JON

Bran enjoyed riding on a dragon far more than Jon himself did but their two-day flight from the Wall was less than joyous for both of them. Arya's letter was short and to the point. Sansa's been hurt. Maester Denar doesn't know if she'll wake up. Come at once.

The rebuilt Winterfell was always a welcome sight and as Viserion descended to the ground in front of the gates, several people emerged from inside to welcome them. Jon patted his dragon's neck gratefully. The white beast must have sensed his hurry and anxiety and had done his best to overcome the miles between the slowly rising Wall and Stark's ancient seat as fast as he could.

Arya was among the few people who waited for their arrival outside and she hugged him tight as soon as he climbed down. He was surprised by the trace of tears on her face. Arya cried rarely and always for a good reason. Did that mean that Sansa had died?

"Is it Sansa?" Jon asked while holding her close, Bran hovering by his side in the chair specially designed for him so he could be carried around easily.

"She doesn't remember anything," Arya told them both, pulling away from Jon to hug Bran as well. "The last eleven years are gone."

"What do you mean, gone?" Bran asked.

"She doesn't recall anything past the time we were going to King's Landing with father. When I told her about mother and father and that she was married, she fainted. Denar said it was a shock to her mind and that I shouldn't have told her at once. But I didn't know. I thought she just needed reminding."

Jon nodded and they went for the castle. The servants knew how to tend to the dragons, Jon being a frequent visitor in his childhood home and he knew Viserion would be taken care of.

"How's Sandor doing?" it was Bran who asked and Arya bit her lip worriedly.

"Not very well," she admitted. "He spent the first day sitting at her bedside, just looking at her. The second day, he beat up every man-at-arms in the castle in the training yard. Today, he did the same thing."

"Does he know? About Sansa's memory loss?"

"Yes, I told him. And he just looked at me and it was almost like back in the Riverlands when he was angry all the time but he also looked sad. It was strange," Arya admitted. Jon looked at her. He knew better than most just how tumultous the relationship between Arya and Sandor Clegane was, having been told everything about Arya's adventures after they had been reunited. He also knew that although Arya would deny it to her dying breath, she had come to respect the man her sister had chosen.

"And the children? How are they holding up?"

"Cat is the only one to really understand what is going on. She cries herself to sleep every night. Ned asks after mommy but Aemon and Visenya are keeping him distracted enough. Ryssa is too young still and her wet nurse is looking after her, too. And Clegane does spend time with them so..." Arya trailed off as they reached the door to Sansa's room. Rickon was leaning against the wall, glaring at nothing. He smiled at seeing his brother and cousin but it was strained and tired.

"Any change?" Arya asked and he shook his head.

"No, the maester's still inside. She is awake again but she just stares at the wall."

"She needs to come to terms with what had happened to her," Bran said in an even voice. "Forgetting even a small part of your life is hard and she is suddenly missing eleven years. That would be a heavy burden for anyone. And when the years missing are the ones that shaped you the most, it is even harder."

"Can't you help her?" Rickon asked. "I mean, you have learned about the old magic, isn't there some spell to make her remember?"

"I'm sorry, Rickon, but I don't think it's possible. I can still ask the trees but I cannot promise anything."

They were quiet after that, the four Starks all concerned for the fifth family member on the other side of that door. When Maester Denar finally walked out of the room, he looked at each of them in turn before his eyes settled on Arya.

"Princess Sansa asks to speak with you," he told her and Arya nodded, entering the room alone. Jon exchanged glances with Bran and Rickon and they settled in for a long wait.