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Authors Notes - "Second edition - after re-editing in February 2013": After shrieking in horror after re-reading this and seeing all the horrible language I had used in my first attempt on writing, I have tried to fix this to make it a bit more readable... It is still far away from perfect language-wise, but at least I don't shrink in absolute horror when reading it myself. The story hasn't changed...
Re-published 17.2 2013
Sandor
They rode back in silence, brushing their hands against each other’s every now and then. Sandor didn’t want to think about what would happen next – he could do that later. He was just happy to think that this exciting, breath-takingly beautiful and intelligent young woman was his. And he would be hers, one way or another.
They reached the stables and while they were still dismounting, Sansa’s maid rushed to them.
“My lady, Ser Clegane, Prince Doran would like to see you in his rooms,” the maid blurted. Sandor’s heart stopped for a moment. How can he know about us already? Sansa had a low-toned conversation with the maid and came back to him looking no more worried than before.
“It appears Prince Doran has received several ravens today; he may want to discuss with us about the news they contain.”
They were welcomed by the prince who pointed them to their seats; Sansa to a stately padded chair next to the prince’s rolling chair, Sandor to a lower and simpler stool. However, because of his height he was at eye level with them.
“My dear Sansa, I have received many interesting news lately. In light of your recent request to go to the North to regain your ancestral home I feel I finally have to deal with you candidly and tell you more than I have felt necessary before.”
His eyes were examining them closely. Sandor wasn’t sure he liked where the conversation was heading. Candidly? More than felt necessary before? He kept silent and listened while the prince continued.
“I agree with you that Winterfell has to be taken back from the Boltons. The northerners deserve House Stark to rule them again. I also believe that the weak rule of King Tommen in King’s Landing needs to be quashed. Yet rather than leaving the Seven Kingdoms to the rule of anarchy I want to see them re-united under one powerful ruler.”
He turned his chair to face them squarely. “I suspect you may think that I am proposing myself as that ruler – but you couldn’t be more wrong. I have always believed that we don’t need a new ruler as we already have a rightful house for that. The Targaryens may have been exiled by the usurper Robert Baratheon – but their line didn’t die.”
Sansa drew her breath and Sandor straightened himself in his seat to hear better.
“You must have heard rumours of dragons and Targaryens across the Narrow Sea. Most who hear them dismiss them as wild stories, but they are true. There is not one but two Targaryen heirs in the Free Cities waiting to invade Westeros with three full-grown dragons and thousands of soldiers.”
Prince Doran got more excited as he went on, waving his arms in the air as he spoke.
“Aegon Targaryen is the son of Rhaegar, thought to be killed by your brother Ser Gregor Clegane.” He glanced at Sandor. “Targaryen supporters in court replaced Rhaegar’s son with a son of a servant and whisked the true heir to safety. He has been raised to become a king and is now ready to ascend the Iron Throne. Also, Rhaegar’s sister Daenarys Targaryen, born soon after Robert’s rebellion, has raised three dragons and gathered an army of thousands. They have joined forces and are almost ready to move across the sea.”
Sandor listened in awe. He knew about the rumours of dragons but had dismissed them as fanciful tales. The idea of having one strong family in charge of ruling the Seven Kingdoms appealed to him more than the thought of all of them breaking up to small bickering semi-kingdoms. He had seen too well where such internal fighting could lead.
“What about the North and Winterfell”?” Sansa asked.
“Oh, Winterfell! That indeed has a big role in this great plan. What Aegon and Daenarys need is support from the existing noble houses of the realm. If Winterfell and the North should be ruled by a person supporting their cause, they would be grateful indeed.”
Prince Doran patted at Sansa’s hand. “If you would retake Winterfell, would you support the cause of the Targaryens or would you support the rule of King Tommen – or would you take up the role of Queen in the North for yourself, after your late brother?”
Sansa
Sansa knew her family had fought against the Targaryens. She also recognised that she would gladly welcome them back to the Iron Throne if it meant the end of the war devastating her lands. She was sure she didn’t want to be the Queen in the North. That heavy crown was what eventually had killed Robb, no matter if Frey’s had done the actual deed. She shook her head.
“I will never support King Tommen, nor do I want to claim to be Queen in the North. If the Targaryens rule Seven Kingdoms, I will bend the knee as long as they respect the North and grant us same freedoms we have enjoyed since the days of Aegon the Conqueror.”
Prince Doran beamed at her. “That is what I thought you would say, my dear Sansa. You have grown up to be a wise young woman indeed. In light of this, you will be granted the troops you will need from either Dorne or from the Targaryen’s forces, when the time is right. It may be a little while longer, but rest assured that when they come, they will prevail. Three dragons and a vast army of professional soldiers will see that their cause will triumph. Also, you will not be the only ruler in the Seven Kingdoms to accept them.”
To Sandor’s lifted eyebrow serving as much a question as if he had said that aloud, the prince continued. “Iron Islands have no effective ruler at the moment, but the true heir Asha Greyjoy is ready to take charge and support them as soon as she gets back from Pentos. Young Lord Robert Arryn from the Vale has already agreed to support the Dragons for the same price as you, for the old freedoms of the Vale. Dorne, as you can imagine, is strongly behind them. Myrcella and Trystane will take over the Westerlands. The other kingdoms will get new rulers who will submit to them and the Seven Kingdoms will finally get the peace that has been missing for so long.”
Sansa admired the cleverness of her prince. The united realm under one rule, the return of order and peace – that was indeed sorely needed. Yet she wondered where the new situation truly left her.
“Prince Doran, if I may…If I am to take Winterfell as a Stark, am I still supposed to marry some high lord according to your wishes?”
She could feel and see Sandor stiffen next to her. Prince Doran looked at her for a long time, contemplating something only he knew. Finally he answered.
“My daughter Arianne will ascend the throne of Dorne after I am gone. Asha Greyjoy is the next ruler of Iron Islands. Queens Cersei and Margaery – despite their flaws – ruled over Crownlands. I suspect that after Stannis Baratheon is gone, he will be followed by his daughter Shireen in the Stormlands. I can’t see why the North couldn’t be ruled by Lady Stark, with or without a consort. And if she chooses a consort, as long as he is a capable lord who can gain respect of the North, I don’t see why I or anyone else would need to have any say in it.”
At that Sansa lifted from her chair and leaned to embrace the old prince, careful not to touch his swollen joints. “Thank you my prince! I swear I will support the cause of the Targaryens as if it was my own – no, it will be the cause of mine!”
Prince Doran smiled and waved her away. “Go on now child. There will be lots of opportunities to discuss the details later. I just wanted to tell you about the bigger plan and assure you that you will get Winterfell back, eventually. Just be patient.”
Sansa and Sandor left the Tower of the Sun together, still silent and contemplating what they had heard. As they entered the yard Sansa turned to Sandor and grasped his hand.
“A capable lord who can gain respect of the North. There will be many big houses in need of a lord once the Targaryens come through. Do you think you could manage that?”
Sandor looked at her seriously. “Aye, I think I could manage that.”
Sansa reached towards him then and there, not caring who would see them and embraced him tightly. As their lips met she found herself thinking about the future laying ahead of them – for once bright and open and full of promise.
The End