This night for all that it mattered was the last night in this world for the people in Winterfell. Jaime and Tyrion found themselves sat opposite the warmest fire they could find. Two outcasts keeping each other company, two old friends sharing a drink, two brothers forgetting, if only for a while, they're coming fate. Tyrion hadn't had a chance to let loose since he became hand to the Queen. He tried with Grey Worm and Missandei, with minimal success. Tyrion missed his brother.
"I'm proud of you brother." Tyrion said all of a sudden, clapping his hand on Jaime's shoulder.
"I'm proud of you too." Jaime replied with a small, if tired smile, patting Tyrion's hand with his left.
"We've come a long way haven't we. You're honour has finally let you break out of our dear sister's grasp".
"And your hand of the Queen." He replies, raising his glass towards him.
The two brothers reminisced about their childhood. Tyrion tried to apologise for killing their father, not that he regretted his action but that he regretted the impact it might have had on Jaime.
"Don't worry, that was a lifetime ago."
They talked about how Tyrion came to be hand of the Queen. They did impressions of their mutual sellsword Bronn. And finally talked about how simple it was when they first came to Winterfell. But while they didn't have to worry about the dead back them, the toxicity of politics was just as dangerous. Finally, they came to a semblance of peace with their position, the night before the end of the world.
"The perils of self-betterment."
They raised their cups to each other. As they drank they heard the door open and turned around. Tyrion found it curious to see Jaime stand to his feet immediately, especially seeing that it was Brienne and Podrick. Not many people have that effect on his brother.
Soon, more joined, more misfits and outcasts. Tyrion points out that the people here were fighting against the Starks not long ago and now they pledged they're lives to fight by their sides. This didn't mean they gained much more acceptance by the sceptical northerners but instead the found an unlikely camaraderie amongst them.
The conversation took an interesting turn soon.
"I don't want to be a knight anyway." Brienne alleged. She looked straight at her squire, who was she kidding, she had armour on, a sword strapped to her waist and she was leading part of an army the next day. It was her natural defence mechanism.
To be honest with herself she felt oddly accepted by Tyrion's mistake in calling her "ser" and by Tormund's words despite his oddly suggestive tone. But she always knew no matter how hard she tried, she never be a knight, she was a woman after all. She wasn't at all prepared for what was to come.
"You don't need a king. Any knight can make another knight." Jaime Lannister, the golden lion of House Lannister put down his cup. He had an idea. "I'll prove it."
The eyes of the room followed Jaime to the empty space in the room in behind them as if he were a mummer putting on a show.
"Kneel. Lady Brienne."
Brienne scoffed and shook her head. Jaime was going to insult her after all, back to their normal routine, she never would admit to him that she actually enjoyed his japes in a fashion once they got to know each other.
"Do you want to be a knight or not?" Jaime said seriously without a hint of his usual japing voice.
He was continuing his ruse? Brienne looked at him, her eyes meeting his.
"Kneel."
What was he doing? He looked at Pod who gave the slightest of nods, and back to Jaime who gave her another nod and gave her the courage. He trusted Ser Jaime not to mock her with something she felt so strongly about. She hesitantly went to went to him, eyes ever leaving his and kneeled before him. She barely registered the Lion's words as he knighted her. She couldn't believe this was happening, Ser Jaime of all people. Her heart filled with joy and emotion. In the back of her mind, there was always a voice that called her a fool, a fool to lead the life of a knight when she should be like the other ladies of the court and stay on Tarth and marry a lord. She will never have to listen to that voice again. It wasn't just an old friend doing her a favour, she felt she finally deserved it. She had committed her life to being as honourable as she could and now she can finally accept herself for who she is.
"Arise, Brienne of Tarth. Knight of the seven kingdoms."
Her eyes met Ser Jaime's again as she rose. She could see pride in his eyes, and it made her feel impossibly happier. She had felt it was just the two of them and the world was somewhere far in the distance as she heard the sound of applause gradually gain volume. She watched as Ser Jaime's gaze move from hers to the crowd, and if her eyes didn't deceive her he did so almost reluctantly. He moved to join the crowd to give her the moment she deserved. For the first time in a while, she smiled wholeheartedly with tears in her eyes, expressing the joy that was bubbling within.
He's never seen her smile before, let alone with such unmasked happiness. Hells, he would wager most people have never seen her smile especially after leaving Tarth and living with halfwits at Renly's camp who were likely half the knight she was. It made his heart full to see her like that, and he was the reason for it but Gods knows she deserved it. He was glad to the crazed wildling to suggest it. He was afraid she would think it was a jape, to mock her, but he was glad that she trusted him enough to know he was serious. He was glad she found her place amongst people who respected her, finally people who didn't think she was a woman playing at being a knight but a truer knight than any. Even he himself thought the same when he first met her and how he was proven wrong. He felt honoured that he was a part of something he knew Brienne had been working hard on her whole life.
