swine sent his Kingsguard against him. We must hurry, they are still fighting." She did not wait, she just turned around on the spot and ran back towards the field where the melee was being held.
Jaime wasted no second, he just ran after her, worry for his son plaguing his mind, driving him to run faster and faster. He could see Marbrand running after him and even Edric tried to keep up with the men.
They reached the field within minutes, as the almost frenzied cheering of the countless spectators, who where spread around the field, grew louder and louder. On the field itself they could see the fight. Chaotic, dangerous, relentless. Had it not been for the heraldic colors of most armors, he would not have been able to determine who was fighting who, but it was obvious, that the Usurper's men, lead by three members of the Kingsguard, were fighting against the Targaryen loyalists on the field, who were lead by... a sole knight in an armor that Jaime had not expected to see in battle ever again. He cursed loudly, as he realized that the one wearing this armor must be Arthur. Rhaenys would not have permitted anyone else to wear her father's armor in battle.
"Jaime, let's teach those fools not to mess with Dorne! Come on lads, show them the might and fury of the South!"
He turned to his left, to see Oberyn with several other dornish knights on their way towards the fight. More and more armed men joined the chaos. Jaime stopped for a moment, to take in the scene. His son's life was in serious danger at the moment. But this fight would escalate more and more... he briefly wondered if this would be the spark to reignite the fires of war. But there was no time for idle pondering. Arthur needed him. He looked over his shoulder, where he saw his squire and much to his surprise, also the daughter of Eddard Stark. Both children looked worried at the fight.
"Obara, mind the children. Keep them away from the fighting... best get back to the princess with them. I don't want them here with this fight. And get the princess to Highgarden if possible. She will be safest there." He barked his orders at Obara, before he ran after Oberyn, Addam Marbrand following him wordlessly, with his sword already in his hand, ready for the fight.
The fight itself was grim, as both sides seemed to hate one another with a passion. But all men were also reluctant to be the first to take a life here. No one wanted to be the one to cause the next war by killing someone important on the other side. But Jaime knew, once the first death had occurred, there would be no more holding back. Everything would escalate.
But luckily the fight ended before that could happen. Jaime was actually grateful for the appearance of Eddard Stark, as the man came to put an end to this madness. The man alone commanded more respect than the fat king and his entire Kingsguard put together. But not all were happy about that interruption, though. Oberyn, who had just rammed the tip of his spear into the shoulder of a bulky man in Kingsguard armor, looked as if he was pouting. The dornish prince loved two things above everything. Combat and sex. And he made sure that he had plenty of both. But now he had to back off and end the fighting before it would get out of hand. Even he had to understand the dangerous situation they were in. It wasn't just his life on the line, but also those of his daughters and his niece. So he ripped his spear out of his opponents shoulder and walked away.
The entire group dispersed slowly, until only few remained, among them Arthur and the Usurper's son... Cersei's son. Both boys stared each other, challenging looks on their faces. But the young Baratheon left soon enough and Arthur, finally realizing that his father was near, and quite angry, tried to make a quick escape from the field. But Jaime was quicker, not being weighed down by an armor at the moment.
"Father... I..." Arthur gulped nervously, as Jaime finally walked next to him. But the father wouldn't look at his son. Instead he merely grunted gruffly,
"I knew that you had become reckless after years with Oberyn, but by the gods, I had expected better from you. Such idiocy. Such careless disregard for the situation you are in. Only fools act this reckless and Lannisters are no fools, neither are Daynes."
"We just thought that..."
"You did not think at all. Else you would have chosen a different armor, a different way to show your allegiance to House Targaryen. But no more. Your sisters are just as guilty in this." Jaime was angry with his son, but the most prevalent feeling was disappointment. He had truly thought his son to be a better man, a wiser man. Maybe he had to readily believed that his son was a man and not a boy like his mere fourteen namedays would suggest. But it was also obvious that Arthur wasn't the only one at fault here. He would not have gotten such a stupid idea on his own. No, this looked more like the things Joanna would do, if she is in the right mood.
No more words were spoken, as the two Lannisters walked back towards their own encampment, followed by the silent Addam Marbrand, who watched the interactions of father and son with great interest.
By the time they had returned to their tents, they could already hear Oberyn yell. He sounded furious, very much like Doran would have sounded in this situation. And it was the oddest thing to hear him yell because of this, after all he was one of the most irresponsible men at times. But it was obvious that he was most displeased with this. After all this day had disrupted nearly all of their plans. They would be lucky if this childish folly had not started the war prematurely. They were not fully ready yet. It was too early for the war.
