"I had hoped I may persuade you to my bed chamber one day," Jamie admitted, "though this isn't quite what I had had in mind…"
Brienne halted a moment; the look in her eye silenced any further comment.
To Jamie, she looked like any warrior would in the midst of battle, wide-eyed and half-crazed, running off adrenaline… What had Cersie said to bait his bride-to-be into murderously tearing apart his bedroom?
He circled her; moving into the room and still keeping a distance…
"I had a conversation with your sister earlier…"
Here we go, Jamie thought, stealing himself for the conversation ahead, "So I have heard."
Brienne nodded again, her lips thinning in an effort to keep whatever she was thinking or feeling to herself for the time being.
Of course, Jamie thought, why would this be easy…
He watched her a while… rummaging through his wardrobe and hurling items toward the bed, where a partially clothing-covered chest lay open… "Am I going somewhere?"
"Yes."
Jamie sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose against the tension, "Is it also something to do with my sister?"
"Yes."
Gods! What had she told her? More frightening than any lie that could be uttered was the dread-notion his sister may have told Brienne the truth… any number of truths that made up his chequered history had the chance of dissolving whatever chances of affection from his honourable fiancée…
"Do you want to discuss it?"
"No."
"And that's it?" He asked, finding, with some degree of surprise, the dismissal cold and painful… he had never felt the need to confess to anyone and yet, for Brienne, he was willing to lay his character bare… every wrinkle and wart would be hers for the scrutiny… and yet he was denied…
She continued to hurl items at his bed until somehow deciding the steadily growing pile of garments had reached their height and she took to the bed… lifting, balling and scrunching items into the carry-case.
"Then this is it?" He asked and demanded at once.
She didn't even look to him…
Oh! But his patience evaporated and he strode toward the Maid of Tarth, spinning her about to face him; caught off-guard by the motion, Brienne braced her fists against his chest and added a slight, but well received punch as a warning and he released her.
"I would have you talk to me, Wench!"
Startled eyes quickly morphed to anger, "Do not call me so, Lannister… I should not accept it as your wife and more your equal."
Jamie blinked… "So… you are still intending to marry me?"
Brienne frowned, "Yes. Why would I not?"
Anger and despair melted away so fast it was hard for Jamie to recall a moment when he had not felt as good as he did right now… "Really?"
Brienne tilted her head, as if the new angle, "There are sides of you I have seen that even she does not know."
And Jamie agreed, still in a little shock.
To further add to his condition, Brienne reached out and fondly stroked his scarred cheek, "I know you well, Jamie Lannister. I know the past you have never told anyone. I know the weaknesses that forged your life," and she looked to his golden hand, "And what you have endured to become the man you are today." And she looked straight into his eyes…
Jamie felt a pride stir in his chest as a need to be closer to her and press a kiss to her lips swelled inside him… but his body refused to move… and all he could muster was a school-boy smile; because he had changed. And he had changed for the better.
The question remained, "Will you tell me what she said to you?"
Briennes watery eyes focused back on him for a second, before she pulled away from his grasp… "It is of little consequence."
But, somehow, the reassurance had the opposite effect. Jamie felt his face crinkle in confusion… "So, we're still getting married?"
Brienne turned to him, mirroring his gaze… "Yes…"
"And you're… not throwing me out?"
Giving a brief glance toward the pile of clothes, Brienne answered, "No."
Relief washed through Jamie, making his chest heave in a gulp of air and he found himself laughing, "I thought… well…"
But Brienne still wasn't laughing…
"Well," he tried again, "it's just that you're packing and I thought, as it was all my clothes that you were…"
"Casting you out?" She finished…
This was far too amusing for him, he realized, seeing her reaction as the frown she wore deepened.
"It doesn't matter," he said in a rush and moved toward her, "Where are we going?"
"Why would I cast you out?" She asked, suspiciously…
And as quickly as relief had washed over him, Jamie found anxiety returned… "No reason…" and then he conceded, "my sister had suggested…"
"Cersie," Brienne darkened, making Jamie regret the decision to be honest with his concern… "Yes… that makes sense…"
The sentence made Jamie feel sick… "How so?"
Brienne went back to folding his clothes into the case… "Our conversation left me with the understanding that what some relationships need is distance…"
Jamie was confused again, "You and I…"
"You and your sister," Brienne snapped, "or, more accurately, you and I need distance from your sister…"
Cersie must have said something… and it was enough to make Brienne pack them a case to leave on a hunting trip for a few days…
He found he was glad his sister had not angered his bride-to-be… should Brienne have injured or killed Cersie then things would have been impossible to rectify. But, his Wench was learning diplomacy over the sword… Jamie felt a slight rush; impressive…
He found a smile curling up under his nose… was this Briennes way of fighting Cersie for him.
