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Jaime Lannister III
Outskirts of King's Landing, Crownlands, Year 284 AC
His horse trotted forward once Jaime's name was called to enter the field. It was a white courser named Courage, donning white banners with the sigil of House Lannister on both sides and carrying his master on top of him. Jaime donned his usual white armor and white cloak to show he was a knight of the Kingsguard. Compared to the darkest days he endured during Aerys the Mad's reign which made him question all of his decisions, now Jaime felt some sort of pride in being part of it.
He was partaking in the eighth joust of the day. The first had seen Ser Axell Florent against Lord Jon Fossoway of New Barrel who happened to be married to one of Mace Tyrell's sisters and it was he who won the match after three tilts. Ser Barristan rode next against Ser Symond Templeton who gave him a fight and forced his sworn brother to the fifth tilt, being heavily commended for his effort and earning many praises despite his loss.
Ser Corwin Fell and Ser Oswell's match surpassed the previous one in terms of quality and how long it lasted. Ser Oswell was a great swordsman and a jouster but Ser Corwin, also known as Silveraxe gave him a difficult fight. Eight tilts were needed before Ser Oswell finally unhorsed the Stormlander and it was mostly due to his experience in the lists than anything else.
Next, Lord Martyn Mertyns unhorsed Ser Alekyne Florent in the third tilt, a not too exciting match to be honest. Ser Garth Hightower and Ser Hosteen Frey however, gave a good match and in the end, Ser Garth won at the sixth tilt. Ser Mandon Moore surprised many by unhorsing the Red Priest from Myr, whose name was Thoros in the first tilt, especially because he was an unknown. Finally, Ser Gwayne Langward unhorsed Ser Jared Frey at the third tilt.
Jaime's opponent was Ser Alliser Thorne, a man about his father's age. He wore a dark grey steel armor donned with a red and black cloak similar to House Targaryen's with a silver flail instead of the famous three-headed dragon and rode a brown charger equally ornamented. Both of them picked the lances and got ready for the upcoming clash. "FIGHT!" shouted the steward.
Both of them rode at each other and clashed lances. Jaime broke his but barely moved from his saddle, Ser Alliser started winning but Jaime was nowhere near defeated. He rode back to his squire, a simple peasant lad who had the luck of being named to the position as Jaime had no official squire. It was a normal thing too, kids would help the jousters and gain coins to spare. "Give me another!" Jaime ordered and the lad picked another lance and gave it to him. "Thank you."
Jaime placed himself in position to go again, eyeing Ser Alliser. "FIGHT!" And they went again, this time both breaking their lances, something that continued in the following clashes. Finally, at the fifth tilt Jaime's lance hit Ser Alliser in the shoulder with enough strength to make him fall from his horse. "THE WINNER IS SER JAIME LANNISTER OF THE KINGSGUARD!" Alright...Jaime thought as he signed. It had been a good match.
Jaime jumped down from his horse and went in to help Ser Alliser get up but the older knight shrugged it off, stood up for himself, and congratulated him before leaving. "Nice..." Jaime whispered bitterly at the older man's action. The Young Lion left the field as Ser Elbert Arryn and Ser Eustace Risley entered for their match.
This next match was much better than Jaime's, both were good jousters by the looks of it. "Elbert is going to win." Jaime looked to his left and saw Brandon Stark fully armored but without his helmet. His banners were white with a grey wolf running in them. "Nice match by the way."
"Thanks." Jaime nodded. "And I do not know about Ser Elbert winning, his opponent seems decent."
"Elbert has a woman to crown, that is all you need to know to understand how this match will go." Brandon pointed out, making Jaime chuckle.
"The Lady Lysa...you know, my father once tried to make me marry her." Jaime informed his friend as he remembered his first visit to Riverrun and how Cersei seemingly was worried that they would actually marry...it was because of that he was now donning the white cloak.
"Honestly...she looks better with him," Brandon confessed, leaning against the wooden fences. "No offense."
"No offense taken and honestly, you are right." Jaime laughed and Elbert unhorsed Ser Eustace. I could never top Ser Elbert as a husband, that is sure plus the man clearly loves her, I don't. "Who would know, you got that one right."
