Running

Chapter Five

Jaime woke at break of dawn. This was the first day he began working for Arthur. He was a decent man. He had been given straw out in the barn and a thin blanket. It wasn't warm but it was better than he had faced before. And he couldn't complain.
"Morning Darion," said Arthur. It took Jaime a minute to remember that this was him.
"Morning Arthur. So what needs done?"
"Wow, you're eager." Jaime felt as though a pair of eyes were on him. Not Arthur's. Someone else's. It sent a shiver up his spine but he ignored it.

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Jon had been getting various reports of sightings of the Kingslayer, but all so far had turned out to be false. He had been told that Tyrion Lannister thought his brother was in Essos and he tended to believe him as Daenerys' Hand knew the Kingslayer better than anyone else. But he had been commanded to search, so search he would. Personally, he wouldn't mind having the elder Lannister as a prisoner anyway. There had been one time, years ago in Winterfell, when Jaime had chastised Jon. Now it was his turn. Robb had had Jaime for a year, locked up in a cage and chained, but the Lion had escaped.

Since returning to Wintefell, after the battle and Ramsay's death, Sansa had kept herself to herself. She would eat and sit with Jon and Davos, but she very rarely socialised with anyone else. Jon had tried to get her to, but she never found anyone. Even her handmaidens were all quite dull, nothing like Shae, the girl who was her companion in King's Landing.
She knew that King's Landing was entirely different. Cersei Lannister was dead. A Targaryen was black on the throne with Cersei's younger brother as her right hand man. The older brother was fleeing justice. The red cloaks had been swapped with Unsullied. Cersei and her Kingsguard were gone. That was something which made her feel very happy.

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Jaime had spent the morning working out on the farm, ploughing the fields. He came back into the house, sweaty and dirty. Arthur chuckled lightly.
"You OK?"
"Yeah. Just haven't worked in a while. I just need to get back into it."
"Do you like it here Darion?"
"Yes," Jaime said truthfully, meaning every word. "Yes I do."
"Good," Arthur said. Jaime got something to drink then headed back outside. The farm was a lonely, calm place. Far away from the hectic life he had led at King's Landing. And for once he was able to feel peaceful and relaxed. He liked it. And he trusted the man who had given him that relaxation.

Jaime couldn't understand why, but he still felt eyes on him. He wasn't a paranoid person, not like his sister. But he couldn't help but feel a presence there. Maybe he was just so anxious about being caught. It sent a shiver down his spine, but he ignored it.
It's nothing, he said to himself silently as he picked up a spade to start shovelling again.

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Daenerys had made a pact with the King in the North only days after her ascension to the throne. She had allowed him to rule the North as long as her armies could go up there whenever it was necessary and he kept her in the loop about what went on up there. He had accepted. And she had just received a letter from him.

Queen Daenerys,
Tidings from the North. The search for the Kingslayer continues which so far has been fruitless. We will keep searching, but he may not even be here. I will tell you if he is found.
Jon Snow
King in the North

Daenerys sighed.

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Jaime was working in the barn when he heard footsteps behind him.
"Arthur, is everything OK?"
"Not Arthur. Kingslayer." Before Jaime could react, his arms were twisted behind his back and he was slammed and pinned against the side of the barn. He scraped his face against the side as he yelled out with pain. Jaime strained to turn his head to see who was holding him. But he couldn't as his face was squashed against the wall. One of the men stepped forward. There was definetely more than one. Jaime saw him as the man who was eyeing him in the tavern. "I knew who you were the whole time. This new scar doesn't help. Now, I want to know if the rumours are true." Pressing his chest right up against Jaime who couldn't move, he grabbed the Lannister's right hand and ripped the glove off.
"Aw, a lion without its paw."
"Shut up," Jaime spat. Then another set of footsteps joined them and Arthur's eyes drew level with Jaime's. His anger bubbled up inside him.
"Jaime, I'm sorry."
"Why, Arthur?"
"Long story short. I need the money. There's 500 gold dragons on your head."
"Is that all?" Jaime said sarcastically.
"It's for my family. You must understand. With your own complicated family." Jaime collected spit in his mouth and aimed it at Arthur's face. The other man wiped it off.
"You're already in enough trouble Lion. You're with me for days. And the rest of my men. I wouldn't make it worse. Arthur, going to need your help here. Do you have rope?" Arthur left and returned with a large coil of rope. Jaime's vision was soon restricted as he felt the material of a bag over his head. It was secured.
"Sorry Kingslayer, I just don't want to be staring at your ugly face." Jaime tried smashing the back of his head into the man's face but instead it was just squashed further into the wall. Jaime heard the sound of chains - a sound that used to be his life in the Stark camp. Manacles were clamped tightly above his elbows, behind his back. They weren't coming off. Having no right wrist make things complicated when trying to restrain him., which seemed to be happening a lot. Then rope was looped around his waist. "Just so you know, my name is Edrick and the other man is Andrey. But you'll keep quiet unless we talk to you."
"Fuck off," Jaime replied bitterly. If this man thought he was doing as he said, he could think again. Jaime already knew what it was like to be a high value prisoner. No matter how much he fought against them, he couldn't be hurt let alone killed. The last time he was prisoner when Locke cut off his hand Bolton had been vicious towards his henchman.
"Careful Lannister. Do you want gagged? If you don't shut up, you will be." Jaime smirked. Edrick and Andrey both grabbed him and propelled him through the house outside. Jaime also heard that Arthur was following closely behind. He was still fuming towards the man. He trusted him. He allowed him to take him in. And he realised that he really shouldn't have done that. Once Jaime was outside he heard horses and other men.
"We caught ourselves a lion!" Edrick jeered and a cheer went up. Jaime was pulled over somewhere.
"You'll be tied to my horse, Kingslayer." And Edrick stayed true to his promise. The rope around his waist pulled as it was tied tightly to Edrick's horse. "I'll get that money to you Arthur. Let's go." Jaime stumbled forwards as Edrick urged his horse on.
And I'm a prisoner yet again. I need to stop getting captured, Jaime thought to himself angrily as he moved on.