AN: I mentioned earlier I found this tricky to write. It was hard finding Sansa's voice (GRRM is a genius the way he can make everybody sound so different) and I'm not sure I got Littlefinger right. Here is my best shot..

Chapter 24: Sansa/Alayne

Alayne's life had become much less lonely now that she was staying at the Gates of the Moon. There were people closer to her own age and the company was lively in the castle. It did make Alayne nervous though. She always had to guard her tongue.

Little Robert Arryn grew frailer each day. Both the maester and Petyr were certain he would not live much longer. He demanded much of Alayne's time. Sweetrobin would not listen to anybody but Alayne. Petyr intimidated him but that only made him shake these days so Alayne shouldered the burden.

When she wasn't tending to Sweetrobin, she spent her time with Myranda Royce. There were others her age here too, the squires Grafton and Lynderly and of course Harrold Hardyng. Petyr had been right, winning Harry's affections had not been difficult. The larger problem now was holding him back. He saw her as a bastard and as such, he thought he could bed her now rather than later. His advances made her blush.

Myranda, or should she say Randa (the woman was quite insistent she be called Randa) was a constant source of gossip and news. Petyr told Alayne some things but Randa held nothing back. So it was one day when Alayne was breaking her fast and Randa burst in a wide grin on her face.

"Oh Alayne, I have something most delicious to share with you". Randa's eyes sparkled mischievously. "Lady Arya Stark has sent out a letter declaring war on the Lannisters, Boltons and Freys".

Alayne dropped the cup she was holding and it shattered on the floor. Randa laughed loudly.

"I did warn you" she looked at Alayne shrewdly. "You have turned a rather alarming colour Alayne".

"Arya Stark is dead" she blurted in shock.

Randa grinned. "For a dead girl she is stirring up a great deal of trouble. She says the Bolton's have an imposter in Winterfell, she says Winterfell is hers with her sister missing and she has declared Aegon Targaryen the King of Westeros".

Arya is alive. Alayne tried to imagine her sister as Myranda was describing her. Arya had always had a bold tongue. It had often gotten her into trouble. She thought wistfully of Arya as a child. They hadn't gotten along. They were so different yet Alayne would give almost anything to see her again. She was so angry with me last time we spoke. I was so angry with her too.

"I wonder if she's fucking him?" Randa mused.

Alayne felt the blood run from her face "Who?"

"Arya" Randa said patiently. "They say he is very beautiful. I think I would". She smiled a cheeky little smile. "In fact I know I would".

Alayne blushed at the thought. "She wouldn't though". She thought of Joffrey. Arya had hated him. She had no interest in princes. She wasn't interested in knights and boys, she only wanted to run and ride and fight with swords. Besides, Arya hadn't been pretty. Alayne couldn't imagine it. It couldn't be true.

"Why not?" Randa's voice cut through. "Not everybody can say they fucked a King" she smirked. "It does run in the family too. Her Aunt and his father though that was a sadder story..."

Myranda Royce was looking at her in that way which made Alayne very uncomfortable. She forced a laugh she didn't feel and donned a smile that would have made Petyr proud. She didn't see him until after dinner. She sought him out in his solar.

"Alayne" he smiled warmly. "Come give me a kiss".

Alayne did as he bid. "I'm sorry to intrude father".

"I've told you before sweetling, you are never an intrusion".

Alayne hesitated. Petyr did not always invite questions and at times he did not take it well when she asked. He clearly knew why she was there though. He raised an eyebrow.

"Myranda Royce has been gossiping again"

"Is it true?" she almost held her breath, frightened of the answer.

"It appears so sweetling". He laughed. "Cersei is rather wroth as you can imagine. If your sweet sister manages to cause an uprising in the North against the Boltons, it is likely to speed the end of Cersei".

"Good" Alayne responded, unable to hide her pleasure.

"I invited the Lady Arya to visit us" Peytr said smoothly.

