This is the first of three parts.
Part 1
It was the waiting Sansa hated the most. The nervous feeling of not know how much time had passed or how much time it will take before the Septas come to prepare her for the day's event.
She had spent most of these last few years waiting. In Kingslanding, she waited for her father to be released and her sister to come back so everything could go back to normal. Then, she waited for Ser Dontos to take her to freedom away from the sadistic Joffery. Then, she waited in the Vale, for a marriage, for winter, for everything Littlefinger had promised her.
All her waiting has only lead to more heartache. Her father was murder, Ser Dontos put her in the hands of Petyr Baelish and now, after three years of hiding and practicing, of learning and waiting, they had found her.
She thought after all this time the Queen would have forgotten about her. Tommen was king now; Tyrion was an adviser to the Dragon Queen that was advancing across the Westeros, Joffery and his bloody legacy was dead and gone like ashes in the wind.
However, when she was revealed to the world, every person she thought of as an ally turned against her.
It was her wedding day when her dreams finally crumbled around her – Not the wedding to Tyrion, although that was still one of the worst days of her life – but the one to Harry Hardyng. Her maidens cloak was draped across her shoulders, the Stark colours giving her life again. She smiled the way Petyr had taught her to smile when she looked on her husband to be. Petyr held her arm and whispered how she looked more beautiful than her mother. It was exactly how it should have been.
Then it went wrong.
The next thing she knew people were jumping at her, tearing at her cloak, screaming and shouting. Petyr had gone from her side. Her hands were bound and her body was pushed to the floor. "I knew all along, House Royce should be held responsible for her capture" called Yohn Royce.
"She was to marry my ward. The she-wolf in my responsibility, I should hand her to the crown" shouted Anya Waynwood. The argued amongst themselves as two knights held Sansa to cold floor of the Sept.
Petyr had told her during winter everyone becomes a scavenger. He said, in winter, as the most powerful animals struggle to survive, the small insignificant animals will bring them food in the hopes when spring comes, they will be rewarded.
Sansa asked what if the more powerful animals just feast on the weak small ones instead of relying on them for resources.
That brought a Littlefinger smile to Petyr's face. "Some do" he said, examining her over his goblet "but I fear, when spring comes, and the small animals will mate and prosper, they won't follow the brute that butchered them or left them to starve, they will follow the kind graceful creature that praised them, protects them and gave them gifts like kisses."
She had spent the rest of the evening sitting on his lap, ignoring the bulge under her thigh. Part of her started to enjoy teasing him, when he wanted kisses and she would barely brush her lips against his. When she sat on his lap she would shuffle and hear him grunt knowing he couldn't touch her in that way. Torturing him in these ways was her way of getting him back for not taking her to Winterfell.
She had also learnt he would give her anything if she subtly whispered in her ear. She no longer had to wear the old dresses of her dead aunt, he bought her the finest silks and lace, all in modest Alayne Stone colours, but they made her look more like the lady she was than the girl she used to be.
Now Petyr was gone. She had heard a guard say that he had also been caught, while another said he had escaped across the Narrow Sea to get refuge with his mother's side of the family. Either way, he was not going to come and save her, whether she was Catelyn's daughter or not.
She was trapped in a cell in the Sept, accused of the murder of King Joffery Baratheon, first of his name. She found out this cell had been Queen Margaery when she stood accused by Cersei of adultery.
Margaery had come to visit her when Sansa first arrived back in Kingslanding. She was still beautiful, though she looked more womanly, her ever courteous manner started to remind Sansa of Cersei. Sansa watched the Queen's movements as she looked almost distraught when talking about Joffery.
She saw right through the Tyrell Queen, the way she dabbed her eyes with a handkerchief though no tears were forming. The way she pushed out her chest or flicked her fingers in a distracting way to try and direct Sansa away from her face.
"You murdered my husband, do you deny it?" Margaery whimpered pathetically, her hand covering her mouth.
"I'll deny it to my last breath; I had nothing to do with our King's demise. I loved Joffery, from the moment I met him right to this day. As I sit in this cell and think about how much I would love to see him again." Sansa answered calmly, her eyes not parting from the Queen's.
"That is a lie" Margaery spat back a little too quickly for a girl who is clearly well trained in the game. She collected herself, sniffing into her handkerchief "We spoke and you told me Joffery was a monster, you told me not to marry him."
