It takes very little effort on Jaime's part to convince Brienne to go to Tarth and King's Landing with him. "You need to go to your home anyway", he explains, "to assess how many refugees it can host."

His desire to spend as much as possible with her is clear on his face, and she feels powerless to refuse him. The only thing in her way is her vow to the Stark girls. He offers to make her case to King Jon and Lady Arya, so now she finds herself waiting for him with Alysanne—their daughter. She wants so much to talk to her, but doesn't know how. What does she expect from a young version of her mother?

After a short silence, she comes up with something. "In your world", she begins, "did I marry?"

Alysanne is caught by surprise and blinks before answering, "No", she says, her tone implying the alternative would be odd. "You joined King Bran's Kingsguard precisely to avoid marriage, especially after you found out about your pregnancy."

"What about my duties to Tarth?"

"Well, you provided an heir", she reminds her, gesturing to herself. "Maybe things would have turned out differently had I not lived to womanhood, but… Anyway, I was ready to take over Evenfall when Grandfather died, but he lived to see the Third Long Night." She glances away. "By the time he died, titles and inheritances were no longer an issue."

"Oh", she lets out. "It… it makes sense, I think."

Alysanne turns her gaze back to her. It's hard to tell what is going on in her mind with those eyes of hers. "You never stopped loving Father", she states, gently. "You told me once that you were glad I resembled him so much, because it was a reminder of him."

She can't help but smile at that. It is sweet to think she can love someone until the end of her days, even after said someone is long gone. "What about you?", she asks. "Did you have someone to love?"

She looks down. "For most of my life", she replies, "boys were not something I thought about. By the time I grew interested in them… all my attention got turned to the Night Queen's army. I had family and friends to rely on, but not a lover, no."

There is an urge to come forward and hug her daughter, but she remains in her place. I'm not really her mother, she remembers. Her real mother is dead. "Who was your family?", she says instead. "Besides me?"

That seems to be a better subject; Alysanne raises her eyes back to her and smiles. "Uncle Tyrion, for one. He lived in the Red Keep as Hand of the King, and once a year he'd take me to Casterly Rock. His aunt Genna, who miraculously survived the Frey massacre, held the castle in his name, and she was a nice woman, even if she talked and moved like a honey-drunk bee." Brienne finds herself chuckling at the comparison. "There was Grandfather too, when we visited Evenfall."

"And friends?"

"Most of them were the ones who lived at court. I got closer with King Bran in his last years, thanks to the many sessions of vision-sharing. My closest friend was Tarly's adopted son Sam, but he left for his family seat when I was twelve. Gilly was a close companion too, and helped me with all feminine stuff you didn't feel confident enough to teach me. There was Pod, Bronn, Davos… later, there was Meera Reed and Lollys Stokeworth. I'd get along with some children from the city, but not many families lived in King's Landing for long after the fire, so those friendships didn't last. I met Sansa a few times, as well as Yara Greyjoy, Arianne and Quentyn Martell, Gendry…" She shrugs. "I have nothing to complain about my social life."

Even so, the clear lack of friends of her age made Brienne sad. Jaime is right, we should give her siblings this time around. Hopefully both of them will stay alive long enough to accomplish that.

Her next question almost doesn't come out. "Were we… close?"

Alysanne beams, making her wonder why she hesitated. "The closest", she says. "Even in your busiest days, you made time for me, either to train me, to have a meal or just to put me to bed. It helped that I wanted to follow your footsteps and become a knight, but you were a great mother regardless."

She blinks. "Oh, good", she says, weakly. "Good to know that I succeeded in being a mother."

"You loved me and acted on that love. From what I've seen and heard, that already made you better than most parents."

She can't really argue that point. Before she can ask more, Jaime comes out, looking a bit dazed. "They want to speak to you", he tells her, not nearly as happy as she thought he'd be.

She wants to ask what happened, but decides against it and enters the room. Jon, Arya and Bran wait for her by the table. "Your Grace", she says, greeting Jon. "My lady, my lord."

