AN: Jaime returns to find a marriage has been arranged for him; only he's already fallen in love with Brienne and wishes to marry her. Season 4 AU.

Betrothed AU

This could not be happening.

In the few weeks since his return to the capital, Jaime's life had managed to turn even more upside down. Joffrey had died days before his return after having been thrown from his horse; a blameless accident but one that left Tommen on the throne, Cersei furious with grief, Tyrion deploying a careful silence and Tywin plotting. Jaime and Brienne had returned to Kings Landing to the sound of the bell toll and the streets rife with gossip and news.

Jaime had been lost on how to take the news. Joffrey was his son, his eldest son. Yet he felt almost no paternal feelings for him. He had been forced to keep his distance and as Joffrey grew into the vile little monster everyone knew he was, Jaime tried to give more love and care to Tommen and Myrcella; lest they turn out the same way. He cared for Joffrey but he doubted whether he loved him. Thankfully Brienne had been with him. She supported him both physically and emotionally through the days after Joffrey's death and his funeral. She even tried to shield him from the news of supposed celebratory parties in the woods outside the city walls.

After the funeral and coronation; it had been back to business for Tywin. His business of running the kingdom. They would have to wait a year or so for Tommen to be old enough to wed but he would wed Margarey Tyrell. Tyrion had married Sansa; the key to the North. Cersei was promised to Loras Tyrell and he had found a match for Jaime. Tywin had delivered the news along with one of the twin swords that had been forged from Ice.

"You will be stripped from the Kingsguard and you will marry in three weeks' time. You will become Lord of Casterly Rock and sire some heirs." Tywin instructed. Jaime bit back the retort about the fact he had two still living children and instead tried to use Tywin's focus on rules and order against him.

"The Kingsguard is for life." Jaime protested as he tried to place the sword back into the sheath.

"You cannot protect the king with only one hand." Tywin retorted. "I indulged your wishes for long enough. You are a Lannister. You will marry the girl that has been chosen for you and she will bear your children."

"But-" Jaime began but was quelled with a glare. After all these years, Tywin still made him feel like a foolish little boy. Tywin couldn't understand. He was too practical. Too sharp minded. Too focused on his goal of having all seven kingdoms under his control. He was so fixated on the bigger picture that he didn't see what was in front of him. Jaime couldn't marry whoever had been chosen for him.

I'm in love with another…

"Ser Jaime, what's wrong?" Brienne asked as she watched Jaime walk towards her. His face a combination of anger, frustration and also sadness. Jaime shook his head and gestured for her to follow him. The walls of the Red Keep had many ears. Jaime led Brienne out into the gardens and into the Godswood. One of the only places where they were certain not to be overheard.

"My father has arranged a marriage for me. He's having me stripped from the Kingsguard. I don't even know who I am marrying!" Jaime explained to Brienne who lowered her gaze sadly. After Harrenhall, after their trials and tribulations and adventures travelling to Kings Landing; their relationship had changed. From enemies, to civilities, to friends to… to this. Their friendship and trust and care for each other had grown quickly after so much time together. Their constant close proximity meant the tension had grown until it could not be ignored any more. It burst forth the night they had been in an inn before reaching the capital. They had had too much to drink; there had been a lively atmosphere in the inn. There had been music and dancing as a wedding as also being celebrated by the whole village. They had gone outside to get some air. The cool night had made their alcohol-laden minds spin more until they acted without thinking.

Jaime had kissed her that night. She had kissed him back. They whispered words of love as they stumbled into bed. The next morning, things had not been awkward in the slightest despite the fact they had drunkenly slept together which only served to reaffirm how they felt.

They were in love with each other.

Now Jaime was promised to another.

"When will the wedding happen?" Brienne asked after a moment. She would not get upset, she would not cry. She loved Jaime but love was the death of duty. They were highborn. They had a duty to their families, to their people.

"Three weeks." Jaime replied as he stamped his foot. "I will not do it. I refuse to marry someone I don't know. Someone I don't love."

"You have to, you know what happens when a marriage promise is betrayed." Brienne said heavily, thinking of the horrors of the Red Wedding. She had been disgusted and devastated by Catelyn Stark's death and horrified by the brutality shown to the Starks. Even Jaime, a seasoned soldier had been sickened by the thought of a slaughtering at a wedding. Killing on the battlefield was one thing, but at a wedding, breaking Guest Right, was despicable.

"I refuse," Jaime repeated as an idea, so perfect and brilliant took hold. "Run away with me!"

"What?" Brienne asked as Jaime took her hand and knelt on one knee.

"Run away with me, I can't marry someone I don't love, not when I love someone else. Especially when I love you Brienne. Run away with me, marry me. If I have to marry then I want to marry you. I love you." Jaime explained. "Please Brienne, will you marry me?"

Brienne looked at Jaime, saw the adoration and love in his eyes. He was being sincere and true. She knew that he loved her and that she loved him. That would make this even harder. "I cannot marry you."

"Why not?" Jaime asked. He loved her. She loved him. People who fell in love got married. Simple.

