Traveling with Brienne and Podrick had been harder than Joellyn had anticipated. In retrospect, she should have expected it to be difficult. The only other long journey she had taken was to Winterfell and back. That was a long journey, but they went slowly and took several breaks because of the King, Cersei, and "their" children. Searching through Westeros for the Starks did not allow for much time for breaks or taking it easy.

Just a few days into the journey, Joellyn was grateful when Brienne called them to stop for the evening. The places where they had been resting were not comfortable, but it was nice to get off of the horse and walk about on her own for a while. Brienne had managed to kill a few rabbits while Joellyn and Podrick gathered wood for a fire. She and Brienne left Podrick to tend the fire and start roasting the rabbits so they could go to a stream they had seen nearby and gather more water for their journey.

Once they were far enough away from camp where Podrick would not have been able to hear them anymore, Brienne asked, "How are you faring?"

Joellyn shrugged, "As well as can be expected, I suppose." Being with Brienne and Podrick got her out of King's Landing, which was one of the main reasons she wanted to be with them. To get out of King's Landing and away from so many memories that would have haunted her. However, the three of them mostly traveled in silence, so she had a great deal of time with just her and her thoughts which was not ideal.

Brienne nodded softly in return and replied, "I admire the bravery it took for you to leave your home and your family to help us search for the Stark girls. But forgive me, Joellyn, I just worry about how you are handling everything."

Joellyn took a deep breath to steady her emotions and try to level her voice, but was unsuccessful and said in a shaky voice, "It is difficult knowing that Oberyn and Tyrion are both gone, but it is easier to be here than it would be to be there."

She and Brienne had reached the stream, so they began collecting water as Brienne said, "Just know that I do not expect you to heal from this quickly. When Renley died, I was, and sometimes still am, devastated. You lost two people who loved you more than Renley ever cared for me."

Joellyn had frozen in place without realizing it after Brienne finished speaking. She had never really taken Brienne to be an emotional person, so it surprised her to hear such an honest confession of grief. Trying to not be rude by staring, she resumed sealing the canteen and said, "All loss is difficult. That's why we're both here. To give ourselves purpose during our grief."

Brienne smiled at her and the two of them began their return to camp to check on Podrick and make sure he had not burned down their camp. Their walk back to camp was in silence, so Joellyn began pondering when she should share that Robb was likely still alive and that they should be searching for him as well. And if they found Robb, what would Robb do? The plan was to take Sansa and Arya to Castle Black to be with Jon. Would Robb want to go there as well? Maybe he would want to take the girls somewhere else, but Winterfell was not an option.

Joellyn was pulled out of her thoughts by seeing Podrick stamping a fire out and she quickly realized it was the rabbits that Brienne had caught earlier. Brienne realized this as well as she yelled, "Did you remove the skin?"

Podrick hung his head, "No, my lady."

Brienne, frustration still evident in her voice, asked, "Have you ever cooked a rabbit before?"

Podrick, still ashamed, shook his head as he replied, "No, my lady."

Brienne turned and looked at Joellyn in disbelief, and Joellyn shrugged, trying to stay out of the one-sided conversation Brienne was having with Podrick. Brienne asked, "Did you ever cook anything for Lord Tyrion?"

Brienne sat down to remove the armor that Jaime had given her, and Podrick went over to her as he replied, "No, my lady, that was the cooks" then began trying to help her take off her armor.

Brienne pulled away from him asking, "What are you doing?"

Podrick looked confused for a moment before saying, "I'm helping you with your armor."

Brienne pulled further away saying, "I've been removing my own armor for quite some time, thank you very much. What exactly did you do for Lord Tyrion?"

Joellyn busied herself trying to salvage the rabbits as Podrick told Brienne about his duties. It was difficult to even hear Tyrion's name knowing that he was no longer in the world. Tyrion had been her best friend for most of her life, not just her brother. He showed her the love and affection that their father and sister had not shown her. It was a tragedy that such a good person had been taken out of the world for a crime that he did not commit.

Brienne, frustrated with his answer, asked, "Whilst in Lord Tyrion's service, did you ever do anything remotely related to combat?"

