Chapter 10Notes:On how fast Daisy picks up archery, like she's a trained sniper. Sure she's changing weapon but the basic principle is the same. And like I grew up with archery and when I switched to a rifle my first attempt was less than an inch from the bullseye. So like it really does kinda work like that. A bit of switching from like a recorder to a flute. Like it's close enough you can kinda intuition it pretty fast. Also she's physically strong enough to draw a medieval bow. And the bent elbow thing, supes important. It's why people wear arm guards. Like on the stronger draws you can seriously hurt yourself.
Chapter TextSansa watched from the walls as Theon and his escort disappeared down the road. She felt horribly alone. Terror clawed inside of her, desperate to crack out and devour her. It was almost a relief to hear the quiet footsteps of another person approaching her. And there were very few who Brienne would allow past her without question.
"Lady Stark." The god's voice greeted. She didn't come too close, leaving just over an arm's length separating them as she stood near her on the wall. "I'm sorry your friend left."
Sansa didn't look away from the fading figures along the road. "He was like a brother to me. He betrayed our family, took our home from us leaving my brothers alone and vulnerable in the world. But he was there when the night was so dark I did not see an end to it."
"Ah." Silence fell between them, though it was not awkward or tense. There'd been an understanding in the god's voice. After some time the god spoke again. "Betrayal never gets easier, but it only can hurt because you trusted them."
Sansa felt too much, and perhaps nothing at all. So she risked a question perhaps she should not have in the quiet that had fallen between them once more. "Do you have family, your Holiness?"
The god sighed, leaning forward and against the stone bullworks. "I was stolen from my family when I was a baby and raised in an orphanage." She seemed to consider something. "A human one, thought I was human. Which, finding out you're not human, can't recommend it. 10/10, super sucks."
She turned ever so slightly, to see the face of the woman. Unable to completely hide her surprise. Of course she'd had questions from what she'd heard between Fitz and this god. But hearing it confirmed was... she wasn't sure what it was.
"My dad found me." Her face turned...it would have been bitter if she hadn't looked tired. An old wound then. "He'd spent years searching, he'd done things to make himself...more than human." Her lips twitched without humor, clearly she'd noticed or felt something from Sansa then. "I'm half human. My father was...the closest you have is a maester, no rules of celibacy and only the healing bits though."
Sansa risked a further question then. "What happened to him?"
"He went mad." The god's face was pained. "He became a monster. There are things that can make a human more than just human. But it burns away what makes the person human in the first place." She scoffed. "If it doesn't make you explode. He thought the risk was worth it, to be strong enough to save his family."
Daisy looked...she grieved for this man. "When he found me he was a monster. But sometimes when it was just us, he was almost who he was before everything happened. And he did save me, in the end." Her face tightened. "But it'd been too late for him for years. He was a threat to everyone around him. So I asked a favor of Coulson, and we erased every memory and year that'd ruined him. And we gave him new memories, better ones. He's a vet now." Her eyes flicked to Sansa away from the land below them. "A person who helps sick animals?" She shrugged. "Either way he gets to have a good life now. Even if he doesn't know he ever had a wife, or a daughter."
Sansa had lost her father, she could understand why this god would beg a favor for this alternative to what would certainly have been death. But it was tragic in its own way. Though it filled her with a sense of fear at the thought of her memories or experiences being taken from her. She looked away from the god, back out over the land. Theon was no longer in sight. She had questions, so many of them. But she'd pressed her luck enough. "They cut my father's head off."
"Was he as good a man as they say?" Daisy's voice was gentle and kind as she asked.
Sansa had been forced to call her father unkind things for so long. 'Traitor' chief amongst them. It had never been safe to speak of him as he'd been. But she was in her home, and this god may be dangerous but she had not shown herself to be cruel. "He was the most honorable man in the Seven Kingdoms. But to me he was just my father. He was fair, kind and loved us. He was safety and shelter in the world."
The wind blew past them. The fur on Sansa's cloak tickled at her jaw. Sometimes she felt cold as ice up here, away from everything. But in this moment she was...relieved she didn't.
"Is there a way I can assure you I'm not going to hurt you?" Daisy turned then, facing her fully. She must have seen something on Sansa's suddenly still features. "I see." Her head tilted to the side. "I doubt it'll help, but if it would feel free to ask. I'll answer anything, or well not be insulted by the question even if I don't answer."
Sansa could feel her heart beating in her chest at that. She should have expected her court mask would only go so far with a god. But...it was reasonable for the god to find her distrust irritating. Why this meant this offer she didn't know. That said she'd spent too long in the capital to do the right thing here. It was an opportunity, and not one she could pass. "Your name, is it truly yours?"
Daisy laughed, a bemused smile on her face. "My father named me Daisy and his surname was Johnson, so yes it's really my name." She paused. "But I've had a few names. The nuns...uh think your septas, called me Mary Sue Poots which is a terrible name and I got rid of it as soon as possible. I named myself Skye when I was fourteen and went by that till I found my parents. I've used a few others in missions but nothing I'd consider well mine." She shrugged.
"Why are you still here?" Sansa kept her words careful and measured. "Your Fitz is awake, travel to a place with more resources, weather you don't dislike, and not on the brink of war is possible for you now. Why stay?"
Daisy paused as she seemed to consider that. Her features and actions so incredibly human. Though human blood likely explained that. Finally she replied. "I broke the balance of power here. Killing the Boltons was the right choice." Her face hardened. "It wasn't hard to realize they were scum. But then in the courtyard, Roose was going to send his men to hunt down and kill a man for poaching. The man's wife and any daughters as payment to the men."
And oh, that clearly infuriated this god. Which explained the sudden change from formal, slightly standoffish to wrecking utter ruin. "I see."
"It's not just that of course." The god seemed to be struggling for words here. "I'm an agent of SHIELD, Strategic Homeland Intervention Enforcement and Logistics Division. Which is a very long way of saying we're the line between the world and the much bigger world that humans aren't ready for. Like there's some weird crap out there. And sure this isn't my world, but being part of SHIELD means something. It means when I hear White Walkers bring an endless night to kill every human, I can't not help. It's the right thing to do."
Daisy seemed to see something in her face, and so she continued. "I've learned some of your world. SHIELD is an organization made up of people willing to sacrifice everything, their lives, their bodies, their minds to protect people. It's a bit like an order of knights sworn to a Master of Whispers. Of my team...Ward was a traitor and is dead, Coulson died, came back in a horrifying way, lost an arm, died again, May will probably never walk without a limp, Fitz's mind is...well it is what it is now, Jemma is probably the most...whole of all of us for a given value, and I...well I turned out not to be human. But that's the job, no family, no kids, no roots. It's hard and is nothing but sacrifice, but it's what I believe in."
