Daenerys' eyes widened as she stepped forward behind Sansa.
"This is the great atrium. We have smaller ones out back leading to the gardens with the woods just behind but this is just the beginning." Sansa grinned.
"Beginning? The drawbridge we drove under wasn't the beginning of this Manor?"
Sansa shook her head. "No. Well, technically it is. It has secret doors to the towers surrounding but - did you see the wolves carved on either side?"
"They were beautiful, yes. So, the drawbridge?"
Sansa laughed. "The drawbridge is the drawbridge. We drive under it, it serves as protection. It's a shield. But this atrium is the start of our beautiful home."
Dany frowned. "But the rooms all around going from the drawbridge and the stables and dogs quarters?"
"The staff quarters. The dogs quarters and stables are there for double security reasons."
Sansa led Dany further in, entering into a large drawing room. Her breath hitched when her eyes fell upon a large portrait painting above the fireplace.
"Your family?" Dany asked softly.
"Yes. My mother insisted we had one done after Robb got married. I had been drunk, celebrated my friend's birthday the night before. Jon and Robb were sleep deprived because their shifts ran over. Rickon had a broken finger from Karate and Bran and Arya came back from their respective school trips. I remember my father begging my mother to do it the following day but we had news that Robb and his wife were expecting and their first doctor's appointment was the following day. You see, the photographer's hard to get. He's eccentric."
Dany glanced at Sansa's whose eyes were watering. She quickly walked off, prompting the redhead to follow her into the kitchen.
"I have so many memories here..." Sansa laughed. "Jon's amazing pancakes, Robb's mean fish cakes... My mother always handmade our birthday cakes and she was an expert at it, I was surprised she didn't own a bakery. Oh, I mustn't forget Dad's lasagne!" Sansa looked through the cupboards and stumbled across a vintage wine bottle.
"Ooh! What's that?" Dany asked with a small smile.
Sansa waved it. "Westeros Wine. The most expensive wine in the whole of the North and West!"
"Can we crack it open?"
"I don't think so. I'd rather save it for Arry's birthday."
Dany nodded. "Okay. Well, come on! We still have your room to raid! I haven't got anything to wear and you are so borrowing me your best dress."
Sansa playfully rolled her eyes, returning the bottle to its rightful place before leading Daenerys upstairs and upstairs again.
"My room was on the third floor. Jon's was in one of the towers and so was Bran's room. They wanted to have their privacy to do what they needed to do and Jon wanted to avoid my mother at all costs. I remember Robb, Rickon and Arya being on the second floor although Rickon spent more time in his Martial Arts gym and Arya in her 'creative' studio." She explained.
"Did any of you spend time in your actual bedrooms?"
Sansa chuckled. "Not really. Winterfell Manor is a really big home. We tended to spread around whenever it was all eight of us around. Although Robb and I tended to stay in our own bedrooms."
She walked down the left side of the halls before turning left again when she reached the end of the hallway. She stopped just a couple of metres ahead before a large wooden and steel door.
"Really brings in the rustic and 'homely' feel in, doesn't it?" Dany joked.
Sansa smiled a little. "It does. I asked for it when I was twelve. Robb and Jon made fun of me, said I was too 'girly' so I had this personally constructed to retaliate. They were seventeen, I was too 'girly' to argue back. Mother always said to turn the other cheek, she was devout in her religion."
Daenerys placed a hand on the steel handle, a face of a ginger wolf carved into it. "Beautiful."
Sansa nodded, replacing Dany's hand with her own as she lifted the handle and twisted it, hearing the gears slide around before pushing the door forward with her other hand.
"Wow."
Sansa's heart leapt.
The sight of gold and red all around her. It looked different than when she left home.
Her four poster Californian king-sized bed was still standing proudly at the centre of the bedroom. a thin sheet of dust laying on top of her bed dressings and linings.
Sansa turned to her gold-plated vanity set, her chair slid a little further away from the table as she remembered the day she and her little siblings were rushed out of their home.
"Sansa...?"
"Do you know what I was doing the day they kicked us out and we ended up at Jon's?"
Dany shook her head.
Sansa clicked her tongue and headed to her vanity desk, sitting on the chair. "Writing 'thank you for your condolences' letters to each and every one who came and were unable to come to the funerals. The door opened and Alys Karstark, the daughter of my father's good friend Rickard, came in. She broke down when she told me that she was here to escort me off the premises. She said she'd rather it be their family rather than the brutal strangers they had lined up outside. She helped me and Arya carry Bran downstairs to meet Jon."
