Prologue(Before Sansa arrived at Castle Black)
Brienne of Tarth's perspective:
THUD, THUD… THUD, THUD... THUD, THUD... THUD, THUD... THUD, THUD...
In the cover of night, a tall armor-clad figure holding a torch sat atop a horse leading a group consisting of a tall man atop a horse holding onto the reins of another horse rode upon by a small-cloaked figure. The small cloaked figure was swaying, almost falling off their horse at times before the tall figure reined the swaying rider's horse in. Brienne scans the sparse dark trees covered in light snow for Ramsay's hounds both men and dogs alike. Brienne had never experienced a cold like this, she sighs, mist coming out of her pursed lips connected to a face that's been mocked as "Beauty" ever since her youth. We must be getting close to Castle Black by now. We've already spotted the Wall yesterday, and even then the scale of The Wall was gigantic but now that we're at the foot of it, it's beyond words. How did the First men build this and just for the wildings? Only the seven know how these northmen think.
Looking over my shoulder, Lady Sansa looks exhausted, any longer and she might just fall off her horse- not that the horse is faring any better, shuddering and swaying with each competing front hooves. Pod looked exhausted but still riding firmly holding onto the reins of Lady Sansa's horse. We've been following the Wall with nothing but endless ice in front and back, hoping that we get lucky and stumble upon one of the castles doting along this big piece of ice.
… " Lady Sansa?" I spoke softly, She's a near image of Lady Catelyn except for her youth and exhausted dirt caked visage. Well both ladies wore an exhausted countenance in that regard they're also the same. She hasn't said anything yet, she might be asleep. Who can fall asleep on a horse?
After a long pause, "Yes, ser Brienne?" she spoke her voice raspy and dry as Dorne's sands.
"Lady Sansa, at this pace we might come upon one of the castles on the Wall by morning. Would you rather I set up camp and travel by morn instead?" At this point I'm more inclined to just set up camp with how exhausted Lady Sansa and our mounts are.
"NO," Lady Sansa shifted straight upon her mount. "We keep moving till morn Lady Brienne, R-Ramsay's men might still catch us." she finished her last few words into a mumble. I didn't quite hear the last phrase but I recognized the cruel bastard's name, I understood what she wanted.
"Then, We'll speed up our horses into a trot." I said resolutely. Cheeks already pink from the cold, I stuttered quickly. "If- if that's your wish m'lady?"
"Thank you Brienne and don't worry I won't fall off my horse anytime." Lady Sansa's voice is now iron. Brittle it may be but strong and firm, that's all we can hope for now.
Then I lead our mounts to a trotting pace into the darkness, I hope we don't run into the wall because of this darkness, with everything set against us it would only be for the seven's amusement if we run into it.
Sansa Stark's perspective:
THUD, THUD… THUD, THUD… THUD, THUD... THUD, THUD... THUD, THUD...
Ser Brienne's voice cut sharply into the thick fog of unconsciousness, "Lady Sansa! I see some fortifications up ahead."
I tilted my head up, "Not a castle?" I squinted my eyes to see better but to no avail can I describe what I saw. Black wooden walls covered in ice and snow, looking like it might topple just standing by itself. Thankfully it's supported by the wall or else this might just be a ruin. I was expecting an imposing castle, not wooden walls barely held together by ice and probably from the hard-work of the men inside.
"M'lady? Are you sure your brother can protect you from these… men?" I know Brienne that this place is where criminals and other lowlife are sent to when they're not executed by their lords. But Jon… he's different, I don't know as much as my siblings did or as Arya did. My sister, whom I belittled and ignored for almost all of my years being alive, I can only hope you'll forgive me.
"M'lady?"
"Yes, I know Jon will protect me. I heard he's managed to become Lord Commander." I said confidently while inside me I'm trying to find a reason why he would protect me. Me? A sister so horrible to him, who ignored him forever and he'll be so disappointed that it's me, not Arya.
"M'lady, if things turn for the worse." she paused to look at me. "Ride your horse away from here with Pod. You can trust him M'lady…" She trailed off, Pod was positively beaming and smiling ear to ear. "he's not like other boys." Brienne finished looking straight ahead at the wooden walls wearing a frown on her handsome face. I glanced beside me, Pod looked like a kicked puppy. I still don't trust him, his last name Payne, must be a relative of my Father's executioner. I tighten my grip on the reins. If it comes to that… NO, it won't. Jon HAS to be different, he has to be. I NEED him to be.
"Don't worry Ser-" Brienne interrupted me.
"I'm not a knight M'lady." Her voice felt like a slap to me. But before I could retort Podrick Payne beat me to it.
"But you have a knight's skills and you embody the ideals of a knight… umm M'lady." he said looking at something of interest near the tree line. Brienne stiffened and glared at Podrick for a quick moment and looked back to the approaching castle, I'm so close to Jon now.
"Don't worry Lady Brienne, Jon is my Father's son and my sibling's brother." I repeated successfully and tried to have a proper riding posture.
"Father's son and sibling's brother? Isn't he your brother too M'lady?" Pod asked, bowing his head immediately when I glanced at him. I didn't bother him with a response.
We've finally arrived in front of gates, the walls are taller than I thought and now that we're close I can see that there are many more people wearing pelts rather than the customary black coats. Guess even criminals want more variety in their clothes.
"Who goes there?" someone yelled atop the battlements, or what I think he said.
"Lady Sansa of House Stark and I, Brienne of Tarth have come seeking refuge from Ramsay Bolton." Brienne shouted back.
"Why would Lady Stark come here looking for refuge? There's only criminals like myself and my Wildling friend here." The man gestured to a huge fur clad figure with red hair and shaggy beard who came up beside him. A wildling? Behind the Walls? What had Jon been doing as Lord Commander?
I urged my horse to trot forward and I yelled back. "I'm here for my brother, your lord Commander Jon St- Snow." I almost forgot, the reason I ignored Jon was because of his parentage.
…"Wait here, we're opening gates." He soon got away from our sight line leaving the hulking Wildling behind, staring at us. Brienne looked away from him, disgust clear on her face, I don't know what he did but if it disgusted Brienne then I'm not looking back atop the battlements.
The gate slowly opened towards us, creaking and unsettling the snow covering the gate. I'm safe now, if not I'll make it safe for all of us, for Bran, Rickon, and Arya. I'll make the North home again for us.