"Do you have any proof of me calling his grace a monster?" Sansa questioned, the Queen of Thrones had been dead almost a year, she was the only other witness in that meeting. Sansa let herself smile for a second it was a shy smile, an innocent smile. "But I will admit, for all to hear that I did tell you not to marry Joffery" She spoke loudly so anyone within the walls or outside the door could hear her "I was a child back then, I was so distraught about not marrying the King I would have said anything to be betrothed to him again."
Margaery's face went serious "You told me he was a monster, you told me he beat you in front of the court."
Sansa laughed sharply "Your grace" she said in an almost patronizing fashion "If I pleaded and begged you not to marry him, and if I told you all the hideous things, as you said I did, smart girl with a very close family like yourself would not have married such a boy, even if he was a king."
Sansa let that hang there, maybe she was waiting for the Queen to answer, but Margaery didn't respond. "I didn't kill your husband, you know that. Tyrion was going to take me from Kingslanding back to Casterly Rock; I see no reason why either of us would be willing to murder the Great King Joffery." Sansa paused "You were the only real winner after Joffery's death."
Sansa watched Margaery's face lose its composure "What are you accusing me of, traitor." She spat rising from the bench where she had been sitting.
Tyrells, smart and beautiful but they are all as hot headed as bloodthirsty knights Petyr had told her "Absolutely nothing your grace, why, what do you think I am accusing you of?" Sansa raised her eyebrows with innocent curiosity.
Queen Margaery didn't grace that with an answer. She left Sansa in the bleak cell, though it didn't feel as grim all of a sudden.
A week later was her first trial. It took place in the great Sept. Septas dressed Sansa in a simple gown of blue and grey, and her hair was left to hang in lazy natural curls.
She sat in the centre of the hall; in front of her were her judges. Mace Tyrell, Cersei Lannister, The High Septon, Maester Gormon, and Lancel Lannister who still looked as sickly and pathetic as ever, even though he was now the Lord of Casterly Rock.
The room was lined with spectators, various lords and ladies, new houses that have appeared due to Tommen's kindness and the Lannister's need for loyalty. They whispered around her but Sansa eyes focused on Cersei.
She had matured what seem like years since they last met, still beautiful, but it was aging slowly before her eyes. Her hair was shoulder length and golden blond; it sent a chill up her spine.
Not because she feared her – she no longer cared what the Lannister Queen did to her, she had taken so much, her life seemed insignificant – but because Cersei had been under the hands of the Faith's justice not too long ago. Sansa had heard from Myranda about Cersei's punishment, having her entire body shaved and marched through the streets of Kingslanding completely naked.
Sansa had her walls to shield her, walls she built up because of Joffery, walls created by the loss of her family, and walls that were called Alayna Stone. But no walls could protect her from that kind of humiliation.
By the look in Cersei's eyes, humiliation and more was exactly what she wanted for Sansa Stark.
The High Septon silenced the crowd and faced Sansa. "Lady Sansa Stark, you stand accused by faith and crown of the murder of King Joffery Baratheon. Do you want to own up to your involvement in this heinous crime?" the fat man spat completely disgusted.
"I am afraid I can't" Sansa answered, "For I had no involvement in his grace's murder." She watched all the faces carefully, making sure she looked each of them in the eye. Apart from Lord Lancel, who didn't look at her.
"So be it." The High Septon called. He went on to introduce the judges and then the first witness, Queen Margaery. She perched herself in the witness chair. She demurely stroked her lap, smoothing out the creases of her black satin dress. Every part of her looked like a young widow in mourning.
She played her part very well indeed. If Petyr was there, he would have told Sansa to look and take note. She talked about Joffery like he was a God among men, a King as great as Aegon the Conqueror. She kept exact details to a minimum, only really saying Sansa was at the wedding.
When it came to describing the moment Joffery started to choke, Margaery burst into a flood of tears, her crying was so effective Sansa was sure she might even make herself sick. Mace Tyrell ran over to comfort his daughter like the fool he was, but it was clear, she had sold her story to the on lookers. Tears aren't a woman's only weapon Cersei had told her years ago, but they are certainly an effective weapon Sansa thought.
A few more witnesses were called. Also not reliable but all accused her of being involved with the murder even if they didn't specify how, only that her and the "Imp" are to blame. Tyrion had already been proven guilty during his trial by combat. The New Gods were wrong, it wasn't Tyrion at all. Yet he had been found guilty. She had no love for her husband but she was happy that he escaped the injustice.
After the fifth witness was dismissed Cersei huffed heavily. "What do you know of Petyr Baelish's involvement?" she asked the other judges.
