The Wolf and The Lion || Jaime Lannister

Fifty Two

Rayna

In my hands I hold the Declaration of Independence I am going to send Cersei.
"Do you think she will declare war?", I ask Jaime as I remember the war of the five kings.
"Too many of the kingdoms are rebelling for her to send all her men North or any men really, and they say Daenerys Targaryen has reached Dragonstone, Cersei should be far more worried about her", he says.
A Targaryen Queen. She could be a danger. If she wants to conquer Westeros by claiming the kingdoms instead of attacking the Capitol we are in danger. The North is vulnerable but if she wants to conquer she would go for the smaller kingdoms, however they say Olenna Tyrell has declared for Daenerys, and possibly the Ironborn and the Dornish.
For a moment I remember the prophecy from the witch in the Vale, time has caused it to fade from my mind but I remember her mentioning a dragon.  This must be what she meant.
"What if she decides to attack?" I ask Jaime "The North is still scattered and we are preparing for an army of the dead"
"Cersei won't attack", he assures me.
"Not Cersei, Daenerys", I tell him "They call her a Conqueror"
He puts his hand on mine "The North will be the last place she'd attack, in most battles you'll find that the Northmen are the stubborn bastards that are last to surrender"
"Yes but we are the first ones the dead will attack", I remind him.
He takes my hand in his and runs his thumb over my knuckles "Sweetheart, you are worrying too much", he says giving me a small, reassuring smile "Has Jon found out anything more about the white walkers?"
I lean back in my chair and sigh. I haven't spoken to Jon since the feast. I'm still a little pissed at Jaime over his plan to tell Jon the truth and then leave me but I know why he did it. He's having another crisis about being a bad man, that he's not honourable enough for a Stark. How can I be angry with him when everything he did was because he thought that he doesn't deserve me.
"You haven't spoken to him yet have you?" he asks a bit guiltily knowing why I haven't.
"Not yet", I reluctantly admit
"I'll go talk to him", Jaime decides as he gets out of his chair.
"Jaime, the last time you talked to him didn't go well", I remind him
"Exactly, so let me fix it", he says and he leaves before he can give me a chance to argue.
Jaime speaking to the men of my family never ends well.

Jaime

Perhaps telling Jon the truth was more reckless than honourable. After the feast I got quite a tongue lashing from Rayna but I can't blame her.
When I looked into her eyes I saw the fear in them, that I'd leave her again. She once told me she wasn't angry because of anything I'd done but because I left her.
I've always been torn between what is right and what I believe, conflicted morals but I know Rayna struggles with that as well.
She would forgive me for almost anything, except if I left her. That is the one thing she wouldn't forgive.
I've always believed I can never be honourable enough for her but slowly she is making me believe that I am. She makes me feel like I'm a good man. I am going to stay by her side no matter what and to do that I need to speak to Jon.
I find him alone in the Godswood. I've never liked weirwood trees, I always feel like they're watching me. A raven perches itself on one of the branches as I approach Jon.
"What do you want, anything else to confess?" Jon asks as he turns to look at me.
"You know why I did it, do you think you'll be able to look at me without wanting to kill me?" I ask skipping the small talk and getting to the point. Something his father and brother always appreciated.
"I've been very conflicted recently when it comes to people who have hurt my little brothers and then tried to save Rayna", he says and it takes me a moment to realise who he's talking about "Theon Greyjoy was my brother, he took Winterfell and pretended to kill my little brothers and then he saved my sister from Ramsay Bolton. I don't know how I feel about him, same with you except you were never my brother"
"People change, I'm not the same person I once was", I say and we both know it's true. If I could get Robb to tolerant me so can Jon.
"I see how Rayna looks at you, I see how much she loves you and I don't know how she could forgive what you did"
"She didn't", I tell him "She was disgusted when she found out, I never want to see the look she had in her eyes that day ever again, but she knew that I loved her and that I couldn't change what I'd done"
"Would you change it if you could?"
"No", I answer honestly "I did it to protect my family, as awful as Cersei is the children were good, I would do it all again for them, and I'd do far worse to protect Rayna"
He nods accepting that answer and is silent as he thinks.
"I can't forgive you, Sansa can't forgive you but you are a different man, we've all changed and you love my sister and that's what matters"
He's a very reasonable man, Robb was a bit more self righteous and hot headed but Jon is fair. He's like his father was when he was younger.
"Thank you", I say and as I leave to go back to Rayna who must be anxiously waiting I remember "Rayna and I are marrying soon, she wants you to give her away"
He smiles a little "Tell her that I'd be honoured"