Cross the Line

Chapter Four

The following day, Sansa had plans, and she was determined to see them through.

After breaking her fast with her Sworn Shield Ser Sandor, who took over from Brienne and Podrick, she went on to complete all of her morning duties. She observed how fast the armory was progressing towards arming the people.

Since the Queen's arrival yesterday, Gendry Waters had begun working with Winterfell's smiths to create weapons to defeat the Others. Sansa watched him for a moment as he forged a sword, and when he appeared to be finished, she stepped into his line of sight.

"M'lady," the young smith said, bowing his head.

"Hello, Gendry Waters. Interesting to hear that name- Waters. I don't seem to remember King Robert Baratheon ever acknowledging any of his bastards," Sansa greeted, calculations running through her mind as she dried to sift for the truth.

"He didn't. His brother, Lord- King- Stannis Baratheon did."

"And what do you think he was?"

"What?"

"Stannis Baratheon. Did you take him for a King or merely a Lord. A Lord Paramount."

"I took him for a kinslayer," Gendry growled. Sansa modded, as if in approval.

"I met your father. He seemed like a good man."

"I met your father. He seemed like a man who never wanted to be King," Sansa said, offering honesty in response to this man's bluntness. After years in the capital, with barbs and threats disguised as courtesy and compliments, she could appreciate this sort of attitude.

"Your brother doesn't seem like he wants to be King, either. Maybe that's why he bent the knee. Your sister didn't seem like she wanted anything to do with nobility either," Gendry replied, his voice softening when he mentioned Arya.

"How did you know Arya?" Sansa questioned, shocked. Arya hadn't spoken much about her travels, really just mentioned her training to be a Faceless Man. She hadn't even mentioned how she met the Hound. How did she get to know this boy?

"She didn't tell you?" He sounded hurt, like he thought he was more important to the younger She-Wolf.

"She doesn't speak much of her travels. Were you close?"

"She wanted me to come with her. I wanted to join the Brotherhood Without Banners, a group sanctioned by your Lord father himself. I wanted to do good by the people. Then they sold me to a witch for gold. I don't know what happened to her after that," Gendry admitted, guilt and sadness in his voice, before it morphed into anger.

"I happened," Sandor said, gruff. He wasn't sorry, he wasn't sad, he was just stating a fact.

"Either way, she is a strong woman who made it home to her family. Perhaps, sometime, Gendry, you and I may share a meal with my sister and discuss our travels." Sansa smiled warmly, fondly, before moving along to her next task.

Before long, the sun was high in the midday sky, and Ghost had returned just in time for her meeting in the Godswood.

Sandor and Ghost escorted her there, and she saw a cloaked figure following in the shadows. She smiled, knowing who it was.

Once they reached the woods and no one was near, the cloaked figure stepped to them. Jaime removed his cloak, and she nodded to him in greeting. The group made their way through the woods, Sandor leading them and Jaime following. Once they neared the clearing, Sansa motioned to stop before they were visible. They waited for a moment, and soon Arya's voice could be heard from the clearing. "Sansa." The Lady of Winterfell smiled, amused at her sister's lack of subtlety.