War

Sansa jerked up, her head snapping to look at what her father had just said. "What?"
"You heard me," he said to her, speaking louder for the entire council to hear. "The Westerlands have declared war on us."

Lord Hornwood leaned forward. "You mean to tell me that Tywin Lannister has announced war with the Starks? After we've got along fine for centuries?"
"They have their reasons," Ned insisted. "Cersei did not like the fact that I denied her son Sansa's hand in marriage."

"And so she declared war?"

"This is outrageous!"

"Just marry her to him and save us the trouble!"

"I will not be marrying Sansa to Joffrey Baratheon," Ned said. "He isn't even a Lannister, and neither is Cersei. If any kingdom were to declare war, it would be the Baratheons. Tywin only wants to please his daughter."

Sansa felt Robb lay a hand on her shoulder. She looked at him with wide eyes. "I don't want to marry him."

"You won't," he told her. "You'll stay right here in Winterfell. Father's defending you right now, and no matter how much the lords protest, his decision is final. Joffrey will not have your hand."

Sansa sighed. "I hate this."

"What?"

"Royalty."

Robb nodded. "I know. I feel the same. It can be stressful, but there's always an escape. Something that keeps us sane."

Sansa nodded. She knew what her anchor was.

Missing

Drogon didn't come to her room that night.

She was already waiting for Daenerys when she arrived. Daenerys gave her a worried look. "Do you not have the dragons?"

"None of them came. I thought they were still with you." Sansa looked up, half expecting to see Drogon sitting on her balcony laughing at her. He wasn't.

Daenerys was panicking. "Where do you think they went? Are they alright? Did something get them?"

"Daenerys, calm down. I'm sure they're just messing with us." Sansa wasn't sure she believed herself. Drogon may be mischievous, but she knew for a fact that Viserion would never do this to them. "Maybe they couldn't find any prey and are still searching."

"What if they were captured?" Sansa couldn't deny that it was possible. Dragons were creatures that had been thought extinct. There would be a lot of people who would love to get their hands on a dragon. "Oh, Sansa, they're gone!"

Sansa gathered Daenerys in her arms, hushing her. "They're tough little things. No one could hold them for long. They'll get out, don't worry."

"They're my children, Sansa. I can't just not worry for them!"

"There isn't anything you can do about it now. There could be anything hiding in the Wolfswood. We just have to trust that they can get themselves back." Daenerys buried her face into Sansa's collar, her chest heaving as her anxiety piled up. Sansa stroked her hair, pressing a kiss to the top of her head. "Believe in them."

Daenerys nodded, tears falling onto Sansa's neck.

Thieving

Arya approached her after dinner the next day, intercepting her before she could retire to her chambers. "Sansa."

"Arya."

Arya looked excited, a grin on her face. "You remember coming to ask me about the dragons?"

"Well, yes." Sansa wondered exactly where this was going.

"I overheard Father talking with some of the lords. Apparently, they sighted dragons out in the Wolfswood." Sansa's eyes widened and Arya gripped her arm. "They found dragons, Sansa! Live dragons!"

Sansa wracked her brain for any way to pull more information out of Arya. "I thought dragons were extinct?"

"So did I. But they're back!"

"Do you know what they're going to do about it?" A bit on the nose, but she had rights to be curious. She just had to be careful to not arouse suspicion.

"I don't know. Some of the lords want the dragons dead since they likely mean Targaryens. Father said he wanted to bring them in and have the Maesters study them. I don't know anything past what they want to do." Arya shrugged.

The dragons had to have been captured, then. Something had already been done with them if they weren't coming back. Unless someone had killed them without the king's permission, then the dragons had to have already been brought into the castle. Where they would be, though, would be a harder challenge. "Where would they keep the dragons?"

"I don't know. Why does it matter?"

"Just curious." Sansa was afraid she said it too quickly.

Arya narrowed her eyes at her. "Do you want to go find them? Is that why?"

