My Kingdom Awaits
Sansa never thought she would be back here. Her eyes scanned over the room and she sat back and ran her hands over her stomach. She had always stayed in the Tower of the Hand when she had last been in King's Landing, and though her husband vowed to protect her she did not feel safe. She truthfully hadn't felt safe since her father was executed. She looked to her left and watched while her maids laid out a small meal, but turned away. Her husband would no doubt be stopping by, taking time out of his busy day of preparations for the trials that would begin, trials that she had to attend, trials that she would avoid if not for the fact she was duty bound to attend. Sure enough Jon made his way in and dismissed the servants.
"San?" He said softly not wanting to disturb her. He took off Longclaw and placed it beside the newly re-forged Ice on the mantle and made his way past the small table and into their bedchamber.
"I'm awake Your Grace." Sansa said softly as she rolled over to face Jon. Soon after they had won back Winterfell they had began to prepare for the war against the Others. Arya had returned to them and Howland Reed had shown up when Jon called their banners again. He came to fulfill a promise he had made to Ned. Jon sent word to his Aunt that he need her help. Sansa was shocked when she came to his aid; shocked that Tyrion was with her. Those horrifying beasts had flew over the wall and set fire to everything dead. The Others were defeated with dragons, Valyrian steel and a hero reborn according to another Red Priestess that had also arrived with Daenerys. A red Priestess that was sent back east. Melissandre had made the mistake of telling Jon he would need to make burnt offerings to the Lord of Light. He had executed her on the spot for threatening Sansa and burned her body.
"Are you well?" Jon asked sitting beside her and brushing the back of his hand against her cheek. Sansa took his hand and placed it on her stomach so he could feel the babe move. She had lost her first babe, Ramsay's babe. Only Jon and Maester Sam knew that babe wasn't Jon's. He had married her before he left to fight the Others, claiming that he didn't want their babe born a bastard and no one questioned their newly crowned King in the North. Sansa had started to bleed and would have died had Sam and Gilly not shown up when they did. Gilly was used to her sisters and mother miscarrying and birthing babes and Sam's teaching had saved her.
"I'm well." Sansa said sitting up and letting Jon led her to the table. "I was just thinking about how we got here."
"Pleasant thoughts I hope." Jon said helping her into her chair and then pushing her closer to the table.
"Not here, here. How we ended up in King's Landing. How you ended up ruling Westoros. How we have Black Cells full of traitors awaiting trial. How the Sept of Baelor is burnt to the ground. How Tyrion Lannister is your Hand."
"I told you I would never let anyone hurt you again. I need men like Tyrion to help me rule." Jon said. "Is it awkward having your first husband here?"
"We were never husband and wife. It's just awkward to be here." Sansa said sniffing the air. "Do you smell lemons? " Jon smiled at her and lifted the warming covers off their plates to show her the warm cakes he had made for her. He poured out the water and Sansa looked on, astounded when a few slices of the precious fruit fell into her cup.
"A crate just arrived from High Garden. Willas likely trying to gain favor for his grandmother, as soon as I heard of the gift I had them make up cakes for you and sliced one into our pitcher myself." Jon said smiling as Sansa sipped the water and smiled.
"How goes court?" Sansa asked as Jon ripped a small loaf of bread apart.
"They will be ready for us after we break our fast." Jon said looking down. "If you do not feel up to it…"
"I will still go and do my duty. They will all answer for the harm they did our—my father." Sansa said shivering at the thought of the executions that were sure to follow. The flapping of wings could be heard and she watched while Drogon, Viserion and Rhaegal flew past their window. Those who thought dragons could not be controlled were wrong. Jon could control them because he was the blood of the dragon, the real prince that was promised. When Daenerys had turned coldly to them in the fields around Winterfell and demanded that they bend the knee Sansa had stood tall and declared the North would never bow to Southern rule again. Jon nodded and eyed the shivering Dothraki and Unsullied as they stood in formation. The Wildlings and Northern forces formed behind their liege Lords, prepared to die when Daenerys commanded her beasts into the air, just as she signaled for them to swoop in, pointing to Sansa, Jon had cried out no and dragons landed. He ordered them to his side and they left their mother. Daenerys had no choice but to be the one that bowed down. Jon had tried, had named her Lady of Dragonstone, but she had returned to Essos, to rule where she was a Queen.
