Once Doroh was done and the mood of Sansa had also improved, Visenya took her through the Street of Flour to get some baked goods and then eventually they followed the River Row.
They passed through fish markets and other ship-related merchants before the walk eventually led them to the Port. Their guard remained further behind, holding their horses while they had the chance to sit by a bench close to the pier and look ahead at the blue waters of Blackwater Bay.
The mood between them was good and the young Stark girl seemed to be slightly more relaxed around the Dragoness. The chance to be normal, enjoy the shops and just breathe some air of freedom was something that the wolf needed for a long time now.
"I have never been to Winterfell before," Visenya said, earning the girl's attention. "I have heard a lot of things about it and I always wished to visit it. Alas, no Dragon truly ever went that North," she joked.
Sansa could not help but smile upon remembering her home. "I think you would like it there, my Lady. It can be really beautiful, especially when winter comes and there is white snow everywhere. It has its own beauty, so different from the West," she explained and let a small sigh. "I remember as a child and even until now...I used to wish to just get away from there but now...I miss it."
Visenya's eyes softened as Sansa looked forward again, fingers playing with the hem of her dress. I used to be the same, like you, she confessed, also looking forward. "All I wanted was to leave King's Landing and explore the world. I did eventually find my true home in Casterly Rock, surprisingly."
"Casterly Rock?" Sansa repeated, looking at her.
The Dragoness nodded. "One eventually comes to realize that true home is not where you are born or raised. It is where you are loved and just have this feeling that you truly belong there."
The young Stark did not say anything else but nodded, understanding what the older woman was saying. It was a place where you had family and Sansa felt that, which was why she truly missed Winterfell that much.
Because in the capital, she did not feel loved and she certainly did not belong. She stole glances at Visenya, seeing her sitting with her back straight and her eyes locked at the sea ahead.
There was this relatable honesty in her words and it made Sansa curious, upon she expressed how she felt at home at Casterly Rock. That place was where the Lannister family was from, their original home and castle.
Considering that the Dragoness had a purely politically related marriage and the strict, dangerous man she married, Sansa was surprised to hear that in the end, she felt more at home elsewhere and not where she grew up, let alone talking about being loved.
However, she remembered that King's Landing had stopped being her home ever since Robert took the throne. Her family had all been killed, so it made sense that the city was just a place of bitter memories for her.
She actually felt bad for the older woman, who was nothing like her stories or at least, in private. She was nothing like the Lannisters and Sansa could see now where Trystan got his character from.
She looked forward again and noticed a ship sailing away from the port. She remembered the game she used to play, the one she tried to play with Shae but the maid was not really interested.
"What is it?" Visenya asked, noticing the small smile upon the girl's lips.
"It's nothing, my Lady...just a game I used to play..." Sansa confessed.
"What game is that?"
"Well...you see a ship, like that one," she started, pointing at the ship she had seen. "And you just imagine the story behind it, the goods it might carry and the travels it has done."
Visenya smiled faintly, interested in the innocent but also unique game. "It sounds interesting. Would you like to start first?"
This shocked the dire wolf, who looked at her with surprise but then smiled and nodded her head. She looked at the ship again and thought for a moment. "I say...this ship comes from Dorne and it brings fabrics from it, expensive ones... The Captain is not eager to return because he found a woman here and fell in love... He promised to return soon and take her with him on his next travels."
The Dragoness kept her eyes on the ship while listening to the storytelling of Sansa, almost imagining the scene in her mind. In the end, her smile grew a little bit more. "Sounds romantic," she commented, making the girl blush faintly. "I presume it is my turn?"
"Yes, my Lady."
"Hmmm," Visenya exclaimed and searched for a ship, eventually seeing one with dark grey sails that had just made bay not that far away from them. "This one...the Captain loves adventure and he travels to all kinds of remote places known to man. He always comes back with unique objects and tales of terrifying monsters he and his crew fought but no one truly believes him," she started, her eyebrows pulled slightly forward as she thought more. "He just came from his last trip to Asshai, where he saw something that terrified him. He has returned paler than usual and this time doesn't share any stories with his friends in the tavern. However, he does plan to return because he still wants to find answers to the questions he obtained."
Upon finishing, the Dragon looked at her companion by her left and noticed the girl mesmerized by the storytelling.
"Wow," Sansa commented, her smile remaining as she was enjoying the game. "That sounds like a story from a book. You are very good at it, my lady."
