Chapter 4: The fall of the Mockingbird

Sansa was worried about Jon. It has been more than three weeks since he left for Last Hearth and so far she had no word from Jon. On her instance lady, Brianne had spoken with a few of the Free Folk and the news that they shared was worrisome. According to the Free Folk, Jon had asked for reinforcements from them and since then there has been no contact. She had pleaded with Jon to wait for mustering support from Northern houses. But he had argued that the Northern houses will only follow someone with strength.

'The Stark name has lost that strength when the Northern army was butchered at the Twins. If the Northern houses join us then they will do so only if we have the strength to defeat the Boltons. We don't even have our own family seat. Why would the lords gamble their position for us, Sansa?'

Those were his exact words and thinking back on it she understood what he was saying. House Stark has not even a single soldier to call to its name so why would other lords give up their men to fight for the Starks. Even then she had protested and tried to talk him out of moving against the Umbers. After all, she knew his hidden weapon that could change everything for their family. She still remembered the conversation that she had with Jon.

"There is something that I have to tell you." said Jon and Sansa could make out his reluctance.

"You can trust me, Jon." Sansa took his hand and squeezed.

"I found out about my mother." said Jon and whatever she was expecting, this was not the topic that she was expecting from Jon.

"Father told you about your mother. I am happy for you Jon. Who is she?" Sansa asked curiously and there were some rumours about Ashara Dayne but father was always right lipped about Jon's mother.

"Father never told me. He promised he would after he returned from the capital. No, I learned it when I died, Sansa." Said Jon and wasn't that a tale in on itself. She wouldn't have believed Jon's tale about how he died and was consequently resurrected if it wasn't for the scars on his chest.

"How do you learn something when you die?" Sansa asked genuinely curious and then her eyes lit up eagerly.

"Did you see father, mother and Robb? Did you?" she asked eagerly and rubbed her eyes as she felt her eyes water.

"No, Sansa. I never saw anyone but I had visions." said Jon and she gave him a weird look.

"You had visions?" Sansa asked slowly

"Yes, I had visions. That's how I know that I am not Ned Stark's son but his nephew." said Jon and she couldn't believe what she heard.

"What!" Sansa shouted incredulously

"It's true Sansa. I am not your brother but your cousin. My mother is Lyanna Stark, your aunt. My father Prince Rhaegar Targaryen. When Uncle came upon the Tower of Joy he and his friends fought the Kingsguard of the Mad King to get to my mother. Only Howland Reed and uncle survived Ser Arthur Dayne. It was there they found me along with my mother who was bleeding to death. On her death bed, she asked to keep me safe and since that moment uncle declared me as his bastard to protect me from Lannisters and Baratheons."

Jon's explanation caught Sansa completely flat-footed and she didn't know what to say. On one hand, she could understand her father better.

"Father always called you his blood but never once he called you his son. I have never heard him call you his son." She absently said to her newly revealed cousin.

"Neither have I." said Jon. Sansa was reminded once again of the lesson that she failed to learn from her father.

"It doesn't matter whether you are my cousin through blood. Father always treated you as his own son and that makes you my brother. That's all I need to know." said Sansa and she could see that her words put Jon at ease.

"The reason I told you this is that I am in possession of something that will be able to secure the North from the Boltons as well as to pay back the Freys and Lannisters their due." said Jon and that made Sansa intrigued

"What is it?"

"A dragon dear sister. A dragon that will help us take Winterfell and destroy all of our enemies!"

While stories of Dragons and White Walkers seem far fetched she would believe it since it was coming from Jon's mouth. If she couldn't trust her own family then there was no one in the world she could put her trust in but she just wished Jon would have listened to her. He could have waited for the dragon to arrive and then the Northern lords would have rallied to their cause.

But Jon wouldn't hear her out and instead, he was adamant to attack the Umbers and take Ned Umber hostage. Jon reasoned that with Ned Umber a hostage Smalljon will surrender Rickon. Sansa had argued that Ramsay would never let Rickon out from Winterfell. When she had learned from Jon that he saw Rickon being taken prisoner by Ramsay, she had already resigned herself to Rickon's death.

Jon insisted that he will save Rickon but she knew the futility of it. Even with the aid of a dragon, Ramsay would never let Rickon go. She loved Jon and his fierce loyalty to their younger brother but she had long ago learned to let go to ward herself from more pain. It was a lesson that Jon had yet to learn and she hoped he didn't have to but unfortunately it was something she had developed after being subjected to the cruelty of Ramsay.

