CHAPTER 8 | PROPER DUEL

BRIENNE had them up early the next morning. She ended up taking watch over the night when Laila couldn't stay up any longer. Though she had slept, the bags underneath both Laila and Brienne's eyes were apparent.

As Laila guided the two by the edge of the river, she tried to listen to the flow of the water intently. Although, she was somehow still perplexed by Jaime's words from the night before. She didn't want to ask again, in fear that she was becoming consistent – and why would she fear his reaction anyways? – but she was simply confused. There was no reason for him to trust her with his life and tribulations with his twin sister, Cersei. So why had he said it? Recalling the story he told her last night made her feel disgusted, but also sad.

Laila looked over her shoulder at him. He hung his down as he walked, which was a complete contrast to how high he thought of himself when he rode into Winterfell ages ago. Yes, Laila thought, sad is the best word for his situation.

Brienne made them stop in the cover of the brush to stare out at the river. Laila looked up at the bridge, which was completely barren. It was still a risk to cross it in broad daylight. Maybe they should've crossed it last night, but the three were too tired.

"It's a tough decision," Jaime said softly, "take the bridge and risk being seen or cross the great water –"

"Silence, Kingslayer," Brienne ordered.

Jaime shrugged. "Anyone can see us on the bridge, but cross by water and the current could take us ... or I could escape down the river."

"Good luck with that," Laila snorted, before then glancing towards the two. "Wait, could the current really take us?"

"Do you not know how to swim?" He asked.

Laila stared at her shoes. "Not exactly."

Jaime began to grin at the two women. "It's wonderful to watch you both wrestle with these dilemmas. Which will they choose?"

Laila frowned, "Is there a way for us to find a –?"

"We're taking the bridge," Brienne interrupted, already pulling the Kingslayer forward.

Laila sighed heavily, following the two at the edge of the water, watching it lick at the grassy sides. They began to trudge up the hill that led to the bridge, and just being in daylight was already terrifying. Laila took the lead again, massaging her hands up her arms due to the shiver in the air. "Gambler at heart," Jaime muttered from behind. "Wouldn't have guessed.

Brienne pushed him forward. "Be quick about it."

The bridge was fairly long, and it took a bit to walk across it. The soil underneath was dark and littered with fresh rain. Weeds grew on the sides of the stones. Just as they were halfway across the bridge, Laila heard Jaime groan from behind. She turned to see him sitting down on the side of the bridge. She put her hands on her lips.

"I need to rest," he complained.

Brienne looked off. "Get up!"

"I have these – you know – on your feet when you walk too far. What do you call them?"

Laila kicked his leg. "Get up now, Lannister," she seethed through clenched teeth.

"Corns. I never used to get corns." Jaime grumbled. "Of course, I used to ride everywhere. Not march around like a common foot soldier wearing the same shit boots for over a year. This heel is ruined. There's no way –"

Brienne began to hoist him to his feet, but he ended up blindsiding both her and Laila when he dragged a sword from her person as he got up. He immediately cut the chain that was attached to himself. He laughed before grabbing Laila by her side and holding an arm around her neck.

Laila was breathing heavily. Was he going to kill her? He didn't have the sword to her throat; it was being pointed towards Brienne, who unsheathed her other sword. She gripped at his arm around her jugular, struggling to breathe. She tried pulling it off, but his arm became tighter. "Jaime," she stuttered, "don't – you don't want ... to do this."

"I never understood why some knights felt the need to carry two swords," he rambled on.

Brienne held her stance firmly. "Let her go and put down the sword."

Laila and Jaime's eyes met. Regret, that's all she saw again. She pulled on his arm more, but he didn't budge.

"I'll make you a deal," he said, loosening his grip. "I'll let her go, if you give me a proper duel."

Brienne swung out her sword and moved closer. Jaime laughed heartily and released Laila, allowing her to fall to the ground. Laila groaned as her whole body hit the dirt. She choked slightly on the air being gathered into her lungs, and it was refreshing.

Jaime moved around Brienne in a circle. He turned his back to her for a moment, and when he spun, he tried to strike. He then chuckled, as if it were a joke. "Oh," he smiled, "you move well ... for a great beast of a woman."

He struck better this time, but Brienne pushed against him. Each move she made counteracted his. She was good, Laila noticed as she began to stand. "You shouldn't grimace before you lunge," Jaime advised. "It gives away the game."

Their swords clashed, igniting a great sound. Metal against metal. Heart against heart. Brienne grunted, but shoved off each blow he tried to make. He struck, but missed. She struck, and then missed. The metal seemed to dull with each crash it made towards another. Soon enough, Jaime tried to strike from below, but Brienne caught him. He grinned towards her.

Laila decided this was the only time to intervene. She stepped in the middle of them, arms outstretched. "What the hell is the matter with both of you?!" She looked between them, her eyes forming into slits. "Put the swords down, so we can be on our way to King's Landing."

"Over my dead body," Brienne snarled.

"Bit of a quandary for you." Jaime sighed, holding out his sword to the lady knight. "If you kill me, you fail Lady Stark. But if you don't kill me, I'm going to kill you."

He swung again, causing Laila to quickly duck to stop the attack from hurting her. She rolled on the ground and Jaime lunged over her to swing once more at Brienne. Their swords met, and both their bodies hurdled towards each other in a violent manner. She threw him against the side of the bridge, but he got up. She then kicked him in the gut, though Jaime still managed to stand. "See?" He exhaled. "If you were willing to hurt me, you have had me there."

Jaime lunged for Brienne again. He missed her every attack, until she eventually had him cornered against the ledge of the bridge. He sat on the side, holding his sword out at her, as she did to him. Laila stood and leapt forward, immediately grabbing for the end of Jaime's sword. The metal dug into her skin, causing it to bleed, but Laila held the edge of that sword for her damn life. She might not know how to fight herself, but she was going to try to stop this in any way she could.

"Stand down," she commanded.

Jaime didn't move, and instead looked to their right at the sound of horses. Brienne turned her body towards the oncoming group of men, her sword out. Jaime then stood in front of Brienne, beside Laila, and held his sword down. Laila wiped her bloody hand on her sleeve, but it didn't stop the bleeding.

The men were surely from the North. Laila didn't have a doubt about that from their gear. She caught sight of the flags they held: House Bolton. They stared towards the group with silent fear. The men cocked their heads to the side. "Looks like your women are getting the better of you," their leader laughed, "if you can call that a woman."

"We enjoy a good fight. Gets our juices flowing." Jaime jested. "The Flayed Man of House Bolton. A bit gruesome for my taste."

The leader glanced to his men. "You sure he's the one?"

One of the Boltons brought forth the peasant man from the day prior. Laila's eyes went wide. "That's him, alright," the beggar nodded. "I saw him fight at the tourney for Ser Willem Frey's wedding."

Both Laila and Jaime turned to glare at Brienne. "Give the man his silver," the leader ordered.

Jaime sighed as he spun back around to the Bolton men. "Let us go and my father will pay you whatever you want."

"Enough to buy me a new head? If the King in the North hears I had the Kingslayer and let him go, he'll be taking it right off." The Bolton leader gave them a cheeky smile. "I'd rather he takes yours."