He saw Obara near the tent, talking to Edric and Arya Stark, who was still around, much to his displeasure. Her father would look for her soon. But right now the girl was paying rapt attention to the dornish woman, as Obara explained something with her spear in her hand.
Finally, before he could enter the tent he turned towards Addam. "You have to stay here, Addam. At the moment I cannot be sure whether I can fully trust you or not. You are still loyal to my father first and foremost. And the people inside this tent have made very bad experiences with Lannister bannermen in the past." The red-headed man nodded in understanding, before he walked over to Obara's impromptu lesson. So only Jaime and Arthur remained to enter the tent and as they did they could see the Oberyn pacing around, ranting angrily, spitting out rhoynish curses that none of them had heard before.
Rhaenys sat on a dais at the other end of the tent, trying to look calm. But she failed at this, as it was easy to see the unease she felt at the moment. When she saw Jaime and Arthur enter she looked at them for some moments. Only briefly at Jaime, barely daring to meet his eyes, but longer at Arthur, as the two seemed to have a silent conversation of their own. Joanna was nowhere in sight, but he was sure she was with Allyria, getting her own scolding from her mother.
"And you! You idiot!" Oberyn turned towards Arthur, immediately seizing him, hands on his shoulders, shaking the boy furiously. "I told you to fight worthily and do you houses honor. I did not tell you to get yourself killed out there by reminding that fat oaf of the man he had killed in the past. We have lost enough people to that bastard, many more will be lost, but not like this! NOT! LIKE! THIS!" He actually hit Arthur on the back of his head, when he was finally close enough, as he chided his squire. "Just look at what you did! I sound like Doran and you know how much I hate to sound like my brother, with his stick so far up his ass that it should stick out of his mouth every time he tries to speak!" Some people actually chuckled when they heard this, but one dangerous look around the tent from Oberyn was enough to silence them all.
"Oberyn, calm yourself. This isn't leading us anywhere." Jaime said, before he approached Rhaenys. "Tell me, Rhaenys, why? Why have you allowed something as foolish as this?"
"I wanted to honor my father." She replied firmly. "I wanted the Usurper to know that we are coming for him and that his reign will end soon. What better way than to show him that he has failed with his attempt to destroy and break House Targaryen."
"You only accomplished one thing today, Rhaenys. You have torn open old wounds that should have never been opened again. The fat king will fight even more fiercely now, after being reminded of the past. You reminded him of the fury he had once felt for your father, you have reminded him of the things your father has done. Now we will have to fight until the Usurper and all his loyal followers are dead. They will never give up now." Jaime looked at her disappointed, before his gaze wandered back to his son, who was still listening to Oberyn's tirade, which had thankfully toned down to a stern lecture.
The lecture would have continued, had it not been for a dornish guardsman to enter the tent and announce loudly, "My lady, Ser Barristan Selmy, Lord Commander of the Kingsguard is here and requested to speak with you." The entire tent fell silent after this, everyone obviously surprised by this. Jaime wasn't sure why the man had decided to come here after his men had tried to kill Arthur, but he had to admit that the old man was brave. Not many would dare to entire the dragon's lair after this.
Rhaenys looked questioningly at Jaime, not sure whether she should meet with this man. He nodded in consent, sure that Selmy would not pose a threat as long as he and Oberyn were near. And Jaime was sure that Barristan Selmy was the least likely man among the Usurpers entourage to try and kill Princess Rhaenys.
"Send him in." Rhaenys said, though he voice wavered slightly, as she was still unsettled by the lecture she had to endure before.
The clattering of the heavy Kingsguard armor could be heard as Selmy entered the tent. Even at his age he still looked imposing and far more dignified than many of the brutes Robert Baratheon had made members of the Kingsguard. Selmy was all that remained of the once proud guard. The real Kingsguard perished with the Targaryens during the rebellion, that much was sure.
Selmy approached the dais, until Oberyn and Jaime stopped his approach by standing in his way. The dornish prince looked alarmed, ready to strike should the knight before him try anything funny. And even Arthur had his hand on the hilt of his sword. Only Jaime looked at ease.
"Ser Barristan, many years have passed since you last stood before me. Much has happened in those years, many things that raise the question about your loyalties. You have once sworn to protect my family with your life, but now you serve the man who is responsible for the death of nearly my entire family. And you just now sent your men to kill a man whom I consider to be my brother. So tell me, Ser Barristan, why are you here and why should I not have your head for your treason?" Rhaenys tried to be calm, to sound as dignified as a princess is expected to be. But many personal experiences and memories of her past made it hard for her, that much was obvious to all who knew her well enough. Arthur even moved closer to her, to stand slightly behind her as the moral support she would need. Selmy obviously looked astonished by this sight, the last Targaryen princess in Westeros and her favored knight in Targaryen armor.
