The sun was dipping below the furious sea and the ocean raged and clawed at the ship about them.
None of it meant a damn.
There was one thing that Jaime returned to…
He and Brienne were going to have a baby!
The revelation had made the world about him still, even on this floating twig in the midst of furious storm… there was silence… because there was a baby…
They had made a baby.
He had heard her correctly, hadn't he?
Jaime looked down at his wife…
Brienne didn't repeat herself. She didn't need to… and, besides, she wasn't the sort.
They lay there, naked, in each other's arms while the world adjusted and changed around them.
It was only a matter of time before this news, he knew. He and his wife had hardly practiced restraint.
But he wasn't certain he was ready…
Jaime was already a father, of course. He and Cercie had made children in their mis-spent passion. It was a natural conclusion of love… even if that love was misguided.
And he loved Joff, Marcella and Tommen well enough… but he had never truly been allowed to be involved in the decisions that shaped their lives. Jamie had never been a father to them; he had watched them born and grow to what society made them to be, happy and proud of their health and achievement.
They were more Cersies children than his. Yes – he was needed to make them. But that was all it felt like.
This child… a baby with Brienne…
It had to be different.
And it would be different; they would do it together.
The entirety of that realisation sank into the moment; Jaime and Brienne would be parents.
And that thought chased away any fear he may have had… because… well, "Brienne, this is amazing!"
She blinked her exquisite eyes and smiled, "Really?"
Really? Was she serious?
"Of course," He smiled, giving her a squeeze, "of course it is…"
Briennes smile lit each crease of his heart and she settled into a content sleep.
Jaime watched her slumber, listening to the soothing rhythm of her breathing…
Because this was a wonderful thing… but he had to think on how this news would change them.
()()()()
They had dropped anchor in a small fishing village not too far south of the wall to wait out the storm. Something Jaime and his stomach were eternally grateful for…
It was here they had chosen to bury Maestor Aemon.
The wizened old man had finally let up his life after sharing one last piece of advice with them…
"Live well," he had said, his milky eyes somehow searching until they found focus in the distance, "laugh often… and love with all your heart. But most of all… to thine own self be true…"
Then he smiled and sighed as if all the answers of the universe had suddenly been laid at his feet… He nodded and murmured, "Yes… and in all things… know your time."
Then he was gone.
Sam and Gili cried as Brienne drew a white cloth over the man and the four of them wrapped his body and let the sea claim it.
Sam sent a raven once they had put into dock safely.
The ravens had been brought to maintain communications between the Wall and the black brothers on their journey. Jaime had thought it pointless – but was amazed when the first returned to them only three days later…
Back feathers ruffled as the creature bowed its head beneath Sam Tarleys fingers in want of reward…
"What kind of birds are these?" Jamie asked, somewhat surprised.
"Crows of the wall," Sam replied, his chest swelling with pride as he gave the bird corn. "Intelligent, faithful and trained by Aemon himself.
Jaime tried to stop his eyes rolling – which was difficult this close to the angry sea…
Sam reached for the parchment attached to the crows neck and unravelled it.
"Well?"
"Jon says Stannis has arrived. He is taking time to consult with Oberyn in private chambers with the Red Witch."
Jaime laughed at the thought, "Bet they are deep in negotiation," he sniggered and elbowed the tubby man at his side, "hard at it… you gather…"
Sam frowned at his amusement, "I'm glad to see you are as concerned as I am, Ser Jaime."
His amusement soured, "Sorry?"
"An alliance between Stannis and Dorne would mean certain defeat in Kings Landing."
A boulder settled in Jaimes stomach… the bile rose around it.
Mercifully, he was distracted from the thought as he leaned forward and plucked some remnants from the crows overly aggressive-looking claw…
"What's this?" He mused, finally grateful the stink of a port harbour outweighed the clearly rotting tangle of blood, sinew and feather.
Stuttering, Sam covered his mouth in horror…
"Looks like he stopped for a snack on the way… wouldn't you say?"
Sams eyes widened, "They do that every now and then…"
"And this clever thing feasted on carrier pigeon…" Jamie smiled, trying to hide the difficulty he had unwrapping the message with his one good hand… "Two messages for the price of one! I shall invest in these crows as soon as I am able!"
Sam took mercy and Jaime let him reach out to unravel the second message of the day as Jaime wondered which way the fates would lead them.
But curiosity turned to alarm as the nightswatchmen untangled the parchment and swallowed hard, "Roose Bolton is calling in the bannermen of Winterfell…"
The boulder rolled in Jaimes stomach… The Boltons had taken the north… things couldn't be worse…
"For the marriage of his heir… to Sansa Stark."
