Game of Thrones/ASOIAF Fic: Nights Without Armor (Chapter 6 - Jaime, Part 2)

[bratanimus]

Author: bratanimus
Title: Nights Without Armor (Chapter 6 - Jaime, Part 2)
Fandom: Game of Thrones/A Song of Ice and Fire
Pairing: Jaime/Brienne, Podrick/Sansa
Word Count: 6,051 this chapter (~32,000 entire story)
Rating & Warnings: M for sexual content, language
Summary: An unlikely trio - Jaime, Brienne, and Podrick - set out to rescue Sansa from Petyr

Comments

[gilpin25]

The only thing I could foresee with regards to the end of this was the Jaime and Brienne part, and that lived up to all my high expectations and then some! They've built up to those final moments; it felt as if they truly deserved them, and it was so well written with no cheesy utterances which would have seemed out of character at the last. It’s settled, Jaime thought. You’re mine. I’m yours. I loved the simple crispness and overwhelming love implied in that thought even more than the sex! (Clearly I need my head examined. LOL.)

You've been really clever with the "What shall we do after Winterfell?" question, which they've asked each other in turn throughout, and each time the answer has taken them a little further along the vulnerable road to trust and commitment. This time, they both get the answer they want to hear. As for the sex, what a very long way they are from Jaime's uneven relationship with Cersei in the books. There's no power struggles or mind games necessary, just mutual want and joy.

Back at the start, the scene by the heart tree was truly riveting. Jaime laying the golden hand at Sansa's feet, his pledge to her and his new little family, and how it's all as easy as falling - loved the way you used that again in the very last line; that's two new women he's laid his heart down to now in quick succession! - was beautifully done. It also felt very much like the knight and man Jaime wants to be in canon, and most appropriate, therefore, that Howland Reed should arrive in time to literally see the lion bow down to the wolf. I shall be disappointed now if he isn't as you described as it seems to fit him so well in both looks and disposition.

As always, it's the little details in your story that stick in my mind: Howland leaving his weapons in the corner as an honourable gesture; Pod giving Sansa those small smiles; Brienne bowing to her like a male knight. Then there's Jaime being prompted into immediate action by his jealousy over Brienne's apparent admiration of Howland (this made me think of R/T. Which is always good!). I know you said you were worried Jaime's chapters were too wordy, but my goodness how those words all work to tell the story.

This has been a WONDERFUL read from start to finish and one I shall be looking at again and again to discover how you did it. The old bratanimus storytelling magic shines as brightly as ever. ♥

[bratanimus]

You are too kind! Thank you SO much for taking the time to read this story and to leave such meaty feedback at the end of each chapter. As you know, it's so very helpful to know what resonates with readers, and to know that I've been successful in what I've tried to do. :)

I love that you loved the It’s settled, Jaime thought. You’re mine. I’m yours. I agree that that's more arousing than the sexy bits, and it also reflects his old arrogance (It's settled.) as well as his vulnerability (the intense need to define their places in each other's lives in You're mine. I'm yours. -- which is a luxury he's never quite had with Cersei).

I'm also glad you liked the recurring Winterfell question, which I think was the closest Jaime could come at the time to the DTR (Define The Relationship) conversation, lol. I think after losing so much, and never having had a partner he could publicly declare his own, he desperately needs stability. If I'd had more time to write a really long fic, I would've done the Winterfell question more than twice and explored their growing attachment to each other; as it was, I had to simply state that it's been more than twice, which I don't like doing. But I'm glad it felt more significant to you, which is what I'd hoped.

And yay, I'm thrilled you liked the heart tree scene! That was something I'd had brewing for a long time - Jaime being punished by weirwood!Bran, though he doesn't know it's Bran, of course. And when Jaime unstrapped his hand, that was something that just happened as I was writing, and I said YES, OF COURSE. He has to give it ALL up.

Thanks for pointing out easy as falling in relation to Jaime's laying down his life for a new queen AND a new lover (one who can actually be his wife). I specifically chose that phrase because Jaime's last defining act at Winterfell was to PUSH someone; and now it's his turn to fall (and I think that's why weirwood!Bran forgives him). He falls from grace in his family's eyes, and he surrenders all his old notions of what he thought he was supposed to do with his life. He lets go and just falls.

Thank you for loving Howland Reed! I, too, have grown quite attached to this image of him now, and I'll be miffed if GRRM doesn't see him in exactly the same way, lol.

Thank you again for putting down your thoughts about this story. After so long not writing, it's really good to know that I've still got something worth sharing. THANK YOU. *hugs hugs hugs*

♥