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"Do you want me to switch on the fairy lights?"
Brienne heard Jaime’s chuckle.
"Why are you whispering?"
"I don't know," a pause, "Because of darkness."
"Well, then we definitely should switch lights on." She couldn't see his face but she knew he was smiling.
"And candles?"
Jaime raised on his elbow. She could see only his silhouette illuminated by moonlight. "Really? I thought we'd bury them in our graves. You know, as in ancient times, we take all the most valuable things to the other world."
Brienne couldn't help rolling her eyes, but she was smiling too. "You can pick the smells."
His eyes widened in a mock surprise. "But it is not even my birthday."
"Yeah, but it's Sevenmas," she looked at him, soft and relaxed.
"It really is." She could see the shadow of his smile and the sparkle of his eyes, everything else hidden in the darkness.
"Consider it a gift."
"But we have already exchanged gifts."
"Consider it a gift for the next Sevenmas."
Jaime poked her in the sides, and Brienne giggled.
"So, do you want lights?"
"And candles," Jaime nodded, looking at her as she climbed off the bed they were both lying on upside down and reached for the power outlet. A moment later, the fairy lights hanging over the head of Brienne's bed flared, and the room lit up with a soft warm light.
"Well, what smell do you want? The Medieval Tavern? The Dornish Bazaar? Or the Weirwood Dream?" She turned to Jaime only to see an incredulous expression on his face.
"Really? Who comes up with these names?"
"Those who made the candles? They have to sell it somehow." Jaime still looked at her with raised brow; Brienne sighed, "Okay, they smell nice. And, maybe, help slightly create an atmosphere."
"Does a medieval tavern smell like sour wine, horse shit and stewed cabbage?"
"No, it smells like rum, pumpkin pie and nutmeg."
Jaime chuckled. "And the Weirwood Dream?"
"Winterberries and juniper."
Jaime hummed.
"And Dornish Bazaar smells like spices," Brienne continued, but Jaime shaked his head, "No, I want winterberries."
"As you wish," she picked up the right candle, and sat on the edge of the bed to light it up. As the candle was placed on the bedside table, Brienne flopped back and lay down next to Jaime.
"You definitely have more than these."
"Yes, but others do not suit this time of the year."
Jaime stared at her expectantly.
She stared back, but surrendered first. "Well, Florian and Jonquil are rather spring-like, as well as Evening at the Manor. You would definitely not like the smell of the House in the Mountains, and you would not want Dracarys on principle."
"Dracarys?" He practically exclaimed. "Again, whose sick imagination created this?"
Brienne clicked her tongue, "You know, there are a lot of people who like it. And who have no prejudices about the Targaryens."
Jaime grumbled.
"I have Targaryens as my ancestors, do you not like me too?"
"You have nothing in common with the Targaryens."
"My hair."
"It could be from some Lannister ancestors."
She looked at him, trying not to laugh.
"Well, you are not crazy enough for Targaryen."
"And not cunning enough for a Lannister."
"Well, it's easy to fix," he grinned at her bewildered look, and she snorted. They were silent for a few moments, lying shoulder to shoulder.
"What is it?"
"Hm?"
"The sound?" seeing Brienne frowned in confusion, Jaime clarified, "Something is crackling."
"Oh, that's the candle. Its wooden wick."
"What?"
"Wooden wick. You know, to make it cozy, as if we were sitting by the crackling fireplace. Aren't you feeling cozy?" She turned her eyes with lights reflected in them at him and kicked her legs in warm funny socks, resting them against the wall.
"I'm very cozy," he rubbed his nose at her shoulder.
She smiled and looked at fairy lights again.
"Isn't it a little fire hazard?"
"A little," she sighed contentedly, "if we leave them unattended. Or leave them in a place accessible to unsupervised children and pets. But there are no pets. And we are not going anywhere." She twirled her feet again. "And I'm absolutely supervising you."
Jaime laughed. "Well, then we're completely safe."
Brienne smiled, showing her crooked teeth.
"Can you say what time is it? Are we already under Father's protection?"
"I don't think so, it's probably too early." She squirmed, getting comfortable. "Why don't you check on your phone? Mine is in the living room."
"I turned mine off. Don't want to receive any calls." Jaime stretched and nearly hit Brienne with his elbow. "Sorry. Or any messages."
He felt her eyes on him. And was pretty sure she was worryingly chewing her lip.
"I'm good, really. This Sevenmas is better than all I had before. And the coziest one, for sure."
She smiled weakly, laying her head on his shoulder. "I'm glad."
They fell into comfortable silence again.
"You really like it, aren't you? All this stuff. Lights, candles… Sevenmas."
"Yeah," Brienne took a deep breath and closed her eyes. "Reminds me of my childhood. Holidays with my family.
"And it's something I could do for myself. Just because I want to. I want to sit there, on my bed, in silly socks, with fairy lights and sweetly scented candles…"
"And with your best friend," Jaime suggested.
Brienne smiled at him. "...and no one can say it's stupid or that I'm not girly enough for this or too old because it's no one's business."
"No one is too old for fairy lights."
"Exactly."
"And anyone who says you are not girly just doesn't know you at all. You are the girliest girl I know." She shoved his ankle. "But you are right, that's none of their business."
