Lion in Savannah(A Jaime Lannister Story)

St. Patrick's Day

The next few days passed in a blur for Jaime. Scarlet was in and out of the house several times a day, going up to the bed and breakfast to work. Jaime and Bronn mostly stayed in the house, but Scarlet also gave them permission to ride her horses. The house sat on a lot of land and the horses helped to get from one place to another when Scarlet and the other employees were farming.

Jaime quickly got used to the peacefulness that was Scarlet's home. It was quiet for the most part and Scarlet was good company when she was there. With the impending celebrations, Scarlet was working more, but she always made time for Jaime and Bronn. She taught them how to work things around the house and how to handle her dogs. It was so different, but the two men adapted well for the most part.

The best part was of course, Scarlet herself. She was a charming and vivacious woman. She was able to flirt playfully with Bronn, but still put him in his place if he got out of line. And Jaime found her easy to talk to. Before he realized it, he had told Scarlet how life for him had been in Westeros. Everything from his relationship with Cersei to how he'd earned the moniker "Kingslayer". She listened with rapt attention and attempted to make Jaime feel better. It worked and Jaime found himself starting to feel things he never thought he would. Though he didn't realize he was even remotely beginning to feel that way until the night of St. Patrick's Day.

Since all the guests were out enjoying the celebrations, Scarlet got the night off and decided to take Jaime and Bronn around Savannah. They hadn't seen much of the place despite it being a short walk from the B&B. "Savannah is always pretty lively, but nothin' beats River Street on St. Patrick's Day," Scarlet told them as the three began walking about the town. Chief and Brutus walked at their sides like the obedient dogs they were.

As they walked, Scarlet talked. She talked about the history of the town, and about her childhood growing up there. People constantly greeted Scarlet. Some grinned while others looked at Scarlet with disdain. "Why are they lookin' at ya like that?" Bronn asked. Scarlet smiled.

"Because I don't attend church anymore and, no doubt the rumors about my havin' two lovers have started. Apparently the church busybodies find it difficult to believe that a young woman can take in two men who need help and not sleep with them." Jaime noticed that her accent got a bit thicker when she was upset or passionate about something. He noticed a lot of things about her.

Bronn and Scarlet were talking about something when another voice called out her name. The trio stopped as the doctor from Jaime and Bronn's first day came jogging over. "Hey, Noah! Enjoyin' yourself?" Noah flashed a charming smile and Jaime tried not to frown. "Not as much as I'd like to be. I'm on call at the hospital tonight so no green beer for me. How ya'll doin'? Gettin' on with Scarlet alright? She can be a right pain in the-" Scarlet elbowed him sharply and he laughed.

"I'm jokin'. Scar's a great lady. Really though, ya'll doin' alright? No headaches or anything from your river trip?" Jaime and Bronn both nodded. "Good." For a moment, he just stood there awkwardly. Then, Scarlet cleared her throat. "I was just showin' the guys around town. We'll catch ya later, Noah." Scarlet moved to walk past him, but Noah stopped her. "That's actually why I came over here. I wanted to ask ya if you'd like to go out with me sometime? Ya know, dinner and movie. Or a picnic. Something like that."

Bronn and Jaime were slightly confused, especially at the blush on Scarlet's face as well as on Noah's. "Um, sure. Call me and we'll talk more." Noah beamed and nodded. "Great. See ya'll later." With that, he ran off, leaving Scarlet staring after him. "Um, Scarlet?" Scarlet jumped and blushed deeper. Her face was almost as red as her hair.

"What's got you so flustered, Scarlet?" Jaime asked and Scarlet cleared her throat. "Oh, uh, ya see, I always thought Noah had feelings for me, but he never said anythin'. Least not 'til now. I wasn't expectin' him to ask me on a date." Bronn and Jaime exchanged a glance. "A date?"

"Ya know, a date? Ya take someone ya like for a romantic outin' and try to woo 'em?" Bronn caught on a second quicker than Jaime. "Oh! The lad's tryin' ta court ya!" Scarlet nodded. "Yeah." Jaime felt a little prick of something in the back of his mind. Was he...jealous? No. He had no reason to be jealous. He didn't care who Scarlet courted. After all, Cersei was probably waiting for him back home. Wasn't she?

All Jaime knew was that what he was now feeling was new. He tried to push it away. There was no need for him to feel that way. But the feeling just kept coming back until he stuck in his throat and he felt like he would be sick. That's when it dawned on him that perhaps, he was beginning to see Scarlet in a very different light. One that he hadn't seen anyone in for a very long time.