"Lady Brienne", Jon acknowledges. "Let us all sit. We have a few things to discuss."

The three of them are already sitting, so Brienne takes the remaining seat next to Arya, facing Jon and Bran.

The King in the North clears his throat. "It's come to our knowledge that… King Jaime and you are betrothed. He came here to request a… reprieve from your duties to House Stark in order to go with him to Tarth and King's Landing."

She nods. "It's true, Your Grace."

"Is the marriage something you want, Lady Brienne?"

She feels herself blush. "Yes, Your Grace. Jaime and I… we have history together."

Arya gasps, suddenly. "That knight that follows him around", she says, "the one who know all about the White Walkers. She's from the future—she's your daughter, isn't she? She looks a lot like him, but she has your nose and shoulders!"

She blinks. "Yes. I found out shortly after the meeting."

"Is that why you're getting married?", Jon asks.

"Not exactly, Your Grace. I've… I've loved Jaime for years." She feels herself flush even deeper. "I admit the knowledge that we… that there was—there is—a future in which we have a child together… made everything happen faster and more easily, but I believe it would have happened anyway."

Jon stares at her intently. "So… are you happy, then? To marry him?" She nods. "And you believe he loves you back?" She nods, unable to explain in words how she finally accepted his love without any doubts.

Jaime's declaration was too heartfelt not to be sincere, and his eyes held her gaze with so much adoration, it could not be faked. Then later, his inability to confess another self's sins and his clear desire to make things right this time around sealed it for her. No man could say or do those things without feeling deep, honest love.

Jon nods slowly, then takes a deep breath. "Er… My lady, are you aware of your betrothed's… crimes?"

She raises her eyebrows, sensing where this is going. "Jaime spilled all of his worst sins on the very day we met", she replies carefully. "But are we talking about a specific one?"

It's Bran who answers. "The time he pushed me out of a window."

Oh. "I… am aware, yes. As I said, he told me that upon meeting him."

Arya snorts. "How charming", she teases. "Well, good to know. We were afraid you were marrying him without knowing him as well as you thought." She glances at her crippled brother. "By the way… you don't have to worry about our judgement. Bran made it very clear that your betrothed is forgiven." She looks back at Brienne. "My brother told us to believe in redemption, and I trust you to judge his character fairly. If you love him, he must have become a better man. You have our blessing, and our permission to go spend time with him."

"It should have been my line, Arya", Jon says, though he's grinning slightly. Then he turns to Brienne, his serious face back. "King Jaime showed to be a good man when I went to King's Landing. If this is really what you want, you have your reprieve. And, if it's your wish, I'll talk to Sansa to get you released from your vows. Our House should not get in the way of your marriage."

This is going way better than expected. She smiles at the Stark.s "I… Thank you, Your Grace. It is most generous of you."

Jon smiles at her. It is small, but it's more than she's ever seen of him. "Go be happy, Lady Brienne. Gods know you deserve it."

She is hesitant to share a cabin with Alysanne when they board on the ship to King's Landing, but she can't say no when her future daughter is asking with puppy eyes. Not that they share much in the end.

Ever since they made their betrothal official, Jaime is seemingly unable to get his hand(s) off her. Granted, they don't actually bed each other—he claims he doesn't want to risk her father's wrath by taking her maidenhead 'again'—but it sets her on fire anyway. His arms always find a way around her waist, he's always placing a peck on her cheeks on her lips, and in all remaining meetings he sits on her left just so he can hold her hand.

And that is what he does in public. Whenever they get time for themselves… it's sufficient to say he's done pretty much everything he can without breaking her maidenhead. It leaves her all but begging for more and wondering how things were the first time—after all, there is concrete proof they bedded for real in another timeline.

As such, it is no surprise that he keeps finding ways to sneak her inside his own cabin during their trip. However, since he is not used to traveling by sea at all, he rarely is up to more… exciting activities as he was in Dragonstone, and they usually settle for kisses and cuddles. She always ends up falling asleep on his bed.

