Brienne couldn't believe that it was possible to be happier than she'd been the previous days, but she'd been wrong. There she was, bursting with a joy she'd never known before. Jaime was one in a million, because most men wouldn't have bothered to look at her twice, and when they did, it was to mock her appearance or stare at her in a way that made her feel like a freak of nature. But Jaime had seen beyond her appearance, straight to her heart and soul, and made her feel beautiful, cherished, desired. Loved.

He'd given her the surprise of her life when he'd suggested knighting her as if that was the most natural thing instead of an occurrence unique in the world. There were no records of any female knights along history. Female warriors, yes, but women knighted by kings or knights, not a single one. As she'd said to Jaime that morning, she wasn't even sure that what he'd proposed was feasible. However, he was right; there weren't any written rules that forbid knighting women, and Jaime had defied all traditions and social prejudices without thinking twice.

And in the process, he'd added to the absolute happiness he'd already gifted her when he'd asked her to become his wife and his life companion.

That day had turned out being another unforgettable one. After her knighting, her father had invited everyone in the castle to ale and wine to celebrate, and lunch had been another cheery affair.

"Wow, I'm in front of the first married knights in known history. This calls for another toast!," Tyrion announced, already a bit into his cups. That boy was too much fond of alcoholic beverages, and she knew well how harmful that habit could be. Her father fell into the clutches of alcohol after the family's tragedy and, even though he'd tried to lessen the excess of consumption, he'd only been partially successful. Now he had better days and worse days, but he rarely stopped drinking altogether. She knew that it was a coping method, but it brought much more damage than benefits and Brienne hated that her father didn't seem to care enough for his own health. But she ignored what else she could do to help him.

She'd come to appreciate her brother-in-law a lot and she didn't wish a similar fate for him. He deserved happiness, to find a good woman who saw beyond appearances like Jaime had done with herself and lead a fulfilling life where his heart was full of love and he could put his brilliant brain to good use.

"Don't you think you've had enough toasts for today?," she reprimanded softly.

"There's no such thing as enough toasts, sister. The pleasures of life are too few, so they should never be repressed," Tyrion countered with a smirk, and he took a gulp from his goblet.

She exchanged a glance with Jaime, and he shrugged subtly with a resigned look. According to him, Tyrion had visited the brothels a couple of times those last days. And with regard to her father, she wasn't blind to the fact that he sometimes brought whores to the castle and spent the night with them, to send them packing on the morrow.

Brienne shook her head, saddened. She suddenly felt guilty for her own happiness, when two men who were so important to her felt unhappy. She felt a squeeze on her hand under the table, and when she turned her head, Jaime's gaze was one of understanding. She squeezed back. She tried to recover her festive mood, but failed, though she did her best to hide it, which was a poor attempt at best, as she was a terrible liar. Only Jaime and Ser Goodwin noticed her somber mood, as her father had also indulged in the ale and wine.

Later, Brienne needed fresh air and Jaime didn't hesitate to excuse them to leave the table. He told the guards that he and his wife wouldn't need them because they only were going to take a stroll around the castle grounds, which were regularly patrolled. Besides, we're both knights now, we can defend ourselves from vermins, he added with his usual snark and a raised eyebrow. Brienne kicked his foot covertly, blushing and holding back a scolding remark, and when they walked out of the castle into the fresh air, she felt instantly better.

Their steps guided them to her secluded hideaway on the cliffs and, intoxicated by the beauty of the landscape, she felt suddenly aroused and hungry for her husband's touch and for his skin on her own. They kissed and fondled each other over their clothes, until they got too desperate to wait another second. They shoved their pants and underwear down just enough to bare their lower areas and she straddled him without more preamble, eliciting loud moans from their throats at the scorching joining of their intimate flesh, in sharp contrast with the cold air around them. She rode him wildly and he thrust into her from underneath, with their eyes locked, feeling every sensation, every wave of exquisite pleasure, to the marrow of their bones. They escalated together to a loud climax which scared away the birds on the nearby trees, and Brienne felt whole when, in the middle of her strong spasms, Jaime throbbed inside her and filled her with his warm seed. She experienced once more the miracle of becoming one with him, and she wondered how many people around the world had the good luck of going through that same almost sacred feeling of absolute communion between two souls and hearts.

Gods, she loved Jaime so much.

They returned to the castle hand in hand, having recovered their wide smiles and their usual bantering.

That evening, after eating dinner in their chambers (her father and Tyrion were nowhere to be seen, most probably having gone to sleep it off or to spend time with women hired for the night), there were knocks on their door, and the maester announced himself, bringing a message from Lord Tywin Lannister. Brienne's stomach dropped to the floor and she watched Jaime's features go blank. They thanked the maester and when he left them alone again, Brienne asked Jaime if he preferred his privacy to read the letter, to which he shook his head.

