authorsnotes: okay so the new house of the dragon trailer got me hype af, like I screamed, squealed and have watched it about 500x since yesterday and was inspired to finish this chapter!

I'm also re-reading fire and blood lol, so good.

enjoy! fav/follow.

songrecs: carolina - taylor swift

"We need to find somewhere secure"

Sansa nodded, knowing Jon was right, he was the tactician out of the two of them after all, she the schemer. The general to the diplomat, the King to the spy.

"We do" She replied, for they did need somewhere they could go, they couldn't risk their rooms or risk being caught.

It was evident here they'd be spending time apart, and as much as that made Sansa want to run for the hills (or perhaps the bay), she knew to blend in, they'd need to do spend time apart, and not cling to one another as the girlish part of her wanted. They would need to no doubt go about whatever duties they had here, but they also needed to check in with each other, see each other, and to do so they needed a secure place.

But where?

They needed somewhere quiet, somewhere people wouldn't stumble upon them, somewhere they could have complete privacy but was easily accessible and close enough by. She knew they'd have some freedom, as not quite adults here they wouldn't have the run of the place, but they were old enough to go off alone, for a time at least.

She knew she'd be more restricted, not a Prince, or more pointedly not a man, Jon would have far more freedom than her, as was always the way, even in the North, though not nearly as much.

Sansa felt something flutter around her heart, like a trap almost, something dancing along the edges of her waiting to squeeze and hold her in place. In the North she was free, could come and go as she pleased, and none asked her why, here she had more restraints, a false family to please, had to pretend to be a Southern Lady and the courtesies that came with it.

Once her courtesies had been her armour, and she knew, back in the viper's nest of Kings Landing, they would have to be again.

There was no choice, no running away, they were stuck in a strange time, perhaps in a different place, magic and whatever else at work, the Old Gods perhaps stepping in. This was where they'd been sent to, this was where the Old Gods had decided to leave them, there would be no running because the sight of Kings Landing made her want to scream, Red Keep or similar, no, she'd need to be stronger than that.

She could be.

She would have to be.

And she had Jon. She turned to him, as she noticed his brow furrowed, thinking no doubt, and allowed herself a smile. She thanked the Gods, in whatever their wisdom then, for bringing Jon with her, the thought of doing this alone may have sent her fleeing for the hills, but here she had Jon, and they had each other.

"I'm glad it is you with me" She couldn't resist saying, she and Jon kept very little from each other, it was how it worked for them, and she wouldn't dare see it changed.

"Aye" He said, and the smile that split his furrowed expression made her smile widen, "Me too"

A nod from her, and then back to thought, emotions were good, she didn't follow Baelish's assumption they were all terrible and weakness, nor Cersei Lannister's disdain for them, but there was a time to focus, and that time was now. She had been given a walk with Jon, an hour, two at most before she'd be expected back, and she hoped to be set up with Jon, with a place to meet, by then.

But where?

"Sansa you know Kings Landing" Jon said, and she nodded, Jon could suggest places all Keeps had but she knew he was right, she knew it better, "Any ideas?"

She knew her expression mirrored Jon's earlier one now, her lips pursed, her teeth biting into her bottom lip, as she tried to think, where could they meet?

"Somewhere private" She said, thinking out loud now, that often worked for her and Jon, throwing ideas back and forth between them in the air, rather than in silence with heads hurting, "Somewhere we won't be overheard"

"Somewhere easy to get to" Jon said, and she nodded, true, they needed to be able to nip back and forth to it, not take hours just to arrive, "Somewhere accessible, but hidden away"

"Somewhere no one will see us going" Sansa jumped in, "We can't have people stopping us, or asking us why we're together all the time"

"Aye" Jon mulled, and jumped when he felt Sansa smack him against the shoulder, "What?!"

"You're a Southern Prince" She said, exasperation filling her voice, Jon was a smart man, very smart but sometimes he was stupid, like all men really, "Stop speaking like a Northerner"

Jon nodded, and Sansa couldn't help but giggle when he rubbed his arm, she'd barely tapped him, and his teasing grin in turn had her rolling her eyes, point made.

