It was. In season one there is a brief scene where Ned is on the Iron Throne while Robert is on his death bed and he dispatches Sir Beric Dondarrion and Thoros of Myr, along with a few dozen soldiers to the north to try and reign in The Mountain and Lannisters.
From the HBO Viewers Guide: (tagged just in case)
The Brotherhood Without Banners
A group of outlaws, they answer to Lord Beric Dondarrion, who was tasked by Ned Stark, then Hand of the King, to bring Gregor Clegane to justice. With Joffrey Baratheon's ascension to the throne, Lord Beric's men became a guerilla force, sabotaging the Lannisters' Riverlands forces at every opportunity.
Tyrion shoulders new responsibilities. Jon is taken to the Fist of the First Men. Daenerys meets with the slavers. Jaime strikes a deal with his captors.
Perhaps this has been discussed before, but why would Jaime want to escape Brienne? Sure, he'd rather travel to King's Landing alone, but creating a scene in the middle of a traveled bridge in an area where everybody wants him dead seems like a lapse in judgement.
Perhaps this has been discussed before, but why would Jaime want to escape Brienne? Sure, he'd rather travel to King's Landing alone, but creating a scene in the middle of a traveled bridge in an area where everybody wants him dead seems like a lapse in judgement.
It's less embarrassing for him to escape his captors than be exchanged for a couple of girls, plus it benefits his side in the war to not give them up; also, he wouldn't have to travel to King's Landing alone, he just has to quietly roam around until he finds people that fight for his side. It's much safer to travel alone for a bit hiding from only one side, than to travel all the way to King's Landing hiding from both Lannister and North people.