Winter Roses Still Have Thorns

by wibblywobblywesteros

In this AU Lyanna Stark survives Robert's rebellion. Robert does not. Jaime Lannister is thrown into a dungeon for his treason and scheduled for execution. But Lyanna doesn't want to marry Rhaegar. She's willing to help Jaime escape his fate if he'll help her to escape hers. 22 chapters already written.

14. Chapter 14

It had helped to hold a baby again but Lyanna would always miss her firstborn. Baby Johanna wasn't so much a baby anymore. She was five years old. There would be a new baby for her and Jaime in a few months. As much as she looked forward to another child, it still saddened her to think of Jon Snow.

Jaime found her staring out the window into the gardens. His shift had ended for the day. He slipped up behind her and wrapped his arms around her, kissing her neck as he did so. She sighed at the sensation.

"Are you coming to the hall for dinner or would you rather stay here and be entertained?" He teased her with another kiss.

She giggled. "As much as I'd like to stay, I really should eat."

"Alright." He said letting her go. Then he turned to where Johanna was playing on the floor with a doll in the corner. "Come on you." He said picking her up rather quickly. She squealed with laughter as he did so.

They sat near the far end of the table with the rest of the servants and commoners. They had grown used to this end of the table over the years and had formed friendships with some of the people. Meals at Belaro's table were always filled with gossip. Jaime and Lyanna always listened for news from across the sea. Anything about Starks or Lannisters got their interest. They knew by now that Cersei and Rhaegar had a son named Jaeharys. Ned had two children, Robert and Sansa. Jaime knew almost nothing of what his brother Tyrion was up to. There was no one he could even ask.

"They are saying that King Rhaegar grows more and more ill each day." Someone said further down the table. This had both Jaime and Lyanna's attention. "He has taken to fits of coughing every day and has a high fever. The maesters don't think he'll last much longer."

"If he dies will Jaeharys be king?" Someone else asked.

"He's too young. Someone will have to rule in his stead." Said the first man again. "Perhaps his Hand, the Tyrell fellow."

"If Rhaegar dies, do you think we could go back?" Lyanna whispered to Jaime beside her.

"Maybe. You could. It would depend on how much the remaining Targaryens still hate me." He said.

She knew he was right. It would be far more dangerous for him in westeros than it would for her with Rhaegar gone. It was a futile hope. She would never see her son again. She knew she needed to accept it and be done with it and yet she couldn't do that.