A/N: Hello all! I feel like I ought to have warned you about this before, but I have only just really made my mind up. There isn't much more of this fic to go. Still a good few chapters, but it is winding down now - so this is your warning haha! Hope that's not disappointing, I just feel like the time is right. Anyway, there is more to come for now, I will warn you again when the end is imminent. Hope you all enjoy!
unnamed visitor: Thank you very much, I'm glad you enjoyed it and that you liked the name. Tywin will find out in a few chapters time about Amy, so you will see his reaction. Glad you like Jon/Elia too, more of them in this chapter!
Guest: Haha, yeah, I don't think that's the road I'll be going down somehow.
Guest: Haha, I think Jon needed some. That would have been interesting, but as far as I know Tyrion is unique in the family in that sense (correct me if I'm wrong), so it didn't seem like a plausible move.
Boramir: Thank you very much! There will be news on Tywin and his travel plans in this chapter!
Right-ho folks, on we go!
:)
Cherish
"I will be glad when this is over with," Tywin muttered to his daughter as they walked in step down the steps of the red keep. The crowds were already gathered, kept at bay by the gold cloaks, clamouring out for their king and queen who were walking several paces ahead of Tywin and Cersei. "You are not the only one, Steffon has been in turmoil, I swear to the Gods he has almost torn up Renly's death warrant a hundred times these past days," she murmured back to him, and he sighed heavily. "The boy has an affectionate heart, a shame his uncle did not show him the same compassion," Tywin replied, and Cersei huffed in what he knew to be agreement. "Robert would have destroyed him for this, Steffon know it. He cannot ignore what Renly planned to do to Sansa, none of us can," Cersei said, and he nodded his own agreement.
"Treason of the highest order," Tywin commented, and she turned her head and smiled at him sympathetically. "I know you would rather be at the Rock today," she said knowingly, and he twitched his lips up slightly, unable to deny her words. "I will travel there once this is done with, Jon Arryn will be more than capable of taking the role of Hand again. Then I can meet my grandsons, and perhaps finally get some peace," he told her honestly, and her smile widened for a moment. "With two babies at the Rock you are unlikely to get much of that," she told him in an amused tone, and he snorted. "Indeed, Amella was bad enough," he sniffed, and Cersei rolled her eyes. "Likely she'll be back to the North before you reach the Rock," she said, and he nodded. "Indeed," he said again.
It was his one regret, that he would not see his granddaughter before she returned to the North with Robb and her son. When he had said goodbye to her on her departure for the Rock he had assumed that she would be coming back to the Capitol. "Likely she'll visit again soon enough," Cersei said knowingly, "no doubt Lord and Lady Stark will want to meet the little one before too long." Tywin smiled at that, likely Cersei was right, but he did not think that Robb and Amy would be accompanying them. "Doubtless they will," he agreed, "but that will leave Robb and Amella as acting Lord and Lady of Winterfell in their absence."
"Then perhaps we shall have to take a visit to Winterfell, I have never been to the North," Cersei said, clearly not wanting to give up on cheering him. "Perhaps," he agreed, more to placate her than anything. The kingdoms were not quite settled enough yet for him to feel at ease taking all the royal family on a procession to the North. If only it were not so damn far away. Still, now that she had a little brother, he imagined Amy would be persuading Robb to come and visit at the Rock again soon enough. Next time he would be there, he was determined of that. "You will have to visit the Rock again," he said to Cersei before he could stop himself, and she raised her brows slightly in surprise. "I'd like that," she said sincerely, "perhaps Eleanor and I could accompany you when you go back? It will be nice to get away from the Capitol for a while, and doubtless Steffon and Sansa will relish some proper time on their own."
"That is settled then," Tywin said, smiling slightly at his daughter, seeing her beam in response. Her smile soon faltered though as the crowd's jubilant mood suddenly changed from jubilant to hissing and booing. Tywin looked towards where Steffon and Sansa were stood to the side of the scaffold on a specially raised dais, surrounded by the Kingsguard. Sansa's direwolf had even made an appearance, the graceful creature prowling around the base of the scaffold as Mace Tyrell and Renly Baratheon were led towards them. Tywin could see, even from where he was stood, that Sansa had a tight hold on Steffon's hand. Renly was pleading already, Tywin could just about hear him over the angry crowd. Thankfully their anger was directed towards the traitors, rather than at Steffon.
