Sansa's thoughts danced and sang with joy as the sight of Riverrun appeared in her view. After a year of isolation in the Eyrie, Riverrun was a much-welcomed spectacle indeed. She could not wait to enter the castle.
Her heart tightened as she remembered the reason her lady mother gave her permission to visit the Riverrun with the utmost reluctance.
Grandfather Hoster was dying.
When Uncle Edmure sent the raven bearing the news of Grandfather's illness, Mother refused to go. Sansa was horrified. She sensed that all the Vale lords were furious – especially the widowed Lady Waynwood of Ironoaks. If her mother was not Sweetrobin's regent, Sansa suspected Lady Anya Waynwood would strongly insist for Mother to visit Grandfather Hoster. When Sansa arrived at the Eyrie at about half a year or more ago, Lady Waynwood was first to suggest for Sansa to be her ward at Ironoaks. As a woman of good health, Lady Waynwood spent her time between Ironoaks and the Eyrie; she was more than happy for Sansa to stay with her at the Eyrie from time to time. Without even consulting Sansa, her lady mother refused the offer and said quite petulantly and rudely, "I'll never send my last daughter away from me – and to Ironoaks! Full of young men who will take advantage of my sweet and innocent Sansa."
Sansa closed her eyes for a second. She wished Mother had agreed to have her fostered at Ironoaks. Any place was better than solitude in the Eyrie. Besides, she was certain Lady Waynwood's sons were like the honourable knights in all the songs she loved. Besides, they were all too old to court her. She remembered how insulted Lady Waynwood looked when Mother declined the idea of fostering her at Ironoaks – even with her betrothed Harrold Hardyng there as a ward.
As she rode closer to Riverrun, she wondered about Harrold. What did he look like? Was he handsome? Of course he is, she thought confidently. Father would never want me to marry a hideous man. Was he brave? Honourable? Of course he is. As a knight-to-be he would have to be brave and honourable. Knights were not knights if they were cowardly and deceitful.
The tall trees on either of the river road finally cleared – Sansa and her party of guards were almost at Riverrun. As if stating the obvious, Ser Vardis Egen rode up towards her. Ser Vardis was a heavily built man with a square, plain face with silver hair sticking out from under his helmet. His cloak, bearing the Egen sigil – a yellow sun, white crescent moon and silver star on a blue chief, above a white field – billowed around him as a sharp breeze swivelled around them. "My lady," he said gruffly. "We are almost at Riverrun. We'll be there by noon. Do you wish to stop and rest in the litter Lady Sansa?"
Sansa shook her head. "No thank you Ser Vardis. I'll ride the remainder of the journey to Riverrun. Carrying a little will be more inconvenient." She relished the fresh air and freedom. Even though Mother insisted for two dozen knights of the Vale, her septa and Nestor Royce's daughter Myranda. Myranda, or Randa, as she liked to be called, to accompany her to Riverrun, Sansa enjoyed riding without hearing her mother's shrilly voice. Myranda had declared Sansa her good friend. Sansa was not so sure. She was glad to have Randa for company in the Eyrie – especially when Mother was in her chambers grieving – but Randa oft said rather worldly words that made Sansa blush as she did not fully understand them from time to time but was too shy to ask what they meant.
"It is so warm is it not Lady Sansa?" Randa had spurred her chestnut brown palfrey up to her. "Much warmer than in the Vale!" Her cheeks were already pink from the heat. "Oh you are still so white!" she exclaimed as she caught a glimpse of Sansa's white hands. "I am as red as a strawberry while you are still so fair my lady Sansa!" Even on a horse, Randa Royce was shorter than Sansa. Randa tossed her brown curly hair again. "My! I'm flushed! Sweet Sansa, you will find there are plenty more activities that make you flushed!" She grinned slyly. Sansa felt her own cheeks redden. Randa laughed.
Sansa absently listened to Randa's endless chatter as the sandstone walls of Riverrun were even closer in sight. As they approached the drawbridge, one of the Riverrun guardsmen stepped towards them, grasping his sword. On his head was a fish-crest helm. "Halt!" he commanded. "Who goes there?"
Ser Vardis rode to him. "The Lady Sansa of House Arryn and her party! Lady Sansa is here to see her grandfather, Lord Tully." The guard looked at him before turning his gaze to Sansa. His expression changed instantly. Sansa smiled. He had noticed her Tully auburn hair.
"Lady Sansa!" the guard said, dipping his head. He turned and shouted at the other guards. "LADY SANSA ARRYN APPROACHES!" He looked at Sansa. "My lady, you may proceed with your uh, rather large party of guards." Sansa giggled and thanked him. With Ser Vardis and Randa on either side of her, the three of them rode across the drawbridge and into Riverrun.
