Chapter Text
“Did Bran tell you why he wanted me South of the Wall?” Jon asked his sister as they strolled arms linked through Winter Town.
“No, maybe he just wants to see you.” She responded.
Jon grunted.
“Maybe he’s going to pardon you? It’s been ten years.” She added.
“Maybe.” Jon murmured.
“It’s not like you couldn’t have come home any time in the past ten years Jon.” She said bluntly. “I pardoned you immediately after my coronation. And this is only the second time you’ve visited.”
“It just doesn’t feel like home without them Sans.” He responded softly.
“I’m not enough for you, am I?” She asked cocking her eyebrow.
“It’s not that. You know I love you too. But the place is so empty without her.” Jon said sadly.
“I know, I miss her too.” Sansa smiled sadly. “She hasn’t even written in four years.”
“Do you think she’ll ever return?” Jon winced.
“It’s Arya, she’s unpredictable.”
“Do you think Bran knows more about her than he’s been letting on?”
“Yes.” Sansa replied thoughtfully. “Most certainly, seeing as all he’s really said is that she’s fine, she’s on the sea. Or she’s fine, she’s on land. He sees all sorts, I know he knows more. I used to ask him questions about her constantly, but he’d always say she’ll let us know what she wants us to know - it’s her business.”
“You know Arya.” he sighed half frustrated.
“Jon.” Sansa gasped pulling them to a stop in the middle of the market.
She was looking up at two children building a snowman in the town square. They were probably around 7-12 years old but it was hard to tell. The older one was a boy, he was tall and well built for a child. His hair was black as ink and his eyes were ice-blue. He was concentrating intently on the ball of snow he was placing for the snowman head. The girl, or Sansa thought she was a girl anyway, shoved him slightly.
“It’s not big enough stupid!” She heard the girl say. “The snowman will look stupid Rob.”
Sansa watched as the boy put the snowman’s head back to the ground, continuing to roll it to make it bigger. Sansa studied the smaller figure intently. Her head was shy of the boy’s chest, she wore breaches, but her cloak was a more feminine style. Sansa couldn’t see the girls face clearly, she had her hood pulled up over her hair, obscuring most of her face.
“Jon.” Sansa echoed more sure now.
Jon frowned at her, she nodded in the direction of the children.
“Do you know them?” Jon asked her.
She shook her head, they were not local children, not from Winter Town at least. Sansa took great pride in knowing her people. She visited the markets of Winter Town weekly, interacting with the small folk allowing them to see that their Queen was caring and friendly.
“No. But..” Sansa paused.
“Yeah.” Jon agreed.
“Come on.” Sansa tugged his arm lightly.
“That’s a nice snowman.” Sansa said approaching the children.
The two of them straightened up, the girl looked half bored under her hood, but the boys eyes widened slightly. Sansa watched him position himself in front of the girl and he bowed uncertainly. The girl grunted and stepped around him, hands on her hips. She looked fierce and sure.
“Who are you?” Sansa asked them lightly.
The girl shot the boy a sharp look. Neither of them spoke.
“Do you know who I am?” She asked softly.
“Sansa Stark. Queen of the North.” The girl said confidently.
“Good.” Sansa smiled at her. “You’re accent is not Northern. Where are you from?”
“We travel.” The boy answered.
His sister shot him a glare.
“Okay, where were you born? And remember, you should not lie to your Queen.” Sansa responded.
“Well, if we’re not Northern, you’re not our Queen.” The girl answered cockily.
“Lya-“ The boy began.
“Shut up stupid.” The girl shoved him, the boy stumbled a little but retained his footing.
“Naath and Braavos.” The boy replied at last.
Jon shot Sansa a look.
“Where are your parents?” Jon almost croaked.
The girl responded with a shrug.
“You have parents don’t you?” Sansa asked softly.
“Yes.” The girl responded.
Sansa smiled at her sweetly.
“Not very talkative are you?” Jon almost chuckled.
“Talking gets you in trouble.” The girl responded.
“I bet you get in lots of trouble, don’t you?” He asked with a sad smile.
The girl inclined her head, a small smile pulling at her lips. Her hood shifted backwards slightly. Sansa noted her dark brown locks pulled back from her face, her face was soft, but her eyes were sharp and her jaw hard. Something twinkled in her slate grey eyes.
“You wouldn’t lie to me now, would you?” Sansa said bending down to take a closer look at the girl.
“Father says not to lie.” The boy said.
“Mother says don’t talk if you’re not gonna tell the truth.” The girl cocked her eyebrow.
That’s it Sansa thought. That eyebrow..
“I’m going to hazard a guess to who you are, okay?” Sansa said softly.
The girl glanced up at her brother nervously, the boy reached for her hand. Sansa expected her to yank her hand away, but noted her grip his hand.
“Robert and Lyanna Baratheon I presume?” Sansa asked confidently.
She noted the children shift slightly.
The girl sighed dramatically.
“Lyanna Stark Baratheon actually.” She rolled her eyes.
Gods was this Arya’s daughter!
Jon snorted, Robert looked down at his feet half ashamed.
“Where is she?” Sansa asked softly.
Lyanna narrowed her eyes, but neither responded.
A small high laugh sounded from a few feet away. Sansa straightened herself to see someone approaching. The figure wore a one shouldered black cloak with a hood pulled up around her face.
“My Queen.” The woman bowed confidently.
“Lady Arya.” The Queen greeted.
Sansa watched her sister knock her hood back to show her features. She looked much like she did ten years ago, older and more tanned, but mischief still twinkled in her eyes.
Sansa was shocked that her sister hadn’t berated her for calling her Lady maybe she’d matured some. She watched her look to Jon. Sansa then looked to Jon also, he was frozen, his lips parted as if words had escaped him. He frowned intently.
“Have the Wildlings taken your tongue brother?” Arya asked cockily.
“It’s really you?” He croaked, eyes threatening to fall from his eyes.
The left corner of Arya’s lips quipped into a smile, Jon launched himself forward taking Arya in his arms.
“Careful.” She chided.
“Little sister.” He sighed with a smile. Arya’s head nuzzled into his chest, Sansa smiled, it was just like before they left.
Once they parted, Sansa noticed Jon frown slightly at Arya, who held a finger up to her lips in reply.
“Sister, where is your husband?” Sansa asked.
“Husband?” Arya asked. “Who said I’m married?”
“Oh.” Sansa blushed. “Oh, sorry.. I just assumed.” she glanced at Robert and Lyanna.
“Don’t worry sweet sister,” Arya snorted, “Your niece and nephew are not bastards.”
Arya turned away from her siblings and took her children in hand, she began to walk away. Sansa glanced at Jon.
“Do we follow her?” Jon whispered.
“You’d better, wouldn’t want to lose me again, would you?” Arya tossed back over her shoulder.
“She hasn’t changed.” Sansa noted as they began following her.