Jaime comes to the bathhouse to bathe, as Lord Roose has invited him to dinner. Brienne is there as well. They verbally spar awhile, until Jaime apologizes and says he is sick of fighting; he wants a truce. Brienne counters that truces are based on trust. Jaime does not know why he does it; probably due to his injuries, but he tells the full story of the death of Aerys.

Lord Jon was exiled after losing the Battle of the Bells and replaced as Hand by Lord Qarlton Chelsted. Aerys finally realized that Robert was a serious threat. He reminded Prince Lewyn that he held Elia and sent him south to take command of ten thousand Dornishmen heading north. Ser Jon and Ser Barristan were sent to Stoney Sept to take command of the remnants of the army there. Prince Rhaegar returned from the south and told Aerys to summon Lord Tywin, but the ravens to Casterly Rock went unanswered. Aerys saw traitors everywhere, and Varys was always ready to point out any he missed. In his fear, Aerys commanded three leading alchemists, Rossart, Belis, and Garigus, to place caches of wildfire all over King's Landing. Lord Qarlton figured out what was happening and tried to dissuade Aerys through reason, jest, threats, and outright begging. When he failed, he threw down his chain of office, so Aerys had him burned alive and made Rossart, his favorite pyromancer and the one who roasted Lord Rickard alive, his new Hand. Jaime saw everything because he was the only member of the Kingsguard left in the city,¹ for he was Tywin's son, and Aerys did not trust him to be away from his side. After Rhaegar's defeat at the Trident, Aerys sent Rhaella and Viserys to Dragonstone. Elia would have gone as well, but Aerys believed that Prince Lewyn must have betrayed Rhaegar and thought that the only hope of keeping Dorne loyal was to keep her and her children close to him. Aerys planned to burn the whole city with wildfire rather than let Robert have it. When Lord Tywin reached King's Landing, Pycelle convinced Aerys he was there to help, and Aerys opened the gates. When Tywin began to sack the city, Jaime was charged with holding the Red Keep, but knew that all was lost. He sent a messenger to ask for permission to make terms, but Aerys responded that he should bring him Tywin's head if he is not a traitor. The messenger also said that Rossart was present, and Jaime knew what he had to do. He slew Rossart, then Aerys. In the following days, he tracked down Belis and Garigus and killed them as well. Brienne asks why he never told that to anyone, and he says that the Kingsguard are sworn to keep the king's secrets, and Eddard would not have been interested in explanations anyway.

Jaime tries to get out of the bath, but gets dizzy and smashes his stump against the side of the tub. Brienne catches him before he can fall and has the guards fetch Qyburn. Qyburn tends to him, and then Brienne finishes cleaning him. Qyburn returns with clothes for both of them and a potion to strengthen Jaime. A half-hour later, Jaime is strong enough to stand, and supported by Brienne, he goes to dinner. Lord Roose waits in the center of the great hall, with only Elmar attending him. Roose explains the situation to them. He repots on Robb's marriage and Edmure's impending marriage. He also reports that Arya has been found, and he means to see her safely back north.² Brienne continues to speak of her mission to see Jaime exchanged for Arya and Sansa, but Roose does not seem to care. He does, however, plan to send Jaime on to King's Landing, but he has a small problem. Vargo took Jaime's hand for a reason. Vargo knows that he is a doomed man now and wants to turn Jaime over to the Karstarks so he may wed Alys and gain sanctuary in the North. He did not have the strength to see him there by himself, however, and therefore had to bring him to Harrenhal. He took the hand so that Lord Roose would be implicated in the act and could not send him back to Tywin. Jaime promises to speak of how Lord Roose saved him, and the matter is settled. Roose then turns to Brienne and says it would be unconcionable to deprive Vargo of both his prizes. His guards take her away.