Daisy landed in the courtyard of Winterfell as the last light of day disappeared below the horizon. She'd gotten good at flying, or well more jumping with style. But she landed lightly with a faint gust of vibrations barely disturbing the ground. No more imprints from her landing. Looking at the familiar courtyard she felt her muscles relax and something settle inside of her. Like breathing out after holding her breath for too long.
"Holiness!" One of the men at arms came jogging forward.
She raised a hand. "Hey, Liram, yeah?"
"Aye, good to see ya back, Holiness." The bearded man reached her. "Should I send for her Grace?"
Daisy didn't even have to close her eyes, she could already feel the vibrations that she knew were Sansa's without even thinking about it. "No need." She smiled unhooking the leather satchel that had two, very unhappy, swaddled, and hooded birds in it. "If you could take these to Maester Wolkan though?"
"Of course." He accepted the satchel, looking at it curiously.
She grinned as she caught his arm. "Careful, it's Rickon's nameday gift, and it's alive." It was hard not to laugh at the man's expression. "Hawks."
Liram made an 'ah' sound, as he adjusted his hold. "I'll take good care of them, Holiness."
"Thanks, and tell Rosie 'hi' for me." Daisy had no doubt his daughter would be waiting with a snowball and gap-toothed grin in the morning.
He chuckled nodding. "I'll tell her, Holiness."
"Take care." She patted his shoulder and then jogged for the keep.
The servants all perked up at the sight of her, various waves, and dipped heads in greeting. The lack of terror and awe was a warm balm. They weren't terrified of her. She smiled, her muscles untensing as she made her way through the bustling halls. Making it to the Great Hall, merely required following her feet.
As she reached the hall she could hear the sounds of the men spilling out along with the light. It sounded like home. Daisy passed the guards at the entrance, both of whom straightened, dipping their heads in acknowledgment, 'Holiness' on their lips.
She grinned and walked past them. Her feet had barely gone past the entry stones when she heard Rickon's voice sharply cry out, "Daisy!"
He scrambled up from where he'd been and was across the hall as fast as his legs would carry him.
With a laugh, Daisy caught him. Which, damn he was her height and lunged, if she hadn't had serum they'd both have crashed to the floor. Instead, she caught him, hugging him tightly, her eyes closing, his reddish curls tickling her cheek, the smell of wolf, pine, and leather filling her nose as she hugged him back.
He excitedly pulled back, his arms still hanging onto her. "You made it back!"
"I said I would didn't I?" Daisy smiled at the kid, god he was going to be taller than his sister in a few years. Which, she looked up at Sansa who had stood from where she had been sitting. Sansa stood there, her gown was grey with red wolves running across the fabric. Her eyes were blue and bright, her hair cascaded down her back. The black fur of her gown stood out against her pale skin. She was beautiful and Daisy felt warm as it settled into her bones that she was back.
Daisy fluffed Rickon's hair, and barely shifted as Greatjon slapped her back. It was good to be back.
"Daisy! It's good to see ya back!" Greatjon boomed, his hand heavy as it whacked her on the back in greeting a second time. "Not leaving us for the south then?"
Daisy rolled her eyes. "And lose your charming presence? Never."
He gave a great laugh. "Well, come on then. Flying's got to leave ya hungry."
"Not as much as it used to." She raised a brow as she realized Rickon had actually been sitting with Lyarra and Lyanna. That was new, and also he made friends by irritating them into attacking him apparently.
Daisy glanced at the hall. "Fitz in his workshop?"
"Aye, don't worry. He was in earlier, half-covered in ink these days." The man chuckled.
She'd have to check in on Fitz in the morning, but as long as he was coming out of the workshop it could wait. Daisy took the last few steps to Sansa and grinned. "Sup!"
"Welcome back to Winterfell." Sansa's voice was formal as always, but that warmth to it that it still could contain was there. Her eyes smiling.
