<P> Brienne joins Renly Baratheon's army when he marches on King's Landing . She wins the Melee at Bitterbridge, held by Renly, and is permitted to join Renly's Rainbow Guard as her prize . When it becomes apparent that Renly will be forced to battle his brother Stannis, Brienne is assigned as his standard bearer . However, before the battle, in which Renly intends his brother's death, he is assassinated by a shadow . Brienne is accused of the murder before Catelyn Stark is able to convince those present of her innocence, and Brienne accompanies Catelyn back to Riverrun . Though Brienne wishes to have revenge on Stannis for Renly's death, Catelyn persuades Brienne to serve her instead . Catelyn later goes to visit the captive Jaime Lannister in the dungeons; when Jaime begins to mock Catelyn's husband Ned's infidelity, Catelyn calls for Brienne's sword . </P> <P> Catelyn has Jaime sent to King's Landing to exchange him for her captive daughters Sansa and Arya, escorted by Brienne and Jaime's cousin Ser Cleos Frey . They are attacked by outlaws who kill Cleos and Jaime tries to escape in the commotion . Brienne restrains Jaime, but they are captured by the mercenary company the Brave Companions, allied to House Bolton . When their leader, Vargo Hoat, cuts off Jaime's hand, Brienne convinces him to live to have revenge on Hoat . In return, Jaime stops the Brave Companions from raping Brienne . The two are taken to Harrenhal, where Jaime reveals that he killed the Mad King Aerys II Targaryen to stop him burning King's Landing . Roose Bolton allows Jaime to return to King's Landing but allows Hoat to keep Brienne as his prize . Hoat attempts to rape Brienne, but she bites off his ear, and Hoat throws her into a bear pit before Jaime returns to have her released . </P> <P> Brienne and Jaime arrive in King's Landing to find that King Joffrey Baratheon has been poisoned, Catelyn Stark has been murdered by the Freys, and that both Arya and Sansa have fled the city . Renly's lover Ser Loras Tyrell accuses Brienne of Renly's murder and Jaime has Brienne imprisoned for her own safety . Jaime allows Loras to speak to Brienne, and he is convinced of her innocence . Jaime releases Brienne and gives her a sword forged from Ned Stark's Valyrian steel sword Ice; Jaime asks her to name the sword "Oathkeeper". Jaime asks Brienne to find Sansa and fulfill his oath to Catelyn . </P> <P> At Duskendale Brienne encounters Tyrion Lannister's squire Podrick Payne, and allows him to join her . During her journey through the Riverlands she finds Ser Hyle Hunt who she knew from Renly's camp and hires Nimble Dick Crabb as a guide (he is killed when Brienne encounters some of the Brave Companions). Brienne eventually arrives at the inn at the crossroads, where she meets Arya's former traveling companion Gendry, now helping shelter a group of orphans . The inn is attacked by another group of Brave Companions and Brienne is forced to intervene to protect the children . She is grievously wounded by the outlaw Biter before the Brotherhood Without Banners arrives to kill the Companions . The Brotherhood takes Brienne, Podrick, and Ser Hyle Hunt (who had been following them) captive and presents them to their leader Lady Stoneheart, whom Brienne is horrified to realise is a reanimated Catelyn Stark . Stoneheart accuses Brienne of serving the Lannisters and forces her to choose between killing Jaime or being hanged . When Brienne refuses to choose Stoneheart orders her and her group hanged . Seeing Podrick dying, Brienne agrees to kill Jaime in order to spare their lives . </P>

Who protects the queen in game of thrones