Author's Notes: Hey everyone, I am glad that you liked the last chapter and I hope that you like this one as well. I own nothing. SPOILER WARNING: Includes characters and material from the books not in the show.
Sansa was not sure how long she was out, the accursed potion held her in its grasp and left her unable to tell time. When her mind at last began to clear again she found that night had fallen and she was shivering from the cold. They were in a clump of trees on a hill, at the bottom of which Sansa could see the King's Road. She heard sounds nearby and after a moment her mind was able to piece together that what she was hearing were voices, which meant that she and Sir Massey were not alone. The gag prevented her from calling out, not that she was sure that she had the strength to do so even if it had not been there, so instead she turned to look at the sources of the voices.
Nearby was a small fire where Sir Massey crouched with four other men. Sansa did not know their names, but she vaguely remembered seeing one or two of them with the King. Her mind was still muddled and she could not make out what they were saying clearly; however, she could clearly tell that they were angry about something. Sir Massey in particular appeared to be berating the others, who answered back in tones almost as angry. Before she could determine what they were angry about one of them noticed that she was awake. He came up to her with a bowl, from which he spoon-fed her some gruel and afterwards some water, followed by more of the sleeping potion and again everything went dark.
He must have given her a larger dose than before, for when she awoke they were clearly far from where they had been. Through her fogged senses she smelled something which she could not at first recognize, but which gradually came to her, the smell of the sea. She was lying across Sir Massey's saddle as they emerged from the trees onto a sandy beach. A cold wind was coming off the water and it bit into Sansa like needles made of ice. It caused Sansa to shiver and shudder, but it helped to clear her head. Which was not necessarily a good thing as it helped to bring to her attention the fact that she had a splitting headache and she felt extremely nauseous. She had a sudden fear that if she were sick she would be unable to get it past the gag and would choke on her own vomit.
Oblivious to her fears the men kept ridding till they reached the shoreline. From her position Sansa could not see much but it seemed that the men where scanning the area looking for something. Whatever it was that they were looking for they clearly did not see it. They seemed to be in the same ill temper that they had been in earlier and their current situation did nothing to improve their collective ill-humor.
"Where in the seven hells is it?" One of the men demanded of his companions.
"Do I have the look of a seer to you?" One of the men replied. "I have not the Lady's ability to read the flames."
"Both of you be silent!" Another of the men snapped. "Fighting among each other will serve no purpose!"
"Neither will lingering here till they find us and kill us!" The fourth man declared.
"And whose fault is that?!" Sir Massey interjected. "You had one task and you bungled it! And thanks to that bungle we are compelled to run like whipped dogs!" He may have said more, but at that moment one of the other men gave a cry.
"There it is!" Raising her head Sansa was able to see what had gotten them so excited. Just coming into view was a ship. Sansa knew little of ships, but she could tell that it was of foreign make. It drew as close to the shore as it dared and then launched a boat containing two men who rowed the craft to the shore.
As they neared the shore Sir Massey and the others dismounted, Sir Massey lifting Sansa from the saddle. Once on the ground the men unsaddled their horses and sent them running off. Once this was done Sir Massey cut the rope around Sansa's ankles and helped her to her feet.
When the boat came ashore Sansa saw that the rowers were as foreign as their ship. They said not a word as Sir Massey helped Sansa into the boat as the others boarded as well. Once they were all aboard the men bent to their oars and rowed back towards the ship. Once they reached it Sir Massy cut the other ropes and Sansa and shoved her up the rope ladder that was thrown down by other sailors. Once aboard Sansa found that, in addition to the crew, there were more men who had been with Stannis. Two of these took her arms and half-marched, half-carried her to a cabin.
Inside it was plainly, but comfortably furnished, as if it had been prepared for a passenger of noble blood. This; however, was not what drew Sansa's attention, it was the cabin's only other occupant. It was the Lady Melisandre. The Red Woman was standing in the center of the cabin and looked as if she had been expecting Sansa to appear. As Sansa entered the room Melisandre gave a slight bow, though her eyes seemed to be faintly mocking.
"Lady Sansa, it is so good of you to join us." Sansa, still feeling unwell from the drug, was not in a mood to be coy.
"Your friends hardly gave me much choice in the matter." The other woman gave a throaty chuckle.