When she was a prisoner in King's Landing she had hoped Robb would rescue her and that hope was dashed when he was murdered by the Freys and Lannisters. She had hoped to escape the capital and live the rest of her life comfortably in Highgarden and to her horror, she was instead married off to Tyrion. Compared to the rest of Lannisters her new husband was a marked improvement but that doesn't mean she was happy being married to a Lannister.

From there, she ended up being the pawn of Baelish and she had once again stupidly thought that he liked her. It was only later when she was suffering under Ramsay that she realised everyone she had met outside of her family was always using her for their benefit.

Family was all that mattered to her now and she prayed to any gods that would listen that Jon would return safely back.

"My lady, a rider approaches Castle Black." Podrick Payne reported as he barged into her room which was actually Jon's room in truth.

"Is it my brother?" Sansa asked excitedly

"I don't think so, my lady. I could make out the sigil of flayed man on his shield." Podrick reported grimly

"The Boltons! Are there more of them?" Sansa asked her heart sped up in fear

"No, my lady. Lady Brianne is with the rider and he is just a messenger." said Podrick but that still didn't put her at ease.

"Then I will hear what Ramsay has to say." Sansa stood up and followed Podrick out of the room.

Just as Podrick said Lady Brianne was facing the rider and was trying to turn the Bolton guard into a melted ice with her stare. Sansa was amused to note that it was working looking at the squirming messenger.

As she took the message from the rider and read through its intents she was not that much surprised. It was some gruesome threats and a confirmation that Rickon was under Ramsey's custody. She was about to give a scathing reply but her attention shifted behind the messenger and a happy smile blossomed on her face. She ran around the messenger and pulled Jon who had dismounted from his horse into a hug. With Jon beside her, she could feel her previously lost confidence return two-fold.

"Who is this Sansa?" Jon asked pointing at the messenger.

"Ramsay's messenger." Sansa answered and gave him the rolled-up parchment.

"I see. Then I have a message for the bastard of Dreadfort and the oathbreaker Umber." said Jon after he read the scroll and returned it to Sansa. He went around his horse to the caravan that followed him. He took out a sack and handed it over to the messenger.

"These are the heads of Mors Umber and Hother Umber. I took the liberty to put other heads on a spike all around Last Hearth. Tell that to the oathbreaker Umber and remind him that Winter is Coming. Tell him that I have his brother in my custody and if he won't hand over Rickon to me I will ride out into Winterfell and crush the Boltons and his traitorous men. When I am done with that piece of shit I will end house Umber for good. Remind him that houses that have risen up in rebellion with House Bolton have never survived to tell the tale. Tell him that war is coming and the North remembers this treachery of House Umber." said Jon and he sent off the shaken messenger on his way.

"You were gone for too long Jon. You could have at least send word that you were safe." Sansa admonished her brother

"The plan was to take Last Hearth but I had a unique opportunity to cut Ramsay's forces in half and I took it." said Jon and Sansa couldn't help but notice that the Free Folk that followed Jon was unloading a lot of armour, weapons, shields and food from the caravan.

"What did you do?" Sansa asked in wonder and she could see out of the corner of the ye that Lady Brianne and Podrick Payne were also looking on curiously.

"I took Last Hearth and then made a detour for Karhold. Speaking of which let me introduce you to your new lady companion, Alys Karstark." Jon said with a flourish as he pointed at a scowling girl who slid down from her horse albeit reluctantly.

"Welcome to Castle Black, lady Karstark." Sansa greeted the younger girl courteously. There was no need to be rude to the girl even if her family was fighting on the other side. Besides, with Alys as a captive Sansa doubted her brother would be keen to support the Boltons. She wished she could see that vermin's face when Karstarks abandon his side.

*******

Ramsay Bolton woke up from his bed with a yawn. As he fumbled with his bedcovers and struggled to dress up in his tunic he thought about his wife. He truly missed his wife and the sounds she made as he tortured her every night. He felt truly lonely now that Miranda was also taken from him. Not that it matters in the long run. He was sure he will be shortly reunited with his dear wife and he would enjoy her horrified screams as he would make her watch as he flays her brothers alive.

