Based on events during Episode 4 of GoT Season 8

(Also includes flashback from Episode 3 of GoT Season 4)

Back when Brienne had briefly lived in the Red Keep as Jaime's guest, Jaime had been somewhat embarrassed to admit even just to himself, let alone anyone else, that he had begun to harbour romantic feelings towards his former captor. But now he would gladly shout it from the rooftops, if only it wouldn't damage Brienne's reputation (even though she kept insisting to him that she didn't care about that). At least he could open up about the matters of his heart to the one other person he loved dearly in this world. After all, he no longer wanted his secret love to remain secret anymore, not to the people who mattered.

Tyrion sat beside him inside the local inn situated in the heart of winter town, not too far away from the castle grounds. The inn was eerily quiet inside; most men who had survived the battle last week had spent every night in the company of their families since the Army of the Dead had come to Winterfell. Indeed, after the Lannister brothers had entered, the chilly inn soon deserted so that only the two of them remained to drink the innkeeper's ale. It was the night before Tyrion was due to leave for Dragonstone to plan the remainder of 'the last war', as Daenerys Targaryen apparently called it, and Jaime was keen to spend a few hours alone with his brother. After all, they would be parted for a considerable time and who knew when – or even if – they would see each other again?

They talked and bantered for a while over inconsequential things while they drank, reminiscing about the past and trying their best to avoid mentioning their sister or the fate that awaited her in the inevitable battle that would ensue in King's Landing sooner or later. After a short while, Jaime found the right opportunity to say what he had been bursting to say to his brother for many days now.

He took a deep breath. 'I have some news,' he began, even though he knew that this was in no way news to Tyrion.

Sure enough, Tyrion retorted, 'Oh, you mean news beside the fact that you and the only female knight in the Seven Kingdoms are now sleeping together in a long-term capacity?'

Jaime smiled dryly. 'I'd prefer the term 'courting', it's…more respectful.'

'My apologies,' Tyrion said with a smirk, tipping his tankard in Jaime's direction.

'How long have you known?' Jaime asked, curious.

'Since the day after the feast. You really think Varys and myself haven't noticed the pair of you sneaking off together around the castle? Or your sudden inability to keep your hands off each other? Or the fact that both of you are beaming like utter morons? It's almost as if you're both still drunk after the feast last week,' Tyrion said, rolling his eyes. 'And that's without poor Pod's reports of the noises coming from Ser Brienne's bedchambers every night. Or are they your joint chambers now? Apparently your quarters haven't been occupied at all since the day after the battle. Seems like you've certainly both enjoyed making up for lost time with each other, at any rate-'

'Oh, all right,' Jaime interrupted, his eyes widening in embarrassment as he felt his cheeks colour slightly. 'No need to go on about it.'

'You were the one who brought it up!' Tyrion pointed out.

'I only wanted to speak with my brother in a mature manner about…a rare turn of good fortune in my life,' Jaime said, and he sighed. 'I used to think that what Cersei and I had was real. That it was…love. Turns out I was very much mistaken.'

'I did try to tell you. Multiple times. But at least you got out eventually. And you know better now,' Tyrion said encouragingly, and Jaime smiled. 'Who'd have thought Brienne of Tarth would become your paramour?'

Jaime eyed him sternly. 'She's much more than that.'

'Yes,' Tyrion agreed thoughtfully. 'You care for her very much, don't you?'

'I do. Very much,' Jaime replied fondly; when once a few years ago he might have been ashamed or disgusted by this fact, he was now proud. 'I'm happy. I can't tell you how strange it is to feel that way.'

'Well it was clear last week that you had an ulterior motive for staying here in the place you loathe so much. Even with it risking the Starks keeping you here as leverage,' Tyrion said, raising his eyebrows at Jaime and wondering internally whether Brienne of Tarth was really worth it. 'As one of our best warriors, I assume she was asked to join the fight in King's Landing?'

'She was. But she's decided not to go.'

A brief smile of bemusement flickered on Tyrion's face as he gazed up at his brother. 'So she's going to stay here with you?'

Jaime exhaled deeply and nodded with raised eyebrows, as if he too couldn't quite believe it. 'She's sworn to protect the Stark girls, so…'

He glanced at Tyrion then. Clearly Tyrion was already becoming slightly tipsy from tonight's drinking; his expression betrayed the confusion he felt as he nodded thoughtfully, watching Jaime with utter bewilderment.

He might as well have just said, 'Brienne of Tarth? Really?'

Jaime was annoyed; last week, Tyrion had been his biggest supporter in this new venture with Brienne, but ever since he and Brienne had consummated their relationship, Tyrion had appeared somewhat distant regarding the whole thing…pleased for Jaime, of course, but acting if he hadn't truly realised just how serious Jaime was about her until now. And it was clear from the sceptical drunken look in his eyes that he didn't understand it.

Jaime rolled his eyes irritably as he looked away from his brother's scrutinizing gaze. 'Say something snide,' he muttered.

Tyrion tilted his head at him, his lips parted in outrage; he hadn't realised his concern and doubt over the stability of Jaime's mind had been showing. 'I'm happy! I'm happy that you're happy,' he insisted, raising his eyebrows earnestly at Jaime, and a soft smile fell on Jaime's face, truly touched. 'I'm happy that you'll finally have to climb for it.'

Jaime laughed. He'd laughed so much since arriving at Winterfell, more so than he'd done in years. It was still a feeling he was getting used to.

'Do you know how long I've waited to tell tall-person jokes?' Tyrion said, his lips twitching, and Jaime's eyebrows flickered as Tyrion raised his tankard. 'To climbing mountains.'

Jaime clinked his cup against Tyrion's. 'To climbing mountains.'

Once they'd taken a sip of their drinks, Tyrion looked up curiously at Jaime. 'What's she like down there?' he asked without thinking.

'What?!' Jaime said with a frown, appalled; clearly, Tyrion was more drunk than he'd realised. 'That's…not your concern.'

Tyrion was surprised. In the past, Jaime had never flinched at the mention (or even sight) of Tyrion and his whores, nor had either of them ever expressed discomfort at discussing such intimate details. And yet Jaime was making it clear now from the look of disgust on his face as he shook his head at him that Tyrion had crossed a line in asking that question. Of course…Jaime valued Brienne, more so than anyone. All intimate and personal experiences between them were private. It made Tyrion rather humbled, yet also infuriated.

'I haven't been with a woman for years,' Tyrion said, leaning towards his brother. 'Give me a morsel.'

But Jaime merely scoffed. 'You're a dog,' he said dismissively.

'I am the Imp, and I demand to know-'

'I knew you were fucking her.'

