Author's Notes: Hey everyone, sorry that it has been so long. I hope that this will make up for it. As always I own nothing. Martin and company do. WARNING: Slight spoilers from the books
That night there was a feast to welcome Sansa, though due to consideration to the coming winter and the hunger that it was likely to bring the affair was a small one. As the guest of honor she had the place of honor at the left hand of Lord Manderly at the high table. Normally she would have been set at the right hand of the lord of White Harbor, but that place had been given to the Queen. Sansa had hoped to see Princess Shireen, whose company she had enjoyed, but there was no sign of her. Also seated at the table were several lords and knights of note and the officers of the Golden Company. These included, somewhat to Sansa's unease, Lysono Maar. Whenever she looked over at him he looked as if he were staring at her. More than just at her, through her. She did not like the feeling and did her best to avoid looking in his direction.
Fortunately, she did not lack for distractions. There had been little confirmed news about what had happed at King's Landing, but many rumors. Thus Sansa spent the majority of the feast telling and retelling what had occurred there. She had not actually seen all that much and so she found herself taking some license in order to make the tale longer and so that she could say something beyond repeatedly say; "I do not know." She did not speak of her meeting with the terrifying Ironborn. She did not like remembering it when she did not have to and she certainly wish to speak of it. It appeared that those listen did not notice any inconsistencies or omissions in her story, but from the glances that she could not seem to prevent herself from taking in his direction it appeared that Lysono Maar was not entirely taken in by her words.
"My lady," Lord Manderly said, breaking her chain of thought and calling her attention back to him.
"While I wish that you could honor my home with your presence longer, I know that it is both your desire and duty to return to Winterfell as soon as possible." Sansa nodded her head in acknowledgement.
"You speak truthfully Lord Manderly. I must return as soon as possible, though the hospitality of White Harbor is as generous as it has ever been." He bowed slightly and smiled in response.
"It will be a pity to see you go," Queen Selyse said; "Your presence has brightened these bleak winter days." Though the words were kind there was no sincerity behind them. In fact the Queen had barely said a word to Sansa since her arrival, though Sansa was careful not to point that out. Instead she, like Lord Manderly, bowed and smiled in the Queen's direction.
Fortunately, the feast soon came to an end after the exchange. Sansa was tired and she had likely drunk more than she should have, the urge to do so having increased both due to what she had experienced and the thought of what was to come. During the feast she thought she heard the Queen mutter something about King Robert while looking in her direction, though Sansa had pretended not to hear her. What had had more effect on her and caused her to cut back had been the look of slight disapproval on Brienne's face. The larger woman had stood behind Sansa's back the whole evening, casting suspicious looks at anyone who came too close. While she would not say so Sansa was relieved to have her guardian with her as ever since her visions she had found it hard to feel safe anywhere and Brienne's presence provide a feeling of security.
Despite Brienne's protests Sansa had a servant open the window of her bedroom when they reached it. While it was not snowing there was a strong wind blowing and it was soon whistling through the room. Sansa was not drunk, at least not entirely and the cold helped to chase the effects of the wine from her mind. Once it felt clearer she closed the window and sat by the fire and took a collection of papers from the desk. They contained, among other things, a list of the men Lord Manderly was sending to the Wall to bolster the strength of the Night's Watch. She had asked to see them under the claim that as Wardeness of the North she had a responsibility to inspect the quality of those being sent. She was sure that that excuse was nonsense, but she could not think of anything else and Lord Manderly's maester had not argued with her.
As she had hoped the list contained both the names of the men being sent to the wall and the crimes which had landed them in prison in the first place. Most of these were of no interest to her: evading taxes, robbery, murder and rape. There was one name; however, which was of interest to her, Barth the Black Dog, crime: smuggling. It did not say whether or not he had ever been to the area which she needed him to have been to, but it appeared that he was the only option. The question now was how she was to speak to him, she could hardly just go down to the dungeon and talk to a common prisoner without comment being made and that was the last thing which she wanted. She wanted this to remain as secret as possible. She considered sending someone to him, but discounted that as well and then a thought occurred to her.
They would all be travelling together, at least at first. She would be staying in Winterfell while they continued on to the Wall. In Winerfell she could enact her plan and there, surrounded by her own people, there would be far less chance of it being seen and remarked on. Content with that she settled down to sleep.
The following day she and her party boarded one the barges which were traveling up the White Knife as close to Winterfell as they could and then travel overland the rest of the way. With winter setting in ice was beginning to settle on the river and normally travel would not have been attempted. However; it was necessary for as much speed to be made as possible. It appeared that the situation on the Wall had become worse.
