At the time she was in the Vale of Arryn. Her cousin, Robyn was to marry the daughter of the region's most important Lord and her visit was expected because of their blood ties. It wasn't like she was close to her cousin but her presence was necessary to secure current interests and those that may arise in the future.
Robyn was no longer the sickly kid from his childhood and although being raised among knights had made him less overprotected and bratty than when his mother lived, he sometimes seemed to lose control of his emotions and would act impulsively and with arrogance.
Truthfully, her presence at the wedding was more for Lord Royce's sake than Robyn's. It was an open secret that, because of his changing temper, Robyn wasn't apt to command the second largest army in Westeros and, therefore, Lord Royce's youngest daughter would marry her cousin so that her father would take control of the army... Lord Royce already had control but the wedding would consolidate the matter nicely.
Besides, it was a chance to create new pacts and trade treaties with other regions, The North needed it. Although they were faring well, they were the poorest realm and the one with the least resources to trade, a three-year long winter had just passed and they were making do with what provisions had remained after the Long Night, so it was imperative to start preparing for the next winter during the spring and the summer. Even if winter was long to come as the Maesters from the Citadel claimed.
Some Northern Lords weren't pleased by her request for Independence when she did because they argued that it would have been better after winter was over so that the King would have had to give them provisions and aid. But how did they think that those provisions would make it to those remote location with the few existing roads, which were impregnable due to the strong winds and snow storms? It wasn't the first time that the North would have to make it on its own.
And now that there was some respite she needed to ingratiate herself more with most of her subjects, their loyalty was paramount. Loyalty and power were the only things she needed to stop worrying about her safety.
Besides, one of her advisors had reminded her that calm often followed the storm.
It was a never-ending cycle and she would always have to be prepared for it.
Leaving her worries aside she looked around her, southern Lords which made her nervous; in the North she had almost full support but here... she had blind trust for Ser Royce because he had become her advisor once Littlefinger had been tried. He had been her guide when Jon left her in charge of Winterfell. She trusted Robyn and her uncle Edmure because they were family but her trust wasn't blind, she also trusted some Lords but she always kept in mind that only the slightest of changes would be enough to sow distrust and plant doubts.
She was a woman and the rumor beyond the North was that she had taken the North because of her ties with her brother. She also had solid blood connections with Lords from other realms and she was a Stark; she had only taken the North because of her family name. And the only remaining Lannister, her ex-husband, was the Hand of the King and he seemed to have a soft spot for her, the same was true for the King's Lord Commander herself. Her connections were the only thing that her detractors saw in her and they were partly right. But she had proven to herself in the past few years that she was apt for ruling.
This visit had been scheduled but the meeting that was taking place was not. Although most points had little to do with the North she paid attention to see what she could learn and use later at home, but she also paid attention to her surroundings: the nearest exits, her closest and more trusted guards, the window that she wasn't facing. The corridor that led to that hall and to a narrow passage, the stairs that led to a garden.
While a lord talked, and boasted she couldn't help but be distracted by a hushed voice singing in the distance. She frowned for a few seconds until she decided to focus on the meeting.
Once the meeting was over, and while they walked through a platform that surrounded the yard she fixed her eyes on the men who were gathered around a bonfire, there was a familiar face, "is that Podrick Payne?" she asked Lord Royce who was walking beside her. She thought she heard his voice.
He looked to where Her Grace was looking and nodded "Yes, it is." and he decided to correct her "He's Ser Podrick Payne, now. And he is part of the Kingsguard." Didn't she know that, or had she forgotten it?
Sansa furrowed her brow, she didn't recall Brienne telling her about that but it made perfect sense since the young man was always in the Lord Commander's highest esteem. "What is he doing here?" the Kingsguard was meant to protect her brother but she could see that Ser Podrick wasn't wearing any armor, "who is he escorting?" she asked, since she knew from a letter that Bran wouldn't attend the ceremony.
"He is a guest, Ma'm. My nephew and my son have the highest esteem for him. They became friends when the Vale's army stayed at Winterfell." From the corner of his eye he saw her nodding.