Alayne's throat constricted. Arya cannot come here.

He chuckled. "Her refusal was rather discourteous"

She was confused. He did not look unhappy. "You did not expect her to accept" she realised.

"That's my clever girl" he took her hand. "I had to ask you see".

Alayne did see. Peytr had been teaching her. She was learning the game. She wanted to ask more but Peytr had picked up his letters and begun to read, signifying the end of their conversation. She gave him another kiss as she left, as was expected of her.

"Goodnight father".

Alayne's smile was real over the next weeks. She had tried to be careful but she had managed to get Myranda to show her the letter. It had not been difficult. The woman did love to gossip and it was, in Randa's words, "too juicy not to share".

It had frightened Alayne but at the same time her heart pounded in excitement. She sounds so angry. She could almost hear Arya in it though it did sound so... grown up. She had to remind herself that her sister was a woman grown now. Alayne dearly wanted to keep the letter. Avenge our family sister she thought. She prayed that it would not get Arya killed.

Harry took her smiles as encouragement, pulling her into his arms when nobody was looking. He would kiss her until she was breathless.

"I like to see you happy my love" he murmured in her ear, nibbling on her earlobe and making her giggle and tell him to stop.

She had resisted him at first, her memories of Joffrey being rather too fresh. She was also married but Petyr had insisted that she would be freed. Harry was her betrothed and she needed to keep him interested. He was very charming and handsome and a knight as well. There was just the one problem. His eye wandered. Father had a bastard too she reminded herself. She remembered Peytr's words. It was a great match for Alayne Stone and a good match for Sansa Stark too. She was also reminded of something he said much earlier. "Life is not a song, sweetling".

Harry's hand had slipped to her thigh, lifting her skirts and she extracted herself from his grasp. "Not yet, my love"

Disappointment marred his features but she forced a smile and offered him her hand and he kissed it.

"You must not tease me so Alayne".

Alayne blushed. "I-I do not mean to".

She would not have allowed him as much as she had but Petyr insisted it was necessary. Sometimes, when she wasn't aware he was there, she had seen him watching her and Harry. The look on his face frightened her but it would soon disappear.

The next news she heard of her sister caused her smile to drop. Petyr had a dark expression at dinner though he hid it with japes and laughter. When they were alone later on, she spoke to him of it.

"Is something troubling you father?"

"Your sweet sister has taken Winterfell. She rode in by stealth and snatched it from Stannis Baratheon after he and the Northerners defeated the Boltons. The North has rallied to swear service to her".

Alayne was confused. "Isn't that good? You said it would help end Cersei-"

"It is not good" he corrected. "If your sister has claimed Winterfell, swooping in like a heroine from a song, she will displace you dear daughter".

Alayne did not know what to say. "Arya didn't want to be a lady" she said.

Petyr laughed a humourless laugh. "It appears she still doesn't. I have eyes on her. At first I thought she was a hostage at Storm's end, then it appeared that they would arrange a marriage, possibly to the Targaryen. Either of those things would have helped us. People have not forgotten your aunt".

Alayne was reeling. "A marriage?" She remembered Myranda's talk about Arya and the prince.

"There are rumours sweetling but it appears Connington and your sister are shrewder than I first thought. I never anticipated they would let her go let alone unmarried. On top of that Ramsey Bolton is dead sooner than I had hoped". He frowned. "I was sure they would ask the North to bend the knee and provoke an uprising against your sister but they haven't. With each day more flock to Arya's side". His voice became cold. "They call her the warrior maiden. She is Lady of Winterfell but in truth the power she wields is more befitting of Lord of Winterfell".

He was angry. Alayne could see he was angry. She could not quite understand why.

"But" Alayne faltered "the letter. She wants to avenge our family".

Peytr turned his gaze on Alayne and what she saw there made her blood run cold. It was Littlefinger, not Petyr. "She is not your friend. She is not your family. She is a piece who has forgotten her place".