Patience is a virtue, or so Sansa had been raised to believe as she flopped in the chair on the left of the fireplace in her solar. She poured herself a glass of watered down cider, which they'd started making from the glut of apples from the surrounding trees. It was a palatable drink, but it gave her a heavy head if she didn't water it down.
Gods, she hated having the body of a girl of ten and four. She pinched her nose and sighed, they could make all the plans in the world, but if Queenscrown had no working rookery, then they were officially out of touch with the rest of Westeros, in fact out of touch with the north. This was becoming problematic.
The original maesters chambers were down on the ground floor, but just after Jon left, Sansa had realised that there would be a problem with the placement as a war room was needed and housing a rookery inside a building was highly impractical. Therefore, the builders were building a pitched roof on top of the keep, where the rookery and maesters chambers could be housed.
A covered wooden staircase would circle around the outside of the keep, carefully placed not to block any windows. The building of the staircase and preparation of the new maester's chambers was going well, except for one minor problem, they didn't have a Maester. Nor did they even have anyone qualified to tend to a temporary rookery, which meant they had to rely on Winterfell to send out multiple messages, which was exactly what would be needed for Robb's trip around the north.
A maester was desperately needed, they had written to the Citadel for them to send one, but the Citadel never hurried, and even when they sent the new Maester, it would take at least three moons for him to arrive. Sansa was almost tempted to write to Jon at Castle Black and ask if she could borrow Sam, except he wasn't even trained yet. Sansa didn't need the cider for a headache, the lack of raven exchanges was giving her one.
In the meantime, her solar had become a makeshift war-room of sorts. Sansa's mother had brought the large map of the north with her, which was rolled out on the large oak table, usually used for private dining. The counters she brought were all intricately carved wooden pieces, representing various houses, painted to complete the effect.
Sansa remembered Jon telling her about the painted table on Dragonstone; despite how impressive this effort was, it was nothing compared to the one Jon had seen. Not that it mattered, this was not a battle, this was not a war, not yet. The decision was to send Robb around the north as the heir to Winterfell. Doing a northern tour and getting to know the bannermen and their own heirs always looked good on the family. Sansa's father never did it because he was never the heir to Winterfell, but she suspected Brandon must have done it.
The problem they faced now was organisation of the tour. Until they got their Maester, they were sending letters to Winterfell to tell the houses to correspond with Maester Luwin as he could send out multiple ravens simultaneously. It seemed so archaic, but with only having one raven at a time to work with, they had no choice.
Sansa stood at the table, waiting for the rest of her family to join her. Memories of her and Jon touring the north, trying to gain the help of the houses to retake Winterfell. Many of those houses didn't respond because they were stripped bare of armies after the red wedding massacre. Others turned them away because they were terrified of the Bolton's, the rest were through misogamy and prejudice.
Sansa smiled at the thought of the fearsome little she-bear, who would be around seven years of age, and probably terrifying the maesters already. Sansa hoped this time, the ferocious little girl would grow up to be a woman and not a corpse in the army of the dead.
Memories of touring the north led her to Jon. It had been almost two moons since he'd left Queenscrown and she missed him dearly. He wrote to her, but only to update her on how things were going at Castle Black. He'd spent most of his time training and talking with Lord Commander Mormont. Uncle Benjen hadn't gone on the ranging mission, as he was to assist Jon on his, which would take at least five moons, but Jon estimated closer to ten.
She knew Jon wouldn't leave to go north of the wall until the red comet appeared, which also coincided with the time Daenerys dragons hatched. It could be another year before he returned, she couldn't be sure, but soon the letter would stop completely, and then there would be no communication with Jon for the duration, not knowing whether she would be a widow.
The thought filled her with dread. As long as he came back alive, she'd be grateful. And if he wanted her as a man would want his wife, Sansa would freely give. After they'd shared a bed for those two nights, Sansa had felt a loneliness she'd never experienced before. Mayhaps it was because he was warm and comforting, maybe it was because she felt safer with him in the bed. Sansa couldn't be certain. Either way, she wanted him back as soon as possible.
Voices in the passage disturbed her thoughts. Arya, Robb, Theon and her mother were on their way up to join her for a meeting. Robb's tour was still on hold because of the inability to be able to plan the route, instead they were to focus on Arya's trip to Kings Landing to rescue Gendry, one which worried Sansa.
