The Keeper
Chapter 69 - Path Keeper
"My Lady Ser, look!" Podrick called to her.
Brienne turned to face her squire. They were on the deck of the Sea Keeper. The intense interest in the dragons had brought Maidenpool's citizens to the walls and the Ironborn men to their ship decks. After they'd reboarded, Griff had given the order to move their ship beyond the city and away from the Iron Fleet to better protect the five from curiosity and possible attack.
The Sea Keeper had sailed past the Ironborn ships, further west along the Trident. The Ironborn had allowed them to pass without aggression, making no moves to approach or hail them. Some of the men were almost dumb-struck at seeing the dragons, even carefully shielded as they were. The Sea Keeper had dropped anchor between Maidenpool and the Quiet Isle. The Iron Fleet ships were in sight but well out of range. Brienne turned away from the railing where she'd been watching the other ships.
"What do you see, Podrick?" Brienne asked.
Automatically, she looked around to check on the dragons. Gallan was up in the lookout tower with Olmar while Ardayn and Serdun were again on the mast ropes. The dragons were relaxed, observing the Company men as they went about their business, managing and guarding their ship. Catren and Allwyn were not with them, having followed Griff and the lords below deck.
Wordlessly, Podrick pointed to the trees growing beyond the shore. The sun had begun its descent for the afternoon but was still bright enough to cause her to squint. She shaded her eyes with her hand and looked to where Podrick pointed. Familiar large silver-blond birds of prey flew high overhead.
"Silver eagles," Brienne noted and looked back down at Podrick.
His expression was serious, his eyes dark and worried. "I don't recall seeing silver eagles here when we went north to find Lady Sansa. Do you?"
Brienne shook her head silently. She hadn't paid particular attention to birds while searching for Sansa. Crows, ravens, and hawks were common, both as scavengers and as messengers. Silver eagles, however, were something she would have noticed. The eagles were far larger than most birds, including the brown eagles that were sometimes seen over the Riverlands and the North. She'd never seen silver eagles until visiting Tarth before her planned return to Tyrosh. She hadn't gone back to Essos. Instead, she'd rushed back to Dragonstone after learning of Viserion's death.
"Why are they here?" Podrick whispered, as if the eagles could hear him from the great distance.
Brienne looked back up at the birds. Could the eagles hear their conversation? How acute was their hearing? She recalled her dream in her childhood bedroom. She'd viewed her father, Griff and Podrick with a magical vision that allowed her to see the fire burning beneath the dragons' flesh and scales, then had awoken to a silver eagle outside her bedroom window. Could silver eagles really see beyond flesh? If so, could they also hear and understand words across great distances?
"Is something wrong, my Lady Ser?" Varys, who was coming up the stairs from below deck, called out to her.
She looked from the sky to the Spider. Moqorro followed him to join them on the deck. Varys pulled his heavy cloak tighter around his body. They were deeper inland and the sun had warmed the day but it was still cold for those used to balmy southern weather. The strong current made the boat sway steadily, adding to the chilly winds. Moqorro didn't appear bothered by the colder temperature, having politely refused a heavier cloak earlier.
Brienne nodded up to the sky. "Lord Varys, have you heard reports of silver eagles appearing in the Riverlands or the Vale?"
"Yes, my Lady Ser." Varys also tilted his head to watch the eagles soar across the sky. "They used to be seen often in the mountains of the Vale and around the Bite. In fact, the Cape of Eagles was named after them. They're also on the crest of House Mallister's sigil, your mother's family."
"Father, when did the silver eagles first appear in Tarth? Was it during my life?" she asked.
Selwyn thought. "Yes, it was. I remember you were in your mother's arms, not yet walking, when she called me to see them." Haunting sadness pulled at the corners of his mouth. "She was so excited. She said the eagles had come to meet you because House Mallister was as much her children's blood as House Tarth."
She recalled that conversation with her father, before learning of Viserion's fate. House Mallister was the home of a secret dragon, a daughter with silver-blonde hair raised among her dark-haired relatives. Had anyone suspected Allyna hadn't been a trueborn Mallister? Brienne didn't think it likely. Not many men would accept another man's child and raise it as his own if he knew the child wasn't his. How had Brienne's grandmother managed to hide her illegitimate daughter, a dragon among eagles?
"Do you think these are the same eagles as we saw on Tarth?" Podrick asked. "We didn't see any when we passed through this area last."
Varys frowned thoughtfully. "It's possible. I don't recall hearing about silver eagles recently. I can't imagine there are many flocks of them."
"Perhaps they were hunted heavily," Moqorro suggested. "The people were hungry. They would kill any possible food. Now trade and farming have begun again and less people are hunting."
