Panic coursed through Kaela's veins as she shook Jaime's shoulders roughly, desperately trying to force his gaze away from the fire, but it was to no avail. All of a sudden, Jaime's legs buckled underneath him, as his knees hit the stone floor but still, he never blinked. Kaela placed her hand on his chest, feeling the slowing beat of his heart as he became lost. She had seen this before, but not for many years. Non-believers often never made it out of their minds after the Lord of Light gifted them His sight. Kaela placed her hand over Jaime's eyes, hoping it would bring him out of his trance. After a few seconds, she peeked through her fingers to see his gaze still had not shifted. He could still see the light flickering in between her fingers, and that was enough.

"Jaime, please!" Kaela cried, gripping the leather of his overcoat.

Perhaps if she couldn't force Jaime's gaze away...she could extinguish the fire. She rushed over to the packs Jaime had brought with him, found a waterskin inside, and popped the lid off. She threw the water over the flames and...

Nothing.

The fire never flickered. R'hllor controlled the flames, and He would decide when they would turn to smoke. Kaela sucked in a deep breath as she slowly realised what she needed to do. She thought of speaking a prayer, but what good would it do now? With a shaking hand, she held her palm above the fire, able to feel the heat radiating over her fingers...and then she pushed her hand into the flames.

Smoke filled her lungs almost immediately, as the tunnel suddenly became dim. She glanced down to find the brazier fire had been blown out, with only a few glowing embers remaining. The Lord of Light had wanted Jaime to see what He had to offer, but not at the risk of one of his believers. Kaela twisted around to find Jaime had fallen to the ground in a heap, appearing barely conscious.

"Jaime? Jaime, can you hear me?" She exclaimed, crouching down beside him and lifting his head up.

She was met with bloodshot eyes, and trembling lips as Jaime was quick to jump away from her. It was as if her touch alone burnt him, as he pushed himself to his feet and staggered toward the wall.

"What...what was that?" Jaime panted, his eyes darting around manically.

"The Lord of Light. He showed you something. The past, present, future...it could be anything. Only He knows the reasons behind it" Kaela explained, as Jaime ran a hand down his dirtied face.

"...I saw them" Jaime murmured, in a low tone.

"Who?" Kaela frowned.

"The White Walkers. All of them. And they...they saw me" Jaime stuttered, looking more scared than Kaela had ever seen him.

"Where? Beyond the Wall?" Kaela gaped, reaching out to clutch at his shoulder, trying to get him to focus.

"My brother. Tyrion. I saw him with the Stark bitch. I have to...to go to him..." Jaime stuttered, taking a step forward, as his knees gave way.

Kaela was quick to catch him, looping his arm over her shoulder and keeping him off the ground. It took too much from the mind and body when R'hllor revealed visions of the future, something which mere men were not meant to see. Not most, at least. She could hardly believe what she was hearing. The Lord of Light had shown him at least two visions, perhaps more? She wondered what else he had seen, and whether it could—

"Ser Jaime!" A familiar voice called out, as Kaela twisted around, her mouth going slack when she saw two men approaching them in the darkened tunnels.

Ned Stark and Jory marched forward, their hands touching the hilts of their swords, appearing ready for a fight. Kaela could feel how Jaime tensed against her side, thinking of what he had just said about his brother. Had Ned ordered Tyrion to be captured on his orders? It seemed like an underhand thing for the noble lord to commit to. Despite the way Jaime had almost collapsed moments before, if his little brother's life was on the line, he would rise and fight.

"Just the man I was hoping to see" Jaime muttered, straightening his back and removing his arm from Kaela's shoulder.

"The King has been killed...and here you are fleeing the city with one of my handmaidens. What am I to think of this, Lannister?" Ned announced.

"It matters not to me, Lord Stark. I suggest you tell me what has taken place regarding my brother, if you wish to keep your head" Jaime warned, a cold look in his eyes.

"He was taken at my command, to answer for his crimes—" Ned began, his retort cut off as Jaime unsheathed his sword, his lips pulled back into a snarl.

"Let the girl leave. There is no need for her to be harmed" Ned insisted, as Kaela resisted the urge to roll her eyes.

"Your handmaiden can handle herself. She is to be my new travelling companion. She will not be leaving my side" Jaime explained, as Jory took a step forward.

"You would betray the House that took you in? Betray your Lord, his daughters?" Jory spat out, his tone full of disgust.

"I have done nothing of the sort. Let us leave, no blood need be spilt today" Kaela argued.

