Last chapter came out pretty good. Thank you to all the reviewers and followers, etc. It means a lot that you are giving this pair a chance!
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Time goes by
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Sansa did not want to admit it, but she was enjoying her time at Castle Black. During her second day there, she was introduced to the Lord Commander and then Jon would bring her into the courtyard to let her play with Ghost as he attended his duties. Her red hair stuck out like a sore thumb in the blacks and grays worn by the men there and the old worn down buildings, but she was thrilled to have it back. She did notice, however, how the men looked at her, not with lustful stares, but curious gazes and wandering eyes. They all knew what her fate was to be and she hated that they barely spoke with her. Sam would smile at her, "Don't bother with this lot, my Lady, they are curious and sometimes a bit rude."
Now, it was day three of her stay and just the next morning she would have to rise early and dress to be given to Mance Rayder. Sansa watched from atop the steps and Sam and Jon dueled in the courtyard as other men watched. She would flinch when Jon was pushed, but she was told by Sam just the day before, "It's all good fun, my Lady, Jon doesn't get hurt too often." Jon saw her watching them and he paused the duel and waved for his sister,
"Won't you join us, Sansa?"
She did not know what to say or do, so she shook her head, "No, Jon, I don't think that would be a good idea." He caught his breath and replied, "You can fight Sam and I promise no harm will come to you." The men laughed, but Sansa sighed, "Well, only for a moment you can show me how to use the sword." They all cheered as she lifted the front of her gown slightly to walk down the steps and once she reached the bottom, Jon handed her one of the lighter practice swords. Sam was not smiling as she stood before him, "Jon, do you think we should?" Jon urged them on, "Of course! Tomorrow, my sister leaves us and she must have a bit of a duel with someone!" Sansa looked at the sword in her right hand, "Go easy, Sam." He nodded,
"Of course, my Lady."
Sansa remember how her father and brothers would spar in the courtyard of Winterfell and how they would swing the sword around in a circle, so she tried to copy her memory of it and she received a hoot from Jon, "It seems my sweet sister has been practicing." Sam did the same and soon charged at her a few feet, making Sansa yelp and back away. For several moments, they sparred very little, most of her hits being misses, and soon Jon heard her laughing, "Sam, you are cheating!" But her laughter was short lived as he heard the smallest of slices and Sansa screamed out,
"Ah!"
Sam dropped his sword instantly and saw blood coming from Sansa's hand, "Oh, Gods! My Lady, are you alright?!" Sansa gripped her hand and nodded, "It's alright." She looked at Jon who rushed over to her and tried to take her hand to look at it. it was a small scratch, but big enough to shed blood on the top of her hand. He looked at Sam, "What did you do? Gods, man! You have been sparing for months!" Sansa was able to stop the blood by herself and she hushed her brother, "He didn't mean it, Jon. I just need some hot water and a cloth, it's not too bad." She quickly turned and walked back up the steps to her room to clean the small wound and as she disappeared through the doorway, Jon looked at Sam, "He'll be angry, you know? Mance Rayder may be cruel at times, but to him Sansa is a prize. If he sees that wound-"
"I'm sorry, Jon. It's just a scratch, isn't it?"
Jon sighed and rubbed his face, "Put the swords away, Sam. I'll go check on Sansa."
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"Jon, I'm fine! Look, it's already healing-"
Jon hushed his sister, "That's not the point, Sansa. Mance-When he sees you were hurt, he may not take it well." Sansa shrugged, "He'll have to take it well, for it will heal within a week." The silence became heavy between them until Sansa whispered, "I'll miss you." Jon looked down at her and smiled, "I'll be at your wedding, my sweet sister." Sansa cringed at the word,
"I'm tired of weddings, Jon. I-I have been to so many-"
"Do you believe he will treat you as Joffrey did?"
Sansa looked up at Jon once before turning away and walking to the satchel she had been packing earlier, "I wasn't exactly treated kindly in Kings Landing. Have you heard the stories?" Jon shook his head, "Not all of them, but I do know of what he did. Mance will never hurt you, Sansa." His sister nodded, still not believing his words, but then she gasped, "But Jon, I'm married to Tyrion! How can I-" Jon nodded, "You were. You never consummated the marriage, did you?" Sansa shook her head, "And it's been a year?" Sansa nodded, "Then you are no longer married. No consummation means a void marriage after a year." Sansa smirked, "So when I marry Mance, if I do not consummate the marriage, then I will be free after a year?" She saw uneasiness in her brother's face before he replied, "The thing with that is, Mance probably won't let it go past a week before you have to consummate."
Sansa groaned and sat on the bed, "I don't even know why I am talking about this with you!" Jon's smile was large and for the first time in a long time, Sansa was able to look at her brother and begin to laugh. Jon joined her laughter and the two of them hugged, still laughing, "Oh, Jon, time goes by so fast, doesn't it?" Her eyes became watery and she looked up at the ceiling as she held Jon close to her.
Jon mumbled in reply, "It does, Sansa. Before you know it, you will be home in Winterfell with your little ones running around you. The Lannister's will pay for what they have done, I can promise you that." Sansa slowly pulled away, "How do you know?" Jon smirked, "I just have a feeling that something is coming other then winter and they will burn for their sins."
