Haunted

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Jaime had wanted to speak with Brienne about James' behavior the evening before, but they got distracted. It was a very welcome distraction, and they really needed the time together, but this morning, the feelings of dread and sorrow filled Jaime's heart again. He walked in the garden, with his thoughts swirling. Perhaps he was making more of this than he needed, but he knew he should speak with his wife about their son. He found her alone in the stable with Maximus, who was enjoying carrots while Brienne brushed him. Jaime stood for a moment, leaning on a wooden column, ankles crossed, arms folded, watching his wife care for the horse he bought for her when Eliana was born. She looks so cute, he thought, that hair, always a perfect wavy mess.

Brienne caught a glimpse of him out of the corner of her eye, and looked over at him. He is fifteen years older than she is, but he doesn't show his age. He looked like he was her age, 34. He was still as handsome as when she first laid eyes on him and although his hair was a bit darker, the sun still picked up the many strands of gold. His face was smooth-shaven and his green eyes seemed to sparkle.

"Are you going to stand there, or are you going to kiss me?" she asked.

"I was just wishing I was Maximus. He's getting treats and he's got your hands all over him."

"Jealous of a horse. I love it!"

He walked over to her and gave her a peck on the cheek and then looked around stable.

"What are you doing? We're not having a go at it in the stables again, that was not comfortable. And itchy," she laughed.

"No...I wish. We need to talk about to James. And I wanted to be sure we were alone," he said.

"What's the matter?" She continued to brush the horse as Jaime fed him the rest of the carrots.

"Did you notice the look in his eyes last night when Raider kissed Rhaella's hand?"

"I did. And my heart stopped beating."

Jaime turned away from his wife and stood silent for a while. It was like a dagger in his heart; hearing that from her was like it solidified everything he was thinking. If he, Tyrion, and Brienne all saw it and felt the same, how could he be wrong?

After several moments, Brienne walked up behind him, crossed her arms around his chest and kissed his cheek. She could feel him holding his breath. "Breathe, Jai. It's going to be alright," she whispered. He swallowed hard. She knew he was upset. Finally, he took a breath, "What have I done?" He reached for her hand.

"Nothing, Jaime, what do you mean? You've done nothing wrong."

"That's just so hard to believe. You don't know." He turned and looked at her with a deep sadness in his eyes.

"He is not like her. He will never be like her."

"There is part of me that knows and understands that, and a part of me fears that if he is, we could never help him. He's a Lannister. You don't know what she was capable of. You don't know the things Joffrey was capable of."

"Alright, alright." She held on to him.

"I talked to Tyrion last night."

"He saw it too?"

"He did. I need to talk to my son..."

"Our son. He has my blood in him too, he's not all Lannister."

"I know. Several years ago, when we met up with Bronn in the market...Bronn said to him, 'I know your daddy, your Uncle Tyrion, and your Aunt Cersei', and when James heard her name he put his hand on his sword and backed away as if he knew that knowing Cersei wasn't a good thing. And now, I find myself in a position where I have to tell him about my sister and who she was, the things she's done and...that she wasn't just my sister. He's going to hear about it, and it may as well be from me."

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