'Good people of Highgarden, I wish I could address you all with good news. As my fair lady's words warned, winter has come. We did our bests preparing for it, and thanks to your hard labour we managed to achieve so much in such a small timeframe. We have acres of gardens inside of which the first crops have already been harvested. We have repaired the damage of the autumnal storms. We have ensured none of us or our soldiers would freeze to death by making clothes. I wish I could repay you for all your hard work with good news. Alas, I can't.'

Sansa hated wearing black and gold. But the whole head table wore black, gold, green and red to send a signal of loyalty to the crown. Olenna had warned them the spiders in their garden were straining their ears to hear how strong the loyalty of the Tyrells was now that the crown had finally recognized there was another pretender.

'Today I received word of the king', Willas explained. He spoke to the entire jam-packed hall from the stage the head table was situated on. Hundreds of worried eyes stared at him from tired faces.

Not only of the king, Sansa thought. In the day since Leonette's wedding they had gotten so many ravens. One from the Riverlands saying that Marq Pyper, Trystan Ryger and Robert Vance were collecting Rivermen to start causing ruckus wherever possible. Another from Dragonstone saying that Aegon had been crowned king. Then there had been a letter from Rosby. That one had had been more of an announcement saying: "Castle Rosby has been seized upon the order of His Royal Highness King Aegon VI Targaryen. Enemies to his rule are no longer free to use the Rosby road or our keep." Sansa pitied whatever poor souls had to write the announcement of Aegon's coronation and the taking of Rosby. They had to have written those announcements dozens of times to inform everyone. Sansa was sure it was only once Aegon was crowned and had managed to cut off King's Landing's food supply that the Lannisters realized they had to inform their lords outside of the Red Keep and call for arms.

'He has ordered all his bannermen including my father to send their troops to the capital.'

The silence was over now. Men of all ages had eyes that either lit up or closed in agony. Women started muttering and praying. Boys pulled the sleeves of their parents, asking whether their fathers were going to war or they themselves could join as squires.

'Our troops are almost entirely in the Crownlands, aside from the troops that are currently helping to rebuild the Citadel or those that are recovering from the battle of Oldtown. However, we lost thousands. We are in need of new soldiers. The amount of new soldiers has been distributed amongst the lords of the Reach, and Highgarden has to send a hundred men. I already sent some replacements in advance a few weeks ago…So now we only need fifty.'

Contra-soldiers that were now in Aegon's army, like Garther. But King Tommen wasn't going to count them to the number. By the time they discovered the numbers had been off, the Baratheons would have been deposed.

'No time can be wasted. Every man willing and able can report themselves to my good-brother Ser Raymas tonight. You would be leaving tomorrow.'

The voices swelled, panicked, tearful high-pitched ones and determined low ones. Willas raised his hand, shushing them all.

'I too wish it were different. If I had the choice, I would not ask you to leave your homes and wage war in winter. But the choice is not mine. My father had no choice but to demand his bannermen pick up the sword against this invader. A new enemy has risen by the name of Aegon Targaryen. He claims to be the son of Prince Rhaegar and says he survived the execution of the Mountain the day the Red Keep fell. He is currently at Dragonstone after plundering parts of the Stormlands. Yesterday, his forces took Rosby Castle. Today, the king and his wife, my sister, need our support. We need to send our armies to King's Landing. I am deeply sorry I have to ask this sacrifice of you all, after you all already sacrificed so much in the past wars. We know how much it has taken from you all already. We paid the price for King Tommen's safety.'

The silence in the hall was deafening, until a wail of Chrysan broke it. The black had the advantage of making them all look like they were mourning, and the babe was perhaps the best reminder of the absence of Garlan and Loras. But aside from showing the people of Highgarden that House Tyrell suffered like them, it also succeeded in making the people angry.

'We keep bleeding for him, and what do we get? Nothing. Only the command to send more of our boys to die', she heard a voice loud enough to still be audible at the head table.

'But our poor rose up there, Lady Margaery, we can't let her die.'

'Ye know, I always saids it, lookin' back we were loads better under the Targaryens. T'as been nuthin' but war these past two decades.'

Sansa was happy. The speech they'd spent hours writing had hit its mark. They weren't too angry with Aegon, instead they were just exhausted King Tommen was asking them to go to war and risk their lives again. Lady Alerie had already informed them the lords were tired of the Baratheon king, but it was good to see the common people were also ready for the end of the current era.