Sansa hoped she didn't look as nervous as she felt. "It would be kind of neat to see live dragons where they couldn't attack me."

Arya nodded. "I get that. But then again, what's life without danger?"

Sansa, not knowing what to say, awkwardly bid her goodnight and slipped into her room, shutting the door behind her

and leaning against it with a relieved sigh. Lady trotted up to her and nuzzled her shoulder in a worried manner. Sansa rubbed her neck. "I'm okay."

Sansa waited anxiously for night to fall before she grabbed her cloak and left the room to meet Daenerys, beckoning Lady after her. She ordered her to stay by the door and approached her friend. Daenerys looked at her sadly. "They aren't back yet."

Sansa handed her a piece of bread. "I know. I think I know where they are."

Daenerys gaped. "Really?"

Sansa nodded. "Arya said she heard the lords talking. She said they saw your dragons in the Wolfswood. I think they captured the dragons and brought them into the castle."

"Are they alive?"

"I think so. My father wanted them alive, and I doubt he'd let anyone go against his orders."

Daenerys exhaled. "At least they're alive."

"I think I know how to get them back." Daenerys's head shot up. "Do you have anything that the dragons used often? Something that would have their scent?"

Daenerys frowned. "Anything like that would be back where we sleep."

Sansa whistled for Lady. "Take me there."

Daenerys led Sansa deep into Wintertown, eventually curving down an alley where a small little hideout was set up in the corner, a pile of ratty blankets along with one or two other dirty dresses. Sansa felt a sting of pity for her friend. This was how she lived?

Daenerys spread her arms. "The dragons usually hang out here. There isn't really anything they've claimed as theirs specifically."

Sansa picked up one of the blankets and held it out to Lady. "Drogon. Smell Drogon." Lady sniffed at it and whined in agreement. She could smell him.

Sansa tucked the blanket under her arm and gave Daenerys a quick hug. "Don't worry. We'll be back with the dragons soon." Hopefully.

Daenerys nodded. "Be safe."

Sansa found her way back to the Keep and reentered. She held the blanket out to Lady once more. "Drogon. Find Drogon." Lady took a long whiff of the blanket and raised her nose into the air. She sighed, dropping her head. There wasn't any smell.

Sansa led Lady deeper into the keep, every few hallways stopping to let Lady reassess the area for any sign of the dragons. They entered the main hallway. Sansa couldn't see anybody near, but she could hear voices drifting from one of the adjourning halls. Lady looked up suddenly, shoving her muzzle into the blanket and raising it back up. She barked softly and began to trot down the hall. Sansa followed.

Lady led her through the hallways, retracing the steps of the dragons-or more likely their captors. They reached the steps down to the basement, the ones that led down to both the cellars and the hounds. They descended the steps, Lady slowing down as the scent of mutt rose up. Lady whined, pointing her nose to the cages of the hounds. Sansa stroked her head, muttering praise as she walked toward the mutt cages.

The hounds began to bark as she passed them, pushing and shoving to crowd up at the cage door. Sansa skittered away from the dogpile, glancing at the dark-furred creatures warily. But through the ruckus the hounds made, she heard a familiar squeal.

Sansa rushed down to the end of the cells, picking up her dress to walk faster. There, in the very last cage, contained the three little dragons that had caused her so much worry. The cell was extra secure, a lock on the door instead of just a simple latch.

Sansa drew back the latch as much as she could, trying to pull the door open far enough for the dragons to squeeze through. The gap was only a few inches wide. Viserion stuck his head through it and attempted to get his body through but was unable to fit his mass entirely out.

Rhaegal climbed up the bars, shoving his head and neck through the gap. He twisted around to that he was looking at the lock and coughed up a stream of fire. The metal withstood the heat for the first minute before it began to glow, the thin area that held the lock to the latch weakening. Drogon shoved himself up beside his brother and grabbed the bottom of the lock, tugging at it as his brother melted it.

