Sansa subtly adjusted her mount in the saddle, her legs growing weary after being out for so long, but she hoped to press her luck a little further. She was in no way eager to make her way back to the castle. Joffrey's guards rode behind her, just out of earshot but always in sight, looming should she try to make an escape. She wondered why they bothered. Really, the idea was almost laughable. She would not have the first clue which direction to point her horse.
She had reached the small river on the outskirts of King's Landing, and had just dismounted to take her horse to water, when the tallest man she'd ever seen stepped forward from behind the tree. His legs like young saplings, tall, willowly, and strong, and arms that gracefully held a longsword in front of a broad chest, and his face - Sansa started. It was the face of a woman. Cropped blonde hair framed a plain, but not unpleasant, face, devoid of makeup and instead colored with dirt and flush from exertion.
Before any of her guards could even utter a word, they were quickly and methodically cut down where they stood. Sansa watched, wide-eyed, as the woman disposed of each of them, men considered to be some of the best swords in the Seven Kingdoms. Suddenly she realized the woman was kneeling in front of her, and she forced herself to pay attention to what she was saying.
"Sansa Stark, I am Brienne of Tarth. I serve your mother, Lady Catelyn." The woman paused, as if waiting for Sansa to speak. She realized she had no idea what to say, but slowly persuaded her head to nod up and down. It seemed enough, for the blonde continued. "I swore and oath to your mother, that I would bring the Kingslayer to King's Landing, and return you to her safe and sound. I intend to keep my word." It wasn't until then that Sansa noticed a tall horse, with a comatose man strapped onto it. More than a second's glance and she recognized him as a very dirty Jaime Lannister. "Is he dead?" she whispered, finally finding her voice. "No, my lady, he lives. But he is very ill." Sansa smiled at the annoyance she heard in the woman's voice. The smile felt odd on her face, and she had to resist the urge to touch her cheeks.
Suddenly, she remembered something the woman of Tarth had said. "You serve my mother..." The woman nodded. Sansa swallowed painfully. "I regret to tell you that my mother was murdered some weeks ago." The tall blonde slowly inclined her head. After a moment, she looked up again. "I will still fulfill my oath, and then I will serve you, my lady, if you will have me." Brienne of Tarth unsheathed her sword, and kneeling, held it up to Sansa.
Sansa fought to keep the puzzled look off her face. "Serve me? Are you a knight, my lady?" The blonde's face twisted in disgust. "I am no woman, lady Sansa. And I am a better knight than most you will meet." Sansa quickly recovered. "Forgive me, Brienne of Tarth. Ser Brienne. I am witness to your skill with a sword. I am just unaccustomed with female knights. If you would serve me, then I am yours-" She broke off, struggling to remember the words. "I vow...that you will always have a place at my table, and...that I shall never ask any service of you which would impune upon your honor. I swear it, by the old gods, and the new."
Brienne stood, sheathing her sword once more, and made to get her horse. "My lady, it would be best that we quit this place now. I shall send the Kingslayer off towards the castle and-" A sudden whizzing noise caught Sansa's attention, and she turned to look from whence it came, whipping her head back when she heard a gasp from Brienne. The knight stood with a crossbow arrow sticking out from her shoulder. Before Sansa could even think, the clearing was overcome by the King's Guard. She saw The Mountain riding towards her, and suddenly everything was black.
