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reginarubie · 3 years ago

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Jon and Sansa do end up together, but—, part III

Okay, so, time to be true with you, I had this ready since last month, but first I wanted to get the Val one out first, and then I got swamped over by work, my studies, and family matters and kind of lost all energy.

Anyway, here it is, the third part of the Jon and Sansa through their exes' eyes. This time it's again through one of Sansa's exes (or, maybe's) and I think it's very sweet altogether, so I hope you enjoy.

Part I: Waymar Royce

Part II: Val

Prompt: Sansa and Jon do end up together, but— featuring good and bad experiences for both of them, and the way they are seen through their exes, loved ones and each other's eyes.

This one is inspired by You're beautiful, by J. Blunt

It’s time to face the truth [I’ll never be with you]

Podrick~

The first time Pod sees Sansa Stark, it’s by chance. It wouldn’t even be correct to say he actually saw her, it was more like a glimpse. After having spent half of his life at Lannisport and the other half at Kings Landing Pod had yet become accustomed at how things were done in the north.

The people here are less accommodating to strangers, southerner they call him, in a derogatory manner; everyone seems suspicious of him, yet when he had walked into a bar the other night and gotten excited over a rugby game the people of his neighborhood had warmed up to him — even though he keeps for an opposing team.

But, where the people are less accommodating to strangers, the nobility is much more approachable than in the South. Lady Arya and lord Rickon Stark, for example, are both athletes and they usually hang out — or so the press seems to say — in bars and hostels with their own people, wearing ripped jeans and t-shirts, or sweats and sweatpants. Easygoing and approachable.

Lord Stark and lady Stark are often seen together, just taking a stroll in the market, speaking with the people, letting them shoot photos, just listening to them.

Lord Stark is the kind of man you’d have a pint with!, one of the men at the bar says often, to which an old half-homeless man will reply he actually did drink a pint with the lord of Winterfell one night, ten years ago.

Lord Brandon is the most secluded of the Stark, possibly due his condition. Though he can often been seen during official outings, or with his mother during their meetings for charity. Though often the tabloids post about him and his two long-time friends, Meera Reed and Jojen Reed, both from the small nobility.

Lord Robb, the heir to Winterfell, is instead known for his kind manner and good spirit. He is at college where he is working to get his degree in art and history, instead of business or economics, or law like everyone was expecting him as the heir to Winterfell.

Lord Robb drives every other weekend from college to be present to the matches of his brother’s rugby team. It is a family date, everyone will be present and then they would head to Hot Pie’s Place and they would offer a round to everyone present.

Lady Sansa, the second oldest, looks every inch the lady, always prim and proper. She has just started her own degree in law and is often seen either alone or with her mother in charge of charities or visiting the ill or the homeless. She flies to the Riverlands every other month to visit with her old grandfather and meet a few friends. There had been a time the tabloids had been extremely interested in lady Sansa’s love life, like when she had a relationship with Joffrey Baratheon, or when there were rumors of a love story with her best-friend’s ex, Ramsay Bolton. But at some point the tabloids had stopped speaking of it altogether.

“Sing a song lady Sansa!” someone had shouted and that had gotten his attention as he exited his train, he had followed the crowd to find Sansa Stark sat near an homeless man who was strumming on an old, overused guitar. She had been singing softly some song about Florian and Jonquil.

Pod had been late so he had not lingered, but he remembers thinking she was the most beautiful woman he had ever seen in his life — and he had seen Cersei Lannister, who the tabloids had nicknamed the Light of the West for her beauty — because there was an elegance to her that sparkled through her blue eyes.

He had truly met her a couple of years after that chance sighting. Pod had been working under doctor Brienne of Tarth for four months putting his degree to good use and helping under one of the best in his sector.

He knew Brienne of Tarth had been appointed with the support of lady Catelyn Stark at the head of the association and since then Brienne had, had an in with the Starks which had meant publicity for their work, charities thrown in their name and all kind of supports the Starks could give them; so it didn’t surprise him when she told him that they would receive a noble visit later in the week.

When the day came he had expected lady Stark or perhaps even lord Brandon — he had met both already a month before — instead when the doorbell rang and he urged the elderly to see who it was at the door he felt himself go blind as his eyes fell on the beaming smile of lady Sansa Stark.

“Good morning,” she greets, her voice soft, the smile evident in her tone “I was wondering if you have space for two more today” she offers with that easygoing smile that she shares with all of her siblings.

As she said so she steps to the side and exposes her older brother, lord Robb Stark. Both of them have the red hair and the blue eyes of the Tullys of Riverrun, and they seem to brim with happiness as the men and women start clapping and cheering them all.

He realizes Lady Sansa was still waiting for his reply when he turns to her and she is smiling questioningly to him, he blushes to the roots of his dark hair, his neck burning as his ears as he stumbles over his words to let them inside, apologizing. Lord Robb gives him a pitying look and a pat on the shoulder as he passes him by “Don’t worry, my sister tends to have that effect,” he says to him chuckling as both turned to look at lady Sansa, already greeting each and every man and woman in the room as well as Brienne.

He learned that day that lady Sansa is an habitué and that she will often bring along one of her siblings, but that today she has chosen her brother Robb — kind of wrestled me out of my wedding plans — as the activity of the day is finger painting and lord Robb has just graduated from college, his degree in art and history received with the best grades. So it kind of is his field.

Lady Sansa sits with the elderly, listens to their stories, holds them as they are overcome with emotion, compliments their bravery and their art, comments on how well she found them since her last visit. Made them feel loved. Shares with them some of her experiences at college and makes fun of her brother, affirming in this equation he has become the groomzilla of the couple.

Pod is in awe.

“So you are Podrick,” she corners him in a moment of pause as she gets herself some water as her brother helps an old woman with arthritis to finger paint “Brienne always speaks highly of you”

That Brienne would speak of him, let alone with nobility left him feeling suddenly embarrassed. Lady Sansa listens raptly as he replies to all her questions, where did he come from?, why did he took this career path when most people tend to focus on the young instead of the elderly. Pod feels like her entire focus was not him.

It makes him feel truly seen and appreciated.

“Thank you, Podrick,” she tells him, her voice coiling with warmth “Thank you for what you’re doing here”

***

He meets lady Sansa several other times after that first time, and he would even consider them kind of friends. Lady Sansa has taken his e-mail and often sends him links to activities he might be interested in, or simply to check in on him and the bureau.

He doesn’t dare hope more. Though his heart skips a beat or two every time she looks at him, or smiles his way. Lord Robb teases him mercilessly about it too, every time he comes with his sister.

Lord Rickon and lady Arya — who he met briefly only once — just rolled their eyes and waggled their eyebrows in his direction.

Lord Bran who comes around quite often with his sister teased him as well about it, though he seemed kinder about it. Like he found endearing his evident crush on his sister, a crush she didn’t seem to have noticed either.

Sansa even invited him out, a friend-lunch-date, they spoke of his plans for the future, for his plans in taking a more important role at the bureau for the elderly under Brienne.

“Brienne says you’re ready,” she had commented sipping on her mineral water.

