Okay, on with the show.
Chapter 3: Feast of Wolves, Lions and Stags
Winterfell, Nightfall
When her mother told her that the royal family was coming north, she was over the moon above about seeing all the gallantry and graciousness of the south. It was a dream as the closest thing she ever saw of southern traditions was when she and her family attended the annual tourneys in White Harbor, hosted by Lord Wyman Manderly and she would always be excited but this is so much better, actual southerners coming to her home.
Crown Prince Joffrey looking so handsome, Queen Cersei and Princess Myrcella were semblances of beauty, Ser Jaime looked like a true and gallant warrior. What she was disappointed in was the King himself, the strong and bearded man her father told her and the others about wasn't what was described, it was really a let down to know that but at least someone came here looking like what her Lord father described, Lord Joran.
Her father and Maester Luwin would always describe Baratheons as strong, tall and charming when they smile. Lord Joran proved all that was said true, well except when he showed them his hand that had the greyscale affliction or at least its scars. She will admit that she was frightened but he had sworn that the marked arm was harmless so that was a relief to hear from him. Oh, and his voice, sounded like silk and very southern.
What is truly exciting besides all of this was that she was going to be betrothed to the Crown Prince, she would be Queen one day and rule over everyone but most of all, she would be considered the most beautiful woman in the Realm. She shuffled in her seat and looked up to her mother who was doing her hair for the feast, a northern styled type but one of the more extravagant of them. Her mother noticed her staring and furrowed her brow.
"Mother, when will I marry Joffrey, or will I have to wait?" She was impatient and had a good reason to. Her mother rolled her eyes playfully and chuckled.
"Your father hasn't even said yes, be patient my daughter." Her mother advised patience but she is too excited to be patient.
"And why not? He'd be the second most powerful man in the Kingdoms. And Prince Joffrey is so handsome, what if he doesn't like me?" She asked and her mother said the golden lion would have to be the stupidest man in the realm to think or say such a thing, that made her feel a little better.
"Hmm, what about Lord Joran? He is handsome too, or maybe I just don't want you to leave, it's bad enough that your father might leave and take you, Arya and Bran with him." Her mother went on with her worries, it isn't as if they won't see one another again, they would just be a month away and any time she or her father wants to visit then all they would need to do was just go, it's as simple as that. "Done, you ready?" She was asked and she nodded her head fast and got up from the chair, her blue and grey dress flapping from the fast movement.
She left to be with Lady for a bit before they had to be put away, then to the feast they went.
The procession went as planned, first to enter was her mother and escorted by the King. Then her father would escort the Queen, though they seemed unfriendly but that can't be right. Next was Robb and Princess Myrcella, they looked adorable together. Her and Joffrey were next and she blushed the entire way, it was both embarrassing and everything she dreamed. After they came Arya and Joran with him being a relative of Robert, Arya didn't enjoy it especially since Joran dwarf her by quite a few feet. Behind them was Bran and Tommen, then Theon and Rickon and finally were the brothers Jaime and Tyrion Lannister.
They all walked up the dais and took their seats, Joran sat to Robb's left and the two began with a cup of wine which shocked her, she hadn't known Joran was a drinker.
The night was filled with excitement, everyone from the north and south was getting along and even her uncle had come to the feast and sadly chose to seat himself next to her half-brother Jon. Jon wasn't allowed to be too close to the Royal table in the instance that it might insult the King or Queen.
She soon found herself on the floor and dancing with the Crown Prince, his moves weren't so elegant and he stumbled once or twice but she can forgive him, even if her feet do not. A few minutes pass and she found herself asking him about the south, he told her so many stories about fighting his father's guards or competing in joust despite being so young and she was awed by it all. He then began telling her about all the beasts and hunts he had, it was extraordinary.
"Cousin! My Lady," She turned and saw Joran standing near, he bowed and held out his hand, "Might I share a dance with my cousin's lady?" He asked Joffrey who seemed to scowl for a moment before allowing her to dance with him.
Lord Joran's dancing wasn't like Prince Joffrey, his moves were more refined, his steps like he was gliding on water. He rested a hand upon her hip, gently unlike the small grip the Crown Prince and his stare made her flush. The music was fine, but the silence was very, deafening to her.
"How are you enjoying Winterfell, my Lord?" She asked as Joran spun her around and brought her back in.
