4th Month of 284 A.C. King's Landing
Ser Jaime Lannister
He was no longer a member of the Kingsguard, that thought and that thought alone was something that made him think long and hard about his life. He had just turned eighteen, and as such it felt as if his whole life had come and gone in a blink of an eye. For as long as he could remember, all he had ever wanted to be was a knight of the Kingsguard, he had never really paid attention to his father's lessons about their bannermen, never really cared about playing the game. All he had wanted to do was become good enough to fight with his sword, and earn a place in the Kingsguard. When that day had come, he had thought his dreams had been achieved he would be a knight of a song, and Cersei would be his lady, but then Cersei was not there to see him join the Kingsguard nor did she come to King's Landing afterward, and Jaime was left to deal with the sights of a mad man in power and deal with his own torn conscience. Killing Aerys had been a relief, and when Baratheon had come to the throne he had wondered if perhaps this would be a new start. But no, Baratheon was just as blood thirsty as Aerys and there was more war on the horizon until the Great Council. Then Jonothor Targaryen, Rhaegar's last living son had won and Jaime had felt everything within him sag. He could not continue as a Kingsguard knight, he did not know if he had it in him to continue, he wanted to return home. That was why he had not protested quite as vigorously as he might have done when Ser Gerold had told him the news, his dreams had been shattered and he wanted away from King's Landing.
Of course he had had his suspicions all along about who it was who had truly seen to it that he had been released from his vows. His father had hinted as much when they had last spoken, and now that he was alone with the man he figured he might as well ask about that. "So, was it you who ensured Lord Rickard and Ser Gerold saw fit to release me from my vows father? And if so what did you offer them in return?"
His father never one to take offence merely said. "At least you are not completely naïve. Yes I did ask Stark and Hightower to have you released from the Kingsguard. You are my heir and always have been, a Lannister does not serve anyone as a lesser, let alone as a body guard. The Targaryens learnt that to their peril during the rebellion, and now Stark is seeking to prevent that from happening again. I will be hand, and you shall be my heir. And the dynasty will be secure."
"But how will this go about then father? After all there is still the issue of Cersei hanging over your head, with the Ironborn causing trouble in the Westerlands it is not as if we can exactly send her back home now. She will need to remain in King's Landing, and will only serve as a reminder of what happened before King Jonothor won the Great Council. Her being here will only further taint our House." Jaime responded.
His father nearly smiled then and Jaime thought his heart would stop. "I see you have learnt something of your time here. Well, Cersei shall not be remaining here. When we ride for the west she shall be coming with us, but she shall remain in Silver Hill and stay there until the fighting is done. If all goes according to plan the fighting will not last very long. No doubt Greyjoy is the one behind this, and he shall learn to fear the lions."
Jaime smirks somewhat. "It is interesting you say that father. After all, the new regime still looks on House Lannister with a great deal of suspicion. It is very possible that Greyjoy if indeed he is the one who ordered the raiding, then it shows that House Lannister is not feared at all in the realm. It seems we have become tame again."
His father's face remains a straight mask, but Jaime wonders if that is anger he sees there. "The Greyjoys if it is them who started the raiding will soon learn what it is to fear lions. Especially when Ser Lucion breaks down their fleet and finishes off what Lord Tybolt had started during Dagon Greyjoy's rebellion. Once they are sorted and finished, I shall return to King's Landing to begin working on the regent and his grandson. And you, you shall remain in the Rock and hold it for me, and marry."
Though he knew this matter would have to come up, but he did not expect it to come up this soon. "Marry? Who would you have me marry father?"
Tywin Lannister could win a prize at a fare, for how cold his stare is. "You shall marry whomever I tell you to wed Jaime. But there are some eligible ladies around. Jeyne Farman for one that would ensure that Lord Farman remains loyal, there is also Alysanne Lefford which would prevent Lefford from getting any ideas. Finally there is Mariah Banefort, which would ensure the Baneforts continue leaving themselves out of our affairs."
Jaime considers these options, Farman is a simpleton, or at least the girl she was when last they met was, gods alone knows what she could be like now, Lefford, well Lefford had always been a beautiful looking girl he remembered that much. Banefort, now that gave him pause. "Why Banefort? They have had nothing to do with us or us them since the field of fire father. Why would you suggest bringing them closer to the Rock? The Baneforts do not truly give us anything of value."
His father is silent a long time after that, and then his response is somewhat simple. "The Baneforts offer us the chance to finally end the rumours about them being their own kingdom within the kingdom. It is something I should have thought of sooner, but of course I did not have the chance to. Now, the chance is there once more and it is something that must be looked at before being dismissed."
Jaime looks at his father and he suspects he knows where this is going. "So I take it this is where my options end then father? The Baneforts are what you want me for, to ensure that they do not bring about any more trouble."
