To Win a Stone Heart
is a A Song of Ice and Fire fanfic. After rescuing Podrick from hanging at the hands of the Brotherhood without Banners, Jaime, Brienne and Podrick seek to reunite the Starks by bringing Sansa, in hiding in the Vale as Alayne Stone, home to Winterfell. On the way, Podrick has to decide if love or duty is guiding him.
Tropes that appear in this fanfic:
- Big Bad: Littlefinger is the main antagonist.
- Big Damn Heroes: Jaime and Brienne rescuing Pod from certain death by hanging.
- Cold-Blooded Torture: The story begins with Pod getting tortured by the Brotherhood without Banners under Lady Stoneheart. This round involves slashing him dozens of times, rubbing salt into the wounds (literally), and then waterboarding him.
- Crazy-Prepared: Pod goes to the meeting in the Vale with mail under his tunic.
- Didn't Think This Through: Well hey, it wouldn't be A Song of Ice and Fire without at least one of these, would it?
- The Kingslayer, a Lannister knight with fluid allegiances, and a Lannister squire show up in the Vale looking for Sansa Stark and promise to bring her home once they find her. Yeah, that totally doesn't look suspicious.
- Good Scars, Evil Scars: Pod now has a few after his encounter with the Brotherhood without Banners, notably a scar around his neck from almost being hanged.
- I Gave My Word: Brienne still stands by her oath to find the Stark daughters. Since Arya has returned to Winterfell, she, Jaime, and Pod go to find Sansa.
- Knight, Knave, and Squire: Brienne is the Knight, Jaime is the Knave, and Podrick is the Squire.
- The Man They Couldn't Hang: Pod after being saved from hanging.
- Offscreen Moment of Awesome:
- Bran has reclaimed Winterfell from the Boltons.
- The Tullys have reclaimed Riverrun.
- Putting the Band Back Together: Bran, Arya, and Rickon have made their way back home. Jaime, Brienne, and Pod aim to finish the job.
- Small Role, Big Impact: Sweetrobin only appears for a chapter, but his testimony seals Littlefinger's fate.
- Spotting the Thread: Pod can spot auburn roots and brown hair quite well.
- You Are in Command Now: Bran is now the King in the North.
