The Lion and the Warrior

Out!

It had been a long night already. Brienne had been awakened twice in the night and although her mind was reeling from the things she had heard, she was still sleepy. She wasn't afraid of the past and surely the ghost of Cersei Lannister was no match for her. She laid in the bed that she usually shared with her husband. His side was empty, as he had gone to see about their son. She was already missing him. Thoughts of a life without Jaime in it were more painful than ever. She had never given any true thought or reality to the fact that someday she may be living this life without him. That's not happening anytime soon. Brienne turned over and hugged his pillow. She could smell him. Tears filled her eyes as she thought, this won't last forever. She began to realize that no matter what these dreams that Jaime and James were experiencing really meant, Jaime was 17 years older than her and life without Jaime was not a life she wanted. She began to sob into his pillow.

"Oh for the love of the gods, stop. You're even uglier when you cry. Look at you. I can't imagine what in seven hells my beautiful little brother is doing with a hog-wench like you."

Cersei of House Lannister was sitting on the edge of Brienne of House Lannister's bed, legs crossed with a goblet of red wine in hand. Brienne's eyes dried instantly as though it were some natural reflex, which, it was.

"Why are you in my bed? The bed I share with my husband?"

"What are you sobbing over? Your one-handed man? I assure you, I used up all his good days when he had two hands."

"He doesn't please me with his hand. What do you want?"

"Jaime and I belong together. I want my brother back."

"Not in this dream."

Cersei took a swig of wine, swirled her goblet slowly, and looked at her brother's wife. "Do you really believe without a doubt, that my brother loves you?"

"Get out."

"You can't answer that can you? You've doubted it more than anyone. Tell me, Brienne the Beauty...do you think he went back to you because you took his breath away with your looks and your body? Or perhaps he went back to you out of loneliness and boredom? Maybe it was something else..."

"Maybe it was because you were a selfish, lying, manipulative, loveless, dried up old cunt." Brienne said looking straight-faced into Cersei's eyes. "And perhaps...he knew that I truly loved him more with my body and soul than you could ever pretend love even yourself. Now, get out," Brienne smiled.

"No one walks away from..."

Brienne laughed, "He didn't walk away from you. He killed you. For a reason. Out!"

"I'm in his dreams and I know he still loves me. He kissed me in his dream last night."

"I'm aware of that. That's just it, isn't it? It was a dream."

"I will have my lover back. And your precious James Renley will deliver him."