Sansa walked down the row of people standing outside of The Twins. She hugged Bronn, shook Shale's hand and nodded once stiffly at Brarton before going to the next small group. She shook the hands of Tormund, Brienne and The Hound before yanking Jon and Arya in to her.
"Be careful," she told them stiffly.
"Of course," Jon nodded.
"Watch Arya," she cast looks at all three of the men before her.
The Hound and Tormund both nodded. Jon sighed.
"Always."
Ramsay made his way down the row, Ygritte in his arms. She was mumbling something and Ramsay was whispering back to her as he shook the hands of the people before him.
"Send word when you reach Riverrun, Jon," he reminded.
"Of course and feel free to send word to the Blackfish when Sansa has arrived safely."
"Of course," Ramsay readjusted his daughter, "If there is trouble at The Eyrie it will be taken care of and I will see you at Casterly Rock in no more than 4 months."
"Likewise."
"With all due respect," Brienne interrupted, "after things are taken care of at Riverrun, I would like to return to the Eyrie."
"Granted," Ramsay said immediately, "another person to look after Sansa."
She shot him a look and he and Jon nodded towards each other.
"You'd better head out," Jon told his eldest sister stiffly.
Sansa took a deep breath.
"Rickon has Brann," Arya said simply, "Jon and I have each other and you have Ramsay and we will all return to one another," she assured.
Sansa nodded and pulled her only sister in for another hug.
"Gods, Sansa. Stop it. I'll see you in less than a year. We've been separated for much longer."
"Not by choice!"
Arya sighed but initiated their third hug.
"Send letters to Rickon and Bran… and Riverrun."
"You send them as well."
"Of course."
"Sansa," Ramsay placed a hand on her lower back, "We must march out now."
Sansa sighed and bit her lip but nodded. She was so tired of thinking that her siblings were going to die. She nodded once again and then turned away before she would feel like she needed to cry. The last time they'd been separated, Jon had gotten murdered, Robb and both of their parents had died. Rickon and Brann had ended up on the other side of the wall. Arya had ended up on another land altogether. She'd ended up married off to any person willing to take her. The Starks did far better together than they did apart. She was sure of that. She was also sure that not a single Stark would agree with her so when Ramsay opened the door of her carriage she climbed in and took her daughter like a good wife and mother.
X
Out of the 12 days that it took to reach Riverrun, Sansa was sure she slept at least 9 of them. She was drained. Ramsay had to force her to walk around when they stopped. Taryne had practically taken on full care of Ygritte and while Sansa felt horrible about it, it was getting harder for her to resist her sleep. She was constantly yawning and rubbing her eyes. She knew from her pregnancy with Ygritte she would be locked away in a room soon. However, she was easily 30lbs heavier than she had been before her pregnancy. She couldn't recall herself gaining such weight with Ygritte. She supposed it couldn't have been that bad. She knew their child would be healthy.
When they arrived Margaery, Robin and some others welcomed them. Sansa wasn't in the most sociable mood. Margaery made a beeline for Loras as Robin ran to Petyr Baelish. Ramsay helped his wife from her carriage and took their daughter from Taryne.
"How do you feel?" Ramsay asked quietly.
Ygritte wiped her eyes with her hands and then turned towards Ramsay clinging to him as she fell forward against him. One of his hands instinctively went up to her head of hair and he found himself subconsciously twirling his fingers in it.
"Tired," Sansa admitted and leaned forward planting a kiss on Ygritte's cheek.
"You should start lying in."
"Ramsay-"
"No arguing, Sansa. It's not how I want to spend our last day together."
He turned on his heels and headed towards Osmund and Sansa took a deep breath. His words sat like a rock in her stomach. This really was their last day together for Gods knew how long. Arya had said she'd see her sister in less than a year. That could mean anything. That could mean any time. She let her gaze follow her husband. He was handsome… to her anyway. He had more hair than she'd ever seen him with before. It was different. Ygritte wasn't his spitting imagine anymore. She had his hair and his eyes, but Sansa had started to see her own facial structure on their daughter. Their daughter. Ygritte would be without a father for possibly a year… or longer… or less. Sansa placed a hand on her stomach.
Taryne and Melisandre stood near the carriage. Petyr and Robin had moved off to near the entrance of the castle. Ramsay and Osmund were talking to some of the men and no doubt passing word back. Sansa turned to spot Loras and found herself face to face with Margaery. Margaery wrapped Sansa in to a quick hug.
