The Long Winter | Jaime Lannister X Stark OC | GOT/ASOIAF

Dead Men In The Night

Catelyn refused to come to dinner that night, as Jaime was present. Whether that was out of dislike, or a reluctance for a former enemy to see what she had become, no one had tried to persuade her otherwise. The remainder of the family - Sansa, Arya, Rickon, Edrick, Aileen, Morganna and Ren - were all in attendance, however, most of them no doubt ready to be as unwelcoming as possible.

Though before the food was even served, Jaime did perhaps the one thing he could to endear himself to - or at least be slightly less hated by - the Stark children.

"It was always part of the treaty to return this," He addressed them all, ignoring the stony faces. "Loreon had to pry this from my father's cold hands and stop him melting it down into two Valyrian steel swords, so I hope you're grateful for his efforts,"

One of his men stepped forward with a long item covered in sackcloth, offering it to the group in general.

Arya, of all of them, stepped forward warily and pulled the heavy cloth away. There was a collective intake of breath from the table, and a murmur grew in the hall as everyone realised what Jaime had brought them.

"Ice," The girl breathed, impressed despite herself.

"Father's sword," Sansa was murmuring to Rickon, not taking her eyes of the Valyrian steel greatsword.

"Rickon's sword, now," Ross said.

The boy had been looking keenly at the sheathed sword and turned to her with wide eyes. "Really? It's bigger than I am! It's bigger than Arya,"

"You'll have it when you're older," She told him. "For now, would you mind if Ren took care of it?"

Whether her son used it in battle as Ned had done or not - he preferred a longsword to a greatsword - they would need someone to wield it for executions and important occasions.

Rickon shook his head; he didn't mind. After that, he was much less likely to copy his siblings' glares at Jaime throughout dinner - and they were much less likely to give them - and Ross saw sneaking curious glances at the knight every now and again.

The rest of the meal was surprisingly... not hostile, if not quite friendly and civil. Obviously Jaime's antics earlier had left no doubt as to where he and Ross stood, and though benches were alive with rumours, few reached the high table.

"So has your sister always been such a vile cow?" Morganna asked Jaime conversationally as the stew was served. "Or was it just me and Sansa who were lucky enough to see that side of her in King's Landing?"

Edrick choked on his mouthful, starting to laugh, as most of the others grinned. Even Sansa's lips twitched, though she cared little for the open impropriety. To everyone's surprise but Ross and Ren's, Jaime laughed too.

"Tyrion and Giana would agree with you," He said. "I would say she's been awful since she married Robert, but will admit they're probably more right than I am," He turned to Ross. "I don't know how or why you ever willingly spent time with her,"

The dislike colouring his tone at even the mention of his sister gave her a vicious satisfaction.

"She was always hateful, but entertaining," Ross said. "Different though you might be, the four of you all have a particular way of speaking, and an ingrained superiority complex from being raised by Tywin Lannister, that never fails to be amusing. Besides, it was better to be Cersei's friend than Cersei's enemy,"

"Ingrained superiority complex?" Jaime sounded out the phrase, grinning. "You cut me to the core, Lady Stark,"

"What else do you call having three children with the female version of yourself?"