The Lion and the Warrior

Leaving Kings Landing

Jon and Daenerys walked into the room. There was still smoke and dust in the air. Daenerys looked down at Cersei and at Jaime who stood staring at his sister's lifeless body almost as if he were in disbelief. He looked over at Daenerys and back at Cersei, and without pause, he pulled his sword from twin sister's body.

"The Seven Kingdoms are yours." He said without emotion. He began to walk away but Daenerys stopped him.

"Ser Jaime." He turned to look at her, obviously trying to avoid looking at Cersei's body again. "I don't know what to say. Thank you seems a terrible thing to say at this time...and I'm sorry is..."

"Neither is necessary, Your Grace. With your permission, I would like to return to Winterfell."

"Of course, but wouldn't you like to stay the night and rest?"

"Respectfully Your Grace, I've given my word to return immediately. I'd like to just...keep my word on that."

"Safe travels, Ser Jaime."

He nodded and walked away.

Jaime had a long ride ahead of himself. Perhaps too long for his weary, aching body and the thoughts running wild inside his head. He had no regrets, as what he did was necessary. Cersei was never going to surrender and give up her throne. He remembered his conversation with Olenna Tyrell and thought that maybe she was right; Cersei was a disease. He knew it since their childhood. Cersei was dangerous, hateful, and cruel and yet, she was his pleasure, passion, peace, and his pain. She manipulated everyone including him. She would lie to him and punish him for things beyond his control. Over the last few years, it was as though Cersei no longer loved. Looking into her eyes became like looking into a black abyss of hatred as cold as her heart.

His thoughts drifted to Brienne. Brienne the Beauty as she was referred to with sarcasm. She could be dangerous, hateful, and cruel but only when her sword was drawn. Never for her own gain - never for her own selfish wants or needs. He could see beyond the armor and into her heart. She was the only person in the Seven Kingdoms that could match him in a sword fight. And it was actually a turn on.

He liked what he saw in her. So she was a quarter inch taller than he was. She had a way about her. She had wavy, pale yellow hair and smooth creamy skin. Her rosy cheeks were cute and just a little puffy. Her lips were the color of dark pink roses. Those eyes though...they were like sapphires and he could look into them forever.

Jaime was already tired and weak when he left Kings Landing. He had been riding for hours and felt as though he'd fall from horse if he didn't stop. He found a squirrel to kill and roast, and after eating, he passed out from exhaustion. He slept two hours past sunrise. When he woke, his body was stiff, his clothes were sticking to him and the first person he thought of was Brienne. He splashed water on his face from the creek, peed, and got on his horse. He was determined to make it to Winterfell in less than a month.

Alone on the road and nothing to do but think, he wondered what he would have become if he had never met Brienne of Tarth. If he hadn't tried to save her from Locke and his men, he would still have his hand. If he had never jumped into that bear pit...well let's face it, they saved each other that day. All of that was worth it. He found something in himself that he had forgotten and he found someone who loved him.

Weeks became days and days finally became hours and in just a few, he would be at the gates of Winterfell. He began to feel dizzy. He was feeling weaker than before, but he should have been healing and getting better. Still, he wasn't giving up and he wasn't going to stop.