Of Captive Hearts

Chapter 6

Evening was giving way to darkness when Brienne awoke, shocked from her sleep by another nightmare. Her loud gasp brought Jaime quickly to her side. He had been preparing their horse for leaving. After hearing patrols pass all too near their precarious sanctuary throughout the entire afternoon, he was anxious to be on their way. As he knelt, concerned, beside Brienne he noticed how pale she had become, and how deeply set in dark circles her eyes had grown. He feared that she was not well.

"I'm here. I'm here." He reassured her, resting his hands on her arms to calm her. She tried to smile through her weakness, but the terror of her nightmare still marked her features.

Brienne calmed at his touch. "My dreams will not let me rest." She admitted as she checked on their son whom she found wide awake. Her child's precious face lulled her back to serenity, although her mind could not forget the images that plagued her.

"That's all they are." Jaime reminded her. "Just your imagination playing tricks on you." He tried to ease her.

Brienne grew silent at his description. "But they were...real." She looked at him with pain and fear in her eyes at the memories she recalled.

Jaime leaned his head against hers. "I know." He said softly. "I am sorry." He apologized gravely not only for his inadequate attempt to alleviate her fear, but also for the horrors she had endured that had put the dread in her heart. She smiled sweetly at him, and nodded.

"Someday soon this will be behind us." Jaime vowed to her. "It will all be but a bad dream." He kissed Brienne's forehead tenderly, as she held him like a lifeline. She believed him, and looked forward to that day.

"The rain has stopped. We must go." Jaime whispered to Brienne, taking their son gently from her arms, and holding the babe tightly to him. He did not want to mention to her the nearness of Cersei's soldiers. "Is there anything you need, before we depart?" He questioned, eager to assist her.

Brienne's face grew bashful. She lowered her head, suddenly unable to meet his eyes. "If you could give me a moment." She smiled. "I need to..." She stammered, unsure why she was suddenly so embarrassed.

Jaime smiled, understanding her uneasiness. He helped her stand, and then wrapped his arm around her shoulder. "Brienne." He grinned playfully. "I delivered you of our babe." He nestled his face against Galladon's forehead, and then looked back at her, a slight smile playing at the corners of his mouth. "I have seen parts of you, not viewed by living eyes since your own mother wrapped you in a swaddling." He liked the way she chuckled at his teasing. "If you need to relieve yourself, just say so." He smiled, enjoying their intimacy.

Brienne grinned wickedly at him. "Alright." She rolled her eyes. "I need to relieve myself." She informed him, hiding her smile.

"There, now." Jaime returned her laughter. "That's not so bad." He brushed his lips against her temple. "Do you need help?" He offered, hoping she would.

"I'll manage." Brienne turned weakly, and using the rough trunk to brace her unsteady legs, made her way around the tree. She leaned against it and raised her skirt, trying to finish the job as quickly and quietly as possible.

When she returned to Jaime a few moments later, Brienne regarded him watching her with the most sublime expression on his face. She caught her breath at the site of him with their child in his arms. She had never seen anything more delightful in her life. It made her feel whole, as if her healing had begun. She stared at him for a while longer, trying to burn that image into her brain. She felt she could will it to take the place of her nightmares.

As Brienne stood using the tree to hold her up, she suddenly began to feel the world spin. She was unsure if it was the relief at the site of Jaime with Galladon, or the fatigue that still ravaged her body. The world around her grew dark, and she was falling. Before all faded from view, before her body came to rest on the ground, she felt Jaime's strong arm around her waist supporting her.