A Wolf with a coat of Darkness – chapter 9

I do not own ASoIF/GoT or Warcaft/WoW

Rated M for everything wrong with the Cult of the Damned and the Scourge (including but not limited to cannibalism, human experimentation, murder, rape, slavery, torture, sadism)

The two spent most of the day where they had appeared.

Sansa and Myranda enjoyed the forest, the freedom, the freshness. Ditching their cloaks, they played and played and played. Chasing each other, hiding, seeking, wrestling, tickling. They even tried to climb a tree, though with little success. Their tiny puppy was jumping up and down as much as they were, not really understanding their happiness, but playing with them nonetheless.

When hunger made itself known, the found a wild apple tree not far away. The apples were small and half of them were sour, but it put something in their bellies. As they lay on the ground in what they imagined to be the afternoon, the two could not have been happier. Even as they lay there, hours after they had arrived wherever they were, the two still had smiles on their faces, their eyes closed in content.

As the sun no longer made its way through the treetops, the two reattached their cloaks and got up. Setting to organizing the mess that were the two chests and the items that were on them, Sansa wondered just how were they to drag them anywhere. Thankfully, Myranda suggested having the knight simply carry them. And so, the two chests were stacked on one-another, what few items outside remained going on top with Sansa and Myranda taking their staff and dagger.

Unsure where to go, they decided to head downhill, for at least it would be easier. As they walked in silence, the screech of metal and the crash from the footsteps of the giant was the only sound. A sound that oddly, despite sounding terrible, both found soothing. Sir Boo constantly ran away in search of something, Sansa having to call him back every so often while Myranda walked next to her, her head deep in a spell book, flipping through. The little one was trying to find some spell that might be useful to them. A locator, a sensory… a map spell, if such a thing existed. Anything. And she found nothing. There were at least another twelve spell books in the chests, so not all hope was lost, but the light of the day was disappearing.

They did reach a creek shortly before the sun disappeared. The two decided to set up camp for the night there with Myranda setting herself to starting the fire while Sansa decided to attempt to catch fish. The smaller necromancer was far, far more successful, using their giant to help gather wood and in the end, using simple fire spell to set it alight. When she did, Sansa had not caught even a single fish.

The red-head had waddled into the water until it almost reached her knees and then she attempted to catch fish. With her bare hands. Once, twice, thrice. On the fourth time, she slipped and fell into the water, drenching herself cold. As laughter from the shore reached her senses, anger overwhelmed her. She rose again to her feet and with a fireball in her left hand to provide light, she started blasting ice spikes into the water with her right.

Spike after spike flew, most missing their mark, serving only to kick up more water and drench her further. In the end, she had one fish and two halves, an unfortunate fish having gotten bisected by a larger than intended spike.

As they waited for the fish to cook and for Sansa's clothes to dry, Myranda asked a question that Sansa was dreading.

"Now what?"

"Hmm?"

"What are we doing now?"

"We are trying to find where we are."

"I meant after that. After we know where we are. I would imagine we are in your world…somewhere."

"We go h-" Sansa cut herself off. Were they really going to go to Winterfel. She imagined how that would go in her head. 'Hello, I am Sansa. I know I disappeared for some time, but I am back. Oh? Where was I? Oh, you know, joined a cult, became a necromancer. By the way, this is Myranda, also a necromancer, Sir Boo, an undead puppy and this is our creation, a skull controlling an armor.' The girl wondered just what really to do, never having thought about it. Would they accept her? What if she hid her powers? Yes, that sounded like a good plan.

"We go to Winterfel." She finally said. "Just so you know… this world, my world, does not have magic." Myranda responded with widening of her eyes. Sansa had spoken plenty of her home, but had never mentioned this detail.

"No magic, let alone…people like us." 'Necromancers'

"So what? We should not used it? Hide it and pretend we don't have it?" asked Myranda in an outburst. "YOU just used magic to catch a fish. We are nothing without it! I will not go back to been a weak child!" Sansa bowed and averted her head, not wanting to meet her friend's gaze. She was right, ofcourse. The way they obtained this power was wrong, but it was a part of them, now. It was theirs. And the red-head would be lying if she said she did not feel more confident because of her magic. But Myranda was not done. She had picked up sir Boo and was now almost shoving it into Sansa's face.