"It was a good match, they went in for five tilts but I somehow was expecting more." Brandon admitted.
"Indeed, these two have a future in jousting, they will both get better." Jaime avowed. He could recognize talent when he saw it.
"I had told the Crakehalls that you had replaced me but they said that was rubbish..." Jaime turned to the right to see his good friend Addam Marbrand approaching him with Tybolt, Lyle, and Merlon Crakehall following. "Now here is the living proof I was right."
Jaime smiled. "Do not worry Addam, this guy makes many friends but never forgets the older ones." he then hugged his friend who was smiling, and then hugged the three Crakehalls. "I had seen you yesterday but my duties did not give me much freedom yesterday to come and say hi."
"Do not worry about that, I was just japing," Addam assured. "Nice joust though."
"Thank you," Jaime said as he turned to Brandon. "This is Brandon Stark, Lord Paramount of the North."
"The Kingslayer." Said Lyle.
"The Dragonslayer." Said Merlon.
"The Man That Turns to a Direwolf." Said Tybolt.
Brandon laughed loudly at that and so did Jaime. "Just Brandon is enough, mates. Although I do wish I could turn to a direwolf, those beasts were magnificent and large."
"Just as his ego." Jaime pressed forward, earning smiles. If he had been the one killing Aerys...then those monikers would have befallen upon him and since he was a knight of the Kingsguard, he would have been an Oathbreaker so while they were somewhat positive in Brandon's case, they would be negative in Jaime's. Obviously, he was thankful that it was Brandon doing the deed and not him as that way Jaime kept his honor and Brandon got his revenge without anyone openly criticizing him.
"He is not the only one with the big ego..." Addam murmured smirking.
"I'm not sure what you are talking about." Jaime smirked.
"So these three are the Jon Umbers of the Westerlands?" Brandon said as he shook hands with the Crakehalls.
"Who is Jon Umber?" Lyle questioned confused.
"One of the Northern Lords," Addam replied. "They are known for being giants, like you three."
"Oh."
"We have the Cleganes, Stark. The Mountain is one of them and he is eight feet tall. You saw it when your brother's troops took the Red Keep." Jaime explained. "His brother is quite tall too and is not sixteen yet." Then something came to his mind. "The Mountain is not here, right?"
"We did not see him in the Westerlands' area." Tybolt said.
"I heard that your father forbid him from coming," Addam explained. "For what reason, I do not know but I have some suspicions." Well...Jaime did know the reason, the Mountain did try to kill Elia's children. But that brought another question to his mind...why did she not bring that up at all? Was she trying to have some leverage over his father? Did she just forget or did she not pay attention at all?
Jaime supposed he could ask her...she was still recovering from fainting the day before apparently from stress, heat, and little rest though her brother, Prince Oberyn insisted on examining her for the possibility of poison. But who would want to poison Elia Martell? What was there to gain with it? No matter how hard he tried to think of a reason he found none. He could understand if someone tried to kill the Targaryens but Elia? He could not.
"Hey, look! Lord Tyrell is actually giving it a fight to Ser Gerold!" Brandon announced surprised and excited.
They all went back to the fences and saw the two jousters picking new lances. "I think the White Bull is just toying with him so as not to wound his pride." Lyle proposed and Jaime had to agree with him in that regard, Ser Gerold was a very good jouster.
"Who fought while we were talking?" Merlon asked.
"According to the board with names over there, Lord Royce defeated a Balleo Hartios, which by the name seems to be Essosi to me." Addam recited. "And then Ser Boros Blount defeated Lord Hubard Rambton."
"Oh, here goes Lord Tyrell..." Brandon announced, disappointed when the Lord of Highgarden lost balance and fell. "I mean, he is not that bad but Ser Gerold is just way above him. Bad luck that what it is."
"Ser Gerold is a possible winner, Stark." Jaime said. Though the White Bull was past his prime.
"Indeed. Well, I will go talk with Elbert a little. Nice to meet everyone." Brandon said with a polite nod that was answered with polite nods by Jaime's other friends.
Once Brandon was gone, Addam approached him. "Nice to see you befriending Lord Paramounts, your father surely appreciates it."