"Kingsguard only for the realm instead of just the King." Sansa knew that could mean less than nothing as a moral gage. But it was...a reason. If this god thought like a soldier and had taken the Long Night as a mission though….
Daisy gave a slight nod. "Kinda, more assassination, spying, theft, and like no chastity or religious value." She snorted. "Which is ironic considering how many gods we dealt with. You'd think there'd have to be a god of 'picking up after yourself'. Sadly no, or if there is, they're bad at their job."
She arched an eyebrow, a certain tenseness leaving her. This Daisy might not be trustworthy, and certainly dangerous, but she had nothing to motivate her but provide for her companion. Anything else was on a whim in line with her habits. But that was a far clearer level of clarity in motive than anyone from Westeros could provide. At least if she wasn't lying. "Why do you care that I not fear you?"
"Most people fear me, at least to some degree." Daisy shrugged, her manner carefree, but there was pain there that Sansa's years at court let her just barely catch the ghost of. The god continued, not giving time for her words to be considered without it feeling like she was distracting from what she'd said. "But I can be of more use than you're asking of me."
////
Daisy was tired and in an odd way bored. She'd never missed her phone so much in her life...no wonder everyone could do some kind of music, drank too much alcohol, and everything was crafted to a gorgeous degree. There was nothing else to do. She was pretty sure she'd read more in the last two and a half months than she had in the last ten years of her life. Maybe if she just shoved her face into this book on the Rule of King Jaehaerys I it would be absorbed and she wouldn't have to look at it anymore.
"Your Holiness?" A voice asked from behind her.
She looked over her shoulder and grinned. A distraction that promised to give her an excuse to leave the library! "Please say you're here to tell me there's something that needs me?"
"I am not. I wished to ask if you were done with the volume besides you." The woman's posture was painfully formal as she looked pointedly at the book on the seasons of Westeros. But what was more noticeable was just frankly how she was clearly unique among women in this world. And forget the book, Daisy was taking advantage of the opportunity in front of her.
Daisy smiled, hoping to put the woman at ease...if the woman was capable of untensing. "You know, I worked with a woman about your height a few years ago. She was a pretty awesome warrior too."
"You're not unique as a woman warrior in your world?" Brienne asked, her face cracking slightly in surprise.
She nodded easily. "I was trained by a woman. She was tiny, the scariest person I've ever seen. Took down whole legions of soldiers without any powers or abilities. Just a human who punched gods in the face."
"A formidable woman." Brienne hesitated, but then spoke. "I don't know what you want or are planning. But god or not, I will not let you hurt Lady Stark."
Daisy's smile grew. "I've seen humans fell gods before." Or well Kree, and apparently aliens were gods now. Bullshit, but fine.
"Good." Brienne gave a solemn nod. "I will die before any harm comes to Lady Stark."
Daisy took a moment to think how to deal with this. She didn't feel like getting stabbed in the back by a badass lady knight. "You should probably teach me how to use the weapons from this world. Cause, I'm gonna be honest, I don't have a clue how to use any of this stuff except for the knives."
"You want to learn how to use a sword?" Brienne frowned slightly.
She grinned. "And the bow. I mean frankly I'm bored. I can be way more useful than just for turning castles to dust and snapping necks."
"I'm sure one of the others could teach you." Brienne's jaw tightened. "I'm needed at Lady Stark's side."
Daisy stood up from the library table. "You are, but not all the time."
"I can begin to teach you the bow before I'm required back at Lady Stark's side." Brienne allowed while stepping to the side.
She loped over to the knight. "So I'm most used to a weapon similar to a bow, but it's used completely differently."
"Let's see what you can do." Brienne turned and marched towards the courtyard.
Daisy beamed, that was someone who needling would be easy, probably inadvisable most of the time. But the woman was one of the good or evil sorts. Kinda like Talbot had been, before. "So, I don't see a lot of lady knights here. And like you're totes a snack. But that doesn't seem usual around these parts."
"I did not understand that." Brienne was looking at her, baffled.
Daisy laughed. "I'm saying you're an attractive lady. Especially for people into their lover being able to bench press them. Which that is so a thing." She winked at the woman. "But I'm pretty sure you're not just a knight cause you've got the whole blessed by the gods for war build going on."
"Blessed by the gods?" Brienne's cheeks had heated and she was looking at Daisy like she was some sort of crazy. "I was good at it, it was my path. And no one has ever gotten me to give it up."
Daisy snickered. "Did you break the rules so you could kick ass?"
"I don't back down." Brienne led them out from the halls, and into the yard. She deftly ignored how the attention of everyone there focused on them as she picked up a bow from the rack. "You are very strange."
Daisy accepted the bow. "That's a step up, usually it's all 'monster' and 'where you go death follows.' or my friends saying they need protection from me. I don't think I've gone from terrifying to just strange in less than three months before."
"Your own people fear you?" Brienne's hand didn't release the bow.
She sighed. "Change is terrifying, and it took me a long time to learn how to use my powers. I still haven't really mastered them. I just don't bring down buildings because I had a nightmare anymore."
"Why are you telling me this?" Brienne frowned.
Daisy pulled the bow out of Brienne's hand. "Because I'd like to not be stabbed in the back. I think you'd rather know I'm dangerous than fear how dangerous I might be." Daisy turned towards the targets and took her side shooting stance. "So, I'm guessing I use the notch here on the arrow to attach it to the string?"
"Yes, lay it along the hand grip." Brienne watched with sharp eyes. "Pull back as you raise the arrow towards the target. Don't straighten your arm!" The woman tapped her arm till it was bent ever so slightly. "The string will take your skin off if your arm is where it shouldn't be. Yes, there press your thumb to the edge of your mouth. Good. Just release when you're ready."
Daisy breathed out, feeling her heart slow. And then relaxed her fingers, the arrow loosing towards the target. She ignored Brienne's sound of approval. Four inches from the center. Taking another arrow she notched it and pulled the bow back again. She adjusted her aim slightly. And then loosened. Daisy grinned as she lowered her arm. "Bullseye."
"How?" Brienne was gaping.
She winked at the woman. "I've used a weapon similar to this, not this uh...slow though. Guns were way more practical." Daisy picked up another arrow. "I'll keep working on it till this doesn't feel weird."
