Running

Chapter Ten

Jon wasn't sure what to make of any of it. Did he believe his sister who hadn't said a word, or did he believe the man who was adamant Sansa had instigated it. He wanted to side with his sister but since they reunited at the Wall, he knew she wasn't the same person she used to be. She wasn't innocent anymore. She had become more ruthless.
He was going to have an audience with Jaime today but after that morning, he decided to let the Kingslayer stew for a few days. It couldn't hurt.
He still hasn't decided what he wanted to do with the man. The easiest thing was to send him back to Daenerys so she could put his head on a pike. But did he really want to do that? Jaime had said it himself. The Queen would get him in her hands and take his head from his shoulders within the first few minutes. He could keep Jaime close. Have him pledge fealty to house Stark. Have him as a prisoner yet doing something useful. Maybe keep him close to Brienne, Jon thought. They have an established relationship. Brienne swore an oath which she would keep. Part of that could be to prevent Jaime from escaping. Jon just wasn't sure where he would place the man in his ranks.
But then he had to think if Daenerys or any of her supporters came up to Winterfell and saw the Kingslayer alive and well. Jon would be branded a traitor. Did he want to be on the bad side of the dragon queen?
Jaime Lannister would either end up with his own death, or Jon's. Whatever happened, it would not end well. Jon went to find Davos. He was a rational man who would help the King in the North with all of this.

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Jaime heard keys in the lock. It was later in the day that Jon had attacked him. Brienne walked into the room and the door was locked again once she was in.
"What do you want?" Jaime said, exasperated.
"Shut up. How are you doing?"
"How do you think? I'm the prisoner of the boy who just attacked me. He could do anything to me and I couldn't do a damn thing about it."
"I'm not going to let that happen."
"False promises. You swore an oath. You help me, your head is on the chopping block next to mine." She didn't like to think about what Jaime was saying, but it was true.
"I'll fight for you Jaime."
"But can I fight for myself? I don't know Brienne. I'm sick of fighting. All it does is loses me hands or puts me in chains or makes me lose people I love." Brienne hadn't seen Jaime be defeatist in a long time.
"Enough, OK? Enough. You need to hold on, keep going. I've said it before, I'll say it again." Jaime slumped onto the window ledge and looked out onto the courtyard below. He saw some soldiers training with straw men, so wishing he could join them.
"Jaime, look at me." He forgot Brienne was still there.
"What?" He said sullenly. He wasn't in the mood for her positive pep talks. "Shouldn't you be with Sansa just now anyway?"
"She's asleep."
"In the middle of the day?"
"What happened yesterday has shook her." Jaime nodded.
"When Jon calls for you to tell you what's going to happen to you, I'll be there."
"On a first name basis?" Jaime snapped.
"Stop it."
"When's it going to happen?" Jaime was agitated.
"Soon, Jaime. Hold on. I need to go. I'll be back soon." Brienne rapped on the door. It was opened and with one last look at the prisoner, she disappeared through the door. Jaime was left alone to dwell.

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Davos found Jon pacing on the battlements.
"You called for me, Your Grace?"
"You don't need to call me that."
"Habit. So, what's happening? I heard you were worried? What about?"
"The Kingslayer."
"Ahh," Davos said, nodding knowingly. "What's bothering you about him?"
"His future. I could cart him back to King's Landing, but he'll lose his head as soon as he gets there. He knows it too. My other option is to keep him here, put him in the ranks somewhere but have him as a captive at the same time."
"Well, the second option seems to be your better one. But think about it. Would Lannister want to be a captive for the rest of his life?"
"Why would I care what he thinks?"
"Jon. If you want him loyal, you need to allow him some freedom at least. I mean, don't let him leave Winterfell, have eyes on him, but you don't need to keep him locked up every night. If you do, you'll never have the Kingslayer on your side. He'll be stubborn and fight and you may just have to send him to Daenerys. Give him respect and a little freedom and maybe he'll side with you. If you want him as a soldier he'd be in the barracks with the rest of the men. They'd know not to let him out."
"That's all good but what if Daenerys sends envoys up here or even comes herself?"
"You can tell her you're keeping him close, that he's not given entire freedom, which is truthful. Tell her that he's more useful alive than dead, which is also truthful. He's not your friend. But you may come to find that you need him." Jon sighed.
"OK. You're right. I'll ask Brienne to particularly keep a close eye. They obviously have a bond. Give him a couple of days and I'll hold an audience with him about it. Thank you."
"Any time." Davos walked away, leaving Jon to muse.

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Jaime knew his most likely fate from the new King was death either by his hand or back in King's Landing. He was prepared. He'd faced death many times already. At least he knew this time it was inevitable. That helped.