lover's mercy - jaime lannister

FOURTEEN

             Before they headed out in the morning, she talked with her knight, Ser Geremy.

             "Where is your closest relative?" he asked.

                She petted her horse, Baela. Thank god she still had Baela. She thought for a moment about who was closest. "Riverrun. My grandfather is there. Lord Hoster Tully."

                "Then we'll go there," he said as she got on Baela. "Gain more companions for our journey in case we run into trouble...as I'm sure we will. You're probably the most wanted person in Westeros."

                 She smiled apologetically, "Sorry."

                "Why are you apologizing?" he asked.

                 "I don't mean to make your life so difficult," she looked down. "Especially, with your little brother."

              "Life is difficult because the world is cruel," he said. "You did not make the world that way. And Elden needs to learn these things."

                   She looked at the boy who was saddling his horse. He reminded her of Bran who wanted to be a brave knight and he was always very happy.

                 She sighed and nodded. Soon enough, they were on their way. After hours, the two brothers both complained about their legs hurting from riding so long which made her smile a bit; she had no such difficulty.

                 Everything was so peaceful along the river. It seemed like perhaps they were in the clear but they were headed to Riverrun and they did not know that it was trenched in war.

                 _____

              They camped at night.

              Elden had fallen right asleep. She and Geremy sat next to each other by the fire.

                She looked softly at the boy as she commented, "Are you his only caretaker?"

                 Geremy nodded.

                  "Our mother died birthing him," he said solemnly. "And our father died in the Greyjoy Rebellion years ago."

                   Theon Greyjoy. Robb. Winterfell. Home. Her eyes teared up before she sniffled.

               No. She wouldn't cry. She'd be strong. She'd go home and all of this would be resolved. Everything would become one distant dream.

                _____

                      The next evening, Elden was practicing swinging his sword. He moved so gracefully like somehow when he held a sword, he wasn't a boy but a man.

                    "Do you intend to practice all night?" she teased.

                    "I need the practice if I'm going to be a knight," he said before he smiled. "Plus, I'm going to slay all your enemies. You'll see."

                    Geremy shook his head, "Can you slay an army? No."

                  "It'd be quite the tale, though," the boy said hopefully. "Elden the Army Slayer..."

                 Elya couldn't help but smile as he went back to practicing the swing of his sword. She looked at Geremy, "He is really good. At least, he seems so."

              "I taught him everything...with a couple lessons from Ser Barristan," Geremy said.

             "He's lucky then."

              "Extremely."

              "He wants to be a knight," Geremy stated. "But I keep telling him, not to be a great knight, but a good man."

                "From the stories, you'd think those would go hand in hand with each other," Elya said.

                       But being a great knight usually just meant one was exceptional at killing people; it didn't really prove the worth of a person. There were exceptions but otherwise great knights could be the most vile of men.

                  "One would think," he agreed.

                 "With you to guide him, though, your brother will be the most exemplary," she gave a reassuring smile.

                   "I hope."

                   _____

The next day, Elden rode up next to her. He stared at her for a moment before he asked, "In a few years, would you think of me?"

"Elden!" Geremy scolded.

"What?" Elden said. "She's the most beautiful woman in the Seven Kingdoms. Of course I'm taking a chance."

"You don't have a chance," Geremy deadpanned.

She chuckled before she composed herself, "I am betrothed, Elden."

He frowned for a moment before he smiled hopefully, "We could run away..."

"Elden!"

And she genuinely laughed.

The two of them kept her from being too sad and worried on their little journey. She just didn't know how short it would be.

AN: this is really short but I wanted to give the next chapter some breathing room. Jaime will be back in the next chapter