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agentrouka-blog · 5 years ago

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Sweet Lady - a Sansa key phrase

The wonderful @esther-dot was so kind as to introduce me to the precious resource that is asearchoficeandfire.com and I have been down a rabbit hole ever since. Or more so than usual. (As far as quarantine with toddlers and work, both, allow me, anyway.) It's marvelous for letting you do unfocused word combinations, which really does wonders for finding text parallels and such. But that is a post for another day.

It did inspire me to search all my book files for an exact phrase, though. "Sweet Lady". It doesn't count all the other instances for sweet, lady, my sweet, sweet queen, sweet XYZ, sweetling or what have you. We already know that "sweet" can be a code for falseness. So I didn't want to confuse the issue. Only the exact phrase. "Sweet Lady". It's enlightening.

There are 23 instances in all 5 books, the TWOW sample chapters and all the other searchable publications. They appear as follows:

Sansa: 9 (3 x Joffrey, 1 x Ser Loras, 4 x Dontos ("Florian"), 1 x Marillion)

Catelyn: 5 times (3 x Varys, 2 x Petyr Baelish)

Jonquil: 1 (Florian the Fool, "The Hedge Knight")

Lysa: 2 (1 x Morton Waynwood, 1 x Marillion)

Shae: 2 (1 x Varys, 1 x Symon Silver Tongue, ironic)

A mare: 1 (Jon, soothing a mare, about to betray the Watch)

Daenerys: 1 (Hizdahr, her "loyal" husband)

Asha: 1 (Quarl the maid, murky lover)

Lady Taena Merryweather: 1 (sneaked in, traitorous lover to Cersei - Everything there a big spotlight for Political!Jon and such, btw.)

To make it short, the phrase is a direct reference to Sansa. 9 direct references, 10 if you account for the fact that Sansa = Jonquil. (22 Jonquil mentions in all searchable publications, only 5 are not in Sansa's chapters: Jaime referencing the song or the puppetry in The Hedge Knight. Sansa is Jonquil. Case closed.) The rest of the usage concerns foils, mirrors or other characters deeply connected to her. It's a spotlight for Sansa.

In most instances, it is a marker for erroneous or "false" knights (Dontos, Florian, Loras, Waynwood), or "false" Ladies (Shae,Taena Merryweather, Alayne), immoral singers (Symon, Marillion), rape (Marillion), Rescue (Sansa/Alayne and Tanselle), political scheming (Cat, Varys, Littlefinger, Lady Merryweather and Cersei) and betrayal (ALL of them, save the true Florian and Jonquil). Also, curiously, the injury of hands. (Symon, Marillion, Catelyn, Jon, Tanselle the Jonquil puppeteer).

So now that we do know that when the phrase shows up, it's a marker for Sansa and that what surrounds it concerns Sansa, let's look at when it's used to see if we recognize anything or if it reminds us of anything. (This is where the rabbit hole comes in because there's a jumping off point for more references in almost every example.

First Mention: Sansa I, AGOT

“Leave her alone,” Joffrey said. He stood over her, beautiful in blue wool and black leather, his golden curls shining in the sun like a crown. He gave her his hand, drew her to her feet. “What is it, sweet lady? Why are you afraid? No one will hurt you. Put away your swords, all of you. The wolf is her little pet (!), that’s all.” He looked at Sandor Clegane. “And you, dog, away with you, you’re scaring my betrothed.”

The Hound, ever faithful, bowed and slid away quietly through the press. Sansa struggled to steady herself. She felt like such a fool. She was a Stark of Winterfell, a noble lady, and someday she would be a queen. “It was not him, my sweet prince,” she tried to explain. “It was the other one.”

The two stranger knights exchanged a look. “Payne?” chuckled the young man in the green armor. The older man in white spoke to Sansa gently. “Ofttimes Ser Ilyn frightens me as well, sweet lady. He has a fearsome aspect.”

Payne, the mute. Who else is mute? Ghost. A fearsome wolf pet. Where have we heard the word "pet" before… Oh, Right. ASOS.

“The good woman at the brazier,” Mance Rayder went on, “is Dalla.” The pregnant woman smiled shyly. “Treat her like you would any queen, she is carrying my child.” He turned to the last two. “This beauty is her sister Val. Young Jarl beside her is her latest pet.”

“I am no man’s pet,” said Jarl, dark and fierce.

“And Val’s no man,” white-bearded Tormund snorted. “You ought to have noticed that by now, lad.”

Aaaand...

Jarl was with the Magnar; Mance had given them the joint command. Styr was none too pleased by that, Jon had noted early on. Mance Rayder had called the dark youth a “pet” of Val, who was sister to Dalla, his own queen, which made Jarl a sort of good brother once removed to the King-beyond-the-Wall.

And isn't that some precious phrasing. A "good brother" once, removed.

Contrast Dany, ADWD:

“What, o’ the queen’s little pets?” Brown Ben’s eyes crinkled in amusement. The grizzled captain of the Second Sons was a creature of the free companies, a mongrel with the blood of a dozen different peoples flowing through his veins, but he had always been fond of the dragons, and them of him.

“Pets?” screeched Reznak. “Monsters, rather. Monsters that feed on children. We cannot —”

“Silence,” said Daenerys. “We will not speak of that.”

So the Sweet Lady will have a pet wolf, literally and figuratively. *wink*

But on to other "Sweet Lady" instances. Two involving Catelyn:

AGOT, Catelyn:

“How could you know all that?”

“The whisperings of little birds,” Varys said, smiling. “I know things, sweet lady. That is the nature of my service.” He shrugged. “You do have the dagger with you, yes?”

Catelyn pulled it out from beneath her cloak and threw it down on the table in front of him. “Here. Perhaps your little birds will whisper the name of the man it belongs to.”

AGOT, Eddard:

Littlefinger smiled. “Leave Lord Varys to me, sweet lady. If you will permit me a small obscenity—and where better for it than here—I hold the man’s balls in the palm of my hand.” He cupped his fingers, smiling. “Or would, if he were a man, or had any balls. You see, if the pie is opened, the birds begin to sing, and Varys would not like that. Were I you, I would worry more about the Lannisters and less about the eunuch.”

We know who the Little Bird is (Sansa), so here we know our Sweet Lady will spill important Secrets to the vast dismay of some people.

Now for some sweetness in AGOT. Jon's foils Loras and Joffrey lay it on thick:

To the other maidens he had given white roses, but the one he plucked for her was red. “Sweet lady,” he said, “no victory is half so beautiful as you.” Sansa took the flower timidly, struck dumb by his gallantry. His hair was a mass of lazy brown curls, his eyes like liquid gold. She inhaled the sweet fragrance of the rose and sat clutching it long after Ser Loras had ridden off.

Awww. So sweet, so fake.

Instead Joffrey smiled and kissed her hand, handsome and gallant as any prince in the songs, and said, “Ser Loras has a keen eye for beauty, sweet lady.”

Actually, we know Jon IS a visual creature. (Natural landscapes, handsome Kingslayers, Radiant Sisters, lovely Val, etc etc etc.) But we digress.

The mare whickered softly as Jon Snow tightened the cinch. “Easy, sweet lady,” he said in a soft voice, quieting her with a touch. Wind whispered through the stable, a cold dead breath on his face, but Jon paid it no mind. He strapped his roll to the saddle, his scarred fingers stiff and clumsy. “Ghost,” he called softly, “to me.” And the wolf was there, eyes like embers.

Jon is probably the only one outside of Florian the actual puppet fool to use the phrase honestly. Jon of the fool references is Florian to Sansa's Jonquil. Brienne is the True Knight she prays for, the Galladon, but Jon is the Florian, the fool knight. Also, "The wolf was there." Jon and Ghost will be a calming, gentle, protective presence in Sansa's life. Also "mare" is an occasional marker for Sansa.

Now for something else:

ACOK, Tyrion:

Varys glanced at Shae. “My lord, must we trouble your sweet lady’s sleep with such grim and bloody talk?”

“A lady might be afraid,” said Shae, “but I’m not.”

(ASOS, Tyrion:)

“You shall rise again, I am sure. A man like you. My sweet lady Shae tells me you are newly wed. Would that you had sent for me earlier. I should have been honored to sing at your feast.”

“The last thing my wife needs is more songs,” said Tyrion. “As for Shae, we both know she is no lady, and I would thank you never to speak her name aloud.”

Which all seems to lead to:

(AFFC, Alayne)

Up here where the slope was steepest, the steps wound back and forth rather than plunging straight down. Sansa Stark went up the mountain, but Alayne Stone is coming down. It was a strange thought. Coming up, Mya had warned her to keep her eyes on the path ahead, she remembered. “Look up, not down,” she said … but that was not possible on the descent. I could close my eyes. The mule knows the way, he has no need of me. But that seemed more something Sansa would have done, that frightened girl. Alayne was an older woman, and bastard brave.

and...

“Unhand me. You forget yourself.”

“Mercy. I have been singing love songs for hours. My blood is stirred. And yours, I know … there’s no wench half so lusty as one bastard born. Are you wet for me?”

“I’m a maiden,” she protested.

“Truly? Oh, Alayne, Alayne, my fair maid, give me the gift of your innocence. You will thank the gods you did. I’ll have you singing louder than the Lady Lysa.”

Sansa jerked away from him, frightened. “If you don’t leave me, my au—my father will hang you. Lord Petyr.”

“Littlefinger?” He chuckled. “Lady Lysa loves me well, and I am Lord Robert’s favorite. If your father offends me, I will destroy him with a verse.” He put a hand on her breast, and squeezed. “Let’s get you out of these wet clothes. You wouldn’t want them ripped, I know. Come, sweet lady, heed your heart—”

Sansa heard the soft sound of steel on leather. “Singer,” a rough voice said, “best go, if you want to sing again.” The light was dim, but she saw a faint glimmer of a blade.

The singer saw it too. “Find your own wench—” The knife flashed, and he cried out. “You cut me!”

“I’ll do worse, if you don’t go.” And quick as that, Marillion was gone.

There's a lot in this. There is yet another averted rape attempt, complete with rescue by a knight. (Lothor Brune.) Then, we have the implication that Sansa's virtue will be compromised ("Truly?" - Potentially by something horrible like on the show. The TWOW "Mercy" sample chapter is one big red flag.) and then we have the foreshadowing of Sansa losing her "innocence" by becoming a bad singer, a liar like Lysa, as we know she will when she lies about her death, or by "singing" loudly of secrets. Songs have the power to preserve and destroy, we learn, and Sansa will have to learn to weild that power benevolently. The fact that she is saved here, tells us that she will be "saved" from moral failure, as well.

Randomly, Marillion's Trial in AFFC:

“If I had eyes I should weep.” The singer’s voice, so strong and sure by night, was cracked and whispery now. “I loved her so, I could not bear to see her in another’s arms, to know she shared his bed. I meant no harm to my sweet lady, I swear it. I barred the door so no one could disturb us whilst I declared my passion, but Lady Lysa was so cold … when she told that she was carrying Lord Petyr’s child, a … a madness seized me …”

It may mean something, or it may not. But Sansa has a lot of bastard foreshadowing. Other characters have "madness" foreshadowing. And a history of miscarriages.

For something darker:

ADWD, The Wayward Bride (Asha)

A shy smile, strong arms, clever fingers, and two sure swords. What more could any woman want? She would have married Qarl, and gladly, but she was Lord Balon’s daughter and he was common-born, the grandson of a thrall. Too lowborn for me to wed, but not too low for me to suck his cock. Drunk, smiling, she crawled beneath the furs and took him in her mouth. Qarl stirred in his sleep, and after a moment he began to stiffen. By the time she had him hard again, he was awake and she was wet. Asha draped the furs across her bare shoulders and mounted him, drawing him so deep inside her that she could not tell who had the cock and who the cunt. This time the two of them reached their peak together.

“My sweet lady,” he murmured after, in a voice still thick with sleep. “My sweet queen.”

No, Asha thought, I am no queen, nor shall I ever be. “Go back to sleep.” She kissed his cheek, padded across Galbart Glover’s bedchamber, and threw the shutters open. The moon was almost full, the night so clear that she could see the mountains, their peaks crowned with snow. Cold and bleak and inhospitable, but beautiful in the moonlight.

Their summits glimmered pale and jagged as a row of sharpened teeth. The foothills and the smaller peaks were lost in shadow.

At first glance this could be sweet-ish, but the surrounding imagery is kind of sinister and I get reminded of two other things:

Lysa describing her rape of Petyr (Sansa, ASOS):

...and Petyr tried to kiss your mother, only she pushed him away. She laughed at him. He looked so wounded I thought my heart would burst, and afterward he drank until he passed out at the table. (…) That was the night I stole up to his bed to give him comfort. I bled, but it was the sweetest hurt. He told me he loved me then, but he called me Cat, just before he fell back to sleep. Even so, I stayed with him until the sky began to lighten.

And Cersei's wedding night with Robert, (Eddard, AGOT)

Her eyes burned, green fire in the dusk, like the lioness that was her sigil. “The night of our wedding feast, the first time we shared a bed, he called me by your sister’s name. He was on top of me, in me, stinking of wine, and he whispered Lyanna.”

We already had a moment of deeply screwed up consent for Jon during his first time with Ygritte. Suddenly, the scene when Dany asks Jon if he's drunk on the show in 8x04 after the victory feast and then pushes him for sex seems even more sinister. Lysa's rape of Petyr ended in pregnancy. I hope I am wrong about this!

Lastly, this is from The Hedge Knight. "Florian and Jonquil" are being destroyed, i.e. Sansa's very favorite song is getting viciously attacked, her romantic dreams put to the torch. If my horrible suspicion is true, Sansa will live some aspect of her Ramsey storyline, if not with Ramsey, then with someone else. This following Scene festuring Duncan the fake knight and Tanselle, the tall girl playing Jonquil's puppet, however, is very reminiscent of Jon's final encounter with Ramsey. No?