And…well, when in Rome and all that. Daisy reached out, catching Sansa's hand, raised it and pressed a kiss to her knuckles. She felt her grin grow at the faint increase in Sansa's heartbeat. "Good to be back, your Grace." Her tone was teasing faintly as she straightened.
"Good gods you two are ridiculous." Arya Stark groaned from where she was seated.
Daisy laughed. "And here I brought you a letter from Jon."
"He's safe?" Arya straightened in her seat.
Daisy nodded. "He's fine, not doing too badly with the Dragon Queen either. Two whole dances and didn't step on her feet once."
Arya's eyes lit up with the glee of a sibling learning something to hold over another's head. "Jon danced?"
"Yup, and he didn't look like he was in pain for most of it." Daisy glanced back at Sansa, whose hand she still hadn't released. "He's doing good."
Sansa clearly understood that she didn't just mean physically. She squeezed her hand. "Please, you should eat."
And…it was just hot stew and bread, but nothing had sounded better. "Sounds good."
Daisy realized she had a chair at the table that was her seat. It was…no one else had used it while she was gone. It was…it was good.
Daisy watched Sansa curiously, she was acting more withdrawn than she'd seen her act in ages as the door shut, leaving them in private. "Hey, are you ok?"
"Of course, I'm sorry." Sansa's face was perfectly convincing if you'd never seen her actually relaxed and at ease.
She slowly stepped into Sansa's space, carefully noting Sansa wasn't pulling back. Her voice was quiet. "Of course?" She was close enough to feel Sansa's breath, could see how Sansa's eyes had flicked to her lips.
The faint wariness faded. Wasn't her that was the issue then. Daisy didn't really notice until they were standing together like this that Sansa had about three inches on her. She could feel the warmth radiating from Sansa as she tipped her head slightly up. Her eyes fluttered closed. The way Sansa mirrored her was delightful. Daisy's mouth was partially open as she pressed a hint of a kiss to her, before pulling a few precious fractions of an inch away.
Sansa followed, her lips soft as they pressed against her. It was slow and unhurried as Sansa fell into it.
Daisy gently parted their lips and nosed against Sansa. She reached a hand up, threading her fingers through Sansa's hair, her thumb brushing against her ear, and kissed her again. She hummed as she folded into her, her free hand moving to the other side of Sansa's face.
"Wait." Sansa pulled back, a hand pressed against Daisy's chest. Her eyes were dilated and breathing heavily.
She panted, rocking back. Daisy felt the fog of it vanish as she realized Sansa was actually worried. "What's wrong?" She caught Sansa's hand. "Hey, it's just me. Whatever it is, it's fine."
"It's not that I don't want to but…we can't." Sansa's cheeks flamed as she looked away.
Daisy paused. That was…Sansa was embarrassed, not upset. She squeezed the hand she was holding. "Ok…that's fine? But can I ask why?"
"My monthly courses. You've been gone when it's been…that time before and…it's nearly finished but for another day or two…" Sansa's cheeks flushed. "I know you were likely expecting more and...I'm sorry."
Daisy blinked, that…right that made sense, and also wow was that not a thing to be freaked out about. She stepped into Sansa, quickly catching her face between her hands. "Hey, you're fine. It happens." She smiled. "I don't know if you've noticed or not but I'm kind of a girl too. I get it."
Sansa breathed out, leaning into her. "I'm being silly aren't I?"
"A bit." Daisy pressed their foreheads together. "You're good. And you're not disappointing me or any crap like that you're thinking." She pulled back. "You're being stiff cause you're cramping then?"
And Sansa was actually real and there. "Not badly."
"Come on, I can help a bit with that. And I will say that is a good thing about being a SHIELD operative, IUDs." Daisy gently pulled Sansa to the bed.
Sansa let herself be pulled. "IUD?"
"It's an implant that prevents pregnancy and stops periods…uh monthly whatever you want to call it." Daisy pressed a quick kiss to Sansa's lips before unhooking her outer leather girdle. Which really seemed to be a mostly Sansa thing. Though turning feminine clothing into armor fit the redhead. "Mandatory for long-term ops, optional the rest of the time. I got one put in and haven't looked back. I mean the ones available for civilians are less cool, but still pretty effective."
