Chapter 13
Sansa and Petyr made their way down to the common grounds of Winterfell to await the arrival of Jon and Bran.
"Are you alright?" He asked turning to look at her. "I'm nervous. About everything." She said, her eyes locked on the gates. He nodded his head, though she didn't see.
Her heart was pounding in her ears and her breath quickened as panic rose inside her. She was a grown woman. A married woman. Again. But she was still afraid of what Jon would say. What he would do? Surely he at least knew about his parentage at this point. But how he had reacted to the news she was unsure. Over the weeks she'd wondered what would happen now that he knew Ned wasn't his father. Would he want the others in the realm to know? Would his claim as King in the North be safe with Bran back? What about him being a Targaryen? She had thought it would be better to keep it all secret, but then she remembered that Petyr had known the truth. If he knew the truth then surely others out there did as well. If it became known that Jon knew and did not say he would be branded a liar and no one would stand behind him ever again.
She would soon have to decide her next course of action. Whether she would have to forcefully remove her brother from the throne or if he'd step down willingly. But out of all these different paths, none could be taken until she spoke with him. Sansa wondered if maybe it'd be best if Petyr was not present for their reunion. She did not know what Bran knew and if he had told Jon anything. Maybe having her husband there would set everything off on the wrong foot. But Jon had given his blessing for them to marry. The only thing that had changed from that was that she had married him sooner than she had promised and without his presence.
Deep breaths Sansa, deep breaths. Calm down. Nothing has happened yet. You need to breath. She spoke to herself trying to calm her nerves. Before the gates opened Petyr stood in front of her, sensing her distress.
"My dear, everything is going to be ok. I am here by your side and I am never leaving it. No harm will befall you." He inclined his head to the left, then to the right. In the wings, hiding in the shadows, were Kinghts of the Vale dressed in their full armor and ready for battle. Just in case.
"You don't think it will come to that do you? I do not wish my brothers harmed." She said as her panic intensified.
"Your brother and cousin will not be harmed." Petyr said, subtly reminding her that Jon was no longer her brother. "But his men may be if they make a move to harm you or myself. I am most positive that everything will stay civil my sweet wife." He said reassuringly.
"Then why have them here at all then?" She asked.
"Because my little wolf, it is best to always come prepared for the worst while hoping for the best. You should know by now that I am always ready for any outcome." He said, raising his eyebrow to her and tilting his head to the side.
She nodded "Of course, you're right. I'm just so worried, and I'm trying not to be."
He kissed her forehead then turned back to stand next to her, taking hold of her hand once more, as the gates of Winterfell were raised.
The horses all came to a stop not far from where they were standing. In the middle of them all she spotted Jon on one horse and Bran on another with a girl behind him, holding him up in the saddle. Sansa rushed forward just as Jon was getting off his horse and he helped her as she reached for her little brother. "Bran! You're here!" She cried as she held him close to her while Jon helped support him. The girl got off and hovered around Bran very protectively. The men gathered the horses and took them to the stables.
"Come now, sister, let us take our brother into my chambers where he will sleep tonight. You can interrogate him there while he gets warm in a bed and gets some food in his belly." He tells her, pulling him from her arms and carrying him up to his chambers. Much to her dismay, she let her brother be taken from her and she followed them to Jon's rooms.
As they walked she slowed her steps and Petyr slowed with her. "He called me sister. Could he not know? Could Bran have had other news for him?" She whispered hastily to her husband.
"My dear, for all he knows you are completely unaware of his parentage. It would be most confusing for him to call you cousin before he's had a chance to tell you himself." He reminds her.
"Yes, of course. I hadn't thought of that." She nodded.
After Jon laid Bran down in the bed and covered him with the furs he said "I will see to getting a meal for you and Meera. And rooms for you." He said the last part towards the girl Sansa assumed was Meera. "Why don't you join me? Give them a moment." He said to the girl. She nodded and hesitantly stood then followed Jon.
"I shall give you two some time to catch up as well. I'll be just down the hall if you need me." Petyr said as he headed towards the door.
"No, stay." He heard the young lad say. "I'd like to speak with the both of you, if you don't mind, Lord Baelish." Having not expected the little Lord to request his presence he turned around slightly surprised but with composed features. "As you wish my Lord." He replied.
Sansa had sat on the bed next to Bran, one of his hands in both of hers. Petyr stood behind her and waited to see what the last surviving Stark male had to say.
"I know you two know about Jon." He turned to Sansa "The crow in the Godswood was me. I know you know and I heard everything you said to Lord Baelish." He said very calmly without a trace of menace in his voice. Sansa looked panicked and began "I have no intentions of-" he raised his hand, stopping her mid sentence.
