[Riverrun]

Brienne of Tarth and her squire Podrick Payne, approached the vantage point atop the hill. Their steeds, breathing heavily from the journey, provided a stark contrast to the stillness that settled over the landscape as they surveyed the Lannister-Frey encampment sprawling below.

"Looks like a siege, my lady."

"You have a keen military mind, Pod." She spotted Jaime riding a white horse among his men.

"My lady. My lady."

Several Lannister soldiers rode towards Brienne and Podrick, and encircled them.

"Who goes there? State your business!" One of them asked.

"My name is Brienne of Tarth. Please inform Ser Jaime Lannister I've come to speak with him. Tell him I have his sword."

[Lannister-Frey Encampment]

In the dimly lit confines of the tent, Brienne of Tarth and Ser Jaime Lannister faced one another. The flickering candlelight cast shadows upon their armored forms, lending a solemnity to the atmosphere that matched the gravity of their unspoken words.

"I nevr thought you'd find her. I just assumed Sansa was dead."

"Why would you assume that?"

"In my experience, girls like her don't live very long."

"I don't think you know many girls like her."

"Well, I'm proud of you. I am. You fulfilled your oath to Catelyn Stark against all odds." Jaime walked around the tent and stopped on Brienne's other side, causing her to face him. "Of course my sister wants Sansa dead. The girl is a suspect in Joffrey's murder, so there is that complication. What the hell are you doing here?"

"I've come for the Blackfish."

"You're welcome to have him."

"Lady Sansa desires to take her ancestral seat back from the Boltons and assume her rightful position as Lady of Winterfell."

"With what army does she plan on taking Winterfell?"

"The Tully army."

"They're a bit occupied at the moment. I was sent here to reclaim Riverrun currently defended by the Tully rebels, so you can see the conundrum."

"The Tullys are rebels because they're fighting for their home?"

"Riverrun was granted to the Freys by royal decree."

"As a reward for betraying Robb Stark and slaughtering his family."

"Exactly." Jaime and Brienne stared at each other. "We shouldn't argue about politics."

"You're a knight, Ser Jaime. I know there is honour in you. I've seen it myself."

"I'm a Lannister. Don't ask me to betray my own house."

"I do no such thing. Take Riverrun without bloodshed. Ride south with your mission complete and your army intact."

"What do you propose?"

"Allow me to enter Riverrun under a flag of truce. Let me try to persuade the Blackfish to give up the castle."

In truth, she needed to deliver a message that she had received from a woman, claiming to know Sansa. At first, Brienne tried convincing her to tell her where Sansa was, After all, that was what she had been doing all this time; searching for Sansa. But, the woman assured her Sansa was safe, and far out of the reach of the Lannisters or anyone who would seek to harm her. Reluctantly, Brienne decided to take the risk and deliver the letter.

"Why would he abandon his ancestral home?" Jaime asked.

"Because you'll allow him to lead the Tully forces safely north."

"Have you ever met the Blackfish?"

"No."

"He's even more stubborn than you are." Brienne looked down and Jaime walked back around the table to her other side. "All right. Try to talk some sense into the old goat. He won't listen, but his men might. Not everybody wants to die for someone else's home."

"I need your word. If I persuade him to abandon the castle, you'll grant us safe passage north."

"You have my word. You have until nightfall."

Brienne nodded and undid her sword belt. She handed Oathkeeper to Jaime who sighed.

"You gave it to me for a purpose. I've achieved that purpose."

"It's yours. It will alwys be yours."

Brienne stared into Jaime's eyes, then tied Oathkeeper back on her waist and began to walk out. Jaime followed her to the entrance of the tent, causing her to turn back.

"One last thing, Ser Jaime."

"Yes, Lady Brienne?"

"Should I fail to persuade the Blackfish to surrender, and if you attack the castle, honor compels me to fight for Sansa's kin."

"Of course it does."

"To fight you."

"Let's hope it doesn't come to that."

Brienne and Jaime, locked eyes for a long moment before she finally turned and made her exit. He continued to watch her retreating form, his eyes lingering as she disappeared from the room.

[Riverrun - Outer Wall]

Brienne and Podrick trailed in the wake of Brynden as he strode along the fortifications of Riverrun, a square of parchment clutched firmly in his hand.

"I've said no three times already."

"I have a signed letter from your niece Sansa Stark."

"I haven't seen her since she was a child. I don't know her signature. I don't know you. And I will not surrender." Brynden turned to one of his soldiers. "Double the guards tonight." He looked out at the Lannister/Frey encampment. "The Kingslayer wants to try us. I can feel it."

Brynden turned on his heel and walked inside, Brienne and Podrick following after him.

"As I have said, my name is-"

"Yes, Brienne of Tarth. I know your father. A good man."

"He alwys spoke highly of you."

"And if he were here now, I'd tell him the same I'm telling you." Brynden made his way down a set of steps. "If you think I'm abandoning my family's seat on the Kingslayer's word of honour, you're a bloody fool."

"Riverrun cannot stand against the Lannisters and the Freys."

"We can stand longer than your one-handed friend thinks we can."

Brynden, Brienne, and Podrick emerged into Riverrun's main courtyard.

"He's not my friend." Brienne protested.

"No?" Brynden stopped and turned back to face her. "Who gave you permission to cross the siege line and enter the castle? Who gave you that sword with the gold lion on the pommel?"