She picked up a discarded printed letter with silver lettering saying 'Thank You Very Much For Your Condolences'. Opening it up, she saw it was addressed to the Manderly family, close friends of the Boltons.
She quickly scrunched it up and chucked it in the bin.
"You'd think they'd clean a little, right? Before our impending return." She laughed lightly. "I'd hate to think that there are spiders and other cretins in Bran's room and Arya's. Jon's still undecided, I believe but his room's here if he wants it. He gets along with every animal and insect in the world so the cleaners won't have to worry about his room."
"Technically, spiders are arachnids." Dany smiled softly.
Sansa turned to her. "Okay, brainy-pots." She smiled back.
There was a loud bang on the door, making the females jump and turn around.
"Hodor!" Sansa gasped happily, rushing into his arms. "How are you, it's been ages!"
Hodor gave her a sad smile, nodding. "Bran?"
Sansa smiled. "He's coming home very soon, Wylis." She turned to Daenerys. "Meet my good friend and Jon's girlfriend, Daenerys Targaryen. Dany, meet Wylis, our stable-man. We call him Hodor because, well... He suffered a concussion after my horse ran him over. He wasn't the same and he kept saying 'Hodor' after. None of us knew what it meant but he's getting there now with new words."
Dany frowned. "Could he have been saying, 'hold the door'?"
Sansa's eyebrows furrowed. "How did you...?"
"I'm a doctor. I'm observant in all different ways. Well, could he?"
They both turned to Hodor whose eyes widened in remembrance. It wasn't until he nodded in confirmation, realisation also dawned on Sansa.
"Peppa was going really fast and Jon and Robb were by the stable doors whilst Hodor was inside. I think something scared Peppa and she became really aggressive... Jon and Robb didn't shut the stable doors nor hold them... Peppa ran straight through as Hodor tried to run away."
"Hmm..." Wylis replied sadly.
Sansa turned around, giving him a tight hug. "I'm so sorry. But you're getting better now?"
He nodded, returning the hug tightly before letting go. He bowed his head, giving them a small smile before leaving through a secret door outside.
"Mother said the staff should be neither heard nor seen. Made everything seem as if it were magic whenever our beds were made after eating breakfast or warm towels were laid out for us before we went to get our days started. But my siblings and I always made sure to treat our staff, especially Hodor and his family. His family served mine for decades, centuries even."
"That's amazing history. A family devoutly serving another." Dany commented. "Hey, why don't you get out the dresses and I'll go find us something to drink?"
Sansa grinned. "Preferably champagne! The wine cellar's by the stables. You can politely ask Hodor to direct you to some. Bring a vintage, some of these dresses are vintage."
Daenerys gave her a small smile. "Be right back!"
She headed outside and turned right before turning right again. She walked down until she reached the grand staircase, taking the time to appreciate the long chandelier reaching from the fourth floor all the way to the second. Curiously, she headed upstairs to the fourth floor which she presumed was the staff quarters or somewhere leading to the tower rooms.
She turned right out of interest and ended up in a rustic but warm bedroom with posters full of sports activities and rock bands littering the walls.
Dany turned her head towards the bed where 'JCS' was written boldly in wooden letters on the wall.
"Jonathan Christopher Snow. Or Stark. Whichever way you look at it."
Daenerys jumped, turning around to face a man with a curious glance. He wasn't that tall nor threatening but he seemed to make her uneasy.
"May I ask why you are in Lord Stark's bedroom?"
"I-I am his girlfriend."
The man looked her up and down, never breaking his folded hands in front of his stomach. "Girlfriend? Lord Stark did not inform me of any partners or romantical friends. Beric Dondarrion, the Stark family's majordomo recommended by the Baratheons."
"Daenerys Targaryen. Jon's girlfriend."
Beric frowned. "Your surname is very familiar." He left her side, heading towards the window. "Lord Stark spent his days in this very room when he was growing up. The late Lady Stark did not care for her stepson, reminded her of the late Lord Stark's infidelity. Prince Jon of Winterfell was very close with his father and siblings, he tried to avoid Lady Stark at all times. He was very unhappy here. I could always see that and the day she kicked him out was the first time he had a large genuine smile on his face."
"They hated each other that much?"
