Sansa and Willas had started preparing for their departure after that day, planning out their travelling route and making lists of everything they needed to do before they left and what they had to take with them. She had not expected an hour long argument about how many socks one would need in the North, but in the end her Southern husband surrendered to her experience.

There was not a day without snow in Highgarden. Luckily, the Highgardians quickly grew used to it. They threw salt, sand and fresh pebbles on the ground and just continued their work. Farmers found themselves with a lot of free time, and all their wives took to coming up to the castle or knitting at home. The production of fabrics and tapestries increased while demand skyrocketed. Every noble wanted to wrap their homes in tapestries to keep in the warmth. At one point, demand would drop. After all, they were still embroiled in a war and money was growing scarcer every day. But for now, all was good.

For months, she and Willas had worked so hard to transition Highgarden, and the Reach at large, into winter mode. She'd feared she'd be unable to leave due to the amount of work she'd put in every day. But it was becoming clear the people needed less and less guidance each day. She could take a step back.

The only thing still worrying her now was her belly. Snowflake, who'd remained an undetectable presence within her for over three months, seemed to grow each day. She didn't know how a babe that had taken one-and-ten weeks to become visible, had somehow doubled in size in less than two weeks. Her belly, though not large, was pulled tout in a slight curve. Even her ribs, which had always had gaps between them, and a sunken slope in the middle, were now curved outwards. Only when she turned to the side, could she count each individual rib. Luckily, her dresses still didn't betray a thing. She'd served herself by changing dress styles together with Leonette. And now every noble lady in the castle was doing it because it was so comfortable.

But perhaps it was time to announce the pregnancy before she left. By the time she returned she'd be as round as round as an apple at this rate, and that might be a bit late to announce it. On the other hand, if she announced her pregnancy a lot of people would protest to her going away.

Their departure was scheduled in two days. They still had time to decide. For now, Sansa had other priorities. She finished a letter to Edmure informing him that she was coming in a moon's turn. Arianne was not to be informed. There was too much going on around the Crownlands. Everyone could intercept the letters and it could endanger Margaery and Mace if a letter from Highgarden was found addressed to Aegon and Arianne.

Cerran and Garson greeted her when she entered the stables.

'M'lady, how may we help you?' Cerran asked.

'I'm looking for a horse.'

'Doesn't m'lady have a horse already?' Cerran asked.

'To ride, ya idiot. Clearly she won't be forgetting she has a filly but it's too young to ride yet. What do you look for in a horse, m'lady?' Garson asked after chastising the stable boy.

'Truth be told I always got gentle older mares', Sansa explained with a gentle smile at them both. 'But, I'm looking for a horse that's docile and still has stamina today.'

'Aha. And I take, a horse that isn't of anyone in particular?' Garson asked.

Sansa shook her head. If she'd be taking the horse up north, she couldn't be taking anyone's horse.

'Not that she could take anyone else's horse. They don't fit her needs', Cerran said to Garson.

No? Oh, she remembered.

Sansa looked at the horses who had come looking upon hearing voices. The Tyrells all loved strong energetic horses with a bit of wildness to them. Sansa thought riding one of those would be like replacing a blunt knife with a sharp sword for dinner. It required a lot more practice and handiness than she had.

'We'll look for you, m'lady', Garson promised.

'Thank you. May I see Spring in the meantime?' Sansa asked. It had been a long while since she'd last seen the filly. She felt kind of guilty for it. Willas had told her she should visit it, but she'd never found the time for it. And when she did find some spare time, she didn't spend it in the stables.

'Sure, I'll take you', Cerran said as Garson went to find a horse befitting of her description.

Sansa had, for a noblewoman, little knowledge of horses. As such, she was completely taken aback when Spring was led out of her box and tied to a pole in an overdecked courtyard covered in hay. The filly was no longer a filly. Sansa approached Spring with big eyes. She was as tall as her now.

'My, she's grown', Sansa stammered, more to herself than to Cerran.

'Aye, she'll be a tall one', he grinned.

'May I?'

'As long as you're slow, it'll be fine', Cerran said.

With a hesitant hand, Sansa reached out to the horse. She lifted her head in curiosity, before lowering it when it came in contact with Sansa's hand.

'She's lovely.'

'She is.'

Sansa stroked her head another time, and again, gently sliding her hands through Spring's manes now.

'She's very pretty', a high voice commented from behind Sansa's back. It was one Sansa would recognize anywhere.

'She is.'

'Actually, this whole place looks rather nice and cosy, I've never been here before', Amaryllis said as she came closer to Sansa.

