"Good morning," Jaime purred as he felt Brienne roll her shoulders. He had been watching her sleep for a little while, very proud of the fact that he had woken before her. She let out a little humming noise in response and flicked her eyes open. Jaime smiled and leaned down to kiss her. Her lips in the morning were somehow even fuller than in the rest of the day. It would be a sad day if Jaime did not kiss them immediately upon waking. "How do you feel?"
Brienne propped herself up onto her elbows, exposing her lovely breasts to Jaime's view. "Sore," she teased him. Jaime chuckled, reaching down to idly stroke her mound. "I can't wait to get back to Sansa. She doesn't work me half as hard."
Jaime laughed, leaning across to press a kiss to her shoulder. "I certainly hope she doesn't!" Brienne chuckled.
"Come on. I need to bathe. I'm covered in all sorts after last night," Brienne said with a heated look at him. Jaime grinned. The servant had brought them a bath in about ten minutes ago. It had been what woke Jaime up, though Brienne slept straight through it. Jaime had commented to the maid that he had worn his wife out too much last night, which led to the maid's titters and giggles as she fled the room.
Brienne got into the bath first and Jaime settled happily between her thighs. It was his favourite place to be. "You realise most men would prefer to be on the outside," Brienne said, amused. She wrapped her arms around Jaime's chest. Jaime pressed the side of his face to her breast.
"I don't know if you've realised this, sweetling, but I'm not most men," he murmured, trying to turn his face far enough to suck on her nipple. He got far enough to lick her breast. She looked at him with amusement.
"You are certainly not." They lay there in silence for a few moments, not really washing, more stewing in their filth, but it was a comfortable silence. Jaime loved these silences. They represented the peace that he and Brienne had found in the midst of chaos and the very fact that they could spend time in silence meant that their relationship was real, not a series of rushed couplings. "I'm going to miss this," Brienne said. Jaime shifted his head so that he was leaning back against her shoulder.
"Me too," he replied. "But I assure you that I am going to steal every free moment you have so that we have enough time to be like this."
"Yeah?" Brienne said with a smile. Jaime nodded, humming lightly. He would spend his life with her like this, though perhaps not in the bath where they would become wrinkly weirdos. "I'll steal every free moment of yours too then."
"Every moment of mine is free for you."
Brienne scoffed, as she liked to do when Jaime made a silly romantic statement. "If that were true, this honeymoon would not be ending. No, Jaime, we still have lives apart from each other and we have to keep things going, though I would love to have you in my arms forever."
"Real life starts now," Jaime said bitterly. He wanted more. He wanted more of this. But he knew that the only way he was going to get more of this was if he fought the war and set a steady monarch on the throne. "When we leave this room, we have to start it, don't we?" he asked. He didn't need to say what it was. Brienne knew well he was scared to fight Cersei.
Brienne pressed a kiss to the side of his neck. "I love you," she said. Jaime smiled and buried his head into her neck.
"I love you," he mumbled into her.
XXX
"No, no, I refuse to let you leave our bed," Tyrion groaned, holding tight to Sansa's arm in the morning as she escaped from him, completely naked. "It should be illegal for you to leave me like this."
Sansa threw his doublet at him. Tyrion let out a noise of discontent as she dressed. She laughed, her face lighting up with it. "You are far too beautiful to be allowed to wear clothes. You should have to stay here and naked for me at all times."
"At all times?" Sansa questioned, eyebrow quirked as she adjusted her stockings. "We both know you are too old to go all the time.
Tyrion squawked, feeling his pride take a hit. "I have no idea what I mean, you rude woman!" he faux-complained. She chuckled, throwing a grey gown from her wardrobe over her shift and tightening it with a black belt. "Please just stay awhile longer," he pleaded.
Sansa added yet another layer to her outfit. Tyrion knew that it was all to keep out the cold, something he entirely understood, but each layer felt like it took Sansa further and further away from him, from staying in his bed. "I am meeting Brienne for breakfast. I promised I would. I need to discuss getting things back to normal."