"Thank you, Sansa," she said, giving an encouraging smile. "However, I cannot let my imagination take all the credit, I am afraid. I do have some personal experience with travelling."
"You do?"
She nodded. "I had the chance to visit Essos and the Free Cities a few times when I was younger. I learnt a lot about them and I met Doroh as well," she reminded her.
The two of them had stayed for quite a while, just aimlessly playing the game with both enjoying it. Truth be told, Visenya never had the chance to just relax a little bit or just do something rather innocent.
Ever since young, she was busy trying to ensure her family had supporters and allies, before working with Tywin to keep the realms in check. Then, she had to work a lot at Casterly Rock and Trystan had a lot of studying and training to do as he was growing up, not really giving any of them time to spend time together doing something more childish.
Then, since her return to King's Landing, she had been busy planning and trying to see who was an ally and who was not. The chance to just take a few hours to walk and do normal everyday things without having some true plan or purpose behind it was new to her but she welcomed it nonetheless.
She found that she enjoyed the presence of the young Stark girl, who had so much to offer if one would give her the chance and help her find her inner courage. Visenya knew that a part of her had to keep her close to ensure the Tyrells did not try to use her against them but another part of her simply enjoyed having her around.
"It is time, I am afraid. We must return," she finally said, gracefully standing up with Sansa following.
"Oh, okay, my Lady," she said, slightly disappointed for she did not truly wish to return to the Red Keep and end such a perfect day.
As the two of them walked side by side towards the guard and the horses, Sansa kept her smile although it was smaller than before. She had enjoyed that day a lot, not remembering when she had the chance to do girl things and relax, without worrying about being harmed or killed by Joffrey or anyone else.
The companionship of Visenya played a big role as well. The older woman was a nice change from everyone else and Sansa found herself enjoying her presence. Her voice had this motherly sweetness, filled with wisdom and experience.
It made the young Stark girl feel a little safer around her, similar to how a girl would feel safer around their mother. She did miss her mother but at least now, she was not fully alone in this dangerous arena filled with all kinds of dangers.
As they walked, the Dragoness slowed down her steps and Sansa copied, curious but did not say anything.
"Sansa," Visenya said, drawing the attention of the girl. "I know it has not been easy for you so far, and for that, I apologize. You were our guest and now a part of our family; you shouldn't have to pass through that."
The blue eyes of her shorter companion softened at the sincere apology.
"There is nothing to apologize, my Lady. I..." she looked forward again, hands folded over her lap. "I did cause some of those things, being the daughter of a traitor...and having traitor's blood within me..."
This made the Dragoness come to a halt, her gaze forward but her eyes were suddenly cold; a shadow passing over them and her jaw tense. She heard what Sansa said, coming directly from the trauma Cersei and Joffrey had caused her, because those words were not hers and she knew it.
Taking a deep breath to control her temper, she closed her eyes momentarily before opening them. She then turned to look at her, her gaze softer than before. "Well, this should not justify it all...but I would like you to remember this."
She bent one knee as she stood in front of the girl, now being closer to her height. "You can trust me, Sansa. No matter what happens, come to me and I promise I will protect you. No one will harm you from now on, not while I am present." She cupped her cheek in a motherly way.
Her words sounded so true, so sincere and warm that they hit Sansa right in the chest. Those words were the reassurance she needed, the thing she wished to hear all this time and truly meant it.
Tears prickled at the edge of her blue eyes and she tried hard not to let them fall, not wishing to look weak in front of her. She cast her gaze downwards, feeling embarrassed but also emotional as everything was slowly catching up to her at least.
Visenya embraced her in a comforting motherly hug, one that gave a sense of protection and security; one that Sansa did not think she would feel again. Out of instinct, she hugged back, her body just reacting to the physical need for some contact; sweet and caring human contact.
They stayed like that for a moment before eventually, they pulled apart. Visenya used her thumb to wipe a few stray tears that Sansa did not manage to control and offered a comforting smile to the girl.
"Come, let us return," she said and stood up, offering her hand for her.
Sansa nodded, feeling slightly better after the hug and even more hopeful after hearing that promise. She wrapped her hand around her elbow and the two of them continued walking, a stronger connection already forming between them.
Somewhere in the Northern Riverlands - a few days away from the Twins
Arya had been travelling with the Hound for a while now since the former knight had planned to return her to her family in exchange for payment. They rode on his horse but eventually had to stop at different places for camp, most being outside.