A Lord who was walking behind her saw all the lords looking at the man in question, "Isn't that the Knight who was knighted by a woman?" he asked mockingly and disapprovingly. That was the Knight who used to clean the King of the Six Kingdom's arse. His words were unmeasured and impulsive, and he saw that Ser Royce was looking at him flushed with anger.
Sansa continued walking without bothering to look at the man who had spoken those words "...I know Ser Podrick, I'm sure he is quite proud of that…" It was usual enough that people looked down on her because of her gender, she could only guess how it would be for Brienne... "I know I am, it's not every day that you meet someone who has been sworn as a Kingsguard and who keeps his vows. I have the highest regards for Ser Brienne's loyalty."
Ser Royce bowed his head, "he is a good man and Ser Brienne a great woman," he said that honestly.
Another Lord decided to chip in, "Ser Brienne's reputation is flawless; I assure you, Your Grace, that if she was present my brother would be embarrassing me, following her around relentlessly, asking her questions and proclaiming his admiration. We, younger people, are more permissive than some lords who hold on to old traditions…"
Sansa didn't think those words were sincere, she knew them to be appeasing and meant to stand out, to butter her up. She didn't turn to look at the man because she knew that's what he wanted, "it isn't being permissive, it's seeing the reality in front of you and disregard her because she is a woman, and probably stronger that most of the Lords present here..." she looked at Lord Royce shaking her head and rolling her eyes tiredly, showing him that she wouldn't have the words of his allies against him.
"...Yes, I heard she beat the Hound once."
"She did." Lord Royce confirmed since he knew about it.
Sansa continued talking only to Lord Royce, "I would have liked to meet Ser Brienne here than Ser Podrick but I suppose I can't be too picky..."
Lord Royce smiled and lowered his head. They continued walking until they reached one of the main halls where the feast would take place, he guided her to the dais where she would sit beside Robyn, and Lord Royce would sit next to his daughter.
After a few speeches here and there, after the food had been served and several toasts were made, the celebration was in full swing. Her uncle Edmure who sat next to her started a conversation to kill time, she noticed. Sansa subtly sought out Podrick more than once but she couldn't find him, him or most of the knights that were with him before, surely, having decided to leave the most lavish part of the celebrations. After some time, once her uncle left her to socialize and when she felt she could go unnoticed, she left the hall asking one of her guards to help her find Ser Podrick.
.
.
Podrick was in the yard in front of the bonfire, ale in hand and talking to some knights about some battles that they had impossibly survived, when he saw that the men facing him raised their eyes and immediately stood up. When he looked over his shoulder he saw three of the Queen's guards and the Queen herself walking towards them. His instinct kicked in because he suddenly found himself standing, turning and bowing reverently before her along with his companions, "Your Grace," all of them greeted. Podrick saw her perfect pose as she bowed in turn at the show of respect, and he was not too surprised to see her looking at him directly, with a smile that she had never given him before. He stopped himself from looking behind him to be sure that the gesture was directed at him, but he hardly managed to.
"Good evening Ser Podrick," she greeted without hiding her excitement at seeing an acquaintance from her past, even if they hadn't shared much, "...I was wondering if you wouldn't mind having a talk with me, after you're done with your friends, of course."
She hadn't come looking for him in person to have that talk after he was done with his friends. He knew very well that he was blushing, not only because he was honored that she had come looking for him directly, but also because his companions realized that he had her regards, "Of course, my lady." he said, and immediately realized his mistake and corrected himself, "...Your Grace...I'm sorry, some habits are hard to quit," he said, absentmindedly rushing to leave the circle of friends, not even saying goodbye and letting her lead the way.
"It's surprising to find you here, Ser Podrick."
"I heard you were here a little while ago. I was going to look for you... to congratulate you on your coronation..." he couldn't remember exchanging words with her since long before he and Ser Brienne escorted her along with the remaining forces of the North to rescue Jon from the Unsullied. "I just didn't think it proper to come up to you out of the blue," he had thought about talking to Lord Royce first.
Ser Podrick knew how to follow protocol and he was always polite to her and although they were just acquaintances he had been ready to give his life for hers when she was running away from Ramsay Bolton. It would be ungrateful of her not to stop and say hello for a few minutes, "I have to congratulate you too, from squire to knight and then becoming a part of the Kingsguard."