"I know of your intentions. They are to keep the peace in the North, whatever means necessary. Those are mine as well. Jon knows who his true parents are but I did not tell him that Lord Baelish here has told you. I figured you could tell him yourself that you knew. That and of your recent name change." Sansa's jaw dropped open and an audible gasp was heard. "But how?" She asked.
At this Bran smiled "I was there too, only you did not see me that time. It was a beautiful ceremony sister, and I wish I had been there in person to witness it. But I understand your reasoning for not waiting. The war to come will be the worst that ever was. The North needs to be united as one if we are to have a chance at winning. This is why I stated that my intentions to keep the peace were the same as yours. I do not wish to go against Jon, though maybe not by blood, Jon is our brother. But the undead do not care if we have unsettle in our lands. They will kill us all the same." He said.
Sansa found comfort in the fact that her brother knew everything already. It took a weight off her shoulders. She leaned forward and hugged Bran fiercely and cried into his shoulder. As she hugged him he looked up into Petyr's eyes. His look was one of loyalty and protectiveness. Petyr got the message loud and clear. Bran sided with his sister, not him. Petyr slowly nodded his head downward, acknowledging his unspoken words.
During this exchange Jon walked back into the chamber and took in the sight before him "Lord Baelish." He said walking towards the bed. "Your Grace." Petyr replied, bowing to his King. Sansa broke her hug and sat back so that Jon could place the stew in front of Brand. "Where is Meera?" He asked.
"She is bathing and eating in her chambers. She will be back in a couple of hours though. She suggested giving us all a bit of time to ourselves." He said as he eyed Petyr, questioning his continued presence with his eyes but not speaking aloud.
Sansa noticed her cousin's look and stood to tell him of her marriage. "Jon, there's something I need to tell you." She began.
"I was beginning to think so." He said, his eyes finally leaving Petyr and settelling on Sansa.
"I know I promised that I'd wait, but I just couldn't. Petyr and I were married not long after your departure." She said nervously.
Jon said nothing at first and looked between the both of them. Then he unexpectadly laughed and walked towards Sansa, bringing her in for a hug. "Congratulations sister! I do wish you had waited so Bran and I could be present, but I understand what is like to be in love and not wanting to wait." He said smiling. He reached out to Petyr to take his hand in a shake. Petyr was hesitant but reached out for his grasp and shook it strongly, just as the King did.
Sansa stood there looking more nervous than before and Jon was confused. "What is wrong sister? Are you not happy with the marriage already?" He asked, immediately glaring at Petyr. Petyr rolled his eyes. This young King was a dramatic one.
"No Jon. I am very happy with Petyr. He has been nothing but the most kind, gentle, and loving husband. I am truly blessed." She began. "But there is one more thing that I need to confess to you."
"You can't be expecting a babe already can you? There hasn't been time yet... Unless..." Jon said.
Sansa laughed lightly "No Jon, I am not with child. At least not to my knowledge." She said, giving Petyr a sly smile. "What I needed to confess is that I know already."
"Know what?" Jon asked, confused as ever.
"Jon. I know." She said with more emphasis.
And then the King got it. "You know? How? Bran told you already?"
Petyr stepped in "Actually your Grace, I am the one who told Sansa." He said, waiting for the confusion and outrage that was sure to follow.
"You? How did you know Lord Baelish?" Jon asked more confused than ever. Petyr thought to himself, you know nothing Jon Snow.
"The how's are not so important your Grace. I have known since you were but a babe in your uncles arms. I kept your secret, even from you, for your safety. As bad as a man you may assume I am, and you wouldn't be entirely wrong, I do not condone the killing of innocent babes. And that's exactly what your fate would have been if Robert Baratheon knew that you were the product of Lyanna and Rhaegar's marriage."
Jon thought on that for a moment. "I find it hard to want to trust you seeing as you knew intimate details of my life and kept them from me. But I understand the reasons why you kept them to yourself and in doing so I am still alive to stand here before you today." He thought to himself for another moment and finished "Thank you Lord Baelish for keeping my true identity to yourself. Can I assume that you'll continue to do so until I've decided myself what I am to do with the information?" He asked.
"No thanks are needed your Grace. Of course I will keep your secret. I have no ill will towards you or the crown, seeing as I am now married to your sister. Cousin. Forgive me, that will take some time to get used to. Though, I suppose she is still your sister in the eyes of everyone that is not in this room so I shall not get used to the new terminology just yet." He said.
"I thank you nonetheless." Jon replied.
