After Agnes had curtseyed her way out of their room, Jaime sat back down on the bed and leaned over to kiss Brienne.
"So why didn't you mention this baby of ours hidden away at Winterfell?" he asked, tucking a strand of her blonde hair behind her ear.
"Hmm," she said, reaching up to untuck the strand of hair, "maybe because I wasn't sure it was yours."
"That's not especially funny, Wench," Jaime said with a lifted brow. Brienne could tell he was trying to keep his tone light, but the thought obviously bothered him.
"Maybe I wasn't sure it was mine?" she tried, reaching up to pull him down for a longer kiss.
Jaime let himself be led to her lips, but once there he took charge, kissing her fiercely, possessively. His lips burned over hers and she felt herself responding to him, her whole body yearning to feel him the way her lips were. When he moved his mouth to her throat she couldn't suppress a sigh as she arched into him. Jaime tugged the blanket off so that he could access even more of her skin and she shivered as his breath warmed her neck and shoulder.
Brienne imagined being with him like this in their bedroll when they were encamped in the cold north. Gods, she had yearned for him for so long. Now, unbelievably, she had him.
Jaime was kissing and nibbling his way down the inside of her arm, pausing at the pulse point in her wrist, warming it with his tongue and drawing her racing blood to him when he closed his lips on it. Brienne felt the same throbbing pulse echoing at her core, making her want him there, so ready to take him inside now.
"My love," Jaime growled, and Brienne noticed how his breath labored, how flushed his face and chest were. He closed his eyes, and Brienne knew he was trying to get control of himself, was trying not to give in to what they both wanted.
"If I don't stop now, I never will," he said, his voice so deeply masculine and needful that Brienne wanted to wrestle him onto his back and take him…
Jaime sighed settled next to her, "Wench," Jaime started to say, but then paused and grinned at her, "Bear-enne, much as I want to stay here all day and be tortured by you, I should go. I need to sneak out and find Lavakhat, and Hemikh, if he isn't otherwise engaged. Help me on with your armor?"
"Bearenne," she tried it out, "well, it has a better sound to it than some of the pet names you've come up with. Shall we see how my armor fits you?"
They got off the bed and walked over to the piled armor and Brienne's sweat stained gambeson. She helped Jaime get the padded garment over his head and then set about helping him get the rest of her gear on. She started by fastening the wide leather belt around his waist, leaning in close to pull the straps tight.
Jaime was grinning at her, his eyes mischievous.
"What?" Brienne said in exasperation.
"I was just thinking how much I like having a naked wench as a squire."
"Don't get used to it, Lannister."
"Maybe I could return the favor sometime?"
"Maybe," she grinned, picking up one poleyn and setting it over his right thigh. As she tried to strap it on Jaime reached out and cupped one of her breasts, brushing his thumb over her nipple.
"Okay, either keep your paw to yourself or get armored without my help." Brienne said shortly.
"You'd do that to me?" Jaime said, biting his lip and looking appealingly at her.
"Hells, yes," she said, "now stand up straight and stop staring, too."
Eventually Brienne managed to get all of the pieces of her armor strapped on to Jaime and stood back to admire him. She cocked her head to one side and smiled.
"You'll do." She pronounced and handed him the helm. "Meet you later, maybe in the yard?"
"As you wish, my Lady." Jaime bowed to her and then put the helm on, shifting it from side to side to make it fit comfortably. Wearing someone else's body armor was one thing, but the padding in a helm could be very individual for each fighter.
Brienne locked the door after Jaime left. She retrieved her nightgown from the floor, put it back on and then gave a mighty stretch. She looked around the room, smiling to herself. When she'd first come to this room, weary with grief and worn from the road, she had only dared to hope she would have a chance to sleep next to Jaime again, to feel him warm and alive at her side. She never would have imagined that Jaime would tell her he loved her in this room.
Brienne went over and picked up the rose Jaime had given her and looked at the singed petals. She held it against her chest and then spun around in a little circle, her gown flaring out around her legs. She seldom allowed herself to be giddy and girlish like this, but she was just so happy.
Her knight loved her, really loved her. There was danger for them on the horizon, but at this moment she just wanted to savor how she felt, remember how he felt against her.
She dropped onto the bed on her back, still holding the rose.
There was a loud knock at the door.
Brienne quickly tucked the rose under a pillow and wished she had a robe to throw over herself. She went to the door and called out, "Who is it?"