He exhaled and smiled, "A promotion I didn't see coming." He knew that Ser Brienne keep correspondence with her, he suspected Lord Tyrion did as well, and he assumed that the King too but he had never been part of her inner circle. He just skirted around the edges.
"Oh, Podrick, it's such a nice surprise to find you here..." she said without hiding her emotions and without noticing how her words pleased him. "I mean, Ser Podrick."
Her excitement caught his attention because their dealings with one and other had been minimal, a word or sentence here and there while they made way to Castle Black, or when he would bring a message from Lady Brienne. Also, rumor had it she was cold, distant and calculating since she became Queen. And he thought it was odd to have the exact opposite before him, "It's good to see you to, Your Grace." He bowed throwing her a side glance, she had changed very little in these two or three years. If anything, he noticed that she seemed more mature but he assumed he did as well. She looked dignified and somehow more beautiful than before, her demeanor even more regal.
"It will be so refreshing to hear about Bran and Brienne and King's Landing and not just read about it from the short letters I get from them."
Podrick didn't expect her to have sought him out for another reason, to be excited just from seeing him. But he would have liked it if she had approached him just to greet him and ask him how he was. He couldn't be too sensitive, though. She was doing him an honor. He followed her to where she led, an iron-forged table sitting in the yard, which was far from a big window that let them see and hear the sounds of the celebration inside the main hall.
They took a seat and Sansa saw that her three guards were too close, "It's alright," she told them, "he's trustworthy."
Podrick studied the men without recognizing any of them, and he saw them keeping enough distance to give them some privacy but staying close enough to reach them in a few strides should he try anything against her.
"Bran is Bran, he doesn't tell me much in his letters and I exchange words with Ser Brienne but we're always prudent with what we write."
So he gave her the words she wanted to hear, "Your brother is well, Ma'm. Being omniscient helps and when it doesn't, his council does." he saw no reason to burden her with matters of that council, about Ser Bronn's dismal performance; he wasn't competent and when he should fall not even his friendship with Lord Tyrion would help him. But those were private affairs that he knew not to talk about.
And talk they did, for a long while.
He told her about everything that was prudent to tell and she mostly asked about her brother and how he was doing dealing with the realms. They talked about Brienne, about Tyrion, a couple of times he made her smile with the tales of the absurd obstacles that came across their ways and he definitely kept her entertained. At every opportunity he got, he stole a few glances because, although he had always known his place, it didn't mean he couldn't appreciate her beauty, "And you, Ma'm, how are you doing?"
"...I think you are well aware that ruling is not easy."
He nodded, "nothing to envy." He smiled, "I saw Lord Glover a while ago," which he found odd, even more so if he had come with her retinue.
The Lord that would lend his support only to back down once they called upon his bannermen, "I had to make some concessions but I warned him that deserting us would be the last thing his house would want to do next time."
"Hopefully, there will be no next time." he said and she couldn't agree more.
Suddenly a maid stopped in front of them, she was carrying a tray with a jar of wine and three cups. One of her guards took the tray and stepped away. Sansa saw Podrick following the guard with his eyes as he served some wine, studied it, smelled it and took several sips, "occupational hazard." He was screening for poison.
Podrick nodded. There was no need for that with her brother, The thee-eyed raven saw everything.
She took notice of Podrick's profile; he hadn't change a lot since the last time she saw him, he was thinner, maybe, or maybe his boyish face had given way to a man's face, though he didn't quite lose the good-natured and innocent look that defined him, which she found odd since he was a soldier, a killer; he had seen and committed his share of atrocities and though they had surely made a mark, not even his eyes had hardened.
He turned to her once more and caught her looking away from his face, which she had been studying, he felt a blush but decided to dismiss it, "...do you like being Queen?" he decided to ask after a few moments and he did because her brother took to the job almost indifferently.
For a few moments she hesitated at the question, "...it has its ups and downs, like everything I suppose."
He nodded, "...Too many responsibilities."
"Way too many" she admitted, "too many worries, as well." she added, "But I actually like it, it gives me something to do, it keeps me busy, it keeps my mind from wondering over trivial things and most importantly; I drew the benefits as I protect myself."
