Running

Chapter Four

Jaime dressed and went down into the crowded room of the inn below where he broke his fast. He saw one man in particular eyeing him but thought nothing of it. Of course he was going to get looks. He clearly wasn't from around here. He wasn't sure what he was going to do. Walk. Find work. The cut in his face was healed. Hopefully it would divert attention. For the people who still thought Jaime Lannister had two working hands, there was no way he would have let himself get scarred.
Jaime left the inn. It was a bitterly cold morning. Or it may not have been for the people of the North, but he was a man used to heat, warmth. But the North was where he was now. So the North was what he had to get used to. He was only a short distance from the inn when he was stopped.
"Excuse me, Ser," Jaime heard from behind. He squeezed his eyes shut.
I've been caught, he thought to himself. He turned round to the man who had addressed him.
"Can I help you?" Jaime asked politely.
"You don't sound as though you're from around here."
"I've been here a few weeks now."
"You seem to look like you know what you're doing."
"Hardly. I'm looking for somewhere to work."
"I- I could offer you some," the man stammered. "My name is Arthur. I live at a farm nearby. I could offer you work for a place to sleep and food on your table. It's only my daughter and I who live there. Having someone like you there for protection would put our minds at ease. Of course I would pay, but only a small sum. You are a knight, aren't you?"
"Yes. I would happily accept your offer," Jaime replied. "Thank you."
"Might I ask what your name is?"
"Darion." Jaime, who had taken all his belongings with him from the inn, followed the man. He seemed genuine enough, this Arthur, and was willing to help Jaime if Jaime helped him. Fair enough, Jaime thought. This man had no clue who he was inviting back.

Once they'd got back to his farm, Arthur got a fire going and poured wine for both Jaime and himself.
"So what brings you up to the North from down South?"
"Needed a change."
"As do we all sometimes." Jaime nodded in agreement. Another person had joined them. Arthur turned round.
"Ah. Darion, please meet my daughter Elena." Elena smiled shyly at Jaime who rose up from the table and kissed her hand.
"A pleasure."
"Who are you?" The girl asked.
"This is Darion," her father replied before Jaime could get a word in. "He's a knight and he's going to be staying with us." Jaime smiled at her.
"Oh," she said. She must have been about ten or eleven years old.
"El, why don't you get on with your chores?" Elena left the room. Arthur turned back round.
"You know, I heard that Jaime Lannister is on the run."
News travels fast, Jaime thought sullenly.
"The King in the North and the new Queen have a price on his head," Arthur continued. They did, did they?
"What is the price?"
"Five hundred gold dragons and a position in the royal court."
"Well, good luck to the bastard." Jaime had to bite back a laugh when he remembered he was talking about himself. "Though that money would be nice."
"Rumour has it he's lost a hand."
"I heard that too." He had to stop soon. He would slip up otherwise.

*************************************

Daenerys paced.
"It's been another two days. There's been no news from anywhere?"
"None, Your Grace," came the smooth voice of the Spider.
"You have spies everywhere. There's not been so much as a whisper?"
"Nothing."
"Well, where is he?" Daenerys was becoming impatient.
"For all his faults, the Kingslayer is smart. He knows how to avoid eyes. And if it's Essos he's gone to, which I think is highly likely, then it will take longer. We will bring him back to justice." That last sentence was a blatant lie.
"Tyrion I know this is hard for you. When my brother died I wasn't broken up about it too much but we never had the bond that you and the Kin... Jaime used to have. You don't need to be there when he dies."
She's certain that she's getting him back, Tyrion thought. Would she though?
Both Addam and Bronn had slipped back into castle duties without any suspicion. The way Tyrion had planned it. Neither man had spoken to anyone else, especially Tyrion, about abetting Jaime's escape. That was until Addam received a letter and sent for the younger Lannister brother.
"Addam?"
"I told Jaime if he wanted to get in touch with you, we could write for me. Of course he's using his false name. This is for you." Addam gave the Hand the letter and walked away. Tyrion went to his chambers before even daring to open the letter.
A. You know what to do. Made it. Found work.
Darion
Was that all Jaime wanted to say? Maybe he was worried about it being intercepted and the way he'd written it seemed OK. A obviously stood for Addam and the next sentence told the soldier to pass it to his brother. At least Jaime was letting him know he was safe. The tight knot in Tyrion's stomach that had been forming loosened slightly.
This calls for wine, he thought. He picked up the pitcher and filled a glass before drinking deeply.