"You're promised to another. A pledge has been made. It's not honourable to break that pledge. I know you don't see yourself as a man of honour but I do. I always have Jaime. You have honour. Do not lose it over me." Brienne asked as she felt her heart break for the tears filling Jaime's eyes.

"But I love you." Jaime said brokenly. He didn't care about honour or titles or lands. All he cared about was Brienne. He would do anything to be with her forever but he did not want her to think of herself as being the cause for any dishonour for him. Brienne and dishonour did not even belong in the same sentence together.

"But I am not yours. Not anymore." Brienne said as she pulled Jaime up. As Jaime stood, she leaned forward and kissed him. They both put all that they had said and left unsaid; all their feelings and hopes and dreams into the kiss.

They both ignored the feeling of each other's tears.

Brienne broke the kiss and wiped the tears from Jaime's cheeks. "You'll make her happy."

"Not as much as I would have made you happy." Jaime whispered as he gave Brienne a final, gentle kiss on her lips. A farewell kiss.

Jaime sat in his chambers. Part of him still wanted to flee; to grab Brienne and run for the hills. He knew it was impossible, that Brienne would never agree to it. He couldn't ask her again; despite how much pain it had caused him. He had begrudgingly admitted to Tywin that he would agree to the wedding but he didn't want to hear any more information about it. He didn't care for his bride's name or family. He didn't want to hear that she was a beauty or a talented musician or that her father was some wealthy lord of some random part of land. He would do his duty but he would not care for her, he would not love her. He simply couldn't.

Over the next few weeks, Jaime had tried to blank out what was happening. His life had been taken completely out of his control. No longer being part of the Kingsguard meant he had too much time to use and to waste; training with Bronn, commiserating over his fate with Tyrion and trying to find some time to talk to Brienne. Brienne had been trying to keep her distance from Jaime. It was too difficult to see him, to speak to him, especially as the wedding date drew closer and closer. On the night before the wedding, Jaime found himself sitting outside Brienne's door. He had been trying to get her to let him in. However Brienne had locked the door and was refusing to open it.

"Brienne, open the door, let me in." Jaime said as he tapped on the door again.

"I can't. Just go Jaime," Brienne said wearily. She was standing on the other side of the door, wishing that she could open it, that she could see Jaime's face but she couldn't. He was getting married tomorrow. It wouldn't do to see him the night before.

"Brienne, please," Jaime pleaded. Didn't she understand? Now that it was the next day, he couldn't do it. He couldn't go through with the wedding. He couldn't marry someone he didn't know, someone he didn't love. There was only one person who he loved, only one person he would marry. And they couldn't marry each other.

"Don't make this any harder. Jaime, just go." Brienne said as she pressed her palm to the door. A slight thud told her that Jaime was holding his hand to the same spot. Brienne closed her eyes and took a deep breath. People like them didn't get happy endings.

"You could at least look like you're happy to be here." Tyrion said as he, Jaime and Sansa walked into the Sept. Jaime maintained his stare at the floor. He still couldn't look up. Didn't want to be able to see any of this. Not the banners, not the guests, not the flowers, not the candles, not his bride, not her.

"I'm quite sure you had to be dragged down the aisle to marry Lady Sansa," Jaime snapped quietly as he climbed the steps and shut his eyes. He could not look, would not look, not until he absolutely had to. Even then, he doubted that he would really see her.

"It's time," Sansa offered quietly as she handed Jaime the scarlet cloak in her hands. Tyrion had informed him that Sansa had spent hours sewing and stitching it so that it would be perfect. He could acknowledge her detailed work and how difficult it must have been for her to spend that time sewing Lannister lions. Sansa and Tyrion took their place along with the rest of the Lannister family. Jaime stole a glance at his family; he saw the genuine, innocent smile on Tommen's face, Tyrion and Sansa's supportive looks, Tywin had the tiniest flicker in his lips, clearly glad Jaime was being wedded at last, Cersei had a look of disgusted spite on her face and at that point Jaime looked away. Being with Brienne had allowed him to finally see how twisted and toxic his and Cersei's relationship had been. How wrong they were and how unbearable it was now to think of her that way. Jaime kept his eyes closed as the doors opened. They remained closed as the music began to play and it was littered with whispers about the bride. He didn't want to see. Seeing was believing and believing made it real.

He could not look.

He would not look.

"You may cloak the bride and take her under your protection."

Jaime opened his eyes and lifted his head at the High Septon's words. This was it. Jaime turned his head and looked at his bride. Then he stared. Then he smiled. Standing beside him, in a cream and sapphire gown that had been expertly made and tailored to bring out the beauty he had always seen in her was Brienne. Jaime reached for the azure and pink cloak covered in suns and moons and slid it from her shoulders and replaced it with Sansa's scarlet masterpiece.

"How?" Jaime asked and Brienne smiled at him.

"Surpirse," Brienne whispered, "it was me. It was always me." Brienne placed her hand over his for the High Septon to cover them as they spoke the words. Each one brightened their hearts, lifted their spirits and made them smile. Jaime felt his anger, sorrow and despair fade away with each passing moment and said the words and earnestly and truthfully as he could, knowing Brienne felt the same. They were in love. They were married and nothing would tear them apart.