Jaime and Tyrion both looked up at the sound of the familiar voice. None other than Ser Bronn of the Blackwater stood in the doorway to the inn, a large threatening crossbow in his hands as he leered over at the pair of bickering brothers.

'A pair of tall, blonde toffs,' Bronn said smugly, as he sauntered over towards them with the crossbow. 'Must be like looking in the mirror.'

It soon became evident that Bronn's interruption was not a friendly reunion; he ended up punching Tyrion in the nose to make it clear that he meant business and didn't have time for their usual banter, and proceeded to inform them that Cersei had offered him Riverrun in exchange for a certain deed to be carried out. Jaime was sceptical, and a little disappointed in his old friend's stupidity. He trusted Cersei with such an offer? Really?

And then he found out that Cersei had sent Bronn up to the North to assassinate both her brothers. She really was a monster.

Thank the gods I managed to escape her clutches when I did, Jaime thought desperately, thinking longingly of the warm fire in his and Brienne's cosy bedchambers and the tall, strong, compassionate woman who awaited his return.

Bronn went on persistently about Cersei's threats and his demands for a castle, right up until Tyrion reluctantly offered him Highgarden and a position as Lord of the Reach, although Jaime barely cared…or so he told himself, anyway. He wished Bronn hadn't mentioned his strong opinion on Cersei's doomed fate in this war, but nevertheless tried to hurry up the rather pointless meeting along as he had somewhere important to be. He hoped that Brienne wouldn't already be asleep when he got back home tonight.

Once he was satisfied that Tyrion would keep his word, Bronn then headed out of the inn and left them to it. The two brothers looked heavily at each other the moment Bronn shut the door behind him. What a pain in the arse that stupid cutthroat had become in their lives.

'So…our sister really sent him to kill us. How charming,' Tyrion said bitterly, wiping away the blood from his nose.

Jaime ignored him. 'How's your nose?' he asked, his sympathetic tone half-mocking half-genuine.

'Never mind that,' Tyrion muttered, frowning at Jaime in concern. 'You'd best hope he doesn't report back to Cersei that you're sleeping with someone else. Or you'll know what she'll do.'

'He said himself he'd staying away until the war is done, he won't go back to Cersei without having done the job she set for him. Besides, she won't touch Brienne,' Jaime said dismissively, her nostrils flaring at the mere thought. 'If she sends anyone else up here, they'll be dead long before they have a chance to lay a finger on her.'

'So you're truly serious about her then?' Tyrion said, bewildered, and Jaime frowned at him, perplexed; did he really not understand?

Ever since Tyrion had seen Jaime and Brienne exchange that look in the great hall during Jaime's trial on his first day here in Winterfell, Tyrion had merely assumed that the attraction between them had been built out of pent-up lust and longing. He knew that they had cared for each other for a long time, but this? This was something much more than what Tyrion had anticipated. And after what had just transpired now with Bronn, it made him nervous.

'If you don't mind defying Cersei like this then you must have considered plans for the long-term,' Tyrion said sharply, but Jaime merely looked down, unable to think of a response; he didn't like that Bronn's presence here seemed to have sobered Tyrion up into thinking like this. 'Or are you just living in the moment and enjoying the fun while it lasts?'

'I love her,' was all Jaime could say, trying not to register the lump in his throat.

'Cersei, yes I know, so how exactly do you suppose-?'

'No, Brienne,' Jaime clarified, and Tyrion's eyes widened in shock. 'I love Brienne. Very much.'

'And…does she know that?' Tyrion asked, astonished.

'Know what?'

'That you love her,' Tyrion said slowly.

'She knows,' Jaime said airily.

Tyrion rolled his eyes. 'Have you told her?'

'I don't need to,' Jaime replied, and he smiled fondly. 'Brienne and I have this rare gift where we can speak without words.'

'Still. I think she'd like to hear it. She might be surprised,' Tyrion said, raising his eyebrows.

'I will tell her,' Jaime said earnestly, 'when the moment is right, and when things are…settled…when we know what's happening.'

'In the war, you mean? Don't you think that's tempting fate? And what do you mean by 'settled'?' Tyrion demanded urgently, leaning forward in his chair.

Jaime flushed. 'When all this is over, I…I would like Brienne and I to be together properly. Officially,' he said firmly. 'If she wants the same, of course.'

An inaudible gasp escaped Tyrion's mouth as he gazed in amazement at his brother and realised he was being serious. 'You mean…in matrimony?'

'Obviously I intend to visit Tarth first to ask for her father's blessing. I hope Lord Selwyn will be willing to get to know me first before he gives his answer,' Jaime said, grimacing.

There was a stunned pause. Jaime glanced at Tyrion nervously; he was staring at him if he had never properly seen him before until now. It made Jaime uneasy. He'd thought Tyrion would have been more enthusiastic and supportive of Jaime's long-term plans, particularly after getting so invested in helping make this relationship happen in the first place. But still…the anxious crease on Tyrion's forehead did not bode well.

Jaime sighed. 'Look, I know she's not…conventionally the sort of woman I would have been married off to, had Father had a say in it. I know she's not what my family – or anyone else, for that matter – expected or possibly even wanted for me. But she's who I want to be with, and for as long as she lives in this world, I know I'll never love anyone else-'

'What about Cersei? And the baby?' Tyrion asked sharply.

Jaime froze, his breath catching in his throat. That had been the last thing he'd thought Tyrion would say. He felt like he'd been slapped in the face.

'Why would you bring that up?' he muttered, looking down at the table.

'Because I know you,' Tyrion said earnestly, and he sighed sympathetically. 'Oh, my dear brother, you're so blinded by how good your life is right now that you've forgotten what you always go back to in the end. You're a man bound by honour, even if you and everyone else in Westeros says otherwise, and if a woman you once loved is carrying your child and is in danger from a war she simply cannot win…even if you love someone else now it won't make a difference. You know that deep down! I'm happy you've found Brienne and you're together, truly, but is it fair on her to keep up this mirage? Because I can't see a happy ending in it.'

'Tyrion, you were the one who encouraged it!' Jaime snapped, outraged.

'That was before I realised how deeply you and Brienne felt about each other!' Tyrion said anxiously. 'Think of what it would do to her if-!'

'I'm not having this discussion,' Jaime cut over him firmly.

'Because you're in denial!' Tyrion said loudly. 'You're already doubting.'

'I don't doubt my feelings for Brienne. I want to spend the rest of my life with her,' Jaime said, a hint of desperation in his voice.

'I never said your doubts were anything to do with Brienne,' Tyrion said quietly.

Furious, Jaime rose from his chair. 'I'm leaving,' he spat, glaring down at his brother, and he stormed away from the table to leave the inn.