Maester Gormon croked sourly. Shuffiling a few pieces of parchment in front of him, he picked up one and read its content "He took the Stark girl away after the wedding. He proceeded to hid at the Vale after marrying Lysa Arryn and plan a marriage between the girl and Harold Hardyng. He was widowed shortly after his arrival in the Eyrie, confusing circumstances by the sounds of it.
"I have had word from the Maester of Eyrie that both he and Sansa were very supportive of Lord Robert Arryn before his death, and both mourned heavily when the young lord died. He also describes Petyr and Sansa – who at the time went under the name Alayne – having a very close relationship. He says and I quote 'the lord often looks at his young daughter as a wife rather than a child, they also often spent many a hour together in his solar'" The Maester Gormon glanced to Cersei with a suspicious sideways look.
"Hmm, I guess even a poor copy of Catelyn Tully is better than no Catelyn Tully" A sour pout appeared on Cersei's lips and she took a sip of her drink, it was most likely wine Sansa thought.
"And can you please stop calling her the Stark girl" Cersei whined in an almost childlike voice "She is a Lannister, she is married to my cretin of a brother, who believe me will be caught and punished for his crimes against my family" She spat the last part at Sansa, like she was blaming her for Tyrion's actions. "The girl's name is Sansa Lannister"
She had a few name in her time, Sansa Stark, Alayne Stone... Little Bird, but Sansa Lannister sounded vile to the ear. Sansa felt herself shudder and saw the older Queen grin with delight. "So Sansa Lannister, it is time to plead your case"
She rose for your chair and faced the judges. They will say she is guilty no matter what. She had no chance against these people, she had no allies, no real power, but she did have her words. Some people will see her as innocent no matter how many liars talk over her. She will die the honorable death. As the last living Stark, she will die with the blood of the first men running quickly through her veins. They won't sing stupid childish songs about her, but they will all know.
"Your grace and my lords, when I first set foot in your good city I was merely a child of one and ten. I knew nothing of this world, but I loved the Prince with all of my heart. When he became King my love only grew stronger, I would have been honored to be his Queen."
Sansa saw Cersei role her eyes, but the men on the panel looked engrossed, she discretely lifted her hand to her neck and saw three of them subconsciously copy her.
"When Joffery was ripped from us it was traumatic for me as well, I had no family, no hope, and I had lost the last person in this world that I truly loved with all of my heart. When I heard lies being told about me, I ran. Not because I was guilty, but because I was a child. I stand before you now, a lady flowered and as pure as the maiden herself. I stand here as the last Stark, and the last Tully.
"As a Tully I know the meaning of Duty, as I married Tyrion Lannister, and I will stand here now and tell you he is also innocent in the murder of King Joffery Baratheon."
That comment was met with a few whispers from the crowd and a scoff from the judges but Sansa continued.
"I also know the meaning of honor, I know that a King is chosen by God, he is above everyone of us. And history has also told you that we Stark are not short of honor, even my traitor of a father died trying to be honorable to at least his family by stating the truth about his actions." She took a long pause and focused on Cersei, if she was going to avoid a trial by combat she had to convince Cersei she was innocent. An impossible task but more impossible things have happened in Sansa's life time than she would have ever expected.
"And lastly Family, I know nothing of the pain of losing a child but I saw my mother by my little brother sick bed for weeks, she did not know if he would live or die but every day and night she feared it would be his last, she mourned for weeks waiting for her son to come back to her. I would not wish her pain on anybody." That was the last time I saw her Sansa remembered. She swiftly pushed the thought from her mind, being very careful not to undermine herself.
"So if you would all take a moment to look at the evidence in my favor instead of all the lies put against me. I had no access to Joffery's food or drink, I had no access to anyone who could have supplied me with this poison, and furthermore, there is no reason for me to kill his Grace." She watched each of them, her eyes pleading. She wondered if she cried like Margaery, would they pity her and see her as innocent. But she couldn't cry anymore, tears have frozen within her when the winter winds blew.
Mace Tyrell slammed his fist feebly on the table, "We understand you were young, a child couldn't have killed Joffery. This was the Imps work through and through."
Lancel cleared his throat, but it sounds more like a pathetic choking cough "She is married to the Imp, by law, they are one person. If he is guilty, she is guilty."
Sansa stood silent knowing the truth, the Tyrell's were to blame, but no one would believe that. They were too powerful, too good as this game. "Do you believe your husband is guilty?" Mace asked patronizingly.
