A/N: Please Read! Hey guys, I had an unexpected message at the weekend letting me know that three of my stories have been nominated for awards at the Fanatic Fanfics Multifandom Awards (fanaticfanficsawards . blogspot . co . uk). 'My Kingdom Come', 'Paying the Toll' and 'Truth Breeds Lies' have all been nominated for 'All-Time Favourite Game of Thrones Fanfic' and 'Favourite Romance Fanfic'. It is amazing just to be considered but if you think any of my stories are worthy of a chance of winning then I would ask you please to go and vote for them and hopefully help get them through to the next round of voting. Thanks so much for reading!

Anyway, back to Butterfly Effect and it's tourney time after guest thanks!

Guest: Thank you so much!

unnamed visitor: Thank you! Glad you thought it was worth waiting for and that you enjoyed the bonding moments. Don't worry about Amy, she's going to be just fine, hope you enjoy the new update!

Helewisetran: Believe me, writing Twyin as a caring father is really strange too! Yes indeed, Tyrion deserves his happiness. Thank you so much, glad you update brightened your weekend, hope you like this one!

Boramir: Thank you! Tywin has certainly managed to soften, I think having his family around (especially with Jaime being married) has really helped him, and he's found someone to really challenge his darker moments in Lanette. Couldn't possibly comment on Amy...stay tuned! He certainly is hard and ruthless in canon, and still would be in this fic if he were challenged I would imagine. Interesting point about the Robb betrayal, I actually agree. If Robb had discovered what the Boltons were planning and acted as Tywin did against Castamere then I do imagine people would have been cheering. Interesting point, but then there are other reasons people dislike Tywin in canon (Elia and her children for example.) Anyway, thank you again, hope you enjoy the next chapter!

Right-ho! Onwards!

:)

Burden

"Remember what I said, watch your left," Jaime said again, clapping his hand on Robb's shoulder.

"I remember," Robb nodded and his good father smiled at him.

"Good," he said; "because if you even think of leaving my daughter a widow there will be trouble."

"I have no intention of dying," Robb said and Jaime nodded determinedly.

"Good," he said again, "now I'd best head out to the tourney ground."

"See you out there," Robb said.

"Remember -," Jaime started.

"Watch my left," Robb cut across him and his good-father nodded again.

"Good," he smiled briefly before turning away and pulling aside the flap of the tent, his footsteps slowly fading away.

Robb turned back to the table where his armour and sword lay, taking a breath and twisting his hands together for a moment, just waiting for one of the squires to come and help him into his armour. He ran his hand across the cool, shiny metal of the chest plate, the direwolf emblazoned proudly across the centre of it. He heard the flap of the tent pull aside then and he turned, expecting a squire and faltering slightly when he saw it was Amy. "I thought he'd never leave," she said in an exasperated tone and he grinned. "I thought you'd be out in the grounds, one of the squires will be here soon," he told her as she sauntered towards him. "I don't think so," her eyes glinted mischievously, "I told them they weren't required." Robb narrowed his eyes slightly at her as her hands came to run up and down his upper arms. "Someone needs to help me into my armour," he told her and her lip curled up on one side. "I thought you might be nervous," she said, cocking her head to one side, her hands sliding onto his chest and down towards his breeches. "Amy," he breathed as she came to toy with his laces, "I really don't think –," he cut off as she unlaced him, sinking down to her knees as she did so.

"I can help you," she said, her warm breath against his uncovered length making him groan despite himself, his hands coming to brace against the table as she took him into her mouth. He had to hand it to her, what she was doing to him made his mind spin away from his nerves about the tourney, focusing on nothing but how incredible she made him feel. Another groan escaped him as she continued her delicious ministrations, one of his hands coming to fist in the hair at the base of her neck. He could feel his body coming to its peak in the next moment and he gasped out in relief as she swallowed him down, slowly releasing him from her perfect mouth. His grip on her hair slackened and she rose back up to her feet, her hands tugging on his laces to tie him back up. He could only stare at her as she raised her eyes to meet his gaze, a triumphant smile playing about her lips as she ran her hands along his upper arms again. "You feel far more relaxed now," she said lightly and he could only nod, still breathing hard; "now … perhaps I ought to help you with this armour."