"Please, stay with me. Whatever it says, I'm sure it concerns both of us. You're my wife now and my family matters are your matters too, for better and for worse. Surely much more for worse, unfortunately, because that's the price to pay for becoming a Lannister," he regretted with a bitter chuckle. "Perhaps I should have warned you when you were still in time to back out."

She held his cheeks firmly. "Jaime, don't talk nonsense. I knew perfectly well where I was getting myself into, and I'd do it again every time, so shut up. Don't go that way. Now I'm stuck with you for better and for worse, as you've said."

His eyes softened and his smile was sincere that time. "You're a true lioness, my lady." He kissed her deeply for some moments, making her head swim. "You help me be stronger. I'll deal much better with my father's words if you're by my side," he added with a tender smile, which she returned encouragingly, her bones turned into mush at his gentleness.

He unrolled the parchment and they started to read it silently.

Jaime,

I suppose I should congratulate you on your impending marriage, because it's much more than I expected. Knowing you, I didn't have high hopes that you would choose someone on your own volition, to tell the truth. I allowed you that absurd journey because perhaps, if you met the women, there would be the slightest chance that you wouldn't put up so much of one of your useless fights when the moment came to pick one of them, because don't doubt that sooner or later you'd have had to give in, willingly or unwillingly.

As to your objections to all the ladies, I was aware of everything you mention about them, of course. I don't care one shit if you find them dull or appealing, but you're right in what you said about Lady Olenna. She's a cunning shrew greedy for power and ready to stab anyone in the back, but rest assured that I know perfectly how to deal with people like her. The Reach is the richest kingdom after the West, and an alliance with them would have benefited us amply.

I admit that the least convenient candidate was Yara Greyjoy. Her father is a treacherous rat, and it's true that the ironborn are amongst the least trustworthy people in the kingdoms. Added to that, they don't have valuable lands or great armies to offer, but they have their ships. As an advantage, Balon is stupid, reckless and has a ridiculous and excessive sense of self-importance, and I'm an expert in exploiting those kinds of frailties. But well, I concede that it's preferable not to have the ironborn as bedmates.

And yes, Elia Martell is a fragile creaure, but her brother Doran has a little daughter, Arianne. He's too absurdly blind with love for the girl and doesn't want to hear about a marriage alliance for her for now, but when she grows up, he'll have no choice but to be more amenable to considering a match for her. If by then Elia had died and she hadn't given you any heirs, I'd persuade Doran to arrange a betrothal between you and Arianne. For the time being, the king still has hopes that the queen will give birth to a daughter one day, so he can wed Viserys to his sister like the Targaryen tradition dictates, but if the queen fails, then Aerys will in all certainty set his eyes on the Martell girl and by then I'd hope to have secured her for you if, like I mentioned, Elia had died without having given you any sons.

But well, all that is smoke in the air now, thanks to your recklessness and selfishness. But rest assured that I'll make the most of the cards you've thrown at my feet. Enjoy your Tarth girl and put a child in her womb as soon as possible, because that's her main usefulness in all this. I agree that she seems like a decent future Lady of the Rock and I have to commend you for choosing a woman from a honorable house against which I have nothing to hold apart from the fact that it's not a great house. As for the matter of your soon-to-be wife's manly proclivities, that's something I don't condone, but well, as long as she fulfills her duties adequately, I might tolerate her eccentricities to a certain extent. Play with your swords if that suits you both, but behave like the lord and lady you're both meant to be and bring honor to the Lannister house.

To finish, don't think that I'll forget or forgive that you've done things your thoughtless way, as you usually do, but this time you've crossed the line too much, so this is what you've earned for your disobedience. You and your wife won't go wandering around like worhtless hedge knights. You'll head straight for Casterly Rock to take charge of your roles. And in case you were entertaining the notion of disobeying me again, be aware that your brother would pay for your transgressions. You know too well that I never throw idle threats, so you'd better behave properly from now on if you don't want him to suffer the consequences. I won't ever understand how you can love that little monster, but well, the good side of your weakness concerning him is that he's my leverage to keep you in check.

Have I made myself clear enough, son?

Don't ever defy me again.

By the way, I wish you good days too.

Tywin

Brienne lifted her gaze from the letter, so overwhelmed with horror that she felt paralyzed. Jaime's pale face and tortured expression made her heart bleed. She didn't even know how to react, or if he would allow her any gestures of sympathy right that moment.

So she stared at him quietly with wide eyes.