"Look at him! Should we hide him? Is he evil?!" only for the puppy to lick the redhead's cheek. Reaching out to pet the dog, Sansa looked at her friend with sad eyes.

"This is…this is not what I…In this world…" she sighed and tried to gather her thoughts. "There is no magic in this world and I have…heard of people in the south…of people in the south burning witches."

Scoffing, Myranda stood defiantly.

"They can try! I, we faced worse than a few peasants"

"They won't be a few… we will get overwhelmed…" Sansa got up and approached the girl. Reaching out, she stroked her brown hair before pulling a few strands back and caressing her cheek, Myranda looking up at her, her expression softening.

"I don't want to see you burn." the shorter girl's hand reached up to grasp the hand on her cheek, squeezing it in comfort.

"You won't." she said softly.

"But we must be careful." Said Sansa, Myranda nodding her head.

"Though, if things do go bad… we have out brave protectors!" Smiled Myranda, the dog still in her arms somehow feeling that they were speaking of him, letting out a bark.

"Oh, yes, who can stand against the might and valor of Sir Boo." Laughed Sansa. "Come on, I think the fish started to burn."

They headed downstream the next day, Myranda reasoning that her home village was on a river and thus most villages should be too. The travel was peaceful, the sound of gently rushing water next to them relaxing. For a moment in looked like rain, but nothing came of it, though the sky remained dark and gloomy.

By early evening, the surrounding forest started to give way to open plains and not long after, to tended farmland. Finding a dirt path afterword was not difficult and after barely a few minutes on it, they saw it. A simple village, one hill over from where they were. As they approached, Sansa could see the white building of the sept, the only stone structure in the whole village. Her mind briefly wondered to the gods and her place in their eyes before the, by now, usual metal screech and thump from the giant behind her gave her pause.

Stopping on the road and looking back to the giant, she scrutinized him. Was it really wise to enter the village with him in tow? Although, it was not exactly as if they had any place to hide him. Swallowing hard, she shared a look with Myranda before continuing on. As they entered the village, Myranda took the dog within her hands, for despite appearing normal from afar, it still had glowing blue eyes and was cold to the touch.

The streets were almost empty, the houses basic. Few houses had more than one window and fewer still had a second floor to them. With the sun going down, they saw lights in most of the windows, people getting home for the night.

Laughter was coming from one of the few better off houses. 'An inn' Sansa thought in delight. An inn meant information, food, warmth, bath and a bed. Turning their stride towards it, they passed next to the empty stables, both girls silently deciding that it would be best for their companion to wait there, along with all their stuff. Before leaving, the two froze the locks of their chests, making sure no one had seen them do it. The ice will not hold till morning, but there was still their knight to guard them. Instructing him what to do with their mind, the two entered.

The inside smelled of mud and sweat. An unlit firepit stood in the middle, large enough that boars would have been easily rolling on a spit, but instead it remained empty. All the people inside turned to them when they entered, silence befalling the room. All of patrons were men, the youngest of them easily in his early forties. While the bar was mostly full, they approached the only empty spot, in between all the people. Sansa could feel all their eyes tracking her, could feel her exposed thighs heat up and could feel… magic dance along her fingertips.

Somehow, she was not afraid. She was aware of everyone in the room, of how their eyes wandered, but fear? Fear was absent.

"What can I do for you, misses?" crooked out the barkeep, a middle-aged man with a bald head and beard on the sides of his cheek.

"A room, a bath, food… and two beers."

"And I hope you can pay for this?"

For her answer, Sansa placed two silver coins on the counter, the white metal gleaming in the candlelight. "Oh, and our friend will be staying at your stables. He is too large to fit inside."

"Hah, she calls her horse a friend!" roared in laughter a man from one of the tables in the corner, the rest joining.

"Oh, he is a knight." The man spat his beer and looked at them in disbelief.

"Oh, yes, and me mother be a dragon!"

"Go and look if you do not belief us!" cried out Myranda, her features in a frown, clutching sir Boo to her chest.

