Chapter 10

Sansa awoke to find herself alone in the bed. She briefly wondered if it had just been a dream, her sexual encounter with Jon, but her state of undress, and smell of him still on her reassured her.

She hadn't expected his passion. She hadn't been honest with him when she'd told him the marriage was entirely to protect his claim. She had been afraid of his rejection if she told him the entire truth. Afraid it would drive him away. But she had been developing feelings for him since the first night they had stayed up all night talking after discovering his true identity. It was the first time she had viewed him as a man, not as her illegitimate brother, evidence of her father's shame and betrayal of their mother. Realizing that he wasn't even her brother made her completely reconsider him. He was still her family, her only family as far as she knew. Other than Uncle Edmure but she didn't expect him to be long for this world, in all honesty. Since Walder Frey and several of his sons were murdered, she expected Edmure would suffer the blame. With Bran and Arya missing, that left only Jon. And now he was about to become her family in an entirely different way. And all because the thought of him married to another Northern lady was unbearable, she had been surprised to find. She had kept that secret close to her chest, however, when seeking the support of both Lady Mormont and the Dragon Queen. Now, she was free to admit her love for Jon. And oh, how her love had grown.

She was appreciative at how last night had been the complete opposite of her previous sexual experiences, repeatedly being forced into the act by her cruel husband Ramsay Bolton. Society dictated that it was her duty to comply with her husband sexually, but when it happened, it hadn't felt as though she was providing fealty to her lord husband, as her lady mother and Septa had so long ago taught her. It just felt like a violation of her body, like he was just some brute forcing himself on her, instead of the promised holy union between husband and wife. It just felt like rape.

However, with Jon, she felt safe in his embrace. He was gentle and loving, even in his passion. She felt heat pool in her stomach thinking about his hands on her, his mouth on her. She had felt quite grateful for Ygritte in that moment; that he was obviously so experienced in giving pleasure must have been her doing. She knew, unlike Theon, that Jon never employed the services of whores. Robb had confided to her once that he himself was terrified of their lady mother's wrath, but otherwise would have been very interested. But Jon wouldn't even look at any of them. Jon didn't want to sire any bastards, he'd told her.

The wildlings must have moon tea, she suddenly thought. She hadn't heard anything about Jon siring a wildling bastard. She would have to find out.

That thought was interrupted by the knock on her door. Her lady's maid helped her bathe and dress, and she was ready to break her fast.

In the banquet hall, she found the others had all slept in, other than her sworn shield.

Lady Brienne rose to greet her in the hall.

"Lady Brienne, I trust you slept well?" Sansa asked.

"I did, I thank you, My Lady," Brienne replied, giving a curt bow.

"Could I ask a discreet favor of you?" she asked quietly, after the wait staff had walked away.

"Of course, My Lady."

"King Jon had a previous relationship with a wildling woman when he was beyond the wall, acting the spy. I need to know if he… sired any bastards with her," Sansa whispered. "I want to be clear, if he did, the child or children will be raised in the castle, and given the privileges of a king's children. I am not my lady mother, and I am certainly not Cersei."

"Understood, Your Highness. I will speak with Tormund immediately."

"Thank you, Brienne, but please, keep this between us, and ask Tormund to be discreet."

Sansa drank her tea as Brienne left, again wondering about the wildling's methods of preventing pregnancy. She was feeling especially grateful she'd had access to moon tea herself during her time with Ramsay. She'd secretly requested it from the Eyrie's maester, without Littlefinger's knowledge, when she realized his intention of arranging her marriage. She had not intended on the marriage lasting for very long, and Bolton children would have been an inconvenience in her taking back the North. She had intended to raise a coup from within Winterfell, but she had not anticipated Bolton holding her prisoner, making that an impossibility. She had been woefully unprepared for his cruelty and cunning. She certainly didn't make that mistake twice.

But now she had indebted them to Littlefinger, through her cousin Robert Arryn. Littlefinger had been the first to speak up, to try to cause trouble between Jon and Dany. She worried what trouble he might cause in the future. He wanted the iron throne for himself, and to do that, he needed Jon and Dany both out of the way, and he needed Sansa to give him the North. She hoped at this point he would continue to bide his time, wait to see if Jon and Dany were both killed in the wars to come. Because they couldn't afford his interference.

She thinks back to her desire to be Queen in the North. She had relinquished that dream when she realized that Jon could lead them to victory. But now, she would be crowned Queen.

She smiled contentedly into her tea cup as she looked across the room and caught Littlefinger staring daggers into her as he entered. No, he wouldn't just sit back and wait for the other contenders to die off, he would take an active part in making that happen. She knew he had made a grave mistake in sending the Knights of the Vale in before Jon could be killed by Bolton's men. She shuddered, knowing he wouldn't make the same mistake twice.