Hello readers! I had planned to publish this later in the evening but I feel absolutely horrible and I don't know if I'm even going to be online tonight so I thought it best to upload this chapter now. I hope you enjoy it and of course, reviews are very much appreciated!

As they went along their journey the days seemed to grow colder even though they were going downhill. She shared them in good company though so none of them paid the temperature much mind. At nights all of them would huddle together on their bedrolls to keep warm. At day they kept walking close to each other to spread their warmth amongst the group. So far they had been lucky as it had not been snowing yet.

Gretha had proved to be a tough one. Sylene had been afraid the travel would go slowly with an elderly woman like her but they hold on to a steady pace and awakened each time before dawn. Bit by bit she was getting surer that her plan had worked and Littlefinger's men were searching in the wrong direction. It had been easy, too easy almost.

She had left a note to her 'father' telling him that she could not marry the man the man he had chosen for her without the consent of the Old Gods. She had written him she would go into prayer in the Godswood not far north from the castle to ask for their blessings. There was no weirwood at the castle itself so she had to travel a bit to reach the closest one, it would be the only way she would be allowed happiness in this marriage. This was a path every follower of the Old Gods had to take by themselves she had vowed.

To assure her story she had made sure to pray every day at times when she was certain the Lord Protector would notice it. "To assure the safe return of Winterfell to the rightful heir, my family" she had told him. She made sure to drop her faith in the Old Gods as often and casually as she could and in the end he seemed to buy it. This way, when in the morning the maids would come to her chambers and the only thing to be found was the letter that she left behind, she was sure he wouldn't immediately panic and send guards after her. He was smarter than that, she knew, he would know her whereabouts and sending guards to guide her back so soon would break a piece of trust in Sansa towards him and Littlefinger could not have that. Plot
all you want father, she had thought back then, but my smiles and sweet words are like lies and Arbor Gold to you and you don't even know it.

She had been nervous when they first left, often glancing backwards to see if there weren't any purchasers. Her companions had thought it was only because she was missing the place she left in return for this cold world she now had to travel through.

They had made up a group of eight in total, including herself. But after three days of travel two of their group had already departed towards a stronghold not far to the east. And so they were now
only six strong.

There was herself, Gretha and the flower sisters, as she had fondly started calling Aila and Mea. And there was a woman named Teala a sturdy but kind woman with a son only a few years younger than herself.

Cato the boy was called. Even if he was just a boy he could handle a bow and arrow just fine and he and his mother made sure that every night the group could sup on a warm dinner.

His mother traded in all sorts of goods and she and her son would often find themselves on the road. That made that they both knew how to survive and defend themselves in the wild.

The group managed to keep their spirits high, discussing all the work they had before them and thinking how lucky they were to get an important job with a profit that would last them for a while.

Many of the townsfolk had already shut down most of their business to settle down for the winter. Much trade was needed still, but the cost of travel in these lands was too big a risk for many
of them.

After another long day's walk Gretha decided it was best to settle down for the night already as it was growing darker at a fast pace these days.

Cato set out to hunt while the last remaining daylight was still available to them. Teala went to build a small fire that would serve to roast whatever it was that Cato was going to catch today and that would also keep them warm and safe from dangerous wildlife at night. Aila, Mea and herself busied themselves with lying out their bedrolls.

When that was done Sylene settled down close to Gretha.

"How are you holding on dear? I don't suppose you've ever been out in the Vale with winter coming on so fast" Gretha asked her.

She was right at that, she had never lived a real winter before like this. Sylene would've traveled the Vale for supplies before but never in winter yet as she would've been too young.

"I haven't but with you for company I'll manage to hold out" she smiled at her.

She honestly wouldn't know if she had survived had she taken on this journey on herself. It had been a wise choice to join the women in this fashion.

Gretha seemed to sense her thoughts as she spoke "Do you know anything of surviving out on your own? Your hands look soft even for a young seamstress."

She looked down at her hands for a moment, they were indeed still soft and delicate looking though she did not doubt that would change soon enough.

"I have not been outside the Eyrie much until now" she confessed "the people have always been kind to me and they made sure I had no need to work myself to blisters."

Gretha nodded. "Well child I think we should make a change in that. You need to be able to take care of yourself once we have to split ways and I'd rather you keep that pretty body of yours in good
shape."

At that moment Cato stepped into their small camp carrying two rabbits and a starved looking bird.

"Ah it seems your first opportunity has arrived! Cato, be a good lad and teach Sylene here how to prepare a hot meal."

She looked up at Cato, she knew what was to come and she didn't like it but Gretha was right. She had to learn to take care of herself now and Sylene wasn't the type to cower away from skinning a
dead animal. She found a new sort of courage in Sylene's skin that she hadn't had before.

Teala smiled at her as she handed her a dagger fit for skinning their catch as Cato sat down next to her.

He handed her one of the rabbits and took the other on his own lap.

He told her to follow his lead as he began skinning the furry animal. She tried to focus on the movements Cato made with his own dagger so as not to focus on the animal itself.

It worked well enough the first time. It made her stomach into a tight not and she wasn't sure she was even hungry anymore. But when the dark came upon them she soon found herself very grateful
for the hot meal she had helped prepare. She wasn't perfect at it yet but she would learn to improve her skill over time and at least now she had the bare basics of it under control.

The following nights she would sit down with Cato every time to clean and cook his catch. Rabbits, squirrels and birds, she could now prepare them all. She soon grew accustomed to it and her stomach didn't even turn at the sight anymore.

When it was light Aila and Mea would take her to walk ahead in search of spices and other edible growth that nature would give to them. The sisters had lots of knowledge of both flowers and plants it seemed, and it made their meal that more enjoyable.

They also taught her how to spice the food she would now help prepare and she found she liked that process the best of preparing a meal.

The group was soon laughing at her that she'd better return to the castle as a cook rather than a seamstress. She had laughed heartily along with them. Even though it was turning darker and colder as each day went by, she had find herself smiling more often than she had done in years.