"Oh, I think I just might!" he said, getting up, his eyes wide. "And then you will see what we do to liars around here, missy!" he said coming to stand before her, prompting Boo to grow. The man only smirked before exiting the inn. Everyone followed with their eyes as he went outside. One step. Two steps. His head was turning to the left. And then he froze.

With her mind, Sansa had commanded the knight to turn towards the man and stand up to his full height. Both girls barely suppressed their grins as he ran back inside, his eyes wide as the man started to bow and apologies.
" 'Pologies, Mi'ladies, apologies. Please forgive this old fool." The reality of it began to dawn on everyone as they too began to bow.

"Enough. We just want a room, a bath, food and some beer." Said Sansa "As we already said."

"Ofcourse, mi'ladies." Shakily said the innkeeper before taking the two silver coins. As he examined them, he paused.

"Though…"

"Is there a problem?" questioned Sansa, stepping forth, the previous gap with no people on the bar expanding before her.

"No! No! Its' just…these coins."

Remembering that they were actually coins from Lordaeron and not Westeros, Sansa quickly lied.

"They are from Essoss. I can understand if they hold no value to you as coins, but they are silver."

"No, no, it is all fine, milady." mumbled the man as he kept on examining the coins. "Pick a table wherever you like, I will bring the food shortly. King Terenas Menetil…"

Without wasting time, the two moved to a table by the large window. Not long after, the barkeep came with two large pints, a plate of cheese, smoked ham and a large loaf of bread. The man mumbled pleasantries under his nose, refusing to meet their eyes. As he turned to leave, Sansa stopped him.

"Pardon me, good sir, but we have been away for a while. And unfortunately, our knight is not the best of guides and thus, we are lost." The red-head smoothly lied. "Would you kindly let us know where we are and the way to King's landing?" she considered asking for the way to Winterfel, but a strange sense of paranoia stopped her. Winterfel was too specific, where as King's Landing would have been a more common goal for travelers.

"You are at Haling Grove, Mi'ladies. Our village is half a day's walk from King's Landing. Just take the north road and not long after, you will be on the King's road."

'So, we are south of King's Landing.' Mussed Sansa, relaxing within her chair. It felt good, knowing just where they were exactly.

"Though if you are looking for the king, he left for Winterfel." The girl stiffened in her seat, the relaxation been short-lived.

"Wha-Why?" she managed to ask, confused.

"Oh, you didn't hear? Lord Arryn, the lord Hand, died several moons ago. The king is riding for Winterfel to ask the lord Stark to be his new one!"

Sansa's head fell down, thoughts fighting for supremacy within her mind. 'The king, Winterfel, Father, King's Landing, Lord Arryn dead.' She was gone for so little time, yet everything was already different. 'Father would accept, you cannot refuse the king.' She mused, but Hand? Her father? To become the second most powerful man? The girl considered pulling her hair as her frustration mounted. Now what? What was she to do? Her family would be split. Just the thought caused pain to shoot through her.

'No, no, this is not how it is supposed to be! Everyone should be home, waiting for me! There should be a crackling fire, snow outside and a soft, fur-covered bed!'

"Just…How long ago did the King… leave?" she finally managed to ask. The man straightened and pondered for a moment.

"Hmm, I am unsure. We received word that he left two months ago." Sansa nodded her thanks to the man before turning to her meal. Almost without looking, she took the pint in her hands and drank from it, lost in thought.

"Now what?" asked Myranda after some time, her mouth full with a slice of cheese.

"I-I don't know. I want to return to my family, but now it will be split… Father won't refuse." She shook her head, thinking out loud. "Him and the king are childhood friends. Two months…" 'Not long after I arrived to the cult.'

"How long it is to Winterfel?"

"Honestly, I don't know. I was never good with maps. All I know is that the North is larger than all of the other kingdoms, combined."

"Two months is a lot of time." Pointed out Myranda

"Yes…Yes, it is. They should be coming back already." Half asked, half stated Sansa.

"…So?" expectingly asked the little one.

"So…so…So we go to King's Landing and wait for father there."

Myranda only nodded. Given their current location, they would have gone to the capital anyway on their path north. A part of Sansa rejoiced at the information. She suspected that they were far from Winterfel and as such, expected to not see her family for some time still. But now, her father was practically riding towards her.

