The journey to lord Wyman's tent didn't take long. When they entered, she saw a table in place of the post that was there the night before. The table had four chairs and two were already taken; Sansa immediately noticed the huge Hother Umber and next to him was a much smaller man that looked somehow like a child next to lord Hother. Sansa knew that this man was Howland Reed. All crannogmen were small, she knew; but few in Westeros were as skilled with bow or spear. Lord Howland spoke first. His voice was low, but it sounded like a song to Sansa, she sensed softness in that voice.

"Lord Wyman, always nice to see you. And the lady is your ward, I presume? A very pretty lady, yes. And of noble blood, it can be easily seen. It must be my old eyes deceiving me since I see some Tully in her, since you say she is a baseborn daughter of lord Sunderland of the Sisters, am I correct?"

Sansa tried to hide the shock on her face. He knows who I am, she said to herself. Lord Wyman must have noticed that too.

"It might indeed be your old eyes, my friend. I agree with your observation of her beauty, though. Not many women can boast such beauty. Lady Alayne, this is Lord Howland Reed of the Neck. Next to him is Lord Hother Umber of Last Hearth, every bit as big as the giant on their crest and a great man."

Lord Howland offered Sansa his hand and she somewhat reluctantly put hers on it. Lord Howland looked her in the eyes all along as he kissed the back of her hand. His eyes were telling Sansa he knows who she really is, or at least that's what Sansa saw in them. She felt uncomfortable until he spoke. "Pleasure to meet such a beautiful young lady such as yourself, Lady Stone." She gave a curtsy after Lord Howland let her go.

When Lord Hother came to her, she bent her neck so that her head was almost pointing directly upwards and she could still barely see over his long beard. He kneeled on one knee with unexpected ease and kissed her hand just like Lord Howland before him. When he finally spoke, Sansa was startled. Although he tried to keep his voice down, it sounded almost like thunder to her. "Lady Stone," he roared. "Lord Howland has told you what I wanted to say, so let me just say that you are indeed very beautiful. Blessed by the gods is the man that will marry you."

She managed a sheepish smile and a quiet 'Thanks' before she gave a curtsy again. Then she sat down. Lord Wyman was already seated.

Lord Howland spoke again. "Lord Wyman, you have told me in your letter that it is of utmost importance that I come here. I haven't left the Neck in a long time, so there is no time to lose if you really have something important to say."

Lord Wyman spoke with his deep voice. "Yes, my dear friend, I recall. It's been how much? Fifteen years?"

"Seventeen. Since me and dearly departed Lord Eddard Stark survived the Tower of Joy. After all the horror I've seen there, I had no intention of leaving Greywater Watch ever again in my life. After seeing Eddard's sister all bloody on that bed with Eddard talking to her like she was still alive – I think even you understand why the outside world wouldn't seem very appealing to me."

"I have never learned what happened down there since neither you nor Lord Eddard ever talked about it, but I think I understand. But I assure you, your coming up here is not unwarranted. I have a plan to reinstate Starks in Winterfell."

Lord Umber spoke up. "And how do you plan on doing this, dear friend? All Lord Eddard's children are either dead or in captivity. Nobody has seen his daughters in two years, let alone his sons other than the Young Wolf and he is dead. The young boys were burned here in Winterfell when that turncloak attacked," saying that, he spat on the ground. "Nobody has seen the younger girl since Lord Eddard was executed by that sackless shit in King's Landing," he spat again. Sansa chuckled quietly at his description of Joffrey. She thought it was a pretty good description. "And the older daughter? She was held captive by the Lannisters in that pisspot of a city the last I heard about her."

Sansa could feel Lord Howland's gaze on her and she had to try very hard not to show any emotions. Lord Umber continued his monologue. "Even Eddard's bastard son is unreachable since he has sworn the oath of the Night's Watch. And he is also a bastard, which makes it even more complicated."

"Lord Eddard's baseborn son has died, Hother, I'm sorry to say."

"Well, that makes it even worse, then. Don't get me wrong, Lord Wyman, I'm every bit as loyal to Starks as you are, but how do you plan on reinstating them when there aren't any left? And also," he quickly glanced at Sansa, "why does your ward need to hear any of this? She's not a part of the conspiracy since she's from the Vale, and she's also a woman! They don't need to listen to us men banter about wars and killing. Ladies shouldn't listen to such stories, they have much to worry as is."

Lord Wyman kept his calm masterfully. Sansa started admiring his calm these last few days. "I am glad you brought lady Stone's presence up, dear Hother. She is the key to this. Remember what Lord Reed said as soon as we entered? That he sees some Tully in her? His old eyes aren't deceiving him yet," he lowered his voice to a whisper, "she is half Tully. Now, would you care to guess what the other half of her is?"