"That is interesting actually" Jon threw back, eyebrow raised now as Sansa steered them towards the gardens on the coast of the Keep, away from prying ears, though not far away enough. "You know I said that when I was up there?"

Sansa couldn't help but sigh then too, too little too late apparently.

"But they laughed and just said fostering in the North had got to my accent" Jon said with a raised eyebrow, causing Sansa's to shoot up as well. "Bit of a coincidence huh?"

"Royal families don't foster their heirs anywhere, never mind in the North" Sansa knew she was chewing on her lip then, a terrible habit but one she'd had as a child and picked back up in recent years, she blamed stress, "That can't be right"

"No" Jon said, with a shake of his head, going quiet as they passed two guards who bowed to both of them, though to Jon a bit deeper. She almost laughed as Jon squirmed and just nodded, he'd never liked people bowing in the North, never mind the way they all practically scraped the floor here.

"Also" Jon carried on then, and Sansa waited, "They called me Jon"

"Hmm" Sansa said, now that was also strange, everything here was of course, but they could hardly focus on everything, "That is odd, not a Targaryen name" She said, and Jon nodded too, "So why?"

"Maybe" Jon paused then, looked about, and turned Sansa towards the wall that bordered the sea, hoping the waves would mask their words no doubt, Sansa agreed but still glanced around too, one could never know in Kings Landing, where spies seemed to creep in the air. "It was whoever did this"

"Whoever sent us here" Sansa said in a low voice and nodded, "The Old Gods?"

"Maybe" Jon said, "But whoever did has fixed it, so we fit in"

"Yes" Sansa said, "Making me a Tully, makes sense and has me in the South, if I was a Stark daughter here I'd be in the North, not in Kings Landing now"

"Making me a Prince" Jon screwed up his features then, "But cover up my accent and keep my name so I answer to it. Made me the Heir even for the freedom"

Sansa nodded, it all made sense in a way it completely didn't, ugh, her head was starting to ache, and by Jon's expression so was his.

"How do you feel?" She asked, leaning against the wall then, the sea spray was nice, the sun shining on them, so different from what they'd left behind, and yet she felt a yearning in her heart for the North, no sunny skies or fragrant gardens would change that.

"I'll be alright" Jon said, always one to downplay it, it was only her look that had him sigh and nod, "Overwhelmed, it's a lot to take in"

"Yes" Sansa agreed, she felt much the same, "But more for you I'm guessing, thrust into a new role, into the family…" She paused, not sure what to say. Jon had embraced his Stark heritage over Targaryen, something she loved, but how could she say that here? Here Jon needed to be Targaryen not Stark, here he wasn't a Stark … or the version of him wasn't, and neither was she.

Ugh, her head ached further.

Winter is Coming, Family, Duty, Honour, Fire and Blood.

She knew which one she preferred.

"I imagine its harder for you being back here" Jon said gruffly, and at those words pulled her closer, under his arm, she near laughed, pre-empting her need for comfort no doubt, Jon and her had become good at reading one another, very good since ruling together in a sense, and Sansa stepped closer to him willingly, forgetting their roles for a moment and just taking the comfort offered.

As Jon was right, she hated it here, but had no choice, hard indeed.

"At least we're together" Sansa said, resting her head on Jon's shoulder then, managed a smile for that even, "I wished for that before I died" She whispered then, barely audible, only for Jon's ears, "For us to find one another on the other side of this world"

"So did I" Jon said, and she could hear the promise in his voice, a brush of his lips over her forehead and she closed her eyes, they had each other, that was all that mattered.

And that was why they had to find a way to stay together.

Half an hour later and they'd rounded the gardens twice, Jon had sneezed at the intense rose scent and Sansa had laughed, two passers-by had grinned at their giggles and Sansa had chided Jon along before he glared at them.

