Chapter Three
Where's Sapphire?
Kings Landing
"My Queen! One of your "little birds" has returned from Winterfell, they have astonishing news for you!"
Turning her head slowly to the side, Cersei acknowledged the messenger with a sly smile,
"Send the little bird in."
The messenger turned and fled hurriedly from the room, returning a few seconds later with a small, dirt smudge, wide eyed boy. "There now, tell her majesty what you have learned in Winterfell." The messenger urged. The small boy stepped forward, casting his eyes to the floor, "Your majesty, while I was at Winterfell, a trio of foreigners from a village far north called Ravens Edge arrived. Two women and one man, they are siblings. One of the sisters is to marry Jon Snow and unite the two houses."
Cersei stared at the fragile boy before her, listening intently, "Foreigners? From Ravens Edge? I have never heard of this place."
"That is not all, my Queen. Go on, tell her the rest, little bird!"
Shuffling nervously, the boy glanced up at the fearsome queen before him, "After the visitors were shown to their rooms, Jon Snows hand Tormund returned looking distressed. I was peaking through a window you see, and I caught part of what they were saying…Your majesty, these strangers, they have Dragons…each one of them! I didn't hear much more then that, my Queen." The boy bowed his head and began fidgeting with his hands. The queen stared at the boy, a smile spreading across her face, "Make sure the boy receives a bath, hot meal and a warm bed to sleep in." Turning back to the window Cersei smiled an evil smile. Three dragons in Winterfell…They will be mine.
Winterfell
Sage stood at her window, staring out at the court yard, observing the people of Winterfell.. It had been a week since her and her siblings had arrived here and in the time Sage had barely spoken to her betrothed. Stepping back from the window Sage walked over to her armoire and opened the door. Removing her simple white night gown, she selected a pair of black leathery pants, a lavender peasants blouse and her favorite black leather corset. Dressing herself, she turned and looked in the mirror on the inside door of the armoire. Her light green eyes contrasted greatly with the blood color of her hair. Her high cheek bones, straight nose and pouty lips would make any other woman feel beautiful, but not Sage, she thought herself ordinary and plan. She often found herself thinking if she was considered beautiful by men, she had never had a boy interested in her and she had yet to be interested in a man. Grabbing her hair brush she began running it through her long red waves. As she returned the hair brush she reached up for her black trench coat, Sage heard panicked shouts coming from the court yard along with running footsteps outside her door. Just as she turned to face the door, it burst open and Jon entered with Tormund and Salvatore behind him.
The look on the men's faces were all the same; panic, fear, relief. Sage stood motionless as she searched their faces. With her heart beat rising, she took a step forward, "Where….Where is Sapphire? Why is she not with you?" Salvatore moved around the other two men and approached his sister, placing his hands on her shoulders.
"Thank the gods! We thought they had gotten you too. Shes gone missing, the guard outside her room was knocked unconscious, he said the man that knocked him out, was wearing the Lannister's Lion."
Swallowing the bile that had risen in her throat, Sage sat heavily down on her bed, "Why would they have taken her? How would the Lannister's know who we are or that we were here?"
"We believe there is a spy among us. After you first arrived and I discovered you three had brought your dragons here, I went to Jon and told him everything, we now suspect someone else was listening in on our conversation. One of Cersei's spies." Tormund explained, regret plastered all over his face.
Jon observed his future wife as she absorbed the new of her twins abduction. In the short time that they had arrived, Jon had little to no time alone with his betrothed, as he watched her facial expressions contorted with despair Jon realized he would do anything to reunite Sage with her sister.
"A search party is preparing to leave in search of them. Hopefully they will catch them before they reach Kings Landing… I myself will be joining once I leave here." Jon said as he awkwardly stood in the doorway. Sage looked up, heated determination in her eyes, "I want my brother and I to join the search party, as soon as possible." Standing from the bed, gingerly grabbed her leather satchel which held her dragon, Vara, and softly handed it to her uncle, "We will take Uncle Tormunds place, he will remain here and care for our dragons." Sage swiftly moved around the room collecting various items she would need on the road. The men continued to stare at her as she through furs, hats, weapons and other items onto her bed.
Clearing his throat, Salvatore looked at Jon, "Don't even bother trying to tell here no, notice how Uncle Tormund hasn't denied her either." Salvatore swiftly left his sisters room to gather his own belongings for their travels. Tormund rose from his sitting position and careful cradled the satchel as he followed Salvatore from the room. Jon remained standing in the doorway, watching Sage shove her belongings into her bag, realizing this was the first time they had been alone since her arrival. He observed as she gracefully moved around the room, her face a mask of anger and determination. He didn't know how long he had been standing there watching, he quickly snapped out of his daze, "I will have your horse prepared for the trip." She hadn't even seemed to hear him as she was grabbing a bow and quiver of arrows, along with a small sword.
