The snow fell softly around the party of three that trotted slowly between the white-crusted trees. Brienne had tasked herself to bring Sansa Stark to her brother the Lord Commander Jon Snow in Castle Black. Their third companion was her squire, Podrick Payne or 'Pod' as she'd learned to call him. He was unused to travelling the wilds of the north, but he was learning quickly in their short time together since they departed the Red Keep to find the Stark girls. It had felt like so long ago that Brienne had pledged her loyalty and sword to Catelyn Stark, and upon her Lady's death she took it upon herself to protect what remains of the Stark house.
Sansa had kept her cloak above her head since they had escaped from Winterfell, her hair was uncanny throughout the realm and giving away their position to the Boltons would almost certainly mean death or worse for the three of them. Brienne had kept a sharp eye while they travelled, but had to rely on her sense of hearing due to the lack of visibility. Thankfully snow had been falling since they had left Winterfell and so a white carpet was placed over the forest, making it easy to hear the environment around them.
The forest opened up into a large clearing, a thin layer of snow lay crisp and fresh before a huge gate that lead into a huge, dark castle that looked like it had seen better days. As the trio of horses walked into the clearing, two archers clad in black stood in guard of the entrance. "Welcome to Castle Black, state your name and purpose" they shouted down to the riders, their accent thick and northern suiting the location of this place. As they reached the centre of the clearing they pulled their horses to a stop. They were glad for the rest it had been a long journey here, Brienne shifted in her saddle as she looked up to the archers.
"We come to see the Lord Commander, I am Brienne of Tarth, this is my squire Podrick Payne" she paused and gestured to Sansa who was eyeing the archers with anxiety playing in her crystal blue eyes that contrasted so beautifully with her red hair. "And this is Lady Sansa Stark, sister to Jon Snow. May we pass?" The blonde woman said curtly up to the men, she watched as they nodded to one another and shouted an order for the gate to be opened.
Once the gate had opened enough for Brienne's horse to pass through, she nudged it into a steady walk with Sansa and Pod in tow. As they entered into the courtyard, it seemed like the castle's inhabitants had been frozen upon their appearance. There was one particular man who looked strong and rough, not like other 'men' she had met from the south. His hazel brown eyes gazed upon her as if she were a rose sprung from the snow. It unsettled her, she moved her eyesight forward to the man she assumed was Jon Snow, he was stood between Sir Davos and the Red Woman. With a look of contempt Brienne brought her mount to a halt and released the reins to allowed it to stretch its neck and relax after it's long journey. She dismounted and strode over to the grey mare that carried Sansa. She offered her arm, allowing the lady to dismount gracefully but no sooner had she touched the ground, Sansa had taken off across the courtyard towards her brother. Not caring for mud or the onlookers, Sansa ran and leapt into Jon's embrace. A successful smile spread over her lips, she had completed her mission to reunite the Stark family. Her attempt with Arya was lost long before Brienne had encountered the Hound, never had she seen such anger and sadness within a young girl before. Before she got too distracted by her thoughts, Brienne drew in her focus and walked back to her horse, gladly stretching her muscles after the three-day ride they had just endured. Pod had already dismounted and was patting his chestnut gelding gently on the neck, four men walked across the courtyard towards them, two took the reins and walked the horses to the stables to be fed and watered, Pod would likely go and brush them later as was his therapy when he couldn't sleep. The other two came to escort them to the dining hall, if it could be called that. One of them was the flame haired man who was staring at her earlier, but he was closer now and she could see the deep pools of desire that sat in his eyes. She distanced herself from the man, his gaze unsettled her, no one had ever looked at her like that before. It gave her a warm feeling in the pit of her stomach, a feeling she chose to ignore. Brienne allowed the men to guide her there, to see how the outcome of their arrival would sit.