'It's safe', Sansa said.

'Are you sure?'

'She's docile, just be slow', Sansa instructed, smiling at Cerran as he grinned at her mimicked words.

'So?' Sansa said as she continued stroking Spring.

'Everything is packed', Amaryllis announced.

'Yes?'

'The entire list. Everything checked off.'

'Thank you. How did you know I was here?'

'There's not that many redheads around. Especially not many who are dressed as important ladies', Amaryllis laughed.

'Oh, yes.' No matter where she went, there would always be eyes watching her moves.

Amaryllis looked the horse up and down.

'You can touch her.'

'I am rather attached to my hand. I need it for work. And they look like they have many teeth.'

'They don't eat meat', Cerran said.

'Are you really certain about that? I've heard about horses biting people before.'

'Oh, they bite, but they don't eat us. I've never seen a horse actually chew someone's limb off.'

'Comforting', Amaryllis said with a frown.

'She's very tall already. Wasn't she born… yesterday or something?' Amaryllis asked.

'I know, that's how I feel', Sansa said.

'She'll be all grown up by the time the new year rolls around', Amaryllis said, shooting Sansa a meaningful glance. Sansa knew what that look meant: by the time you come return.

'My lady, I think I found a horse befitting of your needs', Garson cried from somewhere in the distance.

'I will come', Sansa called. She drew up an eyebrow, and Amaryllis nodded in reply.

'It'll be strange without you', Amaryllis started as they walked towards the stables on the far right end. 'You've just become a fixture here.'

'It'll be strange to leave as well', Sansa admitted. The idea still made her stomach knot with nerves. It had taken months for the knots and wild heartbeat caused by the anxiety of living under constant threat to fade, and now she was throwing herself into danger again. It was mad. But she didn't have any other choice.

'Everyone always seems to leave. First the Tyrells… Then Lady Alerie with Leona and everyone… then Garson… Now you. I'm always remaining behind just hoping for everyone to come back. Currently, the track record doesn't look great.'

'We should be well protected', Sansa said. 'And we'll be taking home everyone who isn't home yet. The record should be looking brighter in a few months', Sansa smiled, wishing it gave her friend some hope.

Amaryllis tried to smile and nod.

'It's a good thing Leonette is back though, because otherwise I'd completely be out of a job. Since Lady Alerie has formally given me to you.'

That was true. And as Sansa thought of something that could occupy her friend, she suddenly realized something. She had thought of everything together with Willas except… They didn't have a single servant who'd be joining them. Perhaps Willas had planned on taking a manservant with him already, but she hadn't. They planned on travelling light, and had kept out as many people as possible to prevent rumours from spreading but… they would need guards and at least two servants.

'You could join me though, if you wanted to. I will need a lady in waiting.'

'Really?' Amaryllis asked. 'As in: leaving Highgarden and going… Wherever requires over three pairs of thick winter boots?'

Sansa nodded. 'If you want. It'll be at least a two month trip. More like three months. And I'd understand if you didn't want to join us.'

'Three months? You'll only be back in three months?' Amaryllis asked. 'But… Sansa –'

'I know. But that is not up for debate right now.'

'I- I'd be honoured. But I'm not sure whether I can. In Highgarden, usually, we send at least one lady in waiting along who knows self-defence.'

'Really? Did Margaery –' Sansa asked, turning towards Amaryllis.

The blonde girl nodded.

'Oh yes. Her chambermaids, all of them. And she herself knows quite a bit too. I admit I never practised before. It's why I got left behind when Lady Alerie left last time, aside from ranking lowest and being the youngest. Leona really has a way with knives.'

Sansa swallowed. She'd never known. She'd never guessed either. Leona seemed so calm and inconspicuous. Perhaps that was the whole point. No, she truly believed she knew the other woman well on a personal level. She would have seen no reason in pretending amongst her fellows. It had just never come up.

'I'll ask Willas about it', Sansa decided. 'We still have a few days.'

Then they arrived at the stall. The horse in there was a female of four years old, and was mainly used by Leonette's mother whenever she was around. It was a docile mare that was also used for teaching noble children how to ride. After a test ride, Sansa accepted the horse named Wisteria. They then went back to the castle.

Willas was in a meeting with a few minor local lords, or whatever representatives they'd sent to Highgarden to discuss the snow and the rising river. Sansa and Willas had prepared the meeting really well with Maester Lomys and a few expert constructors the last few days.

The meeting had to have recently ended, as the heavy oaken doors to the solar were opened right in front of Sansa and Amaryllis.