There was a time when Renly could have matched him, even surpassed him, when it came to popularity. Not now though, not now when he had threatened the life of the beloved and gentle queen and their crown prince. No. The people were firmly on Steffon's side when it came to this double execution. Tywin could only hope that his grandson would not waver in the face of Renly's desperate pleas for mercy and forgiveness. The High Septon was addressing the crowd now, praying for the Gods' forgiveness for the souls of Mace and Renly. Tywin shook his head, he doubted if such men with such ruthless schemes could have souls to forgive. He asked for final words, but neither man seemed to want to address the crowds, Renly only looking desperately towards Steffon again.
Tywin held his breath as the executioner too looked towards Steffon, only letting it out again when his grandson nodded curtly. "Thank the Gods," Cersei whispered beside him, and before he could stop himself he moved his hand to take hers, squeezing tightly. She returned the pressure, and Tywin narrowed his eyes towards the scaffold as Renly was pushed forwards and forced to his knees before the block. Sansa looked paler than he had ever seen her when he glanced in her direction. He felt bad for putting her in this position, Steffon had not wanted to, but he had agreed in the end under his direction. Renly and Mace's most abhorrent schemes had been against her, the people had to be reminded of what these prominent men were dying for.
The crowd grew louder as the executioner moved towards Renly with his great sword in hand. Renly was visibly shaking, but Tywin felt no pity for him. Sansa was a young girl, of an age with Amy, and when he thought of what they had planned to do to her…It was almost enough to make him shudder. He kept hold of Cersei's hand as the sword was raised aloft, glinting maliciously in the sun before it came swooping down to sever Renly's head with one blow. The cheers from the crowd were almost deafening, and Mace Tyrell appeared to have fallen into some kind of faint. Guards moved to shove smelling salts under his nose as others propped him up between them. Tywin looked towards Steffon and Sansa, seeing them both with fixed neutral expressions on their faces. He had to hand it to them, they were both incredibly skilled at keeping their true emotions hidden behind a mask when in public.
"Gods, I wish they would get on with it. I just want to hold him," Cersei hissed almost desperately, and Tywin squeezed her hand again. "Not long now, and we will be away from prying eyes once more," Tywin murmured to her in what he hoped were soothing tones. Mace Tyrell appeared to be coming around now as Renly's body was moved into a cask, one of the guard moving to wrap his head in cloth before placing it in a basket. It would be taken up to the walls and stuck on a spike, though Steffon had demanded it be up there for no longer than a week, before being taken down and taken with his body to Storm's End. Stannis had already written and promised that Renly would rest in the crypts, even if he scarce deserved it in Tywin's own opinion.
Mace was being moved to the block now, Tywin could hear him stuttering and spluttering over the renewed jeers and crows of the crowds. At least they seemed to be happy to be witnessing such a sight. No doubt there would be tankards raised in celebration tonight throughout the taverns and brothels of the city. While he himself would mourn neither Renly nor Mace, he knew damn well that his grandson would have very mixed feelings about it all. Mace was knelt before the block now, his head slowly lowering to rest on the blood soaked wood. The sword swung again, and Tywin let out his breath when the crowd cheered once more. It was done with, guards and squires moving to dispose of the second body, another basket materializing for Mace's head.
Steffon and Sansa were already making their way down from the dais, Sansa thankfully remembering to turn slightly and raise her hand in thanks to the cheering crowds. There was a smile on her face for them that Tywin could only imagine had cost her an awful lot of effort. "Come on, inside with you," Cersei ushered the pair of them up the steps, quickly following after them. Tywin followed at a slower pace, entering the keep just in time to see Steffon almost fall into Cersei's arms. "It's alright," his mother soothed him, "it's alright, I know, I know." Steffon was choking out something that Tywin could not decipher, and he waved those in the entrance hall away at once. It would do no good for people to see their king breaking down like this.
"No, Steffon, no," Cersei sounded as though she was almost ready to break down herself now. "Steffon, no he would not, no he would not. Your father would not be angry with you, nor disappointed. He would not have blamed you for this, Steffon, please, listen to me…listen to me sweetheart, I know. I know. You had no choice, you could do nothing else, your father would understand. He would have done the same, if someone had threatened his family the way he threatened yours, he would have done the same my darling, I know he would have. I know it."
