3rd Month of 284 A.C. King's Landing
Ser Jaime Lannister
The sight of Robert Baratheon's body slumped on the floor of the throne room, was an image that Jaime was convinced he would never forget, the Demon of the God's Eye, was dead. Gone slain by the Sword of the Morning, and Jaime felt relief coursing through his body. The man who was the biggest threat to Prince Rhaegar's last surviving son was dead, gone, buried, and no more. Jaime knew that his father's plans would be changing now evolving, no doubt Cersei would be horrified and terrified, she was no longer the Queen, but did she truly carry that oaf's child? Had she truly been unfaithful to him? To them?
Men were coming to remove the man's body from the floor of the throne room, and the lords and ladies gathered in the hall were talking at a gathering level of volume, and Jaime's own head was beginning to pound. His dreams were being shattered over and over again, the dreams of the song and the valiant young knight, but he supposed seeing Arthur slay the brute of Storm's End, and perhaps this was something that would be in a song in the future. He knew not, all he knew was that Pycelle was calling for a recess so that the body could be removed, and Jaime found himself walking out with his fellow Kingsguard, and as they came to the antechamber known as the Old Man's Rooms. His fellow knights were looking at him then and it was the white bull, who spoke. "So tell me Ser Jaime, who will you side with now? Your father or the rightful king the true king?"
Jaime swallows and says. "I meant what I said before, I will not take up arms against King Jonothor. And I will not do another thing to counter act my Kingsguard vows, I am done trying to live up to what my family wants of me. I am my own man." He gets down on one knee then and looks at the babe who is in his wet nurse's arms and says. "I Jaime of the House Lannister, do hereby swear my dying allegiance to King Jonothor Targaryen, and promise to never take up arms against him, for the rest of my days."
Lord Rickard, looks at him for a long moment and that moment is one of the tensest and nerve wracking ones he has ever had in his life. Eventually, the man says. "Very well then, you may stand Ser Jaime. Now we must plan to move on from this. Tywin will be working hard to either place Stannis Baratheon on the throne or put his grandson on the throne. Now tell me Ser Jaime do you know if your sister is with child?"
Jaime is somewhat taken aback by the question but then thinks hard and says. "I do not think she is with child, after all last I knew she had tried but failed to conceive."
Lord Rickard nods and then says. "Very well, Ser Gerold and Ser Oswell come with me, we must make our own discussions and plans. Ser Arthur and Ser Barristan remain with Jaime. Wylla come with me with the King."
Ser Gerold and Ser Oswell nod and follow the regent and the king's nurse maid, leaving Jaime with his two sworn brothers. There is silence between them that stretches for what seems an age and then eventually Jaime speaks. "I was amazed by the moves you used to beat the usurper. What made you hold on for so long?"
His sworn brother smiles somewhat. "Well, Jaime, when you are fighting for the kingdom and the king, you do tend to put all other thoughts out of your mind. Worries that we might have otherwise do not come into play. One must learn to clear one's mind when fighting with such high stakes. The usurper did not do that and he paid the price for this. On another note, I must say I am very proud of you Jaime. Sticking for your beliefs in the face of such opposition would not have been easy. You are a true knight and have done the white of the Kingsguard proud."
Jaime feels his chest puff out then. "Thank you Ser, I did what I thought any decent knight would do. For too long we sat in silence, I could not do so again."
His mentor, nods and then turns to Ser Barristan and asks. "Ser Barristan what made you bend the knee to Robert, considering there were still Targaryens alive even though Rhaegar was dead."
Ser Barristan seems unsure for a moment, and then says. "I did what I thought was right. Rhaegar was dead he was the hope we had all placed the dynasty and its future on. With Aerys still alive, and Robert still alive and not having shown his true colours, I had thought he would make a much better king. It is a decision I will regret to the end of my days."
Ser Arthur looks at their fellow sworn brother, and then says. "Very well Barristan. I do not find issue with that, after all we all knew what Aerys was, and yet we did nothing. Were I in your position I do not know what I would have done."
Barristan nods and then Jaime asks. "What do you think will happen now? Will Robert's death have now ended all the threats to the king's reign and crowning?"
His mentor seems to be considering this for a moment and then he says. "I believe the issue of Stannis Baratheon will need to be sorted out first. Once that is done, I believe then that the king's place on the throne will be safe and sound."
Arthur has just finished speaking when Lord Rickard and the other two Kingsguard return to them and tell them that they must now return to the main throne room. The blood has been cleaned and the lords and ladies are seated and are murmuring amongst themselves. Pycelle speaks then. "The gods have spoken, Robert Baratheon is dead. Long Live King Jonothor Targaryen first of his name King of Westeros." All the lords and ladies cheered at that, and then Lord Rickard takes his grandson from the wetnurse and with the King squirming in his arms babbling somewhat, Jaime sees the Lord Regent sit on the throne, and raising his hands somewhat for silence. It's almost as if everyone can sense the power vibrating off of the regent for even the king stops his childish babbling and stares at his grandfather.