"Ser Jaime kept his word to your niece Catelyn Stark. He sent me to find Sansa, to help her as Catelyn wanted. He gave me this sword to protect her. That is what I have done and I will continue to do until the dau I die."

Brienne held out the piece of parchment to Brynden. He took it, unfolded it, and read its contents, smiling and chuckling under his breath.

"She's exactly like her mother." Brienne smiled and Brynden turned back to face her. "I don't have enough men to help her take Winterfell."

"You have more than she does."

"She wants her home back. I understand that. But this is my home. And if Jaime Lannister wants it, he can bloody well take it the way everyone else does."

Brynden handed the letter back to Brienne who took it as Brynden walked away.

"Find the maester. We need to get a raven north to Sansa." Brienne told Podrick.

"What should I write?"

"Tell her I failed."

Later, Edmure crossed the bridge over Riverrun's moat, carrying a torch. Several guards point crossbows down at him. He stops at the end of the bridge.

"Who goes there?" The Guard Captain asked.

"Edmure Tully, son of Hoster Tully, and the rightful Lord of Riverrun. I demand entry."

Brynden appeared on the wall with the guards. "Don't let him in." He told the Captain.

"He's the Lord of Riverrun. I have to obey his commands."

"He's been their captive ever since they murdered his king at the Red Wedding. Why do you think the people who murdered his king at the Red Wedding would decide to let him come home? Because it's a trap, you idiot. Don't let him in." Brynden turned to walk away.

"He's my lord, my lord. I've sworn to serve the Lord of Riverrun and obey his commands."

Brynden turned back. "You're not obeying Edmure's commands. You're obeying the fucking Kinglsayer's commands."

"I demand entry." Edmure repeated.

"My lord has given an order."

"WIth a knife to his throat. That is not a valid order."

The guard captain turned to his fellow guards. "Lower the drawbridge and open the gate for Lord Ed-"

Brynden unsheathed his sword halfway, causing the guard captain and the other guards to show their steel. "I'll have your head before I surrender Riverrun." Brynden told the captain.

"You are not lord of this castle, my lord."

Brynden looked around at the other guards, sheathed his sword, and walked away.

Aye. Unfortunately he had be been born a second son, and his brother had a son to inherit after him. A weak son, but a son no less.

"Lower the drawbridge!" The Guard Captain called.

"Aye, ser!"

The drawbridge began to open. Edmure stared back across the Lannister/Frey encampment where Jaime waited on his horse.

Black Walder rode up beside Jaime, watching as the drawbridge fully extended and Edmure walked inside.

"If you're wrong, we're just surrendered our most valuable prisoner." He told Jaime.

The drawbridge of Riverrun lowered to allow Edmure's passage, and as he stepped into the castle, the Riverrun soldiers parted to reveal his uncle, Brynden Tully, standing at the back of their ranks. Edmure handed his torch to one of the guards and ascended the stairs to the outer wall's peak.

"Welcome home, my lord," the Guard Captain greeted him.

Without delay, Edmure ordered, "Command all the forces within the castle to lay down their arms. Open the gates."

The Captain hesitated, "My lord-"

"Your lord has given a command," Edmure reiterated firmly.

Their deliberation was cut short by a thunderous noise echoing from outside the castle walls.

One of the men ventured, "What was that?"

The answer came swiftly, a chilling cry of "Dragon!"

Without a moment's pause, the men surged towards the ramparts, eager to verify the claim. Upon reaching the top, they beheld an enormous white dragon with eyes the color of amethysts. A shadowy figure was perched upon its back, their gender indiscernible from this distance.

Their suspense grew palpable as they pondered whether the creature and its rider were friend or foe. The silence was shattered by a single, authoritative command.

"Dracarys!"

And with that, the dragon unleashed a torrent of flames upon the unsuspecting Frey and Lannister soldiers below.

Near the Riverrun exit, Brynden, Podrick, and Brienne emerged from a doorway.

Brynden placed the torch in a sconce and stood in the doorway as Podrick got into a small rowboat floating on the surface of the river.

Brienne knelt to steady the rowboat for Podrick, then turned back to look at the Blackfish.

"Go on." Brynden urged.

Brienne stood and faced him. "Come with us." She pleaded.

"I've run before from the Red Wedding. I'm not running again. This is my family home."

"Your family is in the North. Come with us. Don't die for pride when you can fight for your blood."

"You'll serve Sansa far better than I ever could."

Some guards began shouting in the background.

"Go on, now." Brynden unsheathed his sword. "I haven't had a proper sword fight in years. I expect I'll make a damn fool of myself."

Brynden headed through the doorway and back up the steps. Brienne watched him leave before getting in the rowboat.

As they began to drift away from the castle, a cry pierced the air.

"Dragon!" It was said with astonishment.

Their eyes met, reflecting the same doubt and disbelief.

The dragon, a majestic creature of pure white, appeared in the sky above them, a rider perched upon its back. The figure's identity remained obscured, but its significance was not lost on them.

"We must leave," Podrick insisted.

Their mission was clear; they had to return to the North.

The dragon's roar echoed through the night, and the rider's command sent a stream of fire towards the ground. Brienne's heart skipped a beat, knowing that Jaime had been in the vicinity of the battle.

"We must go," Podrick urged again.

With reluctance, Brienne nodded. There was no alternative.

Without looking back, she resumed her rowing, pulling away from the fiery scene that had unfolded.