The puppeteer's stall had been knocked on its side. The fat Dornishwoman was on the ground weeping.

One man-at-arms was dangling the puppets of Florian and Jonquil from his hands as another set them afire with a torch. Three more men were opening chests, spilling more puppets on the ground and stamping on them. The dragon puppet was scattered all about them, a broken wing here, its head there, its tail in three pieces. And in the midst of it all stood Prince Aerion, resplendent in a red velvet doublet with long dagged sleeves, twisting Tanselle's arm in both hands. She was on her knees, pleading with him. Aerion ignored her. He forced open her hand and seized one of her fingers. Dunk stood there stupidly, not quite believing what he saw. Then he heard a crack, and Tanselle screamed.

One of Aerion's men tried to grab him, and went flying. Three long strides, then Dunk grabbed the prince's shoulder and wrenched him around hard. His sword and dagger were forgotten, along with everything the old man had ever taught him. His fist knocked Aerion off his feet, and the toe of his boot slammed into the prince's belly. When Aerion went for his knife, Dunk stepped on his wrist and then kicked him again, right in the mouth. He might have kicked him to death right then and there, but the princeling's men swarmed over him.

So the wolf pet/lover will curbstomp her attacker in some way shape or form.

Damn. To cheer us, let's look at some Dontos/Florian from ACOK, Sansa:

“I will,” she said. “Tell me who sent you.”

“No one, sweet lady. I swear it on my honor as a knight.”

“A knight?” Joffrey had decreed that he was to be a knight no longer, only a fool, lower even than Moon Boy. “I prayed to the gods for a knight to come save me,” she said. “I prayed and prayed. Why would they send me a drunken old fool?”

“I deserve that, though . . . I know it’s queer, but . . . all those years I was a knight, I was truly a fool, and now that I am a fool I think . . . I think I may find it in me to be a knight again, sweet lady. And all because of you . . . your grace, your courage. You saved me, not only from Joffrey, but from myself.” His voice dropped. “The singers say there was another fool once who was the greatest knight of all . . .”

“Florian,” Sansa whispered. A shiver went through her.

“Sweet lady, I would be your Florian,” Dontos said humbly, falling to his knees before her.

Slowly, Sansa lowered the knife. Her head seemed terribly light, as if she were floating. This is madness, to trust myself to this drunkard, but if I turn away will the chance ever come again? “How . . . how would you do it? Get me away?”

Ser Dontos raised his face to her. “Taking you from the castle, that will be the hardest. Once you’re out, there are ships that would take you home. I’d need to find the coin and make the arrangements, that’s all.”

“Could we go now?” she asked, hardly daring to hope.

“This very night? No, my lady, I fear not. First I must find a sure way to get you from the castle when the hour is ripe. It will not be easy, nor quick. They watch me as well.” He licked his lips nervously. “Will you put away your blade?”

Sansa slipped the knife beneath her cloak. “Rise, ser.”

“Thank you, sweet lady.” Ser Dontos lurched clumsily to his feet, and brushed earth and leaves from his knees. “Your lord father was as true a man as the realm has ever known, but I stood by and let them slay him. I said nothing, did nothing . . . and yet, when Joffrey would have slain me, you spoke up. Lady, I have never been a hero, no Ryam Redwyne or Barristan the Bold. I’ve won no tourneys, no renown in war . . . but I was a knight once, and you have helped me remember what that meant. My life is a poor thing, but it is yours.” Ser Dontos placed a hand on the gnarled bole of the heart tree. He was shaking, she saw. “I vow, with your father’s gods as witness, that I shall send you home.”

He swore. A solemn oath, before the gods. “Then . . . I will put myself in your hands, ser. But how will I know, when it is time to go? Will you send me another note?”

Ser Dontos glanced about anxiously. “The risk is too great. You must come here, to the godswood. As often as you can. This is the safest place. The only safe place. Nowhere else. Not in your chambers nor mine nor on the steps nor in the yard, even if it seems we are alone. The stones have ears in the Red Keep, and only here may we talk freely.”

“Only here,” Sansa said. “I’ll remember.”

“And if I should seem cruel or mocking or indifferent when men are watching, forgive me, child. I have a role to play, and you must do the same. One misstep and our heads will adorn the walls as did your father’s.”

She nodded. “I understand.”

“You will need to be brave and strong . . . and patient, patient above all.”

“I will be,” she promised, “but . . . please . . . make it as soon as you can. I’m afraid . . .”

“So am I,” Ser Dontos said, smiling wanly. “And now you must go, before you are missed.”

“You will not come with me?”

“Better if we are never seen together.”

Nodding, Sansa took a step . . . then spun back, nervous, and softly laid a kiss on his cheek, her eyes closed. “My Florian,” she whispered. “The gods heard my prayer.”

And just to add some sweet speculation…

Jon, ASOS:

If I could show her Winterfell … give her a flower from the glass gardens, feast her in the Great Hall, and show her the stone kings on their thrones. We could bathe in the hot pools, and love beneath the heart tree while the old gods watched over us.

I'm such a hopeful fool for these two.

#Jonsa #asoiaf #asoiaf speculation #jon snow #sansa stark

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maevelin · 6 years ago

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The look Dany gave Theon though? When he declared to Sansa his will to fight for the North. She doesn't get does she? She has been commanding and even earning loyalty but the Starks and even Theon that grew up with them have much stronger bonds. They are a pack and that makes their trust stronger. You can't force that kind of loyalty and it was shocking to Dany.

It was shocking and it was a bit unexpected for her yes. But not only because she suddenly saw the bonds of the Starks (which she kind of already knew given what Jon had shown her and told her so far). Daenerys had only met so far a very composed Sansa. An antagonistic Sansa too. Sansa was guarded even with Jon in front of Daenerys, always establishing her authority and being proud, tall and detached. Enough to show her malcontent towards Daenerys (or more accurately Daenerys’ intentions for the North) too. Let us face it Sansa hasn’t been very welcoming. Yes she showed impeccable manners but she made her disposition obvious. Sansa also seemed to Daenerys very practical and without letting emotion cloud her judgment and then Theon comes and Sansa completely let her guard down. She had done it with Brienne too by trusting her explicitly when they were facing Jaime Lannister (which it was also another convenient yet subtle dig towards Dany’s authority) but overall it was far more emotionally contained. With Theon Sansa went all in and that was jarring for Daenerys especially given their previous conversation and Sansa’s composure so far.

Also I think it is a bit unfair to make such comparisons when it comes to Daenerys though. The girl grew up in exile escaping multiple assassination attempts against her life ever since she can remember herself while growing up with an abusive crazy brother. The only concept she had of family was her relationship with Viserys and the distorted tales he gave her when it came to the family she never met. Not to mention all the other stories that reached her ears too. Tales of the Mad King. Tales of the suffering of her mother. Tales of Rhaegar raping Lyanna which led to the fall of their dynasty. Tales of the Targaryens in general. Only for her only remaining family to sell her to a barbarian for her to get raped and then she tried to make a family out of that too. Even her pregnancy which was the chance to create a family of her own ended up in disaster leaving her with the notion that she will never be able to have children again.

Daenerys never had a family. She never had the chances the Starks had or the role models they had. Daenerys was never anything but a bargaining chip while the Starks grew up relatively normal. Even Jon’s childhood was as balanced as possible despite how he was treated as a bastard. Theon was not mistreated either.

Daenerys now believes she will never have a family anymore either aside her dragons and the people that serve her. There are people that love her and people she trusts but it does not go to the extent the Starks have been brought up with. Not by a long shot. And if we are being honest here most of us are aligned more with the Starks which are beloved characters so it is easy to see on their bonds and admire them but even Theon had to grow a LOT so to embrace those bonds fully. It didn’t happen in a day despite growing up with the Starks or maybe because of it given how his upbringing played its part in his mistakes too.

So yeah. The Starks are a pack. They are a family. Their bonds and their trust is amazing and they lost so many things and fought to get where they are today but that does not mean that it is a matter of comparison of familial trust with Daenerys’ case. If anything I think this may be an eye opener for Daenerys. To see other people like Sansa inspire such reactions and loyalty from others. To also be more open. To see such bonds and realize there are more ways to earn loyalty. That the Houses are not just pawns for the Throne but have even people in them that have relationships, ideals and love for each other. That respect and loyalty is more than just winning battles and earning a crown. That there are more ways to inspire. And that she is not the only hope for the realm despite what she had made herself believe so far. She wanted to break the wheel but she had never any real understanding of it and what set it in motion in the first place. Now she is getting a taste. And it is not as if this is black or white with people either with her or against her. It is far more complicated and there are the areas in between too.

This will be a great lesson. Hopefully a bit humbling too. If she lets it anyway.

#daenerys targaryen #sansa stark #theon greyjoy #got #game of thrones #spoilers #analysis #mymeta #Anonymous

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itsgameofthronesimagines · 6 years ago