Willas didn't even bother calming their upset or correcting their views about the kind. Instead he just straightened his shoulders and moved back to his seat in the middle of the table, his mother to his left, and Sansa to his right.

'Is the food working out for you?'

'It's a good day', Sansa said, stabbing at the rabbit and plums on her plate. It was sweet but not too cloying, too heavy or foul-smelling. Her stomach didn't protest.

'Or perhaps the little lord or lady is partial to rabbit', he smirked.

'Perhaps', Sansa smiled. 'We actually don't have a name for them yet.'

Willas' eyebrows rose. 'Should we? I, I really haven't thought about that yet.'

'No, that's normal… It's still… We still have to wait at least a month before we're safe but… People usually have a name for… Well, father always talked about the babe in mother's belly as the "pup".'

Willas let out a snort before he took another sip of wine.

'Of course. Should we call it our little rosebud then?' he asked.

'Perhaps not, everyone calls everyone a little rose around here', Sansa smiled. 'And perhaps we should practice some care with what we nickname it. Given that Rickon indeed came out half wild.'

'And we all came out quite pricky, so I'm afraid you're right. So what should we name them? Our little…' Willas said before chewing on his cheek. Sansa had thought about it, in the weeks of his absence. She'd been looking at her belly often, checking whether there was anything showing yet. Nothing. And when she thought there was something, it was just bloating from eating, gone come morning.

'Well, whatever it is, it is very little small now, isn't it?'

'Very', Sansa said. 'Near invisible.'

'Like a snowflake', Willas joked.

'Our little snowflake.'

'It'll be a snowball soon', Sansa joked.

'Ah perfect, the nickname can mature. What's next, a snowman?' Willas asked.

'So I hope', Sansa laughed.

She briefly let her head fall against his shoulder before sitting up straight again.

'I like that', she confessed.

'Than thus it shall be', Willas decided.

'It's good to have you back', Sansa smiled, putting her hand on his leg under the table. 'I missed being able to speak to you about everything.'

Willas' smile wobbled. She gave him a soft smile, surprised he was so touched by her sharing her feelings.

'I missed you too.'

After dinner, the Tyrells retreated to the family parlour together with Pudding who was only too happy to join them. Leonette laid Chrysan down in a beautiful cradle apparently all Tyrell children had been put in. The bars on the side had been carved into the shape of the pillars in the main hallways, and the outer four posts took the shape of Highgarden towers with rose vines wrapped around them. The front and back panel had the Tyrell rose painted on them. But most special was the fact that the wooden cradle could be rocked from side to side. Sansa had never seen that before.

Chrysan protested when put down. Leonette's face crumbled, her hands coming down to stroke her child. Axel came to stand beside her, softly tapping her back.

'May I try?' he asked.

Leonette looked down at her babe again. He wasn't wailing, only gurgling in protest to being separated from his mother's warm breast. She wouldn't be far away should he really need her.

She nodded in agreement.

'Good luck', she said.

Axel took a chair and sat down beside the cradle, putting his arms in it and leaning with his face over it, smiling at the little one. He touched it as much as it could be touched while still laying down.

'Leo, would you mind giving me another harp lesson?' Sansa asked, trying to distract Leonette from her baby and giving her something to keep her hands occupied. It was also the perfect way to talk to her without having anyone overhear.

'Oh, of course. But… if I notice it makes Chrys fussy we'll have to stop.'

'I understand.'

They sat down together at the high harp. Leonette winced.

'Oh, I'll get a pillow for you', Sansa offered, quickly taking one from a nearby couch.

'Thank you. Gods, I swear I feel older than Olenna. I hope everything heals quickly', Leonette complained as she put the pillow underneath her.

'Is it very uncomfortable?' Sansa asked.

'Only when I walk or sit down', Leonette sighed. 'Well, walking is a euphemism. I practically hobbled down the aisle yesterday, and I was just ridiculously slow on the stairs.'

'You're still recovering', Sansa comforted her. 'Certainly, it can't last that long, can it? It'll be over soon.' At least that was what Sansa hoped. She didn't look forward to feeling pain while walking and sitting for weeks on end after giving birth. She sat and walked for almost every hour of the day. She couldn't just start laying around.

'Mhh. I think it will. But I know it's probably because I was lucky. I've talked to some women and…'

'And what?' Sansa asked.

'Many women… well… I shouldn't say. I'll scare you.'