Tyrion rolled his eyes, propping up his pillows so that he was more comfortable. "I am entirely sure of my brother's ability to entice his wife back to bed. If you go now, you will prove that I do not have the same ability."
Sansa pursed her lips, kneeling on the bed to reach over and give him a lingering kiss. "I am entirely sure of Brienne's ability to say no to Jaime, just as I am sure of my own to say no to you." Tyrion groaned and Sansa kissed him again before pulling away to sort out some footwear for herself.
"If Brienne isn't there, she's getting fucked and I hope you remember that you could have been too," Tyrion grumbled. Sansa's lips twitched.
"I will see you tonight," she promised. Tyrion smiled at her.
"I cannot wait." With another smile, Sansa swung her hair and left their chambers.
XXX
"Good morning, Sansa," Arya said as Sansa entered the room. Brienne was already sitting at the table too. Sansa tampered down her smirk. Screw Tyrion. She was right.
"Good morning, Arya. Brienne," she said with a wink. Brienne choked on her water. Arya snickered and Sansa grinned. She had missed her friend this week, while she had been on her mini honeymoon. "How was your week?"
Brienne flushed and looked at her food, confirming Sansa's suspicions that she and Jaime had done naught but fuck all week. "Very pleasant, thank you, Sansa."
Arya snorted. "Very pleasant. What an endorsement for Jaime Lannister. Would you say his brother is very pleasant, Sansa?" Arya said, turning to Sansa. Sansa scowled. She liked Arya's bawdy comments less when they were directed towards her. She found no help when she glanced to Brienne, who clearly thought the comeuppance was well deserved.
"I have not the faintest idea what you are talking about," Sansa said, putting on a posh King's Landing court accent. "Tyrion and I are unmarried. I will have to inform you after the fact." Arya rolled her eyes.
"Would you say marriage makes a difference to fucking, Brienne?" Arya asked with fake curiosity in her voice. Sansa chuckled and shared an amused look with a blushing Brienne.
"I told Tyrion that this breakfast would be about getting things back to normal now that Brienne is back to work," Sansa said, looking between her friend and sister, though more particularly at her unflustered sister.
"Then you shouldn't have invited me," Arya said as she shovelled eggs into her mouth. Sansa rolled her eyes.
"I'm not sure I did. I think you invited yourself."
Arya shrugged. "Same thing."
"With all this talk of sex, Arya," Sansa started, shooting a look at Brienne, "one would almost think you had some experience of your own."
That finally had Arya flustered. She opened her mouth to speak and then looked back down at her food. Brienne coughed lightly, to cover up a laugh, Sansa thought. "Like you, Sansa, I am unmarried and, therefore, I am the picture of the Maiden."
Sansa scoffed. "The Maiden would not have asked me whether Tyrion's cock is proportionate." Brienne's laughter seemed to fall from her mouth. "Come on, Arya, you've been torturing Brienne and I for two weeks. Who are you fucking?" Though Brienne did not speak, Sansa noticed that she was watching with rapt curiosity.
Arya cleared her throat and lay her fork down on her plate. Sansa glanced at Brienne who furrowed her brow. "Well, he's not a Lannister, so I know that neither of you will be interested." Sansa threw her napkin at her sister. "He- erm, well, his name is Gendry Waters and he is a smith. He made most of the dragonglass weapons for the battle. He went beyond the wall with Jon."
Sansa noticed that Arya said his full name, despite his bastard's name. Sansa wondered if she did it to make a point that she did not care, to dare Brienne and Sansa to say anything. "How did you meet?"
"After I left King's Landing, he was part of the group that I was travelling to the Wall with. He realised I wasn't who I said I was. We became friends and then he left and I went to Essos." Sansa nodded slowly.
"And are you in love with him?"
Arya groaned. "Shut up, Sansa."
"There's nothing to be ashamed of, Arya," Brienne said gently. Arya shrugged. "I thought love was stupid once too and then I realised that you can be a girl who fights with a sword and a girl who wants a partner."
