[in his cell] Podrick. Apologies for the stench.
Podrick PayneI brought you some wine, m'Lord, but they took it from me.
Podrick Payne
They didn't find the candles, though [starts laying items on a bench] A quill, some parchment, duck sausage, almonds, and some hard cheese.
You're a good lad. Any word of Shae?
Podrick Payne
I've heard nothing, my Lord.
I suppose that's a good thing. What are they saying about me, out there?
Podrick Payne
You're to stand trial, in a fortnight- for murdering the King.
Do you believe I murdered Joffrey?
Podrick Payne
No, m'Lord. You didn't.
No. Gods, no. The world is a better place without him, but I had nothing to do with it. I'd like to think, if I were planning a Royal assassination, I would arrange it in such a way that I wouldn't be standing there, gawking like a fool when the King died. Trial in a fortnight... have they announced the judges yet?
Podrick Payne
Your father.
Podrick Payne
Lord Mace Tyrell.
Who will vote exactly as my father tells him to vote.
Podrick Payne
And Prince Oberyn of Dorne.
Oberyn? [laughs] Leave it to my father.Never fails to take advantage of a family tragedy.
Podrick Payne
I'm supposed to get a list of names from you, my Lord. Anyone who might testify on your behalf.
Oh! I can call my own witnesses? How generous of them! Very well. My wife, Sansa.
Podrick Payne
My Lord, she's gone.
Podrick Payne
No one's seen her, since the wedding. You don't think she...
No one had more cause to kill Joffrey than Sansa, but the girl's no assassin. No, whoever killed the King wanted me to lose my head for it and with my wife's disappearance, it makes me seem that much more guilty. Podrick.
Podrick Payne
Yes, my Lord?
They'll be following you, now.
Podrick Payne
Who, my Lord?
I don't know! They, they! The ominous "They"! The men pulling the strings, or women. My father. Maybe Joffrey was too much work for him. Sweet Tommen will be so much easier to handle. Whenever something bad happens to me, I assume it's my sister that had a hand in it. But say what you will of Cersei, she loves her children. She is the only one I'm certain had nothing to do with this murder... which makes this unique, as King's Landing murders go.
Podrick Payne
How did you end up serving Renly?
When I was a girl, my father held a ball. I'm his only living child, so he wanted to make a good match for me. He invited dozens of young Lords to Tarth. I didn't want to go, but he dragged me to the ballroom. And it was wonderful. None of the boys noticed how mulish and tall I was. They shoved each other and threatened to duel when they thought it was their turn to dance. And whispered in my ear, how they wanted to marry me and take me back to their castles. My father smiled at me, and I smiled at him. I had never been so happy...'till I saw a few of the boys snickering. And then, they all started to laugh; they couldn't keep the game going any longer. They were toying with me. "Brienne the Beauty", they called me. Great joke. And I realized I was the ugliest girl alive. A great, lumbering beast. I tried to run away, but Renly Baratheon took me in his arms. "Don't let them see your tears," he told me, "They're nasty little shits, and nasty little shits aren't worth crying over." He danced with me, and none of the other boys could say a word. Renly was the King's brother, after all.
Podrick Payne
But, wasn't he...Lord Tyrion said he was...
Yes, Pod, he liked men! I'm not an idiot. He didn't love me, he didn't want me. He danced with me because he was kind, and didn't want to see me hurt. He saved me from being a joke... from that day, until his last day. And I couldn't save him, in return. Nothing's more hateful than failing to protect the one you love. One day, I will avenge King Renly.
Podrick Payne
But you said a shadow murdered him. How do you fight a shadow?
A shadow with the face of Stannis Baratheon. I know it was Stannis. I know it in my heart. Stannis is a man, not a shadow, and a man can be killed.
[Kneels and places her sword on the snow in front of Sansa] Lady Sansa, I offer my services once again. I will shield your back and keep your counsel and give my life for yours, if need be. I swear it by the old gods and the new.
[Sansa, shaken, looks to Theon who nods in approval]
[Looks to Brienne] And I vow...that you shall always have a place by my h-hearth, and...
Podrick Payne
[Chimes in] Meat and mead at my table.
...Meat and mead at my table. And I pledge...to ask no service of you that might bring you dishonor. I swear it by the old gods and the new. Arise.
Game of Thrones · 356 quotes