Joellyn made eye contact with Podrick for a moment and had to look away quickly. Podrick had killed a man to save Tyrion during the Battle of Blackwater. It was the first moment that Joellyn really had an appreciation for how much Podrick cared about Tyrion. Remembering that moment brought tears to her eyes, so she resumed skinning the rabbit as Podrick replied, "I killed a member of the kings guard that tried to kill Lord Tyrion at Blackwater."

Brienne seemed taken aback by Podrick's reply and silence fell over the three of them for a moment before Brienne said softly to Podrick, "Help me with these straps."

Joellyn finished removing the skin from the rabbits and put them back above the fire to let them cook for a while. Podrick had just helped Brienne get that last piece of armor off as Joellyn blurted out, "Robb Stark might still be alive."

Brienne and Podrick both stared at her like she was crazy, so Joellyn continued, "Lord Varys told me that Catelyn convinced Robb's men to leave him behind because Robb was in danger if he went to the Twins. Then she lied to Walder Frey and said that Robb had been killed in combat."

Brienne shook her head, "Why would she have done that? How could she have known he was in danger?"

Joellyn looked at Brienne and Podrick staring at her for a moment before saying, "Because I had been sending Robb information about what had been happening in King's Landing. When Oberyn learned of my father's plan with Walder Frey to have Robb killed, I sent Robb that information as well."

Brienne and Podrick seemed to finally accept what she was saying as true, but Podrick questioned, "But, my lady, why would Lord Robb have agreed? Surely he would not have let his family and his men go into danger without him."

Joellyn shook her head, "I don't know. Varys didn't know either. He could only speculate that Catelyn or Robb's wife drugged him and then left. All I know is that Varys trusted me with this information and we have another Stark to be searching for."

Brienne rubbed her temples for a moment and squeezed her eyes shut, then looked at Joellyn and said, "I know why Sansa and Arya trust you. They knew you in King's Landing, but how did you come to sending secret information to Robb Stark?"

So Joellyn told Brienne about her trip to Winterfell, the engagement to Robb, and then an abbreviated version of everything that happened after that. Joellyn finished by saying, "I never loved Robb, but I knew that he was a good man and that he was part of a good family. I wanted to keep him safe, and I wanted Sansa and Arya to still have their brother. If there is any chance that I can help reunite the three of them with Jon..." then trailed off, unsure of how to finish that thought. It just felt right to get the Starks back together, as much as possible.

Brienne took in her words and nodded before saying, "We should eat and get some rest. We still have a long journey ahead of us. And apparently another Stark to find as well."

After several more weeks of travel, they still had not seen any sign of any of the Starks, nor did anyone they happened to come across have any information that would help them. Since they were coming up on a town, they decided to spend some of their money to get some better rest, food, and comfort before continuing on their journey.

Brienne said to the other two, "A bit of comfort never hurt anyone. We've been sleeping in ditches and fields for the past several weeks. I think we can treat ourselves to a featherbed for the night and a hot meal not cooked by us. Don't you agree?"

Joellyn nodded and Podrick enthusiastically replied, "I couldn't agree more, my lady."

Joellyn laughed about Podrick's enthusiasm, but Brienne continued, "Just don't start expecting silk underclothes. You're not in King's Landing anymore."

The three of them tied up their horses and entered the little inn that was in that town. Joellyn felt a little nervous about being so visible to other people. Her blonde hair and green eyes, to anyone that knew her family well, would pin her as a Lannister, even with the travel worn clothes that she had on. She just hoped that they would attract little attention.

There was a young boy that began serving them and, while Joellyn was tempted to have ale or wine, she thought the better of it and stuck with water. The boy brought out food for them and asked, "Can I get you anything else?"

Joellyn shook her head and replied for the group, "No, this will do nicely, thank you."

Brienne had eaten some of the food the boy brought them and said, "The kidney pie is wonderful."

The boy's face lit up as he said, "Thanks, I do my best."

Apparently this boy was the cook as well as the server. Joellyn began eating hers as well and was surprised by how good it was. The boy sat down beside their table and began rambling, "A good kidney pie is all about the ingredients. Flour, lard, water, eggs, and milk are easy enough. But the meat, peacetime or not, is not easy. Getting your hands on round steak or calves' kidneys is not easy. I mean, some people settle on plain old beef kidneys. Don't have a right to cook, them people. Oh, and the gravy, don't get me started on the gravy," then he turned to Brienne and said, "That's nice armor. Are you a knight?"