'I shall –'

'You can stay', Sansa smiled. 'It's fine.'

After Willas finished up speaking to the final representative, Sansa approached him. Willas opened his arms for her. Sansa gave him a quick kiss before taking a step back again.

'I uhm… Something was recently brought to my attention.'

'Oh?' he asked with a smile. 'Whatever might that be?'

Amaryllis took a few more steps to the door, hoping to blend into the background as she was unaccustomed to seeing her lord in such a way.

'We should be taking at least a few servants with us, and some guards, right?'

'Obviously', Willas nodded, a confused smile still tugging on his lips.

'Did you already have some in mind?'

'I though it was evident we'd each pick those we needed. And the guards are just, five people we can appoint at random… right?' he cocked his head. 'Did I forget something?'

'It is only… You complimented my wisdom in matters relating to packing, where they deserve no such flattery. It didn't cross my mind to appoint a lady in waiting.'

His neck snapped upwards at Amaryllis who failed to blend into dull dark wood with her reddish gown.

'Am I wrong in assuming you have a lady in waiting?'

'Well, yes. But…'

'Another but', Willas ticked the floor with his cane, an entertained smile appearing. 'So it must be big.'

'Well', Sansa shrugged. 'Only because it's important around here I think. In the North, no one would have bat an eye if I appointed Amaryllis as my lady in waiting.'

'And why wouldn't that work here?' Willas asked. 'I can't imagine us being more severe than the North.'

'That is what I thought. But I heard these things about ladies-in-waiting needing training and knife wielding skills and I was just taken aback.'

'Taken ab- you mean… Hold on… You can't do self-defence?' Willas asked Amaryllis in a calmer tone. The girl shook her head. 'I was never asked to join a trip outside Highgarden, and we're usually trained in preparation of our first trip outside Highgarden.'

'And you didn't know all noble ladies in Highgarden are given anti-abduction instructions and basic knife skills?' Willas asked Sansa. She shook her head. Willas leaned on his cane as he massaged his head.

'But you were trained at home, at least?'

'No.'

'Just to be clear: you were never pretend-dragged off a horse so you could show you could crawl back on? You never were taught how to hold a dagger or a knife? You never learned how to avoid getting beat up?'

Sansa shook her head at all the questions.

'Then how could you survive if someone attacked you?'

'I was stripped of my clothes, pinned to the floor and beaten in front of the entire court. Resistance to the King's orders would have been dangerous. Self-defence would not have saved me', Sansa explained.

'And Baelish never taught you –'

'He who failed to use the sword the one day he wanted to and devoted the rest of his life to stringing the nicest words and plots together to prevent himself from becoming as vulnerable as he was when he lifted that sword all those years ago?' Sansa asked. 'No. He only used iron and silver for decoration.'

Willas nodded and walked towards the door. He seemed to have made up his mind about something.

'Send Ser Crane up. Let him take practice armour and padding', Willas commanded a servant in the hall.

Willas calmly looked around the solar.

'Sansa, in the utmost left drawer underneath the map. Take it out.'

Sansa had no idea what 'it' meant, but did so all the same and found a bejewelled dagger there.

'Amaryllis, here', Willas said as he took out a dagger from his belt.

Amaryllis, who'd tried shrinking into the background, walked towards Willas and accepted the small dagger he gave her.

Sansa turned the dagger around in her hands. The weight felt weird, and the shapes odd.

'We leave in two days. But if I see that neither of you by that time can protect yourselves… then it's off. I cannot allow you to come when I'm not confident you'll be able to fend off an attacker long enough for the guards to step in.'

'But Willas!' Sansa protested. 'You promised!'

'I didn't know. This is a new development', Willas said, throwing one hand defensively in the air.

'Sansa, you're too valuable to come, especially when you can't protect yourself.'

'But we'll have guards with us at all times.'

'Do the guards sleep inside our bedrooms?' Willas asked.

'But they guard our rooms and us all the time', Sansa protested.

'The bedrooms of kings and queens are protected all the time, yet they sometimes still get killed by an attacker who manages to sneak in through a secret corridor or a window. You need guards, and a maid to protect you, and if the worst happens: you need to protect yourself.'

She couldn't exactly protest. She was carrying his heir. He was the last living adult who could inherit Highgarden and rule instead of having a guardian rule in his name, which would be the kind of rule Chrysan would have if something would happen to Willas and Sansa. They needed to remain safe.

She put the blade in her other hand. No, the cold metal felt even stranger there. She put it back in her right hand.

