[this turned out very sad. Don't hate me. It sort of went that direction alone.
Plus, forgive me! English is not my mother tongue…if you find something that doesn't work, write me, correct me, please!]
They opened the door of the room where they had brought him.
They opened the door for her, in silence, exchanging grave looks.
She thought she was ready for anything, she had devoted her entire life to be ready to face anything, any consequence the battlefield could bring.
But she wasn't.
He was lying in bed, his body spread out in unnatural angles, probably in the same position the men that carried him from the battlefield up to this very room had left him, laying him down over the embroidered blankets that now were soaked in his blood.
He breathed slowly. Eyes closed in pain.
She felt something heavy in her stomach, in her lungs too, she hated herself for feeling slightly sick too… Before she was even aware of it, big warm tears started flowing down her cheeks.
She tried to put herself together before nearing him.
His eyes opened a little, sensing some presence in the room.
"Brienne" his voice, too, was broken.
She tried to answer, but a silent sob came out instead and his image flickered in her eyes, engulfed in the tears that were again welling up her eyes.
"Hush…" he whispered almost imperceptibly, trying to move his stump towards her but without managing to. His golden hand was gone. In her mind, she saw it lying somewhere abandoned in the snow, with a trace of fresh blood staining its immaculate white. An image that would haunt her for the years to come. She put a tight grip on his forearm, trying to find in that contact the strength that seemed to have left her.
"I shouldn't complain" he continued, staring blankly before him. "Death while battling against an evil enemy to save the Seven Kingdoms, if not humanity, is something all true and brave knights should wish for".
She nodded silently. You're not dying she wanted to say, but she couldn't lie. This man deserved better, he had always deserved better. Always.
"But I do complain, Brienne".
A silent tear was coming down the corner of his eye, tracing its wet way through the blood covering his face.
"I complain… because I wish I still had some time to spend with you".
His eyes were now fully opened and locked in hers.
"I've always been such a slow learner. But you knew. You knew before me, didn't you, Brienne? It took me too long to understand".
She felt like she could no longer breathe, let alone say something. She cursed herself for not being able to utter a single word of comfort to this man, who had endured the Seven know what, just to come back here, bid her farewell and die in her arms.
So she bent down slowly and kissed him. Lightly, silently, crying.
When she let go of him, he saw her lips were red with his blood.
A faint smile crossed his face while he closed his eyes.
"Goodbye Brienne".