Ā šššš Ā ššš Ā šš Ā ššššššš Ā ššš Ā ššš Ā ššššš Ā ššš Ā šššššš.Ā Ā the Ā bitter Ā chill Ā of Ā winter Ā suited Ā the Ā stark, Ā like Ā none Ā other. Ā it Ā was Ā as Ā if Ā the Ā climate Ā of Ā winterfell Ā had Ā always Ā lived Ā beneath Ā her Ā skin Ā ; Ā snow Ā taking Ā a Ā permanent Ā residency Ā within Ā her Ā bones. Ā it Ā stirs Ā a Ā smile Ā upon Ā her Ā perished Ā petals, Ā whilst Ā amethysts Ā fall Ā to Ā the Ā ground Ā for Ā a Ā moment. Ā she Ā had Ā never Ā been Ā one Ā for Ā confrontationĀ Ā unless Ā it Ā was Ā rightfully Ā earned Ā and Ā whilst Ā the Ā lady Ā of Ā winterfell Ā tread Ā with Ā caution Ā ( Ā as Ā if Ā she Ā too Ā feared Ā the Ā sensation Ā of Ā fire Ā ), Ā daenerys Ā could Ā understand Ā the Ā hesitation Ā that Ā hovered Ā behind Ā tully Ā hues Ā of Ā blue. Ā soon, Ā sansa Ā would Ā come Ā to Ā realise Ā that Ā she Ā was Ā not Ā the Ā enemy. Ā noĀ Ā āāā Ā the Ā enemyĀ Ā sat Ā upon Ā the Ā iron Ā throne.
Ā āĀ Ā you Ā are Ā too Ā kind, Ā lady Ā sansa. Ā winterfell Ā has Ā been Ā more Ā than Ā accomodating,Ā Ā the Ā tales Ā do Ā not Ā do Ā it Ā justice.Ā Ā ā Ā blackened Ā skirts Ā carry Ā her Ā to Ā the Ā nearby Ā table, Ā crimson Ā mantle Ā dancing Ā over Ā her Ā shoulders Ā and Ā flowing Ā in Ā the Ā darkness, Ā as Ā though Ā a Ā ghostly Ā figure Ā is Ā guiding Ā her Ā to Ā peace Ā at Ā last. Ā digits Ā delicately Ā glide Ā towards Ā the Ā opposite Ā chair, Ā offering Ā a Ā chance Ā to Ā sit Ā and Ā talk. Ā whilst Ā the Ā stark Ā may Ā be Ā made Ā of Ā ice, Ā there Ā is Ā a Ā fire Ā about Ā her Ā ā¦ Ā a Ā defiance Ā and Ā strength Ā buried Ā within Ā her Ā heart. Ā daenerys Ā knows Ā such Ā qualities Ā are Ā not Ā given Ā willingly Ā ; Ā they Ā are Ā earned, Ā fought Ā for Ā and Ā rewarded Ā for Ā great Ā hardship. Ā āĀ Ā you Ā grew Ā up Ā in Ā a Ā beautiful Ā place, Ā you Ā deserve Ā to Ā have Ā retaken Ā your Ā home. Ā i Ā fear Ā your Ā brother Ā would Ā not Ā have Ā been Ā able Ā to Ā do Ā so Ā without Ā you.Ā Ā ā
