┏━ tribuation.
( SCENE 12 ) ━┛

THE full moon loomed high in the night sky as Lukas hollered orders at the men apprehending Jaime Lannister, who had just been caught after escaping his prison. A cold wind cut through the Hand like ice, who was still wiping away the sleep from his eyes though the slumber had been short lived as it is almost every night. He'd woken to the sudden commotion with a groan and soon after a soldier came to his tent to inform him of what had occurred.

"BRING HIM TO ME!" The King's Hand bellowed furiously. He seethed with anger as he stood waiting for the kingslayer to be brought before him. At his side, Fenrir was dangerously quiet, watching the scene unfold just as Lukas was. The animal had followed him from he and Ismene's tent and Lukas was dabbling on thoughts of setting the beast on the Lannister.

It was the dead of night and the Estemore had barely but a few moments to fully dress himself and leap into action after he'd been informed from a dead sleep that something had occurred. He was the only one in command, for Aubrey and Darik had ventured to a nearby keep that night for reasons he'd never been fully informed of. Nevertheless he was tasked with maintaining control of the host and he found it quite ironic something so sudden would occur under his watch.

Soon enough Jaime Lannister's shit and mud covered self was thrown to the ground in front of Lukas. Torches were brought to provide light and Lukas noticed spatters of blood on him as well. He pursed his lips and pinched the bridge of his nose before letting go a sigh at the thought of who'd been killed and what he would have to do about it.

"He killed his own cousin to lure Torrhen Karstark into his prison," a soldier with a torch explained to Lukas. "He killed him as well."

Lukas internally grimaces at the thought of what an uproar Torrhen's death would cause with his father, Lord Karstark. It would be an understandable anger, but would still cause an upheaval under Lukas' command. As if the mention of his name drew him in, the Lord Karstark appears seething with rage at the sudden news of the death of his son. Lukas' good-mother, Catelyn, followed close behind.

"EXECUTE HIM, NOW!" Lord Rickard Karstark snarls. "THE LANNISTER SCUM KILLED MY SON IN COLD BLOOD!" Soldiers try their best to restrain the lord from attacking Jaime himself.

"My lord, we cannot carry out such an act until the king has returned," Catelyn spoke quickly. "Jaime Lannister is a valuable prisoner."

"Of course we can!" Lord Karstark growled at her, throwing about his hands in exclamation. "The King's Hand stands here! He has the authority to order such a command! Or did King Darik make a mistake appointing him to such a position?!"

Lukas looks to Catelyn helplessly, but the only thing she can offer is a distressed expression. He shakes off what he can to put away the situation until Darik returns, but even then he is unsure if the king will be able to make up for what had already occurred.

"Nothing will be done until the king has returned," Lukas stated mattarfactly. "If I hear of anything, you will be sorry Lord Karstark."

"Perhaps King Darik did make a mistake appointing you as his Hand," Lord Karstark muttered. "You refuse to perform your duties during a war, who's to say you will help govern the North once all this over with."

The elder lord glared at Lukas leeringly for a few moments before spatting at the ground and stalking away with a few of his bannermen in tow. Lukas and Catelyn watch him leave before he turns toward some of the still present men.

"Lock him up again, and double the guard," Lukas muttered. He looked down to Jaime, who merely offered a languid, victorious smirk.

"Command befits you, my lord," Jaime mocks Lukas as he is being yanked to his feet, flashing a devish smile. "Your young, handsome, with a beautiful wife I hear. It's a shame it won't last too much longer once my father learns of my capture."

Without acknowledging the Lannister's remarks, Lukas swats a hand for his men to take Jaime away. The soldiers obeyed and soon enough he was dragged away, leaving the Hand and his good-mother together.

"Every time Darik leaves me in sole command, something goes awry," the young man told his good-mother as he ran a hand through his dark hair.

"Maintaining a position of authority is never going to be easy for you, Lukas," Catelyn testified, affirming her own experiences. "You've just been placed in a particulary hard position. A young man in charge of an army, with children and a healing wife on the war front."

"Indeed..." He muttered to himself.

He contemplated on the timeline beginning with him living his life as a young heir with no worry except sword practice. It all funneled down to him being the second in command to the North's entire army, at the side of the good-brother made king that once despised him.