'You'll prepare me', Sansa corrected.

'Basically when the baby comes out, things might… rip. And for those women it takes a long time to heal before they can walk again… walk easily that is', Leonette whispered.

That just sounded lovely.

'Is there a reason why some women have it more difficult?'

'I imagine there must be. I haven't talked about it with others in details, it's a bit rude I think. But obviously, I'll happily bother the midwives with it', Leonette smiled.

'Good. Because it doesn't seem…'

'Doesn't seem fun hm?' Leonette smiled. 'Yeah, I didn't think about it before and when others asked me whether I teared I realized that it was a thing that could happen. Because otherwise they wouldn't ask about it, would they?'

'I imagine so', Sansa said.

'What song do you want to practice?'

'Let's take the first one you taught me. The Seasons of My Love.'

Leonette nodded.

'Where do the difficulties begin?'

'It's just… the tune from the second verse. I don't know what chords I have to strum.'

'Okay, we'll go over it together. Mind if I practice first, so I know what to explain? It goes rather intuitively for me.'

'No, go ahead', Sansa encouraged.

'So, are you alright after… you know?' Sansa asked as Leonette tested the tune.

Leonette's neck moved as she swallowed.

'Yes', she admitted softly. 'I don't really… feel so different after all.'

She strummed the slow beginnings of a melody.

'I woke up in my normal bedroom, my morning went the same as the past few months. Everyone still called me Leonette or Lady Tyrell. My conscience isn't beating me up as much as I expected. I had to marry him, so I don't feel like I abandoned Garlan willingly. He'd forgive me for this.'

Sansa nodded, looking at the room to ensure everyone was too occupied to listen. The Tyrell cousins were playing some parlour game, Olenna was playing cyvasse with Willas and Alerie was reading a book in a far removed corner. They were safe.

'I do feel bad whenever I let Lord Axel do something with Chrysan. Because that's something Garlan won't ever be able to do, while it's his son. But on the other hand, I can't deny Chrysan a father when technically there is one, nor can I forbid Lord Axel to form a bond with his heir. I've done a lot of thinking. And, after the wedding, Lord Axel and I did a lot of talking. I want them to have a bond. I wouldn't want my boy and my husband to dislike each other. I would be insulted if he didn't love my son.'

'You talked after the wedding?'

Leonette nodded.

'We don't want to be miserable together. We… don't know each other. But we decided to work on that. Trust each other. We'll allow each other to act like a spouse, aside from you know what, and promise to treat each other like a spouse. We'll see if we ever feel like spouse, instead of two strangers connected by politics.'

Leonette grew quiet again, finishing the beautiful melody in three minutes.

'I'm in awe of you', Sansa confessed. 'No matter what destiny throws at you, you're always determined to make the most of it.'

'Really? Heavens, I always admired you so much for your endurance.'

She'd told Sansa before, but still Sansa couldn't believe it. She didn't feel special or strong. She couldn't imagine giving birth after losing Willas, nor remarrying within three months and being so optimistic about it. Heavens, when she had to marry, she'd dragged her feet and refused to get to know Tyrion. She knew for a fact she didn't take things as well as Leonette. She deserved credit for what she did.

'I was miserable and couldn't hide it. I loathed everyone. I was daydreaming half of the time just to endure everything. I underwent it and bided my time, I never tried to make things better like you', Sansa protested.

Leonette's eyes grew watery.

'So, about the tune,' Leonette pushed, nodding at the harp.

Sansa took the hint. Leonette was determined to make her life work and Sansa didn't want to make her sad, even if it was because of a compliment. She moved closer to the harp.

'Play until where you know it', Leonette instructied.

Leonette went over the melody with Sansa, demonstrating which strings were needed to complete the melody. She then guided Sansa through it, again and again, until the movements and the order of the chords was in her fingers.

During their practice, Sansa was too focussed to think about politics or even the people in the room, aside from occasionally meeting eyes with them as she and Leonette paused for a few seconds.

'I think I got it', Sansa smiled after playing the song a third time without fault. Now she only had to work on playing it faster and without hesitation.

'I'm sure you have it', Willas' voice called from a sofa nearby. Pudding laid at his feet, her head on his shoes. He smiled warmly at Sansa. 'I didn't hear a single mistake.'

'And he's a very good ear', Leonette smiled. 'Help me up. I think we're done playing for the night.'