Lord Hother's eyes widened in disbelief. He whispered as well, but even his whisper was loud, Sansa thought. "You're telling me you somehow managed to rescue one of lord Eddard's daughters?"

Lord Wyman continued in a whisper. "I'm telling you this lady right here is Sansa Stark posing as a bastard of the Vale to avoid suspicion. Which means you're not to tell anyone about it."

"I'm not stupid, Wyman. I wasn't meaning to tell anyone. Do you think I got this old by not keeping secrets for myself?" After saying that, Hother rose from his chair, pulled out his sword and laid it on the table. Then he whispered. "Lady Stark, my sword and a thousand others that I brought with me are yours." Then he knelt down.

Howland stood up. "Lady Stark, you must forgive me. I never forget a face and yours is so much like your lady mother, I knew as soon as you entered the tent that it must be you. I am sorry if I have frightened you with my speech. You have my utmost loyalty. Your lord father always said that I saved his life at the Tower of Joy, but in truth, he saved mine a couple times as well that day. For that I will always be in debt to your family."

Sansa felt her eyes watering, but she reminded herself how she promised she wouldn't cry. She battled back the tears. "Thank you" was all she managed to say. She knew she wouldn't be able to keep her tears at bay if she said another word, so she shut up.

"My lady," Howland continued, "not too long ago Lord Eddard's bones passed through the Neck. With all the commotion going on here I couldn't risk much, so I stored his bones in my castle. I plan on giving them to you when we successfully put you on your rightful seat. You do understand why I couldn't risk the bones coming here before that, or even worse, fail to come here, do you not?"

He said 'when', not 'if'. This was the confidence Sansa needed to complete her endeavour. But it was too much for Sansa. She nodded and said a weak 'Thank you' before she broke down in silent tears. She broke her promise not even a day after she made it, but she didn't care. Howland went towards her to try to give her comfort. When he hugged her over the shoulder, Sansa pushed herself towards him and embraced him out of thankfulness. She cried into his shoulder for a while. Nobody else made any sounds in that period of time.

When she finally calmed down and let go of Howland, Sansa stood up straight. "Lord Howland, Lord Umber, I am most grateful for your help. When we succeed in our plans, I shall see you are properly rewarded. But at the moment I'm just humbled at your willingness to follow me despite barely knowing who I am."

Hother spoke up. "My lady, I've lost a great nephew at the Red Wedding. I'm not sure if my nephew is still alive or not, but even if he is, he is rotting in a cell at the Twins. It is said that it took eight men to overcome him and he was drunk out of his mind. I have only sworn fealty to Bolton to keep my hopes of getting my nephew back one day. My brother is out there, marching on Winterfell with Stannis Baratheon. But if we are of about equal strength in numbers, they hold no hope to sack Winterfell and overthrow the Boltons. Someone must help them, or even better, do it before Stannis can. That way, we would be able to name you our Queen."

Sansa widened her eyes. She certainly wasn't expecting that. "Me, the… Queen?"

"Aye. I loathe the prospect of bending my knee to some shit down in King's Landing that I will never see in my life. I will bend my knee to you and your children, when you have them, and nobody else."

Howland joined in. "I agree. The time of the Seven Kingdoms is past. Targaryens are practically extinct and they are the only reason there are united Seven Kingdoms. Robert Baratheon was a noble man; his descendants, alas, aren't. The children who sit the Iron Throne aren't even his, but a product of an incestuous relationship. I've had enough inbred kings in my life with the Targaryens. Not any longer. I have but one Queen, and she is standing before me. Even if the last time someone declared himself the King in the North ended badly, I have all confidence that this time it will be different."

Sansa was overjoyed at these words. Yes, an independent North, to honour Robb, who failed in this endeavour. To honour King Torrhen, who was smart enough to bend the knee to the Dragon King rather than put up a fight and burn his men. To honour her father, who lived as honourably as one could; who was killed because of her. I'm so sorry, Father, she thought. I was stupid and didn't know that the paradise isn't located down south. I'm sorry you died knowing that it was me who sealed your fate. I'm sorry you had to die. I was tricked into believing you would be allowed to walk away. I was tricked into believing Joffrey was human. I will make you a statue worthy of you and it will stand atop the South Gate, where everyone will be able to see your majesty. To honour Bran and Rickon, who were helpless against the traitorous bastard they thought of as their brother. To honour Arya, who is probably lying in a dirty ditch somewhere outside King's Landing. To honour her mother, who died with her son in that hall that Sansa now vowed to destroy. And lastly, to honour Jon. He might not have been on good terms with her, but he was still her brother.

Lord Manderly finally joined in. "My lady, I have told you once before. The North remembers. Let's make sure the Boltons remember that as well."

The look in Sansa's eyes was stern. "Yes. Let's make them remember."

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