Chapter 1
Brienne tried to hide her tears as she always did, by looking viciously disgusted. She spurred her horse on with an emphatic "Hyah!" and picked up a fresh burst of speed which left the flustered Podrick even further behind. He gave his horse a few tired kicks, puffing, anxious to scramble after her.
They were riding North, following the unsuccessful attempt to gather the Tully troops to aid in the attack on Winterfell. The failure was crushing Brienne, not in the least because it implied near certain defeat for Jon Snow's forces. Lady Sansa's forces, in her mind. She had to get her out. The rightful lady of Winterfell would not survive the consequences of their defeat, the Boltons would make sure of that. Damn Jon Snow, damn Winterfell, damn the new group with their odd compilation of unsavory characters. The only thing that mattered was to keep the lady safe, those were the terms. She tried hard not to recognize that she also feared the possibility of success on Lord Snow's part, for that could mean an upcoming war against the Lannisters. Against Jaime.
"Are we riding to the camp, M'lady?" Podrick called after her desperately. The woman had been so withdrawn ever since the somber departure from Riverrun that he had endured a few strained weeks of following her blindly wherever she galloped off to. Her routes had been obscure and difficult to read, although he guessed she was trying to avoid potential run-ins with Bolton men as they got closer and closer to Winterfell. They were giving it a very wide berth, travelling far west and skirting villages.
Brienne recognized the area. She came to a brief halt and let him catch up.
"This is the Wolf's Wood," she told him, grim. "I killed Stannis in these woods."
Podrick allowed her a moment of reflection. "Should we not - could there not be Bolton soldiers about?" He looked mildly alarmed.
Brienne's sideways look was condescending. "They sent taunting letters, they're expecting siege. I highly doubt they'd send men this far out."
"Our lot planned to camp where Stannis did. I suppose we're close, then?"
"To the camp, yes. But where the Lady Sansa is, I cannot guess. She would have joined Jon on their expedition to gather the Northern troops." She drank some water, cringing from the coldness of it, and passed the skin to her squire.
"She will return before the battle, m'lady." Podrick was relieved to break from the exercise, gulping water in between heavy breaths.
"My fear is that they may begin the battle at any moment. We may be late."
Podrick did a double take. "I - it's not likely, m'lady. They would wait for news of the Tully army." He gave her what he thought was an encouraging nod. "We need only wait for her at the camp."
Brienne's anger was visible at the corners of her mouth. "It is not a matter of waiting. We need to find her and take her away from here, as far away from here as possible. Immediately. We need to keep her safe."
Podrick was taken aback. "But... We - we have returned her to her brother, m'lady. We have done what we set - "
"We have not done anything", Brienne said through her teeth. "My pledge is to keep her from harm, and there is no hope of that here. Jon Snow and his foolhardy ambitious battles and rotten company are no place for a girl like Sansa. His battle is as good as lost. There is no hope of reclaiming Winterfell, and when that becomes evident she will be thrown to the dogs. Her only sensible play now is for survival, away from all the politics. I am the only one who is willing to make sure she has that, whether she agrees to it or not."
Podrick's mouth was hanging open. "Surely it is not our business to dec-"
"HYAH!" Brienne was off again, building into a furious gallop, face contorted.