Work Text:
Brienne hated the season with a passion, all the balls, dressing up and acting with etiquette, it was like pretending to be someone she was not. She'd rather be out there shooting, riding on horse back at break neck speeds and fencing. Brienne would rather be do anything at all than attend another ball. Except, it was what Lord Selwyn Tarth wanted and she had to honour her house by creating heirs through marriage.
Except, the only offers and names written on her dance card consisted of people all taking part in a huge joke to see who could get the maid of Tarth in their bed first. No one wanted to dance with her for any reason other than a jape or a favour to her father.
Brienne of Tarth was more than content to become a wallflower at events, at least then no one was looking at her, for people did look at her when she was out on the dance floor, she was the lady who never fitted in, that one person who was slightly different from all the other demure young ladies.
Tonight was no different, Brienne was milling around the outside of the room…watching and nothing more. Hopeful ladies lined up in the hopes of getting the seasons most eligible bachelors. Lord Selwyn had told her that Lord Lannister was looking for a wife. Not that the information mattered to her as he would no doubt have his pick of the crop and not even look at her twice. Still though, Brienne watched him, he danced well despite the injury to his hand. Rumour had it that he had lost it while horse riding or while competing in an underground fighting ring or in an illegal duel. That one good arm he had was clinging around the back of the diamond of the season, Lady Margeary Tyrell while his other not so good arm was hanging uselessly down at his side.
Brienne gets lost in watching them dance, her attention too focused on Lord Lannister to notice that he had danced with a further two people, Lady Sharma and Lady Eloise Bridgerton. He moved with such a grace that Brienne became entranced and did not notice as the ball passed her by, nor did she notice her father watching her, glancing between them both. The smile forming on Lord Selwyn's face and the way he strode forward just as a dance was finishing was also not noticed.
And then Lord Lannister was bowing, the movement catching her eye, when he straightened he turned to face her, his gaze upon her made her blink…several times, and he was still looking at her. He was walking towards her and Brienne looked around, Lady Margeary was stood slightly off to the left with her mother Lady Olenna, that must be who had caught his attention.
Brienne tried to focus back onto Lord Lannister but her eyes hit her fathers first. He seemed to be walking toward her. Her eyes bounced off him and saw that her father was walking beside Lord Lannister, effectively bringing him over to her.
Oh. No. Not now. Brienne thought, trying to look around the room for an escape. Lord Lannister had just danced with the seasons diamond and her father was bringing him to speak with her. Brienne tried to remember what she was supposed to do, she was supposed to curtsey was she not, or was she supposed to bow. Her mind went all a jumble as Lord Lannister got closer and closer to her, his gaze never leaving her. Brienne forgot everything she had ever been told. Mayhaps she could fake a turn for the worse, that way she would not have to speak.
"Viscount Lannister. This is my daughter Lady Brienne," her father said, gesturing his hand towards her. Lord Lannister was standing right next to her father, right in front of her and Brienne could barely breath.
"Lady Brienne. It is a pleasure," he was speaking to her and the words were kind.
"The pleasure is all mine my Lord," Brienne replied, the words automatically spewing forth, but then the most embarrassing thing happened. Brienne dropped into a curtsey, holding into her skirts and bowing forward at the same time.
She stood up straight to the sound of Lord Lannisters laugh. Her father laughed along too but it was stilted.
Lady Brienne looked between the both of them and almost bolted from the room right then and there. Brienne could not have been more mortified as she looked between the two of them sheepishly.
"Lord Lannister, I fear I must apologise, Brienne mentioned something about having a headache earlier," her father said to Lord Lannister. She'd never complained to her father earlier, and if it was only a headache she never would have complained about it at all. She hurt herself a lot worse than that when welding her swords in their garden. "Mayhaps we should get you home, Brienne. Would you excuse us Lord Lannister?"
Her father was already reaching for her elbow to escort her from the Tyrell Ballroom.
This was her one and only chance to speak to Lord Lannister and her father was going to take it away from her because of her blunder, it was nice of him to offer her an out, truly. Brienne thought quickly to come up with an excuse which would not implicate her father and instead blurted out, "You are an excellent dancer Lord Lannister. Would you care to dance?"
Her mouth opened wide after she had said that, even her father had stopped walking, the arm fell away from hers as he turned to look at her in horror. Asking a man to dance was seen as improper, especially one who was above her station.
They both turned to look at Lord Lannister as one when a deep full bellied laugh came from him. His laughter drew the attention of those nearest to them within the ballroom.
"My apologies Lord Lannister. Her headache must have befuddled her-" There her father went again, defending her to the last.
"Nonsense, Lord Tarth. If it is a dance Lady Brienne is after then I shall indeed indulge her," Lord Lannister said, offering his left arm to her. Brienne in all her confusion took a few seconds to comprehend what had happened and it was only with a nudge from her father that she spurred into action, sticking her right arm out to him.
It stayed their awkwardly as Brienne's eyes widened in shock and disbelief. She had been very, very wrong. She could be entirely more mortified. Cruel laughter rang out around her as she dropped her hand down. Tears stung her eyes but the most incredible thing happened, a warm hand found her left one. Lord Lannister was grasping her hand, pulling her onto the ballroom floor.
All the laughter stopped and silence rang out in the ballroom.
"A quadrille please. Something lively," Lord Lannister shouted out, and the music started again, and then they were dancing.
"Thank you, Lord Lannister," Brienne said after she regained control of herself. Luckily Lord Lannister was doing all the work in leading the dance and she was just moving along to wherever his hand guided her at her back.
"It's Jaime. Just Jaime, Lady Brienne."
Brienne smiled then, one of her rare and true smiles. She was dancing with a man whom she admired from a far and could only dream about talking to and yet she was dancing with him. She'd forgotten all of her training and still he hadn't balked at her forwardness.
"It's Brienne. Just Brienne."