authorsnote: heya everyone & welcome! a few things you should know: I will be writing primarily GOT fics, I might delve into other fandoms occasionally but the focus will be GOT. my favourite characters are jon, tormund & little finger, expect to see them pop up A FUCK TON. this will be a multific, not sure on chapters, I hope to update weekly but that might drop a bit if I'm working a lot. I know my grammar isn't the best, please don't harp on about it, I am working on it. this fic will be sansa/willas, eventual robb/margaery, it will cover most storylines but the focus will be the battle for the iron throne.
anyway if you're still with me, carry on reading, enjoy and let me know what you think in the reviews!
song recommendations: set fire to the third bar by snow patrol.
disclaimer: I do not own any of these amazing characters, storylines or anything to do with the books. This is merely me creating new things from an amazing series.
I'll find a map and draw a straight line
over rivers, farms and state lines,
the distance from here to where you'd be
it's only finger-lenghts that I see
-x-
He sat, still, brooding, some would say he looked angry, frustrated, pissed off. Truthfully he felt all three, felt them like a weight pressing on his shoulders, the start of a headache at the front of his skull. His teeth were gritted, and he had tension running across his spine. His hand was still holding the letter, though he wanted to crumple it into a ball and throw it into the fire.
He loved his Grandmother, the Queen of Thorns dearly, truly he did. She had always been the one teaching him, grooming him; she had practically raised him. He knew it was down to her doing that he would be a good Lord of Highgarden, when his time came. He knew it was how she had reared him; to rule, and to be goddamn good at it. He was ambitious, smart, ruthless but with the compassion to rule. She had melded him well.
Still, sometimes she was insufferable. She acted without consulting her family, without consulting anyone really. It was well known that Olenna Tyrell was the Head of the family, the Matriarch. She acted, his Father took the credit and the family went from platform to platform. She didn't stop and ask people what they thought, either you went along with her ideas and schemes or get left behind in the dust. She was the reason their family was the second most powerful in the kingdoms, and ready to take place as the first.
'It would require sacrifice on all parts' She had written, and he didn't doubt that. Margaery was set to marry the boy king, the insane boy whom his little sister was doing her best to tame. Loras had joined the Kingsguard to be at her side at all times, protecting her, keeping her safe, ensuring no harm came to her. Garlan had been residing in Kings Landing, when Willas knew that he wanted to come home, especially with his pregnant wife Leonette despising their residence in the Capital.
Everyone was making sacrifices. Even his Father was being ridiculed weekly in the small council meetings he had been invited too, taking it all on the chin (though honestly Willas wasn't sure his Father knew he was being mocked, bless his Father but he was not the shiniest apple in the cart). Bless his Father, he had little brains, but enough to follow his Grandmother's words to the letter; it was what they all did after all, and none could say it hadn't gotten them far.
His eyes brushed over the first line again 'My dearest Willas', he smiled at that. His Grandmother loved him, he knew that. Margarey and he had always been her favourites. As soon as he was old enough to learn she had bounced him on her knee, telling him stories, teaching him, rearing him to be a good Lord. When Margaery had been born she had taken his place on her knee, whilst he had sat in front of her, legs crossed, listening intently. They had both been taught the same lesson over and over again; do what needs to be done. She loved Loras and Garlan too but saw them for what they were; warriors, fighters, not the kind to lead the Tyrell name further up the ladder. No, Willas and Margaery were the ones to do that, and the time had evidently come for him to step forward.
A deep sigh left his lips and he rose from his seat, his hand clutching the table as he reached for his cane with the other. He slowly moved from his chair and around the table, his limp as it always did slowing him down. He smiled ruefully to himself then; his limp was the least of his worries, he had grown so used to it over the years, and he had adapted to it, it barely bothered him anymore, as long as he didn't put too much strain on it. Sometimes he was thankful for it, if he had still been able to fight no doubt his Father would have pushed him to be like Loras and Garlan, entering tourneys and going to war. Thankfully he could stay home and rule instead. Even as a young boy fighting hadn't been very interesting to him; why smack at each other with sticks when you could bring another House to heel with words?
