I do not own ASOIAF. I do not profit from this story, nor would I ever seek to do so. All credit for characters and setting to the wonderful GRRM.

A BIG THANK YOU TO ALL READERS AND REVIEWERS. I appreciate all the feedback.


"Everyone in the north knows the story of the Manderlys, and they have ever proven themselves more than loyal to the Starks."

"So, we want to go to White Harbor, then?" Gendry asked, poking another stick into the fire in the main room of the Inn.

She seemed to do nothing but go in circles. The only positive of it was that a circle would eventually lead her back to its beginning.

"I just do not know how easy it would be to get past the walls, if I did not want to announce myself to the guards. I feel most certain of Lord Manderly's assistance if we do, but getting into the castle. He would know me. But it is so likely that people loyal to Queen Cersei are there that it seems terribly unsafe. There is only one person I trust to keep me safe, but he is at the Wall, and I do not know how safe a place that is for a woman to go." It was strange to talk of plans to Gendry. But he was the one taking her. "I do not even know if I know where it is. We could get into all kinds of danger."

"Surely, if this person is there, that is the place to go."

"Stannis Baratheon is also at the wall." Sansa wrapped her arms around her legs disconsolately. Jon would not let anyone hurt her. He was her brother, but he was also Night's Watch, and they took no part. "I hope Lyanna returns to us soon. She said she would catch up to us. Do you suppose harm has befallen her?"

"She is fine, I should think. Too stubborn to die."

"Like Arya." Sansa said, thinking of her sister.

"Like you, Lady Sansa."

Sansa smiled, remembering her sister. Her sister was a survivor, much more so that her. Maybe she went north to the Wall. It would be like her to go to Jon. Jon had been her favorite brother. They looked so alike.

"I do not really know where White Harbor is from here. We could follow the coast and get there, but that does not seem safe. I know I could find the Wall. All there is to getting there is traveling North. With the pack assisting us, I have no doubt that we will reach the Wall. My brother is there, the only one left to me is also lost to me in a way."

"So, we'll go to the Wall?" Gendry asked. "That is where Arya and I were going so long ago with Yoren—before we were attacked by Tywin Lannister's men, and he was killed."

"Maybe we will find Arya there. She loved Jon more than anyone else, I think. He loved her too. She was upset about Jon having to go to the Wall, and I was not as kind to her as I should have been. I was a terrible sister to her. I was always judging her for the silly things she would do, like going into the swamps of the neck to hunt for lizard lions."

Sansa smiled sadly at her thoughts, how she had chastised Arya for coming back covered in mud, and how she had been play fighting with the butcher's boy. How she had lied and it cost Lady her life. If she had told the fat, drunk King the truth, he might not have killed Lady. The queen might still have wanted blood. There was no way to know. It was not doing her any good to look back. She looked up as she heard Gendry shuffle around and speaking.

"I was a terrible friend to her. Hot Pie and me both were."

"Hot Pie?"

Gendry poked another log into the fire as Sansa huddled under the blanket and leaned back against Nymeria whose eyes shone green every so often as the light caught them. He leaned back and began telling her about escaping Harrenhal and the journey toward Riverrun.

Sansa reached into the pocket of her dress and removed the handkerchief she always kept close to her. She raised it t her eyes to dab at the tears that formed.

"You miss him, don't you?"

She looked over at Gendry. Half of her father's destroyed greatsword hung from his waist. Sandor had insisted that they take it. It was not finished being fixed, and he said that Stark steel should always be with a Stark.

"I love him," Sansa said. She had told him twice, right in front of the whole castle. There was little point in trying to dissemble the fact. She said it, and she meant it. His eyes had changed for the briefest instant when he registered the words, but then he still sent her on her way. She could not decide if that was his way of saying he loved her to, or his way of not wanting to deal with a silly girl.

What if he found her feelings silly? That was part of what had kept her from saying anything to him for those few short weeks that they had been reunited. She knew that he found many notions to be silly and had no wish to be a vexation to him with her feelings. He never outright stated his regard for her, but he was always saving her. He had to care for her to be doing so all the time. He risked his night to come try to rescue her the night he deserted. Why do such if he cared nothing for her? He showed how much he cared.

"Best we get some sleep. It is a long way yet to Winterfell, and still farther to the Wall. Best we rest up here, and move on as soon as we are rested."

Gendry nodded. He rolled and rested on his stomach, putting his head on his arms.

"Gendry," she cut off before starting. "Good night." There was no need to build up hopes before she knew what was to truly be. When the time came, it would be a good surprise for him. She could give him a castle and lands, and if Arya wanted him as he seemed to want her, she would wish them all happiness.

She shifted onto her side, facing the fire. Arya had disliked Sandor passionately. Would any of that have changed since she had traveled with him, gotten to know him? Sandor said she had refused to kill him. Hopefully, her sister would not want to hurt Sandor. She stared into the flames watching the dance of it. She fancied that she could see shapes moving in it. Her eyes blinked more heavily. It looked like a thousand men riding toward her and Gendry before it swirled away.

The next thing she knew, someone was shaking her awake.

"My Lady. My Lady, wake up."

Sansa jerked up. Some embers still glimmered on the hearth. A loud lonely howl echoed through the woods from a distance. Nymeria was on her feet with her hackles raised, her muscles tensed, her lips pulled back in a snarl, and a growl rumbled from her throat.

"My Lady, I thought I heard horses."

"Horses?"

"Lots of horses, and voices." Gendry said. He helped her to sit up.

Snort! Clop. Clop. Clop.

Sansa strained her ears. She had heard a horse snort, and she definitely heard more than one horse walking around.

"The Inn is surrounded by wolf tracks, my Lord."

"Wolves don't build fires, and walls protect people from them, Ser."

Sansa felt her heart rise into her throat. She knew that voice. She shifted back and gripped Gendry. He was no match for the man out there, the hundreds, maybe thousands, of men out there.

"Yes, my Lord."

"Gendry, we need to get out of here without being seen." She trembled. It sounded like they were surrounded by an army.

"What's going on?" he whispered.

BAM!

Sansa screamed as the door burst open and Nymeria snarled, leaping toward the intruder.

"Nymeria, no!" If something happened to Nymeria, something bad might happen to Arya.