001 | Voice

[young_wolf]

[Robb has been asleep for the better part of seven days. He'd been stitched up and left to rest, with Grey Wind ever faithfully guarding his bed while he slept. In between bouts of wakefulness, Carson would try to explain this place to him. They were in a castle that's like no other castle he's ever heard of, and it grants wishes only to take other things away. It very possibly brought him back from the dead.

Upon waking up this morning, he realized he was no longer so drowsy, and he was more alert than he'd been since he'd arrived. Finally, it was time to get answers to the questions he needed and dreaded. He wasn't yet strong enough to write for any length of time, but Carson had mentioned he could talk to the journal and it would find its way to people's ears. So he did.]

I was told this castle brings into it people of many worlds. If we are, in fact, so many then there's a possibility that there's other people from my world as well. I come from the Seven Kingdoms of Westoros; if it is familiar to you then please respond. I have...questions of great importance to ask.

Comments

[young_wolf]

[He blinks, his face caught somewhere between shock and irritation.]

And how did that come to be?

[songsandstories]

[She doesn't fidget, head up and eyes looking forward.]

She tried to kill me. Lord Baelish stopped her.

[young_wolf]

[Emotions flash through his eyes, almost too fast to get a grip on. There was still anger there, but also something...softer, kinder. A part sympathy, another part worry. And maybe a bit of concerned love.]

And why would she do that?

[songsandstories]

[It was easier to duck this question with Catelyn, but Robb asked it so bluntly. Still, how could Alayne tell him? Well, Alayne would have no trouble telling the once king. But it was Sansa's brother, and she couldn't lie to him.]

I will not lie to you, my Liege, but please do not ask me that. It has been years since I have last laid eyes upon you and much has changed.

[young_wolf]

[He nearly bites his tongue to keep from taking his frustration out on her. It wouldn't be fair to her, but he didn't like being in the dark.

Instead he sighs and brushes a hand through his hair.]

So it has. What can you tell me?

[songsandstories]

I do not know where to start. [She moves to sit beside him.]

Joffery is dead. I was smuggled out of the city by Petyr. None know my true identity. Lysa did not recognize me until it was told to her. [She takes a slow deep breath. The facade is momentarily dropped.]

I have faced much, too much to tell our Lady mother and Arya is so young. Exactly like the day Lord Stark was killed. Our father. They do not understand.

[young_wolf]

[Despite his unspoken agreement not to ask her any more about it, something stands out to him that can't be ignored.]

Lysa tried to kill you, despite knowing who you are?

[songsandstories]

She tried to kill me because of who I am. [Essentially. Baelish wanted Catelyn, Sansa was very much everything that Catelyn was, and now Baelish wanted Sansa.]

It is not safe for me to bare our name. Not anywhere, not even here. It's a game, Robb. And we are all just pieces.

[young_wolf]

Why not here? What danger can come to us here that's different from any other danger everyone else faces? This place seems to be bringing our family back together.

[songsandstories]

There are Lannisters here. I saw Ser Jaime with my own eyes. [And it shook her.]

I am Sansa no longer. [Though it was nice to be her with him.]

I never doubted you. Even as Joffrey boasted that he'd give me your head.

[young_wolf]

[His teeth grind together at the thought of Jaime Lannister being anywhere near her.]

Even so, he's just one man.

[That gives him pause, and looks away from her.] Perhaps you should have.

[songsandstories]

He is just one man and I was just one girl made to endure his family. I was rescued by that by Petyr Baelish. I learned from him, and he made me. I do not have to live Sansa's life. I am safe now. Outside these walls, I am Alayne Stone. I cannot be weak, I cannot bend.

[Those words crush her like all of Vale had crushed her under it's rock.] No, Robb. You were the King. You are the King. A true one. How many men get to say that?

[young_wolf]

[His hands clench the sheets tightly, turning his knuckles white.]

King...merely a title in a time where any man seemed to claim himself one. Easily cast off. [He turns to look her in the eye.] Much like a name.

[songsandstories]

[She sets her jaw. This was different.]

But you were. They sang of you in the city. They sang of your wins, how you fought with your men, you wore your honor just like any king wears their crown.

[She doesn't turn from him. She isn't the girl she once as. Looking him dead in the eye, calmly, she proceeds.]

I had to. You do not know what it was like being a wolf in the pit of lions, grooming me to produce little lions. Or did you forget that sitting on your throne?

[young_wolf]

[The anger comes suddenly and he snaps before he can control it. He failed his duties and he didn't want anyone-much less his sister-telling him how great he is...was. It only reminded him of how much he lost.]

And what good is silly songs and honor to a dead man? Much less a dead king?

[He reeled back as if she'd hit him, his mask of anger crumbling to one of hurt, before he stares at her blankly.] I forget nothing.

[songsandstories]

[His anger had no real reaction from her. Robb couldn't do half of the things Joffrey did when he was mad.

The last shreds of Alayne passed when he said those words. She knew how silly the songs and stories were, but Robb was her older brother. She couldn't give up hope in him. Not after everything.]

You are not dead here. [She replied quietly.] I listened to them because I hoped you'd come for me.

[Her response was just as hurt, cooled though. Her emotions reigned in, she looked back at him.]

You do not know what it was like. Mother nor Arya know what it was like. They argue with me, want me to be what I was, but I cannot. I cannot tell them that there are no more Starks. Bran and Rickon are dead, and I cannot tell them. Your death was already told our Lady Mother, but she made me swear not to tell Arya. She is so young, Robb. She is from before all of this.

It is not just a name. It holds all that once was and cannot be. I helped to kill Joffrey and all I had was Petyr Baelish. It is who I am now.

[She scrambled to return to the idea of Alayne, hard and calculating, but it was much more difficult to do so with Robb looking at her like that.]

[young_wolf]

[He simply stared at her silently while she spoke, finally listening and hearing her without the sound of betrayal ringing in his ears.

And he understood. He did. But he didn't like it. Yet this...disguise seemed to help Sansa. She seemed to get strength from it. And suddenly he felt too tired to argue any more.]

Alright. I understand.

[songsandstories]

[The fact he understands and accepts this makes her breathe a sigh of relief and he gets a very rare, but genuine smile.]

I shall always be your sister, Robb. I am simply not who I was when last you saw me. Winterfell is not the city we once knew. We are not the children we once were.

[young_wolf]

[A lump develops in his throat, and he has to swallow past it. Of course, he knew all this. Sansa couldn't be anymore the naive child she was before than he could be the young lordling who'd never fought in a battle, and never seen the life drain out of a man.]

No,[He reaches out a hand to take one of hers.] We're not.

[songsandstories]

[Her fingers close over his hand, and she is quiet for a moment. She knew he would understand. Somehow that makes it worse and better.]

I am glad you are here.

[young_wolf]

[A small grin appears on his lips.]

I'm sure. Even though you knew how I would react initially?

[songsandstories]

[She gives him the meekest of smiles in return.]

Arya and Jon are here. Mother is here. It does not matter what has once happened. We only have what has been given to us here.

[young_wolf]

[He considers that for a moment and then pats her hand.]

That is true. Our family is slowly growing back together.

[songsandstories]

Perhaps this place is not as much of a prison as once thought. I have not much to return to save for the Vale.

[young_wolf]

I guess it depends on your perspective. This place means to reunite our family, but for the others, it means being parted from them.