Steffon clung even more tightly to his mother at that, finally letting all that supressed emotion out as he shook in her arms. Tywin looked towards Sansa and sighed heavily, seeing tears silently tracking down her cheeks. He could never stand it when women cried, it made him feel helpless, especially when the woman was a part of his family. "Come now," he walked towards her, hesitantly laying his hand on her shoulder. "Come now, all of you," he continued, "let us shut ourselves away a while, I think we can all use a drink or two." Steffon finally pulled away from Cersei, nodding his head heavily in agreement. Sansa darted forwards at once to try and console him, and Cersei sent Tywin a despairing look. "Come now, we will go the parlour," Tywin said, gesturing for them to head down the hallway. They did as he bid, the two queens on either side of their distraught king. Tywin sighed heavily. The smallfolk may well celebrate tonight, but he knew well enough that the mood in the keep would be far from jubilant.
Jaime didn't think he had ever smiled so much in his entire life, his cheeks were almost aching from it all but still he couldn't stop. Everything had been perfect. The weather. The ceremony. Lanette in the new dress he had had made for her for the occasion. Amy being there, looking utterly happy and content with Robb back at her side. And Willem. Willem had been an utter joy. He had not let out one cry, not even when the Septon had spotted his head with the blessed oils. The only regret he had was that his father had not been there to witness his son being named, but Jaime knew well enough that he would be returning to the Rock soon, now that Renly and the Tyrells had been sorted out. Still, even the absence of his father was not enough to wipe the smile from his face.
"You know, I have heard rumours of men dying of happiness," Tyrion said in an amused tone as he moved to help Jaime pour the wine. "Well, if that is true brother, then perhaps we are both on borrowed time?" Jaime returned, and Tyrion chuckled, his gaze flickering over to where Geanna and Lanette were sat side by side, fussing over their babies and smiling widely. "Robb too, I fear," Tyrion said, "correct me if I'm wrong…but Amy looks rather…changed."
"You heard nothing from me," Jaime said pointedly, and Tyrion grinned. "Another baby in the family, by the Gods if we continue on like this then I think we will soon outgrow the Rock," Tyrion said, and Jaime chuckled as he set down the wine and poured Amy a glass of fresh orange juice. "Try another two babies," he told Tyrion in an undertone, to which his brows shot up. "Again, you did not hear it from me," he warned, and his brother shook his head slightly. "By the Gods, I cannot imagine it," Tyrion said in a dazed manner, "I confess it is something that worried Geanna when she discovered she was expecting Tybolt."
"It worried Lana with Amy, though I thought it best not to even mention the possibility when she was pregnant with Willem," Jaime said, shaking his head slightly. "No, very wise of you," Tyrion complimented him, and Jaime grinned. "Come, we best start serving this wine before they start complaining of thirst," he said, picking up one of the trays and moving towards the centre of the room where everyone seemed to have congregated. There would be a feast later on, but for now it was just family all together, with the addition of Theon, who Jaime had just about managed to start tolerating. He still wasn't his biggest admirer, but he could not help but be grateful for the way he had looked after Amy when Robb had been absent. Lanette adored him, and thought Jaime unfair for his indifference, but she had never heard the vile words he had overheard Theon utter about their daughter all that time ago.
"Thank you, Ser," Theon took a drink as Jaime offered the tray around, and for once he bestowed a proper smile on him. He had been an utter fool saying what he had about Amy, but if Robb trusted him them Jaime supposed he really had no reason to complain. "Thank you, father," Amy smiled widely at him as he passed her the orange juice. "You're welcome," he said in an undertone, "are you feeling quite well?" Amy nodded happily in response, a smile on her face which only served to widen Jaime's own. Aedan was sat at her feet, and Jaime bent down to ruffle his grandson's hair as Robb took the final glass of wine from the tray. Aedan made an irritable sound, but soon grinned as he looked up to see who had bothered him.
A scratch and a whine came at the door as Jaime retreated to perch next to Lanette on the edge of the sofa, Robb rolling his eyes in response. "Does anyone mind?" Robb asked, to which everyone seemed to shake their head. On meeting no disapproval Robb went to the door to let Grey Wind in. "Sit in the corner, and keep your snout away from the babies," Robb said in a warning tone as he stepped aside, his hulking wolf sauntering in with his tail held high and something akin to a grin on his face. "Has everyone got a drink?" Jaime asked, and everyone murmured their confirmation. "Good," he smiled widely, "then I would ask you to raise them all in a toast to Willem Lannister."
