Game of Thrones: To Win a Stone Heart

Chapter 1 of a new Game of Thrones story, third story of my GOT marathon; this time a Sansa/Podrick series AU, enjoy.

Disclaimer: Game of Thrones belongs to George R.R. Martin.


Chapter 1

The makeshift cell was cold, dank and the constant sound of dripping water made sleeping almost impossible. Podrick shivered as he tried to sleep; he was still a prisoner of this so called Brotherhood and their leader; Lady Stoneheart. The ropes dug into his wrists as he shifted; he bit back a groan. Due to his harsh treatment by the Brotherhood he found it difficult to stay focused. What was more he felt the cold in the cell more keenly than normal. His harsh treatment had resulted in his tunic being completely shredded; his boots were gone too and his breeches badly torn and shredded up to just above the knee. He turned over, wincing in pain due to the bruises covering his torso, and curled up, trying to get back to sleep. But it was cut short by the creaking as the door opened. His eyes snapped open and turned his head. One of the Brotherhood men was standing there; glaring at him.

"Time to see if you've learned a lesson boy." He growled. "Let's go; take him to the Lady."

Two other Brotherhood members stepped in and grabbed Pod, forcing him to his feet. Pod bit back a groan, not wanting to give them the satisfaction. They dragged him forcefully, but Pod refused to cry out in pain.

Pod suppressed a shudder as he was forced to his knees before Lady Stoneheart. He could scarcely believe that this woman was once Catelyn Stark. When he heard about that, he considered everything he knew about the woman, things he had found out while serving Tyrion. It was horrific how much the woman had changed and how she was now the most dangerous thing he would ever face.

"My patience grows thin…Your 'mistress' is clearly not returning." She said hoarsely. "I have had enough of these lies, this deceit. If you will but confess to the treachery of that moment and your role in it, I assure you, your death will be a clean one."

Pod lifted his head, staring at the Lady's decayed face defiantly. This was the third time she had done this; he refused to say anything; he refused to lie. Yet whenever he did tell the truth, he was named a liar.

He shook his head. "Why waste time? Unless I say what you want to hear, you'll just say I'm lying."

He grunted in pain as one of the men smashed him across the back with the flat of his sword.

The man growled. "Show the Lady proper respect boy!"

Pod didn't say anything. He could tell they were waiting, yet in the end he refused to give them anything.

Lady Stoneheart narrowed her eyes. "So, you still cling stubbornly to your foolishness. So be it; soften him up more, then we'll see if he's any more willing."

Pod grit his teeth as he was forced to his feet and dragged away, he knew where they were taking him all too well.

The door opened and Pod was dragged inside to the room. He knew it all too well; it had been converted into a torture chamber. He felt the ropes around his wrist being untied and he was dragged to the middle of the room. His arms were forced upwards and chained in manacles, firmly attached to a hook on the ceiling. Due to length of the chains he was forced to stand on tiptoe in order to stay level with the ground. Immediately the pain came as he was struck several times, being beaten by the torturers. It didn't last long, but Pod knew it was only the beginning.

"You should have confessed when you had the chance, boy." One of the men growled.

"Confess to what?" Podrick growled through gritted teeth. "I've done nothing wrong; you're just obsessed with finding a reason to kill people. You're no longer acting in the interests of justice; you're nothing but a group of murderers."

His outburst brought him only more pain as they beat him again and then, as they had done before, began to cut him with a dagger. The wounds were deliberately shallow; not intended to be fatal. But they still served their purpose and he cried out in agony as they rubbed the cuts with salt. The cries continued as suddenly two of the men began to burn him with torches. He lost track of time, his world dissolving into pain and his own screams. In the end, finally the pain receded as they stopped, there was no fresh pain, but he was still in agony.

He slowly lifted his head to glare at his captors; however they weren't even looking at him. They were talking to one of the other Brotherhood members who had just entered. Podrick listened carefully, hoping for anything he could use to bargain with his freedom. What he heard made his heart race; but in truth; he knew he'd have no chance to mention it. Not with the way Lady Stoneheart was acting. His torture simply continued before he could say anything to his torturers. By the end he was still in great pain, as well as soaked and shivering, gasping for air as his lungs burned. They had decided to water board him in an attempt to break him. Several times they nearly drowned him and gave him very little time to recover. He had been taken down from the chains and his hands were tied behind his back again. Noting that he still refused to say anything, he was thrown back into his cell; to await Lady Stoneheart's next judgement. He lay on the floor, curled into a ball; trying hard to ignore the pain.

Breathing heavily he was left alone with his thoughts. 'She is alive; I just need to find some way out of here…I can see her again, maybe even, no…stay focused, one thing at a time.'

Despite his effort to control himself; when he fell asleep at last, he dreamed. Dreamed of a beautiful young woman, his age, with auburn hair, blue eyes and creamy ivory skin.


Jaime sighed as he pondered everything that had been revealed to him.

'Brienne, she was ordered to lure me here. Yet…She's told me the truth; she needs my help.' He thought to himself. 'She needs me to help her rescue Tyrion's squire. The boy doesn't deserve what's happened to him. We're walking headlong into danger, yet I'm gladly doing it; for her.'

He looked over at where Brienne sat; anxious and edgy.

"You'll never be able to help the boy like this." He stated firmly, yet kindly. "You need to relax. If you're not well rested; how are you going to be any effective when we fight these Brotherhood men?"

Brienne shot a look at him, yet finally softened and nodded. "You're right; but I just can't help but worry about Podrick."

Jaime nodded sadly. "I understand, we'll do everything we can to save him, but we can't if we don't take the time to rest and make sure we are strong."

In the end Brienne agreed and so they lay down to sleep; preparing themselves for what they knew would be a dangerous time for them the following day.


End of chapter, hope you enjoyed it, read and review please.