A/N: Hello folks, new update for you all. Picks up pretty much where the last one left off. Hope you enjoy it!

Guest: I'm not sure Cersei can take all the responsibility for Robb finding out, after all she has a lot to lose as well.

Guest: Jaime was rather hard on Cersei I have to agree, he seems to forget that their past liaisons took two! To be fair though, Jaime and Lanette do have a legitimate reason to be worried; Amy being angry is one thing but if Robert caught wind of any of it there would be heads adorning spikes.

Boramir: Thank you! Yep, Robb is totally torn right now, I certainly wouldn't envy being in his position. You will have to see below for what Cersei's reaction is but she won't be murdering everyone so no worries there!

unnamed visitor: Well I'm glad it was unexpected, but you're right, not a great thing to happen! Robb is going to have some serious thinking to do and certain events might just influence his choice. I won't spoil anything, but this chapter might provide more insight. Thank you very much, enjoy the new chapter. As for Tywin...haven't decided yet.

Right-ho folks, onwards!

:)

Joust

Amy grumbled awake, feeling Robb's hand on the small of her back and turning her head from the pillows to blink sleepily at him. "What are you doing?" she asked him, frowning when she saw that he was already out of bed and fully dressed. "I want to have one more practice before later," he told her and her frown only deepened as she turned over in bed and really looked at him. "The joust is first," she said, "then the two finals at the end, you have all day to practice." He smiled then and bent to kiss her forehead. "I can't very well watch the joust if I'm practicing now can I?" he said pointedly when he pulled away, making his way to the door. "Aren't you forgetting something?" she called out to him as he pulled it open and he turned and smiled at her again. "I love you," he told her and she smiled back. "I love you too," she returned before he closed the door behind him.

She sighed heavily once she was left alone, her hands coming to rub at her face for a moment before she sat herself up in bed. The sooner this tourney was over the better, she wanted her husband back. Robb never got up and out of bed without rousing her, and he hadn't even kissed her properly before he had gone. She remembered the night before as she pushed the covers away from her and climbed out of bed. Never had he refused her. Not once. Not even when he had trained for hours with her father and been completely exhausted. I could never be too tired for you. Evidently that had been a lie. She tied her robe irritably around her and went to sit at the vanity, trying to ignore her uneasy stomach. Since drinking far too much the day before Tyrion's wedding her stomach had not been settled at all. Surely that wasn't normal. Her mother and the Queen seemed perfectly well and they had drank just as much as she had, if not more. She appraised herself in the mirror, pushing her tangled hair out of her face, her eyes widening as another thought struck her. Perhaps she ought to go and see the Maester before heading out to the tourney grounds.

"This is ridiculous," Lanette said, shaking her head, "we have to sit there and pretend as though nothing is wrong with everyone around us. I can't do it Jaime, I can't."

"You must," he said, crossing towards her and laying his hands on her shoulder, "we have no other choice Lana."

"It's alright for you isn't it? You get to swan off and compete in the joust while I sit there smiling and pretending everything is perfect!" she snapped at him.

"Well perhaps I'll fall off my horse and never get back up, perhaps that would solve everything!" he snapped right back and she wanted to slap him.

"Don't you dare," she started in a dangerously low voice, "you are not the only one hurting Jaime and I am in no mood to put up with your self-pity!"

"I'm sorry," he said, turning away and running his hand through his hair in a desperate manner, "I'm sorry for everything."

"I know you are," she said quietly, "I'm sorry too … I'm just terrified Jaime. Too many people know as it is, one slip of the tongue is all it will need to rouse Amy's suspicions and you know what she's like. One sniff and she will not let go … I can't bear the thought of her knowing, of her turning on us. I'm scared Jaime, I'm scared of losing our little girl …"

Tears were coming now and before she knew it Jaime's arms were around her, his lips pressing against her hair as she forced back the sobs. She couldn't do this. Not today, not when hundreds of eyes were watching. She clung to Jaime, her strong husband who was always so certain and so confident. Confident to the point of being outright stupid on occasion but she loved that about him. She loved him so much. His comment about falling off his horse had hit her harder than she was willing to admit to him. She knew it was an offhand remark, something said out of anger and frustration but it chilled her to the very core. Being without Jaime was not something she ever wanted to think about, let alone contend with. She had half a mind to ban him from the joust but then she remembered that Robb would be sitting with them and she held her tongue. Best that he and Jaime were kept away from one another as much as possible for the time being. Jaime kissed the top of her head again as she blinked away the last of her tears, her fierce grip on him only slackening when a knock sounded at the door. He met her eyes as he pulled away to answer it and she knew he was thinking the same thing as she was. Amy.