She heard Jaime reply, "Just me, sweetling."
She quickly unlocked the door and held it open for him. He had taken the helm off and gave her one of his delicious smiles, all teeth and dimples and shining green eyes. It didn't matter that she had just seen him; he had the power to turn her legs to water with that look.
"Is something wrong?" Brienne asked, closing the door behind him. He set the helm down on the bed and then pulled her head down for a quick kiss.
"No, I ran into Tyrion in the hall and he wants to talk to me. He knew right away I wasn't you."
"Oh, how did he know?" Brienne asked curiously.
"Well, you know, I guess as my brother he knows me when he sees me." Jaime said with a little smile. "Also, he tells me there was no need to be sneaking around in the first place. It seems anyone can come and go in the Maidenvault."
"What? Why didn't he tell us that before?"
"Apparently, we never asked." Jaime said, "But I'm pretty certain he was aware that we didn't know and found it greatly amusing."
"All of those stories you've told me about him? I always assumed you were exaggerating." Brienne said.
"No, afraid not. He earned his nickname. He really is an imp."
"You realize, of course, that I will need to punish him for getting us again?"
"I'll let him know." Jaime grinned. "Now, a little help?" he said, starting to work the straps on the breastplate. Brienne helped him disarm, which was accomplished much more quickly than putting the armor on had been.
When it was all piled neatly on the floor again Jaime shrugged into his tunic and jerkin and brushed his hair. He stepped in close to Brienne and maneuvered her toward the bed until he had the backs of her knees up against the mattress. He lowered her to the bed and leaned on top of her, kissing her breathless.
"Say it again, Bearenne," he said, pressing his nose to hers.
"Say… ? Oh! I love you, Jaime." Brienne said, and reached up to ruffle his neatly brushed hair.
"I like the sound of that. I love you, too." He stood up and offered her his hand. She took it and he pulled her up as well. "I don't know when I'll be done. Meet you back here later if I don't see you in the yard?"
"Yes."
Jaime brushed his lips against hers again and left the room. It was past time to get dressed herself. If she was lucky she might be able to get a little bit of sparring practice in. She could arm up here since Jaime had brought her gear back.
Brienne was just looking through the chest of drawers for something old to wear under her gambeson when there was another knock on the door. She picked up the gambeson and held it against her thin nightgown to open the door.
A young man in the queen's livery stood on the other side of the door.
"Lady Brienne?" he asked.
Brienne nodded.
"My Lady, the queen sent me to ask that you attend her today on a ride. You are to meet her at the main stable in half an hour. Your horse will be saddled and waiting for you."
"Oh," Brienne said in surprise. "Of course. Do tell her Grace that I will meet her there."
The man bowed and turned smartly away as Brienne closed the door.
What could she want? Even though Brienne was often included in the queen's strategy councils they had rarely exchanged more than pleasantries upon meeting. The queen sometimes looked at her rather intensely, but Brienne assumed that she, like most people, couldn't help but stare at the scar on her cheek and her over-all unattractiveness. She sighed, the secure, loved feeling Jaime had left her with abruptly vanishing.
She went back to the chest of drawers, this time looking for something finer to wear riding with the ruler of the seven kingdoms. Brienne chose another of the items she had commissioned from the seamstress, pulling a thick, soft tunic out of the drawer. The wool had been dyed a rich lapis blue at the top and gradated into a deep purple at the bottom. Brienne rubbed it against her face, breathing in the lavender from the little sachet the seamstress had packed it with.
She had never taken pleasure in her clothes when she was younger, but now that she had a few items that suited her she was surprised by how much she enjoyed them. Brienne pulled the tunic over her head and chose a black, short-sleeved leather jerkin to wear over it. She chose close-fitted woolen leggings and stockings for her feet, followed by black lambskin breeches.
It would be cold riding in this storm; she wondered if the queen would dress sensibly for once.
Brienne took up her brush and ran it through her hair until it shone; she really must get some of that sweet-smelling shampoo to take on the road with her, she thought. She quickly braided the sides of her hair into a single plait that lay atop the rest of her unbound hair streaming down her back. She used a small wet cloth to scrub at her teeth until they felt clean.