"It is so beautiful," breathed Randa as they looked around. "Do you not find it quite different from the Eyrie?"
"Aunt Catelyn said the godswood will be the prettiest and sweetest godswood I ever set foot in," Sansa remarked. In the courtyard, she dismounted her palfrey and smiled when she saw Aunt Leyla and her Tully cousins heading towards her. Aunt Leyla's forehead was lined with worry and it looked as if she hadn't slept in days. All her cousins already donned black, a shade that seemed like a stranger in such a colourful and cheerful place like Riverrun.
"Cousin Sansa," said Cousin Hoster, striding towards her with a tired smile. "I hope you had a good journey here?"
"It was lovely," Sansa replied. She wanted to tell him how much she missed a long ride – now was not the time. She turned to Randa. "Cousin Hoster, this is my, my friend, Lady Myranda of House Royce. Myranda, this is my cousin Hoster, my uncle Ser Edmure's son."
Cousin Hoster nodded respectfully at Randa who smiled back. Sansa could not resist a cry as Melia ran up to her and hugged her. They hadn't seen each other in over a year! By the Seven Sansa missed her. They broke apart and Sansa studied her. Melia had grown taller and was more beautiful than ever. "I'm sorry we had to meet under these circumstances," said Melia sadly. "Father and mother talked of holding a tourney to celebrate Grandfather's recovery, but a few nights' ago, he had turned for the worse. The maester said that Grandfather would not be with us much longer…but he will leave us peacefully."
"I prayed for his recovery every day," said Sansa truthfully.
Melia glanced at all the Vale knights behind Ser Vardis. "Will you and your um, men rest and settle first or do you wish to visit Grandfather?"
"I'll see Grandfather first," Sansa said decidedly. "It will be good of you if you can give them food and drink. My mother insisted I am escorted by all these men from the Eyrie to Riverrun."
Cousin Hoster and Melia nodded. "I'll take Sansa to Grandfather's solar," Melia volunteered. "Lady Myranda, will you accompany us?" Randa shook her head. "I'll give Lady Sansa time with her family alone," she informed her. "Lady Arryn told me to come here to keep Lady Sansa company."
Leaving Cousin Hoster alone with the Vale guards, the septa and Randa, Sansa followed Melia through the Great Hall, up a spiral stairway into the keep and to the Lord of Riverrun's solar which was guarded by two men. One of them smiled at Melia. "Lady Melia. Here to see your lord grandfather again?"
"Myles," Melia responded. "You should be with Ser Desmond, not guarding my grandfather's door."
"Ser Desmond is busy training your little brothers milady. Your father deemed young Axel old enough to join Bryndon in training today."
"Axel is five, is he not?" remembered Sansa. When Sweetrobin was five, he was still crawling into Mother's bed at night and cradling a ragged doll Sansa had long discarded. Melia nodded.
"Who is this milady?" Myles the guard inquired.
"My cousin Sansa of House Arryn," Melia answered. "She has arrived about ten minutes ago and wishes to see our grandfather."
"Of course. Miladies." He pushed open the door and stepped aside. As a young girl, Sansa had stayed at Riverrun from time to time and played in the godswood and the keep and sometimes the rivers with her Tully cousins. When he felt well, Grandfather Hoster would watch them, a faint smile hovering on his face. After a while, he would have the servants bring them plates of lemon cakes and candied almonds and cups of juice squeezed from the juicy fruits grown in fields close to Riverrun. He once even gave Sansa a simple bracelet studded with sapphires that her mother left behind when she married. With a small nudge from Melia, Sansa stepped into the solar and was soaked by the warmth of the afternoon sun. She'd never set foot in the Riverrun solar before.
Her attention was drawn away from the vast window to the sleeping man with a beard and hair as white as his featherbed. Grandfather Hoster. Sansa walked to him and sat down on the provided chair. "Grandfather," she said softly as the frail man stirred. "Do you remember me? I'm your granddaughter Sansa."
Grandfather opened his eyes weakly. "L-Lysa?" he croaked hopefully. Sansa shook her head. "It's Sansa Grandfather," she said gently. "Sansa. Sansa Arryn." It fell on deaf ears as Grandfather Hoster struggled to sit up against his pillows. He stared at Sansa again. "L-Lysa?" he repeated. To Sansa's astonishment, tears filled Grandfather Hoster's deep blue eyes. "L-Lysa," he said again, his voice quivering as he reached for her hands. "I…I am s-sorry L-Lysa. Will you ever forgive me my dear child? I…I was only th-thinking of you…"
Riverrun's maester Vyman walked up to Sansa and said quietly. "Perhaps you can return later tonight Lady Sansa? I fear Lord Tully requires another cup of the milk of the poppy. I hope I'm not speaking out of term, Lady Sansa, but Lord Tully had been speaking deliriously for days…asking for your mother Lady Arryn. By any chance, will Lady Arryn be visiting Lord Tully, Lady Sansa? I believe he will die peacefully if she does."