That night, snuggled between the blankets after a much-needed bath, all of her conflicting thoughts left her with only one remaining. 'I will see father soon.'

The next day the girls allowed themselves the luxury to laze around the beds till late in the morning. They were safe, they knew where they were, they had time. For that single moment, everything was calm even as the sound of village activity kept them from returning to sleep. Seriously, why did these people shout so much?

Getting redressed, the two made their way down, hoping to catch some breakfast and be on their way. Sansa was excited. She had always dreamed of the big city and despite her dark experience the past few months, she found herself looking forward to reaching the shining capital. As the two feasted on scrambled eggs and sausages, a rough, armed man entered the inn with a bang.

"Mornin' , Tom!" he announced loudly, leaving the front door open.

Without a care, the man walked over to the bar and sat down before producing a flask, handing it over to the innkeeper, the now named Tom looking visibly pale even in the dim light of the inn.

"And put in some of the good stuff! None of that shite you sell up front!"

The man swung around on the bar stool and Sansa felt him eyeing her up, the red-head actively trying to ignore the unpleasant feeling as well as his gaze. Just as he was about to hop of the bar and possibly go to them, Tom returned with the flask and a pouch.

The visitor tossed the pouch a few times in his hand before frowning. Opening it, he spread the contents, coins, over the counter.

"Tell me, Tom, am I blind?" the innkeeper only shook his head.

"Then why do I see only twenty puny coins? Some of these are not even proper coins!"

"Business has been slow-"

"Don't bullshit me! You are late on your last security deposit and now this? I saw the fancy knight outside! Nobles are staying here, Tommy-boy. Nobles!"

"This is all, I-I swear!" Tom trembled.

"Have the rest by nightfall." The man got up to leave before pausing at the door. "I saw your wife and daughter on the way here, tending to the fields. We do need a serving girl at the keep. Only one, though. Only one" And with that, he exited, shutting the door behind with a bang.

Tom visibly slumped, almost collapsing on the bar, clutching his face with his hands.

"What was all that?" asked Sansa, approaching the bar, Myranda next to her.

"Nothin' miladies, nothing. No need to worry yourself." The man mumbled, refusing to meet their eyes. Sansa prickled, getting annoyed more than anything.

"I asked you something." She put on her most noble, annoyed voice she could muster. The man visibly stiffened before answering after a pause.

"Bandits. Thugs. They prey on lone travelers and extort the surrounding lands."

"Bandits? This close to King's Landing?"

"We are a backwater, forgotten village. We are not on the main road."

"Still. Surely the king-"

"The king." The man spat "The previous lord has been dead since before I was born! And his empty keep is now home to them."

"Why didn't you petition the king or the court?" Sansa pressed, disbelieving of the situation.

"They pay someone in King's Landing to cover everything up. We would never be allowed to make our appeal and after that… Just…Just leave us alone. Go back to your lives, miladies" this time, the noble address was not with reverence or respect, but rather spat out with hate.

The two girls shared a look as Tom turned away and went to a back room. In silence, the two exited. As they turned to the knight and Sansa was about to order him to pick the chests up, Myranda spoke.

"We can help them, you know."

"What?"

"I mean, we have him, don't we?" Myranda gestured to the still sitting form of the knight within the stables.

"Surely you don't mean that? We are not fighters. We barely-" Sansa stopped herself and leaned in, continuing in a whisper. "We barely escaped the cult and you want to jump back into a battle?"

"We cannot leave them!" hotly responded the brown-haired girl. "You heard what that man said. Prove to them…and me that you are not like the other nobles."

Sansa's expression softened. She reached out and grasped Myranda's cheek, gently stroking it. They had not really spoked about this, how Myranda was technically a peasant girl where as Sansa was high born.

"I-I am not brave enough." Mumbled Sansa, averting her head.

"Together, then?" pressed on the little one, feeling victory close.

"This will mean more killing. You know that, don't you?" Asked the red-head. With grim determination, Myranda responded:

"This time, it will be right."

Out of one mess and into another.

G.R.R.M is really vague with his timelines. Robert's journey to and from Winterfel is between two and four months or at least, these are the most common estimates I was able to find.

Thank you for reading.