Graphic depiction of abuse.

The kindness Lady Stark had shown to Jon had been a facade, Sansa knew that. Her mother arriving at Queenscrown mere days after Jon's departure was enough to confirm her suspicions, otherwise she'd have come with Robb. Sansa was concerned her mother would try to spew poison into her ears about Jon, but Catelyn Stark didn't know her grown up daughter very well. The Sansa Stark she had seen in Winterfell was not the same woman who was in Queenscrown. Here, she'd been allowed to be the woman who had rebuilt her home, helped fortify it and feed thousands.

Updated letters from her father gave her more information in regards to the nature of her mother's visit. Theon was to accompany her mother as they had decided to keep him as close as possible to ensure his trustworthiness. Jory and Ser Rodrick would also accompany her. Theon would return to Winterfell with some of the Stark soldiers and help her father run the castle by taking over Robb's role. That was all that was said in the letters, but she knew her father was already making plans.

She'd had no word from Jon, but she knew he wouldn't be able to send a raven until he'd spoken with Lord Commander Mormont and had a decision on whether the plans could go ahead in full, therefore all she could do was wait for the arrival of her mother and the rest of the entourage to interfere with hers and Arya's work.

The day Lady Stark arrived was cold and wet, which seemed to be the constant at Queenscrown. Sansa was wearing her long heavy grey, woollen coat and dark grey leather breeches with knee high black leather boots, in a similar style to which Daenerys had worn when she came to Winterfell, but adapted to the more northern style which Sansa had begun to prefer as a grown woman. She might not have liked the dragon Queen, but Sansa wasn't too petty to spot sensible and good fashion; especially when it was feminine and adaptable to her own style and needs. She waited on the shoreline, next to Robb and Arya as her mother, Theon, Jory and Ser Rodrick approached. Although they appeared formal, her mother approached them and hugged them all tightly, as if they were still little children. Arya and Sansa, exchanged looks as they both had the breath squeezed out of them. Her mother stood back and appraised her.

"You look different." she frowned. "You aren't wearing a dress?"

"It never stops raining mother." Sansa sighed. "And we have to spend a lot of time outdoors, overseeing the construction and managing everything else. A dress is very impractical. I'm sure this style will become fashionable." she smiled.

"Hmm." Cat didn't look convinced, instead she looked all around. "You, Robb and Arya have done a wonderful job."

"Robb's only been here a sennight. It was Jon who organised and helped build much of it." Sansa argued.

"Nonsense. He's not capable of anything like that." Cat shook her head.

Sansa knew her mother was only aware of parts of their story, they had kept most of it from her, but she should have still understood Jon's capabilities outweighed Robb's. "Shall we show you to your rooms?" Sansa asked as she led the way.

Lady Stark and Theon would take the rooms on the second floor, where Tyrion and Benjen had stayed, while Jory and Ser Rodrick would be staying on the first floor in the servants quarters. However this was all temporary as her mother had plenty to discuss with them as soon as she'd settled in and had a bath.

Her mother had wanted to speak with her alone before Robb and Arya joined them and after that Theon, Jory and Ser Rodrick. They were sitting inside her solar, both nursing a glass of wine, causing Cat to frown.

"Has he introduced you to drinking wine during the day?" Cat spat.

"I have been drinking watered down wine during the day for many years. Being able to tolerate alcohol is good practice, but I do prefer it watered down. If I am to drink for pleasure, I have grown accustomed to ale." Sansa shrugged.

"You are far too young." Cat stated.

"Thought you listened to our stories." Sansa raised an eyebrow.

"I believe some of it." her mother admitted.

"The parts that suit you." Sansa shook her head.

"He might be the rightful heir to the Iron Throne, but that doesn't make him more capable than Robb."

"Mother, Jon was the Lord Commander of the Night's Watch. He has raised armies and led them into battle. He has ridden dragons, he was a King. I think he is quite capable of rebuilding a tiny holdfast and village like Queenscrown with one arm behind his back and blindfolded at the same time." Sansa pinched her nose.

"He hasn't...defiled you has he?" Cat changed the subject and Sansa snorted.

"This body hasn't flowered yet, of course he hasn't. Why would you think he'd do such a thing?" Sansa asked.

"He's a Targaryen, " Cat whispered. "They have no sense when it comes to how they behave with their families. He will take what he wants from you, when he wants it. To make matters worse, he was raised as a bastard, so his morals are somewhat less than yours."