“Brienne laments I’ve been ready since I’ve arrived, she has way too much faith in my abilities”

“Don’t try to be modest,” Sansa had chastised him “Brienne is not the type to offer empty compliments. If she says you’re ready to take on more, she truly thinks it”

It’s only one of the several time they meet, lady Sansa is always kind and supporting. A real friend, to the point Podrick is even afraid of trying and take a step more — like even only take her hand as they walk — as he doesn’t want to ruin their friendship.

Things starts to change when lady Sansa invites him over to Winterfell for lord Robb’s nameday. Then Podrick starts to wonder if he really could have, beyond any fear, a chance with her.

A true fairytale coming alive before his very eyes. And it could be his life.

Lord Robb greets him in good humor with his fiancé, Jeyne Westerling, hanging at his side. Several other friends are present, the teammates of lord Rickon, as well as the guys and girls on lady Arya’s fencing team, some colleagues and college friends of lord Robb. Lord Brandon inseparable friends.

Lady Sansa best friend, Jeyne Poole, a girl kind with big brown eyes and a loving smile, is also present. Her eyes are sad, like she’s seen too much. It makes her smile all the more beautiful and heartbreaking for it.

She is kind of quiet and in the midst of what is a social event in full swing — for however private it’s still the nameday of the heir to Winterfell — and lady Sansa — just call me Sansa by now, Pod — the social butterfly that she is, is basically helping her mother play hostess with grace and elegance.

“So,” Jeyne asks him nursing her non-alcoholic drink “how long have you had this crush on Sans?”

It is rude and unpolite, it makes Pod choke on his own drink “I beg your pardon?”

“Everyone with two functioning eyes would see it,” Jeyne says, not unkindly, just matter-of-factly shrugging “it is a wonder she’s so dense sometimes”

“I—” he stumbles with his own words unable to get them out “we’re friends”

“Yes, I can see that. She must care for you a great deal if she has invited you to a private party,” Jeyne admits “Sansa is just like that, generous and straightforward with her affection”

Podrick can do nothing but agree “My fondness for her it’s— I don’t have any bad intentions” he assures her. Jeyne Poole burst out in a laugh.

“I am sorry,” she tells him seeing his affronted expression “I promise I am not laughing at you,” she says “is just… it’s clear you’re a good man, Podrick Payne. Sansa has had her share of bad men,” she sighs “and I find it cute that you’d think we’d let you this close to Sansa if we thought you were intending to harm her”

“Everyone!” Sansa’s voice saves him from finding a reply to that “all lights out!”

“Roger-roger that!” lord Rickon exclaims doing a poor imitation of a military salute to his sister as the room is plunged into darkness and a cloth hung from the ceiling.

Sansa fumbles around for a little bit and then a big grin blooms on her face “Jon!” there is static and all of sudden the projector comes alive and a man appears on the cloth’s surface.

“Say hello to everyone!” Sansa sing-songs, her voice ringing like bells.

The man is covered from head to toe in the black furlined winter uniform of the Nights Watch with a wool cap over his head, some curls hanging low and framing his face, his beard well trimmed and his cheeks reddened either from the cold or because he kind of looked timid.

“Hello everyone” he sounds almost like a dying whale, which is exactly what lady Arya Stark told him bluntly, provoking the general hilarity.

“Robb, mate” this Jon says, instead of addressing the comment “I am sorry I couldn’t make it, but as you can see I’m still stuck in the Lands of Always Winter,” he tells them gesturing around himself “just to make this video call Sansa had to pull a couple of strings”

There is wetness in lord Robb’s eyes as he twists to look at his sister, who blows him a kiss.

“Anyway, sorry I have to miss your nameday, mate, I’ll be there for the wedding, I promise”

“Remember Snow, you better keep your promises or I will unleash Rickon on you” lord Robb threatens wetly. Podrick wonders if he will actually be overcome by emotions.

“I’ll do my best, Stark” the other man replies, there is some more static “anyway, the line doesn’t hold very well or long so, here, mate— happy birthday” and he maneuvers the camera so that it looks at the sky and the northern lights shining into the darkness to everyone’s awe.

Sansa is holding her hands to her heart as awe paints her face and a smile curls at her lips.

Later, when everyone has been shown to a room where they could stay or went home Podrick is sitting on a swing with Arya Stark as she and her friends spoke loudly about sports, Pod finds himself fitting right in.

He sees how touched lord Robb was at the video call and asks lady Arya if this Jon is a cousin or a relative.

“Jon?” she asks “Jon’s family. He is Robb’s best friend, has been since they’ve been what like five? Sansa how old where you when Jon started to come around?”

Podrick hadn’t even noticed Sansa, who is currently being squeezed an inch from her life, by the eldest Stark. She rises her head from lord Robb’s chest and looks thoughtful for a moment “I think you were like one or two,” she comments “I was around four I believe”

“So an age ago!” Arya Stark teases “no wonder you have those wonderful crows feet!”

“Oi! You’re only two years younger than me!” Sansa exclaims falling into an easy banter with her sister.

***

It is months before Pod actually finds the courage to decide to ask Sansa out to a date, he wants everything to be perfect, from the very moment in which he would ask her which would’ve been during one of her visits — solo visit this time around, he checked — to the bureau for the elderly.

When the doorbell rings Pod springs to his feet, for the general hilarity of the old people, to go and answer the door.

“Hello!” Sansa exclaims, her beam was somehow brighter than it usually is, she is holding her arm strangely behind herself, as if gripping something or someone “stop being shy!— I hope you don’t mind, I’ve brought a friend over” she says, the fondness evident in her tone as she tugs at the wrist just beyond Pod’s sight.

When a grumbling Jon Snow enters in his line of sight Pod feels the world shift “Stop manhandling me,” he tells her, but without heat, just in fond annoyance.

“Then stop being so stubborn, everyone is going to love you to bits,” Sansa replies and for a moment they look completely lost in their own little bubble, then it is Sansa who burst the bubble “Jon this is my friend Podrick, the one I told to you about. Pod this is Jon”

My friend Podrick.

This is Jon, as if this Jon doesn’t need any other qualifications beyond being himself to be worthy to stand by her side. Like she doesn't need to specify with him.

It makes something ugly coil in Pod’s stomach. Something surprisingly similar to jealousy. Jon Snow holds out his hand to him, his face schooled in an expression of confidence, seriousness at his brow.

“Pleased to meet you,” Jon Snow says as Pod shakes his hand. He has a good, firm handshake “I am sorry Sansa sprang me on you all”

“As if!” Brienne intervenes “Any friend of lady Sansa is a friend to us all!” she exclaims and the elderly echo her. Sansa’s smile is full of mirth as she goes around her usual business.

Jon Snow is more reserved than Sansa is, quiet and timid, but there is fondness shining in his eyes as Sansa urges him to join her. He’s a good listener and the ladies are smitten with him.

“Jon is very brave,” Sansa is telling one of them “he was a ranger of the Nights Watch,” she says warmly “but he has chosen to step down from the active missions to be a diplomatic liaison” she explains.

“Oh you’ve seen many wildlings?” one of the women asks.

“I did, ma’am, though they prefer to be called Free Folk” he replies politely “they are not so different from us, after all,” he states “they’re very loud” he says almost as an afterthought, as if something pains him.

Sansa, emphath that she is, covers his hand on his lap and squeezes it gently but firmly. Jon Snow seems to draw comfort by it and looks up to her with a soft smile.

It’s that smile that makes Pod hit the brakes. The backlash almost breaking his heart.