"I did not befriend Brandon Stark for my father or family's sake, Addam," Jaime said. "We have similar tastes in life and it came naturally, as it did between us both."
"He did not seem that stupid as they say..."
"If you mean riding to the capital searching for his sister, I would have done the same had I been in his place." Jaime admitted. Even if Cersei was a bitch, she was still his sister and everything they shared made it mandatory that he saved her from danger. A real danger, not some petty thing caused by her mean behavior.
"It does not change the fact that it is a stupid thing to do, my friend." Addam insisted. "The Mad King wishing to torture him was what saved him in the end, otherwise, he would be little more than a batch of bones or ash by now." Then his friend looked to the new match between Ser Willam Whythers and Lord Daeron Vaith. "But I suppose the Gods had other plans for them both for the one who was meant to die killed the one who was meant to kill him."
"Indeed."
"But he would have made it without some help...of friends no doubt."
Jaime smirked. "In his last days, Aerys wanted to burn everything behind you, I do not doubt that whoever helped Brandon Stark chose to prevent such a thing from happening."
Addam smirked too. "It takes balls to do such a thing."
"Mine are covered in steel, I'm afraid. Protected..."
Addam laughed. "Yes...enough of this shit, my friend. You have done the right thing and that is what matters in the end."
"Thank you." Jaime said, happy that someone else validated his hard and controversial decision. A decision he held no regret in doing but could have turned awfully had things gone just slightly different or had he acted alone.
Ser Willam Whythers despite controlling most of the joust was hit in his right shoulder and because he was standing up on the horse, he fell, giving the victory to the underdog. "That sucks for the Reachner." Merlon proclaimed as some bawdy remarks from the Dornish attendees, which were very few, provoked a response from the many Reachners. Ser Daeron Vaith chose to help his opponent get up in what looked like an attempt to calm the mood of the crowd.
"SER LYLE CRAKEHALL AND PRINCE OBERYN MARTELL, TO THE FIELD, PLEASE!" The steward shouted loudly.
"Again?!" Lyle asked somewhat disappointed in fighting the same opponent. "Oh, well, at least the Prince of Dorne is tough." One of his foster brothers said as he made his way to the fields followed by his brothers.
"Come on, brother, you can do it!" Tybolt cheered.
"Yes! House Crakehall wins it all!" Merlon cheered too. Their loud voices cackled the immediate area around them.
"This one is going to be interesting." Jaime said excitedly to Addam who was the only one remaining with him.
"Indeed." Addam nodded. "You know, Lord Roland wants one of his sons in the Kingsguard."
"He does?" Jaime asked surprised.
"Yes. Merlon was eliminated already in the preliminaries so if he was here, he would be placing his bets in Lyle."
"Lyle is tough."
"Lyle is a warrior, not a jouster." Addam corrected. "You know that not all warriors are good jousters and not all good jousters are good warriors."
"Lyle is tough though." Jaime insisted.
"That is true," Addam admitted smiling. "Anyway, I must get prepared for my match."
"We can continue talking afterward," Jaime assured. "I would not want my good friend to fight his match unprepared."
"Unprepared is a strong word though I would not want to fight the likes of Ser Arthur Dayne in the first match," Addam admitted. "I would much rather fight some weak fool."
"Where is the fun in that?" Jaime asked as Addam was already a few feet away.
"Where is the fun in being eliminated in the very first round?" Jaime immediately closed his mouth afterward. Where was the fun of being eliminated in the very first round indeed. Good thing he had not been.
Time went on, matches were made and although quite of these matches were good, Jaime was bored with no one to talk with, with no more fights to do for the day, and without needing to do his duty just yet.
Lyle defeated Prince Oberyn once more, after six tilts. Next, Ser Jacelyn Bywater defeated Lord Horton Redfort in the fourth tilt, and then it was Stark's match which to everyone present, even Jaime, was the best one. Brandon and Lord Jason Mallister broke twelve lances each before the Riverlander hit the Northerner in the shoulder with such an impact that he went rolling to the floor nastily. Good thing Stark had great endurance as he stood up immediately but he had to go see the Grand Maester because his shoulder was damaged. He was cheered by many in the crowd who kept chanting Brandon the Dragonslayer despite him losing and despite the Royal Family being there.
