Author's Notes: Hey everyone, I hope that you liked the last chapter and that you will like this one as well, as always I own nothing. SOILER ALERT for this chapter but as this comes from the book I do not think it applies anymore to those just watching the show.
The next day was bright and clear, not a cloud in the sky. Sansa knew that that it meant that the day would become almost unbearably hot but for now it was cool, almost chill. She went to the stables were the grooms had already saddled Winter Wind for her. Brienne was there as well; as always she had her armor on. It was on the tip of Sansa's tongue to tell her that she would be too hot in it but then she stopped herself. She could not say why but she found the thought of an armored warrior near her comforting.
They were soon joined by the others. In addition to Myrcella and Trystane Nymeria and Elia were also there. Greetings were exchanged and they all mounted up and rode out of the Water Gardens. As they rode along others joined them, including Sir Gerold Dayne and Sir Oakheart. As they fell in with the others Oakheart placed himself next to Myrcella and he seemed to be casting suspicious looks at Sir Dayne. Brienne positioned herself next to Sansa, between her and the two men. There were a number of other nobles and servants but they were back a little. As they rode along they all spread out a little and Sansa found herself riding next to Prince Trystane.
"A fine day is it not my lady?" He had a pleasant voice and a kindly manner. Sansa nodded her agreement.
"Indeed it is Prince Trystane." Her answer seemed to please him.
"I am glad to hear it my lady. I must confess I was worried. When my betrothed first arrived she had some difficulty getting used to the heat, though she never complained." Here he stopped and laughed a little. "I fear that my betrothed is stronger than I am." He paused and shook his head; "Anyway, I know that you come from the far north and I feared that you would have it even worse."
"You are too kind my prince. Yes, I am from the North and had I come straight here from there I fear I would have indeed suffered greatly. As it was I was in King's Landing long enough to become used to the heat there before I came here. Thank you for asking." He smiled at that.
"No, it is you who are too kind. I am pleased to see that my betrothed has such a kind aunt." She smiled, both at the kindness of the compliment and at the secret irony of someone calling her kind.
"You really do care for my niece don't you?" He smiled, he really did have magnificent teeth.
"Oh yes, I was smitten with her the moment I saw her." He looked so happy when he said that, he looked like he was living in a fairy tail. Sansa remembered when she had dreamed of someone looking like that at her like that. For a moment she felt the old pain but she squashed it ruthlessly. Just then Elia, who had ridden ahead of the others, gave up a cry.
Ahead of them in a little valley where a group of small animals. With a cry of delight Elia launched her hawk and it shot towards its prey. Her hawk was soon joined by others from the various party members. Sansa launched her hawk with the others and watched as they swooped toward their prey. As the birds swooped towards the animals she found herself next to Sir Oakheart and Myrcella. Less than a minute later the birds began to return to their owners.
"Well done my lady." Oakheart said, when it became clear that Sansa had brought back the largest one. She nodded her thanks to him. She then remembered something that she had noticed earlier, she would not have dared to say anything about it when they were in King's Landing but her she felt bold enough to ask.
"Forgive me Sir Oakheart, but I could not help but notice that you do not seem to care for Sir Gerold Dayne. Why the hostility?" He frowned slightly for a moment and then began to speak.
"It is mostly a matter of history my lady. My family hails from the Reach and we have often been called upon to do battle with raiders from Dorne."
"Indeed, your family did." Sir Dayne said riding up; "And I am sure they met with great success. Which is why House Oakheart is known as the Scourge of Dorne."
"Is it really?" Myrcella asked her bodyguard.
"It is not, your majesty." He replied through gritted teeth. Looking around Sansa saw that the majority of the party had moved on, splitting into smaller groups in order to look for more game to set their hawks on.
"Perhaps we should rejoin the others." She said, in an effort to prevent any unpleasantness from occurring. Sir Oakheart nodded, his jaw slowly relaxing. They all turned toward the largest group was located. Suddenly Sir Dayne gave a cry.