Sansa blushes at that smile. He has never seen her blushing at him, though she did make him blush more than once.

“Jon is considered a Free Folk-friend,” she tells them “they trust him,” she adds.

In her voice Jon Snow seems amazing.

Pod wonders if Jon Snow knows that he is amazing in her eyes.

They move like an unit, Pod can’t help but notice, like they are so comfortable around each other that they don’t need to look at one another to know where the other is and move accordingly. It’s kind of astounding to watch.

“Sansa speaks always highly of you,” Jon Snow tells him at one moment when he gets a little bit of respite from speaking. He seems like he might unravel any given moment “she seems to genuinely like you”

“I like her as well” he doesn’t know why it sounds so bitten out. Jon Snow doesn’t seem surprised by it.

“I know,” is his surprising reply, he doesn’t say anything else and that spurns Pod to look up to his face. Try to read his expression, but he is unreadable. The only thing he can read as clear as a day on his face is his love for Sansa.

He genuinely loves her.

Pod knows that expression is not reflected in his own eyes. He likes Sansa, but he does not look at her like she makes the world bloom around her, even though she does.

He likes her, he suddenly realizes, like one is supposed to like a painting, or something beautiful but out of their grasp. What he sees reflected in Jon Snow’s eyes as he meets Sansa’s blue ones, that’s raw and that’s real.

He has no doubt Jon Snow could name every single little quirk Sansa has, every quality and every flaw, all shadowed by how powerfully he really loves her. As a person, not as the personality.

Later when the elderly ask for a song, Sansa indulges them and Pod can see Jon Snow drumming his fingers at the steady tempo Sansa’s humming at. And when they put on some music to dance whilst Sansa dances with him too, she persuades Jon Snow to dance as well.

“I am a terrible dancer” he reminds her.

“Don’t lie,” Sansa quips “I remember you took Arya to her dance lessons and that you fenced as well. Fencing requires the same grace and swiftness as dancing, just follow the sway”

And sway they do. It’s… breathtaking to watch as the first genuine smile tugs at the corners of Jon Snow’s lips as he decides to completely forego the music beat and hoists Sansa across his chest and swings her around making her giggle like a little girl. Full of mirth.

A soft lady and her knight. That’s the way they look.

It’s tender the way that, when he relents his hold on her, Sansa kisses his cheek and thanks him as the elderly applaud.

Ah young love, breathes out one of the elderly patients, one with dementia and Sansa blushes and shushes Jon when he tries to explain himself.

Pod knows then. Even as Sansa hugs him tight that evening. Even if by any chance Sansa would say yes, even if he did end up going out with her.

He’ll never be with her. Not really.

Jon is her endgame. Might be Sansa doesn’t even know herself, but she looks at Jon like he lit the stars up just for her, even when he only offers a comment to her.

She’ll end up with him, in the end. He can already see it.

He doesn't know what to do then.

Sansa shines brightly and she's so beautiful, and he'd like nothing more but have a chance with her.

But asking her feels like a fraud. It's not like Sansa isn't complete and lovable and shining without Jon, but with Jon she's more at ease, she's more herself than he has ever seen her being. Even if she did say yes, he would never be for her what she needs him to be. Who she needs him to be. He cannot be him. He doesn't even want to, to be frank. So he never does ask her out, and in the end the time for it is passed.

***

Months later he meets Jeyne Poole by chance whilst doing grocery shopping. Jeyne smiles to him softly and quips on how he should really try to survive with more than just pre-cooked meals.

It is entirely on a whim that Pod asks her if she’d like to have dinner together, maybe teach him how to cook a couple of dishes.

He doesn’t know why he does it. Maybe because she feels realer than anyone else at the moment.

In the end Pod falls into a routine with Jeyne and one day, next time Sansa visits actually, she brings Jeyne along and serves him with a long, appraising look before matching them for every game they play all day long.

Might be Pod might have wanted to ask Sansa out, once. Might be she could’ve said yes. Might be they could’ve been a couple, for a time.

Still Pod seems unable to see past Sansa’s persona, and her friendly character.

Instead he argues with Jeyne continuously because she can be stubborn and willful and outspoken even when she's soft and pliant, and won’t apologize for it.

And every time they argue Pod finds himself asking himself why he would bother and every time, when he sees her name on his phone screen he calls, because he misses her.

They become friends, real friends, he and Sansa.

Like friends who speak on the phone and share ice-cream and childhood stories and plan surprises party for their common friend, Jeyne. It’s Sansa who actually prompts him to gather courage and ask Jeyne out on a date.

She says no.

Then she grabs him by the hem of his coat and kisses him, squarely on the lips.

“I don’t do dates,” she says “I don’t do boyfriends either,” she adds “not after—” her voice breaks “but I want to make it work with you”

It’s unconventional, but in the end Pod manages to make her fall in love with him, for real and then it’s Jeyne who asks him to marry her, one day, three years later. Sansa teases him mercilessly for it.

He learns all that Jeyne suffered, some of what Sansa suffered. Some at the hands of the same man. He learns that Jon Snow had been there, every time, to pick Sansa back together from the ground and hold her back together until she felt like she could breath again.

Jeyne tells him when she asks him to marry him, he did the same for her, albeit unwittingly. Supported her even when he didn't not against what. Or whom.

Pod honestly feel like he needs a pint, or two after he learns the truth of what Jeyne went through and when he asks lord Robb about it, about him the man tells him they have resolved the matter, that he cannot harm either Jeyne nor Sansa anymore. That Jon made sure he would never could.

Pod doesn't want to know what happened. He doesn't care. He holds Jeyne more tightly that night, even as she breaks. And he finds the beauty even in her broken pieces.

***

Sansa can be so petulant at times, he discovers. It’s like watching a parallel universe once he understands the difference between the Sansa Stark persona and Sansa Stark the woman.

He has just started to steadily go out with Jeyne when Sansa brings Jon Snow at one of her visits again. This time their fingers are interlocked together as they walk inside.

There is tenderness as Jon kisses Sansa’s temple, there is love as he nudges her toward each row of elderly.

A smile soft on his lips as he watches Sansa speak excitedly of the new developments in her tireless work to have the North separate from the South and give the Free Folk back their land.

“So,” this time, it’s Pod who does the cornering “you finally got the guts to ask her out?”

Jon smiles enigmatically at him “Something like that” he says. Pod gets the feeling things might have been much more amusing than he thought in the beginning.

“Honey?,” Sansa calls from somewhere in the other room, Jon blushes a bit beneath his well trimmed dark beard; Sansa walks inside and smiles brightly “what, are you hiding from me, now?”

It’s astounding, after having known Jon before, and having seen him in different settings how easily he moves to accomodate Sansa in his guard — a soldier remains a soldier, even when he retires — letting her slip through and caressing the back of her head gently, cupping it softly before pressing a featherlike kiss on her lips.

“Of course not, baby” he assures her “I was just catching up with Pod, here” he justifies.

Sansa cranes her head to look at him “Pod, are you trying to steal my boyfriend from me?” she demands with a laugh, a bit petulantly perhaps, but it’s all in good humor “what would Jeyne think?”

Pod laughs at that.

They are sweet, and she’s beautiful, even more beautiful than she was before because she feels loved.

Because she is loved.