"So, you're stealing me away…" Jamie swaggered, trying to contain the pride that puffed out his chest.
"Yes," she answered, not looking up.
He leaned on the bed post, trying to appear aloof and refined, "You're going to keep me all to yourself?"
"Until the King arrives to bless the ceremony in three days," Brienne answered, packing away the last of the clothes and heaving the luggage from the bed, "Yes."
Then she saw him… and Jamie thrilled to catch her double-take, hold a moment, run her eyes over his body and wet her lips…
It lasted the fraction of a second, but it was like an eternity that sparked within him… then she controlled herself and Jamie remembered he should do the same.
"Are you coming?" She asked, striding out of the bed chamber…
How could he refuse?
()()()
"Is this entirely necessary?"
Brienne looked back to Jamie… the sight of her on her stallion reminded him of how she looked so many times during their travels. And he wondered how many times he had seen that sight and why, now, he found it stunning…
The woods surrounded her and light broke in the shards of the trees to highlight her blonde hair… "Entirely necessary for a respectable jaunt for a betrothed couple."
He nodded, somewhat dumbly and allowed himself to be led on for an age until they reached a clearing and the 'hunting' party halted.
Podrick, the long-time, loyal servant of Tyrion and then sworn to Brienne, made a round of the space they were in and nodded to himself… muttering, "Here… yes… here will do…"
Brienne joined him and slapped the boy on the shoulder.
The pair seemed well suited; Jamie thought with a little slither of envy. They appreciated each other. Nothing was clearer as the master smiled to the servant and he grew taller in the sunshine of her praise.
Jamie dismounted and watched his fiancés squire head back to the mule he had strapped a cart to and collect a large, leather-bound package which he laid at her feet.
"Thank you Pod," Brienne knelt at the parcel and began to unwind the straps holding their hunting equipment together.
"Will your squire…" Jamie asked, trying to loosen his tight look on the boy, "be staying with us for the entire duration of this little excursion?"
"Yes," she answered, "problem?"
"You know what they say, darling," Jamie tucked himself close to her, whispering over her shoulder, "Three can be a crowd…"
Brienne looked up from the leather-bound bows and arrows, "Darling?"
Jamie pouted, "Just trying it out…"
She eyed him derisively, snorted and continued unbinding their weapons…
"How about sweetheart?"
Brienne stood and moved away, hefting an axe in her hand…
"Pumpkin?" Jamie continued, enjoying their game, "Twinkle?" She tensed; he had it! "Snuggle-toes?"
The iron and wood flew past him and imbedded in the tree just right of his ear so deeply, Jamie heard the shatter of thick, oaken bark…
"I'll stick with Brienne, then?"
"I really think you should…"
Gods, she made his heart thud in his chest!
Blood flowed through him and he had to finally admit that he was almost stiff with anticipation of their eventual joining.
Gods how he wanted her! When had that happened?
At first sight, he recalled with shame, he hardly recognised Brienne as a woman at all, draped in ill-fitted armour as she was, her hair lank and a grimace etched on her face…
How his opinion had changed… as had her drapes; they were the first thing to go!
She now wore the tight-fitting armour he had ordered forged for her… thank the Gods she had never questioned how his eye had caught her measurements so well'; he had paid attention in the baths of Harenhall…
It hadn't been the first time, but it was enough to make him think on her more often.
Jamie was suddenly caught in the back of the head with a swirling roll of fabric…
"Apologies, My Lord," Pod said with an insincere smile, "I hadn't thought you were so… in thought, to have not noticed me."
Jamie rubbed at the tender spot the servant's baled cloth had made impacting with his head and noted the look the boy gave him as he set about erecting the main sleeping arrangements for the night…
And he wondered… how could he get rid of such a loyal servant so as to have his bride all to himself?
()()()
It was going to be fine… Jamie looked around the curtained tomb…
Brienne had ordered him to the smaller section of the tent, where Podrick had laid his duck-down mattress and covered it in furs… His bride-to-be resided the other side of the curtain, across the centre of the tent and in a somewhat larger canvass room.
