Yesterday was an adventure. I don't have words. Anyway, enjoy the update.

Jaime II

In the dead of night, under the light of a lamp, Jaime was doing something sneaky.

Not visiting Cersei. In fact, he was not even out of his chambers.

He was scratching on some parchment he had stolen from somewhere in the keep. He was not writing illicit letters. He was just practicing writing the alphabet. Well, he had moved to writing sentences.

His encounters with the Queen over the time he had spent in the capital had been numerous, usually while she was entertaining Viserys or on the practice grounds. One such encounter had called for his prowess in reading.

When a maid interrupted the story she was telling the prince, she handed a book to Jaime to read it to Viserys while she handled the message.

Jaime had not been able to, not as properly as someone of his age certainly.

The Queen did not tease him, she just tilted her head and asked him to write a few select alphabets. He could have squiggled out of it, he should have. However, he simply scratched things on paper. He was sure he had mixed them up.

"How long have the letters mixed around you, Ser Jaime?" She had lightly asked.

"As long as I remember, my lady. If it is words you seek, you should rely on my father or younger brother. I am not that gifted," Jaime replied a little defensively.

She did not look affronted. She looked bemused.

"It is a common condition called Dyslexia. You just need to learn things differently than your maester or septa taught you. I can't say that I can help you fall in love with reading, but I can take away the grueling dread you seem to have for it."

In the guise of teaching the prince alphabet, the queen had taught him the letters again.

"I still can't read books, you know," He had pointed out. Jaime insisted in his head that he did not like her, but something about her put him at ease.

"You can always have someone read them to you, Ser Jaime. You are the heir of the rock. You only need to know enough letters to read and write private letters. Wars have been won on the messages ravens carry alone." She had pointed out as she threaded a needle through a cloth and then requested, "Now write me a letter in three sentences describing what happened with the Brotherhood?"

Jaime just stared at her but complied. She was a hard taskmaster.

So, when Jaime returned to the rock, he stole his little brother's parchment and quills, he sat on his advanced lessons with the maester, feigning about making up for lost sibling time, and then scribbled away in the night.

The Queen, albeit annoying, had a few redeeming points.

It was good that Jaime had practiced his letters because one day his father asked him to stay back in his solar after their advanced lessons and handed him a raven scroll from the Queen, eyeing him thoughtfully. The seal was intact.

His Father had not been against his fraternization with the Queen even in the capital. It would be good if he had the Queen's ear. Jaime knew his father had tried hard to associate him with King Rhaegar as his squire a few years earlier and that had not panned out, but frankly the queen was a powerful alternative. She wielded much influence over the King, had a political acumen rivaled by his father, and had dragons.

To Ser Jaime Lannister,

Heir of the Casterly Rock,

In response to your inquiry about the maneuver Cleo Penrose used in the last sparring practice, enclosed are a few illustrations on the Bravosi Water Dance. You might also find books on it useful.

Things in the capital have become quieter since the departure of most noble families. I almost miss the humdrum. But then, I find ample time for things that matter.

Your uncle Kevan reminds me much of your father, I loudly wondered where you get your restless behavior from and your uncle promptly told me about Gerion Lannister. No doubt your father has been keeping excellent tabs on the state of things, but Ser Kevan has adjusted well to the capital. He does miss his lady wife and brings up the family a lot, but his strong sense of duty has found an ally in Jeor Mormont.

I hope the loss of the capital has been your gain. You do not get your youth, it's hunger or yearning to learn back. Use it well.

Azalea Sage,

Queen Consort of the Seven Kingdoms,

Lady of the House of Serpens, Gwenyth, Peverell and Targaryen

P.S. You will be delighted to know that Viserys thinks that Azanty is in fact your name and all his lessons on High Valyrian have failed to change it.

It was not a short missive. Jaime was a little surprised. It was also much more candid than he expected, but then again, the Queen had always been very forthright. He did manage to read it without crying or pausing a lot. That was progress. Writing a response would be more difficult. He wordlessly passed it to his father, because he knew he had to.

His father handed him other parchments that had accompanied the letter, as he took the letter. Illustrations on the Bravosi water dance.

"It is not surprising the queen has taken an interest in the House of Lannister and by extension you. We must maintain the favor," his father said firmly and handed the missive back to him. He knew the Queen corresponded with the Father. He had seen the seal of House Targaryen and her sigil quite often.

There was nothing suspicious in the letter. Of course, his father would check.

It was not until he reached his room that he opened the illustrations. They were beautiful and instructive. Jaime could certainly understand how he could replicate them. He started lightly browsing them.

In the roll of parchments was a single illustration that stood out, it was of the Queen's Dragon, and not sword movements. It was nestled not secretively, but carefully so it would only be open to someone who might go through the illustrations minutely. His Father would not have.

The back of the parchment had a short note.

JL, I thought little Tyrion might enjoy it. Azalea

He had in one of his various meetings with Viserys let Tyrion's love for Dragons be known to the Queen. He had also let it slip that his brother was loathed by his father and sister. No doubt why Tyrion was not mentioned at all in the letter. The Queen might be candid but she was not naïve.

Jaime felt a warmth surge forth. Not many people valued or cared for his little brother, but this effort was…Jaime did not know what to think or do about the kindness.