"Not now," Jaime said when he opened it and Lanette frowned.

"This is not all about you," she heard Cersei hiss furiously, "I have a family to lose as well Jaime."

"Let her in," Lanette said and she saw him visibly falter for a moment before he moved aside to allow his twin to sweep into the room.

"I need to know," she said at once, "I need to know we're safe."

"Robb promised not to speak of it," Jaime said after a long moment.

"You trust him to keep his word? He's married to your daughter and clearly besotted with her, you think he can look her in the eye and lie?" Cersei asked frantically.

"He's a Stark," Jaime said in an offhand manner and Lanette snorted, turning her attention to her clearly distressed good-sister.

"It is precisely because he loves Amy that Robb will keep quiet," she said, "he would never want to hurt her like that, he knows how close she and Jaime are."

"I'm sorry," Cersei buried her head in her hands, "I'm sorry I came so early … I just … I just couldn't sleep, the thought of Robert and the children knowing what we did. He would kill us, he would kill us both before we could utter a word … his temper is only matched by his jealousy. He once had a singer put in stocks for singing a lewd song about me. If he knew … Gods, if he knew …"

She tailed off, her body shaking as she tried to muffle her sobs with her hands. Lanette looked at Jaime but he seemed unmoved, his eyes cold as he watched his distressed sister. Once upon a time Lanette imagined she would have enjoyed him looking at her like that but not now. She knew some of what Cersei must be feeling, the thought of losing Amy because of this sordid secret made her heart constrict horribly. Cersei wouldn't just lose her children, she would lose her husband and most likely her life if this was discovered. Whatever scheming she had done in the past Lanette believed she loved her family, believed that her fear was real. She stepped forward before she could think too much about it and embraced her as best she could. Cersei seemed to freeze in her arms for a moment before she relaxed, her own arms coming around Lanette and holding her tightly. Lanette didn't trust herself to look at Jaime as she comforted his sister, just focusing on Cersei as she mumbled her apology over and over again against her shoulder.

"I have to go," Jaime said bluntly and Lanette turned her head to see him marching to the door.

"Jaime -," she tried but he had slammed out before she could say anything else.

"That's my fault too isn't it?" Cersei said, pulling away from the embrace and looking mournful.

"You're as bad as him with your self-pity," Lanette snapped, turning away and snatching up the flagon of wine, pouring two large measures.

"Sorry," she said quietly as Lanette turned back and forced one of the glasses into her hands; "thank you."

"We need to be in control today," Lanette told her, her own hands shaking as she brought her glass to her lips; "keeping my eye on Jaime and Robb is going to be difficult enough without me having you worry about what you're going to do."

"I won't do anything," Cersei said at once.

"Stay away from Amy," Lanette met her eyes, "I mean it … Jaime is on the edge, I'm frightened about what he might do if someone pushes him."

"You really don't think Robb will say anything?" Cersei asked her.

"I don't know," Lanette shook her head, "but he loves Amy, that I'm certain of. We can only pray that that is enough motivation for him to keep his mouth shut."

Robb shifted uneasily in his seat, glancing towards Tywin for a moment before casting his eyes out over the tourney ground. The first jousters would be called soon but not all the family had congregated yet. Amy and her mother were nowhere to be seen, neither was the Queen. Ser Jaime was missing as well but Robb had no desire to set eyes on him today. He glanced up at the royal box and saw the King laughing raucously with his children. There had been rumours that he would compete in the joust but Robb wasn't so certain he would in the end. His eye was caught by the Queen sweeping her way towards the royal box and he observed her carefully. At first glance she looked unaffected but then she caught his eye. He looked away quickly, but not before he had seen the fear and panic in her eyes. He determinedly kept looking out at the squires making last minute preparations, trying not to dwell on what he knew. Tywin sighed heavily at his side and he flickered his eyes towards him, the older man catching his gaze.

"Women," he said after a moment, "they like to arrive late so all eyes will be on them. It's why they wear such ridiculous dresses."

"Amy changed four times yesterday morning," Robb returned after a moment and Tywin snorted.

"I rest my case," he said and Robb smiled slightly.

"I could honestly see no difference from the first dress to the last," Robb said.

"Best you didn't tell her that," Tywin said in an amused tone.

"No," Robb agreed, "I'm not quite that stupid."

Tywin snorted again then before calling for wine and Robb turned to see Amy making her way towards him with a huge smile on her face. He loved seeing her happy, but right now it only served to make his nagging guilt stab even harder at him. "Just in time for wine Amella, did you smell the Arbor?" her grandfather asked in amusement, his eyes twinkling as he fixed them on her. "No wine for me thank you," she smiled, "water will be just fine." He looked rather surprised but called for water without comment as Amy settled herself down next to Robb. "Are you alright?" he asked her, "I was beginning to think you'd miss the start and you've been looking forward to the joust."

