"Come to Highgarden with me" Margaery spoke in a hushed voice with her lips touching Sansa's temple
"Hm?" Sansa murmured
"I have to go back to Highgarden. I want you to come with me." Margaery said, pulling away from Sansa and gently tilting Sansa's face
"When?" Sansa asked
"Half of the guard leaves tomorrow to scout ahead for us and then the day after we leave with the rest of guard"
"I'll have to ask father but if he says yes than I'd love to join you" Sansa smiled, kissing Margaery's cheek before leaning back against her chest and continuing with her needle work, "Tell me about Highgarden?"
"I'm not sure where to start. We have singers, pipers, fiddlers and harpers making music all the time. We have fields upon fields of all sorts of flowers, mainly golden roses, as far as the eye can see and it smells absolutely wonderful. Willas breeds the finest hounds and horses you could imagine, he gifted me with the very first Mare his Stallion had ever conceived for one of my name days. I'm not sure what else to say. Tell me of Winterfell?"
"It sounds lovely. Our castle was built atop of a natural spring which keeps it warm through even the harshest of winters. There isn't many flowers because of how cold it is, but you've seen our winter rose. On warmer days, Robb and Jon would take us to one of the hot springs a half days ride into the woods. At first mother wouldn't let them but then our wolves grew and she knew they would protect us better than any guard would. Winterfell isn't anything extravagant, it's not the way of the North but it's home and I find it breath taking"
"What is the way of the North?" Margaery asked
"Cold, hard and unforgiving. Winter is coming." Sansa smiled up at Margaery
"Winter is coming" Margaery repeated, "Growing Strong, the dullest words of any house. Winter is Coming, that's memorable. We do not Sow, strong, strong those houses. Dire wolves and Krakens; fierce beasts. But a Golden Rose Growing Strong? That strikes fear into the heart"
"That sounds like something your Grandmother would say" Sansa laughed, "Shall I call you the Princess of Thorns?"
"You think you're funny do you?" Margaery grinned, wrapping one of her arms around Sansa's waist tightly and used her free hand to tickle Sansa's side while the girl squirmed and giggled in her grip
"Okay, okay, I'm sorry" Sansa laughed and looked up at Margaery before pressing a soft kiss against her lips
"Go ask your father you silly girl, Grandmother will need to make the arrangements as soon as possible" Margaery replied, kissing Sansa's cheek
"Why don't you come with me?" Sansa asked
"Because your father doesn't like me"
"Yes he does, he's like that with everyone" Sansa rolled her eyes
"I think he wants to kill me"
"He just doesn't talk much"
"Or smile"
"Stop sulking and come with me"
When Sansa and Margaery reached the outside of the rooms the Starks were staying in they could hear banging, shouts and metal meeting metal before Sansa threw the door open to see her father trying to fend off four of the Kingsguard, distracting two of them which gave Ned the opportunity to put his sword through them before the other two started again
"Get of here, Sansa" Ned yelled, pushing one of the Kingsguard off of him when the other grabbed Sansa and held his sword to her throat
"Come with us or I will cut her throat right now" The Kingsguard breathed, pressing his sword harder against Sansa's throat until a drop of blood ran down
"Let her go" Ned snarled as he watched the blood drip down his daughters throat
"Drop your sword" Sansa let out a whimper when she felt the sword cutting into her throat, the noise from Sansa seemed to snap Margaery out of the stupor she was in and in one smooth motion, Margaery had a knife in her hand and was stabbing the Kingsguard in the side of the neck and grabbed Sansa into her arms while Ned slashed at the last remaining Kingsguard
"Sansa, are you okay?" Ned asked, all but ripping Sansa away from Margaery to examine her throat
"I'm fine, father. Where are Bran and Arya?" Sansa asked, scanning the room
"With Jory on their way back to Winterfell. I didn't know where you were otherwise you would be with them" Ned replied and watched as Margaery wrapped her arms around Sansa's waist from behind, "You saved my daughter. I owe you my life"
"You owe me nothing" Margaery replied, kissing Sansa's temple
"You will both need to leave Kingslanding" Ned said, "They came for me for treason against the crown, I have no doubt that they will come for you two next"
"But the King-" Sansa started
"Is dead and the Queen rules" Ned cut her off
"Come with us." Margaery said
"That will only bring the Lannisters to Winterfell faster. Robb is not ready yet, I doubt he ever will be but I can give him more time" Ned spoke softly, looking at Sansa,
"Go to Highgarden. Your mother will take Bran, Arya and Rickon to the Riverlands while Robb and Jon go to war."
