The labor of Cersei's baby came at least three or four weeks ahead of time, according to the information which arrived from the capital, and the queen delivered a small girl with a frail appearance, due undoubtedly to her premature birth, and Brienne suspected that Cersei's negligence and disregard for her self-care during the pregnancy (such as drinking alcohol) might have added to her daughter being born a bit soon and probably with some health issues, though Brienne hoped that it could be fixed with proper care and that the girl would grow healthier and stronger with time. Either way, Brienne pitied the poor baby who had the misfortune of having been conceived by a negligent mother incapable of caring much even for her own offspring. As a prospective mother herself, and with a fierce maternal instinct already developed, Brienne's animadversion toward Cersei shot up.
The little girl was named Rhaenyra, like the ill-fated daughter of King Viserys I, and it was said that Cersei herself had chosen the name because she admired the fact that Rhaenyra had fought tooth and nail for her rights to be the first legitimate queen sitting on the iron throne of the Seven Kingdoms in a dynasty of only kings up to then. Brienne could relate to Cersei's resentment toward women's inferiority in society, but not to her obsession with power.
It seemed that little Rhaenyra had the typical Valyrian features (platinum blonde hair and violet eyes), what supposedly cleared any possible suspicions about her paternity and no one could openly accuse her mother of comitting adultery and having conceived the baby out of wedlock. However, as Jaime commented, far from any possible prying ears of course, the color of her hair and eyes didn't guarantee irrefutably that she was Rhaegar's daughter. There were more people with Valyrian features living in the Red Keep, like Lord Lucerys Velaryon, the Master of Ships, or others who payed visits from time to time and frequented the court, like Lucerys's cousin, Lord Monford Velaryon. Cersei was very capable of seducing anyone who didn't have a lot of qualms about fucking a beautiful woman, and a queen no less, what might be an incentive for some, no matter that she was married to the king.
Whatever the baby's origins were, Cersei had been clever enough to get knocked up by Rhaegar himself or by one of his distant relatives with enough Valyrian blood, so no one would dare to cry foul against Rhaenyra's legitimity.
But anyway, whoever the true father was, she hadn't been born as a boy, and that setback must have been a great disappointment to Tywin, who of course didn't hesitate to disregard his own granddaughter because she couldn't be the heir to the iron throne. Cersei surely raged inwardly at her father's cold show of indifference toward his own blood.
All in all, Brienne felt a bit of sympathy for the child, destined to grow up in a dysfunctional environment, though it was told that both her parents seemed to have become quite protective of her. Cersei had developed more of a motherly instinct after the delivery, to her credit, and was taking care of her baby personally, even breastfeeding her. As for Rhaegar, regardless of whether he doubted or not Rhaenyra's paternity, he was paying her true attention and worried very much for her delicate health, but his duties, errands and getaways often kept him far from his daughter (or who he thought might be his daughter at least).
Brienne and Jaime had also wondered if the king suspected that Lyanna's child was his (or that was their theory), and if the reason for his sadness was her absence and the knowledge that she was very far away, had married another man and said man would be the official father of the baby. That certainly had to be extremely hard to accept, but there was no other way round if Rhaegar wanted to keep his lover and their baby safe.
Brienne didn't envy their situation in the slightest.
The time for the birth of her own baby was getting close, and Brienne was waiting for the arrival of her father. He was coming to stay for a while at Casterly Rock and meet his grandchild. Brienne had invited him after notifying Tywin of her plans, and he had given her the all-clear in a message, to her exasperation at her father-in-law meddling in everything. She was very relieved that, as there wasn't a war in the end, it hadn't had to come to Selwyn having to choose between answering the call of his liege lord or breaking his vow to House Baratheon to aid the West, and by extension, the Crown. They'd all dodged a big arrow when war was stopped before it even had the chance to start.
And Brienne would always do anything in her hand to keep her father from being targeted by Tywin.
Due to her big pregnant belly and the risk of going into labor anytime, she had relented when Jaime had volunteered to go welcome her father at the outermost gates of the keep. As it was a long ride from the first gate to the building, both men would have time to have a good talk and update each other on the latest events and everyday life at Casterly Rock and Evenfall Hall. Brienne and Selwyn had maintained regular correspondence, but there was only so much one could put in writing.
She was eager to see him again after so many moon turns apart. His latest letter had surprised her with the news that he'd asked for the hand of Lady Anya Grandison, Lord Hugh Grandison's youngest daughter. They'd visited Tarth for some business Lord Hugh had with Selwyn, and an immediate attraction had blossomed between the young woman and the Evenstar. Since then, they'd kept correspondence and shortly after, Selwyn had traveled to Grandview to propose. Lord Hugh had accepted the match, and the wedding was planned for a few weeks later, when Selwyn returned from the West. He regretted that Brienne wouldn't be able to be present at his wedding due to the recent birth of her baby, but at least he would spend some time with her and the newborn at the Rock before returning to Evenfall Hall to start a new married life with Lady Anya.