"Blood has already been spilt. King Robert's" Ned pointed out, as she gave a half shrug.

"And what a pity that is" Kaela muttered, as Jory drew his sword.

"Then you admit to treason?" Jory questioned.

"Put the sword away, boy. Before you hurt yourself" Jaime huffed, angering Jory further.

"Why would you join the Kingslayer? I thought you a true friend to my daughters?" Ned pushed.

"I am loyal to my House, and my House alone" Kaela retorted, causing Ned's brow to furrow.

"I have seen her using witchcraft, my Lord. Her heart has been blackened by such things. Perhaps it always was" Jory informed Ned, whose face turned grim.

"Enough talk. You will free my brother or you will die where you stand" Jaime announced, marching forward, despite how shaky his legs had become.

"If you threaten My Lord again-" Jory began, as Jaime interrupted him.

"Threaten? As in, "I'm going to open your Lord from balls to brains and see what Starks are made of"?" Jaime suggested, moving his sword in a slicing motion.

"Jaime. We should leave" Kaela hissed, grabbing his shoulder, trying to drag him away from the fight.

He shoved her away none too gently, his mind on running Ned Stark through and nothing else. Whether it was to ensure his brother's safety or to rid himself of the pestilence of a man who had condemned him long ago. Kaela had no interest in watching the two men tear each other apart, and with her lips clamped tightly together, she turned on her heel and went to grab their discarded packs. She was debating whether to truly leave Jaime behind to his madness when a sudden pain ripped through her arm. She looked down to see blood spilling down her arm, her cloak cut through as she glanced at the knife that had been thrown her way, that now lay in the dirt behind her. A hand was on her arm in an instant, as Kaela's blood ran over Jaime's fingers before he twisted around to glare at the man who had thrown the weapon toward her. Jory felt his blood run cold as his eyes connected with the Kingslayer's, the anger on the other man's face enough to have him wanting to run in the other direction.

"You will both be tried for your crimes. There will be no escape" Ned announced, as Jaime glanced back to Kaela, who gave him a quick shake of her head.

"Jaime..." She exclaimed, as he pulled his hand away from her arm.

"I would like to see the man who wishes to stop me" Jaime muttered, raising his sword in the air.

He could see how his bloody fingers had stained the hilt of his sword from the corner of his eye. Kaela's blood. Anger coursed through his veins as Jory took a step forward, despite Ned Stark's calls for him to stay back. In the blink of an eye, the Northman was charging forward, his sword raised high. The sound of swords clashing echoed through the tunnels, followed by a pained grunt. Kaela's eyes widened as she saw Jaime had blocked Jory's sword and pulled a dagger from his cloak in one swift movement. A dagger which was now firmly planted through Jory's skull, right through his eye. Jory stayed standing for a few moments, harsh pants leaving his lips before he suddenly went still and collapsed. He was dead before he hit the ground. Kaela's eyes fell onto the bright red burn on his hand, the scar which he had earned when he had stopped her ritual not long before. She had offered a life to the Red God. It seemed R'hllor had taken it.

With a shake of her head, Kaela raced forward, placing herself in between the two men before anyone else died. She didn't care about what happened to her anymore. She had fulfilled what she had been meant to do. Her destiny was complete.

"I killed him. The King. Ser Jaime had nothing to do with it" Kaela announced, as Ned barely glanced at her, his focus on his fallen man.

"And why would you do such a thing?" Ned murmured, thinking it an obvious lie.

"Because he killed my mother" Kaela admitted, feeling Jaime suddenly surge forward, his hand clasping her shoulder.

"We must go. Now" Jaime insisted, gripping her shoulder a little harder.

"Who was your mother?" Ned frowned, noticing the panic on Jaime's face.

"A woman you were supposed to protect. Instead, the honourable Ned Stark stayed as silent as the dead when she was burnt alive. Her and her babe" Kaela spat out, causing Ned's frown to deepen.

"Kaela, please" Jaime urged, in a hushed voice, his grip becoming bruising.

She turned to face him, her own brow furrowing when she saw a rare look of guilt flashing across his features. She wasn't sure he was even capable of such an emotion. Why was he suddenly so desperate for them to leave?

"Who are you?" Ned questioned, as Kaela pulled away from Jaime's grip, her mind made up.

"...Kaela Targaryen. I am the daughter of Elaena, King Aerys sister" Kaela confessed.