Ā still, Ā an Ā envy Ā remains Ā though Ā kindness Ā is Ā the Ā only Ā thing Ā that Ā taints Ā her Ā targaryen Ā features. Ā luminous Ā silver Ā glints Ā before Ā the Ā flames, Ā with Ā every Ā ember Ā that Ā hisses Ā against Ā brickwork. Ā a Ā home Ā was Ā all Ā she Ā had Ā ever Ā wanted Ā but Ā had Ā instead, Ā spent Ā her Ā life Ā a Ā prisoner Ā of Ā war. Ā daenerys Ā stormborn Ā had Ā faced Ā more Ā years Ā of Ā running, Ā than Ā finding Ā welcoming Ā places Ā to Ā sleep Ā and Ā it Ā had Ā quietly Ā crept Ā up Ā on Ā her Ā like Ā a Ā thief Ā in Ā the Ā nightĀ Ā āāā Ā the Ā desire Ā to Ā return Ā to Ā her Ā homeland, Ā stronger Ā than Ā ever. Ā
āĀ Ā there Ā is Ā one Ā thing Ā you Ā could Ā provide Ā me Ā withĀ ifĀ itĀ isĀ notĀ tooĀ muchĀ toĀ askĀ ā¦ Ā forgiveness. Ā your Ā brother Ā bent Ā the Ā knee Ā when Ā he Ā needed Ā me Ā and Ā whilst Ā i Ā still Ā need Ā him, Ā there Ā mayhaps Ā be Ā something Ā i Ā can Ā gift Ā you.Ā Ā though, Ā in Ā truth Ā it Ā is Ā not Ā mine Ā to Ā give. Ā it Ā is Ā yours Ā to Ā take. ā
itāsĀ Ā almostĀ Ā asĀ Ā ifĀ Ā theĀ Ā clocksĀ Ā ofĀ Ā timeĀ Ā haveĀ Ā stopped,Ā Ā youngĀ Ā womanĀ Ā transportedĀ Ā backĀ Ā toĀ Ā kingsĀ Ā landingĀ Ā whereĀ Ā sheĀ Ā onceĀ Ā soĀ Ā delicatelyĀ Ā craftedĀ Ā aĀ Ā facade.Ā Ā porcelainĀ Ā figurine,Ā Ā easyĀ Ā toĀ Ā breakĀ Ā (Ā Ā orĀ Ā soĀ Ā sheādĀ Ā letĀ Ā themĀ Ā allĀ Ā thinkĀ )Ā Ā &Ā Ā whileĀ Ā sansaĀ Ā doesĀ Ā notĀ Ā portrayĀ Ā herselfĀ Ā asĀ Ā weakĀ Ā toĀ Ā theĀ Ā queen,Ā Ā sheĀ Ā isĀ Ā onceĀ Ā moreĀ Ā performingĀ Ā aĀ Ā charade.Ā Ā itĀ Ā almostĀ Ā makesĀ Ā herĀ Ā ill,Ā Ā theĀ Ā ideaĀ Ā ofĀ Ā havingĀ Ā toĀ Ā playĀ Ā theĀ Ā partĀ Ā onceĀ Ā moreĀ Ā inĀ Ā thisĀ Ā neverĀ Ā endingĀ Ā gameĀ Ā ofĀ Ā politics.Ā Ā thoughĀ Ā itĀ Ā wasĀ Ā herĀ Ā jobĀ Ā asĀ Ā ladyĀ Ā ofĀ Ā winterfell,Ā Ā &Ā Ā ifĀ Ā jonĀ Ā wasĀ Ā notĀ Ā goingĀ Ā toĀ Ā defendĀ Ā theirĀ Ā home,Ā Ā thenĀ Ā sheĀ Ā wouldĀ Ā -Ā Ā evenĀ Ā ifĀ Ā itĀ Ā meantĀ Ā playingĀ Ā theĀ Ā roleĀ Ā ofĀ Ā dotingĀ Ā hostessĀ Ā toĀ Ā daenerys.Ā
