❅ Seventeen (Text)

[stonebird]

Have you ever been in love?

(This is asked late one night and it might seem frivolous with the current concerns hovering over the populace of Hadriel. Yet Sansa believes love is important no matter how long someone lives - or where they are imprisoned. Besides, she had a taste of love recently and it's a frightening - and exhilarating - change of scenery for her.)

Can it last?

Comments

[stonebird]

You're right. (Why must it be so complicated? Nobility has made love into a chore and Sansa wants nothing to do with it. If she marries again in Westeros - or anywhere, truly - she will do so for love. Her title will have to do if her husband lacks one. Then they can have so many children that Jon is overwhelmed with nieces and nephews.)

I will only marry in Westeros if I am in love. I don't care if he is a noble or a servant; if he fits me and we can be happy, I can ask for no more than that. I believe Father and Mother would understand after all we have endured.

(She smiles slowly, sharing his happiness in the only way a sibling can.)

I love you, Jon, and I hope you keep your luck.

[northerndragon]

If the lords made a bastard King in the North, they can weather your choice of husband -- or your lack of it. But it is your choice.

Your father and mother both did their duty. [In marriage, he means, but also in life. It had led them both to their deaths.] Duty can be sweet, but you know my thoughts on the matter. No marriage for you unless it's one that you want.

[Still, while relations are much better between them now than they had been before he left Winterfell to join the Watch, she's not usually so outspoken with her affections.]

That's -- [He smiles.] It's good of you. To keep my luck, she and I will have to remember each other, or we'll have to do it all over again back at home.

It isn't an easy thing to wonder if it will happen all over again someday.

[And he does, sometimes. Sometimes it keeps him awake at night.]

[stonebird]

I don't think I have ever heard lovelier words. Forget my stories and songs, the sweetest part of living is freedom.

(She respects her - their - parents and she would have been happy with a similar arrangement, yet she is beginning to see that she can wait for much more. Much better.

There are so many things she hasn't said - or hasn't said enough. Nothing can be taken for granted.)

You don't know what you've done for me. I was desperate... I wanted to escape Ramsey, but for what purpose? To be alone?

Then I saw my brother, grown so tall and strong. I don't care who fathered you; we are siblings. Ask what you like of me - I will do all I can for you and for Queen Daenerys.

[northerndragon]

Then you'll have to remember her. What she's like... what we've found... when I left you, you didn't want me to go to her. I know you were afraid I'd be hurt, and the North with me. It might be that I will, if I step wrong, but I think there's only small chance of it.

I just need you to remember that I saw the Dead, numbering a hundred thousand, at Hardhome. All I could do was stand in the boat and count them. I don't know if it would have been better if I didn't know how to count them at all.

[stonebird]

(It's understandable that she would be defensive. In Hadriel, there is less to lose and so she can accept their relationship more readily. Plus, she has been through too much insanity to be thrown by Jon courting a Targaryen.)

I do trust you. I know you will do what you think necessary - and even if I disagree, I respect you.

(All the same, she grows solemn.)

I want to... I need to protect Winterfell for as long as possible.

[northerndragon]

[His chuckle there is affectionate. She had contradicted him in front of all his lords. He might think of her as the first of them, and he might be willing to take her advice, but still -- still. It had been very annoying at the time. He isn't annoyed with Sansa now.]

I expect you'll disagree now and then. But we have the same goal. It's true that we need to protect it from the Lannisters. There won't be anything for the Lannisters if the Dead wash over it, though I'd like to see Cersei come and try to take it from the Night King.

Winterfell is my home, but I want to see Dragonstone. In another life, it could have been mine from the beginning.

[The only thing that had ever seemed like his was Castle Black for the few months he was Lord Commander, and even then, it was more of a task than a stronghold. The Wall is yours, the words go, when someone is in charge of defending it. Even then, work to be done, not a place to rest your head.]