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Sandor Clegane x Fem!Reader

Warning: Angst, Triggers, Season 8 predictions, but no spoilers

~~~~~~~~~

Everyone who knew you and Tyrion Lannister knew the two of you were inseparable. So when the smoke cleared, and he was found dead on the battlefield after defeating the Night King, no one blamed you for locking yourself away.

Winterfell had fallen, and so all of the survivors took refuge in Dragonstone after the dead and undead were burned. The stink was so vile, that the Ravens feasted on everyone’s stomach contents once they emptied them.

Tyrion was burned separately and was given a northern funeral despite his family’s southern customs. It’s not like his family had anything to say about it. The entire House Lannister was dead anyway. Half either sacrifice themselves helping defeat the Dead, or the other was killed when Daenerys stormed King’s Landing out of the grief of losing her Hand. No matter what she did, she couldn’t erase the smirk on Cersei’s face, even when she was burned alive. In the end, Cersei died laughing, knowing what happened to her brother.

You wished you were there when Daenerys killed her, otherwise her death would have been much slower and far more painful than being burned alive. You would have made sure of that.

Up in the tallest tower of Dragonstone, far away from everyone else, you hid away in your chambers, doing nothing but staring out the window, looking out onto the sea. Missandei would come in every day with food, catching you up on everything you were missing, even though you weren’t listening, let alone responded to anything she had to say.

Apparently, your sister Sansa was determined to rebuild Winterfell. She had gone back there with several men to labor themselves into putting back up the stone ruins. Along with her was Bran, Arya, what remains of the Brotherhood Without Banners, Brienne, Podrick, Tormund, and Sandor Clegane.

Jon would be staying in King’s Landing with Daenerys, for obvious reasons, along with Missandei, Grey Worm, Jorah Mormont, Varys, and a few chosen others. None of them had gone back yet as King’s Landing was in repair and being flushed out by the Unsullied of any Cersei followers. So for now, their chain of command would stay in Dragonstone, until it was safe to take the Iron Throne.

It would take months before you spoke another word again, but in between that, you had started to train to fight again. Even though there was no more fighting needed, you trained day in and day out. Eventually, you started talking again and you could have sworn Jon’s face went pale as snow when you first croaked a “Good morning, cousin,” in his direction.

Another few months would pass before Jon received word from Sansa that she required more supplies and more men to help repair Winterfell, and Jon gladly gave them to her. Upon discussing in the War Room who else would go and help the North with their thin resources, you volunteered.

“No, absolutely not,” Jon was quick with a response, “You’ve barely eaten for months, and you’ve trained and trained until you’ve passed out in the training yard. The journey to Winterfell alone would kill you, not to mention the work there needs to be done once you arrive there. For now, you are not strong enough to help.”

“I can go,” Gendry Waters, Robert Baratheon’s bastard spoke up, “I am a smith. I can help with whatever repairs they need.”

“You’re just going because Arya is there,” you muttered under your breath, in return, Gendry glared at you.

“Or maybe I’m going because you can’t.”

“Listen, Lady Y/n. Jon Snow is right. You have other duties you can attend to here,” Ser Davos explained.

“Our Queen could have you as a new advisor, or maybe even a Hand,” Jorah mentioned, and that was all it took to make you snap.

“Enough! One more man tells me I can’t go, and I’ll cut their balls off!” You screamed.

The room went dead silent, no one dared to speak up, not even Daenerys.

“You can’t go.”

You spun around, knife at the ready, until you realized, to even your astonishment, that Varys, Theon, and even Grey Worm had spoken up to you. Yara snorted, even holding her hand to her mouth to refrain from bursting out laughing all the while you growled, pointing your knife dangerously at the three men.

“That... That isn’t funny!”

You failed to sound threatening, as Varys smirked proudly and even Theon tried to twitch and smile. Grey Worm just glared the way he normally does, but it was clear he had tried to make a joke, as Missandei was staring at the ground and smiling to herself. Throughout the whole room, one by one, others started to laugh, if not smile, just a little bit. Once you noticed this, and once you noticed that Jon had begun to smile at you, you started to relax.

“I think you should go.”

To your astonishment, it was Daenerys who spoke up for you, and when you turned to look at her, she smiled with a haunting look in her eye, “I give you permission to ride off to Winterfell and help rebuild its walls.”

She didn’t say it, but you knew just by looking in her eyes that what she was really saying was that she understood your pain. She knew what it was like to lose someone you loved. And not saying no one in this room knew that feeling, but Daenerys had probably understood it the most. And besides, apart from you, she was close to Tyrion.

She knew you wanted to go back to where you lost Tyrion, and she thought that maybe, deep down, your heart might heal faster if you did.

So, along with Gendry and Ser Davos, you took another hundred men out of Dragonstone and made your long journey to Winterfell, with the instruction to send your siblings Jon’s love.

The road wasn’t easy, but once you saw the familiar outline of home even through the strong and heavy snowfall, you had begun to relax and smile a little. When the gates opened, you were welcomed by Sansa, who gave you a strong hug once you carefully swung yourself off your horse.

“Y/n! Jon didn’t tell me he was sending you!” She exclaimed as she held you close. When she pulled away to examine you, she felt her smile falter, “What... What’s happened to you?”

You didn’t answer, and you made it blatantly obvious that you didn’t want to talk about it as you changed the subject, “Jon sent a hundred more men... a hundred and two men if you count Ser Davos and--”

“Gendry!” Arya had sped past you once she caught sight of the young smith. As the bastard swung off his horse, he smiled at the sight of the young Stark girl and mocked a bow when she stood in front of him, only to laugh when she punched his shoulder and crushed him in a hug.

“Finally. Anything to get that Stark brat from bothering me.”

You turned your head back around to find Sandor Clegane standing behind Sansa now. He looked the same as before, wearing fur and sporting a long beard and hair to keep warm... or maybe to hide the scar. You have known him for as long as Sansa, since you with her when the two of you, including Arya and your father, rode to King’s Landing all those years ago.

“Hound,” you nod to Clegane, “Still alive I see. I thought Arya would have slit your throat by now.”

“She can’t. I forbade it,” Sansa responded with a warning look directed at your younger sister, who has now walked up to hug you finally.

“Wouldn’t stop her and you know it,” Sandor grumbled.

“And you may be my trusted council now, but sometimes your brutal honesty can get carried away,” Sansa shot back to which Sandor bows his head to her.

“Council? Since when does a former sell-sword and member of the Brotherhood Without Banners become the Lady of Winterfell’s council?” You raised your eyebrows.

“Since he’s the more honest person I know and the more loyal.”

“Hence the dog name, I know,” you roll your eyes and push past her, “Got any food? I’m starving.”

Sansa and Arya exchange a look after observing your behavior, all the while Sandor just grunts in response to your insult. Arya turns to Gendry, who has finally walked up to join her, “Is she alright?”

Gendry sighed, “You saw Tyrion’s body, you tell me. She hasn’t gotten any better.”

“In fact, she’s gotten worse.” Ser Davos also walked up to join the others, “She’s got quite the foul language now and has dropped any lady duties she used to take part in. She drinks most of the wine supply dry back in Dragonstone so I’d watch your wine cellar if I were you.”

Sansa sighed while wearing a thoughtful look in her eye when watching you leave, looking up at sharing a knowing look with Sandor, “Let’s get inside and treat our guests to some supper.”

Once inside, it appears you acting like you were hungry was a ruse to keep Sansa busy. Once the food was placed in front of you, you only pushed it around and pretended to take bites out of it as everyone is gathered around the one table. Everyone is all around quiet, as it’s been a long journey for you, Gendry, and Davos. The only other one who didn’t appear to be eating was Bran, but that was normal now for him. Instead, he took his time observing you.

“And how are you, dear sister?” He asked.

You sometimes loathed the fact that he was the Three-Eyed-Raven, because obviously, he knows how you’ve been, but all the same, you put on a fake smile, “I’m well, Bran. Thank you for asking.”

“You’ve been tiring yourself,” he notes in response, “Have you been training all day and night?”

“Training?” Sansa looked up from her food to stare at you, “Training for what?”

“You don’t sleep anymore,” Bran adds.

Everyone was now looking at you, and the attention was making you turn hateful. One look and you could even see the Hound staring at you, so you wear a fake smile and aim it towards your brother, “...I find sleep a waste of time,” you tried to grin, even if it didn’t turn out right, “Why waste your time on sleep when there’s work to be done?”

“Tyrion Lannister said something similar like that to you once, back in Meereen.”

You froze, eyed widening at Bran, and Sansa nearly elbowed him to stop him, but it was already too late. The damage had been done. You shouldn’t be surprised that he knew about the memory, but it still shocked you because you barely remembered that day yourself.

Back in Meereen, in the mid-afternoon, you were sitting by the window, but you weren’t looking outside. Instead, you busied yourself with sketching a small portrait, every once in awhile looking up then back down at the parchment again to get the details right.

Across from you, Tyrion was fast asleep, snoring slightly as he did every night, except last night apparently, otherwise, he wouldn’t be asleep in the middle of the day.

He makes a startling noise, signaling that he was waking up and you couldn’t help but giggle, “Don’t open your eyes yet!”

Tyrion groans, stretching slightly but obeys your command, keeping his eyes closed with wearing a tired smile, “Why?”

“So I can get your eyelashes right.”

“Pardon? Are you drawing or something?”

“Well, I’m definitely not sculpting,” you spoke sarcastically.

“Gods, I hope not. No one ever gets my nose right,” he joked, “Now why in Seven Hells are you sculpting me?”

“Because I was bored and you were at my disposal since someone didn’t get any rest last night,” you teased.

“Why waste the night on sleep when you can stare at the most beautiful woman in the world? A man would be foolish not to, staying awake to memorize the details of your smile or the crinkles by your eyes or furrow of your brow.”

You smile to yourself, staring at Tyrion’s face for as long as you could since he hadn’t opened his eyes yet since you haven’t said otherwise. He was loyal like that. You get up from your spot and set the picture down, walking up to Tyrion and leaning down to whisper right in his face, “You can open your eyes now.”

And when he does, he’s rewarded with a kiss.

You sat there, eyes wide, staring at Bran like he just killed Tyrion himself. Sansa stands and reaches over the table towards you, and you startle when she got too close and you rush out of your chair.

“Y/n--”

“I’m going to bed,” you stammered, turning your back and walking away.

“The war’s over, Little Wolf. We all lost someone, and they’re not coming back. We made sure of that, so you might as well get used to it.” Typical Sandor. Always so blunt.

But this time, you wouldn’t have any of it as you turn your heels back to him with a dark snarl, “I wouldn’t expect YOU to understand. How could you possibly understand what it’s like to lose someone you love? You’ve never loved anyone!”

He doesn’t flinch. He barely even blinks. Not being able to get a rise out of him, itching for a fight, you turn away and go to find a room to lock yourself in, and maybe then you’ll punch the wall to feel better.

That night, like every night before it, you didn’t sleep. You sat on the edge of your bed, bandaging your knuckles since you punched the stone wall like you promised yourself. Your skin was purple and your whole hand was a little swollen, blood running through your fingers from your knuckles. You barely noticed the pain, too busy staring at the fire in front of you. Over the past couple of months, the pain had eventually numbed.

What startles you from your dazed expression is the knock on your door, and half screams not to open it. But instead, you stood up and walked to the door, opening it and shocking yourself to see Sandor Clegane standing there, towering over you like a tower. He didn’t look you in the eye, clearly uncomfortable being here. His usual sad eyes looked as if they had something to say, but he was too busy psyching himself up to say it. His eyes looked down to notice your hand, loosely wrapped in already bloody bandages. The two of you stood there for what felt like an hour, but really only a few minutes, before he spoke up.

“You might want to get that looked at by a maester. Or your sister will have my head.”

You don’t respond, but your surprised expression quickly turned into a glare, since you finally remembered his comment from earlier and was hoping he’d be the last person to be standing here. And by the looks of it, he was thinking the same thing.

“My sister.”

You arch an eyebrow up at him, “Excuse me?”

“I lost my sister. A long time ago,” Sandor grumbled, eyes squinting when he finally met your eyes, like this was probably the first time in a long time that he talked about this, but ti wouldn’t surprise you that it was, “Gregor killed her... back when we were lads, and I won’t even bother getting into the grimy details.”

Again, you don’t respond, tapping your fingers onto the door frame leading into your room. When you didn’t say another word, Clegane takes that as his cue to leave.

As he moves from the doorway and back into the dark halls, you find yourself calling out to him, “Sandor?”

The Hound looks back at you, stunned, not remembering the last time you said his name. Not even back in King’s Landing, when you were a girl, did you ever say his real name.

You nod your head slightly, barely looking him in the eye as you spoke, “Thank you.”

He scoffed, finding himself no longer nervous while rolling his eyes to the best of his abilities, “For what? My sister didn’t mean anything to you.”

“Not just that, but...” you took a deep breath, “I never thanked you before, for guarding my sister and I back at King’s Landing. We’ve never forgotten it.”

He doesn’t respond at first, too busy wanting to shout about how he left the two of you after the Battle of Blackwater, but was wise enough against it. “Get some sleep, Little Wolf,” then he turned away and left.

And for the first night in a long time, you slept.

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dachi-chan25 · 7 years ago

Text

Game of Thrones Season 7 Episode 5 Recap Pt. 3

WARNINGS: SPOILERS; not a D@€n€r¥$ fan; Jonsa shipper.

————

