Fluff, angst, rape and butchery. My apologies to rabbit lovers.
Sansa
Sansa was a stupid girl, or so she decided. She'd trusted a woman who she hadn't trusted in her previous life, simply because she'd tried to help her. Firstly Melisandre had given Jon the salve to help her, winning her trust. Offering to help with her dream, and to interpret it. Offering help with preventing the wall from falling (although Sansa believed Melisandre was genuinely trying to help in that regard), then lending her a dress while she finished the new one she was making. Whatever was on the dress had made her act in a way which had humiliated her in front of Jon. The following morning, she didn't know how to look at him, so she avoided him while the last of the horses were being loaded up. Instead, she paid Melisandre a visit to return the dress.
"What was that all about?" Sansa asked her, trying to keep a calm voice.
"I'm afraid I do not understand?" Melisandre frowned.
"Jon said there was a scent on the dress, one he recognised from when you tried to seduce him."
"The scent is called Kingsheart. It is used for many things, one of them is to ward off nightmares." Melisandre looked genuinely confused. Sansa wanted to tell Melisandre what had happened, but her something inside told her not to. If Melisandre had genuinely meant for it to stop the nightmares, questions would be asked as to why it led to something else.
"Well Jon wasn't happy with me wearing it. If I'd have known that you'd used that to seduce my brother, I wouldn't have worn it." Sansa's handed the dress to Melisandre. "But I do thank you for the kind gesture." suddenly Melisandre's frowned.
"I need to speak with the Lord Commander." her voice was urgent.
"What is it?" Sansa asked as Melisandre rushed from the room and Sansa followed her until they reached the dining room, where Jon stood with Tormund, Edd, Brienne and Podrick.
"Lord Commander." Melisandre bowed her head.
"Edd is Lord Commander." Jon snapped, Sansa knew he was angry with Melisandre after what had happened the night before and she wasn't sure he wanted to speak with her.
Melisandre looked around, at the people who were watching. "There has been a change. The wall is becoming...vulnerable."
Sansa and Jon looked at each other in fear. They both knew the meaning, whatever chain of events that had caused the wall to fall, had just started. Jon nodded his head to one side, where Sansa and Melisandre joined him at the other end of the room.
"What do you mean?" Jon asked.
"Lady Sansa asked me to monitor the magic surrounding the wall. Something has happened, I don't know what it is, but there was a fluctuation in the spells bound in the wall. If the spells are broken, the army of the dead can cross the wall." Melisandre explained.
"Are the spells still in place?" Jon asked.
"For now." Melisandre nodded.
"Will you stay here?" Sansa asked.
"I suppose I am the only one who can feel the magic." she turned to Jon. "Don't you think you should tell the new Lord Commander?" she smirked.
"Edd!" Jon called out as Edd joined them.
"The magic in the wall has been weakened." Jon told him. "The Lady Melisandre can feel it. So she is to stay here to keep abreast of the situation. Can you ensure her safety?" he asked.
"I don't need his help." Melisandre smirked.
"She'll be safe here." Edd ignored Melisandre. "Not sure I can say the same about the rest of us."
"You will need to return to Castle Black Jon Snow, once you have retaken Winterfell." Melisandre smiled, making Sansa feel sick, she knew the red woman would try to seduce Jon again.
"As soon as you know anything, tell Lord Commander Tollett first." Sansa told the priestess.
"I'll return as soon as I can." Jon sighed. "it's time to leave." he said as they made their way back to the rest of the party.
As they made their way to their horses, Brienne walked beside Sansa. "What is it?" Sansa asked.
"I don't like leaving you alone, once we've been to Bear Island."
"I'll be with Jon." Sansa frowned.
"My concern is the Red Woman, she helped a man murder his own brother with blood magic. And when Stannis paid for his crime, where was she? Already out looking for a leader with better prospects. I worry you have spent too much time with her lately. I saw you in one of her dresses."
Sansa smiled. "The Lady Melisandre is staying here. She only lent me the dress while I finished making this new one." she showed it off to Brienne, who nodded approvingly. "I'll be with Jon, Ghost and Tormund. Jon is my brother. He'll keep me safe. I trust him."
"I don't trust her, the red woman." Brienne clarified.