Daisy's muscles ached with a familiar and welcome burn. She set her bow back on the rack. Stepping forward she made her way to the target and started pulling arrows out. "I get why Hawkguy used a bow now."
She pulled out yet more arrows...maybe she went a bit too long. This damn target was half hedgehog with all these arrows. Finally she carried the bundle of arrows back and dumped them in the bucket. Daisy paused, eyeing the courtyard. It was certainly a more pleasant area without the corpses.
"Your Holiness!" Hogg came jogging towards her.
Daisy smiled as she saw the guy she was starting to consider a sort of friend. Bit of a puppy. "Do you need something?"
"Some of the men were uh wondering about your thoughts on visiting the whore house? I pulled the short straw for asking you." His cheeks were bright red.
Daisy snorted. "You want to ask me about whether hiring a prostitute is ok or not?"
"Well some of the men think you're a patron god of maidens and that sort of thing might...not be a good idea." He winced, licking at his lips nervously.
She rolled her eyes. "I'm not a patron god of maidens. And as long as you're not hurting anyone I don't see a problem with it. Your future wife might, but I don't care."
"Do you think it'll make it harder to find a wife?" He asked, frowning as if such a thing had never occurred to him.
Daisy patted his shoulder. "Definitely."
"But we're men, there's like...it's how men are." Hogg tried to explain, his ears turning red.
She wanted to cackle. Fake religion was turning out kinda fun. "First of all I happen to know you idiots are strong enough to keep your dicks in your pants if you want." She saw the other clearly eavesdropping men wilting. "Men are the same in every world."
"Is that a bad thing?" Joran asked carefully.
Daisy squeezed his shoulder in sympathy, he was just a teen. "Look, women are just as sexual as men."
"What?" Joran looked at her with wide horrified eyes. "That's not possible."
"Buddy." Daisy dragged him to the side and shoved him onto a bench. "It's true. Women are just as human as you men are. And finding a wife will be harder when you're wasting your money, treating women like objects, and expecting your future spouse to be virtuous while you're off doing whatever feels nice."
The man was practically drooping. "But…"
"But you people clearly do not listen to the women in your lives enough. That said there's nothing wrong with going to a brothel. Just don't be an ass about it. And know if you hurt the girls there I'll revisit those pains a hundred times over on the idiot who did it. Good?"
"Yes." Joran ran a hand through his hair. "Do you think...are the seven hells real?"
Daisy blinked. "Probably. I know of one realm where your fears are made real. And I punched the guy in the face who takes souls to the hells. So I'm gonna go with they're probably real. I also know the dude who takes souls doesn't care if you spent your money at a brothel."
"I think I'm gonna go to the god's wood." Hogg nodded before sprinting off.
She huffed, shaking her head. As she stood there she fell more serious. As she'd worked on her powers, and the dark ages and space travel had that in common lots of time to work on control, she'd found noticing the world around her by vibration was beginning to come naturally. She could feel Fitz in his workshop.
Daisy pulled her cloak back on as she walked, which how the hell they were meant to grow anything in this weather she didn't know.
"Your Holiness!" A woman bustled over, and then promptly shoved a baby into her arms.
Daisy blinked as she automatically tucked the kid against her. She wasn't surprised when the woman then promptly left as fast as she could without actually fleeing. Shaking her head slightly she kept walking. Once at Fitz's door she wrapped her knuckles on the wood before stepping in. "Hey, sup."
"Daisy." He looked up from work only to pause. "Is th-that a baby?"
She rubbed the kid's back. "They think I'm a god of maidens or children. Women just shove kids at me and run. Whoever this guy belongs to will be back in an hour or so."
Fitz stared and then scoffed. "That's ridiculous."
"I know, but it's not a big deal so, whatever." Daisy hopped up on his work table. "And no judgement, don't think I don't see the minion you've somehow acquired."
Fitz's hands were ink stained, a certain manic energy to him that was unstoppable by anything short of Nazis or Jemma in a low cut top and new lingerie. "Lady Sansa g-g-gave him to me. Do they just give ch-children to people here?"
"I'm pretty sure I get handed kids so they can be blessed." Daisy twitched. "Is this what the pope feels like? Cause it's weird." She hid her smirk against the baby's hair, she was amused that Lady Stark had apparently been proactive in installing a spy with Fitz. It was smart, kid might not even know he was a spy. She'd pass her compliments on the maneuver to the woman later. "Lady Stark has been very gracious. So a tiny amount of manners if you emerge from this place."
Fitz's nose scrunched as he went back to his design. Which looked like it would be one of his dwarves. "The soo-sooner we're gone the better. If I can c-confirm we're in the same reality I just need to make a beacon and Jemma will find us."
"That is the hope." Daisy paused. "If it is the case, we're still helping with their ice zombies, White Walkers, whatever evil magic is happening."
Fitz's hummed under his breath. "S-s-sure."
She wondered when she'd stopped understanding him, or maybe begun to understand him too well. "Do you need my help with the beacon?"
"No." Fitz grabbed what looked like several coins and likely a chemical of some kind.
Daisy could tell when she wasn't going to be of any help. She glanced at the baby. "I guess we're reading about Jaehaerys I." Looking back up at Fitz she just felt...sad. "I'll be back to make sure you've eaten and plan to sleep."
"I've got to f-f-finish this." His voice was sharp, an edge that he'd be angry if she pushed.
She wanted to flinch, though she refused to do so. "If you collapse it'll take longer and you know it." Daisy didn't wait for his reply, she just left.
Chapter 11Notes:Thank you guys for being the best! Seriously, your comments mean the world!
Chapter TextLord Umber had half a mind to cause his horse to break out in a gallop at the sight of Stark banners flying from Winterfell. He'd spent the better part of half a moon being fed proper food and given the use of his limbs. The toll of the war and his imprisonment would never leave him. But he felt a man again, instead of a husk of rage. "You fuckers weren't lying."
"Why else would we have given you an axe?" Joren, the captain of the men escorting him, replied. His voice was surprisingly dry for a man of his youth.
He scoffed. "Ya cunts came in Bolton colors. Couldn't know for sure if I was going to be fighting you with my axe when we reached Winterfell or not." But his voice held only the echo of the familiar boom he'd once spoken with.
Joren gave a look. "Lady Stark is aware honor has its place and it's after the wellbeing of her people."
"That's Tully words, lot of good those fish did us." His face hardened. The South and its Lords and ways could fuck themselves.
