Author's Header: GAME OF THRONES! GAME OF THRONES! This fandom has become my third child, and after this gifset during Hayffie week, this idea wouldn't leave my mind. :P
Set Post-White Walker War (Basically my idea of how the show/books will end).
This will most likely be a bit canon-divergent and slightly ooc since I have only finished the show, still in the third book while writing this first chapter, and don't have the best internet for researching so I apologize for any mishaps.
Also, I can't assure you it's GoT/ASoIaF graphic-ness. Might be fluffier but we'll see…
"Do you think he will like me, mother?"
The young lady of the Sapphire Isle glanced toward the reflection of her lady mother. You almost couldn't tell they were mother and daughter. Euphemia was pretty with her delicate feminine features- her nose, her lips, the soft facial shape framed by golden ringlets, as opposed to her mother, Brienne, who had a broken nose, crooked teeth and wide face matted with her straw hair that never reached her shoulders. Even their choice of wardrobe was different; Euphemia's blue gown complimented the figure that was beginning to form, while Brienne's simple tunic and breeches just made her already flat chest flatter.
"Why would he not? You are a very beautiful girl, Euphemia," her mother assured her.
"I mean," Euphemia was tightening the laces of her dress. The child was six-and-ten and was adamant on being independent and impressing others. And although Brienne was not the most helpful at putting on dresses, it took all of her willpower not to lift her finger. That waist looked slightly too small on her daughter. "What if there is something about me he doesn't like?" the young lady continued. "The way I act, the way I dance, the way I…. breathe?"
Her daughter was close to being hysterical. The mother almost laughed but held it in for the sake of her daughter. Instead, she allowed herself a twitch of a smile before looking sympathetic and moving closer to her daughter. She held her arms gently but firmly and rested her chin on her shoulder. It was up close you could see their similarities- their full lips, pale skin sprinkled with freckles that would darkened a blotchy red when they blush, and their big beautiful bright blue orbs.
"You are the most wonderful daughter I could ever hope for," Brienne assured.
"You're only saying that because you are my lady mother," Euphemia mumbled, a habit she picked up from her mother when she did not want to come out rude. But Brienne heard it nonetheless.
"You are an obedient and hardworking child," Brienne explained. "You always did your duty and picked up what the septa taught quite easily,"
But the girl was still pouting which reminded Brienne of the child's father.
"Your father chose me, didn't he?" her mother began even though it was quite embarrassing to talk of, but her child needed reassurance. "Even though I am not the best of matches, more man than woman, my House not the greatest, but he still chose to marry me," After all these years, it still sounded like a dream come true for the Lady of Tarth when her lord husband chose to marry her, Brienne Not-Really-A-Beauty, heir of the Sapphire Isle, because of love.
"But mother," her daughter waved her away. "Father saw your eyes," and her expression turned dreamy. "And it was enough beauty for him. It showed how truly beautiful you are, no matter what everyone whispers," Brienne began to turn scarlet but her daughter went on. "A pool of sapphires, he said, that felt like home, our home, and he is but the small, insignificant and tainted emerald that sit upon the endless sparkling blue,"
Her mother was bright red when her daughter was finished. "Gods, did your father really say that?" Brienne muttered.
Euphemia smiled smugly, as if it was a supposed to be a secret only she knew. "Yes, I was ten, and the others had said that you were not my mother, but he assured me you were. We have the same eyes,"
"Th-there you have it," Brienne stuttered, steadying her breathing to return her face to its normal color. "Look him in the eyes and he will see your inner beauty, too,"
Euphemia seemed satisfied with it and adjusted her dress. After she seemed to be finished, her mother opened the door and found her lord father leaning against the wall. His golden locks, now flecked with silver, hung over his face creased with age crinkles as he dozed off. Brienne smacked his arm. Jaime jumped in fright and widened his eyes.
"How long was I asleep?" Jaime Lannister huffed.
The women both rolled their eyes.
"Father, I was only inside for half an hour. We were just talking about you,"
"Oh," he raised his eyebrow at his wife whose color was returning. "What of?"
"Emeralds on the endless Sapphire blue," their daughter beamed brightly.
Jaime's cheeks seemed to color a little. "Effie," Jaime had come up with that ridiculous nickname. He found the name, Euphemia, too ridiculous for his taste, but his wife was adamant in the name. "That was supposed to be our little secret. Your mother will think I've gone soft,"
"Everyone in Westeros knows you're all female, Lannister," his wife deadpanned.
Jaime made a move to wrap his arm around his wife's waist and positioned them face to face. "Well, you are more man than I am, Tarth, but there are some… instincts where I am the male in this relationship,"
He slowly leaned his face forward when Brienne aggressively shoved him. "Not in front of the child, and we are late,"
Jaime laughed at this and gave her a quick peck on her lips.
"Effie," the Lord Lannister nodded to his daughter as he offered her arm to her daughter. She tapped thrice on her father's golden hand as she did when she needed some sort of comfort, before locking her arm around her father's.
Her spirits were high as they slowly journeyed to the dining hall, with both parents by her side. Watching her parents in light and easy banter was refreshing to watch. She wished she would marry for love, just like her parents, but Tarth needed to forge bonds with Houses, and after that whole mess in the Wall, all the highborn sought new and old allies alike. Tarth was no exception. Effie knew it was duty, and she was a dutiful child. She had no boy she really set her eyes on anyway. And she knew of lords and ladies who learned to love the person they were arranged to.
