11th Month of 285 A.C. King's Landing
Ser Jaime Lannister
When he had been told of his leaving from the Kingsguard he had thought he would not have to spend much time in King's Landing or any at all. And yet as the heir of Tywin Lannister Lord of Casterly Rock and Hand of the King. Jaime had found that he was spending increasing amounts of time in the capital and in the Red Keep, the unwitting accomplice to the schemes of both his father and sister. It was growing increasingly hard for him to find the will to care about the schemes and the potential effect they could be having on the family. All he truly cared about was ensuring that he himself never had to do anything questionable again, and to ensure that his family never learnt the true extent of Tybolt Lannister's depravity. Though considering the revelations he continued to discover about his sister, he was beginning to think that perhaps the two of them were well suited to one another.
Ashara had and continued to be his only solace during the miserable time he had in King's Landing. She was his constant companion, providing him with gossip and information and a chance to feel like a normal person and not a pawn. Where everyone else simpered and pandered to the frivolities that his father and sister seemed to want, Ashara spoke honestly with him and he preferred that about her. Ashara was so very interesting, she was most definitely the most beautiful lady at court, far surpassing Cersei in every way, and gods the things she could do with mouth and the way she could make the most suggestive of expressions with her eyes was enough to drive any man mad with need. She had become his companion and his friend and yes he was sure he was falling in love with her. This was why he was so eager to go along with her suggestion.
"We should most definitely marry Jaime. Don't let your father tell you what to do with this matter. The Baneforts did nothing, and besides you care for me do you not?" Ashara asked.
Jaime nods. "I do Ash, you know I do. But how can I go against my father's wishes, when it would help heal the Westerlands? My people are suffering because of the Ironborn and this marriage could help alleviate that suffering somewhat."
"And how would that happen Jaime?" Ashara asks. "The Baneforts do not take part in the affairs of the Westerlands let alone the realm at large. They did not even make a move when there were Ironborn raiding the coast. No there is something more going on between your father and that house. But I thought you wished to be your own man? What better way to do that than to marry someone you have chosen?"
Jaime feels torn then his duty to his house with the desire to be a free man. He hates himself for asking but he feels he must do so in order to fulfil something he had promised of himself. "But what benefit would marrying you bring to the people of the Westerlands my lady? House Dayne is a powerful house in Dorne but not necessarily in Westeros as a whole."
Ashara looks somewhat affronted by the question but her voice is light when she says. "House Dayne is wealthy and prestigious, such a thing can encourage trade between the two regions. Aiding in development and trade. That much I can assure you. But I thought you were not a man to consider such things Jaime? What happened to wanting to follow your own heart?"
Jaime's heart is beating very quickly in his chest when he says. "I do Ashara, my lady. But I must know what consequences my actions will have. I do not want to endanger you, and if we do what you are asking of me, there will be dangers. I would protect you from them as best as I could."
Her face softens and she walks towards him then and as she looks up at him Jaime feels as if he could drown in her eyes. "I thank you for the sentiment Jaime. But I promise you I can protect myself as well as anyone else in my place. And I know we could be happy, very happy together. We are good for one another, you know we are. I know you do. Please don't deny us this chance at happiness and a new life together."
Jaime thinks on the anger he feels towards Cersei and how much hurt she has caused him, and then he looks at Ashara and sees the happiness that she gives to him and how much they have in common and then he relents and says. "Very well Ashara, my lady." He gets down on one knee then and looks into her beautiful eyes and asks. "Lady Ashara Dayne, will you be content to be my wife and companion for the rest of our days?"
She looks at him a moment and then says. "Yes, Yes I will. And I know how to ensure that no one can stop us." She helps him to his feet and then they are walking out of the gardens and down Aegon High Hill towards the Sept of Sleeping, where they are met by Ser Arthur.
Jaime looks at his former mentor and asks. "What… what are you doing here Ser Arthur?"
The Sword of the Morning looks at him long and hard before saying. "I am ensuring my sister is happy Ser Jaime. Now let us get inside before our cousin gets cold feet."
Jaime looks at Ashara but she merely smiles and takes his hand and leads him into the Sept. The Sept is empty but for the Septon standing there before them and the presence of one of Jaime's own cousins Ser Daven Lannister, whom Jaime is equally surprised to see here let alone see at all. The man merely nods and smiles, before the Septon begins speaking, as the man continues speaking, Jaime realises that this had all been planned beforehand, he would feel angry but he cannot truly feel that, not when Ashara is looking so stunningly beautiful and his heart is hammering in his chest. They both swear their vows and then they are kissing and by the gods, he wants to do more than that, so much more than that. But of course they have to end the kiss and walk back to the Red Keep. They do so as husband and wife though and for the rest of the day they spend it together, eating together, laughing and joking with one another, and Jaime's heart feels full, so full it could burst.