Podrick nodded, aware of it, "... Your subjects and people love you." he had even heard lord Tyrion setting her up as an example. The North was austere and arid yet they had suffered one of the worse seasons out of all the realms with lower nutrition-related death rates when all the castles worked together by gathering the region's resources and divided justly their contents of grain stores. Even in the coldest and Northern most regions the Lords opened their keeps' doors for the people who needed it the most to seek refuge from the merciless cold. Of course, the rumors and gossip overlooked all the efforts and logistics that were involved, all the problems that were avoided.
Not completely, "...That doesn't happen without arranging for some future commitments." she commented and after a while she saw him looking at her hand, "Not that kind of commitment yet." she felt at ease, offering a genuine smile at denying his assumptions, which she herself found odd a couple of seconds later. One of her biggest fears was that, a commitment, another unwanted marriage. She had to be the owner of her destiny and she would only get that through power and by staying in the Throne.
Sometimes, when she least expected it, she became obsessed with her own safety, with loyalty, with the Crown.
He smiled back and when her smile turned sad he suspected what she wouldn't say, the last thing she was interested in was another marriage. Knowing –or at least suspecting– what she had gone through with Lord Bolton, he felt his chest ache with sympathy. Podrick spoke after a couple of seconds, "You can't blame me for assuming, you are the most coveted bachelorette in all of Westeros, Ma'm."
"Lucky me, right?" she asked without enthusiasm in an ironic tone. She looked to the guard with the wine feeling her mouth suddenly dry.
Podrick didn't want to continue pursuing that line of thought, he could feel that the subject made her defensive and he couldn't blame her. He saw the guard approaching and he followed him as he put down the tray. He immediately stood to serve the wine and to hand her a cup.
She took a small sip that she used to wet her lips, "and how is life going for Ser Podrick Payne?"
He smiled at that, "I can't complain, Ma'm. My dream came true and then I became a Kingsguard to your brother."
Ser Brienne had asked her to establish a Queensguard in the North since they didn't have that tradition and she had, though she had given her guards more freedom than in the south, such as being free to have families. Truthfully, her Queensguard consisted in a fistfuls of well-trained and loyal soldiers handpicked by Ser Brienne herself. Family men whose immediate relatives obtained rewards that few families without renown would get in order to dissuade them from attempting treason. "Was becoming a Kingsguard an imposition? did you feel you couldn't refuse Ser Brienne?" she was, after all, aware of the sacrifices a Kingsguard would have to make in regard to his personal life.
Her question surprised him, "it was an honor, Ma'm," he said frowning.
She didn't doubt it had been, "I meant, is it lonely, belonging to the Kingsguard? Refusing all the travel and adventures that would come your way just for being a knight? Renouncing to a family in the future? Being a Knight and Being a Kingsguard are different things."
"I can still enter tourneys, and I do miss being on the road..." he saw her nodding and he wanted to say yes, that he missed the adventure, the excitement but he wasn't so certain because adventure and emotion were linked with killing or being killed. He took a few sips from his cup blushing at was he was about to say "as for a family, I never had a close relationship with mine, I didn't consider it much. And, as for loneliness... I've had plenty of time to realize that all of us who were involved in the War of the Five Kings are lonely one way or another." At least in King's Landing Ser Brienne, Lord Tyrion, him and Ser Davos kept each other company, they were a small family. Queen Sansa was completely alone in the frozen North. And she had been quite aloof; maybe it was because of that loneliness, that she had been happy to see a familiar face from her past.
She raised her eyebrows at that, feeling uncomfortable at the truth in those words "...Perhaps too lonely…" she admitted, taking a sip of her wine. Arya, somewhere in the world without her family. Jon, in the true North without his family. Bran, without his family. Herself, without her family.
Podrick lowered his gaze, "must be occupational hazards," he replied, "and I know Ser Brienne regretted not attending to your Coronation, Ma'm."
She took a deep breath, "and how is Ser Brienne doing? Being the first female Knight, Kingsguard and Lord Commander?" it couldn't be as simple and easy as she said in her letters, "Is she discriminated because of her gender?"
Even he was discriminated for having been knighted by her, "Let's just say that she has a way to put haughty people in their place."
Good. "And you? I assume they look down on you for being knighted by a woman?"
