Fifth Month of 301 A.C. Gates of the Moon

Alayne Stone

Alayne was fascinated by the snow, watching it for many hours in the time when her father did not need her. Watching it settle on the ground and watching others play in it, the nobles of Lord Robert's court frolicked in it, but Alayne as a mere bastard was not allowed such pleasures and as such had to content herself with merely looking through the window. Lord Robert was growing weaker with every passing day, and Alayne was not sure what was wrong with him, they were giving him all they could to make him better and yet he never got better, and as such Alayne grew closer to Harry because of this. She was not sure whether she liked Harry or if she merely wanted some safety, she remembered a girl called Sansa would've once loved to be shown such attention, but Alayne was not Sansa was much more suspicious of men.

Of course just now she had to attend to her father, and as such she waited patiently for him to begin speaking. When he did he did not disappoint. "I have been speaking with Lady Anya and we have decided that you shall wed Harry in a week's time."

Alayne was somewhat taken aback by this. "But father is that not too soon? I thought we would go with a slightly lengthy betrothal whilst you got all you could from Ironoaks?"

Her father laughed slightly. "This is very true my sweet. But alas, with news coming from the north of the rogue Cregard Stark claiming Winterfell and the false fealty of the lords of the north, it is time to move the plan forward in motion. Now tell me what do you know of Cregard Stark?"

Sansa Stark had not been very good with the distant relations across the narrow sea but Alayne was. "Cregard Stark is the Lord Commander of the Company of the Rose, a title he inherited from his father Brandon who died in 296 A.C. As such the man is hard as stone and cold and a good warrior. But he lacks the skills needed to charm all else to his side. That he is friends with Aegon Targaryen is something that might hold for a little while."

Father nods and says. "Very good my sweet. But we both know the north will never bend the knee to an exile who had never stepped foot in the north before this, when faced with the trueborn daughter of Eddard Stark and Catelyn Tully."

Alayne gasps and something pushes forward. "You mean I shall not be Alayne anymore father?"

Father nods and says. "Indeed that is what shall happen my sweet. From tonight you shall be Alayne Stone no more and shall be Sansa Stark, the true lady of Winterfell and Queen in the north. And with your marriage to Harrold Hardying, the might of the Vale shall be at your disposal."

Sansa feels something akin to joy in her heart and then asks. "But how will the Vale come to my aid when Sweetrobin still lives and Harry is but the heir?"

Her father says nothing for a moment and then says. "Ah but our Sweetrobin loves you so much I am sure he would be more than willing to give you his men to reclaim your birthright."

And seeing the sense in this Sansa speaks. "And the lords of the Vale have been so desperate to get involved in the fighting, and for the chance to avenge Lord Eddard and King Robb that they will jump at this chance."

Her father smiles and stands. "Of course my darling girl." He then kisses her on the lips before moving his hands to cup her breasts breaking away when the door begins to creak open.

That night there is a grand feast that Alayne watches from some distance keeping herself to herself until asked to dance with Harry which she does so with some joy and some happiness, finally she will be allowed to go home and this time she shall rule in her own right. Eventually she disappears to remove the brown from her hair, and when she returns she can hear her father say. "My lords and ladies, I thank you for coming tonight to attend this feast, during the midst of what looks to be a hard winter. Whilst the Targaryens and the Lannisters and Tyrells wage war in the south, the Vale continues to prosper. And I know that many of you have harboured a desire to avenge the Starks at the hands of those who have wronged them. We all know of the false Stark sitting in Winterfell, a man who would see Ned Stark's line disappear from the face of the earth." There is some grumbling from various people and then Lord Baelish says. "Well I say that the man is wrong and foolish to believe so for I have the last surviving child of Eddard Stark and Catelyn Tully, Sansa dear come forward."

There are some shocked gasps at this and Lord Horton Redfort asks. "How can we believe that this is Ned's girl? When she has been passed off as your bastard for so long Lord Petyr?"

Lyn Corbray stands up then his hand on Lady Forlorn and says. "I can assure you Horton that the girl is whom Lord Baelish says she is. After all she speaks like one and acts like one. Especially like dearest Ned."

There is more murmuring and then Harry steps forward and says boldly. "I for one believe Lord Baelish and do hereby pledge my love to the lady Sansa and swear to win her back her birthright." He takes her hand and kisses it and as he steps back more lords come forward to do the same, and then chants go up around the hall, and Sansa looks at Lord Petyr and wonders how she can rid herself of the man.

Three days later a letter comes from King's Landing writ in the hand of the High Septon announcing the annulment of her marriage to Tyrion Lannister, and letters are sent to the north and throughout the Vale declaring her presence and life. And four days after that, she and Harry are wed and then preparations for war begin.