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The dagger flew through the air…and-

Suddenly-Denys was thrown sideways. The dagger missed Brienne completely and plunged hard as he fell to the floor with a crash. It was left, sticking up out of the mattress, the sharp blade sunken deep, the hilt glinting. Denys looked up in shock, feeling a sharp pain in his hip where he had hit the ground…then something hit his head hard, and everything went...

Brienne's eyes snapped open at the sound of the crash. Instantly, she sat up, her arm shooting out for Oathkeeper-but her hand hit something else. She twisted around-and gasped as she saw the dagger, the blade buried deep in the mattress, inches from her. Then-she heard a sound from the floor. She looked over the side of the bed-and cried out in shock.

"M…lady…" Pod was looking up at her from the floor, his eyes unfocused. He was…he was pale as death and…and covered in blood. He was lying on top of someone. "The…the…" But, before he could say another word-he collapsed, lifeless, onto the body beneath him.

"Podrick!" Brienne shot to her feet, kneeling to the floor-she could not understand…but, suddenly…she realised whom he was lying on. Unconscious on the floor, a huge red mark on his face where he had been punched hard enough to black him out, Pod's blood dripping onto him…was Denys. She almost screamed-there was so much blood, blood on the floor, blood all over both of her protectors…

The next thing she knew-her door had been thrown open. In charged Jaime and Lord Selwyn, swords drawn, terrified expressions, followed by four Winterfell guards. "Brienne!" Jaime ran to her side. "What happened? Someone heard the sound of fighting up here!"

"I…I don't know!" Brienne was clueless-and frantic. She had eyes only for Pod and Denys, who lay motionless on the floor.

Selwyn moved over to the bed-and grabbed the dagger. "Whose dagger is this!" he thundered.

Jaime looked at Brienne, fear flooding his face. "Brienne? What-?" He looked down at Pod and Denys, who lay tangled on the floor, covered in blood. Neither of them moved. Neither of them spoke.

Brienne felt sick. She realised that the dagger had landed inches from her…hardly able to breathe, her hands wrapped themselves around her belly, as her blood turned to ice. Someone…someone had tried to kill her baby…someone had tried to kill her baby as she slept…

"It must have been one of them." Selwyn gestured frantically at Pod and Denys. He looked crazed, searching desperately for answers. He hesitated for a moment-before pointing at the four guards, who were beginning to lift the two unconscious guards from the floor. "What are you doing?"

"Taking them to Samwell Tarly!" one guard called, looking scared. Selwyn looked so dangerous, it was almost as though smoke was pouring from his nostrils. "They need a maester!"

"You idiots!" Selwyn yelled. "Someone here just tried to kill my daughter!"

Jaime seemed to go weak for a moment as he slowly realised what had happened. He fell to his knees beside Brienne, wrapping his arms around her. "Oh gods…" he whispered, his voice shaking. "Oh gods…"

But Brienne, gently shrugging him off, slowly, got to her feet, her hands still wrapped around her belly. She watched as the guards looked at one another-before glancing apologetically at Lord Selwyn and taking Pod and Denys away. Lord Selwyn was furious. Leaving the dagger on the bed, he began to hurry after them. "They just tried to kill my daughter!" he shouted, his face growing red with fury. "They'll die for this! They'll DIE for this or I will kill them myself!" He disappeared around the corner, his shouts still echoing off the walls.

Brienne did not know what to do. She looked from the dagger-to the bed-to the floor-back to Jaime.

Jaime had gone pale. He rushed over to the dagger, picking it up and studying it. "This…this is Lannister-made…"

Brienne felt a horrible sinking feeling. "…House Payne are a vassal of House Lannister…"

Jaime looked up at her, his face ashen. "Not Pod. Surely not Pod…"

Brienne did not know what to think. She felt sick-her mind kept flicking from Pod to Denys and back again… "I…I don't know."

"Brienne." Jaime strode over to her, putting his hands gently, but firmly, on her shoulders. His eyes were oddly shiny as he looked at her, filled with fear. "What exactly do you remember?"

Brienne thought hard, but her mind was so foggy… "I…there was…there was a crash…and…they were on the floor…and Pod said…well, he tried to say something….then-they both blacked out." She shook her head, furious, confused, close to tears. "Why would either of them try to kill my baby?"