Rickard Stark speaks and his voice is strong and powerful. "My lords and ladies, I thank you all for coming here today to exercise a voice in choosing the king. I on behalf of King Jonothor do thank you." There is some laughter as the king tries to imitate his grandfather. Once it has died down the regent speaks once more. "The council is binding as is the trial by combat, my grandson has been confirmed as King by the gods as well as by you, the lords and ladies of Westeros. Does anyone have any objections?"
Lord Arstan Cafferen speaks then. "What about Lord Stannis, by rules of inheritance he is now Robert's heir and a claimant. Should we not see about him?"
There is some muted murmuring and Lord Rickard calm as can be turns to where Stannis Baratheon stands rigid on the left hand side of the throne and asks him. "Lord Stannis do you wish to press your claim?"
The man who steps forward has short black hair and piercing blue eyes and a hard jaw, nothing like his brother. He looks at where his brother fell and his words are curt. "No my lord. I do not wish to press my claim. In fact," he says getting down on bended knee. "I hereby foreswear all Baratheon claim to the Iron Throne and do swear that my house will never raise arms against King Jonothor Targaryen, and do promise to be the King's most faithful servant."
There is some murmuring, and then the regent speaks. "Very well we accept your pledge of fealty you may rise. Now unless anyone else has any objections let us move on." None voice any protests and Jaime can see his father calculating something or the other. Lord Rickard continues. "All those lords who sided with Robert Baratheon during the voting, if you are willing to bend the knee to the rightful king you shall be pardoned and allowed to return home with no further damage being done. Those who are unwilling to bend the knee, will state their reasons why." Silence follows this statement and then the sounding of chairs being moved as lords come to stand before the throne, makes Jaime want to laugh but he does not, instead he remains straight faced and stands completely still and watches as what he thinks is nearly half the lords present get down on one knee and pledge their allegiance to the king.
Seemingly happy with this the regent calls forward the other lords who sided with Jon or who abstained and asks them to bend the knee, of to which they do. After that is complete there is more talk about things that hold no particular interest to Jaime, about healing the realm and tying all the lands back together once more. Doran and Oberyn Martell both speak for having Clegane and Lorch brought to justice, Stark says that it will be done with due diligence, and Jaime is somewhat surprised his father acquiesces as well. More turns and twists happen in this council but Jaime has long since stopped paying attention, and breathes a sigh of relief when the council finally does end.
Of course that relief is short lived where after taking dinner in White Sword Tower he is summoned to his father's chambers where a family meeting it seems is about to take place. Cersei stands up when he enters and comes up to him and slaps him hard across the face. "Traitor," she seethes. "You could have done more to aid my husband and us and yet you did nothing."
Jaime says nothing but when his father speaks and his voice is calm, Jaime begins fearing for himself. "Cersei enough sit down and allow your brother the chance to do the same." Both Cersei and Jaime sit on opposite sides of the table, and do not look at one another as their father continues to speak. "Robert Baratheon is dead, that is said and done. There is no point in protesting a lost cause, it is gone and dusted. Stannis Baratheon is a man more likely to harm us than aid us. Jon Arryn will not support us anymore, he is too shocked to do anything. You are not with child are you Cersei?"
His sister seems to be silent for an awfully long time and then when she does respond her voice is somewhat distant. "I… I do not know father. I have not had my moon blood for the past moon or so. And was waiting to see if this continued, but now, now I am not sure."
Jaime looks at his father then and sees a look of pure determination on his face. "You must drink moon tea Cersei. I will not lessen your chances of gaining a good match now Robert is dead. Remove any potential child and our house will be safe." His sister begins to protest but a look from their father keeps quiet, and remains silent. Their father continues to speak. "There is plenty that must be done to ensure that our house does not fall from the pecking order. A new regime is in power and will try to distance itself from the rebellion. And we can play a key role in that. Jaime, your future must be discussed at a later point, but for now we must lessen the blow of your marriage to Robert, Cersei."
"Well, father, plotting has not gotten you anywhere so far now has it? Perhaps actually being loyal to the king, will give house Lannister what it deserves." Jaime responds.
There is silence in the room, and then Cersei laughs. "Oh Jaime, has King's Landing truly taught you nothing? Plotting is essential to survival here, this is the only way to keep going in the game."
Jaime's father nods and says. "We must also plan for when the king is an adult. He will not remain a child forever. And when he realises there is more to King's Landing than his grandfather's word, and he will come looking for adventure. We must be prepared for when he does."
After his father words Jaime begins wondering if he should warn his brothers in the Kingsguard about this, and as the meeting drags on he begins paying less and less attention to what is being said and more about what else he could do with his life. Eventually the meeting comes to an end, and Jaime finds himself walking from his father's chambers back to White Sword Tower, his head still in his thoughts, wondering if perhaps he should ask to leave the Kingsguard, and return to the Rock, or not, when he bumps into someone. "My apologies." He says. He looks at the person he has just bumped into and finds his breath taken away, by the haunting violet eyes and the lush brown hair.
"No worries Ser Jaime. We both did not see one another." The Lady Ashara says before she walks past him.
His heart is hammering as he watches her leave, has she always been so beautiful?