The next three matches were rather boring in comparison: first, a random Essosi called Gyllillos Aenyl was defeated by a random Tyrell bastard named Garse Flowers, then a hedge knight named Ser Manfryd the Cold was defeated by Ser Monford Velaryon in the seven tilt though he seemed somewhat promising unlike Ser Quentin the White Rose who was barely a man grown and lost after the second tilt against Lord Alester Florent.
Jaime got excited with the next one, Ser Gilbert Farring against Ser Brynden Tully who nobody thought would partake in the joust. It was a good match, the Crownlander put up a good fight and was close to unhorsing the Blackfish twice but in the eighth tilt, he was defeated by the Riverlander's precise movements, courtesy of having fought in many battles. Addam fought next against a bastard from the Twins named Martyn, they went on about it for four tilts before Addam unhorsed him. Ser Aron Santagar fought and won in the third tilt against an Essosi named Syresso Vynyr.
When Addam returned to his side, proud of winning his match, Ser Lyn Corbray entered the field donning a white cloak with a variant of his House's sigil, it had a raven in flight carrying a heart struck by a sword. His opponent was the Knight of Skulls and Kisses, Ser Richard Lonmouth a peculiar case. Jaime remembered that Ser Richard had been a friend of Robert Baratheon but he had squired for Prince Rhaegar and was knighted by him. At first, he remained in the capital but he managed to leave without being noticed by the King once Jon Connington was named Hand of the King. After that, he remained in his castle without declaring for anyone and no one even paid much attention to that, not even the King. It was not like a small House of Landed Knights was that detrimental to anything. The knight however seemed to be scorned by both sides now and was trying to mend things. He wore a yellow cloak with the famous kisses and skulls emblazon on it.
The match was close and lasted seven tilts before Ser Richard's strength proved too much to the Valemen who was a good rider. The next match was between Ser Meryn Trant and Ser Collin Florent and the former won on the third tilt without much work being needed as the Florent was a beginner by the looks of it. Tybolt was then unhorsed by Ser Gulian Swann on the sixth tilt much to Jaime and Addam's dismay. Ser Baelor Hightower defeated Ser Balman Byrch on the second tilt in what was probably the second fastest joust of the day.
The other Corbray, Ser Lyonel was unhorsed by a promising knight named Ser Martyn Mullendore after five tilts. It seemed like all of Lady Felicia's brood were out by the second day. Lord Royce Coldwater and Lord Randyll Tarly had an even match but the former seemed a better joust and won at the fifth tilt. Ser Danwell Frey defeated a Hedge Knight in the third tilt and Ser Harys Haigh was defeated by Ser Richard Horpe in the sixth.
Jaime knew that one of the still yet-to-fight participants was Ser Arthur and there were only three possible opponents though he knew not who they were. Brandon and Elbert Arryn approached him then. "Still here, Lannister?" The Stark questioned.
"Yes, still in the game. Unlike someone else..." Jaime teased.
"Ah! Look at this fool, already coming at me with all his poison, heh?" Brandon barked.
"I will admit that your match was very good, Stark. It could have gone either way and it was certainly one of the most exciting ones to watch." Jaime admitted, much to Brandon Stark's ego amusement. "However, you still lost."
Brandon scoffed. "Whatever."
"Also congratulations on your win, Ser Elbert."
"Thank you, Ser Jaime, I did my best but my opponent was tough too." That was true. That Reachner had much potential.
"It is both a shame and a blessing when good knights get eliminated early." Addam said wisely.
"True to that." Brandon nodded.
"I assume we can expect Lady Lysa to be crowned at the tourney's hand?" Jaime questioned.
"I would very much love to, but the competition is fierce."
"SER ARTHUR DAYNE OF THE KINGSGUARD AND SER PRESTON GREENFIELD TO THE FIELD PLEASE!" The steward announced.
"Who is Ser Arthur facing really?" Brandon asked.
"Ser Preston Greenfield, second son of Lord Jason Greenfield, he is a bannerman of my father." Jaime explained.
"Is he any good?"
