Different Paths to Destiny [Game of Thrones]

21: By The Throat

"You're my Queen," he said. "I believe in you, I trust you. I am also very worried about you, but I could never be mad at you."

"You should be scared of the magic," I said. "I can travel across the Narrow Sea and have tea with my twin sister whenever I nap. I've held a baby dragon. Today I used blood magic to get into a fight with the love of my life."

"There is nothing there to be scared of, you're amazing. You fight better than some men I know. You can captivate a room with your words. And you always find the best in every person."

"Oh, Aylward," I cried. I hugged him. He let me cry on his shoulder for a few minutes. Then he helped me to my feet. "I couldn't ask for a better Commander for my Queensguard."

"If you're going to start calling me Commander, it would be nice to have a few other swords to command," he teased.

"How about Jaime?" I asked.

A look of panic flashed across his face. But very calmly he said, "You do remember Jaime Lannister only has one hand, yes?"

I laughed. "I'm only kidding! But now I know you do have more emotions than that calm exterior would suggest. Show me to Jaime's room?"

"Of course, your grace."

OoOoO

Areo was standing guard outside Jaime's room. It was certainly a step up from a prison cell, but the room still had bars instead of a door. He smiled when he saw me. "Amina." I walked up to him and gave him a hug. For a moment he did nothing, and then he hugged me back. "Your hair has gotten quite light," he noted.

"I'm done dyeing my hair," I told him.

He reached up and touched my hair. "I'm sure it will look good on you."

"Why didn't you send word you were coming?" I asked.

"Threats have been made against Myrcella's life," he said.

"Threats?"

"Cersei received a box with a viper statue. The snake was holding Myrcella's necklace in its mouth."

"Ellaria and the Sand Snakes," I realized. "Since Oberyn's death, Ellaria has been hell bent on going to war. She and Oberyn's eldest daughters have been planning something. None of us knew what."

"They have the girls locked up, they attacked when Bronn and I first saw Myrcella."

"So, had you retrieved Myrcella without any problems, you wouldn't have even said hello?"

"It wasn't exactly an official diplomatic mission."

"I'm offended." He smirked. "Myrcella is happy here, truly."

"She said as much when she stopped by," he told me. "Do you really believe she is safe here?"

"With the Sand Snakes out of the picture, yes. She and Trystane are in love. It's rare that an arranged marriage works out so agreeably, it would be wrong to take that away from her."

"Hmm. Have you spent much time with her? What's she like?"

"Everyone adores her, she's smart and kind. She knows who I am, but hasn't told a soul, not even her handmaidens. She certainly didn't get her kindness from her mother." He smiled softly.

"I would like to get to know her."

"Stay here." He looked just as surprised as I was at the words.

"What?"

"Don't take her back to King's Landing. She's no safer there than she is here, and at least here she's happy. And you can get to know your daughter."

"Cersei would never-"