Sansa helped Leonette to the couch of Olenna and Alerie, the first holding a sleeping Chrysan and the second one staring at it with heart eyes.

Axel stood near the door with Raymas, military words reached Sansa's ears so she assumed they were discussing the amount of subscriptions and their plans for the next day.

'Do you want us to retire early tonight?' Willas asked, rubbing Sansa's shoulder.

'Isn't it a bit rude though? It is their final night', Sansa said.

'It is', Willas said, digging his thumb a bit deeper into a stiff bit of muscle on Sansa's back.

'But the maester said rest is important for you.'

'Maybe… I can go and get ready while you talk to Raymas? I'm sure you still have some things to talk about', Sansa offered.

They had to. Raymas had been his confidant while Garlan had been away and after, Sansa knew. She didn't enjoy the idea of Leonette losing her brother and Willas losing his best friend, but the possibility was there. Willas nodded.

'I wanted to talk to him but… do you want to go now or are you still fine?'

'I'm fine', Sansa smiled. 'You can go.'

He pressed a kiss onto her shoulder and moved over to his friend and new good-brother. Sansa bent down to scratch their dog.

'And how is my good girl doing? How is my good girl? You're sleepy, aren't you?' Sansa smiled. Pudding looked up, happily swishing her tail.

'Yes you are', Sansa cooed.

The dog crawled upright, putting its paws on her laps.

'You want to join me?' Sansa asked with a laugh. 'Come then.'

She only had to put her hand on her lap one time and the big curly haired dog crawled onto the couch and up her lap, practically burying Sansa underneath a mountain of moving fur.

Someone in the room gasped, but the dog reached the height of Sansa's head and was completely in the way. So Sansa couldn't tell who gasped.

'We don't usually let big dogs on the furniture', Willas said from the region of the door. Sansa pushed Pudding down by the neck. The dog quickly laid down on the couch, its head on Sansa's lap. She shot Willas an apologetic smile.

'I didn't know.'

'It's fine. Pudding never succeeded in following orders to begin with. It's why she became a house dog instead of a hunting dog', he said with a fond sigh.

Sansa smiled at him, hoping that would compensate. Perhaps dog breeders did attach a bit more importance to propriety and rules and such things. But Sansa wasn't used to putting boundaries in place for Lady, and hadn't thought about it for Pudding either. She bent down to whisper in the dog's ear.

'I don't think there's anything bad about joining me on the couch. You're keeping me cosy and warm.'

Sansa petted Pudding, who excitedly rolled onto her back so Sansa could rub her belly.

'Maybe later', she heard Willas say in the distance. 'But I think I'll remain here for the time next few weeks.'

Sansa wondered what he meant by that. Where else would he be than here?

Not now, I'll ask him later, she decided.

When she was so tired she almost fell asleep on Pudding, she rose. Pudding followed her to Willas' chair where he sat opposite Axel and Raymas. They were discussing the people that had enlisted.

Willas looked up at her.

'I think I'm going to bed.'

'I need just a few more minutes', he said. He put his cane between his legs and got ready to stand. 'I'll walk you to – '

'Oh no, it's fine', Sansa said, placing her hand over his on top of his cane. It was unnecessary for him to get up just to see her to the door. She knew he was chivalrous, he didn't need to perform such trivial niceties.

'I'll see you when you come up.'

Pudding followed her out the door and into her chambers. By the time she had finished her toilette, Pudding had installed herself on the bed.

'Oh, Willas isn't going to like that', Sansa muttered.

'Well, he isn't here', she shrugged, and climbed in beside Pudding. As she'd anticipated, the bed was nice and warm right beside her. She tried not to think of the last time she'd been able to cuddle with a hot body that wasn't Willas. She didn't want to be sad tonight. She gently stroked Pudding's curly manes. 'Enjoy it while it lasts, my pretty.'

She must have dozed off, because the next thing she heard was wood beating against tiles combined with a loud clack. In the light of a few remaining candles she saw Willas glaring at Pudding. He pointed at the floor with his cane. Pudding begrudgingly got off the bed.

'If you're removing my heated pillow you better get in fast', Sansa said.

'Demanding, aren't we?'

'Cold, mostly', she replied.

'I'll be with you soon', Willas promised, shrugging off his dressing gown.

He sank down on the edge of the bed.

'I'm sorry, we were just going over the arrangements for tomorrow.'

'It's fine. Is everything arranged?'