That seemed to take a second for Sansa to process. "You can control when you're able to be with child?"
"You have moon tea, it's not that different." Daisy laughed and opened up the chest and pulled out one of Sansa's sleep shifts. "Come on, I can heat up something for you to keep on your stomach, it'll help."
Sansa smiled then, shaking her head. "You don't have to. I will be poor company tonight."
"A. I've missed you." Daisy grinned, enjoying the pleased expression on her girlfriend's face. "B. Who else is going to care about your brother's bumbling attempts at a courtship where he won't stop talking about the Dead?"
She laughed but began to pull off her dress. "The entire North would enjoy hearing that."
"Yes, but then I'd feel bad for laughing at him. He's actually doing surprisingly well." Daisy basked in the smile and laugh she'd brought out. "So, any convenient rocks or something I can heat without damaging anything?"
Sansa just looked so fond. "By the fire, I had Sera put them there before dinner."
"Huh, I am totally pointless then." Daisy shrugged. She stepped to Sansa. "If you want to be alone that's fine. I know some people don't like being around anyone when they feel crappy. But I'd be happy to just be here if you want me."
Sansa sighed, looking at her with weight. "I think that might be the problem, I'll always want you here."
She couldn't help the way she smiled, kicking off her boots, and pulling off her thick outer layers. Using the sheet that was clearly laid aside for just this purpose, she scooped up the heated rocks and wrapped them while walking to the bed. "What an interesting coincidence, I kinda always want to be here." She lightly climbed onto the bed, offering out the wrapped rocks.
Sansa settled beside her, taking the rocks. "So my brother is actually managing an alliance you think?"
"He's doing good. The Tyrells are swinging around to support him." Daisy agreed while inwardly preening slightly at the way Sansa slumped slightly at the welcome heat. She reached down pulling the blankets and furs up and over them. "Daenerys is charismatic, but she's as clueless about Westerosi politics as Jon. It's kinda relieving to know Willas will be nudging them in the right direction while I'm here." She reached out brushing some of Sansa's locks behind her ear.
Sansa looked at her. "How long will you be here this time?"
"A week, and since it's negotiations over an alliance I have a feeling I'll be doing a lot of back and forth while terms are agreed on." Daisy was already planning on hinting that an every other day schedule for her during negotiations would be preferable. Cause who cared if she could do the flight in a couple hours each way now, it was an easy excuse to spend more time here.
Sansa's fingers found the blue streak in her hair, playing with it idly. "You don't have to fly correspondence back and forth like that. You're not a rider in the night. Even if I am very grateful you have done so."
"It makes a really good excuse to see you." Daisy settled close to her, wrapping her arms around Sansa. Contentment settled in her chest.
And Sansa went warm and pliant, shifting into her, though her arms remained holding the heated rocks to her stomach. A smile on her lips. "Well, if that's why you want to be a glorified raven."
"I'm an eagle thank you very much." Daisy grinned. "Actually, Willas has a golden eagle, she's beautiful. I'd never actually seen one in person before."
Sansa looked wistful. "I remember when I first saw Lady, my direwolf. She was just a pup but I knew she was mine as soon as I laid eyes on her. It was like that for all of us."
"I'm guessing she didn't stalk your poor guards for fun like Shaggydog does?" Daisy asked
Shaking her head, Sansa smiled fondly. "No, she was a perfect lady. I used to tie ribbons in her fur and she had the most lovely collar."
"I never had a pet." Daisy gently moved the conversation, she knew Sansa didn't have a wolf now, and she knew she'd lost a wolf. It wasn't hard to connect the two. "Never lived in the same place long enough. Not sure what I'd do with one if I had one either. I always wanted a dog when I was a kid though."
Sansa's blue eyes were full of compassion as she looked at her face. "You sacrifice a great deal for your chosen path."
"So do you." She replied because it was true. Instead of letting them turn to completely morbid topics, she reached her hand, till her palm was laying flat against the small of Sansa's back.