"Neither do I." Sansa agreed. "But I like to understand my enemies, which means getting to know them." she smiled at her sworn sword knowingly. "Now, you'll have to excuse me, I need to speak with my brother."
Sansa trundled through the fresh snow which had fallen overnight, to where Jon was making the final checks on his horse. They'd barely spoken a word to one another; both the night far too embarrassed to talk. However, they couldn't carry on like this, the others would suspect something was amiss. Sansa also wanted to give Jon the gift she had been working on.
"Jon." Sansa caught his attention.
Jon blushed slightly as he eyed her up and down. "New dress?" he asked.
"I made it myself. Do you like it?" Sansa smiled.
"Yeah, I like the wolf bit." he blushed before leaning into her. "It's better than what you were wearing last night." he whispered, Sansa's heart sank, she stood up straight putting on her Queen in the North mask.
"I'm sorry you feel that way." her voice was icy cold.
"Sansa." Jon sighed. "I didn't mean it like that."
Sansa ignored his apology as she handed him a bundle. "I made this for you." Jon examined the cloak, which she'd paid particular attention to sewing the direwolf sigil onto the strap. "I made it like the one Father used to wear. As near as I can remember."
"Thank you, Sansa." Jon smiled weakly.
"Don't!" Sansa snapped. "I'll be sharing with Brienne tonight. And I've changed my mind about our agreement. We'll find another way."
Sansa walked away, leaving Jon about to mouth something, but she didn't care, she wanted the ground to open up and swallow her whole. This entire notion of having Jon as her husband to father an heir was idiotic and futile. Marrying him to protect him from the northern Lords was not the only option, and if there couldn't be anything between them she didn't want it. There she made a decision, save who she could, try to stop Daenerys from coming north, prevent the wall falling, defeat the Night King and let Jon have his happy ever after with his Dragon Queen. Let house Stark be doomed, she couldn't care less.
Sansa climbed upon the her white mare called Flora, which was next to Brienne, who was already on her horse. Beside Brienne was Tormund, who was staring longingly at her sworn sword. Despite her bad mood, Sansa had to suppress a grin, she found Tormund's affection for Brienne hilarious, especially when his competition was the man acknowledged as the most handsome man in all of the seven Kingdoms. Sansa's looked over towards Jon, who was donning his new cloak as Acting Lord Commander Edd Tollett walked over to her cousin to say their goodbyes. Sansa was close enough to hear them.
"Don't knock it down while I'm gone." Jon told his friend.
"I'll do my best." Edd hugged him. "Good luck."
"I've not the one who's got to look after her." Jon grinned, his head cocked towards Melisandre. Jon then whispered something into his ear, leaving Edd with a face of shock. "Good luck to you." Jon smirked.
"Knowing my luck, the wall is more likely to fall than that." he sighed and Jon laughed as he walked back over to his horse and climbs atop it.
Jon's horse was the first to leave, followed by Sansa,, Pod, Brienne, Tormund, and the handful of wildlings and some of Stannis' men who were left at Castle Black; all in all there were about twenty of them riding out of the south gates. Sansa turned her head and looked behind her as she saw the gates close on them, hoping the men left inside would survive, especially Edd, who she'd developed a soft spot for.
Jon and Tormund rode together, talking and laughing on up ahead, Sansa rode with Brienne and sometimes alone, needing time to come to terms with what had happened the previous night. The experience was one she couldn't explain, it was as if she had no control over what she was doing, yet she remembered it with absolute clarity, not through wine induced hazy memories. In some parts this thrilled her, because she could remember what it felt like, having Jon's lips pressed gently against her neck, the feel of him pushed up against her back, his hardness pushing into her, the kiss which had begun so passionately. Yet that same clarity brought her shame, because he was acting upon whatever the potion was supposed to do, yet he managed to fight against it, despite how much he wanted it. He'd even had the sense to lead her on so that he could remove the dress without seeing anything and clothing her into something more modest. Sansa even wondered if the conversation about marriage had been fuelled by the scent of the dress, feeding into her desires. Whatever it was, it was done, over. She and Jon would no longer share a tent, let alone a bed. Marriage was out of the question, so was having an heir. All ruined because she needed something clean to wear.