"Who is to be tried first?" Sansa asked as she ate some of the bread and a few pieces of fruit, earning smiles from Jon with each bite.
"Lord Baelish." Jon said. "Cersei will be last." Jon said.
"He was poisoning Sweet Robyn." Sansa said softly pushing her plate away but picking up one of the sweet cakes Jon had made for her. "He betrayed father."
"He sold you like a some cattle to the Boltons." Jon spat out. "He is lucky that I was raised by the most honorable man in Westoros, he is lucky that I don't follow the Lord of Light. He is lucky that our way is the Old Way." Jon said coldly.
"And he is lucky that you are a just King who excused himself from sitting on the panel that will judge him.' Sansa said holding his hand.
"It would not be right for me to judge him when I have already judged him guilty." Jon said calming to his wife's touch. "I received a raven from Arya. Bran has returned home with Meera Reed. She will stay on and help him rule the North in our steed." Jon said. "Tyrion is appointing a new Warden of the West and Dorne is no longer unbowed." Jon said. "Lord Royce had promised to council Lord Robyn and though he will not or ever be the warrior his father was, he will be a fit Lord." Jon said as he ate, filling Sansa in on the news of their Kingdom. "I'll send Ice back so it rests within Winterfell."
"The Starks must never leave Winterfell again. Arya and Bran and any heirs they have." Sansa said softly. "Never shall Winterfell be without a Stark."
"Never." Jon promised. "Arya wishes for me to allow her to remain unwed. She's waiting for Gendry to more established. I don't know what your lady mother would think about her marrying a Blacksmith."
"A knight. The heir to Storm's End." Sansa said. "She loves him and he her. I want her to only know happiness from marriage. It took three for me to find it." Sansa said. "Promise me Jon, you won't make her marry a Lord she doesn't love."
"I promise." Jon quickly said. He picked up his water cup and drained it. "Where's Ghost?" He asked looking around.
"He's lying on my silk robe in the changing room. When I took it off after my bath it fell to the floor and he snuggled on it as I was dressed. I hadn't the heart to make him move."
"He's to guard you, not sleep." Jon said smiling.
"Sandor and Brienne are outside my door. Any man that makes it past them is not going to in any shape to hurt me. Ghost would not even have to rush." Sansa said.
"I talked to some of the city guards that worked under Janos Slynt." Jon said softly. "They will testify to the treachery of Littlefinger against Lord Stark."
"What?" Sansa said turning to him as she stood up. Jon walked with her over to their dressing chamber so she could ready herself for court.
"Our father knew that the Queen would not easily give up, not with her children at stake. He thought that Littlefinger had secured the city watch as backup. Instead he pulled a dagger and held it to his throat and made him watch while his household guards were butchered. He is responsible for what happened to you in King's Landing." He held out her gown and helped her pull it around her corset and shifts, picking up the other she had been wearing. Sansa tied the Stark gray gown at her side before sitting down and picking up her brush.
"You now it was my fault. I told the queen we were leaving, I begged her to talk to father, to convince him that I should stay behind to marry Joffrey."
"You had no idea what Joffrey and his mother were." Jon said. "You are not at fault." He said watching while she brushed and braided her hair. Neither put on the Targaryen crowns that were on their table, Sansa instead choosing a loose silver chain with pearls Jon had given her when she announced she was with child. Jon wore no finery. Just the doublets Sansa embroidered from him. They occasionally wore their crowns to court, but not often. Sansa wearing the crown of Rhaella and Jon the crown of Aegon the Conqueror. Many commissioned new crowns for them, trying to win their favor, but Jon always refused them. He was not a king the coveted wealth. The royal crofters flowed again with gold, thanks to the mines of Castemere. Robb had won them, and their gold was carted in. A good chunk had gone to pay off the Iron Bank of Braavos, but Tyrion had forgiven the debt to House Lannister in exchange for the life of his brother. Sansa had known that it was because of Jaime sending off Brienne that she was able to make it to the wall, and Jon had relented. Jaime was the Lord of Casterly Rock, a position that Tyrion relented. Tyrion was too busy helping them rule and quite comfortable in the Tower of Hand. Jaime was expected to marry and breed, something Lord Tywin had always wanted. Tyrion never planned to marry again. Sansa had known that had Jaime agreed to leave the Kingsguard, Tywin was going to marry him to Sansa herself. When he refused, she had been given to Tyrion. Sansa wasn't sure if Tyrion was trying to make up for killing his father or not, or if Jaime was being further punished by being forced to marry.
