"What's happening here?" Tormund asks as he notices a certain commotion around the courtyard. Suddenly people seem surprised, but somewhat tense at the same time. Then he spots Jon Snow talking to a blond kneeler he has never seen before. "Who's that one?"

Podrick Payne, who stands as gobsmacked as everyone else, replies, "Th-that's Jaime Lannister, ser."

Tormund flashes him a glare, bothered by the title. "Ser?"

Podrick quickly corrects himself, "My apologies. Tormund."

"Jaime Lannister." The name is familiar to him. "Ain't he the one they call Kingslayer?"

"Yes, he is."

More like sisterfucker, he thinks as he sees Brienne and Sansa approaching the two men. "He's the one Brienne had to take to King's Landing, right?"

"That's right," his lover's squire confirms. "He also had her armor and sword made, as a way to… thank her for what she did."

It was a gift from someone... very important. Along with my sword. Brienne's words echo in Tormund's mind, and suddenly he is back to that time he had tried her fine armor. That was what she had said back then, but she never told him who that 'very important' someone was. It had not bothered him back them, but now-

"I think they…" Podrick's voice pulls Tormund back to the present.

"You think they what?"

"I… It's nothing."

"Tell me," he urges.

"I really don't think I should," the ever hesitant squire babbles.

Feeling his curiosity get the better of him, Tormund grabs Podrick's tunic with both his hands and urges in a harsher tone, "Spit it out, boy!"

"Alright, alright, I'll tell you," and with that, the Free Folk leader releases him. "I-I think they… had… f-feelings… for each other."

No wonder. Jaime is a handsome man, Tormund has to admit. And very rich, they say. A woman would be a fool not to fall for him, even Brienne. He cannot help but feel upset about it all.

"Hm," is his reply.

"But that was before you, of course," Podrick tries to fix things, but it is too late now.

"So it seems." He looks again and now Brienne and Jaime are by themselves. "Maybe I should go and introduce myself to him, don't you think?"

"Er-" this is all Tormund can hear from him, because he is already taking long strides towards them. He takes a deep breath in order to curb his annoyance and calls Brienne's name.

Tormund has no idea how long he has been sitting by the pound at the godswood, staring at nothing. He does not know what hurts him the most: Brienne's harsh words or the fact that she probably still has feelings for the sisterfucker, which means he may have to let her go. Probably this is what hurts the most. He has lost so many people in his life, and now he is about to lose the most wonderful of them all, and to that rich cunt.

Curse his curiosity! And yes, his possessiveness, too.

What will he do if Brienne indeed decides to leave him for Jaime? Free Folk men do not really do this, but maybe he should fight him? Just this once? Bad idea. She wouldn't approve of that.

Devastated, with his head in his hands, Tormund tries to imagine his life without the strongest, fiercest and most beautiful woman he has ever seen, when he hears the sound of heavy footsteps coming to his direction. He does not have to look up to see whose footsteps they are, but a low, fearful voice obliges him.

"Tormund?"

He does look up, and there she is, a few feet away from him, her face frowning in worry, her blue eyes swollen, but still magnificent. He finds himself afraid to ask whether she is here to finish things.

"What are you doing here?" he asks instead.

"King Jon told me I would find you here," Brienne pauses to look around her, "among the old gods."

"Aye," he nods.

Brienne sighs and then continues, "He's also explained to me how your people… get married. Which is what you call 'stealing'. I didn't know much of that, I had only heard of it. So now that I know what it really means, I've come to apologize. I didn't mean to say those things to you. I'm so sorry I hurt you."

"You have nothing to apologize for, my lady," he affirms with a sad smile, after considering her words.

"Of course I do! That was truly mean. I shouldn't have said that. But I was angry, because all of a sudden you started acting so possessive and… jealous."

This is when Tormund gets up and faces her. "I was serious, Brienne. I wasn't jealous. I was just... afraid to lose you."

Brienne titles her head to one side, confused. "Lose me? What do you mean?"

"Your squire told me about you and the Kingslayer. That he gave you your armor and your sword."

"Well, yes, he did. So?" she shrugs.

"He also told me you had feelings for him, and he for you."

"And you think I still feel that way?"

"I wouldn't blame you. Look at him! He's handsome and he's rich enough to wear a golden hand! And rich enough to forge a Valyrian steel blade and a fine armor. I could never give any of those things to you, Brienne," he admits, feeling embarrassed, his pride gone.

"Tormund, don't tell me…" she makes a stunned face. "Is that why you said I'm 'better off with him'?"

"I'm not worthy of you, Brienne. And I shouldn't force you to stay with me. I am a Free Folk man, after all, and as one, I have to let you go if you no longer feel like being with me."

Hesitantly, Brienne takes a few steps toward him. She inquires in a cautious tone, "Is that what you want?"

Tormund looks into those beautiful blue eyes. His reply is genuine. "No."

"Good. Because that's not what I want either. And I'm not going anywhere."

For a moment, he does not know what to say; instead he watches her as she gets even closer to him. Could it be that she still wants him? He cannot help but feel hopeful.

"Let me tell you something, Tormund Giantsbane," she begins in a serious tone. "Jaime Lannister may have given me this armor and Oathkeeper. I will always be grateful for these and for everything else he has done for me. But he could never, ever, give me what you have."

"And what is that?"

As a reply, Brienne raises her hand and places it on his chest, over his heart. "This."

His heart skips a beat and he feels he is tearing up. He then covers her hand with his. "Brienne," he whispers.

"Yes, once I had feelings for Jaime, I won't deny it," she interrupts him. "I thought I loved him, but I was obviously wrong, since he doesn't love me back, and he never could. He loves his sister, always have, and always will." This is when she confesses after a few seconds of hesitation, "And I love you."

Once again Brienne manages to render Tormund speechless. His heart pounds violently in his chest. His eyes begin to water. His breathing fails.

"What?"

"I love you, Tormund," she repeats, with more confidence. "I love you so much, Tormund, more than I thought I'd be able to and…" she pauses when he makes a face. "What's wrong?"

"I was hoping to tell you that first," he says, but before she can respond, his lips cover hers and kisses her with all he has for a long time, until they have to break the kiss to catch their breath.

"I love you, too, Brienne. And I'm sorry. I was an idiot, and I shouldn't have acted so possessive."

"It's alright," she smiles, one hand caressing Tormund's cheek, and he smiles too.

"So we're good?"

Brienne is about to say yes, but she changes her mind, one eyebrow raised. "Almost. You weren't exactly very kind to Jaime, so I think you should apologize him."

"Apologize?" Tormund protests, slightly indignant.

"Look, you don't have to be his friend, Tormund. That's not what I'm asking. But you both are important to me, so I really do want you two to get along. it would mean a lot to me. Please."

Yes, Tormund does not wish to be friends with Jaime. And yes, he was rude to him, he admits. He does not really feel like apologizing the Kingslayer, but if makes his beauty happy, why not? What he wouldn't do for her?

Gods, is he so damn lost!

"Aye" he finally concedes. "I'll do that. For you."

"Thank you," Brienne smiles again before she kisses his lips and takes him by the hand to where Jaime is.