Ned Stark stumbled backwards as if he had been struck in the face, his mouth hanging agape. He looked close to falling to his knees, as his eyes darted between Jaime and Kaela. She looked to Jaime to understand why the nobleman was reacting in such a way but found Jaime would no longer meet her eyes. Something strange happened then. Ned Stark...laughed?

It wasn't joyous laughter, there was too much sadness mixed in. Bitterness. He laughed like a man in pain. Kaela thought for a moment the man had lost his mind. Her surprise only grew as Ned sheathed his sword and took a sudden step forward. Jaime was grabbing her arm and pushing her behind him in the blink of an eye, as Ned's laughter finally ceased.

"You did not tell her" Ned spoke, causing Jaime's to clench.

"What good would it do?" Jaime retorted, in a grim tone.

"Tell me what?" Kaela frowned, her gaze darting between the two men.

"Your father. Do you know his name, child?" Ned asked, softly.

"Aerys believed I was his" Kaela stated, as Ned shook his head, slowly.

"I always thought...perhaps the Mad King knew the truth. That was why he...he murdered my father and brother so cruelly" Ned began, only causing Kaela to become more confused at his vague words.

"All eyes were on Rhaegar and my sister, Lyanna during the Tourney of Harrenhal. But not my brother's. He only ever had eyes for Elaena" Ned explained, as the sickening realisation slowly dawned on Kaela's face.

"N-no...no. You're wrong..." Kaela stuttered, shaking her head, firmly.

"I warned him. I told him no good what come of chasing after that woman but...well, my brother never did listen to me. He was young and in love—" Ned continued when Kaela cut him off.

"He was betrothed to Catelyn. He was...he was supposed to marry her" Kaela pointed out.

"And he was willing to do what he had to. If it meant keeping his love and newborn daughter safe. He stayed away...to protect you. Gods, how could I have not seen it? You look so alike..." Ned trailed off, taking another step forward.

From her black hair, fair skin, even the slight crooked manner of her jaw...it all reminded him of his brother. But she had her mother's eyes. There was no doubt in Ned's mind the girl was who she said she was. He only wished she had told him sooner. She was all he had left of his dear brother.

"Jaime, tell me he's lying. Tell me. Jaime!" Kaela insisted, turning to the man she had considered a friend.

He still refused to look her in the eyes, his gaze firmly kept to the ground. His silence was answer enough for her. Her father was dead. He had been for almost twenty years. But if Brandon Stark really was her father then it meant that...

"I can help you. I will plead your case. But you must not run" Ned told her, as tears started to well in Kaela's eyes.

"Arya, Sansa...they are...they are my cousins?" She realised.

"And you are my niece. For the love my brother had for you, I promise, I will protect you. Come with me, child" Ned exclaimed, holding his gloved hand out to her.

She could stay. Be with her...family? The concept seemed so foreign to her. She had never met anyone with whom she shared blood, she never thought she would. The Targaryen's might have been gone but the Starks had lived on.

But she wasn't as naive as Ned. No matter what excuses he used, she had still murdered a King. She would be executed if she stayed. And that was not what the Red God had planned for. He had shown Kaela the image of Melisandre at Dragonstone for a reason. The Red Priestess had been the closest thing to family she had ever had, and she wouldn't abandon her.

"It's too late for that" Kaela murmured, as Ned slowly lowered his hand back to his side.

"You will go with the Kingslayer? After all he has done?" Ned suggested.

"I have people who need me. And I am not fool enough to believe I will be able to make the journey by myself" Kaela explained.

"You cannot run from what you have done" Ned told her, as she gave a small shrug.

"I've been doing that all my life" Kaela retorted.

"It is time for us to leave, Princess" Jaime exclaimed, coming to stand beside her.

With a sigh, Ned suddenly unsheathed his sword once more, causing Kaela to tense up. Jaime had pushed himself in front of her in the blink of an eye, more than ready for the duel he had waited twenty years for.

"I have a duty to the realm. You killed the King" Ned announced, as Kaela pursed her lips.

"I have no regrets, Lord Stark. If you do this, I believe you will" Kaela urged, as Ned's forehead wrinkled.

"Treason cannot go unpunished. Nor can the killing of my men" Ned replied, his eyes dropping to Jory's corpse.

