Dance Away My Broken Heart / Podrick Payne (2.3)

4. Or Take It Off

"So Brienne, tell me about you and Jaime." Rieka requested as they rode.

"I was instructed to bring Ser Jaime to the capital to trade for you and your sisters." Brienne answered. 

"And then he saved you, lost a hand and come on, I know there is more." Rieka begged. 

"He was my duty-"

"And that look he gave you!" Rieka went on. Avalon ran ahead of them, she was light on her feet, had energy for days. 

"It was just a goodbye." Brienne corrected. 

"It was a I'm picturing your tall ass naked before you leave and I never see you again." Rieka corrected confidently and Brienne blushed. RIeka glanced to her. "Come on, I like Jaime, I actually like all the lannisters that are left alive surprisingly enough." RIeka admitted.

"Ser Jaime and I.... we aren't anything. He is of the kingsgaurd." 

"Didnt stop him from doing some scandalous stuff with his twin." Rieka countered. Podrick leaned in, so the rumors were true. "But that look, he hasnt looked at Cersei like that since he came back all dirty and beaten and one handed. I would know, Cersei trusted me, pre Tyrion's arrest." 

"There is nothing between Ser Jaime-"

"You keep saying it but I really dont believe you every single time you say it." RIeka corrected. 

"I think we should stop for the night." Brienne remarked. 

"Jaime told me-"

"I dont want to talk about Ser jaime." Brienne corrected. 

"He got you armor so that whenever you put it on or take it off..." She paused for dramatic effect and Brienne gaze turned slowly to her. "You think of his handsome face." Rieka rose her hands in surrender as Brienne jumped down from her horse. "Just saying."

"Stop saying." Brienne countered. "I'm going to hunt us some supper." 

"Good idea." Rieka agreed. Podrick extended his arms for her. "I've been getting off horses by myself-" Rieka stopped herself, Podrick's smile so innocent. "Thank you." Podrick put her on her feet but didnt let go of her hips, she smiled back at him waiting but he stared back at her. "Something wrong Podrick?" Rieka questioned touching his cheek and he jumped back letting his hands fall from her. 

"No, I'm sorry. I should... Start a fire." Podrick declared nervously. 

"I will help you." Rieka agreed. 

"I'm sorry." 

"What are you apologizing for?" Rieka countered as she started gathering sticks and little logs. 

"I'm..." Podrick looked at her breathlessly. He turned his gaze quickly to the logs. 

"Make them like a pyramid." Rieka remarked. "So it has room to breathe." her arm brushed up against his and his eyes locked on the side of her face as she fixed the logs. 

"How did you learn to make a fire?" Podrick whispered she turned to face him and his nose brushed her cheek.

"In the north if you dont know how to make a fire you dont last long." Rieka answered. Podrick nodded. Avalon grabbed a stick and Rieka threw it for her, she heard it crunch under her strong jaw before she came running back expecting another stick to fetch. 

WHen Brienne got back with some rabbit, Podrick skewer the meat as Rieka ran off to find some semblance of privacy to pee.   Podrick was roasting a rabbit his eyes looking to Rieka to return, to show her he knew what he was doing, he could be a manly northern, cooking meat, but it caught fire though and he jumped up.

"Oh, no, no, no." Podrick murmured, he picked up the stick but the rabbit was engulfed in flames. "No," he grumbled. Podrick dropped the rabbit and stomped it out. "Hells. Gods." he murmured to himself feeling defeated.

" Did you remove the skin?" Brienne questioned as she returned with more logs.

"No, my lady." Podrick answered softly. 

"Have you ever cooked a rabbit before?" Brienne questioned. Podrick sighed.

"No, my lady." Podrick answered and Rieka took a seat beside him. She picked up the rabbit tossing it delicately in her hands to cool it down. 

"Did you ever cook anything for Lord Tyrion?" Brienne pondered.

"No, my lady. That was the cooks."

Brienne sat down, exasperated. She began to remove her armor. But podrick rushed over to help. He knew how to do this. RIeka watched him try to be helpful, she knew that Tyrion valued him for what little he actually needed. Podrick was really a handmaiden for Tyrion. Tyrion did a lot of the dirty work himself. 

"What are you doing?" Brienne demanded.

"I'm helping you with your armor." Podrick remarked.

"I've been removing my own armor for quite some time, thank you very much." Brienne corrected, defeated again, Podrick took a step back looking around for something to do. Something he wouldnt screw up. 

"Come here Pod, I will show you how to skin it." Rieka remarked. 

"I didnt ruin it?" Podrick questioned sitting beside her. 

"No, just makes getting the skin off a bit stiffer." Rieka assured. "Come here." Podrick watched her as she gave a hard yank ripping the skin free. Avalon ripped at the discarded skin. 

"Wow," Podrick whispered. "That was amazing."  

"Stick with me Pod, I will make a man out of you." Rieka mused sticking it back on the fire. 

 "What exactly did you do for Lord Tyrion?" Brienne questioned. 

"I brought him his meals and cleared his table when he was finished. I kept his clothing and linens clean. Carried his messages and returned the replies. Mostly I poured wine." Podrick remarked.

"Oh. Whilst in Lord Tyrion's service, did you ever do anything remotely related to combat?""

"I killed a man." Podrick agreed.

"Who?" Brienne questioned, Rieka yawned the day finally hitting her, her head tipped into Podrick he smiled touching hand.

"A Kingsguard. He tried to kill Lord Tyrion at the Blackwater." Podrick informed her his gaze shifting back to Brienne. RIeka felt safe with Podrick, maybe it was because he wasnt the type of man she had grown up around, the rough and tough types, the liars of the capital. He was sweet and kind and gentle. 

"How did you kill a Kingsguard?" Brienne questioned intrigued.

"I pushed a spear through the back of his head." Podrick answered.

Brienne nodded and started to remove her armor straps again, but quickly got frustrated and threw her hands down.

"Bloody ridiculous...." she looked to Podrick. "Help me with these straps." Podrick beamed back at her.

"RIeka," Podrick whispered and she lifted her head. 

"Go on Pod." Rieka agreed and  he quickly moved to help.