"Willem Lannister!" the toast was echoed about the room, and everyone's glasses were raised to their mouths for a moment. Jaime leant in closer to Lanette when he lowered his, pressing a kiss to the top of her head. "And to my incredible wife," he murmured, to which she turned her head and beamed at him. "Thank you," she said happily, "today has been so wonderful, thank you for helping me arrange it all."
"It was my pleasure," he told her honestly, "and we still have the feast to come." She hummed her agreement at that before leaning in closer to him and pressing her lips to his for a moment. "Have Amy and Robb mentioned when they might leave for Winterfell?" Lanette asked him as she turned her attention to rearranging Willem's blankets. "Soon I imagine," Jaime said slightly regretfully, "especially given her condition." He dropped his voice lower on mentioning their daughter's pregnancy, and Lanette nodded her agreement. "No doubt," she said slightly sadly, and he wrapped his arm about her shoulders. "We will see her soon enough," he promised, "just as soon as Willem is a little older."
"Look! Gods! Look!" Amy suddenly burst out excitedly, and Jaime snapped his head, seeing her pointing to Aedan who was clumsily but determinedly crawling his way across the floor. "There will be no stopping him now," Tyrion said in an amused manner, "I remember when you learned to crawl. Utterly decimated my house of cards." Jaime snorted at the memory, but Amy seemed unconcerned, her eyes all for her son as she clapped her hands together in delight. "Your boy will be next Tyrion," Robb chuckled, "you will have to mind where you build your card houses then."
"Indeed I will," Tyrion agreed, and Jaime smirked at him. "Gods, Robb, look at him! Isn't he clever?!" Amy exclaimed, clutching at Robb's hand. "Takes after his father, clearly," Robb said in an amused tone, and Theon snorted loudly in response. Aedan appeared to be getting the hang of crawling now, his speed increasing as he set his sights on Grey Wind. "Should someone grab him?" Geanna asked nervously, eyeing the wolf with suspicion as his big yellow eyes fixed on the approaching baby. "Believe me, Aedan is likely to do more harm to Grey Wind," Robb assured her, and she laughed lightly, though still eyed the scene a little nervously.
Though Jaime knew that Robb's wolf would never harm Aedan, he still couldn't help but wince slightly as his grandson came to a halt and sat himself up so he could fist his hands in Grey Wind's fur. The wolf bent his head and nudged his muzzle against Aedan's head, making the baby scream with laughter, his little fists digging even more tightly into the wolf's fur. Aedan let go in the next moment, and all eyes were on him and Grey Wind as the wolf shifted himself so he could lay down next to him. Aedan crawled up and onto him, clutching tightly onto his back with a huge grin on his face. "Don't get up," Robb warned Grey Wind, who blinked slowly at him as if to remind his Master that he wasn't stupid. "Gods, that is the sweetest thing, but I don't know how you can stand to let him so close to such a beast," Geanna said incredulously, looking towards Amy who looked entirely relaxed.
"Grey Wind is devoted to Robb, and Aedan is part of him, I know he would never harm him, nor anyone in the family," Amy responded with an easy smile, earning a kiss from Robb, which Jaime remembered not to grimace at the sight of. He glanced instead to Lanette, seeing her looking so perfectly happy and radiant, the sight making him smile. All his family were happy, that was what he had always wanted more than anything. Lanette content. Amy cherished and adored. Tyrion settled with a wife who loved him. Even his father was happy, and Jaime was truly looking forward to him coming back to the Rock. And Cersei…well, Cersei had faced heartbreak, but Jaime imagined that she was more than content now that she had a little grandson of her own to dote on. He had never imagined this life for himself all that time ago, but now he could not imagine it having been any other way, and he knew in his heart that he would cherish it always.
Jon whispered his fingertips slowly up and down Elia's back as she lounged bare in his bed with the sheets carelessly drawn up to her waist. His head was still spinning, unable to quite believe that she wanted him in such a way. She did though. She had been coming to him every night without fail since that first time, and now they had somehow ended up in bed in the middle of the day. She turned her head slightly, and smiled at him over her shoulder, rendering him unable to do anything else but return the gesture. "Do you know what I think?" she asked him softly, raising one of her brows. "What do you think?" he asked in return, and she smiled again. "I think we ought to visit the water gardens for a while, perhaps a week or so. Just you and me," she was almost wistful, and he grinned at her.
