The Stark Family and the Targaryen family were not exactly friends, yet they were not exactly enemies. Their paths have crossed in the passed, but each time, they had departed on somewhat bitter terms, yet either family couldn't bear to harm the other, unless a few cuts and bruises didn't count as severe harm. Since the rise of the White Walkers, the world has been plundered into an internal snow. The Starks have endured for thousands of years in the middle of it all, but with the newest wave, they have been forced south.
The second wave was not something they had expected. They had found themselves at the Targaryen's door, asking for shelter, if only until the next wave hits. Rhaegar Targaryen, being the gentleman he was, offered their family and the few men they had a place to stay for the time being. But no one was sure how long they had until the White Walkers came further south.
The sun was soon to set, in another hour or two. Jon pulled out his pocket watch, wondering when he was to be relieved of duty. Walking the wall was fun, but knew he had been out here much longer than he normal was. "Aegon." he hissed under his breath.
"Last time I saw him, he was running off with a maid somewhere." A female voice startled him. Turning he saw the oldest Stark girl, dressed in a gentleman's clothes, holding what looked like rifle. Her hair was pulled back into a low ponytail, the red locks fraying at the ends. Even in men's clothes she still was gorgeous.
"When did you get here?"
"A couple of minutes ago. I was walking the southern border, Arya just relieved me of my own duty. Thought I would come and look at the river." The castle was located next to a river, for an easy escape. The White walkers couldn't swim, and they stayed away from the water, only ever getting a foot close to the edge.
"I almost didn't recognize you in your attire. It's odd to see you out of a dress." He joked, but she didn't laugh.
"Desperate times call for Desperate measures Targaryen." She looked out at the sun lands, her blue eyes casting a gaze that he wished she looked at him like that. One of wonder and beauty. He didn't know what to say, afraid of upsetting her next. Sansa broke the silence.
"My mother told me the story of the last time everyone united to defeat the white walkers. They thought they had gotten them all, so they stayed dormant for thousands of years."
"Everyone knows the story."
"Do you know who conquered them?"
"Um...Some stark?" Sansa smiled, shaking her head.
"Your not fully wrong. The story goes that only with a targaryen and a stark could the white walkers be defeated. He in battle and she with the people. He fought them, while she protected what truly mattered. Life. They say his name is Aegon."
"Like my brother." Jon looked out at the river and the green trees.
"But he grew up as Jon, under the Starks banner." She smiled, his eyes finding hers. "He married the Stark, the Stark girl who saved the people." She turned about to leave him to go back inside.
"What was her name?" He called to her. She turned around continued to walk away.
"Sansa. Queen of the North." Giving one last sly smile, she quickly walked away leaving Jon to ponder on the consequence.
Sansa was cutting her meat, a deer that Robb had caught earlier on the hunt. The Smaller the pieces, the more she feels full, at least that's what she taught herself. The deer slices where little compared to the food she used to eat as a child. But she was a lucky one, she had meat on the table. She even had a table.
Sansa was sitting in between Jon and her brother Rickon. Sansa was often in charge of Rickon, at least when it came to meals. Though the boy had grown up a lot since the winter had come, he still needed more growing up when it came to table manners. A boy of 8, he was a still a handful at times.
"Use a knife." She whispered to him. Rickon put the fork down, with the whole piece of meat on it, before reaching over and grabbing a knife.
"You look different tonight M'lady." She heard Jon whisper from her right, his eyes glancing over her dress. She turned to him, giving a small smile.
"Which do you prefer?" she flirted back, or at least tried to.
"Which do you want me to?" He smiled, taking a sip of wine.
"Neither." Jon choked a little on his wine, his cheeks turning a slight pink. He looked over to see his Father's disapproval at his behavior flash for a second on his face before returning his attention to everyone else.
"I hate to bring it up, so soon after you arrived, but my staff needs to know. How long do you plan on staying with us Ned?" Elia Martell gives her husband her own disapproving looks, while she cuts her meat. Rhaegar is quick to avoid making eye contact with his wife.
"Not long. We only need a few more days, while he hunt for some Dragonglass and Valyrian Steel in the old battle grounds. We will be out as soon as we can manage." Catelynn gives him a look, making him remember to be curtseys. "Our family is in your debt for the hospitality you have shown us. I don't know if we would have found shelter anywhere else from the coming winter."
"Do you believe you could return home, to the North?" Elia Martell asked. Ned shook his head, a sadness swept over him.
"I'm afraid, the north is lost of us, until we can find a way to defeat the Winter once more." Ned took a sip of his own wine, before returning to his meal.