"Sansa?" Jaime queried, feeling the still earth beneath him swirl…
"I have to tell Jon about this," Sam muttered, clasping the message to his chest and shaking his head… "She's at Winterfell…"
The fat little man didn't have a clue… bad enough the poor girl had been 'guest' of his family during a time of war… but the Boltons?
Sam paused his scurrying for a while; the slightest dawning in his eye… "I didn't think Roose Bolton had a surviving heir…"
"Ramsay," Jamie replied, hiding a shudder, "he must have legitimised the vicious little cunt."
"But Sansa…" Sam continued to vocalise… "how could she be alive? And who would marry her to anyone at her young age?"
"I can think of a few scheming cowards," Jaime answered, bitterly… "Better to marry her to The Mountain, she would get more mercy…"
And then it occurred to him!
Oh Gods!
Jaime gripped the tubby nightswatchman with all the grip his good hand could manage… "Listen to me Sam… Under no circumstances should you tell anyone what we have learned here."
The dumpy man spluttered, "But… but why…"
"Promise me Sam," Jaime insisted, giving a firm shake, "tell no one… especially-"
"What do you mean?"
Her voice made him wince…
Brienne, fiercer than the storm bidding retreat on the horizon, loomed over them and demanded, "When you said she would find more mercy by marrying The Mountain?"
Jaime released Sam and turned to his destiny…
There was going to be no denying it now.
()()()()
"You aren't going to Winterfell," Jaime stated.
The anger in his wifes eyes was incandescent, "Did you just tell me what I can or can't do?"
But at that point – his rage was a match!
"You're damned right I did!" Jaime shouted. "It's not just about you any more… or your promises! It's about us and this!" He reached out to place a delicate hand on the curve of her belly, "This is you and me and all we will ever have and he or she deserves a chance."
Brienne snatched herself away from him, face contorting in disgust. "I promised to bring her back to her home."
"And she's there."
His wife whipped around with startling speed, "I have no time for your sparring Jaime; the girl is in danger."
He shook his head, "I know that." And he did… but he was scared himself for so many other reasons… "But what can you possibly do to help her?"
"I don't know yet," she answered, peevishly, "I haven't gotten to Winterfell."
"You wouldn't get within five hundred yards…"
"Not as a marauder… or even a spy…" a sudden calm took over her then as the plan solidified in her mind… "but as a guest… I might do very well indeed."
"You mean to go to the wedding?" Jaime exploded… the idea! It was beyond insane.
"His father is your fathers' bannerman, is he not?"
Jaime shook his head… "Of a sort…" but she had to understand… "you never trust Roose Bolton…"
"I don't need to trust him," Brienne maintained with surety, "I only need access to his bride-to-be."
A glimmer of hope lit in him…
But no! No! This was not a good plan. "We can't do this."
Briennes features darkened again, "Are you telling me you aren't even willing to try."
"I know it is folly!"
"And I made a vow."
"So did I!" Jaime spat back. "To us… for our lives together… that has meaning, Brienne…"
"And I should simply forget my promise to Lady Catlyn?"
A shrug slinked through him… "No… and yet…" Gods… how could he make her see…
Jaime looked into the turbulent oceans of his wifes eyes… into their crash and storm of honour and duty… of strength and valour…
The quiet plea sounded helpless as he sighed, "We were going to have a baby."
The moment almost broke the world as everything juddered around that thought.
Their futures could be quiet and filled with laughter, he almost saw them all in the sunlight of Tarth… living near the blue seas and lounging in their dotage, surrounded by many blonde, tall and faithful sons, daughters and grandchildren.
Couldn't they just walk away from this life and into what a dream could be.
When he looked to her, he knew she could see that dream as well.
And for a moment it was a life they lived in that fantasy.
But that was all it was.
The world was not so perfect as that… and they, neither of them, could never have lives like that.
"I ever swore I was not made to be a mother," Brienne admitted quietly, "That I needed to fight… and yet…" her hands rounded on the swell of her belly… on the roundness of the child they had made… that being Jaime had put in her…
His hand was on hers… and a great press of hopelessness pushed down on his shoulders.
Brienne was his for a reason.
She was steadfast, true, loyal beyond reason and all those things he wished he could be and was not allowed to be. For all those perfect faults; he loved her.
And he loved what they had made within her.
And for that he vowed, "I will follow you, My Lady."
Brienne turned her sapphire eyes to his in confusion… so he completed… "We will rescue Sansa Stark."