CHAPTER 50 | A DEAL

WINTER had come, and that fact was never more evident than right now.

Maia felt her stomach shake and rattle at the sight of the blizzard outside. She enjoyed snow – really, she did – but she did not enjoy the inevitability of the White Walkers charging their way. She was growing anxious, but was the kicks in her stomach nerves or simply an unborn child? She didn't want to think about that.

She kept her hand on the back of Ghost's head, who sat beside her. She had wanted to take him outside to play in the snow, unaware of how violent the blizzard was. Maia stood with the direwolf in the entrance of Winterfell, frowning. She then looked down at the wolf and said, "No outside for you today, boy."

Ghost whimpered, as if he understood her. She wished he did.

Maia knelt down beside the direwolf, who had grown quite fond of her. Even Jon was surprised at the sight of Ghost's liking of her. Ghost didn't like many people, but he liked Maia. Sometimes the wolf would follow her around the castle, waiting for a scratch on the head with her long nails, or for her to take a moment to play with him in the courtyard. Ghost was known to sleep in Jon and Maia's chambers every night, and he always laid right in front of their bed.

Maia stuck out her bottom lip towards Ghost. "I know you're used to the wilderness, but the snow's too bad. Don't need you falling in that deep snow pile and never coming out."

She laughed and Ghost responded with a lick to her face. Maia ruffled the top of the direwolf's head before proceeding to walk to her chambers. It was night-time, a glimpse of light still shined over the horizon, but was not seen due to the storm outside. Maia practically forced Aletia to retire from her duties for the night. She'd never be used to having a handmaiden.

As she walked ahead, Ghost followed. Maia walked past the dining hall, but stopped in her tracks for a moment. She could've sworn she saw someone in there from the corner of her eye, but who would be there at this hour? Maia took a few steps back and peered in the hall, only to see Petyr Baelish staring outside the barred window, watching the storm commence.

She stared at him for a minute, but was shocked to hear him say aloud, "It's not polite to stare, Lady Maia."

Maia jumped out of her skin at the call. Littlefinger turned towards her, causing Maia to send him a fake smile. She patted the top of Ghost's head and said, "Go off and see Jon, boy." The direwolf did as she commanded, and Maia stepped foot into the dining hall, taking small strides before she stood side-by-side with Petyr.

"Lord Baelish," she greeted, suspicion laced in her voice, "what are you doing at this late hour?"

"I suppose I should ask the same to you," Petyr smirked, "but I won't. It's best to keep some things to yourself."

Maia's brow furrowed when Petyr turned back to the window. "I'm surprised to not see you with Sansa. You seem to speak with her often."

"I trust Sansa Stark with my life. She is but a mirror image of her mother, Catelyn."

If Maia remembered correctly, Petyr Baelish had an obsession with Sansa's mother, Catelyn Stark, when they were younger. Maia tried to block out Derek's voice in her head to focus on the facts, but his voice almost sounded like a ghost. Catelyn Stark was betrothed to marry Brandon Stark of Winterfell, the infamous ex said, and Littlefinger was so jealous of their relationship that he challenged Brandon to a duel. He grew up with Catelyn and loved her too much. Being as scrawny as he is, Petyr lost that duel.

"I've heard you haven't been well, Lady Maia," Petyr said after a moment of silence. "There's no sickness going around lately. What could be your condition?"

Maia cleared her throat. "Maester Wolkan said it is just a stomach bug."

Littlefinger grinned deviously. "Oh, did he?"

She felt her eyes go narrow. Maia's hands formed into fists at his banter.

"It's not good to harbor many secrets, Lady Maia. They can get tangled within each other, like a spider's web, but sooner or later, webs do fall."

Maia swallowed hard. Littlefinger regarded her skeptically before turning on his heel and leaving his spot. "But, I guess that's what make us so alike, my lady." He said, glancing to her over his shoulder. "Keeping secrets is the only way to win the game."

•••

When Maia found Jon in their chambers, he was hunched over the small desk in the corner of the room. A piece of parchment was laid in front of him, and he kept fidgeting with the quill in his hand. Several other crumpled pieces of parchment were covering the floor beside him, leaving Maia confused. Her eyes flickered to their bed, where a tiny scroll laid. Ghost slept soundly in front of the bed.

Maia shut the door behind her. "Kingly problems, Your Grace?"

Jon jumped at the sound of her. He looked at her, sending Maia a warm smile, but she saw the tiredness behind it. Being King in the North was taking a lot out of him. He sighed before turning back to the parchment on his desk. "Gods, don't call me that."

Maia giggled and sat on their feather bed. She cocked her brow at his fidgeting and asked, "What are you writing there?"

"Frankly, I don't know."

Maia then looked behind her, where the scroll sat idly on top of their furs. The fire near them crackled as she picked up the scroll, tossing it between her fingers. The first thing she noticed was the wax seal still hanging off the edges. The seal was of a roaring lion, and from her readings on the different houses of Westeros, Maia had no doubt this was from House Lannister. She then viewed up at Jon, who had been watching her with confusion. She held up the scroll between two fingers. "What's this?" She asked.

Jon sighed again, rubbing at his eyes. "A sign from one of the many hells."

She unraveled the scroll carefully, clearing her throat before reading out loud the content. "Cersei of House Lannister, First of Her Name, Queen of the Andals and the First Men, Protector of the Seven Kingdoms ..." Maia then looked up. "That's quite a lot of titles."

"Just continue."

Maia nodded. "... Summons the rebel and bastard, Jon Snow, to King's Landing, to bend the knee to his rightful Queen or suffer the fate of all traitors." She blinked for a moment. "Well, she certainly sounds like a fun time."

Jon laughed softly before staring back at the paper. "I have to think of my words wisely in my letter to her."

"Are you actually going to go to King's Landing to bend the knee?" Maia asked, throwing the scroll beside her. "What does she matter? She's an enemy to the South. Our main focus is the one to the North."

"We need allies, but I'm not sure if I trust her enough as one. Cersei has an army, but not a large one. She's still an enemy, nevertheless." He ran a hand through his loose curls. Maia hadn't seen that style on him in a while. "If I do go, I'll travel with Davos. I'd rather not suffer the fate of traitors."

Maia frowned, and she wasn't sure if it was because of the news or that her stomach was paining her immensely. She couldn't look at Jon anymore before seeing him with a child in his arms, and the image scared her half to death. She needed to make her decision within the month, or all hope would be lost.

She took a moment before asking, "Can I come too?"

Jon then chuckled. "Absolutely not."

"Why?" Maia stood up and put her hands on her hips. "You saw me in court the other day. I'm quite the debater."

"Maia, you're not going South. End of story."

"Would you rather me stay in the North with your sister and the White Walkers?"

Jon glanced at her, his eyes pleading for the argument to end. He watched one eyebrow lift on her tired face, as if she was challenging him. Jon closed his eyes and rubbed his temples. "The answer is no. We've risked both your safety and my sister's too many times before. I don't even think I am going. My father always said to not go South."

Maia rolled her eyes. "The next time you're summoned somewhere, I'm going with you. Deal?"

He put his hands up in surrender. "Fine, I give up."

If only Jon had known. If only, if only. He should've never agreed to that deal.