Author's Notes: Welcome to the next chapter of The Dragon's Roar! I want to thank everyone for their dedication to reading and supporting this fic. Your generosity is incredibly invigorating. You're all the best!

For those who may not know, but I'm in the midst of doing a NaNoWriMo with the goal of completing this fic. I'm already more than halfway to the 50K word mark. So close I can almost taste victory and it will be no small part due to your encouragement that we're approaching the end at all! Thank you!

I, of course, can't leave out Catzrko0l. They continue to be a longstanding beta for this fic and I can't thank her enough for all of her work.

Chapter 136

Jaime XLVIII

Stepping into Casterly Rock felt like stepping into a dream. It had been easy the first time because he was not lord and he'd been raring for a fight with his father. Now, though, as he rode through the Lion's Mouth he felt like he was staring down at himself, as a perfect vision of what he'd expected life to be like had he never been inducted into the Kingsguard.

But he was here now. Since accepting a position as Hand, this was where it was all bound to lead. His mission North had merely delayed it, but he was always going to end up here. A lord. The Lord of the Rock, he thought, shaking his head incredulously. His father had always been the lord. He was certain to never live up to him. Then his father had committed treason and had set the approval for the next Lord Lannister so low that Jaime only had to allow the castle to run at its usual level to achieve success.

He did still have some salvaging of the Lannister name to do, but he would grant that being Hand had given him experience on how to thread the needle between being too lenient and being an unmoving tyrant. He hoped his loyalty to Aemon set the example he expected for the rest of the Westerland lords with regard to him. He and Aemon had not agreed on everything and at least one of their disagreements had been highly public. Jaime had risked Aemon looking too much like a boy in over his head, but he thought it set the realm on a good path.

Aemon had responded to the challenge and, in Jaime's appraisal, exceeded expectations. In two years, he had managed to claim the throne from Robert Baratheon and won the loyalty of all of the Seven Kingdoms without even levying a single battle. If his father hadn't been so bent on subjugation, Jaime thought he might be impressed at what the young Targaryen had achieved compared to his forebears.

It did concern him that Drogon had burnt the Ironborn leadership to a crisp without a direct order from Aemon. After they'd passed on the Goldroad, Jaime had spent much of the rest of the day furtively looking upward for the dragon and praying that he wouldn't see fit to burn him alive. He imagined that even to Brienne the notion might be ridiculous, but Aemon's story reminded Jaime of Daenerys' attack on the Goldroad while she was riding Drogon. He wouldn't soon forget staring straight down the maw of a dragon's open mouth and seeing the flame building up in its throat. It had taken him some time to shake the memory from his mind and he'd ended up shooting awake in the night dreaming that Bronn had been too late and the fire had enveloped him and his horse.

That certainly had not happened and the rest of their travel down the Goldroad went smoothly. He had noticed that Brienne's good cheer slowly seeped away like a leaky cask until he thought she looked quite pale. If a maester looked at her, he'd likely think it was the pregnancy's doing, but Jaime was certain it was about her duties as a lady. She had expressed her concern about doing them more than once. Though she hadn't said anything specific, he knew from their long shared history—even if most of it was less relevant now—that her largest grievances were her interactions with people. Whether it was with her childhood septa or the other noble ladies, she'd only ever been met with scorn. Given that Lady of the Rock was a position of high prestige and high pressure, she was certain she could not live up to it. Jaime intended to prove otherwise.

He hadn't said anything directly to her, but when she first caught sight of the Rock, he could see her worry and fear beyond the awe. He had reached out to hold her hand and squeeze it comfortingly with a smile. She had squeezed it back.

She wasn't best pleased with him and it was obvious why. Her father had forbidden her from training and Jaime assured her that he would be more lenient. The only issue was that she was quite a bit further along since they last saw each other and a solid physical hit still presented the danger of miscarriage. During their evening bouts before bed, he did his best to only hit her ankles or wrists. This miffed her though because it meant his moves were mere touches rather than full jabs or swings. The training had ended when she'd struggled to put her armor on over her rounding belly, which only served to frustrate her further. Jaime allowed her to wail on him with a lathe, but he hadn't dared take a strike for himself. Though she seethed, it had worked out her energy. It was difficult, but he preferred she ignore him over imperiling their child.

