A/N: This one is not the original one I had planned. The original Sansa chapter was going to be more exciting (in my opinion) but the rest of the story hasn't moved along enough for me to cover that. Sorry to tease. This one will catch us up with Sansa so that the next time we see her I can include the more exciting stuff I have planned.

As always, thanks to the reviewers. You keep me inspired to continue with this :-)

Chapter 52: Alayne/Sansa

Littlefinger had disappeared and Petyr was back. Alayne still remembered what he had said about Arya. She is not your friend. She is not your family. She must have misunderstood what he meant. He must have just been worried about Arya taking her claim. That no longer mattered now. She had no claim.

The castle had buzzed with the news that Rickon Stark was alive and back in Winterfell. She wondered what had happened to Bran. Alayne had not spoken of it with Petyr. She avoided talking of Winterfell with him after their last conversation but finding out that more of her family was alive strengthened her urge to see them, even though she knew it could not be. Alayne Stone had no siblings and even with Winterfell being restored Petyr had told her things. She would not be safe there. She needed to stay in the Vale, to stay hidden until Cersei was done and her marriage was finished. Petyr would protect her. He would keep her safe.

She continued to hear stories of Arya, particularly from Randa. Arya was still ruling Winterfell, even with Rickon being there. Alayne forced herself to smile and laugh but she could not help a surge of envy. Arya had not wanted to be a lady. She had shunned the lessons with Septa Mordane yet Randa was telling Alayne that the bannermen looked to Arya. Arya had a choice of suitors while Alayne was hiding away, by all appearances a bastard.

At least she had Harry. His eye was wandering less. He wanted her and he was the heir to a Great House. It would be a good marriage. Sweetrobin was still lingering though Petyr insisted it would not be long. The shaking sickness was getting worse. Alayne was uncomfortable with the idea of benefiting from the death of her cousin but as Petyr had said, Robert Arryn had always been sickly. Harry was going to inherit and why shouldn't she become Lady of the Eyrie if it was inevitable that her ailing cousin was not long for this world?

There was one flaw in the plan. Petyr had been certain that Tyrion Lannister would not elude Cersei for long. He had been certain that the imp would die, freeing Sansa Stark from her marriage. Tyrion still lived. It was not known where he was but he still lived. He had been kind to her and she did not wish him ill but she wanted to be free. Alayne was getting older and it was getting harder to delay her marriage to Harry. It would soon begin to look very strange and if the betrothal fell through... Alayne could not bear the thought. She did not truly love Harry and she was not certain he loved her but she wanted the marriage. She thought she might grow to love her husband, just as her mother had grown to love her father.

Her envy of Arya faded when she heard her sister had marched into battle. She still wants to play with swords. Alayne had to be extra careful around Myranda Royce. Every little piece of information was a triumph to Randa, a source of entertainment. The older woman was fascinated with the "warrior maiden" of Winterfell though she did snort over the "maiden" part of the name Arya had been given.

"I bet she is as maiden as I am" Randa said with a loud laugh.

Alayne had heard Lady Myranda say enough about Arya by now that she managed not to blush this time. She guarded her words carefully though she knew Randa thought her strange at times. Even with her best efforts she was not always able to join in the gossip about the Starks convincingly.

Petyr said little to Alayne after news spread that the Northmen had taken the Dreadfort, Torrhen's Square and Moat Cailin. She did hear him talking with Lothor Brune though. Alayne was always careful not to interrupt when Petyr had company but she had not known that he was having a private conversation when she took in the wine for him that he usually had after dinner. She froze when she heard him speaking.

"... is too careful. They must be caught off guard. The wine incident proved that".

"The maester did not speak?" Ser Lothor asked.

Peytr did not answer. He had become aware of her presence and for a moment she thought he was angry but then he smiled at her.

"Alayne sweetling, why are you not coming in?"

"I did not want to interrupt father" she said quickly.

She noted that this time he did not tell her she was never an intrusion. He simply beckoned for her to come in and give him a kiss. Ser Lothor retreated and Alayne waited but Petyr did not tell her what he had been speaking of. That was not unusual. She tried to bury her curiosity. Petyr would not like her asking questions.

He changed the subject quickly and began to speak of the upcoming tourney. It would not be a real tourney, only those in the Vale would take part but it was a tourney nonetheless. Alayne felt her curiosity give way to excitement. It would be so sweet to attend a tourney as though all the unpleasant things that had happened in Kings Landing had not passed. She tried to quell her panic at the possibility of being recognised but Petyr assured her it would not be a problem. He began to tease her about being named Queen of Love and Beauty. She blushed at the thought. Sansa Stark would have loved that.

Days passed in a whir as the castle buzzed with preparations. Alayne wished she could wear one of her best dresses but it could not be. Alayne Stone was a bastard and she could not dress above her station. Her preoccupation with the tourney was interrupted when Randa burst into her chambers holding a piece of parchment, her eyes sparkling and a wicked grin on her face.

"Queen Cersei has gone quite mad".

Alayne did not have to look confused for long. Randa tossed the parchment to her and Alayne felt her watching as she read.

"Are you quite alright Alayne" she asked. "You look as though it is you who has been accused of treason".

Alayne did not doubt she had paled. She felt quite sick. Reading the order from Kings Landing had reminded her of her father and what had occurred at the Great Sept of Baelor and of Robb. They were both labelled traitors too. She took a few deep breaths and tried to calm herself.

"I'm surprised Cersei waited this long" she made herself say. Petyr had shared with her that Cersei was becoming more and more unpredictable. The incident where she had tried to organise a match between Myrcella and Prince Aegon had been particularly strange. Petyr had explained to her then of how it should not be long before Cersei was finished but Alayne was not certain.

Randa nodded and looked thoughtful. Alayne did not really hear anything else she said. She just made herself smile and laugh at the times she hoped were right and tried not to keep remembering the past. Arya should have stayed hidden like me. She had heard of the alliance between Prince Aegon and the North but she knew what Cersei was capable of. An alliance would not make Alayne feel safe.

The news of the order spread and Alayne sat in her place at the tourney finding that she could not enjoy it as much as she had hoped. The spectators gossiped about that and the Prince marching towards the Twins and the reminder of the Red Wedding along with talk of treason ruined any enjoyment Alayne might have had. She made herself smile as Harry took his part. He was wearing her favour and he acquitted himself well though as she had expected she was not the Queen of Love and Beauty. A bastard would not have that honour.

Sansa Stark might have been named a voice in her head told her.

She feared for Arya right up until the day Petyr stopped in the doorway of her chambers, a strange smile on his face.

"What is it father?" she asked.

"Arya Stark has been named Queen in the North. They crowned her at the Twins".

He was looking at her, studying her expression. Alayne could not suppress an involuntary surge of anger. I was the one who wanted to be queen, not Arya. Arya had never wanted it. Arya wanted to run around getting dirty. She had never put the effort into her lessons that Sansa had. She tried to bury the feeling and when she looked at him again she saw Petyr's smile had grown and felt as though he could see what she was thinking.

Arya is Queen and I am hiding away pretending to be a bastard.

"Why wasn't Rickon crowned" she said stiffly.

"That is a good question sweetling" Petyr replied. He did not provide an answer.

It was not until she rose the next morning that she realised something. Robb was killed because he had the crown. Her resentment faded and she felt fear begin to mix with it. She was not happy her sister had the crown but it was for a different reason now. She knew she did not want her to die for it.