The guards had escorted Jaime to the great hall and sequestered him in a corner until the Queen had entered with Sansa and Jon Snow in tow. They'd removed his armor and cloak and taken his sword. Save for the blunt power of his heavy gilt hand, he was defenseless.

As the Queen entered, the Unsullied moved him to the center of the room. He spied Tyrion hovering to the side, a fearfulness in his eyes that he'd last seen outside of their sister's chamber in King's Landing. "I'm about to step into a room with the most murderous woman in the world," Tyrion had said. Somehow his fear now was worse. Breaking his glance with his brother, he thought he saw the top of a tall blonde head out of the corner of his eye, but he couldn't be sure, and given the hate in the queen's eyes he thought it best to not start looking about the room. She commanded his full attention.

"When I was a child," Daenerys began, "my brother would tell me a bedtime story about the man who murdered our father," Jaime nods, knowing what is coming, "…who stabbed him in the back and cut his throat. Who sat down on the iron throne and watched as his blood poured onto the floor."

Jaime looked at the ground, not wanting to betray to her his superior knowledge of who her father really was – she was not someone to be argued with.

"He told me other stories as well…about all the things we would do to that man once we took back the seven kingdoms and had him in our grasp." Daenerys gave him a hard look and he returned it. If this was to be the end, at least it was his own doing.

These days of dust
Which we've known

"Your sister pledged to send her army north."

"She did."

"I don't see an army," Daenerys shrugged. "I see one man with one hand. It appears your sister lied to me."

Jaime offered Tyrion a knowing glance. "She lied to me as well." Then, shaking his head and raising his voice for all to hear, "She never had any intention of sending her army north. She has Euron Greyjoy's fleet and 20,000 fresh troops – the Golden Company from Essos, bought and paid for." Dany gives Tyrion a steely glance before going back to his brother. "Even if we defeat the dead, she'll have more than enough to destroy the survivors." But at least I will have spoiled her surprise and given us an edge, he thought.

Dany looked dubious "We?"

"I promised to fight for the living," Jaime was saying, "and I intend to keep that promise." His word, Brienne knew, might not be worth much to most everyone in the room. But she felt in that moment that he was speaking directly to her.

Will blow away with this new sun

Tyrion attempted to interject, but Daenerys would not hear him. Tyrion looked to Jon just as Brienne willed Jon to look at her, but he seemed lost in his own thoughts, surrendered to whatever power this queen held over him, and saw neither of them.

Then Brienne's hopes sank completely – Sansa was calling for Jaime's exile from the castle. Jaime fought back, attempting to rationalize with her but, as Brienne knew, Sansa was beyond listening to the man. Only when Bran spoke up from the corner did any of them stop and seem to consider their words. "The things we do for love," he'd said. He'd been staring at Jaime when he said it, but Brienne felt it in the pit of her stomach.

"So why," asked Daenerys, breaking the silence, "have you abandoned your house and family now?"

She knew she had to act – she knew that the queen was winding down to a pronouncement. She had to appeal to the queen as Jon had suggested, but her courage was failing her. She had wanted to defend him but in the presence of the Starks and their bannerman she was torn between him and her duty.

In response to the queen, Jaime chanced a glance behind him as if to reassure himself that he hadn't imagined her there. Suddenly it seemed to her as if the two of them were the only people in the room. When he spoke, her own words re-formed in his mouth - "Because this goes beyond loyalty," he said as he finally met her eye, fuck loyalty ringing in their ears, "this is about survival."

But I'll kneel down
Wait for now

Brienne knew that this was it – she could not hesitate a moment longer. Loudly and ungracefully she stood and pushed her bench from the table, catching a look from Daenerys who did not appear to appreciate the interruption, looking murderously from Jaime to Brienne.

"You don't know me well, your grace," started Brienne as she crossed to the center of the hall, bodily placing herself between Jaime and the queen and mustering as much confidence and height as she could, almost mirroring the stance they had talen on the bridge when Locke had found them, knowing that if she did not speak frankly now there might not be another chance, "but I know Ser Jaime. He is a man of honor."

Sansa was glaring at her, but she could not stop now, "I was his captor once. But when we were both taken prisoner and the men holding us tried to force themselves on me, Ser Jaime defended me. And lost his hand because of it." At this, Tyrion started and caught his brother's eye; Jaime only looked back down at his feet. He had only told Tyrion that he'd lost it when his captors had tortured him; he'd never told him that it had happened while he was trying to protect the Maid of Tarth. Brienne was known to be a forthright and honest person without artifice, so this had to be the truth – but why had Jaime never said anything? He looked to Sansa whose glare seemed to have softened into curiosity.

Brienne could see that Daenerys would not be easily moved, and Jon was in the corner being no help. So Brienne turned to Sansa who now had her ear. "Without him, my lady, you would not be alive. He armed me, armored me, and sent me to find you and bring you home, because he'd sworn an oath to your mother." Sansa could see the emotion in Brienne's eyes, and she knew that she must be speaking the truth. Her thoughts of the Kingslayer were completely at odds with the tale that Brienne was telling, but she'd learned the hard way that Brienne only ever spoke the truth.

"You vouch for him?"

"I do."

Jaime offered a sad smile behind her that he felt in his eyes only.

"You would fight beside him?"

Whether Sansa had intended it as such, this question came as a challenge, and both Brienne and Jaime understood that. Would she fight beside him in the war to come? Yes. Would she fight beside him should the queen call for his execution? Without question. "I would."

Jaime glanced up at her, wishing he could catch her eye. He did not deserve her confidence, but she gave it willingly, knowing full well what he was. He silently made a promise then and there to fight by her side so long as she let him.

Brienne was glad that he could not see her face – she was starting to shake, her body ready to spring into action if the need arose. There was an ache in her chest that she could not explain. If Sansa did not listen to her, honor would compel her to fight Stark men and Unsullied alike.

And I'll kneel down
Know my ground

Sansa took a breath and addressed Brienne again, "I trust you with my life. If you trust him with yours, we should let him stay." Brienne swallowed the sigh of relief that threatened to leave her body. She nodded to Sansa and returned to her seat without another glance at Jaime.

Daenerys seemed to be beside herself – Sansa had made a pronouncement that was counter to any of her wishes. She turned to Jon – her one ally that she believed she could count on in all things. "What does the warden of the North say about it?"

Brienne put her hand to the pommel of her sword, anxiously awaiting Jon's response. Finally Jon seemed to get out of his daze. He looked at Jaime, and then to Brienne. "We need every man we can get." Brienne felt the fist clutching her heart let go and settle lower instead.

And I will wait, I will wait for you

Daenerys was less than pleased with this answer, but she was overruled. Sword back in his hand, Jaime offered his thanks to Daenerys who promptly stood up as if to leave the room, causing everyone else to rise as well. Jaime could feel Brienne's eyes on him, and he turned to her to offer his gratitude. There were many questions he wanted to ask her. She had given him a chance he didn't deserve and he was not about to start letting her down now. She held his glance for a moment, eyes glassy, then spun away from the table and started for the door. He watched her leave the room, sparing one more glance back at him, before she left the hall. He was tired of watching her walk away from him.

And I will wait, I will wait for you

A/N: I do not own Game of Throne or these characters; some dialogue may be taken verbatim from HBO's Game of Thrones or George R. R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire. Lyrics used are directly from Mumford & Sons' "I Will Wait" (C) 2012.