'Or you can send someone else with her. We have enough trained ladies-in-waiting', Amaryllis said.

Willas frowned, but Sansa found herself nodding fervently.

Willas looked at Sansa. He wasn't happy with the idea, she could see it. But they had promised each other to go together. This was a compromise.

'Fine.'

'My lord?' Ser Crane asked. The man was in his forties but still in great shape as he entered, carrying the weight of practice armour and a lot of arm and chest armour with ease.

'Ah, Ser Crane, how good of you to come', Willas smiled, carelessly leaning on his cane as if it were a mere ornament now that someone else had entered.

'We might need some of your time. It has been brought to my attention that my lady wife and one of our household servants do not know how to protect themselves.'

'At all?' asked Ser Crane. He looked a bit exhausted at the workload that stood in front of him, awkwardly shuffling their feet across the tiles and avoiding eye contact.

'At all', Willas confirmed. 'Currently, the priorities are: fending off knife attacks, sword attacks, learning to use a dagger, and escape a hold.'

'Aha. And… How long do we have?'

'Whatever gives you the impression that there's a time constraint?' Sansa smiled.

'My lady,' Ser Crane smiled, 'I've worked here for a while. I know that you have a lot to do and little time to do it.'

That was a very polite way of putting that his lord and his family were always late with planning and organising. Sansa wondered what it was about the constant rushing in house Tyrell. But she felt confident her and Willas had started working in advance in a good way.

Ser Crane put the armour on the ground.

'Here, my lord?' he asked.

'Yes, here', Willas said, before walking away and sitting down in a big comfortable chair. He was going to stay and watch. Sansa gave him a look, and Willas just drew up his eyebrows in warning.

Fine, Sansa decided. She'd always been thrown into the river before she ever learned to swim. She fell into the viper pit of King's Landing without knowing a thing about politics, she was dragged into the Eyrie without knowing how to keep up a lie and she had been shipped into Highgarden without knowing how to do the tasks of a handmaid. She could do this. Was not her aunt a skilled rider and fighter? Was not her own sister dangerous with a sword? Sanse did not possess a strong load of the Stark genes, but she'd just have to try her best to bring them to the surface.

Ser Vance approached Amaryllis, and took her into a hold, wrapping one arm around her chest and another around her mouth. Amaryllis stiffened and threw big eyes at the master-at-arms of Highgarden.

'In the very best case scenario, you won't be threatened with a weapon', Ser Vance explained. 'You'll be taken hold of, silenced and dragged off. So the first thing we'll do is trying to escape this hold.'

'In a best case scenario, don't we have a weapon on us?' Sansa asked.

'My lady, I will not let either of you swing a weapon without first showing you how to hold it. I did not become this old by being careless.'

'But in an ideal situation our attacker would not have a weapon and we would.'

'Yes. But that situation is unlikely. I want to focus on your escape skills first. Good, now, miss Flowers. Try to get free.'

Amaryllis wiggled like a worm. Bent back and forwards and cried out. But did not get free.

'You may try and hurt me with your body', Vance encouraged.

'You sure?'

'You really cannot harm me enough. Believed me. Come on. You must've seen people fighting on the streets. What do they do? Now is not the time to act like a lady.'

Amaryllis shot a grimace to Sansa, seeming to apologise beforehand for what she was about to do.

'Okay.'

Amaryllis wiggled again, more furious, so that Vance had to tighten his grip on her. She then stomped down on his foot, bent forward until she was almost double over, and then twisted so Vance had to readjust his grip. But it gave Amaryllis room to get one arm out and fling her elbow to Vance's chest. Then with a quick kick to his leg, she was gone.

'Very good!' Vance complimented. 'There are better ways but we'll get to that. My lady?' Vance asked, turning from Amaryllis to Sansa.

Sansa gingerly walked to Vance. The movement made her remember that perhaps… being held really wasn't opportune.

'Are there no ways to keep off an attacker before they hold us?'

'Yes. There are.'

'Can't we practice that first?'

'Why?'

'It's just… I rather not be held.'

Ser Vance looked a bit uncomfortable. He did not wish to go against his lady, but it was clear that he thought it made his job very hard.

'We'll have to tell everyone the next few days, I guess', Willas said from the distance.

'Vance, careful with her. That's my heir she's carrying.'

'She-' The master-at-arms looked at Sansa's stomach, then up at Willas, then to Sansa's blushing face, his expression faltering.

'Why are we doing this when she's in such a condition, my lord?'