"You think the eagles have replenished their numbers now that the Riverlands are recovering?" Brienne considered. "That would be a better explanation than the birds on Tarth followed us all the way here."
Podrick shook his head. "That would be too great a distance for them, following us. We've been sailing for more than a week since we left Tarth. I didn't see them while we were at sea."
"No, the distance isn't so great. Eagles can fly in a straight line," Varys pointed out. "They didn't have to go around the Claw or the Bay of Crabs to reach here."
Podrick's eyes widened. "That would only be possible if they knew where we were going. How could that be?"
Moqorro and Varys exchanged concerned glances then simultaneously looked up at the eagles. They each pressed their hands together under the sleeves of their cloaks, as if using the hold to center themselves.
Suddenly, the dragons, who had been watching the Company men, began screeching. Ardayn and Serdun left their perches to land beside Brienne while Gallan flew up well past their tacked sails. The blue dragon then came back down to hover over their heads. Olmar and the Company men guarding the ship all looked around, searching for a threat.
Seconds later, Catren and Allwyn flew hurriedly up the stairs with Griff and Ned only a few paces behind them. They were followed by more Company men. They all had their swords in hands.
"What is it?" Griff demanded.
"I don't know." Brienne shook her head, her voice rising. She reached for her sword. The drive to protect the dragons was as natural to her as breathing. Even when she couldn't see the threat that had alarmed them
She looked up at Gallan, who was flapping its wings furiously above her head. The blue dragon had been joined by Catren and Allwyn. All three squawked and looked around anxiously, their wings creating a draft to rival the chilly river wind. Varys and Moqorro, dressed in long robes instead of tunic and breeches, stumbled away while pressing down their robes to their knees.
Catren and Allwyn soared into the sky, circled, then called down to the others. Serdun and Ardayn stayed with Brienne but also flapped their wings. Catren and Allwyn flew in wider and wider circles while Gallan coasted back down to her. The blue dragon squawked at Brienne.
"Why are they doing that?" Ned had Starfall in his hands but he was staring up at the dragons, not outward for an enemy.
Brienne looked down at Ardayn and Serdun still at her side. They had also extended their wings, ready to take to the sky, even while remaining with her. The Company men held their positions, focused towards the distant Ironborn ships and even more distant shores for a threat.
"Does anyone approach?" Griff demanded, tilting his head up to direct the question to Olmar.
"No." Olmar turned in a full circle to study the shores on both sides of the Trident. "I don't see anyone on the shores. The Ironborn are watching from their ships. They're pointing to us and talking to each other but they're not arming or approaching."
"Men, stay sharp!" Griff also looked around but his focus was on the Company men, not on the distant ships and shores.
Around them, the Golden Company was ready. More men had come up to the deck behind Griff and Ned at the dragon's distress. Now they had spread out, doubling the guards on deck. Another man climbed up the mast pole to join Olmar in the lookout basket, a Myrish eye tucked into his sword belt.
Some of Brienne's worry eased at seeing their smooth, practiced actions. It reminded her they were the Golden Company, the strongest, most disciplined private fighting force in the world. They had defeated pirates, slavers, and rouge armies. They'd even solidified the balance of power in the Riverlands by helping Brynden Tully storm the Twins after the fall of House Frey.
The dragons weren't focused on the strength or discipline of the men around them. Something else held their attention. Ardayn and Serdun screeched up to Catren, Allwyn and Gallan even while they stayed at Brienne's side. She looked down at her most devoted guards. They wanted to go with the other dragons but refused to leave her unprotected.
"The last time the dragons did this was when Griff came to King's Landing." Brienne put away her sword and knelt to try to calm Ardayn and Serdun. "They wanted me to follow them to meet him at the King's Gate. Maybe they want us to follow them now?"
"Where would they want you to go now?" Griff demanded. "We're all here and Lord Selwyn is back on Tarth. Who else could they want you to meet?"
Though he had both swords, Griff had Dawn in his hand. In his rush to see what had caused the dragon's distress, he had drawn the magical sword of the stars, which was lighter and more familiar for him. Blackfyre was still sheathed at his hip. However, neither sword was useful when trying to understand anxious dragons. Griff slid Dawn back into his sword belt and narrowed his eyes as he looked towards the shore. Unfortunately, the humans couldn't see what the dragons saw.
Brienne shifted her attention from Griff to Catren and Allwyn. There were flying overhead in wide circles that took them over the northern shores. Gallan flew back and forth, from the shoreline to the Sea Keeper.
All five dragons were tense and anxious, wings outstretched, bodies elongated, ready to fly. Yes, there was definitely something on the shore they wanted her to see. Judging by their anxious actions, they wanted her to act immediately.
