New chapter is live.
Settle in, take your time, and let’s see what waits in the dark 🖤 ✦ “After all that wandering, this is the ‘good place’ you chose?” “My dear sister, we have searched all of Winterfell, and this is the only place without people.” “There is someone downstairs.
He saw us.
You even spoke to him.
Are we supposed to actually walk around and leave?” “Do not be afraid.
If he dares come in, I will break his neck.” Jaime pulled Cersei toward him.
“Besides, does the risk not excite you?
A man of the Night’s Watch standing guard over our pleasure.” “This place is filthy.” “Then lay your cloak on the floor.
Come on.
Stop hesitating.” “Damn you.
Let go of me.” * * * Jaime released her when she demanded it.
Cersei glared at him, still angry, but the thrill of the risk had already taken hold.
A moment later, she stepped back into his arms of her own accord.
“You are always this reckless.
One day you will die because of your own willfulness.” “Perhaps.
But what can I do when my sweet sister is so irresistible?” Jaime said, utterly unconcerned.
“All men die sooner or later.
We may as well enjoy life while we can.” “Spare me your twisted logic.” “Very well, I will stop.
Since you are worried about the black-cloaked fellow below, come.
Let us have a look at him.” “What are you doing?” Cersei let him draw her toward the window and stared in alarm.
“Are you mad?” “Do not be nervous.
He cannot see us.” The two of them moved to the window together.
In the old inner yard below, the man of the Night’s Watch was still shooting at the target, arrow after arrow.
He showed no intention of looking up or entering the First Keep.
In fact, because the First Keep had been built before Winterfell’s two curtain walls and had been designed chiefly for military use, its windows were very narrow.
Even if Aeg looked up from below, he would see only the queen of the Seven Kingdoms at the window with Ser Jaime Lannister behind her.
The narrow sill hid everything below their shoulders, leaving no way to tell what the two were actually doing.
* * * “Satisfied?” “You are an absolute bastard,” Cersei snapped.
Anger still sharpened her voice, but she could not deny the strange pleasure the danger had brought her.
Still, she had not called Jaime out today only to be intimate with him.
“Stop thinking about nothing but these vile things.
Tell me, do you know whether Stark has accepted Robert’s offer?” Jaime’s hands did not stop.
“Do you even need to ask?
With our king’s temperament, if Stark had refused him, would Robert still be lingering in Winterfell after more than ten days and go hunting with such enthusiasm?” His amused expression did not change.
“Very soon, the Small Council will have a proper northerner in it.” “I do not like it.” Worry touched Cersei’s face.
“You should be the Hand.” “Spare me.
I have no wish to take on that miserable duty.
I have plenty of things I would rather do.” “Can you not see the danger hidden behind this?” Cersei turned and shoved at him angrily.
Of course, she failed to move him.
“Robert treats that man like a brother.” “‘Like’ a brother?
If I remember correctly, Robert cannot even get along with his actual brothers.” Jaime smiled with contempt.
“Though I cannot blame him.
Any man would feel ill with a brother like Stannis.” “Do not be stupid.
Stannis and Renly are one thing.
Eddard Stark is another.
Robert will listen to him.
Both of them ought to go to hell.
If I had known, I would have insisted that he choose you as Hand.
I always thought Stark would refuse him.” “Why hate Stark so much?
I dislike these wolves as well, but we could have done far worse.” Jaime began loosening his cloak.
For convenience, he had deliberately not worn his Kingsguard armor today.
“Gods above, if Stark had refused, who knows whether the king would have chosen one of his brothers or Littlefinger as Hand.
Compared with ambitious men who have no scruples, I would rather face an enemy who cares about honor.” “We need to watch him closely.” “As you like.
I would rather look at you.” Jaime had no interest in politics.
“Come here.
Let me…” “There is a sound below.” Cersei suddenly pushed against her brother’s shoulders, stopping his next move, and leaned back toward the window.
“What is it?” Jaime moved closer as well.
In the old inner yard below, the black-cloaked man remained where he had been, but a child now sat on the wall beside him.
He looked like one of the Starks, though Jaime had forgotten his name.
The black brother was shouting something up at the child, apparently trying to persuade him to come down.
The boy not only refused to leave the top of the wall, he stood up, stretched out his arms, and walked southeast along it as if balancing on a tightrope.
After a short while, the worried black brother also left the old inner yard, probably circling around to chase him from the other side.
“They are both gone.
Can you relax now?” “Relax?” Cersei looked away from the window, her expression still grave.
“How can I relax?
Lord Eddard has never meddled in southern affairs.
Never.
I am telling you, he must be coming for us.
Why else would he leave the seat of his power?” “You are thinking too much because you feel guilty.
He has plenty of reasons to leave the North.
Duty.
Honor.
An inability to refuse his good brother Robert.
A desire to be remembered as a great Hand.
Trouble with his wife.
Some mix of all of those.
Perhaps he simply wants to live somewhere warm for a while and recover his health.” “His wife is Lady Arryn’s sister.
It is remarkable enough that Lysa has not come running here with her accusations.” ✦ ✦ ✦ Want to keep going?
I hope this chapter gave you another reason to stay with the story.
There’s still plenty ahead, and things are only starting to unfold.