His father looks at him with that hard cold stare. "My plans for you children did not end as well as I hoped, it is time that I began looking towards home to ensure that our strength is more secure before looking outward again. You shall marry Mariah Banefort, a betrothal will be put in place of course, so that you get the chance to know her. As for your sister, well the Lannisters of Lannisport are always a concern, she shall be the price of their unending loyalty."
Jaime knows that protesting would do him no good and so he merely accepts this and once he is dismissed, Jaime leaves his father's rooms and wanders around the halls of the Red Keep pondering one thing or another, wondering where his life will take him next. He knows now that life is not a song, something that perhaps he should have realised the first time he saw Aerys burn the Stark heir, but he wonders if perhaps like his heroes he abandoned himself to the illusion to spare himself the pain. He shakes his head and continues walking, just allowing his feet to take him wherever they will. That is how he meets the Lady Ashara, she is dressed in a simple gown of blue, her hair done in a simple band and her eyes still hauntingly beautiful. "My lady, I hope I did not disturb you." Jaime says.
The lady laughs, and the sound is sad, and Jaime feels the urge to comfort her, though he knows not why. Her voice is musical when she replies. "No you did not Ser Jaime. I do admit you look much more fetching in your house colours than in the white of the Kingsguard. It brings out your eyes more, though of course there was something about seeing you in your armour, it made you look almost innocent."
Jaime blushes at the compliment, but manages to hold himself together long enough to say. "I thank you for the compliment my lady. And I must say you also look rather stunning, even dressed as simply as you are. I hope you do not mind me saying so, but I am surprised you are still here, I would have thought you would have returned to Starfall. After all the interesting things have finished now."
The lady of Starfall laughs somewhat. "King's Landing is never boring good Ser. After all, so much occurs here, and the people are always very interesting. But I confess I have a much more personal reasoning for being here. I was not here when Elia and her children died, and I wish to be here to remember them and ensure they are not forgotten."
Jaime feels something in his chest tighten at the mention of the Princess, and his voice is soft. "I assure you my lady, they are not forgotten."
She looks at him then her eyes alive with a heated passion. "Of course they are not, it was your father was it not who had them killed so he could sit his daughter on the throne! It was your father who drove the war nearly to war by whispering in Robert Baratheon's ear. Your father has brought naught but ruin to Westeros." Jaime is somewhat stunned by her outburst, and she seems to realise this as she says even softer. "Forgive me Ser Jaime, I spoke out of turn. I did not mean…"
He interrupts her. "It is no matter my lady. You spoke from passion, and that is something I can understand. My father acted rashly and it has cost him and my family. I did not agree with what he did nor do I agree with what he is continuing to do. If I had used my brain instead of my impulsiveness I would have tried to save the Princess and her children."
The lady looks at him then her violet eyes staring into his soul, and he tries hard not to flinch or move as she looks at him. Her voice is soft when she says. "Arthur was right about you, you are too good to be true. A true knight in this city of liars."
Jaime blushes somewhat scarlet then and says. "I… I assure you I am no true knight, not compared to Ser Arthur. I do not think I could have done what he did against the usurper."
The lady laughs. "Oh Ser Jaime, if only you knew. My brother has done many things that might make you wonder about that. But you are as true a knight as any I have ever met."
Jaime blushes once more and manages to stutter out. "I thank you my lady. And I do say that you are the most beautiful lady I have seen." The words escape his mouth before he can call them back.
Lady Ashara is looking at him somewhat intrigued, and then she says. "Surely not? I must not hold a candle to your sister, and of course many others of court here."
Jaime is silent, thinking of Cersei is painful for him, and still there is something about the Lady Ashara that compels him to respond. "There are many others who are beautiful my lady, but there are none that I believe are as beautiful as you." He smiles somewhat to see the lady blushing at his compliment. And they walk and talk with one another for some time, until Jaime realises that they are back at the Lady Ashara's chambers and he hesitates, he looks her and raises an enquiring eyebrow.
"Oh have no worries Ser Jaime, I do not mean to have you in my bed tonight." Something in his face must make him seem offended for she quickly says. "Please do not be offended, it is just that you must leave for war tomorrow, and I… last time this happened, the man died."
Jaime thinks he has a good idea who the man is still he kisses the lady's hand. "Worry not my lady, I have not taken offence. But I do have one small request to make. As you mentioned I ride to war tomorrow, and if you would allow it, I would write to you. So we might come to know one another better."
The lady is silent, and for a moment he worries that he has gone too far, but Ashara merely smiles and says. "That would be delightful. I look forward to it."
Jaime nods and then says goodnight and walks back to his own room, where he goes to bed dreaming of a woman with hauntingly beautiful violet eyes and dark brown hair and a musical laugh. He wakes the next morning with a smile, and has that smile on his face the whole time he and his father prepare to leave for battle. He still has a smile on his face when he and his father lead their men through the Lion Gate and towards the Ironborn.