8.- Back in Winterfell Lord Royce and Lord Glover are the North’s Mean Girls, talking shit about Jon to his back and regreating not naming Sansa QitN when they had the chance (OK as a Sansa fan I saw lot of my fellow fans were pissed that she got no credit whatsoever for retaking WF and that she should have been queen, I agreed that she deserved to get recognized but didn’t feel she wanted to be queen, but nevertheless it was good to see she has won her people’s respect after all she went through) Sansa thanks them but defends Jon’s claim in a very polite way. Arya watched all the scene, and she walks with Sansa to her chambers (Jon won that argument, good to know) that are her parents’s chambers while Sansa is like I warned Jon the North wouldn’t wait on him like Ghost (my shipper heart is pleased that they disscused this sort of things), Arya is clearly not happy about how Sansa managed things and Sansa being the observant girl she is immediately picks up on it and prompts Arya to speak her mind about what’s bothering her, because that’s what she did with Jon: she talked things through even if they didn’t agree on everything they were never afraid to speak clearly about it they loved and appreciated the other so much mere disagreements would never come between them. Arya is very different though and she is very harsh and unfair to Sansa,I understand her personality is different from Jon and Sansa, she is a more action type of person, she has taken revenge and now she is at home she can’t bear the thought of this people disrespecting her beloved big bro and her sister, the one she had a lot of friction with, just standing there and listening without screaming or hitting them, but Sansa is right she can’t do those things without repercussions, Arya is like there won’t be repercussions if you kill them (tell that to Robb) and Sansa (bless her soul) tries to explain the situation they are in, and how much Jon and the North need this people and that is much better working together than killing everyone (gosh now I really want Sansa to meet D) she gives Arya a reality check on how WF wasn’t just handed to them. Honestly Sansa Queen of everything 2kforever. Arya retorts in a very childlish way about how Sansa just wants to make sure people will accept her in case Jon dies, and Sansa is horrified that her sister would say such a thing (also I think she is horrified by the thought of Jon dying) and Arya keeps taunting her. No fuck I’m out of here, never wanted this Starkbowl stuff, didn’t wanted it with Jon don’t want it with Arya, why do the writers make her Sound like every Sansa hater ever???? Sansa does not deserve this (Dickon come back pls and sweep my baby off her feet in those amazing arms of yours) I understand Arya hasn’t still procesed Sansa’s changes and she loves Jon and hates to see people trash talking him but no sorry, Ned already had told her she and her sister needed each other even if they were so different, and Arya said she didn’t hated Sansa Back then, I just hope this nonsense is over quickly because I Love the Stark Sisters too much.

9.- So the magnificent plan of Tyrion starts with convincing Jaime to tell Cersei to grant the Suicide Squad an audience so they can show her the WW, and they will need to go to KL, Davos smuggles them and then goes off to find my boy Gendry.

My boy is Back on the blacksmith business, and Davos makes a joke about rowing (he is the daddiest dad of the 7 realms) and he is trying to explain their super amazing mission but Gendry is like dude idc I just wanna go away from this shit hole and fight some Lannisters on the way with my magical Baratheon Hammer like the one my daddy had.

#AtrueBaratheon.

Tyrion apparently convinced/payed to Bronn so he would take Jaime to creepy dragon basement, Jaime is clearly conflicted at seeing Tyrion, but still he listens.

Back on the boat some gold capes found their boat, Davos is a Master of manipulation and manages to fool them ‘til Tyrion shows up, fear not cuz Gendry puts that Hammer to use (he is epic guys) and Davos is practically signing those adoption papers.

10.- Jaime goes to Cersei’s chambers, she was talking with Qyburn and sasses the heck out of Jaime when he asks what was Qyburn doing there, anyway Jaime tells Cersei about his talk with Tyrion and the WW, Cersei is very dismissive (must be real easy when she hasn’t seen the Dragons or the WWs) but she thinks she can use this in her favor, also she is preggo (oh god why do I feel this is emotional manipulation or she is reaching menopausia?) they kiss and god Jaime stop.

11.- Our boat buddies are back on DS (traveling doesn’t make any sense what is time? What is distance? Who knows? No really jokes aside I understand they have to advance this plot fast as possible cuz they have only 2 episodes left this season) and Davos warns Gendry not to mention his dad or real name to King Jon, and that’s the first thing Gendry does!!! LMAO, this friendship is epic already (RobertxNed2.0) and Jon smiles for the first time in the south (dude he was almost dead all his time in DS but his bastard buddy shows up and he immediately jokes and laughs) this is my favorite bromance, and Davos is worried for this unruly sons of his (so he is Jon Arryn 2.0 right???)

So the very next day? Week? Who knows? They depart, Jorah gets a sad goodbye with D, and Jon a very awkward one, for real D is tryin to flirt and Jon says 'good fortune in the wars to come’?? Wasn’t it the same thing “The Sword of Morning” told Ned before they fought to death??? I mean one can clearly see Jon can’t wait to get the fuck out of Dragonstone, D makes goggly eyes at the boat (Jon) while Jorah turns back makes puppy eyes at D, and Jon is pushing harder to go as soon as possible.

11.- Back on the Citadel, Gilly is reading (I miss Shireen so much, she would have been so proud) some stuff of a Maester obssessed with registers, and discovers a prince Ragger (Imma call him that forever, thanx Gilly) got an annulment and married someone else in Dorne. We all, know this is about fuckboi Ragger Tupperwere and his rightful wife Elia Martell princes of DORNE, so you tell me this fucker not only humilliated her publicy on Harrenhall’s tourney but also re-married in her homeland?? And made her children bastards???? Seriously most of you don’t know how hard it is as a PoC and specially a WoC and watch this stupid bullshit where a woman of color’s suffering and humilliation just serves to further a white character’s (Jon Snow) storyline, while Raggers gets this beautiful memory lane stories about him singing the Poor, and people justifying his selfish bullshit with OMG he didn’t Love Elia he did it for true wuv!!! Miss me that bullshit who said Elia loved the bitch??? Yet still beared with dignity all the awful stuff he did, not only that but her and her children died (awful, awful deaths, not in a battlefield glorified as a song ones) scorned and set aside by Rhaegar while he was protecting new wifey and his new white super speshul babe.

I am beyond angry at this.

Anyway, Sam doesn’t care (nobody does really, they don’t even say her FUCKING name) cuz the maesters just won’t listen, so he steals some books and fucks out of the Citadel with his family.

12.- Yeah so in WF Arya is the worst spy ever following LF around, and he is purposefully as shady as he can be, Maester Wolkan gives him a copy of a letter and LF very loudly thanks him in Sansa’s name, he get’s the letter inside his chambers and goes away, Arya enters his chamber and finds the letter you know that one Sansa was manipulated into writing to protect her dad and the rest of her family, and Arya buys it. Honestly I am too empty now to care, Arya got played by a obvious stupid scheme but I can’t find the enrgy to care about all this drama.

13.- On Eastwatch, Jon and co. Talk with Tormund, who talks about the Dragon Queen and the one who fucks her brother (tha made me laugh a lot cuz Jon’s uncomfortable expression and Gendry’s smile) and he is frustrated cuz why didn’t they brought Brienne??? Jon’s smile is amazing and I am glad he is among people he is comfortable with. The moronic plan is laid, and Tormund is like well we are not the only ones who wants to go beyond the wall Tormund takes them to the cell, the Bannerless Brotherhood is there, and everyone hates each other suddenly, but the Hound hates everyone and makes them shut up, Jon frees them and they go to their stupid ass mission.

———– *sigh* Yeah so this is all, next week (May the gods help me) I’ll try to stop being so repulsed so I can Watch the next episode.

#Game of Thrones #7x05 #recap part 3 #anti daenerys #to be safe #dachi rambles

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janiedean · 7 years ago

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Do you have any theories about how ASoIaF will end? Like, who do you think will die and how, what will happen to Jon (seriously, I've read anything from "he's tots gonna marry Dany and they'll have kids and rule together forever" to "he'll die in a Heroic Sacrifice to Save Everyone" to "after all the shit he went through he's just gonna be like, 'fuck everything and everyone, Imma go wander beyond the Wall for the rest of my life!"), stuff like that?

HAHAHAHAHAHAH I JUST REPLIED TO SOMEONE IN PRIVATE OVER THAT I’m gonna c/p the jon and dany related parts and then add the rest, call me back in ten years to see if I’m right

SO, EXPLANATION OF THE MY EXTREMELY UNPOPULAR THEORY RE JON AND DANY:

- at the end of adwd dany's back where she came from and hasn't even met tyrion so everything that happened in the show BEFORE drogon flew her off should happen AFTER she's back in mereen- which puts her arriving in westeros WAY after the time she's in the show now- also the fact that in the book there's aegon prancing around dragonstone along with jon connington and the likes suggests me that IF no one dies before she has to deal with them first while shit goes down in the north and possibly grayscale spreads and blah blah blah

also, jon has to come back to life and I'm betting moneyt it's not as easy as in the show, grrm has to tie up the sansa plot and it's gonna take a lot longer because sansa is not in the north currently so it's gonna take ALL of wow for the starks to get back to winterfell IF they do get back to winterfell in wow and for people to find out jon was robb's legitimate heir and so on

first conclusion: there's no way jon and dany even meet before either the very end of wow or actually ados and by that time the zombies should be WAY too much of a menace for them to be worrying about bending the knee and shit

taken the first conclusion into account and that ados should be all about defeating the others with whoever has survived banding together and that the only surviving copy of robb's will is currently with howland reed who is GOING to have to show up soon, r+l=j should be a known thing BEFORE jon and dany meet or anyway it'd happen soon after so I honestly don't know if it's likely that they'd hook up in canon or if it wouldn't be MASSIVELY weird if they do, but anyway I could be wrong on that bc the text evidence for those two sort of hooking up is actually there even if I don't particularly agree with it, but NEVER MIND

anyway at this point they're obv gonna do away with the zombies which is gonna cause even more casualties and shit which is not gonna make anyone any happier, jon's gonna have to pull his azor ahai stint because it's him and whatever (AND HE SURVIVES IT), I'm 99% sure that in between all of this aegon and jonc AT LEAST are gonna die and it's not going to be just them, anyway at the end they're gonna be left with a post-apocalypse westeros where most of the people who wanted the throne out of I NEED TO HAVE IT BECAUSE POWER or I HAVE RIGHTS ON IT (ie stannis if he survives which I doubt) will have lost most of the interest/force of will

THIS STATED, unpopular jon theory: the thing about his storyline is that he's going through all the typical secret chosen hero steps but every time anything happens it goes badly/it's not what he wants (he loses his family, his first true love dies, he becomes LC and instead of going well he gets stabbed etc) and what did he want at the beginning of the books? to not be a bastard. where is he now? ops, your father was rhaegar targaryen and your mom was lyanna stark OOOOPS. which is *not* what he wanted, he wanted to be a *stark*. but furthermore, idk if it's likely that R married lyanna before leaving her in the tower of joy or not, but if he did he's actually legitimate and has the best claim since he's male and legit son of the legit male heir, and who's gonna want that job? no one. so who is going to have to take it? yeah, HIM. and he's going to... dislike about every moment of it at least in the beginning (MORE ON THIS AFTER THE DANY PART)

now, on to dany: in that scenario they COULD get married and united the dynasties again, but... they'd know about the incest part of it and idk if he'd go for it, but honestly, the thing with dany is also that she started wanting to go to westeros, and what's most actually ironic/backwards if she finds out that after the zombies, meereen and basically getting shit all the way through she actually doesn't even *want* it? I mean the thing is, dany imo (in the books) seemed more at ease/happiest/filling out a role she seemed cut for when she was a *khaleesi*, not when she was ruling, and for a khaleesi she was a++++ because she was very forward thinking, did away with most of the worse stuff in her khalasar and was actually doing some seriously nice enlightened sort of revolution differently from how it went in mereen, so like... my eventual endgame theory is that she goes back to essos to actually be the enlightened full-time khaleesi that essos deserves and making good use of what she learned while jon picks the pieces up in westeros and comes to term with being the only fantasy hero in existence who didn't want to be king at all and ended up there anyway and has to make it work

ALSO: my pet sorta wishful thinking theory re jon is that given that westeros will be a post-apocalypse mess in shambles with most previously powerful lords being either dead or done for and with a complete new system and in which most people will have been through too many wars, zombies and so on to give a fuck, jon could actually rule as *jon snow* rather than jon targaryen or stark (which imo is the name he’d take for himself if he had to choose) without getting married and continuing the dynasty and then after he dies after fixing what he could and putting things on the right way, the seven kingdoms secede, the throne gets destroyed (if jon doesn’t do it before) and they go back to being independent. like, I’m very much aware that it’s not very likely but idk IT MAKES SENSE TO ME THEMATICALLY OKAY? *shrug*

other characters and the likes:

people who are absolutely toast: cersei, the boltons, euron/victarion, lady stoneheart, the elder clegane and someone in dany’s retinue are goners, same as (SADLY FOR ME) aegon/jonc. jonc is definitely dying of grayscale unless what happens in the show with sam and jorah happens to him but I highly doubt that, aegon’s dying while going against the others or anyway after they all join up with dany and then someone else (possibly tyrion since grrm said that not all of the heads of the dragon have to be targ) takes his place. anyway, both goners. very sadly for me. tommen is also a dead man walking, either how it happened in the show or some other way but nope. myrcella might be but I’d like to think being in dorne and grrm not wanting to kill everybody in dorne because BUDGET might be her ticket to salvation, but I’m on the fence. hodor is also sadly dying most probably because the way they did in the show was too clever and well-done to be out of d&d’s imagination. at this point shireen is also most probably dying tho NOT HOW IT HAPPENED IN THE SHOW DAMN IT. stoneheart is dying because brienne kills her to save jaime and she becomes her aerys THIS IS MY PET THEORY OF THEORIES GRRM WILL HAVE TO PRY IT AWAY FROM ME. lf is definitely dying either thrown out of the moon door or some other way but he’s toast. also most freys are 100% toast.

people I’m definitely on the fence about: stannis - I’m sort of thinking he might die but I’m not 100% sure and anyway if he does it won’t be like in the bloody show, jaime (I thought he was kinda headed for the heroic death in the beginning but now I’m starting to think he has some chances of pulling through I really hope he does tbh), meera, the decent people at the wall (I mean some are gonna die when the zombies inevitably pass but I hope they don’t), jorah (not enough elements to decide sorry), blackfish & jeyne poole (same as above), sand snakes.

meanwhile, main people I’m definitely sure are living + their endgames for the ones I have endgames for:

the living starks are staying alive. sansa eventually ends up as rickon’s regent and bran is going to have some luke skywalker moment where he has to decide if he wants to go darkside or not and then obviously decides not to, but eventually renounces being the three-eyed raven the way the previous one had and rejoins the living. arya stays in WF or goes with jon to KL when he inevitably does - could be in his kingsguard or she can stay in WF and help sansa out. (on the fence re gendr/ya happening - might be, might not.) sandor ends up as sansa’s sworn shield at least.

brienne definitely makes out of it alive after fighting the white walkers at the wall with everyone else who had managed to get there. if jaime hasn’t died in front of her while fighting the white walkers (if he dies that’s how I see him going, and anyway they totally will have hooked up before I 100% believe that) they’re going back to tarth together, if not she goes there alone and proceeds to be the awesome person she is. (I said bitter*sweet* before right? I think she has a good shot at the sweet part.)

arianne gets her throne in dorne ofc

tyrion gets casterly rock while tywin rolls in his grave because I doubt he’d go to essos with dany AS PER MY HEADCANON BEFORE

sam gets his maester’s chain but eventually goes on to be jon’s right hand wherever jon ends up (I think in KL so XD hey THE CURRENT ARCHMAESTER IS DEAD)

if margaery survives (before the show I’d have bet on it, now I’m not so sure) she’s ending up in a way more demoted position than she is rn but anyway some tyrell’s gonna live - I don’t think loras might be one tho