"A partner," Arya repeated. "That's what Jaime is to you, your partner?" For once, Arya's comment about Jaime was not said with mocking, but with curiosity. Partner was a good term for Tyrion too. Sansa was not in love with him but he was her partner for life.
Brienne nodded. "Yes."
"And he sees it that way too?" Arya questioned. "He doesn't want you to give up the sword and become a soft girl?"
Brienne snorted, her eyes sparkling. Sansa's lips stretched into an amused smile. She had a feeling that was the very opposite of what Jaime Lannister wanted. "No, Arya. Jaime is very happy for me to fight with a sword and not be a soft girl."
Arya nodded, picking her sword up again. "I'll consider it."
Sansa chuckled slightly. "You'll consider falling in love with him?"
Arya nodded. "I think you have to let yourself, don't you?"
Sansa swallowed as she watched Brienne nod too. She had always just assumed it would be all-consuming. The idea of letting herself fall in love was possibly the most freeing, romantic notion she had ever considered. Her stomach flurried with anxiety and excitement.
XXX
"Our scouts will leave in four days," Daenerys announced, leaning on her hands on the table as she looked out across the room. Jon watched her. Her facial expressions were intense. This was her life's work and it was starting in four days. "A day after the scouts, the vanguard will leave and then, two days later, the rest of the army."
"The Lannister troops are going to wait for the rest of their army to arrive and protect Winterfell. Lady Sansa will remain here with a small amount of Northern troops who will stay after Lord Marbrand arrives." Jon met Sansa's eyes and she smiled with ease. Jon thought she might have finally moved on after all that Ramsay put her through.
"We should arrive at the twins in a month, provided good travel," Daenerys finished with a smile. "That is all for today, but I did want to make more of a personal announcement." Jon furrowed his brow, glancing around the room. He tried to meet Sansa's eyes but she was staring steadfastly at Daenerys. Daenerys reached out and placed her hand on Tyrion's shoulder. "My dear lord hand is remarrying," she said.
Jon's eyebrows flew high up his face. Jaime Lannister wolfwhistled and his wife hit him across the chest, making Jon's lips twitch. "Lord Tyrion and Lady Sansa will be married before we leave for the Twins and he will remain here with her."
Jon's lips parted and his eyes found their way to Sansa. Jon was not the only one staring at her, though he thought he was the only one with a right to. She was his sister and had not informed him that she was marrying. There was a brief pause before people brought their hands together to clap. Jon joined in slowly, wondering how he had missed the signs that his sister had found someone. He wondered if she was in love with Tyrion. He'd been so caught up in his own life, his own problems, that he hadn't been looking out for Sansa.
Daenerys looked at Sansa and Tyrion. They sat beside each other but Jon noticed they were not touching. Perhaps Sansa was not yet ready for touch after Ramsay. Perhaps she was just ready for comfort. Jon did not want to consider Sansa and Tyrion's marriage bed. His nose wrinkled automatically. "I hope you will be happy forever, my dear friends," Daenerys said of them. Jon could hear the tears in her voice. He had not known that she considered Sansa to be her friend.
Sansa smiled up at Daenerys. Jon couldn't tell if it was real or not. When she turned to smile at her husband, though, pure joy radiated from Sansa's face. Jon's heart settled. He could let her marry Tyrion. He trusted Tyrion. He would not hurt her.
Daenerys dismissed them all, including Sansa and Tyrion. As she left, Sansa met Jon's eyes and smiled at him, the way she had smiled once, when she had still believed that all princes were worthy and all husbands were full of love. Jon smiled back, inclining his head once. His little sister was about to become a Lannister, again. Whatever would his father think?
Turning to Daenerys, Jon remembered with a twinge that Eddard Stark was not his father and Sansa was not his sister at all. "When will Sansa be married?" Jon asked Daenerys quietly. Daenerys smiled.
"This evening," she said with a conspiratorial tone. Jon raised his eyebrows. "She wanted it to be small and intimate, in the godswood, with just her family and friends. I am sure she is going to speak to you before then."