"Jon has been very open with me about the women in his life. One of them was a wildling woman called Ygritte. By the time Jon and I had reunited, she was dead. She's not dead now." Sansa started.

"About his level, a wildling." Cat shook his head.

"The other was a Queen. Although I have said she was using Jon, I believe she also fell head over heels in love with him. Right now, she is across the narrow sea married to a Dothraki Khal." Sansa went on. "He is not a man who has ever used a whore, unlike most of the other men in Winterfell, including both Robb and Theon. Jon is too honourable for that."

"And what about his honour when he returns. He says he won't consummate the marriage without your consent. Will he hold true to his word?"

"Why would I not consent, mother?" Sansa frowned. "There is no other man in the world I would rather be married to."

"Dragon's and bastards aren't capable of real love." Cat shook her head. "He wouldn't be...right."

"You don't even know him." Sansa looked at her mother in surprise.

"He'll be forceful and he'll hurt you."

Sansa looked at her mother in shock. Maybe Catelyn Stark needed some home truths. "I doubt Jon will cut the skin around my nipples, or cut my womanhood. Neither will he hold a red hot poker against my backside, nor will he fuck me up the arse until I bleed."

"Stop it." Cat cried. "STOP IT...STOP IT!" she screamed.

"Why? Because you don't want to hear the horrors your perfect little daughter endured?" Sansa raised an eyebrow.

Her mother was clutching her throat, tears pouring down her eyes. "Does he know?" she whispered.

"Jon knows every single thing Ramsay did to me. Every cut, burn, slice and scar. He even saw some of the scars for himself. They aren't on this body, only lodged in mine, Arya's and Jon's memory." Sansa tried to hold back the tears. "He would have killed Ramsay with his bare hands, you know. He was beating him to death, but I stopped him. I wanted to feed my ex husband to his dogs." Sansa said coldly looking towards Lady, who came over and sat next to her so Sansa could run her fingers through her fur.

"I suppose you won't want Jon touching you after that." Cat shook her head.

"Is that all you care about?" Sansa looked at her mother in disgust. "Are you worried about having a silver-haired, purple-eyed grandchild who can ride dragons? I'd be more worried about the army of the dead or Jon's aunt; than whether my husband and I will provide an heir."

"Why should I worry about her?" Cat suddenly asked.

"Jon sees the best in people. He fell in love with her. Why her? I do not know, but maybe because he wasn't used to people who play the game like me. I was surrounded by Kings, Queens, despots, dictators, tyrants. I know a tyrant when I see one; the moment she walked through the gates of Winterfell, I saw a tyrant accompanying my brother. A tyrant with two dragons, although if we do everything right, she will have three."

"You intend to make her more powerful?" Cat frowned.

Sansa shook her head. "Dragons can be killed. But Jon can also ride one of them, her own dragon seemed to like him too. Maybe he has a greater affinity with dragons than we know." Sansa sighed. "But surely mother, you didn't come all of this way to complain about Jon."

Her mother shook her head. "No. as soon as your father said no to the King in regards to your hand in marriage, the Queen wrote to Olenna Tyrell. I fear a marriage to Joffrey will be far more tempting than any marriage to Robb."

Sansa smiled. "Good."

"I thought you wanted Lady Margaery to marry Robb." her mother frowned.

"I do. But Joffrey is a cruel boy. If he is married to Lady Margaery, he won't live long. Lady Olenna murdered him at his wedding to Lady Margaery." Sansa smiled. "Of course she went on to marry King Tommen, but he is a child. There is a chance Joffrey may die sooner than before. If that is the case, Tommen will be too young to bed Margaery and their wedding can still be annulled."

"What can we offer the Tyrell's that the Lannister's can't?"

Sansa smiled. "Robb and Margaery's firstborn daughter will wed my firstborn son. Once the long night is over, I will ask Jon to make the north independent. Margaery will still be a Queen and her family will have more powerful ties in the north and south. Robb just needs to be patient, Margaery will become available." she reassured her mother.

"She won't try to kill Robb will she?" Cat frowned.

"Not unless he turns into a tyrannical monster. She was very good with Tommen. He was absolutely besotted with her, to the extent he committed suicide when she died." Sansa comforted her mother.

"Your father also wants Robb to tour the north. If we are to gain the support of the northern Lords, we must start now. Ned can't do it, just in case anyone thinks he is raising an army. Robb won't be doing that, he is just going to ensure they are happy with your marriage and their fealty towards house Stark."

