The Wolf and The Lion || Jaime Lannister

Fifty Eight

Rayna

Jon and I have been preparing for the voyage to Dragonstone. He received a letter from his friend at the citadel saying Dragonstone is basically a mountain of dragonglass which just happens to be one of the only things that can kill white walkers. As soon as he got that letter he stopped arguing against going and decided he was coming with me.
I'm in my office finalising the food stores and all the other matters that need taking care of.
Sansa will be the Lady Of Winterfell and Queen regent of the North while I'm gone. I'm leaving Brienne here to take care of her and Jaime. Not that I'd tell Jaime that.
He is the Lord Of Winterfell but there would be a riot if I left him in charge. I've instructed Sansa to involve Jaime in matters involving the regency while I'm gone, knowing that he will speak for me if any serious matters arise. In the future I hope that Jaime can fully take on his position as Lord of Winterfell and this will be his first taste of it. Jon and Sansa are my official hands but Jaime is the one I truly turn to for advice. He's the only one who is brutally honest with me. Eventually the Northerners will warm up to him as the Lord of Winterfell and consort to the Queen and then he will be able to have an official place in ruling by my side.
If my father wasn't appointed hand of the king by Roberts Jaime would have been appointed which speaks volumes that he is capable of ruling and I want him to have a position worthy of his experience here in my court. I don't want him to feel like he has to hide in the shadows here in Winterfell and I want him seated beside me at the high table for all to see. By the time he recovers we will be preparing for battle and I am planning on formally making him the head of my armies but for the Northern Lords to accept this they need to respect Jaime. While I'm away I pray that they start to.
I hear the sound of a walking stick hitting the ground and look up to see Jaime standing in the doorway. I can't help but smile to myself at how happy he looks to be up and moving again.
"Well this is a lovely surprise", I smile as he walks in and takes a seat, he can only walk so far in his condition.
"My wife is leaving for Dragonstone tomorrow and gods know when she'll be back, I want to spend as much time with her as possible before she goes"
I know he's still very worried about me going but he's accepted it. He knows how stubborn I am and he's not the first person to say that fighting me is a battle that can't be won.
I reach across the table and hold his hand.
"I know you are worried but I assure you I will be fine", I say bringing his hand to my lips and kissing it. I take a good look at him and wonder how long it's been since he's shaved. His hair's grown a considerable amount and he's started to grow a beard. I purse my lips to keep from laughing.
"What?" he asks playfully.
"You're starting to look like a real Northerner", I laugh and he's shaking his head as he laughs with me.
"Do you want me to shave?"
"No", I say quickly, Gods I love his hair long, I've been waiting for it to grow back out and I've grown very fond of him with facial hair, he'd look odd without it now "I've always liked your hair longer and I really like you with a bit of a beard so don't you dare shave"
He eyes shine with amusement as he looks up at me.
"Are you ordering me to not shave your Grace", he teases and bursts out laughing as I scrunch my face up at him. He finally seems happy here in the North.
"Your hair's a lot darker than it used to be", I notice deciding not to mention the greyness but I barely notice it. To me he just grows more handsome every day and sometimes I look at him and feel like the lovesick girl I was when I met him.
"And more grey", he adds anyways.
"You're starting to look more like a wolf than a golden lion", I say proudly. He really has changed these past few years. If Father and Robb saw him now they might even like him.
"My golden lion days are long behind me", he laughs. I lean across the table and kiss him sweetly.
"Winters here and it's a time for the wolves anyways", I tell him as I kiss the back of his hand.
"It's getting late", he says looking out the window at the setting sun.
"I have a few more things to take care of then I'll meet you at dinner", I promise and he kisses my knuckles and stands up with less trouble than usual.
"Don't work too hard, you have a long trip ahead of you", he reminds me.
"How can I forget with everyone reminding me", I laugh and he finds his way out.
I take one last look over everything, making sure everything is taken care of for Sansa. I know she will be fine but I still worry about leaving the North in anyone else's hands with the state it's still in. At least Littlefinger is dead and Sansa won't have to worry about him or any men like him trying to take power while I'm gone. She and Jaime will take care of the North.