Beric chuckled. "Not hate. This home had no place for hatred. Distaste, yes. But never hatred. Prince Jon was a lone wolf."
"White wolf."
"Yes, indeed. Master Robb used to lovingly call his brother that. Their personal inside joke. I should escort you out."
"Sansa sent me to the wine cellar to get some vintage champagne."
Beric raised his eyebrow. "Well, you're definitely very far away from where you need to be. Come, I'll escort you. I need to have the cleaners in here before Lord Stark's return back to the Manor. Although, he'd be taking the master bedroom after his official welcoming. He'll be declared the new lord after his official surname change."
They exited the bedroom, Beric taking the time to securely lock the room which was void of any personality apart from the 'JCS' over the bed for whenever Jon came to visit but he hadn't stayed the night in years when he did.
Dany followed dutifully back to the ground floor where a maid bustled on with her job and Wylis smiled at her as he helped the elderly maid.
"His grandmother. His mother used to also work here but she died a little over five years ago."
Dany frowned but gave Wylis a small smile when their eyes met. "She looks like she's on her last legs. Has she seen a doctor?"
"She's stubborn," Beric admitted. "We have regular health checks courtesy of the Stark fund but every time, Nan rejects the offer. Her mother Old Nan went to the doctors one day and never returned to work. She found out she had aggressive cancer."
"But surely she should get checked for the gene? Or at least other checkups?" Dany pressed.
She didn't know why she was so sympathetic, she didn't even know these people. But something in her told her that if she were to become the new Lady Stark, she'd have to become engrossed in the staff's lives to ensure their happiness and content.
"Something tells me," Beric started once they finally reached the wine cellar. "That Lord Stark has chosen wisely in his choice."
"Choice of what?" Daenerys asked.
Beric only gave her a small smile, heading towards the back of the cellar to a wall full of different champagnes organised by colour from green to yellow to peach to pink.
"Princess Sansa used to adore pink champagne. Here is a vintage," he delicately presented one from the rack and showed Daenerys. "1957, Riverrun."
"Sansa's mother was from there."
"Indeed. You know your history. It would prove useful."
"For what?"
Beric again smiled, handing her the champagne. "Shall we go to the kitchen to collect champagne glasses?"
Dany nodded, following in line with him as she held the neck of the bottle tightly, willing her mind not to by accidentally drop something as precious as this. "Why do you refer to the Stark children as princes and princesses?"
"They are royalty in the North. Before the late Lord Stark's time, Winterfell was ruled by his ancestors who were kings until a rebellion forced them to drop their title and become Lords and Wardens. However,-"
"-Jon and Sansa's great-great-grandfather announced a decree that any children of the future Lords and Wardens were to remain as they were intended, royals."
Beric raised an eyebrow, pushing the front door open. "You do know. Again, your history is spot on, Ms Targaryen."
Dany blushed, giving him a small smile. "I read up a little after Sansa told me but I never knew they continued to be called that. I heard from Sansa that she was seldom referred to as Mistress or Madam."
"She was as her mother insisted that they should not be referred to as royalty. It gave them a sense of spoiledness. I didn't agree but I dutifully followed as she wished because I served them. But it is only right to acknowledge them as they are, princes and princesses."
They reached the kitchen and Beric quickly sourced out the glasses and coasters before leading Dany back upstairs to Sansa's room where she had around fifteen dresses hung up on a rack.
"I saw all of these dresses and nearly died after thinking how beautiful they'd look on you! Come on here. Thank you, Beric." Sansa grinned.
Beric accepted the bottle from Daenerys to allow her to join Sansa in her walk-in wardrobe to change as he poured them two glasses and placed them on the coasters and leaving quietly.
By the time Dany returned back out, she was surprised to see him gone.
"Oh, every staff does that. It used to make me wonder how quietly and quickly they did it until I found out about the secret doors and the soles of their shoes. Their shoes are made to not make any sound as to not disturb us so if we were in the shower or anything, by the time we returned to our room, our beds would be made."
"Must have been amazing growing up like that."
Sansa nodded, smiling softly. "It was but I tried not to take advantage. This past year has taught me a lot with our money struggles and all. How about you? How was your growing up life like?"
Dany sat down. "Busy. We moved a lot. My dad was in the army and my mother... she was in the Navy. Died when we were very little though so I barely remember her. I wanted to become a medic in the army but I decided to join the NHS instead."
