Chapter 71: Alayne/Sansa

I must be Alayne... I must

Ser Jaime had insisted on eating and given he all but commanded to be taken to Petyr's quarters, Alayne was obliged to escort him to the solar in her father's absence. She gave the order for wine and cheese to be brought for the guests. Ser Jaime rewarded her with a charming smile and it was an effort to make her own features behave.

She studied both of the guests discreetly as she walked with them. Podrick Payne was much taller but still lacked confidence. He kept darting looks at her but kept his eyes on the floor for the remainder of the time. Jaime Lannister had no such shyness. Even though his clothing was torn and ragged and his beard lacked grooming, the beauty and power he shared in common with his twin radiated from him.

Sansa hated him but she was not Sansa, not now.

Randa followed behind them and Alayne's heart hammered in her chest. It would only take one slip and Randa would know. She did not miss anything. Ser Jaime turned to Randa as they entered the solar, asking questions of Lord Baelish's absence and of happenings in the Vale.

Randa grinned wickedly and began to gossip as she did best. Ser Jaime's laughter rang in the room. Alayne tensed when the subject turned to her.

"Lord Baelish will be on his way back very soon. Our new Lord of the Eyrie is about to marry Alayne here."

Jaime Lannister set a look on Alayne then that chilled her to the bone. His voice when he continued speaking gave none of that away though.

"Is that so?" he drawled. "That is quite a feat for a bastard girl."

"Oh Alayne here is very special" Randa's eyes twinkled with mischief. "She is beautiful and brave and talented at so many things and you only have to look at those big blue eyes to see how innocent she is. Harry is quite in love with her."

Ser Jaime shot her a look as Randa declared her innocent and Alayne flushed red remembering Joffrey and her disappearance after his death.

"See how she blushes" Randa teased. "She is so terribly modest."

Thankfully the arrival of the wine and cheese saved Alayne from responding. She stepped forward quickly to collect it, dismissing the servant so that she could pour. Alayne wanted Randa to leave but at the same time she feared being left alone with them.

"I think I shall write some letters while I await my meeting with Lord... Harrold" Ser Jaime said. "Mayhaps Alayne might help me." He raised his golden hand in a clear attempt to lend weight to his request. Alayne saw through it.

He wants to be alone with me.

She saw Lothor Brune walk past the doorway. He stopped and looked at Alayne but she smiled and gave him a dismissive wave of her hand in the hopes he would not stay.

He serves Littlefinger, not me.

Randa hovered. "If I can be of assistance in any way-"

Ser Jaime flashed another charming smile. "You are kind my lady. I believe the Lady Alayne is quite capable."

Myranda Royce left very reluctantly. Jaime Lannister closed the door firmly behind her and Alayne moved quickly, picking up the knife to begin cutting the cheese to serve it. She avoided looking at him.

"A-laaayne" he said slowly, drawing out the syllables of the name. She took a breath and kept cutting though her hands were unsteady. "I take it this was Littlefinger's idea."

Alayne willed her voice not to shake. "I do not know what you mean ser."

Ser Jaime snorted and walked to the desk, rifling through Petyr's papers.

"Please don't" she said quickly as she served slices of the cheese. "He won't like that."

He ignored her. "I know all about kingslaying you know" he said, one side of his mouth lifting up in a half smile which did not reach his eyes. "Some might say Joffrey deserved to die and I know some of what he did to Sansa."

She started and her grip tightened on the knife before she let it go with a clatter. He was still shuffling papers and she could not let him continue. She walked over to him and gently tugged the papers away.

"You mustn't" she said and this time her voice did shake. "Father does not like-"

Podrick Payne spoke for the first time. "Father" he said and Alayne could hear the astonishment in his voice.

Jaime Lannister abandoned the papers but he did not look astonished. His face had darkened and he rounded on her.

"I did not like Ned Stark" he said in a quiet voice "but he was worth far more than Petyr Baelish. I cannot imagine it would please him to know you call that man father. I know it would not please your lady mother."

He does not have the right to judge me. His sister and his son killed my father. They killed Robb and my mother. I would not be Alayne if not for them.

She glanced at the door, fearful that somebody might be listening before her anger overtook her and words rushed from her in a fit of madness.

"I do not believe a Lannister has the right to speak of what might please either Eddard or Catelyn Stark."

They looked at each other steadily for a moment before Ser Jaime smiled. "There it is." He glanced at the door and Alayne realised he had read her reaction and knew what was going on. "Come sit with us Alayne."

She blinked away the beginning of tears at the thought of her parents. She watched him calmly take a seat and wondered what game he was playing. I must be Alayne. She took her place at the table and served herself some cheese.

"I am writing to Winterfell" Ser Jaime said casually. "Mayhaps you will assist me."

Alayne promptly recalled another letter and Cersei telling her what to write. I do not want to do this again. Something must have shown on her face.

"There is a person there who I trust" Jaime Lannister explained. "I believe she is close to little Lord Rickon."

Fear shot through Alayne. Cersei has somebody in Winterfell. She knew she needed to be clever, to play the game as Petyr told her to but she struggled to think. All she could remember was father and mother and Robb. It is going to happen again.

"Please, don't hurt Rickon" she whispered.

Jaime Lannister looked at her strangely then smiled a smile which made her heart clench.

"If she harmed him they would not see it coming" he said, looking amused.

Alayne blinked away tears, her fear mixing with anger. He thinks this is funny. If she were not afraid for Rickon she would be looking for a way to hurt him. Petyr would know what to do.

"I'll make you a deal" Ser Jaime said, looking thoughtful. "If you do exactly what I say without question I will tell them he is not to be mistreated."

Alayne felt like a little girl again. I have no choice. She nodded.