Robb declined her help in strapping the armour to his thighs, not trusting her hands anywhere near that part of his body. She was far too desirable. Instead he got the plates on himself, pulling the straps tight. He needed her help with the chest plate though, holding it in position while she strapped it to him. "Your belt, my Lord," she smiled at him and he took it with a roll of his eyes and wrapped it around his waist. "Thank you," he told her as she ran her hand over the helm he would be wearing. "You will be careful won't you?" she asked then, her fingers lightly drumming against the metal as she turned to look at him. "Of course I will," he promised, "I'm not leaving you without me, not ever." She smiled widely at that, sliding his sword from the table and offering it to him. He took it carefully from her and sheathed it in his belt before pulling on his gauntlets. When he was done he looked at her again and she stepped forward and wrapped her arms around his waist, he held her back, inhaling the sweet scent of her hair before exhaling in perfect contentment.

When she stepped back she appraised him for a moment and he raised his brows, wondering what she was thinking. "I love you," she finally said, holding his gaze. "I love you," he returned and she smiled widely again before moving closer and pressing a kiss to the direwolf emblazoned on his chest. "For luck," she said simply when she pulled away, "now I really ought to go." He nodded his agreement and she moved towards the flap of the tent. "See you out there," he said in farewell as he picked up his helm. "Yes you will," she smiled once more before slipping out of the tent; "and don't forget to watch your left!"

Amy slipped into her seat between her mother and her grandfather just as the tourney announcer declared the day's events were set to begin. "I thought you were going to miss it, where have you been?" her mother asked as she settled herself down, gratefully accepting a glass of wine from one of the serving girls. "Wishing Robb luck," she said simply, trying not to give herself away as she sipped on her wine in what she hoped was an unaffected manner. "Is he nervous?" her mother asked her then. Not anymore, Amy thought to herself. "A little," she said instead, bringing her glass back up to her lips. "Doubtless he will be just fine after training with Jaime all hours of the day," her grandfather spoke up and she turned to smile at him. "Yes, no doubt," she said, "I have every faith in him."

The first two opponents came from opposite ends of the tourney ground then and they all clapped along politely as they came to bow before the royal box before they began circling one another in preparation. A horn was blown to signal the start of the bout and they both clashed at one another furiously. Amy grew bored after a time. They seemed to be an even match, but not of much skill nor flair. They seemed to just clash swords continuously with neither getting the upper hand, even her grandfather was shifting restlessly in his chair. She looked to her mother then who was inspecting her fingernails. Her father sat next to her looked utterly bored and he turned his head after a moment, both of them rolling their eyes at one another. They both grinned then but before either could comment her father was tapped on the shoulder by one of the men and he turned his attention away.

Amy instead let her eyes wander to the left where the royal family were sat in the raised box. They all looked just as bored as she felt, the little Princesses shifting restlessly in their seats and the King and the Prince shaking their heads with identical expressions of incredulity on their faces. The Queen looked serene and beautiful but Amy imagined that her aunt was just good at hiding her true emotion. She caught her eye then and sent her a small smile which Amy returned before turning her head back towards the bout and pretending to look interested. Her grandfather let out a little exasperated sigh and she couldn't help but smile as she sipped on her drink again. "Idiots," she thought she heard him mutter and she almost choked on her wine. Thankfully in the next moment one of them seemed to strike lucky and finally a winner was declared, the loser picking himself up gingerly and wiping the dust away from his armoured shoulders.

The next two opponents were announced then and Amy sat up straighter as Robb's name was called. She swallowed hard as he entered the ground, clapping him along with everyone else and trying to breathe normally as she sized up his opponent. He was smaller than Robb but small men could be dangerous with the right training. Both of them approached the royal box then and bowed deeply, Robb then moving to his left so he could look up at her. "May I have your favour my Lady?" he asked her and she smiled widely, unwinding them from around her wrist and standing up. She kissed the white ribbon trimmed with silver that had a line of red running through the centre before she handed it down to him. He beamed up at her, his hand clasping around hers for a moment before he took the favour and tied it securely around his sword belt. Amy returned to her seat as Robb unsheathed his sword and began to circle his opponent. Her mother's hand found hers in the next moment as the horn blasted again.

