DAGGERS TO THE HEART Part 1 - GAME OF THRONES

Sansa V

Graphic depiction of abuse.

The kindness Lady Stark had shown to Jon had been a facade, Sansa knew that. Her mother arriving at Queenscrown mere days after Jon's departure was enough to confirm her suspicions, otherwise she'd have come with Robb. Sansa was concerned her mother would try to spew poison into her ears about Jon, but Catelyn Stark didn't know her grown up daughter very well. The Sansa Stark she had seen in Winterfell was not the same woman who was in Queenscrown. Here, she'd been allowed to be the woman who had rebuilt her home, helped fortify it and feed thousands.

Updated letters from her father gave her more information in regards to the nature of her mother's visit. Theon was to accompany her mother as they had decided to keep him as close as possible to ensure his trustworthiness. Jory and Ser Rodrick would also accompany her. Theon would return to Winterfell with some of the Stark soldiers and help her father run the castle by taking over Robb's role. That was all that was said in the letters, but she knew her father was already making plans.

She'd had no word from Jon, but she knew he wouldn't be able to send a raven until he'd spoken with Lord Commander Mormont and had a decision on whether the plans could go ahead in full, therefore all she could do was wait for the arrival of her mother and the rest of the entourage to interfere with hers and Arya's work.

The day Lady Stark arrived was cold and wet, which seemed to be the constant at Queenscrown. Sansa was wearing her long heavy grey, woollen coat and dark grey leather breeches with knee high black leather boots, in a similar style to which Daenerys had worn when she came to Winterfell, but adapted to the more northern style which Sansa had begun to prefer as a grown woman. She might not have liked the dragon Queen, but Sansa wasn't too petty to spot sensible and good fashion; especially when it was feminine and adaptable to her own style and needs. She waited on the shoreline, next to Robb and Arya as her mother, Theon, Jory and Ser Rodrick approached. Although they appeared formal, her mother approached them and hugged them all tightly, as if they were still little children. Arya and Sansa, exchanged looks as they both had the breath squeezed out of them. Her mother stood back and appraised her.

"You look different." she frowned. "You aren't wearing a dress?"

"It never stops raining mother." Sansa sighed. "And we have to spend a lot of time outdoors, overseeing the construction and managing everything else. A dress is very impractical. I'm sure this style will become fashionable." she smiled.

"Hmm." Cat didn't look convinced, instead she looked all around. "You, Robb and Arya have done a wonderful job."

"Robb's only been here a sennight. It was Jon who organised and helped build much of it." Sansa argued.

"Nonsense. He's not capable of anything like that." Cat shook her head.

Sansa knew her mother was only aware of parts of their story, they had kept most of it from her, but she should have still understood Jon's capabilities outweighed Robb's. "Shall we show you to your rooms?" Sansa asked as she led the way.

Lady Stark and Theon would take the rooms on the second floor, where Tyrion and Benjen had stayed, while Jory and Ser Rodrick would be staying on the first floor in the servants quarters. However this was all temporary as her mother had plenty to discuss with them as soon as she'd settled in and had a bath.

Her mother had wanted to speak with her alone before Robb and Arya joined them and after that Theon, Jory and Ser Rodrick. They were sitting inside her solar, both nursing a glass of wine, causing Cat to frown.

"Has he introduced you to drinking wine during the day?" Cat spat.

"I have been drinking watered down wine during the day for many years. Being able to tolerate alcohol is good practice, but I do prefer it watered down. If I am to drink for pleasure, I have grown accustomed to ale." Sansa shrugged.