And when Jeyne walks down the aisle, arm in arm with her mother, and preceded by her maid of honor, Sansa, her smile beams in the same way. Because Jeyne knows she is loved. Because she feels she's loved.

She looks like an angel, his Jeyne.

He dances with Sansa too at the reception of his and Jeyne's wedding.

“You know,” he tells her at one point, as he spins her “I had the oddest crush on you at one point” he admits.

Sansa giggles “I know,” she says “I noticed. I liked you too,” she tells him “if you had asked I would've said yes”

Pod makes her twirl around herself “We're better off as friends” he says and there is no bitterness there, there's actually relief and Sansa nods “Yeah, we are” she says “and you are Jeyne were made for each other”

Pod actually blushes a bit at that “And there you are, blushing like a pretty maid” she teases him, and it's only seeing the mischievous light in her eyes that Pod realizes with a startle “You did it on purpose!, all along” he accuses.

Sansa shrug elegantly “It was cute, how affected you were. I liked it” she winks at Jon as Pod spins her and actually shines the moment he cuts in to have a dance for himself. Jon blushes too when Sansa tells him he looks very handsome.

And Pod smiles looking at them, and he kisses Jeyne.

Might be Pod had a crush on Sansa Stark once. Might be Sansa might have said yes if he ever asked her out.

He ends up with the love of his life instead, just as Sansa does. For not knowing what to do, Pod thinks, he's done pretty well. He kisses Jeyne as Jon whisks Sansa on the dance floor for another dance and spins her around making her giggle like a little girl and kisses her lips.

Right now it's Sansa who's blushing, but she's smiling too.

They are the center of their little world. And Pod, Pod has his own enclosed in the palm of Jeyne's hand.

Fin

So, okay, this one turned to be more about Pod little crush than a real relationship between him and Sansa, but I think that Jon and Sansa shine through anyway so I hope you enjoyed!

As always you can find it in my collection of prompts on ao3: The Jonsa Hag's prompts, chapter 6.

Sending all my love ~G.

#jonsa #jonsa one-shot #jonsa prompts #the hag's prompts

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melrosing · 2 years ago

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how many POVs do u estimate jaime and brienne will have in twow? i assume not many lol bc there are so many plot points that he needs to lay out that he cant dawdle like he did in affc/adwd. i think they’ll be together for the first half of the book before separating but its gonna be so interesting seeing brienne perceive jaime through her own pov. i wonder how he’ll distribute it between them.

I estimate 8-9 between them, with Brienne having 3/4 and Jaime having 5. why?? vibes

I agree that they’ll part ways again at some point but GRRM’s most recent update on writing them made me think probably not quite as soon as I would’ve thought? I would’ve assumed by maybe the third/fourth of their combined chapters, but you could certainly infer they’re still together as of GRRM’s writing late last year.

and okay YES it’s true they may be one of the POVs he’s writing more slowly (god) in which case at this point they weren’t that far along after all… and I guess that would make sense if Cersei has been taking a while too, as Cersei’s logistics likely impact Jaime’s. but idk I do feel maybe it’s just been my pessimist’s brain that figured they’d be splitting up sooner rather than later in TWOW.

thinking about it, GRRM’s more likely to want to make the most of their reunion, he’s not thrown them together again just so they can dip before anything meaningful happens (even if that’s not the full realisation of their relationship). ANYWAY

it has also occurred to me that perhaps we’ll find Jaime and Brienne as prisoners of the BWB just because of how long it’s been since they were last seen (about a month?). GRRM does kind of flex his timelines a bit when he needs to, but with that passage of time so firmly established in Cersei’s POV i do wonder if we’ll find Jaime and Brienne as prisoners with the journey to lsh told via flashback, or they’re even somehow waylaid from meeting lsh. but I do think that would be kind of a waste. like we don’t get to see Brienne angsting as she’s leading Jaime to lsh, or Jaime’s gradual realisation that he’s been betrayed, or his horror at lsh??? would be weird for GRRM to skip that.

for the record I’ve lost all track of what you asked in the first place now but since no one asked here’s my ideal JB TWOW framework

Brienne I: taking Jaime to lsh and feeling sad about it

Jaime I: wtf Brienne how could you + supernatural escape from lsh

Jaime: aftermath of escape from lsh, Jaime’s angry at Brienne but still trying to understand why she did what she did, working out where to go next. Pod is still here btw but RIP Hyle

Jaime: at the quiet isle where JB reconcile and Jaime speaks maybe to the Elder Brother idk. Oh look there’s Sandor

Brienne: parting ways with jam as he resolves to go back to save his son (having heard about red wedding 2.0 or Cersei’s latest drama idk). Brienne still wants to find Sansa and Sandor is here 2 help! JB are like on the BRINK of turning canon but for now it is Bittersweet Goodbyes

Jaime: on the road idk what the hell he’s doing at this point but we’re in his head.

Brienne: also on the road w Sandor and Pod. We’re in her head a lot and also formulating a plan cos we’ve heard something about where Sansa might be. fuck if I know how this information is conveyed

Jaime: nearly at KL or actually at KL. beginning of the end of Lannister twins drama. or idk possibly the actual end but I do think Cers survives TWOW put it that way. Also [edit] myrcella is dead, Jaime finds out here. Tommen will probs die in Cersei’s last chapter

the rest of Brienne’s rescue Sansa mission is told via Sansa herself

there you go. I know it’s like holding twow in your hands

#ask #asoiaf #posting without even reading this back deal w it losers

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depends-on-the-sellsword · 3 years ago

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I love all the little fellowships and families in GoT. They continue to be ripped apart time and time again, but people just continue to love each other. Jon and his friends on the wall. Tyrion, Bronn, and Pod. Dany, Jorah, her bloodriders, her dragons, and her khalasar. Arya, Gendry, and Hot Pie. Davos and his small army of children. Bran, Jojen, Meera, Osha, Hodor, and Rickon. Jorah, Dany, Missandei, Grey Worm, Daario, Tyrion, and Varys. Brienne, Pod, Sansa, and Theon. Jaime and Brienne. Arya and Sandor. Sam and Gilly and Little Sam. Sansa and Margaery and Olenna. Fuck, even Qyburn and Cersei.

Idk man it just makes me feel things.

#game of thrones #asoiaf #asoif/got #a song of ice and fire

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sassbewitchedmyass · 4 years ago

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season 8 sucked a fat one we all know this but I just wanted to make a list of things that I did love and this list is completely in praise of everyone involved with season 8 that aren’t d&d(and possibly some of the other writers but I don’t care enough to look up who wrote what episode so don’t @ me) this is mainly in praise of episode 2 and 3

1) Arya seeing dragons

2) Brienne sticking up for Jaime at his trial

3) Jaime knighting Brienne

4) the whole Jenny of Oldstones montage

5) Tormund’s giant’s titty story where everyone was like

6)I literally loved almost everything about episode 3. I know that’s not a popular opinion and I know some of it was nonsensical and I know we couldn’t see anything half the damn time but a) Jaime and Brienne fighting side by side b) Sansa and Arya watching the dragons c) the dothraki’s burning swords all getting extinguished and the absolute fucking dread I felt at that d) Grey Worm holding the line while they try to get everyone within the walls of Winterfell e) all the commander lines made me cheer like Brienne’s “stand your ground” and Grey Worm’s “protect the retreat” and Theon’s “steady lads, steady, make every shot count” f) Lyanna MORMONT stabbing a fucking giant in the eye g) Davos being just fucking AWED watching Arya fight h) again Jaime and Brienne fighting together on the battlements and then fighting with Pod with them against the walls i) the whole Night King montage with Jon running through Winterfell loved that and loved the music even more j) the dany/jorah scene at the end just ripped out my heart k)I just loved the episode okay

7) this brings me to the whole point of making this post, ALFIE ALLEN WAS ROBBED OF A GODDAMN EMMY. He literally killed every scene he was in like “I want to fight for Winterfell, Lady Sansa” and protecting Bran in the godswood and my boy was murking white walkers left and right and ain’t even shot a bow in the gods know how long. He was robbed and I ain’t watched the Emmy’s since.

