authorsnotes: its all going down

do enjoy

songrecs: lover - taylor swift

The cabin is like a stroke of luck in the middle of the storm.

Thankfully the storm hasn't quite hit yet, but after they'd left the orchard, cheeks hurting and slightly dazed the rain had come back with a vengeance - he wasn't sure if that was a good or bad sign, that any God might have eased the rain for their wedding or had brought it back down as an omen

Their wedding…

Jaime could hardly believe it.

He'd never thought he would wed, not when Cersei had been the only woman, he'd ever thought he'd love, and yet he had been wrong. He'd meant what he said to Sansa, meant it with his mind, body, and soul, without reservation or hesitation…

He loved her.

When she'd said it to him, wide eyed and beautiful, tears clinging to her lashes, her cheeks pink and her smile delicate, he'd known. He'd known before too, when he'd accepted, he'd have to be parted from her and had known how much it would kill him, but it was in that moment, when Sansa had been brave enough to say it first that it had crystallised and settled in his mind.

He loved her, and not just that, but the love he had for her was pure and real, and made a mockery of what he'd once felt for Cersei.

There was no greed with this love, no pain and unfulfilled longing, it was just there, it was real, so real when Sansa had sobbed on his shoulder, as they'd been man and wife, tears had fallen down his cheeks too.

To know love, after all he'd done, after the life he'd lived, it felt impossible.

He didn't remotely deserve it, but he was too selfish not to grab it with both hands.

"Jaime?" Sansas voice broke him out of his thoughts; his wife's thoughts, he smiled at the thought, something he'd never thought he'd do. To him to be married was to be away from Cersei and shackled, but if anything, it felt like being set free. "Are you alright?"

"Better than alright" He said, because it was true, and Sansa's pretty smile reflected that.

They were married …

Though not fully, not quite to make it unbreakable.

Neither had said it, but he remembered the night in the barn; how had that only been a couple of days ago? Of Sansa sat in his lap, wet from the rain, flushed and stunning, wanting more that he wouldn't give at the time, he'd die before he ruined her honour.

But now she was his, and he hers, they needed to seal it.

He could do it with honour, with her, and that brought about a glow in him, a warmth, that for once he could stand by an honourable vow, regardless of reason for breaking them in the past.

Sansa Stark was his last chance for honour.

He'd thought that many moons ago now, how many had it been two? Coming up to three? Had thought, no known, that Sansa was his salvation.

And she had been, but far more than he ever could have hoped a man like him deserved.

And now, it was their wedding night, and he wanted to honour her properly.

He'd thought they could find a barn somewhere, they couldn't risk an inn, and yet perhaps the Gods were smiling down on them, as just an hour down the road, storm approaching, wet and tired but smiling, they'd found this cabin, on the edge of a disused farm, it looked abandoned.

Looked, but he wasn't taking any chances.

If anything knowing Sansa was his wife now (he kept saying it in his head, not quite believing it, but smiling from ear to ear that it was true), he'd be more protective, now he didn't plan on leaving her, even with all the messiness of her family reunion and him going North would bring, he was never leaving her.

That thought, one he hadn't allowed himself to think settled in his chest, like a roaring line, prideful, happy, strong, he would protect her until his death, had always planned to, but now instead of doing so from afar, he could do so by her side.

As her husband.

"Stay at my back" He said, stepping into the barn, having to focus on the now, rather than the feelings making him feel mad with happiness, stepping inside, pulling out his sword to make sure it was safe. Sansa nodded, slipping into place behind him, one hand at his back. He wouldn't ask her to wait outside, he wasn't letting her out of his sight until they were back up North, and then he'd be right there next to her still.

Stepped inside, pushing open the old broken door, no locks. The structure stood, looked sturdy, just abandoned, but he needed to make sure.

And so, he moved forward, with Sansa … his wife, at his back.

It was an odd thought, and yet one that filled him with warmth, to be married he'd never imagined, and yet now he was, he found he liked it. No, loved it. He was thinking the same thing over and over again, we wondered if he'd ever grow bored of those thoughts, he doubted it.

He stepped into the cabin, it was sparse, but there was furniture, it didn't look like it had been ransacked, it looked like it had been empty for a while, perhaps abandoned, but not completely.

