The silence had stretched on alongside them as they rode, horses trotting amongst scrawny grasslands and through the dirt of the normally quiet paths, the coldness seeping through their armour yet Brienne was physically sweating. She knew she shouldn't have been so hot, not this far north especially, but how could she not when the same pair of eyes had not left her since the journey had begun?

She was tempted to turn towards him and tell him to 'desist' but she refrained from giving him the satisfaction of hearing her speak, to him, no least.

It was a while again till they were forced to stop, the plan about to take swing, "Right, this is where both groups part. This group and I will go meet Ramsay to get Rickon, Brienne- your group will leave the horses here to collect afterwards and will go through the forest to reach the back of Ramsay's men. Naturally when Ramsay sees we don't have Sansa he'll go in for the attack, he'll go to hurt or kill Rickon and we need to stop that. Everyone know what they are doing?"

"What about the Bolton bastard?"

"Well, I doubt his men will allow him to be harmed, besides if we killed him it's possible a war may begin- however Ramsay doesn't have too many houses loyal to him, especially not after killing Roose Bolton; so if he gets slightly hurt, well it'll be an accident, won't it?"

The familiar gruff voice chuckled with excitement, "Hey lass, looks like we'll be alone eh?"

Brienne sighed with exasperation, "Not in the slightest, ser. Edd and those two other free folk will be accompanying us...Thank Goodness for that..."

All five of them watched as Jon and the extra volunteers rode off to begin the attack that would hopefully bring another member of the Stark family together, uniting them, constructing them to become stronger, helping them regain what was taken from them. When the dust had settled they moved to hide their horses behind some nearby shrubbery, and tied the ropes holding their getaway animals to the trees. Forming a singular line they all crouched and made their way slowly between the breaks and pickets of the trees, crawling through the mud covered detritus to soften the sounds of heavy footsteps, disguising themselves to be placed somewhere as the trap.

As they crouched within the dense soil waiting to hear the signal from Jon to attack, each person so silent that the only noises heard was the wind whispering through the woods, speaking to the trees. Tormund wasted no time advancing to Brienne's side, in any other situation Brienne would have made her signs of being unamused aware, but even she knew that now was not the time to tell him to cease his apparent flirting, there were more important matters at sake and any moment they were about to be thrown into a life or death situation.

There, coming along the path, patterns of four steps, simultaneously- horses. Brienne lowered herself flat on her stomach, pressing a long finger to her lips she signalled to the others to do the same.

Whiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiippppppppppppppp!

The signal sounded at once, Brienne the Beauty could see Ramsay's men confused yet curious, their hands automatically poised at the hilt of their weapons; now was the time to attack, the soldiers wouldn't see it coming from their direction, she just prayed that Rickon Stark was finally in safety.

Brienne immediately threw herself from where they were laid on the top of the dreary hill onto the guards below. She didn't need to let the others know the follow suite, since the sounds of metal clanging filled the once calm atmosphere.

The male she had knocked off the horse started rising to his feet again, sensing the oncoming attack Brienne gripped Oathkeeper tight and just as the man rose to full height, she swung the Valyrian steel sword with both hands and watched as the guards' head rolled away down the path being painted with blood. She didn't have time to appreciate her work, as all five members who had been staying within Castle Black were now surrounded by approximately 50 more men.

The five volunteers formed a small circle, trusting each other with their lives, she looked over to Tormund who was for once more focused on the immediate threat than her, it then became a worry when she realized that she missed meeting those ash coloured eyes.

The guards came closer and with the sound of a battle cry from the circle members the true battle of survival began. Each person threw themselves into the fight, every horse that galloped by carrying a danger was sliced in cold blood, no one having the time to feel ashamed.

The smell of coppery crimson gore filled the air; sounds of screaming, broken grunts, bodies falling to the floor surrounded them. Brienne was knocking men down with single blows, each more powerful and deadly than the last. She'd strike like a snake, quick and destructive, taking down those in her path.

She screamed in fury with each finishing act, Oathkeeper being part of her arm; for it would be swung and those who blocked her way would fall like flies; pathetic and meek.

Adrenaline burst throughout her veins, making her physique both inside and out like a bear- large and omnipotent.

She'd slash, slice, feel her power rise as her sword revealed blood of her enemies; anyone who claimed to not like to fight in battles was a liar; it made you feel capable, dominant, and indestructible. It made you a God.

Soon the joyous sounds of metal on metal stopped, instead replaced with overtly distinguishable pants, exhaustion overcoming them all. She threw her head back looking into the sky; perhaps the Gods would be judging them for all the bloodshed, but she cared little for the Gods; they created more bloodshed then she ever would in her life.

