CHAPTER 20 | PROMISES AND PROPOSITIONS

THE travel to King's Landing was hard and tedious. It took many days and many nights, but not as much as before, since they were now traveling on the King's Road. They were currently taking camp near the Isle of the Faces, giving Laila a good change of scenery. The whole company was filled with dread and covered in dirt, but that didn't damage their spirits.

Steelshanks and the rest of the banner men slept soundly around a dying fire. Brienne had been standing beside Laila, staring at the sun setting behind the water, before retreating to the fire. She slept against a tree, right beside Jaime. Laila stayed in her place as the sunlight's rays still peaked over the horizon, causing the sky to dwell to a light pink and orange. Nature could be significantly beautiful in it's own ways.

Laila heard a pair of feet crack on a branch behind her, causing her whole body to turn, but when she realized it was only Jaime, she went back to her usual stance. "Oh," she mumbled, "just you."

"Yes, just me." He said as he took the spot beside her. He, too, enjoyed the sight of the sky's coloring this evening, and found himself at peace while watching it with her. But for Laila, the silence was unnerving and full of question.

She glanced at him. "So is this that moment when you expect a big thank you from me, because you were – quite conveniently – me and Brienne's knight in shining armor?" Laila stared at him with interest, but he didn't reply. "Because – um – thank you ... I guess."

Jaime began to grin. "You guess?"

"You know what I mean," she said with a roll of her eyes. "I don't know about Brienne, but I surely wouldn't have made it out alive without you two. I think it's no secret that I'm not the fighting type."

"You stabbed that Stark bannerman's eye pretty well, that one time."

"Lucky shot."

He nodded his head, turning back to the lake in front of them. After a moment, he replied, "You're welcome."

Laila felt comfortable then. The silence was beautiful, mixed with the scenery before them. Life was content, and things were getting back to how they should be. The wind blew their hair back, and it smelt of spring-time flowers and cleanliness – something that both Jaime and Laila didn't smell like at the moment.

Jaime sighed softly to himself. It didn't disturb Laila's thoughts, that was until he said, "I'm going find room for you to live in the Red Keep."

Laila turned to look at him. She quirked a brow upward. "What?" She felt like laughing, as if he said a cruel joke. "I'm Catelyn Stark's handmaiden, not –"

"I know what you are," he interrupted. "But you're also a Ryswell, and that's a name people know of. Regardless if your family abandoned you, you still have your name. You can become a lady of the court."

She looked to Brienne in the distance. "I don't know if I want that." She then viewed back at Jaime, wrinkling her nose. "Why are you offering this to me?"

Jaime reached out, using his only hand to push a stray hair behind Laila's ear. He sighed, staring at her confused face like it was a work of art. "Don't make me say it out loud," he murmured.

Her stare was so enchanting. He felt his insides crash together at the thought of caring for someone other than Cersei, but it felt so right to do so. He realized that maybe this journey brought him luck; it brought him love. He was so grateful to meet the woman that was Laila Ryswell. Jaime knew on the inside that she felt the same; it was in her eyes. She cared for him, even though he was damaged beyond compare, and for that he was thankful. He was so thankful for her.

"Do you ..." She tapped her foot impatiently. Laila frowned, thinking of the words to not make her sound like an idiot. "Do you like me, Jaime Lannister?"

Jaime's brow furrowed. "I think that's why two people kiss, correct?"

Laila rolled her eyes, "Yes, correct."

"Then live in the Red Keep with me."

His expression was one of joy and happiness, while Laila still had a mask of hesitation. "I ..." She wanted to look away from his eyes and face full of grime, but his calloused fingers were holding her chin up. "I can't be a mistress."

"A mistress?" Jaime was chuckling at her question, as if she were dense. Laila took offense to the laughter and began to frown again. "How would you be a mistress?"

She blinked at him. "I thought it was obvious." Before she could stop herself, her hand was tangling itself with his own, and it felt nice and right. His hand was warm, like a lion's fur. "I care for you, Jaime Lannister. Though I should not, and I do not know how it happened, I do. It's nothing you, nor I can control. But your sister is not someone I can compare to, and I do not want to defy her for my hopeless infatuation with you. Not to mention that you're a member of the Kingsguard, who forbid any intimate relationships."

"We keep it a secret."

Laila closed her eyes for a moment. She wanted to relish in the feel of his hand with hers for eternity, but now was not the time. "Let me put it this way for you," she replied. "When you return to King's Landing with me and Brienne beside you, there's already going to be some speculation. But when you meet with Cersei once again, the fire will be rekindled, and everything will be right in the world. You may forget about me the moment you see her, and I will not stand around as a secret whore in the Red Keep. And when Cersei sees me – gods, is she going to be suspicious. I can't do it."

Jaime shook his head. "Don't be so pessimistic. We'll cross that bridge when we come to it."

"No," she said, "we're crossing it now."

They both gave each other a heated stare, but not long after, the two were kissing. As soon as their lips touched, everything was fine and great and grand. There were no problems. There was no Cersei lurking in the background. There was no Tywin scorning Jaime of his sins. There was no past haunting him. There was only Laila and Jaime; the golden lion and the black horse.

"What have you done to me?" Laila whispered when Jaime leaned away. His one hand was locked in her wild curls, pushing them back. She stared at him with wonder. "I have changed. This journey has changed me, and I don't know if it's for better or worse. I didn't think I'd care for a Kingslayer –" her hand went to his cheek "– or a man who saved millions."

Jaime kissed her forehead, and with every touch, it filled a thousand butterflies in her stomach. She was really done for this time.

"I have one condition, if I were to agree to your proposition." She then said, to which Jaime nodded for her to continue. "You must allow Brienne to stay as well, until she wishes to leave."

He sighed, looking at the nearly-gone sunset. His vision then went to Brienne, leaning against a tree while soft snores escaped from her mouth. Laila was looking at him with pleading, dark eyes. "Fine," he replied, "I promise."

"I knew you'd agree," Laila grinned. "You tend to keep your promises to me."