'Yes, we've got the hundred names; We've divided them already, combined those with experience with those without in units.'

'Good', Sansa said before yawning.

'Why did I hair you talking about going somewhere?' Sansa asked, moving closer to him and putting her head on his lap.

Willas brought his hand to her head, gently stroking her hair.

'Hm?'

'Yeah, ' Sansa said sleepily, 'you said something about not coming directly to a certain place when you talked to Ser Raymas and Lord Axel.' She closed her eyes and pushed her head against Willas' hand. He continued his ministrations.

'I uhm… It's just something I was asked. I'm not sure whether I'll do it. I think I won't.'

'What?'

'Go to King's Landing.'

Sansa's eyes jumped open and she made a move to get away from him. He put his hand on her shoulder.

'As I said, I probably won't.'

'King's Landing? Why – How –'

Panic bubbled up in her chest.

'Don't worry. It isn't even a plan. I'm here. Everything is fine.'

Willas blew out the candles. He then crawled under the covers and pressed her against him.

'Who asked for it?' Sansa pressed.

'Arianne Martel. She thought the victors should taste the victory in King's Landing. She probably asked everyone there. But obviously, we'll have enough people in King's Landing who can go and celebrate in our name. There is no need for me to be there.'

'I rather you be here', Sansa confessed.

Even though he said it was just a meaningless question, he was asked to leave her. And hell, Sansa knew it would be logical for the heir of Highgarden to go. Back when Joffrey was crowned, they'd demanded him and Mace went to swear fealty but only Mace and the others went. It would not be weird for him to go and declare his allegiance. But just the idea of him leaving her, or her going back to that place, was enough to make her heard go crazy with panic.

'I know. This is my territory. My duty lies here', he sighed.

He pressed his head against Sansa's.

'Let's just try and catch some sleep. It isn't important.'

If he said so. The decision was his and if he didn't think it was important, that meant he would probably stay here. That comforted Sansa, and she was able to sleep again.

The next morning was cold and cloudy. All of Highgarden seemed to have gathered alongside the road from the castle to the harbour to say goodbye to friends and family.

Sansa was one of the last ones to go outside. The courtyard was busy, squires were getting horses out of the stables, men were talking and everywhere servants were carrying the final belongings to the horses. They had turned the fresh snow to a brown sludge by all their moving about.

Pausing on the steps, she sought familiar figures.

In the distance, four dark figures stood in the pale morning sunlight. Their dark brown hair gleamed with a hint of golden colouring, their cheeks rosy from the cold. Leonette was enveloped in an embrace with her brother, and Axel and Willas were looking on, both looking quite sombre. When Leonette released her brother, it was revealed that the siblings were crying. Willas stepped in, tugging Leonette against his chest. Leonette briefly turned to Willas, before changing her mind and hugging her brother again. She could not be torn from him until the final moment.

This is what it must be like to say goodbye, knowing it may be the last time. Years ago Sansa had left thinking she would see her family back in no time at all. Had she known, she also wouldn't have let her siblings go without smothering them. Her feet carried her towards the group.

'Leo, I promise', Raymas said, trying to laugh off the seriousness of the situation.

'You can't promise a thing', Leonette protested.

'Well, he can', Axel said.

'But it doesn't mean a thing because he isn't in control of who stabs him', Leonette told her husband. She turned back to her brother. 'What are you going to say? Please don't stab me, I promised my sister? I'm sure the man you'll be fighting made the exact same promise to his family.'

'He can try to not be reckless', Sansa supplied.

'Fight in the back… It's what I asked Garlan. He didn't', Willas nodded.

'It's kind of hard to fight from the back when you lead a charge', Axel argued.

'Plenty of generals plan the battle and leave others to do the dirty work while they sit in their tents', Leonette said. 'Garlan told me.'

'Garlan also hated those kind of leaders', her brother told her.

Then, in a very unladylike gesture, she stuck out her tongue at her brother.

'You don't need to be like Garlan. I don't need to lose two men I love to honour and valour', Leonette said. She rubbed her hands together to get some warmth in them.

'Get back alive. Otherwise, I'll go to King's Landing to drag you out of the shallow ditch you're lying in to kill you all over again myself. Understood? I'll smash my harp in your face and put prickly roses in your breeches.'

Axel hissed.

She threw her new husband a warning look before she looked back at her brother.

'I understand. I'll do my best. I'm not in the mood to die. Not even gloriously. Got some things I want to do first', Raymas said.