Unfortunately the contents of the letter could not be mended with words, nor with steel. It was set in stone now and Willas knew he would have to accept it. Knew it was solid, essential even to strenghten and further House Tyrell. Everyone was making sacrifices, now it was his turn.
He was going to marry Sansa Stark.
Willas knew it was a risky move trying to steal the key to the North out from under the Lannisters, before Margaery was officially Queen, but it was the only way, the only way to advance further. They could not let the Lannister's have the North, they would be unstoppable then. The Tyrell's had to steal the North, it would advance them further, further up the ladder. Added to the fact Lady Sansa could possibly be a link to the Riverlands as well; it was essential they gained control of her. As his Grandmother had whispered into his ear so many times, first when he had bounced on her knee, then when he had sat in front of her, then when they had walked in the gardens together.
'Do what needs to be done'
Her smile was positively radiant as her handmaidens readied her for the day. She had a bounce in her step that had been absent for many a month, and she couldn't keep her excitement at bay. For once the walls of ice she had built to hide her true feelings were crumbling, she simply couldn't contain her happiness. Her usual courtesies were slipping away as she imagined her future, a future in which she wouldn't need to be so guarded all the time and could actually, just possibly be happy.
Her gown was a deep green colour, with buttons of gold, myrish lace at the waist and creeping tendrils of gold throughout the skirts. It was a gift from Olenna Tyrell, and she was told to wear it today. It was not subtle, but it was beautiful, and they were soon to be her colours – the colours of Highgarden. She would hope to encorporate grey into her wardrobe as well, though green and gold suited her just fine. The back of her dress was cut like Margaerys (though admittedly a bit more modest), and though once it would have made her blush upon seeing it, now she embraced it. This is what Lady's of Highgarden wore, this is what she needed to wear, as soon she would be one of them.
Her hair was curly, and brushed down her back, she was wearing it in the traditional Maiden style as Margaery often did, a few bits pinned up but otherwise left alone. She had grown quite tired of the Kings Landing styles. Now she looked to all the world to be a Noble Southern Lady, and soon she would be, soon she would be.
She made her way to the door then, taking a moment to compose herself. Nothing had been announced yet, nothing cemented or set in stone. She would not get too excited and give the game away; Margaery had made that very clear when she had told her; she was to tell no one, to reveal nothing. But, if all went right she would be a free woman by lunch, betrothed to Willas Tyrell, Heir to Highgarden, her future safe and secure. She would leave this awful place, and all the awful people behind. That thought pushed another smile to her face but she forced it back down, her mask firmly in place; she could reveal nothing.
And so she made her way to court for the Kings session, she walked with her head dropped, her lips set in a firm pout, her eyes wide and innocent, she looked as she always did; frightened, innocent, naive. This is how she had to act for now, but soon she would be free. She is sure of it, surely the Lannisters could not rip away her happiness once again? Surely not. This time they would not stop her from living a good life, a happy life.
Still as she made her way into court she kept her mask firmly in place. She was quiet, composed but stood rigid. She ignored Joffrey sat on the throne, his evil smirk playing across his lips, she ignored Cersei to his side, her own smirk somehow worse, she ignored Tywin, his rigidness rivalling hers. She did however offer a smile to Tyrion, the only Lannister she considered to be kind. He nodded at her before she made a bee line for the Tyrell's, they were her family now and she would seek solace in their group.
Margaery embraced her with a smile, before throwing a wink her way, no one witness to it except Olenna who both smiled and rolled her eyes. She gave Sansa a warning look and Sansa nodded before dropping her gaze once more, she could not seem too happy, she wouldn't put it past the Lannister's to abandon the court session if they sensed something was afoot. Still her insides were bubbling with excitement, her stomach in knots. She felt Margaery slide her hand into her own, and in response Sansa wrapped her fingers around the other girls, she needed all the support she could get.
