lover's mercy - jaime lannister

THIRTY-FIVE

          King's Landing.

            When she walked through the gates, everyone had recognized her along with Jaime. But the people gained pitiful looks and bowed their heads to her.

               Jaime was surprised the people felt anything for her. She was practically a stranger yet what happened to her family (breaking guest right) was considered the deepest of tragedies even amongst the common folk.

                   But she kept walking with her head held high. She knew exactly where to find her sister. The Godswood. She was surprised to find Jaime actually following her (along with Brienne); she figured he would've jumped at the opportunity to see Cersei already.

                  But he stayed.

                She walked through the silent place and found the bright red hair. She noticed the girl had gotten so tall. It nearly made her cry at the thought of her having to grow up in this place.

                   "Sansa..."

                  The girl turned to find her older sister. Her eyes immediately welled up with tears and they both quickly gravitated toward each other, meeting in the middle and hugging the life out of each other.

                  "I thought you were gone..." Sansa cried and Elya placed a gentle hand on the back of her head, shielding her in her embrace. "I thought everyone was gone."

                  "Everyone?" Elya asked. "Where is Arya?"

                   Sansa hiccuped as she pulled away, "She's not here. She escaped when they took Father."

                 Suddenly, they heard the marching of guards coming their way. Sansa clung to her clothes, fisting them, "No, they'll take you away from me! You can't go."

                   "Sansa, it'll be alright," she promised as guards arrived.

                 "Elyanna Stark, you've been requested to see the Hand of the King!"

                   Brienne went to draw her sword and she placed a hand on her arm, "No. Bloodshed will only make things worse."

                  "My lady..."

                  "Protect Sansa."

                    "If she's to be taken to my father, then I'll take her there myself," Jaime commanded.

                "Ser Jaime, we have strict orders to escort her..."

                  "Are you going to forbid me?" Jaime said. "I'd like to hear what my father has to say."

They looked at each other before sheathing their swords. Jaime held his arm out for her to take. She breathed out and looped her arm with his as they walked away with the guards following.

"You're in this city two seconds and the lions are already descending," he whispered.

She chuckled a bit, "Like it was going to be any different."

Her eyes started to grow sad. She didn't know if she was walking into her inevitable death. But she saw Sansa. That was enough.

_____

Elya sat in front of Tywin Lannister. His face was stone cold and gave nothing away.

"You managed to survive," he said like it displeased him.