lover's mercy - jaime lannister

TWENTY-NINE

Harrenhal.

            It was a great big monstrosity half in ruin. It was where the Lannisters had made camp but were now gone; they'd taken off to King's Landing to stop the attack from Stannis.

             But as they arrived at the ghostly castle, they saw there were bodies everywhere. The Lannisters had killed all of the prisoners. It was unjust.

              Elya looked around at all the bodies in horror. Steffon placed a gentle hand on the small of her back and she gave him a short smile to let him know she was fine.

                "200 Northmen slaughtered like sheep," Smalljon Umber uttered angrily from his place close to her; he had become her personal guard.

                   His anger started her own and she gained a stormy look as she promised, "And the Lannisters aren't the only ones who pay their debts."

                  Many lords heard her promise and looked on at their queen proudly. Aye was heard in a boisterous affair.

Karstark was the loudest which she thought was ironic; it was only after taking the hand of the Kingslayer that he became one of her biggest supporters. (And he still carried the hand around and made sure for it to be known that it was taken from the Kingslayer).

                Although, she was fine with the bodies now, it appeared her mother was not. Her mother was even more horrified though. Her face was as white as a sheet. She went over to one of the dead men and said sadly, "Ser Jeremy. One of my father's bannermen."

               Elya went over to her and wrapped an arm around her, "Come on, Mother. You've seen enough."

               Cat allowed herself to be taken away from the horror. They find a suitable room in the castle and had her mother sit down.

               "So much carnage in war," Cat muttered. "I hope to see the end of it."

               "We will."

                Catelyn looked up at her daughter and formed a small smile, "The great lords of the North all revere you."

                  Elya shook her head, "Only because I'm beautiful and I say the right thing."

                "No, it's because you're strong and fair, my sweet girl," Cat shook her head as she argued.

                 Elya blinked back tears, "Was I fair to suggest taking his hand?"

                  Cat raised her eyebrows as she analyzed her daughter, "It bothers you to have hurt him."

                "Of course it bothers me,"Elya proclaimed loudly.

                 Cat sighed, "He crippled your brother..."

               "I know," Elya snapped. "But that doesn't mean I enjoy causing someone pain. And..."

                  "And what?"

                 Elya thought about when Jaime had kissed her. The way her lips felt electric and on fire. She shook her head, "Nothing."

                    Cat let the topic go before moving to a new one, "And how is Steffon? You seem...quite lovely together."

                  "We're...affectionate," Elya attempted to explain before her pale cheeks went red as she thought about their activities that felt rather good.

                 "Do you...love him at all?" Cat interrogated.

                "Mother!" Elya scolded. "Robb is the one with the love affair. Not me."

                "I just want to make sure you're happy," Cat said. "I know things didn't go as intended...but when I'm cold and in the grave, I want to know that my sweet girl is content with her life."

               "I will be," Elya promised. "When the war is over."

                _____

               Elya had Jaime brought to Qyburn, a maester. She wanted the infection removed from the stump of his lost hand.

"Can you stop the infection?" she asked worriedly.

"I can take away the rotting flesh and try to burn out the corruption with boiling wine. With any luck, that will suffice," Qyburn said. "He'll need milk of the poppy."

"No milk of the poppy," Jaime refused.

"There will be pain," Qyburn stated in confusion.

"I'll scream."

"Quite a bit of pain."

"I'll scream loudly."

"Jaime, don't be a fool. Take the milk of the poppy," she pleaded. "Please."

Jaime gazed at her and her worried grey-blue eyes. Those pretty eyes. But it wasn't worry, though, was it? No, it was guilt. That was the only reason she was here; to remove herself from the guilt she felt.

"Do you see how she is?" Jaime mocked. "My fair lady."

Elya looked away from his taunting. But Jaime grabbed the milk of the poppy with the short reach of his chained hand and downed the bottle.

Elya looked back in surprise that he had taken it. Jaime gave her short glare; he hated how he felt so chained to her every feeling even something mistaken as worry.

Then Jaime looked at Qyburn, "Proceed."

And even though he took it, he did scream and loudly.

____

Once Qyburn was finished, she relieved him of his duties. She took over wrapping his stump of a hand in clean cloth.

"I thought you'd like to know," Elya spoke without looking at him; she didn't want to see the relief on his face. "Stannis attacked King's Landing but everyone is fine...even Cersei."

Jaime analyzed her and those kind eyes. The milk of the poppy made his brain a bit hazed as he wasn't even thinking of Cersei. He was staring at those red lips and how he wanted to kiss them, taste them...but then he thought of the man who was allowed to kiss them whenever he felt like it.

"How is your husband Lord Steffon?" he asked. His heart ached at the thought. Her marriage made her untouchable. He could never kiss her again or even try. He would never dishonor her like that.

She furrowed her eyebrows as she looked at him suspiciously, "Fine."

"So you keep his bed warm at night?" he asked bitterly and she tied his bandages tightly, making him wince.

"I certainly don't keep yours warm," she cut back at him and Jaime clenched his jaw.

It was silent for a moment and Elya got up to have him taken back to his cell. He gazed up at her, "Does he make you happy?"

"He's my husband."

"That wasn't what I asked."

"But that's my answer."

"In another life, I would've made you happy," he vowed. The thought gave him peace.

"In another life, you would be with your sister," she argued and called. "Guards!"

And he was taken away and put back in his cell. But it was clear they were both jealous when they had no reason to be. Jaime didn't want Cersei and Elya didn't want Steffon. Yet they could not be together. Another life, indeed.

AN: we really don't have that long until a certain wedding and I don't think I'm ready