Sansa ignored Brienne and her heavy stepping behind herself while she walked through the corridors.

"Lady Sansa," she said with clear annoyance in her voice. "The maester said you must rest."

"I don't have time to rest. The dead are coming, there are thousands of new people to feed and care for and I can't risk leaving any detail unattended."

She had slept through the night only thanks to the maester's assistance, but now there was no time to lose. Jaime Lannister had just installed himself and was ready for his new duty, accompanied by Podrick, just as Theon was doing the same.

The blonde woman continued to follow her, not knowing how to answer. She was right; the people needed their lady, but still…

"You should have waited another day," her voice came out calmer, but she stopped herself when a guard passed them, only continuing to speak when they were alone again. "My lady."

The lady stopped, finally, and turned to her.

"The problem is, Brienne, I don't know if we have any other days."

"Then what difference would it make?"

Sansa shook her head. Brienne couldn't understand and both of them knew that very well. She wasn't feeling well, and she knew it would take at least a fortnight to feel normal again according to the maester, but the people needed her and she couldn't let them down. She didn't matter, only they did, and she needed to push herself through it.

"Let me at least call on your sister so she won't leave your side in my absence."

She took a deep breath but agreed. Anything to stop Brienne from annoying her for the days to come. Arya was discreet, and she had already told her she was ill.

She followed her plans to go down to the forge with the knight on her heels, but Brienne soon left when she realized the young Lady Stark was there already.

"Gendry," she called.

The boy was King Robert's bastard, the only one left, and the last Baratheon in the world as far as they knew it. He was also a great smith.

"Lady Stark," he quickly stops what he was doing. "I wasn't expecting any visitors."

"Don't stop on my account," she raised a hand. "I'm just here to ask if you have everything you need and if the weapon making is going as planned."

He went back to the blade in front of him.

"Everything is going as planned," he confirmed. "And I do have everything I need, my lady. Thank you."

She confirmed, and Sansa left with Arya right behind her, holding a very small smile on her lips.

"Well?" she glanced over her shoulder.

Arya just gave her a blank look.

"Well?"

"You're not telling him?" the older sister questioned, turning fully to look at Arya as they stepped into the yard. "I know you like him, you don't have to pretend you don't."

Her sister furrowed her brows uncomfortably, and the two proceeded to walk side by side until Sansa stopped again. This time, it wasn't for any conversation or joke, but because of a sharp pain that cut her breath for a moment, and went away just as suddenly as it had come.

"Sansa," Arya rushed to her side, holding her sister and staring at her face just as the people stopped to look at them.

"I'm alright," the auburn-haired lady assured her, standing up straight. "It was nothing."

She didn't press on, only following Sansa back into the castle, and not missing when her sister flinched and covered her mouth with the back of her hand for a moment.

"I need an empty bucket," she said discreetly to her sister. "Right now. Please."

Sansa didn't know where Arya got the bucket, but it didn't matter. She was already vomiting into it and felt suddenly grateful when her sister reached out and held her hair back.

They stood there for a couple of seconds, with the brunette girl waiting while the Lady of the keep recomposed herself.

"What was that?" she enquired, sounding both confused and suspicious.

"I've been sick," Sansa lied. "The Maester says I'll be feeling better in a few days."

"That's why Brienne wants me to be around you," the younger Stark noticed.

Sansa made an annoyed face.

"I can take care of myself," she affirmed. "I don't want that Targaryen Queen to think I can't."

Her sister only nodded.

"Are we still gonna need this?"

She waited for a moment, but nothing came to her and her body had seemed to settle down.

"I'm fine now," she decided. "Thank you."

"Not for that."

But Sansa didn't last too long. In the following hours, the pain in her midsection changed from ignorable to acute, and the only thing she could do was walk herself back to her chambers, trying her best to look calm and contained.

"My Lady," she heard Brienne behind her, just as she entered one of the corridors leading to her chambers. "Is my assistance needed?"

Sansa swallowed hard, feeling her throat dry.

"Clean the way and help me walk," she leaned onto the closest wall. "I don't want anyone to see me like this."

The woman didn't protest, and the lady watched silently as Podrick ran in front of her and the blonde put an arm around Sansa's back, supporting and helping her walk.

They were already close when Podrick came back, looking distressed.

"Forgive me, my lady, but your sister."

Sansa frowned.

"What about Arya?"

"She..."

But the young man didn't have the time to complete what he was saying.

"I want to know what's happening," Arya stepped in front of her older sister, staring at her face. "And I want to know it right now."

And the distance between that was sheltering me comes in full view
Hang my head, break my heart built from all I have torn apart
And my burden to bear is a love I can't carry anymore