As she breathed in the fresh air, she heard a low voice, "Shit."

As she turned she found herself overwhelmed with relief as she saw Tormund, alive and healthy, crouching over the body of one the wildling helpers. Brienne walked over to them, noticing Edd hadn't been harmed either. Cautiously she placed a broad hand on the shoulder of the man in mourning. His eyes found hers in a mutual apology and sincerity for those lost.

"Seven Hells..." Brienne, Edd, Tormund and the wilding she didn't know the name of turned in synch, each preparing for battle again. Jon, Rickon and four others stepped towards them, impressed by the sight of a well fought battlefield. "Excellent work, but we need to go now; Ramsay will no doubt be sending any nearby soldiers this way. Come on, get the horses."

As they returned to the horses, they could hear a few yells in the distance. "Hurry!"

Brienne, Edd, Tormund and a wildling rode in the back, offering themselves as protection to the Stark family. It wasn't long before the sounds of extra hooves shook the ground and the dirt began to rise. Brienne dared to look behind her noticing four men gaining speed towards them, "Edd, grab my horse! Tormund, give me your hand!"

It was the first time she had actually spoken the wildlings' name, it slipped with ease off her tongue. Edd grabbed her reins as well as his own as she began to stand upon her horse, she could hear the uncertainty in the red haired warrior as he shouted, "Brienne, what in seven hells are you doing?!"

"Give me your hand!"

He flung his strong arm out and with one swift movement she had joined Tormund on his horse, facing herself the opposite way, she placed Tormunds' hand on the inside of her upper thigh, "Hold on so I don't fall, don't get the wrong idea- I'm handling our problem!"

She grabbed the bow and quiver from her horse, the warm hand upon her thigh spiking her with pleasure and anticipation. As the guards came closer, Tormunds horse bucked hard till she almost fell over the side if not for the sturdy hand that held her. Thanks to that incident she had lost most of the arrows, which were now long gone, she wouldn't even try and insist she was the best at archery; swordsmanship was her practice, her life. Three arrows, four oncoming guards. She'd think of something.

As she fired her first shot, she claimed success as a body fell to the floor, the man might not have been killed but as long as they made it back to Castle Black they would be safe. She again was successful with the last two shots of the bow; another Bolton guard had fallen towards the woodland floor, leaving two still riding towards them.

Brienne flung the bow down the path towards the guards causing them to separate and go in different directions. "Edd, behind you!" She screamed.

Luckily the Night's Watch man ducked with great reflexives, just missing the edge of the blade. He grabbed his own sword triumphantly slicing across the enemies' abdomen, but in doing so he lost grip of Brienne's horse, watching it gallop away from the chaos.

"Sorry m'lady."

She turned in the opposite direction to the horse now closest to her only to see the last Bolton guard raise his sword aiming for the female wildling, "Watch out!"

Without thinking Brienne jerked her hand out grabbing the metal of the blade, she felt it slice through the skin, and felt the hot blood trickle from her. She urgently reached behind her and searched Tormunds' clothes from a blade of some sort whilst desperately trying not to cry out from the pain. Her hand gripped the hilt of a dagger found around Tormunds' waist, grasped it and suddenly thrush the blade into the neck of the Bolton guard.

She saw his eyes go blank and he too finally fell from his horse. She leaned back against the warm body, feeling the adrenaline leave her body and the pains enter it.

"Enjoy what you felt?" The gruff Northern voice spoke.

She sighed, "Shut it, Tormund."

Brienne heard Edd speak, "Sorry about the horse, m'lady. It looks like you'll have to ride the rest of the way with Tormund."

She sighed inwardly this time, but was she feeling annoyance by this fact or excitement?

A hand squeezed her thigh making her bright eyes snap wide open, "You're gonna have to sit properly if you don't want to fall off lass." She ignored the suggestive tone of his voice.

"Fine." She removed the hand from her muscular thigh but held onto it as she turned, placing her hands behind her. As it turns out the path back to Castle Black was more violent then she remembered and Brienne found herself having to grip onto the sides of Tormund as they rode. Another hiccup in the path caused Brienne to be fiercely shoved forward into the red headed wildling that started laughing as she brought her arms to circle his waist.

They conclusively entered the courtyard to Castle Black once more and she firmly stated, "Stop laughing, this means nothing."

He continued smiling as she dismounted the horse, "I think you mean, it means nothing yet, Lady Brienne."

Before she had the chance to reply after becoming a flustered mess, Tormund had already taken the horse to the barn.

Did he have a point?