Sansa shifted uncomfortably. As long as Sweetrobin remained Lord Stannis's ward in Storm's End, her mother refused to budge from the Eyrie. "Um, my lady mother had already forgiven Grandfather," she said quickly. "However she is too unwell to leave the Eyrie. She sent me here…in her stead."
Maester Vyman nodded slowly. "I see." He glanced at Melia who hovered near the door. "Lady Melia-?" Melia took Sansa's hand. "Come, Cousin Sansa. I'll show you your room. I thought it would be quite fun if you and I share a chamber for the duration of your stay. Lady Myranda has a room of her own. It'll be opposite ours." She added. "Are you hungry Sansa?"
Sansa shook her head. "Not anymore."
"I'll have lemon cakes sent to our room shortly then in case you change your mind. Do you need to borrow my clothes?"
Sansa shook her head again. "I brought my own. Honestly Melia, I would wear black like the rest of you, but Mother insisted I wear the Arryn colours. Mother is under the impression that I am attending festivities rather than visiting an ailing relative." She sighed dismally.
"I understand. Your mother isn't here though." She eyed her gown. "It's a very beautiful dress. Was it a gift?"
"Not exactly. My mother ordered me more gowns than necessary." Truthfully Sansa enjoyed standing in front of the large mirror in new dresses sewn by the skilful fingers of the best seamstresses from the Vale. Sansa still sewed her own gowns, but for formal occasions – including the journey to Riverrun – her mother insisted for her to wear the prettier gowns. "It will show the world you are the eldest daughter of the late King's Hand," Mother had explained more than once in the Eyrie. "You are a noble lady of House Arryn; you cannot go to Riverrun in old, plain clothes like a minor lord's daughter." She sniffed. "By the time your siblings return, they'll be more Storm lord and lady than from the Vale. That is what your father would not have wanted."
"Melia! Melia!" A young girl of about four with ringlets of goldish-auburn hair raced towards them, her wide blue eyes sparkling with excitement. She stopped when she saw Sansa. "You are pretty," she said shyly.
"Thank you," said Sansa, smiling at her. "You are pretty too." The girl blushed and looked at Melia expectedly.
"Sansa, this is my youngest sister Elianor," said Melia fondly, patting the four year old on the head. "Last time you met her she was still being carried or started to tug Mother's skirts." Sansa crouched down until she was about Elianor Tully's height and said softly. "Hello Elianor. I am Sansa."
"Sansa," Elianor repeated slowly. Her sapphire blue eyes travelled to Sansa's lustrous locks of auburn hair. "Are you my sister too?" she said excitedly.
"I can pretend to be," Sansa offered. "I am your cousin."
"Cousin…why do you have red hair too?" Elianor sounded confused. "Melia has red hair, Hoster has red hair, Bryndon has red hair, Rosaline has red hair, I have red hair, Axel has red hair too and so does Papa. Grandpapa has white hair." She giggled. "I pretend it is snow."
"Sometimes cousins have the same hair colour too."
"Oh." She looked thoughtful. "Do you have brothers or sisters?"
Sansa nodded. "Two. A younger brother and a younger sister." A lump formed in her throat. At times she envied all the attention showered upon Sweetrobin or hated the inability to talk to Alyssa due to her young age; now she missed both of them greatly. She wanted to hear Sweetrobin's whining again; there was naught more she desired than to play with Alyssa.
"Are they here with you?"
Sansa shook her head. "They are far away. Very far away."
Elianor's lips quivered. "I don't want you to go away!" she burst out. "Axel said that highborn girls are all sent away when they grow up! I do not want to be left alone with the boys! They are mean to me! Please don't go away! You'll go away and be a mother, then Rosaline will too! Can you be like Aunt Malora? Mama says she still lives at home and is unmarried."
"We all have to marry and have children one day," said Melia, hugging her. "It will be years away. Years. What are our house words?"
"Family, Duty, Honour."
"Good girl. For the good of the family, we have to do our duty and marry lords Father chooses for us."
"Aunt Malora didn't marry."
"Aunt Malora isn't a Tully. Cousin Sansa's mama was a Tully. She married Lord Jon Arryn. Do you know who he was?"
"The Hand of the King before he died."
"Very good. Our aunt Lysa – Sansa's mama – was very lucky to marry the lord of a Great House who was also the King's Hand. You will be fortunate to marry a powerful lord too one day. You want Papa to be happy don't you? He will be very happy when you marry well."
"He will?"