Tyrion sighed heavily. 'I leave in the morning, Jaime. Will you come to see me off? Or are you so angry with me for facing you with a hard truth that this will be how we part?' he said wearily, forcing Jaime to halt in his tracks before he reached the door. 'I'm only trying to make you look at things realistically. Before you get Brienne's hopes up that you're truly committed-'

'I already am committed,' Jaime said, turning back around to face his brother.

'So I gather. And I believe you, I do. But what happens when Daenerys gives the command for Cersei to be executed, should we win the war?' Tyrion said hopelessly, making Jaime's jaw tighten in fear. 'Because that is what she will do. Will you still be happy then?'

Jaime felt rather nauseous all of a sudden. 'Well you don't seem to have a problem with it,' he pointed out.

Tyrion looked horrified at such a statement as he also rose from his chair and began to walk towards Jaime. 'I have a huge problem with it! But this is war, and I made my choice long ago when I killed our father and severed ties with House Lannister,' he said, and Jaime flinched. 'I chose to be Daenerys' hand, and that choice may well come at the cost of our sister's life.'

There was a silence as they simply stared at each other, breathing deeply as Tyrion's words resonated in their minds. Jaime could feel his reserve threatening to crumble, but he wouldn't let it. Instead he thought of Brienne's face as she rose for the first time as a knight, her chin quivering, her smiling lips trembling, her astonishing blue eyes filled with tears, and he felt the cold dread in his heart disappear instantly.

Swallowing, Jaime stepped towards Tyrion. 'You say you made your choice to support Daenerys. Well I've made my choice to be with Brienne,' he said in a low, firm voice.

'Gods,' Tyrion whispered, looking almost close to tears as he gazed up in wonder at his brother. 'You really do love her, don't you?'

Jaime couldn't help but smile. 'I do. With everything in me.'

'Then I wish you both…all the luck and happiness in the world,' Tyrion said sincerely, and he grasped his brother's good hand. 'You deserve it, truly.'

Jaime frowned. 'I'm not sure about that. But I appreciate the sentiment,' he said, smiling gratefully at his brother. 'What time do you ride out to the harbour?'

'Not long after dawn,' Tyrion replied, looking troubled by the very thought.

'Then I'll see you tomorrow morning. I must get back. Goodnight, Tyrion.'

He had only just shut the door of the inn behind him as he stepped out into the freezing cold night air when he found to his chagrin that Bronn was still there, stood loitering about outside one of the whorehouses across the other side of the dirty road. Bronn raised his head up and strolled over to Jaime at once; clearly, he'd been waiting for him.

'Any particular reason why you're still here in this dismal place?' Jaime asked him, watching suspiciously as Bronn reached him.

'I could ask you the same question,' Bronn replied.

Jaime stared at him for a moment, wondering whether or not to slap him round the face with his golden hand in return for him punching Tyrion for no reason, but then thought better of it. 'Well forgive me, but I have somewhere to be. Spare your false threats for someone else,' he said, turning away.

But Bronn raised his eyebrows. 'If you think they're false, then you really don't know me very well.'

'What do you want?' Jaime demanded, rounding on him. 'Is Highgarden not good enough for you?'

'I'm just curious to know what she's worth.'

Jaime felt a shiver run up his spine as he realised what Bronn meant. He glared at that self-satisfied smirk on Bronn's face, and with a groan stormed up to him and pinned him angrily against the brick wall of the inn.

'Don't you dare go near her! Don't you dare!' he shouted gruffly, shaking him briefly by his collar. 'Seven hells, Bronn, I thought you were my friend.'

'I don't have friends, me. Sorry to disappoint,' Bronn said casually, as Jaime released his hold of him; he brushed down his jerkin, clearly unbothered by Jaime's aggressive behaviour.

'No you're not,' Jaime snarled. 'You're enjoying this.'

'I'm just fascinated, that's all,' Bronn said. 'The Kingslayer almost assassinated, on orders from the woman he's in love with. How did it come to that?'

At this, Jaime couldn't help himself; he raised his golden hand and smacked him roughly across the head with it. Bronn stumbled and yelped out in shock, and Jaime took the opportunity to seize him by his collar again.

'I'm only in love with one woman, Bronn, and make sure that this is understood in that thick skull of yours – her name is Brienne of Tarth,' he said fiercely, 'and she means everything to me. So if you inform Cersei or any of her spies about what you heard between myself and Tyrion, I will kill you myself.'

Bronn raised his eyebrows in mock horror. 'Oooh, the one-handed cunt I trained wants to kill me, I'm so scared.'

'I mean it, Bronn. No harm comes to Brienne,' Jaime growled. 'Once all this is over, I'll pay you whatever money you want to stay silent. No harm comes to Brienne.'

'All right, fine. You have my word,' Bronn said reluctantly, and Jaime released his hold of him.

Bronn straightened himself up, and tilted his head at Jaime bewilderedly. 'Brienne of fucking Tarth, eh? I knew that was going to happen long before you did,' he said smugly, and Jaime rolled his eyes, irritated that he was undoubtedly correct. 'So I was right, that day on the ship coming back from Dorne, remember? You kept crying and moaning, praying for some woman to come wipe away your pathetic tears. 'Course, you were fucking drunk the whole time, so you probably don't remember-'

'Of course I remember,' Jaime interrupted in a low warning voice.

The days following Myrcella's brutal death had been the darkest of his life. He would never be able to forget them, as much as he'd tried. He could remember how he'd yearned for the safety of a woman's touch to comfort him in the grief that tortured him so relentlessly…not of the arms that had regularly pinned him roughly to the walls of various secluded chambers around the Red Keep, but of the gentle yet strong arms that had caught him as he'd collapsed in the bathtub at Harrenhal. Looking back now, Jaime realised that he had known then. He had known deep down who his heart belonged to. He'd just been too afraid to see it at the time.

'It was Brienne you wanted,' Bronn went on, bemused; he sounded like he might burst out laughing, as if he couldn't quite fathom why anyone would choose to be with such an incredible woman. 'Not Cersei. It was always Brienne of fucking Tarth.'

'Yes. And it always will be,' Jaime said, a proud fierceness to his tone, and he pushed past Bronn. 'Now get out of my sight.'

'Off back to the love nest, are you?' Bronn said mockingly.

Jaime turned back to face him. 'As a matter of fact, yes, I am,' he said, giving him the briefest flicker of a smile, and then he turned his back on him and walked away.

As Jaime trudged on up the frozen path back towards the castle, desperate for the reassuring warmth of Brienne's arms around his, he found himself wondering if he would ever see Bronn again once the war was done. He sincerely hoped not. The disloyal idiot's words were still ringing painfully in Jaime's ears.