On their third night, she wakes up to Jaime's whimpering. She turns to see his eyes closed and his brow furrowed. He's having a nightmare, she realizes. She shakes his shoulder gently. "Jaime, wake up, wake up, it's just a bad dream."

She has to repeat the action and her words a couple times before he opens his eyes, and it takes a few moments for him to fully wake. "Brienne?", he whispers, sounding broken.

"I'm here", she replies softly.

In no time he tackles her in bed and rests on top of her, nuzzling his nose on her neck. Slowly, she circles her arms around him and places a comforting hand on the back of his head. Several moments go by, and just when she thinks he's fallen back asleep, he whispers, "I need you to be honest with me."

The request startles her. "I've always been honest with you."

"I know, but… I don't want to risk you sugar-coating your next words." He inhales into her neck. "Don't you think I should be punished too? Or judged, at least?"

She frowns. "What did you dream of? I cannot help you without knowing where this comes from."

"Cersei", he supplies. "It… it began as a memory—the day I killed her. She was yelling at me, asking how I could betray her when we were two halves of one soul. Then, when I listed all the ways she betrayed me first, she—her dead self began to laugh at me.

"She said, 'And who followed my every order, regardless of honor? Whose hand pushed Bran Stark out of a window? Who killed their own cousin just to get back to me? Who threatened a toddler to come back to me? Face it, darling brother, it all began when you killed your precious Aerys instead of protecting your sweet princess Elia. You are just as hateful as you think I am, and if I'm to rot in the seven hells, I'll be waiting for you to join me.' Then her eyes turned blue, just like Alysanne's, and she choked me to death."

He lets out a sob, and hugs him tighter, waiting for him to continue. "I did all of those things, Brienne. You know them all already. Why do I get love and happiness while Cersei got loneliness and death? Why did Bran forgive me for crippling him, and why do people look up to me while my sister is considered a vile woman through all the realm?" He takes another deep breath. "I helped her become who she was in the end—when I laid with her and fathered her children, when I supported her every scheme, or at least didn't voice opposition, when I saw nobody but us. I promised Alys I wouldn't die with Cersei, and I don't want to, but is it fair that I'm getting out of my sins unscathed?"

Oh, Jaime. She gently moves his head so she can look into his eyes and then kisses the bridge of his nose. "Jaime, why did you kill Aerys?"

He blinks, but answers anyway. "Because he was going to burn the whole city down and ordered me to kill my own father."

She knows that already—she knows most of his next answers already—but he needs to hear himself say them. "Why did you not protect Elia?"

"They—I was busy killing Aerys at the time Clegane got to her."

"Why did you push Bran?"

He squeezes his eyes shut. "I feared he'd tell his parents and condemn Cersei and our children to death."

You didn't even think of yourself, did you? "Why did you kill your cousin?"

"I was desperate to get back to Cersei and saw no other way." At that, he opens his eyes.

She buries her hand in his hair. "Why did you threaten a toddler?"

"I was trying to get Edmure Tully to surrender the castle without bloodshed."

Oh, that was for me. "It seems you've done all of this out of love", she tells him softly. "It doesn't make your actions good, no, but it shows you can do the right thing when motivated by love for the right people." She kisses his brow. "Why did you get your hand cut off?"

He relaxes above her. "To save you from rape."

"Why did you tell me about Aerys?"

"I wanted you to trust me."

"Why did you save me from the bear?"

"I dreamed of you."

"Why did you equip me to go search for Sansa, against your family's—your sister's—goals?"

"We've sworn to Lady Stark, and then I repeated that vow to you. I couldn't bring myself to break another oath."

"Why did you try so hard to take Riverrun without bloodshed, even restorting to threats?"

"Because you asked, and you were inside the castle."

"And why did it matter to you that I asked?"

"Because I was already in love with you back then." It's his turn to kiss her forehead. "I've been acting out of love for you since Harrenhal, even if I didn't realize that."

