Author's Notes: Second last chapter – didn't quite squeeze this completely within the Holiday Exchange period – but not far off either… Many thanks to those whose are still following and especially those who have provided their thought about this drabble!

Act VI

SCENE: The North, Winterfell, the keep's armoury.

The approaching twilight renders the large room full of shadows, the light of a single lantern illuminating only one of its corners. The stone walls are lined with shields, spears and swords hanging from crude metal hooks. Pieces of armour are carefully stacked along the long shelves built all around the room, metal gleaming dully where the light touches it. A simple wooden bench is resting against the far wall and on it sits the burned warrior, clad in loose tunic and breeches of a northern cut, sharpening a sword. His movements are steady and methodical, the stone swiping steel evenly in broad arcs, in steady rhythm. He is focussed on his task but stops every now and then to test the blade for sharpness with his calloused thumb, then continues.

At the other end of the room a small door leading outside opens slowly and the auburn-haired woman steps in. A flurry of snow flows in after her and a breeze makes the flame of the lantern to flicker, causing sharp shades of the hanging weapons to dance on the wall. She is dressed in an unadorned woollen dress and has a fur cloak tightly wrapped around her shoulders. She doesn't seem to be wary of the man in the room and doesn't try to hide her arrival.

The man looks up, freezes for a moment, then reluctantly gets up to his feet, setting the sword on the bench. He doesn't move but waits for the woman to walk up to him, which she does. Just before she reaches him, she takes a deep breath, squares her shoulders and raises her head defiantly to meet his stare.

"You have been avoiding me."

"Didn't know I was required to serve you with my presence, Lady Sansa."

"Please don't 'Lady Sansa' with me. Aren't we past that already?"

"That is what you are, aren't you? Lady of the House Stark that I serve, Sansa your name. Or will it soon be Lady Umber instead?"

"Why would you say that?"

"Greatjon and his son arrived yesterday, did they not? The whole keep knows what their business is. Smalljohn needs a wife and you need a husband. Doesn't take a maester to work the two and two together."

"-"

"So it is true. Then, you'll be wed soon and ride to the Last Hearth with your lord. So it doesn't matter whether I have been avoiding you or not. Besides, I have been busy. I have a mind to leave myself."

"Leave?! Why – where?!"

"Somewhere south. The Starks have been good to me; Lord Eddard is a fine lord, I grant you that. But it is time for me to move on."

"You can't! You are needed here!"

"By whom?"

"By everyone! By me. Most of all me. It used to be so different, remember? When we first came back you used to spend time with me. I told you stories about Winterfell and the North, and you told me about your life."

"That was then. Now is now."

"Everything is changing, that much is true. Dark wings with dark words fly from the Wall, and Jon has been here twice to meet with father. It is something serious; old things beyond the Wall have been awakened, things from Old Nan's stories."

"Aye, something is afoot."

"They all are worried; my lord father, Jon, Robb, even my mother. They don't tell me what it is but I know it is bad."

"No need for you to worry about something you can't do anything about."

"He wants to send us to safety to the Vale; my mother, Arya and me. The Eyrie is safe, they keep on saying."

"The Vale? Are they fucking serious? You know that Littlefinger holds power there now?"

"Of course I know; he married my Aunt Lysa. He was always a close friend of family and now he is our kin for true. He will keep us safe."

"Aye, he keeps himself safe that's for sure. Baelish is up to his old tricks, I know it. He doesn't care about that crazy aunt of yours, all he wants is power. And your father the fool is going to deliver the biggest prize into his hands just like that!"

"But he is kin!"

"Kin or not, he only cares about himself. Who do you think was ready to betray your father in King's Landing? And your aunt listens to his whispers and does exactly as he tells her. The Vale may pretend to be neutral but Littlefinger serves whoever pays the highest price. And I suspect Lord Eddard can't offer him as much as Lord Tywin can."

"But what would he gain from us?"

"You'd be his pawns. Your mother at his mercy - finally. The honourable Lord Stark to do his bidding unless he wants to see his wife and daughters cruelly done by. Lord Tywin promising him whatever he wants for a chance to hold Lord Eddard by the balls. I can imagine how keen Littlefinger was to offer you his 'hospitality'".

"Well, as a matter of fact he was, but that's only natural."

"Listen to me girl; don't go there. Besides, I saw the way how he looked at you in King's Landing. He wants you for himself, just like he wanted your mother. Probably he wants you both, the sick fucker.'"

"But if my father decides to send us, I must."

"Do I have threaten to break your legs all over again? You have said yourself that I saved your life before - one would imagine you'd trust me by now."

"I do! I trust you, truly. But I am not making the decisions, and you know that."

"Hmmmph! I will seek out Lord Eddard first thing in the morning. Mayhap he doesn't know what vile creature Baelish is, ready to sell the hide of the Hand of the King when it served him well. If your father hadn't left when he did after King Robert's death, he would have learned that to his misfortune for sure. I'll make sure he listens to what I have to say."

"I know he will. He has always treated you fairly, hasn't he? And as for how Lord Baelish used to look at me…I have seen you look at me too, lately."

"Well, I don't. If you happen to pass by me and I notice, is that a crime?"

"No it is not and you do look. I look at you too, have you noticed?"

"-"

"So you have. It makes you feel odd, perhaps? I know it is unladylike, and I know I shouldn't be here telling you these things, but sometimes I get tired of being a perfect lady. I don't know what is going to happen but I am sure that things are about to change. World is not going to be the same as before, and if I wish for happiness, it is up to me to get it. My parents mean well, but they don't know my heart."

"Fly away, little bird. You don't know what you are talking about."

"I do. And so do you. I have already declined the proposal from House Umber, although I am aware that my parents looked upon it favourably. They asked me why would I do such a thing and then…then I knew."

"Go away, don't get any closer."

"But I must. I can't help it."

"Shush! You don't know the dangers of the game you are playing!"

"I am not playing any games - and I know you won't hurt me."

"Hells girl, don't touch me or I swear you'll regret it. There's a limit for me too and you are just about to cross it!"

"I can't."

"Fuck it!"

"...mmmm… I have never been kissed like this …"

"Hells!"

"Don't go…"

"Believe me, it is going to be worse if one of us doesn't leave right now."

"I don't care. I want it to be worse."

"You have no notion of what it is that you say."

"I do, at least a little. Please, hold me."

"Are you mad, girl? Would you spoil yourself with a dog?"

"I don't see it that way. I will not be spoiled by you, you can't spoil me! Only people who want to hurt me could do it, and you are not like that!"

"Sansa…"

"Please…"

*sounds of heavy breathing, slam of two bodies against the wall*

"Oh, we can't, not here!"

"Seven fucking hells! I warned you, didn't I? I told you to go away, did I not?"

"It is not that, just - not here. Somebody could walk in at any time."

"Not here, not anywhere. I am not doing that to you."

"Hush. Maybe we can meet again tomorrow night in the abandoned rooms in the Broken Tower, after the keep has gone to sleep? If you want?"

"If I want?! Bloody hells, I should ride out this very night if I know what's best for me. And never look back."

"But you do know what is best for both of us! This is not a frivolous thing, this is what I truly want. And if we… I know I could get my parents to approve… with the way the world is going."

"Still head in the clouds, eh? If I as much as touch you, Lord Eddard is going to skin me alive."

"No he won't, you are much too valuable for him – and for me. But we don't have to do anything …irreversible. Please, meet me tomorrow night!"

*deep sigh*

"Seven hells! I'll come, little bird. I knew that you'll be the death of me yet – but I'll come."