"Is it the eagles?" Podrick pointed to the eagles now settled in the branches of trees covering the area beyond the shore. "Did they upset the dragons?"
Ned shaded his eyes with his hand. "I never saw a single silver eagle in all my time with Lord Beric. Now we see them every time we turn around."
"Surely it's not the eagles. The dragons are used to them," Griff countered. "They even flew together on Tarth. There must be something else on shore they want us to see."
"The Knights of the Vale have been guarding their shores," Serjeant warned. "They may see it as a sign of aggression if we go ashore."
Griff looked from the dragons to the shore then back to the dragons. His mouth tightened and he shook his head. "We'll risk it. These lands don't appear to be well protected. We'll deal with them, if we must."
The Company men, though focused on the possible threats around them, all nodded and voiced their agreement. They were trained, hardened warriors. Even so, Brienne suppressed a shudder. A battle between the Knights of the Vale and the Golden Company would be vicious and bloody. She didn't want a war among men. They needed to come together to defeat the Army of the Dead.
The dragons weren't interested in mundane worries as territory, borders, armies, or battle lines. They shrieked again, demanding their attention. Catren and Allwyn continued to fly between their ship and the shore. Gallan had returned to the lookout nest and screeched, wings extended. Olmar and the second lookout were watching the shores, stretching awkwardly to see around the blue dragon's outstretched wings.
"We have to go to the shore," Brienne insisted. She had her hands on Ardayn and Serdun's backs, but her touch wasn't calming them. "There's something there we must see. The dragons wouldn't act like this otherwise."
Griff looked at the dragons above him, then at Serdun and Ardayn beside Brienne. The two were normally the calmest of the five, but now they were equally tense and eager to fly. Griff looked to the shore again, as if he could see what the dragons were so anxious to show them. After a few seconds he sighed and nodded at Brienne.
"Prepare the rowboats," he ordered. "Ned, Brienne and Pod will go ashore with me. We'll take thirty men with us. The rest need to attend their duties and protect the ship."
Brienne closed her eyes briefly, relief rolling like a wave through her body. "Thank you."
Griff held out his hands to her. It took Brienne a second to realize he wanted to help her up from her crouched position. She put her hands in his and allowed him to pull her to her feet. He still held her hands even when she was standing in front of him.
"You don't have to thank me. I trust you," he reminded her. "If you think we should go ashore, then we'll go ashore."
She nodded and tugged. This time he released her and turned back to direct the activity. There was a palpable sense of relief as the men, aware of the dragons' anxiety, relaxed slightly. They were still focused on their duties and protecting the ship, but addressing the dragons' anxiety seemed to also decrease theirs. These men had lived with the dragons in Valyria. The five were as much members of the Golden Company as the humans were.
The men organized quickly, breaking into groups and preparing the rowboats that would take them to the shore. The dragons began to calm once the first boat dropped into the water. Griff and Ned boarded, along with ten men. Catren and Allwyn continued to circle between the Sea Keeper and the shore while Gallan flew over the rowboat.
It took the combined efforts of all the rowers to cross the swift current. Brienne's anxiety rose again as she watched them fight the strong current. Finally, they were on the other shore. The men spread out, their focus on the trees ahead of them, ready for a surprise attack. Griff and Ned waved to the Sea Keeper indicating it was safe for the next team to cross the river.
Brienne and Podrick joined the second team crossing. Ardayn and Serdun flew over them while Gallan remained on shore with Griff and Ned. Catren and Allwyn were now perched in the trees, squawking encouragingly, until the third boat crossed. Finally, all three teams regathered on the shore.
They ground their boats on the rocky shore while still in sight of the crew aboard the Sea Keeper. The boats were pulled safely up the shore, where there would be no risk of the powerful waters snatching them away. The group assembled further up, clambering to where the mud and sill of the riverbank gave way to hard packed soil. The ground began to rise gently but the walking was easy.
In the distance, the Mountains of the Moon rose majestically. Ahead, the open ground merged with the edge of the tree line. Thick fir trees with wide trunks and dense foliage cast shadows where the afternoon sun could not penetrate.
Brienne looked up to the dragons. The five had formed their arrow formation with Catren in its usual position in the lead. They seemed to know where they were going and led them towards the tree line. The men formed a circle, keeping Griff, Brienne, Ned and Podrick in their center. Griff hadn't ordered it. Protecting him was natural to the Company men, just as it was natural to the dragons. This was the same formation the five used to protect her. Clearly, they had all learned it together.
Soon, they'd walked deep into the woods, into the shadows where the thick trees, heavy with leaves and ivy, blocked out the sunlight. Brienne shivered. She pulled her jerkin closer around her as the loss of the sun's warmth made the chill more apparent. Instinctively, her hand drifted down to cover her sword hilt.
