warning: Not my favourite chapter. In fact, Sansa's pov is not my strongest.

Muted tones and half-tones, barbarians watch me quiet like...
Okay, I think I understand, rebellion is a chore, under these circumstances misguided...
Turn insights into action, buck up, deliver on a scale of new dimensions.
Expand the box, kill the feeling... now survey what's left.

from Barbarians by Billy Corgan

Sansa

ยง

She'd been able to keep herself in check the moment Jon had scolded her. It hadn't actually been that bad, but it was the first he'd reprimanded her publicly and she felt the hard sting of it. She was overreacting she knew it, he'd only said her name strongly, but she couldn't avoid it. He'd asked for her help, and when she'd given it, he didn't seem to want it. That wasn't true either, he'd used her advice, he only wanted her to say it more kindly. That seemed reasonable, so why had she been so angry when he'd said so?

"Is something wrong my lady?"

Brienne was walking beside her, and seemed to sense her inner turmoil, but she said nothing, not until they reached her chambers and she'd closed the door behind them.

"You saw what happened... how can I advise him if he will not listen?"

"But my lady," She began, her voice uncertain, "He did listen."

She moved over to her bed and sat forcefully before answering, "Yes he did."

She didn't know how to explain, for she did not know herself exactly.

"I trust my brother," She said then, more to herself than to Brienne.

"I only wish..." Her voice trailed off as she considered what she truly wanted.

Brienne opened her mouth to speak, but she shook her head and the lady remained quiet.

'He listened more', that was not it, and besides, it was obvious he was trying.

'He was not so kind', she had thought he needed to be tougher, but as she was around when people came to see him, she realized his humility only endeared them to him more, so that was not it either.

'I was Queen,' occasionally this thought nagged at the corner of her mind, but when she finally said it to herself she realized, no she did not want to be queen, nobility was where it belonged, with Jon.

He only needed to be more careful. Finally, she had figured it out.

"I only wish," she repeated aloud, "He wasn't so trusting."

And that was it. She'd spent so much time in King's landing with the Lannisters, and the Vale with Littlefinger, she saw what trust got you. Jon was everything her father had been, and he'd lost his head for being who he was. She realized now that she'd played her part in her father's death, and it was clear she was trying hard, perhaps too hard, to protect Jon from the same fate.

At Brienne's expression, she continued, "There are awful people in the world, Brienne. I have seen and endured some of it myself, the things they do for power, money, greed or for cruelty itself. Jon is good, like my father, and I worry..."

"Your brother the King has endured it as well and suffered the same fate if what they say is true, and he survived a lost battle with barely more than a wound to the leg. I cannot say I'm a great judge of character, but from what i've seen, King Jon's men are loyal to him, as you are my lady."

It was obvious Brienne wished to say more, but she kept her mouth shut, and only bowed to excuse herself.

"You can say it Lady Brienne. Everyone except Lord Baelish."

The tall blonde nodded but did not speak. He'd saved her brother with his knights of the Vale, but now they were indebted to him, and she had the feeling that he did not let debts slide by. Jon had said so himself, dealing with Littlefinger was up to her. He'd betrayed her father, and she would find the way to make him pay.

"You and I will find a way to outsmart the mockingbird, if we do not, no one will try and stop him until it is too late."