Sansa felt herself blush when she saw that Prince Joffrey was looking at her from the end of the table. She lowered her eyes demurely, smiling. He was so handsome, her prince; he had beautiful golden hair like a lion and green eyes that shone like emeralds. And he was gallant and brave, too; she had watched him practice with his sword in the yard that morning, and he had looked like one of the princes from the stories she loved so well. She had been so distracted watching him that Septa Mordane had had to scold her and tell her to focus on her needlepoint, and Sansa never had to be scolded. She knew that she loved Prince Joffrey, because he made her feel so unlike herself when he was near her; she could barely speak to him for being so excited, and when he touched her arm, she felt as though she were as light as air. She couldn't wait until they were married. The ceremony would be at King's Landing, of course, and all the lords and ladies of the Seven Kingdoms would be in attendance. Sansa would wear a beautiful gown, and Joffrey would look splendid beside her. And best of all, after the wedding itself, Sansa would get to be alone with her prince, and feel his lips on hers. She felt warm just thinking about kissing him. He had such perfect lips. He was perfect. And she was to be his queen.
When Sansa had first heard that the king and queen would be coming to Winterfell, she had been so excited. No one ever came as far North as Winterfell, especially not royalty. The night before their arrival, Sansa had been unable to sleep. She had been worried that she would have bags under her eyes from being so tired, and she couldn't bear not to look her best in front of the queen, who everyone said was beautiful. Sansa had worn her best dress that day, a green dress of soft wool that her mother said brought out the colours in her hair and eyes. She had embroidered the neckline and sleeves herself. She had felt very pretty, although the queen's silk dress and cloak lined with ermine were so fine, and so unlike any clothing that Sansa had ever seen, that Sansa had gasped when the queen had stepped down from her wheelhouse. She would have gasped again when she saw her golden prince for the first time, but the sight of him seemed to stop her breath in her throat.
When her mother told her that she was to be engaged to Prince Joffrey and go to King's Landing with her father, she thought she might faint. Her dreams were coming true, just like in the stories and songs. She was to go to King's Landing, the capital of the Seven Kingdoms, and live with the king and queen and her true love. She had started to plan the wedding that night, and dream of the wonders she would see in the capital. Even Arya couldn't spoil her mood.
Sansa couldn't understand why Arya was such a child about everything. She had complained and fussed constantly since she had been told they were to go to King's Landing, as though it were a punishment. It was as though she wanted to stay in Winterfell her entire life, until she was old and gray. She had even told Sansa that she was stupid for loving Prince Joffrey. Arya never understood anything. She was so rude sometimes, and she was almost always dirty from playing in the mud with the sons of farmers or shepherds. It was appalling, really, but she couldn't make Sansa upset. Not when her prince was so near. Sansa thought that she could never be upset with Joffrey so close to her.
Oh, she was going to be so happy in King's Landing with her prince.