Brienne shook her head and the boy continued rambling, "Oh, it's just the people with armor are knights, generally speaking. From King's Landing, though, aren't you? I'm from there myself. Flea Bottom, born and bred. What brings you to these parts?"

Joellyn replied, "We're looking for some friends of mine."

The boy seemed excited to be able to help, "Anyone in particular? Maybe they came in here? A lot of people come in here."

Joellyn looked to Brienne, unsure of what she should say. Brienne understood and replied, "A girl, tall, red hair, very pretty. Her name is Sansa Stark, but she might be using a different name."

The boy's whole demeanor changed as he said, "Starks? What, like them lot from Winterhell? No, ain't seen anyone like that. Heard they're all traitors, that lot. Don't need no traitors in here."

Brienne and Joellyn noted the odd behavior, and Joellyn nodded at Brienne. Brienne continued, "I pledged my life to their mother, Catelyn Stark. I swore I'd bring her daughters home."

The boy questioned, "Sure I can't get you more kidney pie?" and when they all answered in the negative, he ran off quickly.

Joellyn looked at Brienne and Podrick. Clearly they had noticed the change in his behavior as well. Joellyn said softly, "That boy turned odd when you started talking about the Starks."

Brienne nodded and she and Joellyn both saw that Podrick was looking worried, so Brienne questioned, "What is it?"

Podrick shook his head, but Joellyn said, "You wouldn't be screwing up your face like that if it was truly nothing."

Podrick sighed and looked to Joellyn as he said, "I don't want to offend, my lady, but your family wants Lady Sansa. Your family has money. People kill for money," then turned to Brienne and said, "I don't think we should be telling people we're looking for Lady Sansa."

Joellyn knew that Podrick was right, but it didn't make it any easier to swallow that her family was still causing so much trouble for the Starks. Joellyn excused herself and headed to the room she would be staying in for the night. However, she was stopped in her tracks by a notice that had Tyrion's name on it. She stopped on the way out of the dining hall and read, "By order of his grace, King Tommen, Tyrion Lannister is wanted for the murder of King Joffrey Baratheon and Hand of the King, Lord Tywin Lannister. Anyone who brings the head of the accused to the King will be rewarded."

Joellyn felt like the world stopped. Tyrion was wanted, which had to mean that Tyrion was not dead. But Tyrion was wanted for their father's murder. She wanted desperately to know what happened, but she looked too much like a Lannister to be able to ask about the notice without raising questions. She simply took down the notice from the wall and folded the paper into her belongings once she got into her room. She placed the notice about Tyrion with the letter that Oberyn had written her. Even now, weeks later, she was not able to open up the letter and read it. She still missed him too much and was afraid of what reading his words to her would do.

It should have made Joellyn sad that her father was dead, but if she was being honest it did not. Her father never really cared for her, not truly. He cared about the legacy that he would leave behind, but did not care about who he destroyed on the path to ensuring his legacy. As Joellyn laid down in the featherbed, she slept better than she had since she set out with Brienne and Podrick. Partially because of the bed, but mostly because she knew that Tyrion was alive and her father was not in this world to cause any more pain or destruction.

The next day as she, Brienne, and Podrick were gathering their horses and supplies to resume their journey, they boy that was talking to them at dinner the previous night rushed up to Joellyn and said, "Could I have a word, my lady?"

Joellyn bent down to get more on eye level with him and said, "Not about kidney pie, I hope?"

The boy shook his head and said, "You seem like proper ladies. You and your friend. People that can be trusted... I never met no Sansa Stark, but I know her sister Arya Stark."

Joellyn placed a hand on the boy's shoulder to keep him there and called for Brienne. Once Brienne got over to them, Joellyn said, "No one has seen Arya since before her father was beheaded. That was the last time I saw her."

Brienne nodded and added, "She's presumed to be dead."

The boy shook his head, "She weren't when I last spoke to her."

Joellyn urged him to continue, "When was that?"

He paused and looked around to make sure no one was going to overhear them and said, "Heading up north, to the Night's Watch. She was all dressed up like a boy," then nodded toward Brienne and said, "Like your ladyship, just without the armor. Going by the name Arry."

Joellyn let out a sigh of relief. Arya was likely still alive. She asked him, "What happened to her?" and Brienne added in, "The quick version."

