Blue Winter Roses:

A Tale of the North

1

SANSA

When I was a young girl in Winterfell, Bran and I used to love the snow. Robb was constantly with Father, or angling to accompany Father on even the most minor errand to a neighboring house like the Karstarks or the Forresters, and Arya would follow around Jon like a stray animal, ponytail bouncing behind her, no matter what he was doing. He always scowled, but I believed - and still believe - that he liked it. It's hard to believe that I wouldn't have rather been inside with Mother or Septa Mordane, learning to braid my hair or sampling lemon cakes, but my favorite memories of Winterfell were always playing in the snow, building miniature faraway cities, as the twilight fell over us like a blanket.

Now, it fell, silent and still, around me and the pile of rags lying prone at my side, and all I could hear were the sounds of Bran laughing, and the raving, howling wind.

My body felt splintered, like a sheet of ice struck with the dull end of a sword. For each breath I took that didn't hurt terribly, I said a silent prayer to the Old Gods. Had I finally escaped the horrible tyranny and torture of Ramsay Snow, or would I open my eyes to see his wicked, smiling face and eyes that held no mercy? I was too frightened to look at first. But I promised myself that if Theon and I were recaptured, I would jump again, but this time from the church tower. I would not hesitate. Ramsay would not have my soul. Once I decided this, I felt empowered, and encouraged enough to open my eyes and look up. I saw nothing but snow, falling, and white sky. The battlements of Winterfell were behind us, and there was only forward.

"Sansa?" Theon whimpered, not moving. "Are you all right?"

"Yes," I replied, my voice sounding stronger than I'd anticipated. "I think the snow helped to break our fall." Shakily, I stood, brushing the snow off my petticoats. "We need to get as far away from here as possible, Theon."

My name is Reek, I expected him to say, thinking it might drive me mad if he did. I didn't see any Bolton troops nearby, but we were clearly in a perilous spot. We were far too close to freedom to turn back now.

He moaned - I wasn't sure if he felt conflicted about leaving or he was simply in pain, but I threw his arm around my shoulder and helped him to his feet. He went as limp as a ragdoll cat, but he didn't feel to be much more than skin and bones, so I was able to bear the weight.

"Where will we go?" he managed, his breath coming in small white puffs. "Where will we be safe?"

"I ... I don't know," I replied honestly, my eyes darting from side to side, searching for some sort of cover. Had Stannis's army been defeated? What had happened to the poor old woman's promise that if I lit a candle in the Tower, I would be rescued? Were rescuers near, perhaps? "No one's coming to rescue you," I muttered under my breath. Fairy tales were no more, and had not been a part of my life for a very long time. How foolish I had once been, innocent and thinking I was in love with Joffrey Baratheon! I had to stifle a small laugh, as unbelievable as it was, to think of Joffrey at a time like this. Compared to Ramsay, Joff was a gentleman.

As we hurriedly shuffled away from the battlements towards a grove of weirwood trees, a lone rider on a gigantic horse approached, galloping wildly. In fact, the rider was equally gigantic - and was not wearing the sigil of the Flayed Man, nor the flaming heart of House Baratheon. Still, I did not want us to be seen. Holding my breath, I increased my gait. "Come on," I urged Theon. I was basically dragging him across the ground.

The horse drew nearer, and I could see that the knight had drawn a sword the size of Ice, my father's broadsword. For one crazy moment, I looked up and thought I saw Sandor Clegane, The Hound, there to rescue us. But that idea was crazy - why would he be looking for me? How would anyone know where I was? I still needed to be rescued. Nothing had really changed since the day I had left this place with Father and Arya for King's Landing.

I stopped breathing as the giant atop this majestic horse gazed down at us. Although the day was filled with clouds and snow, there was an intense glare, and I could not see his face.

"I lit the candle." It was all I could manage. My voice didn't sound quite so strong now. I sounded like a frightened little girl. "Did you see it?"

For a moment, there was silence, and I stood there stupidly, unsure of what to do or say next. Then, I heard a shocking sound - the knight was weeping.

"I am ... so deeply sorry, Lady Sansa." The voice, much higher than that of The Hound's, was a familiar one - and it was one I had scorned, ignored. I don't need your help, I had told it, putting my trust instead in Petyr Baelish. The man who had left me here with Ramsay.

I squinted up at the figure on the horse in disbelief and finally found my voice again. "Will you help us?"

Instantly, the woman dismounted her horse and held out her hand to me. "You have no idea how glad I am to see you outside these walls, Lady Sansa. I have been watching for your candle. I ... I had other business to attend to, but now, as always, I am at your service. I will take you wherever you ... and your friend" - she eyed Theon - "want to go." She dried her eyes. "I am Brienne of Tarth, and I will never fail you again."

I believed her, more than I had believed anyone about anything in a long, long time. I took her hand and she helped me onto the steed, and then lifted Theon, as well. Leading the horse on foot, we approached the forest surrounding Winterfell as night came.

Snow crunched under the horse's feet as we walked, mostly in silence. I could feel Theon's body shivering behind mine. After everything he had done to my family, I admit that part of me wanted to leave him behind. Still, he had saved my life, and had jumped with me, knowing he might not survive. Not for the first time, I wondered if Theon had been injured more seriously than he appeared, as he had already been in precarious health. Perhaps he might need a maester.

