Damn! But the mornings at the Wall were cold.

Not that Jamie had a problem at night… he was now a married man and had the pleasure of a warm and wanting wife to keep his heat and bring fire to his nights.

He wriggled, indulgently, in the bed.

Gods! How life twisted and turned… they had survived a battle and undergone an impromptu and irregular wedding ceremony… somewhat less pompous and more basic than the general regal ceremony… but, when all was considered, Jamie didn't think Brienne would like the symbolism of him cloaking her anyhow…

From the reception he met once they had reached their room in Castle Black, she had shown her approval of his choices because no sooner had he placed her on the bed and turned to close the door had Brienne stood and stalked toward him.

Jamie felt his back against the cold wooden door and immediately readied a defence of his actions, though none were necessary as he found Briennes hands fisted in his clothes, forcing him back, as shepressed against him and greedily moved her lips on his until he parted them to speak and found her tongue diving into him, stealing his breath and shocking him further when her hands fumbled over his armour, undressing him and parting only to deprive him of his clothes until he stood entirely naked.

Jamie was in a daze as Brienne moved back to regard him, a glint in her eye…

"I take it you're talking to me again?" He asked, severely aroused and unashamed of his body displaying it.

Reaching up, Brienne unclasped her armour and let it clatter to the floor, saying, "Talking wasn't what I had in mind."

And as she quickly kicked away her boots and guards, Brienne dropped to her knees.

Before he knew what she was planning, he was in her mouth and Jamie had to brace his hand on the wall behind him to keep his knees from buckling as she surrounded him with heat and pulsing pressure…

And just as he was ready to explode he realised he wanted to be with her more than coming in her mouth, so he took her shoulders and stood her up before urging her back to the bed and toppling her back…

"Where did you learn that?" He asked, focusing on removing the last of her clothes as she helped him and then laid back, smiling in satisfaction.

"Men talk," she replied… "I listened…"

He rose a brow… "Well, my Lady…" and he ran his tongue beneath and then over her naval, "I listen too…"

And she juddered beneath him, quickly insisting, "I'm ready, Jamie, hurry and be with me…"

So how could he refuse?

()()()

Enjoying recalling the heat-filled night, Jamie stroked his cock and thought of how he enjoyed his wife and how their lives would be if he had settled into marriage years ago with a plain and simple high-born woman rather than the high-born warrior he had come to admire and desire in equal measure…

A knock at the door brought him back into the room; Jamie all but leapt from the bed and to the door taking only a split second in his decision to surprise his now wife with how pleased he was to see her by leaving his robe and planting his feet widely before unlocking the door and flinging it open.

"Good morning!" Jamie announced, planting his hands on his hips to better accentuate the enthusiasm behind his greeting.

"So it is…" Tyrion responded with a wide-eyed confirmation, "though it's clearly better for some…"

Giving a shriek, Jamie bolted for the bed and wrapped a sheet about himself as his brother entered the room, chuckling, "Never quite greeted me like that before…"

"Be quiet," Jamie hissed, "I thought you were my wife…"

"Ah…" Tyrion nodded… "I see… for a moment I thought you mistook me for maestor Aemon."

Jamie shook his head, thoroughly embarrassed.

Tyrion closed the door behind him and presented a bottle and two goblets, tossing a cup in Jamie's direction as he explained, "I had come to toast the happy couple… but there is clearly no need. Any happier and you might have taken out my eye!"

"Tyrion!"

His brother chuckled, corked the bottle and poured the two drinks, "I am only joking with you," and then he raised the goblet and toasted, "To Brienne!"

Jamie beamed at her name, "Brienne!"

"May you be granted many happy years," Tyrion hoped, "and with the passing of every night let her always be able to walk straight."

And as Jamie sputtered, Tyrion gave another laugh and drank heartily.

The older Lannister supposed he would never live down the embarrassment of presenting his brother with his excited cock… so he chose to change subject. "Speaking of my wife…"

"The lucky woman!"

Jamie closed his eyes, "Have you seen her this morning?"

"Last I saw, she was in Aemons medical room," Tyrion said, pouring another drink for himself and leaning the bottle in Jamie's direction, "she was speaking with Gili and Ygritte."

"Ygritte?" Jamie asked, leaning in to receive another goblet of wine, "the Wildling girl from the battle?"

"That is the woman in question…

"Snow was a little cut-up about her," Jamie observed…

"They fucked," Tyrion stated, finishing his drink.

The bluntness took Jamie off-guard, though he should have known a little better, "Was that all."

Tyrion laughed, a bitter and stunted sound, "He thinks he loves her…" and he poured a final drink from the bottle, giving a derisive sneer of, "Love… the only thing worse than castration."