"Well, considering I just got here... I cannot say." His tone was teasing and she felt like a fool, of course, he wouldn't know have opinions yet on her own, "Ahem, I find Winterfell to be like my ancestral home of Storm's End; cobblestone walls and drum towers, though regular towers here." He added humorously before continuing, "Your home is certainly better than my own, not cold or wet." She was confused, what does he mean.
"I thought your home was King's Landing, is it not?" She asked him and he hummed at the question, and she rose one of her brows.
"It is... Somewhat, my real home is Dragonstone, the former island fortress of House Targaryen before my uncle defeated Rhaegar Targaryen." She was surprised about that, Joran lived in the home of dragons.
Her father rarely spoke of the rebellion, not only that was the fates of the members of House Targaryen. Soldiers would speak of it but they often say it with care, some use vulgar terms that she could not possibly repeat or think about.
The next time he spun her around and brought her close was when she saw a bit of black, on the nape of his neck and gasped a little. She hadn't thought his affliction spread through the entire arm, and not just the hand that he had shown them today. He noticed and he scowled slightly and pulled away, she wanted to apologize for staring but he stormed out of the hall before she could.
Her mood was gloomy for a time before she was beckoned by her mother, she approaches and bowed before the Queen.
"Hello little dove," The Queen said and she bowed again, "How old are you, my dear?" She smiled and answered the question.
"Ten and four, your Grace." She smiled and was proud of it.
"You're tall, still growing I bet." She nodded, "My nephew seems to still dwarf you, but he's always been a tall boy." The conversation turned upwards then, and it made her uncomfortable, "Have you bled yet?" She looked to her mother who gestured for her to say no she did.
"N- No, your grace." She muttered nervously. The Queen asked her if she made her dress, she did and the Queen asked if she would make something for her as well and she happily nodded and was allowed to leave.
She hurried and sat next to Jeyne Poole who couldn't wait to pester her about the night so far, some of the things she said were strange, surprising and shocking.
"Sansa, how was the dance with the Crown Prince and Lord Baratheon." She flushed about what to tell, they were both very gentlemanly except for the end of her dance with Joran and him storming out of the great hall. "Don't worry, I can imagine it if you won't tell. I heard some things about Lord Joran from Ser Matthos and Aurane." Did they? She thought and wanted to know, though she doesn't exactly know why.
"What did you learn, and Jeyne? You know gossiping is rude." She scolded halfheartedly, mainly because she herself loved to gossip.
"Well I've heard he doesn't hold to the Faith of the Seven, Ser Matthos too. I heard his arm is afflicted in greyscale and is a reason he hasn't married yet because no Lord would wed him their daughter. I even heard he keeps counsel with a Red Priestess, whatever that is." She won't judge one's choice of faith, she prays to both the Seven and Old Gods. That his greyscale marks kept him unmarried is sad and tragic, shame on any lord and lady who would do such a thing.
She went to finally tell Jeyne about her dances with Joffrey and Joran until a chunk of food hit her face, she gasped and screamed and looked for the culprit and her blue eyes landed on Arya and she seethed at her little sister who was laughing hard about it all and Prince Tommen and Bran too.
"Arya! That's not funny!" Jeyne helped her pick the food out of her hair, while Robb went to take Arya and Bran to their rooms for the night.
She was upset and went to leave the hall until she heard her half-brother Jon shout at uncle Benjen and went to leave but fell because he was drunk. Jon hurriedly picked himself up and left in a huff, she thought she saw the faintest of tears but didn't, she sighed and left for her room.
She was tired and wanted some sleep.
A/N: This was a test PoV for one of the pairing choices, Sansa wasn't a good person in the beginning but I'd like to think her spoilt behavior was brought on by Septa Mordane and Lady Catelyn Stark. That and what happened at the Ford was understandable, she picked the middle choice because one, she would upset her family and they would turn on her (her thoughts not mine because Eddard wouldn't do that) and two is she would be set for a bad marriage, choosing her sister over her betrothed would have made her marriage a miserable one, and Cersei wouldn't be a fan of hers either.
The next chapter will be first an interaction between Joran and Tyrion then both and Jon once he comes out of the great hall after Benjen told him to bed a woman and father a few children, I personally liked that scene more than the one in the show. A lot of scenes from the book will be taking place, that and Jon and Joran will be seeing one another in a few chapters down the road.
Well other than the next chapter right on ahead, I bid every one a very good night and sleep tight for the night is very dark and full of many terrors.
