"So what will you do with her?" Maege asks her mother, Alysanne. They sit together in the solar at the New Castle, in White Harbour, some weeks after the fall of Winterfell. Sansa is imprisoned elsewhere in the castle, awaiting trial.

"Burn her in wildfire. That's what my men want," urges Ser Tristifer Botley, the highest ranking ironborn left alive. Maege sees her mother wince.

"She was a Queen and she is a Stark. If she has to die, then it will be done decently. Do you both understand? I'm not handing her over to her victims, either, Maege. You know they'd rape her and torture her to death. The Smallfolk would lose all respect for us if they knew that a woman of high birth could be treated in such a manner. Frankly, I'm astonished you could propose such a thing."

Maege accepts the rebuke. "I'm sorry Mother. I was livid when I saw what she did at Winterfell. I agree with you.

"She killed our Queen and her husband" retorts Ser Tristifer.

"She did. In battle. I held the utmost respect for Queen Yara, but Sansa could just as easily have died at the end of an ironborn sword or bolt or been burned by an incendiary. Rest assured, she will be placed on trial as we agreed. And, I will keep every vow of fealty I have made to House Greyjoy. Queen Yara's eldest, Roderick, will be crowned King in the North, and will take power on his sixteenth birthday. Now, I have summoned Lord Commander Snow from Castle Black, I fear that he hates his sister, but I consider it important that he should give us his opinion. He also has valuable evidence to give at her trial."

"What will you do with Jon Snow, give him a formal pardon? Neither his brother nor his sister ever did?", asks Maege.

"Of course they didn't. They always thought he'd be a threat to their crowns if he left the Wall. How little they know him. I'll give him a pardon if asks for one, but I suspect he doesn't want to be pardoned. By all accounts, he hates himself for what he did. He won't even take his own life; he views his very existence as a punishment. Now, Maege, go to Sansa, and inform her that she is to be tried. Be gentle about it."

Maege leaves the room, and descends to the courtyard. She walks to the tower where Sansa is held prisoner. The guards salute her, and she climbs the staircase to her chamber. "I am commanded to see the Lady Sansa, " she informs the guards, and one of them knocks, before opening the door. The chamber is comfortably furnished, spacious and clean. It has a view over the sea. Sansa sits facing her, wearing a long-sleaved purple gown, which hides the stump of her right arm. Her left leg is encased in plaster.

"My Lady " Maege curtseys before her.

"I believe the correct form of address is Your Grace" replies Sansa.

"Your reign is at an end, my Lady. But, my mother wishes you to be treated with every courtesy."

"Oh, spare me your mother's hypocrisy! You know and I know that I have been brought here to be butchered. Will it be in public, before a mob, or else a quiet murder one night? Telling the world that I caught a "chill" or "committed suicide"."

"You are to be placed on trial. If you are found guilty, it shall be for my mother to determine your fate, after discussion with the lords of the North. I promise that you will not suffer."

"You wanted me to handed over to my enemies to be torn to pieces"

"I spoke in anger. I apologise."

"Apology accepted. " Sansa sighs. "Not that it matters. Death will actually be a mercy. You die a heroine, or you live to be reviled. I should have died in Kings Landing, after Joffrey was poisoned. A terrible way to go, being burned at the stake, but I'd be remembered as a martyr now, in the North. Wine?" Maege nods. Sansa pours for them both, from a flagon placed on her desk. "I should not have insulted your mother. That was unjust. I am sorry. She has treated me well, as her prisoner. Better than I would ever have treated her. So, what are the charges against me?"

"Many charges of murder and enslavement. And...oathbreaking. " Sansa's eyebrows rise at that last.

"Oathbreaking? What oaths have I broken?...oh yes, I see. I'm sure I have my dear cousin Lord Snow to thank for that . I should have known that he'd want his pound of flesh at the end. Well, I can answer him at least. As to the other charges, would you please ask your mother to allow me access, under guard, to the castle library. There will be books that are relevant to my case. And, I need plenty of paper, and writing implements. "

"Of course, my Lady". Maege rises to leave. "I shall visit you each day, to see if there is anything you require."

"Maege," Sansa says softly, "I wanted to kill you, at Winterfell. I said many harsh things at the parley before the siege. Things that I regret saying. I would take them back if I could. There is so much that I regret in my life. Stay with me a while if you would. "

"I cut off your hand, my Lady, it's the least I can do." She sits back down on the chair facing Sansa.

"Your family will be the most powerful now, in the North. You will rule, after your mother?"

"Yes, though as head of House Mormont, not as Regent. In due course, Roderick Greyjoy will rule the North as King. "

Sansa winces, before falling silent for a while. Then, "At least, your family had the courage to declare against me openly. Most of the rest pretended loyalty, but turned on me, as soon as the battle was lost. There is no such thing as "Northern honour", Maege. Half the lords declared for Ramsay Bolton, before we brought them to heel. Tell your mother to remember that, and rule them with an iron hand, is my advice."

"I think you relied too much on the iron hand, my Lady."

Sansa ponders awhile, and they make small talk, before Maege bids her goodbye. Over the next month, they meet regularly, as she escorts Sansa to the castle library, where she works on her defence. A week before the trial begins , they are dining in Sansa's chambers.

"I have received word that my sister returned to Castle Black, and my daughter is now a ward of Braavos. Sadly, Lady Poole did not escape. She was a follower of the Seven. Would your mother be so kind as to ask the castle Septon to hold a memorial service for her? She was my oldest friend, as well as my Lady in Waiting."

"It's the least we can do."

"Would your mother allow my daughter to return to the North, if she wished? "

"Yes, if she took an oath of fealty to King Roderick. But, I think she's safest where she is for the time being. "

"I agree."

"Lord Commander Snow arrived today. Do you wish to see him."

"Never" she snaps. "I shall have to face him at trial, but our relationship ended years ago. "

"I think that's desperately sad. You and he fought to regain Winterfell from the Beast, and stood together against the Dead,"

"A vile woman came between us. She seduced him, corrupted him, made him throw away his destiny as ruler of the Seven Kingdoms. I forced him to do his duty, and he hated me for it".

She suspects Lord Snow has a very different tale to tell, but she does not venture that opinion. They spend the rest of the meal in companionable silence, watching as the Sun sets over the Sea.