Brienne holds his gaze for a couple of seconds before standing up, excusing herself and leaving the table. Her face is expressionless; she does not even smile. But that is all the sign Tormund needs. He looks around him and, apparently, no one seems to have noticed their 'interaction'. A few moments later, it is his turn to exit the hall. When he is certain nobody else is watching him, he smiles to himself as he walks towards the place where he and the Lady of Tarth had agreed to meet.

Life is so unfair sometimes, Tormund reflects. He had had little time to win that beauty of a warrior over before they went on separate ways, he accompanying Jon Snow and Lady Sansa's entourage to meet the Bolton fucker, and Brienne and his squire seeking the Blackfish's help at Riverrun. The Battle of the Bastards is over, but more are to come, of that everybody is aware. As a long time warrior himself, the Free Folk leader always has in mind that one never knows whether or not they will survive the next battle, which is why he has decided to make his move and show Brienne just how much he desires her, as their time is running out. Luckily for him, she feels the same, even though her shyness will not allow her to say it out loud.

His steps lead him to her chambers, and his heart skips a beat at the sight of her. Fuck, she is so gorgeous, and even more so in the moonlight. Gods know how difficult it was for the redheaded man not to look at her during that council. He could feel her eyes on him the moment he entered the room and took his seat. The struggle was great, but he had managed to control his urges and concentrate on the pressing matters, and so had she, he could tell.

As Tormund gets closer to Brienne, he notices she wears a frown, maybe from nervousness, he thinks, causing him to bring a hand up to her face, his thumb caressing her cheekbone. Soon her features soften a little before she leans down to capture his lips with hers, and he groans as she wraps her arms around his neck and he holds her body flush against his. It does not bother the Free Folk man that she is taller than him; on the contrary, he quite enjoys this fact.

"You're not wearing your armor," he observes, after he breaks the kiss to catch his breath. He takes her lovely flustered face in. "About fucking time."

The knight flashes him a glare. "Will you just shut up and kiss me?"

"Aye. Gladly." With that, he is kissing her again, deep and hard this time, his body pressing against hers.

It is true that Tormund has always enjoyed kissing, but never in his wildest dreams has he imagined he would enjoy so much kissing a woman like Brienne. Her taste is divine, her lips are so inviting. In the beginning their first kisses were awkward, due to her lack of experience - Damn those southern cunts! -, but he is patient and she is a fast learner, so sooner than later they have managed to perfect their kiss - They'll never know what they've missed. Tormund will never tire of those lips, of that he is certain, and he would not ever want to kiss other woman that is not the Lady of Tarth.

When Tormund's mouth leave Brienne's to start kissing and nibbling her neck, he feels one of her hands on his head, her fingers running run through his red curls, while she uses the other to push the door open behind her, and she takes a few steps back in order to make them both get in her chambers. Once inside, he closes the door with a foot and grunts both in surprise and pleasure when he finds himself pinned against it by the towering woman, her lips capturing his again. His hands are now free to travel down her back towards her bottom, squeezing it gently but firmly. The bearded man presses his hips so that she can feel his desire for her, and is rewarded with a moan.

Brienne breaks the kiss to utter, "Fuck!"

"Language, my lady," Tormund chuckles. He seizes the opportunity to attack her neck again, this time concentrating on the scar on it. He whispers, his voice is rough, thick with lust. "Gods, woman, I want you."

"Tormund!" she gasps, and the sound causes him to shiver, excitement building in him. "I… I want you, too, but-"

He stops what he is doing to stare at her, startled, but concerned. "But what?"

"I…" Brienne begins, but her voice fails. She is blushing, this time from embarrassment, he realizes. She looks down, incapable of holding his intense gaze, and walks away from him and towards her bed, where she sits down. She then confesses while she stares at her feet, her voice shaky, "I know you're going to hate me, but I… I don't think I'm ready to go further just yet. I'm sorry, Tormund."

The disappointment in her words pains Tormund, but he is glad she has told him. He takes a deep breath in order to calm his nerves. "I'm not gonna hate you," he finally speaks, full of understanding. "It's alright."

"What?" she raises her head to flash him an incredulous look.

"I said it's alright. I'm the one who should be apologizing. I got carried away. Shouldn't force myself on you."

"You didn't," the yellow haired woman blinks. "You really didn't. But, but I thought you wanted it... me."

"I did. I do," he confirms as he approaches her bed and stands in front of her. He places a gentle hand on her cheek. "There's nothing in this world I want more than for you to be mine, Brienne. But not until you want me back. Not until you're ready."

"Please, don't think I don't want you, because I do."

"I know. It was you who arranged for us to meet, after all," Tormund laughs.

Brienne smiles at him weakly, but lowers her head. "I spoiled things, didn't I?"

"No!" He kneels before her so that he can take her face in his hands. Their eyes meet, and he sees she is fighting back her tears. "No, you didn't. I would've spoiled things if you hadn't stopped me. I may be a Free Folk man, but I'd never force a woman to do what she doesn't want to. I never have. I won't start now. That's not how we do."

She seems taken aback by his statement. "Oh, I didn't know that. That with stealing wives and all."

"We may steal our wives, woman, but we ain't savages." Tormund's tone is soft, but genuine.

Is Brienne's turn to laugh. "Sorry. I see that, now. But what about you?"

"Don't you worry about me, lass. I'll be just fine. But please, remember, whenever you're ready, I'll be right there with you. No matter how long it takes."

"Would you do that for me?"

"Aye," he replies, honestly. He would wait his whole life, if needed be, to have this glorious woman. Even if it kills him. "Whenever you're ready to have me. You understand me?"

"Yes, I do." Brienne sighs, and Tormund sighs too, relieved that things are alright between them. He does not wish for her to ever feel insecure around him. "Thank you, Tormund."

"You're welcome," he smiles. His hands remain on her cheeks for a little longer until he reluctantly removes them. "Guess I should be goin'."

Tormund is standing and about to leave, when Brienne grabs both of his hands. "Don't go," she pleads. "Stay with me. Please."

His beam is larger and his heart fills with love. "Aye. It'd be my pleasure, Brienne."

And so the two of them remove some of their heaviest clothes and settle in her furs, cuddling up to each other. They share a last kiss until they both fall asleep.