"You're so selfless, your whole family is. Well, except..."
Dany gave a small chuckle. "Yeah," she replied, taking the time to admire the navy blue dress she wore. "This fits perfectly. Was this bought for an occasion or something?"
Sansa smiled softly, standing behind her friend in the mirror. "My parents' wedding anniversary two years back. My siblings and I organised a ball to surprise them and I had saved money to get this dress myself as a gift for my mother. But Arya gave her a green dress and she chose that instead. It made me sad but my mother joined me exactly as we are now, but I was staring at myself in the mirror and she was behind me... She told me the dress looked way better on me, that it brought out my beautiful eyes..." Tears slipped down Sansa's cheeks as she took a shaky breath. "You remind me of her. So selfless and kind. Jon really chose his girlfriend wisely." She sniffled.
Dany blushed. "I can take this off-"
"Nonsense!" Sansa called out. "It looks amazing on you but you still have fourteen more to try out! But this dress is a really strong contender," she placed her hands on Dany's shoulders. "Come on!"
...
"Are you expecting anybody?" Osha asked as she wiped her hands on the dish rag to go and answer the door.
Arya shook her head and continued to play chess with Bran, smiling when he was a couple of steps away from a checkmate.
"Can I help you?" Osha asked once she opened the door.
"Hi, I'm Loras. I was wondering if Sansa was here? She said to meet her here."
Arya looked up, giving him a small smile. "Let him in. He can wait."
Osha stepped aside, allowing the blonde to enter as she closed the door behind him and headed back to the dishes.
"Do you want anything? We have tea, juice or biscuits..." Arya offered once Bran finally checkmated her.
Loras beamed, shaking his head. "Oh, no thank you. I've eaten before I came. Sansa told me that we'd go straight out."
"Where... are you going?" Bran asked out of curiosity as Arya reset the board for a new game.
"Shopping. Well, she is going shopping. I'm just going to be the willing bag carrier."
Arya and Bran shared a knowing smile, knowing that their sister would make him more than a willing bag carrier.
"Well, have fun!" Arya teased slightly.
Loras chuckled. "I will. Are you excited about your birthday?"
"I am," she nodded. "I can't wait until I turn 18. I can do so many things."
"Good for you," Loras said genuinely. "I remember my eighteenth a little over a decade ago - I know, I'm old now. I went to Disneyland."
Bran turned to face him. "Disneyland?"
"Yeah. My parents surprised me with a trip to Paris and I wanted to go to Disneyland. I'd never been in the whole of my childhood. My parents didn't really trust theme parks or funfairs. Always afraid we'd go missing or kidnapped. But, I was finally an adult so I decided to leave my teenhood by doing something childish."
Arya smiled softly, moving a piece on the chessboard as she thought about it. Maybe her siblings would surprise her with a trip to Braavos again, no running away this time.
"What's the one thing that would allow you to be a child again? No worries, no fears... No pain," Loras asked quietly. "Just pure innocence and happiness."
"Before I took up Fencing full time six years ago, I did horseriding. Every now and then, I'd dabble over the years but the feeling of the wind rushing past my cheeks, my hair all around me, the fresh atmosphere... Made me feel happy. In a way, it made me be a kid again because it was the only means of escape I had back then before debit and credit cards and driving licenses."
Loras gave her a bright smile, one which reached his eyes as Arya surprised herself. He was so easy to talk to, easy to understand people.
"Have you ever thought of being a guidance counsellor?" She asked him.
He gave her a hearty laugh before shrugging. "Never thought of it. I did want to be an English teacher at one point but the family business got in the picture so I decided to help my grandmother instead."
"I think you'd be great at giving advice."
"Thank you. Hey, how about I join you guys?"
Arya and Bran shared another look before turning to him and nodding, Arya switching places with the blonde.
"Be careful, he can easily checkmate you."
"I'm a strong candidate," he winked at her. "Game on."
...
Sansa and Daenerys were giggling over their champagne flutes as Daenerys twirled around in the sparkling red dress she was trying on.
"Last dress of the day, how do you feel about it?" Sansa asked her.
"Too red! I liked the one I tried on first more!"
Sansa giggled. "What about number seven? Or twelve?"
"They were nice too, I guess."
There was a knock on the door and Sansa called out for the person to come in.
"You have a visitor," Beric announced.
