He slowly steered his horse in the direction of the large host, as he watched the scene with apprehension. Many had followed the call of Ser Garlan Tyrell. A great hunt on the endless fields of the Reach. Jaime wasn't even sure if there was anything worth to hunt out there, but their hosts insisted that there would be game in abundance. And in some way Jaime could understand the Tyrell's plan. Tensions were still running high and spilling some blood would surely cool the temper of the agitated guests. At least for the likes of Robert Baratheon this was most likely true. It was no secret that he spent more time hunting in the Kingswood, than on his own throne.
"Ser Jaime, what a pleasant surprise. I had not expected you to join us today. I wasn't aware that you are fond of hunting." He turned to see a Tyrell knight coming closer on a midnight black horse. The man had a friendly look on his face and was obviously much more at ease than he was, that much was clear to Jaime, as he watched the brown-haired man. Ser Garlan Tyrell or Garlan the Gallant, as he was called by many people here at Highgarden.
"Aye, I am no hunter, Ser Garlan. But the young ones wished to attend and I am stuck with keeping them away from the wrong side of other people's swords." Jaime replied casually, as he looked over his shoulder to see those who followed him. His son, Arthur, was there, together with several other young men of the dornish guests. Among them were even Quentyn Martell, Prince Doran's oldest son, and the young Cletus Yronwood.
Jaime actually liked these boys, as they had fought alongside Arthur in the melee and supported him even when the brutish Kingsguards attacked them. The kind of companions that Jaime would have been pleased to have near his son, but alas both Quentyn and Cletus spent their time far away from the Water Gardens, at Yronwood, where Quentyn was fostered. Not to mention that Oberyn had taken Arthur to the Free Cities when the boy was mere ten years old, to teach him how to fight. The boy was away for months at a time. It was a pity. Jaime knew that Arthur would need such friends in the future and not just from the Westerlands.
"Ah, the first hunt in royal company. A memorable occasion." Garlan replied, as he regarded the boys. "Be careful lads, the land may be beautiful, but it can be treacherous. There are often trenches, hidden beneath bushes and other dangers when you travel off the beaten track."
"Aye, that is why I am here. Their princess fears that they might endanger themselves, if they are left unattended for too long." Jaime joked lightly.
Garlan laughed heartily, as he saw the exasperated looks on the young boys' faces. "The woes of serving royalty. But Princess Rhaenys needn't worry, the boys shall not come to harm. Not intentionally at least. But it seems that the other royal is now expecting my attendance. We shall continue this later, Ser Jaime." Then he rode away and towards the king's entourage.
Jaime watched with some distaste, as Robert Baratheon and his loyal followers lead their group away from Highgarden and onto the near endless fields of the Reach. The king looked much more at ease than Jaime ever remembered seeing him. He joked around with the men that rode with him and often they could hear his barking laugh. And he was drinking. Emptying one wineskin after another.
But when Robert saw that Jaime was watching him, his mood changed and he yelled loudly, "Kingslayer, come here!" An order without a doubt, but Jaime considered ignoring the overbearing man. He did not consider Robert Baratheon as his king, but the current peace was shaky at best. Jaime wasn't even sure what the man would do, should he feel slighted. Robert's temper was even more famous than his former prowess in battle.
In the end he begrudgingly complied and steered his horse slowly towards the king and his entourage. But not before warning the boys to keep their distance and watch. Though he doubted that there would be anything happening today, he would not take any risk. Not with his heir on this ill begotten hunt.
Robert looked smugly at Jaime, as the son of Tywin Lannister reached his group. The other men around the king looked at Jaime with barely concealed distrust or in some cases even hatred, but no one would act, unless the king ordered it. The only exceptions were Ser Garlan, who looked worried and Eddard Stark, who looked obviously confused by his friend's sudden interest in the Lannister knight.
"Jaime Lannister, son of the mighty Tywin. The greatest traitor in the history of the Kingsguard. Now look at you, so damn proud, but nothing more than a glorified guard for that infantile dragon girl." Robert said mockingly, before he took a large gulp from a wineskin that his squire handed to him. The squire... Jaime was sure that he should know his face, but he couldn't remember his name. He was a Lannister, no doubt about that. The same golden hair, the same eyes. But he was young, a bit older than Arthur. "Tell me, Kingslayer, are you still as sharp with your sword, as you were when you killed that old man?"
"Good enough to do my duty and prove how I have earned most of my monikers." Jaime replied almost lazily. Robert glared at him, clearly seeing the veiled threat. And all his loyal men around him tensed considerably.
"I'm warning you now, Kingslayer. Do not test my patience. The only reason why I did not have you killed when you betrayed the kingdom, was that your sister's nagging would have driven me insane. But I will no longer tolerate your insolence." Jaime wasn't sure whether it was the alcohol or simply Robert's hatred for the Targaryens and their loyalists, but something had loosened the king's tongue and there was no doubting the truth of the man's threats. "If you value your little family, you better stop with your futile attempts to safe a doomed house." Without looking at Jaime, the king rode ahead, most of his entourage hot on his tail.
