Running

Chapter Thirteen

Jaime was in front of Jon again. He was here to officially bend the knee. Brander was there, and Davos, Brienne, Sansa and Tormund, as well as many other people. People wanted to see the Kingslayer bow to the North. That would be a sight to see.
"Jaime Lannister, will you bend the knee and swear allegiance to me and the North?" Jon asked. Jaime went onto one knee and bowed his head.
"I, Ser Jaime Lannister of Casterly Rock, swear allegiance to Jon Snow, the King in the North from this day until my last day."
"Rise." Jaime did as asked. "Jaime, I now welcome you to the North. Defy your oath and there will be consequences." Jaime let out a small laugh. Acceptance. And coming from one person he never thought he would get it from. "Now I believe your commander has matters to discuss with you. Go with him then return to your duties." Jaime stood up and walked over to Brander was. Although the man was one of the people preventing him from leaving Winterfell, Jaime had decided he was fairly decent.
If he could, Jaime would have preferred Essos. There no one knew him and he could pursue whatever he wanted rather than being around people who couldn't trust him and wanted him dead. There he could start a new life as a sell sword and begin again. Maybe when Tyrion arrived at Winterfell, he would ask him. Tyrion has snuck him out of somewhere once, he might do it again. Jaime knew he'd pledged allegiance to Jon, but it was either that or get sent back to Daenerys. He preferred the former. He wasn't really given another choice than to bend the knee.
"Come, we'll talk on the battlements. You two," he said pointing out two more guards. "Shadow us up there." Jaime sighed. "You know the rules," the commander said to him sternly. Jaime nodded reluctantly and followed the older man out.

Jaime and Brander stood on the battlements looking out over the North. Jaime had travelled this without knowing he was travelling it. He'd been temporarily blind at that time.
"Lannister, what we've got ourselves in is a slightly awkward situation. We have you here because King Jon doesn't want to send you back to King's Landing. Now an envoy is being sent here to Winterfell about you by Daenerys. And that envoy happens to be your brother who is very much loyal to the new queen. So not exactly the ideal situation."
"I understand. But Commander, my brother got me out the last time, when I was the Targaryen girl's prisoner. It's only thanks to Tyrion that I'm standing here now, not decorating the city gates of King's Landing."
"In any case, when Queen Daenerys' Hand gets here, you are not under any circumstances allowed to talk or see him. I will personally make sure that, for the duration of his stay, your duties do not coincide with him in any way."
"Why?"
"Because I do not want your loyalties questioned. I don't want your brother coercing you in any way. You've just pledged your allegiance to King Jon."
"How could Tyrion persuade me? He serves Daenerys!"
"I've known what it's like to be loyal to someone and have family try and convince you otherwise. I've been in that position. I was in the service of King Robb but the rest of my family were loyal to Stannis. I will not have your loyalty questioned. I've been given orders. If you were to leave Winterfell with your brother, I would get the blame." Jaime understood. Brander was trying to protect himself.
"Even if I were to, where would I go? I can't exactly go home. Daenerys is in King's Landing and Casterly Rock will be watched even if it is under Tyrion's rule."
"From what I've heard about your brother, he's cunning. And I don't know you well enough to guarantee you won't run off with him. You will go nowhere near him. I will see to that. And that is the end of the conversation. Now, you will return to duty. You're staying on the battlements. You have another three men beside you." Brander left. Jaime was fuming. How dare they not let him near his brother? He was family. The only family he had left. He would see Tyrion, even if it meant giving Brander the slip.