"There must always be a Stark in Winterfell" Sansa said, fighting to keep the tears out of her eyes
"Robb and Jon will be in Winterfell" Ned replied
"Come with me, father please" Sansa pleaded
"I can't" Ned said, kissing Sansa's forehead before turning to Margaery "Keep her safe. Promise me that you'll keep her safe no matter what"
"I promise, Lord Stark" Margaery said with a curtsey
"It is I who should be bowing to you" Ned commented, "I love you, Sansa"
"I'm not leaving without you" Sansa sobbed, clutching onto her fathers arm
"Take her" Ned said to Margaery who looked like she was close to tears as she pulled Sansa off of him and dragged her out
"Let me go" Sansa screamed, fighting against Margaery
"I'm sorry" Margaery whispered as she struggled with Sansa and leant against the door when she finally managed to push Sansa into the rooms the Tyrell's were staying in
"He's my father" Sansa voice cracked, "He's my father and I need him. Let me go to him, please just let me go to him"
"I'm sorry" Margaery repeated
"What's going on out here?" Olenna asked and stood silent for a second when she seen the state of the two girls, "What happened?"
"Lord Stark is to be arrested for treason" Margaery said as she stood braced against the door, "We got to their rooms and he was being attacked by four Kingsguard members. He killed two before one got hold of Sansa and threatened to slit her throat. I killed him."
"Did anyone else see?" Olenna asked
"Just Lord Stark" Margaery replied
"We have a day or two to leave without seeming suspicious than" Olenna murmured, "Take her to your room, calm her down "
Margaery sat with Sansa on her lap, sobbing against her neck for the better part of an hour before the girl finally went to sleep and Margaery could go speak to Olenna
"What's going to happen, Grandmother?" Margaery asked
"Lord Stark will be executed, the North may or may not rebel. I can't really say, it all lays on how the North reacts to their lord being executed" Olenna replied,
"We can't leave Kingslanding until tomorrow afternoon. I've forged a letter from Mace saying that we're needed in Highgarden urgently as something has happened to Willas"
"Is there anyway we can help Lord Stark?"
"I am really, truly, sorry child" Olenna replied sadly before patting Margaery's hand, "Go pack, we'll need to leave as soon as possible"
"What's going on?" Sansa asked the guards who were leading them to the courtyard
"I'm not sure, Lady Sansa, the Queen has told everyone to gather in the courtyard" The guards led Sansa and the Tyrell's to the front of the crowd while the Queen addressed them before a set of doors opened and Eddard Stark was pulled to the front, causing murmurs amongst the people until Ned stood in front of them, hands bound behind his back
"Lord Eddard Stark of Winterfell stands before you today accused of treason against the crown" The Queen spoke in a strong voice, "He gave his word to my late husband, your king, that he would protect the Prince's and the Princess but before King Robert's blood was cold he plotted to kill them and take the crown for himself. Just last night he murdered four of the Kingsguard in attempts to slay King Joffery in his sleep. What say you, Lord Stark?"
"I deny all claims of Treason except for defending myself against the Kingsguard men you sent to kill me in my sleep" Eddard spoke in a voice full of conviction
"This man has denied his crimes in the sight of the Gods and man. What is to be done with him, King Joffery?" The High Maestor said
"My mother wishes me to let Lord Eddard join the Nights Watch, to be stripped of all titles and land and serve the realm in permanent exile. She wishes me to be merciful. But she has the soft heart of a women, as long as I am your King, treason shall never go unpunished. Ser Ilyn, bring me his head" Joffery spoke loudly and clearly, with a snarl on his face as he ordered Ned's head
"No" Sansa screamed, pushing her way to the front until she was being held back by Loras, "Let me go, let me go" Sansa screams rang through the courtyard as Cersei made Joffery look at her and murmured to him, Varys ran to the King and Sansa's screams got louder when they forced her father to his knees. When Ser Ilyn put his hood on, Sansa managed to break free from Loras and run past the guard to her father until she was held back
"No" Joffery's voice said quietly to the guard who was trying to pull her away, "Make her watch. I want her fathers traitor blood to splatter her face."
The guard looked torn between doing what was right, getting Sansa away and doing what his vows made him swear to do, to always abide by the Kings word. Eventually, he forced Sansa down to her knees and gripped her hair to make her look at her father just as Ser Ilyn swung the sword down onto Ned's neck. Sansa's scream would go on to be heard in Flea Bottom and make the hearts of everyone in the courtyard bleed as they watch the girl that was always so happy and polite scream for her father, the man that protected them with his life on numerous occasions
"Let me through" Olenna Tyrell demanded and shoved the guard away from Sansa and gathered the young girl in her arms as she stared at her fathers head on the floor
Olenna helped Sansa into a cart with Margaery and Lady before sharing soft words with Margaery that Sansa wasn't bothered to hear before they were sent off without Sansa knowing where they were going
"Sansa?" Margaery spoke softly, as though she was scared that if she spoke too loud that Sansa would break, "Sansa?"
Margaery knew she wasn't going to get an answer from Sansa anytime soon so she just pulled Sansa against her and whispered sweet nothings into her ear. By the time they had reached Highgarden three and a half days later, Sansa had still not said a word nor had she ate
"I need a writing tools and the fastest bird you have." Sansa spoke in a rough voice
"Of course" Margaery said and told the nearest servant to fetch them, "May I ask why?"
