Anyone with political sense could see that Aerys appointed Jaime to the Kingsguard purely to disgust Lord Tywin.
What no one expected was that Jaime himself looked thrilled.
Galladon watched the fifteen-year-old Jaime—only one year older than himself—and shook his head slightly.
Jaime had been Tywin's golden heir since childhood: handsome, talented, destined to inherit Casterly Rock—the richest seat in Westeros.
Wealth. Power. Status. Women.
He had everything.
So naturally, he longed for what he did not have.
Honor.
Chivalry.
Legend.
He wanted to become a knight like Arthur Dayne—the Sword of the Morning.
But there were deeper currents beneath this decision.
Not long ago in King's Landing, Tywin had informed Jaime of his betrothal to Lysa Tully, daughter of Lord Hoster of Riverrun.
Tywin's reasoning was cold and calculated.
Hoster Tully had already tied Riverrun to the Starks through Catelyn's engagement to Brandon Stark.
The Arryns were allied with the Starks.
The Baratheons were tied to them as well.
Falcons. Wolves. Stags. Fish.
An emerging power bloc.
Tywin wanted Lannister gold woven into that alliance.
The strategy was flawless.
Jaime hated it.
He had spent time at Riverrun and found Lysa plain in both temperament and appearance.
Compared to Cersei…
There was no comparison.
But no one defied Tywin.
Not successfully.
Cersei was equally furious.
She could not bear Jaime leaving her side.
Once, she had dreamed of marrying Prince Rhaegar. But political tensions between Tywin and Aerys ruined that possibility. Rhaegar wed Elia Martell instead.
Jaime had comforted her through that disappointment.
Now Tywin wanted to take Jaime away—for Lysa Tully.
The thought was unbearable.
So Cersei devised a solution.
If Jaime joined the Kingsguard, he would never have to marry.
And he would remain close to her in King's Landing.
Jaime agreed.
Aerys, delighted to wound Tywin, seized the opportunity.
When Tywin learned of it, he was furious.
But Aerys told him calmly:
"It was your son's wish. Refuse—and I'll have him burned for mocking the king."
Tywin had no choice.
Lose his heir—or sacrifice his heir's inheritance.
He chose survival.
But the insult burned.
It was why Tywin did not attend Harrenhal.
Jaime knelt and spoke his oath.
Ser Gerold Hightower—the White Bull—placed the white cloak upon his shoulders.
The crowd roared.
Most common nobles saw only glory.
The highest honor of knighthood.
Many western lords cheered proudly.
But those who understood politics saw the blade hidden beneath the silk.
Cersei smiled from the stands.
Now Jaime would stay near her.
Now they could continue their forbidden closeness.
She did not yet know that Tywin was already preparing to resign as Hand and return to the West.
Her "solution" would unravel.
As cheers rang out, Aerys suddenly felt a flicker of paranoia.
Jaime was Tywin's son.
What if this had been Tywin's plan?
What if Jaime stabbed him during the chaos of the tourney?
Varys leaned close and whispered:
"Your Grace, Jaime is your Kingsguard. You may command him as you wish. Send him back to King's Landing. Let him guard Queen Rhaella and Prince Viserys."
Aerys' lips curved.
Of course.
This way, he could both remove the risk—and twist the knife into Tywin further.
"Jaime," Aerys called, "your first duty awaits."
Jaime's blood surged with excitement.
Surely the king would command him to win glory in the lists.
Instead—
"Return to King's Landing at once. Guard Queen Rhaella and Prince Viserys."
The words struck like thunder.
No tourney.
No glory.
No championship.
Just departure.
Jaime's face went pale.
This was not the dream he had imagined.
From the knight's enclosure, Galladon watched Jaime's stunned expression and nearly laughed.
So this is how dreams die.
Jaime had no choice.
He bowed.
And left.
Aerys, meanwhile, felt deeply satisfied.
He could already picture Tywin's expression upon seeing Jaime clad in white.
Finally, in high spirits, Aerys declared:
"The tournament begins!"
The crowd erupted.
Two armored knights rode forward on towering warhorses, wooden lances lowered.
The Tourney of Harrenhal had officially begun.
(End of Chapter 36)
A/N:
Read ahead on Patreon, 7 advance chapters available, with the first 2 free at
Patreon.com/Coolizup