Sansa POV

'Sansa, are you coming today?' Leonette asked.

Sansa looked up from her desk as the other young woman came in, belly first, body second.

'To?'

'The city. I am going to visit some weavers, listen to their worries, give some breads, you know the drill. Listen to the worries of a new guild each few days.'

'I can make time today', Sansa agreed. 'Let me just finish this up.'

Leonette sat down on one of the spare chairs of the solar of the young couple.

'Is Willas in?'

'Oh no, he's outside, has been since he broke his fast. I believe he planned on visiting some farmers who had planted the more cold climate crops we just got in from the Vale and the Riverlands in their fields outside. By now I believe he must have started hawking. He said he planned on hawking in the afternoon.'

'Ah, I see. It's good he's spending some time outside, between his people', Leonette agreed.

'And some time relaxing', Sansa smiled.

Willas hadn't stepped into his office that day except for the short briefing of what was happening both in and outside of Westeros, yet his desk looked like he'd just run away from it in a haste. If he could ever be believed of running.

Leonette eyed the chaos. Willas had always been meticulously organized but then after all the shocking setbacks of the past month and the added pressures and obligations she could understand he had changed since she last saw him almost a year ago.

Sansa closed her books after an additional ten minutes.

'Alright, let's go.'

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Leonette had taken to her new role like a fish to water. Sansa had been accurate in her prediction that purpose and people were the key to helping Leonette move onward. As they walked through the castle her eyes still misted over every now and then, but once they went through the gates to the level of the city and people started recognizing and greeting them, the shadows around her fell away.

She was smiling, holding hands of small children and putting coins in them.

'It seems like yesterday Margaery and I did this in King's Landing', she admitted.

'I hope she is fine', Sansa responded.

Leonette nodded, her lips pulling tout.

'I hope so too. I can only hope with her father present and as wife of the king and with that mad queen practically powerless she will finally be protected. It's already bad enough she lost two brothers and is stuck there. The poor girl.'

'Practically powerless is not powerless. She was virtually powerless while King Robert still lived. He kept her small and out of business. Yet she managed to seize control. The only Queen Cersei I trust is a dead one.'

'Did Lord Mace not write that he was going to send Cersei to Casterly Rock with Myrcella once she arrived.'

'He did. But there's been… complications', Sansa admitted.

'Right, the sandsnakes and …'

'Yes. The council still lacks its last council member. Soon they will get suspicious. It can only be put down to winds and storms for so long.'

'Was there any message of Lady Olenna today?'

'We would have told you if there was. Her last letter was written two days after she passed Bitterbridge. I suppose by now she must be beyond the Grassy Vale.'

'That's near the Stormlands.'

'Yes. But the journey will start being slower now. There's no river she can take in the Stormlands and she does not ride a horse. She goes by a slow carriage.'

'If they were wise, they would meet her halfway. They are young.'

'If they were wise they would stay where they are well defended and cannot be at a disadvantage. I do understand them. And the less they move, the less notice they get.'

'Is that really worth the effort if Kingslanding already knows?'

'They do not know the numbers and do not know of their alliances. Lady Olenna and Princess Arianne are secret guests.'

'This goes so beyond me', Leonette sighed.

She grimaced, holding her hand to her stomach.

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'Everything alright?' Sansa asked.

'Yes. Just… He's active today.'

'That means he's healthy and strong, or so my mother said', Sansa smiled.

'I know… But it also means I'm in a bit of discomfort. He's also so heavy. It's like two watermelons are tied to my belly.'

Sansa nodded sympathetically.

'Are you two already…'

Sansa had blushed furiously the first week and a half after her marriage. But by the overwhelming amount of comments, questions and unprompted advice wherever she went, be it the kitchens, the gardens, outside or even in the sept, the blushing had somewhat worn off. She was the future lady of Highgarden, her husband had no brothers left and they had not left heirs. Everyone needed her to become with child as soon as possible. And as it was everyone's business, she decided to just accept the questions. Although she only answered the questions of the other Tyrells.

'Not that I know of', Sansa admitted. 'It was a bit of a disappointment but expected that I had my blood two days after the wedding. But it was to be expected that two days would not have been enough.'

'My grandmother had two and ten children. She started counting back on the nine moonturns the days they were born, and found she always got pregnant about two weeks after her moon's blood started. My mother used that advice to her advantage. Unfortunately for me it did not do much. But then I did not have a lot of months to try it out either, that Garlan was present during that time.'

'That means… Somewhere next week', Sansa decided.

Leonette nodded.

'But we tried every day except during my flow, just to be safe', Leonette shrugged.

