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I've heard - and seen, my apologies to those who have dealt with me learning this device in the past few days - that I can speak to others without being in the same room as they.

[Excuse me, intruder alert. A raven lands beside Jon and starts screaming:

SNOW, SNOW]

I don't have any corn for you, go away.

[This is apparently not good enough.

CORN, CORN]

Go away.

[There's a flutter and Jon goes back to what he was saying.]

As I began: I'm Jon Snow, and I'm seeking any members of the Night's Watch. I'm not sure if any of them have come, but if you're here, we should meet at once.

[Okay you had your moment, the raven is back. SNOW, SNOW.]

....also if anyone has any corn, I would be in your debt.

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Was the ship good enough to provide you clothes from home beyond your black cloak?

Just my cloak and my sword.

And do you not care for the— [ What was the word? ] —'jump suit' provided?

It's not very comfortable.

It is decided, then. I will look to find you proper clothes.

And black, of course.

Thank you.

[And a pause]

Give the smallest one to Robb. It's likely to crow the least.

[ A nod as she dips her head. ] I will then.

[ Then a pause. ] Did they have very many crows at the Wall? [ Sansa never cared about such things but Alayne cares. She cares very much. ] Will you tell me of your life there?

Are there crows on the Wall? Some say that's all there is there.

[IT'S A JOKE.]

....but yes, I'll tell you of the Wall, if you tell me of where you live.

[ Wait for it. Wait for it.

Yeah, okay, she giggles — light and airy, the sound smothered by her hand. ]

Yes, all right, [ she nods, but says nothing. ] I will tell you of my life if you ask of it. But— in private. [ He would not care for Alayne's life story, for that story is a lie. But in private, behind closed doors, she can tell Jon Snow of Sansa's life, as sad a tale as it may be. ]

After I'm done feeding this wretch of a bird-

[ALAYNE, ALAYNE]

Could I ask for your company, little Stone?

[ Despite feeling bad about it, she laughs again. ] Teach it another word and quick! Not Alayne, not Stone — and gods above — not Robb.

Otherwise, let me take it from you again and we shall house it elsewhere til it find a proper home. [ Then a dip, a bow, a blush of satisfaction. ] You may always ask for my company. And I will always grant it, yes.

Map.

[CORN]

Map.

[CORN, CORN]

I think it is holding words hostage. I'll see you soon, I expect.

I imagine Ghost will find me easily enough. [ Another dip of her chin. ] I shall await your company, Jon. Once your feathered friend has been ployed with its golden corn.

[And indeed, he does find her, Ghost pressing his nose against the door first, and peering around the corner.

The bird is next, swooping in by the crack of it, and hopping on the the nearest surface. It looks at Alayne for a long measure.]

It seems to shut up after it's been fed.

[Jon says from behind Ghost]

[ Alayne's bird — white, one of the Citadel ravens — flaps its wings in agitation from inside its cage but otherwise remains silent. Lady dozes at the end of Alayne's bed, her tail twitching every so often with some wolf dream.

She rises and then gives him a bow in greeting, setting aside some sewing being done for one of the other passengers. ]

Aren't all animals much the same? [ she asks with a small smile, quite aware she knows nothing of animals at all. ]

Not so similar.

[Ghost pads over to Lady and curls up next to her, nosing his sister before dozing. They are tremendous next to each other.]

Alayne.

[He greets her with a nod]

[ She moves towards him, her skirts swishing as she makes sure the door is secure behind him. Only when she knows it is latched shut does she turn to him and smile, saying: ] You may call me Sansa, Jon.

[ Again, she bows, more deeply this time and then lifts her face to him. ] Or is it to always be Lord Commander?

Do you call Robb King in private? Call me Jon, if you call me Lord Commander I won't ever shed the weight of the title.

[A pause]

Sansa, what became of you in King's Landing?

What became of Arya?

[ She wants to ask him if he hates the title, if it weighs upon him as heavily as crown of winter weighs upon Robb, but Jon Snow has asked a heavy question, one she cannot turn aside with falsehood. She sinks to the bed and loosely curls a hand into Ghost's fur, staring at her fingers (for looking at Jon would prove too hard). ]

I do not know what happened to Arya. Everything happened so fast.

The Lannister men came to the Tower of the Hand, and— and everyone died. [ The servants, the squires, the guards. Septa Mordane. ] Everyone but us.

[ The implication, one Alayne knows is true: Arya lives. ]

But she did not go with you, to become a bastard, did she?

[Jon looks at her hand, quietly]

And you, what became of you? They were to marry you to Joffrey, but did not.

I've had little news. I went beyond the Wall.

I do not know where she went. They looked for her and looked for her, but— [ She shakes her head. ] —she was gone.

[ A long quiet follows. It is strange to speak of Sansa so readily, to pretend to be her and to feel the sentiments that Sansa had known ring upon the surface of her heart. In truth, it makes her easier to be Sansa Stark, but at the same time it is hard, for Alayne is Alayne (she promised, she swore she would try). ] I was to marry Joffrey. Then I was to marry a Tyrell. [ And then they made me Lannister, but Alayne does not offer that. Not readily. ] They wanted to marry me because I was a Stark, not because I was Sansa.

And so when Petyr took me from that place, he made me a bastard and gave me the name Stone. Because no one would want to marry me, then; not the way they wanted to marry Sansa Stark. And because Petyr Baelish has no true-born daughters, but by making me his I could still be a lady. Not some scullery maid or serving girl. I could hide in plain sight and keep my courtesy. For that was all I knew.

[ She's quiet for a long time. ] It was meant to be a mercy.

[Jon listens gravely, his face getting darker, more serious, more Starklike by the retelling.]

You fear you offend me.

[ Again, quietness. ]

It was never my intention. [ Her hands wring in her lap. ] I thought of you often.

But why keep it up, then? Why continue to be Alayne here? Robb and I are both here, do you think we would be so careless as to allow someone to harm you?

[Jon keeps his voice down, as though someone could be listening at the door]

[ Her hands continue their ringing. He wishes me to be Sansa. He wishes it always. ]

I was alone and afraid. And everything was so strange to me, I did not know where I was. I did not know that others could join me after and that— [ —and that among them, would be the dead. ] Those that pitied me and helped me, I lied to them. But the lie was meant to keep me safe— No one would care about Alayne Stone. Not enough to look for her or to hurt her.

[ She shakes her head. ] But once a lie has been told, it cannot be taken back. All that is built upon Alayne's name would be ruined, like a great weft set to unravel. [ When Alayne looks up again at Jon, her eyes are wet. ]

All of my friends would hate me. They would never forgive me and—

Edited 2012-06-11 14:14 (UTC)

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