davos is definitely surviving - if he doesn’t end up tied with anyone same as he’s in the show (I mean if he REALLY became jon’s hand of the king I’d die of happiness but idk how likely it is) - he’s coming back home a-la sam in lotr, like ‘hey marya I’m home’

theon and asha are definitely not dying. asha is eventually ruling the iron islands somewhat. about theon I’m not sure because I don’t have enough elements to decide if he’s going back to the islands (doubtful) or staying north (maybe) but anyway theon’s surviving that shit. he didn’t have the mother of all abuse survivor recovery storylines to die just when he can get to live without anyone breathing down his neck and trying to force his alliances. like I’m 100% sure theon doesn’t die it’s the one thing I’d bet actual money on after canon jb lol

varys is probably gonna live because he’s too smart not to

edmure is surviving and getting riverrun but he and roslin prob won’t separate so he also gets the twins or something along that line of thinking

I’m sure I prob. forgot someone but that’s the main lines of it I think XD let’s see how wrong am I if these books actually see the light of day

btw this is all based on book canon, on the show I have no fucking clue anymore #rip

#janie speculates #janie writes meta #game of thrones spoilers for ts #asoiaf spoilers for ts #I DON'T EVEN KNOW GUYS #game of thrones spoilers #idk I HAVE IDEAS HERE YOU GO #haljathefangirlcat #ask post

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ladywolfmd · 7 years ago

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What if I fall? (I won’t let you fall)

So I just watched Eastwatch and I can't concentrate on my WIPs because I felt the need to write another Sansa Stark saves Jon Snow's ass. So here we are. Thanks for those who liked Lifeguard Sansa! Here's another one for you. I hope you like it! Say it with me fam, "They can have the boat, we've got the ship."

The title is from Keith Urban's song "The Fighter"

Summary: Jon has been an Alpine climber for years, and together with his climbing partner, Tormund, they set out to hike the Northern Mountains. All was well until an accident causes his harness to snap and both of them gets stuck in a narrow ridge. But all is well when Direwolves Search & Rescue swoops in to save the day.

You can read it in AO3 too:

"Snow?! You a'right? Snow? Wake up you bastard!"

Jon groaned and tried to blink away the fog in his vision, his head throbbing like crazy.

He could make out his friend's red hair and beard and saw that his mouth was moving but his words barely registered from above the ringing in his ears.

When he could finally see Tormund clearly, he focused his eyes to meet his frantic gaze and fought to give him a reassuring smile that he was sure came out more like a grimace.

Tormund heaved a sigh of relief before glaring down at him. "You fucking cunt! Tryna' be a hero--You're old man will fucking have me head if you fucking fall of this piss mountain. Why did you cut your lifeline? You idiot fuck!"

"A thank you would suffice," Jon tried to joke through gritted teeth.

Tormund looked about ready to cry or punch him. "What hurts most?"

Jon tried to move as little as possible and as slow as he could and found that while everything ached, the moment he moved his left shoulder and left leg he felt sharp pains that made him cry out. "Left," he grunted. "Shoulder feels broken but maybe my leg's just bruised? It hurts like the seven hells but I think I can move it."

"Well, enough moving. We don't know about your back for sure."

Jon kept his head straight though he didn't feel pain on his neck while he heard Tormund dump things beside him.

"Here, don't move Snow," Jon felt Tormund place a rolled blanket and maybe a folded shirt or garment on either side of his head to steady him before he prodded Jon's shoulder carefully. When he pressed, Jon gave a strangled cry.

"Broken," was all he heard before Jon felt snow being packed on his shoulder that helped somewhat while his companion checked the rest of him.

"You lucky fuck. Your shoulder is banged up but the rest of you I'd say would just be red and purple and hurt like shit for days but you'll live. I'll try the radio but don't sleep or I'll bloody wank your small pecker to wake you up so help me Jon Snow," without waiting for his reply, he heard Tormund walk away.

Jon kept his eyes from closing too much knowing that he really did have to try and keep awake in case he has a concussion or he dies of frostbite. They were all bundled up of course and this wasn't the first time they scaled the Northern Mountains but it was a first time they had an accident. He however knew enough that with his condition, slipping away in to the cold was easy.

While he waited for Tormund as he tried over and over to contact someone using their emergency two-way, flashbacks of what happened came back to him.

One minute they were nearing the checkpoint, the next they were plummeting down when Tormund's anchor gave out and his expert friend was barely able to stab his axe to keep both of them up.

Jon had to cut off and drop his bags and equipment to lessen the weight. But when he saw that they were still too heavy and there was no other way, with one last look, he cut off his tether with a prayer despite the screaming of his friend.

He knew he had almost zero chance of survival but he felt it anyway, how his shoulder cracked when he landed on it and the pain was too much that it left him unconscious.

"Mayday. Mayday. Mayday." he heard Tormund followed by static.

It took several tries but finally their signal was picked up.

"Copy. This is Summer from rescue. what's your emergency? Do you read me? Over."

"Affirmative. I copy. Me and my mate's anchor failed and we slipped. My mate, took the fall, landed on his side. Banged up shoulder and possible swollen sides. Might've hit his head too. I was able to scale down after him. Over."

"Copy that. What's your 20? Over."

"We were nearing the Wull's eight checkpoint when we dropped. Narrow ridge between 2nd and fifth. Got a red flag up. Do you read? Over."

"Copy. Stand-by for our dispatch. Names and how long ago was it? Over."

"Fifteen minutes. Tormund Giantsbane and Jon Snow. Over."

"Copy that. Tormund, did you give first aid? Over."

"Affirmative. We'll stand-by. Over."

"Roger that. Keep Jon awake and stabilized. Help is on the way. Light a flare once you hear a chopper. This is Summer again from Direwolf Rescue. Look for the Wolf. Keep us posted. Over."

"Roger. Thanks Summer. Tormund, over and out."

Jon saw Tormund lean down on him as he struggled to blink himself awake. "Help is on the way, Snow. Hold on."

"Did I hear right? Look for the wolf?" he gritted out.

"Har! You know here in the North and them wolves. It makes bloody sense they'd name their rescue after 'em. How's your head?"

Jon heaved a breath. His head was faintly throbbing but otherwise, he didn't feel nauseated or anything serious. He was just in too much pain that he wanted nothing but to give in and pass out. "Pain's too great in my shoulder."

He felt more cold being packed around his shoulder then and handed him a lozenge. "Here, open your mouth and I'll put this under your tongue. But don't sleep on me."

Jon obeyed and let the analgesic melt under his tongue and after a few seconds his pain was dulling a bit. He waited until Tormund looked at him to give a smirk. "First time for everything?"

But Tormund just glared at him. "You don't know how much I want to kick your arse, Snow."

Jon chuckled and winced at the pain on his side. "You need to go back, Giantsbane. Or Brienne will murder me."

Tormund broke out a smile. "That woman or my daughters."

"See?"

Tormund sighed. "Thanks mate. I owe you me life."

"Does that mean you'll call your next born after me now?"

"If it's a daughter, you bet your arse," Tormund guffawed while Jon couldn't help but laugh as much as he could.

After ten minutes they heard the sound of helicopter blades approaching.

Jon wanted to turn his head and see but he kept still while he heard Tormund get up and shot the flare gun.

Jon heard the chopper getting closer and felt the wind whipping from its blades over him and after a few seconds, he heard someone drop down beside them.

"Hello. Summer sent us. Are you Tormund?"

A girl.

"Aye. This one's Jon."

While Tormund explained what happened, the girl from Direwolf Rescue leaned over him and despite her shielded helmet, he could make out blue eyes.

"Hey. I'm Sansa. Can you tell me your name?" her voice sounded pleasant.

"Jon," he gritted out."

"Okay, Jon? Do you know where you are? What day it is?"

Jon answered completely knowing this was part of protocol for possible head injuries. He went on to say that while his head did throb it was more from the searing pain of his side and shoulder.

Once Sansa was satisfied that he wasn't in any immediate danger after examining and questioning him some more, he heard static from the radio attached to her helmet. "Lady to Meria, do you read? Over."

"This is Meria. I copy. Situation? Over."

"One is good to go, the other we'll need to lift. One of you can get 'Vee-one' while I stand-by with 'Vee-two' over."

"Roger that. Bull's coming down. Over."

"Tormund, after my friend and I secure Jon, you'll be strapped in and my team will pull you up first. Unfortunately, we won't all fit in the chopper because what we had was the only one available for dispatch. My brother will fly you over first and then come back for me and your friend," Jon heard Sansa say.

"Why don't you take him first?"

"It's getting dark and the winds are picking up and before you know it, winter is here. It'll be faster if we get you out first while I secure your friend."

"Okay. Best get to it then."

He heard another voice and footsteps approaching. "I'm Gendry. I'll be strapping you in a bit. Sans, l'm here."

Jon saw Sansa lean over him again.

"Okay, you're doing so well, Jon. I'm just going to secure your neck and check everything else after. You might feel pain or discomfort but I'll need you to keep still. Can you do that for me, Jon?" she asked so soothingly that Jon said yes right away.

He heard her zipping open her bag and getting things out of it. He wasn't prepared for what he saw next.

Sansa took off her helmet and he could see the full brightness of her blue eyes that were fixed and concentrated with her task. Her face was breathtaking and she had the brightest red hair that looked silkily long despite being up in a ponytail with some strands loose and wisping about her face from the wind but before he could admire her more, a big bulky guy with the same helmet but he could see had blue eyes too, loomed over him.

"Jon this is Gendry. He'll help you too."

Jon managed a grunt in response.

"Gendry, I'll need you to keep his head steady this while I slip it on, okay?" He saw her address Gendry before turning back to him. "Jon? I'm going to put a C-collar on your neck now, okay?"

He grunted again and tried to keep his heart calm when she gave him a little smile before she reached down beside her and he felt two large hands on either side of his head.

Jon's heart started skipping when the next thing he could see was the direwolf logo on her chest, stitched to her royal blue and grey jacket uniform as she leaned over him.

He tried not to stare at the visible swell despite the insulation padding but the straps and belts of her harness cinched above and below her chest enough to preview the slender shape she probably had underneath so he closed his eyes instead.

He focused instead on keeping still while he felt the collar gently sliding underneath his neck but his eyes flew open when he felt a strong and firm hold above his throat and the gorgeous redhead loomed over him again, her hands crossing while she started securing the straps.

She must've noticed him staring as her blue eyes met his again and she gave another smile. "All done for that part. We're going to move you to a stretcher now. You just need to keep still for me a little more, Jon. You're doing very good," she reassured. "We'll give you something for the pain in a bit. Hold on."

Before he could thank her, Sansa called Tormund over. "Tormund, d'you mind helping us transfer Jon?"

"I'll help."

Jon meanwhile, couldn't help but be transfixed with Sansa's polite but level tone as she directed Tormund and Gendry. Tormund was going to secure his head while Gendry would pull Jon towards him as Sansa would roll in the spine board beneath him.

"Okay, on three. One. Two. Three."

Jon grunted again as he was hauled quickly and gently towards the burly man and placed back just so on the board at once where he couldn't help but let out a gasp.

"I'll take it from here. Go get Tormund out and hurry back."

"Are you sure? I can stay with him instead."

Jon felt the sudden urge to pray that Sansa would say no.

"Go. Arya will need you to help her haul us up."

"Okay."

Jon almost smiled and to his luck Tormund caught that and arched a brow at him.

"Well, best leave these two alone. She'll make pretty company for him anyway," he threw out with a laugh that Jon reddened and glared at him.

He heard the static of the radio once more.

"Lady to Meria. Bull's coming up with Vee-one. Vee-two secured. Do you read? Over."

"This is Grey and I copy. Meria is dropping the line. Flying closer now, over." came a new voice that was clearly male.

"Roger. Will be on stand-by with Vee-two. Lady, over and out."

He saw Tormund again. "Well Snow. The lad said it might take half an hour to pick you two up. Best make the most of 'em, ey?"

"Fuck off Tormund."

He laughed. "See you later, Snow."

He heard the whirr of the chopper blades and the roar of the motors getting louder along with the rustling of probably Tormund and the Gendry fellow. And after a few minutes, the sounds grew fainter until it disappeared.

"It's just you and me now," Sansa came beside him and grinned and that was all it took to make his heart stop again.

"So...I don't think you guys look like inexperienced climbers," she started and Jon had to look away from her pretty eyes. "Oh sorry, wait. Try not to talk too much. I'm just going to continue strapping you in. You can just answer yes or no so let me rephrase. You guys climbed before?"

"Yes." He closed his eyes and tried to relax as she worked over him, securing head first before immobilizing his shoulder and then strapping him more securely on the board, trying hard not to be affected by her proximity and the fact that they were isolated on a frozen ridge in the middle of a mountain.

Or that he was being...strapped in here and there by the most beautiful woman he's ever seen.

Beautiful and brave.

She was fastening the straps below his knees and the sudden contact of her hand on the cap caused him to jerk it up.

"Whoah, no bending! Sorry. Should've warned you. But if that's any indication, I am now eighty-five percent sure you do not have spinal injury," she smiled cheerfully when she went back up to meet his eyes.

"Then I can speak more freely?"

She cracked a smile and chuckled. "I'm pretty sure you can. But I won't remove the straps, you know that right?"

"I don't have much of a choice, anyway," he tried to smile but ended up groaning from his shoulder again.

"Your friend gave you a sublingual but I guess it's wearing off now. Tell you what. If it gets to be too much after fifteen minutes, I'll give you another one. But in the meantime..."

Jon gasped when he felt her hand in his left one where she squeezed lightly. His eyes shot to hers and saw that she was smiling kindly and blinked once before widening her smile. "You can keep squeezing my hand whenever you feel the throb. It's fine. I'm not going anywhere."

He felt like melting then. "Thank you for saving me-us."

Her lips twitched and he could feel his ears warming. Thank the gods they're covered now.

"All in a day's work." She frowned then and Jon wanted to demand right away why but she trained an apologetic look at him, biting her lip before speaking. "Sorry. We would've sent a bigger party but there's been a major accident at The Wall. My small team was all that's available."

"What happened there?"

Her brows shot up as she shook her head in disbelief. "Madness. Fire broke out on the woods where a music festival of sorts was happening. You'd think people would know about proper use of fire in an open field but no, the celebrity wanted pyrotechnics. Saying there was snow everywhere anyway. People some times," she shrugged.

Jon tried to think if he heard about any music festival happening but he came out blank. "Anyway, thanks for coming to our rescue still."

She looked at him again and half-smiled. "Oh of course. My team's main priority is search and rescue. We're the Alpha team in charge for that for Direwolves Rescue. My younger brother Bran was the one who picked up your transmission though you know him by his handle as Summer. He's in charge of Tower duty we call Wolf Den One."

"Oh. That's nice. Working with family," he tried not to smile bitterly. He had half-siblings but he and them mixed more like oil and water when it comes to work and hobbies.