'You will get there.'

'And our children will be happy playbuddies?' Sansa asked.

'Exactly.'

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They soon arrived at their destination. The first place was a weaving guild hall going back five hundred years. The men and women showed them around and presented them the fine artisanal rugs, blankets and other textiles they had produced in a beautiful hall with painted walls depicting weaving scenes and prominent benefactors and wealthy guild leaders of the past.

Sansa and Leonette shook hands, listened, and both asked questions. Then Leonette dealt the good news she would buy their rugs and blankets to furnish the room of her unborn child, leading to the guild giving them very friendly goodbyes.

The next was Rosey's dress shop. Behind a pretty hederated façade in an old font lay a small shop in which measurements could be taken, and behind that a large atelier with weaving equipment, sewing spots, wooden frames, looms, stitching area, and embroidery tables.

Rosey greeted both ladies with a warm smile, welcoming them behind the scenes. Sansa and Leonette, although both had now worn dresses from her atelier, were amazed to see the equipment and the large work environment that had produced it. They spoke with some of the workers, asked them for their worries, and finished the visit by each ordering a new coat for winter to support her business. After having their measurements taken they were off in the streets again.

When they came out into the streets again, the sky had darkened, the clouds now a dark grey.

'How late is it?' Leonette wondered.

'No clue. Dusk changes so much these days, it's impossible to tell the time by the amount of daylight,' Sansa shrugged.

In the town centre above a well, a statue of a pretty woman who stood with a clock under one arm and a basket under another.

'Ah, it's past six. Time to get back for dinner.'

'I always wondered, who is she?' Sansa asked.

'Oh, that's Garla "The Giver" Gardiner, wife to Mern the sixth. She invested a lot of time and money in the growth of the city of Highgarden, issuing a lot of building projects, giving a lot of baskets during the winters and giving a lot of feasts so the farmers could sell a lot of their crops. She made the city flourish.'

'She looks lovely.'

'She probably was. She's a Fossoway by birth', Leonette smiled.

'That explains.'

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Sansa stored the information away. The Reach had a much stronger visual culture than the North. She had noticed before, but it was still astounding how far it went. From the very aesthetical religion of The Faith with its pretty buildings and sculptures, to how the people of the Reach made sculptures of everyone they truly valued. Their memory and praise went through the eye, compared to the invisible old gods and the focus on oral retellings of stories in the North.

She planned on doing something for the city, as that was clearly a good method to leave a legacy deserving of respect and praise. Beside the glasshouse she had not thought of a building project yet.

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They walked back through the high gates of the inner circle. From the gardens, Sansa could see the glassmakers working on the black squares and rectangles between the white walls, filling them up with paned glass windows of green and clear colouring. In a few weeks all windows and roofed balconies would be filled up with glass, so the cold could not get into the building.

Meanwhile in the kitchen gardens servants were running around, picking up cabbages and onions. Meanwhile, ladies were leaving the greenhouse after an honest day's work. Sansa smiled to herself, satisfied with the success of her invention.

A hoarse, shrill kee-eeeee-arr jarred Sansa out of her thoughts.

Looking up, she saw a lean bird sailing through the sky, bells softly ringing at it dove past her. She had never seen that before.

The magnificent creature followed the round inner walls of Highgarden before pausing and diving down.

Pats on the sand coloured gravel and panting alerted her to the presence of a dog, that soon after shot through a bush some feet in front of them. It was low and fluffy, a wave of browns and blacks and white as it raced past them.

A much slower servant ran after the dog, pausing when he saw them.

'Oh, m'ladies', he said, bowing.

'What are you chasing Amors?' Leonette asked.

'Rats, m'lady. The kitchen and garden staff complained about them. We've noticed an increase now that there isn't as much food laying around outside anymore. Lord Willas decided to unleash his beasts on them.'

'Any luck?'

'Oh yes, count is thirty-five. And we have only been here for an hour. Soon there won't be a rat left in this place.'

'You have ran after and fetched thirty-five rats? That is impressive', Leonette smiled.

The servant's eyes grew round and he almost blushed.

'Just picking up the dead ones, the beastie's doing the hunting', he said modestly.

The hawk squeaked and shot to the sky again.

'Well, go on then', Leonette smiled. 'I wouldn't wish to keep you from your important work.'

The servant stammered a thanks and greeting and left them alone.

'That poor man, his heart could barely endure all that charm', Sansa smiled.

'I know', Leonette grinned. 'It's very endearing. Nothing inspires loyalty like love.'

'I agree', Sansa smiled.