"He is quite decent, My Lord, but I'm afraid Ser Arthur is on a different level," Addam explained. "I pity Preston's luck."
His sworn brother entered the field riding a black charger donned in white and with House Dayne's sigil on the right side. The match began and ended rather quickly despite reaching the three tilts. Ser Preston did give some fight to Ser Arthur but the experience of his sworn brother was too much and when the Dornishman hit him in the stomach he fell to the ground. "Well, it was not that bad considering everything." Elbert Arryn said. "I'm quite worried about facing Ser Arthur..."
"Me too, Ser." Addam immediately replied.
"And not me? Now you have both wounded me." Jaime smirked.
"Of course you too, Ser. I'm wary of facing the Kingsguard but I do intend to win." Ser Elbert said with a confident smile. It did seem like love for a lady did wonders to one's jousting skills.
"Will be waiting for you then, after all, we are to face each other before any of us has the chance to face Ser Arthur," Jaime admitted. "With Addam, tough..."
"Do not worry, my friend, I will make sure it ends quickly for you when we fight."
"We will see about that." Jaime smiled.
"Or you all face me in the Melee and I kick your arses." Brandon joined in confidently. "What do you say?"
"SER LUTHOR TYRELL AND SER JACAERYS VELARYON, PLEASE MAKE WAY TO THE FIELD FOR THE FINAL MATCH OF THE DAY!" The steward announced while they spoke.
"You are too confident in yourself Stark." Jaime pressed forward. "You never bested me in the yard."
"I was going easy on you. I would not wish to hurt your feelings too often."
Elbert laughed. "You two are quite the pair. Had Robert been here it would be quite the trio."
"Robert Baratheon?" Addam questioned.
"Yes."
"That would be interesting," Brandon admitted, his right hand on his chin, showing that he was thinking of something. "All three of us, tormenting my brother with nonsense...perfect scenery."
"Add his wife to the mix and I would feel a lot of pity for him." Elbert laughed and Brandon after him.
"Seven hells, my brother would go mad," Brandon said. "I think his wife is enough."
"Does the Lady Ashara tease him that much?" Jaime asked, genuinely curious. "I always thought she would be more like her brother."
"Oh, you have no idea, Lannister. They make a very interesting pair, I will tell you that much." Brandon assured. "And they are expecting another child by next year."
"Winterfell will be full of little Neds soon, heh, Brandon?" Elbert teased with a hand on Brandon's back.
"Do not bring my nightmares to life, Elbert." Jaime laughed at that.
"I guess I can understand why an army of kids looking like your brother would scare you, Brandon." And he did, Eddard Stark's glance was imposing to an extent.
"Looks like Ser Jacaerys won the match after four lances." Elbert said, diverting their gazes to the field where the Velaryon was helping the Tyrell knight get up.
"LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, THE ROUND OF SIXTY-FOUR HAS NOW ENDED! PLEASE JOIN US TOMORROW FOR MORE EXCITING MATCHES!" One of the stewards shouted loudly and earned many cheers from the crowds.
"I guess that is that." Jaime said as he eyed the match boards, searching for his name which he found rather quickly, and then he concluded that his opponent would be Ser Gwayne Langward for the next round. A decent opponent, nothing too difficult but I cannot get too cocky.
"By the way, Lannister and Ser Addam, we are going to have a drink at one of the city's taverns on our way to the Red Keep, care to join us?" Brandon questioned.
"I would have liked very much, Stark, but all of us Kingsguards are meant to escort the Queen and the little Princes back to Maegor's Holdfast," Jaime explained. "We already left Princess Elia and Princess Daenerys on the watch of the Gold Cloaks for too long."
"Tough luck then. We will have other opportunities." Brandon shrugged. "What about you Ser Addam?"
"I guess I can join. Can I bring the Crakehalls?"
"Sure." Brandon nodded. "Anyway, please give my wishes of good recovery to Elia, Jaime."
"Give mine too, Ser Jaime." Elbert pleaded too.
"And of the Westerlands." Addam added.
"Worry not, they will be convened." Jaime avowed. "Have a nice drinking session."
