A Better Man

Disclaimer: I own nothing but the plot and ocs. Enjoy and feel free to let me know what you thought.

Chapter 1

Sansa wasn't entirely fond of tourneys. She didn't enjoy watching the men ruthlessly beat themselves to prove they were better than the last man. She didn't see the point in the events that were held. However, her betrothed enjoyed them very much, and had insisted she join him for the Crown Prince's Name Day Tourney. She was seated beside her intended, Joffery Barthareon, watching the archery event with mild interest.

"Can you believe they are allowing the Princess to participate in this event?" the disgust was evident in Joffery's tone, however, Sansa had been unaware that the Princess was even allowed to compete.

"Surely you must be mistaken," the moment the words left her mouth, Sansa knew she would regret them. Joffery hated when she questioned him. When he found a moment alone with her, most likely when he would wish her good night, she would suffer for the comment. Joffery's nostrils flared at her words, turning his narrowed gaze towards her before speaking.

"Are you calling me a liar my lady?" he ground the words out from between clenched teeth. Sansa's eyes widened fractionally as she shook her head, her heavy braid thumping against her back from the movement.

"Of course not my lord. I'm merely shocked by the information you had just gifted me with," Sansa stuttered out quickly, glancing towards the open field to watch the event unfold before Joffery could see just how frightened she was.

True to his words, Sansa saw the head of silver blonde hair making her way onto the field. Sansa noticed how Princess Rhaenys had her silvery hair in a single plait down her back, a long bow gripped between her slender fingers as she took position and notched an arrow.

"The King actually allows his daughter to practice archery Father!" Sansa heard her sister, Arya's, excited voice exclaim at the sight. Her father answered with a chuckle.

"Aye, he does," he replied, watching as the arrow flew true and hit it's intended mark before she took three steps to the left and notched another arrow. Sansa watched, amazed as this arrow also flew true and hit the target dead center.

"If she makes the last shot, she'll have won the event," Arya stated with wonder in her voice as the Princess notched her third and final arrow.

"Surely the other two were just luck," Sansa spoke finally, rolling her eyes at her sister who was excited. Sansa watched in amazement as the arrow hit the center of the third target and Princess Rhaenys turned towards the cheering crowd, arms out stretched as she turned in a circle with a wide grin on her lips. Joffery scoffed beside her, turning away from the sight, However, Sansa couldn't as she watched two men make their way onto the field. She could only assume the one with matching silver hair was the Crown Prince Aegon and the one with black curls was their brother, Prince Jon. She watched as Prince Aegon threw his head back and laughed loudly, obviously at something his sister had said and how Princess Rhaenys ran towards Prince Jon, who caught her and swung her in a circle.

"They're so affectionate with each other," Sansa spoke softly, truly amazed by the royal siblings interaction before shaking her head and glancing around her, only to notice how her father's eyes were trained on Prince Jon, a look of sadness dancing in his eyes before he turned away to talk to Lord Barthareon. Exhaling a sigh, Sansa turned back to the field in time to catch Prince Jon's eyes, eyes that looked stormy gray, until he turned and the sunlight caused them to appear Targaryen violet. Sansa turned away, ending their staring contest before anyone could notice and glanced at her hands folded in her lap. Her heart was fluttering quickly inside her chest, and Sansa closed her eyes, fighting the heat that was rising to her cheeks. Inhaling a deep breath, she reopened her eyes, only to see the Prince had turned and was now speaking to his siblings. Releasing the breath in a rush of either relief or disappointment, she wasn't sure, Sansa felt her shoulders drop slightly.

"Some lady finally caught your eye Little Brother?" Aegon questioned as he moved to stand beside his brother, smirk dancing on his lips as he glanced over his shoulder, attempting to find the lady that had caught his younger brother's eye where others had failed to.

"Leave the Little Dragon alone Egg," Rhaenys chided her elder brother lightly, rolling her eyes as she came to stand beside Jon, watching as he shook his head at Aegon's actions.

"It's that pretty Northern lady, hair kissed by fire and eyes like sapphires," she commented after a moment, noticing how Lord Stark's eldest daughter had glanced back towards Jon when she thought no one was looking. A smirk danced on Rhaenys's lips as she thought about how much their mother would enjoy this bit of news.

"Oh, she is pretty. Also betrothed to Lord Barthareon's son, Joffery," Aegon commented lightly, watching the smirk dance across his sister's lips as she merely shrugged her delicate shoulders.

"Are you two quite done? I need to be preparing for the melee event," Jon stated, exasperation coloring his tone as he rolled his eyes skyward.

"Please, Brother, if you had wished for us to leave you be, all you needed to do was say so. We all know you will win the event as surely as you knew I would win the last," Rhaenys clucked her tongue, rolling her violet eyes skyward as she moved to link arms with Aegon and allowed him to escort her from the field.

"You're plotting something Sister," Aegon murmured once he was sure they were out of ear shot. Rhaenys merely smirked, glancing towards her brother from the corner of eye.

"Don't worry that pretty head of yours Brother. Leave the plotting to those who are actually capable of it," Rhaenys replied lightly, smiling brightly as they reached the stands their parents were sitting at before taking a seat beside her mother.

"Some pretty bird has finally caught the Little Dragon's attention," she commented, watching as her mother's amber eyes widened slightly before she turned her attention to her daughter as they waited for the event to begin.

"Do tell my little Sun, who has finally caught our Jon's eye," Elia questioned her daughter as she clasped their hands together, turning her body so she knew she had her undivided attention.

"Apparently Little Brother inherited father's love of wolves," was all Rhaenys said before the horn were blown, announcing the beginning of the melee event.