Sansa frowned. "I don't want him to go alone. Especially to the Bolton's."

"Invite Roose and Ramsay Bolton to Queenscrown." Cat suggested, Sansa looked at her in horror. "Mother, I have just told you what Ramsay did to me..." she started.

"But he hasn't done it yet. Maybe he can be changed." Cat suggested.

"Mother, he flays people for fun. He's already murdered his brother. I don't think Ramsay could ever be kind. He's a madman. He chopped Theon's manhood off and sent them to Balon Greyjoy to prove Theon was no longer a man and was useless as a son. It caused great problems with the Ironborn." Sansa sighed. "I want Theon in charge of building our naval fleet. If he is to ever return to his father and take charge of the Ironborn, learning to run Winterfell is of little use to him. He needs to know how to build, sail and command a fleet of ships. If he feels we are preparing him for his role on the Iron Islands, but as an ally, he won't betray us. Does father really need Theon?" she asked.

Cat shook her head. "Your father wants to make Theon feel needed."

Sansa nodded before getting up and pulling on a bell. Within moments a woman appeared. "Have you seen my sister?" she asked.

"Aye, your grace. She's in her room."

"Bring her to me." Sansa smiled.

"Yes, your grace." the girl bobbed a curtsey and left.

Five minutes later, Arya emerged and bowed her head. "Milly said you wanted me, your grace."

Sansa rolled her eyes. "Sit, I need advice." Arya sat, clearly shocked by being asked for advice by Sansa of all people. "Theon, should we tell him, some of it, not all?"

"Why?" Arya asked.

"Because I want to make him feel useful and we might need a navy. Of course, Ser Davos is tied up with Stannis right now. One day, Theon will need to return to the Iron Islands. His problem last time was he didn't know whether he was a Stark or a Greyjoy. Charging him with creating and commanding a fleet will make him both. But unless he knows what his future holds, we won't be able to trust him." Sansa said.

"Jon would say no." Arya shrugged.

"Jon hates Theon after what happened. If we can prevent all of that, his feelings will be different." Sansa argued.

Arya looked deep in thought before sighing. "Go on then. He's in his room. Do you want me to fetch him?" she asked.

"Please." Sansa nodded.

When Theon arrived, he gingerly entered the room, looking around at its beauty. The other rooms were nice, but nothing compared to the main bedroom, which was opulent compared to anything in Winterfell.

"Lady Stark, Lady Whitestark, Lady Arya." Theon bowed his head, arms behind his back.

"You can sit down, Theon." Sansa smiled. "No need for formalities here."

"Thank you." Theon smiled.

"Ale?" Sansa offered.

"Yes please." Theon replied as Sansa poured him a horn of ale.

"The information I am going to impart on you is of a most confidential nature. You cannot tell anyone." Sansa told him, as his eyes widened. "We will need your help with certain matters. I know my father has asked you to help with Winterfell, but I personally think you might prefer my offer."

"I can't. Your father is warden of the north." Theon shrugged.

"And I am married to the rightful King of the Seven Kingdoms, I think my decisions outweigh my father's." Sansa told him as Theon's eyes widened.

"What?" he asked. "I thought Jon was Brandon's son."

Sansa shook her head. "For obvious reasons, we couldn't reveal who Jon really was. His aunt Lyanna's trueborn son with prince Rhaegar." she told him.

Theon looked to Cat, who nodded at him. "Seven hells," he said.

"But that is of the least importance right now. Jon, Arya and I had an experience. It was all the same. We knew what the future held, and it needs to be changed."

Theon frowned. "How?"

"Magic is the only explanation. The children of the forest, greensight. There are many options, but Jon, Arya and I were sent back from the future. Surely you've noticed how Jon has suddenly become an excellent swordsman." Sansa said, Theon nodded. "We are all much older than the people you see. I am twenty, Arya is eight and ten, Jon is four and twenty."

Theon looked at her like something had clicked. "That would explain a lot," he said.

"I'm one of the faceless men." Arya told him. "I really wouldn't try betraying us. I've been known to bake people into pies when they piss me off. Although I usually just slit their throats."

Theon suddenly looked terrified. "Why are you telling me this?" he asked.

