Lady of Winterfell

Chapter Fourteen: So Long, Farewell

"I am going to miss you," Sanira said hugging Arya goodbye, it was strange to think that the family were about to be torn apart when things were so thrown off her; she had a feeling that this could be the last time she saw those traveling south. 

Everything was prepared for King Robert's departure and those who were leaving with him would also be leaving at the same time; there was little that could delay the trip now. 

Arya held onto Sanira wishing that her good-sister could come with them, she would have much preferred it rather than having to spend so much time with Sansa. 

It was grating on her last nerve that Sansa was still gushing about marrying Joffrey now that Eddard had agreed to the match; she was so excited that she seemed to forget that they were leaving their home behind and their brother who had yet to wake. 

"Why can't you come with us?" Arya asked pulling back from Sanira, people were rushing around them trying to be prepared for when the company left for the capital. 

It would be a long trip taking nearly a month for them to reach King's Landing and none of them wished to delay; the royal family wished to be home before the weather got worse. 

It was no secret that winter was actually starting to creep up on them and after such a long summer none of them could be sure how long this winter could last. 

Opening her mouth, Sanira peeked over at Septa Mordane who was waiting patiently for her charge to come and join her; she wished to make sure that both Sansa and Arya were prepared for the trip. 

"I must stay here and help your mother," Sanira replied softly, Catelyn hadn't even come to say goodbye to her two daughters who were heading south. 

She had barely said any words to Eddard when he had come to visit her and say his goodbyes; Sanira had been quick to excuse herself giving them a moment alone.

Arya nodded her head before moving away from Sanira, she kept her head down not happy about this and wondering why she had to go; she wished that Sansa could realise what this was doing to their family. 

Watching Arya walk over to Septa Mordane, Sanira took a deep breath before moving to speak with Sansa; she doubted her good-sister would listen to her but she had to say something. 

King's Landing was a dangerous place and Sansa was going to have to watch her back, no one could be trusted from there and she had to be careful who she trusted. 

"Be careful Sansa. The capital isn't all it seems," Sanira tried to warn her, she peeked over at Joffrey who was being followed around by the Hound; she didn't trust him and she never would. 

Cersei babied him far too much and he was a complete brat when things didn't go his way, Sansa wouldn't see that side of him until something went wrong. 

Sanira could only pray that Sansa wasn't going to do anything stupid like side with Joffrey over her own family when a clash happened; it was bound to happen sooner or later. 

Cersei disliked the Starks and there was bound to be some of that in Joffrey which would spill over when something happened that he didn't like; he would turn on Sansa when she least expected it. 

Staring at Sanira, Sansa only nodded her head not understanding what Sanira was so worried about when everything was so perfect. 

Walking away from Sanira, Sansa headed over to Septa Mordane who hurried to get the girls into their seats before everyone started to leave; it was going to be a long trip for them all. 

Sanira shook her head, it was clear that Sansa didn't believe her warning but sooner or later she would.

***

Walking through the courtyard in search of his wife, Robb came to a stop when he spotted Jon Snow moving to saddle his horse; he had been surprised when he had heard that his half-brother was to leave. 

They would probably never see each other again and Robb was saddened by that fact, however he understood that joining the Night's Watch was something that Jon had always wanted. 

No one would ever be able to convince him otherwise and Robb just hoped that Jon would be happy there; he had never felt right here with Catelyn always looking down on him. 

"You've said goodbye to Bran? He's not going to die. I know it," Robb said following after Jon, he would find Sanira in a little while; he wanted to say his goodbyes to the brother that he had grown up with. 

Things had never been fair to Jon and he was lucky that Eddard had raised him along with the rest of the children; he could have been left unaware of his noble blood and raised with whoever his mother was. 

Robb truly hadn't seen much of Jon since he had married, his mother had encouraged him to spend most of his time with Sanira wanting the new Lady Stark to feel comfortable in her new home. 

"You Starks are hard to kill," Jon replied trying to keep this light, he hated that he wouldn't be here for when Bran had woken up or that he would never get to really know Sanira. 

However, Jon was going to get what he had always wanted and he couldn't pass up working with his Uncle Benjen; he wanted to feel a part of something which he didn't here. 

Robb smiled watching Jon saddle up his horse, he was really going to miss him and he hoped that the Wall would be good to Jon while he was there. 

"My mother?" Robb asked concerned, Catelyn had not left Bran's side since his fall and she wouldn't have taken Jon saying his goodbyes well even if she was getting rid of her husband's bastard.

It had long been a sore point for the Stark family and Catelyn just couldn't seem to move past seeing Jon as a stain against her; she had always made sure to make him feel unwelcome when he was around her children. 

"She was very kind," Jon lied not wanting to cause any issues, he was leaving all this behind and he never had to see that woman again. 

He understood perfectly why Catelyn hated him so much, he was a walking reminder that her husband had cheated on her while away at war; she would forever look at him and see the woman that Eddard had chosen to sleep with. 

Robb didn't believe him for a moment, Catelyn had never been anything but horrid to Jon and that certainly wasn't going to change now that he was leaving for the Wall. 

"Good. Next time I see you, you'll be all in black," Robb mused trying to change the subject, he wished that he could do something to change Jon's mind. 

Things were so off balance in Winterfell right now and it would only get worse with Eddard traveling south with a lot of the staff to build his own household there. 

Catelyn needed to snap out of this and realise that while Bran was recovering, there were other people that needed her more; she had duties that could not be ignored forever. 

"It was always my colour," Jon joked turning to smile at Robb, he hoped to see his half-brother again one day; they had always been close even if Catelyn had treated him like dirt. 

Jon wondered if the next time that he saw Robb, he would have some nephews and nieces; he was sure that Robb would have plenty with Sanira one day. 

"Farewell, Snow," Robb said hugging his brother one last time, this was where their lives would part and they would not see each other again unless they were truly lucky in some way.