Jaime surged forward with his sword then, as metal clashed against metal. He struck out at Ned again, who blocked his blow and shoved him to the side with his shoulder. Jaime had twisted around quickly and spun his sword toward his opponent, who only just managed to block him. The two circled each other, swords flying in the air, their footwork too quick for Kaela's eyes to keep up with. They were frighteningly well-matched. Though Ned appeared to be the stronger of the two, Jaime attempted to use it to his advantage. He drew his sword to Ned, letting the hilt rest on his wrist, as Ned cut through the air with his own weapon. He had not expected to meet so little resistance from Jaime's sword, as he was thrown off balance, the point of his weapon hitting the sand beneath their feet. Jaime used this to his advantage, surging forward with a flurry of blows, which Ned managed to block, quick pants leaving his lips. Growing angry, Ned sliced his sword through the air and would have likely cut Jaime's head clean off if the other man hadn't ducked just in time. Jaime was surprised by how quick Ned was on his feet, finding it more difficult than he had imagined to keep up with his opponent's footwork. Jaime misjudged one step, and suddenly their swords clashed together, as both men pushed forward, only inches between their weapons and their unarmoured chests. Jaime grit his teeth as he tried to shove Ned back, but the man's feet stayed firm on the ground. Their swords slowly started to inch toward Jaime's shoulder, as he felt the cold metal starting to cut through his leathers. Suddenly, Ned let out a cry of pain as something hit his shin, causing him to stumble back a few paces. The pain ignited further as the object was ripped out from his skin, and he fell to his knees. He turned to find Kaela standing behind him, a dagger in her hand, dripping with his blood.

"Take your daughters and return North. Whilst you still can" Kaela warned him, wiping the bloody dagger on the inside of her cloak.

"Do not leave with this man. I promise you, it will be a mistake" Ned insisted.

"But it is my mistake to make. Not yours" Kaela exclaimed, sharing an uneasy look with Jaime.


Kaela wrapped her cloak tighter over her shoulders, clenching her teeth together as she tried to suppress the shiver that shot through her. It had been some time since she had travelled without the comforts of shelter or a fire. It was a cold night for that time of year, only reminding her that winter may have been closer than any of them realised. Her arm ached from where a makeshift bandage had been tightly wrapped around it, which she knew would be stained with blood by now. She could only hope it would not become infected. A hand was suddenly thrust underneath her nose, a waterskin outstretched toward her. Reluctantly, she took it from their hand, quick to take a few swigs of the water, her throat desperately dry. She inwardly groaned when she felt her companion kneel down beside her, far closer than she wished them to be. It had been a day and a half since the pair had fled from King's Landing with their few supplies and two horses. Kaela hadn't uttered a word to him in all that time, something she was grateful he had not brought up. Until that very moment.

"It will become a very dull journey if you continue to ignore my presence" Jaime quipped.

No reply came.

"If you are hoping for some form of apology, you will be waiting a very long time" Jaime muttered, as Kaela simply passed the waterskin back to him.

She could see he was growing more and more irritated with every passing second. Her silence was getting to him. It was leaving him far too much time to listen to his own conflicted thoughts. He shook his head, wishing he had brought wine with him for their journey.

"Perhaps it is not me you are angry with. I did try to warn you" Jaime exclaimed, as Kaela turned to face him, a scowl on her face.

"And when was that?" Kaela huffed, the words leaving her lips before she could stop herself.

"When I found Ned Stark's bastard son in your chambers. I thought it best to interrupt your...relations" Jaime went on, watching as Kaela's jaw ticked.

"I do not know what you speak of" She retorted, looking away from him once more.

"Oh, come now. I watched you both at Winterfell. Two bastards pining after each other. What a sickeningly sweet sight it was" Jaime muttered, with more bitterness than he meant to.

"Not everyone shares your perversions, Lannister. Jon and I were friends. Nothing more" Kaela insisted.

"If that is what you wish to believe. Perhaps it is for the best. He is your cousin, after all" Jaime pointed out, watching as she winced at his words.

Bile rose in her throat whenever she thought of her memories in Winterfell. All the missed opportunities she had and things she could have said to her little cousins and...Jon. She had never been sure what her feelings for him truly were, always pushing them down, trying to focus on her mission. But there were looks, touches, that suggested there could have been something between them one day. And now to know they shared the same blood? It was wrong, wasn't it?

"Would R'hllor disapprove of fucking your cousin? I'd think not. He always favoured Targaryen's, did He not?" Jaime goaded, as Kaela shot him a glare.

"And what will your sister think of your actions? You have fled the Capital with a handmaiden after her husband's tragic death. She may have to find another to warm her bed now" Kaela spat out, as the smirk instantly dropped from Jaime's face.

"Cersei and I came into this world together. We belong together. She would not look at another even in my absence" Jaime insisted, as Kaela let out a bitter laugh.