"You are doing just fine," Catelyn continued. "If that is what you are wondering. Just fine as the Hand, as a husband, as a father. I've noticed it all and I commend you for your efforts."

He focused to his good-mother with a grateful look, a meager yet present smirk of appreciation appearing on his lips.

"That means a lot," He tells her. "I try my best."

"Of course you do," Catelyn agrees. She let's out a sigh. "But unfortunately your efforts haven't ended for the night. We've yet to confront Jaime, considering what mess he's unraveled tonight."

"You're right," Lukas piped up. He looks to his side, where Fenrir looks up as he pants. "I think it's time this Lannister met a true wolf. Perhaps then, he'll understand we northerners take no shit from these pampered southerners."

❆

NOT long after the ordeal with the death of Torrhen Karstark, Lukas accompanied Catelyn and her guard, Brienne, to confront Jaime again. Lukas had already conjured ideas of scaring Jaime shitless, all with the help of Fenrir of course. If the Lannister wanted to play games, Lukas could easily play along.

The three arrived to the literal cage that Jaime had been forced into, which was now guarded by four men instead of just one.

"Ah," Jaime exclaims once he notices the presence of Lukas and Catelyn. Through the flicker of torch light, he looks up to them with a smirk, peering through the strands of discolored and grimy blonde hair covering his eyes. "The Hand has come back to visit me. What might the pleasure be?"

"You have no honor," Catelyn hisses with venom, draw the Lannister's attention to her.

"No honor?" Jaime replies in a false sense of surprise. "I, a knight of the Kingsguard, have no honor?"

"Let's get passed your puns and quips," Lukas muttered. "What you did was wrong. Horrendously illicit."

Jaime's expression hardens as his lips form into a solid line. He exhales.

"As history is told," The Lannister muttered. "I once served as the Mad King's personal guard, his defense. I was tasked with protecting a king, whatever the cost. Even if that should be my life. I took vows that required me to protect the innocent and serve the king."

Lukas knew the origin story of Jaime's title "Kingslayer". Everyone knew the story, yet it didn't make it any less morbid.

"Yet," Jaime continued, seemingly focusing on what he was going to say. "My king was slaughtering said innocent. The smell of their melting flesh and bone in wildfire will never leave my memories."

Feeling a sense of pity toward the Kingslayer almost distracted Lukas from the fact that the Lannister wasn't redeemed for simply saving the Seven Kingdoms many years ago. In the war they were fighting alone, he had contributed plenty of hardship. Lukas tried to focus on the truth, that Jaime had done much wrong, especially during the war they were currently fighting.

"So, my lord," Jaime conveyed as he looked to Lukas. "Honor and loyalty are naive at best. Hypocritical at worst."

Jaime directed his gaze toward Catelyn.

"As many seem to know, I've only ever been with Cersei," He tells them. "Yet I can't say the same for the late Lord Eddard, now can I? A man married twice.. How does it feel, my lady, seeing the son of another woman serve as your husband's heir, hm?"

At Lukas' side, he can feel Catelyn bristle with rage. He steps forward to intercept before she can unleash her wrath.

"Take her," He orders Brienne, who obediently begins to pull the seething Lady Stark from the scene, who is uttering obscenities toward Jaime.

Once his good-mother is gone, Lukas directs his attitude back to Jaime. Ordering the guards to unlock the gate, he made his way inside to stand before him, who was chained to a post on the ground.

"You can babble about your philosophy and beliefs of honor and loyalty," Lukas muttered. Behind him, Fenrir snakes his way into the small cage causing Jaime's eyes to widen. "But believe me, for your indiscretions, I will ensure you spend moons upon moons away from your dear sister."

Fenrir stops just in front of Jaime, baring his fangs and exhaling his hot breath into the Kingslayer's face. A low, guttural rumble emanates deep in the wolfs' throat.

Lukas watches for a few moments, watching the fear on Jaime's face never falter. Once he's gotten his fill, he chooses to leave. With a sweep of his cloak, Lukas leaves the cage.

Fenrir lingers for a moment longer, instilling fear in Jaime before stalking out of the cage after his master.