He kissed his sister on the cheek.

'Take care, sister.'

'I will.'

Raymas turned towards Willas.

'And you take very good care of her. Or else.'

'I will', Willas promised. 'She'll want for nothing.'

Raymas went away, leaving Axel to approach Leonette.

The two spouses were in a one way as deeply connected as two people could be, their union sealed by the gods and their surnames identical. Yet in many other ways they were as distant as two strangers, making their goodbye an exceedingly awkward one. They were not used to having the other around, and did not know each other well enough to properly miss each other's character should something happen. Yet both also had the keen desire for Axel to remain alive because of what their relationship meant, and what his death would cause in the future.

'I know we don't know each other,' he said, 'but I have this for the babe. And this for you.' He offered her two letters.

Leonette took them with a solemn nod. The silence that stretched wasn't awkward, but it was definitely tinged with a certain sense of sadness and resignation. They bore the expressions of two people knowing fate could not be stopped by them wishing life were different.

'I'll try and make sure you don't have to manage two households by yourself', he then promised.

'Please do', she nodded.

He nodded, clearly not knowing what to say, and neither did she. Physical intimacy also seemed odd. It was something people did who drew comfort from the other's touch, but they did not know the feel of each other's skin.

'Right', he decided. 'Let's do what we need to do as well as we're able.'

'Good luck', Leonette wished him and with that he was off, jumping onto his saddle thirty seconds after Raymas had mounted his.

The procession to the harbour started.

'Sansa, are you coming?' Leonette asked as Willas took her hand.

Sansa wasn't feeling poorly today, but it was quite chilly outside and she hadn't thought of putting on clothes fit for riding.

'I think I'll just stay here', she decided. 'If that's alright.'

'Of course it is', Willas told her. He lifted her hand to his lips and pressed a kiss against it.

'Will you be fine?'

'Yes sure, I'll just –'

She looked around, looking for something to do. The glass panels of the greenhouse that were reflecting the sun caught her eye. 'Go and check how the greenhouse is doing.'

'Have fun', Willas smiled.

Leonette demanded their horses and off they were. Leonette and Willas following it all the way down, one to say goodbye to her brother, the other to show his investment in this war.

Sansa made her way down to the greenhouse and struck up conversation with some of the elder ladies she recognized. She asked them how they were doing, whether they believed they had miscalculated how much of a certain plant they needed, and so on. The women assured Sansa the glass house was genius and effective, but after some encouragement they did admit that they worried a lack of fresh hay would cause a lot of trouble for the livestock and horses in the distant future. And oh, they ate their way through so much cabbage that very soon all the cabbages would be eaten. And then it would take months for the cabbages to be ready for harvest again.

'I'm going to talk to the head farmers of the greenhouse to work on schedules for planting and harvesting and the number of plants so we won't run out', Sansa promised. She then moved further into the greenhouse.

It was a perfect warm summer temperature in the glass house and Sansa loved it.

'My lady, could I disturb you for a moment?'

Sansa looked up from the pond.

One of the elderly women who had helped her plant everything in the greenhouse was standing in front of her. It felt as if a year had gone by since she'd been in the greenhouse, working away with the women every day. When had she stopped spending most of her time here to oversee everything and started spending almost all of her time upstairs to help Willas with politics? She suddenly felt guilty for leaving the women who had been her consistent companions without much thought.

'Oh, sure. Daffodil, wasn't it?' Sansa smiled, remembering the old woman's name. The woman's eyes lit up. 'So what is the problem?'

The woman started talking as they walked.

'Oh, not a problem so to speak, my lady. I just thought, with this garden being your idea, you'd be happy to see this.'

'See what?'

Sansa soon saw.

'Oh, oh this is amazing. This was the plan but I had no idea it would work so soon', Sansa gasped. Rows of radishes, potatoes, peas had spruced thick green stalks. They ended at a patch with small zucchinis.

'These are still growing, but within a month we'll have freshly grown ones', the woman smiled with pride.

'I'm in awe. You've all been… amazing. Without your work, we'd starve.'

'And without your plans, my lady, we'd only have the frozen ground outside. You made it possible. I just followed orders when I first started here, and started liking you not because of your ideas but because of your personality. As everything came together I started having faith but any doubt anyone here ever had about your plans is truly eradicated now that the first harvest of our greenhouse-grown vegetables is ready.'

