After

Sansa woke to Daenerys pressing kisses down her neck. She groaned. "Good morning."

Daenerys grinned. "Good morning, Sansa."

Viserion shuffled over and put his head in her lap, whining. Sansa laughed, scratching his muzzle affectionately. Daenerys slapped her shoulder. "You're spoiling him."

"I think he deserves a little spoiling," Sansa said. "Don't you agree?" Viserion chirped his agreement. Drogon looked at Daenerys expectantly.

She rolled her eyes. "Greedy little bastard." He gave her a deadpan look. She patted his nose. Sansa chuckled as he grumbled and turned to face away from them.

Sansa looked toward the castle and sighed. "I guess it's time, isn't it?"

Daenerys helped her to her feet and embraced her. "We'll see each other again."

"I should hope." Sansa kissed her goodbye and turned to Viserion. He crooned sadly and jumped onto her, knocking her to the ground and curling himself around her. Drogon tackled them both, tucking his head onto her stomach. Sansa hugged them both. "I'll miss you both too."

She stood, patting Rhaegal's head and giving Daenerys a sad look. Daenerys gave her a watery smile. "We'll be okay. Go ahead." Sansa gave Viserion one last hug before turning toward the castle. Turning away from her lover.

The first guard that saw her looked like he couldn't believe his eyes. He nudged another guard and pointed toward her. His eyes widened and he immediately called for the gates to be opened.

"How did you get back, My Lady?" Asked one of the guards that flanked her as she went inside the walls. "Weren't you kidnapped?"

"I was." She scraped her mind for something, anything that would sound like a believable escape story. "I was rescued."

"By who?" She sent a single look at them and they both shut up. She needed as much time to think as she could. She wanted to tell her family about Daenerys and the dragons, but it wouldn't be today. Who knew how many people would be listening in, and who knew what they would do to her if they learned she hatched the dragons.

By the time she was led into the great hall, she had scrounged up what she thought was a believable story. She watched as half the room's eyes popped out of their head and her mother looked like she was about to faint. Robb was the first one up, grabbing her and lifting her off her feet. She smiled, wrapping her arms around his neck.

"Sansa?" Robb put her down and she moved to look at her parents. Neither of them looked entirely convinced that it was her.

She smiled at them. "It's me, mother. Father. I'm home."

Her mother almost sobbed with relief, wrapping her in a hug even tighter than Robb's. Ned placed a hand on her shoulder. "Welcome home, Sansa."

She felt tears glistening in her eyes. "I've missed you. All of you."

"And so have we."

Catelyn drew back. "How did you get away?"

Sansa took a deep breath, ready to spin her tale and hope nobody questioned it. "They made me work as a servant while I was there. Some of the other servants took pity on me and helped me get away. They pointed me in the right direction and here I am."

Robb slung an arm around her shoulders. "I do hope to meet these servants. I'd like to thank them for saving my sister." Sansa winced, but she knew she had to wait. Too many people surrounded them.

Many lords came up to her and spoke of how happy they were that she was home but Sansa truly didn't care. She was only a few minutes back into her home life and she already grew tired of the endless formalities being thrown her way. She wished she could be back in the Wolfswood with Daenerys and Drogon and Viserion and never have to be called 'my lady' again.

Sansa was given permission to do as she pleased for the remainder of the day and the first place she went was to the courtyard. She stepped out into the chilling winds and looked around. A loud bark came from her side and she turned to see Lady barreling toward her. Sansa grinned, striding forward and wrapping her arms around Lady's neck. The direwolf was as big as a horse now and had a big, fluffy coat that Sansa could bury her fingers in.

Lady licked all over her face in greeting and Sansa laughed, wiping off the saliva with her sleeve. "Missed you too."

"Did you miss me?" Sansa spun around to see Arya walking toward her with Nymeria by her side. Nymeria was bigger than Lady was, her head hovering above Arya's. Her coat was similar to Lady's, with more grey in her brindle and a bigger spread of white. Arya had this infuriating smirk on her face like she knew something you didn't. She probably did.