"Thank you," she whispered, then frowned. "It was a compliment, right?"
"It definitely was." Jaime took her hand in his, interlacing their fingers. After a pause, he said, "In all the time that we have known each other, this is our first Sevenmas together."
"It is."
"We should have started celebrating together earlier."
Brienne hummed.
"I should have stopped celebrating with them much, much earlier."
"They are still your family," she pointed quietly.
"Yes, and I don't owe them anything. Or wasn't it your words?"
"It was," she swallowed. "I think you should do what you really want to and what makes you feel better."
"Laying here with you is definitely better for me than Lannisters' gatherings. And I want to be here until you kick me out."
"I will not."
"Even if I'll make fun of your candles?"
Brienne pretended to really take it into consideration. "I think I'm too used to you, so I have no other choice."
"It seems you do not."
She looked at him, and caught movement outside the window.
"Oh, it's snowing."
Jaime turned around without letting go of her hand.
"I don't remember when we had the snow for Sevenmas in King’s Landing the last time," he mused.
"I suppose not for the last couple of years we have lived here," Brienne agreed. "Hey," he turned to her once again, "don't you want to go outside?"
Jaime made a wry face.
"Oh, come on. When was the last time you caught snowflakes with your mouth?"
"I'm pretty sure I have never."
"So?"
"It's cold outside."
"No, it's not. It's never cold when it's snowing."
He raised his brow.
"Well, it's almost never." He raised another. Brienne exhaled. "Please. A little fresh air won't hurt us. We were at home all day."
"Yes, because it's warm and cozy. And there are lights."
"When we return, the lights will still be there. And it will be even more cozy." She decided to go for the last argument. "I'll make tea when we return."
Jaime narrowed his eyes. "Promise?"
She nodded eagerly.
"Okay, but only if I could pick a taste too."
Brienne grinned and jumped out of bed.
With a pained groan, Jaime rose after her.
"Don't be dramatic," she said, pulling her pants right over her pajama shorts.
"Don't forget not to leave the candle unattended."
A few minutes later they were already walking along the pavement sprinkled with snow.
"Where are we going?" Brienne was a little ahead while Jaime trailed behind.
"Embankment?" She offered. "I guess everyone else prefers to wait until Midnight on the square, so there would be fewer people." Brienne turned, stepping back and facing Jaime. "And I wanna see the water."
"Some strange island tradition?"
She shook her head. "I would not call it tradition, but we went to the beach every year." Jaime caught up with her and took her by the hand. "There were bonfires and I danced around them when I was a kid."
"Only as a kid?"
"I would look ridiculous after," she felt Jaime squeezing her hand. "And it was fun with Galladon as no one mocked me when he was there." Her voice trailed off, and she barely whispered the last words.
Jaime stopped and pulled Brienne to face him.
"It's no one of their business, right? None is ridiculous for Sevenmas bonfire dancing."
She smiled, "Exactly."
They kept moving.
When they reached the river, Jaime said, "I can't provide you with a bonfire-" Brienne chuckled, "-but I definitely can dance with you."
"Jaime."
"What? It's Sevenmas. I want to be ridiculous with you. You dragged me under this terrible snowfall."
Large flakes of snow swirled slowly around them, softly covering the paving stones. There was no wind and the frost prickled their cheeks pleasantly.
Brienne derisively tilted her head.
"Don't look at me like that. Do you want to dance?"
Brienne looked around. They were the only ones on the embankment. With a heavy sigh she held out her hand to him.
Jaime grinned and took it into his, wrapping another around her waist.
Her step back, his step forward, and vice versa. With her being taller he had to tilt his head to look into her eyes. They sparkled brighter than any lights, and her cheeks were a rich pink color. He wanted to kiss her.
His step back, her step forward, "See, we are pretty good," and vice versa. He raised one arm up so Brienne could swirl under it. She puffed as she had to slightly bend her knees.
"I suppose," somehow out of breath, she tried to restore her balance.
He stepped forward and she stepped back, but her legs lost their ground. Suddenly she slipped and was about to fall, pulling Jaime with her, but he managed to press her to him.
"Got you," their noses were almost touching.
"You did," her breath burned him, while she was gripping his shoulders tighter.
"Are you ok?" he tried to look into her eyes.
"I'm not sure."
"Yeah?"
"I think my head is spinning."
"Oh," Jaime cupped her cheek in his hand so that their faces were on the same level. "Better?"
"And it's hard to breathe."
"I think I can help with this too."
"Hm?" That was almost a plea, or he did read it wrong.
"Will you let me?"
"It seems I have no other choice."
"It seems you do not."
He was going to close the distance between them and kiss her, but she was faster, pressing her lips to his.
Pulling away slightly, he grabbed the back of her head and touched her forehead with his. "Better?"
"No," Brienne licked her lips. "I think I have tachycardia."
Jaime laughed, pressing his thumb to the place on her neck to feel her pulse.
"Looks like that. I think I should take you home, so you can rest, while you do not get worse."
"You definitely should."
He rubbed her nose with his. "But I really want to try again."
She opened her mouth to say something but he didn't let her, kissing her deeper this time, while snowflakes fell, tangling in their eyelashes, and the clock on the square struck midnight.