JAIME
The next day, the afternoon air felt pleasant to breathe in Lord Hoster Tully's private solar. The room smelled of fresh flowers and beeswax, with warm sunlight streaming through the tall windows.
They were currently not seated behind a massive desk cluttered with parchment and paper, a symbol of formal power. Instead, they were on a set of comfortable sofas arranged around a low table. Here, it seemed Hoster wanted to show that they would soon be family, which meant rigid formalities could be relaxed a little.
At least, that was what Jaime thought.
"So your main goal right now is just the spread of... this paper?" Hoster asked, leaning forward. His brown hair, beginning to gray at the temples, was neatly trimmed, and he looked relaxed yet still attentive.
"Yes, for now. Production takes time, and raw materials are key," Jaime nodded, sipping the water that had been served. They were making small talk as if they were a favorite uncle and nephew having a reunion, not two people negotiating the economic future of two major regions. "The Riverlands' soil is fertile and wet, perfect for growing flax in large quantities. If you could play a role in facilitating this with your bannermen, Lord Tully, this would be achieved much faster. We can ensure the supply never breaks for the new mills we are planning."
Hoster nodded slowly, his eyes gleaming at the potential profit. "That is easily arranged. There is plenty of unused, underutilized land. My lords will be happy with the prospect of a profitable new cash crop."
Jaime smiled, adjusting his seat, Tygett next to him. Business concluded. Now, the hard part.
He glanced at Catelyn, who was sitting beside her father. The girl had been quiet since earlier, her hands folded neatly in her lap, listening to the men's talk with the politeness she had been taught.
"By the way, Lord Hoster," Jaime began. "There is something else I wish to discuss. Something a little more... personal."
Hoster's eyebrows raised. "If it is about another business plan, just say it, lad. I am listening."
Jaime shook his head gently. "No, it is not about coin. It is about your ward. Petyr Baelish."
A momentary silence blanketed the room. Hoster and Tygett looked slightly surprised by this sharp change of topic.
"Petyr?" Hoster frowned, confused. "What has the boy done? Has he offended you somehow?"
"I enjoy being here, truly. Riverrun's hospitality is wonderful," Jaime began with honesty. "But Baelish... he seems very uncomfortable with my presence. I have felt his gaze everywhere since I arrived. It is not the curious gaze of a child, My Lord. It is sharp, piercing, as if he is assessing me, and finding me a threat."
Hoster looked skeptical. "He is just a small boy from The Fingers, Jaime. Perhaps he is just intimidated by the heir to Casterly Rock."
"I thought so at first," Jaime continued, pressing slightly. "But I asked Lady Catelyn if this behavior was normal for him. It turns out it is not. He seems to dislike anyone else standing too close to your daughter."
Hoster's expression changed in an instant. From confused to alert. He turned sharply to his daughter. "So... Petyr likes Cat? In that sense?"
"More like he dislikes that someone else is playing with his friend," Jaime corrected quickly. "It is possessive behavior that might be normal for children who grew up together, but Baelish... is a bit excessive. Catelyn can explain it better than I."
All eyes were now on Catelyn. The girl seemed to shrink a little under the sudden spotlight. She bit her lip, her eyes darting from her father to Jaime, then back to her wringing hands. She was clearly struggling between loyalty to her childhood friend and the discomfort she had just realized.
Finally, she let out a soft sigh, relenting. "Petyr... he has been a little strange lately, Father."
Hoster's jaw tightened. "What do you mean 'strange', Cat? What has he done to you?"
"Oh, he has never hurt me, never," Catelyn hastily added, fearing her father's anger. "It is just that... he is always there. Everywhere. He appears suddenly when I am alone in the garden, or waits for me outside my chambers just to 'chat'. He will ask to play games we played when we were small, or ask me to sing along, even when I say I must go."
Uncle Tygett, in his deep voice, finally spoke up. "That is excessive behavior for a boy his age, Hoster. Especially considering their difference in status. The daughter of the Lord Paramount of the Trident should not be stalked by a minor lord's son, no matter how long they have known each other."
"True," Jaime agreed, locking eyes with Hoster. "If we allow this, rumors could start. one servant misspeaking could see him 'appearing' where he should not be when Lady Catelyn is alone... it could harm her reputation."
Hoster's face reddened. Jaime knew he was a proud man, and the protection of his children, especially his eldest daughter, was paramount. "I will send him home," he growled, his hands clenching on his knees. "Tomorrow. I will send him back to his father's miserable pile of rocks."
'Don't be too eager, uncle.' Jaime thought. He didn't want to destroy the boy's life completely; he just wanted to tame him. Sending him home now might only accelerate his transformation into a vengeful monster.
"That is too hasty, Lord Hoster," Jaime cut in gently.
Hoster looked at him, his eyes narrowing. "What do you mean? You brought this matter to me yourself."