"Who is it?" Sansa asked. "Is it Loras? I told him I'll meet him in an hour at the flat," she said, checking her watch.
"No, Princess. It is Superintendent Tarth."
Dany turned to her, heading towards the wardrobe. "Go, I'll get out of this dress and put the one I want in a plastic cover."
Sansa nodded, placing her finished flute down before following Beric downstairs.
"Brienne, it's lovely to see you," she greeted the blonde with kisses to the cheek and a small hug. "How are you? The baby?"
Brienne gave her soft smile. "We're doing fine, thank you. I was asking around for you. I ended up at the hospital your brother works at where he told me you'd be here."
Sansa returned the smile, replying, "We're moving back here very soon. A friend and I are organising a party for my sister for this Saturday here. You should come."
"Thank you for the invite but I might not be able to. You see, my father-in-law has fallen ill and Tyrion has... disappeared. None of us has heard from him since the birthday party. I was wondering if you knew anything because you see, Tywin was poisoned."
Sansa gave out a gasp, covering her mouth with her hand. "You think Tyrion did it? Or me?"
"I don't want to think that any of did it. Tywin has a lot of enemies. I just wanted to give you a heads up since you may be questioned as you were at the dinner. Hell, they're even questioning me. Just look out, yeah? If Tyrion calls, please get him to call me."
Suddenly sober, Sansa nodded firmly and led her guest out before heading back upstairs.
"You look like you've seen a ghost," Daenerys told her with a small unsure smile. "Is everything alright? What did the police want with you?"
"Remember that night I got to yours late?"
Dany's eyes darkened slightly. "Yes," she replied.
"I was at a dinner party before I met with Loras. The guy who saved my life... his father was poisoned at the party and now everyone who was there is a suspect. Or at least, they're questioning all of us."
Dany finished her glass and placed it beside Sansa's before giving her friend a tight hug.
"You did nothing wrong."
"But I cooked. And served the drinks. Was there something I missed when Tyrion was checking everything?"
Daenerys gave her a look, raising her eyebrow. "Do not blame yourself for some family's vendetta against each other. You have to focus on your one, for now, we have a party to organise and a certain boyfriend of yours is waiting to help you shop for the said party. Come on," she smiled.
Sansa gave her a nod before slipping her coat on. "Why don't you join us?"
"I promised Sam I'd babysit. We're becoming good friends and that's great because he's Jon's best friend and all. Apparently, Gilly's going back to work so she's going to scope the place out before her full return."
"That's good for her. If you want, I can ask her to drop Baby Sam at the flat so Arya can help you. I'm sure Bran would love to see him too."
"Are you sure that's a good idea? I wouldn't want to impose-"
Sansa waved her off. "It's fine. We need to reintroduce everyone to Bran slowly anyway. I know I kind of painted you out badly to my siblings but you are truly welcome to our family. You've helped me so much and you've supported Jon throughout everything. So, why not? They'd adore you!"
"Fine," Daenerys finally gave in with a small smile. "Let me get the dress in my car and we'll head to the flat. Oh, I also need the toilet so I won't be too long. Meet me in the car."
"If I'll meet you in the car, I should take the dress."
"Good idea," Dany replied, handing her the dress. "Be down soon," She promised as Sansa headed out on her phone.
After using the toilet, Daenerys headed downstairs to meet Beric overlooking the gardener preparing the flowers for Arya's birthday.
"You are leaving?"
She nodded, standing beside him. "Yes. Sansa and I have other things to do but we've had so much fun and part of it was because of you. Thank you."
"I hope to have more historical lessons with you, Ms Targaryen. Also, I managed to convince Nan to get checked. I told her that a certain doctor, as well as Lord Stark, would want her in top health before the party. I think referring to the both of you as doctors instilled fear of God in her."
Dany gave him a bright smile. "See you very soon, Mr Dondarrion."
Beric turned to her, nodding curtly. "And you, Dr Targaryen."
Meeting Sansa in the car, the ginger-haired beauty was becoming impatient.
"Loras promised to get me a chocolate-filled doughnut! What took you so long?"
"I was getting to know the staff. I'm not going anywhere soon," Dany teased, making Sansa chuckle.
"Let's get going then. I'm thinking I should wear yellow..."
"Yellow?!"
Sansa gave her a look. "Of course! A little yellow dress, a total spin on LBD. Oh gosh, I'll look amazing but not too amazing since it's all about Arya but still..."