Satisfied that she looked as well as she could, she put on her boots and cloak and strapped her sword belt with Oathkeeper around her waist and hips. Briefly wishing she had time to eat something, she looked around the room to see if she was forgetting anything. Remembering the rose, she retrieved it from beneath the pillow on the bed. Chiding herself for being a romantic fool, she tucked it down into her boot top, making sure it was well hidden.
She left her room, relieved to see that Cersei wasn't in the hall; she had probably had to arm up and be at the practice field hours ago. Brienne made a stop at the privy closet, cursing at the difficulty of arranging her cloak and sword in the small space. Better that than armor, though.
She saw that Helyn was sitting at the door tinkling a small bell next to her ear. Surely Hemikh hadn't surrendered one of his bells? If the Dothraki warriors gave up a bell for everyone they bedded it would be a wonder if they had any left. Maybe they kept extra bells for such occasions, but Brienne doubted it. Still, some enterprising merchant could start a thriving business in "I Fucked a Horse Lord" souvenirs. Mind out of the moat, she reminded herself, nodding to the old woman as she turned for the door leading into the yard.
She wondered how long it would be until someone had the courage to tell Helyn that her skirt was tucked into her smallclothes.
Outside, the hail had become no more than pea-sized pellets piling up atop the mounds of snow and pinging against the sides of the buildings. The icy wind blew steadily south. Brienne tugged her hood down and made her way to the stables, briefly wondering how someone of Tyrion's height had waded through such an accumulation of snow.
Tyrion. What to do with Jaime's pesky little brother? Brienne wondered if he was afraid of anything. Did he dislike spiders as much as Jaime did? How about small vermin with sharp teeth? Large, growling bipeds?
As she approached the stables she could see a Dothraki warrior with a long braid and a surprisingly furry cloak holding Sean's reins. Daenerys was standing with Ser Barristan next to her smaller mare. Barristan's huge dappled destrier was pawing at the ground, snorting white mist from his nostrils, his ears laid back against his broad neck. Sean looked disdainfully at the showy horse for such an ostentatious display before catching Brienne's scent and turning to nicker at her.
She was grinning as she walked up to the small party, remembering to give a little modified curtsey before hugging her horse.
Daenerys was looking at her curiously when she turned from Sean. Sean nudged Brienne on the shoulder with his strong forehead and she widened her stance to keep from being bowled over by him.
"Your Grace," Brienne greeted the queen, who for once was swathed in layers of warm clothing. Her red cloak was a wondrous thing of soft rabbit fur with rubies and black onyx chasing each other in a spiral pattern across the back.
"Lady Brienne," Daenerys said, "your horse seems much attached to you."
"Yes, your Grace, he is. We have been through a lot together."
"Did you grow up with horses, my lady?" Dany asked.
"I did. My lord father gave me my first horse, Skybiscuit, before I could walk. His offspring are quite sought after on Tarth."
"Your father gave a baby a stallion?"
"Yes, your Grace, though he made sure a servant rode along with me all the time until I was at least five."
Dany laughed, "I imagine that kind of upbringing would have helped me when I became a Khaleesi. Even Dothraki children start out on gentler steeds than service stallions."
"In retrospect, it does seem a little reckless, but I have always had a special rapport with animals. Biscuit never would willingly let anyone but me ride him."
Daenerys looked at Barristan and raised her eyebrows, smiling. Barristan nodded shortly to her and then regarded Brienne somberly, "Shall we ride then?" he said.
"Yes," said the queen, "it doesn't look like the storm is going to get weaker, so we may as well go before we lose the little light that we have."
Mounting her own horse first, Daenerys moved out to the front of their small group. Barristan on his dapple, Brienne on her brown and the Dothraki on his sturdy little bay followed.
Brienne turned to the Dothraki and greeted him in his native tongue. His fierce, scarred face lit with a smile as he returned the greeting and introduced himself as Ashefa.
"I'm Brienne," she said, reaching back to clasp forearms with him.
He nodded, "Nesat," he told her. Brienne wondered at how they all seemed to know her, or at least of her.
Brienne hoped the queen would get to the reason for their ride soon. It looked like they might be heading into King's Landing as she was headed out of the yard.
The snow and hail crunched beneath the horse's hooves as they carefully picked their way down Aegon's high hill. The wind was blowing too fiercely for conversation until they reached the bottom of the hill. To Brienne's surprise, Daenerys turned her horse to the right and headed for the walls of the city.
She led them along the street closest to the walls, nodding to the small folk pausing in their work to kneel in the snow as they realized the queen was passing by.