Now that they were following them, the dragons stopped squawking. They seemed to be intent on their path. The eagles also followed the dragons, flying from tree to tree, settling on branches to watch the group move quietly forward. The eagles were content to allow the five to lead them, too.
Griff hadn't ordered their group to be silent, but no one spoke. Stealth was as natural to them as protecting their commander. The Company men had their weapons ready, their bodies tense, their gazes constantly monitoring the greenery around them. Brienne didn't bother to draw her sword, trusting the dragons and the Company men to keep them all protected.
After a few minutes of silent walking, Podrick shifted closer to Brienne to whisper to her. "We're being followed, my Lady Ser."
Brienne nodded and also kept her voice low. "I can sense it, too. Whoever they are, the dragons aren't worried about them. The five wouldn't be leading us this way if they sensed a threat."
She looked at Ned and Griff who were walking in front of them. The four of them were in the center of the group, with Company men as a shield between them and their unseen followers. The dragons were overhead, swooping through the trees then back to them, to keep them protected. The five were focused as they continued to lead the group deeper into the trees.
Brienne turned her head sharply when she saw the bushes move beside her. The shrub wasn't even waist-high. Was someone crouched behind it? She saw a flash of something then the next bush also moved. It was small and fast, too swift to be a grown man.
She squinted, as if that would help her identify what was in the bushes, staying even with them as they followed the dragons. She looked up, but the normally reactive dragons were still focused and intent on their destination. Whoever - or whatever - was hiding in the bushes didn't bother the dragons.
"Who's out there?' Brienne spoke quietly. "Do you think it's Valemen?"
"No." Ned, only a few steps ahead of her, responded. He was also watching the bushes. He spoke back to her, keeping his voice down, too. "I know what follows us. I recognize their stalking pattern. We're surrounded by a pack of wolves."
"Wolves," Brienne hissed. She reached for her sword again.
"There's no need." Griff half-turned, even as he kept walking, to put his hand over hers. "If they wanted to attack us, they would have already done so. They're following the dragons, too."
Brienne's mouth fell open. She didn't know why that shocked her. The Gods had dominion over all creatures. They already knew the Army of the Dead was a threat to every living being: men, dragons, eagles, and wolves. She looked up to see the dragons and eagles above them. It should be no surprise the dragons, the eagles, the wolves, and they were all led to the same destination.
The Gods were directing them to a common goal. What could have attracted them all?
She found out the answer a moment later. They came to a clearing, an area where the trees had been cut down. Sunlight warmed and brightened the spot, as if the circle of sunshine indicated a significant meeting place. The shrubbery no longer provided concealment for the gathering factions, forcing them all to confront each other.
The Company men stopped and tightened their circle around Griff, Ned, Brienne and Podrick. The dragons also came down to the ground. Their group was too large for the dragons to encircle fully, but they took point positions to keep their family protected.
Brienne gasped softly as a pack of wolves slunk out of the foliage. The beasts growled and bared their teeth as they formed their own circle around them. Even so, the wolves kept their distance. Like the dragons, they were tense and ready to attack, but did not. Brienne looked up to see the eagles perched in the trees around them, additional witnesses to the gathering.
"My…my Lady Ser," Podrick whispered. He put his hand on her hers and tugged. His fingers were icy, even in the warm sunshine. "L…l…look."
Brienne turned her head to follow the direction of his gaze. A direwolf, more than three times bigger than the wolves surrounding them, had padded slowly out of the trees. The direwolf was so large it was almost as large as a small horse.
The animal bared her sharp teeth, but didn't growl. Her mixed grey and white fur was matted and snarled, as was typical for animals living in the wild. The direwolf looked at the dragons first, then past them to the men with their sharp weapons. Her gaze settled on Brienne, half-hidden behind the men. Brienne moved forward, ahead of the guards but still behind the dragons, so the she-wolf could see her clearly. The direwolf's golden yellow eyes showed no fear or aggression. She just looked at Brienne, as if waiting for her to speak.
Brienne's eyes widened as a memory came back to her. They had been in King's Landing, when Qyburn had told them of finding Robb, Catelyn, and Talisa Stark's bodies. Brienne recalled the stunned shock on Jon Snow's face at hearing the news.
Jon's hand flattened on Catren's back. "Wolves?"
"Yes," Qyburn confirmed. "The Riverlands have more wolves than men since the War of the Five Kings. Strangely, the wolves hadn't disturbed their bodies. In fact, it was almost as if the pack was protecting them. Then, after I'd loaded their bodies on my wagon, the pack growled at me until I also took the body of a huge grey and white wolf."