He had managed to convince her that a chaperone was unnecessary; Podrick was surplus, thanks to their shared travels…
He wasn't going to try anything; nothing would happen that she didn't want to happen…
And so, now they were the only two in the woodland…
And he couldn't sleep.
It was maddening! His mind swirled in a maelstrom of thought; of Cersie and his father, of Tyrion and Podrick… what could he do about any of them? Could he help them? Could he trust them? So much had happened he doubted his own judgement. Losing his hand had made him rethink his superficial existence; the scars he had earned along the way… losing his son… the sting of rejection… they were items he found too painful to accept.
The night cried; Brienne was whimpering… it wasn't uncommon after her ordeal in the bear pit at Harrenhal. He could almost tolerate the sound now; used to her murmuring slurs and profanities at those who had entrapped her…
Jamie would often speak to her while she slept; the sound of her distress was far worse than any pain he had encountered, save the loss of his son…
Often, he would curl close to her in the night; his body giving solace until she settled and he would leave. He had never been caught doing this… Brienne wouldn't have tolerated it had she known. But Jamie was always sure to never slumber; he could hold her, warm in the night… even rest in that place between sleep and wake until she stirred and he would scuttle to his covers and doze until she would rouse him after a number of hours and accuse him of slothenly ways…
But… in the quiet of the moonlight… She would shout out and he would say she was safe and he was coming for her and she would settle…
But they tended to be huddled closely by a fire, not separated by canvas and metal.
Jamie wriggled about in his covers; there was nothing he could do. It was only another nightmare about the bear-pit, he comforted himself, Brienne was strong enough to endure it.
He sighed… Perhaps there was another reason he couldn't sleep.
The idea that Cersie was so close unsettled him. She was in the perfect position to turn Selwyn against him, should she choose. All the work he had done to impress upon the Lord of Tarth… presenting the new man he had become… would all be for naught.
Cersie would look to any weakness; she could even begin to question Brienne's standing in court…
She wouldn't, he thought, she couldn't ruin an innocent womans reputation…
What was he thinking… of course she would! And could!
Brienne's murmuring grew louder… a little more frantic…
Jamie tried not to listen.
Until she shouted, "Do you think I care about my teeth?!"
The Companions!
Jamie was out of his bunk and through the canvas in a split second to be at her side; Brienne was deep in the throes of a nightmare… sweat glistening on her forehead.
He immediately moved to hold her… feeling her relax into his arms as he soothed, "I'm here… you're safe, Brienne…"
And there was silence.
Her body loosened and moulded into his; her expression melting into contentment as they fell into a familiar shape and he coiled about her, his arms weaving around her frame and wrapping into the shield her subconscious desired.
Jamie felt peace in this place; in this warm darkness, coiled around Briennes body like rope-binding.
When had this become comfort and not necessity?
Brienne backed her body into him, wriggling into their curve as he ground his teeth and tried not to think on how easily they fit together as she took his hand and drew it up like a blanket to her chin and then to touch her face…
Indulgently, he extended his hand to feel the softness of her skin, the heat from her breath… the pads of his fingers stretched back until they met her lips.
He tried not to think on how they had last kissed; in passion and heat.
Things had changed, no matter how he tried to deny it.
Without warning; Brienne began to move; she turned in the circle of his arms and Jamie held his breath…
She settled facing him, her blue eyes closed and face relaxed.
Was she asleep?
He waited…
There was nothing but a restful beauty as she moved her arms about him in a similar hold to his…
Jamie breathed…
And then Briennes fingers began to move in his dip of his lower spine.
The feeling shot through him like lightening as she seemed to smile in her sleep and press infinitesimally harder and press her heat into his back… felt like a hand on his cock as he swallowed and willed himself not to stiffen…
Jamie looked to Briennes resting face; was she truly asleep, as her touch drew a ragged breath from him…
"Brienne?" He whispered before a shudder shook through him…
She smiled.
She was awake!
And as his cock hardened, he gripped her to him and pressed their lips before she opened and he thrust his tongue in to taste her...
When Briennes leg curved about him and drew their groins together he almost exploded; and he felt her hand on his ass, pressing them closer still…
"I knew it would be you," she breathed, huskily…
His eyes flew open to be fixed in her gaze…
"And I knew you would come to me."
Jamie melted… his need for Brienne beyond pulsation… it was magnetic… it was molten… "And you will come for me," he said, knowing exactly what he was going to give her… how her flesh would respond… how he could bring her to the brink and aching to feel her surround and consume him entirely…
The night sighed.
This was the moment.