Not Just a Kingslayer

Chapter 28

Jaime smiled as he walked towards the training yard. He wanted to surprise Brienne and Daena while they were practicing, as he'd been busy for the last several weeks dealing with the deaths of his children and helping Cersei. That's probably not the right way to put it, he thought. It should sound more emotional. But it's not my fault I could never love my children as well as I should've been able to. I'll just have to love this new one more to make up for it. Suddenly he snapped out of his reverie. Why was it silent? Daena had told him she and Brienne would be here. That's strange. I suppose they could've left already.

He reached the training yard and stepped into it. Nobody was there. He looked around, confused. And then he saw a flash of red on the wall in the sunlight. He sucked in his breath sharply. Jaime had seen that enough times to know what it was. Blood. He looked down and his jaw went slack in shock and then horror. Daena lay on the ground, spots of blood leading from her to Brienne, and then even further to Jaime himself. By his foot lay a severed hand. He resisted the urge to gag, instead running to Daena.

He pulled her up in his arms, cradling her head in his hand. He found her arm, lifting it. Blood dripped onto his white clothes. He remember a morning, what seemed like years ago. "Let me help you fasten your cloak, it looks so pure, it makes me want to touch it."

A tear rolled down his face. "This cloak was never pure, my love, not from the day I put it on." He rubbed a thumb across her cheek and kissed her forehead that was already turning cold, leaning her against he wall so it almost looked like she was simply daydreaming. Almost, but not quite.

He walked slowly towards Brienne, his gaze on her outstretched arm. "Thank you," he whispered. "I knew you'd do all you could." And then, quieter,"I'm sorry." He could've sworn he saw a tear roll down her cheek.

He carried her over and leant her against the wall beside Daena, adrenaline making her weight seem as little as that of a doll. He kissed both of their foreheads once more, tears rolling faster down his cheeks now, and turned back towards the keep.

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Cersei merely looked up this time when she heard her door slam. She was becoming more used to it. She saw her twin, his cloak spattered with blood. One look at him and she knew what had happened. She smiled sadly. She hardly even had to try to look sad; when Jaime was sad, it hurt her too. But this time it would be worth it. Still, it hurt to cause him pain.

They stood gazing into one another's eyes for a long moment. Two pairs of green eyes for two golden twins. Jaime made a sudden move and closed the distance, encasing her throat in his hands, one flesh and one gold. "Why, Cersei? Why?" He shook her, and sparks shuddered up her spine. She tried to gasp in air, but there was only a small place through which to do so. It will not be so, she thought. He is not the valonqar.

"I only have you left." It came out as a whisper.

"You are a hateful woman." Tears were streaming down his face. "Why have the gods made me love a hateful woman?" He slammed her into the wall and darkness entered the edges of her vision.

Her eyes widened. "It was her," she gasped out. "Another...younger...and more beautiful...to take all that you hold dear...it was Daena."

"Don't you dare say her name!" he shouted. He tightened his hands around her throat, tighter and tighter and tighter, until she slumped in his arms and the light went out of her eyes.

And then he took his sword from its scabbard. And he shoved it through his heart.

They died together as they had been born together; Cersei first and Jaime second.