He didn't begrudge her anger. She was fully aware of the risks, but training was all she had. Though it was decades behind him, he wouldn't soon forget his imprisonment in Robb Stark's camp and then the subsequent loss of his hand. To not train for over a year had been maddening. It was why Jaime had been eager to get his hands on the first sword he saw and fight Brienne, even when she'd been taking him home.

"It's just a few more weeks," Jaime had told her.

"Weeks?!" Brienne laughed balefully. "Months! It will be months yet! I will be out of practice! My muscles are wasting away as we ride."

He nodded. "I know, but that's the way of it. You don't want to hurt our child, right?"

"Of course not!"

Well, neither do I. A single punch to your stomach could be enough to kill him and then your misery would have been all for naught."

That had made her pause. "You're careful."

"I fear I would not be careful enough and I do not want the death of my own child hanging over my head."

That stopped her arguing in her tracks, but she continued to act sullen throughout the ride. One of the few daring enough to break the silence was Cyrus. Apart from his cello and violina, he had a lute and would occasionally pluck out a few notes. It was sometimes accompanied by the lyrics to a song or humming. Once, they'd had a spirited discussion about names for the new Lannister babe, which Jaime had not found helpful, but it had brought Brienne out of her doldrums. She'd cracked the first smile he'd seen in weeks.

During the discussion, she had briefly relented on her maximum of one child only when she spoke of an heir for Tarth. When she'd made her original declaration, he knew that she was speaking from a place of immense frustration. He was ready to respect her wishes, but had a feeling that they were going to have more than just one child. Brienne had forgotten to take the tea that would prevent pregnancies after all and he doubted it would be the first time that happened.

Since Fort Alexandratos was a short distance from Casterly Rock, Lord Cyrus and Lady Delphine had taken their leave so as to enter their keep for the first time. They'd been forced to stop the carriages so that the children could share a tearful goodbye. Cassian had been bawling as the Alexandratos twins took their leave, promising to visit. To make his son feel better, he'd placed Cassian with him atop his horse so that he could enjoy the road leading up to Casterly Rock.

"Look, son, that's your home. We're home," Jaime said to him. He wouldn't soon forget the look of wonder on Cassian's face and the way he tilted his head back as they got closer and closer. He loved Cassian with the same intensity that he had spent hating Cersei. But she was dead. He would never fully let go of his hate for her, but he could smother it with his love for Cassian.

When he climbed down from his horse, he glanced around helplessly until a maid rushed forward. "Please take care of my son and make sure he gets a room close to the Lord's suite," Jaime ordered. Then he turned his attention to Brienne. He'd offered his hand, but much to his amusement, she'd slapped it away and lowered herself, staring around in awe at the enormity of the cave that housed all of the rough and dirty functions of the castle: the smithy, the stables, the training grounds, the tanning equipment, and leatherworking.

The carriage opened for Myrcella and Julianna to step out. They looked around, gaping at the extensive cave around them. "Welcome to Casterly Rock, girls. You'll find Joy Hill here. She's your Grand Uncle Gerion's daughter. I will arrange for a septa to continue your lessons, but for now, why don't you just get settled?"

"Jaime!" He turned to see Gerion himself rushing over to slap him on the back.

"Good to see ya! It's been long enough!" his uncle shouted.

"Gerion! I assumed you were here when I didn't see you in the king's train."

"Aye, with the Ironborn sorted, the king said he had little need of us in King's Landing," Gerion replied.

"Good, good. Did you have trouble of any sort? With the soldiers, with Ser Kevan …?

Gerion seemed amused by his suspicions more than anything. "The soldiers were generally well-behaved. A few scuffles here and there. Kevan was quick to punish. A bit overly harsh if you ask me."

"How so?"

"Two soldiers fought over a portion of the food and he made them both go without for the night. I know what it's like to starve after a hard day's march and it never soothes tempers," Gerion replied.

