Chapter V: Captive and guardian
Jaime knew that fighting Brienne with bonded hands and fatigued was as useless as a blind rider to show a horse the way. It was only a matter of time until this was over.
What use do I have to buy time in the wilderness? Jaime could not spur the sudden thought, for Brienne raised her broadsword high and aimed it at Jaime in high speed. She missed Jaime at a hair's breath.
The Kingsguard dodged sideways. He stood in the shallow stream with wet boots and breeches and tumbled over hidden stones.
I need deeper water and a current. He parried Brienne's next blow, but hadn't the strength to hold it. Both swords rasped with an eerie sound against each other and separated again.
Brienne's next blow just cut air and the surface of the water because Jamie had thrown his whole body to the left. Protectively, he held his bonded hands and arms before his breast and face, using the sword for a defensive stance. At that moment of surprise, he kicked at Brienne's knee cap from the side. A "cranck" noise and her outcry proofed him he had done successfully as he splashed into the water.
The kingsguard tried to scramble onto his feet, soaked wet, his clinging clothes hindered him to hurry on. Like a fish on the dry ground, Brienne lay flat in the current, screaming and kicking with her good leg.
For a moment, Jaime thought to take his sword in hand and to end it all for her, but he decided against it.
This woman had done him no harm and even showed a kind of courage in the way she lived which he could only admire. So step by step, he fought the hindering water to get away, the sword still in hand, accompanied by her cries.