CHAPTER 4 | ONE DAY

ROBB Stark marched through his camp with anger in his eyes. Anyone could see it in his heated gaze. His wife, Freya, was waiting for him in his mother's tent, and – gods, he didn't know what he would say to Catelyn. He was so ... angry. He was so angry that he could tear out his own hair and wouldn't care. His feet smashed into the ground with each step, and Lord Karstark followed beside him.

"Useless, old woman," Karstark grumbled. "What does she know of the troubles of war? Who does she think she is?"

Robb tried to keep his focus ahead as he replied, "I don't know."

"Gods," the lord spat, "this is why women shouldn't be involved in war."

Robb halted his movements. He turned to face the lord beside him and put a hand on his shoulder. "Excuse me?" He quirked a brow upward. "Why would you say that? I may be angry with my mother, but you, my Lord, do not have the right."

"I say it because it's the truth!"

"You know very well how involved Freya Greyjoy is in this war." Robb argued. "She fights beside me in battle, and conducts all our war strategies. Women do belong in this war, and my mother making a wrong decision doesn't change that."

Lord Karstark didn't reply, leaving Robb to continue his walk. "Now, let's find my mother."

Karstark followed his King, but that didn't stop him from mumbling, "Says the man who doesn't love his own wife."

•••

They rode horses out of Robb Stark's camp in the dead of night. Soon enough, Laila, Brienne, and the Kingslayer hit a forest. Laila rode her own horse, while Brienne was stuck riding with the Kingslayer strapped to her back. She was distraught at the choice.

Laila didn't know how she felt. She was a bit angry that she had been put in such a situation by Catelyn, but her lady encouraged her that no harm would come their way. Laila begged to differ, and predicted that Robb's banner men were probably in pursuit of them at this second. He would never let his prisoner get away. She was obviously in the way of him, but like always, she trusted Catelyn. This didn't mean she didn't carry her trusted dagger on her person though.

Once they hit a clearing in the woods, Brienne advised that they make the rest of the trek by foot. Laila agreed, thinking they wouldn't be as easy to spot. The handmaiden brushed her horse's mane back before tapping its body, which made the horse run off. Brienne hopped down from her horse, leaving Jaime to fall down into the ground, face-first. She allowed her horse to sprint away as well.

Jaime groaned as he hit the dirt. He rolled around, a sack covering his vision. Brienne rolled her eyes as Laila kicked the Kingslayer's boot. "Get up," she said, but Jaime only replied in another groan.

Brienne pulled the sack from his head, causing Jaime to squint. He looked up at Brienne as Laila tapped her foot due to impatience. "You're much uglier in the daylight," he commented, glancing to Laila. "You're alright, I guess, for a handmaiden."

Laila and Brienne viewed at each other. Brienne then hoisted Jaime upward as he asked, "What's your name?"

Laila took the lead, allowing the others to follow her through the clearing in the woods. She pushed back branches that were in her way. Her feet crushed the pine needles littering the grass.

"I'm Jaime Lannister of Casterly Rock," he introduced, his shackles making him trudge through the mud. Brienne hooked a chain on the shackles. "Son of Tywin."

Neither of the ladies answered. Laila was more focused on finding a way out of the forest. She had never been too good with maps.

"A captive knight has a right to know his captors' identities," Jaime reminded.

"Brienne of Tarth," the lady knight said.

Jaime pondered for a moment. "Tarth, Tarth, Tarth ... Crescent moons and starbursts." He paused again. "Lord ... Selwyn Tarth, your father. Do you have any brothers and sisters, my Lady?"

Brienne rolled her eyes, refusing to answer. Laila didn't hold a branch enough, and it ended up slapping Jaime right in the face. She looked over her shoulder, barely trying to stifle a laugh. Jaime's brow creased towards the handmaiden. "What about you? What is your name?"

Laila continued her walk. She felt her hands form into fists.

"It's a long way to King's Landing, ladies." Jaime said, and Laila could almost feel his smirk. "Might as well get to know each other."

"Laila," she finally replied. "My name is Laila Ryswell."

Jaime lofted a brow. "Of the Rills? What is a Ryswell doing as a handmaiden for the Starks?"

"That's what happens when your father marries a lowborn and his family doesn't approve." She looked back, pointing a finger. "Family abandons you sometimes. Surely, you know about that, Kingslayer."

Jaime grinned on the inside, while outside he remained stoic. She had wits, and he liked that.

Laila pushed past another tree, and she had to cover her eyes from the arriving sunrise. Her path led them to the edge of a river. A boat was seated on the shore, and she guessed it was for another family. Too bad they were going to take it.

"Have you known many men?" Jaime asked Laila with a sneer. "Hmm, with your job? I suppose not. Women? Horses?"

Brienne shoved him to the ground, looking past the bush besides the river. Laila followed her movements, lifting the bush's leaves to see the bridge that overlooked the river just a twenty feet from where they stood. She kicked Jaime out of the way to get a better look.

"I didn't mean to give offense, my Ladies. Forgive me."

Brienne scoffed, "Your crimes are past forgiveness, Kingslayer."

"Why do you two hate me so much?" Jaime sighed. "Have I ever harmed either of you? I've never done anything to you."

Laila turned and glared at him. "You've harmed others."

"Those you were sworn to protect," Brienne added, watching a peasant cart ride across the bridge. "The weak, the innocent."

Jaime frowned. "Has anyone ever told you, you're as boring as you are ugly?"

Brienne pulled him up again. "You will not provoke me to anger."

"I already have. Look at you!" He was pushed to the side as Brienne readied the boat. Laila held his chain. "You're ready to chop my head off."

Laila fought against Jaime's movements and tried her best to keep him still. "Do you think you could?" He asked. "Do you think you could beat me in a fair fight?"

Brienne tugged on the boat and brought it forward. "I've never seen you fight."

"The answer is no." Jaime laughed. "There are three men in the kingdoms who might have a chance against me. You're not one of them."

"Shut up, Kingslayer," Laila exhaled angrily, yanking on the chain to annoy him.

Brienne pushed the boat into the water. "All my life men like you have sneered at me, and all my life I've been knocking men like you into the dust."

"If you're so confident, unlock my chains. Let's see what happens."

The female knight looked up with an annoyed expression. "Do you take me for an idiot?" She gestured for him to sit in the boat. "In."

Jaime slowly stepped into the boat and sat down in the middle. Both Laila and Brienne held it steady. "I took you for a fighter, a man – pardon – woman of honor. Was I wrong? You're afraid."

Laila took the seat right in back of Jaime and dusted off her skirt. "What did I say?" She snarled, knocking the back of his head. "Shut up!"

Jaime rolled his eyes as Brienne took the head seat of the boat. She handed Laila an oar and held one herself. Brienne pushed the boat off the marsh's edge and the two women began to paddle into the river.

Brienne grinned falsely towards Jaime. "Maybe one day we'll find out, Kingslayer."