2nd Month of 299 A.C. Outside Casterly Rock
Ser Jaime Lannister
His father had marched inside the Rock a moon ago, and had not come out. Despite their best efforts, Tywin Lannister remained inside the Rock like an unmovable object, steadfastly refusing to break or bend, simply content to stare at them, Jaime had seen him on the battlements staring at them and watching them. The King was growing more frustrated as time passed by Jaime knew that, though he was doing a remarkably good job at hiding his frustration, it was still present, and rightfully so. After nearly two moons, they had not been able to break Tywin Lannister, they had not been able to find the secret passageway that Jaime had heard so much about, nothing had worked, and now the men were beginning to grow weary, and they were beginning to mutter. The dragons had not been used, but Jaime suspected that sooner or later they would be.
Jaime watches as the King stares at the map before them, and listens as the King speaks. "We must find the passageway Ser Jaime, we must find it, and we must find it soon. I will not have the men lose heart because of this."
"Your Grace, the men you have sent out have looked everywhere, I am not sure that there is even a secret passageway or if there was that it still exists now. My father is no fool, he would have known that we would go looking for it, no doubt he has done something to keep it covered." Jaime responds.
The King looks at him then, really looks at him and Jaime notices how his eyes are flashing between grey and violet and then from violet to purple, it is a strange sight, but it is something that the King has done many times before. "We must look harder then. I am sure that it is there somewhere. The legends all mention it, and they do not simply mention these things for no reason."
Jaime thinks for a moment and then says. "It is possible that it might be buried within the Lion's Rock, where my father used to keep the lions when I was a child Your Grace. But I am not sure on that point."
The King's eyes narrow. "Are you not sure on that point, or are you not sure about that point?"
"Your Grace?" Jaime asks hesitatingly.
"If there was another way to get into the Rock that you knew of, you would tell me would you not Ser?" The King asks.
Jaime is surprised by the question, and has a distinct memory of the last time someone asked him a question such as that. "Yes Your Grace, of course."
"Very well then." The King says, before he falls into silence once more, leaving them both to their own thoughts. Jaime looks at the King, really looks at him and he sees the lines of stress on his King's face, the nervousness of youth and uncertainty, the campaign has gone so well so far, and now at this hurdle they look as if they might be undone. He can understand the King's frustration and anger, but the question that he had asked still unnerves Jaime somewhat. For it is the manner in which it was asked that reminds Jaime most painfully of the last dragon King he served. "Do you think I should use the dragons?" The King asks then breaking into Jaime's thoughts.
Jaime thinks on the question for a moment and then responds. "I think that if you are comfortable in using them then you should use them Your Grace. I do not think that keeping a weapon such as the dragons behind when using them could save the men hassle and time, would be wise. But once more, it is about how comfortable you feel in using them."
The King seems satisfied with this answer and turns to Ser Arthur, a man Jaime admires greatly, and asks. "Ser Arthur, what would you recommend? The dragons could end this siege within the day, but the cost, gods the cost would be something."
Ser Arthur seems troubled by the question, just as Jaime was by an earlier question, they are haunted by ghosts it would seem. Eventually the Lord Commander of the Kingsguard says. "I believe that the dragons should be used only as a last resort Your Grace. For all we know Tywin Lannister could be considering capitulation right now. He knows he cannot win, and eventually his resources will run out. It is a question of when, not if."
"My father is not a man to bend so easily Ser." Jaime points out. "I think there will come a time when he shall think on bending and then he shall reconsider it. Lord Tywin is not a man given to flights of fancy, or even straying from a path he has chosen. If he has decided that he will not bend and surrender, then he will not bend and surrender Your Grace, it is as simple as that."
Before either the King or Ser Arthur can respond, the King's squire comes hurrying into the tent. The boy bows and then says. "Your Grace, there is an envoy from Lord Tywin. He wishes to speak with you most urgently."
Jaime looks at the King who merely says. "Very well then, show him in." The King's squire bows and then returns moments later with the man in question, Ser Benedict Broom, a man Jaime knows well.
The man bows and then raises himself up to his full height, he still has to look up to speak to the King. "I have come with terms of surrender from Lord Tywin Lannister."
