Chapter 6
Sansa III
"You can't be serious," Sansa was livid, "ally with a House that lured our brother and my mother to their castle under false pretences and murdered them under guest right."
"I didn't say ally Sansa, if House Frey moves against the Bolton's we may be able to use it to our advantage. We can't just attack; it's as much a rescue as an assault and we can't allow Rickon to be used as a bargaining tool. We need to explore every possible course of action, even the ones we'd prefer not to."
Sansa felt schooled and she didn't like it, especially in a room of people. She had a fiery temper, just like her mothers and this was the second time it had broken loose, first in front of Tormund and now the whole group. Her mask had slipped and she berated herself, Littlefinger had taught her better than that.
"Sansa did you hear anything about the size of the Bolton force while you were at Winterfell?"
"I heard Ramsay mention 5,000 once."
"Tell me about the battle Stannis fought with the Bolton's" Jon said looking at Ser Davos.
"There was a blizzard, we were snowed in for days and couldn't advance. The Bolton's knew we were there and sent a small force to set fire to the camp in the night, men were deserting rapidly so Stannis sent me back to Castle Black to ask for your help."
"That was Ramsay," Sansa added. "he returned full of self-congratulation."
"Stannis attacked with no more than 2,000 men and they were slaughtered like cattle," Brienne added. "I would estimate the Bolton force was more than double theirs so 5,000 sounds about right."
"You were there?" Ser Davos looked at Brienne.
"I was waiting in Winter Town hoping I could aid Lady Sansa."
"Do we know for certain that Lord Stannis died?" Jon asked.
"Yes," Brienne said, "I killed him."
Ser Davos was outraged "Why?"
Brienne rose slowly, her head held high "Because I was Kingsguard to Renly Baratheon and a shadow with the face of Stannis murdered him in front of Lady Catelyn Stark and myself. No-one believed me, but when I found Stannis he admitted it so I ran him through. The magic was your work I presume?" Brienne said turning to Lady Melisandre.
Jon held up his hand before she could form a word. "Is it true?" he asked.
"Yes, I serve the Lord of Light and it was his will" she replied quietly.
"Did you know about this Ser Davos?" he continued.
"Stannis asked me to take Lady Melisandre ashore, her belly was swollen and she, what I can only describe as 'gave birth' to a shadow creature. I had no idea what was going to happen or what the plan was."
"But when you found out you continued to follow Stannis anyway" Brienne said, indignant.
"Enough" Jon shouted and they all fell silent. "Lady Brienne did her duty to her King, Ser Davos and Lady Melisandre theirs, rightly or wrongly it's done, it's over and either we move on together or go our separate ways so make your peace or leave."
Sansa was astounded, this was the reason that Brienne had fled. No wonder she hadn't told her on their journey to Castle Black, Sansa probably wouldn't have believed her either.
Brienne spoke first. "I swore an oath to Lady Catelyn Stark to protect her daughters and I will keep it."
"It's in the past" Ser Davos said sternly.
Her brother looked at Lady Melisandre, who seemed to be studying him before finally speaking "agreed."
When they were children, Jon was quiet and she'd always thought that perhaps he wasn't very bright. She realised now that he was highly intelligent and very observant, he didn't miss anything. Now, when he spoke, he did so plainly and directly, asked questions and evaluated situations without emotion or prejudice clouding his thinking. His arguments were logical and once he made a decision, that was it. It came with experience she supposed. People followed Jon because he was a good leader, and a fair one. The broken man that Sansa had nursed earlier was gone, this was the man that Edd had described to her.
Tormund brought over 2 large flagons of ale, put them on the table and looked directly at Jon.
"I can give you around 2,000 fighters, that's everything we have."
"How many swords?" Jon asked as everyone began helping themselves to ale.
"A few hundred perhaps, you know our people Jon, steel is scarce north of the Wall so use bows and arrows. You also know how accurate we are" he added with a wink. She'd have to ask him about that.
"I can't give you any of the Night's Watch Jon, as much as I'd like to, our priority has to be the defence of the Wall" Edd admitted honestly.
"Will you send out scouts," he asked "it would be helpful to know how close the white walkers are, as well as offer any free folk passage through the Wall?"
"Ideally yes but you know how short we are."
"Some of my people will go," said Tormund "Free folk won't likely believe crows anyway."
"Good. Now we should consider the Vale" Jon said and Sansa's heart skipped a beat. "They don't usually get involved but Robin Arryn is my sister's cousin. Do you think he'll support us Sansa?"
She opened her mouth to speak but the words got stuck.
"Sansa?" Jon repeated.
"I spent time in the Vale, at the Eyrie but it's complicated" she said not wanting to have the discussion publically. She didn't want to have the discussion privately either but it would have to be had nonetheless, albeit the palatable version.
"It's getting late and it's been an eventful evening so Sansa and I can speak later and we'll all meet here to break fast in the morning?" He said turning to Tormund who nodded in assent.
"I have to get back to the Wall," Edd said to Jon "we have the vote tomorrow and there might be more messages waiting for me to ferry to you" he added sarcastically.