'Because now is the very time she needs the most protection', Willas calmly explained. 'It's not just for her benefit that she will know how to keep herself safe.'

That was a careful traipse around the reason she had to learn to defend herself, but she was grateful Willas had an easier time making up lies and appearing calm.

Vance seemed to understand.

'I'll be careful, my lady. I promise. More careful than an attacker would, but you'll still learn what to do.'

Sansa nodded gratefully and moved into Vance's arms. They came to rest around her tightly, but far away from her stomach. She suddenly felt cold all over, remembering the way she'd been carried off in the attack in King's Landing. She'd been helpless then.

She looked around, from Willas' encouraging face to Amaryllis' hopeful nods and then to the body that was wrapped around hers.

Amaryllis had stepped on his feet. That was useful. But Vance was tall and Sansa was in front of him. If he'd bend over, he would just take Sansa down with him.

Perhaps if he could get out of balance and she let herself fall forward with all her weight, she'd break his hold on her. But then she'd be on the ground and he'd be standing. He could easily grab her hair and yank her backwards. No, that wouldn't do.

Amaryllis had pushed him backwards. That seemed preferable.

'My lady?'

'I'm thinking. If this is a practice, I have the time to consider what is best, right? And then I can use that knowledge?'

'Of course', he quickly said.

But how to get him backward? Sansa had no clue. She tried to remember her brothers practicing in the courtyard but that had been with swords, parrying at a polite distance. And she knew jousting, again with distance and weapons. The only times she'd seen a fight up close… had been when she and Arya had been fighting as children, grabbing each other's hair, tugging at each other's clothes and… Oh. That could work. It was not a slap to the face with a hand but…

Sansa started wiggling. Up and down, up and down, and when the time felt right, she stomped on his foot, and right as he bent forward, she slammed her head back until it collided with his. She saw starts, her head pounded, but she also felt the arms around her going loose. Immediately she swung open her arms, pushing herself away from him as she moved forward.

She quickly turned around. Vance was clutching his nose.

'Good one. Very good one. But you must be careful you don't hurt yourself too much with that one. If you're paralyzed with a headache you can't run.'

Sansa nodded, but was glad Vance wasn't bleeding while she had successfully escaped.

'Good, I think you both found some basic manoeuvres on your own', Vance said, rubbing his nose a final time.

'Lord Willas, may we use you, my lord? Just whilst demonstrating. They won't actually try and attack you.'

Sansa grinned at her husband. No lazy sitting around.

Vance took hold of Amaryllis and Willas of Sansa. In the next thirty minutes they were shown traditional weak spots on the male body, and pretended to hit those or escape possible situations.

'When you're under attack, it will mostly be in unexpected lonely situations. If you're out in public, you'll have guards around you. Women most easily find themselves falling prey if they walk the streets alone without guards, in empty corridors and in private chambers where they don't expect attackers. The good news is that guards are almost always only a door removed, but you need to survive to call them. In an ideal situation, you always have your lady-in-waiting with you who enters chambers before you, and heads out of them before you to ensure the coast is clear. That's why the lady-in-waiting is the first line defence. Attackers are hiding behind furniture, underneath beds, behind curtains or other places. So, they try sneaking up on you. Now it's easier to try and get out of a situation when you're not stuck in their hold yet.'

Then Willas and Vance tried approaching the ladies and throwing their arms around them. They were instructed how to duck, push them away and more.

'Preferably, use everything you have. If there's any furniture around, try putting that between you and the attacker as you scream for help. And it's important to scream. Some freeze up and don't dare. But then you can't get help. I'll show it, Miss Flowers, here is a chair right beside us. If I sneak up on you –'

Amaryllis ducked, pushed him and then grabbed the chair to stand behind it.

'Good, but ideally, you shove the chair towards me so it brings me out of balance and makes me stumble. Maybe that gives you the time needed to rush to the door. Always throw or shove things at your attacker if it's possible. If there's no furniture but you have a wallet, throw it at our faces. A candle? Throw it at us. But never if you think it slows you down and forces you to turn away from us. That's dangerous.'

Then Vance moved into dagger territory.

He taught them how to hold it, and taught them a couple of ways to move it. Sansa was tired from waving her arm in the air by the time they could finally stop. Why did her brothers and sister do this for fun?

'Today, the art will be avoiding. You try grabbing your dagger from a place that's believable, a pocket or a boot, and create distance between you and your attacker. Put furniture between you, walk backwards with your head turned towards the enemy. If you have a weapon, the playground is more even and they'll try less. Less, because they're there with a mission to hurt you and they're probably gaining a lot more from trying to attack you than from running away.'

