GoT: Fanfiction - Promises, Kingsguards and goodbyes.
“Sansa has marriage intentions?” was the surprised question from Ser Davos.
Bran seemed to think about it for a little and wistfully looked at the entrance of the council room before answering “Sansa made promises to someone, The Queen in the North is considering whether taking action on those promises is right for her and the kingdom.”
“So the pretty Queen in the North is still married to you, you ugly cunt”
Tyrion just looks mortified “Oh for fucks sake, stop that Bronn”
But his friend just gave a hearty laugh “what does that make you then? Prince consort, Lord of Winterfell?”
“That makes me nothing; I’m sure we can get an annulment and leave the Queen her freedom to marry whomever she pleases. Wouldn’t you agree, maester Sam?”
“erhh.. I believe we can write to the citadel, clarify the situation at once”
“and you never consummated your marriage.” added Bran knowingly.
“you better not have” muttered Brienne under her breath while glaring daggers at Tyrion who interjected “Of course I didn’t, Sansa was a child! ”
“We’ll she isn’t a child now, I can’t believe you don’t want to go up north and demand that she-”
“I swear to the gods Lord Bronn, you keep talking about Queen Sansa like that and I will -” Brienne stood from her seat ready to cut the lord in front of her in half.
Ser Davos, often the voice of reason had to yell “alright enough, everyone!”
“Lord Bronn, as this has nothing to do with matters of gold, please refrain yourself from talking. Lord Tyrion, I’m sure nobody here doubts your honor in this respect, You’d probably be dead or worse at the hands of Lady Arya if you had hurt Her Grace in any way and Ser Brienne, please refrain yourself from killing our master of coin” he finished a bit winded.
“Thank you Ser Davos, although a part of me would let Ser Brinee do as she would, had Lord Bronn not stopped talking about my sister like that”
There was awkward silence for there weren’t many times when the king acted as Bran Stark. Brienne just smirked.
“Right,” Tyrion decided to carry on “so, that’s settled, Sam will obtain the annulment, I’ll give any testimony the maesters at the citadel may need, no need to bother Queen Sansa with this if we can help it.”
“But would she want that?” Asked Samwell Tarly timidly, “from what we heard from the North she keeps fending off offers of marriage from northern lords, this may give her the perfect excuse not to marry any of them…” he looked directly at Bran, because he might be the only one who might have a clue about the Queen’s thoughts on the matter.
“You are correct in that Sansa does not wish to take another husband at the moment. This could work as an advantage for her. At least until she is ready to announce her own marriage intentions”
“Sansa has marriage intentions?” was the surprised question from Ser Davos
Bran seemed to think about it for a little and wistfully looks at the entrance of the council room before answering “Sansa made promises to someone, The Queen in the North is considering whether taking action on those promises is right for her and the kingdom.”
Brienne also looked at the door of the council and suddenly something made sense to her, she had to ask “what kind of promise?”
“I’m sorry Ser Brienne, but I can’t answer that for you”
“Of course you can’t, sorry, your grace.”
“When we get the annulment, I believe we should send Ser Podrick north with the document” announced Bran.
“Podrick, your grace? Won’t a raven with the news suffice?” asked Ser Davos
“I think sending Ser Podrick is a great idea, he will be discreet with the information, he knows the road to Winterfell and has the queen’s trust as to be received warmly up there.” Finished Brianne while throwing a conspiratorial glance at the king.
It had been a surprise to say the least, when a messenger arrived to the courtroom stating that an envoy from the south had arrived at the gates of the castle asking to speak with the queen. When the man added that it was the boy who used to squire for lady Brienne it was a shock to her body.
The jolt of joy she felt made her body sing but too soon after came the trepidation, she wasn’t ready yet; they kept writing each other, silly things sometimes, on occasion one would slip and tell the other how she missed seeing him training with Brienne and getting back up, or how he would hear a lord say something idiotic and he could almost hear her remaking something that would put the man in his place, or how the missed each other smiles and touches. Silly nothings, really.
She wrote him about wanting to see him but not being sure enough in her place to do so yet, there were still marriage policies in place and eager lords to try to put off. He reassured her that it was alright, that he too had been learning to lead in a decimated army; that he wanted to be able to offer her more than just a boy in a metal suit.
