lover's mercy - jaime lannister

SIXTEEN

Elya awoke in the morning to find herself laying on the bed. Alone. She recalled Jaime holding her until she cried herself to sleep.

              She got up carefully and pushed through the transparent curtains to the bedroom before she entered the main room. Jaime was standing at the table with his back to her. She fumbled with her hands before she approached him.

                 She stood beside him before she placed her hands on the table. He looked at her and she took a deep breath before she looked up at his green eyes, "Thank you...for last night."

              Despite everything, he held her. Despite their families being at war with each other, they both held soft spots for one another.

               He looked at her softly before he smirked slightly, "Well, it wouldn't have been noble to just leave a woman crying."

                 "And were you noble enough to not share a bed with me?" she said accusingly.

                  "It seems I could only handle so much of that trait," he said and she rolled her eyes. "Don't worry, though, I kept to my side."

                     She sighed as she looked around the table and he spoke again, "There's no more sharp things lying about...so don't get any ideas."

               "Why would I ever?" she crossed her arms as she stated sarcastically.

                     "Elya, this is for your own good," he said softly. "You can't travel alone."

                 "You can't send men to take me to Winterfell?"

                  "I wouldn't trust them."

                  "You don't trust the men following you?" she gazed at him.

                  "Not with your life," he said softly.

                    She swallowed before she looked down to see a plate of food. She snatched a piece of bacon and he frowned, "That was mine."

                 "Now it is not," she took a bite with a small smirk.

               "You couldn't wait until I had your own breakfast served for you?"

                 "No," she answered simply and he shook his head.

                "Listen...you're not going to like it but it needs to be done," he said as he held up a small piece of rope in his hand.

                She immediately knew what he intended to do and she glared at him, "No."

                   "I'm just tying your hands. I can't have one of my men looking in to find a prisoner is unbound," he argued.

                  She huffed before she held up her hands. He started to tie them gently; it'd probably be so loose that she could slip out of it.

                "Why we're on the subject of being a prisoner, you don't have any more daggers in that dress, do you?" he asked teasingly. "Or do I need to check?"

                 "No," she gave him a look. "But if you check, I will somehow find one."

                 He chuckled as he finished tying her hands. Then he reached up and pulled a leaf out of her hair, "You're a bit unkept, my lady."

                 "I wonder why," she said dryly.

               "I'll have a bath drawn for you while I'm gone," he said and she furrowed her eyebrows as she thought about where he was going.

                "We are at war, Elya," he saw her confusion.

                 It was like she had forgotten for a moment and then remembered. It was partly true. Being in his presence intoxicated her with teasing and smiles.

_____

A bath had been drawn for her like Jaime had said. Her hands were unbound while she bathed. He had somehow found a handmaiden although with the way she was dressed, she guessed that he had found a whore instead.

"You really are pretty," Myla, she learned, said. "Everyone in the camp is talking about you."

Myla scrubbed her back, "And the golden lion is head over heels for you. Do whatever she wants or needs, he said."

"He's not in love with me," Elya denied. "We're just...familiar."

She hummed and smirked, "Familiar. I see."

"Why do you say it like that?" Elya asked in confusion.

"You have lain with the golden lion, have you not?" she asked quietly.

Elya practically choked and she said firmly, "I have not and I will not."

Myla hummed as she said dreamily, "He is so handsome, though. I suppose it's both our losses then, m'lady."

"Not a loss of mine."

_____

Myla left at night when Jaime returned. He undid her bindings (just for the night) and she crossed her arms, "Could you have found a handmaiden anymore in love with you?"

"What? Did you two discuss me?" he smirked widely. "Please, tell me what I missed."

"Only that she would enjoy your company," she informed as she moved into the bedroom.

"And you wouldn't?" Jaime asked as plopped down on the bed, sitting up against the headboard.

She rolled her eyes and gave him a slight glare, "Not like that."

He chuckled as she sat down on the edge of the bed with her legs laying sidesaddle. She looked down at her unbound hands.

"Aren't you worried?" she asked as she tugged on her dress. "I could run."

"You could," he pointed out. "Maybe you'd even escape. But you would go out there with soldiers who haven't felt a woman in weeks. What do you think they'll do to you?"

"So this is you protecting me...while you keep me in here?" she said as she thought about the rumors. "People will talk."

"You've probably ruined my reputation already," she stated as she tugged on her dress again; it was too tight.

He sat up and pulled on the lace in the back, undoing it. She looked behind her at him while he retied it, not making it so tight.

"Maybe it is. But I would never touch you," his eyes pierced hers.

"Says the man who just did," she smirked slightly.

"You know what I mean."

"I know," she said and it was silent for a moment before she said quietly. "Everyone talks about how you're supposed to be this man without honor...but you are honorable, Jaime."

"Elya..." he shook his head as he spoke her name softly and he reached out slowly like he thought she'd reject his touch before his fingers delicately caressed her cheek like she was the most valuable thing in the world. "My honor is unrepairable...but I'll protect yours."

Their eyes pierced each other like their eyes could never help but be consumed by the other. She turned and she leaned towards him, making him think she was going to kiss him, but instead she kissed his cheek. Then she placed a hand on his cheek as she smiled slightly, "Stay this Jaime."

Then her touch was gone and he swallowed. Gods help him for he would try.