Podrick shrugged, a gesture she wouldn't look upon with forgiving eyes, he realized, "She gave me the chance to have another knight doing it." he stated, "Even Lord Tyrion and Ser Davos tried to convince me but...you know I appreciate and admire her, it was my honor."
Ser Podrick was a good man, "To Ser Brienne." she said raising her cup, he mimicked her toast as they both smiled. Sansa sought company in very few occasions, least of all male company, but she was happy with her decision to look for him. It was good for her to relax every once in a while and this was innocent and inconsequential. To lower her defenses. Although she knew that the Queen being seen enjoying a few drinks with a man would be frowned upon, it would be worse to do it in private, "...I didn't want her to leave my side but she had fulfilled the oath she made to my mother. And if someone needs a guard of her caliber, that's Bran."
He had been surprised at the turn of events, at Brienne deciding to stay in King's Landing. Suddenly, the image –actually, the outline– of a man staring at them from behind the great window caught his attention, so much so that it made him uncomfortable. Through the darkness he could see that he was well dressed and imposing. After several moments where the man continued to stare at him, and not knowing what to do, Podrick raised his cup to him and the man immediately broke his gaze.
He turned his eyes to Her Grace who, noticing that something else had caught his attention, turned to look over her shoulder; Podrick saw the man looking at her and she turned back to him while sitting more comfortable against the backrest. "Do you know him?" something told him that she did, and that she didn't like his presence.
She wet her lips with the wine, "he's the son of one of my advisors. He'll replace his father once he leaves us. He is very ill."
"Ah." Though that didn't fully explain it.
They carried on talking for a few more minutes though they both were coming to the conclusion that they were running out of subjects.
He pointed to her head, "I like the crown, I think it's fitting."
"Fitting?" she asked.
He considered his words, it was a simple crown but that could be taken badly, "Austere like the North. No gold, no jewels or too elaborate details." If he wasn't mistaken it was forged from hard steel and it was not as imposing as those used in previous reigns. King Bran's was also simple.
Sansa smiled, that had been the idea, she knew that it wasn't proper but she carefully took it off and handed it to him since he couldn't stop staring at it, "...I see you learned something from your time in Winterfell."
Shocked at her gesture he studied the wolves on the front, "I don't get it, why is one wolf going for the other's neck?" It was something he had been wondering for a while.
"He's not attacking him. It's a wolf supporting the other one." The lone wolf dies but the pack survives. It was something her father used to say but now seeing how all her family had gone in different directions, she couldn't help but find the words a bit empty.
"I hear they call you the Wolf Queen and the Red Wolf."
Sansa let out a sigh at that as she got the crown back, "a familiar nickname, I suppose."
Podrick took a deep breath realizing she was indifferent to the nickname, "For how long will you stay, Ma'm?"
"I'm leaving tomorrow evening, after the ceremony."
That surprised him, "Tomorrow evening? Wouldn't it be more prudent to travel by day?"
Her Queensguard had said the same thing "The shorter time away from Winterfell, the better," she saw him nodding, "and you? When are you leaving?"
"In three days."
"Didn't a representative of my brother's come in his stead?" That, she found odd.
"Of course, Ma'm, but I don't think you know him. I can introduce you if you'd like."
She shook her head, her thoughts going back to her brother, "Is everything going well with Bran's rule? Tell me the truth..."
"Yes, Ma'm" he then smiled, "But if something was wrong I couldn't say a thing..." Podrick suddenly noticed a shadow fall over them and looked to his right where the shadow was being cast, and he found the man that had been fixedly staring at him a while ago. He still looked sour as he continued walking until he stopped next to them, ignoring him altogether.
"... Your Grace, your presence is required..."
"Ser Podrick, let me introduce you to Lord Harry."
Podrick stood and realized that he barely reached the man's shoulder. He was brawny, far too much, his body was heavily-built in a manner that reminded him of The Hound. He smiled politely and offered his hand but the man continued to look at him like he was to lowly to stand before him or before Her Grace. Podrick assumed that he only shook his hand out of politeness since Her Grace was present, "Podrick Payne."
"Lord Harry Deen."
For some reason the lord shook his hand so strongly that he felt himself matching him and trying not to whimper.