"Now, now. There is no need to be so unpleasant when speaking of the faithful."
"Faithful, a strange word to describe traitors." Melisandre gave of look of mock confusion.
"Traitor? We are faithful followers of the Lord of Light."
"But not, apparently, to his chosen one." At this Melisandre looked slightly abashed.
"Azor Ahai has returned, in that I was correct, but I was mistaken when I proclaim Stannis to be the one.
"The temple has decreed that the Dragon Queen is Azor Ahai and the high priestess's visions have always been stronger and clearer than mine. She does agree that the Great Enemy is coming and the days when your brother and his fellow crows had the strength to stand against him are long past, if they ever existed. Only Azor Ahai, the chosen of R'hllor and her dragons, creatures of fire and thus servants of R'hllor, can throw back the darkness that is coming. You can claim treason, but what we do, we do in order to save the world and all who dwell within it."
As Melisandre was talking Sansa's headache was fading and her mind was clearing. She did not think that she could overcome the Red Woman, but as soon as there was some distance between them she would attempt to control one of the knights and affect her escape, just as when she rescued her uncle and the Greatjon Umber. Seeing Melisandre looking at her speculatively and suspecting that she might know her secret, she spoke again in an effort to divert the other's attention.
"How convenient for you and your companions," Sansa said, letting derision into her voice. "As Sir Massey said, very kind of your god to choose the one with the largest army to be his champion. One about to deliver you an entire kingdom full of men and women for your fires." She had hoped to anger the priestess to divert her attention. Even if it pain, she was used to pain. Unfortunately, the woman refused to be baited.
"You cannot provoke me child, I have endured far more than unkind words." She paused for a moment and then began to speak again, sounding almost as if she was talking to herself as much as she was to Sansa.
"I once met a man, the son of the Onion Knight, who was not much older than you. I told him that death by fire was the purest of deaths and I spoke the truth. Fire cleanses them of their sins. Do you think that I take pleasure from watching men given to the fire? If I do, I do so in the knowledge that they are with R'hllor and it is neither your place nor mine to question the price he sets for his favors, we must accept and pay." She paused for a moment and then spoke again in a firm tone of voice.
"When we reach the Dragon Queen she offer you a great deal of freedom in exchange for your oath that you shall neither escape nor otherwise attempt to harm her cause. You will be perfectly willing to give this oath, but we both know that such words would be but wind to you. To ensure that you cause no harm and provide assistance to her cause other steps shall have to be taken." As she was speaking two of the knights entered and seized both of her arms and though she struggled Sansa could not escape their grip.
Melisandre reached into a chest set against the wall of the cabin and took an object from it. It was a choker of black iron and in its center was a large square-cut ruby, though smaller than the one at her own throat. She walked up to Sansa, brushed her hair aside and closed it around her neck. There seemed an inordinate amount of fastening involved, but at last she stepped back. It was loose enough that Sansa could breathe without difficulty, but tight enough that she could not forget that it was there and it was unusually, though not uncomfortably, warm against her skin. Once it was attached Melisandre stepped back and began to speak again and at her signal the men released Sansa.
"My power is greatest at the Wall and I shall return there when Azor Ahai leads her host to face the Great Other. However; even here I have sufficient power for my purpose. That ruby is bound to me and, now, so are you, blood and soul. If you attempt to break your word, or use your unnatural powers, I shall know and there shall be consequences." At her last words she touched her own ruby, which seemed to glow brightly.
Pain shot through Sansa as the ruby at her throat seemed to burn and though she clutched and clawed at it she could not get it loose. Melisandre removed her fingers from her own ruby and the one on Sansa abruptly cooled. Sansa relaxed as the pain dissipated. She looked at the other woman, who smiled at her, a smile of triumph.
Author's Notes: Hello everyone, I hope that you enjoyed that one. Book readers will recognize the other ruby and its implications. I will admit I may have gotten some of its properties incorrect and if so I apologize. I have plans and it prevents Sansa from just escaping with her abilities, trust me what is coming is, I hope, far more interesting. Do you think Melisandre enjoys burning people? Please let me know what you think. Things will be getting good soon. Till then please pray for those in California and elsewhere effected by the flooding, imprisoned pastors and all those who suffer for their faith and all who need prayer. Bye and may Jesus bless you.