The men didn't say anything, instead they just rode. As they approached the gates were proven to be open. Umber thought the great fortress of the North was in better repair than it deserved to be after being burned by the Greyjoy scum and then filled with Boltons. As they entered the courtyard his eyes rested on the woman who could only be the once tiny Sansa. He dismounted.
"Lord Umber, welcome to Winterfell." Sansa greeted. "You are most welcome." She waved forward to a servant with bread and salt.
He looked the girl up and down. She was tall, red hair, very neat. "Odd world this, Stark banners for Lady Bolton."
"My marriage ended when I stabbed my husband." Sansa's posture didn't change. "I was born a Stark, I will always be a Stark no matter what I have been forced to do to survive."
Umber considered her. He took the bread and salt and ate it.
"I've had a room prepared for you and a bath drawn. If you wish to send word to your family there is paper and ink in your room. Maester Wolkan will send out any missive you wish." She was cold but perfect as she spoke.
Greatjon Umber submerged himself in the large metal tub of hot water. He didn't even consider letting it cool. Scrubbing with soap he wiped the grime of his travel and imprisonment from his skin. It felt like his outer layer of skin was half scalded off. He reveled in the cleanliness. It'd been years. His disused and abused body ached as the water eased his pains. His chest felt sharp and painful with grief, shame and anger that'd left him numb for so long.
When he finally emerged from his bath he was surprised to find fresh clothing nearly his size. Slightly loose, but clearly prepared ahead of his arrival and meant for him laid out on the bed. Besides a small mirror however was cream, a razor as well as scissors, as well as several combs. His eyes tracked the room. There on the side table was a large mug of ale, and a plate of meat and bread soaking in its own juices.
In fact the room had been specifically prepared for him, and with great thought to what his needs might be. He scoffed, he didn't need the pampering of some southern cunt. But he wasn't a fool, and his stomach panged him at the smell of the meal.
He was freshly dressed, and just cutting into his meal when there was a rap on the door. Umber grumbled before calling out. "Fuck manners, get in here instead of standing out there like some damned fool."
The door opened, and the fat Lord Manderly walked in, servant on his heels. "Well, I should hope that greeting wasn't intended for me." The man chortled.
Umber stretched backwards in his wooden chair. "So you've thrown your lot in with the girl? I'll give it to her stabbing that shit Ramsey was well done. But she's a damn southerner. Why should I care for whatever plot she means to use me in?"
"I see captivity hasn't beaten any more manner's or thought into your head than you had there before you left." Wyman waved for the servant to fill a cup and set food before himself, as he hefted himself into the chair across from Umber. The chair groaned under the weight of the man, but it held.
He laughed at that as he took a drag from his mug of ale. "Same as always merman."
"I'll take that as a compliment you old fool." He waved the servant away as food was set before him.
Umber rubbed absently at the scars he would bare for his life from his manacles. "You knelt to those flayed bastards." It was an indictment.
Wyman didn't flinch. "They returned my son to me for it. And if you think I held anything but a knife and poison in my hand for the Boltons." He took a pull from his cup of wine. "I had meant with the aid of your uncles, as well as several other Houses to recover Rickon Stark and put a Stark back in power."
"And yet there's a girl ruling this tiny corner of the North." Umber's face tightened. He'd had some news of the actions of his uncles since his imprisonment. The Freys had thought it entertaining to torture their prisoners with news of calamity and harm they could do naught to prevent.
Manderly looked at him. "That girl is as much a Stark as any of Ned's pups. But don't take my word for it, judge her for yourself."
"Oh, I will." Umber had followed a young Stark before, to glory and for revenge. It'd been short, glorious, and had turned to blood and death. He would not do so again.
////
Sansa grit her teeth as Bower approached her. "What news?"
"There's been reports of Ramsey's hunters to the south east. They've been ravaging the lands, raping, theiving and murdering their way." Bower didn't falter before her displeasure, one of the benefits of keeping him as a part of her household. Something she'd been considering.
But that was an issue. "How many men are a part of this?"
"Reports vary, but likely around fifteen with the hounds." Bower couldn't help the cringe at the mention of Ramsey's hounds.
Sansa felt a shiver of revolution at the reminder of the dogs. She looked at Brienne who was standing by her shoulder. "Brienne, take twenty of the men and hunt down these bandits. Kill the hounds. Kill or capture the men."
"My Lady, your brother has not returned yet. My place is by your side." Brienne's voice was stiff, she was practically incapable of falsehood.
She focused on her sworn sword. "The men here are inexperienced and young. Sending them after the more experienced men would be suicide. I trust you to do this." Sansa measured her words carefully. "And for now I believe I'll be secure while her Holiness remains." It was becoming clear that Daisy was...like a direwolf or other predator. Dangerous, but not without cause or reason.
Brienne gave a stiff nod. "If you feel it is necessary." She couldn't have sounded more unhappy at the suggestion.
"I do." Sansa felt cold. "I cannot allow this to continue." She could not allow this to take away from her authority while Lord Umber and Lord Manderly were here. Her task was monumental. But she was the daughter of Ned Stark, they owed her their allegiance. Allegiance they would not give if she proved unable to manage her own lands.
Bower spoke again. "The party to recover more of the Dreadfort's supplies is prepared to set out within the hour."
"Good news, is there more required for them to depart?" She inquired, it was vital that the last of the supplies were brought to Winterfell. Already the loot had proved to have secured her hold of Winterfell and its lands. She had the food, equipment, and gold to run the Stark lands.
He shook his head. "No, they are only waiting on the last of the spare axles for the carts."
"Is there other news?" She needed to know what other catastrophe was on its way for her.
Bower's brow furrowed. "Lord Manderly and Lord Umber have been speaking. Lord Umber seems to be against you m'Lady."
"Of course he is." Sansa's eyes narrowed. It was to be expected, it'd taken Robb letting Greywind biting two of the man's fingers off to get him behind him. She had neither a direwolf to command, the position as heir, nor was she a warrior or man. "The Lords of the North are hard headed and stubborn as mules."
Bower shook his head. "You've saved him, given him guest rite, and your hospitality. It's not right."
"But it is what it is. Ensure no one attempts to act in my defence towards him. He is my guest and is to be treated as such." Sansa ordered. She would not have men sworn to her acting stupidly in her defence and making everything worse. She would not and could not tolerate it. "What else?" Her eyes narrowed as she realized the man was sweating in front of her.
Bower actually cringed at that. "That's just...it seems Lady Bolton has felt the first of her birthing pangs in the night. Maester Wolkan confirmed and is with her as of an hour ago."
"Why wasn't I informed immediately?" Sansa's spine was iron as she demanded that answer.
