To guarantee the safety of the woman he loved, Brienne of Tarth, Jaime Lannister dragged his sister to her death in the collapse of the Red Keep, sacrificing his own life in the process. Now, Jaime must ensure Brienne's future, from beyond the grave...
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Note: The inspiration for the Original Male Character introduced in this chapter, Ser Eyan Ripleigh, is Liam Neeson from his historical period movies such as Rob Roy, and Kingdom of Heaven. *The name Eyan is pronounced like Ian.
"Why in the Bloody Hells did The King in all his wisdom call this damned meeting so early?" Ser Bronn, rubbed his aching head and attempted to shield his sore red eyes from the harsh morning light as he plopped down unceremoniously in his chair at the Small Council table.
"Rough night?" Brienne rolled her eyes and asked, the tilt of her head adding an even more disgusted air to her tone.
"Aren't they all!" Bronn threw his arms wide, grinned lasciviously, and gave an exaggerated bow in answer.
Jaime stood unseen just behind the Lord Commander, and snickered at the exchange. The change in Bronn's station had not affected his disposition. The Lord of Highgarden was his usual bawdy and boastful self. Jaime supposed it was good to see that some things never changed.
Ser Davos Seaworth, glared at the still slightly inebriated Master of Coin. "As members of the Small Council, it is not our duty to question The King, but to see that his will is done." He expounded to Ser Bonn, who had slumped backward in his seat, head reclined as if he were asleep.
"Quite Right, Ser Davos." Tyrion agreed as he swept breathlessly into the Council Chamber, already hurried with his day's business. "I am sure you can spare a few moments from your quest for drink and debauchery to attend to the business of the Realm, Ser Bronn." The Hand of the King scolded.
"Looks who's talking!" Bronn harrumphed, prying open one eye long enough to stare threateningly at Tyrion. Lord Lannister ignored the invitation to engage.
Brienne overlooked the bickering around her, and gave a composed and refined sigh. "You hold one of the highest titles in the land." She reminded Bronn sternly. "I do not fathom why these meetings must always either begin or end with a summary of your latest conquests of wine and unfortunate woman." Brienne scoffed.
The Lord Comander shook her head at Highgarden's master, while silently granting Jaime's brother leeway for doing the same on numerous occasion. Her seeming favoritism escaped Ser Bronn's notice, but not Jaime's. He smiled affectionately at his lady, and rested a supportive arm over the back of her chair. Even as she grimaced in Bronn's direction, a warm radiance washed over Brienne as Jaime neared. She was as certain of his presence as she had been the previous night when his kiss had inexplicably rested upon her lips. Her breath shuddered for a moment. Only Bronn seemed to notice. He wasted no time in seizing his worthy opponent's apparent weakness.
"It's not my conquests that were unfortunate." Bronn mumbled, as he turned his head far too intentionally to the side, cocking his chin in the air to seem coy.
Brienne could not completely discern the phrase that left Bronn's mouth though she heard enough to know that an insult had been hurled at her.. "What was that, Ser?" She tensed, demanding he explain himself. Jaime, however, had understood each hateful word. Every muscle he had once flexed in battle wanted to spring across the table at Bronn for this offense and all of the others for which the man was guilty. If Jaime were living still, Bronn would not have been once he were finished with him.