Her brother smiled and embraced his friend warmly "Do something for me, once the next Lord Commander is chosen, hold off on sending out the Ravens until we've spoken?"
"Your wish is my command" Edd deadpanned as he left and Tormund gave a hearty snort.
She watched her brother walk over to Tormund and embrace him. They said no words, none were needed, their actions spoke volumes.
Jon walked over to her and offered his arm and they walked outside. Sansa took in the cold night air and looked up at the sky, it was awash with stars that shone so brightly they looked like white fire. They walked into a tent that was wonderfully warm from the fire he'd built earlier and she stood just a few steps in from the entrance and watched as he added some more logs and sat. He looked up and held out his hand beckoning her, she felt hesitant as she walked over and sat down placing her hands in her lap.
"I know it's important that we speak about the Vale and what happened to me but some of it's difficult to talk about so can you ask any questions when I've finished."
"Of course."
"I think it will be easiest if I start at the beginning. As you know, I was in Kings Landing and when father was arrested the Kingsguard took me to the Red Keep. All our household were killed but they couldn't find Arya, she'd disappeared. I pleaded for father's life and King Joffrey said he would be merciful but he wasn't and took father's head in front of me at the Sept of Baelor." Sansa closed her eyes for a moment and took a deep breath before continuing. "I assumed they would take my head as well but the Lannister's wanted to use me as leverage against Rob, it didn't work and he kept winning battles making them look weak so instead of marrying me to King Joffrey, who was now betrothed to Margaery Tyrell, I was wed to Tyrion Lannister." Jon's eyes grew wide and he opened his mouth to speak. "He didn't touch me, not once, not at all," she said to reassure him "he was actually very kind."
"At the King's wedding feast Joffrey was poisoned and died. I fled with a Knight I knew who took me to a ship and when I boarded Lord Petyr Baelish, Master of Coin, was waiting for me. I didn't think about it at the time but he must've been involved in Joffrey's murder. He took me to the Eyrie and I posed as his bastard niece as Cersei Lannister believed I had conspired to kill her son, only Aunt Lysa and Robin knew my real identity. Lord Baelish and Aunt Lysa married, they'd been planning it for some time and she was clearly in love with him. It was agreed I would stay at the Eyrie but Aunt Lysa didn't like me, she attacked me and tried to throw me through the moon door, a hole in the middle of the castle with a drop of 500 feet, but Lord Baelish saved me and it was Aunt Lysa that ended up on the rocks below.
When the Lords of the Vale questioned Lord Baelish I revealed who I was and that Lord Baelish had saved my life, I didn't know what he had planned so I saved him to give myself some security. As Aunt Lysa was dead he became Lord Protector of the Vale and sent cousin Robin to Lord Royce to learn how to be a Lord. Robin is a very strange young man Jon, not stable of mind, much like his mother and is easy to manipulate and I fear, dangerous. Lord Baelish told me that he had arranged a marriage and we left the Vale, I assumed for him but it was for me, to Ramsay Bolton. I was at Winterfell for over four moons until I escaped and that's when Brienne found me and we made our way to Castle Black."
Sansa couldn't read the expression on Jon's face, his eyes were glazed over and his breathing a little ragged. Eventually, he composed himself.
"Why did you leave the Vale?"
"I didn't know anyone there and at the time I felt safer with Lord Baelish."
"Who took you under false pretences because if he'd told you the truth you never would have gone with him."
"Yes, that's how it turned out."
"Did he force you to marry Ramsay?
"Lord Baelish suggested it might be the best way to avenge our family, I would be in the North and that would provide possibilities but he said that it was up to me."
"Did you believe him?"
"I honestly don't know."
"Did he know about Ramsay, what he was like?"
"I don't know."
"What did Lord Baelish get from the arrangement?"
"I don't know."
"Why didn't your Aunt Lysa like you?"
"What?"
"She tried to kill you, why?"
Sansa's wanted to tell him it was because she was insane, not wanting to reveal the real reason. Did she feel ashamed, like it was somehow her fault or simply because she wasn't sure Jon could be trusted?
"Sansa?"
"Stop it," she snapped "stop interrogating me."
Jon was startled, he reached out to touch her shoulder and she couldn't help recoiling. Alarm flashed across his face.
"Sansa," he said softly, "I didn't mean to interrogate you, I'm just trying to understand what happened so I can help you and Rickon, if it is Rickon that Ramsay has.
"It is."
"You're certain?"
"When the Greyjoy's sacked Winterfell, Theon couldn't find Bran and Rickon so he burned two farm boys so everyone would believe he'd killed them."
"What! How do you know this?"
"Theon told me, he was at Winterfell, a prisoner like I was, it was Theon that helped me escape, we jumped from the west wall."
"Theon!"
"Jon, I know he betrayed Rob and did some awful things but he also saved me, Bran and Rickon too."
"Where is he now?"
"I hope at home on Pyke, he was going to bring me to you but Lady Brienne found me and he was so broken and just wanted to go home. I know it's hard for you to hear, I hated him too when I first saw him at Winterfell but Rickon wouldn't be here at all if he hadn't lied to his own men."