It was small, but there was a small kitchen area, an outhouse, and then a large bed, no sitting area but there were seats near the back window, a bookshelf with a few books, a hearth they could start a fire in, there were blankets on the bed that were dusty and had a few holes but intact, there was no food in the cupboards, but he could spot a well outside. He noted some clothes hanging in a closet near the bed, they'd need to pick this place clean before they left.

They could stay here for the night, and as much as he could see the longing on Sansa's face, for a proper rest, he knew it couldn't be more than one night, they couldn't risk it.

He did another full sweep of the main room, thankful it was one room, checked the back door and pushed a chair up against it, to give him some warning if someone came in, and then ushered Sansa inside, and pushed another chair up against the front door. He pulled the slightly tattered hangings to cover the windows, and then turned to Sansa.

Her cheeks were flushed, she jumped as a crack of thunder roared overhead, and Jaime was glad they'd found the cabin in time, they'd settle down here for the night and then move on, North, only North, so he could take Sansa home.

But this time he planned to go with her.

He couldn't think on that now though, as Sansa turned to him, eyes wide, raindrops clinging to her lashes, her cheeks flushed, her hands twining together nervous, "Jaime?" She asked, and he took a step forward, to assuage her nerves. He felt some himself.

This was it.

"Sansa" He said softly, "I love you" He repeated, and smiled as that got Sansa to grin, and then she was stepping into his arms, and it felt like the most natural thing in the world, it felt right, as he dipped his head and kissed her, it felt like finally, for the first time in his life, things were right.

And he allowed that feeling to pull him down.

As his hands found Sansa's waist, and he pulled her close, she was young, part of him knew he should wait, but the other part knew they had to do this, to consummate, he wouldn't ever risk her being able to be taken away from him, never.

And there was no way, as Sansa kissed him so sweetly, that he could step away now.

He didn't, instead he found himself tangling his hands into her hair, pulling her closer, cupping her face, running his thumbs over her cheeks to sweep away the rain, a little breathy whimper left her lips as she crumpled into him, and he pulled her closer and closer.

"I love you too" She whispered as he pulled back, and he rested his forehead to hers as they each shared a smile, a moment, married, happy, even as another crack of thunder rumbled outside, and the cold of the cabin was ignored for the warmth they had for each other, and with a nod from Sansa he pulled her closer again.

And lost himself in her truly, and she to him.

The letter sat on the table in the middle of them all.

He'd barely been given word before it had come to light the raven from the Vale had reached here, the meeting had been called instantly, he'd had no time to get word of how much was in it, what it looked like, he was as blind as he'd ever been.

And now, sat around the table, he knew he wasn't the only one.

His Fathers face betrayed nothing, no anger, no fury, no disappointment, nothing. He could see a slight twitch that indicated annoyance, but Tyrion could only see that from his years of observing his own family members. There was little more.

Cersei was the opposite. Everything was displayed on her face, anger yes but also quite a bit of shock. Tyrion would have mirrored that were he not much better at schooling himself.

Varys he knew was surprised too, his little birds reach in the Vale was limited, especially in rural country, but he betrayed almost nothing.

Littlefinger was smiling, his spy had delivered the raven, the burning letter that sat in the middle of table, they'd all read it, all taken it in, Tyrion had read it twice.

Of course, he'd already known to some extent what Jaime was up to, thanks to the letter from Harrenhal he had covered up, for his brother, who he'd do anything for, the only family member who'd truly loved him.

He wasn't sure what he could do for him now.

Especially as he hadn't nearly realised the extent of just how much trouble Jaime had gotten into.

No, the first raven has spoken of a kiss, of fleeing North together, intentions couldn't be determined, the heat of Jaime protecting Lady Sansa for whatever reason, it had been hard to determine what he was up to, or why.

But this letter? This blew it all apart.

"My Lords, are we sure this letter is correct?" Maester Pycelle fumbled, he hadn't hidden his shock, "Surely it can't be true that Ser Jaime is…"

"Married?" Littlefinger interjected, so hard to read, why had he revealed this key information? His obsession with Catelyn Stark surely precluded him from selling her daughter out? Apparently not, Tyrion would have to dig deeper there. Perhaps he simply wanted Sansa caught and back near him? No, there had to be more to it than that. Tyrion hated that he didn't know what.