One of the few who did not follow Robert was Eddard Stark, who looked gravely at his friends retreating back. Even a fool would have understood, that the Warden of the North was conflicted, when it came to the desire for war, that all other lords around him seemed to possess. And it was in situations like this, that Jaime wondered, whether Ned Stark might be the only sane among them. For he seemed to be the only one who did not crave the fight that would undoubtedly tear all of their families apart.
"Shouldn't you follow your friend and make sure that he does not get himself killed by some big boar or anything of the like?" Jaime questioned the Northman.
"The king is drunk, do not take his words as a threat. The Iron Throne will honor the agreement, that Prince Doran and the Hand of the King have negotiated all those years ago." The man said somberly. But did he really believe that? The agreement was not even worth the paper it was written on. The oath that Rhaenys would not press her claim on the throne was just a laughable, as Robert's oath that he would no longer seek her death.
"A drunken man is more likely to say the truth, than one who is fully capable of thinking before he opens his mouth. And I doubt that the alcohol would lessen his preference for violence." Jaime retorted. The expression on Stark's face seemed to become even graver with every moment, as he could not deny the truth of the statement. Everyone knew that Robert only cared about things he could eat, fuck or kill. Especially the last two had always been the king's favorites, even before the rebellion. "Why did you do it, Lord Stark?"
"What do you mean?"
"Why did you rebel? For your sister's sake? For honor's sake? For revenge?"
The Northman took a deep breath, before he answered, "To protect what was left of my family. I had already lost a brother and my father. The mad king would have killed us all."
"The mad king's time was over. He would have been replaced by his son, had it not been for your rebellion. Prince Rhaegar told me so himself. King Aerys had crossed the line when he had your father killed. Had you been wiser, you would have gotten justice, without the loss of your honor as oathbreakers." Jaime spat.
He remembered that day all too well. When Rhaegar left the Red Keep for the last time, to face the rebels. When Rhaegar told him that he would bring the changes that the realm needed, once he was back from the next battle... Jaime also remembered his own anger, when he was refused to follow Rhaegar to battle. When he realized that the Mad King used him as a pawn to keep his father in line. But he complied, for Prince Rhaegar's sake, believing in the prince. Had Rhaegar not told him about his intentions, who knows whether he would have done his duty and saved Rhaenys in time... he had almost stayed in the throne room that day, had it not been for his respect for Rhaegar.
"Who are you to call me an oathbreaker, Kingslayer. You betrayed one of the most sacred oaths in the entire realm. Only few have ever stooped so low. And you only speak of justice for my father, but your king had also killed my brother and your prince had abducted my sister. Where was the justice for them." Eddard's voice had become a cold growl, as his gray eyes dared Jaime to continue his mocking.
But Jaime would not keep quiet now, not in front of a Stark. "Your brother was a fool. He doomed himself and all his comrades. What kind of foolish idiot would storm into the castle of a known madman and demand the life of his son? With his brashly impertinent actions he doomed not just himself, but your father as well. He was no brave hero, who died trying to safe his sister. He was a dumb fool who acted without thinking." Oh how long he had waited to say these words. He had been there that day, when Brandon Stark sealed his own fate. And though his fate was gruesome and Aerys' action unjust, there was no denying it. No one but Brandon Stark was responsible for what happened in King's Landing. "And your sister... what proof do you have that she was abducted? Rhaegar was neither a thief nor a kidnapper. And though his actions with your sister bereft him of his honor, the Rhaegar Targaryen I knew would never forced himself on the girl. Not to mention that Ser Arthur Dayne was with him. He was loyal to the prince, but he would not have aided him in a kidnapping, let alone looked away when a maiden got raped. Rhaegar was no rapist, Stark, ask anyone who knew him and you will hear the same. Only the gods know why he went to get your sister, but I doubt that it was against her will."
"Words from a Targaryen loyalist. Rapist or not, when Rhaegar Targaryen took my sister, he doomed his family and ended the rule of the Targaryens." Eddard replied, "And your actions now not just threaten our lives, but also those of our entire families. When you raise your sword against Robert, than heed my warning. No matter who wins, the loosing side will be wiped out – men, women and children. Remember that, the next time to speak callously about war." He went to follow Robert, but Jaime stopped him one last time.
"Lord Stark, you know that my words a true. You know that your sister did go willingly. And you now guard the result of her choices." Jaime couldn't say whether the man understood the implied meaning, since Eddard showed no outside reaction. A pity, he had really hoped that Ned Stark would give away at least one of his secrets. The man simply rode away, without looking at Jaime again.