The horn that announces a newcomer interrupts the conversation Brienne and Lady Sansa are having. They look at each other expectantly before they leave the latter's chambers. The taller woman finds it weird, since the Starks are not expecting anybody else to come, but a very small part of her wishes it would be him… Impossible.

When they get to the courtyard, they both stop dead in their tracks, and Brienne feels her jaw drop. At first she is sure her eyes are deceiving her, but after blinking a few times, and fighting the urge to rub them, she is baffled to see King Jon Snow greeting Jaime Lannister.

"Well, if this isn't a surprise," Sansa grumbles in a voice that only Brienne can hear. "Whether it's a good or a bad one, I'm yet to know."

To the Lady of Tarth, it obviously is a good surprise. She did not think she would get to see him again after their last encounter at King's Landing. However, she is aware of how much the Starks - especially Sansa - have suffered in the hands of the Lannisters, so she replies carefully, "We're going to need all help we can get, now, my lady, so I'd say it's a welcome one."

"Yes, I suppose you're right," Sansa sighs. "We should go to them. Come on."

They walk over the two men and talk briefly about Jaime's trip to Winterfell and some plans to be made now that he has brought a few of his soldiers. When the conversation is over, Jon and Sansa take their leave, and Brienne finds herself glad to have a moment with her friend.

"So you finally decided to join us," she smiles at him.

"Well, you know what they say," Jaime smiles back. "Fuck loyalty!"

She laughs an embarrassed laugh, but does not reply. I can't believe he made me say that. Instead, she asks, "What about Cersei? Will she send help?"

He shakes his head. "I tried my best to make her change her mind, but she's that stubborn. I wouldn't count on that, no."

"That's too bad. Anyway, it's good to see you again, my friend."

"Good to see you too, Brienne. Although," Jaime pauses to look at her up and down, "I can say there's something different about you that I can't quite tell."

She frowns, confused. "Different? In what way?"

Just when Jaime is about to explain to her, a shout interrupts him.

"Brienne!"

Brienne turns to look. There comes Tormund, the reason why she looks different in Jaime's eyes, the man who has made her days so much better, and she suddenly feels nervous, for now she has to introduce him to one of her best friends, and she knows not how the two men are going to react. She and Tormund had agreed to keep their relationship as private as possible for as long as they could, even though a few people, like Jon, Sansa and Podrick know about it. She has to tread carefully now, and she is not very pleased about it.

"Hello, love," Tormund greets after he presses his lips on her cheek, making her blush and smily shyly. Then he looks at Jaime and asks, "Won't you introduce me to your friend?"

"Love?" Jaime gasps. "Seven hells, what did I miss?"

Brienne cleans her throat and begins, "Tormund, this is Ser Jaime Lannister, commander of the Lannister armies. Or rather, former commander."

"Oh, so you're the one the call Kingslayer," he bluntly comments. "The one who fucks his sister."

Jaime does not seem to be bothered by Tormund's remarks, and choose to ignore them. "And you are?"

"I'm Tormund Giantsbane, also Tormund Thunderfist, Tall-talker, Horn-blower, Breaker of Ice, Speaker to Gods, Mead-king of Ruddy Hall, Father of Hosts, Husband to Bears, and her husband," he proudly finishes as he wraps an arm around her waist.

Jaime raises his eyebrows at her, astonished. "Your husband?"

"Well, yes, we," she replies uneasily. "We… are together. Not officially married, though."

After a brief pause, he finally concedes, "Well, I won't even try to hide my surprise. I mean, he doesn't seem to be your type."

"Her type?" Tormund interjects. "What would her type be?"

"I don't know," his eyes quickly scans the other man before he finishes, "someone from this side of the Wall, perhaps?"

Brienne has to restrain herself from rolling her eyes at Jaime's remark. On the other hand, if Tormund is offended, he does not show. He then replies, "Oh, but I am her type. I'm the type of man who respects her strength, who admires her abilities with a sword, who marvels at her stunning beauty, who gives her the pleasure she deserves. And," he adds with that wicked grin of his as he holds her tighter, "hopefully, we'll have loads of children together."

