Roshambo / Tormund Giantsbane

17. Truth

Gendry fell, exhausted. The gate opened before him and four men ran to meet him. "What happened? Where are the others?" Davos questioned helping him up.

" Raven. We need to send the raven." Gendry panted out.

"Get the maester! Now!" Davos shouted.

"My queen." Wolkan remarked handing over a scroll to Salem, she looked up from Magnus, he slept, ate and shit, yet she was fascinated by his little self. 

Salem laughed out and Tormund peered in, he was always lurking. He knew he had to get Salem to fall for him before Jon got back because Jon was the ultimate cock block. THeon was a no cock, cock block. 

"My queen?" he questioned as she read it over.

"It's an invitation. To King's Landing."  Salem remarked. "Find sansa for me."

"Right away my queen."

"here are you." Theon remarked moving past Tormund, he held out a cup of tea to Salem. 

"Thank you Theon." Salem agreed bringing the cup to her lips. 

"You were laughing, what happened?" Theon questioned taking a seat beside her. 

"An invitation from Cersei. She invited the lady of winterfell, damn woman didnt invite the queen of the north, no, no, that would hurt her pride and ego." Salem tsked. 

"The nerve." Tormund agreed. Salem cocked her head back at him. "Hey." he added with a nod. 

"Go away Tormund." 

"You know you like me, you said it with a smile." TOrmund remarked. "I'm getting under you skin." 

"You are under my skin not in the way you want." Salem corrected. 

"Oh I want to be in you." Tormund assured. "We will get there." 

+

" I'm not worried about me. It's not safe leaving you with Littlefinger." Brienne remarked. Sansa had got close with Brienne of tarth, after hearing her declarations of trying to find sansa and Salem and bring them to safety but Salem had already done that. 

"I have many guards who'd happily imprison him or behead him whether or not you're here." Sansa corrected.

"And you trust their loyalty? You trust he hasn't been speaking to them behind your back? Let me at least leave Podrick behind to watch over you. He has become a competent swordsman." Brienne offered hopefully.

"I do not need to be watched over or minded or cared for. I'm not a child, I am the Lady of Winterfell and I am home. This is the safest place for me." Sansa assured her. 

"She stole your title rather quickly and she doesnt even know you are leaving." Arya tsked.

"Honey i'm the queen." Salem corrected. "Cersei asked for lady of winterfell and although I think I might be both, I prefer Queen. She asked for Sansa." Arya chuckled. 

"My lady. I sworn an oath to protect you and your sister. If I abandon you-" Brienne countered.

"The trip to King's Landing is long, Lady Brienne, and you won't be travelling on summer roads. The sooner you leave, the better your chances of making it on time." Sansa corrected her.

" Yes, Milady." Brienne agreed. "PODRICK!"

+

"Shall we talk about Petyr?" Salem questioned. "I call upon the first council of the starks." she decided. "Tormund you are not a stark." 

"I want to be." Tormund countered. 

"Can you keep your bit mouth shut?" Salem questioned. 

"I can try." Tormund agreed. 

"Fine." Salem agreed. He smirked. "Dont say it-"

"You like me." Tormund chuckled softly. 

"Should we imprison him?" Sansa questioned. 

"No, I want to talk with petyr personally." Salem corrected. 

"What are his charges?" Rickon questioned confused. 

"Let's start with the simplest one Petyr murdered our aunt, Lysa Arryn. He  pushed her through the Moon Door and watched her fall. He did it to take power in the Vale. Earlier, he conspired to murder Jon Arryn. He gave Lysa Tears of Lys to poison him." Salem remarked. "You have to admit he thought things through."

"Then he had Aunt Lysa send a letter to our parents telling them it was the Lannisters who murdered Jon Arryn when, really, it was Petyr. The conflict between the Starks and the Lannisters,  at least this newer conflict it was Petyr who started it." Salem added. "Really he thought everything out, it was quite brilliant." she admitted. 

"Its strange how your mind works." Tormund remarked. "You like 'em twisted." 

"I do." Salem agreed. "And you are a teddy bear." 

"You should see me in kill mode." Tormund countered. 

"That sounds more intriguing." Salem admitted nonchalantly. 

"He conspired with Cersei Lannister and Joffrey Baratheon to betray our father." Sansa declared trying to be brave. "Thanks to his treachery, he was imprisoned and later executed on false charges of treason."

"He will deny it." Arya remarked. 

"Petyr held a knife to his throat." Bran remarked "He said, 'I did warn you not the trust me." Bran recalled.

"You saw it." Salem remarked. 

"I saw it." Bran agreed locking eyes on her. 

"Lastly, that we know of." Arya remarked. "He told our mother that knife belonged to Tyrion Lannister, but that was another one of his lies."

"Petyr doesnt know how to tell the truth." Salem decided. 

"What are you going to do?" Bran questioned.  Salem smirked in response. Tormund wanted those lips on him, wanted to be the one making her smile, her gaze shifted to him as if she could read his mind.