Hi everyone,

A little look at Sansa now that the Lannisters and the Starks are allies.

SANSA XII

She sew. She sew. And she sew again. If there was one thing Sansa Stark could do while being kept a prisoner into her own chambers, it was to sew. She didn't lack threads. They provided her with everything she needed. She also had paper, and quill, and ink in quantity. She wrote a lot. She wrote poems, words that reminded her of the love songs she used to appreciate so much. However, all joy and happiness were absent in those lines she wrote. It made her feel worse than she already was, so she avoided spending too much time writing. Sewing was much better.

She focused on her task. The dress was beginning to take shape. It was all black, but the reverse had a small wolf symbol integrated. She used black thread to create it, making it much more difficult for anyone to notify it. Only her would know of its presence, as long as no one would look too closely.

She had lit a candle. The sun was setting down on the horizon. She watched its course so often these late days that, even though she couldn't actually see the sun setting on the horizon, she could guess from the colors in the sky exactly when the day was coming to an end.

Sansa couldn't complain about her situation. When compared to how it was in King's Landing, she was very well treated. Her handmaidens and the guards at her door were regularly changed, she was served with good food, and she was given everything she needed to pass the time, much like in the capital. The true difference was that she didn't feel in danger anymore. Joffrey, the kingsguards who slapped her on his orders, Cersei, the Hound, none of them were here.

What worried Sansa now was not her own situation, but the rest of her family. If she was confined to her chambers, she who had nothing to see with the two boys who died in Riverrun, she didn't dare to imagine what would befall her loved ones.

At least, she was allowed to receive some visitors. Very few people came to see her. Strangely enough, the first to visit was Tommen. King Tommen Baratheon, now. Sansa never knew him very well. Before her father's death, she spent most of her time with Cersei and Myrcella. The small boy who sparred with wooden swords with Bran a long time ago in Winterfell was almost a stranger to her. When he walked into her room, a crown on his head, much taller than the last time she remembered seeing him, she didn't know what to think about it. She curtsied like she had to, called him "Your Grace", although he asked her immediately not to call him that way, and then they sat.

She dared not to speak first, but he said nothing for a long time. Finally, Joffrey's brother had asked her if she was fine, and if she had everything she wanted, in a very clumsy manner. Finally, he told her he came because Ser Barristan Selmy told him it would be a good thing. He apologized for what Joffrey did to her, said she had nothing to fear from him, and that he didn't hold her responsible for what happened at Riverrun. He said he was sorry before he left.

Sansa hadn't known what to say. He was still Joffrey's brother. Joffrey seemed kind at the first glance, but what he did afterwards, when she realized who he truly was… Words meant nothing. They were only words, empty, pronounced to give an impression on the other. Only acts were true. She managed to trust Margaery, and Lord Tyrion, but they actually did something for her. Lady Margaery actually helped her, tried to warn her. All her warnings had proven to be true. As for Lord Tyrion, he stopped Joffrey from beating her and, although he may have done this to keep a valuable hostage, he also got her out of the capital, avoiding her to be at Joffrey's mercy.

The next visitor was Ser Barristan Selmy himself. He was very kind with her, like he was previously. The Lord Commander of the Kingsguard had never raised a hand on her, though Joffrey never asked him to. Once, he said Lord Selmy was too old and any attempt from him to slap her would give nothing more than if it had been soft Tommen who did it. If Joffrey had ever ordered him to hit her, she wondered if he would have obeyed.

The Lord Commander of the Kingsguard talked to her about her father, how he was a good man, and how he regretted his death. He also told her he was glad that she escaped King's Landing with the Lannisters and got away from Joffrey. Sansa listened to him. Finally, she asked him about her father. He told her how they met the first time, that although it was at the Trident and they fought opposite sides, they respected each other, and that her father played no small role in the pardon King Robert granted him after the battle. He told her that, although he didn't agree with her brother's actual rebellion, he understood why he did it, and he held nothing against her for that. To him, the actual situation was much like what happened twenty years ago, when the Mad King murdered her uncle. In some way, she spent a good time with the old knight. Talking about her father made her feel good. He wished her the best before he took his leave.

Barristan Selmy came back two other times. During his last visit, he announced her that Lady Margaery was coming back to Casterly Rock. And that she was pregnant.

Sansa didn't know how to react to this news. On one side, she was glad for Lady Margaery. On the other side, she felt it was so unfair that the Lady of Casterly Rock was about to get her first child while Sansa's whole family might die very soon. She was angry, and jealous too, in some way. A long time ago, having Joffrey's babies had been her dream. A part of her missed this period when she only saw the beauty of this world. now all she could see was its ugliness. She hoped, and she prayed that her mother, her brothers, her sister would survive.

And so her life went on. Sewing, writing, watching the sun rise and set, sleeping, eating, sometimes being visited by someone, all that within one single room.

