And soon they had a pile of metal. It looked so less impressive sitting as it did, off his body and in a half-mess on the log. "I'm sorry," she at long last had the grace and good sense to say -- although it was done in a voice that made clear how she was not pleading for forgiveness but rather fulfilling a duty. "...Sorry that so much hard work must be abandoned."

Her part in it was done. And so she could step away, retain her shade of personal space, and try not to reflect on what the Brotherhood might have done to poor Podrick. Even if Gendry had killed the boy himself (which she was not yet certain he hadn't done) it would be no reason to stop trusting his protectorship. The Hound had done worse and some of that before her eyes.

Before she could hamstring herself by giving another apology, Sansa turned away and walked to the creek's edge.