Streaks Of Silver (Game of Thrones)

Chapter Seven: Let Me Try...

The next day, preparations for the tourney would be in full swing by the time Litha awoke and left her room to go out and train that morning...

Taking her bow, a quiver full of arrows and her horse, Litha would make her way out of Winterfell and into the woods for a spot of target practice in her favorite place. A clearing where on any other day, she would be left alone...

But days proved to be rather strange indeed with Lannisters running about...

"Take the wager," Jaime's voice reached her just as she looses an arrow. The head striking true on her target before she turned to glare at him.

"Don't you know when somebody's cross with you?" Litha questioned and Jaime would sigh, glancing to the ground before finding a place to tie off his horse next to hers. Then, taking a seat on a stone to watch her practice.

"I know you are, which is why I'm here. Trying and apparently failing to charm you, once again," Jaime answered her honestly as he pulled off his gloves, "How in the world you're immune is beyond me. Women usually fall at my feet, so an anomaly like you is quite a-" Litha would cut him off, collecting a fresh arrow from her quiver.

"If you call me a challenge, I will shoot you in the leg," she scolded him and the King Slayer groaned.

"I don't know what else to call you, I'm sorry! Nobody's ever held out for more than a conversation, let alone turned the tide on me!"

"Turned the tide? What're you one about...?"

"I mean that I enjoy you! I genuinely do and it's infuriating that you only seem to be irritated with me whenever we're not huddled up together on a pile of pillows."

"You're being ridiculous. I'm only irritated with you, because of your confrontational behavior with my twin. Leaving you in front of the brothel was because off your other obligations! I refuse to be yet another burden to anyone else!"

"You wouldn't be a burden! You'd be-"

"A pet?! What?!"

"A FRIEND, FOR GODS' SAKE!"

"DON'T LIE TO ME!"

"I'M NOT!"

"HOW COULD YOU NOT BE?!"

"BECAUSE I DON'T CARE IN WHAT FORM YOUR COMPANY COMES SO LONG AS YOU'RE NOT GONE! SO, TAKE THE BLOODY WAGER AND LET ME TRY TO WIN YOUR FAVOR!"

"FINE!"

"FINE!"

And just like that the shouting was over and the two were heaving air in and out from frustration, but even so, Jaime was still insecure, "Was that really a yes, or did you just want to stop screaming at each other?" he required clarification and with a huffing exhale of a sudden laugh against her will, Litha would chuckle shortly until the sound fell out into a sigh.

With one hand on her hip and the other still holding her bow, she would nod, "Yes, I'll accept your bloody wager, Jaime. You win, I go with you...but if I win, I'd like to change the terms, because I don't want you to disappear," she proposed, seeing his brows furrowed, "If I win, you have to write to me and I'll do the same in return. At least until I get the chance to visit King's Landing on my own," she made this offer which genuinely took Jaime by surprise.

"You'd visit King's Landing just to see little old me along the way on your adventures...?" Jaime would tease as she returned to her shooting.

"Of course...I'll surely need somewhere to sleep on the road to Dorne and using you for a mattress is comfortable enough," she responded slyly as Jaime laughed quietly.

"Ah, so I'm to be used for my body then...?" Jaime purred as he retook his place on the stone, watching her with a smirk on his face until she chose to outdo him once again.

"Tried that already, remember? You wouldn't have me and I'm content with that...unless of course, you happen to grow a beard at some point? Then, all bets are off. You wouldn't escape me for three days, at least," she fired back these words with that same confidence that burned Jaime's skin and set his green eyes to widen...what was this feeling, he wondered? He could recall it, but it had been quite sometime since he'd last felt it...oh...

Oh, Gods...he realized...

Jaime Lannister, Slayer of Kings and Father of Bastards was flustered by her boldness as his hand came to graze across his cheek, and jaw, and chin...

Instantly left to wonder just how long growing a proper beard might take until she loosed an arrow and brought him back down to earth with the sound of wood and metal cracking through more wood...

"And what would I do for those three days? Let you have your way with me like a Wildling...? Taking advantage of my delicate Southern sensibilities...?" he offered a bit of boldness himself, making her laugh a little.

"I suppose you'll find out, if you can ever manage it," would be Litha's only reply, putting a grin on his face as he laughed. Truly, wholly laughed from the pit of his chest. Something he only seemed to find himself doing around her as of late.

A cackling that Litha echoed when she saw just how red his face was from the pressure of his laughter...