Joffrey began the Court session, luckily he seemed bored rather than vicious and excused himself after 5 minutes, claiming he had 'kingly duties' to attend too. Tywin simply nodded him out and took his Grandsons place on the Iron Throne. He made it look like the Throne was his, and for all intents and purposes it was, everyone knew Joffrey was a puppet, Tywin pulling the strings. Still he sat rigidly as lesser Lords came to him with dull problems that he solved efficiently and quickly. Almost a half hour had gone by and Sansa felt no calmer, her heart was thudding against her chest; she just wanted it confirmed, wanted to know, needed to know.
The idea of escaping Kings Landing, going to Highgarden, it was the only thing keeping her sane. She knew that if the Lannister's found a way to worm out of this she would lose all hope, all sense of happiness. Her eyes flickered up to see Cersei and Tywin, and she thought of Joffrey for a moment. She couldn't stay here, she wouldn't. If this betrothal was somehow shot down, then she would know, she would know she was stuck here forever. She would rather fling herself from the highest window in the Red Keep than remain as Joffrey's play thing, remain to be tormented and abused. The hope was like a light inside of her, if it were snuffed out she wouldn't recover.
Another 10 minutes went by and she was still as rigid as a board, her hand clutching Margaery's, her hand hurt from the tension of grasping her friends and she would guess her friends hurt too but Margaery didn't say anything, didn't pull away, just remained tense beside her. Her heart was still thudding against her chest, and as Mace stepped forward into the middle of the room, infront of Tywin and the great Iron Throne, her heart rate only increased, hammering away like a hummingbirds, insistent, desperate.
"My Lord Hand" Mace spoke respectfully as Tywin nodded for him to continue. "A great union will soon be made between out two houses and I only seek to strengthen it further" He may have been the person speaking but the worlds were Olenna's. Sansa turned to glance at Margaerys Grandmother and the old woman smiled at her before fixing her gaze back on her son, a steely glint evident in her eyes, watching always watching.
"I thus would propose you marry your ward Sansa Stark, to my eldest son and heir Willas Tyrell" He spoke boldly, pausing as ripples of gossip ran across the hall at the news. Sansa didn't look around but knew all eyes were currently on her. Somehow she tightened her grip on Margaerys hand, and her friend didn't flinch, only steadying her through her comfort. "Willas is in need of a wife and someone to give him children, Sansa is in need of a husband, this match will show even more unity between the Tyrell's and Lannister's, and will ensure the North is under Tyrell control, and thus under Lannister control by extension, we don't want anyone else stealing the North away"
For a moment the hall is silent, and the implication behind Mace's words sunk in. Mace stepped back in line with the Tyrell's, Tywin was completely unreadable, though his grip on the Throne had tightened, Cersei looked murderous but didn't dare speak, knowing Tywin had to respond first. Sansa risked a glance up and dropped her gaze immediately when she met Cersei's furious glare. Tyrion had a small smirk on his face which he was attempting (and failing) to hide.
Tywin opened his mouth for a moment before Cersei interjected, evidently unable to hold back, her eyes full of fury, her posture strung high "I don't see how this is beneficial to you Lord Tyrell. The known daughter of a traitor, and sister to someone who is currently in open rebellion to us betrothed to the Heir to Highgarden?" Cersei raised an eyebrow as mutters swept through the court. "Doesn't seem like a wise decision, throwing your prized heir towards this traitorous chit"
Sansa felt her shoulders drop and tears pool in her eyes before her feeling of deep shame was replaced by something else, something cold, something strong. How dare Cersei Lannister question her?! How dare she look down upon her? Sansa was a noble woman, regardless of her families current status. She was a Lady of Winterfell, a Princess of the North! How dare they say she wasn't good enough?! The Stark's were descended from the First Men, one of the oldest most noble houses, they had been around longer than any of the others. She was a Stark, she was a wolf, how dare they try and slander her!