Leaving the room, Jon headed for the stables to oversee the preparation of the horses. After he left, Sage stopped moving, and let herself sink to the floor, tears brimming her eyes. Why, why had their father made them come here! She hated him for this, if he hadn't forced them to come to Westeros, Sapphire wouldn't have been taken! Who is to say what Cersei has planned or what knowledge she has, there could be an army sailing for Ravens Edge and no one would be the wiser.
"Thank you, Westeros, you are a damnable place to be…"
Jon, Sage and Salvatore swiftly left Winterfell behind them with a group of five armed guards. Heading south, they ran their horses at a fast pace. Rage seeped from Sage as she pushed her horse to its limits. How dare they take her sister! Sapphire was such a sweet and caring person, she would never hurt a fly! Cersei, if you or your incest loving brother lay a hand on my sister…
Letting her mind wonder with the horrible deeds she would inflict on Cersei if she harmed her twin, a sick smile spread across Sages lips. Looking over at her older brother, she saw the same Alexander determination she felt within her.
Bringing the horses to a halt, the group reached a fork in the road, one continuing South, the other stretching into a heavily wooded area to the east. Jumping from his horse, Jon walked a few steps to the fork and inspected the ground. Cursing, he walked back to wear the rest of the group waited. Standing next to Sages horse, he looked up into her angry face, " It looks like there is a group of them, they split up at the fork, there is no way to tell which way they took your sister." Gritting her teeth, Sage pounded her fist into her thigh in anguish.
"We should split up, four of the guards can search the forest, the rest of us will continue on this way." Wiping the tears from her eyes, Sage urged her horse into another sprint, not waiting for the others to follow. Jon quickly signaled to four of the guards, "Search the forest, then come find us. If you find Sapphire, return her to Winterfell immediately. You, follow us." Mounting his horse, Jon hastily followed Sage, Salvatore and the guard on his heels
Riding around a bend in the road, Sage was greeted with an arrow hitting her squarely in the shoulder. Crying out in surprise, Sage fell from her horse, smashing into the ground. Rolling to her side as quickly as she could, Sage narrowly avoided her brother and Jon as they pulled their horses to a halt, "Sage!" Jon yelled in a panic
"I'm fine! Shield yourself, I don't know where they shooter is!" Bringing herself to a sitting position, Sage grabbed her sword from her hip. Gritting her teeth, she slammed the blade over the arrows stock, splintering the wood and leaving a stub poking out.
"Salvatore find them!" Jon yelled as he helped Sage stand. Just as she got her feet under her another arrow pierced below her collarbone adjacent to the previous arrow. Screaming again, Sage crumbled before Jon, cleaning to his out stretched arms.
"Salvatore!" Jon yelled, looking over his shoulder in time to see Salvatore reaching the shooter, plunging his sword into the mans stomach. Picking Sage up in his arms, Jon turned and saw a group of riders in the distance, the sun was glinting off of silver blonde hair. Cursing under his breath, he turned and yelled to Salvatore,, "The riders are there, they have more men then us. Sage needs our help and we are too far from Winterfell!" Laying Sage on the grass away from the road, Jon stared at her injured shoulder, "Brace yourself love." Grasping the arrow in one hand and grabbing her shoulder with the other, Jon stared into Sages eyes and quickly jerked the arrow out of her flesh. Whimpering in pain, Sage closed her eyes as blood flowed freely from the wound.
"This one is going to hurt worse since you broke the arrow, I'm going to have to pull it out slowly." Nodding her head, Sage shoved the corner of her cloak into her mouth and bit down as hard as she could. Jon grabbed the stub of the arrow and slowly began to pull. Blood gurgling from the wound, Jons fingers slipped causing Sages muffled cries to rise. Getting a better grip Jon begin to pull the arrow again. Finally pulling it free, Sage sat back and allowed Jon to swiftly bandage her shoulder. Her eyes loosing focus, and her mind becoming delirious, she looked at Jon, " I like your eyes, Snow, pretty pretty eyes…Don't let Midnight get lost, I won't marry you if she gets lost.." Her eyes rolling back in her head, Sage passed out against Jon, blood staining his fur cloak. Looking down at the beautiful woman, Jon placed his arms around her and sat back, the only thought that crossed his mind was, Who is Midnight?