It was almost evening and the Stark girl had fallen lightly asleep after food, dreaming of times when things were better and her family was alive. However, it all came to a halt when she felt someone's hand on her.
By instinct alone and fear, she woke up and immediately tried to free herself from her attacker. Grabbing her dagger, she was about to stab the person but they were faster and moved out of the way. Blinking, Arya understood that it was the Hound all along.
"What do you think you are doing?" she asked him with suspicion, her heart beating faster and faster in her chest.
"Checking on that little blade of yours," the Hound explained. "Where the fuck did you find it?"
She narrowed her eyes and remained on guard. "It was given to me."
"Liar," Sandor commented. "You stole it, didn't you?"
"I didn't."
"You did because that fucking blade belongs to Lady Lannister. No one else carries that designed Valyrian steel, in a dagger nonetheless."
This made Arya arch an eyebrow and slowly lower her hand but did not let go of the blade. "How do you know to whom it belongs?" she asked, curious but also suspicious.
Sandor, as if he had been insulted, scoffed and sat back down. "I was a Lannister soldier, girl, or did you forget?" he asked rhetorically. "I used to be stationed in Casterly Rock for a few years before I was sent to guard that fucking boy-king. I saw Lady Lannister teach her son how to throw those knives, a couple of times."
She hid the small blade and sat down at her spot, keeping her distance between them. "Lady Visenya gave it to me as a gift," she explained, earning an "I do not believe you" look from him. "It's true. She just didn't know that it was me."
The Hound did not seem to truly believe her, having his doubts on the subject. Yet again, the Dragoness had never seen Arya, thus she wouldn't know how she truly looked, especially dressed and passing as a boy.
Plus, Sandor hated to admit but gifting a dangerous blade to an unprotected and orphan child did sound like her. The Lady of Casterly Rock simply had a softer spot for kids, especially those that had truly drawn her attention and interest. "Sounds like her. I shouldn't be fucking surprised," he grabbed his flask to drink.
"What do you mean? Have you seen those blades again?" Arya asked him.
He nodded and cupped his flask. "That boy, Trystan, has one of them. Lady Lannister gave it to him as a gift before he was sent to King's Landing to become a squire for the Kingslayer. I was also sent with him and some soldiers to be guards and even that Imp joined us in the end."
Arya remembered her time in King's Landing. She had spent a lot of her time in her room, just practising with her sword teacher and never really associated with anyone. She had seen Trystan a few times from afar but they never got the chance to talk or even meet one another properly, not even in Winterfell.
"What do you know about him? Ser Trystan, I mean," she asked him.
She remembered how Visenya talked about him, clearly caring for her son and she was curious to hear how the child of the Dragon and the Lion truly was. Cersei clearly was a bitch, prideful and all and her twin was not that different either, from what Arya had seen.
Only the Imp, Tyrion, seemed a little bit different but he was a Lion in the end and she did not trust them after what they did to her father.
Sandor sent her a look for her curiosity but chose to answer her questions, after drinking some more ale from his flask. "He is a book boy, the biggest one I have seen," he commented. "He is a good fighter, though. That boy could fight if he wanted but he would always fucking avoid any gathering taking place. I would do my patrol and I would find him on a balcony or ledge, just reading like some sort of sissy," he drank some more.
He remembered how he would often comment on the situation, throwing some remarks or even insults if he was drunk enough. However, the Half-Lion never got pissed or angry at him and never got offended by his hobbies.
He would simply reply sarcastically or say a few things as a normal conversation and then return to his book. In the Hound's eyes, he found it ridiculous. Only women and fat maesters spent so much time around books.
"So, you did not like him?" Arya questioned, clearly interested and intrigued by what she had learnt.
"I never liked any of the Lannisters, girl," he answered. "But I will admit, that boy might be odd but he did live like a true knight; always honouring the fancy words every knight supposedly follows after getting their title."
This seemed to confuse the young girl. "What do you mean?" she asked.
He rolled his eyes, seeing that the girl was in the mood for talking and he was getting out of ale. He drank some more and took a breath, to put up with her questions and just answer her. "What can I mean, girl? That book boy always aimed to be chivalrous, mannered, and respected. He must be the only knight I have ever seen actually doing that." He then remembered what had taken place in King's Landing. "He did defend your sister, back at King's Landing. More than once he did that while I was there as well." He looked forward, turning his pouch upside down only to see that it was at last empty. "I will tell you what, girl. He and his mother might be the only good ones of all those that carry that fucking cursed lion name."