Chapter 10 - Oaths

The maester stymied the corruption to Jaime's wrist, but it was a painful process, leaving him completely exhausted. Lord Bolton gave them rooms, Brienne a dress, which she did not appreciate, and Steve leather pants, a tunic, and a cloak. Rogers made sure they did nothing to his shield and Captain America uniform. He entered Jaime's room where he found the wounded man resting and Brienne watching over him. He closed the door to make sure no one would hear.

"How is he?" he asked quietly. She turned stunned to find him in the room with them, and more confused by his concern. She didn't even hear him enter and he was not a small man.

"He's … um … he's doing better," she said awkwardly as if they were close friends but she didn't know the man and for some reason, she trusted him. He pulled up a chair and sat next to her near the Lannister's bed. His helmet was off and he looked freshly bathed, and clean so she could truly see his face. He might be the prettiest man she had ever seen, more handsome than any Lannister, which made her very uncomfortable.

"Nice dress," he said trying to break the tension. She scoffed.

"No it's not," she said sarcastically. He chuckled quietly.

"No it's not," he said with an honest smile, glancing downward. It was an ugly dress. Pink with brown fur trims. Her armor and leather suited her better. She noticed his change in attire, except for his shield. It remained locked to his back.

"But you don't look half bad," she remarked. It was his turn to scoff. He flexed an arm and heard the leather creak.

"I'm not so sure … its not very … comfortable," he remarked. She snickered.

"Its better than that ridiculous outfit you were wearing," she said, but he tilted his head and cocked an eyebrow in offense. "I mean … this one will keep you safe … the other one was … " she paused remembering how tight it fit him, "Too flashy." He snickered, and shook his head remembering the man who slapped him on the ass.

"So I guess I should get a cover for this then?" he said removing his shield from his back. She never noticed all of its details before; it had red, silver, and blue rings on it lined up like stripes, and at the center, a star.

"If you don't want it stolen, you most certainly should … What is that? I mean, I know it's a shield, but those markings … what do they mean?" she asked quietly. He glanced at them.

"Its just the symbol I was given. It's an adaption of my country's flag, but this symbol … is strictly for me," he said in his kind voice yet foreign accent to her.

"A symbol for one person," she scoffed, "And I can assume your country is not Westeros?" He nodded.

"Why stay with us? Why continue to help us? You owe us nothing … We barely know each other … unless you want gold which I am sure he can give you," she said laying her eyes on the sleeping Lannister.

"Look, I don't know anything about this place … or what's going on … my safest bet is to stick with people who are actually from here, and ironically enough, he does have something I want, but it's not money," he said letting his shield rest against his legs, crossing his arms with some difficulty due to the stiff leather.

"And what's that?" she asked cautiously. He sighed.

"Information … I'm looking for a friend … his name is Tony Stark. The moment I said that name, he said I belonged to that house," said Steve seriously. She stared intently into his sapphire blue eyes. "I only know of one Stark … but there seems to be more?" he questioned.

"Yes … there are … or were … I pledged an oath to Catelyn Stark, the Lady of Winterfell, to deliver Sir Jaime back to his family … the Lannisters, in exchange for the Stark girls," she said sadly.

"So … I can assume that this war primarily has to do with differences between the Starks … and the Lannisters?" he said.

"For the most part … yes," she said quietly. She hesitated taking her gaze away from him.

"So … what happened?" he asked more as a Captain than as a friend. Her eyes caught his again. His command was magnetic.

"Ned Stark … Lord of Winterfell … was beheaded by the Lannisters … they say he was a traitor to the crown," she said with distain.

"But you don't believe that," he remarked. She shook her head.

"The Starks declared war on the Lannisters … The Starks have fought honorably, the eldest son has won many victories along side his mother, but …" she began sadly with her head down. Steve leaned farther back in his seat. "They have two of Ned Stark's daughters alive … the second eldest son is at Castle Black … and no one knows where the youngest sons are," she continued. Rogers glared at the sleeping Lannister not so friendly. "That's a lot of Starks … " he noted, counting the living and the dead in his head, thinking of Tony and how he was taking all of this. "There are other houses fighting for the crown … many of them not fond of the Lannisters," she added.

"Then, why help him?" he asked seriously. She let out a long breath.

"His family may be shit … but I swore an oath and I intend to keep it," she spoke like a soldier. He sighed knowing the feeling. "And whether you believe me or not … Sir Jaime is a good man." Brienne added. Steve froze at her last words, remembering what the good doctor once told him before he became the super soldier that he was, 'Whatever happens tomorrow, you must promise me one thing. That you will stay who you are. Not a perfect soldier, but a good man.'

He glanced once more at Jaime, wounded, missing a hand. Cap did not know what to think, but he did have some sympathy for him.

"Why did he lose his hand?" he asked gingerly. Brienne reached out to Jaime and touched his arm.

"Protecting me." Steve sighed.

"And this … Lord Bolton … you trust him?" Rogers probed. She found herself lost in his eyes again.

"No."

"Neither do I," the Captain agreed.