How can you see into my eyes like open doors?
Leading you down, into my core
Where I've become so numb, without a soul
My spirit's sleeping somewhere cold
Until you find it there, and lead it, back, home
Sansa hadn't been out to the Godswood since that hideous wedding night. Even after they'd retaken Winterfell, she avoided it.
Now that Bran was back home, he spent all his time there in the wheelchair their maester had the men build for him.
Sansa finally ventured out to the Godswood to speak with him. After all, he was her brother.
She was barely holding it together, focusing on Bran and the Weirwood tree to stay present and not let herself drown in the past.
You're here, you're safe, he's dead, no one can hurt you again... She focused on her breath for a moment.
"I'm sorry for all that's happened to you, and I'm sorry that it had to happen here, at our home."
Bran. She focused on his words and his face. On the Weirwood tree and its beautiful red leaves. The pristine snow under her. The grey sky. The pond.
"It was so beautiful that night, with the snow falling, just like now."
She felt the cold wind gently blowing on her cheeks. The cold stump she sat on was the same one her father sat on to clean his sword. She felt the tips of her fingers growing numb. The feel of the snow under her feet.
Safe, safe, safe.
"You were so beautiful that night, with your white wedding dress."
She heard the ravens cawing from Maester Wolken's ravenry. She heard the snow hitting the ground. She heard the sound of her fighting men training.
"Bran, I need to go." Sansa stood up.
She smelled the pines around them. She briefly tipped her nose down to her chest and smelled the leather on her coat. The scent of lavender on her dress also graced her senses.
"I'll stay a bit longer."
Sansa walked away, focused on the crunch of the snow under her feet. Tasting blood, she realized she had been biting the inside of her lip.
Bran watched her walk away and remembered how she'd fed her tormentor to his own hounds.
"You'll be alright, sweet sister." She was the strongest woman he knew.
Sansa went straight to Maester Wolken's chamber. Without a word, he handed her a small bottle containing an herb to help her sleep.
He didn't ask. There was no need. He knew, he'd been there.
He'd treated her cuts and bruises while Ramsey was out. He'd snuck her moon tea twice. He'd treated her when the bleeding wouldn't stop after a particularly vicious assault by her husband/captor/torturer. All at risk to his own skin.
"Thank you, Maester."
He bowed forward briefly. "My Lady."
As she left his chambers, she reminded herself she was Lady Sansa Stark of Winterfell and carried herself like Ned Stark's daughter should.
And I grew strong
And I learned how to get along...
Oh no, not I, I will survive
Oh, as long as I know how to love, I know I'll stay alive
I've got all my life to live
And I've got all my love to give and I'll survive
I will survive...
Lyrics by Evanescence (Bring Me to Life) and Gloria Gaynor (I Will Survive)