"Tormund!" she snarls, feeling embarrassed by the disclosure of that private information, and slightly annoyed by his statement.

Her reaction seems to amuse Jaime, who chuckles. "Every sword needs a sheath, right? But I'm not judging. I'm truly happy that Brienne has someone in her life. She deserves it, and much more. Just take care of her, will you?"

"You can be sure I will, Kingslayer," the other man hisses the last word.

Brienne, who has had enough of it, is about to change the subject when she hears Jon's voice summoning him up to show him where he is going to stay. Jaime looks at her and then turns around and follows him. Before Tormund even has the chance to move, she decides to grab his arm and takes him to their chambers, where she can speak her mind without attracting unwanted attention.

"Your wife? Loads of children? Did you really have to say all that to him?" she questions him once they are safe inside the room, her voice filled with annoyance.

"Of course I did!" he growls. "Have you noticed the way he looks at you?"

She crosses her arms. "How does he look at me?"

"Like he wants to fuck you!"

Oh no, not this again. First it was Bronn; now Tormund. Where did this come from? It is true that Brienne once had feelings for Jaime, but that is in the past now. She has gotten over him, and surely, so has he.

The lady warrior sighs, "Look, if he really wanted to do that, he would have long ago. But he never did. Anyway, we're just friends. You don't have to be jealous."

"I am not jealous, Brienne," the Free Folk leader affirms in a low, sinister tone that makes Brienne shudder.

She confronts him anyway, "Oh, really? And when did you decide that I am your wife and that we will have 'loads of children'? What was that all about?"

He exhales and answers apologetically after a couple of seconds, "I didn't decide anything. I was just trying to make sure he doesn't mess with my woman."

Brienne makes a stunned face, not quite believing her ears. He has not acted jealous and possessive before. What is going on with him?

"Excuse me?"

"You're my woman, Brienne," he calmly explains. "He should understand this and not mess with you."

"Wait, your woman?! And exactly when did it happen?" she demands, her hands on her waist.

"Well, when you chose to be with me. When we started fucking."

"Gods, this is ridiculous," she laughs and shakes her head in disbelief. "What makes you think I'm yours? We're not even married! I don't belong to anyone!"

"Aye, you do! You belong to me, and I belong to you," he gestures towards each other. "That's how it's done among the Free Folk."

"I'm not one of the Free Folk, though, am I?"

Tormund narrows his eyes as he states, "Good thing you're not. I would've stolen you for my own the moment you crossed the Castle Black gates."

Brienne closes the distance between them and hisses as her angry eyes gazes his, "I wouldn't have let you. I would have beaten the shit out of you."

"And I would have tried again and again and again, until you finally yielded," he barks back with a smirk, not a bit intimidated.

This infuriates her even more, and she growls, not thinking twice, "Do you take me for a weakling, Tormund? You don't know that for sure! And I'm not a property to be stolen!"

"I know you're not, but-"

"I will not allow you to steal me. This is such a uncivilized and savage thing to do! I'm not a Wildling!"

Brienne shuts her mouth with her hand, as if the act could hold her words back, but it is too late now. They have been spoken, and they have hurt Tormund, who gives her an incredulous look.

"What?" he eventually mumbles.

"Tormund, I didn't mean-"

"So this is what you think of me? That I am a savage? A barbaric?"

"No, it's not true!"

"And here I was thinking you would accept a… Wildling… as a lover." She cringes at the disgust the word 'Wildling' carries. "But I was wrong."

"Tormund, I-"

"You don't have to say no more, my lady," he says in a sad tone. "Now I know what you see in the Kingslayer. Perhaps you're better off with him. And I won't get in your way." And with that, Tormund passes by her towards the door.

"Please, don't go!" she pleads desperately, as she grabs Tormund's arm, but he is faster and pulls it out of her reach and, without a word, he leaves.

Brienne stands there, defeated, facing the door as tears start to fill her eyes. Gods, what has she done?

"I don't want Jaime, Tormund," she whispers in hopes he can listen. "I don't love him."