'Go and get your husband. Or he forgets dinner again', Leonette decided.

She lay her hand on top of her belly. 'I'm exhausted. My feet are tired from carrying all this extra weight.'

'I understand, go and rest. We'll join you soon.'

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Sansa followed the bell sounds that came from the hawk, navigating the small paths between the hedges and flowerbeds until she spotted the tall figure of her husband with a stretched out arm upon which his hawk was perched, cocking its small head in all directions.

'My lord husband.'

'My lady wife', he smiled.

Despite him still dressing in black, it was clear his shoulders were becoming lighter as time passed. In an unprecedented move, a lord of Highgarden had listened to Lady Olenna. He had been taking time off and spending more time with his people.

'Have you met dear Lavender yet?'

'No, not yet my lord', Sansa smiled, coming up to him.

Willas lifted his elbow and the bird quickly took the cue, moving up his arm. Willas removed one of his long leather gloves.

'Here, put it on.'

'Oh no, I can't', Sansa stammered, watching the sharp slim claws of the bird. It cocked its head, eying her with sharp scrutinizing eyes and a gleaming bloodied beak.

'It will be fine', he comforted her.

She put it on despite her reluctance.

'There, now', he said, moving his arm to right beside hers. The bird understood and moved carrier.

Sansa swallowed.

'She's quite heavy.'

'Not unusually so.'

'I would not know, I have only ever been called a bird, I've never been one or held one.'

'Ah yes, a songbird was it?' Willas smiled.

'Yes', Sansa said, still staring at the bird with some fear; The bird looked back, not intimidated by the new human at all.

'Well, we're widening our arsenal now, aren't we?'

He had taught her songbirds included crows and jays and all kinds of clever strong creatures, not just the weak chirping kind. He had given her all opportunities to show her skillset and even extend it, in all freedom.

Willas picked up one of the dead rabbits that lay in a basket near him and pulled a piece of meat from the destroyed neck of one of them… the end result of the hawk enjoying its prey probably.

'Yes, we are', Sansa agreed.

He fed the hawk some meat.

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'Had a good day in the fields?'

'It went well. Took her down with me to catch some rabbits. It'll be a lovely stew, no doubt.'

'I wonder if we think rabbits like carrots because we stew them with it and we like them with it. Or whether we eat rabbits with carrots because they like carrots and it fits together', Sansa mused.

'What?'

'I was thinking about the stew.'

Her husband frowned at her, but the stern line of his lips started turning upwards.

'I must admit I do not know the answer to that question. But then I have better techniques for hunting rabbits than luring them with carrots.'

The technique was currently sitting on her arm, and the other one had come back to circle around his feet.

Sansa blushed, and felt very much her age again. Perhaps a fresh load of intelligence would come in three months, when she turned seven-and-ten.

'And successful methods they are. But perhaps it is time to retire inside and enjoy today's bounty. They will need time to prepare it and it is getting late.'

'Right you are', Willas said, looking up at the by now dark grey sky.

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'M'lord', the servant said, panting. He had once again returned latest. Poor man, Sansa thought. He held a rat by its tail, clearly disgusted with it.

'We will stop for the day', Willas declared. Sansa saw instead relief wash over the man's face.

'Do you bring Lavender back to the owlery? I will ask the garden staff to dispose of the rats', Willas said, nodding at the whole pile of dead bloodied rodents.

His smile remained but eyes turned panicked. Sansa pitied him, he must be tired and the owlery was a great many steps.

'Of course, m'lord. With pleasure.'

The hawk squeaked again, and both Sansa and the servant startled. She spread her wings a little, her bells softly clanking.

Gloves and bird were traded, gardeners were asked to clean away the rodent family, and then Sansa and Willas walked to the kitchens, basket in hand.

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'So, what did my lady wife do today?'

'Paperwork, mostly. Finances of the glass garden, the palace garden and the winter vegetable seeds for the external farms. Some farmers haven't paid for them yet.'

'We'll keep checking up on that, then.'

'And then I accompanied Leonette to the city to visit some businesses.'

'Ah', he said. His demeanour shifted, a worried frown appearing on his face. As always when they discussed Leonette.

'And?'

'It went very well. Handed out some coins, then visited the weavers and a dress shop. Placed some orders to support them. She's doing very well. She has the whole city wrapped around her finger.'

'They always liked her.'

'Yes but this was different. Men offered their condolences, women shared their own stories with her. I think they almost… like that she was hurt by the war like them. As if they relate to her better and admire her for carrying on.'

