Dance Away My Broken Heart / Podrick Payne (2.3)

18. Shock

"It's a bloody woman." The solider remarked laughing at the sight of Brienne.

But Brienne cut down the bolton officers as she rode past. Podrick engaged one of the soldiers in mounted combat. Rieka looked between them before her eyes locked on Theon. And she froze.

Brienne faced off with another mounted soldier. Their blades clash, but neither is hit. As Brienne rode past him, another soldier knocked her from her horse. She dropped her blade but scrambled to retrieve it when she saw a soldier advancing towards her on foot. When she reached the blade, the soldier kicked her. She retrieved the blade again and stood, engaging him in a swordfight. Avalon ripped at the mans legs allowing Brienne to cut him down.

Rieka was frazzled. Theon was standing before her but he didnt look theon. Not exactly. There was an utter fear in him. Podrick called out her name but she couldnt hear him past the ringing in her ears.

A mounted soldier charged at Brienne. She jumped and struck him, causing his horse to fall over, trapping him beneath it. While Podrick continued his mounted sword fight, Theon grabbed the blade of a fallen soldier off the ground. Podrick cut down the soldier he was fighting and they both fall from their horses. Podrick looked to a seemingly stunned Rieka before he realized a man was closing in on him.

Another soldier advances on Podrick, and they begin fighting Podrick was really putting to use his training as he swung again and again. Rieka finally gaining her sanity pulled her bow free. She started shooting. Avalon seemed to smile as she tore at a mans leg. He shrieked out in pain. Avalon tossed up her prize a severed leg.

Brienne crawled over to the man trapped beneath his horse and slit his throat with a dagger. The soldier Pod was fighting knocked Podricks sword out of his hand. Podrick fell to the ground. Just before the soldier was about to strike Podrick, Theon stabbed the soldier from behind. Rieka offered Podrick a hand. Podrick rose up and Brienne looked to a nervous and shaking Sansa. Sansa rose up as well shaking as Brienne put her blade on the ground in front of Sansa and knelt before her. Sansa looked to Rieka her face a wave of shifting emotions as she looked at her little sister.

"Hey kid. Bet you wish you didnt trust petyr now." Rieka offered sansa sobbed out clinging to her sister. "Im sorry kid." Rieka whispered holding onto her. "I should have done better."

"I should have stayed with you from the start Rie." Sansa whimpered.

"Yeah. Probably." Rieka agreed not letting go of her. Theon shifted anxiously from foot to foot.

"Lady Sansa, I offer my services once again," brienne said. "I will shield your back, and keep your counsel, and give my life for yours if need be. I swear it by the old gods and the new." Brienne remarked. Sansa glanced back at Brienne wiping her eyes before she looked to Rieka and she nodded. Sansa stood tall and proud, but hesitated ever so briefly as she began her part of the solemn oath.

"And I vow that you shall always have a place by my hearth," she began but paused, at a loss for words. Never having to recite this promise of service. Podrick gently prompted her, and then she completes the vow.

"... and meat and mead at my table." Podrick offered

"... and meat and mead at my table." Sansa repeated. She hesitated again.

'' I pledge to ask no service of you that may bring you dishonor.'' Podrick went on gently.

'' I pledge to ask no service of you that may bring you dishonor. I swear it by the old gods and the new," she finished. "Arise."

There was an intense sense of safety, power, and relief in this moment. Both Sansa and Brienne were on verge of freedom. Of safety. Of promised vows achieved.