She was good at her courtesies hiding everything behind a fake smile, wishing to be back in the North back home but able to pretend. Jon was better than many would think, he had led the Nights Watch and brokered peace with the Wildlings after all, but his disdain for the people living life to the fancy here compared to those suffering elsewhere was just simmering beneath the surface, and he had no time for sycophants.

"So, any ideas?" Jon asked, they had been silent for most of their walk, both trying to think of a meeting place for them. Sansa if anything had become less sure. It was clear as they'd walked the keep it was not the Red Keep, they had woken up in, the interior had tricked her, but walking the outside made it clear.

Trying to remember her history she knew the Red Keep had yet to be built, this was the Aegonfort, the first version of the Red Keep, but much smaller, almost bursting from the seams already, she couldn't recall when it was torn down to make way for the monstrosity that had become her cage, but for now it was much more modest (at least on the outside).

Gardens remained around the fort but less plentiful and in bloom (though still a bit much for Jon's Northern nose), and as they walked she could see some of the City below them, though it was barely a City just two years into Aegon's reign (as Jon had clarified his Mother here had mentioned), and the King had promised at this coronation to expand the Aegonfort into Kings Landing it was not there yet.

It was haphazard, towers sticking out that seemed crooked, gates that had no real strategic value (as Jon had pointed out), and though the interior was beautiful and the outside painted well, it was too small for a royal seat. She knew it would be a while before it was replaced, couldn't recall the date as much as she tried, but for now she felt some odd comfort in it.

The inside may look the same, but Kings Landing had not come to be yet, the view she'd had when waking had been of the largest side of the city, much remained underdeveloped, and with a lack of Red Keep truly formed yet she felt more at ease than she would have thought.

Of course, she still hated the place, but she was able to walk along with Jon without wanting to make a dash for the Kings Road.

…not that there was a Kings Road yet.

"We need history books" Sansa remarked as they came back close to where they'd started in the entrance to the Aegonfort Throne Room, which looked much unchanged. She did recall part of the Aegonfort had been kept and built into the new Red Keep, so some similarities made sense.

"We do?" Jon asked, eyebrow raised, mind still evidently on finding a place for them to meet and plan and scheme.

"Yes" Sansa said, "We need to figure out what has happened so far. We know where we are in history, but we need to know dates, what has happened, what hasn't happened" Sansa said with a nod, "We can't trip up"

Jon nodded then, seeing her wisdom, Sansa felt relieved at that. So many men pushed aside a woman's thoughts and ideas, Jon? Never.

"Agreed" Jon said, "But again we need somewhere to study them, together"

"And so back to our problem" Sansa acquiesced.

"Did you see the way the fort is built on the coastal side?" Jon asked, as they paused, shy of the doors to the Throne Room, though it was quiet now court wasn't in session. Jon had his tactical expression on (as she'd dubbed it before and teased him about, though acted outraged when Jon had fired back at pointing out her 'scheming face') now so she waited, "It could work"

"Yes" Sansa said, "It isn't as developed but I walked there sometimes with Margaery" She paused then, glanced over her shoulder, "Though here it just looks like more of a rock face, no steps built in to get down there"

"It would be perfect though" Jon said, looking over her shoulder, "The sea would muffle our voices, it is nearby but completely hidden unless people dangle and look over the edge, as long as we stuck to the parts that jut out before the bay we'd be hidden and able to meet, maybe even get some fabric and conceal some items there, books and such"

"Yes" Sansa agreed, remembering Margaery walking with her to suggest a betrothal to Loras, away from prying ears clearly, Margaery had been too smart to ever air the idea where people could hear, "But we can't access it"

"I know" Jon said, annoyed, and she understood, already they were facing a hurdle, a minor one to ones they had faced (and she had no doubt would again), but they didn't have enough time to plan this – which was exactly their problem!

"Son!" Sansa jumped at the words, as she turned to see him, Aegon, the King emerging from the Throne Room, his sisters, and wives at the same time by his side. She felt an odd pattering of nerves in her stomach, this was the legendary Aegon the Conqueror, and though she had no love for Southern rulers, he was a legend.