"Where do you think we should go, Lady Brienne?" I asked, not sure if I should call her "Lady" or "Ser." I had never met a female knight before. "Where do you live?"

"I'm not sure I have lived in one particular place for a long time," she replied, not looking back from the road ahead. "I have been looking for you and your sister, since your mother requested it of me."

I was surprised. "That's quite a long time. Where does your family live, then?"

"The Sapphire Isle. Do you know it?"

I did. "Well, I've seen it on maps. Maester Luwin - the Maester in Winterfell when I was a child - taught me the geography of the Seven Kingdoms. He had been there, though. He said it was beautiful, with some of the most beautifully colored blue water in the world."

"It is beautiful," she agreed. She was a woman of few words, it seemed. "But I do not think I will ever go back there."

I could understand. I never, ever thought I would feel this way, but I never wanted to see Winterfell again. My recent experiences there had tainted every last fond memory. The only way I would ever return, I decided, was if Roose Bolton and Ramsay were dead, and I could live here with Bran and Rickon, and Arya, if she were still alive somewhere. This place was no longer my home, but neither was the Eyrie - my feelings towards Lord Baelish were complicated, and something I hadn't allowed myself to fully explore yet.

"I really don't know where to go," I said quietly, suddenly feeling quite sorry for myself. Where could I start over? Unless the Boltons were all dead, I would have to disguise myself - otherwise, I would be in danger, since I could be used to gain power in the North.

"Brienne, do you think my sister is alive?" I asked, as quietly as possible. "You said you've also been looking for her while you searched for me. Did you find anything hopeful?"

Brienne looked up at me, and I was struck by the sincerity and stubbornness in her face. "I would say so. I found Arya, not far from the Eyrie."

"What?" I stammered, shocked. "What ... why don't you have her?"

She sighed. "She, like you, didn't want my help. She was with the Hound, and I fought him, defeated him. She went off on her own."

You fought The Hound and lived? I wanted to ask, but held back. I didn't want to insult Lady Brienne. "Where do you think she went?"

"I do not know. I failed your mother in that regard. And, for a long time, I failed her in regards to finding you. Today was a day that I was able to keep two promises to those I served." I nodded, but didn't inquire further. "About a half mile from here," she continued, "my squire has set up camp, but I don't think it's safe to sleep so near to House Bolton. We will continue through the night. Perhaps your absence will go undetected long enough for us to put miles between us and Winterfell."

"I don't think so," I said under my breath. Ramsay would return from battle with Stannis's army screaming and swollen with bloodlust. Thankfully, I would be miles away.

"No, I don't think so, either," Brienne agreed. "I have heard rumors that Roose Bolton's bastard is ... a terror."

Bastard, I thought. "Brienne," I began slowly, an idea forming in my brain, "would we be safe from Ramsay Snow at the Wall?"

She looked at me, raising an eyebrow. "The Wall?"

I nodded. "My brother, Jon Snow, is there - a member of the Night's Watch."

"I will take you wherever you wish to go, Lady Sansa," she said emotionlessly, and suddenly a makeshift camp came into view. A young squire who looked to be about my age was trying - and failing - at starting a fire in order to cook a small, furry animal. He looked up, saw us, and stood, his eyes widening dramatically. "Pod! Stop gaping. Take Sansa on your horse and I'll take ... this one," she said doubtfully, eyeing Theon. Clearly, I thought, she doesn't know who he is ... was. "We need to get as far away from here as fast as possible. We're going to the Wall."

"Hello, Lady Sansa," said the squire, bowing a bit awkwardly, "I'm Podrick Payne. I'm pleased to be at your service."

I felt suddenly shy. "Hello," I managed, realizing I probably looked frightful. Looking at Podrick's earnest face and kind smile, I saw no resemblance to the menacing Ilyn Payne, who was likely his distant relative. "Thank you for helping me."

"It's good to see you again, Lady Sansa," he said, bowing slightly. Of course I remembered Podrick, Lord Tyrion's squire back in King's Landing. Pod had been one of the few to remain loyal to Tyrion, and had always been polite and respectful to me. While Tyrion had not been my first choice of husband, he had always been gentle and kind, and I recalled our time together almost fondly - especially compared to my role as Ramsay Bolton's wife, if one could even call it a marriage.

"It's good to see you, too," I managed.

"Podrick," said Brienne, a warning note in her voice, "we need to hurry. Please help her onto your horse. We need to move."

Riding behind Podrick, grateful for the warmth streaming off him in waves, my thoughts turned to what we might find at The Wall. It was a place that I had never, ever expected to go. Although Jon and I had not been close growing up, he was potentially the only family I had left - aside from Bran and Rickon, wherever they were. No, we weren't close, but maybe that could change, I thought. Jon had always been an outsider in Winterfell, thanks to Mother. Jon was several years older than me, and so I couldn't remember a time when my mother's brow didn't knot and her eyes didn't narrow whenever my father and Jon spent time together. I never felt particularly close with Jon - we had always just had different interests, I supposed - but he was still family, and the idea of finally being reunited with someone I could call family gave me hope for the first time in a long time. Maybe from the Wall, Jon and I could search for Bran and Rickon, and we could huddle together in the remnants of this awful world without Mother, Father, Robb and so many others we had loved. Things would never, ever be the same, and I would never look at the world in the exact same way, but maybe, just maybe, things would be all right if I could see Jon's face again.