Chapter 17: A Broken Knight

"Try not to lose it this time." he smiled at her, his white teeth shining through his lips and his golden hair catching the light from the windows.

"I'll never take it off again." the girl smiled and put the golden lion necklace around her neck.

He smiled at her and sat down on a chair opposite, his heart seemed to drum in his ears and he felt nervous. More nervous then he had felt when he had charged though the gate at Pyke or when he stared down the direwolf of Rob Stark. For some reason, losing a hand and being surrounded by enemies seemed better than this. But he had to do it, 'It is time.' he convinced himself.

He took a deep breath and looked at the young girl before her, emerald green eyes and beautiful golden locks, 'How could anyone think she is related to that drunkard.' He cursed his former liege with as much respect as the man deserved.

"So…" he let out a breath, trying to ease his nerves, "No, what you've seen more of the world, you've learned how complicated people can be." he started to speak, "The Lainsters, the martells have hated each other for years, but you've fallen in love with Trystane." he continued but felt as if he had lost all sense of direction, "It was an accident really. I mean what are the chances? You happen to fall in love with the man you were assigned to marry?"

He let out a nervous chuckle along with her ringing giggle, "My point is… we don't choose whom we love. It's just, well… it's beyond our control." he felt his throat dry, his words had stopped making sense to him.

"I sound like an idiot." he chuckled wearily.

"No you don't" she smiled sweetly.

"What I'm trying to say… what I am trying and failing to say is that…" he stood up, hoping it would help, it didn't. His feet were leden as he took a step towards her.

"I know what you are trying to say." she spoke sweetly.

"No, 'm afraid you don't." He himself couldn't believe it, much less a girl of 12.

She stood up with a resolute face and stared at him in his eyes. He could see her mother's eyes. She smiled, "I do." she took his only hand in her small hands, "I know." she repeated and Jaime felt his heart skip, 'She knows?' he was hesitant to believe it.

"About you and mother." she dashed his hope of it being a lie, "I think a part of me always knew. And…" she smiled at him, "I'm glad…. I'm glad that you're my father." she hugged him, tight around the waist.

A breath he didn't know he was holding, shuddered away and along with it went his fear. He held her, for the first time in all his life he held her in his arms… his daughter, his true flesh and blood. He knelt and held her tightly and for the first time in his life… he felt a peace he had never known all his life.

She tore away from his embrace and looked at him, her lips blooming into a beautiful smile as she looked at him. He smiled back unknowingly, taking the first close look at his daughter after 12 long years that left even longer now.

He watched her, trying to engrave every detail of her face as it smiled back at him, those emerald eyes looking at him in fondness he had never seen before. He watched as those beautiful eyes dulled, he watched as the smile faded from her lips and her small face twisted first into wonder and then into pain. He watched as blood dripped from her nose.

"Myrcella?" he woke, her beathring was already irregular and she started to heave, "Myrcella!?" she went limp in his arms, those emerald eyes looking at him in shock, fear was now gnawing at his heart as she started to pant, "Myrcella!? Myrcella!?" he called out to her but there was no answer.

He had killed countless men and seen many more die, but this… this was a first. He stared down at her listless eyes and her pale face. He felt his heart tear as he held her tighter and tiger, hoping beyond hope to hold on to her life but deep down he knew it was impossible.

At this moment, he regretted not telling her before that she was his daughter, not holding her in his arms, not walking through the gardens of the red keep, hand in hand. He was filled with nothing but grief and regret.

"Such a sad affair." a sweet low voice broke the silence of the cabin. Jaime turned around and saw a copper skinned man walk towards him in a slow stride.

"Who are you!?" Jaime bit at him, he wondered how he had failed to notice him in the cabin.

"She was such a sweet girl…" the man ignored him and walked closer, "To die so young just because she was born with the wrong family name." he knelt down next to them and gazed upon the pale girl.

Jamie used his golden hand and tried to hold this stranger's throat, "I said who the fuck are you!?" but his hand was simply brushed aside. The stranger turned his golden eyes upon him in pity, "A friend who wishes to avoid this tragedy." the man smiled at him, it was the smile of a snake but at this moment, when he could feel her body growing colder and colder, he didn't care.

"What do you mean?" Jaime asked.

"A servant of the Magus, here with a gift of life." the stranger smiled.

Jamie had heard rumours of this Magus, rumours of how he could walk on air and summon thunder, he was not foolish enough to believe them so he tried to attack the man with metal hand once more, and once more he was simply brushed aside. His broken arm simply didn't have enough strength to hit a child much less a grown man.

"Time is wasting my friend. Soon her body will perish and death will claim its prize." the stranger reminded.

"You did this!" Jamie yelled, "You poisoned her!"

"Of Course not. I am afraid Ellaria does not share the opinion of not harming innocents in the quest of revenge." The stranger's words struck a chord within him, he remembered the kiss the woman had planted on his daughter, how she told him of his relationship with Cersei and how her sand snakes had tried to attack Myrcella before.

Rage foamed within him, he wished for nothing more than to sail back and cut off the lips that had poisoned his daughter!

"A pity indeed, yet still avoidable…" the man cryptically.

"What do you mean?"

"She isn't dead yet, but she is at death's door."

"You can heal her?" Jamie hoped but the man shook his head.

"I can't but my master can heal all." thestranger smiled.

"Your Master is across the Narrow sea!" yelled Jamie at the foolish proposition.

"Yes, but I am here. My master's magic flows through me." Jaime grew hotter, he felt as if the man was mocking his grief but then he realised his fault; nothing was free.

"What do you want?"

"Nothing, but if you wish to heal her… only life can pay for life." the stranger informed him.

Jamie looked at Myrcella still limp in his arm and growing paler by the minute, "Do it, take my life instead."

"Or… you could pay it with someone else's?" the stranger's smile widened, "How about everyone on this ship? Do you think that is a fitting payment for the life of your daughter?"

Jamie walked out of the cabin after a few minutes, he found Bronn, "I'm sorry, you want me to do what" the former mercenary questioned Jamie's sanity, if they killed everyone on the ship, how were they supposed to sail back home with just two people and three hands?

"Just do as I say and I will make sure you get a castle of your choosing!" Jamie offered.

Bronn thought for a moment at the tempting offer, "And might I ask what brought about this sudden urge for slaughter?"

Jamie remained quiet and Bronn sighed, "You Lanisters are gonna be the death of me." he complained as he took out his dagger. The ship had over a dozen sailors but most of them were not seasoned killers so he didn't have much of a challenge. They slowly made their way up the ship, running it red until they stood alone on the deck, surrounded by deadmen.

Bronn heaved, nursing his cuts and injuries, "Bloody hell, how the fuck are we supposed to sail back now?" he asked an ashen Jamie.

"You don't have to worry about that." Jamie muttered before plunging a dagger into Bronn's back, "I'm sorry, I truly am… but he said everyone on the ship!" he apologised to the man as he pulled the dagger and left him dying on the deck.

Jaime returned to the cabin below, he burst through the door and found Myrcella laying on her bed, color already returning to heresy cheek. Jaime looked at the stranger besides her, he nodded and the stranger simply left the cabin.

Jamie walked up to her and knelt before her bed, he touched her cheek, feeling the warmth of life. He held her small hand in his and sat beside her, staring at her face, his mind empty of all things except the girl before him.