Surprisingly, Sansa playfully rolled her eyes and shrugged. "It's okay sometimes. Though there are moments we want to kill each other. It surprises our parents most of the time how our team could get along when it matters with all of us squabbling about."

Jon blinked and looked at her curiously. "Team? You mean most of you are related?"

She grinned then and nodded. "We're all siblings, yes. Well, Gendry's my brother-in-law but yeah, same."

Jon thought back. "How many are you? I think I overheard at least...two more voices aside from Bran and Gendry."

"Team's composed of five. My older brother Robb is the pilot. He's Greywind in code. Bran's code is Summer and he's also our tech expert. Meria or Nymeria you heard is my younger sister Arya and her husband Gendry Baratheon is Bull and both of them complete the team. Well, actually, our huskies complete the team. We have a younger brother whose still in high school that's dying to join the team too when he's older," she went on and he can't help but smile as her eyes warmed and brightened as she went on about her family composed of rescuers.

"So, you're...Lady?" Jon tried to recall hoping he heard right.

She blushed at the same time some more of her hair started escaping her tie. "Yeah," she scratched the tip of her nose. "It's a silly name, I know but our codenames we actually took from the names of our dogs."

He smiled wider. "You named your dog, Lady?"

She nodded happily. "Yes. My Lady is the sweetest and most well-mannered among the litter as well as the most beautiful. Of course, I'd name her appropriately."

"Sounds a lot like her owner - erm, I mean," Wow. Snow. Way to go.

She was as red as her hair then and looked away. "Um."

"Fuck, sorry. I didn't mean to make things awkward - ugh!" he forgot he was strapped on and tried to lean up, groaning in pain once as he fell back, squeezing both his hands.

"Ah! Ow! Take it easy, Jon."

Jon looked at her horrified, letting go of her hand that he was crushing at once. "Sorr-

She grabbed his hand back and shook her head, rubbing her thumb soothingly over the back of his hand and pressing on his other shoulder gently to steady him. "It's fine."

She was looking away as Jon continued to curse at himself and his life.

He wanted her to keep looking at him, keep talking, so he tried to apologize again. "Sansa, I'm sorry."

She looked back at him and he breathed out a little sigh when she smiled down at him. "There's nothing to forgive."

He managed a smile. "You must get that a lot though."

"What?"

"Be told your beautiful," his heart thudded when he decided to say it. He figured there was nothing to lose. He was already at her mercy literally anyhow, and he could always blame the pain and the meds after even if this was all him.

A beautiful flush crept over her face again and he wanted nothing but to tuck her hair behind her ear and lean up close. "I wouldn't say a lot," she shrugged.

Jon snorted, wincing when he did.

"Hey."

"You're gorgeous. You must know that. Everyone you rescue must've said that," he insisted.

And this time Sansa brought her knees up and leant against them. "Yeah. It's pretty surprising that a rescuer has a pretty face." Jon could see the sarcasm through her strained smile.

Oh no. Damn it Jon, she took it the wrong way. Fuck. Say something. "I didn't mean-

She shook her head and sighed. "It's fine. No big deal."

He felt like an asshole then because now by her tone, he knew that this she heard a lot.

"Sansa," he tried. "Let me explain."

"Fine." Then she looked down at him expectantly. "Explain."

"Uh, I meant - that is, er," Jon fumbled.

Sansa arched a brow when he reddened in embarrassment before breaking into a smile and laughing. "Listen, you're in a lot of pain and you've been compliant all throughout, so I'll give you a pass. That and because I think you're very cute," she winked and Jon thought he died just then.

"You think I-I'm, uh."

She laughed some more and Jon's eyes closed instinctively when he felt her hands brush some of his hair back. A feat from all the straps and supports. "Yes. I think you're very cute. Why do you think I insisted I stay behind with you?"

He sucked in a breath and winced once more. He then asked through a squinted eye. "But the thing with Gendry and the muscle needed?"

She smirked at him and leaned down so close that their noses were almost touching. "Partly true. But we have a mechanical lever in case the pilot's the only one left up there."

She bit her lip then and shook her head, frowning. "I'm not supposed to flirt with my rescuees. Or encourage them. "

"You don't see me complaining," he grinned up at her.

She arched another brow at him. "Yeah?"

"Well, it's true that it's not everyday that someone saves your life - and that someone is the most beautiful woman in the world at it - wait, don't frown, please. I'm shit at words even more with flirting but you make me want to be brave and your beauty yes, it's what started it, but it's more about your good heart," he said sincerely and hopefully.

She softened then smirked a little. "Good heart?"

"Yes. Out of all professions, you chose something that would entail risking your life to save people. And the way you speak about your family is sweet and shows you care about them. And throughout this rescue, you showed you're not just doing it for the sake of doing it. You made sure to reassure me and keep me feeling warm and safe."

"Despite the numerous straps and ties holding you at my complete mercy?" She grinned wickedly and Jon felt a tingle below, the groan that came out wasn't from pain anymore.

"Y-yes. I trust you. And I'm pretty certain, you had me at huskies," he tried to grin.

"You're a dog lover too?" Her eyes sparkled and Jon was convinced that his luck was truly turning around.

He wanted to say he loved...cats too but he didn't want to be rude so he nodded. "All white husky named Ghost."

She leant close then and trailed a finger down his chest. "I don't give out my number to passes like this but I might make an exception if you could convince me."

When she leant back Jon made a whimpering noise and blurted out. "I don't have to be injured for you to strap me in anything else with anything else."

Her eyes widened and she smiled even more wickedly. "That is interesting. Because I am an expert with knots and cords."

Jon groaned again, squeezing at her hand and pulling because that was all he could do. "I bet you are. And I also bet you're the team leader."

"Hmm? What made you think that?" she purred as she played with a lock of his hair.

"It seemed like you were in charge the whole time. Barking out orders," he smirked.

She sniffed. "I did not bark out orders."

"No. No you didn't. The fact that once you open your mouth and direct so nicely with them doing your bidding right away shows your...power." That and it's now making me feel hot. "So, am I right?"

She examined him before giving a nod. "Yes. I am. My father, the over-all chief of Direwolf Rescue, put me in charge of Alpha Team Search & Rescue," she said proudly.

"How'd your older brother take it?"

She chuckled. "Oh, he doesn't mind much. He just came back a year ago from the army. He was actually groomed to be the ace flyer for the North but he asked to be dismissed and serve as a rescuer instead. He'd rather save people this way rather than through combat."

"I bet you're just being modest and using your brother's sudden return as an excuse," he pressed.

She sighed and shook her head. "You're quite a gambler. Aren't you?"

"I climb hard terrain mountains for fun. I think I can be called for some challenges against some odds," he countered.

"Lady, this is Greywind. Do you read? Over."

Sansa picked up her helmet and Jon frowned when she put it back on, obscuring her face while she started tapping on the mouthpiece.

"This is Lady. I copy. Vee-one secured? Over."

"Affirmative on that. Vee-one secure at base. We're close. Ready for evac? Over."

"Affirmative. We'll stand-by. Over."

She looked down at him again as they both heard the helicopter coming close.

"You'll be air-lifted but don't worry, I'll be with you all the way," she squeezed his hand before he started feeling the panic. Jon didn't fancy floating about helplessly. He was strapped too tight he'd probably die strapped in if he fell or die trying to get himself out of the restraints.

"I won't let you fall, I promise," she gave him another mega-watt smile that made his insides melt once more.

"Okay, I trust you," he said willing her to believe him with his look.

"Good," she squeezed his hand again. "Because I'm giving you a morphine patch now."

"I'm fine."

"Now. But we're picking up a little wind so you'll feel the jostle. Just be a good boy and take it," he heard her ripping a packet beside her and he was hyper aware again.

"Wait-wait!" he shouted before she stuck the patch on him.

She blinked at him expectantly. "You won't be loopy at all. I promise."

"Sill I don't want to be under influence when I ask you out," he said stubbornly.

She smirked. "Is that so?"

"I have to reward my hero somehow, right?" he tried to smile but he was already feeling the sublingual lose its effect.

"Well, Robb likes steak. So does Gendry. Arya likes pie...and Bran likes ice cream," she said casually, checking on his restraints again.

"Yes, yes, but you're the one who lead the rescue and even if you were the leader, you were the one that came down and stayed with me," he said reverently. "I'll reward them yes, but you get to thank you more."

She blushed again and Jon felt like that was a win. "Let's get this on you. You don't have allergies do you? I'd hate to kill you after going through so much effort to save you."

"None," he grinned up at her. "I can't die without rewarding you."

She rolled her eyes and sighed while she stuck it on him.

They heard and felt the chopper hover above them and the sound of something dropping.

"Our ride's here," she grinned at him before tapping her mouthpiece then disappearing from his side.

"Lady to Alpha-Juliett. I've got the harness. Securing Vee-Two now. Over."

"Copy Cap-er-Lady. This is Bull. We'll stand-by. Over."

He heard Sansa chuckle before replying. "Copy, Bull. Wait for my signal. Over."

"Roger. Bull, over and out."

Sansa was smiling at him again holding on to the line with many hooks and straps. "Ready for more straps?"

"Do me a favor. In the event that you do go out with me and I end up in straps again...will you bring your headset?"

Sansa was about to laugh at him when the static broke through again.

"This is Greywind to Lady-" They both heard scratches and snickering in the background. "Do you read? Over."

"Yes, this is your captain speaking. And I copy. Mind your own damn business. Do you read? Over."

"Roger. I'll try not to drop you both. Over."

"Negative on that. Your captain does not authorize such orders. Acknowledge. Over."

They heard the scratch and a sigh. "Affirmative on that Captain. Greywind, over and out."

She was grinning madly when she leant over to start hooking and securing him on the harness.

Jon was starting to feel a little giddy and lightheaded, and maybe a little scared so he tried to flirt again to distract him for whatever it was worth. "You seem to like ordering them around."

Her smile fell a little but her eyes were still bright and playful when they flicked to him briefly. "I don't know what you're talking about."

"I'd let you order me around."

She paused enough to gape at him before smirking and shaking her head as she pulled at one of the straps. "It's not about...ordering them around. Sorry, it's a long story of payback of sorts."

"A story best said over dinner or coffee?" Or on the couch? Floor? Bed? After of course. Fuck I am so hot.

She arched a brow at him after pulling on his strap by his waist. "You're serious, aren't you?"

His brow furrowed. "Yeah. I really want to go on a date with you. Who wouldn't? I mean, I have to try right? Or I'll spend the rest of my life wondering. Besides, Tormund, won't let me live it down if I don't try."

She let out a laugh. "You're one big sap, aren't you?"

"Come on. I almost died today and being saved by a goddess is making me feel invincible. Sue me for trying."

"Okay, Greywind to Vee-two. You're a freaking sap. Do you read?"

"Wolf Den One to Alpha team, this is Summer. Vee-two you are a sap but ask Lady one more time. Vee-one recommends it and confirms Vee-two is a sap. Over."

Sansa looked down at him amused, not even apologetic that the communication lines were open all along.

"You gotta lean down for me to answer," Jon smirked at her after the sudden boost of confidence despite the flush he felt.

Sansa copied his expression and leaned down enough, holding the mic button for Jon.

"This is the sap. Copy that. Permission to ask your Chief out? Over."

"This is Alpha Wolf to Vee-two sap. Negative on that. Head back to base first. Acknowledge," came a new voice that belonged to an older authoritative man.

Sansa burst out laughing then and they both heard laughter on the other lines. "Well, that was my father in case you wanted to know."

Jon wanted to cringe but he was loopy enough not to care so he just answered back. "Copy. Will stand-by. Over."

Sansa waved her hand and turned the com off. "Enough with the chit-chat. I need to get you back on base," she looked at him pointedly but her eyes were still smiling. "Let's go?"

"You're not going to answer now?"

She shook her head. "You heard Alpha Wolf. That's not the priority concern for now."

"I'll take that and put it in my pocket for now," Jon grinned.

"Okay, we're going up. Hold on." She checked the straps one last time before slipping a shield over his eyes. "And you can't reach your pockets anyways."

Jon watched as Sansa looked up and made hand signals before slipping one hand over his while while still looking up and then slowly, he felt the lift. "Here we go."

He almost panicked from the sudden weightlessness and the swaying as he was being lifted off the ground but Sansa's blue eyes held his for most of the ride just as she held his hand that was probably squeezing back too tightly.

The wind roared in his ears and he saw Sansa mouth at him what he thinks as "I won't let you fall." While giving him thumbs up every once in a while.

It felt like an eternity when it was actually just fifteen minutes more or less. And he let out a breath of relief when he felt the ground beneath him which was immediately replaced with sadness and longing that pretty soon, Sansa was going to leave him.

"We're here," Sansa shouted over the noise and he saw two more people over him as they started removing the harnesses.

He heard the chopper land and the soft whirr of the blades as they gradually stopped.

Sansa never let his hand go even as he was transferred up in a stretcher and he held on tightly back.

He saw Gendry above him, and two more faces joining Sansa all wearing the same grey and blue jackets and jumpsuits with the direwolf patches. One was a short girl with grey eyes and short brown hair who was smirking at him while the other one who was frowning was a tall guy who looked like Sansa with his matching hair and eyes and he realized this was her team - her siblings looking down at him.

He managed a sheepish grin. "Uh, thank you for saving my life?"

"Well, he's not blonde if that's a good sign," the girl, Arya if he recalled correctly as he nudged at her brother - Robb who was still grimacing at him.

"We shall see. Anyway, nice to meet you Jon. Your friend Tormund was a delight," Robb grinned knowingly.

If Jon's hand was free he'd have scrubbed his face. "What did the oaf tell you?"

"A lot," Gendry smirked at him.

"Shoo. Everyone scatter. Jon needs to go to the infirmary," Sansa glared at all of them.

Gendry raised his hands in surrender and backed away at once, laughing, pulling Arya with him who glared at him before shooting Sansa a wicked look. "Why? So you can play his private nursemaid, Captain?"

Sansa sighed in frustration and rolled her eyes. "Go. I'll join you shortly."

"I'm coming with you," Robb readjusted his hold on his helmet against his side.

"No. You're not."

"I'm not speaking as a subordinate. I am speaking as an older brother," he insisted.

Sansa lifted her chin. "By what? Four minutes?"

"Yes!"

"Wait, you're twins?" And he immediately regretted his words when he was met with matching narrowed looks.

"Come on Robb. Or else I'll tell everyone about--

"Okay, okay. But I'm still watching you," he pointed two fingers at his eyes then pointed it back at Jon.

Sansa's face softened as he felt he was finally being wheeled away with her still walking beside his stretcher and holding his hand. "Sorry about that. Robb tends to be overprotective. Ask Gendry."

"Does that mean--"

She reddened when she realized and that stirred hope in him. "We'll see."

Jon was wheeled into Radiology right away to confirm any breaks. He was sad to part with Sansa but was happy at least that he only broke his shoulder and not anything else so they could remove his neck brace.

When he was in the infirmary he was allowed to sit up after they braced his shoulder against his chest. Throughout his examination and interview, he was beet red from embarrassment because his doctor was no other than Dr. Catelyn Stark, Sansa's mother.

