Kingslayer

Negotiations

The brothers had eventually fallen asleep. It was freezing in Tyrion's eyes, but if Jaime had been dealing with this for as long as he had been, then Tyrion could live with it for one night. Jaime was so strong. So brave. They spoke about anything but Jaime's imprisonment under the Starks. They laughed. Jaime emptily, but he tried and Tyrion was grateful. It got later and later and the sky and darker and soon both brothers succumbed to sleep.

Tyrion woke up first when the sky started to go light. He sighed heavily. Today was negotiation day. He glanced over at his brother, still asleep. Bruised and battered. He knew what he would say to Cersei and his father on his return to King's Landing. They would demand to know straight away about Jaime. He'd have to tell them the truth about how he was being treated. They would not look forward to hearing the answer. But they weren't also going to like it if Tyrion sugarcoated it. They, Tywin especially, could deal with what state his oldest son was in. The truth was the best.

Jaime woke up just as guards were unlocking the cell. One of them cocked his head at Tyrion, telling him to come. Jaime started panicking. His brother was already going. It was too soon. He would become ill again. He would die.
"Tyrion, don't leave me."
"I'm going to talk to Stark. Won't be long Jaime. I'll come back before I go." The door shut. Jaime's heart dropped. Jaime watched his younger brother walk through the camp, wishing to all the Gods he could get rid of the chains and the guards and follow him. But he was stuck in the cold and the mud.

Tyrion met Robb in his tent. A table had been set up. Robb sat one side and Tyrion the other. The King in the North began the conversation.
"So you've seen your brother. Satisfied now? Can we begin discussions?"
"No, I'm not happy with the way he's been treated. He looks terrible. He told me he almost died. At least we have your sister in suitable conditions."
"Sister? Not plural?" Tyrion wanted negotiations to be open. Nothing could go wrong. Not with his brother's life on the line. He sighed.
"We have Sansa. Arya on the other hand, she dissapeared after my nephew had Ned Stark's head removed." Robb whistled. Trust the Lannisters.
"So where is she?"
"I have no idea. We've had riders and scouts out after her. We've looked everywhere. There's been no sign of her. I'm sorry."
Robb was angry. Extremely angry. This changed the situation.
"If you think we're exchanging the Kingslayer for only one of my sisters you're a fool."
"Thought you might say that. We'd also be willing to give you a number of your soldiers we have taken prisoner. We only ask for Jaime. Oh and our medic. We ask for Kyra back." If Tyrion was able to secure the release of the girl, he thought maybe Jaime wouldn't feel as bad about what happened. Jaime might be more co-operative with life in the Stark camp too.
"Look, Lannister, I just want this whole thing to be over quickly. I just want my family back. If you haven't got Arya, there's nothing I can do about that. I'll keep searching. She isn't dead. I would know. She's alive. And I'll find her. So let's continue with Arya off the table. How many of our soldiers do you currently hold prisoner?"
"Over two hundred."
"We'd ask for half of that."
"Too much." Stark was being unreasonable.
"Then the deal is off. One hundred soldiers."
"Seventy five," Tyrion suggested. Robb thought. Compromise. Once the war was over, everyone would be returned anyway. Robb had loyal, devout followers. But not as many of them as he would like. He was running thin on the ground with his forces. If he didn't agree, he would lose them all.
"Fine. But you're not getting the girl. She works for me now. But I suppose we should let her make her own decision. She has a family. And family is who we all fight for. Get Kyra," he told one of the guards and soon the girl was in the tent with them.
"L-Lord Tyrion," she whispered surprisingly.
"Kyra," Robb said and she turned her attention to him. "I want you to tell Tyrion and I which camp you'd prefer to work in. There's the option for you to stay or to go home. If you'd rather do the latter, you won't be punished for it." Kyra looked from one man to the other. Go home? Did she really want to?
"Erm..."
"Kyra, neither of us will mind what you say," Tyrion said.
"I'm sorry Lord Tyrion but I would prefer working for King Robb." She couldn't go Homs. No way. Tyrion sighed.
"Thank you Kyra. I need you to check on Jaime. Take as many guards as you need. Go in and go out. You'll be OK." Kyra gulped and nodded. Robb turned back to Tyrion.
"You care about her," Tyrion quipped to Robb.
"I've grown to yes. And I want her to feel safe. Tell your brother to not get others involved in his crazy plans. If she'd agreed and that had gone badly she would have been in trouble for no reason. As would he. Meaning you probably wouldn't get him back. Remember I'm being lenient Lannister. A few weeks ago there was no way you'd get the Kingslayer back. But this has gone on too long. We both want our families back and if this is the only way, so be it."
"I'll take note."
A few hours later and they were still talking.
"I'll make the date and time. I'll send a raven. You do depart today?"
"I won't make it back to the Inn before night so no. I'm not camping out in the open."
"OK. Fine. You can spend one more night with Jaime."

Jaime's cell door opened. He looked up to see who is was and when he saw it was Kyra, he bowed his head again. No point in getting his hopes up. She had four guards with her who formed a circle around thier prisoner. Kyra knelt down before Jaime.
"I'm sorry," Jaime said. "I'm so sorry." Kyra dipped her head and nodded slightly. One of the guards slapped him harshly on the face.
"Shut it. You don't speak unless she asks you a question."
"Does your head hurt?" Kyra asked.
"Yeah it's pounding."
"Do you feel hot or cold at all?"
"Hotter yeah." Kyra turned to the guards.
"He's getting ill again. I'm going to treat him before it can get to the stage it was at last time. Take him to the tent. Tell King Robb that's where he is." She got hesitant looks.
"His brother's in camp. If he falls ill and Lord Tyrion is still here, he won't leave. He'll force Robb to give Jaime up. Do it. That's an order." Three guards took Jaime whilst the fourth went to Robb's tent.
"The Kingslayer's back with the medic. They're in his old tent." Robb rolled his eyes. He looked at Tyrion. The Kingslayer was good at getting his own way.
"Come on. If you're spending the night you can do it with him there." They headed to Jaime's tent. One of his wrists was chained to one of the posts, meaning for once he had a free hand. Kyra was beside him.
"Jaime?" Tyrion asked.
"He's fine," Kyra said. "He took a turn. Nowhere near last time. He'll be fine by tomorrow." Tyrion smiled at the girl.
"Thank you," Tyrion said to her. She and Robb left and the guards took up position outside. Jaime beckoned Tyrion over to him and wrapped his free hand round his brother. Having him this close made Jaime feel a whole lot better, even if it was just for a little while.
"So what's happening? What was the result of your talks with Robb Stark?"
"You're to be exchanged for Sansa and a number of thier soldiers. Jaime, I tried to get Kyra too but Robb got her in and asked her where she wanted to go and she wanted to stay here. I'm sorry. I tried."
"That's good to know all I'm worth is a girl and some fighting men."
"Stop it Jaime."
"Stop what?"
"Putting yourself down. Soon you'll be back with your family, soon you'll be back in safety."
"It might be too late."
"Stark won't let you die. If he does he's dead. And he knows that."
"Hmm." Tyrion stopped talking. There were times when his older brother would put himself down and be very pessimistic about everything. Tyrion had discovered the best way of dealing with it was to let Jaime have some silence. Jaime had learned through serving the Mad King Aerys to build up walls, to put on a pretence and only Tyrion got to see the real him. This was why Tyrion was so surprised when Jaime had pleaded with Kyra because under normal circumstances that would not happen. His brother must have been desperate.