The Theon who was with them now was not the version who had experienced life as Reek, the one who Sansa had cared for. Right now he was a cocky, whore-mongering idiot. At ten and eight, he was now younger than Arya, and far more immature. However, it was time for him to see the world, and with Ser Rodrick returning to Winterfell, it was up to Sansa to decide.
The watered down cider was passed around, as it was not yet supper time. All except Sansa and Arya took their seats, while they both stood tall, hands behind their backs, chin in the air, authority and age oozed out of every pore. Aged one and twenty, only her mother was older than Sansa, and she was the most used to war meetings and organising this type of journey.
"Father will send a raven to Kings Landing, to the Master smith Tobho Mott." Sansa started. "He will tell him Lord Arryn recommended Gendry when he asked if he knew of any young smiths in Kings Landing as we need one here in Queenscrown and Gendry will receive all the protection afforded to him and be able to complete his training as well as learning his letters. It will seem plausible as Tobho is one of the best in Kings Landing. He can fashion Valyrian steel."
"Why does Arya need to go?" Cat asked.
"Because Theon needs protection, and to ensure that we get the real Gendry." Arya explained. "We don't want Tobho Mott passing someone else off as Gendry."
"Why do we want him?" asked Theon.
"Because he is a friend of mine, he will be useful in the wars to come." Arya's voice was fierce. "He is a capable fighter and can forge dragonglass."
"I have written to Jon. He has asked Lord Commander Mormont for the use of one of their ships. The ship will sail from Eastwatch and take you as far as White Harbor."
"Why not just ride to White Harbor?" Theon asked.
"It will be quicker to sail from Eastwatch." Sansa pointed the route out on the map. "Riding to White Harbor in these conditions will take around six weeks. If you sail from Eastwatch, it will take a mere ten days' ride to get there and a sennight by boat to arrive at White Harbor."
"We don't know how long King Robert has to live. I've heard many names being suggested for the hand of the King, but without a rookery, we can't keep up with what is happening in Kings Landing fast enough." Sansa told them.
"What names?" asked Arya.
"Tywin Lannister, Jaime Lannister and Mace Tyrell. Neither will ask questions about the legitimacy of Cersei's children. Tywin for obvious reasons, he wouldn't believe it even if both Cersei and Jaime admitted it. Mace Tyrell would have too much to lose by proving Joffrey isn't King Robert's son." Sansa said.
"If neither of them are a danger..." her mother started.
"That won't stop Cersei." Sansa shook her head. "Littlefinger is behind most of the plots. He wants the Lannisters dead, the Baratheon's dead, the Targaryen's dead and most of the Starks dead. Lord Baelish wants to take the Iron Throne. I would say he'd like mother to be his Queen, but he'd easily transfer his affections to me as I would have a greater chance of bearing him a child."
"Petyr would never do that." Cat shook her head. "I can't believe this for a minute."
"He pitted me against Sansa, mother," said Arya. "Littlefinger knew that one of us would kill each other with the lies he peddled. Luckily Sansa asked the Three-Eyed-Raven for help. Once it was clear what he had been doing all along, then slitting his throat was easy."
"You just slit his throat?" Baulked Cat. "Without a trial?"
"Oh, there was a trial." Sansa nodded. "I found him guilty, I ordered his execution, Arya carried out my orders. All the awful things that happened to our family were because of his obsession with you and with his desire for the Iron Throne." she glanced down at Arya and gave her a small smile. What they weren't telling her mother was how Arya planned to use her faceless man training to take out Littlefinger and find out more about what was happening in Kings Landing. Instead, she changed the subject. "Theon, we need you to engage in your favourite activity."
"What do you mean?" Theon looked uncomfortable.
"I will give you a list of brothels, I want you to visit all of them." Sansa smiled. "See if we can find out who frequents them. There will probably be men of the Kingsguard, gold cloaks, septons and maybe even the King himself. Look for faces you recognise from King Robert's visit to Winterfell."
"You want me to go to whorehouses?" Theon looked at her in shock, as if he'd never expect something like that to come out of Sansa's mouth. He wasn't the only one, her mother and Robb were also aghast at the suggestion.
