SANSA

"The Lady She is Now"

"Daenerys Targaryen has arrived at Dragonstone.", Jon said to the Lords and Ladies of the North. He sat in a black fur coat with his hair pulled back into a bun. Sansa sat to his right in a black tunic with cream fur along the seam. The fur had tinges of copper colored hairs to the ends. Draping down her neck was her needle necklace—her hair draped down the sides of it in loose waves. She decided to have half of her hair braided back into a ponytail to honor her Mother on this day.

"So, we've heard.", Lady Mormont relayed. The rest of the Lords and Ladies including Lord Royce, Lord Umber, and Lady Castark nodded or responded with 'Aye'. Brienne and Ser Davos were also among them in the Great Hall. Though they acknowledged the statement they were not pleased to hear it. Sansa shifted in her seat and scanned the room. She was worried of how they would receive the news, but more importantly of how Jon would respond to their reactions.

"Samwell Tarly—a trusted friend of mine sent a passage from a book in the Conclave of the Citadel. And in that passage, it described a mountain of dragonglass buried within Dragonstone. I have already explained the dire need for dragonglass in the battle to come and we cannot afford to pass up this opportunity.", Jon relayed. Sansa could tell he was trying his best to ease the Northerners into the idea of brokering a deal with the Dragon Queen, but cringed at the response he would get. She knew he would have to stay affirmative or the noble born would try to override his authority.

"My King, we hear you loud and clear but what is it you are asking of us?", Lord Royce asked. The others questioned as well with confused glares. Sansa glanced up at Jon and though she knew he wasn't paying her any mind she hoped he would feel her support.

"I ask of you nothing, but I am telling you that someone must go South to meet with her and come to an agreement."

"Surely you aren't speaking of yourself, my King. We are discussing meeting with the daughter of a madman!", Lady Mormont refuted.

"Need us forget her three full grown dragons and army of Dothraki and Unsullied!", Lord Royce contributed.

"Aye!", the rest of the Northern noble born yelled.

"Silence! Daenerys Targaryen should not be judged by her Father's mistakes as I neither. Do not forget that your King that you chose is a bastard. Now I will not go South as my Father has before me—I will stay here in my Kingdom with my people! However, I need a representative to go South for me and to make a deal with Daenerys. It needs to be someone trustworthy and confident—someone who will have the North's best interests in mind.", Jon exclaimed. Sansa was proud at him for owning his title and for being a smarter man than he once was. She took a breath and stood out of her seat.

"That person should be me. I am a noble born, daughter of Ned Stark himself. Who better than me to keep the North's interests at heart? Lady Brienne can be my escort on the excursion.", Sansa proclaimed. She clenched her fingers into her palms and focused on her breathing as the noble born began to stir; she couldn't tell if they were in agreeance or if they were disagreeing. To her left she felt the heat of Jon's brown eyes on her face.

"Aye!", the noble born yelled. Sansa glanced down and couldn't help but to smirk. The glory felt good to her—natural even. She drew another breath whenever Jon's chair went backwards, and he stood beside her. The people went silent.

"I couldn't think of a better person than my sister to complete this task. Aye!", Jon yelled. Sansa smiled as Jon grabbed her hand and squeezed it. Brienne grinned as well as she made eye contact with Sansa from across the room.

.

"Maester Wolkan sent the raven to Dragonstone alerting your arrival.", Jon relayed to Sansa. They were standing outside of Sansa's wooden cart that would escort her to the port. Brienne wasn't far as she was feeding the horses and packing food for the trip.

"Very well. You know I didn't expect you to support my decision."

"At first, I didn't because I was afraid, but then I remembered how strong you are. Plus, you're usually the smartest person in the room.", Jon said. He patted her on the back and smiled at her.

"I suppose so.", Sansa responded lowly.

"Don't doubt yourself just because I have. I have faith in you sister."

"Thank you. I have faith in you as well, especially after today. You can be smart too."

"Oh really, haha. Come here.", Jon said before embracing her in a hug. Sansa gripped him tight as she knew she would be gone for a while. "Come back in one peace, will ya'?"

"Ye-yeah.", Sansa said. She took a breath into the hug and closed her eyes before removing her arms from around him. "Don't worry Tyrion will be there as well. He has always been kind to me."

"Of course, send him my regards… Alright you'd better be off before nightfall.", Jon said while backing away.

"Yeah. See you."

"See you.", Jon replied. He walked away back into the Great Hall and made one last glance back at Sansa.

"My Lady, the cart is ready.", Brienne proclaimed while holding the cart door open for Sansa. Sansa took a shaky breath and entered the cart.

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It was three days before the two finally reached the port at White Harbour. They boarded their ship with haste and were now sailing to Dragonstone. Brienne had told Sansa that to her knowledge it took about a sennight to reach the island. Sansa dreaded the journey as she hated the putrid smells of ships and salt water, but knew it was necessary. The two were below deck—Sansa on a cot, Brienne in a hammock of sorts by a barrel. The ship was swaying back and forth as the wind had picked up.

"Brienne have you ever been in love?", Sansa asked. She was bored and always wondered if Brienne had a secret suitor.

"My Lady. Excuse me, but I can't seem to find the importance of the question."

"Relax. It isn't important to me, but I was curious on the matter. You don't have to speak his name—or her.", Sansa relayed. She smirked as she watched Brienne shift in her hammock.

"Well… I guess I believe so. I can assure you he is a man, but I suppose it doesn't matter."

"Why not?", Sansa asked.

"It wouldn't work and I'm not even sure if he'd want me.", Brienne said. She held her head down and looked at her hands. Sansa was pretty sure she was speaking of Jaime Lannister and genuinely felt sorry for her because it could never work. Brienne was right about that, but Sansa still felt bad for her.

"Well he would be a fool if he didn't. You're beautiful too Brienne. Not in the way that you are thinking, but the way you can move your body in battles and your devotion to vows is very admirable."

"Thank you, my Lady.", Brienne replied shocked. Sansa nodded. "Have you?"

"Oh no. I thought so once, but I was naïve and weak then. One day I suppose I will fall in love, but not now. I can't really trust men to that capacity, not after what I have witnessed…", Sansa answered. She began to think of Joffrey and Ramsay. Petyr even too.

"I'm sorry, my Lady. If only I had gotten to you before."

Sansa paused at her comment and really considered if she would have wanted that; she decided not. "Don't be. Without them I wouldn't be strong enough.", Sansa said. She picked up her needle pendant and gripped it as she thought of her many traumatic experiences. Not all of them were from men, but also from women such as her psychotic aunt Lysa and more importantly from Cersei. Even then not all of her experiences with Cersei were traumatic. She learned a great deal from her as well. Sansa began to think of her many lessons from Cersei. She thought particularly of a conversation they had in the colorful gardens of the Red Keep. The sun was beaming down and there was the perfect breeze. Cersei's golden hair flowed in the wind and she had on a pink kimono styled tunic. Cersei told her that a weak man could never control a strong lady because he wouldn't know what to do with her. "Without her I wouldn't be the lady I am now."

…

Next time: Sansa goes home with a proposal. She is reminded of her childhood.

Guys thanks for reading! Now I will start rotating between the POV's of the characters. Also, there is a pretty big chapter coming up and I'm sure you guys will love it. Stay tuned! Please review—I'd really like to hear your thoughts and any ideas. : )