She escorted him to his meeting with Harry, accepting Harry's kiss self consciously. Ser Jaime is Tyrion's brother. She could feel his eyes on her. She made to leave but Ser Jaime suggested she stay.

"You are his betrothed after all" he said lightly. "This will be of interest to you too."

He wants to watch me, to make sure I don't do anything when I leave.

She took a seat and listened as Jaime Lannister explained that he was an envoy of the mountain clans. Some of the Lords of the Vale were there and Alayne felt disappointed that Lyn Corbray wasn't in attendance. He might have unsheathed Lady Forlorn. It would not do any good though. Rickon would still be in danger and it might get him killed. She sat with her hands folded in her lap, eyes cast down demurely but listening intently as those in attendance expressed doubts as to Ser Jaime's intentions.

Bronze Yohn Royce had arrived for the wedding and it was he who expressed the doubts Alayne could sense from the others' expressions.

"Why should we believe you are an envoy" he said scornfully. "The Lannisters time is drawing to a close. I'd rather challenge you in the yard, have justice for the Young Wolf. His brother and sister should have had our aid long ago."

Jaime Lannister did not look worried. "The Lannisters still have friends" he said. "Mine can cause you a lot of trouble if any harm comes to me. Besides, I have the protection of guest right."

The faces on the lords in the room were malevolent and Alayne knew they were thinking of the Red Wedding. She knew that the right words might bring Ser Jaime's downfall but his words about Rickon stayed with her.

If Ser Jaime dies then Cersei might kill Rickon.

Alayne was not sure what Jaime Lannister hoped to achieve from the meeting. His request that they open the gates to meet the mountain clans was denied but Alayne noticed that Ser Jaime did not look surprised or disappointed.

He had written the letter to Winterfell on his own in the end but Alayne knew one thing the letter contained. He told them he found me. He also wrote another letter and Alayne expected that was for his sister. I will be killed as a Kingslayer.

He gave her strict instructions, secret instructions and Alayne sat in her chambers alone, thinking. For a time all she wanted to do was weep before she realised she had an opportunity.

Petyr will stop this and kill Ser Jaime.

She was not certain if that was preferable. Petyr was no better than the Lannisters, he simply wore his mask better. Rickon would be no safer. The second thought she had was more comforting.

Arya will find this out. The army will capture Ser Jaime before we ever reach Kings Landing.

She rifled through her gowns and jewels, all gifts from Petyr. It was with sadness that she left them all and donned a plain roughspun dress and cloak. She kept her head lowered as she left her chambers and nobody took any notice. Ser Jaime barely gave her a second glance as she joined Pod.

The guards questioned him as they left through the gates. Ser Jaime had warned her what would happen if she spoke, he would reveal her and she would risk her brother. She stayed silent. When Ser Jaime told the guards that one of the serving girls formed an attachment to Pod, they snorted and let them pass.

The trip to the Bloody Gate reminded Alayne of leaving Kings Landing in a way only then she was escaping the Lannisters and she was full of hope. I was still just a stupid little girl. She thought of Randa with a pang, their friendship was based on a lie but Alayne would miss her.

They had no more trouble as they passed through the Bloody Gate. Darkness had fallen and the guards there were even less concerned about a servant girl. As the gate closed behind them and they rode out to the foothills it all seemed so final. Pod was stammering, trying to reassure her but Alayne did not truly hear him. All she knew was they were taking her to Cersei. It was a long way to Kings Landing though and she knew anything could happen.

Arya will find us. Please don't let her still be angry with me.

All she had to do was survive until then. I am a Stark she told herself as they drew farther and farther from the Vale. I can be brave. Her courage failed her however when faced with the mountain clans. She saw Ser Jaime smile at her in the moonlight.

"They are fond of my brother. You are his lady wife. They won't harm you."

He introduced her to them and she started at the use of her real name. I am Sansa Stark again. The clansmen did not dwell on Sansa very long. They began to fire questions at Ser Jaime.

"You will have war I'm afraid" he replied though his smile looked cocky, almost gleeful.

Sansa began to realise what he had done. She fought the urge to try and return to the castle. Instead of being unhappy, the clansmen cheered.

"We will have to leave you to it" Jaime said quite calmly. "My goodsister must be removed from the path of the fighting. I expect they will be out to meet you sooner rather than later."

A large hairy man with a deep voice stepped forward. "So soon?"

Jaime Lannister's smile reminded Sansa eerily of his twin.

"You had best prepare yourselves. It seems that the new lord of the Eyrie has misplaced his betrothed."

Sansa froze, waiting for them to realise what Jaime had done. Instead they scratched their heads and began to argue about women who had been snatched coming out of the gate and which one might have been the one the Vale lord wanted.

"Come Lady Sansa" Ser Jaime said, more gently this time. "It might be dark but we best be on our way."

"I can't ser" she protested in a whisper. "Harry thinks he loves me. I can't cause a war."

Jaime Lannister's smile cut. "Don't flatter yourself my lady. It was always going to be war. Your absence will merely bring it on more quickly." He looked at her sharply. "Do you want to marry him?"

It was on the tip of her tongue to respond to him just as she had of Joffrey back in Kings Landing. Instead she lowered her eyes. "I am already married ser."

His smile softened. "Come along then. I will try to keep you safe."

Sansa lifted her head and looked at him. Lannisters lie. The lesson she had learned in Kings Landing had stayed with her. Lannisters had killed her father. She would not trust any of them again. She could never trust any of them again.

A/N: I tried to make Sansa's leaving be plausible but it was really hard. I have wanted her out of there for a while but it is one of those tricky situations. I think she has lost so much she might take a risk for her remaining family members (under certain circumstances) but who knows.
Next chapter will be back to Arya, I'm a bit more comfortable there even though I do like writing other characters too.