"Oh, you stupid fool. Do you truly believe that? Whatever your sister feels for you...it is not love" Kaela retorted.

"What would you know of love?" Jaime scoffed, pushing himself to his feet, finding he wished for silence now.

"You're right. I do not know love. But I know loyalty. Something which you do not understand" Kaela accused, as Jaime gave her a look of disbelief.

"I have put my life on the line for you. Ned Stark could have sent his men to kill us both. I may not be able to return to—" Jaime began, as Kaela jumped to her feet, cutting him off swiftly.

"You lied to me!" Kaela cried, angrily.

He had known who her father was, all that time. He could have told her...all the things she would have done differently. Now, she had abandoned the only family she had ever known. She had left Arya.

"...You would have stayed" Jaime stated, as Kaela crossed her arms, waiting for him to elaborate.

"If you had known who the Starks were to you...you would have wanted to stay. You would have told Ned Stark, and the whole Kingdom would have discovered who you were. The only Targaryen on this side of the sea. If Robert didn't kill you, my sister certainly would have" Jaime explained.

"You expect me to believe you kept the truth from me because...you care what happens to me?" Kaela huffed, running a hand over her face.

"And because it aligned with my own plans. Besides, it all worked out, did it not? The King is dead. You are alive. I would consider that a victory" Jaime went on, in a dismissive tone.

He was not expecting the punch to his face that soon followed, as he staggered back a step, shocked by the force of the blow. Kaela was panting angrily, her hands still balled into fists, despite the pain that was radiating from her knuckles. Jaime ran a hand over his aching jaw, rolling his neck to one side.

"You hit well. For a girl, of course" Jaime responded, with a slight smirk.

"You're insufferable" Kaela mumbled.

"Still, you are talking to me once more. I consider that another victory" Jaime stated, smugly, watching as Kaela rolled her eyes.

"I feel it is going to be a long journey to Dragonstone" Kaela groaned, before she crouched back down beside her pack.

"We are travelling to Duskendale, where I will escort you onto a ship travelling to Pentos," Jaime told her, as she quirked an eyebrow.

"No" Kaela replied, moving her pack behind her so she could rest against it.

"No?" Jaime questioned, coming to loom over her.

"I am not travelling East to find Daenerys. Not yet, at least. R'hllor wishes me to go elsewhere" Kaela informed him, as Jaime shook his head, before sitting back down beside her.

"More voices in your head?" Jaime huffed.

"I'd think you would know better than to mock the Red God after what you were shown in the flames" Kaela pointed out, as a shadow crossed Jaime's face.

He did not reply to her at first, his shoulders growing tense, an uncomfortable silence washing over him. They were yet to speak about his experience, and he had been hoping it would never be brought up again.

"...I do not know what I saw" Jaime argued, causing Kaela to snort.

"Yes, you do. You simply do not want to admit it" Kaela exclaimed.

"Why would your God want you to visit Dragonstone? Do you plan to bend the knee to Stannis of all people? He'd bore you to death" Jaime informed her, completely disregarding her words.

"It is not Stannis I seek. It is a Red Priestess. Melisandre. I trust you've heard of her before" Kaela stated, as Jaime's discomfort instantly returned.

"Heard of her? I met the strange woman many years back when you were smuggled out of the Castle. And let me guess...she looks the same as she did then?" Jaime murmured.

"The Red God protects his followers. They live long lives" Kaela replied, as Jaime raised an eyebrow this time.

"The King believed that Red Priestesses would bath in the blood of virgins to keep their youthful appearance" Jaime huffed, making Kaela grimace.

"Melisandre is the closest thing I have to a mother. She's all I have now" Kaela confessed, as Jaime leaned back on his elbows, his eyes flickering to hers.

"You killed Stannis's brother. He could have you executed if he finds you. The safer course would be to travel to Pentos" Jaime insisted.

"No. Melisandre needs me. She'll tell me what to do next. She always has" Kaela argued, as Jaime regarded her closely for a moment, his mind going to his sister.

"...You should rest. We have a long road ahead of us" Jaime told her, as she nodded, leaning her head back on her pack, glancing up at the branches of the trees above them.

Jaime stood to his feet then, resting his hand on the hilt of his sword, finding his troubling thoughts returned in an instant. He and Kaela were alike in many ways. Ever since he was a little boy, he had always done what Cersei had told him. But this? Cersei had never commanded him to protect a Targaryen Princess, to run away with her. Yet, there he was. Ready to protect her with his life. It was a decision he had made. And for the first time in a very long time, he knew it was the right decision.