After a few beats he let the Guard's hand go and turned to his Queen, "... There are some lords wishing to speak to you. They said something about apologizing for an offensive comment they made after the meeting..." though they hadn't been more specific.
Sansa exhaled "...I've had enough of meetings for today...I'm sure they can wait until tomorrow." she knew very well that those lords only wanted to ingratiate themselves with her even though she wasn't their monarch.
He looked at the knight and then back to her, "I don't think that's very sensible, Ma'm, I think it's of utmost importance that you speak with them to keep in good relationships," he didn't appreciate her refusal at all but decided not to show it.
"I'll see them tomorrow" Sansa gestured with her hand to dismiss him. Her gesture obviously upset Lord Harry who left after a few moments. She looked back to Podrick, "Maybe being a SER is something new to you, but don't forget to state your title when you're meeting someone new."
He nodded realizing his mistake far too late. He saw her looking at the jar and asked if she wanted a refill to which she nodded. He refilled both their cups, "Minutes ago...just for a second, his figure reminded me of The Hound..."
"…Yes."
"...If you don't mind, Ma'm, why did the Lords offend you?"
"Why? Are you going to defend me?"
He smiled realizing her words were in jest, which meant that the offense wasn't too great if she was joking. "If you asked me to, Ma'm. You know," he put his hand on the hilt of his sword and he immediately released it when he saw her raising her hand, stopping her guards who had advanced on him, "that I'm always at your service." he finished by placing both hands on the table.
Sansa, feeling the tension from her guards kept her hand high as they waited for orders, "it's alright." After a few seconds they stepped back and she heard Ser Podrick exhaling.
"I wasn't thinking when I tried to reassure you, Ma'm, that I am at your service too…" he said, deeply embarrassed.
She exhaled too, taking notice of her guards still alert. She took a sip of her wine and noticed that they had drawn the attention of some characters. She ignored them, "be careful," she saw him blushing furiously and sweating, "you're sworn to my brother. You cannot serve two kings."
He could, under certain circumstances but he didn't remind her of that. Podrick, after a moment laughed at his own foolishness, he was surprised when he saw her smiling too, though not as openly as him, and saw her hide her grin behind her goblet. "That was a rookie move, Ma'm," he imagined Brienne's scolding once she heard about this and how Lord Tyrion would mock him.
"... To save you from embarrassment I will tell anyone who asks that you were testing my guard's response time." she really didn't know what he was thinking, believing her guards wouldn't react. Any other time the situation would have upset her. But honestly, she needed this, she needed to forget everything for at least one night. Good conversation and good company made her yearn for the past. And the good wine was taking effect, she had started to relax a while ago.
That would be perfect, "I'm sorry, Ma'm, for a few seconds I forgot to whom I was really speaking." Shamefully, he took a few sips of wine, trying to calm down. After a few moments Podrick cleared his throat. "So, may I inquire as to how those lords offended you?"
She hesitated before speaking and decided to just say half the truth, "one of them thought it hilarious to joke about Ser Brienne in my presence."
"Mmmm." he answered, he didn't like that either. "…Fools."
After that neither said anything for several moments. There was nothing else to talk about.
Sansa chose that moment to end their meeting, she stood up and he followed suit, "well, Ser Podrick, it's been a pleasure talking to you. It even made this trip worth it. I won't take you away from your friends any longer."
Podrick bowed respectfully and spoke because something was telling him that she didn't want to go inside the castle yet, "I wouldn't mind it if you stole five more minutes of my time, Ma'm." He realized he surprised her with that offer, "I'm serious."
She wanted to be truthful, what else could they speak of? But asking that would be disrespectful. "You'll have to guide this conversation, then."
Podrick grinned, "A tactical question then, why do you still wear armored dresses?" She was amongst family and allies. He thought she had stopped after becoming Queen. "Is there someone here that you mistrust?"
She blinked, "... no one in particular, it's just habit. I'm on foreign lands."
"And do you also wear them in Winterfell?"
"Not always."
For a few seconds he thought he was making her uncomfortable, that she really wanted to end the conversation. He was about to apologize and bid his farewell but she signaled him to follow as she walked towards one of the corridors that surrounded the courtyard, the guards behind them, "One last personal question, Ma'm, and we'll talk of whatever you'd like, it's something I've been curious about for years and not even Ser Brienne has revealed the truth to me."