Sansa clicked her tongue. "Your annoyingness? Not in the slightest."

Arya grinned. "Really? You should've. After all, I did help you get out."

Sansa furrowed her eyebrows. "What?"

"They couldn't have gotten you if I hadn't let them."

"Arya, what are you talking about?"

"The dragons, of course."

Sansa shushed her, glancing around at the people miling around. "Not so loud!"

Arya raised an eyebrow. "Oh, so we're still keeping this a secret?"

"Do you know how many people want them dead?"

Arya just shrugged. "A lot, I'd assume. Though I doubt they could accomplish that."

Sansa shook her head. "I don't want to put them in danger."

"You should at least talk to father about it. He'll understand."

"What about Daenerys?"

"What do you think he'd do? Kill her?" Arya scoffed. "That isn't him, Sansa. He would keep her safe. The dragons, too."

"How? Have guards surrounding them at all times? Keeping them locked up inside the keep?" Sansa shook her head. "I wouldn't do that to them. The dragons need their freedom, and Daenerys needs her dragons."

"So what are you going to do?"

"I don't know! They can stay in the Wolfswood and be safe there. I'll find a way to get there."

Arya sighed. "Of course you'd want to go back." She leaned closer. "Meet me in the crypts tonight. I have a way to help you."

Sansa gave her a knowing look. "And what will you want in return?"

Arya just waved her off. "I'll tell you tonight. Just be there. Okay?" Sansa nodded. "Good. See you then." Arya slipped into the shadows and was gone.

Sansa wondered exactly what she was getting herself into.

Sneak

True to her word, Arya awaits Sansa in the crypts. Arya doesn't waste time, beckoning for Sansa to follow and goes deeper into the musty hall. She stepped up on one of the tombs, sliding a concrete square out of the wall. Behind it was an open window.

"I found these a while back," Arya said. "I did some research and apparently there used to be windows down here. They covered them up after they found someone sneaking in using them. Luckily, you can still uncover them."

Arya helped Sansa out and then jumped up herself, sliding the square back into place. She turned to her sister. "So, do I get to meet Daenerys?"

"That's why you wanted to come?"

Arya shrugged. "I mostly wanted to see the dragons again, but sure, that can be a reason too."

Sansa rolled her eyes. "Yes, you can see the dragons again."

Arya grinned. "So where are they?"

"The Wolfswood."
"Well, yes, but where?"

Sansa gave her a confused look. "Does the Wolfswood have specific locations I can name?"

"Just take me to them."

Sansa sighed, turning and walking the path she remembered taking that morning. They entered by Wintertown and it wasn't long before Sansa could see shapes in the darkness. Three large creatures, curled up on the ground. Sansa smiled as she approached them.

The dragons looked up as they got closer, lips drawn back. "It's just me," Sansa called to them. Viserion perked up, bouncing up and nuzzling into her chest. Arya stood behind her as Rhaegal carefully approached her, extending his head to sniff at her. He bumped his head into her stomach and purred.

Sansa moved past Viserion to where Drogon lay on the ground. Daenerys was curled up against him. Sansa crouched down in front of her and kissed her.

Daenerys gasped, jerking back. Sansa chuckled as Dany looked up at her confused. "Sansa?"
Sansa grinned. "Hello, Dany."

Sansa helped her to her feet. "How are you here?"

"Arya showed me a secret way out."

"Your little sister?"

"Indeed." Dany turned to where the voice had come from, seeing a young dark-haired girl with Rhaegal standing behind her. "Where would Sansa be without me?"

"Still locked in Casterly Rock, I'd assume," Sansa replied playfully.

"Probably," she agreed. "Nice to meet you, Daenerys. I've heard a lot about you."

"I would hope so," Dany said. "What's this I hear about us still being locked away without you?"

Arya shrugged. "The dragons were locked away in the keep before I let them out and sent them on their way. I wasn't aware that you'd been taken as well, though, I just thought you were hiding out somewhere."