8) Jaime and Brienne kissing. Not the before or the after. Just the kissing. Oh and Jealous Jaime was kinda cute. And Brienne saying piss off made me feel some type of way

9) Tormund crying on Clegane’s shoulder while Clegane’s just like

10) Arya and Clegane’s talk in the keep and her calling him Sandor and thanking him

11) SER PODRICK

everything else about the rest of epi’s 4,5, and 6 can eat a bag of dicks EXCEPT for everything by the king himself Ramin Djawadi cause I play “The Last of the Starks” on repeat and cry

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selkiewife · 4 years ago

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Theon Fic Appreciation || Bingo Square: Share a fic you have read multiple times

Don’t do so well alone by Lordhellebore, @lordhellebore

On the way to the Wall, nothing quite makes sense to Theon. Not the way Sansa keeps staring at him, and certainly not the way Podrick keeps fussing over him. He doesn’t get it and just wishes they’d stop. Falling ill doesn’t help, either.

I have read this fic too many times to count. It is so beautiful and poignant and makes me ache. It imagines what would have happened in Season 6 if Theon had stayed with Sansa, Brienne, and Pod. This fic is like getting your heart ripped out and then being wrapped in the warmest most beautiful hug. It is so emotionally raw but it is also such an utter relief to see Theon finally get some comfort and understanding. I love the beautiful hopefulness of this story as well as the darker moments. And POD... Pod is so lovely in this fic!

#theon greyjoy #theon fic appreciation #theon fic appreciation month

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ramblings-of-a-mad-cat · 4 years ago

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okay you wanted jon here’s jon

i have a bit more about what happens between them during that period in season 6 after sansa, brienne, pod, and rosalie arrive at castle black but before the battle of the bastards btw

Jon had always been one of my favorites out of Ned’s children. Sansa, then Jon. The fact that he was a bastard meant nothing to me, we bonded over the fact that we never knew our mothers. And even though we both have siblings, feel alone in our families. He taught me archery when I asked, he is probably the reason that I got to where I am today. In return I taught him sewing, how to patch his cloaks when they ripped, and how to sew buttons back on when they fell. Even though he never appreciated my lessons on hair he no doubt remembered them. When we met again years later he had pulled his hair back like I taught him. All of my brothers had died in some way or another, and Jon helped fill that. Jon’s company provided great friendship during a time where there was very little.

You see, you see? This is gold, I like this. Honestly, this is the kind of friendship that Jon and Theon should have had growing up. They were both outcasts who didn’t have mothers, neither of them “belonged.” So you would think they’d be kindred spirits. But judging by the way Theon calls him “Snow “ and such, I never got the sense that they were in any way close. Also can I just say that I cracked up at the line about Rosalie’s lessons in hair? This is bond I just really want to see more of. Damn, this makes me think of the wonderfully wholesome moments of reunion in the later seasons when all of the surviving Starks find each other again. (Jon and Sansa’s is my favorite.) I can just picture Rosalie having a moment like that with Jon and it’s making me tear up, bless them.

#Game of Thrones #Game of Thrones OC

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sare11aa11eras · 5 years ago

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CHARACTER PROFILES

(tumblr ate the last one i did for her)

Art Credit: @knifeears

Name: Brienne Tarth

Nicknames: WENCH, Bri-Bri, Brienne of Tarth, Brienne the Beauty, Brienne the Blue, Brienne the Maid, The Maid of Tarth, Queen of My Heart, the Kingslayer’s Whore, Kingslayer, The Truest Kight, Queen of Sapphires, The Heir of Tarth

Hair: straw colored

Eyes: sapphire blue

Height: 6′ 3″

Weight: s t r o n g,,

Age: 20

Occupation: Certified Good Person, Badass Extraordinaire, Ideal Model of Knighthood

Skills: being the lesbian awakening for many, many, MANY young ladies, being in love with Jaime Lannister rip, being the one??? person who like even the most heinous of antis can’t say is a bad person or that she’s done anything wrong ever, adopting random kids, beating the SHIT out of Loras Tyrell, beating the SHIT out of Jaime FUCKING Lannister, making a few unfortunate choices that should in NO WAY reflect how smart she is, putting up with Jaime which honestly?? impressive, having a SWORD!!, being a little cutie patootie, rescuing maidens, being a FUCKING BADASS, being tol and strong, being made fun of for her appearance bc thats literally the only area that one could even potentially make fun of her for but even STILL they’re WRONG bc,, as i said,, cutie patootie, being an entire goddess, and being WOEFULLY unappreciated in-universe.

Parents: Selwyn Tarth, unnamed mom

Sibling(s): Galladon Tarth, Arianne Tarth, Alysanne Tarth

Children: Podrick Payne (looking after, will probably also adopt Arya Sansa Tommen and Myrcella the second someone lets her) (it’s been theorized she might just name Pod her heir post series, we’ll see)

Status: Alive, thank GODS.

#asoiaf #character profiles #valyrianscrolls #brienne of tarth #are there no true knights among queue

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nrgburst · 5 years ago

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Podsa Ship Manifesto

I know, I know, there's like three of us that ship this and I'm probably gonna get anon haters in my askbox for the trouble, but here's my reasoning for thinking they could still be endgame post-canon, and it's not just because they're both still alive! (Which is totally reason enough, but I have like, actual reasons beyond NOW KISS.) This meta is based on Game of Thrones the TV show, not the A Song of Ice and Fire books. The canons have diverged pretty starkly (hehe) and both characters are much younger in the books as well, so while I know there is also supportive evidence in the books, I'm not mentioning it on purpose, though feel free to add your own addendum with book evidence! GIFs were all made by me.

I like that both Sansa and Podrick started out as Bad Minor Players: Pod's a bumbling squire; Sansa is a spoiled nobleman's daughter. And yet they both learned, through painful mistakes and persistence, how to get to their Ultimate Goal by series end. Character parallels abound; they're both idealists who have to learn to be pragmatic, endure abuse and disrespect, having hidden skills and strengths, flourishing once learning to both play within and outside The Rules), their trajectories crossed a bunch of times and while I know D&D threw in as many red herrings as actual foreshadowing details, this was their Meet Cute in 3x08:

Tyrion is supposedly talking about himself, but do you see who else is framed in that doorway, literally entering her life?! Combine this with how intensely Sansa grows to regret this particular statement from 1x06:

and what kind of person Podrick shows himself to be, and I'd argue that seeds for this ship were subtly planted waaay back when.