He had enjoyed doing it to the Cerwins and he would surely enjoy doing it to the Starks. In the dungeons of Dreadfort, he had seen the skin of Starks of the old. Even after centuries, his family had kept those skins and every Bolton would be shown those skins to remind them of their duty. That duty being destroying House Stark. When his own father had shown those skins he had dreamed of flaying a Stark. It was really a shame that he wasn't allowed to flay Sansa because of his father's orders.

But now that his lord father was no longer among the living, thanks to himself, he will be free to flay his wife. He did have a Stark in his grasp but he was keeping the Stark boy for his bastard brother. Besides he could always flay Rickon Stark after he flay Jon Snow. Then there is also the matter of Reek.

While his father rots under the ground he had to admit that Roose Bolton was right to admonish him. Without Reek, he has lost the ability to keep the Ironborn at bay. If those ravers attack he would have to march out in force to secure his position as Warden of North. That would leave Winterfell open for the taking.

He didn't trust any Northern lords especially when he knew most of them would be happy to see his head on a spike. Even Smalljon Umber was a dangerous enemy to host in his home even if the Umber lord had delivered him Rickon Stark. After all, Greatjon Umber died because of his own father's treachery and Ramsey didn't believe for one moment that Smalljon will forget that despite proclaiming otherwise. The Karstarks, on the other hand, is more dependable because Lord Harald Karstark answered House Bolton's call first and was motivated by revenge.

Lord Karstark want to to see House Stark dead more than anything else. After all, Lord Harald lost two brothers and his own father because of Robb Stark. There is also the added benefit of no standing enmity between House Karstark and Bolton. That doesn't mean he was blindly trusting them but they were certainly more trustworthy than the Umbers.

As he dressed up and fastened his hunting knives to his hips he decided to break his fast and then deliberate on a strategy to deal with the Starks. Just as he was about to leave his room Maester Wolkan barged in with a note of urgency.

"Forgive the intrusion, my lord. The Karstarks have left Winterfell." The old Maester managed to wheeze out in between his haggard breathing.

"What do you mean? How can the Karstarks leave Winterfell without my knowledge?" Ramsey shouted as he hurried out of the room closely followed by the Maester.

"I had posted Merrick on guard duty specifically to watch the Umbers and Karstarks. Where is he?" Ramsey asked as his mind raced with ways to torture Merrick for failing him.

"Merrick is dead, my lord. As are the guards assigned to our granaries, North Gate and the stables." Maester Wolkan reported as the old Maester struggled to keep pace with Ramsey who was by this point beyond incensed.

"They raided our granaries and stables?" Ramsey asked afraid that he would be without food and cavalry in the coming war.

"Yes my lord. They took as much as they needed from the granaries but we lost most of the horses. I did the counting and I could only find fifty." Maester Wolken reported and he blanched as Ramsey turned on him with furious eyes.

"What about Rickon Stark?" Ramsey asked

"Safe in the cells, my lord. Lord Umber had stationed his own men outside the cells along with your own personal guards. The Karstarks may have decided not to go for Rickon in fear of alerting the castle." Maester Wolken explained

"How come none of the guards heard the commotion? Surely they are not deaf enough to miss the fact that an entire army was fleeing at night right through the gates?" Ramsey asked incredulously

"The winds were strong last night, my lord. If the men heard anything at all then they probably dismissed it as the howling winds." Maester Wolken reasoned which only made Ramsey angrier.

"How many men do we have left?" Ramsey asked with gritted teeth

"Three 4500 soldiers are pledged to fight for House Bolton. Out of those fifty were killed last night. The Umbers have brought two hundred men and that would leave our total strength at 4650." Maester Wolken reported grimly.

"Why would the Karstarks abandon us all of a sudden? They were the first to answer the call but why betray me now?" Ramsey asked more to himself and Maester Wolken remained silent. He had done his part and he was not going to get intoved in the thought process of this mad kinslayer, his oaths be damned. Besides, he could already feel the kinslayer's days are numbered.

******

Brianne had to admit that Podrick was improving in his sword techniques. While her squire was of a decent sort he was no skilled warrior. That doesn't mean he can't hold on his own but she had the feeling that her squire would be well suited in using some other weapon than a sword. She had said so to his face several times but Pod was quite stubborn to master his sword. If nothing else she appreciated his candour and dedication to his convictions.

Training with her squire she had learned that he swung his sword too hard sometimes that he entirely forgot to mind his footwork. It was a dangerous lapse from Podrick's side and she made him aware of it by kicking his knees and consequently, Podrick fell face down on the ground mid-swing.