She smiles, even though he probably can't see it well. "See what I mean? You've done dishonorable things because the woman you loved back then demanded them from you. As you said in Dragonstone, I'd never do that. The worst thing you've done for me was threaten a baby, and you didn't carry it through."

"But I would have", he replies immediately, anguish in his voice. "If he hadn't done as I said, I would have."

"You can't say that for sure", she reminds him, "because you never had to actually face that decision. Just like you can't claim your other self's actions for yourself, you can't feel guilty over a bad decision you never actually made."

A short silence, and then, "But how does that make me different from Cersei?"

"Did she blow up the Sept of Baelor out of love for you or anyone else?"

He shakes his head, brushing his nose against hers. "No, she did it to evade punishment by the Faith."

"Did she condemn her son as a traitor out of love?"

"No… I don't think she loved Tommen that much in the end. Not when he went against her."

"So she only loved her children as long as they followed her? She only loved you as long as you followed her?"

He raises his hand to cup her cheek. "She loved me when I was her mirror image", he replies, pain in his voice. "As soon as I lost my hand, I lost her love. She sought after me only when she needed me for something."

She grabs his hand to kiss its palm. "Can't you see what makes you two different? Cersei wanted power. I can't say whether she's always been like this or if she became so with time, but that's the sister you had in the end. You made efforts to become a better man and you regret your sins. Can you say the same about her? I don't think you can."

"But—"

"That's why you get love and happiness while she got loneliness and death. She drew everyone who cared for her apart, sometimes to death. Your crimes were committed because you wanted to either protect or go back to your loved ones, while her crimes came from selfish ambitions, without any care for others—not even for you. If she is indeed waiting for you in one of the seven hells to rot alongside her, she's in for disappointment, because you are on the path to change your destination to one of the seven heavens instead."

Perhaps Brienne is the only one—or one of the very few—who thinks that. Perhaps she is biased, and her feelings don't allow her to give the honesty he's asked for. But this is her truth, and she doesn't want him to think differently even for a moment. "I love you, Jaime", she says finally. "And I'd rather have you living on to redeem yourself than dying in a foolish notion that it's what you're due. And don't you think I deserve to be with the man I love?"

He answers with a kiss on her lips, passionate and tender at the same time. "I don't think I deserve you", he whispers, "but if I'm what you want, I will take this chance."

"Good", she replies, her lips brushing against his. "Then stop with this nonsense and kiss me again."

He happily obeys.

She nearly trips on her feet when Alysanne reveals who Jaime left in charge of the Red Keep. "Bronn?"

He raises his arms defensively. "What is wrong with him? The man wants a castle, I've given him temporary hold of the most important castle of all!"

She rolls her eyes, but decides to not reply to that. Jaime is the one who knows Bronn the best; if he trusts him not to dismantle the Red Keep, who is she to question his judgement?

The soldiers—Golden or crimson cloaks—greet them solemnly as they go through the streets of King's Landing to the Red Keep. Distantly, she catches sight of where the ruins of the sept are. Her heart squeezes at the memory of Queen Margaery, who has always treated her kindly, and the thought of the terrible end she met that day.

Bronn greets them with the cocky smirk she's coming to assume to be his standard expression. "Hey ya, Your Grace. Finished your job with the throne while you were away. Wanna see it?"

Brienne turns to him abruptly. "What does he mean by that?"

It's the sellsword who answers. "Oh, hello, my lady. Are ya here to finally fuck this royal ass? Let me tell ya, he thinks we don't notice it, but he moons over ya day and night." Without waiting for any sort of reply, he turns to Alysanne and eyes her up and down. "I should've realized it sooner. You're their daughter from the future, huh. Good to know there comes a time when they finally fuck."

"Enough, Bronn", Jaime snaps, clearly exasperated. "Just show us what you did to the throne already."

"So impatient. I was just greeting your ladies. But c'mon."

