Chapter 3. Sansa's Tail

The Sea Wolf

The Sea Wolf was sailing up the east coast towards White Harbor. A city ruled by House Manderly whose sigil is a merman holding a pitch fork on a green background. There motto Brave as the Sea is Deep. While Lord Wyman Manderley is away fighting with King Robb Stark his nephew William Manderley is in charge of New Castle and White Harbor.

The Sea Wolf had outrun the warship the Crown of the Ocean. Normally Justin would turn and fight, but his cousin was aboard and he did not wish to risk her safety. It had been five days since they set sail and Justin was finally able to sit down to eat and talk with Sansa.

"I brought you some food from the galley…" They ate together in his cabin. "Now tell me what happened to uncle and leave nothing out…"

She took a deep breath, "Jon Arryn had died…And King Robert came to Winterfell to ask father to be his new Hand…Father betrothed me to Joffrey…I thought he was so handsome and noble…I thought I loved him…but Joffrey is a monster…On the King's Road…" She burst into tears.

Justin comforted her, "Be strong like the wolf…You are the daughter of Eddard Stark…Now tell me…"

She took a shuttering breath, "Arya my little sister was with us and my Septa…Arya was playing with the butcher's son when we stopped at an inn to rest…Joffrey and I came upon them playing…Joffrey attacked Mycah I think his name was…Arya came to his defense then Joffrey turned on Arya…Nymeria Arya's Dire wolf attacked Joffrey biting his arm…" She paused, "Arya ran off but was found by the Lannister men…When they brought me before the King…I lied saying I saw nothing…I look back on that situation and wished I had spoken up for my sister…She attacked me and father separated us or pulled Arya off me…Then the Queen asked for my Dire Wolf Lady to be killed in Nymeria's place…Joffrey was cold to me…Until we reached the capital…I refused to speak with father or Arya as Arya blamed me for everything…

"When Joffrey started speaking to me again I became happy…Then things started to go bad again…Jaime Lannister attacked my father…Then father called off my betrothal. Then I foolishly told the Queen that father was sending me and Arya back to Winterfell…The King was hurt during the hunt and died…They arrested my father…I begged the Queen and Joffrey to allow me to see him…They made me say all kinds of horrible things…Then Joffrey beheaded my father and made me look at his severed head…They also killed Septa Modane…"

When Sansa told Justin how Joffrey started abusing her he gripped his sword. Then when she got to the part about Joffrey stripping her before the court Justin jumped up, "That son of a bitch! I am going to cut him into pieces and feed him to the crows…" He looks at Sansa and takes a seat, "Forgive me…"

"No apology is necessary…As long as I get to watch!" Sansa said with a hint of venom. "Thank you!" Sansa said.

"Where is your sister?"

"No one knows…"

Justin shook his head, "I should have been there…For you, Robb, Aunt Catelyn, Arya…I hope she is alive…"

Sansa smiles, "If anyone can take care of themselves its Arya…She is a Wildling in disguise…" They laugh, "Where have you been…" Sansa listens as Justin starts from where he ran away and stowed away on a ship. How he lived on the streets of Braavos and was taken in by a noble sword master. "Why didn't you write or something?"

Justin hunched his shoulders, "Because if I did it would have given Uncle Eddard a clue as to where I was…"

"Where are we going anyway?"

"To White Harbor…House Manderly is sworn to our family and we'll be safe there…" During the entire voyage Justin spent all his time with Sansa hearing tales about the family and the cousins he didn't know like Arya, Bran, and Rickon. 'What about Jon? He must be married by now…"

"Jon went to serve on the wall…"

Justin sighs, "Shame…If it were up to me I would have given him the family name…"