Jaime nodded. "I can see what you mean. I may speak to him after all."

"Now, how is the lady?" Gerion said, turning his attention to Brienne and dipping his head in deference. "You keepin' this rascal in line?"

"By my life or death," Brienne replied simply, her voice joyless and her expression hard.

Gerion broke out in guffaws. "Jaime, you should be kinder to your lady! She's what stands between you and abject failure."

"You're one to talk," Jaime grumbled. Though she was quite far along in her pregnancy, her stomach barely stuck out and she looked merely like she had only gained some weight. The castle would soon find out at dinner that night.

Jaime held his arm out for Brienne and escorted her straight to their room. Once the door closed, he sighed, "I should have had the servants redecorate. It's just as gaudy as when my father left it."

She gaped. "I'm not sure the king has a more opulent room."

He snorted. "You just reminded me that Aemon will have likely been in the Royal Suite at the top. I'm sure he enjoyed that." Jaime could just imagine Aemon's bewilderment at all of the gold.

Their enormous bed, complete with a canopy and royal red curtains with gold-threaded embroidery on the end, was placed between two floor-to-ceiling windows, some of the few carved out in the castle. Two Lannister lion tapestries stood on either side of the doors to their chambers, their threads equally shimmering with gold. An enormous book case took up the far corner of the room. A plush red velvet couch and red velvet chairs were set in front of an enormous fireplace. The two pillars of the mantel were elegantly carved roaring lions out of a shiny, black onyx. Most of the floor was made of the stone of Casterly Rock, but there were enormous Myrish rugs for the bed and another in front of the fireplace.

"I imagine you'll want a bath before dinner," Jaime began. "I'll have the servants draw one up for you."

"I don't suppose dinner will be a private affair," Brienne asked hopefully.

"Afraid not," Jaime said, with a shake of his head. "It's just for one night. But the castle needs to see that its lord and lady have arrived."

She began chewing her lip but nodded. Jaime thought about making a quip to join her, but decided that she could do with some time to herself after spending every minute—awake and asleep—in his company. Brienne was not one to indulge in her baths, but the first one after a long trip had a tendency to alter habits.

Once she'd finished, she poked her head out into the room and began walking as if on eggshells, a towel wrapped tightly around her body.

Since she'd begun bathing, he took a seat at the desk to read over papers, so his gaze followed her across the room in his confusion. "This is your room, Brienne. Walk as you please and as naked as often, if you don't mind."

She sighed and rolled her eyes. "Pregnancy is abhorrent. Ever since I began fighting, I've felt so confident and sure in my body. I knew I looked ungainly, but now I feel ungainly as well. I'm not so sure you wouldn't find me disgusting."

Jaime blinked in puzzlement. "You're beautiful; don't let anyone else tell you otherwise. I know that … pregnancy is difficult. I've heard … women complain about various ailments to do with pregnancy when they think we're not listening. Most men wouldn't care, but I do." He rose from his seat and walked over to her and wrapped her up in his arms. When he pulled away, he dipped in to kiss her gently on the lips. "I consider myself the luckiest man in the world that I have a woman like you at my side. And I would trust no other woman to bear our children. May I?" He gestured to her belly.

She hesitated and with some reluctance, opened the towel to show her nakedness. Though her belly was rounder than he'd ever seen, it was merely a slight protrusion compared to other women. He cupped her belly, running his hands over it and then placed his ear against it. He waited for a moment and then he grinned as he felt a gentle nudge into his cheek.

"I can feel him," he whispered.

"He's mostly lively at night when I'm trying to sleep."

Jaime laughed. "Of course he is." He placed a kiss on the spot he felt the nudge. "Why don't you take a nap then? I'll bathe while you're resting."

She nodded and pulled back the covers to slip between the sheets. When he woke her to dress, she seemed in better spirits and actually gave him a brief smile before they headed out together.