After Joffrey's murder, they're both hustled out of King's Landing, and they don't share screentime again until 5x02, although they don't actually meet or speak in the scene. However, Pod recognizes her voice from across a tavern and sees right through her disguise of dyed hair, identifying her from behind via a single phrase and her face turned in profile once.

I'm sorry, but that kind of instant magnetic knowing is Romance Tropey AF and I'll be forever disappointed at fandom for not going off about it. Siiigh.

They don't meet again until Sansa finally escapes the Boltons in 6x01. And when Brienne offers her sword and service again (and by extension, Pod's), this time Sansa replies like a true lady and accepts. She starts off her vows correctly, but she's been ripped from the life of knights and ladies for so long that she falters partway through. Podrick's gentle assist to jog her memory, right after winning a swordfight to protect her clinched it for me: that was her brave, gentle and strong man, right there. (That scene was such a huge highpoint in all of their arcs, actually. *sobs* THIS SHOW WAS SO FREAKING GOOD.)

And he continues to serve her right up to the end of the series, when it's shown that he's become Bran's Kingsguard, which opens up so many delightful possibilities at last. Like I love this cleverly edited GIFset from 8x04, but since Theon had just died and Pod was still in her service, nothing could have happened?

Politically, they aren't a good match, but only on the surface: Podrick is a distant cousin to Ser Ilyn Payne, who was responsible for executing Sansa’s father. (House Payne is a vassal house to House Lannister, and he comes from a lower branch of it.) However, Pod helped Brienne rescue Sansa from the Boltons, trained soldiers and fought for the North in the Battle For the Dawn. He earned his knighthood with his own merit, and he continues to serve her brother. He is still an unlanded knight (and there's this pesky vow not to marry or father children that may still exist) but Sansa's no longer waaaay out of his league now that he has a title and battle experience. And actually, the fact that he's an unlanded knight is actually a good thing. (More on that later.)

As for why Sansa might find Pod an attractive prospective for her consort beyond the fact that he's you know, attractive and rumored to be fantastic in bed (and I think she would consider how to get herself a Stark heir very pragmatically now): he's still one of the people she trusts absolutely, who was there for here at every stage of her journey, even the worst bits, and he was loyal and supportive throughout. He's of noble blood and well-educated, but he has no power base, so no army will swoop in and claim her throne/lands by deposing her in favour of their child. (She's seen this happen too many times now; she is NOT going to let it happen to her.) He has no political ambitions and his defining character trait is loyalty- he's always just wanted to be a knight, and to serve somebody worthy. And yet he's not just some grunt in armor either- he's well versed in the politics of “which House married which and who hated who,” he speaks up when he doesn't think something is right, and they actually have similar interests: they both like to sing.

All in all, I think they'd make a sweet couple post canon. I also think there's a kind of delicious irony in Tyrion's former squire ending up with the child bride he didn't want.

Fic recs:

The first time I actually saw Podsa in the wild was in @scrubclubwrites's amaaazeballs Gendrya HP AU fic love, war and a few things in between (M, 52884 words.) Pod and Sansa aren't just in the background here, they have a sweet, slow burn relationship in this and if you don't scream when they finally kiss, you probably aren't human.

I've already recced my own fic, The Watcher, which is a Podsa pre-ship fic. (It’s more of a Sansa deals with her trauma fic, and there’s explicit Gendrya sex in it, although it’s not meant to be a shippy Gendrya fic. E, 6833 words)

Also love this young Pod/Young Sansa fic by bryndentully, which shows how they both started out as romantic idealists perfectly: i loved a maid as white as winter

I'm still trawling the archive (the pain of shipping a rarepair means they get tagged in lots of fics that they are barely mentioned in) but I will add to this post as I find more fics I love! Or if somebody else could do a rec list, that would be wonderful!

#podsa #podrick x sansa #podrick payne #sansa stark #meta #ship manifesto #game of thrones #I'll add the last GIF tomorrow I need to sleep not photoshop #and it's still yesterday in most of the rest of the world #podsa appreciation day #mine #myedit #got #omg something happened to the original post and it got deleted somehow?!#but i've rewritten it thank goodness i had it drafted on my computer originally

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qqueenofhades · 6 years ago

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Hilary my dear my darling my love...what would you say to some post-Battle of Winterfell “thank god we’re not dead” Jaime/Brienne?

Full disclosure that I have not watched the show since season 4, only know what happened in this episode via my dash, and have not written for these two since… 2014 or something. But also, reasons.

Brienne is unable to stand the silence.

It is tormenting her, every step she takes, every ice-chafed breath she draws into her battered lungs, every instant that the winter world is quiet enough to hear the rushing of her living heart and the crunch of her living steps. She trusts nothing, cannot bring herself to believe it, that the Night King will not suddenly spring together from ice and ash and resume the attack. The White Walkers are gone, the ground is heaped with corpses, the mighty battlements of Winterfell preside over a frozen abattoir. The dead are starting to be retrieved and named, brought in on makeshift pallets, their own House colours draped over them if they can be found and any honourable blazon if they cannot. Brienne has seen Jorah Mormont and his little cousin Lyanna borne in, and Daenerys’ tear-stained face. Theon Greyjoy is fallen as well – Brienne dreads to tell her lady, though perhaps Sansa already knows – and so too the red priestess. There are others, countless others, Dothraki and Unsullied, men whose names Brienne does not know. But their sacrifice will be remembered. The north always does.

She walks slowly, battered and exhausted, into the shadow of the central keep. She needs to find Pod, she thinks. She needs to know that he is well. Then to the crypts to kneel before Sansa and give her the butcher’s bill, and then –

Brienne’s memories of the night already blur, jolted and smashed, raw shards, images and sensations. Her arms ache with the weight of swinging her sword over and over, and she is so exhausted that she wonders if she has become a wight herself, dead on her feet and yet still walking. She thought she would die every moment, up there on the parapet with Jaime at her side and the Arryn men behind, make an end worthy of a knight in a song, as if that was the only fate left for her. Yet she lived, and then again, and again, torn out of the darkest night Westeros has ever known, ripped her survival with teeth and claws and the strength of her sword. They will sing of Ser Brienne one day, and yet, one thing she has never allowed herself to imagine, she may even hear them.

Brienne finds Pod, assures herself of his survival, but is unable to manage anything else, and he insists that she sleep, as if sleep is in the cards for any of them, as if they can wrap their heads around the fact that thanks to Arya Stark, the war – this war – might be over. Brienne is so proud of her that she could weep, and drown, and never stop. And yet she does not. She is numb. She lifts her hand before her face and stares at it. Flesh, as yet. It does not feel so.

She floats into the halls of winter like a ghost herself. She wants to lie down, yet she fears to stop moving. They could come back. It could begin again, the chaos and the nightmare. They could – they could –

“My lady?”

Brienne jumps a foot, turns, and sees Jaime Lannister.

It seems impossible that he has managed to stray so far from her side, when he was never elsewhere than at it, and indeed, here he is again. He looks even more haggard than she feels, and she does not even remember how to speak for an instant, as he corrects himself, almost diffidently. “Or do you prefer ser now? You are entitled.”

Brienne, she wants to tell him. Call me Brienne.

She starts to nod back to him, their careful distance, their delicate dance, as if anything else about their old lives, their old selves, still matters. And then, to her consternation, her legs give out.

