My goodness, it has been a while! My laptop went funny a few weeks ago so I've had to use my mum's Kobo to get on the internet which has meant no publishing! But no more! In this chapter, I have tried to write in a few problems which I have found present in the previous chapter. I'm not sure about how I placed Sansan in there... thoughts anyone?

Chapter 22:

Sansa took a sip of water. She was seated in Winterfell's Great Hall with Daenerys Targaryen opposite her. They sat as equals, but Sansa sensed there was an energy coming from the Mad King's daughter that engulfed her dragons- she could burn all this if she wanted. Sansa knew she must tread carefully.

It would appear that Asha Greyjoy had been keeping a secret correspondence with the violet eyed dragon Queen. It was only when she had decided that the Stark girls could be trusted that she had sent a raven to King's Landing asking that the Queen bring her strength North to help reclaim Winterfell. The Mad King's daughter had decided that Asha would use her fleet to keep the Narrow Sea, Blackwater and Iron Islands at peace, with the Starks guarding the North should the Queen need it, and Daenerys Stormborn herself ruling from the Iron Throne in the South.

Upon hearing that Asha's father had rebelled against the Iron Throne and proclaimed himself King, and of Asha's own accomplishments in regards to Deepwood Motte and the Kingsmoot, Daenerys had sought her out herself, intending to strengthen her hold on the North and keeping the Seven Kingdoms as one.

Sansa could not escape a looming feel of guilt over her new found position. Whilst the Greyjoy men had been standing before Winterfell watching Bolton soldiers burn she had been hiding in the Godswood with Sandor. She did not regret what had passed between them- she never would- but whenever she looked at Arya, who had been outside the walls watching the Dragon devastate, she knew she should have been out there with her.

The Mother of Dragons seemed to sense her doubts.

"It is what rulers must do," She said simply. "When I took Meereen I sent my men in to fight for me. It is a Queen's place to rule, not to fight on the field, however much we may want to lead an attack. Believe me, I know the feeling."

"I was not born to rule…" Sansa nearly stuttered, looking up at the violet eyes, as Cersei Lannister's words suddenly came back to her, "I was taught to smile and sing, and please."

"As was I."

"You and I are similar in certain respects," Daenerys explained calmly, "You were made to marry someone you did not love, yes?"

Sansa shuddered, remembering Tyrion Lannister's eyes as she had undressed herself on their wedding night. "Yet you grew towards him, even came to love him?"

"I did not love him," Sansa's words were instant.

"He must have done something to gain your favour." It was unnerving how the Targaryen spoke, well, like a Queen. Sansa could not help but feel she had to obey.

"He did protect me from the King," She murmured.

"As did my husband, only this one was no King," Daenerys spoke with a tone of bitterness.

"Neither was Joffrey." Sansa could not quite fathom what was slowly unfurling. The Queen's voice was rising.

"You are of a noble house, as am I. You have been running from something, as have I. Made to marry, but you clearly belong to another, as I once did. You raised yourself from nothing, you were hurt and bullied but you pulled yourself up. Both our families were destroyed by the Lannisters. I need someone who knows what it's like to be truly alone. However, your Father served the Usurper."

"All I want is my home back," Sansa replied, feeling her throat tighten, "I want no part in the Iron Throne; all I ever wanted was to go home."

"As did I." Daenerys' stern confidence unnerved Sansa more than she could say. "The Starks have always ruled the North," She continued, "I cannot hold it without them. I cannot hold it without you. Will you serve me?"

Sansa was at a loss for words. Why can't I just be left alone with Winterfell? Why are the politics behind that cursed chair always dragging me back?

"Your Grace…" She began cautiously, "The North has suffered enough. The Starks have suffered enough. Mightn't we just be left to our own devices?"

The graceful face of the Targaryen slowly began to change to a frown.

"I did not waste my childhood running from Baratheon knives and the knives of your father…"

"My Father never wanted to hurt you…"

"But the man he served did."

"My Father was not like Robert Baratheon. He even tried to talk him out of it. He gave up his position as Hand of the King because Robert would not listen to him. And I am not either of them."

"No. You are not. Your brother- in- law merely murdered my father."

At the mention of Jamie Lannister, Sansa felt anger rise within her.

"I never wanted him for a brother-in-law. Nor his brother for a husband! You just said yourself both our families were destroyed by the Lannisters, this is all their fault, not my Father's, and certainly not mine!"

Daenerys was looking deep into Sansa's eyes now with satisfaction, as if she had found something. "I was bullied and hurt, yes, but it was more than that. I was tormented on a daily basis by Joffrey. He promised me mercy for my Father than chopped off his head and made me look at it. He had his guards strip me in front of his court. He wanted to rape me on my wedding night. You can stand before me with your dragons and your Targaryen blood claiming my Father was a traitor's servant but there was not a more honourable man in the Seven Kingdoms. I am tired of serving those who find cruelty fun. I have found someone who makes me feel complete and I have a family who have protected me and I have friends who have helped me and I am a wolf, not a traitor, not a traitor's daughter and not a traitor's wife. No one, not even you, has hated the Lannisters more than I. You have not lived with them, you have not shared a life with them. You have not seen Winter, which is coming for us all, even you, Dragon Queen, and your children's fire cannot stop it."

Daenerys Targaryen was silent. The violet eyes made no movement that gave away any emotion.

"You are right. I have not seen Winter. I grew up in the free cities which know only Summer. Therefore I need someone to protect the North whose very house was made for Winter. Your Father knew that. You are his daughter, why not serve as Warden of the North in your Father's place? You will have Asha Greyjoy as an ally, ready to come to your aid should you need it. All I ask is that you come to my aid should I need it. Winterfell is yours once more. You have my word, on my honour as a Targaryen."

King Aerys made Jamie Lannister a member of the Kingsguard on his honour as a Targaryen, thought Sansa, and they called him the Mad King. Does the apple fall so far from the tree?

She faced Daenerys. They were both silent for a few moments.

"You will rule the North in my stead," Said the Queen, "Or I will destroy you."