"That was Grey Wind, Robb's direwolf." Jon looked down, hiding his expression.
"Direwolf," Qyburn repeated. "That must be what the lead wolf was, too. It stayed far back from the pack, but it was enormous, even from the distance.
Jon's head jerked up. "What? You saw a direwolf? What did it look like?"
"Lighter grey and white," Qyburn said. "It was as large as the other direwolf, Grey Wind."
"Nymeria?" Jon gasped. "Nymeria is still alive?"
"I don't know its name, your Grace, but it led me to Lady Catelyn's body," Qyburn explained. "From the marks on the body and the marks on the ground, the direwolf pulled Lady Catelyn's body from the river."
Jon stared at the ex-maester for a moment, processing the information he's just received. He blinked several times before he could finally form words.
"Another Stark lives," Jon whispered.
Jon had been stunned to know the direwolf was still alive. Now, they were face-to-face with the missing animal. Was she now wild or did she still remember her life in Winterfell?
"Nymeria?" Brienne called.
Nymeria made a sound in her throat, between a growl and a cry. Brienne's heart clenched to hear it. It was almost as if Nymeria couldn't decide to be pleased or angry to hear her own name.
Griff, Ned, and the men all jerked at hearing her speak. They glanced at her then returned their focus to the wolves surrounding them. Brienne ignored them to concentrate on the direwolf. The dragons had brought them here to meet the direwolf. This meeting had to be significant. She knelt, to make herself appear smaller than the direwolf. Hopefully it would ease her distrust.
Nymeria looked around at her packmates and stepped closer to their group. Brienne glanced at the dragons around them. They were alert, ready to strike, but still calm. They didn't sense a threat from this monstrously large predator.
"Nymeria Stark?" Brienne called again.
Nymeria stopped and growled warningly. The direwolf's eyes seemed to darken at hearing the name "Stark." It meant something to the she-wolf. Judging by the calm way she approached, she remembered her name and the family that had raised her. But her growl warned Brienne that Nymeria didn't remember her family well.
"I…I'm a friend of Arya's," Brienne continued.
Brienne didn't attempt to leave the safety of the men and dragons. She wasn't sure if this was the correct way to engage the direwolf. Brienne had seen Ghost interact with Jon Snow and knew of the powerful bond that existed between Starks and their direwolves. Nymeria would have had the same bond with Arya as Ghost had with Jon.
Arya had loved Nymeria, but Arya had also abandoned Nymeria.
The direwolf had been driven away long ago, forced to leave her family and the girl she'd loved. Did Nymeria understand Arya had done so to keep her safe? Cersei Lannister had ordered the direwolf's execution. Arya had chased Nymeria away to keep the direwolf alive.
Based on her size now, Nymeria had thrived in the wild. She was the leader of a large pack, independent and strong. But the name "Stark" still drew a response from the she-wolf. Did Nymeria still love her first family?
"Why are you here, Nymeria?" Brienne asked.
She didn't know why she asked that question. The direwolf didn't speak the Common Tongue. There was no way for her to understand why the she-wolf had brought her pack here. But there had to be a reason. The dragons had been insistent and led them purposefully to the direwolf and her pack. The Gods wouldn't have brought men, dragons, eagles, and wolves together without a reason.
Suddenly, Nymeria raised her head and sniffed the air. The she-wolf made that same sound again, a cross between a growl and a cry. Then she bared her teeth and growled a full-throated warning growl.
Brienne rose to her feet and stepped back. The Company men tightened their circle, their weapons raised as the dragons unfurled their wings. The five rose to the sky as Nymeria turned away from them. She sniffed the air again then raced back into the trees. Seconds later, her pack raced after her.
The dragons and the eagles, who had been quiet during the meeting, now began to squawk anxiously. The five reformed their arrow formation above them. The eagles came down from the higher tree branches to watch them.
Griff looked up at the winged animals above them and growled, sounding almost like a predator himself. "What was that?' he demanded, turning to face Brienne. "How do you know that wolf?"
"Direwolf," Brienne corrected. "They're normally only found north of the Wall but the Stark's each had one of their own."
"Why? What's their significance?" Ned still had Starfall in his hand. He watched the now silent foliage even as he spoke to her.
Brienne shrugged. "I don't know. Jon Snow is bonded to a white direwolf named Ghost. He told us Arya released her direwolf in the Riverlands."
Griff narrowed his eyes. "That doesn't make sense. The Starks are bonded to direwolves, who shouldn't exist south of the Wall, and they gave them up? That would be like us giving up the dragons."
"Jon Snow told us Nymeria defended Arya from Joffery," Podrick recalled. His face was pale and sweat beaded on his brow, despite the chill. "He was the crown prince. Cersei Lannister ordered the direwolf to be killed as punishment. Arya sent Nymeria away to protect her."
