A/N: I'm aware this chapter is not as exciting as others. It is still an overdue catch up with these characters. Think of it as a bridging chapter.
Chapter 89: Brienne
Days turned into weeks and Brienne tried to focus on her young charge. Rickon could not decide whether he wished to pull away from her or keep her close. The end result was something in between. Aly Mormont took much of the responsibility for running the castle and Rickon was called on to act as Lord when needed.
He is becoming independent once more.
The wild boy who returned to Winterfell remained wild. He rode his pony in the woods with the Skagosi and Osha and did not suffer concerns for his safety. Brienne thanked the gods he did not travel further. He did express a wish to ride South to meet the silent sisters bringing Duck's remains. When Brienne asked him why, he chewed his lip in a way which reminded Brienne of his sister.
"Father was meant to return," he replied. "He never did. I don't want that to happen to Duck too."
Brienne felt troubled at that. She had seen the statue of Eddard Stark in the crypts not long after arriving in Winterfell. She knew it did not take years for the silent sisters to bring the dead to their final resting place. Mayhaps they decided to shelter during the snows? No sooner did she have the thought before she dismissed it. She knew more than anybody else that there were greater dangers than the snow.
The roads have not been safe for some time now.
To put the boy's mind at ease Brienne took his concerns to the young She-Bear. Aly looked no less troubled but she sent just a few men to greet the silent sisters and escort them to Winterfell. Lord Rickon did not look terribly relieved when she informed him. He responded by telling her he was going to sit before the heart tree.
His attachment to the godswood was another matter of concern. It had become more than an observance of the gods. Lord Rickon spent a great deal of time there now, even looking impatient at the end of their training sessions if Brienne tried to speak with him past a certain point. When she finally asked him about it, he looked as though he might not tell her.
"The trees speak to me," he finally whispered, looking around as though fearful somebody might hear.
The confession did not put Brienne's mind at ease.
"Might I accompany you some time, my lord?"
Rickon became stubborn. He shook his head and stood his ground.
"The voice is meant for me," he argued. "It knows my name and Shaggy sits with me when it speaks."
Brienne did not know what to do with that knowledge. Her first thought was that the boy imagined the voice. On further reflection she felt more than unsettled by the notion of talking trees. The Old Gods were not welcoming of Southron folk and Brienne tried not to be intimidated by the face carved in the weirwood when she did pass it in the godswood. Osha appeared unconcerned.
"The gods speak to him," she said simply. "It isn't for us to question."
Brienne thought differently but she held her tongue. He is only a boy and he has suffered enough. Rickon did not tell her what the voice said but she could not imagine it being good. Once she thought she heard her own name whispered through rustling leaves. It shamed her to admit her fear but she fled from it, choosing to avoid the heart tree from that time.
They are not my gods and they will love me not.
Letters continued to come from Arya Stark. The formal sounding letter informing Brienne that Arya wished for her continued service came as a relief. She does not think I betrayed her. The young woman might still be unhappy but her words were important to Brienne. Brienne put the letter with her things, feeling far less burdened. To be dismissed from service would be a stain on her honour.
I did what I thought best in an uncertain time.
A raven also came from the Wall. In it Jon Snow expressed regret that Rickon must shoulder the burden of being the Stark in Winterfell while so young. He told of his pride in his brother and in writing of his service with the Night's Watch he repeated the phrase so often heard from Arya's lips, the Stark words, Winter is Coming. Rickon looked very serious, older than his eight years when he read the words. Brienne asked him why.
"Arya says it means more than what people think," he said, his childish voice at odds with the gravity of the words uttered. "Osha says so too. It means harder times. It means the Others."
Brienne dearly wanted to have words with the wildling woman. Lord Rickon feared enough without Osha telling him of worse things to come. She wanted to tell Rickon the Others were a myth but the words froze on her tongue. She remembered Arya speaking with Jon Snow and dead rising not just in the North.
Who am I to say what might be falsehood after witnessing Lady Stoneheart.
"We will have better times," she reassured him. "Your sister will return after the war."
Rickon fell silent at that. She knew what troubled him. Some of the men in Winterfell argued about the crown. They did not feel it belonged to Arya Stark. They wanted Lord Rickon crowned. His claim is stronger than hers. Brienne knew that Arya would give up the crown gladly. She even said it in one of her letters but Lord Rickon did not want it. When pushed he exploded.
"It belongs to my brother," he said in a raised voice.
Silence fell at those words. The crown Robb Stark wore remained in the chambers reserved for Arya Stark. Brienne recalled what she knew of King Robb. He lost the support of some of his bannermen. The young King in the North put his honour first and made enemies, His sister did not seem to have the same problem but Brienne knew the Northmen were united at first by their desire for vengeance,
She is giving them what they want.
Brienne knew it still might not be enough judging from things she overheard. Aly Mormont might not force Rickon into full Lordship yet, she took on duties as castellan but she was under pressure to make him take on more responsibility. The lords bannermen and advisors in Winterfell, as few as they were, wanted him to learn his duties and they did not accept his age as an excuse.
