The sounds of swords clashing in the training grounds for the Kingsguard echoed throughout the Keep as Ser Jaime Lannister sparred with Ilyn Payne, the King's Justice. Illyn was deadly with a blade, switching between hands as if it were child's play and Jaime enjoyed the challenge.

Ever since Robert's decree regarding the Kingsguard's ability to marry, he had been more stressed than usual with Cersei breathing down his neck. The whole reason he had joined the Kingsguard years ago was to avoid being wed so he could continue relations with his sister, but with Tyrion refusing to settle down she knew it was only a matter of time now before his father Lord Tywin petitioned Robert to be able to rename Jaime as the heir to Casterly Rock, if he had not already.

He vented the frustration he felt for that into learning how to use his left hand to fight the way Ilyn did and found it was much harder than the older, mute man made it look. While there was nothing wrong with his right hand and he was still considered the most formidable of the Kingsguard next to Ser Barristan, there was no equal in dueling for him anymore.

Fueled by his rage at how demanding and unreasonable Cersei had been of late, he was not holding anything back despite how bruised and battered he was becoming every time Ilyn knocked his sword from his hand. Moreover he was beginning to feel like a caged lion whenever he was with his twin and the only one who he thought noticed was Talia, who had shown him on more than one occasion she was not spineless.

He hadn't said anything to Cersei, for he liked how the Brax girls seemed to be able to supplicate the irrational woman. With Emily gone, it was a wonder how the elder Brax sister kept up and yet somehow all of Cersei's grievances were with him and not her handmaiden. Perhaps it was better, for the last handmaidens had been dismissed far too harshly in his opinion and hadn't had very good marriage offers as a result.

He had heard that Emily would be returning soon, only now she was the fiancée of Ser Barristan who had apparently not wasted any time in asking for her hand in marriage and her lord father Tytos had accepted. He had also heard a rumor that their Brax ally had betrothed Talia to a Stark, though the details of which one were vague.

He wasn't surprised that she was engaged, however. Being the eldest daughter, Talia had a lot of expectations riding on her and displayed all the desirable traits of a lady wife like intelligence and strength. He understood the pressures she faced all too well as the oldest sibling, which apparently he hadn't escaped by joining the Kingsguard after all of Cersei's plotting.

His muscles were burning and his clothing was soaked in sweat when he was done, but his anger was gone. He nodded his thanks to Ilyn, who merely sheathed his greatsword silently and walked off. No one knew what that man was thinking or the things he heard since the Mad King had ripped out his tongue many years ago and could not read or write.

He went up to his room and cleaned up when there was a knock on his door. He made sure he was presentable and called: "Who is it?"

"Your father."

Jaime's heart felt like it stopped for a moment and he steeled himself before opening the door. "Father, it must be very important for you to have left Casterly Rock."

"How intuitive. I have been in conference with King Robert all morning. He agreed I may once more rename you my heir to our ancestral home now that you may wed even as a member of the Kingsguard. You do not looked enthusiastic about that."

"I meant what I said before I joined Father, I am not a man to be tied down. I would no more give you grandchildren than Tyrion." For a moment he thought of the abominations Cersei called Joffrey, Myrcella and Tommen who were actually his, not Robert's.

"You seem to misunderstand the situation, my son. Either you marry and get that woman with child or I have Robert strip you of your white cloak and exile you." Tywin's green eyes flashed dangerously. "Your choice."

Jaime knew Cersei would be furious, even though she had made it perfectly clear she would not go Targaryen with him in the past and lately their relationship hadn't been what it was. "And which woman did you have in mind, Father?"

"You are old enough now to choose your own bride. You have a year before I decide for you." With that final decree, Tywin departed.

Jaime rubbed his face tiredly and contemplated leaving for Essos the way he had heard that craven Jorah did when cornered by Eddard, but knew that wasn't an option. His father was a powerful man who could find anyone anywhere if he desired and wouldn't hesitate to kill him when he found him. Besides, he wasn't a coward and the thought of running sickened him.

He wondered if Tyrion already knew or guessed that Tywin had personally come to the Keep to get his eldest back as the next lord of Casterly Rock. He got out some parchment and dipped his quill in the inkwell and wrote to his brother:

Tyrion,

I am certain you already know somehow, but Father is making me his heir again and says I have a year to pick a wife, or he will choose for me. There is no one here in King's Landing I am remotely interested in and I have not traveled for a rather long time unless you count when I escorted the king up to Winterfell, which I do not.

I know you are very smart and was hoping you would have some ideas about whom I might approach or where I should travel once I get leave to search for a bride. I suppose the first logical choice would be to seek out ladies from those allied to House Lannister, but as far as I know most of them are spoken for.

I await to receive your reply and hope all is well.

Your brother,

Jaime.