Jon shrugged. "There's no need, as long as I am invited."
Daenerys gave him a funny look. "Who else will give her away?" Jon felt a lump rise in his throat. If that was what Sansa wanted, he would do it. But she was her own person and she could give herself away. "Sansa proposed to Tyrion, you know."
Daenerys' tone was light but it belied a deeper meaning that Jon couldn't find. "She deserved the chance to choose for herself," Jon replied. Daenerys nodded, turning to him. Her eyes were truly phenomenal. They made Jon's insides go funny, especially when he saw them sparkling with tears as they were then. "Dany," he said in low tones.
She swallowed. Jon watched her throat bob with the effort. "I know why you are withdrawn from me," she whispered. Jon closed his eyes. "I know that what we want isn't right, in your eyes. I understand that but do we not deserve to be happy? If Sansa and Tyrion can choose their happiness despite everything, why can't we?"
"Sansa is not Tyrion's aunt," Jon said slowly, as kindly as he could. Daenerys nodded.
"I know that," she said a bit impatiently. They had discussed this so many times, though, admittedly, without the comparison of Sansa and Tyrion. "But what is so wrong about it? The issue would be children and - Jon, I'm barren." The last part came out in a sob. Jon closed his eyes. He wondered what his father would think, what Eddard Stark would think. With a twinge in his heart, Jon wondered what Lyanna Stark would have thought of this. Would she be ashamed that he had lain with Dany? Jon wanted to believe that she could see love. Her love had torn the Seven Kingdoms apart.
"We could be together without risking children, Jon. I cannot have them. We can be happy," she said, staring up at him, hope shining in those purple Targaryen eyes. Perhaps it would be easier to say know if Jon looked like a Targaryen, if he considered himself to be a Targaryen, but he was a Stark. He'd always wanted to be a Stark, had always considered himself a Stark. And he was half a Stark in his blood, anyway, and all Stark in his upbringing. Surely that outweighed Targaryen. And he wanted to be happy.
"I don't want to be king," Jon said, looking away from her. It was wrong. All of this was wrong, no matter how much he wanted it.
"That is precisely what you should be king," Dany argued. Jon closed his eyes. He understood that argument. It was the same argument that Davos had presented him with, many times. Dany wanted the throne too much. Jon would balance her out. "Jon, Tyrion is leaving me. Ser Jorah is gone. I need someone to keep me level-headed. I worry for myself."
It was Dany's deepest fears, laid out on the table before him. Jon opened his eyes to see her. He did see her, truly, perhaps more than anybody else. She did want the throne, but she wanted it for the good she could do as well as the power she could have.
"I won't let you lose yourself," Jon promised gruffly. He would not, could not, watch her fall into the same hole that her father had gone into. She was better than that, deserved better than that.
"Stand by my side." It was more of a statement than a question, really, though Jon knew it required an answer. Stand by my side. Marrying Dany, being with Dany would be no hardship. Jon was in love with her, had been since the first time he saw her. Being king though… He had no wish for it, had hated the power that came with being Lord Commander, that came with being King in the North. But staring at her, her eyes big and sparkling with hope and love, Jon wanted nothing more than to spend the rest of his life with her.
He deserved some happiness. Closing his eyes, he begged the man who raised him and his true parents to forgive him. "Okay," he whispered. Dany breathed out a sob as her face spread into a smile. She cupped his cheek and brought his lips to hers. The rest of their lives started there.
XXX
"This is nice," Tyrion commented as he spread butter on bread for his brother and passed it to him. Jaime smiled at him in thanks, picking up some of the cooked meats that the kitchen had provided him with. "It's been a long time since we really spent time together."
"Don't be soft, Tyrion," Jaime said with a roll of his eyes. Tyrion laughed through his nose. "We've been dicks to each other for a while now and I wanted to apologise for what I've said."
"Well, a lunch is definitely the way to do that," Tyrion said, sipping his goblet of wine. Jaime chuckled. "Yes, what was it you said? 'I'm creating a new family. I don't need my old one.' Wagged your finger in my face as well."
