The Long Winter | Jaime Lannister X Stark OC | GOT/ASOIAF

Matters Of Honour

Jaime liked Rosennis Stark. It was unexpected, he would admit, having befriended few women outside his family before. Her oddly-proportioned face, reserved manner and borderline hostile expression did little to endear her to strangers, but when Jaime had tried to get under her skin, for his own amusement, she had proven that she had a sharp tongue to rival his own. Much to his delight. Whether intentional or not, the Stark girl was entertaining to watch. She seemed entirely unimpressed by anything and everything she came across, especially him, which in itself was a novelty.

The road to King's Landing would have been dreadfully dull without anyone interesting to talk to. He had been in a foul mood since leaving Harrenhal, feeling like as big a fool as his father claimed he was when Aerys had sent him away from the tourney. Surely the King had not appointed him to the Kingsguard just to spite Lord Tywin? Jaime refused to believe that, and chose to take Aerys' command as a test, to see if he could put his childish desires of winning the tourney aside to serve his king.

One evening as they made camp, Jaime looked up at the sound of a commotion on the other side of the fire. One of the more foolish squires was attempting to mount Lady Stark's horse; no doubt he believed her occupied elsewhere. The horse appeared little more than a sturdy northern beast at a first glance, however when Jaime had taken the chance to look it over properly, he'd seen plenty of evidence of fine breeding. The animal was powerful, more so than any ladies horse had the need to be. More spirited too. The horse instantly took off with the boy with a steely stubbornness that matched its owner, refusing to slow down despite the fact the boy was not a bad rider. Ordinarily this would have been amusing, but they had ridden past quite a steep gully, and this incident had the potential to send both horse and boy to a grisly end.

Rosennis Stark reacted quicker than anyone else. She did not hesitate before swinging herself onto Jaime's own horse - a large courser wearing no saddle - and galloped up beside the idiot squire, leaping over fallen trees and dodging through the live ones, grabbing the reins of her mare. Only then did the horse come to a halt, rather close to the rocky drop of the gully for comfort. Jaime was impressed despite himself, at both her skill at riding without a saddle as well as her nerve.

The young lady returned, leading her own horse whilst riding Jaime's, face set in cold fury. The boy walked beside her, looking like he would rather be anywhere else. It was only when she dismounted that she said a word.

"Do all boys south of the Neck have mince for brains? I cannot decide what was more stupid - stealing my horse in the first place, or being unable to ride said horse without squealing like a stuck pig and almost breaking your neck. Had you killed my horse, I'd have dragged you out of that hole to throw you back in again. If you try anything like this again, I won't be rushing to save you - I'll be shooting after you with a bloody crossbow,"

Rosennis did not raise her voice, but her barbed tongue berated the squire harshly enough for him to be close to tears, despite the fact he was only a couple of years younger than she was. Or perhaps he was just mortified at having to be rescued by a girl. The other squires found this hilarious of course, teasing him mercilessly, and even the older men had taken to mocking the boy.

"Lady Stark's given that boy the tongue-lashing his mother should've done long ago," One soldier chuckled.

"He needs to toughen up fast," Another said, scornful. "He's near crying at the words of a skinny young girl. How's he to last in battle?"

"I don't know about you, but I'd take an armed soldier over an angry woman any day," One man said, which earned a few laughs.

"That woman in particular," The first glanced over to where Rosennis was settling the horse for the night, alone aside from her guards. "I heard they make Northern women with ice in their veins,"