They passed the Iron Gate without using it to exit the city and Brienne began to get a sense of where they were going. A shiver of anxiety and excitement ran through her.
"Your Grace," she called over the wind, "are we going to see the dragons?"
Dany twisted around on her horse to smile at her, "We are, Lady Brienne. I hope you are not afraid of being close to them?"
Brienne returned the smile, "I've always wanted to see them. I hear they are even more beautiful than the paintings of them."
"They are," the queen confirmed with a mother's pride.
Brienne could see Rhaenys' hill looming ahead, and the ruins of the dragonpit beyond that. She knew the burned and collapsed ruin had been partially rebuilt when Daenerys took back the Iron Throne for the Targaryens. The huge building had once held nearly a score of dragons, but Brienne could see that only a small portion of it had been reconstructed to house the only three dragons known to exist.
They passed the Dragon Gate and rode around the building to a lower, smaller structure with an attached stable that had been added recently to the portion meant to house the dragons. There was also a covered pen housing scores of bleating sheep for feeding the dragons.
Even before they got close to the building Brienne could smell the peculiar musty reptile smell of the beasts, much like the lizards she had seen once when someone from Braavos had visited her father, trying to sell him oddities and trinkets from the free cities.
The queen led them around to the stables, and Brienne could feel Sean's skin twitching with nerves beneath her. She patted his shoulder and leaned close to his ear to murmur encouragement to him. His ears twisted back to listen to her, but she could tell by his swishing tail he was on edge.
A squat, muscular, Dothraki woman came out of the stables to help with their horses. She wore a warm-looking tunic beneath her horsehair vest, and her gray hair was bound in a thick knot at the back of her head.
The queen dismounted first and then Barristan, Brienne, and Ashefa swung off of their horses.
"Kristasof," Ashefa greeted the woman, bending his hulking frame over to hug her. She patted his cheek fondly. They led the horses into the stable, both talking at once.
Brienne turned to see Daenerys watching them with a little smile, "His grandmother," she told Brienne.
She led them into the building, which proved to be quite warm and opulent, its walls covered with tapestries, and rugs generously scattered over the wood floor.
"Shall we go meet the dragons?" Daenerys said to Brienne.
"Of course, your Grace," Brienne said, inclining her head.
"You may call me Dany or Daenerys when we're in a private space like this, Brienne."
"Thank you, your… Dany." Brienne said, suddenly feeling anything but reassured by the familiarity. She still didn't know why the queen had summoned her, but one glance at Ser Barristan told her she was soon to find out.
"We'll return soon," Dany told Ser Barristan, who sank into one of the upholstered chairs near the roaring hearth. Brienne wondered why he wasn't coming with them, and then thought to wonder why Ser Jorah hadn't been included in the group at all. She wasn't sure she had ever seen the queen without him nearby.
Daenerys led Brienne to the rear of the building, where an iron-reinforced door led into a large covered run that ran the length of the three pens housing the dragons. Brienne immediately noticed the blood splashes on the dirt and on the metal fences surrounding the pens.
"Sheep's blood," Daenerys said, seeing Brienne's widened eyes dart from the blood to the dragons.
"That's… reassuring," Brienne said in a low voice, finding her eyes suddenly riveted to the dragons themselves.
"These here," Dany said, trying to draw Brienne's attention to a series of metal panels standing about ten feet apart all along the row, "are proof against fire, in case any of them decide to torch us."
"And… how would we know? Would there be some warning?" Brienne said, mesmerized by the beasts before her, but glancing quickly at the panels to familiarize herself with their location.
"You have to be alert for it, but I have found they make a raspy sound just before they ignite their flame sacs. One comes to have a very keen ear for it after a while."
"Oh," Brienne managed.
She saw the largest dragon, black Drogon, looking down at them curiously. She shifted her gaze to the green dragon, Rhaegal, noting his cold bronze eyes watching her, making her feel so much like prey she worried that she'd bleat if she tried to talk.
When her eyes came to Viserion, her breath caught in her throat at his beauty. His cream colored scales gleamed like opals in the light filtering through the high glass ceiling, and his molten gold eyes echoed the color of his horns and the crest along his neck and back. His pupils, at first just thin slits like a cat's, began to widen as he looked at Brienne. She wondered if he liked what he saw; did she resemble a sheep to him as well?