"Yes, I had to reach quite far down. It was very uncomfortable." Tyrion shook his head, guffawing. Jaime gave his brother half a smile. "I truly am sorry. There will never be a time that I do not want you to be part of my family."
Tyrion smiled sadly. "Even when I tell your wife that I think you are marrying her just to make your sister jealous?"
Jaime's eye twitched. "Yes, even then," he ground out. Tyrion smirked, looking away.
"I do see it now," Tyrion said lightly, after a gulp of wine. "I see that you love her. I see who you are."
Jaime nodded, his throat burning. "Thank you."
"She is rather tall, though. It is as though you want to punish me."
Jaime barked in laughter. "Your own wife is quite tall too."
Tyrion sighed as though it was a great difficulty for him. "Yes, her one flaw."
"Are you ready to be married?"
Tyrion raised his eyebrows at Jaime. "Yes," he said simply. "Are you enjoying being married?"
Jaime's lips twitched, remembering their past week. "Very much so."
"I'm sure." Tyrion's tone was amused. "I am rather sad that Sansa and I will not be able to have a week as you and your bride did." Jaime inclined his head. "But there are more important things to get on with and, in a week, when Daenerys has left with most of the armies, I am sure I can convince her to stay in bed all day."
"I'm sure you'll find a way," Jaime said with a sip of his wine. Tyrion grinned fiendishly. "So, tonight?"
"Tonight," Tyrion repeated, nodding. "You will be there?"
Jaime found a lump in his throat that he had to wait a moment to let subside. "I wouldn't miss it for the world."
XXX
"Are you excited for the wedding?" Jaime asked, approaching Brienne from behind and leaning his chin on her shoulder. Brienne hummed. Jaime moved his arms around her, leaving his stump at her waist but placing his left hand flat on her stomach. Brienne squirmed against him, making Jaime pull her closer and press a kiss to her neck.
"Jaime," she sighed. "Stop being silly."
Jaime did not remove his hand. They had spoken enough this week for him to know that she truly did not mind him discussing the possibility or probability of having a baby. In fact, she rather enjoyed it. "When will we know?" he asked against her neck, rubbing his hand in circles on her blue gown. She was wearing a gown that Sansa had made for her, especially for Sansa's special day, as a sort of wedding gift.
Brienne let out a sound of irritation. "Probably not for a few weeks yet. I will let you know as soon as my moonblood is late." Jaime groaned. He wanted to know so that he could start thinking of baby names and of making a cot for a nursery and of all those fun things. He'd wanted to be a father for as long as he could remember, had sacrificed the dream for Cersei.
Brienne batted his hand away from his stomach and turned around. She had braided her hair away from her face as Sansa had done for their wedding, leaving some loose in the middle. Jaime didn't understand how it worked but he thought it looked nice. He pressed a kiss to her lips, light but lingering. "I'll soon think you only want me as a baby factory," she teased.
Jaime squawked and pulled her closer to him. "I thought all my attentions this past week would have proved that that was not the case."
Brienne scoffed but her eyes twinkled. "That could actually make a better case for my theory." Jaime chuckled and pressed a kiss to her exposed collarbone.
"I promise you that even if we never have a child I will be happy with you forever."
"You're a softie, Jaime Lannister," Brienne said, leaning down to kiss his lips. Jaime smiled against hers. "I love you," she whispered. Jaime returned the sentiment. "Let's go and watch your brother get married."
Jaime stepped back and offered her his arm. "I'm not entirely sure that you and Sansa marrying me and Tyrion was not some elaborate plan to become sisters." Brienne let out a huge peal of laughter that made Jaime grin. She was the very opposite of a polite, refined lady and he absolutely loved her for it. He was a softie.
XXX
"I'd ask you if you were sure but I know you would not have asked him if you were not," Jon said quietly to Sansa as they entered the godswood, their arms linked. Sansa wished Theon were here to see that she was getting married happily this time. She hoped he was in peace now.
"I am sure," Sansa replied to her brother. "This time things will be well."