Her eyes flickered upward, a cold sapphire blue, and she opened her mouth ready to speak to defend herself, however before she could she felt Margaery tug on her hand, and shake her head quickly, her friends hand now crushing her own tighter than before. Lady Olenna stepped forwards then, acting frail as she shuffled in front of Sansa. Margaery only tugged Sansa further back, her nails digging into the Northern girls skin hard. "Say nothing Sansa, say nothing" Her voice was barely a whisper but Sansa understood quickly, dropping her head. She had almost forgotten herself, if she were to say a word to defend her family she too would be declared a traitor and any hope of escaping Kings Landing would be lost.
As she dropped her gaze, Sansa realised that's what Cersei had wanted, to rile her up, to have her forget herself and defend her family. Shunning the Tyrell's would then be all too easy for Tywin. He could claim Sansa was too dangerous to be allowed to leave Kings Landing. She felt shame curl up within her as she realised how close she had come to ruining everything. She could only thank the Gods for Margaery and she squeezed her friends hand to convey that, her eyes wide with embarrassment, the colour draining from her skin as she realised just how close things had come to being ruined.
"Her Father and Brother may be traitors, but she is not. If I'm correct she wrote to her family asking them to surrender, showing her true loyalties" Olenna spoke then, her words hard as she looked up at Tywin Lannister. "She is a bright, beautiful girl, I can think of no one better for my Grandson, as my Son said, this will strenghten Tyrell and Lannister relations" She smiled then but remained where she was. It was time for an answer, that much was clear.
"It seems I cannot refuse" Tywin said with a tight smile. Sansa felt her heart leap, shame became quickly replaced with hope, a true hope that fluttered first in her stomach and then flared in her heart. "The two will be married a week before Joffrey and Margaery, that way Lord Willas can stay to see his sister married, if thats agreeable to you?" He looked furious, and his tone was cold. Sansa knew how angry he must be but as he had said, he could not refuse, slighting the Tyrell's in front of everyone was not an option, not when he needed the family so badly.
"Most agreeable my Lord Hand" Olenna said with a smile, her eyes flickering to Sansa. Sansa smiled back at her, her cheeks turning pink, her hand squeezing Margaerys even tighter. "It is wonderful for me to see dear Sansa happy, as I'm sure she will be with my Grandson, and he in turn will be both delighted with Sansa and delighted to see his Sister wed in person"
"Of course" Tywin said, as he rose from the throne. "Court is finished for the day, any matters not resolved will be dealt with tomorrow" He immediately walked forwards then, not sparing the Tyrell's a glance as he excited the Throne Room. Sansa was glad not to be bothered by him, and instead turned to Margaery a delighted smile on her face. She felt all the excitement, hope and joy from early bubble over, and before she could stop herself tears slid down her cheeks like rain on a window, her sheer delight overtaking her for a moment.
"Thank you" She spoke softly, if it weren't for Margaery everything might have been ruined! Still she was overjoyed, she would leave the Capital, she would be married too someone she had only heard good things about, a Southern Lord who she could surely be happy with. She would be free, she would have little children with red and brown hair, she would never return to Kings Landing! She would no longer be a prisoner! That was the most important thing. She had to council herself not to be naive; she didn't even know Willas! And yet she couldn't stop herself, the excitement sweeping through her. All that mattered was that she was to be free!
Margaery merely laughed and took both of Sansa's hands then in her own. "We will be Sisters, just as I had hoped" She pulled Sansa into a hug, and placed a kiss on the Northern girls forehead, before swiping away at her tears. "Now, Sister, let us go to the markets, we have cause to celebrate and I think a dozen or so dresses each will do the trick"
Like, hate, love? Let me know! I plan to update ASAP on this, and I think I'll be introducing Margaerys POV next chapter! I do hope you enjoyed.
Updated: grammer changed, small sentences added: 2/06/18.