Brienne is still wondering what they are talking about when they reach the throne room… to find no throne there. "Where is the Iron Throne?", she asks.

Alysanne giggles, and Jaime sighs. "I only wanted to take the swords made either of dragonglass or Valyrian steel", he says, either to her or to Bronn; she's not sure. "Not all of them."

"You told us you wanted to evacuate the city because of the wildfire", Bronn replies. "If the throne was gonna be burnt, why waste so many swords?"

"He has a point", her daughter comments.

Jaime nods. "It's too late anyway", he adds. "Well, now that I'm back, we have many things to discuss. Call the other commanders."

Jaime wasn't kidding when he said he already had evacuation plans in the making. Apparently, the citizens were already informed the city was no longer safe to stay in—regardless of the plan against the White Walkers, the presence of wildfire alone was a risk to everyone's lives—and groups were already being sorted out. The only changes were regarding where to send them.

"My betrothed has offered her home island for a portion of citizens", he announced, way too smugly for the occasion. "We are going to Tarth soon in order to take measure of how many people we can place. Daenerys Targaryen has also offered Dragonstone, but I'd rather leave it for Duskendale citizens. Olenna Tyrell and Arianne Martell also offered their homes, and I believe it will be best to spread the people around as many places as possible."

They decide to send the elders to the Reach, since it's closer and the journey can be done entirely through roads. Orphan kids will be sent to Dorne, as per Princess Arianne's suggestion—she'd told them there is a big area in Sunspear where children of all births play together. Small families are to be sent to Tarth and Driftmark—an island in the crownlands ruled by House Velaryon, who offered their home to crownlanders—while big ones will go to the West, along with lonely grown ups.

At the end of the day, Jaime sends the Gold Cloaks to call the elders to spend the night inside the castle, for they'd be the first group to be evacuated. Alysanne leaves the meeting with a strange expression—not that she can consider herself an expert on reading her.

"Are you alright?", she asks her.

She blinks. "It's just…" She shakes her head. "It's happening. It's real. We've talked and talked over these last moons, but now we're taking real action. It's—I almost forgot what it was like."

Brienne places a hand on her shoulder. They are alone in the corridor. "Have you gone through this before?"

"Sort of… Bran ordered an evacuation too, but mostly to Dorne and Essos, and there were significantly fewer people to send away."

"Because the city had been destroyed years before", she supplies.

"Exactly. We tried to rebuild, but only half of it was liveable by the time we left." She sniffs. "I… I don't know why I'm still here, though."

She frowns. "What do you mean?"

Another sniff. "The Children of the Forest told me that, when it was certain that the changes I've made would lead us to successfully defeat the Night Queen, I'd be transported back to my time, but with the changes made." She looks away. "All sovereigns are united against the undead, we have a plan to stop the Night King with minimal losses, and I've told them all I know about the Night Queen. How can I still possibly be useful here?"

"Don't say that", she replies instantly, going for a hug. "We all still need you."

Then, to her surprise, Alysanne begins to cry, shakingly sobbing against her shoulder. Brienne runs soothing circles around her back, trying to think of something to say. After some time, her daughter speaks up again. "I—I don't know why I'm crying."

"You must be tired of fighting", she offers. "It's not shameful to cry for that."

But she shakes her head. "It's not—I'm not ashamed. But it's been years since I last cried, even if—I didn't even cry when you died, Mother, and I—I held you as you passed away. Why—why am I crying now?"

There is a possible explanation for that, so she asks, "Is your moon blood near to come?"

Alysanne tenses up and breaks their hug. Her eyes are wide. "I… I don't know. It's been—I haven't bled in months. Not since I crossed the Narrow Sea to get to the Children."

By her rushed estimate, that would be nearly a year. "Really?"

"Really", she insists. "I remember you didn't bleed either. My… I never bled normally, to be honest. I only flowered at 17—it's one of the reasons talks of betrothals were postponed—and by then we were already fighting. I'd spend months and months without a single moon blood dripping, and so would you—and most women who survived the first year of war. So… I never knew what it was like to bleed like any other woman. I… I don't know what's supposed to happen beyond… the bleeding."