Sansa knelt in front of the patch of zucchinis, touching the surface of one. Perhaps they didn't have the quantities down yet, nevertheless it was amazing that her plan had started giving fruit so soon. She had no reason to doubt that in time, they'd make up a planting and harvesting cycle that produced enough food so they'd never be without.

'Thank you. I am grateful I can rely upon the support of so many.'

'And we're glad to have someone looking out for our good', smiled the woman.

'How is your granddaughter?' Sansa asked, trying to show she was invested in the local people.

'Oh she's –' the old woman quit talking, her eyes focussing on something behind Sansa. Sansa looked around and found Olenna standing behind her.

Sansa had never even seen the Queen of Thorns here.

'Walk with me', she ordered before hobbling away.

Sansa said goodbye to the old woman before following Olenna. She was still feeling uncomfortable. One of her hands found its way to her belly, rubbing it in an attempt to ease the worry there.

'How is my grandson lately?' the old lady asked.

Sansa was pretty sure Olenna hadn't just approached her to discuss her grandson.

'He is well. Though you can ask him yourself, he'd be more than happy to – '

'Lie and pretend everything's fine. Tell me, has he been fretting and brooding? I told him he shouldn't as it could affect you negatively', Olenna guessed.

'He… is as hopeful as he can. But given everything, we are a bit tense. That's normal, isn't it? I can't just be calm. Nor can he', Sansa said.

'Hmph. We'll be having a war before we get peace, you do understand that right?'

Sansa nodded.

'And people can die in that war.'

Sansa nodded.

'When Leonette stressed because someone died, she got a maimed child. And I've seen other mothers stress and mourn, they sometimes got dead children.'

Sansa swallowed. That had gone from zero to hundred quick.

'I want you to know that it's possible so you can brace yourself and have realistic expectations. I know you're made of sterner stuff than all these pathic southerners but many things can go wrong the coming months and you must stay calm underneath it all even if those around you start being emotional. It doesn't matter if the circumstances are stressful, you can't be stressed. I know my boy, Willas will be emotional if things don't go according to plan. But this time you can't support him as you did in the past. You need to rest. You can't get emotional, and you can't take on his tasks. The heir is your job, ruling doesn't matter if there's no one to lord your house after you're gone.'

'I know', Sansa muttered.

'Tell him you two will be fine. No matter what happens, the house will endure. He should focus on keeping the ship afloat, not on the one or two sailors who'll fall off. If you excuse the parallel, I was the daughter of a naval power some decades ago', the old woman grinned.

'We hope to be alright', Sansa said.

'I'm sure you will be. Want to know how I know?'

'Faith?' Sansa asked.

Olenna Tyrell wheezed. 'Over the years there's been some who tried to kill me. Some with poison, some with daggers, and some with frustration, but never with laughter. If I had confidence things would turn out alright because some god in the sky willed it so, why would I ever work for the success of my house?'

Sansa blushed.

The queen of Thorns stopped in front of a big rose bush that had been replanted inside from the outside.

'Pluck that rose for me. No, don't go looking for gardening tools. Just take it. Don't mind the stem, just try plucking it as easily as you can. I don't need it for a bouquet in my room.'

Sansa was intrigued, and did as she asked. She pushed aside the lavender bushes around the flowerbed and walked through to a rose bush. She just took a rose with her both hands and bending the stem so it broke off. She handed Olenna the rose.

'Alright, now that sprig with two roses.'

Sansa did as she asked.

She had to snap off four more roses for Olenna after that.

'Now try breaking that branch', Olenna said, pointing at a brown branch with thicker browned thorns. Sansa carefully placed her fingers between the thorns, and tried bending it. It budged a little, but not enough. The sides of the thorns pressed against her fingers.

'What have we learned?' the old matriarch asked.

She obviously wasn't talking about the rose bush.

The small green stems broke off easier than the older thick brown ones. But what did that mean?

'One rose is more vulnerable than a rose bush?' Sansa guessed.

But how was that related to the reason of Olenna's faith?

'The roses are the people of our family. If you invest in the people, they stand in the way of enemies coming for your entire family', Olenna said, pointing at the bush.

'You two invest in the people of the Reach, and in turn they will protect you by supporting you. With your care for the people, you protect the family. You invest in the safety of the bush.'

Sansa kept her mouth closed. She had always determined to be loved by her people, carried on their hands because of loyalty, not fear, but she was surprised someone as ruthless as Olenna saw her care for the people as a good thing. Olenna always seemed to be above caring for peasants and their opinions.

