Chapter 5 - Trial by Combat
Jaime
Nope, nope, nope, nope.
“Ser Jaime has the right to a champion to fight in his stead, just as you do, your grace.” Sansa asserted.
Danaerys’ eyes narrowed at Sansa’s words, then turned her gaze to Brienne. “Lady Brienne, it pleases me to know you have recovered from the Long Night. Though do you really think it wise to fight so soon? Against Grey Worm nonetheless?”
Nope, nope, nope, nope.
Jaime knew this was Sansa’s doing, and he was ready to strangle the girl where she stood. “Your grace, I do not need a champion.” Jaime insisted.
“The kingslayer says he needs no champion.” Danaerys repeated.
“Ser Jaime has one hand, your grace. It would not be a fair fight. Luckily Ser Brienne has two, and is willing to step in.” Sansa protested.
Jaime shot Sansa a nasty look.
I am fully capable of defending myself!
Jaime walked over to where Sansa, Brienne, and Podrick stood. “What in the seven hells are you doing!? Brienne should not be fighting!” He reprimanded Sansa.
“Brienne offered.” Sansa retorted.
She did?
“Besides,” Sansa continued. “Do you see any other options where this fight doesn’t end with you dead on the ground?”
Jaime paused for a moment. “Perhaps not.”
“Brienne told me she feels alright to fight.” Sansa tried to reassure him.
LIAR! Stubborn wench…
Jaime took a moment to weigh his options. He soon concluded he didn’t have many that resulted in him living. Jaime looked to Brienne, who had been suspiciously quiet. “You don’t have to do this Brienne, I know you hardly remember me.”
“You’re right, I hardly remember you beyond the first couple days of our unpleasant journey.” She began, staring at him with her big blue eyes. Oh how he loved her eyes. “But, if what Lady Sansa says about you is true, I can’t let you die unjustly. It wouldn’t be right.”
Sansa? Sansa Stark?
Jaime took a deep breath. Brienne hardly remembered him and was still ready to save his life yet again. He did not deserve this woman. “Ok. Ok I accept.”
Sansa’s eyes widened with her success. She raised her hand yet again to alert the queen, though Danaerys’ gaze had never left them. “Ser Brienne will be Ser Jaime’s champion.” Sansa declared.
Jaime could see Danaerys grip the handles of her chair. “Alright then. Lady Brienne, come and face your opponent.” She commanded.
Brienne walked past Jaime and joined Grey Worm in the center of the makeshift circle.
Please do not die
Maester Wolkan stepped forward, and delivered the rules to the match. Then, Danaerys waved her hand, and the duel commenced.
Grey Worm lifted his spear and spun it around his body, his eyes never leaving Brienne as she held her sword pointed toward him. The pair delicately moved in a circle, navigating their feet at a slow pace as they each assessed their opponent. Suddenly, Grey Worm made the first move, lunging his spear towards Brienne’s abdomen. Quick on her feet, Brienne diverted the attack. She then engaged in a move of her own, thrusting her sword towards Grey Worm’s leg, which he swiftly blocked with his spear.
Soon the pace of the fight picked up, and the pair had begun to engage in a similar series of attacks for a while, a back and forth of lunging and dodging. The two seemed to have met their respective match. Both were beginning to lose their breath, though eventually Brienne was able to stab Grey Worm in the shoulder. Grey Worm grunted in pain, and Jaime watched as Danaerys leaned forward in her chair at the act. However, Grey Worm soon returned the favor when his spear collided with an opening in Brienne’s armor, slicing through her thigh. Jaime’s heart skipped a beat.
Fuck fuck fuck
After stumbling backward for a second, Brienne regained her footing and lunged for Grey Worm again with all her might. As Grey Worm lifted his spear to block her blow, Brienne’s sword sliced it in half. The crowd gasped and Danaerys’ eyes narrowed. Grey Worm backed away from Brienne towards an Unsullied who tossed him another spear. He then ran back towards Brienne, belting out a war cry as he pointed his spear at her. Brienne swiftly twisted her body to dodge Grey Worm’s attack, then used the second he was distracted by her move to knock him to the ground and force him to drop his spear.