His shoulders hunched slightly. "I'm sorry M'lady. I didn't want to tell ya just before you received Lord Umber."
Sansa considered the man before her. "You are my Master of Arms and have been acting as both that and as my Senchal, temporary as the position may be, it is still your duty. I am aware you are not trained nor were you prepared for your position. And you certainly have earned a senior position in my household. However you must never keep me in the dark, no matter your intentions." She faced him fully, he had to understand this. Knowledge was a form of power she desperately needed and could not lose. "If you ever hide or delay the truth like this again I'll have you removed from Winterfell. If you ever lie to me I will have you sent to the Wall. Do you understand?"
"Yes, m'lady." He bobbed his head, eyes wide.
Sansa felt no mercy, she couldn't afford more than she had just shown. "Good, I will not overlook it again."
Sansa shut the library doors behind her. She had never appreciated the library when she had been a child. But she'd come to appreciate the quiet, empty rows full of dusty tomes of knowledge. If it'd been a time of peace she'd have written for more books to be sent from Old Town. As it was, it was a nice dream for if they survived all of this. With Maester Wolkan attending to Lady Bolton there'd be no one in the library, except for the person she was looking for. "Holiness, you suggested I speak with you more often."
"Lady Stark?" The god looked up from the large tome. She brightened, straightening in her seat. "Yeah, did you need something?"
Sansa carefully took the implied invitation to sit across from the god. She'd accepted that this woman was likely one of her most trustworthy allies, even if she was wary and unsure of how far that went. "Walda Bolton is in labor."
"Ah." Daisy shut her book. "So you need a distraction from your mortal enemy having a kid."
She let her shoulders untighten ever so slightly. "Letting them live is the right decision, but it's also the foolish one."
"Why is it the foolish one?" Daisy asked.
Sansa paused, but she replied. "What do you mean? The child will be the only living scion of House Bolton. Of the bloodline of the Red Kings. A child who will be born in a world ruled by House Stark, their ancestral enemies, their prospects and future ruined."
"Sorry if I'm wrong, but you plan to break the enemies of your house here in the North." Daisy gave her a knowing look. "You told your brother you'd think about it. But you'll do it. Am I wrong?"
"No." Sansa didn't blink, didn't hesitate. There was no point in lying, the woman before her would know if she did.
Daisy sighed. "Then who would try to raise up a Bolton? Who loves the Boltons? I mean I'm not from here, I'm just reading about this world." She gestured at the book. "But who would choose a Bolton against a Stark? Once you're done, who would make that choice?"
"But I'm not done yet." Sansa considered the god's words. "But a babe is a poor symbol to rally behind." When had her fears clouded her? "I've been foolish."
Daisy shrugged. "From what I can tell you're surrounded by enemies and allies who haven't chosen you yet."
"Lord Umber isn't alone, the rest of the Lords won't forget I've been a Lannister and a Bolton in name if not in heart." She looked away from the god to the window, light streaming in. "It will take time to win them without an enemy to rally against."
She had a slight frown in her voice. "You have your choice of enemies."
"I do. And Winter is Coming, I have time to gather my allies." Sansa turned back to the god. "You wouldn't happen to have an easy option for ensuring Lord Umber knows I'm Stark and have the will to succeed?"
Daisy leaned back in her seat. "How'd everyone else do it?"
"My father led them to war against the Targaryans after they murdered my grandfather and uncle and stole and raped my aunt. My brother led them to war against the Lannisters after they attempted to murder my brother, murdered my father and stole Arya and I. Not that they ever had Arya, but no one knew that." Sansa swallowed. "I don't have more family to sacrifice as martyrs."
Daisy looked at her. "But you're rallying them for the living. It's harder." She tapped her fingers on the table. "I got nothing on any grand gesture to win their loyalty, but maybe you don't need one?"
"You advise time then." Sansa was oddly disappointed to be advised what she already knew was the truth. But reassured at the same time. Her eyes noted the scarring on the side of the god's neck. It was funny, the woman had a scar on her cheek. But it'd never seemed important before. "You can scar."
Daisy reached up, touching the mark. Her face was...she moved her hair the rest of the way off of her neck showing the awful looking mark on her neck. "He used my trust in him to hit me from behind, drug me, tied me down and cut into me till he'd taken what he wanted." She dropped her hand.
Sansa's heart quickened at the memories her words invoked. "But you survived."
"So did you." Daisy held her gaze and then she turned more friendly. "In any case unless you want me to beat Lord Umber up for you I don't think I have much to give you there."
Her lips twitched at the image of the woman before her punching Lord Umber in the face. "I doubt that'd be useful. But thank you for the offer." She gave a look at the book. "Why do you read so much?"
"I'm in a strange world, how else am I meant to understand it?" Daisy looked amused. "Also I got to say, this world's lack of internet, super terrible."
Sansa humored herself. "What is the internet?"
"It's sort of like...if all the books of the world, art, knowledge, and your ravens carrying letters were in one giant invisible web across the world. And people could access that information, send messages, play games, whatever they want across all of it instantly. When I was human I was a hacker, or a person who broke the codes guarding information on the internet. I found everyone's dirty secrets and made it public for everyone to know." Her grin was predatory then, a light in her eye that was distinctly passionate.
The concept boggled the mind. But for a realm of gods it sounded appropriately wondrous. She couldn't hardly comprehend it, but the potential for such magic. "I can barely imagine."
"It's pretty awesome." Daisy was fond. "So what do your Northern Lords respect other than strength?"
Sansa settled as she spoke the truth she knew down to her bones. "Plain speech, following the old ways, being true to your word, stubborn bullheadedness." She preferred her own people to those of the south. Their values were different, their ways. Oh the politics were in some ways the same, but not all.
"So that a hold back on the freezing people to death for attempted murder? Cause going to be honest there's a distinct risk of exploding the person on accident when I do that." Daisy winced in disgust at that thought of exploding a person.
Sansa wondered how the magic worked for that to be a possibility. She didn't see any connection between the two but apparently there was one. "I would prefer to gain their allegiance on my own power. But I would not think to order your actions."
"I'm a soldier, sorta." Daisy shrugged. "Well one who never stopped arguing with orders I didn't like. You can ask, I'll probably be willing. I kinda owe you for everything you've done for Fitz and me."
Sansa was unsure by what metric she was the one in this partnership who had offered more. But she had no intention of questioning that. "It's been my honor."
"I'm sure." Daisy's eyes sparked with amusement. "Nice touch with the new assistant you gifted Fitz, smart."