She now worked the collar of her dress. She didn't have much refined tissue for that, but considering what she had, she considered the result was very good.

Someone knocked at the door. Perhaps Ser Barristan came to see her again. Instead, it was Lady Genna who walked in. The fat lady stood straight in front of her. Sansa had stood up when she entered.

"We need a few words."

She seized a chair and placed it loudly so she could sit. By a sign of head, she ordered Sansa to sit as well. She obeyed Lord Tyrion's aunt.

"Well, my dear Sansa," she sharply said, "there was a battle at Riverrun."

Sansa turned pale immediately. Her heart pounded in her chest. She readied herself for the bad news. Genna Lannister, all the while, stared at her, unflinching, unforgiving.

"Stannis Baratheon is dead."

This came as a shock to Sansa. She expected the Lannister lady to tell her Robb was dead, but Stannis Baratheon? She remembered her curtsies.

"I'm glad to hear it."

"Because this means one less opponent for your family or for ours?" Sansa didn't reply to this, and anyway Genna didn't leave her time for it. "Anyway, it doesn't matter now. Because our enemies are yours as well."

"Of course, they are. I'm loyal to King Tommen," she said for good measure.

"I certainly hope you are. Especially now that your brother swore to serve our king."

Sansa was taken aback by this. Her mind was all fuzzy, and she didn't react to this.

"I don't know if my nephew is a fool to give him another chance, or if he is as clever as my late brother was, but Robb Stark abandoned his crown. Your family is now at the service of King Tommen. And if the raven we just received is to be trusted, the armies of the Riverlands and the North are now marching on the Vale with ours. Which means, there is no longer a war between our families."

Again, Sansa didn't say anything. Her mind needed time to realize what Lady Genna was saying. Was it some kind of joke? Were they trying to trick her? Once she assimilated the news, that she understood her family was no longer in danger, she smiled.

"That's very good news. Is my family fine?"

"From I gathered, yes. No thanks to your brother though. He fought Stannis and was about to be defeated when my nephew came to his rescue. If he had again refused to bend the knee, then Robb Stark would be the proudest and stupidest dead man in the Seven Kingdoms, all at the same time. But he's alive, and he will fight the Vale for the rightful king now."

Genna Lannister stood up. "You will be allowed to leave your room tomorrow. Two guards will keep escorting you just in case, for your own safety. The North remembers, but the Lannisters too, and it's not without reason that people say we always pay our debts. I wouldn't want any accident to happen to you. And by the way…" She produced a scroll from the folds of her gown. "… this is from your mother. It arrived not long after the news of our alliance. I wish you a good night, Sansa."

She left, just like that, without a gesture or another word. Sansa remained idle for a long moment. Her eyes went on the small piece of paper before her, on the table. It was still rolled, though loosened. She hesitated to take it. Could it be true? For weeks, she thought her family was doomed, that soon she might be the last Stark alive. Slowly, carefully, while trembling, she approached her hand from the paper. She was afraid it was too good to be true. When she touched it, it seemed very real. Her hands shaking, she flattened the scroll and leaned to read its words.

My dear Sansa,

Your brother swore an oath to King Tommen Baratheon. The war with the Lannisters is over. Your brothers and sister are alive. I'm coming right away to see you. I can't wait.

You're safe now. I love you so much, my dear little daughter.

Your mother.

It was good thing the paper was laid on the table. Her hands were shaking so much she wouldn't have been able to read her mother's words had she held them before her eyes. Tears started to flow from her eyes. They weren't tears of grief, like when her father died, or tears of pain, like when Joffrey had her humiliated and beaten. They were tears of joy.

She believed all was lost, that her family was doomed. But these were the words of her mother. All doubts flew away, all suspicions that this scroll might have been forged, all this was gone. She recognized her mother's hand in those letters.

She was free.

The next morning, Sansa wasn't entirely sure if she had dreamed the day before. She did all the things she usually did in the morning, as if it was just a day like any other. She re-read the scroll Genna Lannister gave here yesterday to be sure it was real. When she read her mother's words once more, her doubts left. However, the moment she was about to leave her room for the first time in weeks, she hesitated. She had been confined between those walls for so long. Her universe had been limited to her chamber for so much time. And what about the people outside? Two guards will keep escorting you just in case, for your own safety. The North remembers, but the Lannisters too, and it's not without reason that people say we always pay our debts.

What if someone wanted to harm her, for what happened to Martyn and Willem? That must have been what Lady Genna implied. Lord Tyrion himself told her she was in danger since the two boys died in Riverrun, killed by Lord Karstark. Strangely enough, Sansa had felt safe inside this room. Her mother wrote that now she was safe, but the truth was that Sansa never felt her life threatened during this period of confinement. When compared to King's Landing, when she was forced to stand next to Joffrey who could order anyone to beat her any time, being kept locked inside her chambers at Casterly Rock was heaven. It was for her family that she worried the most. Now, she would face the other side of this door and all its uncertainties.

