Jaime quickened his step and made for the castle. He stopped at the side gate and saw Jon Snow a few feet away, being embraced by a wild man with flaming red hair. They were surrounded by other men clearly known to Jon, but strangers to Jaime. He watched as the fiery bear of a man said something to Jon that took him aback. Then he turned and scanned the castle behind him, "The big woman still here?" he'd said rather audibly, his gruff voice echoing.

Jaime cocked his head, but hadn't had a chance to consider the meaning behind that question before his thoughts were interrupted by sounds of scuffling metal behind him. He turned to find no one there, but on completing the circle found Brienne just next to him, having flattened herself against the side of the gate wall, with a familiar look of distaste marring her face as she stared at the ground. He gathered that she must have been just behind him as he'd returned to the castle, and had been alarmed by the sight of the new arrivals – had she heard the wild man's question? And who was she to him?

He looked away from her, chancing a glance back around the corner into the yard and saw that Jon and the party of newcomers were now walking away from them toward the great hall.

He turned back to Brienne and shrugged, "All clear," and watched as she collected herself, nodding and stepping away from the wall, regarding him carefully.

"Tormund was at the wall – he'll have news of the dead. I imagine they'll be here quite soon," she said, staring up at the sky to assess the remaining daylight.

Tormund, was it? Jaime thought. He wanted to ask then what her familiarity with the wild man was, but he wasn't going to risk his luck now. At least she was speaking to him. "We should bring everyone inside the walls."

She started, staring at him as if unsure as to which one of them had spoken, their thoughts in tune.

'Cause I will wait, I will wait for you

She nodded.

"How can I help?" he asked, shoulders squaring, ready to serve her.

She looked out at the grounds, then back at him, gentler this time. She knew the northerners on the grounds wouldn't listen to him. "Find the maester – tell him that I've asked that the bells be rung. He'll understand. Pod and I will collect the stragglers."

Jaime nodded and turned to set off on his task.

"Ser Jaime?"

He spun back around.

"Once the gates have closed, I expect Lord Snow will wish to strategize – wait for me in the yard and I'll fetch you before the meeting convenes."

He looked up at her curiously, "I don't think Lord Snow will welcome my council."

"But your brother will," she said, surveying the ground. Slowly her eyes rose to meet his again, quietly but firmly adding "And I do."

The corner of his mouth turned up ever so slightly at this and he nodded, watching her. "As you command, my lady," he stated without an ounce of jest. And before she could interject with one of her regular denials, he'd turned and disappeared around the corner in search of the maester.

Brienne took a deep breath. Jaime was right, she mused as she headed back toward Podrick, most of those present at the war council would prefer to shun him, and that was if they were lucky. But despite their hatred, Jaime was more experienced in leading a charge than most of them, and experience was a valuable commodity that they were running low on.

It wasn't long after she'd reached Pod that the bells rang out and the ill-prepared men and women of the north made their slow retreat into the castle – for many, it would be for the last time.

Once the gates were closed and Pod had been set to the task of assisting the armorers in fitting some of the younger men, Brienne surveyed the yard in search of Jaime. Ser Davos had found her moments before and confirmed that there was indeed a war council being called, and that she should make haste.

She finally spotted Jaime just inside the smithy with his back to her, admiring some of Gendry's handiwork. She stopped and watched the two of them, smiling to herself. She'd suspected that the younger man was a Baratheon the moment she'd laid eyes on him, a suspicion later confirmed in confidence by Ser Davos. There was no mistaking the southern bastard's eyes – Renly's, she'd thought – those warm brown eyes that she'd had such affection for, but which had been almost forgotten now, replaced in her heart.

And I will wait, I will wait for you

Gendry caught sight of her and raised his brow in surprise, "Milady." Jaime turned just in time to catch her smile as it sank back into hiding.

She looked to him, "It's time."

Jaime offered a friendly nod to Gendry and then followed Brienne across the yard and down a long winding corridor to the small library that had been repurposed as a war room. The smaller tables had been pulled together into the center, a large map spread out across them and lit with low candles, a fire blazing in the hearth.

As they entered, Brienne nodded to those already assembled and watched many of their faces shift to glares at the sight of Jaime striding in behind her. She moved to the far side of the table, being sure to keep herself between him and Alys Karstark, whom she knew had ample reason to mistrust him.

The room filled up behind them and warmed just as quickly. One of the last to enter was Tormund Giantsbane, who set his fists on the table to their left and leaned over the candles to peer at her, casting his face in a terrifying light and making his beard seem to glow. She did her best to ignore him as usual, knowing that he was harmless, yet thankful to have at least one other body between them. But as the room settled she noted that Jaime was shifting, likely imperceptibly to all but her, so that his arm was now behind his pommel, making it easier for his left hand to reach it if necessary.

"Don't," she muttered so that only he would hear.

He gave her a questioning sidelong glance, catching her furrowed brow, and he found himself wondering again what the story was there. But she quickly looked away as if studying the pieces on the map.

Jaime slowly shrugged and lowered his arm back in front of the sword as if he were simply adjusting his cloak. When he looked up, Tyrion caught his eye with a bemused expression. Jaime scowled and looked away just as Jon cleared his throat and began.

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.