"I cannot excuse my past decisions, your grace. But I am thankful that you allow me to speak here. I am here to ask your forgiveness for the arbitrary actions of my subordinates. They have acted on their own, without my or the king's consent."
"So you are telling us that you are unable to control your own knights? Has the Kingsguard degenerated into nothing more than a group of brutes in white armor?" Jaime couldn't help himself but as this question. Such a thing would have never happened in the past. "Lord Commander Hightower would be disgusted by such a travesty. These men are a stain on the honorable legacy of the Kingsguard."
"A greater stain than a Kingsguard murdering the king?" Selmy asked in return, a frown on his face.
"Enough. I won't have you question the honor of the one man who has chosen to save countless lives at the cost of his vows. You know as well as Ser Jaime, that my grandfather was a madman and a monster with an obsession with Wildfire. He did the right thing, but why did you join the murderers of my family, instead of following me or my aunt and uncle into exile?"
The knight looked at loss for a moment, before he answered, "At the time I was asked to reform the Kingsguard under the rule of the new king, I had not been aware of your survival. I had been told that your entire family had perished during the Sacking of King's Landing. I only found out about your survival after I had renewed my vows to the new king."
"Listen well, Ser Barristan. By joining the Usurper and his murderers you have chosen to be an enemy of House Targaryen and the rightful rulers of the Seven Kingdoms. The only reason why I will spare you is because of your past service to my father and grandfather. You have been good to me when you guarded me as a child. I am no monster. I am not mad. But I cannot tolerate such a betrayal. So know this. Once the Iron Throne is back in the hands of my family, you will be exiled to the Wall or Essos, whichever you choose. But you have thrown away everything, no matter the reason." Rhaenys sounded sad as she announced this.
Jaime remembered the old days in King's Landing. Selmy is a kind man and had always treated the princess as if she was his own favored granddaughter. It was obvious that Rhaenys remembered this and it made his service the Usurper even more tragic to her. Especially the fact that she had to punish him, should they win the war. She had to do it herself, Viserys would not be as kind to this man as she had been. She had no doubt that her uncle would have Selmy killed for serving the Usurper. But hopefully he would accept her judgement.
"I understand, your grace." Selmy said solemnly. He was an honorable man, one who would have stayed loyal to Rhaenys, had he known of her survival. Now it was too late. Barristan Selmy would never knowingly break an oath he has sworn. He would stay loyal to the king, no matter how he felt about that.
But Jaime found it odd how the old knight insisted on addressing Rhaenys as 'her grace', an address usually only reserved for the Queen. Was this his way to show that he wished for her to ascend the throne? Was it a way to show his preference for her, when there is still her uncle Viserys who stands higher in the succession.
"But I must ask you to not see the events of this day as a declaration of intent or even worse, war. The king does not wish to start a war because of a misunderstanding." An obvious lie, but a necessary one to deescalate the situation. Apparently the Usurper was not as dumb as some people here believed him to be. Though this entire idea of sending Selmy to make amends seemed to be an idea that was more likely from the mind of Lord Stark and not the fat king. But it didn't matter. This would postpone the war, though it would not end the tenseness of the entire situation.
"I will consider your words and abstain from taking action... for now." Rhaenys said. "But know this. The next time one of your Kingsguard knights tries to attack anyone under my protection, I will not hesitate to pursue justice. You are dismissed now, Ser Barristan." The old knight allowed himself one last look at the princess. Jaime was sure that he had seen a look of regret on the old knight's face, before Selmy finally left the tent to return to his king.
The entire tent was silent now, until Jaime spoke up, "Let us end this here. Be glad that your foolish plan has not caused more trouble. But now I need to go, there is one more insolent child I need to lecture today." He knew that all of this must have been Joanna's idea. He would have a serious word with her about her stupid plans and foolhardy decisions. Maybe he should ask the Tyrells to give her a room in a secluded tower until this whole Tourney is over, to keep her out of trouble.
As he left the tent the first thing he saw was Obara and Addam Marbrand, mock fighting in front of Edric and Arya Stark, while both Nymerias, both wolf and snake, sat next to them, the latter making comments every now and then. But it wasn't good for them to have Lord Stark's daughter here longer than necessary. Some people might misunderstand this and take offense.
"Obara, make sure that Lord Stark's daughter gets back to her family. But be subtle about it. Do nothing to provoke them." Jaime ordered, as he joined the group.
"But I don't want to leave already. People are actually teaching me something I want to know for once!" The young Stark girl whined loudly. But Jaime wouldn't relent. Grudgingly she followed Obara as the woman lead her away, her wolf following them without hesitation.