"Jon?" Sansa said as he took her arm and whistled. Ghost made his way out and followed them to court. He would sit beside Sansa, in her throne beside Jon.
'Yes?" He asked nodding to as her guards fell in line behind them.
"Do you think people see us as they look at Cersei?" Jon shook his head. Sansa asked him this often.
"We are not brother and sister. We never had that relationship."
"Because I was terrible to you."
"Because you obeyed your Lady Mother." Jon said. "It matters not. I am Targaryen. Not Stark. Cousins marry all the time."
"Our baby will not be mad." Sansa repeated. Maester Sam had explained that inbreeding was really only a risk with close relatives, and even then, as Gilly's child, and Myrcella and Tommen had proven, the child had a shot at being smart, sweet and caring.
"Our child will be perfect." Jon promised pausing outside the doors and kissing her hand before nodding. Sansa steeled her spine and made her face betray nothing of the fear she felt entering the throne room.
"Rise for your King and Queen." Sandor said announcing them. The people curtsied around them as they made their way to the thrones.
"Are the judges present?" Jon asked as he settled into the throne and reached over to hold Sansa's hand.
"We are Your Grace." Lady Mormont said from the table where she stood between Lord Redwyne and Ser Davos Seaworth.
"Bring in the accused." Only Jon heard his wife's small intake of breath and felt her tighten the hold on his hand. In walked in Lord Baelish, as he approached the prisoner's dock he smiled up at Sansa, unaware that he had been exposed.
"Our first witness is Lord Varys, the Spider." Lord Redwyne said. Baelish smile soured and Sansa stared him down as Varys established who was on the City Watch during the early days of Joffrey's false rule. Man after man was called to testify to the orders given to them by Janos Slynt. The Maester from the Eyrie was then called. He went on to explain that he repeatedly told Baelish that sweet sleep was too strong a medication to be used as he ordered for Lord Robyn's "fits."
"We can only thank the Gods that Lord Robyn survived this treatment." Lyanna Mormont spewed out dismissing the Maester. She had promised her youngest sister, who was only 8 to the Lord of the Eyrie should he survive. Being able to grow up and have consequences seemed to be working out for Lord Arryn, he still had shaking episodes, but not from temper tantrums.
"Lord Baelish may be accompanied back to his cell. The judges will hear the rest to the cases, and then we will decide the prisoners' fates. " Lord Davos said. "Shall we move on to the next case?"
"No my Lords and Lady. Night falls soon. We will refresh ourselves with food and sleep and meet in the morning." Jon said as he stood with Sansa from the throne. Court was dismissed and Sansa turned to Jon. He leaned over to whisper in her ear. "I won't have to you dealing with all of the stress in one sitting." He said running his thumb along the back of the hand that was still in his own. Sansa blushed when she noticed how tightly she held his hand.
"People will see me as your weakness…" Sansa said softly.
"And should they try anything they will see my strength." Jon said loudly enough that if anyone was trying to eavesdrop on their king, they would hear. Jon nodded and they were led back through to the Royal Apartments. "Are you hungry again?" Jon asked.
"Not yet Your Grace." Sansa answered. "Perhaps we could write to Arya and Bran before we send for food?"
"I'll invite Sam for drinks and tell him to bring parchment, wax and your seal." He said letting her enter their rooms. "Shall I invite Sandor and Brienne for dinner?"
"Yes. They guard all day. I broke my fast when I woke this morning with Brienne and Pod this morning. When I woke you were already gone."
"You looked peaceful. I didn't want to wake you. It was a rough night." Jon explained. "I broke my fast with Sam and had him update me on the correspondence."
"If my Mother's Illness disturbs you I should sleep elsewhere." Sansa offered. "You have a kingdom to rule."
"No. We will not be separated." Jon said turning to venture after a squire to fetch Sam and invite their guests. "And we have a kingdom to rule. The realm will know that your word is equal to mine."