Sansa raised a brow. "Daisy?"
"It could help?" Daisy offered, she wished she could make it better. But Midol was a bit beyond her.
Sansa gave her a nod.
It was easy how she gently used her vibrations to ease the tensed muscles in Sansa's back. The low sound that Sansa let out sent a shiver down Daisy's spine. Yup, that had helped. She nuzzled against the top of Sansa's head. "So, want to hear about Jon attempting to dance?"
"Arya will want the whole story from you in the morning." Sansa cautioned, but the exhaustion was beginning to pull at her voice.
Daisy smiled. "Then I can tell it again. So-" She gently droned on about the Tyrell ball, neatly leaving out Olenna's thoughts on Sansa. Her voice stayed soft as she felt Sansa drifting off to sleep against her. Finally trailing off, Daisy wondered when she'd last smiled so much? She shifted slightly and closed her own eyes. This contentment was precious and she…wasn't sure what to do with it. But it felt safe.
/
Sansa stirred at the sound of the now familiar howls of the wolf pack that had taken residence in the area around Winterfell. She felt loose, warm, and secure. The contentment was like a blanket over her. She didn't need to question why any of that was, and even if she had, the scent of wind and flowers as well as the feel of a warm body purring against her would have told her. Her eyes opened slowly, finding Daisy's sleeping face beside her.
It was…she'd known Daisy saw her as more than a warm bed. Had always known that. But somehow it felt more real every time she didn't press. A part of her that was irrational felt ever soothed. Her fingers itched to trail across the soft and so very real face of her lover. But it'd surely wake her and Sansa didn't wish to disturb her rest more than necessary. It was early yet.
With care she extracted herself from Daisy's arm, pressing a gentle kiss to Daisy's knuckles as she lifted the arm up that had been across her. She smiled fondly as Daisy shifted, reaching half asleep for her. Sansa folded the blankets over her, her voice soft. "It's early, just sleep." She pressed a light kiss to Daisy's temple, Daisy's face smoothing out as she settled back into sleep. Though the low rumbling purring sound she made on occasion faded to nothing.
Sansa's eyes lingered on Daisy for a long moment, and then she slipped to her chest and pulled out fresh fabric, and went to the table, Sera had left things prepared for her the night before. It was short work to clean herself and pull on a fresh shift and under skirts. Opening her chest of dresses she pulled out her green velvet. It was perhaps not her most royal gown, but she missed her brother and it reminded her of him. But not a gown for her leather girdle. Instead, she pulled out one of her sets of stays.
She didn't startle at the feel of hands at her hips, and warm lips at the back of her neck. "You could have stayed asleep."
"And miss this? Never." Daisy hummed against the nape of her neck before gently beginning to lace up her stays with careful movements. "You're up early, Sera hasn't even been in yet?"
Sansa let her eyes close, leaning ever so slightly into her lover's touch. "I was awake, and I wished for the time to clean myself."
"Ah, yeah it can be a bit of a mess." Daisy's lips touched her ear as she tied off the back lacing, her voice lowering. "And it's fine if you want to just be as we were last night." She lightly nipped at her earlobe, her hands settling on her hips, those stupidly lovely vibrations easing the ache in her back. "But I could care less about a mess." She pressed a kiss to the side of her neck and then withdrew.
Sansa sucked in a breath, spinning around, mouth open to ask for her to explain but…no the meaning had been quite clear. "You can't be serious, that would be-" She wasn't even sure what.
"An option, if you want." Daisy was there and kissing her then.
And well, Sansa's protests faded from her thoughts as she sunk into the warmth of it. She couldn't help how she whimpered at Daisy sucking at her lower lip. And it was clear that for all its deepness, it was not meant to lead to anything else. Daisy's hands stayed on her hips, simply rubbing a firm circle with her thumb on one hip.
She wasn't sure how long they stayed like that, far longer than was proper, but then fuck proper, they'd passed that months ago. Finally, Daisy pulled back. "Come on, let's get you into this dress, I actually know how to work this one."