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That night, Sansa slept peacefully, which was odd since her mind was heavy with the fact she would be leaving her brother tomorrow and be in possession of a strange man she has never met. A possession. That is what she knew she was going to be. Sansa opened her eyes and noticed the sun had yet to come up. In the distance, she heard a wolf howl, as though it was trying to comfort her. With a sigh, she laid back down and fell back to sleep, hoping that tomorrow would not be as horrible as she thought.
Just over the Wall and in the woods, Mance Rayder was wide awake, laces in his hand as he worked on a tunic. Silence was deafening to him, but it also meant that his people were safe and asleep in their beds. He sighed in frustration and threw the tunic onto the table, growling to himself and how he let his mind become so occupied with thoughts of the girl. True, he'd never seen Sansa before, but the way men would describe her, with her fire red hair and her eyes of icy blue. Only one other woman had fire hair and she was dead. She had belonged to Jon Snow and he let her die, one of Mance's own. With a grunt, he stood and looked at himself in the hanging mirror he had in his hut. He was near becoming 38 years and although he was getting older, he still thought himself handsome enough to not scare away a young girl such as her. His head snapped towards the doorway when he heard a wolf howl come from beyond the Wall. He walked to the open doorway and looked up at the Wall in the distance, for just beyond it was his future wife, his prize of war, his kissed by fire Queen.
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"Sansa? Sansa, if you don't wake up now, you'll be late."
Sansa groaned as she opened her eyes and saw Jon standing over her. He was already dressed his all black with his crow's cloak on his shoulders and his sword at his side. He smiled as his sister slowly sat up, "Is it morning already?" Dread built up in her stomach as she saw it was truly daylight and that she was running late. Jon was nearly thrown to the side as she rushed from the bed, grabbing for the gown Sam had given her days before form the village. It was dark blue with black laces on the front to tie it closed, the sleeves were long and there was fur on the neckline and sleeves. Jon turned quickly as she undressed and put on her gown, "I wish Sam could have found me a corset to wear, I feel so-so naked." Jon turned back when she was done and he mumbled to himself, "That's probably how he'll prefer you." Jon did not know Mance's true nature and he only assumed, but Wildling's were not known for their kind ways.
"Do I look alright?"
Jon looked at Sansa and saw she had fixed her hair in a braid and it was hanging over her shoulder. The hood on her gown was already pulled over her head and you could see her milky skin perfectly on her face. Jon nodded, "Aye, you look beautiful, dear sister." A knock on the door made both look up as Same entered, "They are waiting on the other side." Sansa nodded slowly, Thank you, Sam. We're coming down now."
She walked arm in arm with Jon down the steps and towards the gate where they would go through the tunnel and to the other side of the Wall. The walk through the tunnel was short and silent as Sansa starred straight ahead, watching as each gate was raised to bring her to her fate. She could feel the eyes of the Night's Watch burning into her back as she walked and she gripped Jon's arm tighter, "Promise me something." Jon looked down at her as they continued to walk,
"Promise me that should something happen and I come back here for you, that you will not let him take me back."
Mance would never let that happen and he knew that, but Jon nodded slowly, "I promise you." The last gate was raised and Sansa saw many Wildling's standing there, a tall man in furs standing before them, his dark hair long, but not as long as Jon's and he rested a hand on the hilt of his short sword. Sansa stopped walking and watched as Jon left her to walk the several feet to the man she assumed was Mance Rayder. Jon spoke a few words to him and looked back at her, "Sansa, come." Sansa did as she was told and walked to them, slowly at first, and then picking up her pace to get it over with. Mance looked down at the girl before him and showed no emotion on his face. Jon introduced her,
"Your grace, this is my sister, Sansa Stark, Lady of Winterfell and daughter of Eddard Stark."
Sansa looked up at the tall man before her and she knew she was standing before the King Beyond The Wall, and years of curtsies made her remember to always kneel before a King. Jon looked at his sister, "Sansa, this is Mance Rayder, King Beyond The Wall and King of the Wildling clans." Sansa closed her eyes and went to kneel, "Your grace." Her voice came out in a whisper, but sweet to hear and Mance reached out and caught her arm, "We do not kneel." Sansa looked up at him and let herself be pulled up slowly from the ground, "Pardon?"
"We do not kneel, my Lady."
Jon watched the exchange as Mance continued, "My people will soon be yours as well and you will be their Queen, so you will now know from now on that we do not kneel." Sansa stared at Mance and slowly nodded, "Yes, your grace." Mance smirked at her words and looked at Jon, "You've done well by keeping your word. The ceremony will take place in a few days, Snow, you shall return then. I am sure your sister would enjoy seeing you there." Mance held out his hand to her, "Come, my Lady." Sansa looked at the large hand and then back to Jon, who nodded, "Go on. I'll be close." Sansa was afraid, she would be a fool to doubt it. She looked around at the Wildling men around them, there must have been nearly 100 watching. Mance urged his hand forward and Sansa quickly grabbed it, her small hand looking like a child's in his own. It was then he turned and began to walk her towards the woods. She had said nothing and done nothing the whole time, she acted like the perfect Lady, but when she looked over her shoulder at her brother, who she was losing once more, her feelings came forth and she let go of Mance's hand and ran to Jon, "Jon, wait!"
