RICKON II

When Rickon awoke the following morning he was at first sad to find Shaggydog wasn't anywhere to be seen, and further surprised to find his sister Sansa sitting at the end of his bed. She was much different than she'd been the night before-gone was her warm smiles, and instead a look of pained worry

"R-Rickon, I have a few questions to ask of you."

"Where's Shaggy? You said Shaggy would be here this morning!"

"He's part of what I wanted to talk to you about. I'm sorry Rickon, I know not where Shaggy is."

"But he'll be back, right?"

"He probably will. What do you remember about meeting Shaggydog?"

"Bran gave him to me, in the kitchens! He was so small then he could sit in my lap! And his eyes were closed."

Sansa nodded her head, her face at once seeming to ease and yet grow increasingly worried.

"Do you remember what happened next?" asked his sister.

Rickon tried really hard to think about what had happened after Shaggy had come, but everything was a blur in his head until, "A big fat man came. Shaggy wanted to chase him!"

This made Sansa laugh before she responded, "The King-father's friend. And later, what happened to Bran? After the king came?"

Rickon again felt like he really had to try to remember back that far, but soon he remembered laying on a bed next to Bran who wouldn't wake up. Summer and Shaggy at the foot of the bed, looking worried, and a lady-his mama!-crying in a chair. "Bran fell… and he slept for a really long time. Mama was sad, Summer was sad, I was sad, and Shaggy too!"

Sansa nodded her head again and then continued with, "And then?"

"And then…" and suddenly Rickon remembered. Everyone had left. "You left! You left me! Everyone leaves me! First Papa, then you, then Arya, then Jon, then Mama, then Robb, then Bran, then Osha, and now Shaggy!"

Sansa lowered her head, not meeting his eyes as she said, "Yes, Rickon I left, and I'm sorry."

This admission caught Rickon off guard. Robb and Jon hadn't said anything like it when he told them that they'd left, but Sansa was different. He sniffled slightly as he said, "You're sorry?"

"Yes, Rickon, I'm sorry I left you." Sansa looked up, tears forming in the edge of her eyes.

"You won't leave me again?" urged Rickon.

"Not if I can help it, baby brother."

And Rickon hugged her tightly, not wishing to ever let go.

"Promise?" he sobbed.

"As best I can." replied his sister as she soothingly rubbed his back.

"Promise!" insisted Rickon, holding on to her as tightly as he could.

She answered with a queer tremble to her voice, "I-I promise, Rickon. The seven help me, I promise" She then wrapped her own arms around him, and for the first time in a long time, Rickon felt safe.