Okay, so thanks to a tip from reviewer tommyginger I went to Archive of Our Own and there is a VERY good fic over there with NK/Sansa pairing called Winter's Winds. Just read it and was like Dang it! Why didn't I think of that? LOL. Very interesting take on 8x03.
Okay, that being said… the scene in this fic directly below is one where I've had to use my imagination with things like names. Usually, I hate this because the names always come off cheesy, but it was necessary in this case.
()()()()()()()()()
"Ser, the southernmost settlement has come under attack. The villagers are fleeing north, to us, for aid and protection." A young man around the age of twenty stood at attention, waiting for his commander's order.
The older man, about forty-ish, scowled and threw down the scroll he carried. It contained a rough outline of land borders, oceans, and settlements his people had formed since arriving to this land. "Those damn imps! The Gods take them all!"
"What should we do?" the younger man asked nervously.
"What d'ya mean, 'what should we do?' I'm going to kill every single last one of those dirty, little, green-skinned monsters and then I'm going to burn down those blasted trees they love so much."
"But what about the villagers? This is hardly the place for refugees." He waved an arm around the encampment for emphasis.
"Just put 'em up wherever for now. Where's my brother?"
"Which one, Ser?"
"The one who's not completely useless."
"Ah, well, Barron is not here yet."
"Why not?"
"I'm not sure, Ser. It's possible there was a delay."
"I received word that he defeated the band of imps and was heading back here. That was three days ago."
"More pressing than Barron's delay is your uncle's arrival. He'll be here tomorrow."
"Hang 'em both," the older man grunted. He had no patience for people and things who did not do exactly what they said they would.
"Tsk, tsk. Is that any way to talk about your favorite brother? They should call you Bran the Bastard. Has a better ring to it."
Bran stood straighter at the sound of the familiar voice. "Barron. I could say the same to you."
Bran turned around to eye his youngest brother. Then he cracked a smile and both men clapped their arms around each in greeting. "What took you so long?"
A broad smile spread across Barron's handsome face. "Oh, you know, just relaxing a bit after a hard battle."
Bran sniffed knowingly. "Whores. Only you would be able to find whores in the middle of this uninhabited land. Please tell me it wasn't one of those tiny creatures."
"God's no," Barron chuckled. Both brothers started walking slowly around the camp. "And I don't find them, they find me."
"I feel mighty sorry for the woman who ever really loves you, brother."
Barron gave another smile. "So do I. Fortunately, for me and her, whoever she is, I'm good looking."
Bran snorted.
XXXXX
The Three-Eyed Raven's eyes returned to normal.
This was very interesting. Not much interested him anymore, but the Night King was someone who did.
"He was a Stark," the Raven said aloud to no one. As with most things now, he just knew that without being told. He wasn't just a Stark, he was one of the first Starks in Westeros.
Was that an explanation for his interest in Sansa?
Somehow he didn't think so. At least, not entirely.
XXXXX
Without Dany, life at Winterfell went back to normal for Sansa. Many people had left to go back to their own homes, despite Jon cautioning them otherwise.
"We need food," Sansa said. "We need to get to the sea and fish."
"Oh, and that's something you know how to do, is it?"
She eyed Jon in irritation. He'd been depressed ever since Dany left with Arya and Jaime and it was starting to get on her nerves. "I think I could learn if it meant not starving. We can't grow anything, Jon. We need to hunt and fish."
Jon rubbed his face. "We're days away from the sea, on either side."
"So we send out a hunting party," Sansa countered.
"Then do that," Jon said giving her a tight smile. Then he got up and left the main hall.
Remember all the stupid things you did for Joffrey? She told herself, watching her brother's retreating form. Love was stupid and harmful, but she couldn't pretend she didn't empathize.
Daenerys wasn't even that special, she thought. For being the Dragon Queen, she was small and pale and washed out in the Northern setting. Maybe somewhere warmer would suit her better.
"Sansa, I need to speak to you."
She looked over and saw her other brother. "Bran? What is it?"
"Not here."
Her heartbeat quickened and somehow she knew he wanted to talk about the Night King. She'd been doing her best not to think of him all day, but the reprieve was over it seemed. She stood up and went behind Bran's chair to push it somewhere more private.
"Let's go to the Godswood," he suggested quietly.
"Alright."
They walked in silence until they came to their destination. She pulled his chair around next to the ancient tree and faced his outwards so he could see everything.
"I've seen things. I've seen the Night King before he was the Night King."
Sansa's breath quickened. She still didn't completely understand her brother's new gifts, but she believed him when he told her things.
"I saw time before Winterfell, before the Kings of Winter." He looked at her for any reaction. "I believe I know a small piece of the reason the Night King is targeting you. Not all of it yet, but I will soon enough."
"Well? What is it?" she demanded breathlessly.
"He is a Stark. Barron Stark, brother to Brandon Stark who built this castle."
Her mouth dropped open in shock. "That was six thousand years ago."
"Yes."
Sansa couldn't believe her ears. "A Stark? How is that possible?"
"He was taken by the Children of the Forest and made into a weapon to help them win the war against the First Men."
"The Children of Forest are a myth."
"I assure you they are real. At least," Bran said looking far away for a moment, "they were."
Sansa tried to process what he'd told her quickly. "But what does that have to do with me? You're a Stark too. So is Arya and Jon. Why me?"
Bran looked thoughtfully for a moment. "That I'm not sure about but I will continue looking. For now, there is something I wish to do but I need your permission."