Jon had written to Lord Manderly that he had been forced to halt patrols north of the Wall after they stopped coming back. The flow of Wildlings fleeing to the Wall seeking refuge had suddenly ceased and he did not think anymore were coming. Jon had tried to resurrect the old Night's Watch practice of felling trees from the haunted forest which were too close to the Wall, but that too had been abandoned. From the Wall it was reported that a thick mist now filled the forest and did not dissipate no matter how brightly the sun shone. Some sentries had reported seeing animals fleeing from it and some claimed to have seen shapes moving within it, though none had, as yet, left the mist and revealed themselves. Fortunately, the news was not all bad.
With the influx of the Wildlings seeking refuge Jon had been able to regarrison many of the castles which the Night's Watch had been forced to abandon over the years as their numbers had declined. Sansa had heard about that while at White Harbor, including that Jon had garrisoned the castle of Long Barrow entirely with Wildling women. This had caused a great deal crude humor among the men present. Several remarking that they would not have minded being assigned to that castle. All of these regarrison efforts had increased the need for supplies and more men. The latter was more difficult than ever before as the fighting had drained the North of manpower and many lords were reluctant to send even their criminals as they could make use of them themselves. They were also cut off from most of the rest of Westeros due to the ongoing war. They were also very reluctant to share supplies with the Night's Watch, desiring instead to hoard them in an effort to increase their chances of surviving the winter. That winter also insured that support was provided could only reach the Wall with great difficulty.
Sansa was pleased that they, at least, were able to travel with little difficulty. The ice was not yet thick enough to prevent the barges' progress and they reached a small village whose name Sansa did not know. There they met the carts which had been commandeered to transport the supplies to the Wall. There was also the escort to ensure it arrived safely. The escort was a mixture of northmen, Night's Watchmen and even several Wildlings.
Among these were four women. One was tall for a woman, though not as tall as Brienne, rawboned features and dirty brown hair and wearing a shirt of ring mail which had clearly been forged for someone taller and bulkier. She carried a spear and wicker shield with a severed head painted on it and a dagger thrust into her belt. The next was short and stout with spiky black hair. Instead of armor she wore heavy furs and was armed in similar fashion the first, though her shield had a rampaging bear. The third was slightly shorter than Sansa, though bulkier with brown hair under a leather helmet. Instead of a spear she had a flail and her shield had bloodstained claws painted on it. The fourth woman was of average height and slender with blond hair in a long braid. She had neither spear or shield, instead she bore a bow of horn and a short sword. As Sansa came ashore the tall woman, who appeared to be the leader, came up to her. She did not bow, merely looked Sansa in the eye and then began to speak in a voice was as raw and rough as her features.
"You the Crow's sister?" Sansa would have been confused by this, but fortunately Jon had told her that "Crow" was the name that the Wildlings gave to the members of the Night's Watch. While Brienne bristled slightly Sansa simply nodded in acknowledgement.
"I am." She said simply.
"The name is Igra and the head Crow asked me and this lot," here she indicate the others; "To keep an eye on you. Said that you have a tendency to get stolen more often than the prettiest girls when the red wanderer is within the Moonmaid." Sansa had no idea what Igra was talking about, but she could tell that it was a disparaging remark. Fortunately Igra did not seem to notice, or did not care and continued to talk as she introduced the others, spearwives as the Wildlings called them.
The stout woman was named Herra and she looked slightly disdainfully at Sansa. The one with the flail was named Gjanna and she barely looked at Sansa before she turned her attention to Brienne, whom she sized up as one dog would another they were considering challenging. The archer answered to the name of Mally. Sansa was happy to see that she at least did not appear to hold any dislike or distain for her. Instead her interest seemed to be everywhere else. She stared at the barges, at the buildings even at the road as if it were all the most amazing things that she had ever seen. With a pang Sansa realized that Mally reminded Sansa of herself, back when they had first gone to King's Landing, back when everything away from the North was new and wonderous. She pushed the thought aside and focused on Igra.
"We swore before a heart tree that we would protect you and ensure that you are not stolen again."
"I am perfectly capable of ensuring Lady Sansa's safety." Brienne said, an edge in her voice. Igra snorted in her direction while Gjanna looked at Brienne, a glint coming into her eye as she gripped her weapon eagerly. Seeing this Sansa quickly intervened.
"They come at the request of my brother and it would be disrespectful to both him and an insult to these brave women." She paused and then a thought occurred to her.
"How would you feel if you were to offer your service and protection to someone and then have them reject it?" A pained expression came to Brienne's face and she seemed to relax. Gjanna too relaxed, though she seemed disappointed at the lack of a fight. Glad to see that conflict had been avoided Sansa headed towards her horse. She was eager to see her home again and prepare herself. Winter was coming and she could only hope that she still had time.
Author's Notes: Hey everyone, sorry that it has been so long, among other things got into a bit of a rut and I hope that this makes up for it. Think of it as a Christmas present from me to you. I hope that you all have a nice day. Please pray for the missing girl Dulce Alavez, the sick child Axel J-R Dennis and those suffering from Ebola in Africa and all who need prayer. And on that happy note: Merry Christmas everyone.