An hour later, after they had arrived at the Red Keep, the five Kingsguard knights divided tasks. Since the King, Rhaenys, and Rhaella were all with Elia in her room, Ser Gerold decided that two knights were enough to guard them for the time being so Ser Oswell and Ser Barristan were chosen for the task. Ser Gerold would guard Princess Daenerys and Prince Viserys was being watched by both Ser Arthur and Jaime.
"Have you decided who you are crowning Ser Arthur?" Jaime asked his sworn brother as they watched Prince Viserys practice in the yard with Ser Willem Darry. The young Prince was not particularly good but he was getting better thanks to his practice.
"I would have to win the tourney first, do you not agree?" Ser Arthur pointed out with a shy smile.
"Yes, that is true but it does not stop you from thinking of someone." Jaime pointed out.
"I guess I will crown Princess Rhaenys." Ser Arthur said with a hint of red on his face.
Jaime laughed at that. "Really? I was thinking of doing the same."
Ser Arthur chuckled. "Whoever is the winner we know not but I guess we already know who will have a laurel of flowers on her head."
"That is true, although I was expecting you to crown Princess Elia."
Ser Arthur looked at him with a serious glance. "Is that so?"
"Yes, I remember that in the Tourney at Lannisport, when I was about ten, you crowned her then."
"Not many remember that." Ser Arthur admitted with a sad look. "But it is a possibility too. Especially now that...that she is bedridden again."
"A shame really. She has been doing her best to keep the crown on her son's head and keep this family together with Queen Rhaella. This all without any male Targaryen to help. Though they seem to prejudice more than help."
"Ser Gerold said something very similar yesterday." Ser Arthur said. "I really hope she just fainted from being stressed and due to the heat."
"Are you one of those who believes she might have been poisoned, Ser Arthur?"
"I know a bit about poisons and what they can do and while I'm very positive that none were used, I cannot exclude the possibility." The Dornishman stated.
"I just do not see what gains could be achieved by poisoning Elia." Jaime confessed to somehow his thoughts.
"Someone could see her as a threat to their ambitions." Ser Arthur proposed. "I will wait for Prince Oberyn's verdict. He knows poisons better than anyone I know and if Elia was poisoned he will both find out and cure her quickly." Then Ser Arthur pointed to something in the distance. "One of your sister's maids has been looking at you for quite some time." Jaime took a look at it and saw it was Melara Heatherspoon who by now was not looking at him. "She stopped once I pointed at her."
"That is Lady Melara Heatherspoon."
"You should go talk to her and see if she needs something." Ser Arthur proposed. "She seems to want your company."
"I was meant to keep a watch on Prince Viserys."
"I am capable of doing it alone for a couple of minutes." Ser Arthur said with a smile as he rested his left hand on Jaime's right shoulder. "Are you perhaps afraid of talking to her?"
"No, of course not." Jaime somewhat lied. Ever since she sort of confessed her love for him he did not know how to act or even speak to her. While he knew plenty of ladies liked him, none had ever openly stated it. And he only had eyes for his sister back then...now things were different.
"Then go." His sworn brother insisted as he clapped his back in an incentive.
"Ok, I will." And with that said, Jaime walked toward Melara worriedly. It was then he noticed that she was by a wheelhouse so he decided to choose that as the topic of the upcoming conversation. "Lady Melara, are you perhaps leaving the capital or simply taking a trip around it?"
"I'm leaving the capital." That surprised him...and immediately made his fake smile disappear.
"Really?"
"Yes. I'm tired of your sister's lack of empathy towards others and of being treated like a dog." Uff...Cersei what have you done now? "Now I fully understand what you meant on the other day...if we are right, we cannot apologize to her. It is her who needs to apologize and if she cannot, so be it."
Jaime smiled at that, someone with the same problem as he and coming up with the same solution. "Welcome to Cersei's stray dogs, Mel. We bark at her every time she thinks she is better than us and often we bite her."
Melara began laughing. "Cersei's stray dogs?! We bark at her every time she thinks she is better than us and often we bite her?! Seriously Jaime, sometimes you are such a child."
"I'm everyone's former favorite child."
"Former?" Melara asked confused. "Knowing you, I thought you would say you are still everyone's favorite child."
