News from the south, the arrival of some cargo, a welcome home and a trial.
For clarification, the conclave took place before the Sept of Baelor was blown up. Jon and Sansa didn't go to House Glover of House Cerwyn, so BotB took place a week earlier than in the show.
Warning for references to sexual abuse.
Sansa
With only three weeks to prepare fore the wedding, Sansa had been furiously sewing her cloak and gown from what little material was available in the castle after it had been burned down and ransacked since it was last inhabited by the Starks. She had managed to purchase some cotton and wool from the clothier; and some beadings from the haberdashery in Winter Town, albeit not of the finest quality. Fortunately Lord Manderly had been able to acquire some silks and Myrish lace to be sent with the Dragonstone caravan from White Harbor, as well as cases of the finest Dornish red and Arbor gold. He had told them these were gifts redress his actions when it came to not helping re-take Winterfell. She knew Jon would find them frivolous and unnecessary, but forging alliances was sometimes more valuable than money. A wedding was an opportunity to talk trade and make deals, good wine helped sweeten those deals. This was something Sansa had learned from her time with Cersei and Littlefinger. Show just enough wealth to give a sense of power, without appearing too frivolous to upset the smallfolk, the latter being a concept which neither of her tutors seemed to have grasped.
Unfortunately, the goods arriving from White Harbor, turned out to be too vast for the meagre sleighs House Cerwyn could offer, instead, Jon would have to take three of their own, along with six men to drive them and Tormund who wanted to go along for the ride.
When Jon climbed atop of his horse, he gave Sansa one last smile before setting off towards the gates, and leaving her. Ghost sidled up to Sansa, his nose nudging her arm. She rested her head against his. "He'll be back soon." she said, watching the sleighs riding out until the last horse had left and the gates were closed.
Although Sansa knew she needed to plot against Littlefinger, which she was already planning in the back of her mind, she had other work to do. It was already getting late in the day and planning for winter couldn't be put off. Therefore although she already knew what the stores were like, she needed to carry out the inspection. Sansa was believed to be inexperienced in running a castle, so she asked Maester Wolkan and Lord Royce to teach her the necessities. However in truth, it was an excuse to speak with Lord Royce to put her plan for Littlefinger in action.
That night Sansa woke from terrible nightmares of Ramsay with a knife in his hand, drawing a flayed man sigil over her heart; this was despite the presence of Ghost. Even if Jon had warged into the direwolf, Sansa couldn't sense it. She needed Jon in person. Once she had woken, she couldn't go back to sleep, so instead she began to go through the ledgers.
Sansa had asked to meet with Lord Royce and Maester Wolkan on the upper level of the courtyard, Littlefinger had also decided to join them, which was fine by Sansa, it would make her time with Lord Royce appear even more innocent. Down below, men were working in the courtyard, rolling carts of hay and carrying water, while the blacksmith was working the forge. One of the stables was being cleared to house the dragonglass, while work had already been started on one of the derelict kennels to house a new forge, specifically for Gendry.
The first item Sansa wanted to tackle was how much grain they had in the stores. "How much do we have?" she asked Maester Wolkan.
"Four thousand bushels, Your Grace." he replied.
"What does that mean?" Sansa knew the answer, but she couldn't let on how knowledgeable she was in these sorts of matters.
"For the current occupants of the castle it's enough food for a year, perhaps more." Lord Royce replied.
When Sansa began to walk, her companions followed. "It will have to have a meagre wedding feast and coronation." she sighed.
"I'm sure the Lords and Ladies of the North and the Vale can help with the wedding supplies." Lord Royce smiled, snapping his fingers at one of the vale men, who he whispered something in his ear before re-joining the inspection.
"What's the longest winter in the past one hundred years?" Sansa asked the Maester.
"I'm not entirely certain. I'll check Maester Llewyn's records. He kept a copy of every raven scroll." Maester Wolkan said as Sansa and the men walked down from the upper level into the courtyard.
""We will need to try and keep the battle against the army of the dead at the wall. Even then, we will need to help supply Castle Black with food and men. Not only that, but we don't know how long the winter will last. Does the army of the dead cause winter to be even longer? I've heard the old tales of the long night, if they anything close to the truth, we don't have enough food to survive. We'll die regardless of whether the army of the dead cross the wall."
"No, Your Grace, most likely do not have sufficient food." Maester Wolkan admitted.
"We must prepare for that eventuality. Every direction the threat comes from, Winterfell is the warmest castle in the north and is the best place to be. We need to start building up our grain stores with regular shipments from every keep in the north. If we don't use it by winter's end we'll give it back to them, but if the entire north has to flee to Winterfell there won't be enough time to bring wagonloads of grain with them."
"Very wise, Your Grace." Lord Royce nodded.