Every now and again, Jon glanced back to watch her, his face full of concern. Sansa tried not to look at him, but it was hard as riding did require her to watch where she was going and Jon was in front of her. They rode on for five hours, before stopping to make camp for the night. They'd brought tents, which were all erected within a surprisingly short amount of time. Jobs were split between lighting fires, building tents, hunting for game and gathering snow to boil for water, which was Sansa's job. By the time she had finished, everyone else had finished their chores and Sansa's hands were wet and freezing. The snow in the great cauldron was beginning to melt heat up, while Brienne started on skinning a rabbit. Sansa had watched her do it while they'd been travelling from Winterfell to Castle Black, yet she'd never once thought to ask how to do it herself. As a highborn Lady, skinning and cooking a rabbit was far above her station in life, but she had a sudden urge to learn survival skills too.
"Lady Brienne, can you show me how to skin and butcher a rabbit?" Sansa asked.
"Of course my Lady, but why would you want to learn that skill? I am quite capable of doing it..." she started.
"Let's see." Tormund grinned. "You want to learn how to skin and gut a rabbit properly, us Freefolk are the best teachers."
"Is that so?" Brienne had and indignant look on her face. Pod began to stare into the sky, as if he didn't want to be anywhere near this argument.
"I'd like Brienne to teach me first, and if I want to learn another way, I will ask you Tormund. Lady Brienne is more aware of my delicate nature and would be more able to assess my strengths as to which way is more preferable." Sansa smiled kindly and Jon snorted into the mug of ale he was drinking.
"Thank you my Lady." Brienne grinned.
"Go on then." Tormund said. "Show us how you southerners skin a rabbit."
"Does it matter?" Jon asked. "As long as it is skinned, gutted and we get to cook and eat it today? Gods Tormund, I'm faster at it than you are." he rolled his eyes, a fact which surprised Sansa.
"Ah...the fastest fucker gutter in the north." Tormund laughed.
"Over here my Lady." Brienne took her to a nearby tree. "I'll never be able to show you while those lot are teasing." Brienne then gave Sansa a basic guide to skinning the rabbit, although gutting it looked confusing, especially as there wasn't much light left.
They returned to the fire and placed it over the flames to cook along with the others, as the group fell into easy conversation. Once they'd eaten the rabbit broth and boiled down the bones to make sure they'd got stock for the next day, Sansa decided to go to bed. She was sharing with Brienne, who was still with Pod, instead the ever present Ghost joined her to make sure she was safe. As much as Sansa loved Ghost, he was part of Jon and if Ghost was beside her, then so was Jon. But Sansa was so pissed off at Jon, she didn't even want to be in the same camp as him, however she couldn't say no to the enormous, beautiful and fierce direwolf who had opted to become her guardian. She climbed into her cot and snuggled under the furs and closed her eyes. Surprisingly, sleep came to her quite quickly, too quickly.
Sansa was back at Winterfell, in the room where Ramsey held her. She was tied up on the bed naked, Ramsey above her with a maniacal grin on his face. "You want to learn how to skin a rabbit? You've asked the wrong people. You see, I like to flay people, and I first practised on animals. Rabbits are easy. Let me show you." he cackled as he spread her legs apart. "See, first we have to make insertions into the thighs..." he held a hunters knife in the air before slowly cutting a large line down her left thigh, then he did the same with the right one. Sansa began to scream. "Oh, do you want me to fuck you already? I was just getting started, but never mind. You seem eager tonight darling wife." Sansa wriggled trying to break free from her shackles, but they were too tight. She tried to call for help, but her mouth was muffled.
"Sansa...Sansa..." a woman's voice called out, but it was far off.
"Shall we cut the belly or do you want me to fuck you like the slut you are? Your choice." Ramsey smirked.
"Get the Lord Commander." the woman's voice called out.
"I'm already here." a man's panicked voice said. "What's wrong?"
"To skin a rabbit..." Ramsey started, then he disappeared. The ropes were gone, Ramsey was gone, she was no longer in that room. Instead, she was curled up in strong arms, rocking her in a soothing manner. She could smell smoke, ale and leather, a familiar scent.