Aside from that ravens were being sent from the South. Men amongst Arya's army were unhappy with delays. Reports suggested some wished to return home while others just wanted their vengeance. Brienne wondered whether they told Arya of this but Aly shook her head. They want Winterfell to intervene so they do not break their oath. Brienne knew that Arya likely knew of her men's divided wishes, she seemed to have a way to find out such information but it did not bode well. The young She-Bear refused to act against Arya but the grievances were unlikely to melt away.
Brienne pushed those concerns aside and observed Rickon over the following days, wondering whether she should inform the Queen of her brother's new habits. Rickon's attachment to the godswood did not abate. Wyman Manderly came upon her when watching Rickon hurry to the heart tree once again with Shaggydog.
"Do not fear for him my lady," Lord Wyman said amiably. "The North is strong in that one. The gods have seen him through hard times. It is understandable."
He made too much sense to dismiss his words. Brienne did not need to burden Arya with what surely must seem like a trivial matter while in the midst of war. They are her gods too. None of the Northerners shared her concerns or fears. As long as Rickon stayed within the castle grounds and stayed relatively peaceful they seemed content to let him be.
They will think me a Southron fool if I press the issue.
Brienne's thoughts often wandered to Sansa. Rickon made mention of his other brother, Brandon Stark. He went quiet just as quickly but it made Brienne think of the Stark siblings yet to be found. She still felt some failure that she had no located Sansa and those feelings did not leave her when the next raven came bearing the Lannister seal and addressed to Brienne rather than Aly Mormont or Rickon.
Lady Brienne,
I am writing to tell you I located a girl in the Vale having a rather suspicious resemblance to my missing goodsister. You need search no longer. I will use my skills of persuasion to encourage her to accompany me to the Riverlands however we both know that is no place for the girl.
The Northmen will likely want to kill me on sight. I sent a raven to the other girl. It is not like to win me much reprieve. Mayhaps you might be able to convince them otherwise. It was an oath we both swore together and the girl seems less than fond of my company. It seems fair we fulfil it together.
Jaime Lannister
Brienne's hopes rose even as she felt a sense of foreboding over Jaime's plans. Even with his time imprisoned by Lady Stoneheart he continued to have a reckless streak. He is right about the Brotherhood not being a place for Lady Sansa. Jaime clearly did not know the Brotherhood did not exist anymore, not in the form they had known. She had no way to warn him. No raven would reach him and she did not know how far he must travel.
I must meet with him.
Her request to leave was met with all the coldness of winter. The young She-Bear looked at the parchment, reading quickly and when she raised her eyes they were full of disdain.
"This is a Lannister trick. We will not be fooled twice my lady."
Brienne tried to explain but Jaime's flippant wording did not help her cause. If only he had written of the matter formally. Nobody offered any support to her plea. Lannisters were enemies, no matter which Lannister. Brienne's words fell on deaf ears. Lannisters killed Ned Stark and Lannisters killed Catelyn and Robb Stark. Lannisters tried to have Arya Stark killed.
Arya might be fighting against Lannister soldiers while we debate this.
She tried to use reason. "Jaime is not his twin. Even if you doubt him, can you afford to take the risk if it is the Lady Sansa?"
Aly Mormont was immovable. "Even if I thought that, we do not have the men to spare."
Brienne knew she spoke the truth. Winterfell had few defenders and men had already been sent South to meet the silent sisters.
"I will go," she finally decided. "I will go alone if need be."
Her proclamation did not meet with approval. Aly Mormont looked stony faced.
"I never took you for an oathbreaker my lady."
The accusation stung her. I am trying to uphold an oath. Unfortunately Brienne knew the charge against her held merit. The oath to Catelyn Stark had been supplanted by that Brienne swore to the Lady Catelyn's daughter. She sat with Lord Rickon at dinner and looked into the child's blue eyes, blue like his mother's. Brienne might leave him in the care of the others in Winterfell but Arya put her trust in Brienne.
Rickon is damaged enough by people leaving him to go South.
It did not stop her feeling conflicted. She still gathered her possessions, as few as they were, preparing to leave if the opportunity presented itself. Winter storms made the decision for her. The snow drifts outside were deep enough for a horse to sink into. Brienne would not do anybody good if she persisted in leaving.
The people in the castle spent a great deal of time huddled in the Great Hall, trying to make good use of the timber available to keep fires burning. Despite the castle undergoing repairs it was still broken. It will take more than hammering timbers together to rebuild it. Brienne heard of how warm the castle used to be before Ramsey Snow put it to the torch. She sat feeling miserable, a bowl of rather cold stew in front of her.
"The She-Bear told me she wrote to Arya," Rickon announced.
Brienne wondered how perceptive Rickon truly was or whether he simply uttered the words innocently. Aly has told Arya of Jaime. She hoped that more than one raven had been sent. In the storm there was no guarantee of letters reaching their desired recipients. Theon Greyjoy trembled at his place on the bench.
He does that every time he hears her name.
"She must know her name," he muttered. "No one is not a name."
Brienne paid him little mind. She pitied the wretch. He conversed with Rickon well enough but his time with the Bolton's seemed to have broken something in him. His mind did not seem sound. As if to prove her point he began to laugh like a madman when the young She-Bear announced that a letter had arrived from Stannis Baratheon.