"I'm fine," she smiled brightly. "Thank you," she added to her grandfather as he passed her water to her.

"You look beautiful," Robb said then and her smile widened.

"Thank you," she said again, "do you like my dress?"

"It's lovely," he told her and he could practically sense Tywin smiling in amusement at his side.

"I have something to tell you later," she told him, her gaze meeting his own.

"What something?" he asked her curiously and she pressed her finger to her lips.

"Very well I'll tell you now," she said in hushed tones, leaning in closer to him.

"Sorry I'm late!" her mother arrived, her smile looking rather forced as Amy moved back away from him and turned to her mother.

"I've only just come myself, you haven't missed anything," Amy said happily as he mother sat down.

"Amy," he nudged her ribs slightly to draw her attention, "I thought you had something to tell me."

"It will keep until later," she smiled as the first two horses were trotted into the grounds; "it's about to start."

Cersei had barely moved her eyes away from Robb since she had first arrived. At first she had had to sit completely tensed while he exchanged words with her father, terrified as to what they might be. She had only just begun to relax when her father had jovially called for wine and then Amy had appeared, looking as radiant as ever. Again she tensed as she and Robb exchanged words, but all she could see was a smile on her niece's face and she had forced herself to calm down. She spared a glance for each competitor who came to bow down before the royal box but she had no interest in the joust. Her only interest was to get the day over with so on the morrow she could return to the Capitol with her family and try and put all this in the past. She was furious with herself for allowing another in on the secret but she had reached the end of her tether. All she had wanted was to try and salvage some kind of relationship with her brother and this was how she was repaid.

"There is a joust going on you know," Robert leaned over and murmured into her ear. She forced a smile to her face before turning to him, his icy eyes twinkling in amusement. "Of course there is my love," she said, her smile coming easier now she was looking at him. "What is so interesting over there?" he asked her and she had a second, a blink to come up with an answer for him. "Amy's dress," she said, "such beautiful fabric, I was pondering over where it's from." Robert sighed in an exasperated manner and she knew he had believed her lie. In the next moment he raised his hand; "Lady Amella, would you come over here a moment?" he called out, beckoning her over. Cersei met Lanette's eyes then and she tried to convey her apology to her without speaking as Amy made her way up to the Royal box. "Sorry about this," Robert said when she arrived, "my wife was admiring your dress, where is the fabric from?"

"Oh, the silks are from Mereen and the lace is from Lys I believe your Graces," she smiled.

"Thank you my dear," Robert twinkled at her.

"Yes, thank you," Cersei couldn't help but smile at Amy, she was such a sweet little thing.

"It was no trouble your Graces," she replied.

"Best return to your seat, the next riders are coming out," Robert said.

"Of course," Amy bobbed into a little curtsey.

"Amy, you truly do look lovely today," Cersei said to her, meeting her eyes and she beamed.

"Thank you, your Grace," she bobbed into another elegant little curtsey before making her way carefully back to her own seat.

"Now you can keep your eyes on the entertainment," Robert said, "I would hate for you to miss my joust fretting over silks and lace. Do you not have enough?"

"Are you really entering the lists?" she asked him exasperatedly, ignoring his question.

"Do you think I'm too old?" he asked in return and she sighed.

"I think you're the King and you ought to be careful," she said.

"Perhaps I'll meet your brother in the final, he's riding well today," he went on.

"Yes, perhaps," she said in an off-hand manner.

"Not that you'd know," he said and she narrowed her eyes at him.

"If you really intend to ride I will watch you intently my love," she said.

"Really?" he raised a brow in a suggestive manner; "Intently?"

"Intently," she confirmed and he leaned in to kiss her softly.

"Don't worry, I will save some energy for you my Queen," he grinned at her in a way that made her feel eighteen again and she smiled widely back.

"I love you Robert," she murmured, holding his eyes.

"I love you," he responded, pecking a kiss to the tip of her nose before settling properly back on his throne; "now stop distracting me and watch the joust."

Everyone around him was just as tense as Jaime was but they were tense for a whole different reason. The King had decided to enter the joust and everyone was on edge, especially the poor young squire who was riding against him. Jaime didn't particularly care what Robert was doing but he was happy enough to let him be an excuse for his own nervous state. If he could just get through today then perhaps there would be light on the other side. Cersei and her brood would be leaving, that should hopefully lessen the growing animosity between him and Robb. His good-son hadn't been able to look at him as they broke their fast. Thankfully Amy had been absent and Jaime had bitten his tongue, not sure at this point whether talking about it would make things better or worse. They would be worse if Amy cottoned on to the fact that something was amiss. Without the tourney to distract her she would have far more opportunity to notice that things between himself and Robb were strained. They had been strained in the beginning but since they had come to the Rock he had grown rather fond of his good-son. Amy had been delighted and he had no doubt that she would notice at once if their warm relationship suddenly froze over.