Sansa watched as the Prince moved flawlessly through the field, easily winning each match before the finals. Sansa felt her lips pull down in a frown when it was announced that Joffery's sworn sword, the Hound, would be facing Prince Jon. Turning her head slightly, she noticed the smug smirk dancing on his lips as he watched the fight unfold in front of him. She knew the Hound wouldn't hold back, even if his opponent was the Prince. Joffery would have told him to win by any means necessary.

"Something bothering you Sweetling?" Ned asked his eldest daughter, his eyes never leaving the fight. Sansa whimpered slightly when the crowd heard a nasty clash of metal against metal.

"I'm not very fond of fighting Father," Sansa answered, knowing he wouldn't believe her if she informed him of what Joffery had done. He would tell her she was a woman of ten and eight, not a child who would be running around making up stories as she once had. Inhaling a breath, Sansa glanced towards the scene only to see the Hound fall, Prince Jon's sword at his throat. She was amazed. No one had ever defeated the Hound before, yet he had, a man who didn't look much older than her.

Sansa watched the crowd cheer, expecting his siblings to race to the field yet again to congratulate him. Only they didn't. For Prince Jon stood on the field, a wide grin stretching his lips as Queen Elia descended the steps of the stand, placing a crown of roses in his hands.

"As is tradition to every victor, with the exception of your sister, you are to crown your Queen of Love and Beauty," Queen Elia's voice carried over the crowd easily, a soft smile dancing on her lips. Prince Jon nodded, his eyes easily scanning the crowd before his storm colored eyes landed on her. Sansa felt every muscle in her body tense as he slowly made his way towards her. Sansa watched from the corner of her eye as Joffery glared, his lips pulling down into a frown when he realized the Prince was making his way towards them. She felt every muscle in his slender body tense as Jon stopped before her placing the crown of roses atop her head and grasping her hand. She felt him run a gloved thumb over the soft flesh of the back of her hand before pressing his lips in a light kiss. Sansa fought the heat rising in her cheeks as she glanced demurely to her lap, knowing it would only anger Joffery more if she showed her pleasure in the attention the Prince was paying her.

"I wish for you to speak to Lord Stark," Elia stated once she had returned to her seat, watching as Jon carefully scanned the crowd until his eyes fell on the eldest Stark girl. Rhaegar raised a questioning eyebrow, silently asking his wife to explain.

"In the years since Jon has become a man, we have not pushed him to marry, have not seen him even take an interest in any girls in the court. Yet today, he can not look away from the eldest Stark girl. I think he is truly smitten with her and I believe it would be good to unify our Houses. Things have been... shaky since Lyanna. Do this Rhaegar. I wish the match to happen," Elia stated, her eyes never leaving the boy she had raised from his birth, her second son.

"So it shall my beautiful Sunshine," Rhaegar answered, watching as Jon placed the crown of roses atop Lord Stark's daughter's head before taking a step back, offering her a bow, and turning on his heel. Rhaegar knew he was most likely going to search for his siblings who had disappeared once he had been declared victor of the melee event. Rising from his seat, Rhaegar easily made his way towards Lord Stark, his once good brother before the death of his second wife.

"Your Grace," Lord Stark greeted once he realized he was standing beside him and lord Barthareon who mumbled his title.

"Lord Stark, Lord Barthareon," Rhaegar greeted in turn, glancing towards the two young girls and the boy beside the men.

"My, is this your youngest daughter Lord Stark? She looks very much like Lyanna," Rhaegar commented, watching the sad smile dance on the other man's lips before he nodded.

"Aye, this is my youngest daughter Arya. That is my eldest daughter, Sansa," he introduced, watching as Arya curtsied clumsily and Sansa gracefully.

"Lovely girl," Rhaegar complimented Sansa, a small smile dancing on his lips as he watched Lord Bartthareon mutter something under his breath before excusing himself from their conversation.

"A reason you were making Robert uncomfortable, your grace?" Ned questioned, eyebrow raised as he listened to Rhaegar chuckle.

"No reason truly. I wished to speak to you of your daughter's betrothal. How committed to a Barthareon wedding are you?" Ned frowned slightly, his gaze moving from Joffery to Sansa, the changes he had noticed in his daughter since her betrothal had been announced two years ago.

"I'd much rather marry Arya to Robert's eldest son, Gendry. At least that lad actually looks and acts like a true man ought," Ned replied, watching Rhaegar nod, glancing over his shoulder to his three children.

"I regret only having a year with Lyanna. Contrary to what others may say, Elia and I truly loved her. She was wild where Elia was tame, quiet where Elia was loud. She wasn't meant for the South however. And sadly I know Jon isn't either. He hasn't even looked at a woman until today," Rhaegar started, watching as Ned's eyes widened slightly.

"You wish to send your son North?" he sounded confused, unsure just what Rhaegar was saying.

"I wish to properly unite our Houses Ned. Jon is very taken with your eldest daughter, and he is more like Lyanna than he is me. Aegon excels with a harp, with poetry. He was a gentle child. Never truly liked conflict. Jon, he excels with a sword, war strategy. I'm certain he would win the respect of every Wildling who settled in the Gift," Rhaegar stated, watching as Ned thought over his words.

"I agree. I'll break the news to Robert tonight," he grasped Rhaegar's forearm, watching the other man smile before returning to his seat. He silently prayed to the old gods he wouldn't regret his decisions.

Glancing over his shoulder, he noticed the way Joffery attempted to make himself appear bigger, the way Sansa folded into hersefl when ever he was close. Once he had promised, as only a father could, that he would find her someone worthy, someone brave, gentle, and strong. Hopefully Jon Targaryen was that man, at least a better man than Joffery.

A/N: I hope you enjoyed the first chapter. Feel free to let me know what you thought!