_ Brienne of Tarth! – Robb said approaching the warrior and her squire with the Amazon beside her – I think I should thank you for what you did for my sister.
The armored woman abandoned her duties and began to study the boy in front of her. In spite of the black attire of the Watch, he was not dressed appropriately, he did not have a sword within reach, and he was not a total stranger to them. When she stopped to watch his expression, Brienne paled a little more than usual.
_ I was just doing my duty... But, how is that possible?! All of Westeros believes Your Majesty did not resist the Red Wedding.
_ I definitely don't remember anything else after the Red Wedding, but if I'm here thanking you for allowing me to be reunited with my sister, it's thanks to the princess of Themyscira, Diana. – the warrior and the squire stare at the unknown young woman beside the former King of the North for a few moments and make a respectful gesture and greet her in a highly formal manner with a "your highness".
_ Only Diana, please. We don't use such formality on Themyscira. And, I was extremely happy to see that there are other female warriors in this world. I am honored to meet you, Brienne of Tarth. – At the same time, Brienne feels flattered and confused by the princess's words in front of her.
_ Themyscira is a unique place. It is home to the Amazons, who, like Diana, form a powerful army. It's a world quite different from Westeros. Robb tries to explain.
_ Themyscira?! And I am extremely happy to know that such a place exists. – comments Brienne, who concentrates on discussing another important subject – But, Your Majesty, your return means that the North has a king again.
_ My mother trusted you and my sister seems to have the same faith in her, so I take you as someone I can count on, my lady. Not only was I betrayed and my army devastated, but I failed to maintain dominance over my own house. Therefore, I want to keep my return a secret to understand what this second chance means. – says the Young Wolf.
_ I do not understand your intention, but we will try to respect it. You may consider me and my squire Podrick Payne your allies, whatever your plans from now on. - declares the warrior.
_ I appreciate the support, ma'am. And I would like one more small favor... I saw your squire training among the recruits and I would like to train with him. I've gone too long without practicing and I feel like I've regressed in swordsmanship.
Podrick accepts the invitation of the former King in the North, who takes one of the swords available to members of the Night's Watch. For the first time, Diana begins to observe her traveling companion's combat movements. He definitely had a refined technique, but he was visibly below his strength and could not anticipate the actions of the inexperienced opponent.
Still, he manages to take advantage of the extra years of combat and knock the squire down with a straight blow. Out of breath, Robb offers a hand and helps young Podrick Payne to his feet. As he tried to regain his strength, he noticed that Diana and Brienne were preparing for another round of combat.
Diana gets rid of the heavy coat and reveals the traditional armor of the Amazons and surprises Brienne, when she recognizes that she did not feel so affected by the cold of the North. And when they started to duel – albeit in the form of training – he noticed that everyone started to do what he was already doing: observe the training. However, Robb was the only one to notice that Diana was visibly on the defensive. In fact, the Amazon did not want to overdo herself and was only looking to protect herself from the powerful blows dealt by her sister's savior.
Due to the weight of the armor and the traditional way of fighting in Westeros, Brienne was considerably slower than Diana, but when she landed a blow, she did so with enormous force. Jon, Davos, Melisandre and Sansa also abandoned what they were doing and started to admire the fight. After blocking several attacks from the opponent, Diana makes a quick move and manages to disarm her. Brienne accepts defeat and the match ends with loud applause from the spectators. While the warrior of Westeros took a breath, the princess of the Amazons showed no sign of fatigue.
_ What do you necessarily train in Themiscira? – Brienne asks, surprised by the combatant's skill – The princess's skill is really impressive and I noticed that she was just blocking my blows.
_ I thought it was impressive to be able to fight like that with such heavy armor. I imagine it limits your movements a lot. Diana asks
_ Although the armor makes the action a little difficult, the protection ends up making up for it in a confrontation with more enemies or on a battlefield. – explains the eldest son of Ned Stark – Apparently, the training attracted everyone's attention around here. – he identifies Sansa observing the whole situation from one of the passages – Did you like the exercise? – the redhead starts to face her brother – Do you want to try, Sansa?
The young woman shakes her head negatively and was about to leave the place when she heard Diana calling her and encouraging her to try once. Sansa looks to her half-brother for some sort of guidance, who responds with a shrug and some phrase that "it would be helpful." Still a little fearful, she descends the steps to the training yard and approaches the quartet.
_ By any chance, are you confusing me with Arya? Sansa scoffs at her brother, who laughs at the all-too-familiar joke.
_ Have you never wanted to learn how to handle a sword or a bow and arrow? – She shrugs – So, can you hold the sword in your hand? Robb hands him one of the Night's Watch recruits' training swords and demonstrates to his sister how to support the weapon's weight. She can't keep the weapon properly positioned and the squire finally speaks up.
_ Lady Stark could try to wield a bow and arrow or a spear. These are items that don't require such close combat to be used. – Brienne's young assistant picks up the indicated weapons and tries to teach the young woman the basics.
Sansa struggles to handle the bow for the first time, listens again to Podrick and Robb's instructions, however, the arrow leaves completely unguided and stops a few meters ahead. The few recruits in the place laugh at the young woman's mistake, who is embarrassed and returns the weapons to the squire. Diana rages and stares hard at the young patrolmen, who cease their giggling and are chased off the premises by Eddie Doloroso. Still, Sansa dismisses another attempt.