Her heart breaks a little upon hearing these words. It seems that, as good as mother as she apparently had been, they missed opportunities for ordinary mother-daughter moments. Brienne herself never had a talk with her own mother—feminine subjects fell on her septa's hands, and the less said about Septa Roelle the better—but even she knows a mother is supposed to guide her daughter through womanhood. But womanhood, for Alysanne, was seemingly ignored in favor of survival. "Well, then I suppose a long talk is due."

Her daughter raises her head and smiles. Even through her tears and her unsettling eyes, she can see something akin to joy in her face. "I suppose so, too."

They sail to Tarth two days later. On the ship, Jaime voices his intention to present himself to her father and wed her there. "If that's what you wish, of course", he adds.

She frowns. "I thought you'd like to have the wedding in King's Landing, where most people you know are."

His eyes get so wide, she fears they'll pop out of his head. "Are you crazy? I'm king there, in case you forgot. They'll want to turn our wedding into a giant spectacle to appease the soon-to-be refugees. I'd rather have a small but intimate ceremony… and I thought you'd want the same."

She hadn't thought of the implications of King Jaime getting married in the very place he rules from. "That's exactly what I want, too. I'm glad you thought of it… my father will certainly be pleased."

This voyage goes pretty much like the last one—Brienne officially sharing a cabin with her daughter, but sleeping with Jaime every night. Her betrothed still doesn't fare well on the sea, and more often than not she has to help him through nausea and vomit. "Just like old times, huh", he teases weakly after losing his entire lunch once.

"I dare say the conditions are slightly better this time", she replies with a tiny smile.

"Tremendously so", he agrees. "We're not captives, I'm not begging for the Stranger to take me, you love me and I'm not pretending I feel anything other than hate for you."

"I'm sorry, what?"

He chuckles. "I won't say I loved you already, but I had grown long past hating or despising you." At that, she kisses his forehead and leads him to the bath.

On another day, she finally asks Alysanne what her original eye color was. "I bet it was sapphire blue", Jaime says before she can reply.

Their daughter hums before answering, "Yes and no. I… I took after both of you. And Uncle."

He tilts his head, frowning. "What you mean—oh. You had mismatched eyes like Tyrion."

She nods. "My right eye was identical to mother's, and my left eye, according to everyone who knew you, was identical to yours."

Later, when they are alone, he tells her it is a good thing their daughter got such a unique feature, because they will know it's her when she is born right away. She just laughs, delighted that he is so eager to bring baby Alysanne to the world.

"And siblings", he adds when she tells him that. "Don't forget her siblings. What do you think of… nine?"

"If you carry them inside you, then I'm fine", she retorts, although she can't bring herself to sound upset.

"If I could help, I would." He kisses her on the lips. "Alas, I can only help you make them. Maybe hold your hand while you give birth, if you don't kick me out of the birth chamber."

"I make no promises." It's her turn to kiss him. "And we're getting ahead of ourselves."

"I've been getting ahead of myself for a while now."

Her father is—to say the least—confused when she introduces Jaime as her betrothed. "I know you know each other", he says, slowly, more to himself than to her. "I've heard about a… trip in the riverlands, and I once got a letter from him saying you were alive and well in King's Landing."

She immediately glances at Jaime. "I never told you?", he asks sheepishly.

"No", she replies dryly, then looks back at her father, gesturing for him to continue.

Lord Selwyn's fingers dance on his knees. "Most news I've gotten from you, my daughter, were from rumours from the mainland. Something about House Stark—"

"I'm Sansa and Arya Stark's sworn sword."

"—and then rumours of dead people coming to life."

"All true", Alysanne says. She's wearing her white cloak, and Brienne still hasn't figured if she wants her grandfather to know her identity. "I've seen it, and so have several others from all over the realm."

