The Wolf and The Lion || Jaime Lannister

Sixty Six

Rayna

It is late in the evening when Tyrion and I arrive in Riverrun accompanied by half a dozen of my guards. It's been so long since I've seen Jaime and for a while I was certain I'd never see him again. I don't know whether I'll yell at him for charging the dragon or kiss him for it.
"Does Jaime know we're arriving tonight?" Tyrion asks and I suppose that there's no better time than now to tell him.
"He knows I am arriving soon", I say and Tyrion pieces it together and comes to a halt on his horse.
"Did you seriously not tell him that I am coming with you?"
"Yes", I confess knowing there is no way around it "It is a surprise"
"An unpleasant one for both of us", he comments and I know he isn't thrilled about being here but surprisingly Daenerys and I agreed on something for once, and it was that him and Jaime need to talk.
"Look, if I told Jaime you were coming he'd sit and think about everything that's happened and he would have made his mind up before he even saw you", I say trying to rationalise my decision which may not have been the best in hindsight but I know if Jaime knew that Tyrion was coming he'd try to find some way to get out of seeing him. "You both need to face each other"
"Rayna, I know you want us to reconcile but it's not that simple", he says and I know he's afraid of how Jaime will react to him which is why it's better if Jaime doesn't know he's coming. He won't have time to think and let his anger build up and get the better of him. If he's angry hopefully it'll be at me and not Tyrion.
"When Robb and I fought in Winterfell our mother would lock us in a room together until we sorted things out", I remember fondly. I'm surprised she didn't lock us up together when we fought over Jaime, she was probably worried some blood would be spilt if she did.
"Yes but Jaime and I aren't children and he hates me because I murdered our father not because we had a petty argument" he says and we both know how difficult it will be.
"Look, I'll take care of Jaime", I assure him as we reach the gates. I don't see any Lannister soldiers so I assume that Jaime sent them North as I asked. I'm sure Riverrun is very relieved by that.
"Who are ya?" The man at the drawbridge asks groggily.
"Rayna Stark of Winterfell, my uncles are expecting me", I reply and he goes a shade paler.
"My Queen", he says bowing down awkwardly as he lets me past.
Tyrion and I walk past and he asks "The people of Riverrun, they aren't part of the North but they see you as Queen?"
"My uncle the Blackfish was one of the Lords who declared me Queen, so technically I'm not just the Queen in the North-"
"But Queen of the Trident", he finishes knowing the history of the Riverlands "Why don't you use the title?"
"Because declaring myself Queen of any kingdom other than the North makes me an even bigger target for Cersei and Daenerys", I answer truthfully "And how can I be Queen of a land that is foreign to me?"
"Daenerys is", he replies and then realises just how different her and I are.
"I may be the Queen of the Riverlands just as Robb was their King but it is a dangerous claim to have with two Queens also claiming it as theirs".
I am a Tully by blood and therefore have a blood claim to the Riverlands. They proclaimed me as their Queen just as they proclaimed Robb their King, the Blackfish certainly sees me as their queen but Edmure is a tad more reluctant but well that's Edmure. He didn't respect Robb as much as he should have and he doesn't respect me as much as he should considering that I'm the reason he still has Riverrun.
We enter inside the castle and I have to force a smile as I am greeted by Edmure and not by uncle Bryden.
"Uncle", I smile as I approach him but he doesn't look very pleased.
"Your Grace", he responds stiffly as he looks at Tyrion "You bring more Lannisters"
Ah yes. How can I forget the Riverlands hatred Lannister's. They were enemies on the battlefield several years ago to be fair and for good reason, not to mention the siege but ever since being declared Queen I have tried to establish that the Lannister's are no longer our enemies. Only Cersei.
"Lord Tyrion is a dear friend, as I've said before and I will say again, the only Lannister that is our enemy is Cersei", I remind him but he still isn't pleased, I didn't expect any less.
"Lord Edmure, I don't believe that we've met", Tyrion says extending his hand but Edmure doesn't take it and instead he turns to me looking down upon me.
"The Kingslayer shows up here with a Lannister army and you expect us to just accept them", he scolds as if I'm a child and now I understand why Robb would get so frustrated with him.
"Yes", I reply coldly "Those soldiers bent the knee to me, they are loyal not just to Lord Jaime but to me"
"The last time a Lannister army marched on Riverrun was to retake it", he says and I see he's forgotten how the siege ended.
"You would do well to remember that it was my husband, a Lannister who ended the siege, and that the Rivermen and the Lannister's fought beside each other in the battle of the bastards", I remind him "But wait sorry you didn't fight in the battle, it was our uncle who did, and the same one retook the Riverlands for you"
"Now that's my Queen", a proud voice says and I look up to see uncle Bryden entering "Edmure you should remember that she is your Queen and the reason you are sitting in this castle and not in a fucking cell"
The Blackfish stands beside Edmure and I'm slightly amused at how weak Edmure looks next to him.
"You truly are Catelyns daughter, and Robbs sister", he says proudly "Don't worry, this isn't the first time I've had to remind my nephew who he answers to"
Edmure looks offended but he swallows his pride in the presence of our uncle.
Brynden was loyal to Robb until the very end. He and I both escaped that wedding, he saw the same slaughter I did.
"Uncle thank you for providing a safe place for my men to stay on such short notice", I thank him.
"Well, it sure was a surprise to see Lannister's marching on Riverrun and even more surprising to see your husband leading them but I remember that they rode to fight for you in the battle of the bastards, my nephew may not remember but as you pointed out, I certainly remember"
The Blackfish always had a reputation as a cold, hard man but he loved my Mother, he loved Robb and he served them well just as he now loves and serves me.
"I am glad to see you Uncle", I smile "It's been a long journey and I will be leaving tomorrow to return to Dragonstone"
His expression turns serious as he asks "Have you bent the knee to the dragon queen?"
"Never", I promise then I look at Tyrion who I've never seen so uncomfortable "Lord Tyrion is my brother by law now and he is Daenerys's advisor"
"So why is he here?"
"To see my brother apparently", Tyrion says stiffly, they both know what he did to Tywin. Everyone in the seven kingdoms knows.
"Well Ser Jaime is in his rooms, he doesn't come out very much, I think he's a little afraid", Brynden says in amusement then he bends down and lowers his voice "Don't tell him this but I don't think he's that bad"
"That means a lot coming from you", I say surprised that the Blackfish of all people would be the most accepting "After the siege I didn't expect you to like him"
"I wouldn't say I like him but I respect him, he's a commander and we fought beside each other on the battlefield, I respect him far more than most men", he says and that seems more like the Blackfish I remember.
"I'm glad, he is an honourable man", I smile but I'm becoming impatient "Now where is my husband I'm eager to see him"
"Where you stayed last time you were here", he says and I remember that the last time I was here it was when I was reunited with my mother and Robb, where I defended Jaime to them.
"Thank you".