"It is the best place to find out what Littlefinger is plotting." Arya shrugged. "The women won't talk, so you need to concentrate on taking in your surroundings. I also want you to remember the layout of the buildings. I understand you might be a little preoccupied, it is understandable, but do you think you can take note of familiar faces and layout while going in and out. Maybe try finding the back door, if you get the thrust of what I'm saying." Arya smirked at her own dirty comment. "That came out wrong."
"Arya!" her mother scolded. "Where did you learn such filth?"
"Mother, I am ten and nine, I have worked as a faceless man. Part of my training was in a mummers troupe. I have probably known every sexual innuendo there is to be told. I was alone for so long and had no contact with ladies, instead it was with rough men, so my tongue is looser than most noble ladies. I'll try to do better in your presence mother." Arya smiled sweetly, although Sansa knew her sister wouldn't, she'd just be more subtle and hope it would go over her mother's head.
Turning to Arya, Sansa changed the subject before the conversation turned into an argument. "First you will ride to Moles Town, which should only take two or three days. We will arrange for you to see Jon there, update him on the goings on here and find out how he is settling back in at Castle Black. He is terrible at writing correspondence," she shook her head. "I would expect more details from you than him."
"Anything else?" Theon asked.
"There will be a list of supplies we require from Kings Landing. Father has placed an order for glass in Braavos, but it is cheaper in Kings Landing if we can buy it in the right measurements and quantities. I also want prices on bushels of grain. We'll be building storage facilities here and extending the keep." Sansa told them. "The tunnel which leads to the dragon cave is shallow enough and runs beneath ground which is suitable for extending the underground network. I would like it to make the castle bigger, but most importantly, we need a large granary. I'm currently drawing up plans for the extensions and possibly creating a defensive wall surrounding the village, to protect it and turn the entire place into a castle. The round tower would become one of many buildings. It will take time and building materials. But Queenscrown will be the place where dragonglass weapons are made, therefore we must protect the forges and be able to store more than we ever did in Winterfell." she looked at Arya. "There wasn't enough."
Arya shook her head in agreement. "We will need more dragonglass arrows and spearheads than before. Has father been in touch with Stannis Baratheon?"
"Jon wanted to wait until he returned from the north." Sansa sighed.
"And then what? Sneak into Dragonstone and mine it while the war is on? I thought Jon was going to announce himself when he returns from the north. Stannis isn't going to just roll over and tell his opponent he can mine dragonglass. This needs to be done while we are in the south."
Sansa nodded in agreement. "I'll write to my father to ask him to send the request to Stannis. When you reach Moles Town, tell Jon we've had to act without him. We don't have the time to waste. The moment war breaks out, you will return north. Even if there is only one shipment of dragonglass, it will help Gendry learn how to forge it."
"Wouldn't it be an idea to buy the services of Tobho as well as Gendry?" Robb suggested. "Do we have the coin to purchase such a man?"
"His wages will be paid for by the taxes from the Freefolk who will farm these lands." Sansa replied. "There are a sizeable amount of apple trees, cider will be a valuable source of trade. The taxes raised will easily pay more than he could ever make in Kings Landing. But it will be at least two years before the wildlings will be able to trade with what is made from farming. Father would have to pay for him in the meantime. Mother," she turned to Cat. "Does Winterfell have the coin required for an expensive blacksmith, albeit only to pay him for a temporary time."
Cat poured herself more of the cider. "We do," she nodded.
Sansa pinched her nose. The raven she would send to her father would be long, but hopefully not too long for the raven they had. "I'll add it to the letter. I'll also ask if Maester Luwin can train someone up to tend to a rookery. We don't have enough ravens to communicate with the outside world. Right now, it would be quicker to send one raven to Winterfell and ride up to Moles Town to send the rest."
"That would be a waste of horses," said Robb.
"I know, but I don't know what else to do." Sansa sighed.
"What about Sam?" Arya asked.
"He won't know how to deal with the ravens yet. Anyway, he needs to go beyond the wall. Gilly and all." Sansa explained, Arya nodded in agreement.
"Is that everything?" her mother asked.
"I'll go through the letters, any that don't need father's approval, I can write them and Jon can sign them at Moles Town. He can pass any onto Lord Commander Mormont..." Sansa smiled. "He would be the best person to ask Stannis for the dragonglass. That way there can be no question of trying to impart on any disputes in the south," she glanced between Theon and Arya. "Go ready yourselves. You will leave at dawn for Moles Town."