"I'll take care of you," she whispered quickly before pulling back and smiling widely, "Welcome to the Eyrie, Lady Stark."
"Thank you for receiving me," Sansa said politely.
She knew Margaery would tell her more when she got the chance.
"My, you're glowing Sansa. You look like you're due to birth any day now."
"I fear I have longer than we think," Sansa admitted.
"Well there is a room made up for your lie in and an adjoining area for Taryne and Ygritte."
"You're too kind."
"It isn't often we get to entertain our queen," Margaery linked her arm through one of Sansa's, "Come along, my dearest."
Margaery whistled and then called over Taryne and Melisandre before beginning to lead Sansa towards the castle. She nodded at some of the men they passed on the way and then paused at Petyr and Robin. She hugged Petyr and he paused.
"Lady Tyrell," he said stiffly.
"Oh please, Lord Baelish. You're soon to be my father by law any day now."
"Any day now?" Baelish repeated.
"Yes," Robin smiled brightly at his wife to be, "Margaery feels like it should be done soon. We were just waiting for you. We'd like it to be done before Loras leaves again."
"Loras is leaving tomorrow, Robin," Petyr placed a hand on the boy's shoulder.
"I'll leave you two alone and show our guests to their quarters," Margaery ruffled Robin's hair and linked her arm back through Sansa's.
Margaery got Sansa completely up the stairs before she felt like she would collapse. She helped her down the hall and to a relatively close room. Margaery pushed the door open and led Sansa and the rest of the women inside. She helped Sansa to the bed where she sat immediately and then pointed to a door to the far corner.
"After Ramsay's departure that will be the room that you, Taryne, will occupy with young Ygritte of course. I thought you'd like to be near Sansa and the room was quite big enough to house two smaller beds and baby bedding. And you, Melisandre, I hear you enjoy towers. However, I doubt you'd want to be near that God awful moon door so you will be residing in the next room over. Taryne, maybe you should make sure Melisandre can find her room alright? And now that you know where you will be sleeping, you don't have to return immediately."
They all seemed to get the hint and Taryne looked to Sansa who nodded. The two women let themselves out and Margaery crossed the room and quickly closed the door before hurrying back over.
"You knew Loras was leaving in a night?" Sansa accused.
Margaery smirked and knelt in front of the larger woman beginning to remove her shoes.
"Of course I did. I'm not an idiot."
"And you believe he will marry you so soon?"
"Yes. I told him I didn't need a wedding or a feast or any of the sorts. I just need the ceremony. Besides, my grandmother approves of this plan and my father will fall in line. They were aware that they would not get a chance to witness the union. We are at war, Lady Stark. We are women of noble houses. We do what needs to be done."
"At all costs," Sansa agreed.
Margaery removed Sansa's second shoe and stood up.
"I made this entire big speech about how just because my family wasn't here didn't mean we shouldn't wait for his. I was sure it would make Robin pressure Petyr to return. I'm aware we need to keep our eyes on him and Robin thinks I dote on his father by law," she picked up Sansa's legs and began to navigate them towards the bed as Sansa readjusted herself, "The thing with children rulers, my dear Sansa is to plant the seeds of what you want and then clap excitedly when they finally come up with your idea."
"You're good at that."
"I aim to be. There aren't many things for a woman to be in this world- noble is however one of the better descriptions."
Sansa nodded idly and Margaery took a seat on the bed beside her legs.
"You're right," she sighed.
"You should begin your lie in," Margaery said absently and then she sighed, "One day I will have to bare children."
"Does that thought horrify you?" Sansa placed both of her hands on her stomach.
She felt flutters when the baby kicked now and she was sure that the child could hear her voice.
"No," Margaery said and smiled, "It's my job as a woman- a noble woman to continue my husband's name. Loras is the heir to Highgarden. He will sire no children. My children will bare the last name Aryn but they will be Tyrell's through and through."
"You believe so?"
"Look at you and your siblings. Arya and Rickon are more Stark than any of you. Their wildling history shows through them. It's in their rage and their decisions and their accomplishments. You, Robb, Jon and Brann are more Tully. You all live by their words without thinking about it. Family always comes first for the four of you. I never knew Robb, but I know that he marched on the King of the seven kingdoms for you and Arya and to avenge your fallen father. Jon left after the black in order to return to help you. Brann puts everyone else's wants above his own according to Loras. My brother tells me that it's obvious that he wants to spend every moment in the library, but that he doesn't hide away there out of fear of how it will make you all feel. And you, Lady Stark, married a Bolton. I'm well aware that you didn't marry him because you wanted to. You married him to protect yourself and you lied with him to protect your family name. The two of you just happened to take a liking to each other, but even now you sometimes seem as if your marriage is a duty. You don't scream and demand and stomp like I'm sure you'd like to. You're wearing queen well," Margaery sat up taller, "Maybe love will come to Robin and I."