Knowledge was power, and right now his was limited.

"My spy was quite thorough" Littlefinger carried on, the man of the moment and fucking revelling in it, "He is a known contact of mine in the Vale, he heard word of a couple of potential noble birth passing through a local market, followed the lead and found them right in time, in a forest, declaring their love in front of a makeshift Heart tree"

"It can't be true" He heard Cersei whisper, the first thing she'd said in her shock, Tyrion knew she was the most effected.

He was both delighted Jaime might have finally left the sphere of their sister's influence, and terrified at what no one was saying.

The letter had been brief but clear, a Baelish spy had witnessed Lady Sansa and Ser Jaime marrying under a makeshift Heart tree in an orchard in the Vale, he'd witnessed them kiss, witnessed them both 'beaming like new lovers' as the spy had put it, and had watched them leave, it had been too dangerous to follow, but he'd summed up that they had been heading North.

North, not South.

No one had said it, but his brother currently had all of the makings of a traitor.

Lady Sansa was wanted, though they'd tried to hush up her escape, rumours has swirled that she hadn't been seen in weeks, that perhaps she was dead or escaped. Those rumours has started to trickle out, and a moon earlier his Father had officially released that Lady Sansa Stark was missing, and a reward of 100 golden dragons was available for her safe return.

But she wasn't missing really, Jaime had her but had not returned her.

And every single person around this table wondered two things:

Why?

And what next?

The why was easy for Tyrion to deduce, and he knew his Father was thinking along the same lines. Jaime considered himself an honourable man, and he'd clearly come to the aid of a damsel in distress. Tyrion knew it went deeper though, even as Jaime had tried to shield him from it he knew his brother struggled; with vows, with honour, perhaps he'd seen Sansa Stark as a way to fix those struggles

Though, that did beg the question why, in aiding said damsel (as Lady Stark had no doubt been; she'd have surely died by now if not for his brother escorting her, and regardless of how it ended up he was thankful Jaime had found her, and she was alive), why Jaime had in the same stroke turned his back on his family.

For he was heading North with her, his new wife, and that meant only one thing, one thing no one had said but they all knew.

He was taking Sansa Stark home.

And that took them, to the what next … but that wasn't so easy.

Jaime had betrayed their family.

"Jaime would never betray us" Cersei whispered, horror in her voice, and Tyrion knew she didn't mean the Lannister family, she meant them, Jaime, and Cersei, who'd come into the world together and had been together ever since, but not now.

Now, Jaime had turned from them, from all of them.

The table fell silent again, the words unspoken, Jaime was a traitor.

And what was there to be said? Technically this information shouldn't be released, but what was Father to do? Declare Jaime a traitor? Allow Sansa Stark to return to her brother? Have men hunt them down? They were already in the Vale, and Tyrion knew the second they crossed the border to the North they were as good as gone.

Jaime, it seemed, already was.

"He has the Stark girl" His Father said then, and Tyrion knew where it was going before it began, knew and winced, "He has recovered a valuable crown hostage"

"But he is heading North, my Lord" Varys interjected, flinched as Tywin smacked his hand on the table.

"He may be going to Casterly Rock" A lie of course, Jaime was heading in the opposite direction, but Tyrion felt some relief, relief that he'd forgotten how much his Father valued Jaime, especially – it dawned on him, a married Jaime, freed from his vows and able to inherit.

It all made sense now, if anything his Father would spin this as a good thing, though his expression was bitter, he knew the truth, that his son had turned from him, but could not admit as much.

But, Tyrion knew, if the mighty Lord Tywin played it right, he'd have Jaime back, Sansa Stark on his arm, ready to inherit Casterly Rock ahead of him. Damn them.

"Baelish" His Father said, voice cracking through the air like a whip, "Can you dispatch Vale soldiers to recover Jaime and Sansa Stark? Alive?"

"Of course, my Lord Hand" Baelish said, his face betraying nothing, "I will send a contingent of men to follow the roads and backroads immediately to recover Ser Jaime and Lady Sansa, do you wish them to be brought straight here?"