Sansa resembled her mother but had lighter hair. Dr. Stark was quiet and critical as she worked but she had a look about her that made him feel like if he ever hurt Sansa, she'd be the first to kill him.

With how efficient she worked, she'd kill him fast or excruciatingly slow. He gulped.

But when he saw Sansa's father, Ned Stark. Commander of the Rescue, he could see that while Sansa favored Dr. Stark's appearance, Sansa had her father's stare and he couldn't explain it, but they both shared the look and voice of quiet authority. He also, though more accommodating, looked like he had a shotgun and knew how to use it.

Commander Stark with someone named Vayon Poole took his statements where he was rejoined with Tormund who looked at him knowingly.

Jon kept waiting for Ned Stark to chastise him about his inappropriateness earlier but other than the knowing smile he gave in the end before he left, he didn't say anything.

Alpha Team came back but to Jon's obvious disappointment, they all came without Sansa.

They had shed their jumpsuits and thick jackets, being dressed instead in matching grey pants and white round neck shirts with a stripe of royal blue down their sleeves and the same grey direwolf head patch on their left breast with their names embroidered below it. At the back was Direwolf Rescue printed in grey.

It was Arya Baratheon and Robb Stark who reviewed with both him and Tormund about what could've gone wrong and how they could prevent it in the future until Tormund fell asleep, snoring loudly at one point.

All in all the Starks and the honorary Stark were nice people. He even met with Bran who came down from the Tower at the end of his shift and Jon was surprised to see him look so much more than Sansa than Robb though it was probably him being beard-less. He was grinning at him from his sleek modern wheelchair while a giant brown and white husky trailed after him. "Sansa is just giving a briefing outside with father."

He blushed and everyone started snickering and whistling.

"You know, she's single," Bran added.

"Yeah, but I don't know if you can handle someone like her," Arya smirked at him. "You've seen how bossy she could be."

Jon wrinkled his forehead. "I don't think she's been that bossy at all." And he was being honest. She was sweet and reassuring...calm, incredibly calm even after the teasing.

That only made them laugh harder.

"I don't think I need to threaten you anymore," Robb shook his head. "Just give you a warning." He winked.

"It is true. She wasn't as...commanding," Gendry chided.

"Ooh. That must mean you're special then," Arya cackled. She then nudged Robb again and looked up at him. "Remember the Hardhome rescue?"

Robb covered his ears. "It's all coming back screaming at me."

"What are you all giggling about?"

"Ooh, speak of the devil-" Arya smirked at Jon.

Jon's heart started thudding the moment he heard her voice.

And there she was, still in her complete uniform and holding up her helmet in one hand while loosening her hair with her other as she approached like one of the returning heroes in the movies after a daring rescue.

Jon couldn't help but stare at her as her hair flowed down like silk as it was released from her tie and his jaw almost dropped as she started unfastening her harnesses, then stripping down from her jacket and jumpsuit. She was turned sideways from him so he knew she didn't see him gawk at her and try to commit the memory but in slow motion later.

It was like he and Sansa were in their own world where he gaped as she stripped her clothes one by one starting with the thick fleece-lined and padded jacket.

He watched as she unzipped her jumpsuit all the way from her neck down her crotch, pushing it down from her shoulders then stepping out of them until she was left in the same shirt and pants as her family.

He could barely register what everyone was saying around him, too focused on confirming how sexy he knew she was underneath all those layers as she bent down to pick up her discarded clothes and harnesses.

"Jon? Hello? Westeros to Jon? Hello!"

He knew someone was waving a hand in his face but he only snapped out of it when Sansa's eyes shot to his as one blurted out "Sansa, you better say something because I think Jon's in shock."

Jon looked at the owner of the voice and saw it was Bran who beckoned him to lean down at him. "Better pick up your jaw, Jon Snow," he whispered. "We don't really appreciate it when you check out our sister's bum."

He reddened deeper.

Sansa walked over to him and everyone fake saluted her for effect. She rolled her eyes but humored them. "At ease," she said with a chuckle while placing her things on the empty bed next to his. When she was done she walked over to him with her hands behind her back.

"Hi Jon. How are you feeling?" she smiled at him and Jon forgot to breath for a moment.

"Better now that you're here I'm sure," Tormund's raspy voice came from the bed on his other side followed by snorts and more laughing.

Jon looked mortified but Sansa just turned to the others and raised her brows, shaking her head and they mock saluted them again while Arya mouthed "Told you so" behind her followed by a wink.

"Does anything hurt? Mother told me you were lucky with just your bad shoulder from that nasty fall you took," she leaned over and examined his shoulder.

"Say something, you bloody fool," Tormund hissed at him loudly while he turned in his bed.

Jon glared at his back before plastering a smile. "Aside from the shoulder, I'm fine. So, um, I met your family."

She looked at him apologetically. "I hope none of them gave you a hard time," she eyed them briefly. They grinned at her innocently then made weird faces when her back was turned on them. "Though you haven't met one more. Where's Rickon?"she asked Bran.

"He's with the pack. Someone has to hold the dogs before they charge at Jon here," It was Robb who answered.

Jon gulped.

"That's it. Out, all of you. Arya, go brief Bravo team for the next shift. Gendry, go with her. Robb, dad needs you in the yard to dismiss the trainees. Bran, mother needs you to update the infirmary system."

After sighs and groans, they, for the last time, gave her another mock salute before leaving.

But not before Arya shouted over her shoulder. "Don't be fooled Jon. She may be a Lady in the streets, but a--mmph!" They both turned to see Gendry clamping his hand over her mouth and half-dragging, half-carrying her out with a sheepish smile.

Robb just gave Jon another warning look before heading out while Bran just smiled and waved at them before he left.

And then there were two.

Well, Tormund was here too but he was full on snoring.

"Mother said he was very worried. She threatened to induce him if he didn't settle down. Hmm. Maybe she did but your friend's pretty tough."

Jon frowned. "I hope he didn't give Dr. Stark that hard a time. He can be a handful and he cusses like there's no tomorrow and no need to whisper. He can sleep through the apocalypse."

She chuckled. "I see." Then her eyes were on his again.

"I know my family can seem very...rowdy but we're nice people. They just like to tease me a lot because I get to order them at work." she grinned and he couldn't help but reciprocate.

"You don't have to convince me about you Starks being nice. Although, your mother scares me a little," he admitted.

She giggled. "Yes but once she warms to you, she'll be your biggest supporter."

"That means, I get to have the opportunity for that?" he asked hopefully.

"Hmm. Sure it's not the meds talking?" she tilted her head.

"Pretty sure it's just regular Jon Snow talking," he shrugged then winced.

"Hey, easy. So I see you've been reduced to three straps. And good to talk to you without leaning down. My neck was starting to strain there," she rubbed at her neck for emphasis and Jon almost sighed again.

"Three straps for a month or two. Glad it's not my dominant side though," his mouth twitched up.

"Just bloody ask her out loud and clear," Tormund murmured and when they looked at him he was grinning wickedly. "Lady, he's good with head. I'll give you his references. Let him reward you. I promise you he's a good lad. You can even call my wife. He's our thank you present for your brave rescue. Do with him as you will."

Jon wanted to throttle him and get swallowed by the ground at the same time.

He looked horrifically at Sansa who was blinking passively at Tormund but there was a slight flush in her face.

"Will you just shut up you idiot!" Jon threw a pillow at him never mind the pain, it was worth it to see it fly true straight to his face.

Tormund just laughed and hugged the pillow against him. "Piss on that. You were getting nowhere with your tittering." He then focused on Sansa. "Lady Captain, do you accept my thank you gift?"

She looked at Jon and eyed him up and down before smirking back at Tormund. "I don't know. I only accept...gifts freely given."

Jon felt like perishing in flames.

"Oh, believe me, Lady. He gives freely."

She looked at Jon again. "I don't know. I usually accept gifts wrapped in bows." She grinned in the end.

"You can wrap me in anything you want," Jon blurted out while Tormund laughed loudly.

Sansa flushed then but gained her composure quickly, walking close to him and Jon scooted so she could sit down next to him. Fuck, she's even prettier up close.

"Well, in the songs, when a princess is rescued by a gallant knight or a prince, she rewards her savior with a kiss," she whispered while following the finger she was trailing up his arm that left goosebumps in its trail.

"Are you saying I'm your lady?" he tried to joke but shut up quickly when she raised her eyes. "I'm saying, is that you should kiss me, Jon Snow."

Jon didn't need telling twice as he reached up to cup her cheek and leant down to kiss her and both moaned in surprise. Jon held her closer, cursing that he only had that one arm that was free and he wanted nothing more but to haul her to his lap, contemplating that maybe the pain would be worth it but she instead was more mindful of his injuries. Kneeling on the bed to reach him, placing one hand on his good shoulder to keep remind him while her other was carding his hair.

They kissed for what seemed like eternity and the opposite at the same time, grinning at each other while catching their breaths.

"Wow," was all he could say.

She chuckled then gave him a saucy look. "While that was wow too, that's not the kiss I meant," she batted her lashes at him and if he wasn't flushed before, he was completely red and hotter now as he sucked in a breath. She leaned close. "Do you want to know a secret?" He nodded dumbly. She leaned up and whispered in his ear while one hand covered. "I like being tied up too," then she kissed below his ear.

But before he could react she was off the bed and at the foot of his bed as he continued following her with his stare.

"It's too late to head out tonight. I'll see you in the morning Jon," She winked at

"Roger that Captain Stark," He barely called out.

She blew him a kiss and he followed her with his eyes until he couldn't anymore. Dropping on the bed with a ridiculous grin.

"If you don't marry that girl, I'm ending our friendship. And you're welcome, by the way."

Jon just laughed and sighed as he started thinking on the logistics of moving from Bear Island to Winterfell where their base was located.

He liked the Starks. They were modern day heroes and they seem like a big and happy family.

The last thought he had, well, the last innocent thought he had because really, he's halfway to fantasy land with all of Sansa Stark's words, was that, who better to ask on how to join the Stark family than their first honorary member.

It was time to befriend Gendry Baratheon.

"I can hear you thinking Snow. Just do me a favor will ya? Please make sure to perform well and not waste my glowing recommendation or I'll hack your pecker off myself. I owe you my life, but I owe the Starks now too. I'll tie you up myself and deliver you to her doorstep if she asks without blinking, so help me."

Ribbons. Ties. Harness. My own tongue. Jon would let him if Sansa ordered it.

Choosing to save Tormund's ass was starting to look like his best decision ever.

He closed his eyes then and surrendered to his fantasies involving Sansa Stark and harnesses.

#jonsa #jonsaforlife #jon snow x sansa stark #jon snow #Sansa Stark #fanfic #fanfiction #ladymdfic

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renlyisright · 4 years ago

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Season 7 Predictions Reviewed and An Epilogue

One more season done, one more to go. The slogan for this season was “Gotta go fast”. There was no lull like the middle parts of seasons 3 and 5 were. The characters have had their developments, now they just hit each other until the winner is found and/or everyone is dead.

The seasons 3-4 were a pair, and so were 5-6. These last two are more likely “just” a 13-episode climax, which is fine by me. More time for reunions and not changing the status quo with a battle every single episode would have been improvements (building up to only one or two big battles would have worked as well), but there’s been a genre switch. Just ask Littlefinger how well the return of magic has worked out for him.

Westeros is now a fully fantastical world in an existential battle for survival. Some of its inhabitants still go smoothly from “I don’t believe this is true” to “Fine, it may be true, but if I ignore it it’s only going to affect people far away, and I must be able to profit from this somehow”. Something something climate change.

I watched the first episode of the first season to see the very beginning, when all these characters were introduced. So many of them are dead now, but not actually that many from the main focus characters (and still less from those who survived the first season). But they have all changed, and grown up. People have more beards these days, and much darker hair. Dark dark, everything is dark.

When the season started, the main problems were the Dead and Cersei. Neither seemed that big of a problem. Against the dead there were three dragons, against Cersei there was the fact that everybody hated her. But who would have known, both of them turn out to be bigger problems now than before. The Dead have crossed the Wall and they have a dragon, with no qualms of using it to just burn down everything… or do they?

What do the Dead want? To kill absolutely everyone in Westeros? What do they do then, stand around and slowly rot, killing any animals who enter Westeros as a pastime. Except oh yeah, the dragon. If the flying dead can pass open water (if they can pass water by walking on ice, flying should work too), the Night King can move to Essos or any island and start a new army in a new location.

If that is what he wants to do. His mission doesn’t seem to be to maximize the number of wights, otherwise killing people by beheading (as in the prologue) wouldn’t make sense. The army’s purpose is to kill the living, not to create a civilization of wights (whose mental abilities seem to be very limited).

But the Walkers seem to like art, and rituals. Many of them are grown from Craster’s poor sons. Do they have any sort of civilization or free-time activities?

These are all questions outside the scope of this project, I’m sure.

I’m excited to see the last season. A couple of things before it. First: Checking if I have become any better in predicting things, let’s see the predictions made before the season:

Benjen has been found, so I might as well predict his death once again. It will likely happen eventually.

Finally taking pity on me for calling for his death every year, Benjen finally did it. Very matter-of-factly, simply to get it over with, but he did. What am I going to predict now?

The White Walkers get past the Wall somehow. They blow the Horn of Winter or something to break it. That way they get some damage done south of the Wall too, before the end. With three big dragons beating them seems too easy.

How about when they have a dragon too? That made getting past the Wall very easy. And the Night King has his throwing arm for a couple of more tries.

Bran will do something else magical than just entering people’s heads or having visions. Meera’s father will show up, he was the one who sent his children originally to Bran.

Visions were the big thing, and seem to be the only thing he can do besides mind-borrowing, but he’s making use of them. Meera left to go to her father, but that’s it.

Jon will bring the Northern forces north to protect the Wall. There’s a big setback, as Littlefinger chaoses things up. Brienne and Pod return to Sansa, and will survive the first battle against the dead.

The first battle against the dead hasn’t happened yet (unless you count either of the dragon hits), Jon went South to get an alliance, and Littlefinger tries but fails to setback anything.

Beric Dondarrion will die permanently, and Thoros will take the Hound as his new protected.

Thoros died instead, so no protected. Beric is maybe alive? I’m saying alive as I saw no body.

The alive Starks finally meet each other again (please?). Equally likely is that Arya tries to assassinate Cersei.