This time the swings were more precise, more carefully measured. Amy could almost sense Robb choosing his move before he made it, his feet always that little bit quicker despite his opponent being the slighter of the two. Robb's footwork had always been good, it was the one thing that her father had never been able to fault him on. He clashed with his opponent again and the smaller man seemed to stagger back slightly. Amy could see the opening and she imagined her father could too as he leant forward in his seat, muttering something under his breath. She hoped it was encouragement as she tightened her hand around her mother's and held her breath. In the next moment she let it out again, a smile spreading across her face as Robb had his opponent flat on his back with the blade against his throat. He was declared the winner and she clapped happily as he re-sheathed his sword and offered a hand to the man he had just beaten, hauling him up to his feet. They clapped one another on the back, sharing a few words, Robb's eyes seeking her out at they made their way back away from the tourney ground and to the preparation area. She smiled when his eyes met hers and he smiled back, his hand coming to pat at her favour on his waist.

"My Lord!" Robb turned to see one of the guards.

"What is it?" he asked.

"Your wolf my Lord," the guard said and he sighed exasperatedly.

"What's he doing now?" Robb asked him.

"Nothing as such, but him prowling around the preparation area is making the other men rather nervous," he told him and Robb nodded.

"I'll go and find him," Robb said and the guard nodded, bowing shortly.

"Thank you my Lord," he said gratefully and Robb inclined his head to him before going off in search of his wolf.

It didn't take him long to find him, circling a group of men who were looking at him uneasily as they sat polishing their swords and helms. "Grey Wind," Robb said through gritted teeth and his wolf raised his head and fixed his great yellow eyes on him. Robb thought he looked rather sheepish and he raised his brows expectantly. "Come here," he said quietly but firmly and Grey Wind bowed his head before padding sullenly towards him with his tail between his legs. "Sorry about him," he called out to the group of men and they thanked him gratefully. "Come on," he murmured to his wolf then and they fell into step. "I know you're trying to help," he said in an undertone, "but it really isn't necessary. Why don't you go and keep Amy company?" Grey Wind looked up at him then as though he was considering his suggestion. "Go on," he urged with a grin; "you know you can't resist her fussing over you." Grey Wind yapped once and Robb patted him on the head for a moment, his smile only widening as his wolf trotted off towards the tourney ground with a spring in his step and his tail wagging happily.

Robb shook his head as he watched him go before setting off back towards his tent so he could pick up his helm before heading out for his second round. After the first round he felt a lot more relaxed, almost confident even. He was wary of getting too ahead of himself but it had felt good out there and he was looking forward to doing it again, relishing the thought of a tougher challenge. He approached his tent, a frown coming to his face as he heard Ser Jaime's voice through the canvas; "… Robb could be back here at any moment," he was saying and Robb bit his lip, his first thought that perhaps he might have stumbled upon an encounter between his good-mother and father. He turned to leave but the next voice halted his tracks. "You've been avoiding me since I arrived Jaime, I had to get you on your own somehow to tell you there is no need," it was the Queen and she sounded exasperated, even a little desperate. Robb hung back despite himself, knowing that good rarely came from eavesdropping but curious, remembering Amy's thoughts about it being odd that her parents hadn't seemed excited about the royal visit.

"Cersei, we are not having this conversation," Jaime said with finality.

"Yes we are," the Queen shot back, "perhaps if you would just listen for a moment then you would understand that there is no reason for us to be like this with one another."

"There is every reason," he said venomously and Robb's frown only deepened.

"What happened was wrong," she said, "I know that now. It took you leaving for me to realise it but I know that now … Jaime please … I'm your sister."

"You almost destroyed my marriage," he snarled.

"I didn't make you kiss me!" she snapped back at him and Robb's eyes widened to the extent he thought they would fall out of his head.

"I'm not having this conversation," Jaime said dismissively.

"We both made that mistake, made lots of mistakes," she said, "but don't you see that it doesn't need to be like this? You're happy with Lanette, and I am happy for you."

"How touching," he said coldly.

"You were right, what you said," she continued, "about Robert and I. I do love him, I love him very much and you were right to leave, to marry Lanette. I'm only sorry I didn't see it sooner. I wish I hadn't driven you away for all these years. You were right."

