Bran the Broken was a very successful king. Being the Three-Eyed Raven, keeper of the knowledge of his and all people, certainly didn't hurt. He knew his manner was off-putting to many, if not most, of his subjects and counselors, but this didn't bother him; he was able to ensure loyalty and deter the kinds of intrigue that had previously plagued the rulers of King's Landing by maintaining his air of detachment and mystery. Furthermore, he had found that a level, unblinking gaze at just the right moment worked to maintain his reputation as a chilly, if effective, monarch.
Because of his aloofness, those around him assumed he was not much interested in their personal lives or happiness. This was not entirely true. In recent years, he had particularly noticed that the Lord Commander of his Kingsguard was growing restless; no doubt her years of service during the wars had given her a taste for adventure that made a peaceful kingdom less than appealing. Everyone had relished the peace and quiet initially, but a quiet court could be somehow more challenging for a warrior such as Ser Brienne.
While he had met Brienne at Winterfell, their interactions had been somewhat limited before he became king and asked her to serve as Kingsguard. He knew she was a fierce, loyal fighter who had served Renly Baratheon before swearing to his mother to secure the safety of her daughters. She had fought bravely during The Long Night, and he'd heard rumors of her dalliance with Jaime Lannister before the Kingslayer left to return to his sister's side. He wondered what else she had encountered in the great white north.
Bran practiced the skills that made him the Three-Eyed Raven quite frequently, and one evening as he set out to greensight, his Lord Commander crossed his mind and his idle curiosity got the better of him. Stepping back in time, he found himself watching as Brienne and Sansa arrived at Castle Black; as he took in the scene, he couldn't help but notice the red-haired Wildling man who couldn't take his eyes off Ser Brienne. Coming back to himself, he chuckled as he recalled seeing the man trailing in Brienne's footsteps at various times around Winterfell. She seemed nothing but annoyed by him at the time, but that level of attention could be intriguing, even if the interest wasn't reciprocated.
Maybe what his Lord Commander needed was a visit with an old admirer? She certainly hadn't any of those in King's Landing. At any rate, a trip to the north would provide a nice change of pace.
By the next morning, Bran the Broken had decided on a plan. As his Small Council met to discuss the goings-on of the Six Kingdoms, he surprised them by announcing, "I have decided it is time for me to pay a visit to the Cave of the Three-Eyed Raven. I haven't been there since the Night King fell, and I am curious if anything changed. I believe the kingdom is stable enough for me to go now, and I will leave Lord Tyrion to handle the business of the kingdom in my absence."
Turning his gaze to Brienne, he added, "Lord Commander, you and Ser Podrick will accompany me. We can send ravens to my sister in Winterfell and my brother at Castle Black to let them know we will be stopping there along the way."
For a change, everyone on the Council was silent, clearly stunned by his sudden proclamation. Evidently no one could think of a valid objection, so after a moment he said, "Preparations should begin immediately. We will leave early next week."