But if he was here just less than a year after her coronation it probably wasn’t because of her. It probably was something urgent and dreadful, she mused.
So it was probably a bigger shock to those present at court when she order the messenger to tell the staff to set up a room for Ser Podrick and to tell him that she would see him in her private study after this session was finished.
Oh, she was going to hear from her advisers about entertaining men privately as an unmarried queen.
Except it wasn’t “men”. It was Ser Podrick Payne.
And she would suffer the complaints of her advisors for him. It’s the least she could do after leaving him in King’s Landing with a few kisses and a promise to call him back home once things settled in the north.
After almost two hours of meeting she finally made her way to her study where two guards were positioned at the entry.
“Your Grace” they gave a short nod.
“is Ser Podrick already inside?
“yes, your Grace”
“are… is that his sword, Sven?
“Yes your grace, we wouldn’t be very good at our job if we let an armed meet with you in private would we?”
“No, I suppose, you wouldn’t. But it’s alright, its Ser Podrick, no need for that.”
With that, she took the sword along a big breath, set her shin up and she opened the door.
When she entered the room he immediately turned from his position by the window where he was looking out, a little insecure but a little hopeful.
They looked at each other for a few seconds before she broke the silence.
“Hello, Pod”
He smiled at the familiar use of his nickname “Hello again, your grace”.
“Here, you left your sword out” she handed him the sword and relished in the touch of his hand as she gave it to him.
“Thank you, my queen, I was glad to see you are well protected in your home”
“it’s not the same without you and Ser Brienne, but they keep me safe” she offered.
“So” the both started and let a small laugh at the chorus but he motion for her to go first.
“So, what brings you here without warning?... please don’t tell me it’s another war” and though she said it teasingly there was a genuine worry behind her words.
“Nothing like that, my queen, it actually is something that you might like”
He then proceeded to tell her about how the citadel had send word of possible conflicts concerning the matter of heirs born of the new queen in the north seeing as she was married to a Lannister and asking what that would mean for the Heir of Casterly Rock, and how Lord Tyrion had proclaimed that although some might suggest keeping their bond might seem useful to some southern lords he would not hold Sansa hostage to vows made when they both were practically prisoners of his family and therefore sent for an annulment, one which he sent Podrick to deliver to the queen.
“So… you are here to give me my freedom back, Ser Podrick, how chivalrous of you” she asked with a glint in her eye after a way too composed and proper Podrick delivered the news and the scroll from Tyrion.
“Well it was Lord Tyrion really, who felt that you should be made aware of your situation, and be released form your wedding vows, but you know I am always happy to be of service to you, your grace”. He was still awkward, she found him endearing.
“and…we have been married all this time” she said sounding amused “who would have thought that it would be me and not the indecent Tyrion Lannister the one who would be the adulterous one, remarrying without actual proof of my husband’s passing” she finished more bitterly at the intrusive memories of her last marriage.
Podrick was silent for a few seconds, pondering what the queen just said. “I don’t think that’s fair your grace”
“oh! you know I don’t think Lord Tyrion is indecent at all Podrick. Adulterous, maybe, indecent not so much” she said apologetically, she knew that Podrick always held Tyrion in high esteem.
“I meant fair to you, Sansa” and there he was, stoic Podrick replaced by the kind smitten Podrick who could make her feel all kinds of warm and safe.
“You are always sweet to me, Pod. I have missed that. I’ve missed you” offering her hand and with that all pretense of formality and awkwardness was gone.
Podrick seemed to relax as he smiled and stepped towards her to take her hand and kiss it reverently. “It has been far too long, my q- Sansa. I’ve missed you too”.
She took his hand then and brought it to her lips too, her other hand seemed to decide on its own volition to go over his cheek, to touch his eyebrow, like it was mapping him for her. “you look good, you know?”
“You as well, Sansa. I can’t believe I’m looking at you, I can’t believe you’re touching me”. And the adoration in his voice would melt her.
“And I can’t believe you’re not kissing me right now, Ser”
And because he never wanted to disappoint her, he did.
For far longer than he ever had in Kings Landing.
So, there was more of this little universe where Pod and Sansa long for each other from afar. There's a lot more in my head too but writing is seriously hard and it takes time. Makes me appreciate the rest of you fanfic authors out there a hell of a lot more. Hopefully I'll add to this some more.