"And you were wrong," he said, "I told you we were done but still you tried to win me back from Lana with your games. I never messed with your head Cersei, I never once tried to take you away from your husband but you would have happily led me from my wife."

"But you didn't come!" she exclaimed.

"But I took a step, I almost faltered, and that has been hanging over our marriage since the day it happened. Lanette may have forgiven me for my moment of madness but she will never forget what happened that day, and that Cersei, is why I will never forgive you!" he snapped back.

Robb's head was spinning then, unable to believe what he had just heard. Wishing with everything he had that he could just forget it. Wishing that he had walked away when he had had the chance. He felt sick. Ser Jaime and the Queen …? He shook his head, trying to clear it, his eye caught by the commanding presence of the King striding towards him. They were still furiously arguing within his tent and the King was coming ever closer. There was only one thing that Robb could do, imagining Amy's pain if this was discovered. It would mean the death of her father, he knew that much. He couldn't let that happen to her, no matter how depraved his actions may have been. Before he could think about it too much he wrenched the flap of the tent aside, their golden heads turning to look at him with identical expressions of shock and dismay on their faces. "The King is coming," he said before either of them had recovered enough to say anything. The Queen averted her gaze then, picking up her skirts before striding out of the tent.

Robb made to follow after her, wanting to be as far away from everything he had just heard as possible. All he had wanted to do was collect his helm before going into his second round. He had been excited. Now he just felt sick. Now he just wanted to forget about this stupid tourney, grab Amy and drag her back to Winterfell and never let her leave again. Ser Jaime grabbed his arm before he could leave though and Robb turned furiously, tugging his arm from his grip. "How much did you hear?" his good-father asked him, his eyes wide. "Enough," Robb said shortly, shaking his head. "Please Robb … you can't say anything of this to anyone, if Amy found out -,"

"She would despise you," Robb cut him off, his eyes furious.

"Robb -," he started again.

"I swore no secrets between us, I swore I would never lie to her and now what choice do I have?" Robb demanded.

"I'm sorry," Jaime said, shaking his head, his hand coming to run desperately through his hair.

"Your own sister," Robb whispered in disbelief, staring at him as though he had never seen him before.

"A mistake," he said desperately, "a mistake I will pay for forever … but please, not like this, Amy can't ever know about this."

"She adores you," Robb whispered, his eyes stinging, "this would destroy her."

"Robb -," he started once more.

"I love her too much to ever hurt her like that," Robb said, stepping away from him again; "rest easy Ser, your secret is safe with me."

Jaime focused all his energy on not breaking down and crying as he forced himself to walk normally back towards the tourney ground. He inched his way down the rows of benches, seeing Amy and Lanette in happy conversation with one another as Robb's name was announced. Thankfully Amy turned her attention towards the ground then as Jaime placed his hand down on Lanette's shoulder. She looked up at him, her brow furrowing before she stood up at once. He was so grateful that she knew without him having to say anything, taking her hand and leading her back along the row. His eyes scanned out to the ground then, his eyes meeting the piercing blue gaze of his good-son before Robb snapped his visor shut. Jaime tugged Lanette along more hurriedly then, his eyes darting about the place as they left the tourney ground. He pulled her away from the noise and the cheering, wanting to block it out. Wanting to block all of it out. Gods damn it. Why was he so stupid? Why was he so fucking stupid?

"Jaime?" Lanette whispered when he finally came to a halt and he couldn't keep it held in anymore, the tears coming from him. He was sobbing before he knew it and he felt so weak, he felt so weak as she held him in her arms, her hands rubbing up and down his back as he clung to her as though his life depended on it. "Jaime, please talked to me," she said almost desperately and somehow he managed to pull back just far enough to he could look into her eyes. Gods, he hoped she would understand. Hoped she wouldn't blame him. His mind was already swarming with thoughts, certain that Robb would want Amy back at Winterfell as soon as possible and he was terrified that he would never see his daughter again. Surely Robb wouldn't do that, keep them apart? Surely he wouldn't? He shook his head, the tears threatening to come again as he looked into Lanette's perfect eyes. "He knows Lana," he managed to choke out, "Robb knows."

"Robb knows what?" she asked him, although he could see it in her eyes that she knew.