Jaime looked up at her, his face suddenly terrified. "Is…is that what was going to-"

"Of course it was!" Brienne buried her face in her hands. "I…I don't believe it…" She could barely speak. "I…I don't believe either of them…I can't-but you said that's a Lannister weapon?" Her heart turned to ice. "Jaime...it's…Cersei…" She looked straight at Jaime. "Cersei did this...I knew it would happen sooner or later! I knew it! Jaime, we can't let them put our baby on the throne! He's going to die..." She could hardly breathe. "I know he's going to die! He almost died today-and Cersei will only try again-he's going to die-he's-""

Jaime wrapped his arms around her tightly, stopping her mouth. He tried to comfort her-but his own hands were shaking. He looked as though he was undergoing extreme pain. Finally, he managed to open them again. "…I don't know what to do." he murmured. "I don't know…Oh Brienne." Jaime held her close. "I'm so sorry."

"N-no. It-it wasn't your-"

"No, I should never have left you…I never should have left you at all" He took a deep breath. "I will stay by your side now every moment of every day. I will keep you safe myself... oh gods, if anything had happened to you-"

"Never mind me…" Brienne sat down heavily on her bed, picking up the dagger. Just thinking that one of them, both her most trusted guards…Pod would never…Denys would never…and yet one of them had…she turned the dagger over and over in her hands-before, suddenly, something caught her eye. She gasped.

"Brienne?" Jaime dropped to his knees in front of her, terror filling his face again. "What's wrong? Are you hurt?"

"No…" Brienne held the dagger by the blade. She held out the hilt so that Jaime could see it. Carved into the Lannister steel, there was an initial…D.

Jaime looked shocked. "Seven hells…"

"How could he…?" She could not fathom it-Denys's smiling face loomed like a spectre in her mind…she could not understand…he had been her confidant, her voice of reason, the only one who could make her smile somedays, her friend…how could he try to murder the baby they had talked of every day, the baby she'd believed he'd loved too… "Denys..."

"Gods..." Jaime buried his face in her lap, groaning loudly. "Gods..."

"How could he...?" Brienne whispered again. She stared at the dagger, looking hard at the D, almost willing it to change shape...but of course it did not. It was Denys. He was paid by the crown. He had been sent to spy-and now to kill her child...

Jaime looked furiously up at her. "I knew it couldn't be Pod. I knew he would never do that to you."

Suddenly-Brienne sprang to her feet, panic seizing her. "My father doesn't!"

Lord Selwyn looked like a caged animal, snarling and snapping as Sam worked on the two unconscious men. The guards stood either side of him, keeping him away from the tables on which the two men lay. Denys was more or less unscathed, apart from Pod's blow to his head, but Pod looked dreadful, the stab wound in his side, blood still seeping from it despite the dressings Sam was applying hurriedly. "Why are you helping them?" Selwyn growled, pure fiery hatred in his eyes. "They tried to kill my daughter!"

"I must," Sam looked helplessly at Selwyn as he cleaned Pod up the best he could. "I'm sorry. We can try them when they're-"

"We do not need to try them!" Selwyn was scarlet-faced, spittle jumping from his lips at he shouted. "They are guilty! They tried to kill my daughter! She is pregnant, pregnant with my grandson-your king! This is high treason!"

Sam looked harassed as he tended to the slash in Pod's arm, dabbing at it with honey. "I can't do anything until Jon-"

"Well." Lord Selwyn drew his sword, his face like thunder. "I can. Gods help me, I shall kill them both before they wake!" He stepped forward-but every guard stepped in front of him, forming a wall so that he could not pass. But-Selwyn simply laughed. He drew himself up to full, incredible height, looking down at each of them. "Which of you proposes to die for a traitor? Which of you will keep a father from his vengeance?"

The guards hesitated for a moment-then each of them moved aside.

"No!" Sam looked up from working on Pod, running over to block Selwyn's path. He looked up at him, scared, but stood his ground, squeaking: "You can't execute a criminal without the consent of the Lord-"

"I don't care." Selwyn hissed. "Stand aside, you foolish boy!" He pushed past Sam and approached Denys, his sword glinting. Without so much as a moment's hesitation-he put it to Denys' throat-

Suddenly-the young guard's eyes snapped open.

"Wh-" Denys started, looking around in horror. He looked at Pod, lying comatose beside him-then at Selwyn's sword in at his throat. He gave a small scream.

"You-" Selwyn roared.

"NO!" Denys sat upright-frantically pointing at the unconscious Pod. "It was-it was him! Podrick Payne! He is paid by the Lannisters! I tried to stop him, but-but-He was going to kill her! Lady Brienne and her baby!" He looked devastated, real tears filling his eyes. "I am so sorry, my lord, I did everything I could to stop him. I can't imagine what sort of an evil man could kill a babe in his mother's womb! It's just too awful…"

Lord Selwyn studied Denys, his wide eyes, his frantic tone...Slowly…he lowered his sword. Denys sat up straighter, his eyes pleading.

