Sansa awoke suddenly, still fully dressed. For a moment she could not remember why she had fallen asleep in such an improper state— she always took care to prepare herself for bed.
Then Sansa remembered. Lady was dead at her beautiful queen's command, and neither her golden prince nor her noble father had done anything to stop it.
And now, a soft scuffling noise was coming from the corner of her room.
"I didn't mean to wake you up," Arya said quietly as she emerged from the shadows, completely filthy. Sansa stared at her. How had she gotten mud in so many places?
"I'm sorry about Lady," Arya said, coming closer. For once there was no bite in her voice. Sansa rubbed her nose, which was still stuffy from her sobbing.
"She didn't do anything," Sansa whispered. Arya nodded, a guilty look on her face.
"I should have scared her away when I scared off Nymeria, I didn't think they'd hurt Lady," Arya said, sitting beside Sansa. "Lady was so, so perfect. Like you," Arya added, a hint of bitterness creeping into her voice.
"Being perfect didn't save Lady," Sansa sniffled, trying not to start crying again.
"I told you that queen of yours had a nasty side," Arya said flatly. Sansa would have shouted at her for such a statement this morning, she would have defended Queen Cersei as beautiful and elegant and kind. Before.
"She's everyone's queen," Sansa said instead. "And the fat old king didn't stop her."
Arya reached out hesitantly toward Sansa, as if waiting for Sansa to pull away in disgust from Arya's filth. But instead Sansa reached out, accepting her sister's muddy hand.
"Father said they buried Lady under a weirwood. I didn't even get to say goodbye," Sansa said, choking back tears. Arya gripped her hand tight.
"You know what I'd do, if I was as wild as you?" Sansa continued, her heart pounding as the idea formed.
"I'd run away, and find that weirwood, and dig up Lady so I could pet her just one last time. So she knew I didn't forget her, that I love her so much," Sansa sniffled. Arya stilled.
"Go," Arya said. "Everyone is asleep, except the ones looking for me. I snuck past them to come see you. I'll go make a ruckus, they'll take me to father, and they won't miss you until morning."
Sansa hesitated. Ladies didn't sneak out at night. Ladies didn't traipse through the woods alone.
But a true lady wouldn't have asked for Lady's head, Sansa thought suddenly. A lady is supposed to be kind and just and faithful to her people. If the queen won't be a true lady, then I must be. And a true lady would bid farewell to her beloved, even if her beloved was a direwolf. Even if she had to sneak out at night and walk in mud.