The dinner was, thankfully, a dull and minimal affair. The castellan, Devan Lannister, greeted the new lord and lady courteously and, throughout the dinner proceeded, to bore Jaime to death over how the castle had been run in his absence. Ser Kevan was seated close at hand and occasionally offered corrections or expanded on certain details, but was otherwise cordial. Gerion sat with the children and, more specifically, his own daughter, Joy Hill. His uncle created a joyous uproar throughout dinner, occasionally looping in Brienne when he told condensed stories of their time in the Red Keep. Much of it was spent poking fun at Jaime, who either ignored them or rolled his eyes.

The next day, Brienne met the household, including Maester Creylen, Captain Vylarr of the House Guards, the master-at-arms Ser Benedict Broom, Septa Julaine, and the head maid Vessa. The septa was quite old and he remembered that she'd frequently butted heads with Cersei, but he couldn't remember if that was due to Cersei's own fiery stubbornness or if the septa had spit words about unladylike behaviors. For the moment, she smiled and dipped her head in respect without a single sniff at Brienne's manly attire. The head maid was a plump woman, but with a kind round face and sweet words. He was determined to keep an eye on both of them to make sure they gave Brienne appropriate deference.

It didn't take long for them to settle into a routine. Jaime would leave before Brienne woke in the morning to get in a training session with Pod and the other knights. He always left the training grounds feeling proper Lannister arrogance that he was still the best swordsman at Casterly Rock. He was pleased also with Podrick's progress. Brienne didn't allow him to waste his skills on Tarth. Though she wasn't allowed to train, she oversaw his training and had drilled him relentlessly. Of all of the knights there, he held out against Jaime the longest.

He made sure to finish training before breakfast so as not to deliberately taunt her with freedoms she couldn't currently enjoy. She still knew, but she didn't pester him, and simply asked after Pod's progress in the ring.

She then would meet with Septa Julaine and Vessa about their duties. The septa did put up token resistance against Myrcella training, but acquiesced the moment Brienne mentioned that it had been met with the approval of Lord Lannister. This irritated Jaime and he offered to dismiss her, but Brienne waved him off and insisted that it was a small thing.

A few weeks after returning, they extended an invitation to Lord Cyrus, Lady Delphine, and their children to join them at Casterly Rock for dinner, which was graciously accepted. The children were once more largely entertained by Gerion. Their daughter, Lucille, and twin boys, Monty and Max, played their instruments to demonstrate the pieces that they'd been working on since leaving King's Landing. This was the first time that Jaime thought he saw his Uncle Kevan even crack a smile, as brief as it was.

As winter was approaching, Fort Alexandratos lacked the better part of a garden. Cyrus and Delphine mentioned constructing a glass garden like Winterfell had. It would cost much more than their little fort would ever pull in and therefore had to run it by Jaime. Most castles in the Westerlands had gardens, but not any with glass gardens that he was aware of. He made inquiries towards finding someone to construct one. As Casterly Rock was a rock, it had little in the way of gardening and relied almost entirely upon trade to bring fresh fruits and vegetables from the market and the Reach. He demanded a generous cut of the crop yield from House Alexandratos if he paid for the construction, to which they agreed.

"Does anyone in this region keep their own bees?" Cyrus asked.

"Beekeeping? The Westerlands is rocky and isn't best known for its meadows, if you didn't notice while riding. I believe the Reach has some hives; honey is at a premium, not that it means much to us," Jaime said, with a haughty Lannister smirk.

Cyrus rolled his eyes. "Well, beekeeping is something that I would like to learn. Come spring, I think it would be useful to have a few hives on hand. As you said, honey is at a premium. Fort Alexandratos doesn't have a lot of space, so we should maximize what we do have. The taxes we'll pay to you will be far more impressive if we can manage a few hives."

"I suppose I can make inquiries about beekeepers," Jaime said.

"I'm a little surprised at the lack of diversity in the Seven Kingdoms' trade. I would think more would be able to offer honey and not just those in the Reach," Cyrus explained.

"As far as I know, trade is what motivated us to keep the peace when we were separate kingdoms. Upsetting the balance meant more than just pissing off the kingdom you wanted to start a fight with; you'd incite many of the surrounding kingdoms as well."

