Jaime

Biodata

Background / History

Childhood and the Kingsguard

Jaime grew up at Casterly Rock as Tywin Lannister’s eldest son and expected heir. Fascinated by bards’ tales of knights, he wanted to become an upright knight rather than follow his father’s ambitions. He accepted the Mad King’s appointment to the Kingsguard despite Tywin’s anger, relinquishing his inheritance 11.

He later killed the king he had sworn to protect to save the people of King’s Landing. This earned him the widely reviled name “Kingslayer,” although he regarded the act as justified and retained a clear conscience 11 42.

Under Robert Baratheon, Jaime continued serving in the Kingsguard despite the king’s contempt for him and House Lannister. He also maintained a secret relationship with Cersei, Robert’s queen and his own twin sister 5 11.

Rivalry with Arthas

Arthas defeated Jaime in a contest during a visit to King’s Landing the year before the main events. Jaime subsequently spent a year training hard with his sword. The defeat also intensified Cersei’s fascination with Arthas, leaving Jaime jealous of his younger brother 4 24.

At Jon Arryn’s funeral, Jaime comforted Cersei but became angry when she proposed including Arthas in their relationship. Although he admired Arthas’s courage—particularly his willingness to confront Tywin—he refused to accept him as a romantic rival 4.

The Seven Kingsguard Challenge

When Arthas challenged all seven Kingsguard, Jaime urged him to surrender rather than risk his life. During the battle, however, seeing Cersei’s admiration for Arthas drove Jaime to charge alone, disrupting Barristan Selmy’s intended coordinated attack 8 11.

Even in his jealousy, Jaime deliberately aimed away from Arthas’s vital points. Arthas knocked him down with a single punch, leaving him unable to rejoin the fight, and then defeated the remaining Kingsguard. Jaime’s sword was the only Kingsguard blade left intact afterward 11 12.

After the contest, Arthas helped Jaime stand and reminded him that either brother’s success brought glory to House Lannister. Jaime embraced him, let go of much of his resentment, and acknowledged that he could entrust the family’s future to Arthas 12.

Journey to Winterfell

On the road north, Cersei’s refusal to speak to Jaime renewed his fear that she preferred Arthas. Tyrion’s teasing about the situation provoked him, but the brothers also discussed Arthas’s achievements with genuine admiration 24.

Jaime expressed relief that joining the Kingsguard had removed him from any succession contest with Arthas. He cared little for Casterly Rock compared with remaining close to Cersei and predicted that Arthas would bring House Lannister still greater glory 24.

As the procession approached Winterfell, Cersei finally called Jaime to her carriage and suggested finding a secluded place together. He eagerly accepted 39.

Bran and the Possession Attempt

At Winterfell, Bran Stark discovered Jaime and Cersei together in an abandoned tower. Jaime caught Bran when the boy nearly fell. Cersei urged Jaime to silence the witness, but he struggled between protecting a defenseless child and fearing execution for Cersei and their three children if the affair became known 41 42.

During that hesitation, an invisible force attempted to make Jaime strike Bran. Spectral blue energy associated with Arthas emerged from within Jaime and contested control of his body. Jaime’s hair turned white, his skin stiffened with cold, and frost formed beneath him before the intruding entity was expelled 42.

The entity entered a crow, which then struck Bran in the face. Jaime’s hair returned to gold as the cold subsided, and he was left confused about what had happened 42.

Return to King’s Landing

Upon returning to the capital, Jaime recognized the disguised Jero as a distant Lannister cousin but chose not to expose him. Curious about Arthas’s intentions, he spoke privately with Cersei and returned to Robert’s side as the king prepared to investigate Arthas’s work in Flea Bottom 47.

Appearance

• Hair: Long and golden; temporarily turns gray-white during the struggle against possession 41 42.
• Eyes: Green 24 42.
• Face: Handsome and strikingly similar to Cersei’s 4.
• Build: Tall and well-built, though Arthas is described as taller 11 41.
• Usual attire: White armor and a white cloak identifying his Kingsguard service 5 24.

Personality

Jaime’s chivalric ideals repeatedly conflict with his attachment to Cersei. He considers protecting the weak a knight’s duty, avoids lethal targets when attacking Arthas, and cannot readily bring himself to kill Bran. Nevertheless, the danger to Cersei and their children makes him hesitate when she demands the boy’s death 11 42.

His devotion to Cersei outweighs his interest in titles or inheritance. Her attention to Arthas provokes possessiveness, insecurity, and impulsive behavior, most visibly when he abandons the Kingsguard’s formation to attack his brother alone 4 11 24.

Jaime also shows warmth toward his brothers. Tyrion regards Jaime and Arthas as the only sources of affection he has within the family. Despite his jealousy, Jaime accepts Arthas’s reconciliation and openly acknowledges his superior ability 4 12 24.

Tywin’s authority intimidates him. Jaime admires Arthas for confronting their father in ways he himself never dared, and he feels freer living in King’s Landing than at Casterly Rock 4.

Abilities & Skills

Swordsmanship

Jaime is counted among the Kingsguard’s most famous warriors and continues training after his first defeat by Arthas 6 24.

• Uses a longsword in the seven-against-one contest 11.
• Retains enough control while enraged to avoid Arthas’s vital points 11.
• Remains decisively outmatched by Arthas despite a year of intensive practice 12 24.
• Daven Lannister’s swordsmanship is described as no worse than Jaime’s, and possibly better 27.

Horsemanship

• Rides with Robert’s procession to Winterfell and back to King’s Landing 24 39 47.
• Maneuvers alongside Cersei’s carriage to receive private instructions 39.

Supernatural Protection

The spectral energy that protects Jaime during the possession attempt is associated with Arthas, not identified as Jaime’s own learned ability 42.

• Contests an ancient entity’s control over his body 42.
• Produces intense cold, whitening hair, and nearby frost during the struggle 42.
• Leaves Jaime shaken and uncertain about the event afterward 42.

Equipment / Weapons / Items

• Longsword and scabbard — His regular weapon; survives the Kingsguard contest intact 5 11 12.
• White armor and cloak — Worn on duty at court and during the royal journey 5 24.

Relationships

• Cersei Lannister — Elder twin sister, lover, and mother of his children. His devotion persists despite her fascination with Arthas and her periods of deliberate distance 4 20 24 39.
• Arthas Lannister — Younger brother, superior swordsman, and source of both jealousy and pride. Jaime ultimately supports him as the family’s future leader 11 12 24.
• Tyrion Lannister — Younger brother who values Jaime’s affection and freely teases him about Cersei 4 24.
• Tywin Lannister — Father, whose expectations and authority weigh heavily on Jaime. Joining the Kingsguard defied Tywin’s plans for his inheritance 4 11.
• Joffrey, Myrcella, and Tommen — His children with Cersei. The threat to their lives influences his hesitation over Bran’s discovery 20 42.
• Barristan Selmy — Kingsguard commander and fellow combatant against Arthas; Jaime’s impulsive charge undermines his planned attack 11.
• Robert Baratheon — King he serves and Cersei’s husband. Jaime performs his duties despite Robert’s insults toward the Lannisters 5 11.
• Bran Stark — Child who witnesses his affair with Cersei. Jaime initially saves him from falling, then becomes the target of supernatural interference while deciding what to do 41 42.

Notable Quotes

“I know I have never really been a proper Lannister.”
“I can rest easy leaving it to you.”
— To Arthas after their reconciliation 12

“The Lannisters produced one wise old lion, and that alone brought us the glory we enjoy today.”
“Now there’s a young lion king as well.”
— To Tyrion, expressing confidence in Arthas 24