Dany shook her head. "No. They wanted to use me to control the dragons after they 'got ahold of them.' Luckily, I never had to."

"Luckily," she agreed. "So, Sansa, am I correct when I say that I just saw you kiss her?"

Both Sansa and Dany's faces flushed red. "Well, yes."

Arya smirked. "I never would've thought Princess Sansa would find herself a forbidden lover in a girl."

Sansa raised an eyebrow. "And we aren't going to mention the dragons?"

Arya shrugged, rubbing Rhaegal's head. "They were the ones who intruded into your life. I can't blame you for them. Taking a lover, though? That I can blame you for."

"Yeah, yeah."

Daenerys hooked her arm with Sansa's. "How often will you be coming?"

"As often as I can."

Arya spoke up. "I'd like to come along occasionally as well. I'll leave you your nights to yourselves, but invite me along occasionally."

Sansa smiled. "I'm sure we can manage that."

The Beginning

It had begun.

The first battle came upon them about a month after Sansa and Dany escaped from Casterly Rock. A rider came in from Castle Cerwyn reporting the Lannister Army marching North. Ned called all bannermen to rally to Winterfell, about half of them actually arriving before the army.

The very first clash was frightening. Sansa watched from her balcony as the Northern forces rushed toward the Southron ones, silver against gold. The details weren't easy to see from so far away but as the two armies backed away from each other, the bodies that littered the ground after them told her enough.

The North had lost that battle.

Since then, all the bannermen were gathered at Winterfell. Twice after that battles were held and it still wasn't looking good for the North. Tywin Lannister was a man who excelled at warfare. Eddard Stark, less so.

They were upon the fourth battle now. Sansa had persuaded Arya to join her and Daenerys in watching the battle. Daenerys had found herself a good vantage point on the far side of the Wolfswood, where the land dipped upward just enough to act as a viewing point.

They stood at the highest point, watching the armies fight. The dragons stood behind them. They were growing quickly, each at least nine feet tall despite it only being around three months since the escape. The newfound freedom of living in the woods and the increased amount of food likely boosted that.

"We're losing more and more men every day," Arya said. "The Lannisters are slowly winning."

"How?" Daenerys asked. "They're from the South. Shouldn't the colder temperatures be affecting them?"

"You would think, but it isn't much colder here than it is in a southron winter. They have greater numbers than us. They're wearing us down."

Sansa frowned. "I thought the North had greater forces?"

"We do," Arya said. "I don't think it's just the Lannister army."

"Then who else? All the armour is gold."
Arya shrugged. "I've been pestering Father about it for a while. If he knows, he hasn't admitted it."

"Perhaps he doesn't want to worry you," Daenerys suggested. "If he doesn't admit to more forces, you can't worry about the increased numbers."

Arya scowled. "I don't need to be protected like that!"
"He's being a good father."

Arya sighed. "I just don't like it. I'm just sitting here while we're losing a war! I want to do something!"
"Arya, you can't," Sansa said, rubbing Viserion's head as he poked at her arm. "Father would never let you, even if you do know how to fight."

"Robb, Jon and Theon all get to fight! Why can't I?"
"You're a girl, Arya," Daenerys said softly. "The men would never accept a woman fighting in their ranks."

"Why does it matter? I can fight! That's what matters!"
"I know, but that's the way it's always been. It isn't easy to change centuries of culture."

Arya grumbled, patting Rhaegal's neck. She looked over at the green dragon, an idea popping into her head. "I've got an idea."
"About what? How you can fight?"
"About how we can fight."

"We?" Sansa looked at her like she was crazy. "I don't fight!"
"Trust me, you can probably fight better than I can like this. You too, Daenerys."

Dany furrowed her eyebrows. "How would I fight? No one even knows I exist."

Arya winced. "It's possible that they will know you exist after this, but you don't have to come if you don't want to."

"Enough of this, Arya. Spill it," Sansa said.

Arya smirked. "We fight on dragonback."