'I knew your sister was dead the second I saw those dragons…'

Jaime gave an involuntary shiver as he walked on.

The Lord Commander's private quarters were at the very top of one of the highest towers in the Red Keep. With each step she climbed, Brienne grew more and more tentative about whether this was allowed, whether she was doing the right thing. But still, she felt she must try. She needed to do her bit after all.

The doors to his chambers were already open; a handmaiden was inside, clearing away his leftover food while he sat at the table, his face buried in his hands. Brienne's lips parted as she gazed over at him sympathetically. He'd endured something horrific these past few days. It had clearly taken its toll on him.

She raised her hand and knocked tentatively on the door; the handmaiden looked up in alarm.

'Ser Jaime,' Brienne said, clearing her throat, and Jaime's hands fell from his face as he looked up in surprise; Brienne had never once come up here, or even sought out a meeting with him without any prior secret planning. 'I hope I'm not intruding…-'

Jaime scrambled up to his feet at once. 'Lady Brienne. Please, do come in,' he said at once, moving around the table. 'Forgive me…'

He hurried over to one of the ornate cabinets beside the balcony, where his golden hand rested. He picked it up and began struggling with the straps as he tried hastily to fasten it onto his wrist.

'Y-you don't have to put that on,' Brienne insisted, frowning.

Jaime looked rather stunned, but relieved, as he put the golden hand back down. 'Sorry, force of habit. Cersei doesn't like to see…this,' he said in disgust, eyeing the ugly gnarled stump at the end of his right arm.

'Oh,' Brienne said, and her voice broke slightly.

Jaime then turned to the handmaiden. 'Leave us please,' he said.

The young girl nodded at once and scurried away, shutting the doors behind her. The moment she did, Jaime grimaced, realising his mistake too late.

'Well that won't much help for making the rumours go away,' he muttered, and Brienne's cheeks coloured slightly as she rolled her eyes.

Jaime looked up at Brienne, his lips twitching slightly at his feeble attempt to diffuse what in reality was quite a tense, risky situation. She wore a light blue tunic with a large belt, neat but simple, with the only ornamentation a small embroidery at the top of the chest of the House Tarth sigil. She had forgotten to fasten the top two buttons, and the gash marks of the bear's claws were still prominently visible at the bottom of her neck.

These days at the capital, he often found himself thinking back to that day at the bear pit in Harrenhal. He had been so reckless in his actions. Suddenly all thought of getting back to Cersei, the one thing that he had been focussed on for all those months of captivity, had been thrown out of the window the moment he'd seen Brienne down there facing that bear. He'd acted on instinct, as if she had been a member of his family. Right now, here in the capital feeling more disheartened and alone than ever, he almost wished that she was.

Jaime gave her a stern look. 'This was bloody stupid of you, you know. Were you seen coming up here?' he asked, trying not to appear too worried.

'No, I made sure of it,' Brienne said firmly.

Jaime nodded, reassured. 'Then how may I help?'

'Actually I was wondering if it was I who could help,' Brienne said, stepping further into the room.

Jaime gave her a questioning look.

'I understand this is a difficult time for you. And I know I'm no knight, but…if you need any assistance with your guard, your soldiers…I would like to do what I can, to allow you time to…well, to grieve,' Brienne said, and Jaime's lips parted as he gazed over at her, touched.

She was so very out of place here in the capital. She wasn't sarcastic, ironic, witty, cruel, arrogant or uncaring like everyone else at court. She was simply honest and respectful…and even kind, so it turned out. On the surface, she was so different from Jaime. But in reality, she was just the same, only a better version. A more moral version.

He swallowed. 'My nephew's death was…tragic and…unfortunate,' he murmured, looking away. 'But I must carry on with my duties-'

'Ser Jaime, we both know he was your son,' Brienne interrupted, almost irritably. 'Please don't pretend, not in front of me.'

For a moment, Jaime almost felt like shouting at her for speaking such words. But then he remembered that this wasn't just any ordinary person paying him a visit in the Lord Commander's quarters.

Jaime sighed. 'Forgive me. Sometimes I forget that you know most of my deepest and darkest secrets. Not many do,' he said quietly, and he was taken aback by the unusual softness in her expression; there wasn't a single scowl line in sight, in fact. 'I'm extremely grateful for the offer, my lady, but I…I can't be seen to be in hiding…or in mourning, for too long.'

'Then let me work alongside you,' Brienne suggested, and a small admiring smile fell on Jaime's face as he looked at her. 'I know I can't be a member of the Kingsguard, but…just in some capacity. I want to be useful. I want to do what I can to help. Joffrey's murder was an act of war and these are dangerous times for the capital, the people need protecting-'

'So do you!' Jaime insisted exasperatedly. 'You won't be of any help to the innocents of King's Landing by putting yourself at risk.'

Brienne frowned at him, perplexed. 'I can handle myself, and I'm not a target, I'm a nobody here.'

Jaime stared at her. She really had no idea. She hadn't given her own safety a moments' thought. She didn't know the lengths he had gone to to keep her safe; convincing Loras Tyrell not to have her imprisoned – or even executed – for Renly's death, or asking two of his knights of the Kingsguard to watch over her whenever he himself wasn't present in the Red Keep, for instance. Brienne was so selfless that it made her completely oblivious to her own predicament. Or perhaps she just simply didn't care. The thought made Jaime both awestruck and sad.

He tilted his head at her. 'You were in the service of Lady Catelyn Stark, and everyone here knows you still would be if my father hadn't seen fit to orchestrate her death. That doesn't make you a nobody, that very much makes you a target,' Jaime said, his voice tremoring with both fear and fury, and he glared at her incredulously. 'How can you be so fucking stupid not to see that?'

There was a pause as the two of them simply stared at each other. Brienne was rather taken aback by his attitude and tone. He hadn't spoken to her like that in quite some time now, and it left her rather stung to hear him address her in such a way once more.

She put her hands behind her back and swallowed as she looked down at the floor. 'Have I done something to offend you, Ser Jaime?' she asked quietly.

'If being yourself doesn't count, then no,' Jaime muttered, looking away, ashamed of himself.

'I know it's not your intention to make me feel like a spare part. And I know you don't mean to hurt me either, as much as you pretend otherwise,' Brienne said calmly, and Jaime looked up at her, his lips parting to interrupt but then closing again just as quickly. 'But surely you know me well enough by now to know that I have the skills you need and that I have to have a purpose. I have to do something. Why won't you give me that opportunity?'

Jaime sighed, his hand twitching against his trousers agitatedly. 'You're even more stupid than I thought if you don't know the reason.'