"I swear to you, Lord Selwyn, by the old gods and the new that I would never do harm to your daughter. I love her with all my heart-and I love my king, your grandchild! Pod is a traitor! He's just…oh, I can't even bear to look at him…" Denys covered his face with his hands, as if he was already crying. "I-I just c-can't imagine what would have happened if I hadn't been there to save Lady Brienne…it would have been so terrible…"

Selwyn pursed his lips…then turned to Pod. He raised his sword, approaching the man's motionless body. Anger flowed through him like nothing he had felt since Littlefinger's execution. As he looked down at Pod, the evil little man who had almost killed his Brienne and his grandchild in one move…he felt almost physically sick. He aimed carefully for Pod's neck-

"NO!" Suddenly-Jaime had burst in from behind. He was breathing hard-clearly he had run all the way from the chamber. He ran to Lord Selwyn and grabbed his sword-arm, pinning it down to his side. "Don't!"

"Father!" Brienne followed behind, also panting, though she had not sprinted as Jaime had. Instantly, one of the guards hurried over to her to check she was alright, but she waved him away impatiently. She pointed at Denys, who was looking at her as if she was a ghost. "The dagger belongs to this man!" She held it up by the blade, clearly showing the "D" initial on the hilt.

Instantly, all four guards ran to Denys and seized him, pinning him down to the bed, despite his screams and protests. Brienne was deaf to them as she hurried to her father. "Podrick Payne saved me, Father."

Sam, who had been cowering in the corner, suddenly stepped up again to Pod, who lay still, unaware of all the commotion, and quickly began again to tend to his wounds.

"Oh, little bird," Selwyn took his daughter in his arms, kissing her forehead. "I'm so glad you're safe…" He looked over her shoulder at Jaime, who was still panting. "Is this true?"

"It must be," Jaime answered, pulling himself upright and dashing to Pod's side. "Podrick Payne is a good man and a loyal squire. He would never hurt Brienne." He looked up at Sam, who was busily bandaging Pod's arm. "Is he going to pull through?"

"He had better." Brienne let go of her father and ran to Podrick's side. Looking down at him, so small, covered in blood, her loyal Pod…she almost cried thinking of him laying his life on the line for hers, bravely raising the sword he was none to skilled with in his little hands to protect her. "Oh Podrick..." she sighed heavily.

Sam bit his lip. "I'm doing my best for him."

"Do more than that." Selwyn said, forgetting he had almost murdered him just seconds ago. He strode to Brienne, putting his arm around her, rubbing her back. "Do more than that. He must be saved."

Brienne said nothing. She looked down at Pod, so pale and still, feeling tears filling her eyes. She had not realised what her Pod meant to her until this moment. Images flashed past her eyes-Pod failing to ride a horse in a straight line, Pod forgetting to skin a rabbit before he tried to cook it, Pod smiling up at her even when she glared at him…a tear spilled down her cheek. She looked desperately at Sam. He glanced back to her-and nodded.

"I'll do everything I can."

Jaime was looking at Brienne. He felt his heart breaking at her tears…and felt tears behind his own as he thought of how close he had come today to losing her…and their baby…oh gods...the thought of this little life, his own child, the little lion cub he loved more than he could put into words, being so easily snuffed out before he had even lived…and his mother…Brienne…and he would not even have married her…He could not have gone on. He could not have faced another day without them. He could not survive. Looking at Brienne, the tear rolling down her face, her cheeks delicately pink from adrenaline, her hair stuck to her forehead…all proof she was real, and alive, and living…and the swell beneath her tunic, her round belly, proof that his little lion lived…

"I love you." he said, without thinking.

Brienne looked up at him in shock, furiously wiping her cheek with her sleeve. "I don't think now is the time!" she snapped, looking back down at Pod.

Jaime said nothing more. He looked down at Pod, praying to all the gods that he would recover.

"I love you too."

She said it reluctantly, offhand-she did not even look at him, never lifting her eyes from Pod. But it was all he needed.

Podrick Payne limped forward. His arm was bound in a sling, his entire torso was wrapped heavily in bandages, and he was in more pain than he had ever been before, more pain than he had believed possible…and yet he smiled.

Pod hobbled, taking his time, as he made his way slowly into the great hall at Winterfell. The afternoon sun shone brightly through the windows, for the snow had for once stopped falling for a few precious hours. He looked all around him, the smile on his face spreading. Sat on the benches from the trial was every spare Winterfell guard, every Umber, Karstark, Mormont and Manderly man who was not occupied. And every man-far from mocking him or looking down on him-was smiling straight at him in admiration. He felt like a hero, a great conqueror from a story book.

