pBRIENNE I/p
pJaime sat comfortably on a leather armchair in front of Brienne Tarth, the tallest doctor – and woman - Jaime ever met; Dr. Tarth was famous for being the first female medicine graduate of the North, specialized in dealing with traumas and psychological issues and famous for helping a lot a war /
Jaime was getting restless, sleeping an average of three hours a night, his stump was sore and the impulse to scratch it until he draw blood very /
Doctor Sam gave him a painkiller and a balm for the itching, but he was powerless to help with Jaime's demons. Fearing to see the Colonel drowning in alcohol his misfortunes like Tyrion – the brothers were more similar they wanted to admit - Sam forced him to see a specialist, swearing that Brienne was a doctor dedicated to the core to her mission and he had often worked with her, appreciating her moral /
War marred Brienne, too, a long scar on her neck, a bomb fragment, she told Jaime when he stared at it during their first /
"I don't fell my skin anymore there."br /
"I still feel my hand."br /
"You miss a part of you, it's not just a scar on the flesh, it's your whole as a human being that is marred now."br /
He looked at Brienne, the doctor's serious behaviour was conquering him more than lots of previous acquaintances had ever /
It was easy to speak to a professional, explain Cersei's need of control, how his sister subtly planned his whole life at her advantage, something Jaime realised only when it was too late, when he was deeply in love and lust for /
"I wonder who I am now, I've lost my family, my children, my hand, things that were important for me and I took for granted."br /
Telling the truth was easy looking into Brienne's blue eyes, she was a doctor, not a judge, not accusing, nor absolving him from the /
Jaime hold the blame for the children's curse, a few people knew they were his, but Jaime didn't care the negative opinion about his secret fatherhood; he'd never regret they were born, only that he didn't took an active role in their /
"Probably your dreams returned spurred by a reason. Is there something that worries you?"br /
"I've had a marriage proposal, from the Queen, to wed her sister."br /
"Major Arya Stark? Our war hero?"br /
"The very Arya. Do you know her?"br /
"I've had the pleasure. We both are in an unusual role for a woman."br /
"Did she ask your help? Talked about ..us?" Brienne smiled /
"It's unethical to reveal other patient's names, suffice to say the Queen decided to improve woman's education and she founded a committee, we're both members."br /
"Arya's strong."br /
"Indeed."br /
"I'm into strong girls, always been."br /
Brienne was sure Jaime had a deep respect for the young Stark, but the scars from his past threatened to cast a spell on the new Jaime, who established himself as a respected Army /
"I'm afraid to leave Cersei behind if I think about another woman, She was my only love."br /
"Your sister is in a place where she's treated for her mental illness. It's very difficult, from a professional point of view, that she'd recover. Are you planning to mourn and atone for her forever?"br /
Jamie remained silent for a long time, it was still too /
"Let's get back to the Marriage. Is Cersei the only thing that prevents you from it?"br /
"I'm afraid to fall in a trap."br /
"A trap from Arya?"br /
"No! She'd never been able. She's too direct and honest."br /
Arya deserved more than an old soldier without a hand, she could have a chance with someone like Gendry, a younger man, a whole /
"If Arya wants to marry this Gendry, do you think the Queen would disapprove the choice? If Queen Sansa need a heir from her sister, is the father so relevant?"br /
"I think no. But Arya doesn't want Gendry, she never talked about him with me or Tyrion."br /
"So it is the marriage structure you feel trapped into, not the woman?"br /
"I gave up marriage and fatherhood for my sister, I choose military life, the tradition for spares, not heirs. My father never forgave me for doing so. When the explosion took my hand, he blamed only me."br /
His house was lost, Lannister seat destroyed by an air raid, the traces of his happy childhood there when his mother was alive were /
Money, land, earldom were nothing compared to the best years of his life, when Joanna Lannister was alive; she could have changed the course of events, stopped the twins going the hard way. But the pas was immutable and Jaime had to face it and conquer his /
Brienne took notes, Jaime observed her hands, long fingers and a neat calligraphy, like she was writing something very important, something that had to last; he realised it was indeed important, it was about his life, his only life and this doctor, this tall woman had the power to help him for /
He let his feelings out, sure Brienne would never betray /
"It is something inside me. I…I simply gave up everything, and now I'm afraid to start again." /p
pBRONN I/p
pThe Land Rover with Bronn at the wheel was the third vehicle - straight behind the second truck - of the long line going South, made of trucks full to the brim of food and goods for the poorest /
Bronn was smoking and trying to make conversation with a reluctant Jaime-br /
The colonel had convinced Tyrion to be responsible of the expedition, the Queen's husband decided with Bran to send goods and a team of agronomists to introduce new crops and improve the agriculture of the South. People were starving, a long draught shortly after the end o the war worsened their /
"It wasn't necessary for you to come."br /
" I like to be out of Winter town for a little while."br /
The Army had stored everything into containers from the main Northern docks and then from various warehouses, farms, orchards; a week long hard work for everyone involved in collecting the /
The Army also provided drivers and an armed escort for the expedition and the Colonel insisted with his brother to command his /
"Is this strange desire to spend days on a noisy car like this and eat dust and miles related to a young lady you are involved with?"br /
Bronn laughed and tried to drink a sip from his silver flask, Jaime prevented him: he wanted to arrive alive; the local single malts were one of the reasons Bronn liked his new country a lot. That and the castles in beautiful positions, often on the shore of a /
When he discovered a lot of families owned a distillery beside a family manor, he could not wait to find a Northern beauty heiress to a castle all for /
"We have fought so many battles together I know you better than myself by now. Trust me: Northern women are good."br /
"It is getting contagious. Tyrion with Sansa and now you. Have you already tried some pale ladies?"br /
Bran nodded, Jaime remained silent for a while; the topic was /
"She is not a common girl. She's the queen's sister, my former deputy commander and one of the best strategist I ever met."br /
Bronn looked at Jaime pretending to be angry at him for his /
"All the more to marry her immediately. Do you want someone else to steal her from you?"br /
"It is not a love match." The Lannister was a mule, beside love and romance there were the practical aspects of everyday life, those easy to manage once the initial passion has faded /
"Was it love what you had with her, or was it a form of control? Cersei played on you like a puppet and you well know it."br /
Bronn hit the wheel with his palm to make Jamie understand how he could end up with nothing at all: voices about the former chief gunner wanting to marry Arya were spreading at court and Gendry was young, strong and /
"Sandor Clegane says she has refused him many times, but if you delay your decision for too long she could be pressured to change her mind. Remember they were good friends during the war."br /
Jamie looked out of the window, topping his fake hand on the door /
A competitor was something Jaime hadn't predicted, he pictured Gendry in his head: a lasting friendship, trust, another royal line and an heir that could unite two /
If there was a remote chance of Arya wanting Gendry, he'd stepped back for ever, but if she showed no attraction al all to the young man it meant Jaime and Arya were even. The little voice inside his head was making a list of Gendry's weak points and when he started making comparisons with himself he realised he was getting /
"Are you sure about Sandor's words?"br /
"Go ask him if you want."/p