The dragons, hovering over them, continued to squawk. They began to beat their wings rapidly, creating a breeze that tossed their hair around. Brienne combed her fingers through her hair to hold it back while Griff looked up and sighed.
"They want us to follow the direwolf, don't they?" Griff put Dawn back in his sword belt.
"Why?" Ned demanded. "I've seen what wolfpacks can do. They'll feast on anything, if given the chance. Why would we go after them?"
Brienne pointed to the sky. "Because the dragons want us to."
Ned looked up and also sighed heavily. Then he nodded. "Then we follow the dragons."
"Indeed, we do." Griff nodded to the men. "Stay low, stay quiet. We don't know what's out there."
The men murmured their agreement. Then, as a group, they traced the path of the fleet-footed wolves. The pack was smaller, faster and had already disappeared. It was the dragons that led the Golden Company. The five were quiet again, in their arrow formation, as the Company men rapidly followed them.
Griff put his hand up a few moments later. The group stopped around him, breathing deeply to catch their breaths. Podrick and several others climbed into the trees for a higher vantage point. Griff squinted as he tried to look between the breaks in the foliage.
"There's a road ahead of us," Griff noted quietly.
"I'm familiar with the area. I'll scout ahead," Ned offered.
"No, we stay together," Griff disagreed. "We're strongest when we're together."
Ned opened his mouth, presumably to argue when Podrick waved his hand frantically. They all turned to look at her squire as her hurried down from his perch. The dragons came to the ground around them as Podrick and the other climbers rejoined their group.
"I see something," Podrick explained, his voice pitched low. "Someone is coming down the road."
Ned put his hand on Starfall's hilt. "They'll be surrounded by the wolves. I counted at least thirty beasts in the pack. They'll overwhelm any travelers on this road."
Griff frowned and looked over at the five. "The dragons brought us here for a reason. I doubt it's to watch wolves attack random travelers."
He parted the bushes to peer down the road. Griff studied the track on both sides before backing away from the foliage. He walked a few feet back then indicated for everyone to come closer. Brienne, the men, and the dragons all gathered around their king.
"A small group approaches from the west. Six riders on horseback, a cart pulled by two horses and controlled by a single man," he reported. "I couldn't see if anyone was in the cart. The riders are armed with swords and bows. They appear to be guarding the cart. Everyone, stay down. We'll see if they pass without incident."
The men nodded silently in agreement.
Griff nodded towards the dragons. "Brienne, Podrick, keep them quiet, if you can. We won't engage unless we must."
Everyone nodded again and moved to their positions. Griff, Ned, and the men went back towards the road, crouching down in the bushes. Brienne and Podrick led the dragons further into the trees, away from the road.
The Company men, dressed in somber leathers in shades of brown, grey and olive blended easily into the shadows cast by the trees. Brienne and Podrick, in their Tarth-blue jerkins, stood out against the dark background. The dragons, too brightly colored and unique, were incapable of blending. They were always the center of attention.
Still, she and Podrick crouched down and gathered them close. The five settled around them, as tense and ready as their fellow Golden Company men.
The men were so still, they were almost lost in the shadows. A taunt silence descended as the group waited. Even the eagles in the trees above them were quiet.
A moment later Brienne heard a horse whinny, as the travelers came into hearing range.
"We'll be at Maidenpool in an hour or so," a male voice said. His tone was lyrical, with a soft drawl often heard in the North but not common south of the Bite.
"But we're still on the wrong side of the river," another man responded. This voice was sharper, almost clipping the words. This was the accent of the Rivermen. "We should've crossed the Ruby Ford when we had a chance."
"We didn't have a chance," a third male voice growled. "The tide had already started to come in when we reached it. The cart would have gotten stuck in the mud, or worse, quicksand."
"Then we should've waited until the morning," the second voice argued. "These are dangerous lands. They say the broken men who prowl here are worse than beasts. Some of them feast on the bodies of the humans they catch."
"I'm less worried about humans, than I am wolves," the third voice growled again. "They've been following us for days."
Brienne frowned, listening hard as the men came closer. The wolves had been following them? Why? She repeated the man's statement in her head.
There was something familiar about the third man's voice. It was rough and steady, the voice of a man used to giving orders and having them obeyed. It also had a faint trace of an odd accent, a blend of the sharp pronunciation of the Riverland with the lilt of the Valemen.
"We are where we should be." A new voice spoke. "Our friends are here."
Friends? Who could he be referring to?
His voice was also odd. It sounded younger than the other voices and had a flat, emotionless quality. There was no lilt or emphasis on any of the words or syllables. It was as though nothing mattered or bothered the speaker.