Her father blinks at her. "Beg your pardon, are you Kingsguard?"

Alysanne's nod is followed by Jaime briefly telling him the official version of the story of how they met—her backstory as a Lannister bastard raised in Braavos, who met Jaime by chance in Highgarden and taken to King's Landing at first to serve Cersei, but then sworn to him after the Lion Queen was executed.

"So it's true", Lord Selwyn lets out, almost in a whisper. "You finally stopped following your sister blindly. If you excuse me, what made you turn away from her?"

Jaime sighs. "She blew up the Sept of Baelor. I didn't want to believe it was her, until she admitted it with no remorse." She knows he's not telling the whole truth, but it's all her father needs to know.

The old man sighs. "Look, my child, if you truly want this man as your husband, I won't stop you—and I'm glad you want to wed here in your home. But I'd like to know more about your… history."

"Of course, Father. There is another thing, though. Ser Alysanne, would you please explain about the threat of the White Walkers? You can do it way better than me, I'm afraid."

Her daughter proceeds to give her grandfather the same stories she's told her, Jaime and the entirety of the assembly in Dragonstone. It goes for a long while, because she has to repeat and re-explain many things, but in the end Father seems to get the basics of the situation. "Of course we can take refugees", he says in the end. "I think we can comfortably host ten thousand. Twice the number if they don't mind less favorable sleep conditions."

"I'd rather send ten thousand", Jaime replies. "We don't have plans for rebuilding the city anytime soon; even if we did, it will take several years. Those people need a permanent home."

"You are right, yes. Let's discuss details over dinner. I don't know about you, but my stomach begs for food after so much talk of dead people."

Her wedding happens a sennight after her arrival. It is the time taken by one of the serving maids to make a more formal set of shirt and breeches for her to wear—she refused to wear a gown, and Jaime's memory of the only time he's seen her in one refrains him from even asking if she's sure she doesn't want it.

Her palms are all sweaty when her father comes to get her. Oathkeeper is at her right hip, which helps her feel a bit more confident. "Last chance to change your mind", her father tells her, though teasingly, implying he doesn't object to her choice of husband. These last few days showed him that Jaime is indeed a good man, and that his love for her is genuine.

"I'm proud of you", Father tells her as they walk to the small sept near Evenfall. "Truly. You've accomplished way more than I've ever dreamed of, and you never swayed from your moral code. You've turned into a wonderful woman, and now you're marrying for love. It's not something many nobles can boast of."

"I know", she replies quietly. She's aware of how lucky she is, to love and be loved in return, and to be able to marry her beloved.

The sept is decorated with lilies—no roses, per her request—and only half of it is full—many staff members have either left the island or died while she was away, so there aren't many familiar faces to fill the place—but she barely pays attention to any of it. Instead, she focuses on Jaime.

The moment they lock eyes, he gives her a radiant smile, and she feels blinded for a moment. As they approach the altar, she notices his eyes shine, and his whole body is relaxed.

He looks at her as if she's the most wonderful thing in the world. It makes her weak on her knees.

The ceremony itself passes on a blur. She feels her skin on fire at the points he touches upon placing his cloak on her, and her insides twist excitedly when he kisses her. She's never thought she'd say and hear the words, I'm hers/his and she/he is mine, from this day until the end of our days, but now this is her most important vow. She pledges herself to her husband, knowing fully well her commitment to him surpasses any oaths she's made prior to this one.

There is a small feast, in which Alysanne urges the newlyweds to dance. "Just—indulge your daughter, please", she insists, her cold eyes looking almost warm as she smiles.

And then comes the time for the bedding. Being wife to the King, Brienne is spared of the traditional strip that comes before, and so is the king himself. They simply stand up and walk to their assigned chambers hand in hand.

As soon as she locks the door, Jaime jumps on her, kissing her as if his life depends on it. "Finally", he whispers between kisses, "I can show you how much I adore you."

For a moment, she wonders what else he can do to show her the depth of his love. Hours later, she has answers.