Her blood felt like it ran cold. She should have expected the woman to realize, but this quickly? It'd been a day. But then she'd said she'd been a spy. It'd been stupid to hope the god wouldn't notice the spy inserted besides her companion. "I meant no offense."
"None taken." Daisy didn't seem offended, mostly amused, though she was serious as she kept speaking. "It was a good idea. And one you should continue. Fitz is one of my two closest and dearest friends. He's the closest thing I have to a brother." And her amusement was gone now. "But he has two people in him. He's mainly Fitz, the dork I'd trust with anything. But sometimes...he isn't that person. And the person he becomes is a monster. If I'm ever not here you should ensure your guards keep an eye on him."
Sansa pressed her lips together. "How dangerous is he?"
"Who do you think gave me that scar?" Daisy wasn't lounging in her chair, there was a tenseness to her. "It's not his fault exactly, but it doesn't change the fact he's capable of it."
Sansa's eyes widened slightly. A human capable of doing that to a god was...horrifically dangerous. Not to mention the concept of still calling a man who was willing to violate you in such a way a friend and brother was….she didn't understand. But she didn't need to. "I'll see it done."
"Good." Daisy eased ever so slightly. "He's not an active threat."
"I'll keep that in mind." Sansa wondered at the truth of two minds in one head. It could be metaphor or literal when it came to this. She had to ensure she brought no insult however. "You truly don't mind the assistant?"
Daisy shook her head. "He's brilliant, if the kid learns anything from Fitz it'll be good for you. And it's not like there's any information on us that could harm us. Benefits of not being from the same world."
"You're very certain of his loyalty, despite everything." Sansa could probably do a lot to ensure the hurt between this god and her companion was widened if she set her mind to it. Afterall, while subtle she had noticed the...caution Daisy seemed to hold herself with when Fitz was near. Though she couldn't have guessed the reason.
Daisy didn't look bothered by the implication. "You mean the risk of turning against each other? If it was just Fitz and I? Maybe. I doubt it, but maybe. But he'd never betray Jemma, and we both want to return to where she is."
"You've mentioned that name before?" Sansa pointed out.
Daisy smiled. "His wife, and my best friend. Which it's a bit ridiculous. I spent a year with Jemma trying to rescue him, only for everything to go to hell and now I'm trapped with him trying to get to her. They better name their first kid after me." Her voice had laughter in it, like she actually wouldn't take it personally if the future child wasn't named for her.
"You are a very strange god." Sansa found herself saying almost despite herself.
The god shrugged. "I mean you can call me a god, and Fitz a demi-god, my enemies a monster, at this point does it even matter?"
"In some ways." Sansa wondered if she'd underestimated how human this woman was? Perhaps, perhaps not. But she would have the time to find out.
Chapter 12Notes:For those asking if this character or that is going to be in this like...the answer is probably. It's just that the entire first arch of this story takes place in the North pre-Arya return, pre-Danny arrival, and mostly pre-Sept explosion. So like if it's a person who wasn't in the North for s6 they're probably not going to pop up in this for like a solid thirty five to forty chapters. But I do have plans for them....incidentally a conservative estimate on length is going to be around 80 chapters. Conservative, my guesses at length are always wrong. So like...don't quote me on that. But ballpark. .....I thought Happy Accidents was going to be like six chapters....six.
And yes this update is a few hours early, but I finished editing and went fuck it.
Chapter TextDaisy adjusted the castle gauntlets on her arms. Her own were safely in her rooms. There was no point in risking them when these would work just as fine. Besides, she wasn't using her powers. "You can swing at me Joran."
"But you haven't a sword, your Holiness." The man protested.
She rolled her eyes. "I'm perfectly able to fight without a sword. Though I should probably figure out how to use one eventually. For now though, swing at me." Poor kid wouldn't be able to hurt her if he wanted to. He was clearly a fairly competent man but also with minimal experience and no focused training.
Finally! He moved, swinging weakly at her arm.
Daisy slapped the blade to one side with her palm. "Come on, you can do better than that. Again." And her voice was an order now.
Joren finally seemed to realize not trying to stab her was irritating her. He actually took a proper swing.
She flowed around the blade without touching it, grabbed his throat and slammed him to the ground as she hooked his ankle. "Better." Daisy held out her hand to the guy.
Joran took the hand. "How'd you do that?"
"Practice. Don't fully commit like that if your opponent isn't tied down." Daisy flicked her fingers, beckoning him forward.
He braced himself and then swung lower and towards her center of mass. She flicked her wrist knocking the blow away from her. Swinging forward she caught his wrist and punched him in the face. As he stumbled from it she hooked his ankle and yanked. He hit the ground.
There were appreciative 'oo's from the men. Daisy rolled her neck and beckoned another of the men forward. "Well come on then."
The man paled, but stepped forward. He gave a sharp cry and attacked with great arching swings.
Daisy easily side stepped three attacks before stepping into his guard. She kneed him in the gut before flipping him to the ground. "Next."
Daisy grinned at the two dozen very bruised men stuck with her in the yard. "Better, but you have to be defending while you're attacking. If I can get to you with my fists a person with a sword will have def stabbed you." She sighed, the guys hadn't realized how badly they'd done. They were clearly writing it off as obvious since she was a god.
Joren rubbed at his bruised jaw. "Should we practice against each other?"
"Yes, but first all of you against me at the same time. If I have to use my powers to escape injury you win." Daisy rolled her shoulders.
One of the boys glanced nervously at the others before speaking up. "What happens if we lose?"
"Endurance training." Daisy knew her grin looked slightly vicious. There wasn't the appropriate fear on the men's faces. Easy fix. "You run till you puke."
"Ah fuck that." One of the older guys grunted and then charged in.
Daisy laughed as she batted his sword away, slamming him face first into the dirt. As she moved she continued to pick the men's skills apart. Which were fairly abysmal really. Sure they were better than a bar drunk, and weapons and leather armor helped. But frankly they were clearly cannon fodder. Lined up shoulder to shoulder with some shields and they'd do some damage. But in an actual fight if their line got broken? They'd be sitting ducks.
She used her grip around one guy's head to swing herself around kicking two others, hard. As her feet hit the ground she rolled the guy she'd used to swing herself, over her shoulder and directly into a different opponent.
////
Sansa set her quill down and looked up at Bower. "Good you're here. I need you to prepare a riding party of three to ride to House Cerwyn's keep."
"M'lady? Surely we need more men to take a keep unless you mean for her Holiness to join us?" The man frowned slightly.