"Is he loyal to you? Do you trust him?"
"I believe he's loyal to me yes. As for trusting him I don't trust anyone anymore so it's not a useful measure."
Jon took a deep breath "let's focus on Rickon for a moment. I think either he was recently captured and given to Ramsay or, someone was already hiding him and gave him up."
Sansa saw exactly where Jon was going "you think one of the Northern Houses betrayed us don't you?"
"I do. I also think Bran and Rickon would have separated after their escape, it's the smart thing to do so Bran could be alive too and in great danger. Do you think it's possible that Arya could be alive?"
"Brienne saw her, about 5 moons after father's death with a man in the Riverlands. She said it didn't seem like he meant her any harm but she didn't want to leave him, Brienne didn't see her again." Jon nodded sadly. "Jon, you said we have to consider all possible courses of action so we should talk about trading me for Rickon because without a male heir, the Stark line ends."
"Sansa, Ramsay is a monster, you said so yourself and if I trade you for Rickon I risk losing you both, besides, you're not a piece of meat."
"All high-born women are pieces of meat Jon, we're traded in marriage to men we don't love of even like, at least this time it's for good reason."
He took hold of her hands "you're not for sale, to anyone." Sansa felt tears prick her eyes. "I vow to you as long as I live you will never marry a man you do not love and I will never let a man touch you that you don't want to be touched by, do you understand?" She was so moved she didn't know what to do so just nodded. "I can see how painful it is for you to talk about and I'm not stupid Sansa, I know you're leaving a lot out but I hope you know you can tell me anything, no matter how bad you think it is, that you can trust me, you're my sister and it's my job to protect you now."
Sansa was trying hard not to cry and once she'd calmed herself she removed her hands from his and spoke.
"Please understand that since the day father was arrested I haven't for one moment felt safe, I've been completely and utterly alone and on the few occasions that I did trust someone I was let down and it made me feel exposed, unsafe and stupid so I just don't know if I'm capable of trusting anyone anymore, even you."
She winced as she said it and knew it would hurt him, she seemed to be good at that. She already hated herself for what she'd said to him in Tormund's tent, how vicious she'd been using the very words she knew would hurt him the most and it tore him to shreds.
"I understand." He was wounded, she could see it and needed to take a leap of faith for him as well as herself.
"What I'm about to tell you can't be repeated. Not to Tormund or Edd or Ser Davos not anyone." Jon nodded.
"At the Eyrie Petyr told me how much he loved my mother, that I was more beautiful than her then he kissed me and Aunt Lysa saw. That's why she tried to kill me. Before Petyr saved me she said that her father, first husband and my mother were all dead and that's what happened to people that stood between her and Petyr. Obviously she didn't kill my mother but I'm no longer certain that Jon Arryn died of a fever."
Jon walked over to the bed and sat down. He didn't move or speak for the longest time. Ghost wandered over and sat as still as stone next to his master. Sansa waited for him to speak.
"It's clear Lord Baelish can't be trusted. He wants you Sansa and only the Gods know what else and he'll do anything to get it. If the young Lord of the Vale is of unsound mind, its likely he'll only remain alive whilst he's useful. If we approach the Vale for support we'll be betrayed and we need to be the ones pulling the strings and even if we are Sansa, we might still lose Rickon."
"If we lose Rickon we'll have no male heir" she said despondently.
"Is that the most important thing right now?"
"No, but it forces me to take a course of action that I don't want to take."
"What do you mean?"
She couldn't say it so put her hand on her belly and looked at the floor because she couldn't look at Jon, the shame was too much and she couldn't bear to see the look on his face.
"If we live Ramsay has to die, he can't escape and if it's a boy…" she spoke to the floor, half saying it to herself. The silence that followed seemed to last an eternity but she still couldn't look up.
"You don't have to go through with it Sansa, I'll do everything I can to save Rickon."
"We might also be able to have you legitimised but we have to give ourselves the best chance of success, no matter what."
"How far along are you?
"I haven't bled for over 2 moons, but I don't really know" she said embarrassed.
"There'll be women here that can help" he said and took a step towards her.
"Don't," she held up her hand to halt him "I can't. Could you sleep somewhere else tonight and have Brienne come to stand guard, I want to be alone." She didn't mean to sound cold but couldn't help it, there was ice in her heart and Ramsay had put it there. "Don't tell anyone" she reminded him.
"Of course not," he said softly "if you need anything, have Brienne send for me."
Sansa nodded and felt a brief rush of cold air as he left with Ghost in tow, she was still looking at the floor. She had somehow managed to convince herself that she wasn't with child, even when she was being sick, but telling Jon had made it real. She got into bed and waited for the sobbing to start but it didn't come, she just felt numb and vulnerable and was tired of feeling that way, she'd told her brother too much. When Brienne entered the tent she was already falling asleep.
"My lady?"
Sansa sat up and put her mask back on "would you watch over me tonight?"
"Of course. Will your brother not be returning?"
"No we've talked so much I think we've worn each other out" she said with a sweet smile that dropped the moment she lay back down. "Good night Brienne."
Next, Jon and Ser Davos head into dangerous territory.