Tyrion and I walk through the halls and he struggles to keep up as I walk faster, my heart racing as I know Jaime is near.
As we turn the corner I nearly run into Bronn.
"Well I'll be fucked, Tyrion Lannister", he says as he sees Tyrion half hiding behind me, petrified of seeing Jaime.
"Bronn excellent, take Tyrion to your room", I say quickly "I'll bring Jaime to see him soon"
"Yes, please take me", Tyrion says to Bronn.
"I'll give him a few drinks", Bronn says to me knowing they'll be needed as he leads him away.
I half run to Jaimes room and I don't bother knocking as I open the door.
He is sitting at the table removing his golden hand when his head jerks up, startled.
"What-" he begins then falls quiet as he abruptly stands as he sees me.
"Jaime", I whisper breathlessly as I run into his arms and he lifts me off my feet while I hold onto him tightly. I run my fingers through his hair as I breathe him in. Jaime.
"Rayna" he breathes clinging to me just as tightly and for a moment neither of us say anything. I just bury my face in his neck and hold him. He lets me down as he struggles to hold me up with his one hand and I look up at his face. He's shaved since I last saw him, he has stubble rather than the half grown beard I last saw him with in Winterfell. I grasp his face and run my thumb over his coarse cheek. In the light I can see the golden strands in his hair and I memorise him in this moment.
"You great golden fool", I mumble as I check him over for any wounds "You are a reckless brave and selfless fool and I love you for it"
The love in his eyes makes my heart ache but I remain strong until he says "You were at the battle, you saw what happened"
"I thought you were dead", I whisper my voice cracking and tears filling my eyes "I thought you were dead"
He pulls me back into his arms and kisses the top of my head as he soothes me.
"I thought you were dead Jaime"
"I'm here, I promised you that I'd never leave you again"
I smile through the tears and look up at the man I love "Oathkeeper"
He takes my hand in his and kisses it roughly as he strokes my cheek and then our lips are colliding as we kiss each other desperately.
There is so much we need to discuss but none of it matters. In this moment him and I are the only people that matter.
We walk backwards to the bed as we begin pulling at each other's clothes and I want to be as close to him as physically possible. I want to feel him inside of me. I want to feel nothing but him.
We fall back onto the bed and he's running his hand up my leg as he whispers "Stay with me, come home with me"
"I can't", I whisper painfully as I begin to remember "There is a reason I came"
"It can wait until later", he says breathlessly as he kisses my neck and runs his hand over my breast and as much as I want him the weight of guilt is stopping me.
"Jaime", I say quietly as I remember why I'm here. As I remember who I came with.
"What's wrong", he asks, his hand caressing the side of my face and I sit up and take his hand in mine.
"I didn't come here just to see you, I came because I need to ask you something"
"If this is because Bran is in Winterfell-" he begins and I realise that it's been playing on his mind. I can hear the pain in his voice as he says his name.
"No", I say gently "Jaime, Daenerys is considering helping us with the whitewalkers, Jons in the North know trying to capture one to bring south as proof"
"Considering?", he asks and I know there's no point playing with words and trying to avoid what I need to ask him.
"She won't take her troops North since Cersei could move in, she wants an armistice with Cersei to discuss a truce"
"A truce?" He scoffs and I know how impossible it's sounds "Cersei will never agree to it, she wouldn't even consider it"
"No, but she might if you asked her?" I say reluctantly.
He looks away speechless and I know he is as happy about this as I am.
He doesn't question me as he says "Alright, I'll send a raven"
I hang my head as I say "She'llthink forged or it-" I begin then I cut myself off, unable to try to convince him to do this. I don't want him to do this
"You aren't asking me to go south to Cersei?" he asks in disbelief and I can't do this. This wasn't my idea, if they want him to go south then Tyrion can convince him to do it himself. I am a Queen not a fucking messenger.
"Jaime there is someone you need to see"