Running

Chapter Sixteen

Jaime was organising his uniform to settle in for the night when he heard a voice calling him.
"Lannister!" Brander called.
"Yes?"
"At least you're here tonight," the commander muttered. "A word. With me. Two more of you too. Any two." Jaime and Brander waited until there were other men with them and went out the barracks into the courtyard.
"Stay here," Brander ordered the other two. "Keep us in sight." They nodded. Brander beckoned Jaime and they walked a little further out.
"I don't appreciate being lied to."
"I know. I'm sorry. I needed to see him though."
"You were given the reasons why you couldn't. Good reasons. Yet you did it anyway. How does that make me look? Like I can't control my men?"
"But I'm not one of your men, am I?" Jaime rounded on him.
"What?" Brander snapped.
"I'm not. I wasn't accepted into your ranks, none of the men are on my side. I'm here because Jon Snow doesn't know what to do with me. I'm not going back to King's Landing because he wants me as his precious hostage. He doesn't want me to feel as though I'm a captive so he puts me under your watch so I can be guarded but not feel like it. He's better off keeping me in that room he had me locked in. At least I would know where I stand." Jaime wasn't sure why he was confessing all of this to Brander, but it had been bubbling up and it needed to come out at some point. The man had grown on him.
"All my life I've been a pawn used in other's plans - my father, my sister, Robb Stark, Aerys Targaryen. Now it's Jon Snow. It's all I've been good for." Jaime turned away from the man. He knew he would begin to cry if he wasn't careful and bit back the tears.
Brander was shocked as he looked at Jaime. The man had just told him some deeply personal things. And he was trusting him, the man in charge of watching over him. He wasn't sure what to say.
"I'm sick of it," Jaime sighed.
"Jaime, I'm sor..."
"Don't," Jaime stalked past him. Brander, still confused, went back to his other men.
"Take him back to the barracks. He's not to leave." He turned to Jaime. "And that's not a punishment. This time, it's for your own safety." Jaime looked sceptical but went anyway. Brander knew he had to speak to the King.

*************************************

Jon was in the small council chamber with Davos. It was late but he couldn't sleep.
"Your Grace?" He heard and turned round to see his trusted Commander of the Guards. He and Brander had built up a good friendship.
"Harrion. How can I help?"
"I'm sorry to plague you with this, but it's Jaime Lannister who concerns me." Jon sighed.
"What's he done now?"
"Nothing."
"Then what is it?"
"I'm worried what he'll do if it gets too far. He's struggling with the fact that he's yet again a captive. I don't know him well enough. I know you said not to, but if he met with Tyrion it would put his mind at ease."
"That's both you and Brienne who have said that to me. I will allow it. But I will speak to Tyrion beforehand and I will be listening as they talk."
"OK."
"For now just keep an eye on him. For his own protection."
"I told him that."
"Put him on duty around Brienne. All of his slots. He needs her just now." Brander nodded and left Jon and Davos.

*************************************

The next morning, Jon found Tyrion.
"Listen, I'm going to let you talk to your brother. Jaime's not doing well at the moment. People are worried about him. When you talk tomorrow, you need to tell him that he's to remain here under my power. But he won't be harmed, remind him of that. You're loyal to your queen, but I need the Kingslayer loyal to me."
"I'll do it."
"Thank you."