They put padding on them, so that they could mock-use the daggers without accidentally hurting anyone.

Sansa's attempts at getting her dagger out were quite clunky. She tried stepping backwards, but tripped over her skirt. When Willas approached her, she kicked a footrest to him as she grabbed her dagger but then rushed forward afraid she'd hurt his leg. It was a bit discouraging when Willas easily deflected the things she threw at him with an arm or his cane, lunged at Sansa with the dagger he whipped out of his cane, and had her in his hold with one arm. But luckily, Sansa was amazing at dropping, ducking and twisting away. Her hold on her dagger was also good, which was nice to hear. Meanwhile, Amaryllis wasn't clumsy at all. She had a lot of energy, bouncing around and pushing and slashing. But her moves were too bold, too big, it wasn't good for getting away. But she was good at attacking.

'Tomorrow we'll focus on knocking the attackers off their feet and injuring them. We'll try hitting someone for real. Stab and run. A dagger is not for fancy swordplay. It's not about winning. It's about making a quick move to gain the upper hand and getting out.'

By the time Sansa stumbled out of Willas' environment a final time, it is pitch black outside. Willas lowers his blade and follows Sansa's gaze outside. They look at Vance and Amaryllis. Amaryllis and Vance are turning around the covered map table. Blades drawn up to their chests, moving left, then right, depending on what the other is doing. Finally, Amaryllis gets to the side of the table that is closest to the door, and rushes away, knocking down two chairs in the way to the door, before reaching it well before Vance.

'Good. Good. Excellent', Vance complimented, sheathing his dagger. It was a clear signal the practice had ended.

'Well?' Willas asked.

Vance nodded.

'For a first time, this is good.'

When Ser Vance and Amaryllis left them alone, Sansa sat down with Willas.

'Is it bad if I can't?' Sansa asked in earnest, leaning against her husband.

Willas was silent for a while, but put his arm around her.

'We should ensure you won't get in such a situation in the first place', Willas said.'But ever since Queen Alicent's apartments were intruded by Blood and Cheese, the Hightowers and Tyrells both became terrified for the safety of their women abroad. Lord Lyonel was, after all, even younger than the murdered children and his mother, Lady Tyrell, felt justified in her belief to stay out of the war and became even more protective of her children. And the Hightowers obviously realized even queens and princes were in danger of being murdered. So they too realized that guards weren't foolproof. It's come in useful a couple of times', Willas shrugged. 'But don't worry. I don't expect you to be a fighter. You believe my mother is? You believe Leo sparred with Garlan in her free time?'

Sansa really couldn't imagine Leonette fighting, she was just made for a softer life. But she had to admit that Alerie had something colder and calmer about her. Though motherly, she and Olenna looked like they could slice open a throat if they had to, artfully. The Queen of Thorns would probably be quite proud of it as well.

'I just expect you to strap on a dagger when we're out of Highgarden, be able to grab it, and know how to run and escape, perhaps use the blade while doing so. I don't expect it to go perfect. As Ser Vance said, I only expect you to last long enough so help can reach you. Our mission is very lowkey. Few people know about it, and we'll be visiting allies. So that should limit the danger. But just in case, hm?' he asked, rubbing her arm.

'I guess', Sansa said. 'I can't depend on luck.'

'No, that we can't', Willas grinned.

Sansa leaned against Willas. 'I hope we'll be fine.'

'As fine as possible', Willas said. 'Listen, we got a message today. From the North.'

'The North?' Sansa asked.

'It said the Wall was under dire threat. They planned a large scale attack behind the Wall and asked for real armies to support them. For the common good. Your brother had just arrived there, together with a bunch of wildlings. He says our supplies arrived there in time though.'

Sansa nodded.

'Another thing to arrange when we get to it', Sansa said. 'Perhaps, once the battle is over, we can take the soldiers North. For the battle that is to come.'

'By the time we get to Dragonstone, it should be over in a matter of days', Willas agreed.

They became quiet, her hand rubbing his good leg and the hand of the arm he'd thrown around her rubbing her arm. It was a future as bleak as snow.

'We must start preparing for dinner', Willas said.

'Were you serious? About before?' Sansa asked.

'Do you want to wait until after we return?'

'I don't know. I'm quite torn. I fear they'll judge me if we wait until after. Why didn't I tell sooner? Or worse, when we come back with a babe in our arms they'll wonder whether it was really ours.'

'I've been thinking about what would be the wisest course of action as well', he said.

