Chapter Seven

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They had been on the road for days and Jaime wasn't in the best shape. He was tired and sore from the ropes constantly crushing him. He wanted a bed and a bath and family. His sister was dead. His father was dead. His brother was Hand to the Queen who wanted him dead. He was completely alone.

The whole party stopped. Jaime assumed they'd just be taking another break but then he heard voices.
"Who goes there?" Someone shouted.
"Edrick, Andrey and thier party. We bring with us a prisoner."
"Who?"
"The Kingslayer."
"How do I know that's the Kingslayer. There's been many false sightings and men brought who are not him. Prove its him." Jaime heard the sound of steel and suddenly something cold and sharp was brought against his neck. He shivered involuntarily from the shock.
"Speak," Edrick snarled in his ear. Jaime remained silent. Edrick pushed the steel further into his neck until it stung and he felt small beads of blood down his neck. He sighed.
"I am Ser Jaime Lannister. If you are not convinced, they can show you the missing hand." And that they did. No imposter would go as far as to chop off thier hand. They were let through. But Edrick was told that the new soldiers would take Jaime from here. He was handed over and manhandled away. They walked for a while until he knew he had entered a room. He could vaguely make out flames and heard loud voices hushing now they were in his presence.
"A present for you, King in the North," Edrick sneered, shoving Jaime. His knees cracked against the cold stone floor. He yelped involuntarily.
So that's where we are. And Jon Snow is here. Sansa too most likely. Looking at me with disdain.
Edrick took the collar of his shirt and ripped the bag from his head. After spending days in darkness, he brought his arms up to shield his eyes from the bright light. Edrick then grabbed a fistful of his hair and pulled his head up sharply. His arms fell and he squinted in the light. He again saw a dagger at his throat. It hurt slightly as his neck was still red from the first time.
"This is the real one, my King."
"So it is," Jon said. Jaime ground his teeth. He would not answer to a boy. Jaime flicked his eyes to the girl next to him with flaming red hair. Sansa. And then he looked up. And behind her...

Jaime froze. Brienne was here? She was Sansa's sworn shield? He'd forgotten all about that. He hadn't seen her since his attack on Riverrun. Jaime breathed shallow breaths. As she saw him on his knees, Brienne tried to keep her face free of emotion. But she was sad. Because the last time he had been in this position, he had told her that he wanted to die. She had managed to talk him out of it, but now it was happening a second time that could make him believe that he wasn't the man he once was. His eyes were filled with tears when they laid on hers. He thought he would never see her again. He noticed she still had Oathkeeper. Good. She had kept her oath. She had found Sansa and protected her, just like she said she would.
Jaime saw looks of disgust painted on everyone's faces. Everyone but Brienne's.
"Kingslayer," Jon said evenly.
"Snow," Jaime replied. He heard angry mutters about his conduct towards the new king but blotted them out. Brienne widened her eyes at him, obviously warning him to watch his tongue. She was there when his words lost him his sword hand. Edrick pressed the dagger right in his neck, drawing more blood but not killing him. Jaime grimaced. Jaime's captor was obviously pissed off about the way his prisoner addressed the new King. Jon now addressed Edrick.
"Put your dagger away and step away from him. My men will see to it that you and your companions get a good bed for the night. You'll receive your reward and depart tomorrow." The six men who had brought Jaime here left with a squadron of soldiers. Four more took up places behind Jaime. Jon focused his gaze back on Jaime, still kneeling on the floor, his eyes firmly fixed on Brienne.
What's thier connection, Jon thought.
"Lannister." Jaime's attention snapped back to the King in the North. "There's been a manhunt that has had everyone from everywhere looking for you. Tyrion believed you to be in Essos. And here you were, in my kingdom all along."
"Well here I am. I'm sure you must be quite happy. I, on the other hand, am not. Trying to find me in an unknown country would have been far more entertaining. Sorry."
"Jaime," Brienne hissed. Jon chose to ignore his snide comments.
"I should send you back to Daenerys Targaryen. It is her we all answer to, now. And she is not happy with you."
"You should. But I would be of far better use to you here?"
"Would you now? And why would you dictate what I should and shouldn't do? I don't think you're in any position to be making requests and demands. And how in any way could you be of use to me? You've already proved you're not trustworthy."
"Would you really want to send me to a girl who would chop off my head the moment I entered the city? After all the things I've done to your family, wouldn't that be too swift a death?"
"And what exactly have you done to my family?"
"I pushed Bran from a window when he caught Cersei and I. I let Joffrey be born who..." He glanced at the young girl and the woman behind her. "Who terrorised Sansa Stark when she was a captive in King's Landing." Sansa bowed her head and fidgeted with her fingers. "I fought and hurt your father in the streets. Would you like me to continue?"
"No." Jon turned to Davos and they began whispering. Brienne left her post and walked over to him.
"What in the seven hells are you playing at? Do you want him to sign your death warrant?" She said angrily.
"He won't kill me. I'm a Lannister. Far too precious."
"You better bloody be right. Because I am not picking up your head if it is removed from your neck."
"Thanks for the vote of confidence. I love the way you think that wherever I go I'm inevitably going to be executed. I've made it this far and I've done many a crime punishable by death." She groaned and assumed her original position. Sansa had watched the pair closely. She would quiz Brienne later. Jon turned away from Davos and back to Jaime.
"I haven't decided what to do yet. Keep him locked and heavily guarded in one of the chambers on the top floor."
"You're keeping him in a room? He should sleep in the dungeon!" Sansa protested.
"Whatever he may have done, Lannister is a knight. He will have a room befitting of his birth and status. He's allowed a bath and a change of clothes. I'll call for him when I'm ready. Unchain him and take him there." The guards did as asked. The manacles and ropes Jaime wore were removed and the guards led him from the main hall to large chambers. The door was locked and Jaime was left alone. A guard came in with a fresh set of clothes which Jaime gratefully accepted. Once the guard was gone, he had a bath and climbed into bed and fell asleep.

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