'If you call me 'stupid' one more time, I'll personally-'

'You know I don't mean it,' Jaime interrupted with a twitch of his lips, amused by the flare of her nostrils.

'I know nothing of the sort,' Brienne said shortly.

Another pause fell between them as she waited for him to respond. Jaime ran a hand through his hair, agitated. He did wish she wouldn't put him on the spot like this. He didn't like being forced to confront the truth of his own feelings and thoughts.

'I can't risk it,' he said eventually. 'My father and sister…they don't trust you, they wouldn't allow you to fraternize with our troops like that. It's too dangerous.'

Brienne raised her eyebrows sceptically at him. 'You think I'm scared of your father and sister?'

'I'm more scared of them than anyone else in this world.'

Jaime regretted the words the moment he'd spoken them, but it was too late to turn back. It was a fact he had realised not long after his return to King's Landing, a fact he had long repressed for many years. It was terrifying to say it aloud, to make it more real, but he found himself inexplicably glad that it was Brienne who had heard him. He chanced a glance up at her; her lips had parted in shock.

'I see,' she murmured.

'Besides…I'd much rather you spent your time helping continue the search for Lady Sansa,' Jaime said, trying to steer the conversation away from his family.

'I've already helped search the capital with the City Watch, she's nowhere to be found,' Brienne said anxiously. 'And if she is…she'll be in more danger than she was before. She's a suspect in Joffrey's murder.'

'I know. And I know my sister believes that, but I don't. We have to protect her,' Jaime said determinedly.

'We?' Brienne said, her tone hopeful; would he really let them be seen as a united front together?

'Yes,' Jaime promised. 'However we can.'

He'd had a lot of time to ponder this matter over the past few days, in his efforts to distract himself from the pain that had hit him over Joffrey's bloody demise. If anything, the horrendous aftermath of Joffrey's murder had taught him that it was of the utmost importance that he upheld his oath to Lady Catelyn, even if it meant betraying his own family. Yes, he now depended on acting as the man he used to be here in King's Landing, but still…Jaime sensed a change within him. Brienne had helped him realise that good could come from bad. And he knew he wasn't the only one who saw it.

'Allow me some time to think on it,' Jaime said. 'I'll try and devise a plan for what we can do for the poor girl.'

'Even if it goes against your sister's wishes?' Brienne said doubtfully.

'My sister…she's a hateful woman,' Jaime said darkly, avoiding Brienne's eye contact. 'It's best we leave her out of this.'

'She doesn't like me,' Brienne found herself saying.

'No,' Jaime agreed, and he found himself chuckling. 'I won't pretend to you that she does. She can be very…jealous and insecure.'

Brienne frowned at him as if he were mad. 'What does Cersei Lannister have to be jealous about?'

'You intimidate her, isn't it obvious?' Jaime said bemusedly. 'You're the only woman besides her I've ever been close to. She's aware we spent a lot of time in close confinement together. And she's aware of the friendship we've formed; she's not blind, after all.'

There was a stunned pause.

'I'm your friend?' Brienne said in a quiet voice.

Jaime tilted his head at her incredulously. 'Well of course you are, you idiot,' he said in exasperation, a fond tone to his voice.

There was another silence as Brienne simply stared at him, lost for words. She didn't know what to think. All this time, they'd simply been pretending that circumstances forced them to act as if they got on with each other, but now he'd expressed that the affection he showed was genuine and not pretend. It shook Brienne deeply. She'd never had anyone outside her family remotely care for her or see her as a friend. Aside from perhaps Renly…but no, maybe not even then.

'In case you were wondering, now would be your cue to return the compliment,' Jaime said slyly, moving over towards the divan at the foot of his bed and sinking down onto it; he gestured the space beside him, offering her a seat.

'Please don't embarrass me, you know I'm not socially apt in these situations,' Brienne said, walking over to join him.

Jaime raised his eyebrows at her in amusement. 'I certainly do.'

There was a silence as Brienne sat down beside him on the divan. She could tell he was trying hard – too hard, in fact – to keep the mood light, to inject humour into the conversation…anything to avoid facing the devastating truth of the tragedy that had struck his family this week. She wished he could know that she wanted to be there for him, to dry his tears as he had once dried her own after Lady Catelyn's death, to comfort him as he had once comforted her on those lonely nights when they made camp on the way back from Harrenhal. Brienne found herself realising then that she wanted to be there in all ways for Ser Jaime Lannister. She wanted to be his guard, his guide, his friend and possibly even more. She remembered the look on Cersei's face as she'd said those words that had changed everything for Brienne at Joffrey's wedding.

'But you love him.'

The words still haunted her…particularly now that she knew them to be true.

Brienne swallowed as she leaned towards him slightly. 'Ser Jaime, I…I'm so sorry for your loss,' she murmured, her voice unusually gentle.

She slowly reached out and touched his forearm. She didn't even flinch at his stump as her gentle fingers brushed against it, but then again why would she? She had tended to it on most days while they had been held captive. Jaime's eyes felt rather wet all of a sudden at her comforting touch; without thinking, he reached out with his good hand and placed it over hers gratefully.

'Thank you. He was a horrid boy, and…perhaps he deserved the gruesome fate he got, but…he was my blood. And now my brother sits in chains for his murder,' Jaime said heavily, looking down at his lap.

'You don't think he did it.'

Jaime looked at her and smiled. 'We know each other too well. You can read me like an open book,' he said fondly.

For some reason he wanted to intertwine his fingers with hers but he didn't dare.

'I wouldn't say that, Ser Jaime,' Brienne said thoughtfully. 'You're the most complicated man I've ever met.'

Jaime tilted his head at her, a slight smirk in his eyes. 'Have you met many complicated men, Lady Brienne?' he asked playfully.

Brienne couldn't help reciprocating the slight twitch of his lips as she gazed back at him, only then both their smiles slowly faltered as they realised that their hands were still touching. Were they flirting with each other? The prospect alarmed Jaime, and yet there was no doubt about it as he recalled his teasing tone and the way his eyes bored into hers now, at the way his hand seemed incapable of moving away from hers and his body unwilling to lean away in the opposite direction.

Suddenly, as the tense silence continued to simmer between them, he felt like he was no longer in the Lord Commander's quarters, in fact he was no longer in the Red Keep or anywhere near the capital…instead he was in a moonlit campsite situated by a gentle river on the edge of the kingsroad, far away from Harrenhal, and Brienne was there, and she was gazing at him now just as she had done then, and he was lost in the moment, lost in who he was, lost in everything, and all he could see was her…

The doors flung open with a loud bang as they crashed against the walls.

