The Lion and the Warrior

Looking to the Future

"You have not stopped running around all day.  What's going with you?"  Jamie asked James.

"We are leaving tomorrow on an adventure.  I get to meet the King, the Queen, the princess aaaaand...Uncle Tyrion."

"You love your uncle Tyrion?"

"Yes, he sends me presents from the Capital all the time.  What does he even look like?  Is he tall and brave like you? Does he have a beard?"

Jaime laughed, "Uncle Tyrion is a very brave man; but you don't have to be tall to be brave."

"So he is shorter than you."

"Yes.  He is much shorter than me. In fact, I don't think he is too much taller than you."

"Is he tiny?" James asked in amusement.

"No!" Jaime laughed, "He's not tiny! You're not tiny. You're a bit tall for your age."

"Yes, because look at you and mommy. I am just like you two."

"Uncle Tyrion is short, funny, brave, and do you know what he is most excited about for our visit?"

"Seeing me!"

"Seeing you! Now run and play!"

Jaime went to the sword room and found the sword he had made for his son.  He looked over it to ensure it was perfect in every way. He looked at the blade, the grip, the pummel with its lion head and ruby eyes and the guard with the sapphires and diamonds. It really was perfect for his son - perfect for a Lannister/Tarth. He couldn't wait to give it to him and he knew James couldn't wait to have his sword. The question was, when would he be ready. Jaime had big dreams and desires for his son. Although he wasn't ready for him to grow up just yet, there was a part of him that just couldn't wait to see what he would become.

Soon enough, everything was packed and ready to go. They had one more night in their home - the only home James has ever known. They planned to be away for at least one month, but they really had no idea when they would return. Maybe they would leave King's Landing in two weeks, maybe in two months, maybe in two years, maybe never.

Brienne went to James' room to check on him.

"What are you still doing awake little knight, can't you sleep?"

"No. I'm too excited for our adventure tomorrow."

"We are going to have a few days of travel ahead of us. If you want to enjoy it, you need to rest well now. You don't want to be mean and cranky when you meet the princess."

"I know, I know...I just can't stop thinking about it. Daddy said we can race the horses and play swords on the way. There will be beautiful lands to see and...

"Shhh...yes. There will be beautiful things to see and we can race and play swords, but only if you're awake to have fun. Here, I will help you sleep."

James moved over and Brienne laid next to him. "I will sing you a lullaby, would you like that?"

"Okay."

"Hush little angel, close your eyes, the stars are twinkling for you high up in the sky. It's time for sleeping, no more weeping, my sweet little angel boy." He was asleep almost immediately. Brienne got out of the bed and was startled by her husband standing in the door.

"I didn't see you at first, its so dark," she laughed.

"I never knew you could sing."

"Oh please, I can't sing."

"Well, it was like falling in love with you all over again, listening to you sing him to sleep and watching in the moonlight."

They walked to their own room and began to undress for bed. She reached for her nightgown and gently put his hand over hers.

"This is our last night in our own bed. Our last night home for a long time."

"It is."

"Why bother with putting bed clothes on when we're about to tear them off each other anyway?"

Brienne threw the nightgown to the floor and kissed him. He walked her backwards to the bed and laid her down, kissing her all the while. She ran her fingers up and down his back, wrapped her legs around his waist and pulled him into her. "I told you we didn't need clothes," he said.

"I already knew that."

"You were ready to go to sleep."

"I didn't think either of us planned to sleep much tonight."

"I didn't think we planned on talking much."

"We didn't," she said rolling over on top of him.

"There's my girl, now I can see all of you...my sexy..."

She leaned in to kiss him - kissed his lips, his neck, his chest, and he grabbed her hair pulling her up to his lips again.

"I love you, Ser Brienne. We're going to have a beautiful life together."

"We already do Ser Jaime, and we always will."