āĀ thankĀ Ā you,Ā Ā yourĀ Ā grace.Ā Ā āĀ Ā sansaĀ Ā begins,Ā Ā falseĀ Ā smileĀ Ā easilyĀ Ā glidesĀ Ā ontoĀ Ā herĀ Ā paintedĀ Ā lips.Ā Ā Ā āĀ Ā theĀ Ā northernersĀ Ā areĀ Ā anĀ Ā ardentĀ Ā people,Ā Ā weĀ Ā holdĀ Ā muchĀ Ā prideĀ Ā inĀ Ā ourĀ Ā home,Ā Ā &Ā Ā wouldĀ Ā doĀ Ā anythingĀ Ā toĀ Ā seeĀ Ā itĀ Ā succeed.Ā Ā āĀ Ā smileĀ Ā neverĀ Ā faltersĀ Ā asĀ Ā sheĀ Ā expressesĀ Ā herself,Ā Ā carefullyĀ Ā toeingĀ Ā theĀ Ā lineĀ Ā ofĀ Ā bluntnessĀ Ā &Ā Ā notĀ Ā angeringĀ Ā theĀ Ā queen.Ā Ā allĀ Ā sheĀ Ā wantedĀ Ā wasĀ Ā aĀ Ā liberatedĀ Ā home:Ā Ā forĀ Ā herĀ Ā people,Ā Ā forĀ Ā herĀ Ā siblings,Ā Ā &Ā Ā mostĀ Ā ofĀ Ā all,Ā Ā forĀ Ā herĀ Ā fatherĀ Ā &Ā Ā robbāsĀ Ā legacy.Ā
Ā tullyĀ Ā huesĀ Ā watchĀ Ā theĀ Ā queen,Ā Ā unsureĀ Ā ofĀ Ā herĀ Ā nextĀ Ā move.Ā Ā sansaĀ Ā alwaysĀ Ā desiredĀ Ā beingĀ Ā oneĀ Ā upĀ Ā onĀ Ā herĀ Ā enemies,Ā Ā knowingĀ Ā howĀ Ā theyĀ Ā thinkĀ Ā &Ā Ā whatādĀ Ā theyĀ Ā doĀ Ā next.Ā Ā daenerysĀ Ā isĀ Ā noĀ Ā exception,Ā Ā thoughĀ Ā sheĀ Ā isĀ Ā ratherĀ Ā hardĀ Ā toĀ Ā read.Ā Ā theĀ Ā kindnessĀ Ā beingĀ Ā displayedĀ Ā isĀ Ā convincing,Ā Ā thoughĀ Ā sansaĀ Ā isĀ Ā awareĀ Ā theĀ Ā dragonĀ Ā queenĀ Ā mustĀ Ā beĀ Ā goodĀ Ā atĀ Ā playingĀ Ā aĀ Ā partĀ Ā asĀ Ā wellĀ Ā (Ā Ā somethingĀ Ā womenĀ Ā mustĀ Ā masterĀ Ā soĀ Ā youngĀ Ā inĀ Ā thisĀ Ā worldĀ Ā ).Ā Ā sansaĀ Ā leavesĀ Ā herĀ Ā ownĀ Ā expressionĀ Ā unreadable,Ā Ā thatĀ Ā is,Ā Ā untilĀ Ā theĀ Ā directionĀ Ā ofĀ Ā thisĀ Ā conversationĀ Ā seemsĀ Ā toĀ Ā goĀ Ā elsewhere,Ā Ā aĀ Ā genuineĀ Ā smileĀ Ā surfacingĀ Ā forĀ Ā theĀ Ā firstĀ Ā time.
āĀ āāāĀ Ā mineĀ Ā toĀ Ā take?Ā Ā āĀ Ā sheĀ Ā questions,Ā Ā playingĀ Ā coy.Ā Ā whileĀ Ā sheĀ Ā doesĀ Ā believeĀ Ā sheĀ Ā knowsĀ Ā whereĀ Ā theĀ Ā targaryenĀ Ā queenĀ Ā isĀ Ā goingĀ Ā withĀ Ā this,Ā Ā sheĀ Ā doesnātĀ Ā wishĀ Ā toĀ Ā assumeĀ Ā &Ā Ā makeĀ Ā aĀ Ā foolĀ Ā ofĀ Ā herself.Ā Ā instead,Ā Ā theĀ Ā ladyĀ Ā ofĀ Ā winterfellĀ Ā letsĀ Ā daenerysĀ Ā spellĀ Ā itĀ Ā outĀ Ā forĀ Ā her.Ā Ā Ā āĀ Ā whateverĀ Ā doĀ Ā youĀ Ā mean,Ā Ā yourĀ Ā grace?Ā Ā ā