Alarmed, Jaime and Brienne looked up and jumped apart from each other at once as none other than Cersei came bursting into the room, the skirts of her impressive dress and flowing locks of her impeccable hair billowing out behind her. The look on her face suddenly made Jaime more terrified than he had ever been with Locke or Roose Bolton, and he and Brienne immediately leapt to their feet.

'Your Grace,' Brienne greeted politely, but Cersei cut over her.

'Get out,' she snapped, coming to a halt in front of them both.

Brienne flinched; her expression was rather abashed as she glanced around at Jaime. He wasn't sure whether she looked more apologetic, fearful or angry.

'Y-yes, Your Grace, forgive me,' Brienne said after a moments' pause; she turned to Jaime and bowed her head. 'Ser Jaime.'

Jaime bowed his head as well. 'My lady,' he said calmly, trying to reassure her wordlessly with his eyes as she glanced fearfully between him and his sister before retreating.

Cersei's eyes widened in disdain as she watched her brother, but she kept her back turned to Brienne as she strode out of the room and left; she didn't want to face that miserable cow for one more second than she had to. The moment Brienne had shut the doors firmly behind her and headed back down the steps, Jaime turned to glare at his sister. He knew he ought to feel guilty, but for some reason he didn't. Not in the slightest.

'Cersei, that was out of order-'

But he took a step back as Cersei rounded on him. 'I was out of order?! What was she doing in here?' she demanded, livid. 'Your own personal quarters?'

'She was just offering her services to the Kingsguard,' Jaime replied earnestly, alarmed; he had never seen her quite so incensed before.

'As what, a whore?' Cersei said, and she laughed scornfully.

Jaime felt personally hurt by her words. 'Don't speak about her that way,' he said. 'Lady Brienne's dream is to be a knight, and she's a skilled warrior, she was only trying to help.'

'Oh I know what she was trying to do, that great lumbering beast-'

'She's not a beast,' Jaime interrupted quietly, his hand twitching.

Cersei stared at him in amazement. 'Gods, you're actually fond of the wretch, aren't you?' she said, and Jaime's lips opened and closed again as he struggled to form words.

'I-'

'Do you think I'm stupid? It's not just what they all call you both, you know,' Cersei said, smirking cruelly. 'I've heard about your fascinating little journey. Qyburn told me how it was between the two of you when you left Harrenhal. Sleeping side-by-side, acting as each other's nurse. It's ludicrous. It's a complete joke.'

'Oh, so you've recruited him as your spy now, have you?' Jaime said angrily. 'What a surprise.'

'He told me about what happened at the bear pit as well, when I questioned him further. What were you thinking? You could have been killed, why would you risk yourself for her?' she said furiously. 'Have you no shame?'

'She's a good, honourable woman,' Jaime said defensively, without reservation. 'She saved me, numerous times, and brought me back to you.'

'She's made you a soft, whimpering, pathetic fool,' Cersei spat. 'And she doesn't belong here.'

She swept dramatically to the other side of the room towards the flagon of wine and poured a generous measure for herself into a cup. Jaime watched, swallowing nervously, as she tried to calm her breathing and took deep gulps of the drink.

'What did you say to her?' Jaime asked, frowning as he stepped towards his sister. 'At Joffrey's wedding. I assume it was something disrespectful – after all, that's what you do best – but I can't imagine what Lady Brienne could possibly have done or said to upset you-'

'Upset me?' Cersei cut over him, insulted. 'That creature could not upset me. But she said and did enough. I would love to hear all about your cosy adventures the two of you shared together. I'm sure it must be a sweet little tale. Soon they'll be writing songs about 'the lovers' in the Riverlands-'

'Whatever you're insinuating, Cersei,' Jaime interrupted, his voice wavering in fury, 'I can assure you that nothing happened-'

'Your assurances mean nothing to me,' Cersei said dismissively. 'But I do know for a fact that you would never lower yourself to the standard of the likes of her. And you would never betray me. Never. Nevertheless, the next time the ugly cow dares to enter this room, I will make sure she knows her place.'

'Her name is Brienne,' he said in a low voice.

This only seemed to enrage Cersei even more. 'Make sure she never comes near this part of the castle again.'

Jaime looked outraged. 'Or what?' he said challengingly. 'These are my quarters! I can see whomever I like here.'

Quite frankly, he'd much rather Brienne be a frequent visitor here rather than his rage-filled sister.

But Cersei's nostrils flared as she glared at him and shook her head. 'Don't tempt me, Jaime,' she said warningly. 'You know what I can have done to her if I so desire, should you go against my wishes.'

Jaime looked appalled. 'Are you threatening me?' he asked in disbelief.

Cersei merely smiled sweetly at him. 'No, you fool. I'm threatening her.'

Jaime's lips parted as he realised in that moment that it made no difference whether she was threatening him or Brienne. To Jaime, they were one and the same.

His silence seemed to alert Cersei to this fact; she looked scandalised. Astonished, even.

'What happened to you?' she asked, her voice shaking slightly as she took another large sip of wine. 'All that time you were away. What did they do to you?'

Jaime looked away uncomfortably. 'They kept me in chains for over a year. They cut off my hand-'

'Why?'

There was a short silence. Jaime glanced tentatively over at her.

'Why did they cut off your hand?' Cersei asked, as if it were all his fault, as if he repulsed her for letting it happen. 'You still won't say. Not to any of us, even though it's been almost two months since you returned.'

Jaime exhaled deeply. 'I can't talk about it,' he murmured. 'I don't want to relive that, I'm not ready yet-'

'Oh just bloody well tell me, Jaime,' Cersei interrupted irritably, 'since when were you such a coward?'

A lump rose in Jaime's throat as he stared at her, agonised. 'I went through hell this past year trying to get back to you,' he snapped. 'You have no idea what it was like, no one does!'

'Apart from her.' She could never bring herself to say her name.

Jaime nodded, unashamed. 'Yes. Apart from Lady Brienne. It was torture, it was a living nightmare, and yet when I finally come home…you're here, with no sympathy or concern for my wellbeing, but demanding apologies for not managing to get away sooner! So why in seven hells would I talk about what happened to me or my hand to you, when you've shown no remote interest or care for it before?' he demanded.

There was a shocked silence as the two siblings simply stared at each other in alarm. What had happened to them? Jaime had never spoken like that to her before. It shook Cersei deeply.

She shook her head disdainfully at him. 'Whatever they did, whatever happened, it's so much more than your stupid fucking hand. You've changed. I don't even recognise you.'

She spat the words as if she hated him. Perhaps she did now. Jaime wondered if that would even bother him.

'Have you ever once stopped to think that perhaps that's a good thing?' Jaime asked, raising his eyebrows at her. 'That perhaps I don't want to be the man I was before?'

