Chapter 29

Serafina clung to Jaime, her tears soaking into his cloak as she held him close. She didn't want to let go, the fear of never seeing him again gnawing at her. Jaime was her anchor, her protector, and now he was leaving. The thought was unbearable.

"Please, write," she choked out between sobs, her voice trembling. "Promise me you'll write."

Jaime's hand gently stroked her hair, his own voice cracking as he responded. "I will, I swear it." He pulled back slightly to look into her eyes. "I wish I could take you with me. Robb Stark doesn't deserve you."

Serafina shook her head, tears blurring her vision. "Don't say that, Jaime. Please."

But he only tightened his hold on her. "I mean it. You deserve better, someone who truly understands you."

She wanted to argue, but the lump in her throat silenced her. All she could do was bury her face in his shoulder, dreading the moment when she would have to say goodbye.

They still had a little time, or at least she hoped they did.

"I'm going to miss you so much," she whispered, her voice barely audible.

"I'm going to miss you too," he murmured. "And I need you to promise me something, Serafina."

"Of course, anything."

He was quiet for a moment before continuing, "If Robb Stark or anyone else ever harms you, you'll send word to me immediately."

Serafina pulled back slightly to look at Jaime, her brows furrowing in concern. "Jaime, Robb wouldn't…"

"Promise me," he interrupted, his voice firm and urgent. "You're my little sister, Serafina. I can't bear the thought of you being hurt and not being able to protect you."

Tears welled in her eyes again, and she nodded, her heart aching. "I promise," she whispered, though the thought of ever needing to call for his help scared her. "But I need you to promise me something too."

Jaime's expression softened as he brushed a tear from her cheek. "Anything."

"Promise me that you'll take care of yourself and that you'll stay safe." Her voice trembled, and she gripped his hand tightly. "I can't lose you, Jaime. I need to know you'll be alright."

He gave her a bittersweet smile, his eyes reflecting the same worry and love she felt. "I promise, little one. I'll do my best. And I'll come back to you, one way or another."

With that, he kissed her forehead gently, and they both held on to each other, trying to ignore the ticking clock and the inevitable goodbye that loomed over them.

"Just remember, Serafina, you're a lioness. The North is lucky to have you. And so is Robb Stark. Although, I still think he doesn't deserve you."

"Be nice, Jaime," Serafina murmured, trying to hide her pain with light tone. "He is your good-brother."

"Don't remind me," Jaime snorted.

Serafina managed a small laugh, though it was tinged with sadness. "You'll get along with him eventually. He's not as bad as you think."

Jaime raised an eyebrow. "We'll see about that. But I suppose if you care for him, he must have some redeeming qualities."

"He does," she whispered, her voice softer now, as if convincing herself as much as Jaime. "He's a good man."

Jaime's expression softened. "If he's truly good to you, then I'll try to tolerate him. For your sake."

Serafina smiled weakly and leaned into him one last time, savoring the warmth and comfort of her brother's embrace. "Thank you, Jaime. That means more to me than you know."

He sighed, holding her tighter, as if refusing to let go would somehow stop time. "Take care of yourself, Serafina. And remember, if you ever need me, I'm just a letter away."

"I apologize for disturbing you, but we're ready," Alton's voice suddenly said. "Lady Sansa is almost here."

Serafina felt a lump in her throat, knowing that she had to let go now. With one final kiss on her forehead, Jaime finally released her, stepping back. Serafina felt the empty space between them like a chasm, one that would only grow wider once he was gone.

Silently, the three of them walked out of the tent together. A few Lannister soldiers were waiting outside with horses. Robb was also there and greeted Jaime with a brief nod.

"Ser Jaime."

"Your Grace," Jaime replied, clearly struggling to keep his voice neutral. "I suppose I should thank you for your hospitality."

Robb's expression was composed, but there was a tension in his posture. "Your family is doing the honorable thing by returning Sansa. For that, I am grateful."

