Of Captive Hearts

Chapter 3

They had ridden for hours. The sun was beginning to slip behind the distant mountain peaks as Jaime pulled the horse to a stop in a small secluded clearing. He had kept them off the main roads, fearful that they would be visible to Cersei's forces. He was certain her soldiers were already searching for them. Brienne had not spoken since they had left Kings Landing. She had sat forward of him, trembling in the saddle. More pains had gripped her belly as they traveled. Jaime had felt Brienne tense in his arms as each one had taken hold. At first she tried to fight against the spasms, holding her breath as if she could make them stop. Then he could sense her long, slow, heavy sighs during the last few, as she realized there was no use. It was obvious to both of them that her labor had begun. Jaime wondered bitterly if it had been the skirmish in the throne room that had brought on her time.

Pensively, Jaime climbed down from his mount, scanning the vicinity in every direction. Nervous with concern for her, he was hardly able to breath himself as he gently helped Brienne to the ground. He made certain she was steady on her feet before removing his supportive grip from her arm. She braced herself against the horse's side, her face already wearing the fear of an expectant mother preparing to bring her child into the world.

"Why are we stopping?" Brienne questioned uneasily.

"I need to find something for you to eat." Jaime explained softly. "To keep up your strength." He tried to smile at her.

Brienne shook her head. "I'm not hungry." She told him, her expression showed the nausea her stomach was feeling.

Jaime grew even more worried. "But we don't know when we'll get another chance." He reminded her.

She looked at him incredulously. "I've barely been fed for months." She said with a sneer. "We will be fine." She rested her hand atop her swollen abdomen, her eyes lovingly gazing at her child before returning her view coldly to Jaime.

His offer denied, Jaime searched urgently for something he could propose to care for her needs. "Rest then, for a moment." He suggested, motioning toward a pile of fallen timber a few feet away. How he wished it were a stack of down pillows. Eager to sooth her strained muscles, Brienne accepted.

Jaime took her arm gently and led her toward a log that sat next to a tree so she could rest her back as well. Helping her to sit, he then took a place on stump a few feet away. Brienne leaned heavily on the rough bark covered trunk. The scratching of the wood through her garment was almost a welcome distraction from the pains that had been mounting in her abdomen. She leaned her head back, closing her eyes and letting out a long deep exhale, her hands encircling her belly.

"Are you alright?" Jaime questioned, distressed. Brienne bravely nodded without opening her eyes. The tension between them was unbearable.

With her eyelids still tightly shut, Brienne spoke. "Why are we traveling west?" She questioned. She had seen they were heading in the direction of the setting sun.

"What?" Jaime whispered. He had not had time to make a plan for escape. His only concern was to get Brienne to safety. In his mind, that had meant the one place he knew Cersei would now never go.

Brienne opened her eyes and regarded Jaime with trepidation. "You are not taking me to Tarth." Her statement was more of an accusation than a inquiry.

"That's the first place they will look." Jaime shook his head sympathetically, understanding that of course Brienne would want to go home to her father.

"I'm taking you to the only place I know Cersei will not follow." Jaime announced. Brienne's brows rose with curiosity. "Casterly Rock." He finished.

Brienne's heart sank, as her chin rose defiantly. "The Lannister stronghold." She confirmed, making it seem more an enemy fortress than a safe haven, or a home. Her suspicions were growing with each word he spoke.