Game of Thrones: Imagines and one shots. Book four

Praying to the Stranger - Jaime x Reader

(Y/n) looked out over Winterfell, the night air already thick with anticipation, and the mutterings of all those that could also not sleep. She should be resting, she had rested before battle on previous occasions. When she fought side by side with her twin brother, sleep had never evaded her. But Robb, the brother she had been with since the womb, was no longer by her side, and perhaps that was why she could not close her eyes; the security of knowing that when she rose, she would see her beloved brother smiling at her.......gone. (Y/n) quickly brushing away a tear that trickled down her cheek. Now was not the time to for tears, it was not the time to grieve for those that she had lost. She had to be strong; the Stark bannermen would be looking to her for the leadership that they had grown used to during the War of the Five Kings. To the power, ferocity, cunning, and bravery that the she-wolf had shown during the battles of the Whispering Wood, the Camps, and Oxcross, among others. John already proclaiming her as the Lady of Winterfell, the northern lords agreeing that it was only proper that as eldest surviving child of Ned Stark, she should take her rightful place. A silly thing to do she would say, if Jon had bothered to ask her instead of just rushing in; there was no guarantee that by the next night, the great ancient castle of the north, would still be standing; let alone that she would find herself still breathing. A little part of her wondering what her father would say to her now. What Robb would say.

"Stranger..........." Her voice barely above a whisper as she spoke into the darkness of the night.

"Hear my prayer.........." A sudden cold gust of wind seeming to surround her, and chill her to the bone, despite the heavy cloak that covered her leather armour. It telling her that he was there......that he was listening.

"I do not fear you......I do not fear my own demise. You and I are already far too well acquainted, for such foolish things. I have looked you in the eye, more times than I care to mention; we have danced the dance, and soon enough, you will finally take me by the hand. And if that time is the coming battle.....then so be it. All I ask is at the end, you make my death a worthy one. Do not let me die a coward's death; let me die with defiance, with a fire, with passion. Do not let me pass with a whimper, but a shout, a scream, a call to never surrender. This is all I ask of you Stranger. And if not; if you are not willing to heed my plea...........then it is you that will learn to fear me.........

"Threatening death now, are we Lady Stark.........?" A voice came, causing (Y/n) to shake her head.

"You should be used to it. I threatened you countless times, Ser Jamie. I am just hoping that the Stranger is a better listener than you were. And not quite so slippery........."

"Is that what you think I was......slippery.........?" (Y/n) letting out a heavy sigh, as she felt the lion come and join her.

"Lucky.....that's what you were. You were lucky that my sisters were in King Landing and could be bartered for your return. For if they had not been, I would have fought until we had destroyed your family name; I would have forced Tywin, your sister, to crawl on their hands and knees, to slither on their bellies before Robb and I; and when they were in our hands, I would have made them watch as you paid for the death of my father. A missing hand, the least of your worries.........."

"Still such fire; such passion. That is what has always made you truly beautiful, (Y/n). Even when you were sneering at me, cursing me, I knew you would make a better queen than your brother would a king. A queen of the north that I could follow........." Jaime retorted, as he carefully took her chin in the palm of his hand, and turned her to look at him.

"A pretty notion, Ser Jaime. But we both know that there is only one queen that you will ever follow. Even if you have left her in Kings Landing........"

"I could have loved you in a different world; I would have loved you. I would have followed you to the furthest known reaches of the map and protected you with my life. I would have done all I could to make you happy, to see you smile......"

"And in that different world, I would have loved you too, Jaime. I would have cared nothing for names, for Houses, for our differences. I would not have needed titles or great castles; all I would have needed was you. But this is not a different world; and no matter how much I once might have hoped for something more, Cersei is the only woman that will ever have your heart. So, perhaps it is not just I that should be praying to the Stranger; perhaps you should hope that he is benevolent enough not to take you, before you are with her once more. The pair of you leaving this world as you came into it.......together........." (Y/n) slowly reaching up and placing her hand on his cheek. She and Jaime standing there for a few moments longer; the two imaging what could have been, the life they could have had together, until the Lady of Winterfell placed a soft kiss to his lips.

"I will see you after the battle, Ser Jaime........and if not......then this is goodbye......." A small smile pulling at her lips, before she turned, leaving Jaime and the Stranger to watch her walk into the night.