Title: Up to the Task
Fandom: Game of Thrones
Pairing: Brienne of Tarth/Arya Stark
Rating: Teen
Prompt: Folktales Prompt Table - Knight in Shining Armor
Word Count: 444
Summary: Brienne goes in search of Arya after the Night King is defeated



Just like that, it was over. The Army of the Dead dropped to the ground, the weapons they wielded falling with a clatter beside their corpses. In her heart, Brienne knew what had happened. She’d trained with the young woman often enough and still Arya continued to unleash a surprising move during every session. Arya was no student; she was a master in her own right. She laughed at Brienne’s statement that she’d made an oath to Catelyn Stark to protect both Arya and Sansa. “I don’t need your protection,” she’d stated.

Brienne left her place on the battlefield, with an energy that contradicted the aches and pains that she’d felt. She was compelled with a desire to see the warrior who saved them all. Arya didn’t strive to be a knight with all the codes and loyalties to sovereigns that that entailed. She wasn’t bound to be a lady either, despite what the blacksmith believed. Arya’s only code was to protect her home and those she loved, and she’d done that tonight.

She made her way through the crowd of soldiers, milling their way back to the home base. She found Arya in the godswood with Bran. Arya stood next to Bran, dagger clutched in her hand, ready to take on any more comers. She turned at the sound of Brienne’s footsteps. “You’re here,” she said.

“Are you hurt?” Brienne asked.

“I could ask you the same thing.”

“Just a few nicks, here and there.”

“Same.”

Brienne drew closer. Arya clutched the dagger tighter.

“It’s over. You did it. You stopped them.”

“Are you sure?”

“I wouldn’t be standing here if I wasn’t.”

The dagger dropped from Arya’s hand and sank into the snow at her feet. She staggered toward Brienne who caught her in her arms.

Brienne whispered, “You’re safe. We’re all safe.”

“Not all.”

“No.”

“Sansa?”

“I don’t know. I came here. I wasn’t sure if… I’m just glad to see you, Arya.”

“I’m glad you’re here,” Arya whispered. She allowed herself to be held for another moment, then pulled back and looked at Brienne.

“Tomorrow we bury the dead and then we go against Cersei. But tonight…”

“Tonight?”

“We celebrate living. I want you to join me.”

“But what about...?” Brienne started.

“I want you to join me,” Arya said again. The look on her face showed exactly what she wanted. She needed rescuing, not from monsters in the night, but rather from the expectations that everyone would have for her. That was something Brienne understood and she was up to the task.