When she did this, Mance turned and watched her run to the crow, throwing her arms around him. Mance growled at the Wildling that stepped forward to grab her, "Leave her!" Sansa and Jon hugged once more and she whispered, "He is no Joffrey, but-"
"He is no Joffrey, Sansa."
Sansa let him go and nodded, "Thank you for saving me from Petyr Baelish." Jon nodded and watched her turn again and walk back to her future husband and King. Jon watched as Mance took her hand once more and led her back to the woods. He watched until she disappeared from view, her blue gown getting lost in the darkness of the wilderness.
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Mance looked down at the girl and saw her shaking, "You're not dressed for this weather." Sansa looked up, "Pardon?" Mance rolled his eyes, "Are you deaf, girl? I said you're not dressed for this weather. You think it's cold now? It gets worse at night." The girl nodded to herself and listened as he continued, "I'll have one of the women make you a fur coat-"
Sansa shook her head, "If I may speak, but I wear dresses, your grace." Mance chuckled and stopped them from walking any further, "Did you hear that, men? The Lady says she only wears dresses!" He watched Sansa blush as the men around her laughed before he leaned down, "Listen here girl, you are not in Westeros anymore, you are beyond the Wall. If you wish to freeze in your pretty dresses, then let that be your choice." He saw she was still holding his hand and he let her go, pointing to his 'village', "See that there?" Sansa looked beyond the trees and saw smoke coming from small campfires and huts,
"That there is now home for you."
He began to walk towards the huts and Sansa quickly followed behind him, nearly running to keep up. She dared question, "How do your people find food out here?" Mance did not stop walking and simply turned his head to her, "Food is sparse here, so we sometimes climb the Wall for provisions." Sansa stopped walking and looked at the Wall through the trees, "You climb that? Why not walk through the tunnel?" Mance chuckled, "You ask a lot of questions, my Lady." They finally made it to the small village and Sansa felt eyes on her the moment she arrived. The men starred at her in vulgar ways, while the few women that were there watched in curiosity at how she was dressed and the way she wore her hair. Sansa walked just behind Mance and she almost reached out to grab him as one of the Wildling men licked their lips and smiled at her. King or not, his men were savages.
"All of you listen here!"
Sansa was truly beginning to get cold as all eyes went on her and Mance, "This here is Lady Sansa Stark of Winterfell!" She heard them begin to whisper and Sansa involuntarily and slowly grasped Mance's arm for the little comfort she could, hoping that holding onto him would deter any others. He looked down at her and saw she had grasped his arm in a loose hold,
"Lady Sansa has been traded to me by Jon Snow. In return, I have promised an army and provisions to fight against the White Walkers!" Men cheered on and Sansa lowered her eyes, staring at the cold, snowy ground beneath her. Mance continued, "The Lady Sansa has agreed to this trade and has also agreed to become my wife." The cheering was louder and Mance looked down at her, "Come." Sansa walked with him into his hut where she found it to be surprisingly much warmer. As she looked around at the table, the chairs, the furs and skins hanging from the ceiling, a small fire going into the corner with ventilation, and then her eyes landed on the bed. It was covered in furs of wolves and looked warm and inviting, but she quickly looked away, not wishing to be caught staring. When she looked back up to Mance, she saw him watching her, "Your home is quite-inviting, your grace."
Mance walked to her quickly and Sansa backed away a step with a gasp, fearing he was going to strike her. but when she closed her eyes,she heard him whisper, "Look at me." Sansa snapped her eyes opened and looked at him, her mind traveling back to that time ago when Sandor Clegane did and said the same thing to her. Mance was not covered in blood and he was not drunk from wine, but he looked sincere. He reached a hand forward to her head and Sansa let him remove the hood that hid most of her hair from view. She let him stare at her as he took both of her hands in his, "I want to look at you." His words made a shiver go down her spine and she watched in curiosity as he removed the leather gloves from her hands, the small cut from the day before red and healing. Mance touched it, "How did this happen?" Sansa did not speak for fear that Sam or Jon would get in trouble, but he growled, "Never mind. We'll put a salve on that."
He touched her soft hands, "You'll do nicely." He peaked a glance at the girl and she was frowning, "Of course, my Lady, I mean that in a kind way." He let her hands go and looked into her eyes, "I know of the stories, Sansa. I know of what has happened to you, but I wish to hear the words from your mouth. I will leave you to rest and I will return later this afternoon to discuss our marriage and these-stories that you are holding within you." Sansa did not say a word as he turned and left the hut, leaving her to stare at her own hands and why he wished to touch them. Sansa then looked back to the doorway and wished he would return so she could tell him now, as she did not wish to rest. But with a sigh, she sat on the bed and put her head in her hands, praying silently to herself that she would return to Winterfell soon. She did not care if it was full of ghosts, she wanted to go home.
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This story is going to be MUCH longer. I hope you all enjoyed this chapter. let me know!
