The Lion and the Warrior

Flurries of snow filled the air at Winterfell.  It was beautiful out, and Brienne needed to be in the fresh air.  She twirled her sword, fencing against the air.  The cold cut through her body like grief and loneliness cut through her heart.  She didn't want to think about Jaime Lannister anymore, but he was all she needed.

"I've never slept with a knight before," she recalled him saying.  "I've never slept with anyone before," was her reply.  She could still smell him.  She could still feel his hands moving across her body, "I'll go slow," she remembered him saying.  That night was filled with so much emotion, so much passion, so much meaning and yet, it didn't really mean anything at all, did it? It was just a night between two knights.  She had so much doubt now and yet still so much hope.  She had never been so conflicted. 

Before Jaime came into her life, she was always confident.  She was content and satisfied.  Now, she wanted something that she only dreamed of, but never really knew.  Now that she knows what love, companionship and pleasure are, and she can't stop thinking about how bad she hurts when its all missing, she wishes she never knew at all.

Walking through the gods wood, she made it to a weirwood tree, tired, cold and angry. She was desperate to know if Jaime was okay and even if he was alive.  She screamed with anger as she chopped at the tree with her sword.  Brienne stared at the damage she'd done.  With her sword still in her hand, she leaned her head against the tree and cried, she grabbed her belly with the other hand and cried harder.

Jaime walked up behind her, having seen her swinging her sword.  He was about 40 paces away and drew his sword, "Are you looking to fight someone or you just bored?"  Startled, she abruptly turned and saw him - bruised and scarred from his battles and weak with fatigue. She couldn't believe it was really him walking towards her, and thought she might be day dreaming.

"You're really back," she said trying not to be emotional.

"I told you I was coming back."  He slowly walked toward her, not wanting to seem too eager, but mostly because he was weak and in more pain than when he started his journey back.

"I was so afraid I'd never see you again."  She walked toward him, slowly, for she too, didn't want to seem to eager.

"I'm here now," he said and they simultaneously threw down their swords. She ran to him and they embraced.  He groaned in pain but didn't let go.  "I've really missed you." he said.

She backed away from him and looked him over.  "You're hurt.  Let me help you."  She brought him inside the castle and put water on the fire for a bath. He sat watching her from the bed.

He was quiet. Not sure what to say. Part of him was grieving the loss of Cersei but not the part Brienne may have thought. Not the part he would have thought either. The other part of him was in physical pain and yet he wanted to make love to this woman who was actually showing him love.

Brienne looked into his eyes and could see how tired he was. She was so in love with him, and at this moment, she just wanted to make him feel like himself again.

"The water is just about ready. Do you want some time to yourself to relax? I could go."

"Or you could stay."

"Yes well, I suppose I could." She just didn't want to push. She really couldn't keep her eyes off him but she tried her best to look away.

"Could you um, help me with this?"

She helped him take off his shirt, which was sticking to him with dry blood. When she peeled it away, it opened his wounds a bit.

"How did you make it back here like this?"