"Nymeria, have you seen my wife or my daughter?"
"I'm here, Jaime. And our wayward daughter is in her tent, brooding and hopefully praying that you don't come to lecture her as well." Allyria said, as she approached her husband.
In this moment Jaime couldn't help himself but compare his wife to his sister. Both are beautiful women in their own ways. Cersei, with her golden hair and eyes like emeralds. Allyria with her pale blond hair, similar to that of the Targaryens and the violet eyes that were so rare and exotic among the people of the Seven Kingdoms. But Allyria lacked the noble poise and haughtiness that Cersei had obviously perfected in her years as queen. Cersei had this aura of nobility and coldness that she only avoided in the presence of those close to her. Allyria though was entirely different in that regard. Always so warm and approachable, kind to everyone who deserved it. And Allyria now was the only one who stirred the feeling in his chest, the love a man can only feel for the woman he truly loved. Long ago he had hoped that maybe Allyria and Cersei would learn to tolerate each other, but the earlier meeting with his sister had finally buried this silly hope. Cersei would force him to choose. He would have to choose one of them... and by now his sister would not be his first choice... not anymore.
"Jaime, we need to talk... in private." She looked to his left with a distrusting look on her face. "Who is this?"
Jaime looked to his side, to see Addam standing there, a friendly smile on his face. Jaime remembered that Addam had been a terrible flirt in their youth, but the man obviously avoided doing anything that might disgruntle the son of Tywin Lannister.
"Ser Addam Marbrand, heir to the Lordship of Ashmark and by Lord Tywin's decree, your new personal guard." Addam said, as he gave her a curt bow. "And if I might add, you are even more beautiful than Lord Tywin has described you." Maybe Jaime was wrong, the man would still flirt, though only slightly.
"I thought you had told your father that he would not get our children? I will not allow him or any of his men to take our children from us. No matter if it is Tywin Lannister, the King or all Seven Gods who demand them." Allyria told her husband with a deep frown.
"Peace, Lady Lannister. I am here to protect your family, not to take them anywhere, especially not against their wishes." Addam tried to placate her.
"Enough for now. Leave us, Addam, we will talk later." Jaime said.
"Of course. I guess I will talk to the rest of your guards for now, to ensure your safety." Addam said, before he walked off.
Allyria waited until he was far enough away from them, before she asked, "Do you trust this man?"
"Frankly? No." Jaime answered simply. "I knew him when we were both young boys. He was sort of a childhood friend. But I haven't seen him in many years. I can't be sure about his reasons, but I wouldn't put it past my father to send him here to wait for a chance to force our children to come with him to Casterly Rock. But for now I will watch him, at least until I can find out what he truly plans to do."
Allyria nodded in consent, accepting Jaime's plan, though it was obvious that she was afraid that someone might try to steal her children from her. He could see that she was still unsettled by this days events and their son's dangerous game.
"So, what was it you wanted to talk to me about?"
"While everyone was watching the melee I've met someone. A young boy. One of Lord Stark's boys to be precise. His bastard son, Jon Snow." Jaime raised his eyebrow, wondering what exactly was so damn important about some bastard child. Sure enough the boy was the living proof that the honorable Lord Eddard Stark was just a man like all the rest of them, but still... this was just a boy... or not? "Jaime, I have seen this boy before. Fourteen years ago, in Starfall."
"What was Lord Stark's bastard doing at your home?"
"I don't know, Jaime. But I have a really bad feeling about this. Something isn't right here. He brought the boy with him as he returned my brother's remains and his sword. He came directly from this Tower of Joy. What kind of man brings an infant to such a battle? Or maybe..."
"Maybe he didn't bring the boy, he took him... Maybe your brother guarded more than just Rhaegar's girl..."
"The boy is a Stark, no doubt about that. But when I first saw the boy he was a newborn infant. They even asked for a wet nurse to accompany them on their way back to the north."
"And you just remembered this now? Why didn't you say anything earlier?" Jaime asked, his mind reeling with the possible consequences of this. As if they had not enough problems at the moment. But this... he knew he shouldn't ignore this. Rhaenys would not forgive him, should his suspicion be correct.
"Back then I had other things on my mind. I just remembered it when I met the boy earlier. Jaime, what if the boy is not Lord Stark's, but..."
"Don't say it out loud. We cannot know who might hear it. But I will investigate this further. But for now, there is a daughter I have to admonish." Jaime said.
"And you think that this will help?"
"No, but she will do more stupid things as long as I don't punish her for her misdeeds." Jaime answered morosely, before he walked off towards his daughter's tent, Allyria following him not far behind.