Cries of "Ser Brienne of Tarth" echoed through the room as the patrons raised their cup to her. After overcoming the waves of emotion, she felt coursing through her she felt a little awkward walking back to her comrades. She was by no means used to the attention they were giving her. Thankfully it seemed most of her friends were leaving to go to rest before the big day tomorrow. Using the sounds of "good nights" she gained courage to lean into Ser Jaime's ear and whisper "thank you" as she walked past him. Jaime's mouth fell open slightly in surprise but then quickly changed to a soft smile.
"Come now Podrick we need sleep to be ready for tomorrow."
"Yes Ser Brienne!" Her squire beamed at her, he was finally able to get her title right.
"I'll join you." Chimed Tormund. "We can have some fun before we die tomorrow."
Brienne felt her face flush and found herself instinctively looking at Jaime. To her surprise he was looking at her too, his expression a combination amused and concerned.
"I really just want to get some rest Tormund."
"You are one difficult Big Woman." Tormund sighed. "But that's ok, I like that about you. Gives me more incentive to fight tomorrow. We can continue where we left off after the war is won." Tormund smiled, winked at her with his wide eyes, burped a big burp then stalked off.
"Continue where we left off?" Jaime inquired amusedly.
Brienne shook her head.
"Don't ask. Come Podrick." Brienne looked at Jaime once more, couldn't help but linger her eyes longer than was necessary. She couldn't believe he was here let alone that he had just knighted her. "Good night Ser Jaime."
"Sweet dreams Ser Brienne." He felt he could look into her sapphire eyes for an eternity.
Not forgetting her manners, she broke her gaze to look to the younger Lannister.
"Good night Lord Tyrion."
"G'night Ser Bri-hic- enne. Pardon me." Tyrion hiccoughed, it had been a while since he had drunk a respectable amount of wine.
With Podrick in tow, Brienne left the room to the two original occupants.
Tyrion watched as she left and turned his head towards his brother who was still looking towards where she had left. A realisation dawned on him.
"Oh my Gods, my brother is in love!" Tyrion gave his brother a small punch on the leg to emphasise his point.
"What are you on about Tyrion?" Jaime replied dropping himself onto his chair.
"Don't give me that, I'm your brother." Climbing to his own chair. "You. Are. In. Love." His finger jabbing at his brother with each word. "And she's in love. With. You."
"Who are you talking about?" Jaime scoffed, taking swig of wine from his cup.
"Ser Big Woman! Lady Brienne of Tarth. Whatever you'd like to call her." Throwing his arms in the air, the wine sloshing everywhere. "Oh whoops." He mumbled. "I can't believe I didn't see it before. You wouldn't bring any woman to King's Landing."
"I had to, she was under my protection."
"You wouldn't save just any women from being raped."
"Yes, I would Tyrion, that's common decency!"
"Not any woman would risk her position to defend the man who killed her Queen's father."
"That's just how she is!"
"You wouldn't knight any woman."
"There is no truer knight than her."
"Wait, I thought you were her prisoner on the way to King's Landing why was she under your protection."
"Oh, that." He waved his golden hand dismissively. "She was in trouble, so I had to jump into a bear pit to save her, and I didn't want her to be thrown back in, did I?"
"You jumped in to a bear pit to save this woman." He said slowly, not really comprehending his words. "With a crossbow?"
"No. Nothing really." Jaime said casually, taking another gulp of wine.
"You jumped, unarmed, into a bear pit to save a woman you don't love. Does that make sense to you, because I'm having trouble?"
"Hmm, I loved Cersei." He said in a dreamily, his eyes weren't really focussed any more from the drink.
"And now? Why did you come to Winterfell? You could have easily fled to Essos and been safe to live out the rest of your days but instead you come to the end of the Earth for honour? What does honour matter if you're dead? You came here for her." Tyrion was getting animated, he loved a good argument.
"I came here for her." He echoed, playing with the words on his tongue. Suddenly, his eyes went wide and he reached across to grab Tyrion by the sleeve. "Gods, Tyrion, I love her!"
"No kidding." Tyrion returned dryly. "Well what are you waiting for." He made a gesture ushering him to the door. "Go tell her then."
He slumped back in his chair.
"She doesn't love me." He said wistfully, now licking the remnants of the wine in his cup. Tyrion put his head in his hands, his brother was an idiot sometimes. "I'm old, crippled and without honour. Whereas she's strong, beautiful, young and the best knight I've ever met."
"You think she's beautiful?" Tyrion asked incredulously, his interest piquing again.
"Have you seen her eyes? And I sometimes still think about her body I saw when we were bathing together in Harrenhal."
Tyrion did a spit take.
"You've seen her naked?!"
"I didn't expect much but I was pleasantly proven otherwise."
"Jaime, I'm this for your own good, and how you've never realised before is beyond me. She loves you, it is obvious to anyone who isn't you apparently. Go to her room, tell her before its too late. You do realise we might all die tomorrow, and it really wouldn't matter if she doesn't love you back. She still deserves to know."
"You're right Tyrion." He stood abruptly, gave his brother a quick hug and left the room without turning back.
"Good luck and let me know how it goes!" Tyrion shouted after his brother, standing to pour himself another glass as he chuckled to himself.
"Jumped into a bear pit. Idiot."