Winterfall

“Great, hopefully they arrive on time to leave with us.” Brienne said. Her tone had shifted from joyous to annoyed.

“Is there something wrong Brienne?” Théoden asked as he was quick to pick up the sudden shifts in behaviors. I never understood how he was so quick to pick up everything.

She was hesitant to answer. “Brienne, you can trust us here.” Théoden hoped that would encourage her to speak up. He wanted his guards to be comfortable around him. He wanted them to trust him.

“I-I understand that but this is personal captain.” Brienne said as she began to pick her fingernails underneath the table. That I knew she was doing as I could hear the tapping of nail against nail. Something, I knew all too well.

“Brienne, we won’t judge. No matter how bad it is.” I told her with a warm smile. “Please?” I hoped that my soothing voice would encourage her further. Something was bothering her, that I knew.

She looked over at me and sighed, “If you insist. However, I shall warn you, it isn’t a pleasant conversation for breakfast.”

“That is fine with me.” Quinn and Théoden nodded in agreement.

Brienne took a deep breath and released it, “This is heavy and something I haven’t told anyone.”

“Brienne, it’s alright.” Theoden assured her again while utilizing his soothing aura.

The tapping of her nails grew louder as she began to speak. “The festival and I have a bad history. A bad history.” She stopped and breathed in and out a few times. “My family used to go to that festival every year. That was until my brother was taken from us.” She closed her eyes and held her breath.

I wanted to hug her so I got up from my chair and walked over to her. I wrapped my arms around her. “It’s alright Brienne, you do not have to continue.” I whispered to her in her ear as I felt her sob silently as tears refused to fall from her eyes.

She looked up at me and smiled softly, “I appreciate that Maria but perhaps it is time that I share my story.”

I nodded, with a gentle smile, “If that is what you want. I don’t want you to feel pressured into sharing something that has impacted you in a terrible way.”

“You are a wonderful soul, Maria.” Brienne said as she wrapped her arm around mine. “But I should come clean about my past.”

“If you wish.” I told her and held her there in comfort.

“The festival wasn’t a pleasurable experience for me, at least the last time I went.” Brienne began to say. “It’s why I joined the guard force to begin with.”

Brienne closed her eyes and took a few more deep breaths before she continued. “My little brother was killed at the festival when he was five. I took him there to get away from our parents who were constantly arguing and fighting. I’d hoped that it would keep him distracted a bit and make him happy.” She paused briefly before she continued.

“I only stepped away to use the bathroom. But as I finished, I heard him scream. I pulled my pants up quickly and ran as fast as I could towards his screams. But I was too late.” She closed her eyes as she dared to look at everyone as she didn’t want us to see her cry.. “His attacker snuck behind him and stabbed him through the chest. He didn’t stand a chance…” Her voice trailed off in a whimper as she told her tragic event.

“You don’t have to say anymore.” Théo informed her as he did not want to make his guard feel uncomfortable or hurt anymore. He understood the situation at hand and had enough knowledge to piece things together as to what took place.

“I might as well finish it now. It's part of the healing process after all, right?” She opened her eyes and tried to smile through the pain.

“When I got to my baby brother he was already gone. The attacker was apprehended by a Summer Crest guard and taken into custody, but that’s beside the point. When I arrived back home that night, I had to be the one to tell my parents that my brother was not coming home. And who did they blame?” She paused, catching her breath. Her body shook slightly as she remembered the tragic event. I held her as tightly as I could as I tried to make her feel safe and loved.

“Me. They blamed me. So, instead of yelling at each other, they turned that hatefulness to me. Punishing me for stupid shit that didn’t deserve a slap with the belt. A year later, I left. I left home because if I would have stayed, I probably would have not lived much longer. That was at the age of eleven.”

“I’m sorry Brienne.” I hugged her tighter, if that was even possible. Quinn had even joined in the hugging and wrapped her arms around Brienne on the other side.

“I’m sorry too Brienne.” Quinn said as she hugged Brienne gently.

She looked over at Théo. “That’s why I joined the guards at such a young age. I had nothing. Was nothing. But you helped me become something to be proud of.”

Théo smiled at her. “That was all you, Brienne. Not me. You did all that hard work. You got yourself where you are today. You did that.”

She smiled at him with a bit of pride in her sorrowful eyes. “Thank you, Captain. Thank you for believing in me, when I needed it the most.”

He simply nodded at her gratitude for taking her under his wing so young. She had been twelve when she first approached him about joining the forces. He almost refused her, but saw something in her that made him take her on. That made her one of the youngest guards, and one of the youngest Elites he’d had. She was only eighteen and human.

As time lapsed, the sun started to peek over the castle walls, all three of us girls sighed. “It's almost time to play with the devil.” I said with a half smile.

“Hank and Thorin?” Quinn asked as we gathered our items from the kitchen and walked towards the grand hall.

“Should be arriving any minute now.” Théoden walked over to me and gave me a gentle squeeze around the waist and a kiss on the forehead before we left the comfort of the castle’s kitchen.

You will be fine. I promise. Théoden whispered to me through the bond.

I hope you are right. I responded back to him. This time, I seriously hope he was right. The last time he promised me that…well yeah, let’s just hope he was right this time.