The pair wrestled in the dirt, first Grey Worm struggling under Brienne then Brienne struggling under Grey Worm. Though, as Grey Worm sat atop Brienne and reached for his spear, Brienne used the opportunity to headbut him and reclaim her spot on top of Grey Worm. She then tightened her grip around Oathkeeper and pointed the blade towards his neck. “YIELD!” She yelled. Grey Worm didn’t say a word. “I do not want to kill you. There’s no need for you to die today.” She insisted.
Grey Worm turned his head toward his queen, whose face was now unreadable in the face of Grey Worm’s defeat. She slowly nodded her head. “Ok. I yield.” He finally responded.
The crowd erupted in a combination of cheers and boos alike at the results of the fight, and Brienne stood from the ground to allow Grey Worm to stand as well. Jaime, Sansa, and Podrick then ran towards their champion. When Grey Worm collected his spear, he reached out his arm at Brienne. “You fight good.” He acknowledged.
Brienne stared at Grey Worm for a moment, shocked at the recognition, then extended her arm as well. “Thank you.”
As Grey Worm left to rejoin his queen, Sansa embraced Brienne. “You did it!” She exclaimed. Brienne smiled slightly at Sansa’s excitement, then shifted her gaze to Jaime.
Gods, her eyes.
“Thank you, Brienne.” He expressed.
Brienne’s smile widened at his remarks, though Jaime also noticed her wince in pain. He inched closer to Brienne and wrapped his arm around hers. “I’m returning you to your chambers, Ser Brienne. Is that alright with you?”
Brienne took a deep breath, which seemed to be a sigh of relief. “Yes, please.”
Jaime and Brienne navigated their way through the crowds, with Sansa and Podrick close behind. It seemed Brienne had waited to be behind closed doors to reveal her weakened state, as the second they entered her room her legs gave out. Jaime held her by her waist and led her to her bed, where Podrick helped him to remove her armor. “Gods, Brienne.” He whispered once he got a good look at the wound on her leg, blood dripping down to the floor.
“Podrick, please get Maester Wolkan and hurry!” Sansa requested.
Podrick ran out the door, and soon returned with the Maester by his side. As he inspected Brienne’s wound, she yelped in pain when he assessed her ribs.
“Brienne, you told me your ribs felt fine!” Sansa scolded.
“Told you.” Jaime muttered to her, initiating an eye roll from Sansa.
By the end of his examination, Maester Wolkan concluded Brienne was still suffering from head pains, bruised ribs, and now a slice on her thigh. “The head injury will heal fine on its own, and with this paste I am confident your ribs will heal much faster. I also recommend staying off your leg for a couple days to ensure your stitches do not break.” He ensured.
“Pardon me, Maester Wolkan, but what of her…memory?” Sansa wondered.
Maester Wolkan sighed and looked at Brienne. “You endured a number of seizures after the Long Night, which is why you feel you have lost time. I’ve seen many cases of this in soldiers, though all have ended differently. Some patients heal within days, others weeks or months, others never regain their memories at all.” Brienne shifted her gaze to the ground at his words. “But the odds are in your favor. Citadel records clearly show that of patients that experience head trauma, more are likely to regain memories than not.” He reassured Brienne. She nodded. Maester Wolkan reached into his satchel and pulled out a vial. “I strongly advise that you ingest this milk of the poppy—”
Brienne had opened her mouth ready to speak, but Jaime had beat her to it. “She does not like the poppy, it gives her nightmares.” He interrupted.
Brienne turned her head toward Jaime, her brows crossed with confusion. “How did you…?”
“Essence of nightshade will do.” Jaime finished, then flashing Brienne a smile which made her blush.
Maester Wolkan had Jaime and Podrick leave Brienne’s room for a moment while Sansa helped him apply the paste to Brienne’s ribs, then wrapped her abdomen with bandages.
When the men were allowed back into the room, Jaime sat on the bed beside Brienne as Maester Wolkan prepared the nightshade, emptying three drops into a small cup of water. Just as in Riverrun, Jaime took the cup from Maester Wolkan and lifted it to Brienne’s lips, slowly tilting it as she drank. As he removed the cup from her lips, Jaime noted the heaviness already growing in Brienne’s eyelids. He laid her on the bed and covered her in furs as she drifted into a dreamless sleep.
“Podrick and I are going to the main hall for supper, you should join us Ser Jaime.” Sansa offered.
Jaime shook his head and sat in the chair by Brienne’s bedside. “I’m alright here.”