"Maester Wolkan, you'll see to it?" Sansa asked.
Maester Wolkan bowed and left, while Sansa Littlefinger and Lord Royce kept on walking through the courtyard, where Sansa spotted a smith hammering a breastplate. "Are they covering those breastplates in leather?"
"No, Your Grace." Lord Royce shook his head.
"Well, shouldn't they be once the real cold comes?" Sansa asked.
Lord Royce coughed. "They should indeed. Pardon me, Your Grace." he left to speak with the blacksmith as Sansa and Littlefinger continued walking.
"Command suits you. The northerners are all facing north worried about the threat beyond the wall." Littlefinger flattered her.
"So they should be." Sansa replied truthfully, if Littlefinger had seen what was coming, he'd have been terrified too.
"I know Cersei better than anyone here. If you turn your back on her..." Littlefinger started.
Sansa shook her head. "You don't know Cersei better than anyone here."
"I only meant to say..." he tried once more, but Sansa wasn't going to let him finish.
"That the woman who murdered my mother, father and brother is dangerous? Thank you for your wise council."
"One of two things will happen. Either the dead will defeat the living, in which case all our troubles come to an end. Or life will win out. And what then?" he stood in front of Sansa and stopped her from going anywhere.. "Don't fight in the north or the south. Fight every battle everywhere always in your mind. Everyone is your enemy, everyone is your friend, every possible series of events is happening all at once. Live that way and nothing will surprise you. Everything that happens will be something that you've seen before." he warned her.
Sansa was silent for a moment, before nodding. "Will you dine with me in my solar, later?" she asked.
"Of course your grace." Littlefinger smiled smugly. "How can I refuse such an offer." he bowed his head and left, while Sansa returned to the forge to find Lord Royce.
Sansa was sewing her wedding dress when Littlefinger arrived at her chambers. The skies were dark outside, the light in the room was provided by the candles and the orange flame of the fire in the great hearth. Between the two chairs, was a table, which contained a spread of meat, bread and cheeses, with wine and fruit. During winter, the main meal of the day, normally a stew, was usually eaten around one and supper was a small spread like the one she had provided. The meal was accompanied by some wine, although not the good vintage which was being provided by Lord Manderly. That would only be for the wedding itself.
"Your grace." Littlefinger smiled as he sat down to join her. "Is that for your wedding?" he asked, taking an interest in her embroidery.
Sansa nodded. "Good evening Lord Baelish. Indeed, you are correct, it will be my wedding dress, if I manage to complete it in time. There is still so much work to do."
"It is rather elaborate for a sham wedding is it not?" he asked.
"The greater the sham, the grander the dress." Sansa sighed. The air was silent for a moment.
"His grace didn't seem very receptive to your arguments in the meeting earlier."
"No, this is the way he is, the way he's been ever since we were reunited. He never asks for my opinion. Why would he start now?" Sansa sighed.
"Are you not supposed to be partners?" Littlefinger asked. "You didn't seem happy about him going to Castle Cerwyn." Sansa glanced up at him.
Sansa raised an eyebrow. "He claims to be protecting me. He acts possessive and aggressive towards others in the name of my honour, yet..." she sighed. "Yet he wanted to get away as soon as he could." tears formed in her eyes, ones she's learned how to use many years ago.
"Maybe he wants another." Littlefinger shrugged.
Sansa frowned. "Another? Who?"
"I've heard gossip that the Dragon Queen is quite beautiful." Littlefinger started, Sansa's heart began to thump hard in her chest, Littlefinger was speaking of matters which were too close for comfort.
"What does that have to do with anything?" Sansa swallowed. "He is to marry me."
"A sham wedding, you said it yourself. An unconsummated marriage leaves him free to marry another as he wishes. As King he can easily annul your marriage. The crown you have yet to wear, is not nearly as secure as you think." Sansa recognised the poison he was spilling into her ear. "Jon is young and would be deemed unmarried. Daenerys is young and unmarried."
"You think he wants to marry her? He says he wants nothing to do with the Iron Throne." Sansa frowned.
"How do you know he means it? An alliance makes sense. Together, they'd be difficult to defeat. He was named King. He is a Targaryen, they do have a liking for their... kin." he continued. "If you were to stay married, he would be a threat to Daenerys, if he were single they can marry and rule together, while protecting you like he claims."
"It doesn't sound like Jon. He's too honourable." Sansa shook her head and began to worry her lips.
"A man who has repeatedly broken his vows to the Night's Watch? How well do you know your cousin?" Littlefinger asked. Sansa looked up at him. "Sometimes when I try to understand a person's motives, I play a little game. I assume the worst. What's the worst reason they could possibly have for saying what they say and doing what they do? Then I ask myself, 'How well does that reason explain what they say and what they do? Try playing it yourself."