Jaime moves faster than she thought was possible for anyone to move after those unending hours of the deepest and darkest of the seven hells, catches her around the waist, and steadies her. A small shock goes through Brienne at his nearness, and she has some clumsy intention of pushing him off, to insist that she is strong enough, that she has always been. But Jaime is the one man that she does not need to beat or overawe, does not need to prove anything to. He is in awe of her, and in some ways always has been. And as their eyes meet, the weary warmth and pride and worry in them is enough to make her fragile heart shake, a coin flicked with a thumb, spinning and spinning, about to fall.

Quietly Jaime says, “Brienne. Let me see to you.”

When he says it like that, she cannot refuse him.

They bathed like this in Harrenhal, once. In tension and anger and pain, his stump knotted with bloody linen, as he told her the tale of the Mad King, and swooned like a milkmaid in her arms. Perhaps it is fitting, Jaime thinks, that it has once more returned to this.

There is not much hot water to be had, and he is clumsy at hauling it, but he works steadily until the tub is filled, and nods at Brienne to get in. She hesitates, as if she somehow still has maidenly scruple about disrobing in front of him, as if there is anything the two of them have hidden from each other. He is about to tease her gently, that being the only kind he can bear, but nor can he bear to be anything less than utterly devoted to her. Especially because as she continues to stand there, staring into space, he realizes it is not that she is too shy. It is because she is too tired to remember how.

Jaime pauses, decides that the wench can push him away if she so pleases, then walks over and begins to unbuckle Brienne’s breastplate, filthy with soot and smoke and the dried detritus of whatever bloody stuff White Walkers are made of, apart from evil. He works at the straps one-handed, takes it off her, and kneels before her like a squire to undo her greaves, to help her step from her boots. Brienne complies without a word, and he thinks wryly, poignantly, that the world is changed indeed if she has no heart to argue with him. Step by step, he helps her disrobe, until she is clad only in her smallclothes, and the air in the chamber is cold enough that perhaps she does not want to take those off. Then she comes to herself, shucks them off as well, and walks, naked as her nameday, tall as a goddess, to the tub, and steps in.

Jaime’s world is consumed by her, he can see nothing else, as Brienne eases her blackened and bruised and battered body into the water. He takes a step as if to leave her to it, but her shadowed head turns, her breath showing silver in the air even as steam curls from the water. “Jaime?”

(Gods, his heart shakes.)

He pauses, then manages to get his fool arse undressed as well, somehow. His frozen, filthy clothes slap on the stones, he untwists his golden hand and lays it on the sideboard, and climbs in with her.

There isn’t much room in the tub for two – this is not the great stone cisterns of Harrenhal, this is not then, this is not who they were then. They sit jammed almost knee to knee, heads bent together, foreheads touching, her fingers linking convulsively with his underwater, taking his good hand in one and grabbing hold of his stump with the other. She almost seems, his brave, brave wench, as if she might finally cry. Her breathing halts and heaves, her shoulders shaking. Her flesh is littered with raw marks. He wants to set his lips to each one, and kneel before her as she did before him. He never wants to rise.

“My lady,” Jaime whispers at last. “I – ”

He does not know what he wishes to say, but it lifts her head, and he stares into her eyes, the eyes that have, from the first moment, entranced him. Even when he was an arrogant two-handed son of a shit, and she beat him reeling. He lifts his dripping hand and cups her cheek, running his thumb over the strong line of the bone, as her eyelashes flutter and her breath catches and even this, he sees, she cannot truly trust. He can only try to wordlessly etch his love into her, to make her feel it without words, and with that, he leans forward – just as she, convulsively, does the same.

The kiss is awkward and badly angled. They almost knock noses, and then they knock chins, and in true predictable fashion, they’re initially both too stubborn to reposition. But then Jaime turns his head and so does she, and he opens her lips with his tongue, and he has kissed before and she has not, and he would teach her, would teach her everything. However he suspects, as ever, that ultimately, he would be the one to learn far more.

It is an endless moment until they pull apart, just a fraction. Her eyes are blank with shock, as if he might have done that by accident, so he leans in and kisses her firmly and with direct purpose, a challenge that she can recognize and accept. She is confident enough to return it this time, and water sloshes over the edge as he pulls her half on top of him. They float in eternity, even as his aching back jams against the side of the tub. The silence goes on.

Jaime Lannister has always wanted to die in the arms in the woman he loved.

(He wonders now, in this instant, in this rare raw beautiful unbearable stillness, in the gloaming, on the first day of dawn, if he might live instead.)

#got spoilers #jaime x brienne #braime #i have a lot of feelings #extasiswings #ask

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authorbarbie · 6 years ago

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When The Dust Settles

Summary: After the Battle of Winterfell, everyone is attempting to reunite with their loved ones. The only problem is not knowing if they were dead or alive.

You weren’t quite sure what had happened.

One minute you were in the crypts, holding tight to your dagger as you helped your little sister Sansa and Tyrion Lannister defend Winterfell. Collectively, you’d taken out several wights - your body shuddered when you remembered that they were your ancestors - and were shielding your people from harm.

The next, as Sansa prepared to deliver another blow, all the bodies suddenly fell. You knew what that meant, of course. The Night King was dead.

But by whose hand?

So many of your loved ones were out there. Jon, Arya, Bran, Brienne, Theon.

Jaime.

How many of them had fallen before the fight was over? Whose faces would you never see again?

“I think we may have won,” said Tyrion shakily, breaking the silence that had suddenly fallen across the group.

His words shattered the fear that had taken over since the horns had blown and the fight began. Tears fell quickly from your eyes as you pulled Sansa into a hug before leading everyone out of the debris and into the courtyard.

The smell of burning smoke still filled the air as ashes continued to fall from the sky like rain. Bodies were piled high everywhere you looked, a grim reminder of those the living had lost. Your eyes scanned each face, desperately hoping that your family wasn’t amongst the dead.

In the distance, you noticed one of the dragons curled around a small figure and identified it as Daenerys. She clutched onto someone who remained motionless. Another casualty of war.

Just as you began to fear that it might have been your brother, his familiar black curls came into view.

“Jon!”

Rushing forward, both you and Sansa were swept up in Jon’s arms, allowing yourselves a brief moment of relief before the hunt for the others began.

“The crypts?” Jon asked, placing you back on the ground.

“We hid from the army of the dead in a place where the dead are buried,” Sansa said sardonically. Ah, the benefits of hindsight.

Jon sighed. “It was foolish.”

“It was still the safest place,” you argued as you took in the horrific scenes around you. “Our survival rate was higher than theirs.”

The three of you silently broke off from the group and began to make your way across the grounds to the Godswood, pausing every so often when a friendly face was noticed amongst the dead. Jon mourned his friend Edd and you had almost broken at the sight of little Lyanna Mormont’s bloodied body lying next to a giant’s. At least she had gone down fighting like you knew she would.

With every step you took, the fear began to creep back inside.

“Is Bran…” you trailed off, not wanting to finish your own sentence.

“I don’t know,” Jon spoke quietly. “I couldn’t get to him.”

“Maybe you didn’t have to.”

At Sansa’s words, your head lifted and that’s when you saw them.

The remainders of the North’s army were returning home, battered, bloody and bruised, but still alive. You caught sight of Arya, a large gash on the side of her head, tiredly pushing Bran forward and it felt like a weight had been lifted.

