Brienne nunca foi bem tratada pelos homens. Ela era considerada feia e pouco feminina. Pior, ela tinha sido insultada e provocada por homens que pretendiam ser seus pretendentes.
No entanto, Renly sempre a tratava gentilmente.
É revelado em Uma Tempestade de Espadas que ela conheceu Renly como um adolescente, e foi ferido com ele à primeira vista:
Renly Baratheon had been more than a king to her. She had loved him since first he came to Tarth on his leisurely lord’s progress, to mark his coming of age. Her father welcomed him with a feast and commanded her to attend; elsewise she would have hidden in her room like some wounded beast. She had been no older than Sansa, more afraid of sniggers than of swords. They will know about the rose, she told Lord Selwyn, they will laugh at me. But the Evenstar would not relent.
And Renly Baratheon had shown her every courtesy, as if she were a proper maid, and pretty. He even danced with her, and in his arms she’d felt graceful, and her feet had floated across the floor. Later others begged a dance of her, because of his example. From that day forth, she wanted only to be close to Lord Renly, to serve him and protect him.
Mesmo depois disso, durante A Clash of Kings uma vez que ela se juntou a ele em sua luta pelo reino, ele a aceitou por seus próprios méritos e concedeu a ela a maior honra que ela poderia ter esperado : ele fez dela uma de suas próprias guardas pessoais.
“Your Grace,” Brienne answered, “I ask the honor of a place among your Rainbow Guard. I would be one of your seven, and pledge my life to yours, to go where you go, ride at your side, and keep you safe from all hurt and harm.”
“Done,” he said. “Rise, and remove your helm.”
Da reação dela, é óbvio o quanto isso significa para ela:
And yet, when Renly cut away her torn cloak and fastened a rainbow in its place, Brienne of Tarth did not look unfortunate. Her smile lit up her face, and her voice was strong and proud as she said, “My life for yours, Your Grace. From this day on, I am your shield, I swear it by the old gods and the new.” The way she looked at the king-looked down at him, she was a good hand higher, though Renly was near as tall as his brother had been-was painful to see.