Margaery had Sansa's head racing. What was up with everyone wanting to talk about Robb? He had been dead for several years now. She was finding it hard to remember him. She remembered him. She remembered things that they had done together. She was losing details however. She couldn't remember how tall he was in relation to her. She could only barely cling to his voice. She wasn't sure if it was the right side or left side of his head that had that one annoying curl that hung lower than the others. She could remember his laugh, but his smile was getting blurry. She remembered things that were mental; his favorite color and his favorite food. She was losing the physical things; his appearance. It was making her more vexed the more she attempted to remember and couldn't. She felt like a horrible sister.
She could drag herself later. She needed to focus on the task at hand- Margaery.
"Are you okay?" Margaery asked and Sansa smiled to the best of her ability.
"What if it doesn't?" Sansa attempted to change the topic.
"Then I will deal with our horrible bedding until I bare a son and then I will love my child enough to deal with whatever else life throws at me."
"I had a similar plan with Ygritte," Sansa admitted, "but it ended in me eventually letting Jon kill Ramsay. Does Loras plan on killing Robin?"
"Not at all," Margaery laughed, "Robin is a child. He may be rash, but he's young enough to be wielded properly. Boys are still sent off to other houses at his age."
"Margaery, I appreciate-"
"Sansa, you made me a match with one of the seven noble houses. Tyrells will now be in charge of two of them. You're at war with the Lannisters because of me. Well, Cersei hated you too," Margaery chuckled, "and would have wanted you killed eventually, but Joffrey was indifferent to you. I put a target on your home and you welcomed me and made me a match and offered to let my brother take one of your best fighters as a lover. Loras tells me everything by the way."
Sansa grabbed her braid in both hands and began to undo it.
"I- Margaery, you and your family attempted to help me. You attempted to have me married off and moved. You will always have shelter at Winterfell and northerners at your back, so long as a Stark holds the north."
"And you will always have help at Highgarden no matter if it is finances, information, food, supplies or our army."
"Thank you, Margaery."
"In my head, you're a sister to me, Sansa," Margaery stood up, "I must go off to find my future husband. I can't have Petyr poisoning his mind. Get some rest, Lady Stark and I'll have a maester and your husband check on you soon."
"Thank you, Lady Tyrell."
"I want you well rested for my wedding," Margaery winked at Sansa and then let herself out of the room.
She'd chosen Sansa's room in a secluded part of the castle. She wanted her to get full rest. It was also less likely that they would be heard. She'd put the queen of the north in a crack of the castle where hopefully no one would find her. She was carrying precious cargo after all.
Sansa wasn't sure how long she laid there, raking her brain and becoming frustrated at the lack of results before she finally fell asleep.
What she did know however, was that the heir to Winterfell would be named Robb Bolton- not Robert- but Robb as his uncle was called before him.
A/N: Okay, soo I finished this chapter a day ago but I live in southern Louisiana (The US) and with all of the flooding and stuff going on here, my wifi was nonexistent by the time I finished it. Sorry.
ALSO, move in day for college is SATURDAY so I will be attempting to put out three more chapters before then- Wednesday, Thursday and Friday night.
That is why my chapters have been so spaced out. I'm a horrible procrastinator and have only now started preparing to go back to college last week and this week and I leave in 4 days. (Still not done shopping or filling out paperwork btw).
Once I move in however, school will be starting next week. The first TWO weeks of school will be hectic for me so in those 14 days I will probably post maybe 6 times. I have to participate in welcome week and being in a sorority means being available for rush which is a LONG PROCESS that will keep me for no less than 12 hours. I'm not over exaggerating. It's crazy. But after those first two weeks of school I will be back in my flow. Thank you everyone for your support and understanding.
LASTLY, I'm thinking about starting a triad relationship fic. Idk what show/book/movie I'm going to use but if you have any three characters in mind and you think they would make a great poly relationship leave it in a review or PM me or something. (I wouldn't start on anything until I wrap up another story bc I have too much unfinished work floating around) but THANK YOU in advance!
Thank you to everyone that follows, favorites, reviews, and/or reads. I appreciate it ALL and I apologize for this LONG A/N.