Brienne gasped softly. She knew that voice.
Suddenly, there was a high-pitched, almost female sounding cry. The rumble of footsteps and the yells of many men echoed around them.
Brienne looked around frantically. The Company men were still hidden in the trees before her but they'd pulled out their swords and bows. She heard the clash of steel on steel and screams.
"Griff, we need to save the travelers," Brienne called. "I know who they're protecting!"
"Then save them we will," Griff pulled Dawn out of his sword belt. "Take them!"
The Golden Company moved together, their actions polished and practiced, as they broke out of the tree cover to join the fray. The dragons screeched and rose. Catren and Allwyn flew after Griff.
Brienne jumped up and pulled out Dark Sister. She, Podrick and the other dragons raced to join the Golden Company. Ardayn and Serdun stayed with her while Gallan rose higher into the sky, giving it a greater vantage point over the battle.
Once on the road, she saw the small traveling group had been surrounded by bandits in mismatched bits of armor and bearing bloody swords. There were more than fifty men in the attacking bandit force.
The ruffians had thought the small group was an easy target.
By the time she and the dragons joined the Company men, many of the attackers had turned to face the unseen threat. They hadn't anticipated a second group to engage them while they were trying to ambush the travelers.
The attackers had more men, but it wouldn't be enough to save them. The Golden Company had better fighters, surprise, and dragons on their side.
In fact, the dragons were such an effective weapon that many attackers froze in the face of the threat. The Company men used their distraction to their advantage. Their archers pierced the remaining advancing raiders with arrows as fast as they could nock their arrows.
The pair of horses attached to the cart reared back, their eyes wide, the natural fear of dragons affecting them as much as it had the men. Their terror also helped the Golden Company as the motion threw off some of the attackers trying to mount the wooden flat. A small figure huddled in the cart, while the driver tried to bring the horses back under control. The guards fought against the raiders. Bodies were already on the ground, bleeding, and twitching.
Brienne's breath caught as she looked down at the bodies strewn in the dirt. For a heartbeat, she couldn't tell which side had lost fighters in the noise, the blood, and the melee. Then she saw the fallen wore mud-caked, torn clothes and mismatched pieces of armor that were already stained with darkened, dried blood, evidence of their previous attacks on other unsuspecting people.
Some of the men had immediately frozen or fallen to their knees at the sight of the dragons. Others, perhaps too frenzied or intent to notice the five, continued to engage the guards who were trying to protect the cart's occupant.
There was a wet, gurgling howl from the cart. Brienne looked to see a man had gotten past the guards and was half-way up the wooden side. A needle-fine blade protruded from the back of his head. The man fell backwards, pulling free of the blade and revealing the small warrior holding the sword.
It was Arya Stark.
Brienne ran to the cart, ducking around fighters, towards the youngest Stark daughter. This was why Nymeria was here and reacted as she had to the Stark name. The direwolf was following the Stark girl. The cart's other occupant, a young man with dark hair and a long face, turned his head, his face expressionless as he watched Brienne, even as the carnage raged around him.
Bran Stark.
She was almost to the cart when she heard Podrick's warning.
"My Lady Ser!" Podrick cried out. "Behind you!"
Brienne turned and raised her sword, but she needn't bothered. Ardayn and Serdun, flying above her, both released dragonfire, instantly stopping the man before his sword could strike her.
He uttered a horrifying, blood-chilling scream as fire raced along his clothes and melted the skin off his bones. The stench of burning flesh assaulted all their nostrils, causing men to gasp and cover their noses.
After that, the battle ended quickly.
The attackers were subdued, overwhelmed by the unexpected counter-attack, the disciplined Company men, and the dragons. The Stark guards, all of whom appeared to have survived the attack, had frozen in place. They looked from their attackers to their rescuers, their mouths open and their eyes glazed. The guards were clearly equally confused by the change in circumstances. But their confusion ran a distant second to the half awe, half terror on their faces as they stared at the dragons.
"Zaldrīzoti, māzigon naejot issa!" Brienne called as she backed away.
The five, who'd been hovering over the battleground, squawked in reply. She looked around to ensure herself that the attackers were no longer a threat. The dragons had also reached the same conclusion. They flew across the road to her side.
"Calm the horses!" Griff commanded. "Brienne, move the dragons away!"
Several Company men ran to the horses, who were still frantic. The driver, who'd been fighting to hold them, rose to his feet in his wooden seat. As he did, he saw the dragons surrounding Brienne. He froze and almost fell out of the cart. Luckily, the Company men had gotten hold of the bridle and were trying to control the horses.
