I am so happy that you all are enjoying this story! Thank you again to my fanfic bestie for helping me with the title and so much more. This chapter is chock full of goodies, so enjoy.'
...
I'm Dead
...
For two days they traveled off the Kings Road, making sure not to be seen by guards of the King. On their first night away from Kings Landing, Sansa and Petyr sat in silence around a small fire while their guards tended to the horses. Her savior eyed her and finally questioned,
"Do you think by now they found your burnt body and rang the bells?"
Sansa chose her next words carefully, "Joffrey wouldn't care enough to ring those bells for me. I am nothing but a traitors daughter-" Petyr stood and moved to her in a moment, ""No, dear girl, you are something much more. You are Sansa Stark and a Lady of the North. Your brother is King of the North." Sansa stopped staring at the fire and showed her curiosity to Petyr, "What do you mean?" Petyr smiled and removed a piece of parchment from his coat, "Read it." Her eyes trailed the scroll on the parchment and they widened with what she read.
Her smile became big, "The people made him King of the North! Oh, Lord Baelish, how wonderful!" He did not wish to ruin her excitement, for Petyr knew that it was not as wonderful as Sansa imagined. But none of that mattered now, since they would be arriving at their destination in just a day or so.
...
Sansa had questioned where they were going on several occasions, but each time she asked, Petyr would simply say, "Don't worry of your destination, my dear, worry about if we will make it."
It was day three that they made it an inn. Sansa sighed in relief, "Can we stay there? I promise not to speak or show my hair-" Petyr held up his hand, "Speak no more, Sansa, you must bathe and change your gown." He dismounted and soon helped her from the front of his saddle. When they walked into the small inn, Sansa kept her head down and had to hold her sleeve to her nose at the horrible smell. She listened closely as Petyr whispered to the innkeeper,
"I need one room for me and my daughter."
The innkeeper looked over Petyr's shoulder at the child behind him and gave a grunt, "Aye, we have a room for ya. Would you like a bath for the girl?" Petyr nodded, "Yes, the hottest water you can get and the cleanest sheets." Petyr looked every bit the Lord he was and Sansa knew the gown she was wearing and the fabric of the cloak would give her away, but he grabbed her upper arm and began to lead her up a staircase. She listened as the innkeeper spoke,
"Have you heard the news then?"
Petyr chuckled, "I'm afraid we've been on the road for quite awhile, what is the news?" Sansa bit her lip as she heard, "Kings Landing had that battle and King Joffrey won. Stannis Baratheon retreated with his tail between his legs and with only half the men he arrived with. But that ain't all..." He trailed off as he unlocked the inn door, "A fire broke out in the palace and the girl that died was a Lord's daughter. Forgot the name, but she was the Kings betrothed."
Sansa squeaked as Petyr pushed her into the room, "Thank you for that information, innkeeper. Send up the bath." He closed the door in his face and looked at Sansa. She removed her hood, "It-It worked?" Petyr nodded and before she got too excited, he stopped her, "That is only one part of my plan. Sit down, my girl, its time you know where I am bringing you."
...
"The Stark girl is dead."
Stannis looked over his shoulder from his place in front of the fireplace and said nothing. Davos sighed, "Your grace, do you understand this-" Melisandre walked into the room and smirked, "I suppose you have heard the news?" Stannis gave a grunt, "Yes, I've heard. What does it have to do with me?" Davos growled, "Had you taken Kings Landing that night, the Stark girl would have been safe! If you want the North, you have to do the right thing. The Starks are dying out, your grace, now only the mother and eldest son lives." Melisandre simply sat back and watched the two men before her. Stannis turned to Davos,
"Exactly, the eldest son is alive. The northern people have claimed him as their King and he accepted. We must meet with him. What would the Stark girl have been good for?"
Melisandre cleared her throat and spoke, "My King, the Stark girl would have been a good- how do I say it- prize for you. You could have negotiated with Robb Stark and their mother." Stannis growled, "And now she is dead. We will move on and speak with Robb Stark without her." The Red Witch walked to him and leaned close to his ear, "Not as dead as you thought."
...
Sansa's mouth was open as she watched Petyr pace the room. He was just finishing his explanation on why he took her from Kings Landing. Petyr paused, "Do you understand? Sure, your brother is alive, but your brother is a proud man and his status is high at this moment. He has married someone he should have not even glanced at and now he is skipping around the North building an army for himself. Robb thinks he will win alone, but should he accept an offer from Stannis Baratheon, surely they would fight well together."
"But-You-You saved me to sell me?"
Petyr sighed and went to one knee in front of her, "To sell you? No, I would never sell you, Sansa. Your father believed that Stannis is the rightful King of the realm. Surely in the present you don't still think Joffrey is?" Sansa shook her head, "No, my father was right about Joffrey, he is no King." She frowned and bowed her head, "I don't want to be sold off-"
She felt him grab her hand, "And you won't be. Listen to me, Sansa. Bringing you to Dragonstone is the safest thing I can do for you. I can't bring you to your brother and mother, not yet. You are the eldest Stark daughter and such a beauty at that. Your beauty will make men fall to their knees and weep as your eyes will make swords fall. Stannis Baratheon is like any other man, Sansa, and with you in his safety, you will become just what you deserve." Sansa went to ask him what he meant, but he stood again and looked outside, "The night has come and the moon is quite high. You will bathe tonight and dress in your best gown tomorrow. Get some sleep, Sansa." She closed her eyes as he bent down and kissed her brow, the kiss soft and wet, leaving a chill down her spine.
Sansa was still young and although flowered, still very innocent. That night, as Petyr slept on the floor, Sansa laid awake with nothing better to do than stare at the ceiling. She kept on asking herself what Stannis Baratheon would want with her, as he is already married and has a young daughter. She could not quite understand why Robb wouldn't want to work with Stannis, since their father believed heavily in his right. But if Robb would not work with Stannis, then she knew that she could, but only if that meant she could go home.
The young woman would learn soon enough that not only would Robb not take Stannis' offer, but she was in for a long journey home.
...
I hoped you enjoyed that. I will be skipping to Joffrey/Cersei realizing Sansa is gone and taking out the plans to kill Robb, while Sansa arrives at Dragonstone! also, no Tyrion in this, as he has nothing to do with Sansa from where I took off with this story!