Author's Notes: Hey everyone, glad that you liked the last one, I hope that you like this one, as always I own nothing.
As they drew near Moat Cailin their guides silently left them after uniting them with the rest of their party, they said not a word they just turned and left. They moved to the road and headed down it till they were seen and challenged by sentries manning the walls. Sansa and her uncle were instructed to come forward, but the rest of their party were ordered to remain at a distance. As they drew nearer they saw that men were making repairs to the walls and towers. Overhead the Royal Banner and the sigil of House Glover flew. When they reached the gate it opened and two men came out. One of the men was of medium height and build with thinning brown hair and eyes to match clad in armor, the sigil of House Glover upon his breast. The second man was a tall man with gray hair in the robes of the maesters. The knight looked at them for a moment, a look of surprise on his face.
"By the gods! Sir Tully it is you and Lady Stark!" Both men immediately bowed.
"How did you come to be here?" The knight asked.
"It is a long tale Sir…" Sansa said, attempting to solicit the man's name. Fortunately he understood.
"Forgive me my lady. I am Sir Stephas Woods, charged to strengthen and hold Moat Cailin in the name of King Stannis Baratheon." His companion bowed again.
"I am Maester Theodal. I was sent here in order to handle Sir Woods' ravens and see to any who may become sick or injured." Just then Sir Brynden interjected himself into the conversation.
"Forgive me, but the journey we have had is as long as the story and we and our companions are weary and we have sick among us." Instantly the men were apologetic and they were immediately given permission to enter and Sir Woods led them inside. As they moved among the men they saw several other knights and Sansa felt herself stiffen and saw her uncle do the same when they saw one man wearing the flayed man of House Bolton. Nor did it seem that they were the only ones who felt hostility towards the man as it appeared that many of those working gave him berth. Sir Woods followed their gaze and his mood become somber.
"Sir Hectar Snow. Lady Jeyne Bolton sent a contingent of men to aid in the rebuilding and the defense if that should be necessary. While I would just as soon send them away the King has forbidden any fighting among those sworn to him and it is better this way. If the bastards, pardon my lady, turn on us again some of them are down here instead of at our backs and they are divided now, unlike at the Twins."
"Have there been any attacks?" Brynden asked.
"No, not even much in the way of patrols since the Ironborn got chased away. The Frey seemed content to stay on their side of the Neck and the Ironborn have their own issues to deal with and haven't been back. The King insists; however, that Moat Callin been strongly garrisoned. It seems that with the coming of winter he does not appear to intend to move south and instead is moving the bulk of his forces to the Wall."
"Has something happened there?" Sansa asked, remembering Jon's words and her vision. Sir Woods shrugged.
"I don't know. The Nights Watch is always prophesying doom, though they seemed to be doing it more now than before and the King looks inclined to listen to them."
"Any word from the south?" Sansa asked.
"We have a little more word on that account." Maester Theodal chimed in.
"As you may know the Ironborn sacked King's Landing. They looted the city and burned both the Great Sept and the godswood, but were unable to hold it. They did weaken it and the Targaryen queen has taken the city. The Lannisters and the boy-king Tommen were able to return to Casterly Rock, though they lost many to the Dothraki before they reached safety. They are now within the safety of Casterly Rock and Sir Woods and I agree that it is unlikely that there will be any serious effort to dig them out till after winter ends."
"Remarkably," Sir Woods said, forcing himself back into the conversation; "The Riverlands have remained loyal to the Lannisters. Though that may be because no one else would want that treacherous collection of snakes.
"What of the Vale?" Her uncle inquired. Here Sir Woods became solemn again.
"I fear that they have gone over to the Targaryen cause."
"They have?!" Sansa said, startled and thinking of Arya and the task that Sansa had given to her.
"Indeed my lady. We received word from the last shipment of supplies that your cousin, Robert Arryn died and was succeeded by Harrold Hardyng, whom some call the Young Falcon, whose great-uncle was your cousin's father. This made him Robert Arryn's heir and he assumed power almost as soon as the funeral was over.
"He appeared to have been frustrated by the Vale staying out of the war, an attitude shared by many of his fellow knights and he declared that they would enter the war. Well, word had reached them by then of the fall of King's Landing so you can guess what side they chose. Not only do they want to be on the side they think will win, but if I had to guess he is hoping the Dragon Queen will reward him with part, if not all, of the Riverlands after they have been subdued." He paused and chuckled.
"Funnily enough the whole thing was nearly brought to an end when his horse spooked for no apparent reason and threw him. He was injured, but not as badly as first feared. Someone also tried to poison him at a feast that was thrown for the Queen's ambassador, but fate intervened again and a serving boy snuck a drink from his cup and the poison was discovered when he sickened and died. Since then they say Hardyng goes everywhere with a bodyguard of knights and employs a food taster."
"Strange." Her uncle said. Sansa merely nodded. She wanted to ask if the assassin, if Aryan, had been caught, but was afraid to ask and assumed he would have said if she had. A thought seemed to have occurred to Theodal as he turned back to Sansa.
"My lady, I am sure that you are tired, but I believe that there is someone here who would like very much to see you." Sansa was somewhat tired, but she nodded and allowed Theodal to lead her.
He led her to a room in one of the towers which was a little ways away from the others. He opened the door and motioned for her to enter. As she did so a mass of fur slammend into her. Silver Fang! At first she could not believe it, but as it continued to lick her face she had to accept that it was a fact. As she at last pushed the wolf down she saw who else was in the room and she gasped in surprise again. Brienne! Her bodyguard was here as well. Unlike Silver Fang; however, did not rush to greet her and as her eyes adjusted to the gloom Sansa saw why. The older woman was lying in bed, her faced flushed and a cloth across her brow. As she looked over her eyes widened and tried to rise.
Theodal, who had followed Sansa into the room, rushed to Brienne's side. He gently, but firmly, pressed her back onto her bed. He took a cup from beside the bed and forced Brienne to drink from it. The woman grew sleepy and her eyes slid shut. He motioned for Sansa to leave the room and she did so, Silver Fang clinging to her heels. He followed her out and shut the door behind him. She waited till the door shut and then began to question him.
"How did they come to be here?"
"They arrived here a fortnight or so after your disappearance. There were already rumors of where the Red Witch had taken you south and she was determined to follow you there, the wolf accompanying her. Unfortunately, she developed some form of fever from the swamp and has been bedridden here ever since. Fortunately, she is beginning to recover and I believe that she shall soon have made a full recovery." Sansa was relived.
Theodal led her back to the others, her mind whirling. Winter was coming and it seemed, at least for the moment, that the various factions had stopped fighting, at least for the moment. However, an older, darker force was coming into its element and it appeared that they were preparing to strike and perhaps bring all else to an end. Unwillingly her mind returned to what had been said of King's Landing. It appeared that her visions were indeed coming true, at least in part. And if part of it was true, then all of it might be.
Hurry up and heal Brienne. She thought silently to herself. We have much to do and your sword shall be needed.
Author's Notes: What did you think? I needed an explanation why Brienne had not gone looking for Sansa and this is what I decided. What did you think of the Vale? If your surprised by Arya's lack of success I must admit, without too many spoilers, that I do not like the show's Arya Super Commando. Till next time please pray for the Ebola victims in Africa, the victims of flooding and tornados in the US and all who need it. Today is Memorial Day in the US, their watch has ended may they rest in peace.