He sighed heavily as the announcer called the King's name, the roar of the crowd almost deafening as he leaned against one of the supporting posts to observe the joust. Despite everything he was still curious to see how well Robert would perform. He made the mistake of glancing up to the crowd then, he could practically feel Lanette's own tension as she sat next to their daughter. Amy looked relaxed though, that eased his worries somewhat but then he caught Robb's stony expression and his moment of relief was ruined. He looked determinedly away from him, his gaze instead fixed on the squires who were hauling the tourney lances up to the riders. Robert was easily the bigger man, far more powerful, his fine armour making him instantly recognisable. Jaime did not envy the man who was set to ride against him, swearing he could see a shake in his hand as he lifted it to pull down his visor. Robert did the same and in the next moment the horn blasted.

The horses thundered towards one another, Robert's booming voice easily heard over the crowd urging his own mount to go faster. Jaime braced himself for the crash, for the splintering sound and the inevitable thud of a body hitting the ground. It all came, all as he had seen it in his mind save for one thing. It was not the young squire who came tumbling down it was Robert, the ground practically shaking as he thudded down. There was silence. Deathly silence. It was as though everyone gathered was just holding their breath and waiting for the explosion that would come from their King. It didn't come. Jaime frowned, really looking at Robert now and seeing him unmoving. He moved himself as people around him began to murmur under their breath. The man who had ridden against him was dismounting, pulling off his helm and looking towards the unseated King, his face blanching when he saw what Jaime had seen the. Robert still wasn't moving and Jaime was picking up his pace now.

Others around him got their quicker, their armour clanking as they ran towards their fallen King. Someone eased his helm from his head and Jaime's stomach churned, his eyes going up to the royal box and praying they hadn't seen. His sister screamed. He had never heard anything like it in his life, not even when their mother died had she screamed like that and despite the hell she had put him through and despite being without her for so many years it still pierced him like a knife. Her pain was his pain because like it or not, she was part of him and he was part of her. His father was up on his feet, as was Tyrion, both of them moving up to the box and ushering the little Princesses away. Both of them looked confused and Jaime was glad that they at least had not seen their father. "You can't leave him like this for everyone to see," he hissed at one of the squires then, "for the love of the Gods, cover him over and get some boards so we can get him inside. Now you fools!" he snapped when they showed no sign of moving, "He is your King, does he not deserve some dignity at least?!"

They obeyed him then, organising themselves and Jaime again looked up to the royal box, Cersei seemed to be struggling with Steffon. Her son seemed to be trying to hold her back as she battled against him, no doubt desperate to get to her husband. She was too late. He wanted to tell her she was too late but he couldn't even make his feet move an inch. He looked to his own family. Lanette looked pale, as did Geanna at her side, both of them stood with their hands over their mouths. Amy was in Robb's arms, her husband with his hand firmly on the back of her head, no doubt to stop her looking. Robb had seen though, he could tell by the look in his eyes that he had seen what had befallen Robert. Jaime looked back to see that he was being covered over, others hurrying towards them with wooden boards that they would have to try and get him on to. "Take him to the Sept," Jaime said in a dazed manner and several of them nodded. "Should we not call for a Maester?" one asked quietly and Jaime sent him a withering look. "Do you really see the point?" he snarled, "Send for a Maester and give the Queen and his family false hope?"

The man shook his head then and Jaime turned away, unable to be near it anymore. He felt like he could still feel Cersei's pain and he wanted to walk far enough away that he couldn't hear her anguished sobs anymore. Part of him had thought she was playing games again, lulling him into a false sense of security by telling him her marriage was a happy one. Deep down he had known she wasn't lying, he could see it in her eyes and in Robert's that there was love between them. He had seen it in the way they were with their children. He swallowed hard, seeing his father walking towards him and knowing he would not be escaping as he was desperate to do. Gods this was not how it was all supposed to end. This tourney was meant to be a joyful celebration but he wished they had never thought to throw it. He came to a halt in front of his father, seeing his face pale and his eyes set. His hands were shaking slightly but to everyone else Jaime knew he would seem as cold and unaffected as ever he was.

"Well?" he asked Jaime stonily, not a waver in his voice.

"There is nothing to be done," Jaime told him, swallowing hard before he uttered his next words; "the King is dead."

A/N: Bracing myself here...

More soon. :)