She raised a brow at the man. Her men questioned her actions far too freely. It would take time to earn their trust. "They bent the knee after Lord Cerwyn was flayed alive; nearly half their bannermen slaughtered and their stores and coffers hobbled. I'm not punishing them for that. This is a message for them that you are going to send personally by hand instead of by raven."
"Apologies m'Lady." He bowed and fled to see to her orders.
Sansa sighed, she was really going to have to replace the man. He would stay in the household but he wasn't competent in his current position. A problem for another day. She glanced up at the knock on her door. "Enter."
Wyman Manderly took up the whole doorway as he lumbered in. "Lady Stark, you asked to speak with me this morning?"
"I did, please." She waved to the chair before her desk in her solar. "Our trade with Essos, I wished to discuss tripling it at least."
His eyes widened. "An admirable goal, and one more possible with the new ships you've asked my men to build. A task I've already written to my son and asked him to begin."
"But?" Sansa had no interest in however long he intended to speak around his issue. She was tired of being spoken to like an idiot.
Wyman's eyes glinted as he looked at her. "It's expensive and building ships will take time."
"And I'll personally provide two and half million dragons for the purchase, transport of grains from Essos to Winterfell." She held his eye. "I've also written an order forgiving taxes for the coming winter should those funds be used for winter trade. In the amount equaling what is spent on purchasing food from other realms."
He groaned slightly as he leaned back in his seat. "That would ensure the food was purchased. But building ships takes time, as would finding and or training the men required for such work. Efforts that the approaching winter will slow even further. It's a good thought. And I might even have thoughts on speeding up your efforts to ensure we remain fed through winter. But perhaps you're being too ambitious to start, my Lady." He tipped his head respectfully.
Sansa pressed her fingers together so hard they turned white from it, under the table and out of sight of the tell at how frustrated she was. "I also intend to use another half million in gold dragons to purchase ships with crews from Essos for the work. I would welcome your ideas, but if we're not ambitious now we will starve later. Or do you think our people will thank us for our caution when the snows fall, the cold seeps in through even the warmest hearths and the food stores run out?"
"Peace, you've made your point." He seemed to consider her. "It could be done, but surely that would ruin your finances, even with the wealth you've no doubt acquired from your victory over the Boltons."
Sansa raised a brow. "The Iron Bank knows a sound investment. And debts can be repaid in summer. We have wood, land, and ore if we bothered to mine it. There is wealth to be found if we invest in our land. As your House can attest. But to reap that we must first survive."
"Well said." Wyman folded his hands in front of him, his face setting deeply. "My cousin Marlon, a Mormont or Umber and Lyessa Flint would make a fine delegation to the Iron Bank. They would also be well placed to begin purchasing the ships you intend to acquire, as well as establishing the trade relation we would need."
Sansa was unsurprised by his suggestion. "As I'm sure the Flint's of Widow's Watch would do as you bid, making them a reliable option for you."
"Lady Lyessa has a good head on her shoulders, and her boy is old enough she need not take the boy with her." Wyman didn't argue the advantage having a house that served him in all but name would bring.
She considered his proposition. "It has to be an Umber, there's only Lyanna Mormont left of that house save for the exiled Jorah." Sansa ran through what she knew of her Lords and their houses. "Barret Moss, he's third in line for the family and avoided my brother's war due to breaking his leg falling from his horse. But he's of a good age, Roose was planning to flay him alive, and would make a suitable leader of such an expedition. Don't you agree?"
"And of a noble house that owes mine own house nothing." He chuckled, but his face showed approval. "Well chosen, if he accepts your call."
She didn't waver. "I'm the Stark of Winterfell. And once news of what I intend to bring upon those houses who failed their oaths to mine, I doubt any will ignore the call."
"Smart." Wyman shifted slightly. "Now, let's see what we can do about ensuring our trade plan is one that will work."
Sansa's brow arched. "Our plan?"
"I would of course be honored to participate." His lips twitched.
She opened a drawer of her desk and pulled up the plan she'd worked out earlier. Some of the details would of course need to be adjusted. "I believe this would be an adequate start to 'our' plan."
"I believe it will." And Wyman was openly impressed now as he took the plan and began to read through it. "Very fine indeed."
////
Fitz stared at Daisy testing the movement of the sword some idiot had handed to her. "Is a s-sword really ne-necessary?"
"Uh, totally." Daisy winked at him before taking a swing for the wood and straw dummy.
He nearly jumped, he did yelp, as the sword went straight through the thing. "WHAT WAS THAT!"
"Serum." Daisy grinned manically as she checked the sword wasn't bent…
Fitz's mind filled with the numbers of how much force that would have required. The sword certainly hadn't been sharp enough, or Daisy a master of the art for that to have been in any way what was supposed to happen. The impressed, if very dirty and men running circles around the yard could attest to that. But then Daisy was strong, incredibly fit, which not as enhanced as Mike had been. But certainly more than what run of the mill steroids could do for a person. "W-w-well that's something." One hand ran through his hair.
"Exactly." Daisy began to adjust her usual stances as she got a feel for the sword. Bloody useless use of time, but it wasn't like there was much for her to do while the men ran.
So he spoke, he'd run out of what he could do without feedback from Jemma. His theory was if he talked at Daisy, she'd make a suitable replacement for a sounding board. It couldn't make his problems less immense anyways. "I b-believe I know how to a-ascertain if we're in an alternate r-reality."
"Jesus, already?" Daisy looked at him surprised.
Fitz groaned. "I have to b-b-build it first. But if I m-make a tesla coil I should be able to me-measure its interactions with e-electric lightning, phosphorescence, x-ray g-g-generation, high frequency a-alternating current phenomena, tra-transmission of electrical energy, and really just th-that alone would give us a b-baseline of the natural rules of this p-planet. If the v-variance from earth standard is too gr-great we know there's phenomena not s-supported by our universe."
"Right, makes perfect sense." There was sarcasm there. "How are you going to make the electricity to generate the thing though?"
He grimaced. "Well it's n-not like there's easy access to a r-river."
"I'm guessing potatoes like for those clocks is out?" Daisy shot a glare at one of the guys who was beginning to lag behind the others. "Jessar, PICK IT UP!"
Fitz noticed the general misery and exhaustion of the men. He didn't envy them one bit. Kinda genius to use physical ops training to weed out as many men as possible from the cult thing she was making though. Most people weren't made to make it through that kind of physical punishment. "I was th-thinking a peddle b-bike."
"If you made a few we could stick a few of the boys on them." Daisy gestured to the wheezing men. "It'd be good for them."