"Ha!" He cried as he launched his hawk. Rather than flying out it shot across their horses. The beast gave out startled snorts and several reared. Myrcella, who had been riding near him, gave a cry as her horse reared. Sir Oakheart gave a cry of alarm and moved forward to seize her horse to steady it.
It happened so fast that Sansa did not realize what had happened till after it was over. A dagger appeared in Sir Dayne's hand and plunged into Sir Oakheart's back. Unprotected by armor Oakheart's back had no protection and the dagger went in up to the hilt. He stiffened and fell from his horse to the ground. Sir Dayne let go of the dagger and drew his sword and aimed a blow at Myrcella.
With a clang his blade struck Brienne's. She had thrown off of her shocked surprise and spurred her horse forward. Her sword blocked Sir Dayne's blow and her horse knocked his horse away from that of Myrcella.
"Get the princess away from here my lady! Get her to the others!" Not bothering to argue Sansa merely turned to Myrcella.
"Come Myrcella! We need to get the others!" She struck the other's horse on the rump and spurred Winter Wind forward. Myrcella's horse was already worked up and bolted forward at Sansa's touch. Sansa soon found herself struggling to control her own horse. Winter Wind was no warhorse, the clang of weapons and the smell of blood had caused the beast to lose its head and it kept trying to bolt. Sansa had never been the rider that her siblings had been. She had not gotten far when she lost her grip on the reins and she fell to the ground.
Scrambling to her hands and knees she saw Winter Wind running off. Looking towards Myrcella she was pleased to see that her niece was proving to be a better rider than she was and had regained control of her horse. She obviously had seen or heard Sansa fall because she had stopped and was turning around to come back to Sansa. Frantically Sansa tried to wave her away.
"No! Get away! Go get the others!" Myrcella hesitated for a moment and then turned and rode away. A cry of pain drew Sansa's attention back to the battle. It was not going well.
Sir Dayne was no Sir Trant. He was not as strong as the Mountain had been but he moved faster than Prince Oberyn had. His sword seemed to dance in his hand, more a blur of steel than anything else. Every blow Brienne launched at him he batted away with what seemed contemptuous ease. While Brienne was able to block some of his blows others seemed to just glide around her attempts to block and land, only the fact that she was wearing armor was keeping her alive. The cry which had drawn Sansa's attention had come from Brienne, A thrust from Dayne had opened her cheek to bone. She clutched at her face with one had while trying to block his blows with the other. Seeing this he pressed his advantage.
From where she was Sansa could see that Brienne could not last much longer. Just then a desperate plan came to her. Her body dropped to the ground as she cast her mind from her body. Sir Dayne was likely too strong of will to control, even partially, but the same was not true of his horse. It was a well-trained horse and was not panicking like Winter Wind had, but it was still a horse and they were weak-willed creatures. It struggled a little when Sansa entered its mind but she easily dominated it.
As soon as she controlled it she began to thrash and buck about, trying to throw Dayne off. He cursed and struggled to bring the horse back under control But Sansa kept at it and he was forced to break off his attack. He savagely thrashed the beast in his efforts to bring it back under control. The pain burned Sansa and weakened her grip which was further weakened by the panic of the horse as it fought to regain control. At last Sansa could take it no more and slid back into her own body. She awoke to find someone slapping her face and she found herself looking up at Elia.
"Sansa, what happened to you?"
"It doesn't matter. Where is Sir Dayne?" Elia's face crunched into distaste.
"Gone. When he saw us arrive he fled. Trystane and the others are pursuing him but it looks like he will make good his escape."
"What about Brienne and Sir Oakheart?" Sansa asked as Elia helped her to her feet.
"I don't know, let's go find out." With that they began making their way back towards where the fight had happened.
Author's Notes: Hey everyone, I hope you liked the chapter. What did you think? I admit I do not know why Dayne tried to kill Myrcella, any ideas anyone? I am interested in hearing theories. Till next time please pray for the farmers in Siberia whose homes were destroyed in the fire going on there. Please pray for the Americans held abroad, one whose father is dying please pray for him too and checkout #FreeAmirNow. Please pray for all those who need prayer. Bye and may Jesus bless you.