Some Risks are Worth Handling
Amelia did all she could to stop the labor, but in this process one of the children had been still born. The other is still safe within the womb and alive for now. Arabella was out cold from the pain, exhaustion, and stress. Amelia had handed Jaime their child, a little girl, who was born way too early to even survive. Jaime held the girl in his arms and wheeped. He wheeped harder than when his mother had passed when he was a small child. This was part of him, someone he promised he was going to protect and watch over when they were born. He was the cause of this death, and unlike the others his one truly affected him.
Robb had entered the tent hearing the man's cries. He knew letting Jaime out was a risk, but one he was more than willing to handle. He didn't care much for Jaime, but watching this grown man weep over Robb's niece, he couldn't help but feel sorry for him. Robb had told Amelia to keep an eye on Jaime and to let him know that before sunlight he will have to return to his cage. Amelia nodded and promised that he would not leave her sight. Jaime had asked Amelia not to tell Arabella that she had lost one of their children. Amelia knew it was wrong, but also knew that any stress right now would cause her to lose the other one. When the sun is beginning to rise Robb returns to collect Jaime, who hands over the baby to Amelia to hold onto.
On the return to his cage, Robb promises to do a better job of protecting Arabella and to have the baby's remains sent to Winterfell to be buried alongside Arabella's family members. Jaime agreed, he felt that he owed Arabella that much after all she has suffered from his family. Once Jaime was secured and locked up again he was left alone with his thoughts.
Three days passed before Arabella was able to move out of the bed, but it was not enough to leave her tent without collapsing. Jaime had been given updates from Amelia, small ones, but it was all he needed. He was still grieving over his daughter. Something so small, so innocent, and not even born taken away so quickly out of anger. Jaime knew he had been at fault, but that just made him feel even terrible. He knew he needed to get out of this prison. He just didn't know how, and when.
Another four days passed before Catelyn returned to their camp. She had been informed by Robb what happened and that Arabella has not been informed yet. Catelyn was deeply saddened by the news, and understood the reasons why Arabella couldn't be informed. Arabella still had a healthy baby within her, for the time being. Catelyn had noticed her daughter was in a weakened state when she saw her. She knew that it was to be expected and when her new companion had met Arabella she ensured that if Brienne was not with Catelyn then she was with Arabella keeping a safe watch on her with Mystic and Amelia. The rules were no one was to enter the tent, and Mystic had been informed to attack when an unknown presence was noticed.
It was another six days before Elena was able to move out of the tent at night again. This was the night when they visited Jaime to discuss Bran and what the future may entail.
(incase forgotten see scene below)
Catelyn goes to the outskirts of their camp, to the dungeons where prisoners are being kept, Arabella hot in her heels.
"Lady Stark," the guard calls out. He does not see Arabella behind her.
"l want to see him. Now! Leave us," She states. The guard walked away from her and the prisoner she wished to see.
"You look lovely tonight, Lady Stark. Widowhood becomes you," Jaime calls out. Arabella rolls her eyes and glares at him from afar.
Catelyn grabs a large rock from the ground.
"Arabella, how are you? Feeling the urges that comes with pregnancy. I may not be able to please you as I would back at home, but I promise you, I'm up to it," Jamie continues.
"Jaime, shut up," Arabella says to her husband. Her mother marches towards him and hits the rock against his forehead.
"Oh, l do like a violent woman, Lady Stark. But I think your daughter is more to my taste," Jaime says, egging on Catelyn some more.
"I will kill you tonight, Ser. Pack your head in a box and send it to your sister," Catelyn tells him.
"Mother, he is not worth it. Doing that will only-," Arabella was cut off.
"Let me show you how. Hit me again, over the ear. And again and again. You're stronger than you look, it shouldn't take long," Jaime states.
"Jaime, shut up," Arabella said, anger clearly in her voice.
"That is what you want the world to believe, isn't it? That you don't fear death," Catelyn questioned.
"But I don't, my lady. The dark is coming for all of us. Why cry about it," Jaime states.
"What about your children? Would they be okay with you being gone," Catelyn asked.
"Mother," Arabella exclaimed, placing her thumb and forefinger on the bridge of her nose.
"Because you are going to the deepest of the seven hells, if the gods are just. I just hope that you do not bring my daughter down with you, because she has done nothing to desire it," Catelyn tells Jaime.
"What gods are those? The trees your husband prayed to? Where were the trees when his head was getting chopped off? lf your gods are real and if they are just, why is the world so full of injustice? Arabella here would know more about herself than anyone would let on. I may talk slow Lady Stark, but I am far from being stupid. I know who she is, I've known for some time now. But I would rather fall on my own sword than see harm to her. I may be going down to the deepest parts of hell, but I can promise you this. She is not coming with me, if I have anything to say about it," Jaime tells Catelyn.
"Because of men like you, there is so much injustice in this world," Catelyn tells him.
"There are no men like me. Only me," Jaime tells her in all honesty.
"My son Bran. How did he come to fall from that tower," Catelyn asked. Arabella's eyes widened in disbelief. There was no way Jaime would know what happened to Bran.
"I pushed him out the window," Jaime said as a matter of fact. He didn't dare look at Arabella. He knew the look on her face, he could feel the disbelief, the sadness, the anger. He had comforted her after everything, and played like he didn't know what had happened.
"Why," Arabella questioned, her voice cracking as she kept her tears at bay, "Why did you push him out the window"?
"I hoped the fall would kill him," Jaime said, his eyes not meeting hers. He knew that this was going to break her.
"Why," Arabella questioned again.
"You should get some sleep. It's going to be a long war," Jaime states, hoping to end the conversation.
"Tell me why Jaime. After everything I have been through because of you. You owe me at least that," Arabella said looking down at him. His eyes met hers, and you could see the regret in his eyes.
"Because I was foolishly following orders of someone who gave me what I thought was love," he explained to her.
"Did you hire the assassin," She asked. Catelyn dropped the rock in her hand and stared at Arabella. She could not imagine what was going through her head at this moment, and she could only hope that this was not going to break her further.
"No, but I promise you. I took care of the person who did. I know now that I messed up back then. If I could go back and change how things happened I would. Arabella I promise you, I know I made a mistake and I have been doing everything in my power to correct it. I know right now you are beyond angry with me, but please do not lash out and go picking a fight that you need to stay out of. If not for me than for your family, current and future. Arabella you need to think of them above all else. I know Fire and Blood runs through your body, but you need to think about everything before you start setting fires, you can't even begin to try and put out. Amelia will take care of you, let her. For the sake of those you care about most. I am already lost to the war, I won't let you get lost as well," Jaime tells her.
Arabella looks down to the ground and runs off to her tent burying her head into the pillows and praying that one day she can have a break. Even if it was for a small bit of happiness. She did not want to play the Game of Thrones anymore. She never wanted to play in the first place, but it seems to keep bringing her back into it. No matter how hard she tries to get off the board.
Catelyn Stark looked at the man before her. She could not believe what he just told her.
"I never intended to hurt her, or bring harm to her. I was foolish back then, and I swear to you. I will keep her secret safe. No matter what happens she is my wife, the mother of my children, even if I never see them. She has more of me than anyone else in this world has. If anything happens, Tywin will take care of her. He does not know who she really is, but she has his heirs of Casterly Rock, and that is all that will matter to him," Jaime told Catelyn.
"I believe that you just destroyed her," she tells him before turning away and walking back into camp. All Jaime could do is pray that somehow he can make it up to her, and make it right. If only he could get the chance. If only.....
Bạn đang đọc truyện trên: AzTruyen.Top