Bathed In Gold

Chapter XVIII

We had been travelling for most of the night, we stopped in a cave near a river where I cleaned the dried blood off myself when I returned Arya was still asleep. I sat by the fire and took the knife from my boot and began to sharpen it, just as I was running the stone over the blade I cut my fingers, I whimpered quietly not loud enough to wake Arya.

I suddenly heard someone walking towards us, I shifted into my horse form and stood at the entrance of the cave, I saw a man dressed in armour coming towards us, I snorted loudly and threw my head up. "Easy!" He called as he walked closer not relaxing I wasn't a normal horse. I turned my head to the side I knew him and shifted back into human form.

"Brienne?" He asked.

"Jaqen it has been sometime." I smiled and leant against the side of the cave.

"Indeed it has, but I thought you were killed by the white walkers." He said.

"Come on, I'm stronger than that." I said, he huffed a laugh.

"You haven't changed," he smiled and tucked a strand of hair behind my ear.

"What are you doing here?" I asked.

"I'm here for Arya, she left before I could say goodbye." He answered.

"I see," I said stepping to the side and allowing him inside the cave, area  and saw Jaqen they spent a little while talking. As noon made itself present I was practicing my sword skills then they both emerged.

"The girl will come with me," he said, I turned on my heel and locked glances with him.

"She'll do no such thing, I was to get her back to her mother." I said.

"She has no mother, if the rumours are true, Katelyn Stark is dead." He said.

"No!" I exclaimed, Jaqen knew I was upset and hugged me to him, I would cry no tears for the dead but all this was for nothing.

"She'll be safer with me," he whispered in my ear. I pulled away and nodded.

"I respect your decision," I said.

"Go back to your father and Khaleesi you will also be safer." He told me. He gave me one last hug and was beginning to leave.

"Wait!" I called. "Arya come here." She ran over and I handed her my horse headed dagger and hugged her, I then watched them leave. I began my journey to the wall, knowing full well I would be safer there, I stayed in my horse form for as long as I could. The ground under my hooves soon turned to forest and ice, I carefully and slowly crossed across a frozen lake, the cold bitter wind biting into my coat and I had to be careful not to slide over, a broken leg was the last thing I needed.

The wall was in my sights, and it seemed very quiet it unnerved me somewhat, my ears flicked around frantically on my head, I attempted to keep low as I walked to the gate. I suddenly heard roaring coming from the forest, a mammoth started charging towards me,but I couldn't move I was frozen to the spot.