A quick stop at Winterfell and Tyrion was going to head to Tarth for the wedding. Upon his arrival, he was shocked to hear that the Lord of Winterfell, young Bran was engaged to the beautiful, huntress Meera of House Reed. "So, he found his love." Tyrion thought to himself as he packed up for his journey. Bran and Meera would not be accompanying him because as they are known to say, "A Stark must always be at Winterfell." They were happy together he noticed. He hadn't seen Bran smile since before his fall from the tower. He seemed young again. It was a beautiful sight.
"Well, I will return with your sister soon, Lord Stark. Lady Meera, it has been a pleasure meeting you." He bowed to her and smiled. He was on his way to the Sapphire Isle and to be reunited with his Sansa. It felt like an eternity had passed since he last looked into her beautiful eyes and touch her skin. As they set sail from the harbor, Tyrion felt as if he could fly. Everything was happening for him finally. He was the only one left of the Lannister's. He was now the Lord of Casterly Rock, and he would soon renew his vows to his beloved, Sansa. With these thoughts, he drifted off to sleep.
Brienne the Beauty may have been a nickname in jest, but lately it was becoming true. The more her body developed during her pregnancy, the more beautiful she was becoming. No longer in chain mail and leather, she wore flowing gowns and left her hair down as it seemed to be growing longer each day. Her skin had a lovely glow to it and a smile replaced her frown. Pod lay next to her as she slept, combing his fingers through her hair and singing a soft lullaby to the child growing inside of her. He had already began to love him or her. He didn't care who the biological father was, he only knew he would be the only father the babe would know.
He bent down to kiss her belly. Brienne smiled as she woke. "Pod, must you? I was sleeping you know." she said playfully. He sat up smiling at her and gave her a sweet kiss. She didn't think it possible, but over the past few months she'd began to feel herself falling in love with Podrick Payne. He constantly made her feel loved and cherished. He doted on her and she could not wait to become his wife and have their child soon. Tonight, their guests should start arriving and in 4 days time, Brienne of Tarth and Podrick Payne will become one.
"Arry? We are here." Gendry gently woke his wife. Their ship had finally docked. Arya rolled to her side to meet his eyes. "You know, I was having a really good dream. Stupid bull." She playfully pushed him off the bed and he fell with a loud thump. "Yea, I could tell, you were snoring loud enough to wakes the gods!" She scoffed and through her pillow at him hitting him right in the face. He knew he better shut up or deal with her wrath so Gendry got up and began to dress. Arya took that as her cue to dress as well. Gendry loved to watch her. Her belly was perfectly round and growing every day. It amazed him. She through on a loose gown and walked over to give her Lord husband a proper good morning kiss.
"Lord Baratheon, sir? The Captain has the long boat ready to go." One of the Shipman yelled down the steps to their cabin. They gathered their belongings and had the men load the long boat for their short trip to shore. Arya was especially excited to see Brienne. She was probably about as far along in her pregnancy as Arya was so they could complain to each other. The weather was beautiful and the water was such a deep, blue color it was no wonder why it was nicknamed the Sapphire Isle. Gendry watched Arya with a huge smile on her face. She'd been acting pretty restless lately, so to see her look so serene and happy made his heart soar.
As they arrived on the shore, Arya saw a woman and two men waving to them. The woman was tall and had beautiful, blonde hair blowing in the wind. Then sge realized, it was Brienne! She no longer looked like a knight, a warrior. She looked so womanly. "Lord Baratheon! Arya! Welcome to our home!" she heard her cry out. The two woman embraced then laugh as their belly touched and their babies each kicked at the same time. "Oh! I think they like each other." Brienne laughed. Gendry greeted Pod with a handshake and then introduced himself to Brienne's father, Selwyn. The group made their way up to Evenfall Hall.
"I'm sorry your brother, Bran, cannot make the trip." Arya nodded, "Yes, but he has his duties to Winterfell and a new lady to tend to." Arya was happy for her brother, but still did not know much about this woman, Meera Reed, besides she kept him safe while he was beyond The Wall. How did she feel about Bran? Would she be okay with possibly not having children? Arya just prayed that she would like her because if she didn't then there was going to be some real problems.
"Pod, do you have family coming for the wedding? I never hear you speak of your mother or father." Lord Selwyn inquired. Pod looked up from his meal, "The only family I have is Lady Brienne and our babe. Lord Tyrion will be here for me though. He has always treated me fairly and I like to think of him as the older brother I never had. My father was killed in the Greyjoy Rebellion and my mum disappeared when I was four. I just assume she is dead as well." Pod shrugged as he said this and continued to eat. Brienne placed her hand on his leg causing him to look to her. She had tears in her eyes. "What is it my lady?" Brienne didn't know why she was so emotional. She'd never even asked him about his family. "I just never thought to ask you about your family. I feel absolutely horrid." Pod turned toward her and pressed her hand to his mouth and kissed it. "Don't you think on it for a second my lady. You are my family now."
The following day, Sansa and her caravan arrive. She scans the party awaiting them as the row to shore. Arya, Gendry, Pod, Brienne, Lord Selwyn, and a smattering of other faces were seen ashore, but not the face she was most eager to see. "Sansa!" She saw her little sister attempting to walk briskly, but her growing belly seeemed to impede her. Sansa rushed forward to embrace her. "Oh, Arya, look at you my dearest sister. Why you are in a dress! You are absolutely radiant!" She saw the color rise in Arya's cheeks. She knew her sister was not used to being complimented, but she could not help herself. Sansa really had never seen Arya looks as beautiful as she did right now. Perhaps it was the sunkissed glow of her skin, or maybe it was that she wasn't scowling; she was smiling, she was happy.
"Lady Sansa, I have missed you." she heard Brienne proclaim. Sansa smiled at the scene, but Arya could see she was disappointed as well. She linked arm in arm with Sansa as they made their way back to the castle. "He's here. He just arrived early this morning. He hadn't slept so the Maester gave him a bit to help him. He must not have slept for days because he was out in a matter of minutes. I can sneak you into his quarters." Arya gave her sister a sly smile and Sansa nodded in response. He was here; her beloved Tyrion. She had longed for this moment but she was nervous all the same.
Brienne showed Sansa her quarters and then left the two sisters to catch up. "Do you want to go to Tyrion now?" Arya asked with her eyes expectant. "Is his room close? I don't know if I should rusk being seen sneaking around." Sansa was letting her nerves get the best of her. Why was she so proper all of the time? Arya just took her hand, "He's directly across the hall from you. Brienne made sure of it, well, with a little insistence on my part." Arya smiled up at Sansa and she seemed to relax. They crept across the hall and Arya tried the door. It was unlocked so she slowly opened it and Sansa slipped in quietly.
Sansa could hear him softly snoring. Her heart pounding harder with every step that she took. She saw him curled up in the bed, arm stretched across the bed as if looking for someone to hold on to. Sansa undressed and slowly got into the bed next to him. Pulling his outstretched arm around her, he began to slowly open his eyes. "I must be dreaming about her again. What was in the sleeping draft? My Sansa, how I long for your touch." Sansa giggled. He truly thought he was in a dream. She turned to face him and saw as the realization that he was not, in fact, dreaming, shown on his face. "My love, my sweet Sansa? Are you truly here?" Sansa smiled and threw her arms around him. Tyrion began to trail kisses down her alabaster skin. They were together again and he was never letting her go again.
Short chapter, I know, but I will have another soon. Hope you are enjoying it so far.*