The admission was as bad a slap in the face; was his romantic younger brother truly saying these words?

"Tyrion…"

"Ha!" The youngest Lannister cheered, "Never fear!" And he reached into a satchel concealed under the heavy fur coat he wore here in the north, producing another bottle before pouring them both another drink.

"The drink is appreciated," Jamie accepted, "the melancholy isn't."

Tyrion snorted off the comment.

"No," Jamie insisted, "I'm married now… in the throes and torments of love and commitment…"

Tyrion snorted again…

"Of all others, I would have thought you would applaud me."

But his little brother regarded him, angling his cup at him, "You are trying to flatter me… what do you want?"

Jamie gave an uncomfortable shrug, "Well… you've had many…"

Tyrion looked at him with fained, wide-eyed innocence…

Jamie found himself hating his little brother for that… "You've had many," he finished, giving a glare, "and I…"

"Only had Cersie?" Tyrion finished.

Jamie held back a growl, "Yes…"

Before he could suitably finish what he was saying, or even thinking, Tyrion gave a shocked gasp, "Are you, my perfect brother, asking me for advice on women?!"

Jamie cringed; perhaps this had been a bad idea…

But the younger Lannister, filled with delight and mirth, slapped his hands together and asked, "Where do you want me to start?"

"Perhaps with you being a little less smug."

"I'm sorry, but that's never going to happen…" Tyrion grinned.

"I shouldn't have asked you anyway," Jamie grumbled, feeling a need to throw a barb of his own… "Given the success of your own marriage."

The broken expression on his brothers face made Jaimie instantly regret the remark as Tyrion straightened his back slightly in an elegant rebuff, "Given the short and unwanted match, I think my wife is grateful I have now been detained. Wherever she may be, I only hope she is well."

The grace with which his sibling had commanded the hurtful comment left Jamie in awe… he was truly the best of the Lannisters. And yet he had been left in the North to rot. "Will you join us to find her now the war at the Wall is done?"

The younger man snorted, "The war is not over Jaime," he commented, looking at him as though he were explaining the concept to a wide-eyed child. "This is merely a brief interlude."

Jamie allowed the information to sink into the walls about him… the war was not over… Then what the seven hells was his little brother involved in?

"Which is why we should take pleasure where we can!" Tyrion stated, "Back to your question…"

"Forget I asked," Jaimie dismissed, suddenly thinking of what may be coming through the gates of Castle Black next…

"No, no… you shall have an answer, by the Gods!" Tyrion commanded, "Can't have the Mistress of Casterly Rock disappointed in her new lot, now can we?"

Jamie shook his head, trying to keep from laughing as his brother continued…

"I am only going to tell you the following for my dear sister-in-laws own wellbeing," then he moved forward conspiratorially… "Although, Podrick might be a better source of information on that whole area…"

Jamie laughed… "Podrick?" He questioned, "Podrick Paine?"

"One and the same," Tyrion confirmed, holding his hands out as if to show he withheld no truths and uttered no lies… "Quite the legend in the Bealish brothel. They would take no payment for the night they spent with him…"

What? Jamie looked to his brother; when had the world turned upside down?

"Why do you need this advice?" Tyrion asked, hiding a smirk…

"She's learning…" Jamie explained, "… quickly."

"That is no surprise," Tyrion shrugged, "she has spent many years in the company of men… probably listening as they gathered about the camp-fire… or, at least, as they gathered about the campfire and she, ostracised as she would have been, sat at her own, separate camp-fire."

Jamie felt dreadful...

"Don't feel bad, brother," Tyrion said, "she's reaping her rewards…"

He hoped so…

But another knock at the door sounded… more of a hammering than a polite request as both Lannister brothers commanded, "Enter."

Podrick staggered into the room, a shamble of limbs and words as he blustered about the true north and the wildlings and a truce and…

"What are you blathering about, boy?" Jamie asked.

Tyrion was on his feet, steadying his friend, "Slow down Pod…"

And the boy took a breath…

"Commander Snow has been speaking of Mance Rayder and how he doesn't believe this onslaught was the end…"

"So what?" Jamie asked, reclining a little, "We will defeat them once again."

"He doesn't think so and told of how Mance has a camp just North East of the wall a few miles that he should seek out…"

"And?"

"He will not leave until Ygritte is recovered…"

Jamie shook his head… "So…"

"Brienne…"

Jamie sat up immediately… Oh… don't you say…

"She has gone in his stead…"

Jamie was stood and clothed within a minute… "Which way was she heading?"

()()()