"Jon wants to take the Iron Throne and rule with Daenerys Targaryen." Sansa started.
"Why would Jon want to comfort you, help you with your nightmares and win back Winterfell?"
"To gain my trust." Sansa pursed her lips together.
"Why would Jon want to marry you?" Littlefinger asked.
"To gain the armies of the north, Riverlands and the Vale. To be crowned King."
"Why send his men to Dragonstone?"
"To prepare for the arrival of Daenerys." Sansa replied, realising Littlefinger must have had word of the Dragon Queen sailing west. Davos needed to leave immediately.
"How would the north keep its independence once he is King?"
"It wouldn't." Sansa put on her most worried face.
"He didn't need to go to Castle Cerwyn. But he did, maybe he thought not to contact Daenerys from Winterfell, as he knows you will find out. However, nobody would question a raven being sent to Dragonstone from the King while he is at Castle Cerwyn." Littlefinger told her.
Sansa nodded. "What would you do if you were me?" she asked.
"I cannot presume..." Littlefinger started.
"Please do. I need your help. You have far more experience in these matters than I do. How do I stop him?" she pleaded.
"There is only one way." Littlefinger told her.
Sansa took a deep breath and nodded. "How? I cannot get my hands dirty. If anyone were to presume I had anything to do with it..."
"Sansa, my love." Lord Baelish took her hand in his. "There are many ways..."
"Please." tears filled Sansa's eyes.
Littlefinger took a deep breath and nodded. "Mayhaps your husband can have a riding accident while out hunting."
"Like King Robert?" Sansa looked up.
"Very much like King Robert." Littlefinger nodded. "Although possibly less obvious. His Grace is not much of one for the wine like King Robert was."
"True." Sansa nodded. "Mayhaps poison might be the better choice. What was the one you gave aunt Lysa to kill Jon Arryn?" Sansa asked.
"Tears of Lys." Littlefinger replied.
"Can you still get it?" she asked.
"I already have some with me." Littlefinger nodded. "But we cannot make it too obvious."
"How does it work?" she asked. "How long did it take for Lord Arryn to die?"
"Tears of Lys presents itself as a fever, it takes around a day or two for a weaker man, maybe longer for someone like the King."
"What if he had a minor hunting accident, an arrow to the shoulder maybe." she started to sound excited. "A fever is not unusual after such an accident."
Littlefinger stood up and kissed Sansa on the forehead, causing bile to rise in her throat. "You are a sweet genius." he said. "I shall organise it myself. Now if you'll excuse me, I have to send a raven, to allow me to procure the necessary poison." he said, making his way to the door and leaving her alone in the room.
Sansa lowered her head and began to try to sew, but her hands were shaking. She got up and walked over to the door and opened it to see if Littlefinger was still around. All of the corridors were empty. She closed the door once more and bolted it before heading towards her dressing screen, which was hiding another door. She opened it and out came Lord Royce.
"Was that enough to convict him?" Sansa asked.
"He and Lady Lysa killed Lord Arryn." Lord Royce looked stony faced. "That and your witnessing him throwing Lysa Arryn out of the moon door, and plotting treason. I am happy for you to carry out any punishment on behalf of the Vale without repercussion nor will we abandon you, your grace." he bowed.
"Good." Sansa nodded. "We must wait until Jon returns. I suspect he will personally want to take Littlefinger's head. Especially when he finds out exactly what the man did to me." she closed her eyes, when Jon returned, she needed to tell him of the things Littlefinger had forced her to do.
"Your Grace." Lord Royce bowed his head and returned to the servants door, there was a route to his own room which she had shown him, preventing Littlefinger from ever being aware he had been listening.
Putting her sewing down, Sansa got up and walked over to her desk, where she sat down and pulled out some parchment from her drawer. She picked up the quill on her desk, dipped it in some ink and began to write.
Jon
I spoke with Lord Baelish, it appears Daenerys Targaryen has set sail from Meereen, it would be advisable to notify Ser Davos as he may want to leave if the stories of her dragons are true. I thought I'd also let you know your wedding cloak is finished.
Sansa
Sansa made her way to Maester Wolkan's solar, where he was busy sorting through some ravens which had just arrived.
"You look busy." she smiled.
"Your grace." he bowed his head, his eyes drawn to the letter in his her hand. "You wish for me to send that now? It is getting late."
"Is it too late to send it to Castle Cerwyn?" she asked.
Maester Wolkan shook his head. "Ravens only take half an hour to get there. There is still enough time." he took the letter from her and began to attach it to one of the ravens. Sansa was about to leave when he spoke, "A raven arrived from Kings Landing." he said.