'At first I thought telling everyone would be the wisest. They'd be happy for us. And our enemies would be able to see that our dynasty is still growing stronger every day. 'Those looking at us in envy would realize that we are still too strong to take down.'

'A sturdy rosebush', Sansa smiled.

Willas looked at her in confusion, before rising to a stand. He went to the map table, and looked at where all armies were stationed.

'Almost all troops are out of the Reach, including the private armies of most of my bannermen. No one around would be able to take Highgarden. And we'd be with our allies, surrounded by soldiers who want to protect us because otherwise the future king could lose vital support. So the risk of us dying is also limited. So that made me think there is no reason to show our enemies we are strong by announcing our child. I believe it could even be counterproductive.'

'How?' Sansa asked, standing up to join him.

'Compared to many others, our house is still very strong and secure of succession. Should my father die, there's me and Chrysan right now. We still have three people who can carry the title of lord paramount, two of which are adults. Compared to house Lannister, house Tully, house Stark and house Arryn, that's a very comfortable position. I believe there might be a distinct possibility that if my men think house Tyrell will be safe regardless of how well they fight, they'll be more relaxed in battle. They won't feel as pressured to fight. After all, there'll still be Tyrells to rule the Reach and ensure the stability of their lands and livelihoods. Men who fear their homes will fall prey to instability fight harder. It's like a soldier won't try to win a battle as hard when he's practising as he does when he's on a battlefield.'

Sansa considered those ideas.

'I worry about the timing though', Sansa said.

'The timing is guaranteed until here', Willas said, tapping at Dragonstone. 'We should arrive the twenty-ninth. And the battle starts the thirtieth. Unless, in an unlikely scenario, the Lannisters surrender before we have to fight. Since we'll be attacking the walls, using the tunnels and will have some men from inside opening the gates… It can't possibly take longer than two days. Margaery and father will be whisked out on the first day so they should be in Dragonstone by the morning of the thirty-first. Once King's Landing has been taken over, I count there'll be one day for the formal investiture, and then we can start planning a potential campaign in the North with Aegon. But by that time I hope we already have some things planned with Arianne. So... I've calculated five days for the logistics, but we don't have a lot of control over that. I've determined we'll be leaving with our forces after five days though. By boat. Halfway into the eleventh month we should be at White Harbour if the winds are favourable. Then it'll be another week before we'll be at Winterfell I think. Do you know how long it takes to take the White Knife up to Winterfell from White Harbour?'

'Unfortunately, I never really travelled before I went to King's Landing. But I think a week is a careful estimate, especially since we don't know the sea winds. You might have underestimated the time it takes to travel to White Harbour, so it's good if we overestimate this part', Sansa said. 'The North is big and mountainous. And it's winter. Everything takes longer than you expect.'

Willas nodded

'So, we're looking at arriving in Winterfell by the end of the next month', Willas said. 'Two weeks to arrange everything and leave some commanders and the army behind, look after your brothers… Take care of other things that might pop up. That should be doable without being rushed, right?'

The idea of only getting two weeks in her ancestral home and with her brothers felt awfully short after an absence of two years. But she was pregnant and the North was a dangerous place.

'And then eventually, when things are dangerous, bring my brother to my uncle while the North is being defended?' Sansa suggested. 'I've written to Edmure whether he could by then have men that would help the North, but I fear the lands are truly destroyed, and many men dead.'

Willas nodded. 'Eventually. But travelling to Riverrun isn't as easy', Willas said as he looked at the map. He traced his ringed index finger along the White Knife to White Harbour, and from there to the Bite, across the swampy land of the Neck until he reached the eastern headwater of the Green Fork at Greywater Watch. From there they'd have to travel upstream past the Twins that were now under new but uncertain control, and from there all the way of to Harroway, and then they'd have to take the Red Fork to Riverrun.

'I can't even start to predict how long this would take', Willas confessed. 'Down river, across the sea, across land, up river… I think we're looking at weeks. Water is also slower in rivers, and there's no wind to help us get in the right direction.'

'And perhaps the water can be frozen', Sansa added.

Willas closed his eyes with a defeated sigh. He still wasn't used to thinking of winter, no matter how much they prepared for it.

'So a month is possible?'

'Yes', Sansa confessed.

'You'll be past the halfway point by the time we reach Riverrun.'

'Still gives us four months to get home.'

'Two. If we can keep our timetable. I don't want you to travel during the last two months. Did you see Leonette during the last month? Can you see yourself travelling in such a state? Or what if you don't take to being pregnant well? There's many women who feel ill and horrible, including in the latter months.'