“You’re both okay?” Sansa asked in disbelief when they approached.

“It’s over,” Bran said simply.

“How?” Jon asked.

There was a small pause before Arya spoke.

“I stuck him with the pointy end.”

Jon grinned. Your mouth dropped open.

“And Theon?” asked Sansa hesitantly.

“The Night King killed him,” Bran explained.

Any joy you had felt at seeing your family again had been snuffed out immediately and a somber silence hushed any words on your lips. You heard a sniff from Sansa before she turned and walked away.

Like a bucket of ice water being poured over you, you remembered with horror that you had yet to find Jaime.

Was your fate to be the same as Sansa’s? Clinging to hope as you scoured the battlefield only to find that the one you loved was already lost?

“Go,” Bran said with his uncanny ability to know just what you were thinking. “Find him.”

You glanced at your siblings and were met with a nod from Jon and a tiny smile from Arya. With their approval, you quickly dashed off through the crowds, fearful of what you might find.

Would there even be anything left of him? Would you stumble upon a golden hand in the rubble? Or would you find him torn apart by the undead, the places on his body you had once lovingly kissed now ripped to shreds? You weren’t sure which would be worse.

As you walked around in a daze, you caught sight of a few others.

Podrick was covered in blood and dirt but managed a smile in your direction that you returned. He’d come a long way from where he’d first began and you had to admit you were proud of the man.

Brienne was close behind, looking just as worse for wear as Pod. She held her sword loosely, heading towards what was left of the castle and placing her hand on your shoulder briefly as she passed. You opened your mouth to ask where Jaime was but the words seemed to die on your lips.

Jaime and Brienne had been part of the left flank together. You knew they were close and wouldn’t stray far from one another in battle… so why wasn’t he here?

Stop it, you told yourself. It’s not like they were attached at the hip, right? It’s entirely possible that they had gotten split up in the fray.

But what if…?

Gods, you were going to go out of your mind.

Staring out at the destruction around you, you thought of the last time you had seen Jaime, just a few hours ago.

The night had been quiet — almost peaceful.

You were surrounded by people you trusted, warming by the fire and drinking to calm your nerves. Stories were shared (admittedly, some were weirder than others) and jokes were told. Tears were shed when Jaime knighted Brienne. As far as last nights on Earth go, this one wasn’t so bad.

The evening began to wind down after Podrick showed off his surprisingly beautiful voice and lulled everyone into a comfortable silence, people choosing to take a few moments to themselves while they could. Jaime took your hand and the two of you made your way to your bedroom in silence.

“You’ve been awfully quiet,” Jaime commented as you shut the door behind you. “It’s very unlike you.”

“Hilarious,” you replied, completely deadpan.

“Stop,” Jaime caught your wrist as you attempted to walk by. “Talk to me.”

“Aren’t you scared?”

It was said so quietly, with such fragility, that Jaime almost didn’t hear you. Your gaze slowly lifted and your eyes met. The look on his face gave you your answer.

“Of course I’m scared,” Jaime said just as quietly, almost as if he was afraid that if he spoke any louder, the moment would be shattered. “The thought of something happening to Tyrion? To you?”

“You’re not worried for yourself?” you frowned.

“I’m not the priority here,” he said. “I would die protecting you.”

“Jaime…”

“There is nothing in this world that could ever make me want to give up on you,” Jaime’s hand shifted from your wrist and he brushed his fingers over your cheek. “Your mother couldn’t, Cersei couldn’t, and the dead definitely can’t.”

You hadn’t realised you’d been crying until you felt Jaime begin to wipe away the drops. He willed away his own tears as his eyes began to water and found himself desperately wishing, not for the first time, that he still had both of his hands so that he could touch you properly; to comfort you the way he wanted to.

“If you die, I’ll kill you,” you said through the tears.

Jaime pressed his forehead against yours — a comforting touch during an otherwise frightening time. Your words seemed to have amused him somewhat and he offered you a watery smile.

“I suppose I’d better fight to get back to you then.”

No more had to be spoken after that. Your lips came together in a gentle kiss that said so much more than any words possibly could have. Time seemed to slow down as you held on tightly to one another and all too soon, the sound of three horn blasts could be heard rumbling through the walls.

There was no time for hesitation, only action. Jaime reluctantly pulled away and you instantly missed his warmth, wanting to reach out and keep him with you through the war to come.

“I’ll see you afterward,” he told you, his hand already gripping his sword in preparation.

“You will.”

There was a pause. Both of you seemed to be taking each other in; memorising every little detail, every curve, every blemish until it was stored in your minds forever.

You would see each other again, you told yourself.

But as you watched Jaime leave, you couldn’t help but fear the worst.

The sound of a bark broke you from your reverie and you snapped to attention just in time to see Ghost and your own direwolf, Briar, running towards you. Ghost paused for a pat on the head before he continued to run — presumably to go find Jon — while Briar stopped at your feet and let out a whine. She had always been good at reading your emotions, but the blood that stained her dark grey coat only increased your nerves.

“Perhaps we should head back to the castle and wait. He might meet us there,” you tried to convince yourself. “Does that sound good?”

Briar nipped gently at your fingers in agreement and stayed close by your side as you began to return home. You placed a hand on top of her soft head, using her strength to keep yourself upright. She didn’t seem to mind. She never did.

You didn’t want to give up but with every step you took, there had still been no sign of Jaime.

Both you and your direwolf entered the grounds again, walking by the kennels when you sensed you wouldn’t make it much further. Your knees felt like they were about to buckle but you forced yourself onwards. Briar barked in response.

“It’s okay, girl,” you told her. “I’m fine.”

Briar barked again.

“I said it’s alright.”

Another bark.

“Briar, what are you—”

Your words were cut off when you looked down at your wolf only to find she was no longer there. Turning abruptly, you caught sight of her running towards a person you knew all too well. A person with the same eyes and smile as the man you loved. Briar yipped with happiness, her tail wagging back and forth.

The man seemed to sense your gaze for he gave Briar one last scratch behind the ear before standing, his eyes meeting yours. Despite the dirt and blood that clung to his skin, he still managed to find happiness at the sight of you.

“Looking for someone?”

#jaime lannister x reader #jaime lannister imagine #game of thrones imagine #i've never written for got before don't @ me #mine

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reginarubie · 3 years ago

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Jon and Sansa do end up together, but— Another one of Sansa's exes.

I just realized although I put it on ao3, I never posted here the third installment of the Jon and Sansa do end up together, but— let's see them from their exes' POV. Or if I have, it has gotten lost in the posts and I can't find it anymore.

Sorry for the delay, in case I did not post it, so here you have it (can read it on ao3, here).

This one features also Robb Stark (in his groomzilla and proud brother era), a quipping, sarcastic Arya Stark and a lovely Jeyne Poole.

It’s time to face the truth [I’ll never be with you]

Podrick~

Lord Stark and lady Stark are often seen together, just taking a stroll in the market, speaking with the people, letting them shoot photos, just listening to them.

Lord Brandon is the most secluded of the Starks, possibly due his condition. Though he can often been seen during official outings, or with his mother during their meetings for charity. Though often the tabloids post about him and his two long-time friends, Meera Reed and Jojen Reed, both from the small nobility.