"Mel, Mel, Mel...how can anyone compete with the King and the Princess Rhaenys? Seriously, even I know my place."
Melara laughed louder and soon he too found himself laughing at his stupidity. "I'm certainly glad one of the Lannisters is so humble. Clearly, there is no way you can compete with them."
"I learn my lessons quickly."
"When you want to. I still remember how hard it was for you to learn how to read and write." Jaime's smile died once more as he remembered what his father did to make sure he learned those things. Melara noticed it and was filled with pity. "I'm sorry...I know that was...sorry...way to kill the mood..."
"What is important is that I learned." Jaime shrugged. "Seriously, who would take me seriously if I could neither read nor write?"
"Your brother?"
Jaime smiled as he pointed at her. "Obviously."
"And me..." Melara said while looking at the wheelhouse. "I'm going to...miss you...again..."
Jaime felt like shit. Had he not been obsessed with Cersei and fighting as well as being stupid, he could have noticed Melara's feelings for him...But...I did have plenty of opportunities and she wasn't the only one liking me...why does she feel different than the others? Was it because she confessed to me? I do not know... "I...will miss you too..." he ended up saying.
Melara looked at him with a kind expression, somehow he saw his mother there for a couple of seconds which startled him a little especially because he barely remembered her face. Melara then looked to the ground for a couple of seconds and then she seemed to have had a resolution of sorts because she looked decided in doing something and that something was...kissing him on the cheek. "I feel pity for not seeing you win the jousts but...I know you will win."
Jaime was still caught off-guard by her kiss on the cheek. It was not like Cersei's kisses when they made love but it felt just as good. "I...know it too."
She smiled. "Of course, Lannisters always win do they not?"
"We often lose," Jaime assured, thinking about what he lost and will lost in what seemed five minutes, what Cersei lost, what Tyrion lost, and even what his father lost. "But not on this."
Jeyne arrived then, having two servants carrying her chests of belongings while carrying a smaller one herself. "Hi, Jaime, nice to see you!" The slightly plump girl said with a bright smile. "I did not think someone would come and say goodbye to us. We are barely known here..."
"Well, you know the knightly vows, Jeyne." Melara began as she climbed onto the wheelhouse. "Our friend, Jaime keeps them true."
Jaime smiled again as he picked Jeyne's chest from her hands. "Well, you both know me," Then he put it in the back of the wheelhouse with the rest of the chests. Plenty of chests but then again they were women... "Ser Jaime Lannister at your disposal."
"Thank you." Jeyne said with a bow before she climbed onto the wheelhouse too.
"Wait!" Melara suddenly shouted as she extended her hand outside the window of the wheelhouse presenting him with a blue handkerchief. "Just to make sure you win. So that your Lannister ego is not shattered to pieces."
Jaime picked it up and smiled. "One wounded Lannister ego is enough for the capital to bear, especially my sister's," he said. "You two have a good returning trip."
"Thank you, Jaime." Jeyne repeated with another bow.
"See you sometime later, Jaime Lannister." Melara waved at him as the wheelhouse started moving and Jeyne imitated.
Jaime waved at them, trying to bring a smile to his lips but he failed. He took another glance at the handkerchief, a symbol of what could have been no doubt. "I will win this bloody tourney!"
Thank you all for the reviews,
Radomir's Renegades: I think marrying a Frey closer to her age would be a good solution, to begin with.
I don't know about canals, I once so a fan article about improving every kingdom which had something that struck me, Ironborn and to a lesser extent pirates could use canals as means of transportation. It would be easier to defend roads in war than canals and rivers, especially against Ironborn and I still think the cost would be less with roads.
Jeyne Farman will end as she did in canon albeit I have a few things in mind with her. Melara, I'm not sure but I don't think she will marry outside of the Westerlands and if she did, it would be in the Reach or Riverlands, no further than that.
I wanted to showcase every fight but quickly realized how stupid and boring that would be as well as how large the Chapter would end if I went with that approach. I ended up summarizing the fights as much as I could but I still believe it's a bit too big. The Chapter also ended up focused on Jaime who still has a goal to achieve in the long run that justifies his POV.
Anyway, thank you for sparing time reading and I hope everyone has a nice day.