As soon as her father entered the study, where Brienne was reading a book, they embraced tightly. Brienne again felt like a little girl, before tragedy had hit them and she felt so safe in his strong arms. He smelled like the sea, the wind, the sun and her childhood home, and for a moment she felt more complete than ever.
"You look happy and radiant, Bree. I see that rascal is taking good care of you, isn't he?," he asked with a teasing smile. His sapphire eyes were sparkling, and Brienne hadn't seen him so joyful in many years.
"You know well he is, father," she replied in a fake reprimanding tone. "And look who's talking. You look happy and radiant yourself. I guess it has something to do with Lady Anya." She tilted her head with an eyebrow raised.
Selwyn blushed. His skin was more weather-beaten than hers, but he could still blush very visibly. It was touching. "Are you sure the matter of my wedding doesn't bother you, sweetheart? We've already discussed this in our letters, but I want to make sure that I have your blessings. If she gives me a son, he would become the heir to Evenfall Hall automatically. In an ideal world, I'd keep you as my heir and your children would be next in line, but in this reality we live in, our people wouldn't take well to a Lannister inheriting the title of Evenstar, no matter that you would be his mother and that Jaime is your husband and that they've grown to respect him. But they'll accept a Tarth with no issue, and the last thing I wish for is sowing conflict because of bad decisions on my part. Look what happened when King Viserys I declared his daughter Rhaenyra as the heir to the iron throne, but later he had his son Aegon with Lady Alicent and the realm bled and burned because of a monstrous game of ambitions added to this society's reluctance to admit a woman as their legitimate queen on the iron throne." He'd taken a seat next to her on the couch and took her hands.
She shook her head in denial and stared into his eyes determinedly. "I've already told you that I'm not bothered by any of that, father. I understand. I'm already the lady of Casterly Rock by my own marriage, and besides, my children will have all this, and Evenfall Hall will be their home too whenever they fancy staying there. So there's no issue, truly. This is so much more than I ever dreamed of having. I wouldn't change my new family for anything. And I'm happy for your new one too." She squeezed his hands in return.
He smiled in gratitude and affection. "You're such a good girl. Your mother lives through you, and she would be so proud, my dear Bree."
They embraced again with tears in their eyes, and then they allowed themselves some moments to pull themselves together. Afterwards, he helped her stand up from the couch to accompany her to a dining room where she and Jaime usually ate when they didn't ask for their meals being served in their chambers. They used it when they had visits. It was much smaller and cozier than the main hall.
And there they went, with her practically resting on him while he gave her his support to help her walk easier.
When a few days later a strong pain stabbed her sharply in her lower abdomen and back, she suspected that the time had come. Mustering all her calm, she breathed deeply and rhythmically to endure the contraction better. "Jaime," she called in a controlled voice. She was in the training yards, sitting in the practical and comfortable portable chair Tyrion had designed for her and for Tysha.
Her husband stopped his exercises and turned to her. "What is it, love?"
"The baby is coming, it seems. But don't panick, all right? We've already talked about this. Send someone to summon the maester and tell my father, and please help me walk to our chambers," she instructed, keeping her tone quiet.
She saw his eyes widening and his struggle to keep his composure and wits. "Of course, love. Right away." He talked to a couple of the men in the yards and they, after shooting her worried glances, ran to comply with the orders. "Come on, wench, let's go. Can you walk? I can carry you. I'm strong enough for the both of you," he offered as he assisted her in the difficult task of standing up.
She rolled her eyes fondly. "Thanks, but there will be no need for that, honey. I'm perfectly capable of walking." They were already heading for the castle, with him watching her attentively.
"You truly make it quite difficult for a man to show you some gallantry, wench. If our baby is half as stubborn, they'll be telling us where we can shove all our over-the-top attentions in no time," he teased, and Brienne guessed that he was just trying to take her mind temporarily from her discomforts. It worked, of course, because she couldn't resist a verbal sparring. Any type of sparring with Jaime was always exciting.
"Your over-the-top-attentions. You're the one with an exuberant personality here, honey. The seven assist us if the baby is half as exuberant," she retorted, and was going to smile widely, but then another contraction hit her and she had to stop and breathe, gritting her teeth.
Jaime rested his hand on her lower back reassuringly and then, without further notice, he took her in his arms as if she weighed much less than she really did, even with the addition of her pregnant belly and the baby inside.
She squealed in surprise. "Jaime! I've told you, I can walk! It's too much weight for you to carry," she protested, because she didn't want him to hurt himself.
He didn't relent and went on walking carefully but hardly slowing his pace. "Nonsense. I told you from the first day we met that I'm strong enough for you, and I've always wished to find a special occasion to show you," he dismissed with a casual voice she knew was just a facade to prevent her (and especially himself) from getting too scared.
She rolled her eyes again, once the worst of the contraction had passed. "As if I need more daily proof." And then she added, as if it summed up it all: "Men." And she shook her head in fake resignation.
When they entered their bedroom and he carried her to the bed, she was grinning despite the pain. Immediately afterwards, the maester arrived with a midwife from Lannisport he'd called a few days in advance, and the task of childbirth started in earnest.