Surprise courses through Jaime then, he had not thought his father would surrender so, he had thought they would need to drag him from the castle and throw him into the breach. The King's expression is calm when he speaks. "So tell me then, what are the man's terms?"
Jaime listens as the man who had taught him how to fight recites the terms, and he listens as the King agrees and sends the man back to Tywin Lannister, all the while Jaime finds himself wondering what game his father is playing, for Tywin Lannister is not a man to do something that hurts his legacy without trying to get something for himself. Jaime finds himself a spectator as his father and his King meet and discuss the terms of Tywin Lannister's surrender, and he watches as his father bends his knee before the King, all the while Jaime finds himself wondering what game his father is playing and what the consequences of this will be. Eventually, Jaime is left alone with his father, and as they sit across from one another and stare at each other, Jaime finds himself thinking, and thinking, and thinking.
It is his father who breaks the silence. "Tell me Jaime, how does it feel to be little more than a hired hand? A hired servant? You could be heir to the Rock, but you remain in white. Why?"
Jaime says nothing for a moment, considering his answer, eventually he replies. "I never wanted to be heir to the Rock. I was never meant for politics, or for the game of thrones. I was only ever meant for fighting. And so that is what I chose."
His father snorts at his response, making anger flash through Jaime. "You would rather be a mindless oaf than a lion? Perhaps Cersei was right, perhaps you are more of a fool than I had thought. Tell me Jaime, what is it like to never know a woman's embrace, a child's love? Tell me, why did you join the Kingsguard really."
I have known a woman's love though father, Cersei was the only woman I could ever love. Jaime thinks to himself, aloud he merely says. "I have never felt more alive than when fighting. I do not care for games or for intrigue, I care only for protecting the King and doing my duty."
His father stares at him, looking at him with eyes that could kill if they had the power to, as Jaime thought they had the power to when he was a child. He stares back defiantly. "You are useless then. And your imp of a brother is not better. Perhaps when all this is done I shall make Tommen my heir and be done with it."
Jaime hides his surprise then. "And do you think the King would really allow you to do something that breaks the law. By every right and law, Tyrion is your heir father. You might try to deny it, but he is, and everyone knows he is."
"That man will never be an heir to anything so long as I live. He is a Kinslayer, and there is no place in the world for a Kinslayer or a dwarf. Men will not follow a dwarf, and we both know that. So enough of this nonsense. Tell me Jaime, what do you really want? You are not a child anymore, you need only say the words and your King will release you from your vows and you can become the man you were supposed to be." father says.
Jaime stares at his father, trying to understand just what he is saying and then it clicks. "Is that how you decided to bend the knee then father? You would bend if the King released me from my oaths? Is that all I am? Something for your legacy? I am a man father, and I will make my own mind up."
"And when have you ever been able to do that Jaime?" his father snaps back. "When you were a boy you always followed Cersei and did things that you should not have done. I am not a fool I know some of what happened within my own castle. Cersei is not here now, do what is your duty to your house and stop this foolishness."
Jaime stands then, anger coursing through his veins. "I am not a child any longer father. I will do what I think is right for me, and I know that fighting for the rightful King is the right thing to do. Accept this, and move on father, everyone else has." He stares at his father, daring him to say something, anything.
After what seems like an age, his father speaks, his voice filled with scorn. "Then do what you will. Suffer the scorn and the burning fury that will come soon. Your King will not last as long as you think he will."
Jaime looks at his father and responds. "You have not lasted long at all father, your own arrogance has brought you to this point. We both know Cersei cannot win this war. So I bid you good day." With that, Jaime turns and walks out of the room, leaving his father behind. He continues walking until he gets to his old rooms within the Rock, he stands there in the doorway, memories floating through his head, like old friends, a feeling of sadness overcomes him then, but he pushes it down, this is no time for feeling sad, it is a time for feeling happy and joyful, now they can push onto King's Landing.
"Tell me Ser Jaime, what do you want?" The King's voice interrupts his thoughts.
Jaime turns to look at the King, dressed in the red and black of his house, his direwolf and his dragons at his side, after a moment Jaime speaks. "I want to serve you Your Grace, and I want to make sure you are secure on your throne."
"Even if it means seeing your sister and her children dead?" the King asks.
Jaime does not hesitate then and merely says. "People die in war Your Grace, there is no point getting upset over it. I have made my choice and they have made theirs."