Jaime stands vigil over Tywin's body as the last of the moruners leave the Great Sept. Ser Balon and Ser Loras remain. They implore Jaime to rest and let one of them take a watch over the body, but Jaime insists he will stand the full seven days and nights. He feels incredible guilt for releasing Tyrion and blames himself for Tywin's death. He dismisses the other two Kingsguard and thinks back to the night Tyrion escaped. He had waited in Varys's chambers for the eunuch to return and placed a dagger at his throat, threatening to kill him if he did not help. He never imagined that Tyrion would kill their father. Jaime has been looking for Varys, but he has not reappeared. He led a dozen guards into the secret passages of the Red Keep, but their search yielded nothing save darkness and dragon skulls. As he gazed at those skulls, he remembered the day Rhaegar had ridden out from King's Landing to meet Robert in battle. Jaime had pleaded with Rhaegar to go with him, but Rhaegar told him that Aerys feared Tywin more than Robert and wanted Jaime close so Tywin could not harm him. He also said that he would call a council when the battle was over, and that he had meant to do so long ago. Jaime's thoughts turn to Cersei. She suspects half the court of being traitorous, even Ser Ilyn Payne, since as King's Justice he has command of the dungeons. As he cannot speak, he leaves the actual running to his underlings. Jaime questioned one of them himself, the chief undergaoler, Rennifer Longwaters. He was disgusted to learn that Cersei had ordered the two turnkeys on duty to be killed beofre they were even questioned. He berated Ser Boros and Ser Osmund for it later. Half-delirious through lack of sleep, Jaime's thoughts wonder as he ponders Tyrion and his claim that Cersei slept with Lancel and Osmund, and Brienne. As a large group of septons, septas, and brothers file in for evening devotions, Jaime thinks back to his vigil before he was knighted by Ser Arthur Dayne. Some time after the devotions are over, a woman enters clothed in roughspun. Jaime realizes it is Cersei. She tells him of Kevan's refusal and that he knows about their relationship. She begs Jaime to be Hand, but he refuses again. Cersei leaves angrily, saying she was a fool to ever love him. The next morning, Tywin is visibly rotting and has a horrid stench. The mourners file in again, led by Lord Mace and Queen Margaery, while Cersei and Tommen arrive last guarded by Ser Osmund. When they approach, the smell makes Tommen cry and retch, and he flees the chamber. Jaime goes after him to give him some advice, but Cersei arrives soon after and scolds him in a fury. Lord Mace comes out soon after, and Jaime tells him he should sup with Cersei. Afterwards, Cersei rounds on him furiously, but he tells her that they must get Mace out of the city and that she should send him to capture Storm's End. Cersei points out that he will not leave until Margaery weds Tommen, and Jaime says they should give him his wedding since they cannot consumate for years anyway and the marriage can be set aside. Cersei finally agrees.