Viserion stretched his neck to bring his head closer to the bars of the fence and Brienne. She held very still, just as she would upon meeting a skittish horse. After this, she thought, being in a pit with a bear would seem like nothing at all. Still, she wished Jaime were here, if only to look upon this magnificent creature with her.
Daenerys was watching her reaction closely, but when she saw Viserion showing an obvious interest in Brienne she began to watch the dragon intently as well.
"Would you like to touch him?" she said quietly to Brienne, keeping her eyes on Viserion, noting his widening pupils and the way his nostrils twitched with the scent of this new human in his midst.
Tearing her gaze from the dragon Brienne looked at the queen questioningly. Was she serious? What did one do to make friends with a dragon? Not offer them a carrot, surely. A leg of lamb, perhaps?
"Let him sniff your hand, just as you would a dog or a horse," she suggested.
Brienne took cautious steps forward holding out her hand, palm down. When she was almost to the fence Viserion pushed his narrow snout through the bars and snuffled at it. Brienne let him sniff and began to talk to him in a sing-song voice, telling him what a good, sweet, precious dragon he was. She turned her hand over and let him sniff her palm before she lifted her hand to pet his nose.
The dragon was warmer than she had expected him to be. She remembered that lizards had cold skin and needed heat in order to move and thrive. Dragons, with their own source of heat, must have warmer blood.
Viserion's scales were slightly rough but leathery, much like the carapace of the softshelled turtles common to the interior waters of Tarth. Brienne watched his golden eyes as she scratched along the ridge above his nostrils and saw when he blinked that he had a third eyelid just like a cat's. A small humming seemed to come from deep in his chest.
"Is that a bad sign, that sound?" She asked, not looking away from his eyes.
"No," Dany said, "I call that durring; it's like the dragon equivalent of purring. They don't do it very often."
Brienne finally looked over at the queen, surprised to find a combination of satisfaction and jealousy in her face. Dany smiled a little self-consciously.
"I had really hoped you would get on with one of them, but I confess I am a little surprised and envious at how quickly Viserion came to you. They don't normally take to new people easily."
"Is that why Ser Barristan is staying inside?" Brienne asked, "So they would have fewer people to distract them?"
"They are not overly fond of men." Daenerys admitted, "With fairly good reason, in Viserion's case. A man tried to tame him with a whip once while I was gone on Drogon; Rhaegal put an end to that. They tolerate a few men, though. Barristan a little, Ser Jorah not at all."
"Why not Jorah, especially?" Brienne asked.
"I think he just gives off a stink of jealousy and possession around me that bothers them; especially Drogon." Daenerys said, "He was there when they were born and at first he was like an uncle to them, but as time went on and they matured they came to dislike him."
She stepped toward Drogon and held up one dainty hand to him. He lowered his massive head and she reached between the bars to scratch the soft scales around his eyes. Brienne heard the low, vibrating durrrr coming from him, louder and deeper in tone than Viserion's.
"If I may be so bold, my queen, did you bring me here just to meet the dragons? Or did you have something else you wished to speak to me about?" Brienne said, "Not that I'm complaining; I have been fascinated by dragons since I was a young girl. Meeting one is like a dream coming true."
"I am glad to hear you say that," Dany said, "Let's go back inside for and I will tell you why we came."
Brienne reached between the bars to give Viserion some last scratches over his eye ridges. He snorted warm air at her, much like a horse would. She turned to follow the queen, excitement warring with a sense of danger that had the back of her scalp tingling.
What could the queen want with Brienne that had to do with dragons? Did she want Brienne to help care for them, since she was strong and the dragons did not like men? There could be few women in King's Landing brave enough to work with the great beasts. Brienne wondered how many women like the Dothraki grandmother had come with Dany across the sea.
But if Daenerys wanted Brienne to be a glorified stable hand it hardly seemed sensible; she was of far more use as a fighter. Dany must want something else, something that wouldn't take Brienne away from the battle in the north, and, Brienne noted with a lurch of her heart, away from Jaime.
Maybe she just wanted advice on using the dragons when she finally brought them to join the battle in the north: the best places to deploy them; which creatures would be most devastated by dragon flame. Brienne had plenty of opinions on that subject. These dragons should have joined the fight months ago. Thousands of lives could be saved if Daenerys would bring them to the wall. If she sent word ahead they could even have some tasty sheep laid in to feed them. They could stay in one of the abandoned fortresses along the Wall.