'A single rose is an easy prey. Say I was an enemy of this rose bush. If I take out many roses, I expose the stem', Olenna explained while waving at the thick brown thorny stem. 'It's harder to break, but a determined enemy can attempt it when he has access to it, though it will still take a while. If he can break it he can destroy the whole rose bush. But if many roses are in the way, he cannot immediately go for the roots of the bush. You just tried the branch you exposed by plucking the roses, but you can't reach a thick brown branch in places where all the roses are still growing, can you?'

Sansa shook her head. She'd slice her hands while searching for the branch underneath the many leaves. And even then, with so many things in the way, and her arms being so weak, she stood little chance of breaking it.

'Mace risked some roses for his ambitions. Oh, it wasn't a stupid risk. He got exactly what he wanted. His daughter became queen, his second oldest got his own keep, his third got a glorious kingsguard title and he himself became the most powerful man in Westeros. However, he made our family branch vulnerable by putting all his children in dangerous positions. He put the roses in a position in which they could easily be cut down.'

Yes, he had put them at risk. A calculated risk, but a risk all the same. Had they stayed home, none would have died. Willas knew that, Willas hated that, and that was why Willas was now so desperate to get everyone home.

'We're down to one male Tyrell heir because of it. Mace sacrificed the bush, and endangered the roots. You and Willas want to protect all the roses, every family member. By keeping them all alive you protect the roots by making them harder to access for enemies. And you're working on creating new roses to cover the currently exposed branch', Olenna said. 'The more roses an enemy needs to cut before he can access the roots, the more time you have to stop that enemy. And the longer it takes for an enemy to get to the roots, the more time the roots have to grow even thicker and thornier. They'll become harder to cut down. Of course sometimes a sacrifice will be needed. But then you have to be strategic, take a rotten branch. A good rose bush needs some pruning from time to time to stay pretty and healthy.'

Sansa understood.

'The people of our family and the Reach ensure our survival. You two work on that, and that's why I trust the future. And you're a clever enough girl. Who knows, perhaps with age, you might become a queen of thorns yourself. Old, gnarly, thorny, but a part of the foundation of the house, without which no fresh roses can grow. From you, fresh green branches will spring forth.'

Sansa looked at her in surprise. She'd never dared to utter that nickname around the woman. She was also amazed by the well wish and compliment.

'I wouldn't dare to claim your amount of knowledge, your ladyship.'

'You think they called me what they do now back when I first married?' the woman asked, lifting a thin eyebrow. 'I can go in peace if the house is in good hands.'

Sansa's eyes grew wide. Olenna Tyrell's second most known trait aside from her tongue was her will to live and meddle for as long as she could.

'Oh don't look so surprised girl. It's not because I enjoy living that I don't know my days are getting numbered', the lady huffed, carelessly throwing the roses back on the flowerbed.

'I've outlived all lords and ladies of the great houses of my generation. Tytos Lannister. Jaehaerys. The Baratheons. Stark died prematurely. Aerys. Then went Jon Arryn, he was older than me, tough breed. Those Arryns always last longer than you expect them to. Hoster Tully, Greyjoy, Tywin. The sons of the men who were lords in my day are already old lords themselves, and half of them are dead. I lasted long. But I probably won't last this winter.'

'This winter?' Sansa parroted. That was probably less than three years. It had been decades since a winter lasted over three years. She could barely imagine Olenna dying, especially within the next couple of months or years. She unmissable. Olenna was right, she had become part of the foundation of the family.

'Now that I'm this close, I think I'll live to witness the birth of my great-grandchild, the fifth consecutive Lord Paramount of the Mander during my life.'

'So if I want you to live, I should get a girl', Sansa smiled.

Olenna let out a laugh, rolling her eyes.

'Am I that dear to you? We both know if you had the choice and my life depended on it, you'd chose to have a boy.'

She was right. Sansa looked down in defeat. Willas needed a son more than they needed Olenna.

'But I will be very sad to let you go.'

'I see what you do for the deaths of people you barely talked to. I'm counting on you to give me the funeral and the sculptures I deserve.'

'You want a sculpture?' Sansa laughed.

Olenna gave her an indignant look.

'And preferably with less wrinkles than I have now', the Queen of Thorns ordered.

'It'll be very flattering', Sansa promised.

'Good.'