Stood in front of the top table, his face stern, and yet fiercely proud, Longclaw in his hands, was Jon Snow. Beside him, Lady Sansa smiled back at him, looking even prettier than he had ever seen her, her red hair long, shiny and brushed loose past her shoulders. Then, there was Tormund, a grin behind his wild, bushy beard, Lord Selwyn, nodding in approval, Ser Bronn, his arms folded, shaking his head and grinning as Pod approached. Finally…there was Ser Jaime, more handsome than ever, his smile triumphant…and beside him…Lady Brienne.

Pod felt as though he was made of pure golden light, as if he was dreaming…but the pain in his side and the stone floor beneath his feet proved that he was wide awake, and beaming hugely as he slowly reached them. His heart was pounding under his tunic as so many people looked at him, his cheeks blushing pink…but he did not care. He did not care one bit.

Jon Snow stepped forward. He smiled proudly down at Pod. "You may kneel."

With a little difficulty, Pod knelt to the floor. He was positively quivering with excitement. Jon noticed this, and gave a small laugh, which was returned by many of the other assembled company, and loudest of all by Bronn. But Jon took another step forward. He looked more serious now, readying Longclaw in both hands.

"Do you, Podrick Payne, swear to defend the king?"

Pod nodded, so eagerly he almost tripped over his words. "Yes!"

Brienne exchanged a proud look with Jaime.

"Obey the king?"

"Yes!"

"Obey your father?"

"Yes!"

"Protect the innocent?"

"Yes!"

"Defend the weak?"

"Yes, my lord!" Pod grinned up at him.

Jon shook his head, sniggering. "That only needed the one "yes" at the end, you know."

A ripple of laughter coursed through the room. But Pod did not care. He barely heard it. "I swear it, my lord, before the old gods and the new!" he said passionately. He could hardly believe that this was really happening. Even if he had wanted to, he could not have stopped smiling.

"Well, in that case," Jon grinned down at him. He took up Longclaw, while Pod respectfully bowed his head. "In recognition of your constant loyalty, fierce devotion, protection and service to the future king, and your bravery, which is an example to us all…" Jon gently laid the blade of Longclaw on Pod's left shoulder. "As Lord of Winterfell and King in the North…I knight thee Ser Podrick-" He placed it gently on his right shoulder. "Of House Payne. A true knight at last." He beamed. "You may rise."

Pod felt as though the deafening applause and cheers that followed, echoing off the ceiling, the floor and all four walls, were lifting him high into the sky, higher than the moon and all of the stars, higher than the Seven Heavens, higher even than anything else possible. He slowly got to his feet, all but forgetting his pain. Behind him, every man applauded, cheering and stamping his feet. Before him, Jon Snow shook his hand hard, pumping his good shoulder up and down. Then, he was passed to Tormund, who clapped his bad shoulder, which hurt rather a lot, but he could not care less. Next, Bronn slapped him on the back so hard he almost fell over. "Oh, you'll be fighting them ladies off with a shitty stick now!" Perhaps best of all was Lady Sansa, who bent down and kissed his cheek, leaving it even rosier than before. Now feeling a little dizzy, drunken on happiness, Pod turned to Lord Selwyn, who looked more solemn.

"Thank you," Selwyn gripped Pod's hand in both of his own. "You are more deserving of this than any man living. I can never thank your enough for saving my daughter. Even if I live a thousand years."

Pod could only nod-before he was claimed by Jaime. Jaime pulled him into a one-armed hug, rubbing his knuckles on Pod's hair. "I'm so proud of you!" he beamed. Then, more seriously, he looked him in the eyes, a hand on his shoulder. "Thank you for saving my family. I owe you their lives-and mine. You are the most honourable man-and the greatest squire-who ever lived."

Pod was speechless. His entire throat seemed to have closed up with emotion…but that was nothing compared to what came next. Finally…he was face to face with Lady Brienne.

"My lady…" Out of habit, Pod gave a slight bow-but, all of a sudden, so quickly it almost winded him-Brienne had thrown both of her arms around him.

Pod had no words. He could not believe what was happening. Even just after he had been knighted, even after everything that had happened-nothing came as a bigger shock to him than being embraced by Lady Brienne. It did not last more than a couple of seconds-but he considered it the proudest moment of his life. When they broke apart-he found his vision had become somewhat misty, as if he had been drinking too much ale. Brienne smiled down at him, her eyes so familiar, her face so fierce with pride.

"T-thank you." he managed to stammer.

Again, laughter rang around the room. "That kid's turned you bloody soft, my lady!" Bronn remarked.

Brienne shook her head, still smiling. "Today, it is I who thanks you, Ser Podrick. You are a worthy knight."

Pod could not possibly beam any wider-before Bronn quickly wrapped an arm around him, rubbing his shoulder hard, laughing, and led him off, down the middle of the room, around the benches of applauding knights and through the door. "We're going to the tavern. Right now. Ladies, have you met my friend Ser Podrick Payne-the knight?"