"Dry lightning cracks across the skies. Those storm clouds gather in her eyes. Daddy was a mean old mister. Momma was an angel in the ground. The weather man called for a twister. She prayed, 'Blow it down.'"- Blown Away, Carrie Underwood.

V. JAIME
It would have been almost comical if it hadn't been so unexpected, the look of relief on the face of the four in front of them. Greyjoy, Eddard Stark's ward, was in the front of the group close to Jaime, one hand holding his horses reins and the other hand on the hilt of his sword. Just behind him was Robb Stark with his Tully eyes and hair. Behind Robb were Jon and Lucia, standing side by side. All eyes were trained on he, Tyrion, and the guardsmen behind them. "Expecting the Others?" Tyrion asked with barely concealed laughter.

"The gods only know," Jon replied darkly, grey eyes fixed on them. "The north is full of strange and savage beasts."

"As opposed to the south which seems to breed only sharp tongues," Lucia added, her grey eyes just as unfathomable as her twin's. Greyjoy snorted with suppressed laughter and Robb Stark seemed to be biting down a smile. Tyrion was the first to laugh and though Jaime gave in and chuckled with his brother neither of the twins so much as cracked a smile.

"So what are you children doing wandering around the woods at night?" Jaime asked, smirking slightly.

"We're no children," Robb Stark replied, disgruntled and annoyed.

"And we've done this plenty of times," Greyjoy added, his scowl dark as storm clouds.

"We are not lost Ser, if that is what you are implying," Lucia added smoothly, her eyes meeting his as levelly as they had during the announcement of their engagement.

"Then perhaps we should be following your lead," Tyrion said, dismounting carefully. "Since you know the way back and we are not familiar with the forest."

"You'll have to consent to walk," Robb Stark said, sounding as if he hoped they would find their way back to Winterfell alone. Or not at all, Jaime mused silently. No doubt Robb Stark was just as happy as his father about having Lannisters in Winterfell.

"Very well," he said, dropping to the ground. The guardsmen followed his lead and Robb scowled. There was a heavy silence for a moment and then Jaime took a step forward. "Well, where are we going?" That was when the growling started. The Direwolves that had evidently been lurking in the shadows cast by the torches stalked into view. The massive grey one had it's hackles up and was growling but the two behind it, one white and one black but both with red eyes, made not a sound, all three muzzles fixed in snarls. They stalked forward and Jaime reached for his sword, unsheathing it.

"Shadow," Lucia suddenly snapped. "Here." The black Direwolf turned and stalked over to her.

"Ghost, here," Jon added and as the white wolf flowed over to him they both turned expectantly to Robb.

"Fine," the future lord of Winterfell sighed. "Grey Wind to me." The grey wolf silenced and slunk back to Robb.

"Direwolves," one of the guardsmen gulped. "Gods above, they haven't been seen beyond the Wall for years."

The four children exchanged glances before saying in unison, "Winter is coming." Jaime felt his lips tighten at the famous, or infamous depending on how you looked at it, Stark words.

"Put up your sword Ser," Lucia spoke up after a moment of silence, grey eyes meeting green once again. "Or we will leave you to find your own way back."

"And we can lose you all without being lost ourselves," Greyjoy added darkly. Jaime nodded once stiffly and replaced his sword in it's sheath. Lucia turned without another word and led her horse and Direwolf away. The others followed, the Lannister party following behind a few steps.

"Guess you'll have a new pet when we return to King's Landing," Tyrion said, hobbling along next to Jaime.

"I should hope not," Jaime said sourly. "Or I'll have to constantly worry about being eaten."

"I doubt it's you who will have to deal with being eaten," Tyrion replied with the typical humorous gleam in his eyes. "More like our sweet sister if she makes a habit of threatening the girl who is to be your new wife." Jaime considered Cersei's angry glares sent in Lucia Stark's direction and wondered if perhaps his brother wasn't correct. He carried on in silence, watching the back of Lucia's head. Despite everything that had happened to her this day she was still as cold as ice and he had yet to see her icy expression falter excepting the smirk she had given Cersei when his sister had thrown her the reins to her horse. Absently he wondered if Lucia had something to do with that particular episode during their arrival.

Finally they cleared the woods and the Starks and Greyjoy began to mount up. "Need help up?" Greyjoy questioned Lucia and Jaime saw the hint of an affectionate smile on her lips.

"I am quite capable of getting up on my own horse, thank you," she said and he nodded, leaping up on his own as she mounted her filly. The others mounted as well, Jaime subtly helping Tyrion mount, and then rode for Winterfell where they were admitted in silence. There was no speaking between Jaime, Tyrion, and the guardsmen in the stables but there were a few whispers between the children, especially Greyjoy and Lucia Stark. They scampered out into the shadows before Jaime and the others were finished stowing saddles and brushing down coats and Jaime stared after them for several moments before a subtle smack from Tyrion on his leg brought him back to the present moment.