Jon smiled at her, patting her arm. "I know. There are very few men I would trust with you, but he is one."
Sansa smiled. "I feel exactly the same. Come on, Jon, I want to get married."
"Father would be so happy to see you happy," Jon said as they turned. Sansa nodded. "This was all he ever wanted for you, a good and gentle man."
"I know," Sansa said and her throat burned with tears. It had been on her mind a lot since she had asked Tyrion to marry her. She was sure that her mother would have liked Tyrion too, if she had the chance to get to know him.
Sansa could hear the lute playing as she approached. There were very few people in the godswood, just as Sansa had wanted, just Arya and her smith, Brienne and Jaime, Daenerys, Bran and, of course, Tyrion, waiting for her before the heart tree. Sansa felt her eyes prick with tears. This was her choice and she was making the right one.
Jon led her to Tyrion. Their friends stood in a circle around them. Jaime spoke for Tyrion, in the obvious absence of a father. "Who comes before the Old Gods this night?" he said, watching the two of them. Sansa noticed that Brienne was holding Jaime's stump as his only hand held a torch to light the clearing.
"Sansa, of the House Stark," Jon replied. Sansa loved her brother for doing this for her. She wished it were her father but, in his absence, there was no one better than Jon, who had looked after her since her escape from Ramsay. There were so many people that should have been there but it was perfect even so. "A woman grown, trueborn and noble. She comes to beg the blessing of the Gods. Who comes to claim her?"
"Tyrion, of the House Lannister, hand to Queen Daenerys," Tyrion replied. Sansa smiled at him and he smiled back at hers. There was so much joy here, no fear. It was so different from Sansa's last wedding, so different from her first, where she had been so uncertain, so young and confused. "Who gives her?"
Jon hesitated and Sansa glanced at him. She wondered if he was thinking of father. "Jon, of the House Stark, her brother," he said and his tone was forceful, as though daring somebody to question it. Sansa smiled. There was no truer Stark.
"Lady Sansa, do you take this man?" Jaime asked. Sansa looked down to Tyrion and took his hand, letting go of Jon's arm. Her hand shook but Tyrion reached up to take it in his own, brushing his thumb against the back of her hand. A few tears slipped from Sansa's eyes. She knelt down so that she could meet his eyes. He smiled and Sansa's heart warmed.
"I take this man," she said finally, her throat clogged with emotion as she reached forward and pressed a kiss to his lips. He returned the kiss and their friends around them clapped and cheered. Sansa heard Jaime wolfwhistle and she chuckled against Tyrion's lips, pulling back and meeting his eyes. She blinked to clear them and found him doing the same.
Married, a third time and yet it felt as though it could be her first. Sansa let out a giggle and Tyrion grinned at her, leaning forward to kiss her once more.
XXX
As they wandered back towards the castle, following Sansa and Tyrion, Gendry reached for Arya's hand. Arya surprised herself by taking it. Perhaps it was the romantic atmosphere, or her conversation with Brienne and Sansa that morning. Either way, she was happy to be with him, happy to take his hand. Love was not weakness. He could be a comfort to her, a partner to her and that did not make her lesser.
"Would you ever get married?" Gendry asked quietly. Arya's mind froze but she remembered Brienne calling Jaime her partner. Brienne was as like Arya as any other woman and she had not become lesser in Arya's eyes by marrying Jaime. In fact, Arya respected the fact that Brienne had found a man that let her be who she wanted to be. In her heart, Arya knew that Gendry was the same.
"Would you?" Arya asked rather than answering.
Gendry nodded. "I like the idea of being a team."
Arya smiled. "I like that idea too."
"Would you ever marry me?" he asked and, from his casual tone, Arya knew it was not a proposal, just a question. She swallowed her fear and doubts and remembered the way she felt about him.
"We are a team. I would- I would not mind making that permanent."
Gendry's face lit up and she knew she had given him the right answer. He brought her hand to his mouth to kiss it, making Arya purse her lips. He was so soft sometimes. "One day," he promised. Arya smiled. One day.