"True, but so far Petyr has done nothing but be a creepy nuisance. He hasn't crossed any unforgivable physical lines," Jaime assured him, using his most reasonable tone of voice. "Destroying his future over a childish crush... that might be too harsh. He is still a child, he cannot think clearly about the consequences of his actions yet."
'A bit ironic,' Jaime thought, 'considering I am technically also still a 'child' in their eyes.'
"Children are indeed careless and foolish. It is our duty as their elders to remind them of their place," Tygett added. "What about a more mundane solution? Give Lady Catelyn a personal guard. Someone who is always with her outside her chambers. That will stop Baelish from inappropriate behavior without needing to make a huge fuss."
Hoster's shoulders relaxed slightly, though anger still smoldered in his eyes. He considered the proposal for a moment. "A guard... yes. That makes sense. It sends a clear message without needing to publicly shame House Baelish."
He nodded firmly. "I will do it. Not just for Cat. Lysa will also get her own personal guard starting today. I do not want to take any chances."
Lysa too? Jaime thought that was an unexpected development, but very welcome.
...
"Is this wise?" Catelyn asked as they both walked side-by-side down the cold stone halls of Riverrun. Her voice echoed softly off the walls, full of doubt.
Jaime walked beside her, adjusting his pace to match hers. Inwardly, another part of him, his darker part, the part that had seen this world burn, thought that if Petyr were older, removing him permanently would be much easier. He wouldn't feel a shred of guilt to prevent future chaos.
Well... maybe. At most, he would just vomit.
But right now? He was just facing a heartbroken little boy. Jaime had no better path that didn't involve unnecessary cruelty. At least now Hoster Tully was aware and would keep an eye on the boy. And if Baelish still dared to try anything... well, Jaime wasn't helpless. He was a Lannister. He had far more important problems, like preventing an ice apocalypse and perhaps a civil war, than just dealing with obsessive childhood romances.
It was a rather cold thought, Jaime admitted, but that was the bitter reality he had to accept in this second life.
"It is very wise, Cat," Jaime assured her in a gentle but firm tone. "With supervision, at least Petyr can truly focus on his studies here, instead of being distracted by... other things. We are helping him, in our own way."
Catelyn bit her lower lip, looking unsure. "Petyr is clever. He might soon know what really happened and who suggested it. He will hold a grudge against you," she whispered, as if afraid Petyr would pop out from behind a pillar's shadow.
That made sense. Jaime had already calculated this. He came to Riverrun, and suddenly Catelyn and Lysa had personal guards blocking Petyr's access? Only a fool wouldn't be able to connect the dots, and Petyr Baelish was no fool.
If Petyr grew up to have the same power as in that TV show, certainly Jaime had just created a troublesome new enemy. But Jaime had the advantage of time, power, and nearly unlimited money. He could handle one angry little boy.
Jaime shook his head and chuckled softly, trying to melt Catelyn's tension. "Let him. I have experienced worse things than the angry stare of a boy."
'Far worse,' he thought. In his past life, he had faced hysterical parents, a deadly education system, and a salary barely enough to live on. This beta version of Littlefinger's grudge was nothing yet. Besides, being a Lannister meant half the realm already hated you out of envy; one more wouldn't make a difference.
They walked in silence for a while, until Catelyn spoke again, new determination in her voice. "I will try to speak to Petyr again. Perhaps if I explain it well, I can open his mind so he does not misunderstand."
Jaime stopped abruptly.
'You are so kind, Cat,' Jaime thought, feeling a mix of pity and frustration. 'Even after he made you uncomfortable, you still think of his feelings.'
He turned to face Catelyn, looking into her clear blue eyes full of good intentions. A vague memory from that TV show flashed in his mind, Catelyn Stark freeing Jaime Lannister in the naive hope that it would save her daughters, an act based on a mother's love but fatal to her son's war effort. It was a dangerous pattern: good intentions backfiring due to a lack of foresight.
He had to stop that habit now, before it started.
"Listen, Cat," Jaime said, his voice serious. "Sometimes... sometimes it is better for someone to just stay quiet than to do something. Do you understand what I mean?"
Catelyn blinked, confused. "But he is my friend... I do not want him to have bad thoughts about you, or about us."
"I know," Jaime sighed. "But if you go to him now, when he is angry and feeling left out, you will only give him false hope or make him even angrier. Sometimes, people need space to calm down on their own. You cannot 'fix' everyone's feelings just by talking to them."
"That hatred, if it exists, will only be temporary," Jaime continued, trying to sound convinced even though he knew Baelish was an extremely vengeful type. "Everything will be fine. Let your father and time handle it now. You have done your part honestly."
Catelyn looked at him for a long time, searching for reassurance in his face. Finally, she nodded slowly in silence, though doubt still lingered in her eyes.
Jaime could only hope that advice was enough for now.
----
We will see what happens in King's Landing in the next chapter. As always. Thank you for reading.
You can read chapters 35-52 at Patreon.com/Daario_W
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