GOT/ASOIAF: Ruler Beyond the Ice

"After all this searching, this is the 'good place' you found?"

"My dear sister, we've walked through every corner of Winterfell. This is the only spot without prying eyes."

"But there's someone downstairs! He saw us, and you even spoke to him! Are you sure he's really going to stay down there and not come snooping around?"

"Don't be afraid. If he dares to come up here, I'll break his neck." Jaime pulled Cersei closer, grinning mischievously. "Besides, isn't it thrilling to have a Night's Watchman keeping 'watch' over our good deeds?"

"This place is filthy!"

"Take off your leather cloak, spread it on the ground… Come now, stop fussing."

"Let me go, you fool!"

Cersei struggled in Jaime's grasp, but she couldn't escape. He held her firmly, as effortlessly as if she were a child.

"You keep acting like this, and one day, you'll bring about your own end!"

"Maybe," Jaime said casually, still smirking. "My dear sister is so charming, after all. But we're all going to die someday, so why not enjoy life while we can?"

"Spare me your nonsense!"

"Alright, enough talking. Since you're so worried about the man in black downstairs, let's have a look at him."

"What are you doing?" Cersei was shocked as Jaime nudged her toward the window. "You're insane!"

"Relax. He can't see us."

The two made their way to the small, dusty window. From the old inner courtyard below, they could see the Night's Watchman practicing his archery, focused on shooting arrows at the target. He didn't look up once, nor did he show any intention of entering the First Keep.

The window was narrow, built for defense rather than visibility. Even if Aegor were to glance up, he'd only see the Queen of the Seven Kingdoms looking down at him, with Jaime Lannister standing behind her. Their bodies, hidden below the neck by the windowsill, betrayed no hint of what they might be doing.

---

"Feel better now?"

"You're such a bastard." Cersei's voice was sharp, but there was an undeniable glint of excitement in her eyes. Even so, she hadn't come here today solely for this dangerous game with her brother. "Stop thinking about these things all the time. Let me ask you, do you know if Stark agreed to Robert's offer?"

"Do I need to ask?" Jaime replied with a smirk, his movements undeterred. "Knowing our king, if Stark had refused, do you think Robert would still be here, hunting merrily in the woods after more than ten days? Of course Stark agreed. Soon enough, we'll have a pure Northerner sitting on the Small Council."

"I don't like this," Cersei muttered, her face clouded with irritation. "You should be the Hand of the King."

"Spare me," Jaime said with a dry laugh. "I don't want that miserable job. There are far more enjoyable things I'd rather be doing."

"Can't you see the danger in this?" Cersei snapped, shoving Jaime's chest in frustration. She barely budged him. "Robert treats Stark like a brother!"

"Like a brother? If I recall, Robert doesn't even treat his real brothers well." Jaime's lips curled into a mocking smile. "But then, who could blame him? A brother like Stannis would sour anyone's mood."

"Don't be an idiot. Stannis and Renly are one thing. Eddard Stark is another. Robert listens to him, does whatever he says! Those two are insufferable. If I'd known this would happen, I would've insisted Robert name you Hand instead. I honestly thought Stark would refuse."

"Why do you hate Stark so much?" Jaime asked, casually unbuttoning his cloak. For convenience, he hadn't worn his Kingsguard armor today. "I don't like wolves either, but I'll take this over the alternatives. God knows who Robert might have chosen if Stark refused—Stannis, Littlefinger? I'd much rather deal with a man bound by honor than an ambitious snake with no limits."

"We need to keep a close eye on him," Cersei said firmly.

"You go ahead," Jaime replied, clearly uninterested. "I'd much rather keep my eyes on you."

"Be serious!"

Their exchange was interrupted by a sudden noise outside the window.

"What's that?" Cersei pushed Jaime away and leaned closer to the window, her expression alert.

"What now?" Jaime asked irritably, joining her.

Below, in the old inner courtyard, the Night's Watchman was still there. But now, a child was sitting on the wall beside him. Judging by the boy's Stark features, he had to be one of Eddard's sons, though Jaime couldn't remember his name.