They all expected her to blame Tyrion, it would have been the easy option, he had already been proven guilty in front of the Gods and he had run away as well. "My husband is as innocent as I am. He had nothing to do with King Joffery's death." Petyr would have told her to lie. Sansa couldn't do that, lying came easily to her now, but she was still her real father's daughter, Tyrion had been good to her, only a few men in her life had been.
The men on the panel looked unnervingly at each other, while Cersei looked like she was about to burn Sansa with her eyes "You do understand, the Imp has been proven guilty, if you stand by his side you are guilty as well." Lancel squeaked, his limp blond hair flicking in front of his eyes.
She straightened herself and stares coldly at them. "My husband is innocent, your gods have lied to you, if you wish to hold me responsible for his apparent crimes then I demand another trial by combat. If it proves that I am innocent then I wish for the charges to be dropped against me and my him. As you said Lord Lancel Lannister, we are one, if I am guilty, he is guilty, therefore if I am innocent, he is innocent"
Cersei rose from her chair, slamming her fists on the thick wooden table "I forbid it, he killed my father and my son and he will be punished for it." She roared
"Oh, I am sorry to hear that he killed your father, I can't imagine how that feels." She snapped back sarcastically trying her hardest to keep her composure.
"Your Grace" Mace Tyrell hushed her, his weak jaw trembling, "What she suggests wouldn't make Tyrion any less guilty of your father's murder. She is just suggesting if her champion wins then they will both be innocent of Joffery's murder."
Cersei took a deep breath "if" she repeated with a smile. She sat back down and clasped her hands together. "If you win, I will allow both you and the Imp to be pardoned. The crowns champion will be Robert Strong" she chimed musically and grin spreading across her face, so wide that the corners of her eyes crinkled.
"That is settled. Trial by combat, who is will to represent Sansa Lannister" The High Septon clapped his hands, pleased with his days work.
Silence filled the room. No one would be stupid enough to face the giant freak that was Robert Strong. Sansa had heard rumors about him. He was the Gregor Clegane brought back to life. He had been a terrifying figure before, now that he was completely nightmarish undead creature.
The stillness seemed endless; it was only broken by Cersei's giggle. "Should we just admit that the girl is going to have to fight for herself, I am quite excited to see what the last Stark looks like clad in amour"
A few others laughed. Sansa took a moment to look around the room. Her eyes caught Margaery's, she looked sad. Sansa remembered how she had offered to marry her to Willas, she could have been her good-sister.
"I'll volunteer for the girl if no one else steps forward" Jaime Lannister belted out. The smile was wiped from Cersei's face quicker than a crack of a whip. The twins that looked so similar glared at each other, an unspoken conversation passed between them.
"There is no need for that my lord" a harsh rasp came from the crowd. She span to look at him, forgetting her self-control. She felt like a young girl again. Her lips tingled with the memory of a kiss.
She hadn't seen him in the crowd when she entered the room, but he was so hard to miss now. He was taller than all the men around him, larger than them too, thick with muscle. His hair was pushed over the burnt side of his face. He looked at her only briefly, then stood at her side like a guard dog ready to pounce.
The judging panel gawped even Cersei had pulled her eyes away from her brother to gap "It seems both of the Clegane boys have risen from the grave" Maester Gormon quipped.
Sansa glanced up at his face, it was only the non-burned side she could see, but it looked just at terrifying as the mangled unseen side. His grey eyes stared forward, filled with fire.
The judges whispered amongst themselves. "Lady Sansa, you have to decide who you want to represent you" The High Septon boomed.
She considered Jaime Lannister. He still looked every bit like the knight she thought he was, even with only one hand. Him stepping forward confused her though, She didn't know why he did it, he had never even spoken to her before and now he was defending her against his sister and impending death.
Though, No one confused her more than the Hound. Even his presence in the room had sent her perfect façade out the window. He had promised to protect her before, but he left her with a kiss and a cloak. She wasn't stupid enough to believe he came back for her, to protect her, not after all these years.
The queen's eyes flicked quickly to her twin brother, a sudden look of fear glinted in the green pool. It would be sweet to see Cersei lose her knightly brother, to lose her only true protection, like how Sansa lost Robb.
She felt the Hound looking at her, his eyes peeling into her as she tried to come up with an answer. You were dead, you left me then you died, Why are you here? She wanted to ask him, he would never do something as knightly as to come out of hiding just to fight for her justice; it was too much like those songs to be true. Then she remembered who he was competing against.
"I choose Sandor" she announced, anger boiling in her veins "He will be my champion."
My Notes - Thanks so reading, I own nothing.