"As you know, Jon has gone north to treat with the wildlings. He has a good reason. Beyond the wall, the army of the dead approaches. We need to stop them. Every man, woman, child and animal they come into contact with, will be added to their army. Whether they are living or already dead. Mance Rayder has one hundred thousand of them wanting to come south because they don't want to join his army."

"Is this why you've rebuilt Queenscrown?" Theon asked.

"Yes." Sansa nodded. "But we need your help."

"Anything." Theon looked almost excited.

"Do you not want to know what your future currently holds if you don't help us?" Sansa asked in a warning tone.

Theon's face paled slightly. "Do I want to know?"

"You betrayed house Stark. You promised to help Robb, but instead you sacked Winterfell, and burned two farm boys, passing them off as Bran and Rickon, who managed to escape. You possibly would have killed them if you'd found them. After all, you beheaded Ser Rodrick. After that it all went wrong and you ended up in the hands of the Bolton's. You were tortured by Ramsay Snow, who became warden of the north. He removed parts of your body to make you submit to him. He took away your cock and sent it back to your father."

"Sansa, there is no need to curse." Cat spat.

"In this case, I think there is, mother." Sansa said coldly. "I know what Ramsay was like, because I ended up married to him. He tortured and raped me. He forced you to watch him rape me on our wedding night. You stood there like a coward, crying and did nothing to help me."

Theon closed his eyes and shook his head. "I'm sorry." he apologised.

"For what? You haven't done anything yet. We escaped, you returned to the Iron Islands and I found Jon at Castle Black, who had been promoted to Lord Commander, until his men murdered him."

"What?!" Theon asked.

"He was resurrected by a red witch." Arya reassured him.

"Jon and I re-took Winterfell and I fed Ramsay to his dogs. Jon was crowned King in the north and then visited Dragonstone to mine dragonglass. He met his aunt, although they didn't know at the time who he was."

"I don't understand how nobody realised. I mean he rode a dragon and the other one liked him." Arya shook her head. "They don't like most people. I thought Varys and Tyrion were supposed to be smart."

"Jon brought her army and dragons to Winterfell and we battled the army of the dead. None of us survived. Jon, Arya and I were given dragonglass daggers by the Three-Eyed-Raven. We pierced out hearts with the daggers as we were about to die, and ended up back here. Hopefully in a position to change everything."

Theon turned to Cat. "Do you believe this, Lady Stark?"

"Sansa, Arya and Jon were able to give some very precise information of future events, which have since come to pass. I believe them. How can I not?"

"Your father will not accept you as his heir, Theon." Sansa warned. "You've been landlocked too long. You need to feel the water before you can go home. He wants someone who can command ships. Even then I doubt it will make any difference. Your uncle Euron will soon return, he will take the salt throne."

"I see." Theon nodded. "So I can't really win either way."

"I can't offer you the life of reeving and raiding and raping, but I can offer you the chance to build a navy and command it." Sansa told him. "I know it isn't the same, but I cannot give you an opportunity which will never present itself to you, no matter what you do. Will you help?"

"Why do you need a navy?" Theon asked.

"Prince Aegon Targaryen wishes to take the Iron Throne, once Robert is dead, which will happen soon, although I suspect maybe not as quickly as before." Sansa explained.

"Prince Aegon..." Theon frowned. "You mean Jon?" he asked, Sansa and Arya both smiled and nodded.

Theon ran his fingers through his hair. "Who else knows?"

"Just father and Robb." Arya replied.

"Of course I'll help." Theon smiled.

"No betrayals." Arya warned. "You'll have me helping you."

"Arya, you can't help." Cat frowned.

"Of course I can. I quite like being at sea. Anyway, we need Theon to prove his trustworthiness."

"How?" Cat asked.

"Theon will take me to Kings Landing and we will find Gendry." Arya stated.

"Mother, you must accompany Robb around the north." Sansa said. "Ser Rodrick can return to Winterfell and Jory can stay here to protect me."

"I don't want you going to Kings Landing." Cat glared at her daughter.

"You can't stop me. I'll go with or without Theon. I just thought you'd prefer it if Theon were with me. So that I can protect him." she smirked.

"Why should I go with Robb?" Cat asked.

"It will look better if you are accompanying him. Keep his temper in check and stop him jumping into bed with the wrong women." Sansa sighed as there was a knock at the door, Sansa guessed it was Robb. "Come in." she called out.

Robb walked into the room and took in the people around him. "What's he doing here?"

"I'm going to be in charge of King Aegon's navy." Theon grinned.