Anonymous asked: Isn't there anything good to say about Renly? He gave Brienne her only real chance to be a knight, after all. Yes, he did it only because Brienne would die for him without hesitation, but she would do that with or without a colored armor, and Renly could use that armor to garner favor from someone else, but he gave it to Brienne anyway based mostly on merits.

I honestly don’t think so, nor do I think this interpretation of Renly’s actions regarding Brienne is accurate. First, he didn’t give out the cloak based on merits.

She heard King Renly declare the Lady Brienne of Tarth the victor of the great melee at Bitterbridge, last mounted of one hundred sixteen knights. “As champion, you may ask of me any boon that you desire. If it lies in my power, it is yours.” “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.” - Catelyn II, ACoK

He gave it to her because she asked for it explicitly as her boon for winning the tourney…and because he believed Ser Barristan wouldn’t be showing up. Renly’s mean, but he’s smart, and he knows his romantic imagery. He knows that if Brienne’s done all this to ask for a place in the Rainbow Guard, Brienne will do just about anything.

Recall the conversation Loras passes on to Jaime late in ASoS.

The younger man started for the door. But there he turned back. “Renly thought she was absurd. A woman dressed in man’s mail, pretending to be a knight.” “If he’d ever seen her in pink satin and Myrish lace, he would not have complained.” “I asked him why he kept her close, if he thought her so grotesque. He said that all his other knights wanted things of him, castles or honors or riches, but all that Brienne wanted was to die for him.[”] - Jaime VIII, ASoS

So we see that Renly did not think that Brienne was a knight, or could possibly be a knight, but that she was pretending to be a knight. He didn’t have any intention of knighting her. What he wanted was for her to die for him.

This is further backed up by what we see in ACoK.

“With a glad heart, Your Grace.” The Knight of Flowers knelt before the king. “Grant me your blessing, and a knight to ride beside me with your banner. Let the stag and rose go to battle side by side.” Renly glanced about him. “Brienne.” “Your Grace?” She was still armored in her blue steel, though she had taken off her helm. The crowded tent was hot, and sweat plastered limp yellow hair to her broad, homely face. “My place is at your side. I am your sworn shield…” “One of seven,” the king reminded her. “Never fear, four of your fellows will be with me in the fight.” Brienne dropped to her knees. “If I must part from Your Grace, grant me the honor of arming you for battle.” Catelyn heard someone snigger behind her. She loves him, poor thing, she thought sadly. She’d play his squire just to touch him, and never care how great a fool they think her. “Granted,” Renly said.

- Catelyn III, ACoK

Remember where Loras is riding in the battle? In the van. Renly’s just sent Brienne to be a target in the vanguard of this battle. Yeah, some opportunity. Then Brienne asks to do a squire’s job. If Renly cares about her skill and dignity, the proper response is “that’s beneath you as a knight of the Rainbow Guard, Brienne,” but since Renly only wants to use her, he grants her request.

The nicest thing Renly ever did for Brienne was dance with her as a child, a basic courtesy which from Brienne’s perspective seems utterly exceptional.