"Well, that's not tenable in Essos. So much of the continent is a host of city-states and while we have trade between our cities, we know better than to rely on any single one source for the bulk of our needs. Many of the great houses kept their own bees."

"Oh, so you know how to keep bees?" Jaime asked.

Cyrus snorted and Delphine shook her head with some sadness.

"My family were musicians, remember?"

"And my family would hardly think a lady should learn the likes of beekeeping. That's servants work," Delphine explained, wrinkling her nose.

"I don't work in the mines, but my father still taught me how it works because it's important to know what those servants are doing, especially if problems arise," Jaime said.

"Yes, I learned about fishing and the wineries we boast on Tarth," Brienne said with some pleasant confusion.

"Honey was not our main industry. It seems you're fortunate that you had fathers who understand those needs," Delphine replied. "All the more reason for eloping. I will not leave my daughter to suffer in a similar situation."

"Very well; it's possible we may need to pull someone from Essos then since I doubt the Reach will enjoy us muscling in on their territory," Jaime muttered.

"I hardly expect us to produce enough to challenge their supply," Cyrus said.

"A dent is enough to draw their ire. A marriage to smooth things over in the future might be required." Jaime scowled. Why did so much of their agreements have to end in marriage?

Delphine frowned. "Will you be requiring my daughter to marry?"

"It's a possibility, but depending on who it is this incites the most, they may not want to marry a son to one as lowly as your daughter will be. That's bound to come back onto my children," Jaime said.

If they were offended by what he said, they didn't show it as they breathed a collective sigh of relief.

This piqued Jaime's interest. "Do you plan on marrying your daughter to someone?"

"Not if she doesn't want it," Cyrus replied.

Jaime failed to smother his amusement. "You'd have her hold out for love?"

"We did," Delphine replied. "We'll not expect from her what we won't do ourselves."

"Appropriate. I wish my father had thought along similar lines," Jaime grumbled.

"Your father only wanted the best for you," Ser Kevan interjected, his expression pleasantly neutral.

"The best was Brienne and he tried to have her killed," Jaime snapped, reaching over to take Brienne's hand in his, as if to reassure himself she was there.

"That seems unlikely," Kevan said. "Tywin was a hard man, certainly ruthless. But the killing of an innocent woman to prevent betrothal was far beneath even him."

"Well, believe it or not, Uncle, that's exactly what happened. Brienne was not the type of woman who had suitors lined up and Ser Osmund Kettleblack just happened to make an offer after I merely glanced in Brienne's direction? Quite the stink of horseshit, despite no horse," Jaime replied.

"That sort of language is hardly appropriate for the dinner table."

"Then you can leave if it offends you so."

Kevan nodded and rose from the table, quietly exiting the hall. Their eyes all followed him in silence, even the children.

"Well, I would prefer you not swear in front of the children if you could. It was difficult enough stamping out the words they picked up from the sailors on our ships," Lady Delphine said neutrally.

"My apologies, Lady Delphine. Yours is a far more reasonable request," Jaime replied. They continued the conversation.

House Alexandratos left the next day with a promise to return for the birth of the firstborn Lannister, much to Jaime's relief. Though Brienne never spoke aloud, she seemed to find comfort in Lady Delphine. He was prepared to ride his own horse to Fort Alexandratos and ride back with Lady Delphine the instant Brienne felt even so much as a twinge in her stomach.

The day of the birth started innocuously enough. Jaime noticed that Brienne was slower to rise from bed as usual, but he had felt her tossing and turning in the night and assumed she'd merely struggled to find rest. He tried to persuade her back into bed, but she refused, insisting she was fine to do her duties. Given that she was such a hearty woman, Maester Creylen didn't see any issue with her continuing to work as normal. She still was not showing like a normal woman should at her stage, which Jaime put down to her girth and length.

He was busy that day with Devan Lannister going over the stores of food. They had enough for two years, with no trade. Jaime didn't think that was enough if the winter ended up being long to follow the summer, Long Night or not, so he insisted that Devan put his efforts in expanding the stores to hold five years' worth.