"Do you want that? For it to just be you and me?" he asked her, and she shifted onto her side, propping her head up and reaching her free hand out to wander down his arm. "Why would I not want that?" she questioned him, a teasing smile on her lips. Jon returned it, though a voice in his head was nagging at him again. What exactly was he to Elia? Just another lover? He knew she had been with more than one man before him, she had told him so. She never kept it a secret from him. But it was different for him, she was the first woman he had ever been so intimate with, the only woman he had ever wanted to be so intimate with. He could feel himself falling for her a little more with every passing day, but what if she didn't feel the same way? What if she grew tired of him and moved on? He wasn't sure he could take such a rejection. Perhaps it would be better if he ended things with her now?
"What is it?" she asked him concernedly, her eyes intent on him as she continued moving her fingers up and down his arm. "What does this mean to you?" he asked her, his mouth almost unbearably dry. "A great deal," she said with a wicked smile, and he sighed. "Of pleasure?" he asked her, and she frowned slightly. "Well, yes," she said slowly, and he sighed heavily, flopping down onto his back at her side and putting his hand to his head. "What? What have I said wrong?" she asked him, shifting closer to him and moving herself so she could meet his eyes again. "I know things are different here in Dorne," he said, "but I like you, El. I like you a lot, and if you don't feel the same for me then I think we ought to stop this, before I end up giving you my heart."
"You mean," she sat up straight, so she could look down on him, "you mean, you could love me?" Her eyes were wide, but he could not read her expression. His voice seemed to have deserted him for the time being, and so he merely nodded his head a little. "Oh, Jon," she breathed, and his heart sank. Was that pity he was seeing in her eyes? "You don't have to say it," he said bitterly, moving at once to swing his legs off the bed. She lay her hand on his shoulder at once to stop him, and he paused, refusing to turn his head and look back at her. "Men have shared my bed before," she told him, and he clenched his fists before he could stop himself. "They would come willingly, without much effort on my part," she continued, and he wondered why she was telling him all this. "None ever stayed though, none ever wanted more from me than what I could give them in the bedchamber," she said quietly, "I'm not used to anyone wanting more."
Jon turned his head slightly towards her at that, seeing her eyes averted and shining. "I didn't mean to upset you," he mumbled, inching a little closer to her again. "You haven't," she shook her head, "I just never imagined letting someone in. I did once before, and he broke my heart. After that I decided to be more like the others. They do as they please, have whoever they please, and they are always carefree and smiling. I was happy like that, I enjoyed it, I cannot deny it. Dorne's freedoms suit me well. At least they did…until you came along. I don't know what it is about you Jon," she sighed, a slight smile twitching at her lips, "you make me feel almost ashamed at my past antics, and guilty for enticing you into my bed."
"I don't know exactly what you're trying to say, Elia," he said honestly, "but though it is not what I was taught, I cannot regret having been with you like this." She blinked slowly at him, a sad little smile adorning her lips. "Having?" she repeated. "You really want it to stop?" He bit down on his lip, torn at her question. No, he didn't want it to stop, but how could he allow it to carry on when he would only end up broken hearted in the end? "I don't want it to stop," he told her honestly, "but I want more, El. I want a wife…children," he took a deep breath. "When I joined the Watch, I thought I was giving up on such a future. But now I have a name, and I don't want to give up on that chance again. I want more, but I well understand that you would not want to be the one to give me it."
"You assume I wouldn't want the same?" she asked him, her eyes wide, and he stared at her. "Are you telling me you do?" he replied, astounded at her words. "I don't know," she shook her head, "but I want to find out. I care about you, Jon, and I adore the way you make me feel. You have eyes for no one but me, I feel the way you watch me…and I cannot deny that I don't want it to stop. I can't promise to be your wife, at least not yet, and I cannot promise you children or the future you crave. But I can promise to think seriously on it, because I don't want to lose you. Please, won't you come to the water gardens with me? We will be away from prying eyes, and perhaps we can work out exactly what this is between us?" She looked hopeful at the end, her hand inching towards his. Jon was powerless to those eyes, and he was nodding before he could stop himself. "I will," he told her, "I will come with you, I want nothing more."
A/N: There we go! Hope you enjoyed! More next weekend.
:)