"Yes dear Elianor. You are still little now. Go and play in the godswood. If Axel shows up and bothers you, tell him to go away. Can you do that?"
Elianor nodded and skipped away, waving goodbye to Melia and Sansa. Sansa smiled at her cousin. "You are good with children." Before Elianor could respond, Cousin Hoster ran up to them, his face bright with excitement. "Aunt Catelyn and the Blackfish are here!" he told them at once. "Father was worried they wouldn't be able to leave King's Landing, but they're here! Bryndon spotted the Baratheon standards a few minutes ago! Grandfather will be so happy to know Aunt Catelyn is here to see him!"
"That is brilliant!" exclaimed Melia. Sansa nodded in agreement. She could not wait to see Aunt Catelyn. The two of them had sent each other letters, but writing wasn't the same as speaking face to face. "There is more," added Cousin Hoster. "I was told by Bryndon that he spotted the Stark standards behind Aunt Catelyn's entourage. Why are the Starks here?"
"It sounds like they are heading to war," commented Melia. She looked rather thoughtful. "What if the Starks are here to visit Grandfather, but maybe…I don't know…maybe they want a little more?" She looked at him directly in the eye. "A familial connection between the North and the Riverlands perhaps. Maybe Lord Stark is finally pursuing a southron alliance and wants his second daughter Arya to be the next Lady of Riverrun?"
Cousin Hoster's mouth dropped open. "No! Melia! That is a terrible idea! Our grandfather is ill and this is no time to discuss new alliances!"
"Why else would the Starks come south then? When he was well, Grandfather said that for Starks to go south of the Neck, something significant has occurred or will occur. A strong alliance between the North and the south will be momentous do you not agree?" As Cousin Hoster and Melia bickered, Sansa turned and stared out the window. Uncle Edmure and Aunt Leyla stood in the courtyard, waiting to welcome the royal party.
For months, she remained in the Eyrie like an imprisoned lady in a tower from the songs. The first couple of weeks was interesting and the tranquillity was very welcoming. Serenity did not last long. Mother had forbidden her to befriend the servants, especially Mya Stone, a tall and strapping young woman with coal-black hair who was a guide on the treacherous, rocky climb from the Vale to the Eyrie. Randa was friends with her – Sansa wished she was too. When Sansa was not in her chambers, spending time with Mother or sewing and talking with Randa, she sat in the High Hall and listened to the Vale lords defend or object to her already-standing betrothal with Harrold Hardyng. Lady Waynwood was the staunchest supporter in favour of the betrothal (unsurprisingly as Harrold was her ward). It still puzzled Sansa why she was required to attend the meetings held in the High Hall every day. Sweetrobin was the Lord of the Eyrie, not her. Besides, her future was to wed Harrold and bear his heirs – what purpose would listening and giving advice be in her wedded life? Then again, Nestor Royce insisted. Perhaps all the Vale Lords felt more at ease with an Arryn in attendance.
The mood at Riverrun had instantly changed the moment Aunt Catelyn came into Melia and Sansa's chambers the next day with a grim expression and tears in her eyes. Words were not needed.
Both girls cried. Strangely Sansa felt more devastated at Grandfather Hoster's passing than her own father's. Then again, she spent more time at Riverrun with her grandfather than at court and the Eyrie combined with Father. As the Hand of the King, Father had always been occupied with the king's affairs. After a glum and solemn breakfast consisting of eggs, bacon and bread, Sansa followed Melia, the other Tullys and the Riverrun household and their guests to the Red Fork for Grandfather Hoster's funeral.
As two of Riverrun's guards sombrely placed Grandfather's body onto a boat, Sansa noticed someone had dressed him in his armour and wrapped a silk Tully cloak around him, clasped by a silver fish brooch. His fingers were moved to hold an old sword and a hunting horn laid at his side. As her mother's representative, Sansa stood between Aunt Catelyn and Cousin Hoster as a pale Uncle Edmure drew an arrow from a quiver, his hand shaking violently. Aunt Leyla stepped up to him and whispered in his ear. Apart from the river's bubbling whispers, it was silent. Even the birds do not sing. The captain of the guard, Ser Robin Ryger gently pushed the funeral boat into the waiting mouth of the quiet river. Uncle Edmure notched the arrow onto the bow and Great Uncle Blackfish, lit the arrow aflame. Sansa wiped away a tear as the flaming arrow zoomed through the air. The flame fizzed as the arrow landed in the river. Uncle Edmure tried again and again; both arrows landed in the river.
Wordlessly, the Blackfish took the bow and arrow from Edmure. He turned to Ser Robin who lit the arrow on fire. Zzzing! The arrow flew and lit the funeral sail aflame – it was a mere second before the boat disappeared downriver.
The year is now 299 AC. The next chapter is one I experimented with a Theon POV.