When the night comes, Jaime's heart is hammering, he has only ever slept with one person before and that too was at a different time. Ashara has slept with just two people before and both of them were very experienced. But this time it is only about them, they only allow themselves to think on each other and not the ghosts that would otherwise haunt them. They make love and Jaime has never felt as complete as he does then. When the deed is done they spend the hours talking and then eventually fall asleep. For some reason the next three days Jaime is allowed to spend it with Ashara and Ashara alone, his father it seems does not require his presence or service, and Jaime begins wondering whether the old man knows of this. He shakes off the feeling and devotes every minute he can to his new wife and ensuring she is taken care of.
The summons to see his father comes on the fourth day following his marriage, his father is in his solar in the Tower of the Hand looking over some letter or the other when Jaime enters. He sits down and then his father speaks. "So Jaime, tell me, how is married life treating you?"
Jaime is somewhat surprised but not as surprised as he supposes he should be. "It is very good father. But I must ask how did you know?"
His father merely looks at him a moment and then says. "Do you think you would have gotten married without my knowing of it or without my allowing of it? Why do you think your cousin Daven was there?"
Jaime nods considering this and then asks. "What made you agree to allow the marriage father? I had thought you were set on my marrying the Banefort girl?"
His father is silent and then he responds. "The Baneforts did nothing when the Ironborn came. It was not right to reward them with a marriage for their non-service. They can stew on the insult of the broken betrothal. Your marriage to Ashara Dayne gives us some ties to Dorne, and can go some way towards healing the wounds that the sack of King's Landing created. The lady is beautiful and has proven she can bear children, and her brother is an important lord with good trade links in Essos. That is something we shall need in the coming years."
Jaime looks at his father long and hard then, and then after sometime says. "So you allowed the marriage for political reasons?"
His father nods and then says. "It is the only way for such a match to be accepted by the lords of the Westerlands. Regardless of your own feelings for the girl, you must know the advantages the match brings. Had I not thought it appropriate you would not have gone to that Sept."
Jaime nods at this, then asks. "Is that why you did not summon me during the previous few days? A greater chance to sire an heir?"
His father nods. "Yes, the more time you spent with your wife the higher the chance for there to be a child born. Cersei is with child as well, and shall shortly be returning to the Rock and once Castamere is completely liveable she and her husband shall move there."
Jaime considers this and then asks. "You would not keep Ser Tybolt in King's Landing?"
His father sighs. "The man is good at what he does, but he is also a Lannister of Lannisport, such men cannot be trusted. For they are the grasping hands of the family and will try to garner more power for themselves where they can. Already he will have the wealth of Castamere when the castle and mines are secure. Anymore power and I do believe he would begin to be a problem. Furthermore removing Cersei from King's Landing also means the last of the rumours about our brief time spent in Robert Baratheon's court are removed and forgotten soon enough."
"That seems a reasonable enough thing to do. Though with uncle Tygett having gotten a castle of his own, surely there should not be too much concern for Tybolt Lannister? Unless of course there is another reason for why moves are being made by yourself to remove the man from court?" Jaime asks.
His father nods something flickering in his eyes that might well be pride. "That is also true. The Tullys have begun looking for brides both for Edmure Tully the heir to Riverrun as well as for Ser Brynden Tully. Something it seems has convinced the Blackfish to begin looking for a wife after all this time. Tybolt will no doubt try to get his own sister wed to the man, but we have our own candidates who could well be more suitable. Lanna, Cousin Damon's daughter is someone who could well do the job well for the Blackfish, and Cerenna or Myrielle, Stafford's daughters could do for the Tully heir. I want you to return to the Rock as early as possible and begin assessing them for suitability before I make the offer."
Jaime nods somewhat disgusted that he is agreeing to do this. "It shall be done father." With that he gets up and leaves the tower of the hand. A few days later once all the preparations have been he, his wife, and his sister and her husband leave alongside some 200 men for Casterly Rock, it should be an interesting time, and with his wife there to keep him company, he can ease the tension that has developed inside of him at the thought of Tybolt and Cersei being in his home.