'The Reach was spared mostly, but the last two battles cost many lives', Willas agreed. 'Usually it's the poor people that pay the price. They must indeed admire that our family died beside theirs', he sighed.

Sansa nodded.

'And she is well?'

'She had some discomfort today, said her belly felt a bit heavy.'

'If she wants to stop she can. There's no need for her to walk around that much. She's quite far along.'

'It's fine. I think she still wants to do it. It's just a bit uncomfortable from time to time. I'm sure you can relate to that.'

He smiled, looking down at his cane.

'Yeah, a little bit', he admitted.

They reached the kitchen, and immediately all the kitchen staff that noticed paused and curtsied. Those that were too focussed on their jobs were quickly elbowed into noticing and bowing.

It was quite the departure from how she usually slipped through the kitchen relatively unnoticed.

'The head chef, please', Willas demanded.

A big Summer Islander with a large belly appeared.

'Yes, my lord?'

'Could the head table have rabbit for a course?'

'Of course, my lord. Had you a specific dish in mind?'

'No, prepare it as you please.'

'Yes, my lord. Of course. Is this your only preference?', the man smiled. Sansa was impressed, without a doubt the kitchen had started working on the dishes at least an hour again but he betrayed no annoyance whatsoever at having to change the plans last minute.

'Yes, I thank you.'

Willas offered his arm to Sansa and guided her through the kitchens, down the hall and into the great hall for dinner.

Lady Alerie, Leonette, Ser Raymas, Elinor, Alyn and Megga were already seated, all in black with only hints of green in their dress.

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'Mother.'

'Son, Sansa', Alerie smiled. 'A pleasant evening to you.'

'And you, my lady', Sansa said, bowing her head in respect before she sat down in the chair Willas held out for her.

'Willas, you heard about that business in Meereen?' Ser Raymas immediately asked.

'Something', Willas said.

He watched as a servant poured a dark red wine into his cup, lifting his hand when it was full enough.

'What do you think of it? That Targaryen girl used to hang around that place.'

'But she isn't anymore if I heard correctly. She left. Right in time it appears, heard the city is at war with itself for some reason or another.'

'Slaver's city filled with ambitious men and private troupes. It was going to go wrong one day or another', Raymas shrugged. 'Just thought, with everything, that it could perhaps be one of those little things across the sea that might influence Westeros.'

Willas drank, and then nodded.

'As long as that Daenerys Targaryen's dragons don't learn how to fight, I am very happy and relatively unbothered. To be frank, if they slaughter each other over there, it's only fewer people she can go to battle with.'

Ser Raymas laughed.

'Practical as ever', he said, raising his glass and tapping it against Willas' also outreached one.

'Have you received any news from grandmother, mother?'

'Yes, as a matter of fact it came in two hours ago. It was from Grassy Vale. She complained it was raining constantly, the notorious weather of the Stormlands is spreading', Alerie smiled.

'The roads are muddy so her travels will take quite a lot of time as long as she's in the Reach. The Stormlands, of course, have hardened their roads precisely because the stormy weather would otherwise leave them in a perpetual state of muddiness.'

'I can only hope that the bad weather will blow over in the Reach', Willas decided.

'Yet I doubt it. You know how our winters arrive', Lady Alerie said.

That put the head table into a prolonged silence. Although everyone accepted that fact and prepared for it, it still felt awful. Would all of them still be here by the end of it?

'What else did she say?' Sansa asked.

'Lord Elwood Meadows is still absent from his castle as he was seneschal of Storm's End for King Stannis. Unfortunately, due to recent circumstances, the monarch of Storm's End changed. Olenna was informed by his younger brother that just like he had bent the knee for Stannis after King Renly died, so he bent the knee for you know who. But due to his… flexible alliances in the past he is not yet trusted to leave Storm's End. Megga's mother is a Meadows by birth, her fealty has always been to the one true crown. As she is a Tyrell now, Olenna speaks in her name as well.'

Megga looked up, apparently she had not been informed yet.

'Olenna suggests that during the talks, she will mention Lysa will make an effort to ensure the loyalty of the Meadows. And if they don't…'

Lady Alerie looked at Megga, the formerly plump girl had lost quite a bit of weight since her arrestation.

'How would your father feel about getting a keep?'

'Oh. Oh my lady', Megga stammered.

'But you understand this must be kept silent, to prevent unrest and conspiracies against this?' Alerie asked.

Megga nodded quickly.

'I can be silent. I can. I… I've seen what lots of talk can do', she said.