"Wait, don't send that raven until I have read this one." Sansa told him as he took the letter from the bird. Sansa opened the letter and began to read.
Come to King's Landing. Bend the knee or suffer the fate of all traitors.
Cersei of House Lannister, First of Her Name, Queen of the Andals and the First Men, Protector of the Seven Kingdoms.
Sansa opened the seal on the letter she was about to send to Jon and added the words Tommen is dead, Cersei is Queen to the it. With a bit of wax, Maester Wolkan helped her reseal the letter and he let the raven fly to castle Cerwyn.
Again Sansa slept fitfully. Ramsay came to her once again in her dreams, she had a rope tied around her neck and he was pulling on it while taking her from behind. When she woke, the skies were still dark and Ghost was looking at her, his red eyes blinking with worry. Sansa almost hoped Jon wasn't inside Ghost, as it meant he wasn't sleeping either. She closed her eyes and pretended to go to sleep. Instead she started to think of inventive ways of killing Littlefinger.
Eventually she got up, her imagination didn't get very far. She'd decided how to go about forcing him to trial, but his death would be left up to Jon, who wasn't a particularly cruel man. He liked death to be swift. On the other hand, Sansa had wondered if it might be better for them to chop off Littlefinger's hands and take out his tongue to stop him spreading malicious lies. They could even force him to watch them consummate the marriage and chop his cock off when it got hard. Sansa hated herself when she felt cruel and vindictive, but in truth, Littlefinger more than deserved it, because although Littlefinger hadn't forced himself on her, he'd made her do other things, things she'd tried to forget. Things that had happened to another person in another lifetime, when she was Alayne Stone and still a child. These were things she hadn't told Jon, as Littlefinger wouldn't be breathing right now if Jon knew.
Sansa decided she was going to inspect the glass gardens and see what repairs would be needed and how they could be improved to increase their food production. When she saw them, her heart broke. Half of them were damaged and would require extensive repairs. The other half were the ones which grew flowers. They were filled with blue winter roses, which as beautiful as they were, had little value in the middle of winter when people were starving. It would be a pity to get rid of the rose bushes, but food was more important, although she decided to keep on bush. With the wedding coming up, flowers would be needed, she might even wear some in her hair, she decided. The next hour was spent picking out the best bush to keep. Sansa was about to leave the gardens to find Maester Wolkan when arms wrapped around her from behind, Sansa screamed in terror. She turned around to see grey eyes staring into hers, without thinking their arms wound around each other and their lips met as the kissed furiously.
"Your graces." came the voice of Maester Wolkan, splitting them apart as they turned to see the man avoiding their faces while blushing furiously.
"You didn't see that did you?" Jon raised an eyebrow.
"I saw nothing." the Maester stated.
"We can trust him." Sansa rolled her eyes. "How can I help you Maester Wolkan?" she asked.
"I came with the list of foods which can be grown in the soil which has been previously used for winter roses, just like you asked. Also a raven came from Dragonstone." he held out a letter. Jon took it with a gloved hand.
"Thank you Maester Wolkan, I'll take the list of food." Sansa smiled. "I need a list of supplies required to fix the other garden, and maybe to build another. Could you do that for me?" she asked.
"Of course your grace." Maester Wolkan bowed his head. "When would you like it for?"
Sansa turned to Jon. "Will the cargo be here this afternoon?" she asked, Jon nodded. "I'll go through the list with you while his grace helps unload the dragonglass." she smiled.
"Your graces." Maester Wolkan nodded and left.
Jon turned to Sansa. "You did it? What did you manage to get him to confess to?"
"Murdering Jon Arryn. I saw him murder aunt Lysa." she took a deep breath and looked down.
"What?" Jon asked.
"There are things he did to me. Thing which will come out in the trial." Jon's face turned puce with anger. Sansa grabbed hold of his arm. "We'll have the trial tomorrow. He can't hurt me now. You are here."
"You had nightmares didn't you?" his ran his gloved hand down her cheek. "You look tired."
"Were you there?" Jon nodded. "I told you, I love Ghost, but even when he's you, he isn't."
"Gods I missed you." he wrapped his arms tightly around her. She took in the scent of his hair, and she suddenly felt calmer. "How did you trick him?"
"We were planning to kill you." Sansa smiled, Jon looked astonished.
"How?" Jon asked.
Sansa explained how Littlefinger had given Lysa Arryn tears of Lys to give to Lord Arryn, which caused his death. She then explained how Littlefinger had suggested a minor hunting accident, and how the idiot had some already with him, suggesting he already was planning to murder someone while he was at Winterfell.
They shared one last kiss, before leaving the glass gardens to go their separate ways, Jon to empty the wagons, and Sansa to deal with the crops they were going to plant as soon as the rose bushes were dug up.