Sansa had never been one of the boys, worshipping at Daemon the Dragonknight or Brandon the Builder. She'd loved the stories of painted Knights but had worshipped the idea of herself as a Princess with a Handsome King for a husband, she'd never been bothered by the names gracing the history books.

And yet here they were, figures she'd only read about, she couldn't help but blush a little, especially as the three almost inhumanely beautiful Targaryen's approached. Jon was beautiful too, but no Targaryen features, another thing they couldn't explain here…

And there was much of it.

"Your Grace's" Sansa hurried, dipping into a low curtsey, Jon offered a nod, but had no need to bow and dip, not like her. He was a Prince, she just a Lady; she almost laughed at that, Jon now outranked her, he had as King in the North of course, but they'd never followed such formalities, here everything stood on them.

"Lady Sansa may we steal my dear nephew?" It was Queen Rhaenys who spoke, as beautiful and soft spoken as the history books had promised, though there was steal under her tone and she was not asking permission, not really, "I'm sure your family misses you"

"Of course," Sansa said with a nod and a smile, blushing still, which was good for the image, a pretty Southern daughter starstruck by Royalty, she was a little bit of course, but equally good at faking it.

"What are we to do Mother?" Jon asked, and Sansa near raised an eyebrow at that, Jon smiled at his so-called Father here Aegon, but with Visenya, who softened from her cold expression as soon as she looked at Jon there was something more, already? Hmm, that was worrying, and she'd need to talk to Jon about it.

But where? She near huffed; their original problem still hadn't been solved.

"We're going to go riding of course" Visenya said with a smile, and Sansa near smiled herself, history had made Visenya cold and humourless, and a rival for Rhaenys, yet Sansa could see that history had got the dynamic all wrong, the three Targaryen's were like a little group of their own, and yet Jon was clearly part of that too.

Where did that leave her?

Jon would never leave her of course, she had faith in that, she'd practically been his Queen in Winterfell, but she was not part of the group here, that was plain to see.

It did strike her then and her mind lingered; in Winterfell she had been at Jon's side almost like his Queen, ruling and advising, even sleeping together when nightmares got to them. Here there was a parallel, Aegon ruled with his sisters (though Sansa knew of course she was now Jon's cousin), and yet they were his Queen's, not just in acting but in name, title and right.

Her mind lingered on that … lingered on and on.

"Well, I will take my leave" Sansa said with another dip, forcing herself to focus, she'd been dismissed in all but word after all, she knew the cue to take, "Enjoy your horse ride Jon, Your Graces"

Aegon laughed then, though it was good natured, hmm, a kind King? She'd believe it when she saw it for more than a second, "No horses for us Lady Sansa" Aegon grinned then, wicked, and clapped Jon's shoulder who had a reluctant smile, didn't want her to leave but had seen as she had; things were different here, "When we ride, we take to the skies"

Of course, though Sansa near flinched, and just nodded, shot Jon what she'd call a 'significant look' but had no choice but to turn away and hurry back to her rooms, she was no equal to Jon here, not in charge, she'd been dismissed and had no choice but to leave. Still, her hands shook as she turned away, only glanced back once to see the three … four Targaryen's walking away.

Sansa left with her heart in her throat, and as soon as she was out of sight, she ran. Ran to her rooms, quick, red faced and out of breath by the end but she didn't care, just quickly dismissed her maid and ran for the balcony. She flung the doors open so hard they near smashed into the walls, but she hurried out, hands shaking on the metal as she searched the skyline with her eyes.

Jon, she knew had the blood of the dragon, he was half Targaryen after all, more here, and was braver than any man she'd known, but just because he had the blood of a dragon, didn't mean he could ride one.

And yet a gasp tore through her throat within minutes of having arrived at her rooms, as not three but four beasts emerged on the horizon.

sooo thoughts?

IM NOT SCREAMING YOU ARE SCREAMING

next chapter (half done already lol), we take to the skies...

speak soon