Jaime gave a curt nod, his eyes flicking briefly to Serafina before focusing back on Robb. "She's family. I may be a Lannister, but I understand the importance of family." His voice held a subtle edge, almost as if there was more to his words than the surface meaning.

Robb didn't miss the underlying tension, but he chose not to engage. "Safe travels, Ser Jaime."

There was a beat of silence as both men held each other's gaze. It was Serafina who finally broke the tension by stepping forward. "Please take care of yourself, Jaime. And… thank you."

Jaime's hard expression softened as he looked at her. "You too, Serafina. Remember what I said."

She nodded, her throat too tight to respond. Jaime mounted his horse, his gaze lingering on her one last time before he turned to Alton.

"Let's get this over with."

With a final glance at Serafina, Jaime urged his horse forward. The small party of Lannister soldiers and the Stark soldiers fell into formation, preparing for the journey.
Serafina watched until they were out of sight, feeling a hollowness settle in her chest. Robb moved closer, his expression gentler now that they were alone.

"He cares about you a great deal."

"He does," Serafina murmured. "And I care about him too." She turned to Robb, a wistful smile on her lips. "Thank you for allowing me to say goodbye."

Robb sighed, taking her hand in his. "You're my wife, Serafina. I want you to be happy."

Serafina didn't have time to reply when Lady Stark, Arya, Jon, and Theon joined them, all waiting for Sansa's arrival at the camp. Soon, Stark soldiers returned, escorting a grand carriage. Serafina recognized it as one of the most sumptuous her father owned, fit for a king. Despite the circumstances, she almost smiled; her father never missed a chance to flaunt Lannister wealth.

One of the soldiers opened the door as the carriage came to a stop and offered his hand to Sansa. Lady Stark hurried forward to greet her daughter, who burst into tears at the sight of her mother.

"My sweet girl," Lady Stark murmured, gently embracing her sobbing daughter.

Robb and Arya joined them, their happiness evident. Serafina, knowing how much Sansa had suffered as a hostage in King's Landing, kept her distance, feeling like an intruder. To Sansa, she was surely nothing more than a Lannister.

Serafina watched the emotional reunion from a distance, her heart heavy with conflicting emotions. She knew how desperately Lady Stark, Robb, and Arya had longed to have Sansa back, and the relief and joy in their faces were clear. But in the back of her mind, Serafina couldn't shake the worry that her presence might tarnish this precious moment for them.

Sansa was a Stark through and through, and Serafina was all too aware of how her own Lannister blood made her an outsider in this family. It was hard not to feel like she didn't fully belong here, even after everything she'd tried to do to prove her loyalty to her new family.

As Sansa clung to her mother and cried, Serafina saw the girl's gaze flicker briefly in her direction. Sansa's expression was guarded. Serafina offered her a small, reassuring smile, but Sansa quickly averted her eyes, focusing on her mother and siblings instead.

Theon moved forward to greet Sansa, his smile warm and familiar. Watching him, Serafina was reminded of how close Theon was to the Stark family, despite his own complicated history. He had grown up with them, shared their childhood, and in many ways, he was more a part of their family than Serafina could ever hope to be. With Jaime and Alton now gone, the loneliness Serafina felt deepened. Robb was her husband, but in this moment, she couldn't bring herself to intrude on his joy. He deserved to bask in the happiness of having his family together again.

"Are you alright?" Jon's quiet voice startled her out of her thoughts.

"Yes, of course," she replied quickly, forcing a smile. "I'm happy that Robb has his family back together."

"You're his family too," Jon said, his tone gentle.

A wave of sadness washed over Serafina, but she kept her smile intact, not wanting to show the turmoil inside her. "Thank you for saying that," she murmured, though the words felt hollow.

Jon's simple statement was meant to comfort, but it only reminded Serafina of how far she still had to go to truly feel like a part of this family. She had never felt more out of place than she did now, standing on the edges of a moment that was so significant for Robb and his family.

