Arya stares across the charred ruin of Wintertown, towards the Wolfswood. A light snow drifts gently down, settling on the fields that stretch out towards the forest. Somewhere out there, the mountain clans are marching towards the Palace. Somewhere out there, thousands of prisoners have been butchered on her sisters's orders. She feels nothing but horror for what her sister has become; yet she loves her still. Is this what Jon felt for his aunt at the end? She had applauded Jon for killing Daenerys, but could she kill Sansa to save innocent lives? No. Which makes me a hypocrite. Love is the death of duty, after all, but given the choice, I will always favour love over duty. No one is more accursed than the kinslayer, and we forced Jon to condemn himself. I helped to persuade him to the deed. He did what I could never do, and would never do, and he will hate himself for the rest of his life. Would Daenerys have been a good Queen, had they not driven a wedge between her and Jon, and between her and her advisors? She certainly could not have been worse than either my brother or my sister. That is a bitter truth to digest. Her family used the Dragon Queen to clear a path to power, and made themselves hated as a result. The Starks will go down in history more reviled than the Lannisters or Freys. Father, Mother, Robb died as heroes. The rest of us will die despised. Yet, I saw what Daenerys did to the people of Kings Landing. I heard her victory speech, and it chilled my blood. We were right to fear her

Her position is a curious one. She is technically a prisoner. The men she took with her from Castle Black still languish in the Palace dungeons. Yet, she has the run of the Palace, now, and could easily make her escape. Her sister is perfectly friendly towards her, and indeed seems almost happy. She knows that Sansa does not expect to survive the coming siege, but her sister is strangely serene. Does she even feel remorse for any of her acts? She doubts it. She watches as a small company of soldiers marches through the gates to the Palace. Even now, soldiers are rallying to her sister. Men who can expect no mercy from the new regime, mostly. But, not all. Despite everything, there are those who are still loyal to the Starks of Winterfell, and willing to die for them. She feels a wave of shame at the way their trust has been betrayed. She hears footsteps approaching. She turns to see Jeyne Poole, her sister's Lady in Waiting, and oldest friend. She has talked to her, sufficiently to suspect that she shares her feelings about Sansa's behaviour. Jeyne takes her hand, before speaking:

"Torrhens Square has surrendered, Arya. Yara Greyjoy will be here within a fortnight, the mountain clans within the week. And, there's more. The Prince Consort has been captured. I doubt if the enemy will show him mercy."

"I think he knew the risks he was running, when he married my sister. I barely know the man, but he bears his share of the blame for my sister's reign". Jeyne looks frightened.

"I will speak frankly now, Jeyne. My sister has ruled the North as a tyrant, and her rule has almost come to an end. We may have had worse monarchs in the past, but not many. You don't need to say anything, just listen to me."

"Even just listening can be deemed subversion. People have been sent to the camps for less."

"The camps will have fallen to the enemy by now. I hate to imagine what they found there." She sees Jeyne wince. She knows.

"When the castle falls, " comments Jeyne, "they'll hang me along with the others. Perhaps they'll do other things, as well. Everyone knows what happens to the women, when a fortress is taken by storm, " she adds, grimly.

"I don't think Yara would execute women." Jeyne shakes her head. "I'm her oldest friend. I've grown rich as a result of that friendship. They might spare the Queen, but they'll want scapegoats. "

"You could escape?"

"Where to? No, I've asked Maester Wolkan for a vial of wolfsbane. THAT is my escape route."

"Don't throw your life away, Jeyne. We may still get away from this."

A servant approaches them. "Lady Arya, Lady Jeyne, the Queen's Grace requires the presence of you both." The servant leads them to the Queen's study, where she is discussing the progress of the war with Beria, and a couple of her commanders.

"White Harbour still holds firm for your Grace, and can be resupplied from the Sea" she hears Beria say, as they enter. "The Iron Fleet is concentrated on the West coast. "

"Not forever, I should think."

"It would take them months to blockade the East. "

"Arya, Jeyne, how good to see you" the Queen greets them warmly. "As you know, we will shortly stand siege. I have reached a decision, regarding the Princess Catelyn. I shall send her to White Harbour, with an escort of two score riders. You are to accompany them. You will keep her safe, and in so doing, will spare yourselves the dangers of a siege. She is betrothed to young Manderly in any event. I have no objection to the wedding being performed on her arrival."

"You're not sending her to Castle Black, then?"

"Place my daughter in the hands of a traitor? Gods no!" she replies. "What would stop him from selling her to Yara Greyjoy?"

Arya goes cold with anger and hisses "You truly imagine Jon would do that?"

"He hates me, Arya. What better way to strike against me. You may leave for White Harbour, with my daughter, or you may wait here until the end, and take your chances. The choice is yours. The party will leave in the morning."

"And my men?"

"Ah now, you can't expect me to let them accompany you. Once I have a raven confirming your safe arrival at White Harbour, then I shall release your men. Even if we're under siege by then, no harm will come to men of the Nights Watch."

Cunning devil! But what choice does she leave me? "You leave me no option".

"Good. I'm doing you both a favour, if only you can see it."

She glances at Jeyne. The relief on her face is palpable. Perhaps there is some merit to this idea, after all. However strong White Harbour is, why should the Manderlys persist in a lost cause? Then, she remembers, the Manderlys are the one family in the North whose loyalty to the Starks, any of the Starks, is unwavering. They will stand by Sansa to the bitter end. She has chosen well.

Sansa is waiting for her, as she prepares to leave, the following dawn. They all wear thick furs against the cold. " A word, Arya, before you leave. " They draw apart from the others. "I know that I've given you ample cause to hate me. I won't ask you for your forgiveness. You have no reason to forgive me. I simply wanted to say goodbye to you, for the last time. We shan't meet again. " There is a pause, then " Do you remember, how we feasted, after the victory over the Dead? How, we all sang your praises for slaying the Night King? Even the Dragon Queen did. " She smiles wistfully, remembering those times. "You'll hear of my death, before long. The world will rejoice at the news. But, if you can, try to remember the times when the pack was united, before everything fell apart. "

Arya rides away in tears, wondering how her sister will now spend her last days on earth.