His words almost seemed to scare her. 'You bring shame to our House if you speak like that,' Cersei said firmly.

'Well that's your opinion,' Jaime said, uncaring.

'And Father's.'

Jaime saw the satisfied look on her face as she said it, and realised that she was right, and that she knew what power the mere mention of their father could still have on him. All their life they had done their father's bidding. All their life had been about trying to make him proud, to uphold their family legacy. Nothing had been more important, as their father had so strenuously told them. But now Jaime was beginning to see Tywin Lannister, and his protégé Cersei, for who they really were. And it was in no doubt due to Brienne's influence that he was beginning to question deep down whether House Lannister's ideals were really worth fighting for.

Cersei slammed down her empty cup back on the table. 'I'm warning you, Jaime. That bitch from Tarth needs to stay away from us if she knows what's good for her,' she said, her eyes cold and hard as she frowned over at him. 'She was in Lady Catelyn's service, I highly doubt she'll forget that in a hurry. And we don't want any friends of Lady Catelyn's to be in the capital while the search is ongoing for Sansa. Perhaps your marvellous friend is even helping hide the stupid little bitch. I certainly wouldn't be surprised.'

She'd already reached the door, but in his panic, Jaime rushed to her and held the door firmly shut before she could leave. 'Cersei, please just…just leave Lady Brienne alone,' he said, and the hint of desperation in his voice made Cersei's blood boil. 'She's done nothing wrong.'

'Oh, but she's done everything wrong, Jaime,' Cersei said waspishly, a sneer on her face. 'But you're just too much of a blind fool to see it.'

And with that she swept from the chamber, slamming the door behind her.

Jaime's knees almost felt like they would buckle the moment she'd gone, but he managed to keep himself upright as he walked unsteadily back to the divan, which he sank onto heavily. He subconsciously reached out to the place on his right forearm where his and Brienne's hands had touched. He thought of those bright blue eyes gazing into his. He thought of the way she'd looked at him in amazement when he'd called her his friend. He thought of the way only last week she'd implored him to maintain his oath to Lady Catelyn and to protect her daughters, who were now both missing.

Jaime exhaled shakily. It was only a matter of time before Cersei would start pointing the finger at everyone she hated, to join Tyrion in the dungeons. And Brienne would be right up at the top of her list.

She was the best part of him. She was his shining symbol of hope and freedom and goodness. He couldn't bear to be without her.

But you must bear it, Jaime told himself firmly. Or she'll never be safe here.

He had no choice. He had to send her away.

~ Present Day ~

When Jaime pushed open their door, he was relieved to find that Brienne was still awake; she was wrapped in her bathrobe, sat by the fire and reading a book. She looked up in pleasant surprise as he entered, and rose to her feet.

'You're back earlier than I thought,' she said, walking towards him. 'How was Tyrion-?'

Before she could finish, his mouth was on hers, his arms wrapped around her waist. She kissed him back softly, her lips smiling against his, and when she broke apart from him, Jaime moved the loose strands of her curly hair away so that he could gaze at every part of her face, as if he wanted to take in every last detail. The look of adoration in his eyes was so bewitching that Brienne found herself chuckling softly in bewilderment, wondering how she'd gotten so lucky to meet this man, let alone love him.

'What was that for?' she asked bewilderedly.

'Nothing, I just…I'm glad to see you, that's all,' Jaime murmured, touching his forehead briefly to hers.

She raised her eyebrows at him. 'It's only been a few hours.'

'I know, but…we've wasted enough time these past few years,' Jaime said, glancing at the fire in the hearth.

'I don't think it was a waste, any of it. It led us to where we are now,' Brienne said, tilting his chin towards her.

Jaime couldn't help smirking sceptically at her. 'You really believe it's what the gods intended? That fate was on our side? It was all 'meant to be'?' he said teasingly.

Brienne rolled her eyes at him. 'I know you don't believe in all that. And that's fine. I'm not sure I do either. But I think I believe in something.'

'So do I,' Jaime said amiably, and she gave him a questioning look. 'I believe in you.'

There was a silence as Brienne simply stared at him, a distasteful frown on her face.

Jaime grimaced. 'Was that too much?'

At that, Brienne burst out laughing. He still wasn't used to the sight or sound of seeing her laugh like that so regularly. So joyfully. It made him kiss her straight away. When they eventually broke apart, Jaime pressed his lips together and he looked down as he removed his arms from around her waist. Brienne tilted her head at him.

'What is it?' she asked quietly. 'Something's wrong.'

'Nothing's wrong,' he muttered, but Brienne took hold of his hand, her brow creased in concern.

'Jaime. Talk to me.'

He sighed heavily. 'I was just…thinking about that day I realised I had to send you away from King's Landing. It was when you came to my quarters, do you remember?'

'I remember,' Brienne said warily; she would never forget the piercing look in Cersei's eyes or hard set of her jaw as she'd stormed in and seen her sat beside Jaime on his divan.

'I…I don't want that to happen ever again, do you hear me?' Jaime said fiercely, taking hold of Brienne's arms. 'I don't want us to ever be parted.'

He was telling it to the irritating voice in his head as much as he was telling her.

Brienne smiled lovingly at him as she stroked his cheek. 'We won't be,' she whispered.

She leaned in to kiss him and closed her eyes as their lips met; she didn't see the single tear trickle down Jaime's cheek as he kissed her back, his hand slowly sliding beneath her robe and along the bare skin of her waist. Brienne let the robe slip from her shoulders easily as she led him to their bed, and for a while, all Jaime's woes and troubles were forgotten.

To any outsider they were simply a pair of lovers, beautifully entwined and wondrously in love and consumed by each other – there were no complications, no guilty consciences, no bad implications, no impending doom. It almost felt like this could be true, as they made love that night. Perhaps it was why Jaime didn't want to break away; he just wanted their embrace to last forever, because the moment they stopped, it would break their magical bubble and the true nature of his precariously-worse situation would once more come to light.

Brienne fell asleep not long afterwards, her head resting against Jaime's shoulder, but no matter how hard he tried, Jaime seemed unable to lose consciousness. He couldn't stop thinking about Bronn. He felt like he had been drunk for the past week, and Bronn had sobered him up to the harsh reality of Jaime's world that he had allowed himself to almost completely forget about. Cersei had sent Bronn to kill Jaime because he had walked away from her. Jaime dreaded to think what she would do if she ever somehow found out about his current living arrangements and relationship with Brienne. For as long as they were together, Brienne would never be safe. Jaime almost felt like crying; when he'd ridden away from King's Landing, he'd felt so gleeful, so triumphant, so free. But of course he would never be free. Cersei would never stop until she put an end to it. All of it. They would never be rid of her. She would continue to haunt their nightmares and every waking moment of every day. Because that was just who she was.