They did, they are all on Winterfell as one pack, excluding Jon who is on his way back now.

Nymeria shows up again, leading a half-breed pack of wolves. I missed Ghost in the Battle of the Bastards, it can do something too.

Nymeria showed up, but was done with being a pet. Ghost is somewhere just out of the frame, and outside of the visual effects budget.

The Freys will have a very confined civil war as they debate the succession in the Twins.

Nope, Arya made sure of that. There’s likely some survivors who can debate the new ownership but it won’t matter once Cersei is offed and the lands get a rearrangement.

Yara will challenge Euron, and kill him, becoming the queen of the Iron Islands.

Not yet at least. Yara is a prisoner, but Theon is coming for her. I can’t see Euron surviving the episode where the big confrontation happens, no matter how horribly everything else in it goes.

Cersei will try to marry Jaime officially for Targaryen-points, but there’s no time. It’s everybody against Cersei now. She won’t sit on the Throne in the end of the season, but may not be dead. Qyburn will die, because he is the current Hand.

Everybody is against Cersei, but otherwise no points. She’s still on the throne and Qyburn is alive.

A big battle (not necessarily the only one of the season) will be the Lannister army versus Dothraki (on the open field? Well it was promised long ago).

Yes, Dothraki on an open field, Ned.

Daenerys won’t have the Iron throne yet (maybe she’ll realise that to have the realm she has to save it first), but she’s going to have a new betrothed.

Not a betrothed (at least not yet), but a very very close ally. And no throne. I wonder who I thought to get the throne, since I predicted both that Cersei doesn’t have the throne anymore but Daenerys doesn’t have it yet either. Can’t remember.

Jorah won’t find a cure, so he’ll go down fighting before succumbing to the illness.

He actually found it. Thank you Sam.

Before leaving the throne, Cersei is a sore loser and gets at least one of the Ellaria/Olenna duo killed (three guesses which one I would prefer to go).

:( Not sure if she has already got tired of Ellaria, but at least one of them is dead, yes.

More Olenna! And can we get Highgarden already? Yes, I know it’s winter and so it won’t look its best but can we? I don’t think there will be any other new places. Casterly Rock is another capital that hasn’t been seen but why would anyone go there? Cersei will want Jaime in King’s Landing.

Olenna’s last scene was golden, sudden as it was. Winter!Highgarden was a bit of a disappointment, but there it was. And there was a reason to go to topple Casterly Rock, but they couldn’t hold it. Anyway, not much of a tour of either. Next time.

Varys and Littlefinger have both gathered armies and are ready for the end of their little game. They will meet each other and reflect on what they have gone through, with no need to hide anything anymore.

No time for that, Littlefinger over-extended himself and burnt his fingers. Pity that their last meeting was back in the third season, they could have had things to say to one another.

Was that everybody? Oh, I forgot Sam and Gilly! They’ll be in peace in Oldtown until they have to leave, for one reason or another, back to the North. Sam doesn’t become a proper maester, at least not yet.

All correct. You go Sam.

Wrapping up, the five predicted deaths by me: Benjen Stark, Euron Greyjoy, Ellaria Sand, Qyburn, Jorah Mormont. Jorah is perhaps the only one whose death would be worth more points of these five, but he has that ticking time bomb of a disease. Fine, I’ll change Qyburn to Varys for more points.

Surprisingly, only Benjen from these, but Ellaria can be counted dead for story purposes. If she is seen again, it’s in the aftermath when the land ownerships are wrapped up.

The computer throws dice and gives out the following five names (this time there were only 37 names worth listing, last time I remember there were about 50. People have been busy killing each other): Benjen Stark, Jaime Lannister, young Lady Mormont, Qyburn and Daenerys Targaryen. The least likely to die, it says, are Meera, Arya and Beric Dondarrion. I’m not so sure about that last one…

So the computer called Benjen as well, and no others. I’m as good a calculator as a computer, then. Nice.

#game of thrones #renly is right

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ladywolfmd · 7 years ago

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Different needles. We were fighting with different needles.

After a round of light sparring, I called for a break and we both sat down on the cool floor beside the statues of our brothers and father.

I looked over at Sansa and couldn't help but smirk at the sight of her sweaty, dirty, and in breeches.

She looked at me then and rolled her eyes. "Please. I can't wait until the day of your reveal. Once in a while, I shall have you in skirts and stockings, and I shall look at you the same."

"I can't wait," I said sarcastically.

They both shared a laugh then.

It was certainly a blessing to have moments like this - to be myself again, a Stark, a sister, in my home. Who would've thought that it would be with Sansa of all people?

Sansa and I have always been oil and water.

I would never admit it but I was always jealous of her. She had always been "the pretty one" while I was "Arya horseface." And I couldn't count how many times I cried when she and her friends would laugh and mock at me that maybe I was better off as a bastard than be the disappointment.

But all that felt like a lifetime ago with so many years and tears and fears between us.

That night at the crypt when she called me out, we spent it sobbing as we clung to each other, apologizing and crying as we held on tighter and tighter. After a hundred apologies and a hundred forgiveness, we found ourselves laughing and smiling as we hugged fiercely - just as we could've been - should've been the moment we were old enough to understand we were sisters.

Then Sansa bent and adjusted her too large tunic - stolen from Jon, most likely - I swallowed uncomfortably, still uneasy about the - the clear attraction that was between my sister and my brother-cousin. And the whole irony of our sibling reunion fraying a bit with this. It's not that I was all that against it but it's just...I don't understand and this was something I didn't want to address lest I do something stupid and I couldn't reveal myself yet. Something that would definitely happen if I opened the door to all my feelings about this. Hells, the two idiots were going to great lengths to ignore it. I won't deal with it until I'd have to. There were many other things to occupy the mind with. Seventeen names and all. So, no. If they're denying it, I will too.

All that was gone fast as I got distracted once more with another issue when I saw a sleeve hung loose, dropping low to reveal a shoulder where I saw the scars.

That night at the crypt, we held each other like we never held each other before, never letting go as we felt each other's scars beneath our palms and bared even more with the ones you couldn't touch. My fists clenched and unclenched as she told me of her time in King's Landing - at the Eyrie and her time with the cunt husband of his Ramsay fucking Bolton. And I in turn watched as different emotions crossed her eyes when I recalled my own journey. More tears followed, more apologies, more forgiveness, and even more resolve to stand by each other and right all the wrongs that were done to us and our family as we laid each and every scar, tangible and intangible between us - tears and words and love served as the steel that reforged our bond. We were home now and we were damn well keeping it. Damn everyone and anything who dare threatens to take it.

There must always be a Stark in Winterfell.

Now there were three.

Still, the sight of Sansa's scars... were hard to take. My own I received as expected from fighting. Hers she bore from being obedient. On my way to Winterfell, of course I heard the rumors of what he Bolton monster did to her. That on top of the beatings I learned she took when she was in the Red Shithole every time Robb won a battle.

Robb. I thought bitterly again. As images of Sansa submitting to the right prick of a King, enduring each blow patiently believing that each strike meant she was closer to being rescued and avenged.

I stopped before my mind darkened over thoughts of our honorable brother just as Sansa's sleeved pooled lower, showing the carvings.

I couldn't help but choke out, earning the snap of her eyes at me - wide in alarm and then filled with realization as she quickly looked away and yanked her sleeve back up.

"S-Sansa - "

She looked at me then sadly and shook her head. "It's done, Arya."

I stood in front of her then and bore my eyes at her, my hands clenching at my sides. "No one will touch you again."

She gave me a smile that was so like our mother's - no - father's - no, Sansa's. Like the Sansa of our childhood, all starry eyed and ever ready with sweet pretty smiles. "Of course not. I have you now, don't I?"

I scoffed and actually stomped my foot. "Don't patronize me. I'm completely serious."

She sighed then and let her smile fade a little. "I know you are. It's just... No one can truly protect anyone. People can try but in the end, you have to learn to save yourself," she looked up at me then. "Wouldn't you agree?"

I plopped back down the floor and leant on my palms, stretching my legs in front of me. "Still... I should never have left you in King's Landing."

I felt her sit next to me then, her hand covering mine. "It's no use to dwell on that, Arya. And what could've changed? Arya... I know you are strong and brave but if you would've been left with me... you'd be killed in no time."

I was about to protest when she squeezed my hand comfortingly and shook her head. "The two of us, were born to fight in different arenas. Yours wasn't court just as mine wasn't the battle field. I could not have survived as you did out in the open, constantly on the run, just as you could not survive as I did with all the lies and machinations of court."

She was right. I couldn't do it. Taking a face was one thing, where it was easy to hide behind a face. But making your real face a mask was another. We both fought with different weapons. I smiled then when I saw her necklace. A long bronze chain that was clasped uniquely on two ends of a black round wood that was made to look like a button, with one end of the chain around one end, while the other looped in between the button holes starting from the base of her neck and down to her waist, ending in one long sharp bronze needle.

Different needles. We were fighting with different needles.

Sansa caught her stare and followed her gaze. She shrugged and smiled. "You have your own Needle, it was only fair I had mine."

I blinked at her. "You knew about Needle?" But of course she would! Jon.

Sansa chuckled as she arched a brow. "Before you plan on telling Jon off, I'll have you know, he wasn't the one who told me about it."

"How?"

She looked away and started rebraiding her hair. "It was Lady Brienne who told me. She met your friend at the Crossroads Inn - Hot Pie, I think she mentioned. It was at that same day that she found me and Lord Baelish when we stopped there to rest." She shook her head. "Anyway, Brienne said that before she left, your friend approached her and gave her bread shaped like a perfect wolf and told her the last he's seen of you, you were on your way to be ransomed to Riverrun - to Robb. But by then the...Red Wedding, as it was called," she said with distaste in her voice, "had already taken place. And seeing as I was with the acting Lord of the Vale, deduced that you were probably either dead or you were on your way to the Wall to Jon. So she followed me to Winterfell instead, seeing that you were safer than I was if you were with Jon by some miracle. Your friend then told Brienne, that for Arya to trust you, she should ask to see Needle - the sword Jon gave you. Only those close to you would know that. Would that have worked?"

I stared at her as I took in her words, blinking when I realized she was asking me a question in the end. Still, Hot Pie was alive!

"Arya?"

I looked at her then and nodded. "It would've given her a few moments just enough to explain to me. But the real reason I didn't follow Brienne when she found me with the Hound was because we both saw Lannister golden lion on her sword."

She sighed through her nose and nodded back. "I didn't believe her too when she found me first. I did see her at Joffrey's wedding and she never said anything about her deal with mother then. Lord Baelish made a compelling argument about kings dying when she was around. At that point, it was only Lord Baelish I trusted," she said, her cheeks flaming with shame.

Lord Baelish. Oh if only I could just kill the littlefucker off in his sleep with all the things I've found out. He was vile and disgusting. The things he did behind closed doors with my sister's and my mother's name on his lips as he did them... The bile suddenly went up.

"Are you alright?" I felt a cool hand on my forehead.

I leant away and shook my head. "I'm okay. Listen, Sans, we need to kill Littlefucker."

There it was. Her steely mask.

"Sans, you can't seriously keep that lusty bastard alive! You know what he wants!" I grabbed at her arms, wanting to shake her but she shook her head.

I gaped at her.

"Sans - please don't tell me you - " I stopped, immediately regretting my words when she suddenly stood up and looked at me like she was slapped.

I could tell she wanted to tell me off - yell at me - but after taking deep breaths, in one quick moment, she was calm and cool, her face deadly neutral. "While I appreciate the concern, Arya I -

I stood up then. "Spare me your courtesies Sansa! You can't expect me to believe you're actually considering giving him what he wants!"

She suffered a sigh before holding up her hands. "Calm down, Arya. I know. But as much as I don't like it, we need him."

I was about to protest when she shook her head. "I'm only letting him think I'm considering it." She raised a brow. Do you understand now? She seemed to say.

I sat down grumbling. "I still don't like it."

I felt her hand on my shoulder. "This is politics, Arya. We can't just go around killing our enemies left and right just as we please. Revenge can only get you so far."

I looked at her then. "Says the girl who fed her husband to his own dogs."

She smirked. "Ah. But that was after we took his toys and castles - basically everything away from him."

"I killed Meryn Trant you know," I watched her reaction and felt pleased when her eyes sparkled at that. I smirked.

"And Walder Frey and two of his horrid sons. Have I thanked you yet?" She grinned.

I chuckled.

"One of them is your betrothed you know - Black Walder," she nudged at my shoulder with hers.

My smile fell into a disgusted snarl. "Well thank the gods. I picked the right prick to cut."

She giggled before turning serious again. "Still, Arya, as much as I want all our enemies' heads on spikes, we have to do things with better planning. This is more than just avenging our name. We own a kingdom now, and there is a greater enemy out there." She squeezed my hand then. "And more importantly, you're not alone anymore and we have our home back. You, me, and Jon - we're home now and we know better. Everything we need to face, we face together. Sure, we're covered in scars but we are filled with lessons, hard as they were."

I smiled. "Syrio Forel, my dancing teacher told me the same thing once."

"Hm?"

I looked up at Sansa. "A bruise is a lesson...and each lesson makes us better." I hopped down, grabbed her hand, and placed a dagger there.

"Well in the event that you decide to be stupid and marry the cunt Baelish or whoever you think you need to marry - which I seriously don't see happening, not if I, Jon, and all your queensguards can help it - or you do one of your 'political moves'. I'm going to teach you how to slice any fucker from chest to balls when one decides to take his 'rights' from you."

Sansa had the gall to grin then as if I was joking.

"Well, by all means, teach away,"

I’m not okay with Arya vs Sansa going on and I did expect some tension and maybe even friction but not that. Anyway, I’m hoping that this is all an elaborate ruse or that eventually they get down to talking and sorting the mess up. Sansa does say the “The lone wolf dies but the pack survives” quote in the trailer so there’s hope for the Starklings. So I’m reposting this Arya and Sansa reunion fic I wrote last month.

It’s actually an excerpt/Chapter 5 of the Arya POV I wrote post-season 6 and before season seven hells. It’s Who am I? on AO3 in case you want to read the rest: http://archiveofourown.org/works/11244495/chapters/25132284

#arya stark #sansa stark #arya stark & sansa stark #sisters #bonding #fanfic #fanfiction #post-reunion #arya teaches sansa to defend herself #no starkbowl here #the pack survives

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