Running

Chapter Eleven

Six guards entered Jaime's room.
"The King wants to see you."
About time, thought Jaime. His arms were tightly bound in front of him. Two guards took him by the arms. Two walked in front and two behind and the procession walked on. He knew he would enter the main hall, get told he was going to die one way or another and then get returned to his room for a couple of days before the sentence was carried out. Predictable.
They entered the main hall. Everyone had gathered. Jaime's eyes scanned the room before settling on those sitting at the high table. Jon Snow, Davos Seaworth, Sansa, Brienne and red-haired wildling he had been told was called Tormund. Jaime was forced to his knees once again. Sansa couldn't meet his eyes. It was hardly surprising after what had happened a few days ago. She would be rid of him soon anyway. If he was going to die, he might just not care about formalities.
"Just get on with it, Snow. Tell me when and let me go back to my room."
"Enough," Ser Davos commanded. That was when Jon opened his mouth.
"Jaime Lannister. Kingslayer. I have had..."
"Is that the first time you've used my name?" Jaime asked sarcastically.
"You will speak when you are spoken to. When the King speaks, you do not," Davos instructed.
"As I was saying, I have had a conversation with my advisors about your future. My best option is to send you to Daenerys Targaryen back in King's Landing. She can execute you and be done with it."
"Fine," Jaime sighed.
"But I'm not going to do that."
"What do you mean?"
"I mean to keep you here. But I will not be taking your head, Ser." Jaime breathed deeply. He looked to Brienne who gave him a small smile. He looked back up at Snow warily and curiously. He wasn't going to die? Then what was going to happen to him? "You will be a soldier in the Stark army. Not a soldier of any importance or higher standing. You are allowed freedom as long as you stay within the Winterfell castle. Once you leave, you will be guarded. It will always be like this. Even though Brienne of Tarth is Sansa's sworn shield, when it is time to go into battle, she captains her own section. You are assigned to her section when battle calls. Most guards don't fight, I use the banner men for that, but I am not going to waste your battle experience. We need you for that. Whilst you are in Winterfell, you will be on usual guard rotation. When you are stationed by the doors or on the battlements, you will be outnumbered by other guards and will always be on duty with at least one other person. You will be given sleeping quarters. Unless I summon you or you are on my guard rotation, do not attempt to talk to me. Remember, I can use you as a hostage at any time so do not cross me. You will have a commander who will be reporting directly to me every day. Do not cause rifts within my ranks. You are still under my power. Your sword will be given to you every morning and taken from you every night. Enjoy life as a Stark soldier, Lannister. What do you say?" Jaime wasn't sure what to say. He wasn't dead. Yet. That was something at least. But did he want this life too? Like Snow had said, he could still be used as a hostage at any minute. But he supposed it was the same when he was serving Aerys. He would be closer to Brienne though. But even with Aerys he had a purpose. He was a Kingsguard, a knight that people aspired to be. Here he would be one in hundreds, thousands, just another number.
"Well, I suppose I should be grateful that there's not a noose around my neck." Brienne rolled her eyes. "But I will accept."
"Good. You will be taken to meet your commander." He gestured to his guards who pulled Jaime to his feet and from the room. They went to the armoury and there stood a man. Older, grey hair, stocky. He saw Jaime approach accompanied by four guards. He tried to size the Kingslayer up. He'd heard all the rumours surrounding the man of course, but did rumours match up to reality? Jaime now stood in front of him.
"Cut his ropes," the new man ordered and that they did. They were under his command after all. Had they refused him, he could make thier lives miserable. "Leave us." The four men walked out the room. The man turned his attention on Jaime. "You must be Jaime Lannister, the Kingslayer."
Can anyone use my name without adding the nickname on after, Jaime thought, annoyed.
"Yes. I am."
"And I am Commander Brander. That is all you will address me by. I understand you are not the best at following orders." Jaime glared at him and remained silent. "But you will be doing exactly as I say. I also know you're different from the rest of my men. You are still under King Jon's power. If he needs you for political reasons, you are to go to him straight away. If you defy orders or attempt to escape, there are severe consequences. I'm sure you have been told that if you guard the doors leading outside or the battlements, you will be with double the amount of guards there usually are. Your sword will also not remain on your person during the night. You are in the barracks with the rest of the men. Get used to it. You're not leading a life of luxury anymore."
"Trust me, the past few weeks have been anything but luxurious. I've been in more than one battle. I was in a cage in Robb Stark's camp for a year. I'm used to the mud."
"Good, because you're going to see a lot of it. I will not have you complaining Golden Boy. Last thing, I've heard you only have one hand."
"What does that have to do with anything?"
"It just makes things more difficult."
"I've had training with Ilyn Payne. I'll never be as good as I was with my right, but I can fight."
"Whatever you say, Golden Boy."
"Stop calling me that."
"Now. Scheduling for tomorrow has just so happened to put you on the King's personal guard. You will behave around him and not speak unless he asks you. Go to the barracks and find a spare bed. You will be given your uniform and sword in the morning. Don't expect the other men to treat you too kindly. You have quite a reputation. There's been rumours you pushed a Stark boy out a window."
"I did."
"That won't sit well with them." Jaime shrugged. He nodded at Brander and left for the barracks.

He was eyed up as he entered. They all knew who he was straight away. Some of them had been tasked with guarding him whilst he was in Jon Snow's custody.
"I thought I heard a rumour the Golden Boy was joining us," one man sneered.
Why is that name catching on so much, thought Jaime bitterly. Jaime ignored them and found a bunk near the back. He bedded down for the night, internally worried about his new life.