AN: Sorry I took so long to update again but here it finally is.

Chapter 8

During the weeks before Joffrey's wedding Jaime and I had been spending more and more time together. However he has been disappearing always a little before lunch and comes back out of breath and disheveled. At first I would ask what he had been doing but he never answered me. "Jaime where are you always coming from so out of breath?" I asked curious that he had come back like this three days in a row.

"Well this is a big castle so there's a lot of stairs to walk. And it doesn't help that I am out of shape." He chuckled kind of stiffly.

I laughed Jaime was anything but out of shape. He still had the same muscular body that he has always had due to his knightly exercise. "I'm serious Jaime."

"Don't you worry your pretty little head about it." Jaime said as he walked past me to change out of his sweaty clothes. I asked again a couple of days later. I didn't get a very kind answer from him. "Sansa what I do is my business. You are my wife you have no need to know what I do or go. I could be fucking whores and I would not need to tell you do you understand." He snarled at me.

I gazed at him startled. He had never spoken to me like this before. I bowed my head. "Yes my lord." I said stiffly. I looked back at up at him and saw the anger melt away from his eyes and replace with something else.

He made to move closer to me but I spoke quickly. "You should probably change your garb my lord. We shall be leaving soon to eat with your royal family." I said emphasizing the word your to separate myself from them. I could see regret in his eyes but he did not push the issue.

"Of course. I shall be ready soon." He walked off towards the bath. I went to my mirror and brushed my hair again. I didn't know what else to do since I was already ready. I didn't want to just sit there and wallow. I know it shouldn't be a surprise that he might be out with other women. Our marriage was not one of made out of love but of control. I must have been sitting there for a while because Jaime had to shake me to catch my attention. "Sansa it's time to go." I looked up startled. Has that much time truly passed. It had only seemed like minutes.

"Oh, alright." I got up and took the arm Jaime offered. We made our way to the royal dining area. It took ten minutes to get there from our chambers. We walked in silence for a few minutes before Jaime stopped abruptly. I looked at him curious. "Why are we stopping Ser?" He looked hurt by the coldness in my eyes.

"Sansa I am truly sorry for snapping at you. I did not mean to. I was angry and I took it out on you, where it was not deserved. Do you forgive me?" His eyes pleaded with me to say yes but that was easier said than done. If he had done this before we had actually become friends I would not have cared but now…. Now was different.

"You are right, it was not deserved." I stated boldly. Jaime's eyes widened with shock at my statement. I had never spoken this way to anyone before. They thought me a little pup that would go around following people like a lap dog. But I am a Stark of Winterfell. I am a direwolf and we do not bow to lions. "But I can understand being angry and lashing out at others. So I forgive you."

He looked relieved. "Thank you Sansa."

"Shall we continue walking Jaime?"

"Oh of course." He smiled and took my arm and started down the hall again. "Sansa I will tell you what I have been doing." He said softly. I kept myself from showing my shock I felt.

"You do not have to Jaime." I told him. I didn't know if I truly wanted to know.

"I know but I want. Just not now, when we get back to our chambers." He said I could hear the nervousness in his voice. It must be something big if he is so nervous.

"Alright." I said simply. It's best not to make a big fuss about it.

"So what did you spend your day doing my lady." He asked striking up a conversation, cheerful finally.

I went on to tell him all about my day until we made it to the royal hall. At the door there were two kingsguard posted on either side. "Sers." Jaime and I said in greeting.

"Lady Sansa, Ser Jaime." They said pleasantly. Jaime smiled at them.

"Why, aren't we courteous today." Jaime joked. I looked at him wondering where this was going.

"Well we are doing it for the lady's benefit my lord. Wouldn't want to corrupt your lady wife." One of the guards smirked.

"I'm pretty sure Jaime already has." The other japed. A blush crept up to my face as I stifled my laughter. Since I have known Jaime I haven't been as uptight as I use to.

"I could have your tongue for that insolence." Jaime said pretending to be angry.

"Then who else would you go to seek wisdom from?" The Kingsguard said. They stared at each other for a minute then broke out laughing.

"We got to go in now." Jaime said while chuckling. "Good day lads." We both walked in with smiles our faces. Everyone was there except for Tyrion. At least we are not the only ones late. "Sorry for being late father." Jaime said before Lord Tywin could bring it up. We walked towards the table. Jaime pulled out my chair and then sat down in his own seat.

"We were beginning to think you two were not coming. Now we can begin to eat." Tywin motioned for the servers to start serving dinner.

"What about Tyrion." Jaime asked confused.

"He is not coming. He had others matter to deal with." Tywin then turned away to talk to Cersei.

"Dinner was uneventful. I spoke with Jaime mostly since Tyrion was not here. After dinner we walked silently back to our chambers. We both changed into our night clothes. I went to remove my hair from the pins that pinned my hair up.

Jaime cleared his throat. He was sitting on the bed in only his under clothes covering him. He looked nervous. "Sansa can you come sit next to me. I am ready to talk."

"Of course." I left all of the pins by the mirror and went to sit right next to him. We sat there in silence for a few minutes. I didn't try to say anything. I know he just needs a second to come out and say it.

"I was a renowned as the one of the best sword fighters in Westeros. But that was when I had two hands. When I lost my sword hand I lost everything. I didn't know how I could keep on living when I had lost the one thing that gave me my identity. I was the Kingslayer who now could not even slay a novice knight. So I have been training with Ser Ilyn Payne. This way no one will know that I cannot fight any longer and I can train." Jaime finished.

"Jaime you do not need to fight like you used to anymore." I told him trying to soothe him.

"You are my wife. I need to be able to protect you." He jumped up and turned his back to me.

"Who are you protecting me from?" I asked.

"Everyone." He turned to face me. He had let down his guards and look frightened.

I got up and grabbed his hands. "I am safe right now. I am here and safe." I kept my stare locked with his.

"I need to learn to protect you." He repeated. I sighed.

"Then that is just what you will do." Jaime looked at me with doubt in his eyes. "But what if I can't." He whispered.

I smiled at him. "You are Jaime Lannister. You can and will."

Jaime pulled me closer to him and kissed me desperately. His lips were urgent on mine as if I could disappear at any moment. I kissed him back just as desperately, determined to put him at ease. He moved his lips down to my neck. "I'm here. I'm here." I whispered.