Maybe there was something else, unrelated to dragons, that the queen needed from her, and she had only brought her here to win her over by letting her meet a dragon. Could the queen want to put Brienne in charge of a unit of fighters? She had some experience of that, being one of Jaime's captains.
Or perhaps this was just about Jaime, and Daenerys was finally coming to her senses about how useful he could be going forward. If so, Brienne would fair talk her ears off about all of Jaime's qualities as a commander. Ser Barristan was still not fond of Jaime, but he must have come along for some reason. Even he must see that Jaime had saved King's Landing when he killed the mad king.
Brienne had only recently met Ser Barristan, when she first came to the keep. He seemed an honorable man, and his fighting skills were impressive. Still, his demeanor often left her cold and his continuing disapproval of Jaime didn't make her inclined to like him, either.
Daenerys led Brienne back into the main room of the building attached to the pit. Ser Barristan was enjoying a steaming mug of what smelled like mulled wine. When he saw the women he stood and waited patiently until Dany had seated herself. While Brienne settled herself in another of the big, comfortable chairs Barristan went into what must have been a small kitchen and brought out two more mugs of the hot wine. He handed them each one.
Brienne set hers down on a table next to her. She hadn't eaten since the night before, and wanted to be sharp for whatever was coming. She sat up straight and tense in her chair and waited while Daenerys took a sip of the wine and then curled her legs under her in the big chair. Such a tiny thing, Brienne thought, to wield such power.
"Lady Brienne, can you guess why I brought you here?" Daenerys asked. She was smiling, but Brienne did not find it inspired her confidence.
"I confess that I cannot, you Grace." She said, resisting the urge to twist her hands together in her lap like a nervous child.
"Did you like the dragons?" Dany asked.
"I am not sure if one can 'like' dragons, your Grace. They seem far too dangerous to simply 'like' them. I did find them beautiful and awe-inspiring."
"And Viserion? It looked like you might have 'liked' him." Dany teased lightly, but Brienne sensed something leading behind her easy words.
"He is quite beautiful. He seemed to be a little tamer than the other two."
"Viserion is actually just as wild as Drogon and Rhaegal. He did seem intrigued by you, though."
"I have always gotten on well with animals," Brienne said, "possibly because I tend to care for them more I than do for most people."
"Then what I am about to tell you should make you happy," Daenerys said, her smile turning sharp. Ser Barristan was watching Brienne from beneath his bushy white brows. He was not smiling.
Brienne tilted her head, thinking: Make me happy? I doubt it. She said nothing, the sense of danger getting stronger.
Daenerys waited for her to speak. Brienne took a drink of her wine. Barristan cleared his throat.
"Lady Brienne, I need your help with the dragons," Daenerys said bluntly.
"My… help." Brienne said, willing the queen to get on with what she wanted to say.
"Yes. My people expect the dragons to aid in the fight up at the Wall. I have flown on Drogon once, but I did not command him. I was not raised around animals, my lady, or I might have known to train my dragons when they were younger. As their mother, I must admit that I rather indulged them." Dany paused to sip some more wine, "When they grew larger and more dangerous there was little I could do to control them. Men have tried to step in and tame them, but most, I'm afraid, failed."
"Failed, your grace?"
"Were killed by the dragons, Brienne. I have come to realize that the dragons are less aggressive to women. Most women, though, are not only too craven to earn a dragon's respect, but few are strong enough to work with a dragon in any meaningful way. You are both brave and strong. It also appears that your prowess with horses might also be true of dragons."
Brienne had been holding her breath as she realized why Dany had chosen her for whatever it was she wanted. Strength. Bravery. Perhaps being somewhat disposable in the scheme of things.
"So you believe I can tame your dragons in some way?"
"I don't think anyone can tame a dragon, but I do need you to train a dragon. Just Viserion, since he seems to have chosen you."
"Just Viserion," Brienne said, thinking of the huge, deadly reptile out in the pit, "Train him. To what? Walk on a leash? Not chew up her Grace's shoes? To paw the ground for treats?"
"I am glad you see some humor in this," the queen said, "You'll need it. I want you to train Viserion to carry a rider on his back."
Brienne whistled through her teeth. This queen might be as mad as her father, she thought. "You will pardon my doubts, but if the dragons have become accustomed to killing their trainers I hardly think that someone like me with a little horse sense is the person to step in where the others failed. Who is this poor, doomed soul you are expecting to ride your wild flying beast?"