Jaime held Brienne to him tightly as she slept, squeezing her in his arms as if desperately needing the reassurance that she was real, that she was still here with him. He knew it couldn't last forever. He knew that there was an inevitable darkness awaiting him at the end of this path, a darkness he wouldn't be able to avoid for much longer. And yet he didn't have the strength to let Brienne go. He just couldn't do it. He loved her.

When he woke the next morning, there were deep shadows under his eyes that he knew would remain permanently from now on until the war was resolved either way. But still, he managed to smile at the sight of Brienne's sleeping figure and the messy state of her hair, and when she woke up and climbed on top of him, planting kisses all along his face and neck and chest, he did not resist.

All too soon, it was time to head out into the courtyard to bid farewell to the forces heading south. Jaime was nervous to say goodbye to his brother. Ever since the day he had arrived here in Winterfell, Tyrion had been his confidant, his support, the person he could talk to about anything. Without Tyrion being there to speak words of logic and reassurance and encouragement in his ear, how would Jaime manage to hold on?

'Are you ready?' Brienne asked, as she put on her fur cloak.

Jaime sighed and rose to his feet. 'As ready as I'll ever be.'

She took his hand and squeezed it; she kept her fingers intertwined with his until they came to the bottom of the castle steps, where other people were present in the corridor just outside the great hall. They headed outside to the courtyard, saddened to see their group of friends departing. Tyrion was stood near Pod, and he looked troubled.

'Are you all set?' Jaime asked bracingly.

'Just about,' Tyrion replied distractedly; he seemed preoccupied and was staring wide-eyed over at Jon Snow at the far end of the courtyard.

'Tyrion, do you know where Lady Sansa is?' Brienne asked curiously, looking around for her.

'Err…she was…she's up on the battlements, I just spoke with her,' Tyrion replied, swallowing.

'Are you all right?' Jaime asked, concerned; his brother looked quite out of sorts.

'I'm fine,' Tyrion insisted impatiently, and he turned to gaze up at the new lovebirds with a knowing smirk. 'Now. Behave, you two. Don't do anything I wouldn't do. And look out for one another. These are dark times, after all. As the younger brother, I know my blessing doesn't count but I want you to know-'

But Brienne leaned down so that she was on his eye level and grasped his hand. 'It means the world, Tyrion,' she whispered.

Overcome with emotion, Tyrion smiled at her and squeezed her hand back. When she'd straightened up, he turned to Pod.

'Pod. Take good care of these two, they're rather special to me,' Tyrion said, indicating his brother and Brienne, and Pod grinned.

'Understood, milord.'

Satisfied, Tyrion looked back up at the happy couple. The sight filled him with both envy and overwhelming joy.

'This. This right here,' Tyrion said as he gazed at them both, his tone almost proud. 'This makes me very happy.'

'It makes us very happy too,' Jaime said warmly, exchanging a smile with Brienne.

Tyrion nodded. 'I very much look forward to welcoming you into the family, Ser Brienne,' he said without thinking, and both Jaime and Brienne's hearts skipped a beat as they stared down at him.

'What?' Brienne asked, confused.

'What?' Tyrion said hastily, eyes widening, as he glanced at Jaime apologetically; his older brother was already shooting daggers at him. 'Nothing. I didn't mean…I said nothing.'

Brienne rolled her eyes, trying not to focus on the rapid rate of her heart. 'You do enjoy putting your foot in it, don't you?' she said, amused.

'Apparently that's what I do,' Tyrion said with raised eyebrows, trying to make light of the situation. 'I drink, I know things, and I create awkwardness at every occasion. How will you ever cope without me?'

'I'm sure we'll find a way to struggle on,' Jaime said dryly. 'Come here.'

He leant down to hug his brother. 'You will pay for this,' he whispered in his ear, but Tyrion was relieved to see that he was smiling as he leaned away and straightened up.

Tyrion gave him a knowing look. 'Stay strong, Jaime.'

Jaime's smile faltered; he knew from the look on Tyrion's face that he was thinking of Cersei.

'I will,' Jaime said determinedly.

Brienne glanced curiously at Jaime, but said nothing. Instead she leant down to Tyrion as well; even crouched, Tyrion had difficulty reaching up to take her hand and kiss it.

'Good luck,' she said to Tyrion. 'We'll see you when the war is won.'

'I certainly hope so,' Tyrion said, forcing a smile.

After they had all said their goodbyes, Tyrion then walked away to join Varys in the carriage that awaited them. They soon began to ride off out of the courtyard, and Jaime felt the emptiness and despair he'd started to feel last night seep back into his system as he watched his brother leave.

Brienne glanced at Jaime beside her as they waved. 'What did Tyrion mean, 'stay strong'?'

'Nothing. I'm not sure,' Jaime replied, keeping his eyes fixed on the departing carriage.

Brienne frowned, concerned and unsatisfied with his response, but didn't press the subject.

As the carriage jolted off towards the front gates to the castle, Tyrion looked back through the window one last time at Jaime, Brienne and Pod, the close-knit group of three stood side by side. Brienne had surreptitiously reached for Jaime's hand underneath his cloak. Tyrion smiled fondly as he turned away. The next time he would see Ser Brienne, she might well be his sister-in-law. What a wonderful thought.

'And what about…the other thing he mentioned?' Brienne asked Jaime quietly, as Tyrion's carriage disappeared around the corner.

'What other thing?' Jaime asked innocently, as they slowly turned to walk back inside the castle.

Brienne stared at him, trying not to smile through her pursed lips. It was hard to let the fear and anguish consume him when she was looking at him so adorably like that.

Jaime raised his eyebrows at her. 'I don't know what you're talking about, Brienne, honestly I don't,' he said, chuckling.

Brienne grabbed his arm, infuriated, and they both laughed in protest and struggled against each other's hold as they bumped into one of the castle archways. They only stopped quickly when they noticed that other people in the courtyard were watching them curiously. Jaime and Brienne released their hold of each other at once, flustered. No one watching them seemed to know what to make of it. Those who knew them just found it so unbelievably strange to see them laugh like that, let alone fight and play like silly children. Pod smirked at them both as he walked on past them, wanting to check in with Lady Sansa for an update on the recent supplies that had been delivered into the castle grounds. His lips twitching, Jaime turned away from the onlookers and back to Brienne, his face close to hers.

'All in good time, my lady,' he said tantalisingly, and he planted a kiss so quickly on the tip of her nose that no one near them had chance to see; Brienne smiled back at him in bemusement, her heart racing. 'That's all I have to say to that. All in good time.'