Part Two
That afternoon found Brienne on the road to King's Landing.
It was much colder than back in the early morning and she was dressing up and packing really quick but carefully. She did not plan to have a lot of stops until King's Landing even though it was at least five days away from Winterfell (if she were lucky and if she could always find fresh horses along the way) that is why she put more water and fruit into the bag that was hanging now on her back. She did not plan to waste more time than necessary – she had to arrive in King's Landing as soon as possible.
Jamie Lannister.
Why did you leave me? We could have been so happy together if you had allowed us to stay together...
During her long journey she would see villages without inhabitants, deserted farms and a lot of dead bodies of people and animals but she would not return and she would not turn her head away. She thought she had seen everything during the previous few years – but she seemed to have been wrong. No matter how many fights she had attended or seen, how many people she had killed or seen dying – the sight was still able to touch her deep inside. It is not right, she thought, to kill – even though it is essential to reach a better, happier life.
Where are you now, Jamie Lannister? Cannot you stop thinking of your horrible sister, or are you able to spare a few thoughts for me as well?
She was used to being alone and she would never mind it, especially that she had never had many friends or people she could trust - however, she found this journey not only terribly slow but rather boring as well. There was not a single moment when her mind and her excited thoughts could have a little rest, and somehow it kept annoying her.
The road was simple now, she did not have to be afraid of being attacked, robbed, raped or murdered. The nature around her was beautiful and calm, and where there were no dead bodies or dry bloodstains, everything was covered with fresh snow or some greenery was peeking out of the white blanket.
It is so amazing to see how far she had reached from Tarth... the young, shy girl, who used to be ridiculed, laughed and mocked by everyone, became a honourable knight and became a loved woman by the most handsome and the bravest knight of the Seven Kingdoms. Was it only a dream?
When she remembered how Jamie had taken her into his strong arms and had been kissing her neck so slowly and softly – she knew that it was not a dream. He had treated her like a true princess and she did not want to slip that fairy tale away.
As the hours passed, her impatience grew – she would have never imagined that she could be that impatient. At night when she could not ride further (her faithful horse needed and did deserve the sleep), she lay on her back, thinking of Jamie Lannister and caressing her sword that had been given to her by him. I wish I could fly, I wish I could already be in King's Landing and accomplish my plan, she whispered softly into the night. She wished she could have conjured herself into a bird or dragon – she wondered if the Red Woman had been able to turn her into a flying creature. She had clearly had power, she could experience that, but she was dead and she was no help for Brienne anymore.
While lying under a huge oak tree, she drank a little water, she ate some fruit and she was able to ignore her hunger and how much she was cold. Sometimes the man needs only one idea, she thought, only one purpose to stay alive in spite of all the troubles and difficulties.
She had only one intention: to kill Cersei Lannister.
2