Podrick ran to Brienne as she moved further away from the cart and the Stark men. The horses calmed the more distance she created between them and the dragons. Arya and Bran Stark were still in the cart. Arya had braced herself against the side while holding Bran's hand.
Bran held his sister's hand but appeared unperturbed, even as he was tossed around in the cart. Brienne recalled seeing him in Winterfell, the distance and detachment in his eyes, even when his sisters hugged him or spoke to him. He'd spent most of his time under the weirwood heart tree in the Godswood. Now he was staring at her, not frozen in fear of the dragons like the other Stark guards, but with his usual remote, detached stare.
"Lady Arya has returned, as has your brother, Bran. The wolves are regathering, your Grace."
Brienne recalled saying that to Jon Snow when she'd first arrived at Dragonstone. Jon, the newly crowned King in the North, had left to meet Daenerys, still not knowing Bran and Arya's fates. Jon had nearly gone into shock when learning Bran and Arya were alive and home at Winterfell. It had been weeks since Brienne had given him the good news on Dragonstone. Jon's focus had been on gathering allies for the war against the Army of the Dead.
Jon still hadn't had a chance to reunite with his long-lost brother and sister. Long lost cousins, Brienne reminded herself. Jon was Lyanna Stark's son. Griff was Jon's brother, not Bran.
"Separate the dead," Griff ordered. "We must burn their bodies."
"What about the injured?" Ned asked.
The Lord of Starfall was disheveled but unharmed. He'd sheathed Starfall in his sword belt and now knelt on the ground, checking the bodies around him.
Griff's mouth curled into a sneer. "Oh, we'll deal with them."
There was a dark, savage satisfaction in Griff's voice. It was clear to Brienne that the survivors would not like what he had planned for them. Brienne agreed with her king's decision. Men who preyed on others, who spread misery for their own pleasure, did not belong in civilized society. Griff had to make an example of them.
Brienne looked around at the men still standing and instantly placed the gruff, familiar sounding voice. Ser Brynden Tully, Lady Catelyn's uncle and the new lord of the Twins, had allowed his sword to fall from his grip. His hand was still curled but empty, as if he hadn't even noticed he'd lost his weapon. His body was stiff but his eyes darted around frantically. He watched his attackers kicked to their knees by his rescuers, the Company men separate the living from the dead, and Griff command their actions. But most of all, Ser Brynden watched the dragons.
Brienne and Podrick had met the grizzled but still renowned knight during the siege at Riverrun. She'd tried to encourage the Blackfish's men to aid Jon and Sansa in retaking Winterfell. Ser Brynden had refused, preferring to try to hold his family home. Even so, he'd taken the time to ensure she and Podrick were safely away from Riverrun before he had been forced to deal with the combined Lannister and Frey forces.
Brienne was so focused on the Blackfish that she didn't see the man who came around the cart. He cried out joyfully when he spotted her.
Brienne turned to look at him and froze.
He'd been on the far side, the first to engage the attackers, judging by the blood on his face and clothes. He shook his whole body, like a wet dog, causing drops of blood and sweat to spray out around him. His black leathers were so faded they were almost grey, but his ginger hair and bright blue eyes were as vibrant as she remembered. Unfortunately, they darkened and became as fixated as she remembered, too.
"Big woman!" he cried happily.
Brienne took an involuntary step back. The dragons, hovering at her shoulders, screeched in warning. She lunged for Ardayn and Serdun, holding them out of striking range. Podrick, beside her, yelped as he reached for Catren and Allwyn. Her squire had seen her interactions with the big, blunt Wildling. Gallan, sensing its mother's distress, and not held back like the others, hissed, and rose above them. Brienne looked back to the huge man whose blue eyes had widened until his entire forehead disappeared under his ginger hair.
"Dragon woman," he gasped, stopping in his tracks.
Griff turned when he heard the dragons' screeches. He saw Brienne's shocked horror at being confronted by the tall, powerful fighter. Leaving his men, Griff pulled Dawn out of his sword belt, fury darkening his indigo eyes.
Brienne saw Griff advance on them but was unable to react. Her brain warned her she needed to stop the oncoming confrontation but the warning was faint, barely audible over the sound of blood rushing through her ears.
She considered herself a warrior. She knew how to hold her own against Kingsguards, pirates, slavers and even the dead. Her sword, her strength, and her conviction had always answered for her. Instinct and training guided her in battle. But this man's fascination was something she'd never trained for or understood.
She didn't know how to deal with the bizarre combination of awe, delight, and lust she seemed to inspire in Tormund Giantsbane.
Author's Note: Ohh, finally! I get introduce more characters. Were you waiting for any of them to appear? Who is your favorite? How do you think Griff will react to the man besotted with his sworn sword?
Much thanks to my wonderful beta reader Liv_it_up124!
