She could feel her looking in their direction over the dinner table. Only small glances, inconspicuous, but to Brienne, they were most obvious. She recognized them because she had stolen the same glances at Jaime some months ago, before she had decided to bury her feelings and secret, absurd hopes once and for all. How ironic, to meet someone as obsessed with Jamie as herself, with one crucial difference: Shereen was the complete opposite of Brienne – beautiful, petite, with raven hair falling in soft waves to her waist. They had been travelling together for some weeks now, all through Westeros, to deliver instructions from the Queen to all parts of the country in hopes to establish a new, peaceful rule in the Seven Kingdoms. Jaime, Brienne and Bronn had been picked for the mission. Their intend was to spread the message to all people, not only the ones who spoke the common tongue, so they needed a capable translator to accompany them. As Missandei was needed in services to the Queen, they had sent for the best translator in all the Kingdoms. They had returned with Shereen, who not only spoke a total of 21 languages, but who had also be trained in the art of negotiation by the best. She was escorted by her own personal guardsmen, who made sure she was not bothered by the soldiers travelling with them. A wise precaution, as Shereen's exceptional beauty was noticed and appreciated by most men of the camp.
Shereen's presence had forced Brienne to reflect her relationship with Jaime. They never needed to spell anything out, there was just a quiet understanding what they meant to each other: best friends, soulmates in a way. She could see in the way he looked at her that she had a special place in his heart, but she wasn't so naive as to believe it to be anything else than platonic love. He jested with her as he did with Bronn, his many jibes at her a sign of their good-natured friendship. She always paid him in kind. She knew he had never had a romantic relationship with anyone else but Cersei, his late sister, yet deep inside a dark dread gnawed at her insides at the thought that someday, he might be with someone else. He might be with Shereen. It was one thing to banter along with your friend, but the idea to see him flirting with someone, kissing someone, lanced pain through her body. She didn't think she could go on spending time at his side if she had to endure that.
She wondered if Jaime knew this, and avoided Shereen because of it. He was sitting to her left, enjoying his stew and discussing strategies with Bronn, seemingly oblivious to Shereens stolen glances. The talk at the table was an easy banter, as a new hope spread through Westeros after the defeat of the dead and the first harbingers of spring. Men were trying their best to impress Shereen, who only sat a few seats down at the same table on the opposite side, so that it was easy for Brienne to glance at her from under her lashes. Shereen was so absurdly beautiful that Brienne felt all the more plain next to her, like a sore thumb sticking out. One of the soldiers leaned forward, and with sparkling eyes addressed Shereen: "So, Mylady, of all the brave soldiers travelling in this party, is there anyone who has caught your eye or interest? I'm sure we'd be happy to indulge you."
Shereen smiled wistfully and seemed to suppress a glance in Jamie's direction. "Well, interest must always go both ways, Ser," she said demurely.
Brienne scoffed. Only when the talking seemed to die down and she felt the stares on her did she realize she must have scoffed loudly enough for everyone at their table to hear. She could feel Shereen's burning stare on her, so she raised her head to counter that stare heads on.
"You doubt my words, Mylady?" Sheeren fixated her with a stare Brienne could not read, but she had fought too many battles to be intimidated by anyone. Brienne cleared her throat: "Mylady, I do agree there is truth to your words, but forgive me for doubting that it applies in your special case. I believe you could get up and kiss anyone in this room without fear of rejection."
The soldiers around her hooted in agreement. Shereen raised one eyebrow: "Is that a challenge?" The hall drowned in noises as the men cheered and clanged their cups on the table. Shereen got up and stared Brienne down: "So, if I follow your advice and seek out the one who captured my heart to give my kiss, and am rejected, will you apologize for being in the wrong?"
Brienne's insides turned to ice as she realized what a mistake she had made, but she could not back down: "Of course, Mylady."
When Shereen strode around the table in their direction Brienne realized what a fool she had been. Now she herself had put that one thing in motion that she dared not witness: Shereen kissing Jamie. And even if he did not respond to her kiss, she would not know if it was because he truly was not interested or if he might reject Shereen out of consideration for Brienne's feelings. She and Jaime had always read each other like open books without the need for many words. He could not have missed that her feelings for him had changed to love, although she tried to avoid all situations in which she had to touch him or stand too close. And now they would be kissing right next to her and she had instigated the whole thing herself. Brienne, you're a fucking moron, she chided herself. You've brought this on yourself. As the footsteps came closer, she stared straight ahead, an icy fist squeezing her heart to nothing. She wanted to bolt and run but was frozen in her seat. The footsteps came to a halt behind Jaime, and then she felt soft hands on her cheek, tilting her head back and to the side, and then Shereen's soft lips touched hers. They lingered, probed, and after a short while, retreated. At first she was too stunned to comprehend, and when she did, she couldn't really believe it.
Shereen's mouth lifted in a sad smile: "I do believe I have proven I was right, but just in case there is a slight chance that I was indeed wrong, you are very welcome to visit me in my quarters tonight". With that, she turned around in a graceful twirl and strode out of the room.
The hall was so silent you could hear a pin drop. Brienne was still in shock, trying to wrap her head around what had just happened. She looked around and saw a look on the faces of most men that she could not decipher. Their eyes were glazed over, and they had the bemused air about them of someone who had just witnessed some strange magic.
Color started creeping up Brienne's cheeks and she risked a glance in Jamie's direction. His eyes were widened, conveying a mass of feelings that Brienne couldn't place. It was the first time that she had absolutely no idea what he was thinking.
"Well, that was unexpected." she said, and dug into her stew. The men gaped at her silently, then the mood of the moment broke and everyone started chatting excitedly.