"I need to write to my family. Let them know I'm safe. Tell them to let me know they're safe."
"Come, mother prepared my rooms for you." Margaery said and led Sansa through the twisting and turning halls before arriving at a large, mahogany door with roses carved into it. Sansa ignored everything and went to sit at the desk and began to write furiously while Margaery sat on her bed and watched. It felt like a life time until Sansa finished writing and sent the letter off before sitting with Margaery
"Talk to me, Sansa" Margaery pleaded, "Don't keep it all inside"
"I watched my fathers head drop to the floor. I have no idea if my little brother and sister made it home alive. I'm in a strange land that I've never been too before. For the first time in my entire life, I want to kill. I want to kill the Queen and the King and the Prince and the Princess and everything they hold dear" Sansa spoke with no emotion in her voice
"Your family will be perfectly safe, they have the entire North as well as the Reach and probably the Riverland's backing them now. Grandmother sent our best and fastest riders after Bran and Arya last night, we would have gotten word back if they hadn't found them and in any decision you make, I'll support you which means everyone who supports my family will support you" Margaery spoke softly, "If you want them dead, they will die."
Sansa had been in Highgarden for a moons turn before she left Margaery's room for the first time since arriving and she had decided to wonder around the gardens until she found somewhere to sit with Lady to read the letter her mother sent her. Robb had gone to war as soon as news of their father reached Winterfell leaving Catelyn to rule Winterfell and teach Bran how to rule in his steed. The letter her mother sent was short, telling her that Robb had been named King in the North and that be was marching to Oxcross to meet part of the Lannister in battle.
"There you are" Sansa heard Margaery's voice say and could imagine the smile on her face, "I wondered where you had gotten off to"
Margaery took a seat besides Sansa and smiled when Lady dropped her head in her lap, "It's funny that you chose here to sit though, out of everywhere"
"Why?" Sansa asked
"This is where the last weir wood tree once stood, before one of the Targaryen Kings made us chop it down" Margaery commented and leant her head against Sansa's shoulder, "Its nice to see you out of our room"
"Nothing was going to get done with me stewing in self-pity" Sansa said, "I'm afraid I lost myself for a while there. More like a summer girl than a Lady of the North"
"You'll always as fierce as a direwolf in my eyes" Margaery said and laughed when she followed Sansa's eyes to Lady who was now trying to chase a butterfly, "Maybe not that one"
"I am sorry, Margaery" Sansa said softly, picking Margaery's hand up and kissing the tips of her fingers
"For what, my love?"
"Acting the way I have been" Sansa replied, "I've been taking my anger and frustration out on you and that wasn't fair"
"I understand why you did, you don't need to apologize" Margaery said
"I do, and I promise it won't happen again. I love you" Sansa whispered the last part so softly Margaery could scarcely hear it "I love you too, darling" Margaery said with a broad grinned and all but launched herself at Sansa
Months passed as Sansa stayed in Highgarden, slowly starting to smile more and laugh more freely with Margaery until she got a letter in a hand she couldn't place _Queen Sansa,_
_I feel as though I owe it to your family to inform you of this grave news before you hear it from another. King Robb and Lady Catelyn have both been murdered in the Twin Towers at the wedding of your Uncle Edmure to one of the Frey girls. The last that I had seen your brothers and sister they were in safe hands with Jory Cassle and a few more of Robb's men that I do not know the names off, they had their wolves with them. I am terribly sorry to be the one to tell you this but you must come home to Winterfell, there must always be a Stark in Winterfell_
_Yours faithfully,_
_Torrhen Karstark_
"Margaery, I need to get to Winterfell as soon as possible" Sansa told Margaery, handing her the letter and beginning to pack her meagre things
"Oh, Sansa" Margaery whispered with a hand covering her mouth
"Margaery, please. The North may as well be unprotected without a Stark in Winterfell" Sansa pleaded, trying to keep her mind off of the deaths of her mother and brother "We'll leave in an hour" Margaery said and gave Sansa a quick kiss before leaving the room to find her grandmother
They made it to Winterfell in record time with the people of Winterfell rejoicing at having at least one Stark back and Sansa immediately went to the Blacksmith to request that he make her and Margaery a set of matching swords
"Do you want to see where the winter roses are grown?" Sansa asked when they had gotten settled in the castle and led Margaery through the gods wood to the field of winter roses
"They're beautiful" Margaery said, kneeling down to inspect one
"Sit with me?" Sansa asked, sitting in the middle of the field and handing Margaery her shawl wordlessly
"What's on your mind?"
"My father, mother and brother are dead because of the Lannisters. Everyday we have to send more men out to fight the Lannister armies and everyday we have to burry more men because of the Lannister armies" Sansa spoke slowly
"Yes, but they have to bury more of theirs, my love" Margaery said
"What would you say if I were to propose that we take the iron throne for ourselves? We're already Queens of the North, why not be Queens of the entire realm?" Sansa said, looking at Margaery
"I'd say that you're even more perfect for me than I ever thought" Margaery grinned
