Brienne was on watch the next morning in the dark hour before the dawn when her squire got up and went over to his saddlebag. "Podrick, what are you doing?"
He pulled out a few items. "I'm going to try out these fishing lines. With a little luck, we'll have fish for breakfast." He closed the saddlebag and came over to Brienne, casting a glance at their companions. Sandor, Sansa, and Arya were all still deeply asleep, but Podrick lowered his voice anyway. "Milady, are you sure you still want to travel with them? You heard them last night."
Brienne sighed. "I heard them. Did you expect them to trust us immediately?"
"No, but I didn't expect them to be planning to kill us either."
"Nonsense, Podrick. Arya may have threatened us…"
"I believe her, milady."
The blond woman looked thoughtfully at the girl. "I believe her too. And I believe if we make one wrong move, the Hound will do his best to kill us, but I can't let that stand in the way of my oath. I swore to their mother…"
"You swore to their mother you would take them home," whispered Podrick. "Their home is gone and their family is dead. The Hound is right about there being no safety anywhere. What are we going to do?"
"I have an idea about that." Brienne patted Podrick reassuringly on the shoulder. "Go see if you can catch us some breakfast and we'll talk about it when you get back."
Podrick returned as the sun was coming up, carrying two fish big enough to feed everyone in the camp. He smiled brightly as Brienne said approvingly, "Well done, Podrick! Very well done."
"Thank you, milady." He laid the fish on the ground and took out his knife. "So what is your idea?" He swiftly cleaned the fish and set them to cooking over the fire.
"Let's wait until they wake up and we can all talk together, Podrick."
As is happened, the cooking smell woke Arya very quickly, and she shook Sansa and Sandor awake. They were all delighted with the fish and the five travelers made a very pleasant meal together. After it was over, Podrick gathered the dishes to clean them but Brienne told him to wait.
"I have been thinking about where we might go," she began. The Hound moved restlessly. "I know you are right, Sandor, about there being no safety anywhere, and yet I believe there may be a place of refuge."
He leaned forward. "And where might that be?"
Brienne smiled. "My own home, the island of Tarth." They were all trading glances, obviously puzzled, and she elaborated, "I am sure that if we could get there, we would be as safe as it is possible to be."
Sansa and Arya were looking hopeful and even Sandor seemed interested. "Just where is Tarth located?"
She took a deep breath. "In the Stormlands."
"The Stormlands!" Sandor exploded with anger. "South of King's Landing, you mean." Sansa and Arya drew close to him as he stood up, his sword half out. "Are you trying to get us all killed...or is it that you're working for the Lannisters after all and you mean to sell us to the queen?"
Brienne remained seated, her hands well away from her sword. Podrick, taking his cue from his mistress, didn't move a muscle either, and for a moment nobody spoke. It was Sansa who broke the silence. "Brienne, I don't want to believe you're trying to betray us, but it sounds crazy to go anywhere near King's Landing."
"I know." The blond woman shook her head. "It is crazy. It's so dangerous nothing could justify it...except the fact that everywhere else is even more dangerous." Everyone was silent, digesting what she said, and after a moment she went on. "To travel through the Crownlands is to invite capture, but I don't see any safer course of action. Westeros is torn by war in every direction. You said it yourself, Sandor-most of the Starks are dead, and Winterfell is gone. We can't just travel around-we need a place to stay. A safe place, and Tarth is an island. If we can get there…"
"Aye, if we can get there." The Hound shook his head. "I can't deny what you say makes sense." He looked at Sansa and Arya and they nodded their heads. "We'll try it your way." The blond woman smiled and he said harshly, "Only because we have nowhere else to go. And if you try to sell us, you'll never live to collect your money."