That day, Bran was carrying out his weekly visit around the city, and Jaime and Brienne were amongst the twelve members of the Kingsguard escorting him.

Brienne had already recovered completely from her cold and resumed her usual routine but taking it easier, as her belly had gotten heavier and rounder with child. The pregnancy was already visible and she'd ordered a special armor which adapted to her changing figure, and she was wearing it every time she guarded the king or accompanied him in his outings.

Jaime and Brienne's dealings with each other had improved significantly after her illness and developed into a cordial and close friendship. She wasn't avoiding him anymore and he continued to respect her space and wishes, not trying to pressure her into anything. Their easy camaraderie, banter and exchange of jokes was refreshing and comforting, and Jaime thought that they'd never reached such a degree of equality and geniality before, not even in Winterfell. His yearning for her was always there, and he was sure that she felt the same for him (he'd caught the longing in her eyes sometimes, when she didn't realize he was watching her closely), but he wouldn't ever force anything, which would only ruin the progress they'd made. Brienne was getting back her trust in him little by little, he noticed, and he wouldn't spoil it. They had found a balance, a common ground of mutual respect, support and easiness with one another, and Jaime was quite content with that situation, because it not only allowed him to enjoy Brienne's company daily, but it also left the door open to something more in the future. She hadn't rejected the possibility of moving to the next level in their relationship when the moment came, or at least she hadn't told him expressly that she wasn't willing to retake a romantic involvement with him.

So Jaime was hopeful and his days had turned much brighter. In addition to Brienne warming up to him, he enjoyed immensely his new position in the Kingsguard. His comrades accepted and respected him, in a way he'd never experienced as a kingsguard for Aerys, Robert, Joffrey, Tommen and Cersei. Even Pod seemed to have come to the decision to forgive him, and that development touched Jaime much more than he would have dared to admit. The young man's approval was more important to Jaime than he could express out loud.

Bran had gotten into the habit of visiting around the city once a week whenever his agenda allowed it, and that clear winter day, Jaime and Brienne were among the members of his escort.

The city was being rebuilt, but there was still very hard work to do and a long time ahead before the capital might reach much more acceptable living conditions, and even longer for the new improvements the Small Council wanted to introduce, including effective sanitation and drainage measures. A cleaner city was also a guarantee for a healthier population.

At least the devastation was less evident now and many streets had been cleared from debris, though there were still sections with collapsed buildings. The first task of the City Watch and the hundreds of volunteers after the destruction had been the recovery of the corpses in order to burn them and prevent epidemics. For the first weeks, huge pyres had illuminated the outskirts and the air had been filled with the smell of smoke and burning bodies, as well as the weeping and prayers aimed for different gods in several languages from many people who had lost their dear ones.

Bran's trips around the city lifted the population's spirits and his unalterable calm soothed the atmosphere anywhere he went. However, accidents or certain incidents were due to happen sometimes in the chaos of such a big city which was still raw and bleeding.

The king and his entourage were entering a plaza when a wild horse galloped straight towards where Bran and Brienne were.

Jaime reacted at lightning speed, jumping in the way of the stray animal and cutting one of his legs with Widow's Wail, but the frenzied horse hit him hard before dropping in agony from its missing leg. Jaime flew a few yards into the air and fell like a sack of rocks, unconscious.

He came back to himself in a puddle of mud, with Brienne holding his dirty cheeks, covered in mud herself, and looking desperately into his eyes.

"Jaime! Please wake up. Don't leave me. Don't you dare leaving me!," she was yelling while checking his body for broken bones apparently.

He opened his eyes and his grin turned into a grimace when her rough hands slid over his sore areas. He didn't think he had any serious injuries, though there must be already a few bruises, he was certain. "Don't worry, I won't. I'm scared you'll chase me implacably in the afterlife if I do," he teased.

Her relieved laughter was music to his ears. "Oh, Jaime! You silly man!," she exclaimed, wrapping her arms around his neck and hugging him tightly. He felt her tears on his face and then, he believed he was dreaming when she kissed him soundly on his mouth in front of all the witnesses on the street, apparently not giving a shit about the audience around them both. "You silly, silly man," she repeated in a whisper against his lips.

Jaime had never felt so happy, so light. "I'd do it every time without a second thought," he declared softly, grazing her lips with his fingers and staring into her eyes. "Do you believe now that you're everything to me, Brienne? I'd die a thousand deaths for you."

"Jaime, I've been such a fool. I love you. I've never stopped loving you. As if I could," she confessed, not tearing her awed gaze from his. "Please, forgive me for my pigheadedness."

He caressed her pink cheek stained with mud and wiped it from dirt and tears. "There's nothing to forgive, Brienne. I love you too, with all my heart. I have for a very long time. Do you believe me now?"

She nodded. "Yes. I was blind, but when you got in the way of that horse and risked your life, I understood how much you love me, and that I can't lose you."

"I swear I'll be stuck to you for as long as you'll allow me to," he assured, grinning widely. "I'll be the pain in the ass you like so much for me to be."

Brienne rolled her eyes and snorted. It was so amazing to be back to being a couple, with all their intimacy and shared gestures. It was like returning home. "Oh, shut up, you bigmouth. You sure you haven't broken anything?" To his delight, she slid her hands over him once more. He was hardly hurting anymore, or perhaps her touch was truly healing.

"Everything's fine. More than fine," he appeased. "Just a couple of bruises I'll show off with pride."

She rolled her eyes once more. "I'm sure the whole castle will have grown absolutely fed up by the time those bruises fade."

"Bah, they'd be very bored if it weren't for me," he dismissed with his mischievous glint.

"You're so full of shit. They better not hear your nonsense," she warned, helping him sit up.

The sound of several throats clearing loudly around them made Jaime chuckle. Brienne echoed the sound merrily, and Jaime felt as if he was floating in happiness.

He'd never felt so much at peace with the world.