Chapter Text
Chapter 4 - I Shall be Queen
The next day dawned bright and cold, and the ordinary princess deciphered Jaime’s terrible handwriting in the note slipped under her door.
She made it with just time to spare as Jaime’s long legs exited the doors to the balcony.
He threw a dark crimson cloak around her, shielding her from the cold with its fur lined hood.
“I hate to bring you out on such a terrible day, but I have news for you.”
“What?” Brienne said, snuggling into the rich folds of the material.
“Marry me.”
“Jaime!”
She turned wide blue eyes back to meet his, searching for any joke or jape. His eyes were in earnest, and she broke out into a crooked smile.
“Yes, I will, you idiot.”
He let out a whoop and managed to spin her great bulk around in a small circle. Pressing his lips to hers in a kiss, Brienne could feel her toes curling at the touch.
“I need to go. Auntie and Cousin Cersei are waiting for me, and I’m going to have bad news for them.” He held her hands in his. “You’ll have to go back to Tarth. I can’t propose marriage to a princess that’s not there.”
Brienne sighed. “Must I?” She dreaded the lemon juice.
“Yes love, but it’ll only be for a couple of months.”
The ordinary princess sighed, but gathered her meager belongings and made her way to Septa Roelle’s sister’s house.
It was to the great shock of her parents when their only daughter came down the stairs, just like any other day, and not after being missing for a year.
“Brienne!” Alysanne shouted. “My darling!”
“Where have you been?” Selwyn demanded.
Brienne explained she had just been in Lannisport working odd jobs for the castle. Her Queen Mama and King Papa took it all in stride before quickly arranging for more prospective grooms to come her way.
The tall girl sighed and merely counted the days in her room.
An official looking letter came across Selwyn’s desk, and he stared at it in disbelief.
“King Jaime Lannister wishes to wed our Brienne?” Alysanne read over her spectacles.
Her father stared at her across the breakfast table, and Brienne tried to hide her reddened cheeks.
“Who cares?!” His advisers shouted as they rushed around to prepare a response.
A few months later, dressed in a plain blue gown, and practically draped in strings of sapphires and pearls to hide her lack of bosom, Princess Brienne of Tarth curtseyed low before King Jaime of Lannisport.
He was dressed in golden armor, with a great crimson cloak across his shoulders.
Brienne quailed at the sight before her. Surely this was the great Lannister King. Her doubts were swept away as he winked her as he stood from his bow.
Their wedding was attended by the highest lords and ladies, and the most honorable knights.
The wine flowed freely at the reception, and the newlywed couple sat atop the grand table.
A scent of roses filled the room, and Brienne duly stood up from her seat to kiss her Godmother Olenna on the cheek.
“Now my dear, did you ever regret my gift of being ordinary at your christening?”
Brienne glanced up at her handsome husband.
“No, Godmother. It was a wonderful blessing.”
“Good, good. Now let me give you another as a wedding present. Your marriage will be happy, and you’ll be graced with two gallant sons and two beautiful daughters.”
Brienne blushed fiercely, and thanked her Godmother once again.
—-
One would think that the royal pair would have made their home in the grand city of Lannisport, or their summer residence in Casterly Rock. However, the King and Queen lived in the Birches, where Jaime and Brienne fished or hunted for their dinner. The pair dueled as often as they could with each winning equally over the other.
Jaime had often sung as the pair were walking home with the latest catch.
“Lavender’s Blue,
Rosemary’s Green,
When I am King,
You shall be Queen.”
“And so I am,” Brienne murmured with a smile.