The boy nodded and looked in Joellyn's eyes, "The Lannisters took us prisoner. We escaped. The brotherhood took us prisoner. They sold me to the inn keep. They were going to sell Arya to her mother at Riverrun along with another prisoner. A big ugly fellow. Foul mouth and a face like a half burnt ham. Not friendly."

Joellyn knew exactly who the boy was talking about. She asked, "The Hound?"

The boy nodded, "That's the one," then dug in his apron and pulled out something wrapped in cloth and said, "If you find her, could you give her this? She liked the last one I gave her, but this one turned out better."

Joellyn nodded and said, "Thank you, you have helped us more than you know."

The boy nodded and ran back into the inn, so Joellyn stood and turned to join Brienne and Podrick. Brienne had just asked Podrick, "What were you saying last night, about telling people that we were searching for the Starks?"

Podrick nodded grudgingly, then said, "Her mother's dead... The brotherhood will likely take her to the Eyrie."

Brienne looked confused and asked, "Why the Eyrie?"

Joellyn gasped, "Lysa Arryn is her aunt. Catelyn Stark's sister."

Podrick nodded, "She's Arya's last living relative with money and she hates the Lannisters... Lord Tyrion made sure I knew which house married which and who hated who."

Brienne nodded and added, "Sansa could be there too."

Joellyn agreed, "Could be," then dug through her bag and handed the notice she took from the wall to Podrick and said softly, "Tyrion is alive. I don't know how, but he is. I found this last night. I thought you should know."

Podrick looked over the notice and smiled. Brienne read it as well and said, "I am sorry about your father, Joellyn."

Joellyn shook her head, "I'm not. He deserved to die and no one deserved to kill him more than Tyrion. I only hope he got out of Westeros. My sister will never stop hunting for him."

After another long week of travel, they were nearing the Eyrie. It was beginning to grow much colder, so sleep was uncomfortable, but Joellyn was still managing to get some sleep each night. This morning, she was awoken by Brienne yelling, "Podrick!? Where are the horses?"

Joellyn sat up quickly and surveyed their surroundings. The horses were gone. She put her head in her hands in frustration as Podrick replied to Brienne, "I hobbled them last night. A figure eight, like you taught me."

Brienne began gathering all the saddle bags and said, "Not like I taught you, or the horses would be here. We're thirty miles from the Eyrie. You're carrying the saddle bags," then handed the saddle bags over to him. Joellyn groaned as she rebraided her hair to pull it out of her face better. Traveling so far on horse had been difficult, much less not having a horse anymore.

After hours of walking, they spotted two figures up ahead and Brienne called out, "Morning," as they came up on them.

The smaller of the two figures replied, "Morning. I like your sword."

Joellyn felt her heart stop. It had been years since she heard that voice, but she knew instantly who it was. Now she was just afraid of scaring her off.

Brienne asked, "Are we getting close to the Bloody Gate?"

Arya, though Brienne and Podrick did not know it was her, replied, "About ten more miles."

Brienne turned to her and Podrick and said, "Joellyn, Podrick, did you hear that, only ten more miles to the Bloody Gate."

When Brienne said her name, Joellyn felt her heart stop again as she turned her attention back to Arya. Arya didn't hear Brienne, didn't remember Joellyn, or was pretending to not recognize her as she asked Brienne, "Are you a knight?"

Joellyn tuned out the conversation that Brienne began having with Arya and tried to look over Arya and make sure that she was okay. She seemed to be in good health and had grown quite a bit since the last time she had seen her. Her hair had also been cut off, probably in an effort to disguise herself as a boy. Joellyn was slowly making her way up to stand beside Brienne so that she could let Brienne know that she was talking to Arya.

Then the larger of the two figures joined Arya. Joellyn recognized him instantly as well. She whispered quietly to Brienne, "This is Arya. She is with the Hound, just like the boy told us."

The Hound asked gruffly, "Do you want something?"

Joellyn said softly, "Arya, do you remember me?"

Recognition crossed over Arya's features as Brienne said, "I'm Brienne of Tarth. My companions are Podrick Payne and Joellyn Martell."

Confusion crossed Arya's features at the name Martell, but the Hound seemed to gloss over their names and asked again, "I asked if you wanted something?" Joellyn began to fear that this interaction was not going to end peacefully.