"Immediately" The Lord Hand said, and Tyrion worried, for yes his brother would likely get away with this if captured, his Father would see him inherit Casterly Rock, with Sansa Stark secured for the North, and the Riverlands, but would he allow himself to be captured?

Married and turned away from Cersei? Tyrion doubted Jaime would allow himself, or his new wife to be taken.

"We must recover Jaime and Sansa Stark" His Father said, emphasising its importance, which Tyrion knew, was of the highest.

"Sansa Lannister now surely?" Baelish said, smirk on his lips fading just a touch at Cersei's vicious glare.

"See her recovered" Was all his Father said, before he slashed a hand through the air, "Dismissed, except my children"

Tyrion just about managed to smother his sigh, of course.

The chamber emptied, and his Father stood across from them, and now he allowed a little of his anger to leak out.

"What has your brother done?" He asked, and Tyrion was surprised to hear him disparage Jaime, yes, none of his children were immune from his disappointment, but Jaime had always been the least scolded.

"It must be false Father" Cersei said hurriedly, "He can't have married her"

"Baelish has no reason to lie for this" He said with a shake of his head, and he too was levelled with a glare from Cersei.

"No, he doesn't" His Father said, "But he can't be trusted all the same, I'm sending my own contingent of men from Harrenhal to track Jaime and Lady Sansa, hopefully they reach them first"

"And if they are wed?" Tyrion asked, for he knew they must be, but then they didn't have the letter he'd destroyed, and was thankful he'd done so.

"Then we will bring them back here, see to it Jaime inherits, gets a Lannister baby in the Stark girl's belly, and this war will be won easier, and the Kingdoms secured" As to be expected, Tyrion felt the bitterness roll over him, but nodded, there would be no inheritance for him if Jaime was married, damn him.

"You can't be serious" Cersei interrupted, and Tyrion was hardly surprised, smothered his own smirk, perhaps it was worth losing Casterly Rock to see his sister suffer so, "Jaime can't marry, he is in the Kingsguard! You'll have to annul it!"

"I will do no such thing" Their Father shot back, "Jaime will inherit Casterly Rock, secure the North and the Riverlands as well, our dynasty will be one step closer to secured"

"But Father-"Cersei began but their Father held up a hand.

"Jaime will help secure our dynasty, and so will you two"

Oh no.

"Cersei you will marry Ser Willas, the Tyrells plotted for Sansa Stark to do so, but we will give them a Queen instead, Joffrey will marry Margaery and we will have secured the Reach"

Before Cersei could say a word, or Tyrion could perhaps make a dash for the door, his own fate, as he'd realised was coming, was read.

"Tyrion will marry a girl from the Crownlands and oversee Storms End until Tommen can inherit it" Tywin continued, and Tyrion just managed not to flinch, of course he wouldn't inherit anything. Insulted again.

"I will not" Cersei began, speaking for the both of them really, though even Tyrion knew it was pointless.

"You will" Their Father said, "You're still fertile, you need to marry and breed"

"I'm Queen Regent, not some brood mare!"

"You're my daughter!" His yell had Cersei flinch, but Tyrion held still, he'd die before his Father saw him scared.

"I won't either" He jumped in, for once, he and Cersei were on the same side, he didn't relish it.

"It is well past time you were wed" His Father said, venom in his tone.

"I was wed" He threw back, anger in his voice now, Casterly Rock ripped away for Jaime who didn't even want it, who had ran North away from all of this, wise of him, Tyrion hated that he couldn't do that himself, he loved the game too damn much, "Or don't you remember?"

"All to well" His Father said, steel in his tone, "This time you'll marry right"

"Father, please" Cersei came back then, breaking the staring match between the two of them bitter, stone faced, "Don't make me do it again…"

"Quiet" He yelled again, and Tyrion knew it was over, his face was still like stone, "My children" He said despairingly, Tyrion saw the irony in his disappointment in them, when Jaime was running traitor up North, but then that had always been the way, and always would be.

"You've disappointed me for long enough"

And then he swept out, and silence fell between the two Lannister siblings, the third escaping his Fathers disappointment.

For now.

hot damnnnn

dont be mad I had a sweet fade to black for jaime/sansa, they are more fluff than smut, and for a little while at least there will be PLENTY of fluff

also damn its all going down in KL

speak soon