Author's Notes: Hey everyone, glad that you liked the last chapter, as always I own nothing. SPOILERISH.
For the next few days Sansa was too busy to indulge in her feelings of melancholy. Winterfell was still damaged and while there was food there was no money to pay men to rebuild Winterfell or pay the servants and soldiers who were sworn to her. Lord Wylis Manderly had sent a raven promising funds that his father had been stockpiling prior to his death. For the moment it seemed people were willing to wait for the time being. She remembered that there had been a similar mood after the Battle of Blackwater and that had not lasted long. If Lord Wylis did not deliver the money soon the current mood could change quickly.
She had never realized just how difficult the task of ruling could be. Her life here before had been sewing, music and stories, now it was all work. She rose early in the morning and sat in Father's chair, her chair now, and listened to petioners. Many of these were farmers and tradesmen who had suffered under the Boltons. Others were land owners and petty lords all demanding things usually land and claiming those with whom they had disputes had supported the Boltons while they had held Winterfell. Even when this was done for the day there was no rest. In the afternoon she would sit down to masses of papers that she needed to read and sign. She had never had a head for figures or points of law and many times she found the words sliding around on the pages and she felt like pulling her hair out when she reached the bottom of a page and found that she did not remember a word of what she had just read. She had never realized how much Maester Luwin had done for her family and wished that he was here now. If the Boltons had had a maester with them he had left with Roose. The King had no Maester with his army so the only help was her uncle and it seemed like he was almost as lost as she was.
Her uncle had little time to help her as the King was holding almost daily councils to determine his next course of action. Sansa was not invited to these councils but her uncle filled her in. It seemed that the council was divided on the matter of what was to come next. Some counciled that the King should follow up on the success at Winterfell and march to siege the Dreadfort. Others, many them northern lords that the King had taken into his confidence, instead called for a return to the Wall to prepare for the threat which was coming down from the north. The King, as was his way, had so far kept his own council but as the Red Woman was urging the King to return to the Wall many suspected that that would ultimately be the course of action that the King would likely take. The Queen and the Princess had already left for White Harbor, Sansa was sorry to see the Princess go but was not at all upset to see the Queen depart. With all of her duties; however, Sansa had little time to miss the Princess. It was almost a relief when the King summoned her to speak with him.
"Your Grace." She said, going down on one knee before him. He had been studying a map when she entered the room. He turned and gestured for her to rise.
"Lady Stark I know that you have much to do but I fear that I have further need of you."
"Whatever you require your Grace."
"I intend to return to the Wall to aid your brother in the war there that is to come. I cannot; however, leave the south completely in the hands of the usurpers. I need the Vale on my side. Sir Justin Massey has a pleasing tongue but he is not of the Vale and the lords there may not accept him. You, on the other hand, are of the blood of their late lady and her son, their future lord when he reaches majority. You are to go with Sir Justin Massey and see if your blood cannot influence them. The army marches north the day after tomorrow and you two shall depart at the same time." With that he turned back to the map, clearly having already dismissed her from his mind.
Author's Notes: Hey everyone, yes I know, short but this one is just a set up. The next will be longer I promise and will have meetings and a plot twist I would like to think no one has seen coming. Till then please pray for the victims of the Belgium attack, some of whom are still missing. The priest who is rumored to be crucified by ISIS and all who are sick, injured, homeless held against their will and all who are in need of prayer. Thanks and may Jesus bless you.