The family walked through the doors of the dining hall. Seated on the farthest table, Sansa Stark stood up and curtsied at the family. She had a small smile plastered on her lips until she caught Jaime's eyes. The family bowed to the Lady of Winterfell.
"Please sit down," Sansa motioned at the available seats. Brienne and Effie sat on both sides of Sansa while Jaime sat beside his wife. Jaime opened his mouth as if to say some snarky comment but Brienne silenced him with a glare.
"I regret to inform you that my lord husband and son have been delayed by the weather on their way back," Lady Sansa didn't look that apologetic. She looked more like she was relieved and irritated at the same time. "They might have about half a fortnight delay,"
The family nodded. Effie was a little ticked about the delay, being a stickler for punctuality, but it was an unforeseen circumstance. But it didn't stop her from shoveling her first bite in a way highborn ladies wouldn't normally do.
The sound of plates and forks and knives clashing filled the silence of the hall. Jaime normally would chatter away in their family meals but Sansa had no love for the Lannister. She had only respected him for his part in the war, but his deeds against the Starks were not fully forgiven. Only Brienne and her honorable words stood in the way of Arya's blade and his neck.
By the end of the meal, Sansa handed out a rolled parchment to Brienne. "I received a raven from Evenfall Hall, and forgive me," but Sansa's icy blue eyes were far from sorry. "But for safety purposes, I read through all the letters that arrive here in Winterfell,"
Brienne unrolled the parchment and Sansa narrated what the letters contained. "Your grandchild, Octavia. Her sickness has gotten worse. Cinna and Portia have both decided to split the load to find a cure. Flavius is seated at the throne but he is only six, too young to understand anything. Maester Aurelius is doing all he can to run the place but some tasks need a Lady and or Lord,"
"I'll go," Brienne stood up and brushed crumbs off her. "My Lady, I will start packing and leave first thing in the morning,"
Beside her, a chair creaked. "No, my lady wife," Jaime lifted his chin a little to meet his wife's eyes. "I should handle the situation back in the island. Your daughter needs a mother in times like this,"
His wife snorted. "I'm hardly the one to teach Euphemia about weddings and I'm definitely more familiar with the rule of Tarth,"
Jaime raised a brow. He had been living in Tarth for almost two decades. Surely he is familiar with its ways.
"You think I'm getting old, don't you?"
A light blush on his wife's cheeks answered his question.
"I'm a few years nearing my sixtieth name day but I can travel just fine, wife," he tried very hard not to sound insulted.
"I cannot do lady duties," was all Brienne could say.
"Neither can I," he mused.
"You are better at sitting pretty and being all highborn,"
Euphemia abruptly rose from her seat before they can argue further. "You can both go. I'll stay,"
The couple whipped their head to their daughter's direction.
"Mother, Father. I am sixteen now," the child explained. "I am perfectly capable of handling myself here. You can leave Aron here if it eases your worry, but I know Lady Sansa here will not allow any harm to come to me,"
The worried parents looked over to Sansa, who was badly suppressing her amusement. "Do not be so eager to send your parents away, child," Then, she looked melancholic, "You never know when they will be taken from you,"
She seemed to scowl at Jaime for a second but took a deep breath and smiled apologetically (it appeared that way at least) to Effie. "Forgive me. I do miss my parents terribly,"
Jaime looked afraid for his daughter. Grief does horrible things to a person's mind. He recalled Lady Stoneheart. He had little love for the boring Eddard Stark but at least he was not as cold as his wife. Sansa and Arya both took their mother's unforgiving nature.
Sensing his thoughts, Sansa gave what probably was the warmest smile she ever gave Jaime.
"I assure you, Ser Jaime," Sansa often calls him that out of habit. It was supposed to be a more polite version of Kingslayer, but he was past caring. "My little love for you will in no way make me let any harm come to your daughter. She is my guest and a good host always takes care of their guest,"
"Please Mother and Father. I will be good. I promise," Euphemia plead.
The two mumbled hesitant affirmations and their daughter smiled.
"So 'tis a yes?"
"Yes, sweetling," her father confirmed.
"But you have to write us as often as you could, won't you?" her mother added.
The girl sucked in her breath and went over to her parents and hugged them.
From her spot in the head of the table, Sansa observed the family with a pang of jealousy. She wondered why the gods would allow such an honorless man to feel such love and completeness. She married her husband because he was the only person she could trust, and while she loved her son very much, her whole family was not as warm as the one before her.
Author's Note: What did you think? Brienne and Jaime were giving me mega feels so I really wanted them as the Lannister parents. I know they have a short appearance (I'm sad, too, but my muse insists) but they'll be back for their baby XD I am scared that I didn't do the characters justice, this is my first GoT/ASoIaF fanfic (yes I have posted others but I wrote this first XD) and unlike THG, which doesn't have as much character establishment for everyone else due to the limited POV one can easily assume and take liberations with other characters more, GoT/ASoIaF is in multiple POVs and the world is built up specifically so I am very scared at the result of this. Also, their way of talking is not too modern so I tried my best to emulate how they speak. Aaaaand I am not sure if I got their customs, too accurately. GODS THIS IS TOUGH! I hope I did not do too badly XD. Constructive feedback is very much appreciated.
I will probably be posting chapters 2 week to a month intervals, depending on my progress. I've actually written out several chapters before posting this first chapter so I'm sure to finish this multi-chapter fic and not just leave it to the dust like last time I tried. XD But I will still be reading and considering your feedback. I'll also be keeping this in 7-8 parts. I suck at multi-chapters and these are my baby steps 3