Chapter Text
It was late and she knew she was supposed to be back by now, but training had been very exciting today. She had won them all. Despite her voice, she never told them her name and let them think whatever they wanted. Some of them seemed to think she was just a sullen boy, an awkward child who knew not how to make friends. Brienne did not care to be friends with them. The few times she had been in the company of men like these, their only topics of discussion were their sexual fantasies and their negative ideas about women. It was best if they did not know her that well.
She was thrilled that she had defeated all of the competitors. Fencing was her love and the only one she would allow herself to have. Her father had helped her join the academy and she had promised to become the best of them all. “For a big thing you can be quite graceful” one elegant and charming lady that had come to observe the match had said to her, she even winked at Brienne. That had been uncomfortable.
Her mare suddenly did not want to continue. “What is it? You know this is our way home” she said sweetly. In a way, she had a better relationship with her horse than with other people. When she looked forward a figure just materialized out of thin air. She gasped and blinked, then it was not there anymore. Blinking repetitively, she looked towards one direction and then the other, yet there was no one. It was obvious she was dreaming or maybe too tired. Looking back then in front again several times she agreed that it was just her imagination, but then, out of nowhere a man was standing in front of her.
The man wore a refined hat and a long jacket, beautifully decorated, holding his hat slightly as a way to salute her, he smiled. He was definitely an attractive man but that smile sent a thrill down her spine that had nothing to do with girlish desires.
“Excuse me ser” she managed to say “it will be so kind of you to leave the street, it is not very wide and I need to take this road”
“Do you?” his voice was beautiful but dangerous at the same time.
Brienne was no coward. “In fact I do, but if my lord can not find in himself the kindness to step aside, then I'll find another” and saluting him she turned the horse around.
They hadn't gone long when he appeared in front again.
It was not achievable, nobody could move at such haste.
“My lord, please, it will be very nice of you to let me pass”
“And it will be nice of you to let me kiss you” he said, right next to her ear. How could it be possible? But when she looked he was no longer there. Wide-eyed and scared, she went on her way. It did not take long to arrive at the bridge and then at her father's castle.
Lady Roelle was waiting impatiently at the entrance.
“My lady, this is most inappropriate. The hour, it is already dark, the garments you are wearing, all of it”
She sighed but said “I had some distraction, it will not happen again” but she detested being treated like a little girl at 17 years of age.
Lady Roelle just looked annoyed and followed her. “You have received an invitation, Lady Margaery Tyrell invites you to the dance on honor of her engagement with Lord Renly Baratheon”
Brienne looked at the envelope, took it and went to her room. She could hear Roelle's complaints but she needed a bath and sleep. Later, when she was already in her sleeping clothes, she found she could not sleep. Renly... he had been the only nice person she had ever met apart from Ser Goodwin who had trained her before she joined the club. He never laughed at the fiasco her first engagement had been, or the second... not even how she ended the third. He did not look at her with revulsion or treated her like a freak. He danced with her and made her laugh. She saw him from time to time at fencing practices but did not always talk to him. Part of her wanted to go to the party, just to see him but the other part just wanted to crawl in a corner and cry.
She was already crying and looking at the stars. He would have never loved her, she knew that very well but she still felt terrible sadness at knowing he was going to get married. Desperately needing some fresh air she opened the door of the balcony and almost went out. She backed off right on time and gasped.
“You have good reflexes, my lady” that man, how did he get there? she thought. It was on the second floor, and it was not possible to climb it, the wall was covered with thorny plants.
“How...?” she mustered while she recoiled. He did not follow her, instead he just stood there.
“You are very fast for such a big woman”
“What are you?” in her confusion she avoided paying attention to the way he said big woman.
He laughed “I'm someone who admires you, who admires big things like you”
“How did you get here, what do you want?”
“Just to admire you”
It annoyed her so much that it took her some minutes to realize that he was not following her. It relieved her but at the same time it seemed too odd. The way he looked at her was the same one in which a wild animal evaluates its prey.
“Whoever you are, leave” she could punch him, push him away, but a voice in her head insisted strongly on her staying inside.
“A pity” he shrugged and then he was gone.
After some minutes, when she thought he was really not there anymore she closed the door and took a glass of water. That could not be a normal man... or maybe she was dreaming.