The Night's Watchman seemed to be shouting at the boy, gesturing for him to climb down. However, the boy ignored him. Instead, he stood up, stretched his arms out, and began walking along the narrow wall like a tightrope. After a moment, the Watchman gave up shouting and left the yard, likely circling around to try to reach the boy from another angle.

"They're gone. Feel better now?" Jaime asked, turning back to Cersei.

"Feel better?" Cersei's voice was tense. She pulled away from the window, her expression dark. "How can I feel better? Eddard Stark has never involved himself in southern affairs before. Mark my words, he's coming for us. Why else would he leave the North, his base of power?"

"You're overthinking this. You feel guilty, so now you're imagining threats where there are none." Jaime's tone was light, almost dismissive. "There are countless reasons why Stark might leave the North—duty, honor, his love for Robert. Maybe he wants to go down in history as a great Hand of the King. Maybe he had a spat with his wife. Or maybe he just wants to escape the cold for a while and enjoy some southern sunshine."

"His wife is Lysa Arryn's sister," Cersei countered. "It's lucky that woman didn't come here with her accusations."

"You're giving her too much credit. Lysa Arryn is a frightened cow."

Cersei glared at him. "That cow slept with Jon Arryn."

"And a cow is still a cow, no matter who she sleeps with," Jaime retorted with disdain. "If she really had something to say, she would've run to Robert before fleeing King's Landing."

"You think she's stupid? The only reason she didn't is because Robert agreed to send her son to Casterly Rock as a ward. She knows her boy is a hostage. But now that she's back in the Eyrie, she'll feel emboldened."

"All mothers are the same. Having children burns their brains. You're all crazy." Jaime's lips twisted into a bitter smile, as though cursing the very concept of motherhood. "No matter what she knows or thinks she knows, she doesn't have any real proof. Does she?"

"Tell me, Jaime—what proof do you think Robert would need? He doesn't love me at all!"

"Sister, whose fault is that?"

"You're as blind as Robert!"

"If by blind, you mean I agree with him, then yes." Jaime's tone grew cold. "In my eyes, Eddard Stark is a man who would rather die than betray the king."

"He's already betrayed one king," Cersei snapped. "Or have you forgotten? I don't deny his loyalty to Robert, but what happens if Robert dies and Joffrey takes the throne? The sooner Robert dies, the safer we'll be. My husband grows more erratic every day, and having Stark by his side only makes things worse. He's still in love with that dead sixteen-year-old sister of his. Who's to say he won't cast me aside for some new Lyanna?"

"Stop worrying about the future and enjoy the moment in front of you," Jaime said smoothly, pulling her close again.

"Don't talk to me like that!"

The room fell silent, broken only by the faint sound of shouting from the courtyard below.

"My dear sister, I'm tired of this conversation." Jaime's voice grew husky as he pressed Cersei against the wall.

"Damn it, the walls are cold—"

"Jaime, stop! Go see what's happening out there!" Cersei pushed him away in a panic, her nerves suddenly on edge.

"Gods damn it," Jaime muttered, stalking to the window. If the Night's Watchman was causing trouble, Jaime vowed he'd deal with him later.

But what he saw made his blood run cold.

Below, the man in black was waving frantically, shouting, "Come down quickly, it's too dangerous!"

Jaime's confusion turned to alarm as he realized the words weren't directed at him. Following the Watchman's gaze, Jaime spotted the boy, climbing the outer wall of the First Keep, swinging precariously from one gargoyle to the next.

"Get down now!" Jaime shouted.

The boy turned, startled by Jaime's sudden appearance in the window. Their eyes met for a brief moment. Then the boy lost his balance and his hands failed to grasp anything. With a terrified scream, he plummeted from the wall of the First Keep.

"Gods—"

Jaime's mouth hung open as he stared, frozen in place. He had not expected things to escalate so quickly, nor had he intended for the boy to fall. For a split second, he considered reaching out to grab him, but it was far too late.

The child's small, fragile form crashed to the ground below. Jaime stood at the window, still as stone, his expression blank.

In that moment, the boy's name surfaced in his mind.

*****

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