'I know', Sansa groaned, leaning against her husband.

'I just want everyone to be safe. I can't rest easily otherwise. You understand that, right?'

'Of course I do', Willas said, wrapping his arms around her.

'I rather we both don't lose a single extra person from our families. I don't think I could cope. It nearly destroyed me the last time. I don't know how you're still standing after everything you lost, but I'd also rather spare you future pain.'

Sansa closed her eyes and enjoyed his embrace for a while.

'Can we even be away for so long, if one of Aegon's rules is that your father takes a step back and appoints you?' Sansa asked.

'That's another one of the reasons why going to Winterfell, and especially Riverrun actually isn't so convenient', Willas said. 'I've been breaking my head on that one as well. Usually, when someone becomes the new lord, there's feasts and celebrations and a lot of formal stuff like bannermen swearing their allegiance, agreements and declarations to sign, handing over the household keys, appointing new people, melees, tourneys, so on. Obviously, a lot of those things were already hard to organize because of winter. And to me, it seems quite tone deaf to squander too much food and money in a time that's hard for many. Although feasts mean the poor also get quite a lot of food. Getting all the lords to Highgarden would also be hard with the winter weather and snow. So I was thinking that I should take on the role of my father in King's Landing or Dragonstone, swear fealty, and then have some clerks message my bannermen and Highgarden announcing that as newly appointed lord and lady of Highgarden, we'd be travelling to renew alliances after years of war, and find new partners for trade and other things. It would look very professional and hardworking.'

'Will we be doing that?' Sansa asked.

'Well, when there, why not? We'll all be needing allies and goods. Even when arranging a war, the needs of people don't stop.'

'That's true', Sansa admitted.

'Imagine us coming back with new trade agreements, good relationships with the entire realm, having just ensured a good monarch on the throne and an end to the danger coming from behind the wall, and with a babe in your belly. We'd have accomplished in three to four months what most lords take a decade to do.'

'You've been doing a lot of thinking', Sansa smiled.

'Well, it is my job', Willas grinned. 'What does my lady think of it?'

'Your lady thinks those plans are very agreeable and impressive', Sansa smiled.

And thus, while forced to travel lightly, they left with a chest full of gold, empty official papers, twenty of the Tyrell home guards, a servant each, clothes that would hopefully keep them from frostbite and the very disapproving glares of Olenna and Alerie. It was past midnight, so that as few people as possible would notice their departure. Once their departure was noticed, it would be announced they were visiting the Fossoways to arrange some business affairs.

'You know just what I think about all of this', Olenna said, her wrinkled face disappointed when she looked at Sansa.

'We're doing this for Highgarden, grandmother', Willas said.

'I think it's unnecessary. We've arranged everything so you don't have to go.'

They didn't know about Winterfell. It was better they didn't. It would make them even more upset about their departure.

'Just get my baby back safe', Alerie said to Willas, already having given up on trying to convince her children of something they had set their minds on.

Willas nodded when he took his mother's hand in his and pressed a kiss against it.

'I promise to get both father and Margaery back. It won't be long now.'

'And stay safe, you', Alerie said to Sansa. 'I depend on you to be sensible and careful. Especially since you have to keep three people safe now. Your duty is here, as is your family. Bring them and yourself back in one piece.'

'I'll do my very best, mother', Sansa said. Alerie beamed at the word, and although it felt like betrayal in Sansa's stomach to use that word for anyone who wasn't named Catelyn Tully, she was glad she managed to give Alerie a bit of cheer before leaving.

Sansa mounted Wisteria, and off they were.

'Damn, this is the first time I'm actually on the river instead of in', Amaryllis muttered when the boat finally left the docks. 'I'm nervous.'

Sansa bit her lip. 'Yes, me too.'

'I hope I'm worthy of the confidence', Amaryllis muttered, her hands playing with the dagger hanging from her belt.

'Well, you'll have to', Sansa smiled.

'Mhm. Think I'll be asking a bit of additional lessons.'

'No need to ask. Willas has required it', Sansa admitted as they stared at the hill that grew smaller every second.

'I thought we were good enough according to Ser Vance?'

'For it to have been our second day', Sansa said.

'Willas wants us to be good enough, not good for beginners.'

'Alright', Amaryllis said. 'Humbling. But alright. Imagine us coming back as dagger-throwing experts, ready for fun demonstrations at fairs.'

Sansa let out a laugh.

'I'm really glad you're with me.'