The Legacy

Part 11

Viserra enjoyed the time spent with ser Jaime more than she had expected. He had known Elaena since they were children. Jaime was telling Viserra about the time he and Elaena jumped off the cliffs at Casterly Rock.

"Dangerous yes but your mother was always the type to face her fears. You see Elaena was afraid of heights."

"My mother was afraid of heights?" Viserra interrupted.

"Oh yes when she would climb the towers here in King'a Landing, and she would never look out of the windows or back down the steps. When she was just about 4 namedays old she had slipped down the steps of Maegor's Holdfast and cut her brow just here." Jaime motioned to his left brow. "It was a small cut but big enough to leave a scar and a fear of heights."

"And so her solution was to jump off of a cliff?" Viserra chuckled.

"Yes, we were near the edge of the cliffs watching the Sunset Sea. Then she got off her horse and said 'I've had enough, I'm going to jump.' Of course when I heard that I thought she was talking about ending her life, which had me scared shitless and I pulled her back from the edge. Then she turned to me and asked me to jump with her. She was ready to conquer her fear and trusted me enough to do it with her." Jaime smiled at the memory. "and so she took my hand together we jumped."

"Did it work? Did it cure her fear?" Viserra prompted.

"Yes, afterward we felt invincible. We had nothing to fear, well until we found out Cersei told my father." The pair shared a laugh and Viserra's grew serious.

"She doesn't like me, the queen." She stayed and look at Jaime for confirmation.

"You reminder her of someone, and old wounds don't heal so easily when it comes to my sister." Jaime spoke the truth, but he was uncertain himself of who he was referring to. Yes, Viserra did share similarities to her aunt Lyanna the women Robert went to war for and never loved anyone since. Yet Cersei also saw Elaena, the woman who stole her brother's heart and then broke it. Either one of these reflections could be the reason why Cersei disliked Viserra, and to see both of them mirrored in one was enough to make any woman mad.

"It's her problem to overcome, not mine." Viserra's strong tone impressed Jaime and only furthered his admiration for her. "If you excuse me ser Jaime I have to see a blacksmith. Thank you truly, I hope one day soon you can tell me more about my mother." Viserra pulled her horse around.

"Of course my lady." Jaime gave a slight bow and watched her ride off. Viserra looked back at Jaime who had became lost in an old memory of when was in his teens.

"Why does your sister hate me?"
"She doesn't hate you Elaena, she hates that we spend time together without her".
"Well, we wouldn't spend time without her if she didn't hate me". Elaena jumped on a rock and lost her balance but Jaime caught her. "You're a better when she's not around, have you noticed? You're much kinder when she's not whispering poison in your ear."
"Don't say that about her. I'm all she has." Jaime let go of Elaena.
"I didn't mean to upset you." Elaena looked at her friend. "Come let's see if Cersei wants to join us." Elaena jumped on her horse and waited for him to mount his. She rode ahead and looked back at Jaime.

The same conversation and look he saw again in Viserra. He started to feel what he hadn't felt in years, guilt. Guilt for still loving Elaena. Guilt for loving Cersei. Finally, guilt for wanting to be closer to Viserra. For his whole life two women have had his heart, and now he began to yearn for a third.

The sun had started to set and Viserra feeling excited about hearing stories about her mother wanted to tell someone, anyone. She couldn't talk to her uncle because it would mean telling him she spent time with Jaime Lannister, and she was still upset at his behavior this morning. Her younger cousins weren't an option, they wouldn't understand. Only person she really wanted to tell was Jon but for the moment she settled for Gendry. She wanted to talk to Gendry and apologize for her uncle's behavior. She approached the shop to see Gendry finishing for the day. She hoped he wouldn't blame her for the way he was treated.