The Lion and the Warrior

Swordplay

It has been two years since Jaime and Brienne made their decision to stay in King's Landing. The six kingdoms are flourishing and they have a wonderful ally with Queen Sansa Stark in the North, since Queen Daenerys and King Aegon (a.k.a. Jon) made the North an independent kingdom. The people are happy and satisfied that Jon is the true heir to the throne, and he rules fair and just. Darkness no longer overshadows their great kingdom; it is full of light and hope. Princess Rhaella is well-known around the kingdom, as she is often seen with the king and queen visiting around town and bringing gifts to those less fortunate; since Brienne is Lord Commander of the Royal Guard, she and James often accompany them. Even when Brienne doesn't go out with them, and other members of the Royal Guard go in her place, James insists on joining them.

The children are inseparable, even when they are not attending lessons with the master, learning about the history of the kingdoms, current events, and the all important subjects of reading, writing, and arithmetic. They also attend riding lessons, archery lessons, agriculture lessons, etiquette lessons and of course, James is learning the art of sword fighting from Jon, Brienne, and Jaime. All three? Yes, all three, because if you're going to be the absolute best in Westeros, you must learn from the best three - not just one of the three.

James and Rhaella sat eating lunch under a large gazebo.

"This is so unfair," Rhaella said to James.

"What?"

"You get to learn sword fighting and I don't."

"I didn't know you wanted to learn. I can teach you. It's easy."

"Well, yes its easy James, you're using a wooden sword."

"I won't be using a wooden sword forever."

"Do you even have a real sword?"

"Nope."

"When will you get one?"

"I don't know. Here take these grapes, see if you can throw one into my mouth," he opened wide and Rhaella stood back and started throwing grapes into his mouth.

Jon and Jaime stood watching for about five minutes and then they had enough.

"You're failing miserably, please stop! This is embarrassing." Jon said.

"Daddy! What are you doing here?" Rhaella asked.

Jon looked at Jaime, "We thought we were here to take you two riding for the afternoon but it looks like you need grape throwing lessons."

"Ser Jaime, stand back please. Open up." The children looked at each other with wide eyes and big smiles. Jon threw a grape and hit Jaime's cheek, he threw another and hit his forehead, but on the third try, he finally made it into his mouth. The children cheered and clapped.

"Okay, don't I get a turn?" Jaime made a grape into Jon's mouth on the first try. "I'm not even left handed."

"Lannister luck!" said Jon, smiling.

"Come on, your horses are waiting."

It was important to Jon and Jaime to spend as much time with their children as possible. They always had a good time, but it also meant that their children were constantly learning. No matter how much fun they had, the children were always learning, without even knowing that there was a lesson involved.

The foursome took a break under a tree. Jaime and Jon both took their scabbards (sword belts) off and laid them at their sides while they sat under a tree and let the children run around. James and Rhaella danced and held hands while spinning and laughing.