Game of Thrones

Long Road Home

Chapter VII

"There's two to save"

All castles should look like this, and all Knights like Ser Loras, she had believed this once. She was certain of it, as firm as her beliefs in the Gods, old and new. As Ser Loras led her through the endless courtyards, past fountains and exotic flowers she allowed herself to smile. She had never been to Highgarden, yet this place was familiar to her, alive and vibrant. Of course it was, for she had lived there in her mind, in every daydream, in every wish she had when she was a girl. She had studied every painting, every tapestry, every mosaic and engraving. She had read every story, recited every poem, sung every song. This place was as close to reality as anything to her. Lady barked, bringing her back to her senses.

"There's two to save." The woman's voice echoed in her mind. The witch.

Ser Loras led her to an ornate garden, where a table had been laid, the smell of jasmine and lavender hung in the air. "Grandmother, sister." Ser Loras announced "Sansa of House Stark. The Queen in the North."

"Oh come now Loras." Margarey Tyrell rose from the table and hurried to greet her "Must we be so formal? Come Sansa, sit with us. I told you that you would love Highgarden."

"It's truly beautiful." Sansa took in her surroundings.

"As are you.' Margarey told her as she touched her crown "A Queen now. And you didn't even have to marry Joffrey."

Sansa allowed herself to laugh a little.

"Yes very good." Olena Tyrell spoke up dryly "Queen Margarey, Queen Sansa, Queen of Thorns… we're all queens here. For all the good it's done us."

"Grandmother." Margery chastised her.

"Never mind all that." Olena waved her off, before she reached out across the table and took Sansa's hand "What are you doing here child? You do not belong here with us. This is not your time."

"I can't get home." Sansa swallowed hard "I'm forgetting the way."

"You'll remember." Margarey placed a hand on her shoulder. "Just think. Think where you need to be."

"There's two to save." The woman's voice repeated again, as the empty sky above Highgarden tore itself open again. A woman with dark eyes and plants woven into her hair dominated the skyline, looking down at them, a Maester busy in the background. As quickly as it was there, the sky healed itself.

Margarey and Olena shared a glance "Well, there's something you don't see every day." The young Queen raised her eyebrows.

"Maesters." Olena spat "More trouble than they are worth. I take it that one's yours? "

"I think so." Sansa nodded slowly as Lady barked.

"Well at least you have the sense to have a woman there as well. She looked interesting."

"I think she's a witch." Sansa nodded

"How very exciting." Margery grinned, "I'd say she has a better chance of getting you out of this place than your maester."

"This place…" Sansa trailed off "So I am dead… this is the afterlife. Littlefinger said I was just losing my mind."

"And why would you listen to Littlefinger?" Olena shook her head.

"You did." Sansa spoke back "You worked with him to kill Joffrey."

"A means to an end dear." She shrugged "Sorry for involving you in all that. But you do not belong here Sansa."

"Your witch said there were two to save." Margarey spoke up "What do you think she meant by that?"

"I'm not sure." Sansa shook her head "Littlefinger said he'd help us both, I'm not sure what he meant by that."

"Are you two really that dense?" Olena shook her head. "Gods help us, anyway we don't have time for this, you need to get home. It is not your time Sansa."

"I told you, I don't know the way."

"Follow that beast of yours." Olena pointed to Lady.

"She's led me here." Sansa smiled as she patted Lady on the head.

"I see the Greyjoy boy who brought you here is gone, very well, Loras!" Olena rang a small bell, and the Knight of Flowers appeared. "Let's see if you're good for anything other than hitting people off of horses. Queen Sansa needs to go home, you will escort her. Winterfell is North, even you can find that."

"I would be honoured to serve you Queen Sansa. I will take you home."

Sansa looked at Lady who cooked her head. "I am grateful. But I fear it does not work like that."

"Nonsense." Olena dismissed her "It would be remiss of us to…." Lady Olena was silent. She just sat there perfectly still and peaceful.

"Grandmother." Margery touched her arm before turning to Loras, her eyes widened, his flowing golden locks were gone, and a bloody star was carving itself into his forehead. "Loras…" Margery whispered before swallowing hard and nodding in realisation. She looked at Sansa "If I remember correctly, I'm not going to like the next part."

"Margaery…" Sansa reached out a hand

"Find your way ho…" Sansa watched as the Tyrells were consumed by an eerie green flame, both beautiful and terrifying. It was over in seconds, as only piles of ash and bone remained on the marble floor.

She let out a gasp as she rose from the table and darted away from her chair, Lady at her heels. The smell was sickening, their screams had only lasted a second but it rang in her ears. She no longer wanted to be in this beautiful place. She found herself running, running hard. She headed for a door, gilded in gold, surrounded by bronze statues and plants from across the known world. She ran hard across the polished marble floor, Lady at her heels barking. She threw herself against the shining golden doors and burst through.

…..

A heavy iron door slammed shut behind her. She looked around as Lady barked. They were in a courtyard again, but a very different one. There was no gleaming marble or polished bronze. There was no shining gold or bountiful plant life. No. Now she stood in a dark and damp place, the drizzle had returned, the stone seemed to drink in the light. Putrid puddles collected on the floor, as flaming torches burned, held in place by sconces resembling skeletal arms. She breathed heavily, in and out as she looked around the place. Lady began to growl.

"Lady Sansa." A cold voice greeted her. She turned to see a stern man with cold grey eyes staring a hole through her.

"Lord Bolton." She replied coldly as she laid eyes on her once father by law.

"Welcome to The Dreadfort."

"There's two to save."