lover's mercy - jaime lannister

THIRTY-SEVEN

Elya sought out Jaime.

It was later in the day and he hadn't come to visit yet. She found herself searching for his green eyes.

She found him in the Kingsguard room staring over the Book of Brothers. She called out, "The Lord Commander of the Kingsguard...."

He looked up at the sound of her sweet voice as she entered. She mulled over the title in her thoughts as she smiled slightly, "It suits you."

"What are you doing here?" he asked in surprise.

"I feel...I've been unfair," she came to stand next to him at the round table as she looked at him softly. "I've been leaving you to ask how I'm doing without doing the same in return."

"You were wondering how I was doing?" he smiled and he swore his heart jumped.

"Of course I was," she said. "I don't have to worry about an infected hand anymore but...I know life is more difficult for you."

"I'm not my swordhand, remember?" he remarked.

She looked up at him softly as she asked, "Do you really believe that?"

"You do," he said it like it was the only thing that mattered before he noticed the darkness under her eyes was barely there. "You look better."

She smiled slightly, "I actually slept without any nightmares."

She didn't mention that she fell asleep dreaming of his eyes. Those beautiful green eyes that made her feel safe and immediately brought a smile to her face at just seeing them.

"What did you dream about then?" he asked.

"What did you dream about?" she threw back. She gave him a look; dreams were personal.

"If I told you I dreamt about you, would that make you swoon?" he smirked.

She giggled a bit and shook her head, "No."

He hummed as he stared at her before he sighed, "I actually have something to give you."

She furrowed her eyebrows as Jaime unhooked the sword in its sheath from his waist. He placed it on the table.

"It was made from your father's sword," he explained. "It belongs to you."

She ran her fingers over the sheath before she pushed it towards him, "Keep it."

"You'll have far more use for it than I would," she said before smiling softly. "Plus, you'll need it to be a brave, heroic knight."

"And who would I save as this brave, heroic knight?" he teased.

"I don't know. Perhaps some beautiful maiden you want to make swoon," she suggested before kissing his cheek gently. "But you already saved me."

She wanted to live and she realized it wasn't really for him but because of him. He made her realize that there weren't always tragedies. She could still smile; she could still laugh. He instilled in her the desire to live for herself to find out where the journey of life would take her.

They stared at each other and he wanted to kiss her. But then she smiled and moved away from him as she went to leave, "Tomorrow, Jaime."