"How many times have I told you to watch your footwork, Podrick." Brianne admonished her squire and watched on dispassionately as he climbed to his feet on his own with an apologetic face.

"Sorry, my lady." Podrick apologised

"Stop apologizing and concentrate on your footwork." She ordered as she once again positioned her sword and was about to take an experimental jab but paused as a rider rode into her field of vision. The rider took notice of her and pulled the horse into a slow trot towards her position.

Podrick seeing her attention shift also noticed the rider and he readied his sword just in case.

"Are you lady Brianne of Tarth?" the rider asked

"I am." Brianne looked on curiously as the rider took out a sealed parchment and handset it over to her.

"For lady Sansa's eyes only." The rider said and rode off before she could ask more. But seeing the sigil she understood just who was behind this message. While she had her reservations about that man she had a duty to Lady Sansa and she was sure that Sansa would be on guard this time around.

"Littlefinger!" Sansa asked incredulously after Brianne handed over the message to Lady Sansa.

"The sigil gave it away, my lady. Although, I think it may also be the Boltons that are trying to lure you out." Brianne warned and she was not ruling out that possibility.

Brianne saw Sansa nod absently to her suggestion and broke the seal. She saw Sansa quickly read the message and as further she read Sansa's eyes were getting further narrowed.

"What is it, my lady?"

"Littlefinger is in Mole Town. He wants to meet." said Sansa with a thoughtful frown.

"Are you going my lady? He sold you off to the Boltons." Brianne reminded her charge.

"I am going but I will not be alone. You are also coming with me and I have to tell Jon. When Lord Baelish has graciously handed himself over to wolf's lair who am I to discourage him?" Sansa smirked coldly and Brianne also couldn't help but smile. She always wanted to see that snivelling man suffer. She didn't know why but that was the first thought that would cross her mind whenever she would think about Baelish.

After a brief conversation with Jon Snow who was sporting a cruel glint in his grey eyes at the mere mention of Baelish's name she and Lady Sansa rode out into Mole Town. It was a deserted town not far from Castle Black when she and her charge disembarked from the horses they could see that Baelish has travelled light. Only four men had accompanied the little weasel which made what was coming next all the better.

"Lady Sansa, it brings me great joy to see you unharmed and well. The moment that I heard of your escape I…."

"Save your words for someone who cares Lord Baelish. You asked for a meeting and here I am. Say what you will or leave me in peace." Sansa cut-off the weasel lord and Brianne noted with internal satisfaction as Baelish floundered a little. But the slimy snake recovered quickly.

"I know you may have suffered.."

"Do you..?" Sansa once again cut in with a glare that was as cold as the winds from the Lands of always Winter.

"I cannot imagine what horrors you faced but…"

"I agree. You can't imagine the horrors that I faced or perhaps you do. You did know exactly who and what Ramsay Snow was when you sold me off to the Boltons." said Sansa with barely controlled rage. Brianne could see that her charge had tied her hand behind her back and her hands were fisted with such strength the she thought it would be painful.

"If you allow me to explain myself and speak privately…"

"No lord Baelish. The time for dialogue has long since passed. You are the sole reason that my family is in tatters and I was waiting for you to expose yourself to me. Your mistake my lord was believing you could tame a wolf." said Sansa coldly and Brianne's eyes flickered and looked behind Baelish to see Jon Snow walk into the street with a few of his Wildling friends. The one with red hair always gave her the creeps but she had suffered worse so it was not much of a bother. Her hand went to the sword at her hip as Petyr Baelish's guards realised they were in a trap.

"Baelish, I have been looking forward to meeting you. I advice that you take a very good look around the world that you can see and feel because from today onwards your world will only know pain." Jon Snow snarled and charged with his sword.

Brianne also unsheathed her sword but stayed by Sansa's side and let her brother handle the scum. It was a marvel to see Jon Snow fight and she could see why the Night's Watch, as well as the Wildlings, praise the former Lord Commander as a gifted swordsman.

The first guard who was unfortunate to fell had his belly split open by Jon Snow's sword. Brianne could see that Jon Snow had found a small gap in the armour of the guard when said guard had raised his sword to attack. That was all the time Jon Snow needed to kill that guard and that required speed and skill hard earned only by hours of training daily.

