Sansa could almost hear her sister's voice echoing in her ears, mocking her. They are going, and you are remaining behind, like some stupid princess in a stupid castle. Yet what else was there for her to do? All the hopes of finding Arya and bringing her back home were now pinned on Harrion Karstark. She had to accept his help, even though she knew his offer to go forth in search of Arya wasn't rooted in sheer benevolence. Lord Karstark hoped to gain her gratitude - and her hand, she could not be blind to this. Provided that I am truly a widow. He doesn't seem to have a doubt on that score.
Harrion Karstark collected about fifty men in a very short time. His strength consisted of around twenty northern noblemen and knights, the rest were freeriders and household men - his own and of some lords who would be riding with him. On the morning he was due to depart, he stopped at Winterfell with his men to make his farewells.
"I shall bring your sister back, Lady Sansa," he swore.
"May the gods speed you on your noble task, my lord," she said courteously. She looked about her, at the men who were of the party. There were many familiar faces. I hope I shall see all of them again... and Arya, too. There was also one man... she never saw him before, she was certain of that, but it was as though his face was known to her as well - the thick black hair and bright blue eyes, the closely cropped beard that covered a powerful jaw, the square broad shoulders and muscular arms.
"My lord," she spoke to Harrion Karstark, "who is that man over there?"
"It is curious you should ask, my lady. After I sent word I am looking for men to ride alongside me in search of Lady Arya, he appeared and asked to join my party. Ser Gendry Waters, he calls himself. I am not sure this is his real name, but he makes an impression of a brave man and a skilled sword. I believe it will be good to have him with us."
After Lord Karstark took his leave of her and moved forward to give instructions to his men, Sansa made her way toward the black-haired young knight. Waters, that is a bastard name. Could Arya have thought about this man when she spoke of the possibility of marrying a bastard?
"Ser Gendry," she said. The young man turned to her in surprise and made a curt bow.
"My lady of Stark knows my name," he remarked.
"Lord Karstark spoke of you, ser," she said, "and told how pleased he is to have you by his side on this journey. But I... I have heard your name before. You are acquainted with my sister Arya, I believe?'
The part of Ser Gendry's face that wasn't obscured by hair or beard turned faintly pink. "I had the honor of escorting Lady Arya during part of her way home," he said.
"But you never stopped at Winterfell."
"That's so. When I returned, I... business called me elsewhere." What sort of business, I wonder? Sansa thought. "I knew your lord father too, my lady. From the time he was King's Hand. I was an apprentice smith at King's Landing back then, and your father called at that armorer's several times. He... expressed an interest in me."
No wonder. Sansa didn't doubt her father guessed who the young man - he must have been no more than a boy then - was, even without asking his name, which didn't tell much anyway. King Robert's son. It was told all Robert Baratheon's bastards looked alike; Sansa met one of them, a girl called Mya Stone, at the Vale. She had the same thick coal black hair and blue eyes as the man who was now standing in the courtyard of Winterfell. She wondered whether Arya knew as well, and whether Gendry's parentage meant anything to her. Most likely not; Arya made it plain that birth and station made little difference, as far as she was concerned.
Lord Karstark and his party left not long after, and Sansa stood for a long while and followed them with her gaze. She could only hope they would succeed in finding Arya and the men who had gone with her. She also thought that if her sister meets Ser Gendry once again, chances are that highly interesting proceedings will soon follow.
Winterfell, at least, was now livelier than before. Several lords went with Harrion Karstark themselves or sent their sons, and of those, some left their ladies in Winterfell, where Sansa generously offered them every hospitality. One of them, Lady Sybelle Glover, stood by Sansa's side even now, attended by her two young children.
"I should have been worried about my Robett riding off to go beyond the Wall," she said, "but as he goes with our noble Lord Karstark, I am as confident as I can be of their successful and speedy return."
"It was very brave of Lord Robett to add his efforts to those of Lord Karstark," said Sansa.
"Oh, yes. Robett is brave, but I daresay Lord Harrion is the bravest of them all... and so gallant besides," added Lady Glover with a knowing smile.
They have all wed me to Harrion Karstark already, Sansa realized with a prickle of annoyance. No one seemed to remember Tyrion at all. But could she blame them? For a long time, she didn't think much about Tyrion herself.
"It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that the fate of the entire North now rests upon Lord Karstark's shoulders," Lady Glover continued slyly, no doubt believing she gives Sansa the greatest pleasure by her allusions.
"I shall join you and the other ladies for the midday meal, Lady Sybelle," said Sansa, "now, though, I will go to the godswood, to pray for the success of our men."
"Oh, do," nodded Sybelle. "No doubt our valiant men covet your prayers, Lady Sansa... some perhaps more than others."
But on her way to the godswood, Sansa was detained by Maester Kaeth, who walked towards her with a letter in hand. She stopped in her tracks, and could hardly breathe as she asked,
"What news, Maester?"
"Nothing of importance, I fear, my lady. Castle Black sends word to let you know that all efforts of searching for your lord husband and Lord Commander Mormont have proved futile. No one knows whether they are alive or dead." But they presume the latter. Could it be? Am I to continue in this suspense much longer? Come back, Tyrion. Come back and tell me what I am to do.
"Thank you, Maester Kaeth," said Sansa.
In the godswood, the tears flowed freely down her cheeks.
"I know you said we must find it, Bran," she said, "whatever it might be. But did it truly mean Arya had to go herself? I am so afraid. She had only been here for such a short time that it seems like a dream. Now I fear I shall never see her again."
And with the whisper of leaves, she heard these words:
She is almost there.
"Where, Bran? Where?" Sansa asked insistently, but her question went unanswered. The godswood fell silent.