'I'm sorry, but I do fear split allegiances have brought the Reach into a perilous situation before, with some taking side of King Stannis, some King Renly and some King Joffrey. We must not let history repeat itself.' Lady Alerie brought it convincingly remorseful, both sweet and warning at once. She had to, Sansa mused. Megga had been loud and unsubtle in the past.

'No. No my lady', Megga promised.

'To get back to the topic at hand. Currently, Elwood's brother is sufficiently loyal to us. His own brother has already switched sides. So until now, she has not had a single bad conversation with a ruling lord or their replacement.'

That meant until now, no one even cared about switching sides.

'I've left a note in your solar.'

'I thank you. We will go over it after dinner', Willas decided.

Then the soup was carried in, and conversation quickly became lighter and more subtle as the servants now waited on them, circling around them with wine, mead and food. They all knew there hid spiders between the roses.

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'So, what is it?' Sansa asked as she and Willas sat down in front of the fireplace with Alerie's list.

'My grandmother has not played subtle. It's a list of vague promises and allusions she's made to the lords and ladies she has passed on her way to the Stormlands. Take House Meadows, for example. She has promised to make Aegon appoint not Elwood but the younger brother of head of the house if Elwood's loyalty could not be guaranteed. She has threatened with replacing them with Megga's family if they did not agree. She promised them a marriage with someone who had already sworn fealty to Aegon to ensure their loyalty and promote them in prominence… And so it goes for all houses. She did make a list of those that were already Targaryen sympathisers and families that were not, but had branches of their families who did.'

'She'll redesign the Reach at this pace. Replacing lords left and right, will this not create bad blood? With all those families that will lose position?'

'Partially, but they get the choice between bending the knee and not bending it. To be honest my father's approach has not worked. He let them do whatever they wanted. Look at that rotten branch of Fossoways and their bannermen. Those are troupes we could not use in the war because they had sworn to another king. We are supposed to order them around, but how can we if we do not serve the same king? See how Leonette can still not go to what is rightfully her castle now. Divide and conquer, is what my grandmother believes. The rewarding of those who obey and punishing those who do not, keep people loyal. Your side needs to be enticing. And you do not allow them to take another side without punishing them. We need this Reach united once more. Ruling it is easier that way.'

'Can we even live up to and pay for the promises she has made to ensure their loyalty, though?'

'She's played it smart. Most promises were of positions, not money.'

'Well, she has always been wise and clever.'

Willas nodded, studying the list.

'We would only have to replace three lords of things go wrong. And maybe that can still be solved by having them die in the war', he reasoned. 'Then we will not be blamed for their deaths.'

Sansa allowed herself to laugh as she leant against his shoulder.

'One thing is sure, Westeros' political outlook will be filled with a whole lot of new faces.'

'High time, before the war started almost everything was ruled by the same old men who were already in power since the mad king. New faces for a new world.'

'I wonder if Lord Baelish will still be between them. He spent twenty years preparing to become a force of power in the next world order.'

'I do not believe in justice in this world. But I do believe he will not be able to sleep soundly once the charges against him become publicly known. If there is a force killing all the Freys, there must be some vigilante willing to kill him.'

'He always weaselled himself out of every situation though.'

'True', Willas admitted.

'But Edmure said he was reinstated as the de-facto ruler of Riverrun again and that the Lannisters who tried to get into the Riverlands are murdered by every farmer with a sword or shovel though. So perhaps, even if he weasels himself out of it, he has lost control of everything.'

'I'm truly in awe he manages to inspire that much trust in his people. I have lords whose sisters and brothers married into the Tyrells choosing other kings above mine', Willas sighed.

'But then you are still mostly in the shadows. Edmure has been ruling the whole of the Riverlands since before Lord Hoster died. He has fought, he has suffered with his people, and his lands have burned because of the crown. It was the perfect climate for them to turn.'

'You are right.'

'And with our amazing campaigns and care, no doubt we will get the Reach to that point as well. Anyone with a brain will see your plans are to everyone's benefit', Sansa decided.

'The best plans are not always those that win.'

'True, but a good plan that we try to realize still trumps the plan that is not made or put into action at all.'

'Hmm.'

'My lord is pessimistic.'

'Realistic.'

'You know what your ever so wise grandmother said about fretting. You would not want to hurt me or our chances of getting with child, would you?' Sansa smiled.

'I cannot even mope when I want to anymore.'

'Heavy are the burdens of matrimony.'

'You tease.'

'I only tease those I have the highest affection for.'

'In that case I should be very flattered.'

'Oh yes, absolutely', Sansa smiled.

'Shall we not retire?' she asked, taking away the sheet and putting it down on the table.

'Yes. Let us, please.'