The Songs of Winter | Robb Stark

Chapter 30

Sansa Stark

Tonight is Hawley and Alastor's wedding, and Harlon insists that we stay for the celebration. It's the only reason we're leaving tomorrow and not tonight. True to form, Harlon has put Rickon, Carlisle, and me to work kneading dough for the festivities. Rickon and I sit at a table in the bakery, working the dough, while Carlisle laughs with Aurelia about something, one day I'd love to know what's so funny. At one point, she flings flour at him, and they both laugh, making my chest tighten with jealousy.

"Stare any longer, and he'll notice," says Rickon beside me.

Rickon's words startle me out of my thoughts, and I realize I've begun staring.

"I... I wasn't staring," I mutter, avoiding Rickon's gaze.

Rickon snorts, amused by my denial. "Oh, really? You were just staring into the universe, then? Not looking at Carlisle at all?"

"I liked you better when you couldn't talk," I reply.

"You lot really have to stop saying that to me. At some point, it will actually start hurting my feelings."

I roll my eyes, unable to stop a smile from tugging at the corners of my mouth. Rickon's bluntness is weirdly endearing.

"Oh, please," I say. "You're a Stark. You have thick skin. I doubt anything we say could ever actually hurt your feelings."

Rickon grins but then turns serious as he watches me stare at Carlisle and Aurelia again.

"You know, you could just talk to him," he says lightly. "I like Carlisle. He's nice, annoying but nice."

I sigh, my eyes still fixed on Carlisle and Aurelia. Carlisle looks completely at ease, smiling and laughing. The sight makes my heart ache. I turn back to Rickon.

"I know I should talk to him," I say grudgingly. "But it's not that simple."

"Why not?"

I hesitate, biting my lip. How do I explain my conflicting emotions to a 10-year-old boy? I take a deep breath.

"Because it's complicated," I say finally. "He's Robb's best friend, and I'm Robb's sister."

Rickon rolls his eyes, unimpressed. "Yeah, I'm aware of that. But what does that have to do with anything?"

"Robb..." He starts, then pauses. "Robb isn't here anymore, and if he were, I believe he'd be happy that two people he cares about a lot love each other."

Rickon's words hit me like a punch to the gut. He's right, of course. Robb would want us to be happy. But I can't shake the feeling that it's wrong, that I'm betraying Robb's memory by even thinking about Carlisle that way.

"It's not that simple," I repeat, my voice tight. "Carlisle won't be a Lord. Though he's a Lord by birth, he doesn't want the title. It would never work. I need someone noble to court me."

Rickon huffs in frustration, clearly irritated by my stubbornness. "You're making this more complicated than it has to be," he says, crossing his arms. "You're thinking too much about titles and all that nonsense. What do you want?"

His question hangs in the air, challenging me to confront my true feelings.

————————

As Hawley finishes styling my hair in an updo, she steps back, her face lighting up with a radiant smile. "Absolutely stunning," she declares, admiration evident in her eyes.

I turn to face the mirror, a soft smile forming on my lips as I take in the intricate hairstyle she has crafted. "This is beautiful, Hawley."

"With a face like yours, anything I did would look great," she says, her voice full of genuine warmth.