Trouble // Loras Tyrell / Renly Baratheon / Rieka Stark

25. Mother of Madness

"There she is." Brienne remarked looking at Sansa and RIeka on the shores.

"Yes, there she is." Jaime agreed.

"And? You made a promise." Brienne remarked.

"To return the Stark girls to their mother who is now dead." Jaime agreed.

" To keep them safe." Brienne corrected.

" Well, Arya Stark hasn't been seen since her father was killed. Where do you think she is? My money's on dead. There's a certain safety in death, wouldn't you say? And Sansa Stark is now Sansa Lannister. Bit of a complication." Jaime corrected. "And Rieka," he chuckled. "Angered my father so much i'm sure he is debating having Loras murdered just so he can claim the north for himself. He's not letting her go." 

"A complication does not release you from a vow." Brienne altered.

"What do you want me to do? Kidnap my sister-in-law? And take her where? Where would she be safer than here?" Jaime pondered. "Rieka also doesnt need protecting."

"She's pregnant, she needs saving more than ever." Brienne corrected. "You honestly think either of them are safe here?"

"Loras is her husband, I'm not taking her from her husband, ask loras to steal her away." Jaime suggested. 

"Do you think it will be painful? Sansa questioned. 

"Yes." Rieka agreed. 

"When do you think you are due?" Sansa whispered. "If you have a girl will you name her after mother?"

"Gods no." Rieka countered. Sansa's face fell. "I didnt have the same relationship that you two did." RIeka added gently. 

"Right." Sansa agreed. 

"I hadnt really thought of names, maybe you could help me." 

"I would like that." 

"I was thinking... well maybe for a boy..." Rieka smiled at the thought. "Maybe Renly after my friend husband."

"I dont think the king would like it." 

"Renly Robb Tyrell." Rieka tested it out. "The king not liking it will make me love the choice even more." Rieka warned as a knight came stumbling up to them. 

"It's all right. It's all right. It's all right." Ser dontos said stumbling up to Sansa and RIeka.

" You're drunk."

"Yes. I have good reason to be. Once I was a knight. Now I'm only a fool. Don't you know me?" Ser Dontos questioned.

"Ser Dontos. The king's nameday celebration. I'm sorry. I should have remembered." Sansa agreed. 

"You were drunk then to." Rieka supposed looking to sansa.  

"I can't accept your apology. I may be a fool, but I'm a living fool, thanks to you." He countered.

"Anyone would have done the same." Sansa offered. RIeka lowered her defenses seeing the man was no threat, she didnt know what she was going to do, she didnt have a weapon on her, she could belly bounce him away from sansa but him being so drunk she was sure a shove and the wind blowing in the right direction would be enough to knock him over if need be. 

" But only you did. I can never repay you. You gave me my life. But this, this is worth more than my life." He held out a necklace with blue stones, she looked at her carefully. " It belonged to my mother and her mother before her. House Hollard was strong once. House on the rise. That's all that's left of those days, thanks to a few sad, fat drunks like me."

"I can't take it. It's very, very kind of you, but I can't." Sansa countered.

"I don't have anything else left. That's all. Take it. Wear it. Let my name have one more moment in the sun before it disappears from the world." Dontos countered.

"I'll wear it with pride, Ser Dontos."

"Okay, lets go, you- ser- sober up please." Rieka suggested leading sansa away. 

"Rieka be nice." 

"I have to pee and i'm not leaving you alone with him." Rieka challenged. 

"You're not eating. Why is no one eating? My wife wastes away and my brother starves himself." Tyrion remarked. "Rieka is the only one eating these days and i heard requesting the most strange pregnancy cravings, pickles and nut butter. Can you imagine?" 

"I'm not hungry." Jaime answered gruffly.

"You lost a hand, not a stomach. Try the boar. Cersei can't get enough of it since one killed Robert for her." Tyrion laughed out, raising his cup.

"A toast. To the proud Lannister children. The dwarf, the cripple, and the mother of madness."