Jaime guessed that he was a week out from King's Landing, when the growing darkness forced him to make camp for the night. As the days passed uneventfully, he had relaxed his precautions, allowing himself to buy food and light fires. He saddled in the morning and rode until dark, stopping three times to let his horse rest and drink. He slept off the trail in the underbrush and woke with tears in the morning.

Tonight he sat next to a small fire with a rabbit spitted and roasting. Suddenly, he heard voices in the distance. Jaime shot to his feet, hurriedly throwing dirt on the fire. The voices were nearby. He drew Widow's Wail and darted into the trees. Behind him, he heard a dog barking and a man yelling "That way!" He cursed under his breath and ran.

A hound came bursting through the trees, followed by three soldiers on horses. He couldn't outrun them. He faced them, breathing hard and with his sword raised in his left hand. Two of the horses surrounded him while one man dismounted.

"What have we here?" The man lifted a lantern to Jaime's face. "Aw I know you. You're the Kingslayer. The queen's put a bounty on your head." The man grinned at Jaime. "You'll make me a rich man."

"Or you could take me alive." Jaime's heart hammered in his chest. "I've fought the undead to protect our queen, and now I am returning to serve her. She can behead me herself if she sees fit." If he kept talking, he might have a chance. "How valuable would I be to her highness alive?"

"Piss off! Queen Cersei warned us about your smooth tongue and your fake promises. I'm not risking leaving you alive so you can kill me in my sleep." The man raised his sword, prepared to swing at Jaime's head.

Jaime raised his weapon. I'm sorry, Brienne. In the end I couldn't protect you or return to you. But at least with me dead, Cersei will leave you alone.

As the soldier swung his sword, Jaime imagined Brienne sprinting through the brush, her sword lifted, her face dirty and sweaty. She would be his last thought before he died. That was the Brienne he knew, determined and enduring. The leaves crackled under her footsteps.

Visions don't crackle.

The soldier turned with a start, just as Oathkeeper pierced through his armor. He screamed in surprise as he crumpled onto the ground. Jaime spun around and launched himself at another soldier, cutting the horse's legs. The horse crashed to the ground, and the soldier tumbled with it. Jaime sliced off the soldier's head. To his side, he heard the third soldier fall.

Jaime sheathed his sword and turned towards Brienne. She was approaching fast, looking enraged. Jaime backed up against a tree and raised his arm to shield his face. Brienne knocked his arm aside, grabbed his other arm, and pinned them to the tree. Her eyes glittered as she glared at him.

Jaime stared at her for a long moment, blanking on what to say. At last, his mouth opened and the first words that came to mind tumbled out. "Oh Gods, Brienne, I. . . ." He abruptly closed his mouth. I missed you so much. I love you. If he said it she would never leave.

"Care to explain yourself?" She demanded coldly, shoving him harder into the tree.

"I must get back to Cersei," he mumbled. He couldn't let Brienne walk into King's Landing, not after the way Cersei had looked at her at Joffrey's wedding, all those years ago. Not after she had seen them talking in the Dragonpit. "We came into the world together. . . ."

"I'm coming with you!" Brienne angrily interrupted. "You'd be dead if I hadn't found you! King's Landing is a dangerous place for you, and I'll protect you." Her eyes locked onto his, steely and determined.

No. She'll kill her. She has to turn back. "Brienne, there's no place for you there. I love Cersei, and I always have." He spoke desperately, willing her to believe him. He squeezed his eyes shut, unable to bear looking into her face. "I don't love you. I only wanted to see what it was like, sleeping with someone as hideous and mannish as you." His last words came out in a sob. He held his breath, trying to hold back his tears. Please believe me.

After a long silence, he felt her lips press gently against his. Unable to resist, he hungrily kissed her back. After a few seconds, she withdrew, and he leaned his head forward after her, desperate to prolong the kiss. He hung his head, defeated.

"You're bloody shit at lying," she finally said. But when he opened his eyes, her expression was gentle. "I swore to protect Renly, knowing that he would never love me. And I will protect you as long as you live, whether you love me or not. I swear it." She released his arms, and he slumped to the ground. "Now stay," she commanded as she turned to find her horse.

"Brienne?" Jaime called after her. "How did you catch up to me?"

"I swapped for a fresh horse in every town. I plan ahead, unlike you." She snarled. "And I traveled into the night. I have a spare hand to hold a lantern, unlike you."

Jaime smiled then, and he rose and followed her to the camp. "You're the most stubborn person I've ever met," he muttered, "but I'm glad you're here."

"And you're a bloody idiot," she replied, but she let him lean against her as they went to sleep.