Set one year after the end of Game of Thrones when Sansa was crowned Queen in the North. When the Queen visits the Godswood, she receives an unexpected visitor. This is my way of tying the beginning of the show to the end: showing Sansa as a strong woman who was once a frightened little girl.

Sansa Stark lifted the end of her long skirt just above the layer of snow that covered the ground. She made her way through the gates of the castle, heading towards the Godswood. The Queen in the North took in the brisk winter air of the North, and a small smile came across her face. She made a vow to herself, while she was still a prisoner in King's Landing, that if she ever made it back to the North, she would never live anywhere else for as long as she drew breath; the North ran through her veins.

In the year that Sansa had been Queen in the North, Winterfell prospered: its people had enough food for winter, cloaks and furs were given out once a week to those who could not afford them, the Northern Army was stronger than ever, and there was peace between Westeros and the North. It was Sansa's greatest desire to protect the people that raised her to be the woman she was today.

As she approached the weirwood tree, tightening her cloak around her, she lowered her head. She had stopped praying long ago, no god worth worshipping would ever let her see the things she had seen, but she did talk to her family members that were dead and gone. She believed that if they were in any sort of after-life, they could hear her words to them.

She usually began by speaking to her mother, then Robb, Rickon, and finally to her father. Speaking to the late Ned Stark was difficult for Sansa, for every time she did, she felt as if she were back in King's Landing, wailing for him to be spared from the executioner's blade. Nevertheless, she poured out her heart to one of the only men that ever truly cared for her.

"Father," she began. "This is something I've been trying to say to you for a long time, something I wish I had said while you were still alive. I'm sorry. I'm so sorry for the way I behaved when we were in the Capital. You were only trying to protect me, but all I could see was what I wanted: to get married. Every time I think about how stupid I was, it breaks my heart." Sansa swiped a tear from her cheek and continued, "I was so infatuated with Joffrey, I couldn't see how vile he was. Sometimes I wonder if I hadn't built up his ego so much, he might not have had you killed. He would not have felt like he needed to kill you if I hadn't made him feel so…so…kingly."

Sansa's emotions got the better of her and she began to weep softly. As she stood there, she heard a voice come from behind her, "'The Queen in the North'. I like it."

She jumped at the voice; she thought she was alone. After the shock wore off, Sansa realized that she knew the voice behind her. It's warmth and determination were familiar to her. It couldn't be, she thought before slowly turning around. She gasped when she saw the late Ned Stark standing before her.

Sansa finally found the words she was looking for, "Father? No…you're not really here. I'm dreaming. This is a dream."

A smile came across Ned's face. He looked just as she remembered him: wearing a leather tunic and riding boots, his hair pulled back like the Northmen wore it, a sword on his hip, and a fur on his shoulders. "You're not dreaming, love. I'm here," he said softly.

Sansa spoke through her shock, "You can't be. You're…you're- "

"Dead. Your brother Jon was dead and he now walks the earth; the unnatural is not uncommon."

Sansa still wasn't convinced she was not dreaming, "How did you know that?"

"Do you think I have not been watching over my children? I have. I've been listening too, Sansa. And I've heard all of your sweet words."

With tears streaming down her cheeks, Sansa ran to her father, into his arms. She couldn't believe how she could actually feel his embrace, his warmth, the kiss he placed on her forehead. It had been so long since she'd felt his arms around her, but the way Ned held her was still so familiar. She sobbed into his tunic as he stroked her red hair and embraced her under the weirwood tree.

Sansa gently pulled away, and Ned wiped the tears from her cheeks as she smiled at the feel of his calloused hands. "I don't have much time, love. I just need to tell you something before I go," he said as he placed a hand on her cheek.

"I can't believe you're here with me," Sansa whispered, her blue eyes shining. "I have something to tell you as well, Father."

"Sansa, I heard your apology. There's nothing to forgive, my sweet girl. You were just a child, my child, and I hold no ill will against you. You cannot blame yourself for my death; it was my pride and my honor that brought me to my end. Not you. Do you understand me?"

Sansa nodded and began to cry again, thinking about his death. Ned pulled her close, "Shh, darling. It's alright." As Sansa buried her head in his chest, Ned began, "Sansa, the reason I'm here is to tell you how proud I am of you. You stood up for the North no matter what and spoke for our people; you earned your crown, love. I could not be prouder of you and the woman you have become. It brings me peace to know that Winterfell is in your hands." Sansa had many goodbye hugs in her life, and she knew this was one of them. She tightened her grip around her father as he kissed the top of her head and knew there was nothing left for her to say. Ned pulled back so that his eyes met hers and briefly stroked her cheek before gently pulling away from his daughter.

He pulled out his sword and knelt before the Queen. "The Queen in the North, long may she reign," he said. As he made his vow to his queen, Ned Stark began to fade away. Sansa fought the tears in her eyes as her father disappeared like snow in the summer.

When she was alone, a small smile came to her lips; the moment she just had with her father was something she had desired for so many years: closure. When she last saw him, he was broken, but now, he was whole again. He was the man once again that she remembered so fondly. Sansa turned around to face the weirwood tree, saying softly, "The North will remember you, Father. I'll make sure of that."