"Shh, I've got you." Jon whispered in her ears.
Sansa opened her eyes, to be met with dark orbs staring down on her. Jon looked terrified and worried. "Jon." she whispered. "Ramsey..."
"Will be dead within two moons. I promise." Jon smiled and turned to Brienne. "I'll stay with her. She doesn't have the nightmares when I'm around." Sansa looked to Brienne and nodded at her sworn sword. "You take my tent." Jon told her. "She's safe with me and Ghost."
Brienne nodded. "Is that your wish Lady Sansa?" she asked.
Sansa sat up. "It is." she replied, to which Brienne threw Jon an odd glance, before retreating from the tent. Jon pulled the cot which Brienne was supposed to be sleeping in, next to Sansa's. "What are you doing?" Sansa asked.
"If the only way to stop you from having nightmares is to sleep with you, then I will do so." he sighed.
"You don't have to." Sansa snapped.
"Are you still pissed off with me?" Jon asked.
"Yes!" Sansa nodded.
"Are you upset about last night or what I said this morning?" he whispered.
"Both!"
"I was trying to pay you a compliment." Jon protested.
"It didn't sound like it." Sansa folded her arms.
Jon pulled the tie from his hair and ran his fingers through his raven curls. No matter how annoyed Sansa was with Jon, she wanted to do the same, he had beautiful hair. "Last night, we were both under the influence of some powerful magic. You weren't to know, although I'm surprised you trusted her."
"I don't trust her. I wanted to evaluate my enemy. Of course we do have similar goals, like preventing the wall from falling, but it is always wise to befriend your enemy."
"Keep your enemies close." Jon smiled. "Stannis claimed anyone who said that didn't have many enemies."
"Stannis is dead!"
"Aye." Jon nodded.
"She offered the dress. I did question the scent, she called it kingsheart, and said it was to ward off nightmares, although she mentioned it had other uses. Maybe ask Sam to look it up in the Citadel?" she suggested.
"A good idea." Jon nodded.
"Forgive me behaving the way I did last night. You must think I'm a...slut." she winced at the memory of the words Ramsey used, yet they seemed wholly appropriate.
"Sansa, I would never think that of you..."
"I've been married twice, tutored by Lord Baelish in the art of seduction." she looked at him, blushing. "Then last nigh I did that."
"You were under the influence of love magic potion." Jon tried to assure her. "I bet if it had been Tormund, you'd have done the same." they both laughed. "It affected me too remember."
"But you were able to control it." Sansa frowned.
"Only because I recognised the scent of her." Jon shivered. "The memory of her... well let's just say it is enough to make a man to keep to his oaths. If she hadn't done that before, I suspect last night would have ended very different." Sansa nodded. "Lay down. I'm here now. I'm not forgiving you for last night as there is nothing to forgive. Can you forgive my pathetic attempt at a compliment. The dress is very pretty, and I do like the wolf part. You are very talented with a needle."
Sansa smiled. "You are forgiven. How are the wounds?" she asked.
"Healing." Jon nodded. "Thanks to your talents." he took her hand and rubbed circles across the back. "We need to discuss whether we are betrothed or not. Tormund knows about me. I would prefer Brienne and Podrick to find out after we reveal it to the other Lords as they are going south and I don't want word getting out..."
"Or maybe it might be a good idea." Sansa interjected. "If it is common knowledge that Aegon Targaryen, the trueborn son of Rhaegar Targaryen is in Westeros, it will give Daenerys something to think about. Keeping her at bay is the best we can do until we have worked out how to stop the spells in the wall from breaking." she looked at Jon. "Are you really sure about marrying me. I don't want to trap you."
"I've seen what happens to pawns in the game of thrones." he tucked a tendril of hair behind her ear. "It is more terrifying than war. I don't want to be part of it, I'd be happier at Winterfell. Yes I know that we'd be playing the game there, but if we are married, we have each other."
"Jon, we have responsibilities to have children." Sansa reminded him.
"If the worst were to happen, we can always use some kingsheart." he japed, to which Sansa had to laugh. "Come on, lets get some sleep." he yawned, pulling her into him.
"Thank you Jon." Sansa snuggled in sleepily. "Maybe heroes do exist after all."