Julianna rushed in to break up their discussion, "Uncle, uncle, Brienne is having the baby!"

Jaime thought his heart had dropped like a stone into his feet. "Where is she?"

"Umm … I'm not sure what the room is called. It's on the fourth floor," Julianna said.

Their quarters were on the next floor up; thinking it passing strange that they didn't guide her to their marriage bed. Perhaps the baby is coming too soon? He thought and felt his anxiety rise. "Devan, send a raven to House Alexandratos that Lady Delphine's presence is requested for the birth."

"Of course, my lord."

They exited the room, going opposite directions. Jaime held on to Julianna's hand as she dragged him through the castle. He had his doubts that she knew where she was going, but was pleasantly surprised when they rounded a corner and immediately saw a room with ladies coming in and out.

Jaime ducked in before they could say a word.

Brienne was standing; her face was composed but strained.

"What is the meaning of this? Why isn't she abed?" Jaime snapped.

"Please, Jaime, it's not so bad yet," Brienne grumbled. "Time enough for me to lie around when it really hurts, but for now, I think I'll stand."

Jaime frowned at her.

"As long as the lady is not in torment, she's allowed to stand," Vessa said, doing her best to keep her tone even.

"Yes, my lord, it is good for the lady to move around. Being bed bound will happen in due time. Now, this is not something you're meant to be privy to. Lady Lannister deserves her peace," Maester Creylen said as he walked in. He gave Brienne an evaluating look and nodded, writing notes down on a piece of parchment.

"I will be fine. It's just another type of battle," Brienne said, the sweat starting to bead on her forehead.

Jaime grabbed her hand and pulled it up to place a delicate kiss on it. "One I wish I could fight with you."

"Well, you can't," Brienne stated. "Go on. Go!"

He began to turn, but then asked, "Why is she staying here and not in our quarters?"

"It was my decision. I felt it a pity to ruin the sheets. I'd also rather not look on that bed and be reminded of the birth," Brienne replied.

Jaime rolled his eyes. "We can always get new sheets, my lady."

"Or we can spare them. Shoo!"

With that, Vessa shoved him out the door and he gave it an indignant look as it was slammed in his face.

Though it eased his mind that Brienne did not seem to be suffering, he was far too tense to focus on anything. He found Pod and wheedled him into a few training bouts, but even that wasn't enough to take his mind off of Brienne several floors above. Pod landed several strikes of his lathe onto Jaime's arms or legs, snapping him back to reality before his mind drifted again.

With that failure, he instead took his horse, Agro, for a ride out on the moor to breathe in the salty fresh air of the sea. However, he constantly looked back toward the castle, his mind continually wondering and wandering. He let out a cry and raced over when he saw the Alexandratos seal waving above the carriage, joining the party to lead it into the Lion's Mouth.

Lady Delphine had given him a pleasant smile and he told her everything that he knew on the way to the room. She knocked hastily and was allowed in. Jaime tried to see through the brief crack in the door, but saw only Vessa. He heard nothing otherwise; not Brienne's screams or the cry of a new baby. He ran his hand through his hair and took to ceaselessly pacing the halls.

At one point, he remembered the godswood. It was at the top of Casterly Rock where the sun and rain could reach it. He wondered if anyone ever went up there. The entrance was pruned and trimmed—because his father never suffered anything less than perfection in even something as quaint as the godswood. The day was windy and gloomy, threatening rain as was typical for their fall. Surprisingly, the weirwood was a proper white one with red leaves and its bloody sap draining down its face. The Casterly Rock weirwood had a long and lined face that seemed disappointed by its lack of company through the intervening years.

He said nothing to it as he reached up to run his fingers along its brow. Perhaps it was folly, but ever since he tried to hang himself in King's Landing, he thought that he and the Gods had an understanding. He knew that they weren't the arbiters of his fate. Despite his being saved from a worse one, it was still his fate to lose or destroy. No one else's. Ned Stark's death was proof enough that the Gods only cared so much.