He perked up at that. "That could w-work. It's not a lot, but that'd g-get us rolling. And I've been l-looking into making b-batteries using some of the coins they have here. If I f-fix up the batteries I can store what they pr-produce. It wouldn't be a lot...but I can w-work with that."
"How are you going to get enough wire for a tesla coil?" Daisy suddenly paused. "I mean that's…"
Fitz blinked, hacker. Sometimes he forgot she'd know enough about this sort of thing to understand at least a bit of what he was doing. "A-a-a lot of work." He frowned. "I don't think you're s-supposed to swing that like a b-baseball bat."
"I was getting that feeling too." Daisy looked at her sword with a frown. "I've got no idea what I'm doing with the thing, and neither do these guys, clearly."
Fitz felt some pity for the idiots who definitely didn't have much longer in them. He cringed as one of them keeled over and started puking his guts out. "I think y-you broke one."
"You can stop!" Daisy barely finished the permission to stop before the men just dropped where they'd been staggering in an attempt to run. A small symphony of groans as they hit the ground. "Don't get too comfortable, we're stretching it out after you can breathe again." She turned her attention back to Fitz. "So how soon can you have those bikes and batteries ready?"
He rubbed at his chin. "A week m-maybe? Are there even g-going to be enough men wanting to keep training w-with you by then?"
"We'll manage." Daisy frowned slightly. "I'm nicer than May. A few of them will stick it out."
Fitz nodded, that was a fair point. He was quite used to the parade of misery that was whichever poor fucks were being trained by the Calvary for Strike teams. "Fair p-point."
////
Greatjon Umber drank deeply from his cup. He watched from the window as the charleton and witch who was masquerading as a god, ran some of the men through ridiculous actions in the yard. "What nonsense is that?"
"Is it harmful?" Sansa asked without blinking.
He scoffed. "It's useless."
"But not harmful." Sansa stared at him. "And she believes it's useful. What is it you plan to do now that you're free?"
Greatjon eyed the girl, but he wasn't ignorant of what her half brother was off doing for her. It was clear the girl would take the North. But could she hold it? He saw little to her that said she had the stomach to do it. "My uncle says he rides for us."
"Let us hope his quest to find my brother has been a success." She was every inch the perfect lady, even Lady Caitlyn would have looked like a girl playing the role besides her daughter. It was whether that poise covered a southern soul or a northern one that worried him.
He eyed her. "Ya don't need that forgein witch. She'll take you the same way Stannis's red witch did."
"It's possible." Sansa allowed. "However I have given her my word and I will not break that so easily. Besides, I have her watched and she seems disinclined towards burning innocents and guilty alike to power dark magic."
Umber rubbed his beard, disgust in him at that. "Spies?"
"A necessary evil, and one my brother and father lacked to their detriment. Or do you disagree despite what you've suffered?" She raised a brow staring at him like one would look at a small child that'd made a fool mistake.
His shoulders tightened at the challenge and rebuke. "Your father and brother had honor."
"And they died for it." There was an edge of emotion there. She cared. "And honor is good, but it wasn't honor that forged the Winter Kingdom. Do you think it was honor that led my ancestors to killing House Frost to the last man, woman and child? Or House Greystark of our own blood? We've wiped out full houses before. And I'll have done it at least once more before winter truly comes."
His eyes widened as he looked at the girl again. She spoke of eradication without a single hair out of place, not a crack to her voice. And there was only one House that she could mean to destroy. Especially if she thought to mention House Greystark. "You mean to end House Karstark."
"They turned on our men at the Red Wedding. Or those few men who had not already left their King did. I will not tolerate such betrayal from a House bound by blood." And in that moment there was the same edge to her that had been there to Robb. A certain viciousness, a predatory air that led to so many of the Starks being called wolves.
Umber felt a deep satisfaction. "Aye, fuck the traitors." He set his cup down with a thud. "I'll see you have House Umber's men and steel for fucking them."
"Good, your aid will not be forgotten." And there might be more north in the girl's bones than he'd given her credit for. "You've read your uncle's message to you. Do you believe the prize he speaks of is my brother Rickon?"
Umber crossed his arms. "Mayhaps. But hard to tell. Mors never was much good at words or hiding his meaning."
"I remember him from when I was a child." Her lips curled ever so slightly. "He certainly was memorable." She fell serious. "We can only hope."
He considered the girl, the south was full of ambitions. "You won't be Lady of Winterfell if your brother lives."
"He's my brother." Her voice was sharp, daring him to question her.
He did anyway. "You're Stark in Winterfell with him not there."
"I would rather my family than power." If looks could kill he'd be dead. The great white wolf that'd silently been sleeping by the fire looked at him, its lips pulling up showing its teeth.
Greatjon held up his hands in surrender, he'd rather not lose more fingers. "Suppose it's not an important worry for now."
"Indeed, Rickon is one and ten if he still lives." Sansa didn't soften so much as the danger from her seemed to pass.
He considered it, the girl might make a proper regent till Ned's youngest was old enough to be Lord in his own right. "So what's with this news of you sending gold and men to Essos?"
"The Long Night is coming, we'll require food, Lord Umber. More food than is left in all of the North after the bloody summer we've survived. Any trade with the south for it will place us in chains." Sansa hadn't flinched from him once, and he wasn't a small or calm man. "You'd do well to follow my example if you mean for your family and those dependent on you to survive what is coming."
Her words were wise. And he'd rather starve than beg the southern cunts for aid. "You've got the right of it."
"I was raised to be a Queen." She lifted her cloak, pulling it over her shoulders. "Being a Lady of a House Paramont is not so different."
Greatjon frowned. "You mean to bend the knee to that Lannister boy?" His voice was dark at the thought of that humiliation.
She was unreadable as she stood there, prepared to leave the room, likely to see to the repairs of her ancestral home. "For the North and for my family there is nothing I would not do, Lord Umber. And we cannot fight six realms of men and the Long Night. One war at a time."
"You're that certain your Jon Snow speaks true?" Greatjon remembered the letter from the Night's Watch that Robb Stark had received. The increase in wildling attacks. And he was a northerner and of the blood of the first men. He believed her despite himself, gods damn it.
Sansa's chin tipped slightly upwards. "Jon Stark, and I do."
"I still think ya should chuck that witch out into the snow on her arse." He grumbled. And he still meant to see if the girl would follow her words with actions. Speaking like a northern, a fancy one trained in the south but a northerner all the same was one thing. But her actions would show the truth of her mettle.