Shortly after his army returned to Winterfell, a formal proposal was made. It was Maester Luwin who approached the young Starks, suggesting a union between the two houses. He proposed that Lady Sansa should marry Lord Jason, binding the East family to the Starks.
Maester Luwin saw the grim reality of their situation. With Robb's death, House Stark's power had been shattered. They were surrounded by enemies—the Lannisters to the south and the Ironborn reavers who prowled the coasts like hungry wolves. To survive, they needed a powerful ally. Only by uniting with the formidable House East could they hope to secure the North and ensure the stability of Stark rule. Thus, Maester Luwin strongly advocated for the marriage, a traditional and time-honored way for the noble houses of Westeros to forge lasting alliances.
Bran, the young Lord of Winterfell, was thrilled by the idea. He was very fond of Jason. If it hadn't been for him, Bran and his people would have surely been captured by the Bolton soldiers. The horrors of the war just outside Winterfell's walls had left a deep mark on the twelve-year-old boy. Subconsciously, he yearned for a strong figure to rely on, and Lord Jason was the perfect choice. If Jason married Sansa, he would become Bran's brother-in-law, a true member of their family. With the backing of Lord Jason's powerful army, Bran knew he could sit securely as the Duke of Winterfell, free from fear.
Sansa walked toward the heart tree, its white bark and blood-red leaves a stark contrast to the deep green of the Godswood. She reached out a delicate hand and gently touched the ancient, carved face on the trunk. A profound sadness filled her eyes.
"My father used to come here," she said softly, her voice barely a whisper. "He would stand here for hours, all alone, and pray to the Old Gods. I don't really believe in them, not like he did… but I know he was a devout man."
Jason knew that Sansa, like her mother, Lady Catelyn, followed the Faith of the Seven. It was Lord Eddard himself who had built the small sept in Winterfell for his southern wife. Sansa had grown up following her mother to services there, so the Godswood was a place she rarely visited. For her father, however, it had been a sanctuary.
The memory of her parents brought fresh pain, and Sansa's beautiful blue eyes welled up with tears.
Looking at her, so lovely and so fragile, Jason felt an overwhelming urge to protect her. He took a step closer. "Sansa, don't be so sad," he said gently. "Believe me, the sinners who hurt your family will face the justice of the gods. Joffrey and the Lannisters who killed Lord Eddard will be punished. I swear it to you, on the honor of my house."
His words made her tears overflow, and they traced silvery paths down her pale cheeks. She looked up at him, her expression a mixture of gratitude and sorrow. "I believe you, Lord Jason," she whispered. "Just as you captured Roose Bolton and the Freys who murdered my mother and Robb, I know you'll make Joffrey and Cersei pay for what they did to my father."
She placed her hands over her heart and looked at him with a newfound tenderness. "I will pray to the Old Gods and the New," she said earnestly. "May your armies break the walls of your enemies. May they flee before you. May you be victorious in every battle, and may the gods, all of them, be with you."
Though he held no belief in any gods, old or new, Jason would not disappoint her. He smiled and nodded. "They will, Sansa. Sooner or later, I will capture Joffrey and Cersei, and they will answer for their crimes."
Sansa nodded, her large eyes shining. She looked at her betrothed in silence, a hint of shyness coloring her cheeks. Maester Luwin had already told her of the arrangement. She was to marry Lord Jason, uniting the Stark and East families.
Looking at the handsome, considerate, and powerful man before her, Sansa felt a quiet sense of satisfaction. She hadn't spent much time with him, but in every interaction, he had been polite and left a good impression. He had saved them from Ramsay Bolton's siege and captured their family's worst enemies. Tomorrow, at the trial, he would finally deliver the justice her mother and Robb deserved. To marry a man so capable and strong was more than she could have hoped for.
Her pale face flushed slightly. She lowered her eyes shyly and asked in a trembling voice, "Lord Jason… do you… do you love me?"
This was not the shrewd and hardened Sansa from another story, a woman who had endured countless hardships. This Sansa had been rescued from the Red Keep early and had been kept safe within the walls of Winterfell ever since. She was still the young girl who had spent more than a decade learning to be a proper noble lady. Asking such a direct question took every ounce of courage she possessed.
Jason looked at the young woman before him. She was of an age with a high school student in his old world, but Westerners matured faster. Sansa already looked like she was twenty, tall and womanly, with a figure that was already becoming elegant. She was undoubtedly one of the great beauties of Westeros.
But to say he loved her would be a lie.
They barely knew each other. For Jason, the marriage was a strategic move, a way to bind himself to the North and more easily integrate into the complex world of Westeros. Of course, it didn't hurt that Sansa was young, beautiful, and gentle. While it wasn't love, she was certainly pleasing to the eye, and he could think of far worse fates than having her as his wife. Besides, love could grow with time. He was sure that after they lived together for a while, affection would naturally follow.
He thought for a moment, then met her shy, hopeful gaze. He decided on the truth, spoken as kindly as he could. "Sansa, my dear lady," he began, his voice sincere. "I don't want to deceive you. While I like you very much, I can't say that I have reached the point of love."
At his words, Sansa's hopeful expression froze. A wave of pain washed over her, and fresh tears welled in her eyes, threatening to fall.
Seeing her distress, Jason quickly stepped forward and placed his hands gently on her shoulders. He looked directly into her eyes, his gaze full of warmth. "Please don't be sad, my lady. I said I didn't want to deceive you, which is why I chose to be honest. It's not that I dislike you. It's just that love is something two people must build together. In time, we will get to know each other, our feelings will grow, and one day, we will truly love each other. Think of your own father and mother. They surely weren't in love when they married. After all, your mother was once betrothed to your uncle."
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