"What is it?" Somehow from his tone she thought she might not like it, whatever he had in mind.
"I want to share a vision with you," he said quietly.
Her eyes widened.
"The Night King can see inside your mind. He knows things like I know things. I want to try something in case he attempts to meet with you again."
"Will it hurt?"
"I don't think so."
Sansa took her time thinking it over, finally saying, "Alright, what do I do?"
"Take my hand."
She did so.
"Now place your other hand on the Godswood tree."
She did that as well.
"Close your eyes and relax."
That was harder. Nothing happened at first.
Then she heard a distant cry, like an echo of an echo. She opened her eyes and saw Bran next to her, but they were a ways from the tree now. A man with longish brown hair knelt with his sword in front of it. He was crying, she realized.
"Where are we?"
"Winterfell," Bran answered simply. "Six thousand years ago."
She whirled around and saw the bare bones of the castle she called home. It was much smaller and the walls hadn't even been fully built yet.
There were giants!
"Can he see us?" she asked turning back to Bran and then man kneeling.
"I don't think so. Most people can't as long as you don't do anything to bring attention to yourself. Let's move closer."
She took his chair and wheeled it slowly forward. She could hear snippets of what the man was saying.
"Barron … damn you…"
"Who is he?"
"That would be Brandon Stark, known throughout history as Bran the Builder."
The gravity of what she was seeing hadn't fully hit her yet. He's my family, six thousand years removed. Did he sort of look like Father? No, she scoffed, He couldn't.
Could he?
She walked a little closer and then knelt down in front of him. He did sort of look like Ned Stark. Most of the Starks had the same coloring, except herself and Robb who looked like the Tully's. This man had a narrower nose and a more oval face than her father had. Same brow line though.
It was inconceivable.
Her hand twitched and reached out toward his face.
"No, Sansa," Bran warned. "Don't. It can be dangerous."
Suddenly he looked up and seemingly right into her eyes. She froze. Could he see her?
"Oh, Brother…" There was so much sorrow in his voice that tears sprang to Sansa's eyes. It was the Stark curse, it seemed, to weep over brothers. And fathers and mothers.
She stood quickly and made her way back to Bran. "Is this what you wanted to show me?"
He nodded. "Some. The rest can wait."
"The Night King…" She swallowed a lump in her throat. "He's the brother?"
"I believe this is after the great Battle of the Dawn. Probably months or years after. The Night King was defeated and sent back further north, to the Land of Always Winter, not to be seen again for six thousand years. Brandon Stark is … still sad."
It was so strange to think of the icy, pale man who brought death wherever he rode, as being someone who had been loved. Who had loved once.
"It doesn't matter now," Bran continued. "I didn't show you this so that we can try and fix things. Things no longer can be fixed, I'm afraid."
"Then why did you show me this?"
"For Him."
Sansa gasped for air as everything around them went back to normal and her eyes flew open.
XXXXX
Once again, she was in the dark and cold. Everything was quiet. Too quiet.
Was she dreaming again? Or was this Him?
Come.
She whirled around but saw no one. "Hello?" Her voice sounded small to her ears.
Then up ahead a dark figure stepped out from behind a tree, blue eyes glowing. There was a strange lack of fear from her at the moment. Maybe because of what she'd seen earlier with Bran?
Maybe she knew he wouldn't hurt her.
At least, not yet.
He walked closer to her, slow and sure. He never faltered, never stumbled or tripped. Just forward.
Then he was close enough to touch her. She held her breath.
He stared down at her, finally lifting the corners of his mouth infinitesimally. Whatever he'd seen in her he must have liked.
Good.
"You're probably not going to tell me why I'm here."
One pale finger reached up to trace the curve of her face. She shuddered at the icy feeling. His finger dug into her chin, forcing it up. Very, very slowly he moved down. Toward her.
Now her fear spiked. Now she realized what he was going to do. But she couldn't move. At the moment, her legs were as useful as Bran's. His eyes never wavered from hers, even as his mouth hovered so close.
Then he drew back. Though his expression didn't change, it seemed to her he was frowning. He gripped her face, peering down at her.
Suddenly, images flashed through her mind. Specifically, what she'd seen at the Godswood earlier. Her ancestor kneeling and praying. Weeping.
"Oh, Brother." The voice echoed in her mind and outside of it as well.
The Night King withdrew from her, dropping her face, and stepping back. He angled his head to look at something past her. His eyes were downright menacing.
XXXXX
The Night King saw him. He was angry.
The Raven peered into events happening in the present time. He'd known the Night King would come for Sansa again and when he did, the Raven would be watching.
He was watching when the Night King bent his head to kiss Sansa. He'd been pleased with her lack of fear. Then he'd probed deeper and found the vision of the past. His past.
That had not pleased him.
Suddenly, they saw each other. The king pushed past the girl and walked toward him.
You did this.
"Yes."
That is not what I had in mind.
The Raven frowned slightly. The Night King had plans concerning him and Sansa? Strange. "What did you have in mind?"
Soon, you will not even be a memory and I will have everything.
"You're waiting for something," the Raven said aloud.
The Night King smirked. Then he turned and walked away, past Sansa and into the dark night of the forest.
Well, I do believe this is my favorite chapter so far. I sort of sat in front of the screen after the first scene and was like 'Where do I go now?' because I don't want the Sansa/NK scenes to just repeat until the end of time, but really, they're who were all here for. Then bam! Creativity flowed and everything was saved. LOL