Gathering her courage, she opened it. Two men in full red armor stood at each side. They both looked at her when she came out, but said nothing. They just stood there and looked at her.

"I wish to visit the sept. I need to pray."

One of them nodded. Sansa walked very slowly. After a few steps, she heard the boots of the two men behind her, following her. She went on very carefully at first, afraid of what would happen if she walked too quickly or if she made too much noise. She cast a short glance behind her every time she had the opportunity, when she turned a corner or the corridor ahead circled. The two red armors kept their hand on the hilt of their swords, but made no movement towards her. They watched and followed. As far as Sansa could know, that was all they did.

Sansa had wandered through the castle before, but the truth was she spent about as much time locked inside her chamber than free of her movements. As a result, she lost her way. Realizing she was completely on the wrong path and uncertain of where she had to go, she turned to her escort.

"Excuse me," she timidly asked, "but I don't remember the way to the sept."

"This way, my lady. Follow me."

One the guards took the lead while the other remained behind her. Sansa dutifully followed the first soldier.

It was a chance Sansa maintained the habit to wake up early. As a result, she crossed the path of very few people, mainly servants. At one point, she glimpsed one of Lady Margaery's handmaidens at the end of the corridor, but they didn't use it and followed another way.

They arrived at their destination.

"We will wait outside," the leading guard told her. She inclined her head a little to show she understood and went inside the sept.

From the very first day, one of the things that impressed Sansa the most was the size of everything in Casterly Rock. The castle itself, but also everything inside, down to the dishes, were not only bigger, but also made of lavished and shining materials. The sept of the castle was no exception. The statues of the Seven were made of pure gold, and although the ceiling was not as high as in the Great Sept of Baelor, it was a good competitor of the latter.

Sansa had hoped that no one else would be there, but her hopes were destroyed in the most brutal way when she set her eyes on the back of a woman who knelt at the feet of the Mother. She recognized this woman to be Dorna Lannister. She was the mother of the two boys who died at Riverrun while being hostages to her brother.

Sansa was almost halfway to the altar when she realized who was the other occupant of the sept. Should she just leave and come back another day? She had no contact with Lady Dorna since she was confined, and she didn't know how that mother, who was always very kind to her, would react if she noticed Sansa's presence.

Gentle Mother, font of mercy

Save our sons from war, we pray.

Sansa knew those words. It was a hymn to the Mother. She knew the lyrics by heart, like many people. Usually, you sang them, but Dorna Lannister's voice was strangled by emotions. She barely managed to say the exact words.

Stay the swords and stay the arrows,

Let them know a better day.

Ser Kevan's wife burst into tears. Sansa heard her say inaudible words. Without thinking, she made a few steps towards Lady Dorna, while remaining at good distance. And then the words came out by themselves as she looked at the altar.

Gentle Mother, font of mercy

Save our sons from war, we pray.

Stay the swords and stay the arrows,

Let them know a better day.

Gentle Mother, strength of women,

Help our daughters through this fray.

Soothe the wrath and tame the fury,

Teach us all a kinder way.

Gentle Mother, font of mercy,

Save our sons from war, we pray.

Stay the swords and stay the arrows,

Let them know a better day.

Sansa's eyes remained glued to the statue of the Mother, then moved to the lone figure at its feet when the song was over. The cries had stopped. Dorna Lannister was still looking in front of her, her back to Sansa.

"You have a lovely voice, Sansa," she said.

She dared not to answer. She stayed away, leaving a good space between her and the wife of Kevan Lannister.

"I used to bring them here, when they were kids. Lancel… He would always kneel before the Warrior. He prayed to become a great knight. And when he left… it was Martyn and Willem's turn. It was the Warrior at first they both prayed. And then Martyn began to kneel more often before the Father. He missed Kevan so much."

A long silence settled, and it took a lot of efforts from Sansa to break it.

"I never met them, but King Tommen told me that he and Martyn looked very much alike. He liked him very much.

= True." A small laugh escaped her lips. "Once, a knight came upon the two of them playing together. He mistook Martyn for the prince, and then when he saw Tommen, he wondered if the prince had a secret twin he wasn't aware of."

Sansa smiled a little. She thought about Bran all of a sudden. Even with peace restored, she would never get to see him again. Dorna Lannister turned her head to look at her for the first time since Sansa entered the sept.

"Could you pray with me? I could use some company."

"Of course, Lady Dorna."

Slowly, Sansa came to sit next to the lady. They prayed together for at least an hour. And not once did Sansa feel hated or despised in her company.

If you're interested in listening to the Hymn of the Mother, I suggest you the version of Karliene on Youtube (Extended version).

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Next chapter : Davos