All this time Sansa and Bran had kept quiet, watching everything unfold. Jon turned to Bran and sat next to him on the bed. Sansa sat on his other side and Petyr stayed standing. "How's the food?" Jon asked Brand.
"Better than I've had in years." He smiled up at the King. "Good." Jon laughed.
Sansa couldn't stand not knowing so she asked Jon "What will you do now? Will you keep it secret or tell everyone?"
Jon looked to her and said "I havne't decided yet. For now, we need to keep it secret. I have considered telling Ser Davos. I can always trust his advice." He said as he looked to Bran. "Do you think it is wise to tell him?" he asked him.
Bran finished his bite and swallowed, taking his time. "I think it would be wise to seek the Ser's council. We can trust him." He said.
Sansa was impressed with how mature her brother had gotten. He was no longer a young boy who only wanted to climb on things. He was wise beyond his years. But the last few years had changed all of them. Forced them to grow up much too quickly. Bran yawned and tried to disguise how tired he truly was.
"You're tired brother. I will let you rest. We can speak more in the morning." Sansa said to him as she leaned down and kissed him on the forehead.
"I won't be running off anywhere." Bran joked as he gestured towards his broken legs.
"That isn't funny." Sansa argued as she laughed. "I have missed you so much." She said as she stood from the bed.
"I have missed you too. I will see you bright and early I am sure." He said and laid back on the pillows.
"If there are any changes, if anything happens-" Sansa says to Jon.
"Yes, of course you will be the first to know." He assures her and leads her and Petyr to the door. "No go on and be a happy newly wed couple." Jon jokes, wagging his eyebrows at them. Sansa playfully smacks his arm and tells him to stop.
Once back in their chambers Petyr dismisses her handmaiden and begins to help her undress. "Are you pleased with how things went my love?" He asks her noticing that she is lost in thought.
"Yes, very pleased. No one was mad at me and everyone was happy. I couldn't have wished for a better outcome." She said.
"See little wolf, I told you not to fret until absolutely necessary." He told her.
"Yes, my husband seems to always be right." She turned and smiled at him as he helped her out of her gown, his fingers burning a trail down her skin.
"Take me Petyr. I need you right now, more than I ever have." She didn't have to ask him twice and he lead his wife to their marriage bed and loved her every way he knew how.
...
The next morning Sansa was up as the first rays of the sun were lighting the sky. She dressed quickly and left Petyr alone to sleep until he woke on his own. She rushed down the hall until she reached Jon's changers. She stood outside and listened to see if they were awake. She heard talking behind the door so she opened it quietly and peeked her head inside. She found Bran sitting up in bed next to the girl, Meera, and Jon was on a chair next to the bed. They all turned and looked at her as she peered inside. "Well, are you going to join us or just stand there like a simple girl and stare?" Jon joked with her.
She walked in and Jon stood and brought another chair near the bed for her to sit in. Before she sat down she leaned across the bed and held her hand out towards the girl. "I'm Sansa Stark. Well, Baelish now actually. I'm Bran's oldest sister." The girl took her hand, although upon closer inspection the girl seemed to be at least Sansa's age. "I'm Meera Reed, Howland Reed's daughter. He sent me and my brother, Jojen to protect Bran." She said in reply.
"Where is Jojen?" Sansa asked and immediately regretted asking when she saw her face fall. "He did not survive the journey here, I'm afraid." She said sadly.
"I'm sorry. I have lost two brothers and many more. I understand your pain. Thank you, Meera, for bringing my brother back to me safely. I am in your debt." Sansa told her.
"You owe me nothing, but I appreciate your kind words. I am sorry for your losses as well, my Lady." She said finally looking back into Sansa's eyes.
"Please, call me Sansa." She requested. Meera nodded in acknowledgement.
The four of them sat around and talked, mostly Sansa and Jon listening to Bran and Meera tell them of all they had seen and been though over the years since escaping Theon and the Iorn Born in Winterfell. After a few hours a servant brought food in for them to all break their fast. They spent the better part of the day exchanging stories. Sansa and Jon glossed over the worst part of their own stories but they could tell that Bran knew more than he was letting on. But still, neither felt the need to go into detail about such horrid memories. It would do none of them any good.
Once the sun was getting close to setting in the western sky there was a knock at the door. "You may enter." Jon said loud enough to be heard through the door.
As the door opened Ser Davos walked inside. "Your Grace, my Lord and My Ladies. I am sorry to intrude, but I was told you wanted to see me." He said looking towards Jon.
"Please, when we're in private call me Jon." Jon told him. Davos nodded his head in agreement. "Come, pull up a chair and join us." He said.