"Lord Stannis wishes to foster his daughter at Winterfell while he aids the men at the Wall. He states that the Nightfort is no place for a girl and I must agree with him there."
The mere mention of his name brought the grief and anger back for Brienne. She remembered the shadow slaying Renly. The sigil on the letter showed he still thought himself King even if Alysane did not call him by the title. I should have killed him on my first day here. She might have if Arya had not assured him safety.
I will not spare him at our next meeting.
Rickon cared little whether Shireen Baratheon came to Winterfell. Brienne might have protested but she did not intend to punish the girl for the sins of her father. He is a kinslayer whether he admits it or not. His raven reaching them was a miracle in the midst of the storm. Brienne hoped that meant that Arya might receive her letter from Aly Mormont too.
Mayhaps she will be merciful.
Brienne had told her of Jaime and the then Lady Arya seemed to listen. She did not make any promise of leniency but she did not speak of killing Jaime either. He might yet have his chance to fulfil the oath. She did not feel confident in her hope. She did not know what Arya might do if Jaime did not guard his tongue. It would not matter that he was not the same man.
She will not forgive him pushing her brother from the tower.
The snow did not stop falling for many days. When it finally slowed, a raven arrived. It did not come from the North. They received no further communication from the Wall. This raven came from the South, from Queen Arya. It came from Kings Landing and reported that the battle had been a success.
"She must return soon," she told Rickon.
Rickon did not smile. "Nymeria is hurt."
Brienne recalled him knowing of Arya's injuries before the raven from Aegon came. The direwolf was hurt but he did not read it in the letter.
"How do you know?"
Rickon called Shaggydog to him. "He knows," he said simply.
Brienne knew she should not be surprised but she felt the familiar unease at the connection between the boy and the wolf. Just because I do not understand it does not make it wrong. Shaggydog protected Rickon. Whatever bound them together acted as a positive force for the boy.
Arya's injured direwolf did not concern Brienne apart from the delay it might impose. Lady Sansa has been too long on the road already. She feared for what might happen even if she trusted Jaime to do his best to keep her safe. The Riverlands is not the place for her. Brienne did not think it to be less harming without Lady Stoneheart there. The men who likely remained were not men Brienne would know well and certainly not men she might want in the presence of a highborn lady. She did not know how to voice her concerns again.
Aly was even less moved this time. "If it were true her family in the Vale would have told us she was there. Do not believe the word of a Lannister."
This time Brienne could not in good conscience heed her. She did not tell Rickon of his other sister for fear that Jaime might be mistaken, however slim the chance but she began to prepare him for her leaving. He became very angry.
"I can order you to stay."
Brienne nodded. "You could do that my lord but I made a promise to your mother."
Tears filled his eyes. "They will want me to hang you."
She felt a chill down her spine. It would not be the first time. Brienne still remembered the burn of the noose around her neck.
"I still must go my lord."
Rickon began to look stubborn. "I can go with you. I can use a sword. Osha can come and the Skagosi."
This is not going well.
"You must be the Stark in Winterfell."
Rickon howled rather like his wolf. He ran from her, Shaggydog at his heels. A check of the grounds after dinner found him in the crypts once more. Aly Mormont could not convince him to come out.
"Brienne cannot leave," he said in a sniffly voice.
Sansa needed Brienne more than Rickon. Sansa had far more need of Brienne's sword and protection. She finally tried to tell him but he only shook his head.
"People keep going the wrong way to fight."
Osha's voice behind them cut through the dark crypts. "He is not wrong."
Brienne stood her ground. "I am needed more elsewhere."
She left the angry boy in the crypts. He survived without me before, he will survive again now. She did not believe he would let them hang her, not truly. He was not his sister and certainly not Lady Stoneheart, to hang a friend suspected of betrayal, especially if the actions were intended to serve the family.
I am needed more in the South. When I return with Lady Sansa they will understand.
She no sooner finished telling herself this, her hands working to prepare her supplies to leave on the morrow when the horn blew. Brienne thought to leave the others to greet new arrivals but the alarm she heard within the castle changed her mind. She made her way out to the lookout to see the sentry and in an instant she understood.
A crowd gathered outside the gates of Winterfell. The formation of both men and women counted in the dozens, if not hundreds.
"It is Skagosi m'lady," the sentry informed her.
"I see that," she replied.
When she reached the yard Rickon had emerged. He looked pale and worried and did not acknowledge their quarrel.
"I saw it," he said softly.
The gathering at the gate spoke loudly, the clamour of voices saying things Brienne did not understand. The Skagosi from within the castle joined their voices to it and although Brienne did not know the old tongue, she recognised panic when she saw it. It took Rickon to translate for them.
"The seas get colder and soon the ice will spread. Dead things move under the water and when the true cold comes they will rise. They will come for us.""
Fear gripped Brienne's heart and her hopes of aiding Sansa vanished in an instant. Her sword was needed in Winterfell after all.
A/N 2: OK, I botched the POV order. The Sansa and Jaime chapter should be next but I think I will write Dany first. I know I need to resolve the cliffhanger.