Sansa didn't release Daisy, just pulling her in and hugging her. "Thank you." She waited till she felt Daisy's faint assent to her gratitude. It would be so easy to accidentally close Daisy off by explaining what exactly she was grateful for. It was sad in its own way, how confused and uncomfortable Daisy was with gratitude. So at the lack of protest at it, and the quiet return of the affection, Sansa pulled back.
Daisy stepped back and lifted the green velvet gown. Her face soft, a half-smile on her face, eyes fond. "So, going over Jon's letters with your small council then?"
"Unfortunately." Sansa raised her hands, allowing Daisy to help her into her gown. "I assume you will be spending time with your Order?"
She nodded. "Yeah, run some drills with them, see how they're doing. Might teach them some new throws. Check on Fitz too, make sure he hasn't invented anything too terrible." But she was amused as she said it.
Which, Sansa had long since accepted she didn't understand how their friendship functioned. She had a feeling a great deal of it was loyalty and Daisy overlooking insult. "Then I will likely not see you till the feast tonight."
"You managed an actual feast?" Daisy asked in genuine surprise.
Sansa nodded as she moved to her vanity. She'd rather brush her own hair this morning than wait for a servant to arrive and do so for her. "It will be simple, but the men could use the celebration as much as he deserves to be happy."
"You're a good sister." Daisy's eyes smiled as she scooped up her clothing from the chair she'd thrown the outer layers on the night before. "But with that in mind, I should go back to the tower and find something clean."
Sansa felt a thrill of nerves, of daring. She kept her voice even, but she could tell Daisy had clocked the change in her heart rate instantly. "Actually, that will not be necessary."
"Why?" Daisy was looking at her, a curious light in her eye. She knew something was up.
She sat down in her chair in front of her mirror. Sansa gestured to the small chest set against one wall. Words seemed stolen from her. It was…she wished desperately that Daisy did not take it as an insult.
Daisy's motion was smooth, though so smooth that she knew it meant that Daisy was on alert. An expression that Sansa didn't quite understand flicked across Daisy's face as she clearly noted the carving of her own sigil across the wood. Entwined daisies running along the edge. She dropped onto her knee, fingers running along the oiled and polished wood, a soft sound leaving her throat. She opened it finally, her eyes blinked rapidly for a moment as she looked at the carefully folded clothing. "Oh."
"You needed more shirts, and you need not return to your own chambers every morning," Sansa said slowly. She watched as Daisy lifted the vest in Stark colors, her hands touching the delicately embroidered daisies and blue roses across the fabric. "I have yet to finish the outer tunic to match that."
Daisy looked up at her, her voice surprisingly thick. "You made this?"
"I did," Sansa replied she prayed that this was not upset.
And then Daisy moved at a speed that was slightly inhuman. She leaned into her and kissed her fiercely. "You didn't have to do that."
Sansa felt the tension leave her, pride replacing the anxiety. "I wished to."
"Well," Daisy pulled back, and she looked so incredibly affectionate, "I made something for you too. It's probably silly in comparison, but…" Daisy caught her jerkin from the day before, pulling out a flash of silver before returning to her side.
Sansa accepted the cool metal of it and felt sudden understanding as she realized it was a decorative comb. It was all delicate silver metal, with blue glass far finer and more perfect than she'd ever seen before. She hadn't known glass could be so thin. And holding the delicate roses securely was a silver handle in the shape of an eagle. "This is…beautiful, truly."
"It's nothing." Daisy's eyes turned to the chest before clearing her throat. "So, Stark colors?" A faintly playful lilt to her mouth. Though the rest of her said she was moved, and deeply.
She swallowed back the satisfied sensation as she realized Daisy was going to pull it on, her fingers staying on the comb in her hand. "Yes, if that's not too presumptuous?" Though seeing the eagle Daisy was once more gifting to her, well, it didn't feel presumptuous suddenly.
"No, it's not too much." Daisy's voice was soft. "Not at all."