Ser Davos did as he was bid. Once seated Jon began to speak "I requested you join us because I have some serious news to share with you that must not be spoken of outside this room unless I give the word. Do you understand the severity of what I am about to tell you?" Jon asked the Ser. "Yes, your Grace, Jon. I understand. As your Hand I will never repeat anything you tell me in confidence." Ser Davos replies.
"Very good." Jon says and continues to tell him of Bran's warging. Ser Davos is no stranger to this and instantly believes everything he is told as truth. Bran finishes the story about how he witnessed Lyanna dying in her childbirth bed and how she asked her brother, Eddard Stark, to protect her secret from everyone. He revealed how her secret was that Jon was her son with her husband Rhaegar.
Davos takes the news in stride. Almost seemingly unaffected by it. After a moment of contemplation he tells Jon "I will not tell a soul. You are my King, no matter who your parents are, and my fealty is sworn to you." Ser Davos says with conviction. Jon reaches out and grabs his hand, both of them hovering over Sansa's lap.
"Thank you Ser Davos, I knew I could trust you. I do have a question to ask. You advice on the matter really." Jon says. "Anything for you Jon." Davos replies.
"With the true war coming I was thinking it might be better if we did not let this become common knowledge just yet. The North needs to be united if we wish to stand a fighting chance against the White Walkers. I am afraid that they will not be too keen to discover that their new King is not actually a Stark, but a Southern born Targaryen."
"Jon, you are a Stark no matter who your father is, but I understand what you are getting at." Ser Davos thought to himself, bringing his hand up to his chin and looking down while he considers Jon's question. "Jon, I agree that you should keep this to yourself for the time being. I think the Northerners will be upset if they learn that you kept this from them, but their safety in the war to come is more important than that at this time. We can work out a way to make amends after the war is won. But right now, keeping everyone united is paramount. There is already unrest amongst the men because of the presence of the Free Folk. Any further discord could lead to the breaking down of the North and the ultimate loss of all our lives in the very near future."
Everyone sat in silence as they let his words sink in. Bran was the first to speak up saying "Well then it's settled. No one outside this room shall know the truth for the time being. Sansa, I assume you can keep your husband from spreading this throughout the Realm?" He asks. Sansa is a bit hurt by his accusing words but she is not a fool. She understands the reputation her husband has. "Yes, I can make sure he stays quiet." She assured them all.
"Then that is enough serious talk for one day. Let us go down to the hall for dinner and celebrate the homecoming of our little brother!" Jon says excitedly.
They all get up and Jon reaches down to lift Bran. Meera, having been quiet this whole time looks comfortable but not quite part of the group. Sansa goes to her and tells her quietly "Thank you so much for keeping him safe, again. Anything you need, let me know and it is yours. You are one of us now, you are our family. You will always be welcome in Winterfell. Do you understand?" She asked.
"Yes my Lady." She replied.
"I told you to call me Sansa. We are sisters now."
"Yes Sansa. Thank you." She said and diverted her eyes back towards Bran. Sansa had a feeling there was more than meets the eye between her brother and his protector but now wasn't the time to inquire.
As they reached the hall Sansa was grabbed by her arm and spun around and pushed up against the stone wall. She gasped as familar lips pressed tenderly against hers. She sighed in his embrace and wraped her arms around his neck.
"Did you have a good day my love? I missed you." Petyr said as he leaned back to look into her eyes.
"The best day my love. Thank you for giving me the time with my brothers I so needed." she thanked him. "Ser Davos knows and agreed that we should keep it secret for now." She whispered in his ear. He nodded his head in acknowledgement. "He did not seem bothered in the least by the news. That was a pleasant surprise." She finished.
"Your brother is a good man. Many look up to him. Though he may not be the rightful heir to the North, he may be the best one for the job for now. At least until after the war." Petyr says. Sansa doesn't quite like what he is implying but she knows her husband, ever the schemer. It is his nature.
"Petyr, not now..." She begins.
"No my love, not now. Some plans unfold more quickly than others. This one is not one of them." He says and steps away from her, taking her hand and leading her into the hall to have their supper. Sansa doesn't say another word as she lets her husband lead her to the head table where her brother, his protector, and her cousin await her.
Petyr looks at Sansa, her face set in the look she gets when she is deep in thought. He smiles to himself. Another seed had been planted and has taken root.
A/N: Ok, so maybe this wasn't quite as dramatic as I originally planned but when I write I have only a vague idea of how I want the story to go. I let it flow on it's own as I'm writing it. Sometimes even I am surprised at the turns it takes. This chapter sets the groundwork for a lot of things to take place. I hope y'all have enjoyed it. Please let me know what y'all think. :)