I watched him closely, he was so proud and sure, nothing and no-one would stop him. Lady Catelyn had been off praying in the sept and had since returned to plead with Renly, she wanted him to reconsider making peace with Lord Stannis. I began removing the kings amour (I was honoured to do so), I think he did not notice how badly I was shaking. I had not been that close to him since we shared a dance when I was a girl of 13, he had been so kind and attentive. The pavilion had been windy that night and the camp restless. Lady Catelyn had been visibly unsettled by the eerie feeling in the air, I would lying if I said I had not felt the same. The tent had suddenly darkened, when I away to see why it had become so dark, what seemed to be a shadow was between myself and my king. Renly grunted and grabbed at his throat, his tunic turned from white to scarlet red. The blood covered my hands, I pulled him close to my chest and felt him die, his weight pulling me down. We feel to the floor, I heard Lady Stark telling me to get up and run…yet the sound was low and rang through my head. I lay him down on the floor and leaned in to look upon his face when guards rushed in. They shouted “She killed the King!” “Murderer” “Youll hang for this” and Lady Catelyn shouting back “NO! It was a shadow, it was… I don’t know… it was not Lady Brienne!!!” leaping to my feet, with King Renly’s sword in my hands, I cut the guards down like they were soft butter.

Lady Cat grabbed at my arm, I wrenched away and went to him, dropping to my knees, I pulled my bloody gloves off a touched his face. He was so young, his face still warm to the touch. I leaned down and pressed my lips to his, my tears covering his beautiful face, “Renly ~sobbing~ I…. I failed you. I’m so sorry. Forgive…please forgive me, I love you.” I removed his cloak and left the tent with Catelyn.

We rode on through thick dark woods until the chaos of the camp disappeared like a bad dream, I pondered what had happened and could come up with no explanation, no reason and no clear culprit. The small band of men traveling with us set up a tiny camp opting not to light a fire in fear of attracting soldiers looking for “the murderers”. I asked Lady Catelyn if I might take leave to avenge my king, she looked at me sharply and said “You are no use to Renly dead. Do you really want to avenge him? Fight with my son, you both share a common enemy.” Lady Catelyn, I replied, I do not know your son, but I would …I mean I could serve you.

That night I tried to sleep against a battered soldier pine but to no avail. My thoughts were racing, my blood boiled and I let out a scream. I looked up to see Lady Stark sitting close by, she was humming a sad tune and crying. I asked her if I had disturbed her, she replied “no sweet child, I was also unable to sleep”. What troubles you My Lady? Sadly she looked at me, “I know what you plan” “You know that knights die in battle, as ladies die in the childbed, no one sings songs about them.” Fighting is better than this waiting, you don’t feel so helpless when you fight, I replied. You have a sword and a horse, sometimes an axe. When you’re armored it’s hard for anyone to hurt you.

To be continued…