The second guard who had tried to take advantage of Jon Snow's distraction found himself quite abruptly stopped by Jon Snow. Even Brianne was surprised when Jon Snow used his free left hand to hold the sword hand of the second guard and quite easily stab his sword straight through said guard's neck ending his life.

Truly, Sansa's brother was a gifted killer one with speed and ferocity she had rarely seen. He would have made a knight if great renown if the gods were kind, she thought. The other two guards decided to do the sane thing by throwing down their weapons and surrendered peacefully.

"No! Sansa please I beg you. I mean you or your family no harm. I love you. I loved your mother." Peter Baelish was on his knees begging for his life. Brian's was disgusted by this pig. He didn't deserve to be a lord of anything. He was truly a venomous worm.

"Love?" Sansa asked incredulously

"You dare speak of love!" Sansa surprised Brianne by surging forward and kicking Baelish right on his nose. The Vale lord fell on his back with a river of blood flowing out from his nose.

Brian's didn't know whether she should be proud or admonish her charge for recklessly moving close to the enemy. But she didn't have the heart to tell that knowing what Sansa must have suffered because of this scum that was moaning in the ground.

"Take this piece of filth to the Thenns. Tell Sigorn that Jon Snow has delivered a mocking bird and expect them to break this fucker until he sings everything from the moment he crawled out of some whore's womb." Jon snarled as the Wildlings picked up Baelish and moved away quite happy to inflict pain on the squealing lord. Brianne could hear the excited whispers between the Wildlings and by the looks of it, Lord Baelish will be having some hard times ahead of him.

"The Thenns will be extracting every scrap of information that he holds in his black heart. I have already spoken with Sigorn, their leader, and he has agreed to extract the location of where he hides all the stolen gold. That along with some other information will be useful if we are to rebuild the North and the Riverlands. He started the war and we will heal the land using the resources he stole." Jon Snow explained

"Just promise me one thing, Jon. After his usefulness expires promise me that you will kill him." asked Sansa

"I promise sister." Jon nodded

"Also, I want to be there to see it. The last thing he should see is a Stark smiling at him as he bleeds to death." Sansa said coldly which made Brianne a little uncomfortable but Jon Snow merely smiled.

"The wolf is coming out sister." Jon patted Sansa on her shoulder and led her back to Castle Black. Brianne closely followed the two siblings keeping a close eye around the surroundings. She had kept her word to Lady Catelyn by protecting Sansa as best as she could but she could do more and her duty has yet to be completed when she knew that Arya was still out there.

*******

"You look like shit." said Yara as she handed over a wineskin to Theon but to her surprise, he didn't take it. Instead, her dear brother was avoiding eye contact.

"Look at me Theon." But to her ire, he continued to cower like a whipped dog.

"I said, look at me." She forced his head to turn to her face but his eyes were still skittish.

"How did you come here?" she asked shaking him for good measure when he remained silent.

"I escaped." Theon squeaked out

"Really! How can I believe you especially with the timing?" she scowled as her mind raced with possibilities. The Boltons have broken her brother and she had seen it first-hand when she tried to rescue him from Dreadfort.

"Timing?" Theon asked curiously still not looking at her.

"Our father is dead. Euron killed him. Soon we will have a kingsmoot and I intend to put forth my claim. So, I have my suspicions about your presence here brother. Did the Boltons send you?" Yara asked with a hard stare and for once in this entire conversation, Theon looked her in the eye briefly.

"No, I escaped the Boltons!"

"Do you desire the Salt throne brother? Is that why you are here?" Yara asked as she took hold of Theone by his hair and forced him to look straight into her eyes.

"No, I don't want it." Theon shouted but quickly went back to his meek voice. "I don't deserve it. I am not fit to rule anything."

To Yara's horror, Theon started crying and all her doubts about him flew away in an instant. She remembered the scared little boy that he was when he was dragged away from their home after her father's failed rebellion. Even now it was Theon that suffered for their father's mad schemes and that too in a truly horrific way.

"Are you still in there?" Yara shook her brother from the sorry state he was.

"Are you Theon Greyjoy, son of Balon Greyjoy? Or are you that creature I saw in Dreadfort that cost me good and loyal men? Look me in the eye and answer." Yara yelled in frustration

"I am Theon Greyjoy. I am Ironborn and I would name you my queen." said Theon and for once Yara could see a glimpse of her brother inside that shell. She was sure she could bring him out eventually. She had to because she needed every ounce of support to counter Euron and be the Queen of Iron Islands.