_ There is nothing to be ashamed of, nobody gets it right on the first try. Take a deep breath and try one more time, Sansa. - advises the princess of the Amazons.
_ Princess Diana is correctly. Anyone who is skilled with a weapon has spent years perfecting and honing their technique. explains Brienne.
_ Years? – the young woman is startled by her protégé's speech and puts a smile on her older brother's face.
_ Yes, some good years... But, calm down... If you want to try one more time and learn the basics, we move on. Otherwise, we can stop here. – Robb approaches his sister, gives her back the bow and arrow for a new attempt.
_ Well, I wasn't necessarily doing anything important around here and knowing the minimum to defend myself can be useful, isn't it? – the young woman consents, receiving the items again and paying attention to her brother's new instructions.
She takes a deep breath, takes aim and fires. The second attempt is slightly better than the first, and so on. Robb, Diana and Podrick spend a few hours explaining the initial concepts of defense to the young woman, who is lost in instructions, frustrated attempts at battles and good laughs. The exercises are ended with the dark and the sudden drop in temperature. While Robb was busy organizing all the items used in training, Diana was busy observing the immensity of the ice wall.
_ Still enchanted with Wall, princess? – the traveling companion tries to call the warrior's attention.
_ Always, aren't you? – Robb shrugs and approaches her – Can we get to the top of it?
The Amazon's doubt is clarified quickly and the two are pulled to the highest part of the Wall. The view is somewhat limited by the darkness of the night, yet it is something spectacular due to the immensity of the scenery. Unlike Robb, who cowers in the cold and readily approaches the fire, Diana ventures to the end of the platform and gazes into the unknown from the darker, wilder side of the Wall.
_ How can someone raised on Ilha Paraíso not feel the cold of the North? I've spent that little time on Themyscira and I think I'm feeling it twice as much! - jokes the northman due to the merciless cold at the top of the Ice Wall.
_ It's wonderful! – Diana again praises the magnitude of the work ahead of her – I really liked what you did today. – the Young Wolf ventures to the edge of the platform and stares at her without understanding what he would have done that was so special – What he did for his sister. You encouraged her, taught her and let the decision always come from her. This is the key to a better world: having the power to choose. Ever. Equally for men and women.
_ It's a wonderful idea, but it's not so simple... Not everyone has the power of choice over their lives, and those who have some don't always have the choices they'd like to make... - reflects the older Stark.
_ As we spoke yesterday, then, we must begin to change the world a little at a time. Today, you helped change your sister's world a little bit.
Robb genuinely smiles at the Amazon's comment, however, the world change that he and his would be forced to try to accomplish soon would not be so simple and would require a much greater impact for them to continue in that world. So he changed his smile to a worried look when he saw the torches and the arrival of a party at Castle Black's main gate. The Amazon notices the drastic change in her companion's physiognomy and also visualizes the convoy entering and quickly withdrawing from the Night's Watch barracks.
With no more time for observation, the two hear the call to come down from the tower and come across a recruit: "Lord Commander asks that the two report to your room immediately". Robb and Diana find everyone gathered with a card with the Bolton crest thrown on the table.
_ Were they Roose Bolton's men? – asks the former King of the North.
_ Messengers of Ramsey Bolton, the new protector of the North. Rose is dead. explains Sansa, as Jon hands her the letter.
"To traitor and bastard, Jon Snow. You let wildlings pass the Wall. You betrayed your own blood, you betrayed the North. Winterfell is mine, bastard. Come and see. Your brother Rickon is in my dungeon, your skin I want my wife back. Send her back and I won't disturb you and your wild lovers. Hide her from me and I'll ride north to kill every wild man, woman and babe under your protection..." - Robb interrupts the reading and intends to throw the message on the ground, when he is prevented by Diana who takes the paper from him _ That bastard imprisoned Rickon! I... What can we do?
_ How many men does he have in his army? - questions Tormund to Sansa.
_ He said something about having five thousand men to hold back Stannis' attack.
_ How much you have? How many people can fight among the Free Folk? _ Jon returns the question to the wild ally.
_ That they can march and fight? Two thousand. The rest are children and very old people... - calculates Tormund and the news does not encourage those present.
_ Robb, you are the son of the last legitimate Protector of the North and the lords crowned you King of the North! – Sansa stands up and calls for her brother to decide to come out of the shadows and claim the old post _ The families of the North are loyal, they will fight for you if you show that you are alive! – she approaches her brother, visibly shaken.
_ Why would they do that? I am the King who lost Winterfell, I am the King who lost the North! – Robb tries to reason with his sister due to the failure of his reign.
_ A MONSTER TAKES OUR HOUSE AND OUR LITTLE BROTHER! We have to go back to Winterfell and save them! – the young woman gets excited again and grabs her brother by the coat, looking him straight in the eyes.
_ Sansa, I didn't say we wouldn't fight to get our home back and save our brother. – the girl takes a deep breath and tries to calm down – But, I am no longer a king, understand that. What do you think the people who supported my cause would do after losing their parents, brothers, relatives and men at the Red Wedding and seeing me alive? – the young woman intends to answer her brother, but he continues his explanation – You said that I am the son of the last legitimate Protector of the North, but you and Jon are too! I'm here to help you with everything... but this is the time for you and Jon to lead... And I believe you can do much, much better than me!