"Cersei," he uttered the word and she closed her eyes in despair.

"How?" she asked him faintly after a moment, her eyes fluttering back open.

"We were arguing. I didn't want to listen to what she had to say but she was adamant," he told her, shaking his head.

"What happened?" she asked him, and he saw the fear etched across her face,

"Nothing, nothing like that," he assured her at once, "I told you. We were arguing. Robb overheard enough to guess something had happened between us."

"Gods Jaime," she stepped away from him, her hand coming up to her forehead in disbelief.

"I'm sorry Lana," he said desperately.

"What if he tells Amy, damn it Jaime, what if he tells her?!" she demanded.

"He won't," he shook his head at once, "he promised me he wouldn't say a thing … he said he loves her too much to hurt her like that and I believe him Lana!"

"Then he has to keep this from her, for the rest of their days!" her own head was shaking.

"What is the alternative?!" he demanded of her.

"How could you be this stupid?!" she shouted at him.

"I'm sorry!" he flailed his arms, not having a clue what he could do to make this right.

"Gods poor Robb," she put her hand to her mouth, "what must he think of us? Should I talk to him Jaime, should I try and explain?"

"No," he shook his head, "the less he knows the better."

"He will carry this burden forever," she met his eyes, her own furious.

"So will we," he said firmly, "we have learned to live with it, he will just have to do the same."

Robb lay back against the pillows, for once not impatient for Amy to join him in bed as he drew the covers up around him. He watched her as she removed her jewellery and sat down at the vanity to pull the pins out of her hair. After a time he had to look away, his stomach churning uncomfortably as his mind refused to allow him to dwell on anything but what he had overheard between the Queen and Ser Jaime. He felt sick, he had no other word to describe it. Gods he wished he didn't know, knowing that now he did he would be saddled with it forever and the one person he wanted to confide in was the one person who could never know. She was oblivious. Happy and oblivious and somehow he had to keep her that way. Somehow he had to behave as though he knew nothing, as though a huge weight had not just been hung around his neck. He would never shake it off but he would have to try and bury it. Live with it. Amy was his wife, the woman he loved. He would die for her in heartbeat, likely that would be easier than keeping this from her forever. He had to though. He had to protect her from it.

She was rising up from her vanity then and for the first time in their marriage he averted his eyes as she slipped her robe from her shoulders. He could hear her padding softly towards the bed and he felt even worse. He kept his head turned away as she climbed in beside him, automatically wrapping his arm about her as she came up against his side. Her hand began to wander his chest then and he wished she would stop as it dropped down low, finding the top of his breeches. "You seem a little overdressed husband," she said teasingly and he moved his hand to still her own. "Not tonight Amy," he said quietly and she snatched her hand away from him, moving so she could look down on him and he knew he could avoid looking at her no longer. "You don't want me?" she said incredulously and his heart clenched horribly as he saw the hurt and rejection in her eyes. "Have I done something wrong?" she asked then, her bottom lip trembling slightly and he shook his head, furious with himself for being so damn tactless.

"I always want you," he said honestly, moving his hand up to cup her face, his thumb brushing against her bottom lip as it ceased to tremble. "I'm just tired," he continued, "from the tourney … getting to that final almost finished me off," he lied, "I need to rest if I'm going to have any chance tomorrow, I hear my opponent is rather good," he forced a smile to his face and prayed that she would believe him. Her eyes were searching and he held his breath, forcing his own to keep hers and eventually she sighed, shifting herself back down and snuggling against him. "Very well," she sighed against his chest as he wrapped his arms around her; "I suppose I can be patient until tomorrow, you can ravish me then as champion," she said slyly and he turned his head so he could press a lingering kiss to her forehead. "I can hardly wait," he whispered, "I love you Amy," he went on, tightening his arms around her as she hummed happily against his chest, pressing a kiss just above his heart. "I love you Robb," she murmured sleepily, her sweet words only serving to heighten his guilt.

A/N: Aaaah, Robb knows, Robb knows! More from the tourney next chapter, and Cersei's reactions to getting found out.

For those of you waiting on the new Truth Breeds Lies chapter, it is coming later tonight, I just have some last minute tweaks to figure out!

:)