It took a few minutes and a couple of fire restarts but eventually Drogon tumbled to the ground with the bottom part of the lock in his mouth. Viserion pushed through the door, shrieking his victory. Sansa shushed him, ushering Drogon and Rhaegal out.

She removed her cloak before scooping up Viserion and Rhaegal, tucking one under either arm. Drogon settled himself on her shoulder and she nudged him back so that he was gripping onto her back instead. Sans threw her cloak on over the three dragons, scolding them as they squealed. Lady led the way out of the dungeons, acting as a scout so that they weren't surprised.

The dragons squirmed under the fabric, Viserion and Rhaegal both edging closer to the front to stick their heads out. Sansa smacked them lightly, wrapping the cloak tighter around herself.

Lady suddenly froze, her lips peeling back in a growl. Sansa muttered a command under her breath, urging the dragons to keep quiet. Lady bristled, baring her teeth as someone rounded the corner.

Sansa's eyes widened. "Arya?"

Suspicions

Arya raised an eyebrow. "Hello, dear sister. What are you doing out so late?"

"I could ask you the same thing!" She felt Drogon adjust on her back.

"I heard the hounds barking up a storm. Tell me, why were you in the cellars?"

Sansa searched desperately for an excuse. "Lady- she started it."

"Lady did?" Arya ruffled said wolf's ears. "I can't imagine her causing any problems."

"She didn't do it on purpose. The hounds just- they didn't like her being down there and were barking at her and- she didn't start it on purpose!" Sansa rambled.

Arya narrowed her eyes. "And why were you out here with Lady at this hour?"

"She was restless."

"So you went for a walk through the castle?"
"The guards wouldn't let me out alone so late."

Arya's eyes stared straight through her. "Did they not offer to accompany you?"

"I didn't want their company."

She felt the dragons growing impatient, shuffling and clawing at her dress. Sansa tightened the cloak around herself and winced as she heard Rhaegal grumble quietly. Arya stiffened up. She heard it. "Sansa? What was that?"
She played innocent. "What are you talking about?"

Arya's eyes locked onto her cloak and Sansa prayed to all the gods that Viserion and Rhaegal were still. "You know what I mean." Lady growled quietly.

Sansa felt Viserion's tail brush against her leg, ruffling the bottom of the cloak. Arya's eyes caught the movement, following the swish of the fabric as it swayed. Sansa was hyperventilating by now. "I'd better get back to my room," she said, quickly pushing past Arya and walking away as fast as she could.

Sansa collapsed against the wall outside the castle, clutching at her heart. Drogon dropped onto the ground, nipping at her leg in his annoyance. Sansa let Viserion and Rhaegal out and smiled as the three dragons all bounced and ran around.

"Sansa?" All three dragons turned toward the sound, screeching in delight when they saw their mother. Daenerys's face lit up and the dragons crashed into her, driving her into the ground.

Sansa gave Lady commands to return to her room before moving over to join the dragon pile. Daenerys sat up, gathering the dragons in her arms and squeezing them tight to her chest. She beamed at Sansa. "You found them!"

Sansa smiled back. "I did."

Daenerys grabbed her hand and tugged Sansa down, embracing her. Sansa hugged her back, the dragons nestled contentedly between them. "Thank you," Daenerys murmured, her lips brushing against Sansa's ear. "Thank you so much."

Sansa grinned, burying her face into Daenerys's neck. "Anything for you."

Shy

Although she was happy the dragons had been freed, she wasn't happy with Arya. Avoiding her wasn't anything new, but the fact that she constantly caught Arya staring at her was unnerving. She knew Arya was suspicious of her, knew that Arya wanted to know what was happening. She was sure Arya had her guesses and likely one of those was right. Frankly, it frightened her.

And then there was her father. He, along with some other lords, was acting anxious. When Sansa asked him about it he told her some of the hounds had escaped. She immediately knew this was her own doing. She grew more and more afraid of the repercussions of discovery, feared for the lives of Daenerys and her dragons.