She raised her brows, dreading the upcoming question.
"There's talk about the chain you carry," he gestured to the cone-shaped end, "they say it holds poison, is it true?"
"How do people come with this stuff?" she asked as she took hold of her needle, as she called it.
"The imagination, I guess."
She smiled after a few seconds, "That's actually a brilliant idea," she replied cryptically, "one I could use."
Podrick raised his brows realizing she wouldn't give him the satisfaction of confirming or denying it.
They talked for a while longer, it was enjoyable until they realized they had no more to discuss. He escorted her back to the entry of the main hall and said his goodbyes, "Farewell, Ma'm, in case we don't speak again."
"Send my regards to my brother, to Ser Brienne and Lord Tyrion," she offered him her hand to shake it and saw him hesitating for the shortest of seconds to then take it.
Podrick was more than certain that this was the first time he had touched her. Surely, it would also be the last one. He let her go before he was tempted to become more acquainted with the softness of her skin. Or before she felt the calluses in his hand, "I really enjoyed seeing you, Ma'm, and knowing that things are going great for you."
She bowed her head and turned to the castle, as soon as she took the first step she saw her guards joining her. Sansa went around the building as she wanted to avoid those Lords that night, It'd serve them right to spend it worrying. When she stepped on the steps to her room she saw Lord Harry joining her.
"You should be more mindful of who you surround yourself with, Ma'm. Ser Podrick's reputation, the one your former husband and the Master of Coin created for him may affect you," he informed her, not being sure if she knew about his reputation. A small group of people did, and he would happily let her know about it.
Sansa raised her eyebrows, she was aware of his reputation, that's why she had asked him if it wasn't difficult for him to be a Kingsguard to her brother. "That's none of my business. But if he is the man Ser Brienne thinks he is then I would bet that he fully keeps his oath to the Kingsguard." Not that Ser Brienne had never been wrong about a person's honor before. In any case, she didn't see why it would matter.
She couldn't be so naive, "is that what you think?" he asked almost mockingly. Very few members of the Kingsguard had kept true to their vows throughout history, "It's not proper for a Queen to share a drink in such an informal manner. Or to hand him her crown. And you went looking for him personally." Even worse, she shook his hand in goodbye after everything else! But he knew very well that she was aware of everything she had been doing, "Tomorrow there will be talk." He informed her.
She didn't care about that; they had done nothing more than talk where everyone could see them, and nothing improper had taken place. And, true, it hadn't been completely proper of her but what mattered was that she had a nice time, "If I'm cold and distant there's talk," she continued climbing the stairs, "if I'm friendly and approachable, there's talk. Keep in mind, Lord Harry, that some people will always find my actions objectionable. I don't need one of my advisors to be one of them." Her advisors and everyone who knew her knew the kind of person that she was.
Ser Podrick's ridiculous reputation was not going to tempt or corrupt her.
.
There was talk, of course, but not in front of her. Lord Royce confronted those who spread the gossip even before his nephew and friends claimed Ser Podrick had spent the night with them and not with her, as rumor had it. He trusted the Queen's character completely.
The wedding was a success and she waited until it was right to declare she would be leaving. Lord Royce regrettably thanked her for her presence. He also apologized for the fabricated scandal. Lord Robyn hugged her goodbye pleased to have seen her. Her uncle had bid her farewell a while ago. The Lord that had made the comment at Ser Brienne apologized.
She had almost gone to give Ser Podrick an envelope with two personal letters, one for her brother and the other for Ser Brienne, but she decided not to do so and instead asked Lord Royce to deliver the envelope to Ser Podrick before she left, along with a small package of Bran's favorite cookies as a child and which had been served during the feast.
Before stepping into her carriage she saw Ser Podrick keeping his distance too but paying attention to her departure from one of the second floor platforms that surrounded the yard, he waved his hand at her in goodbye but knowing she shouldn't, she didn't wave back. She felt bad about it for a few moments but she rectified it once inside the carriage where the crowd wouldn't see her. She sought him with her eyes and saw him still watching her, it was her who waved goodbye before moving and letting him off her sight.
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Infinite thanks to Fangfaceandrea for this translation. You are amazing!