Part Four

Brienne was standing in front of the queen, without any fear, with a stubborn expression on her face. Her left hand was resting on her sword, while her other hand was hanging beside her hips.

- Set him free if you really love him.

She did not plan to waste her time on empty polite speeches or conversations and for her surprise, the queen felt the same way. She spoke with full honesty and she did not care about choosing her words. As always, she wanted to express herself clearly and she did not mind if others had considered her as not womanly or playful enough.

Cersei was laughing loudly while staring at her with pity. She was sitting in her favourite chair that looked like an elegant throne and she was relaxed like a cat with a full stomach. Her golden hair was shining in the sunlight, cutting through the curtains, her beautiful face was radiating and Brienne did not wonder how Cersei could conjure anyone around her so easily. Is she glowing so brightly because she has just made love to Jamie, she wondered for a second, then she pushed the idea away. She felt pain and jealousy that made her angry with herself because she had an intention to accomplish and her foolish emotions did not belong to that.

Cersei pulled her back into the reality.

- What do you want from me, you silly cow?

It was so easy to be allowed to enter Cersei's room and to talk to her but it was much more difficult to remain calm and not to cut her throat at the very first moment when Brienne could finally see her arrogant face.

- Set him free if you really love him.

Cersei seemed to be rather bored with the conversation. Her face changed within a moment from exceptionally beautiful into something frightening, and her reply was filled with repulsion and contempt.

- Love... love is something you have no idea about. Not even the filthiest beggar would touch such a beauty like you.

Brienne's face was paler than it always was and she did her best to keep her mind focused. I am doing this for Jamie, she repeated to herself, not for myself. She decided not to react to Cersei's rudeness – she had another goal to reach.

- I know that Ser Jamie could be happy without you. – her voice remained as stubborn as it was when she entered the room. - He could be not only a happy, but a better person without you. He was a better person without you when he was out of King's Landing, out of your power. He was the true knight he really is. Someone who believes in truth and in defending the innocent, someone who does not hesitate to risk and sacrifice his own life for others. Let him remain that person and let him be happy.

Cersei snapped with her fingers impatiently.

- Don't pretend that you are interested in his moral development, please. Let's talk about the real reason you came here – there was a wicked smirk on her lips and a dark flash of light in her shockingly blue eyes that did not remind her of Jamie's - Do you really think that he would choose you? Such a big ugly cow?

Brienne did not reply to the rude words and she was glad that her facial features did not lose their expressionlessness.

It would not help anyone if I told her the truth, she thought.

- No matter what might have happened between you two in that damned Winterfell. – Cersei's laugh was completely confident and Brienne was sure that Cersei had no idea about the things that had happened even though she may have suspected how deeply Brienne actually felt for Jamie. – Do you think that Jamie would ever want you?

Now Cersei was laughing loudly as if it had been the funniest thing she could have ever heard about.

He wanted me, he loved me, I know, Brienne thought and she had to stop herself from smiling. She remembered so clearly how much they had made love in Winterfell, every day, how he had looked at her, how he had touched her, both her body and her heart, how he had not allowed her to leave their bed until lunchtime. Yes, I am ugly, she thought, and you are beautiful, you are one of the most beautiful women I have ever seen, but still it was me whom Jamie Lannister, your brother had made love with every night with passion and tenderness. It was me whom he kissed and tasted, and he did not need me only for one night, because it was more than pure lust and we both knew that... he even confessed that to me, she thought shivering as the memories appeared in front of her eyes.

- He can choose me or he can choose anyone else, actually it is not me who counts. It is Ser Jamie, who counts. No matter whom he chooses – if that person is not you, then he will be happy and loved. With you on his side, he cannot find happiness.

If he had been happy with you, he would have never noticed me, never kissed me, never touched my body from head to toe, she added in her thoughts.

Cersei drank a little wine from her wonderfully cut glass, tasting the wine slowly and carefully, then she replied on a lower voice as if she had been talking only to herself.

- Jamie is my brother, my lover, but he could never be worth more for me than my children. He used to be so obedient, so helpful, like a faithful slave, a good puppet. At first, I found it annoying and disappointing, but to tell the truth, I don't even care about it anymore. I have the power to get what I want and I learnt to live without him or his help. My beloved children are gone and nothing or no one could take them back to me. All I have is my power. And my power is strong and it is getting stronger every day. This is what really counts – and not the passion of a mortal or his happiness.

Brienne had nothing to say. The woman in front of her was as stubborn as she herself was and she was unable to change a spark inside her selfish heart.

Cersei slipped off her chair, stood up slowly, with untainted elegance in her moves, then turned her back on Brienne now.

- Okay, it was enough of you, Lady Tarth. – she snapped her fingers. - Ser Gregor, let the stupid cow go. If she ever returns, you can do with her whatever you want to.

Ser Gregor was standing at the door, motionless like a statue and even though he did not reply, Brienne was sure that he was ready to kill her in the following moment if Cersei had asked him to do that.

Brienne was watching Cersei with pure disgust.

What a beautiful woman, flawless features, golden hair, perfect figure, built around a wicked, egotistical heart, she thought. She still wanted to kill Cersei and set the world free from her. Cersei was the poison that was killing everyone around her. Jamie would hate me for that but at least he would remain alive, she was wondering, but then she remembered his beautiful eyes on her when he had knighted her that special night and how he told her, with a knightly passion: Defend the innocent.

Cersei was not innocent at all – still deep in her heart Brienne felt it wrong to kill her. She did not understand the sudden change inside her head but she was always following her own heart and she decided to follow its advice again.

How long she had been planning to slash the queen's head with one cut of her sword... but it was Jamie who stopped her, even if he was not around.

Cersei turned her head back as if she had wanted to check if Brienne was still there, then she laughed at her with a bored glance.

- Clear away, you ugly cow before I change my mind.

Brienne took a bow and left the room without a word.