"If I had dragons, we could win this war in a matter of days."
"You couldn't control them long enough to win a war. Dragons are strong, and you can't even beat a girl in dueling." Ayra retorted back to him. Aegon glared over the table at the smirking girl. Sansa rolled her eyes, wishing this dinner would end.
Sansa sat by the old God Tree in the cutdown Godswoods. Her hand resting softly on the white stump that used to hold a face. The starks had been with the Targaryen's going on a two months now. Everytime they bring up leaving, Elia finds a way for them to stay. The starks are better hunters than they are, food is more plentiful since they had arrived. Sansa wishes they wouldn't drag out leaving anymore, she soon won't be able to part with Jon.
Jon quickly sits beside her, his chin resting on her shoulder.
"What are you thinking?" He whispers. She places a hand over his, their fingers intertwining.
"Leaving. I don't believe I could part from you and ever be the same again." She holds back her tears. He walks around to kneel in front of her.
"Don't think like that anymore." He wipes a tear from her cheek.
"I can't help it. Father is getting more anxious every day, and you know who the Starks and Targaryens are."
"But we aren't like that. This generation could be different. Like during the first winter war. You said it yourself. Stark and Targaryen working together wins."
"They haven't since then."
"Well, we could change that." He stood up with her, embracing her. His lips on hers, while she smiled into his embrace. "I want to Marry you Sansa Stark. I don't want to part from you again." She smiled up at him, shaking her head yes. Before she could say anything back, she noticed white snowflakes falling into his hair. Jon's own horror showed as they fell around them. Sansa looked towards the trees.
"Jon!" She yelled in horror as a blue eyed decomposed deer limped into the clearing. One it's back hooves was missing, his face half gone. Jon quickly unsheathed his sword, hacking the thing's neck clean off, before stabbing the skull into nothing. He grabbed her hand, both running as fast as they could back to the castle, to alert the others.
Winter had Come.
Sansa was quickly packing her things in the room she shared with Arya and her mother. She was holding back her tears, while Arya was silent for once. Quickly she hurried and put on her own riding clothes, knowing that they would be riding by dusk.
"Why do we have to go again? Why can't we stay and fight?" Arya asked.
"You know exactly why." Catelyn reminded her daughter. The starks tried to fight once, they lost their Uncle Benjen and almost lost Bran in the fight. Thousand of their followers were lost as well.
"I think this is a terrible Idea." Elia said from the door. She was in her own riding clothes, looking at the girls. Her daughter behind her. "We finally came together, we need to stick together." She walked into the room, gripping Catelyn in a hug.
"Yes, well the men are not to smart sometimes."
"They think numbers will be to large." Sansa put out, whipping her eyes before anyone caught sight.
"Sometimes large numbers are a good thing." Arya spoke up, fastening her belt.
"Before we split up we must talk about it!" Catelyn spoke to both in front of the family. Everyone was in the stables, ready to leave at any time. The snow had begun to stick, the White Walkers not far off.
"I will not hear anymore. Rhaegar is heading towards Dorne, while we are headed to Essos."
"Westeros is our home Ned!" Catelyn seethed at him.
"We are only stopping to pick up my family that is left before joining you in Essos. Gaining numbers before coming back." Elia mentioned. She gripped Catelyn's hand.
"But that is all the while meaning to stay together. Once we make it to Essos who knows how long it will be if we meet again." Catelyn gripped Elia's hand tighter.
"On what agreement?" Rhaegar looked at both of them. "Our families have not gotten along in the past why should it be any different now?" He reasoned back.
"How about a marriage agreement?" Sansa spoke up. She took a step forward from where all the kids were together. Jon reached out grabbing her hand. Sansa smiled back at him.
"You promised didn't you." He smiled back at her, stepping forward with her.
"I wish to marry her father." He spoke.
"Sansa-" Ned began but she cut him off.
"The Targaryens and the Starks have not gotten along since the first Winter's war. But during it, it was a Stark and a Targaryen working together that ended it."
"A marriage is something that shouldn't be-"
"It's not father. I already asked Sansa to marry me and she agreed."
"We don't have to do it know. We can wait till Dorne, a journey south together. Would you agree to that?" Sansa gripped Jon's arm. He held her close, her tears starting to come once more. "Apart isn't always the best answer." Jon put out.
Ned looked at Rhaegar both of them nodding.
"If you still wish to marry, we will ride as far as Dorne." Ned agreed.
"But we must hurry. The snow is getting worse."