"You." Came Ser Barristan's voice, and Brienne turned to look at him. Seeing his serious, even pitying expression, the blood drained from her face. She shakily took another sip of the warm wine.
"Then I must refuse," Brienne said with more certainty than she felt. "In just over a sennight your fighters will be marching on the King's Road. I belong with them. I intend to return to the fight in the north. Ser Jaime and I left men behind who have been fighting all this time, waiting for fresh forces."
Queen Daenerys exchanged a look with Ser Barristan before speaking again, "I know that you want to be with your Ser Jaime, my lady. He is my leverage to convince you to do this. If you agree to take on Viserion's training, and you can break him to a saddle and show me that you can fly him, I will allow you to travel with the army and your lover."
"And if I do not agree to train the dragon?"
"I can make your life quite unpleasant. I can hold you in the Keep when the army goes north. I could even send you back to your father on Tarth, if the weather ever allows for it. Or," Daenerys paused, narrowing her eyes at Brienne, "I could send you with the army but put you and Ser Jaime in separate units that would never fight in the same time or place. Cersei would be in Jaime's unit, and he would, by royal decree, have to keep her near him at all times, including in his tent. To keep her out of trouble, as it were. You would rarely see each other."
Jaime and Cersei in the same tent? Jaime would never stand for that, Brienne thought.
"What if I try to train Viserion and fail?" Brienne asked.
"If he hasn't killed or maimed you in seven days, and I see you've made an honest effort with him, I will release you from training duty to travel with the army."
"And if I successfully fly him? Then what?"
"Then I might need you again, when I am ready for the dragons to fight the Others. I would need you to fly him in battle. But that would not be for many moons, and we, Drogon and I, would fly with him to wherever you are fighting."
"And Rhaegal? Who will fly him?"
"I wish I knew, Brienne. He is unpredictable, and even I am afraid to risk flying on him."
"When do you need an answer from me, your Grace?" Brienne asked over the sick feeling in her stomach.
"I would like your answer now, of course," Daenerys said, "but I will give you until tomorrow eve to make your decision. I need you for this, Brienne. I am sorry to have to make threats if you refuse, but you could potentially save many lives by training Viserion. He was such a sweet baby, Brienne. I wish you could have seen him then."
A sweet, murderous baby, you mean, Brienne thought. "I'm sure I will have questions in the meantime," she said, "about the possible details of this training."
"Tyrion can answer any questions that you come up with. If he doesn't know the answer he will find out from me." Daenerys told her.
That little shit Tyrion, again! He knew this was coming. Jaime's with him right now; I wonder if Tyrion will tell him about this meeting with the queen.
Ser Barristan cleared his throat and said, "I believe the storm is getting stronger, your Grace, and the light is fast fading from the sky. May I suggest we ride for the Keep while we can still see the road?"
"You are right, of course, Barry. Please got let Ashefa know that we'll want the horses." Daenerys said.
When he had gone Dany leaned conspiratorially toward Brienne. "So tell me, Brienne, how close was the song to the truth about you and Jaime?"
Girl talk? Now? Thought Brienne. "Which parts, your Grace?"
"Which parts? I have to choose? How about the bear pit, we'll start with that."
"Yes, that was all true," Brienne said, finding it ludicrous to discuss it with someone who had just threatened to keep her and Jaime apart.
"I didn't believe it when I first heard the tale," Dany admitted, "but the more I learned about the two of you, the more I believed it possible. Is it true you fight back to back when you battle the Others? That between the cage of steel you create no ice sword can get through?"
"That is also true, your Grace," Brienne said grudgingly.
"And are you secretly married?"
"If I told you that, your Grace, if would hardly be a secret any longer, would it?" Brienne said sullenly.
Dany laughed, which made Brienne all the angrier at this farce. First, to demand a possibly deadly favor of her under threat of taking the thing most dear to her away, and then to rub her nose in it with romantic conjecture. What a twit the queen was turning out to be.
They heard a long whistle outside and rose to go to their horses. Brienne hugged Sean before she mounted, wishing he could hug her back. She needed to get back to the Keep to talk this out with Jaime. He might see some angle that she was missing. They could go have some mushy fish together in the dining hall; Brienne was nearly hungry enough to eat even that.