Arya had tried to intercept her multiple times since the incident. In the halls, after supper, but Sansa always made sure to avoid her. Even when she wasn't trying to talk to her Sansa made efforts to stay out of her way.

Sansa wished it had been someone other than Arya who had caught her in that hallway. Robb, perhaps, would be the best example. He was someone she actually knew, someone who she would've trusted to keep the secret. She and Arya had never known anything other than quarrels. It was hard to judge how much she could trust her. And Sansa desperately hoped that she could, because eventually, Arya would back her into a corner and Sansa would have to tell.

She stuck to the hope that Arya wouldn't let them kill the dragons. Her fondness for them was well known and, if Sansa's assumptions were correct, she would never risk the life of a dragon if she could help it. Arya would likely be fascinated by the dragons but she didn't dare to test her theory. Not when there was the slight chance it could be proven wrong.

Twice, Sansa had to send the dragons away because of Arya. She'd tried to talk to her once she'd retired, luckily knocking and giving her time to shoo Drogon (and Viserion, the second time) outside. Arya's interrogations never got far, Lady made sure of that. She may not like the dragons, but she knew that Sansa did. She would guard them for that reason and that reason alone.

Despite all this, Sansa didn't regret freeing the dragons. She loved them dearly, along with Daenerys, and she would do all that she could to keep them safe.

It was about three weeks after her little escapade. Sansa lay on her bed with Viserion draped comfortably on top of her and Drogon curled up on the pillow beside her head. By now, the dragons were at least seven feet long, Viserion's tail stretching far past her feet.

Lady perked up from her place at the foot of the bed, turning toward the door. Sansa looked over with her and took notice of the growing shadow that showed from under the door. She sat up, shushing Viserion as he mewled in complaint. A knock on her door had her quickly pushing Drogon to the balcony and urging Viserion after him. She stood and went to the door, checking to make sure there was no sign left of the dragons. Satisfied it was safe, she opened the door.

As she expected, Arya stood at the door. Sansa smiled politely at her. "Hello, Arya. Lovely night."

"You know why I'm here."

"And you know my answer."

Arya scowled. "You know something about those dragons, don't deny it."

Sansa tried her best for an exasperated sigh. "Arya, I don't know anything. I was curious about them, yes, and perhaps I did sweep the castle once or twice to see if I could find them, but I don't even know if they're here."

Arya raised an eyebrow. "So you didn't help the dragons escape?"

"What? Of course not!" Sansa said a bit too loudly. She quieted down. "You think I would let out dragons? They might kill me!"

"Then why do I have a feeling that you indeed would?"

Sansa knew this could only go further south. "I grow tired of your constant questions. Please, just give up this useless quest."

Arya glared at her fiercely. "I will figure this out."

"Good luck with that." Sansa closed the door, walking back to the bed and falling onto it with a long groan. Lady nuzzled her cheek and whined. Sansa rubbed her head and felt Drogon land on her back. "I'm alright. Just tired. Afraid."

She rolled over, Drogon hopping off of her with an indignant squeak. Sansa patted his shoulder. "Perhaps you should return to Daenerys for tonight." He whined, butting his head into her arm. She shook her head. "I don't want her to find you here. Please go. I'll feel much better knowing you aren't in the keep." Drogon keened disappointedly but took off, calling to Viserion to follow. Viserion, who had positioned himself on the footboard, looked at Sansa sadly before flying out of the room. She hoped Daenerys would get that tonight wasn't a good night to come.

Sansa beckoned Lady onto the bed with her. "What if she finds out? What if they find Daenerys? So many things could go wrong." Lady licked her hand in response. "They might kill them. How can they be safe with me?"

Lady sighed, resting her large head on Sansa's stomach. Sansa ruffled her ears and closed her eyes. "I'm scared."

She could only hope it somehow got better.