Jon studied her for a moment, his eyes full of quiet understanding. "You don't have to put on a brave face all the time, you know."

She glanced at him, surprised by the kindness in his tone. "I'm not…"

"You just had to say goodbye to your brother. You're allowed to be upset."

She didn't respond immediately. How could she explain the fear gnawing at her, the constant worry that, no matter how hard she tried, she would always be seen as an outsider, an intruder among wolves?

"Thank you, Jon," she finally said, her voice soft. "It means a lot that you'd say that."

"Good." He offered her a small, encouraging smile. "Give it time. We're all still finding our way through this mess."

She glanced over at Robb, who was speaking quietly with Sansa and Arya. He looked so happy, so relieved to have his sisters back, and for a moment, Serafina's heart swelled with affection for him. He deserved to be happy. Jon stood silently by her side as some of the northern lords started to appear, eager to see that Sansa was unharmed. They all wanted to celebrate her return tonight. Tomorrow, they would begin their journey back to the North.


Later that night, when Robb finally returned to his and Serafina's tent, he found her already asleep. He remembered she had mentioned she would retire early, but his focus had been too fixed on Sansa to fully take in her words. The celebration had stretched on for hours, and while Catelyn had been wary of overwhelming Sansa, she had assured them she was fine now that she was with her family.

Robb wasn't entirely convinced, but he hadn't voiced his doubts. His mind was occupied with worry for his sister and the trauma she had endured in King's Landing. He could only hope that he would have had the chance to avenge her if he had been able to confront Joffrey himself.

Robb sighed, careful not to disturb Serafina. The dim light from the dying embers of the fire cast soft shadows across the space, highlighting her peaceful expression as she slept. For a moment, Robb simply stood there, taking in the sight of his wife. She looked so calm, so serene in sleep, a stark contrast to the worries that had been plaguing him throughout the day.

His thoughts drifted back to the celebration, the joy of reuniting with Sansa tempered by the undercurrent of worry. He couldn't shake the image of his sister's haunted eyes, the way she had flinched at certain sounds, or how her smile didn't quite reach her eyes. Whatever horrors she had endured in King's Landing, they had left their mark. He could only hope that being back with her family would help her heal.

But in the midst of all that, Robb couldn't ignore the guilt gnawing at him for neglecting Serafina. He knew she had been trying to give him space, allowing him to focus on his family, but it couldn't have been easy for her. He had seen the distance in her eyes earlier, the way she had held herself back, as if she wasn't sure where she fit in all this. And the truth was, he hadn't done much to make her feel like she belonged.

Robb sighed again, running a hand through his hair. Serafina hadn't chosen this marriage, no one, including him, had even bothered to ask if she wanted it. Yet she had done everything in her power to prove her loyalty. She deserved far better than to feel like an outsider, especially now.

With a heavy heart, Robb moved closer to the bed, easing himself down beside her as quietly as he could. He watched her for a few more moments, the rise and fall of her chest soothing him more than anything had in days. She was his wife, and he knew he had to do better by her.

Carefully, he reached out and brushed a stray lock of hair away from her face. His heart clenched as he noticed the faint traces of tears on Serafina's cheeks. The dim light made them glisten like tiny crystals, and he felt a pang of regret deep in his chest. Jaime's departure must have been incredibly painful for her. Whatever Robb's feelings were about Jaime Lannister, he couldn't deny that he had been an important figure in Serafina's life, a brother who had cared for her in a way few others had.

Gently, Robb leaned down and pressed a soft kiss to her forehead, hoping she could feel the silent apology in his touch. He hated that she had gone through this day feeling alone, feeling as though she had to hide her pain. And he hated even more that he had been so consumed with everything else that he hadn't been there for her when she needed him most.

"I'm sorry," he whispered again, his voice thick with emotion. He wished he could take away the sadness he knew she was feeling, but he also knew that this was something she would need time to process. They both would.