He allowed his forehead to rest against the bark for a few minutes as he breathed in deep a cloying smell of sap and salt. Ever since Brienne went into labor, he felt at peace and left the weirwood, vowing to be back before too long.

Almost as soon as he set foot back in the castle, his concern for Brienne resurfaced, but he accepted that there was little he could do beyond fret. Instead, he decided to turn his attention to Cassian. He usually saw him for meals and at the end of the day where he read him a story or a letter to ease him into sleep. He'd started reaching for him a few weeks ago, which had caused Jaime's heart to swell with love for him.

He sought him out now for comfort. They stacked blocks together. Cassian giggled as he slapped a roughly wooden-carved knight into another one.

"Dada."

Jaime grinned. "Yes, I'm your dad. You're going to be a brother soon. You'll take care of your new brother or sister, won't you? You'll guard him one day."

Cassian laughed despite the serious way he was speaking to him. Creylen said that Cassian was behind in learning to speak, likely due to Roose Bolton's interference and demanding that he be silent. It concerned Jaime that Cassian might not ever be normal, but Creylen assured him that he simply needed time. The maester had already begun to work with Cassian, who saw improvement.

The hours dragged on. Jaime glared at the encroaching night. Still, there was no news. He passed the room every once in a while and put his ear to the door to listen. He thought perhaps he heard Brienne breathing heavily and possibly whimpering, but it was difficult to be sure.

Gerion suggested that Jaime retire for the night, assuring him that he'd be awakened if the baby came during the night. His efforts were met with a glare. It wasn't long before the rest of the castle fell silent around him while he ceaselessly paced the halls waiting to hear whether he would have a son or a daughter. And if Brienne would be alive.

He told himself in an unending mantra that Brienne was different from his mother. Could hardly find two women more different. Though he remembered little about his mother, he did recall that she had been dainty and delicate, like most noble ladies. Her pregnancies had been difficult. She'd seemed pained in the lead-up to Tyrion's birth, but Jaime thought that might have been his imagination. He did remember that she'd been on bedrest for a month before Tyrion had come into the world.

Brienne had been up and moving as normal right up through the labor, acting mildly inconvenienced. The maester hadn't been concerned either. He wanted to believe that she would be fine, but his own mother dying meant he would forever doubt a woman's safety. Hell, he had been certain a few times by the way Cersei had screamed that she'd been about to be summoned by the Stranger.

At one point, he finally settled himself down onto the stone floor outside Brienne's room, staring helplessly into the ceiling. He jumped as he was startled awake by the door opening.

"Oh, my lord! I didn't see you there. I was just coming to get you," Vessa said, hearing the smile in her voice. "He's here, my lord."

"And Brienne?" Jaime asked, scrambling to his feet.

"Healthy and hale," Vessa said.

He barely listened to her answer as he slipped in through the door and stared around. Lady Delphine was seated by Brienne's head, holding her hand and speaking to her softly. They both turned as he entered. Delphine said a few final parting words and left, nodding at him. Brienne held a wrapped bundle in her arms. When she looked at him, it was with a bearing and strength that was befitting a queen. Exhaustion lined her face, but she was glowing and happy.

"Come over," she said to him.

He almost hadn't realized he'd been standing back, but then walked his way over, carefully, afraid to disturb the moment. He took a seat in Delphine's chair and leaned in to get his first look. He gasped. His heart pounded in his chest and was briefly afraid it might fail. Their son was soft and pink, with a tuft of blond hair the same color as Brienne's. He was sleeping for the moment and breathing softly.

"What's his name?" Brienne asked.

"Tydus. His name is Tydus."

He felt Brienne's amusement. "That's not ancestral."

"I want him to be his own man."

Author's Notes: Sorry, Jaime/Brienne fans, that you didn't get the same opportunity to name the firstborn. I've had that name in my backpocket for literally years and I couldn't resist. That said, you will get an opportunity to name their other children! You can find the name polls on the Discord and Facebook pages. Much like with Jon/Dany fans, you can pick two names, one for a boy and one for a girl.