Chapter XXIX: The Plan

"I'm going to kill the Queen."

That was what her sister said, eyes cold and vengeful.

"I'm going to kill Cersei Lannister."

The days after the wedding had went fast, and before long Daenerys and her Unsullied, along with Lord Tyrion, were to start marching for King's Landing, to take the Iron Throne from the Lannisters.

Jon had gracefully offered his men, but she had declined. Daenerys had more confidence in her Unsullied. She wanted to win this war alone. Herself.

Daenerys was proud. Prouder than Jon could possibly ever be. Sansa recognized it. She remembered seeing it in Cersei's eyes, and while Daenerys wasn't full of the evil that Cersei was Sansa hadn't failed to notice that her obsession with the Iron Throne was at par with the Lannister's.

Jon was King now, or he would be- of the Seven Kingdoms. There was no way Cersei would win, not with Daenerys' Unsullied and her dragons. Cersei held only King's Landing, and the Westerlands. But Jaime Lannister or the Mountain or any man was no match for a dragon. Cersei might as well have surrendered to Daenerys, but Sansa knew her better than that.

The party were to leave at dusk, and in the afternoon, Sansa found herself being pulled into Arya's room quite forcefully, and as her sister closed the door, she was face to face with Gendry Waters. The man was as surprised as her to be there, and bowed to Sansa as soon as she entered. Sansa didn't fail to notice the look that passed between him and Arya. He was telling her that he wasn't comfortable with Sansa there.

"I'm going to kill Cersei Lannister," Arya said.

Sansa looked at Gendry, the man she had no doubt was in love with her sister. It was evident. She knew a lovestruck man when she saw one. And Gendry had tried his best to hide it, Sansa would give him that, but it didn't work.

"It's too dangerous," he said.

He was worried. Sansa was too. But she knew when it was useless to argue with Arya, and this was the time. The look of determination on her sister's face was enough to convince her that no amount of persuasion or coercion would change her sister's mind. When it came to revenge, she wouldn't listen to anyone.

"I want to finish my list," she said. Sansa turned to Gendry again, and found nothing but worry in his face. He knew. About her list.

"She has to answer for her crimes." Arya's eyes were burning.

"When the Queen takes her hostage, she will," Gendry said.

"She needs to answer to a Stark." Arya said the last word with her head held high. "This is the last name on my list. The Mountain will die by Daenerys' hands. I do not care. But Cersei, Cersei is mine."

Sansa walked from her chair and took Arya's hand.

Cold and rough. That was what her sister felt like. What Winter had turned her into. Their father would never have let this happen to her. Arya was Ned Stark's favourite. Everyone knew it, even if it pained Sansa to say so.

Their father would have protected all of them. Her mother, Robb, Rickon, Winterfell. And he would have been alive, if not for Cersei.

"I want you to come home safe," she said.

"I will," Arya promised. "I will leave tonight, after Daenerys does. I want you to keep Jon busy. Only for a few hours. I'd be long gone by then."

Sansa nodded.

"Arya."

It was Gendry. He looked miserable. Arya looked at him, and Sansa suddenly felt like an intruder. Maybe Gendry couldn't say what he wanted to say because of her presence? His eyes were on hers too, and she could see. That look her parents used to give each other- Gendry looked at Arya the same.

Sansa felt a sharp pain in her chest.

It wasn't envy.

It was pity. For herself.

The more beautiful sister, they had called her. Her beauty meant nothing but leverage for her enemies, and she was all but a tool to be used.

Arya wasn't as beautiful as her. Arya wasn't as ladylike. But Arya was loved.

"Arya, don't do this," the man said again, almost begging.

"I will be fine, I promise," she said.

Gendry looked unsure, but he said nothing.

They were gone. The Queen, her dragons and her army.

Sansa walked through the hallways and before long, was out in the stables. The cold bit her face, and her teeth clattered, but she walked on, until she was infront of Arya. She heard a shadowcat howl in the distance, and it made her wary of Arya leaving at such an hour. The night has always been terrifying for men in the North, with wild creatures from shadowcats to wolves roaming in the wilderness.

A whimper brought her attention to the ground, and Sansa sighed in relief at seeing Nymeria. Of course, her sister was safe.

Arya had worn a rather large cloak that hid half of her face, and made it hard to recognize her. Needle was at her hip, and only Gods knew how many weapons underneath her clothes.

"Take food with you."

"I have coin," Arya said. "I'll buy at an inn."

"What if there are no inns?"

Arya sighed, and smiled softly.

"Then I'll call Nymeria and she'll hunt for me. Do not worry, Sansa, I'm used to travelling alone."

She had saddled her horse, then Arya's eyes went towards the smithy to their far right.

"He isn't here?" Sansa asked.

"He is not happy," Arya said. "He'll come around."

"I hope so." Sansa placed a kiss on her sister's cheek. "He loves you."

Arya only nodded. She didn't say that she did too.

"Stay saf-"

"You're not going anywhere."

Both of them turned abruptly to the voice. Sansa felt her blood run cold.

It was Jon. And Gendry.

Arya howled in rage, and got on her horse to leave.

"The gates are closed, Arya. It's no use."

Sansa could swear she had never heard Jon's voice so full of anger. He was seething. But so was Arya.

She ran towards them.

"You fucking traitor!" She screamed at Gendry, and punched him in the face. Sansa let out a horrified gasp, and it was Jon who pulled Arya off the man, but she started pushing him away too. Jon held her forcefully, but Arya kept resisting.

"Let me go!"

"To your death? No!" Jon roared.

"You are no one to stop me!"

Those words hurt him, she could see. But Jon wasn't letting go. Sansa begged him too, but one look from him, and she knew that he was more than outraged at her too, and she took a step back.

"How long do you think you can keep me like this?" Arya snapped.

Jon hoisted her up on his shoulder, all the while Arya was screaming and hitting him.

The next thing she knew he had pushed her inside his chamber, and locked the door behind them.

Gendry walked beside her.

"Why?" She asked.

"I'm sorry, M'lady," he said. Arya had bloodied his nose. "But this is better than her getting hurt."

Sansa heard their heated argument from outside.

And she felt guilt overcome her.