Chapter 1: Mine
She moved down the dark, damp hallway slowly, holding her breath. All she could hear was the wind outside and her soft footsteps on the cold stone floor. The open windows sent a chill through her light silk nightgown. She didn't know where she was or how she got there, but all she knew was that she needed to get to the end of the hallway. As she scanned the cold stone walls around her, enclosing her deeper into the darkness, she couldn't help the fear that rose inside her. She kept moving. The only light she could see was the faint glow behind the door at the end of the hall, so she kept moving towards the door, making as little sound as possible. Her bare feet freezing and radiating through her body, but she didn't let that stop her. It was as if something was pulling her down the hallway into the room beyond the door. She had to go.
As she reached the door, she could hear soft music playing from the room. She reached out grabbing the metal handle and as she took another deep breath, she slowly turned the handle and pushed the heavy wooden door open. Stepping through the door, she couldn't believe what she saw.
The room was large and elegant; candles lite around the room everywhere. She stood above on a balcony attached to an old spiral staircase. She scanned the room taking in her surroundings. There was a large wooden table in the centre of the room and large long burgundy curtains covering the windows that were as tall as the wall itself. In the far right side of the room stood a large grand piano that sat in front of overflowing bookshelves; and to her left there was a large brick fireplace with a roaring fire providing most of the light in the room. There were two large lounge chairs just off to the side, and a sofa matching across from it. She decided she was in a castle. It was the only logical explanation, but she just wasn't sure why.
As she focused on the fireplace and chairs, she saw the figure of a man standing in front of the fire. She couldn't see him well in the flickering light; he was staring into the flames as he slowly rotated a large glass of wine in his hand. The wine looked odd to her. It was darker than she thought it should be, and it seemed thicker as he gently swirled it around in its glass.
Before she knew it, she felt that deep pull again as she descended down the spiral staircase. Her feet took her towards the mysterious man by the fire, and with each step she took, her fear grew greater and greater. However, as afraid as she was, there was also something else. Excitement? Desire? Curiosity? She wasn't quite sure, but she wanted it. She wanted to be near him at all cost, and to be close. As she reached him, he finally turned around, allowing her to see him fully as he took a sip of his wine.
He was lean, yet not quite tall but also not short. He wore fine cloths in black and emerald shades with a mockingbird pin at his collar. His hair was black with grey painting his temples and not a hair was out of place, and his facial hair was trimmed precisely around his slim lips which formed a smile that didn't quite reach his grey-green eyes.
"I've been waiting a long time for you, sweetling," he spoke softly as he placed his wine down on the fireplace mantle. He gracefully moved towards her and she stood frozen in place, in awe of the man before her; unable to speak. He wrapped his hand around her waist, pulling her into himself and breathing her in.
"A very long time." he continued as he started to sway with her in his arms to the soft music playing around them. His grip was firm, yet gentle at the same time, and as she leaned into him, she could smell the faint aroma of mint. She didn't know why, but she let him pull her in and let him lead and take control. She couldn't pull herself away and every time she tried to speak, she simply couldn't find the words. It was as if the words kept getting stuck in her throat. So with words failing her, she just stared into his grey-green eyes that bore into her soul; eyes that felt as if he was drinking her in, and she thought for just a split second that he showed desire for her. As his eyes pierced into her ocean-blue eyes, she could feel a heat rise throughout her whole body.
He swayed her around the room taking pleasure in holding her tightly against his body. He let his hand slip down her lower back as he drew her even closer into him and his other hand held hers close to his chest. She let him. She felt as though she had absolutely no control over her actions and that was okay. There was something about him, familiar almost, like she knew him or that he was somehow important. As they danced across the room, he slightly dipped her revealing her neck; instantly his lips found her pulse point and started to kiss her feverishly, eliciting a slow moan from her.
His mouth found its way up to her ear as he brought her up close again and whispered, "Mine."
Sansa Stark shot upright in bed, breathless and startled by her illicit dream.