Sansa was walking through the palace halls towards the Godswood. It was the only place she could go where people wouldn't talk to her. She had two guards trailing behind her. She never spoke to them and they never even locked eyes with her. It was like they were ashamed of something. Sansa never had the same guards to ensure she didn't make allies. Not that she would notice now; she simply stopped caring.
As Sansa walked she made sure she had a steady pace. She was not walking slowly, but she was not walking faster than a lady ever should. She was walking with a purpose, her purple dress flowing just above the floor and her long auburn hair bouncing just a little bit. She wore it the northern way. She was done pretending to be a southerner. It's not like they bought it anyway. She was Winterfell's daughter – traitor's blood. Still, she held her head high and did not pay attention to the people watching her and whispering about her. They always did. She wondered what they could still have to say. All she did was wait around, take an occasional beating or humiliation, until the Lannisters decided to leave her alone for a while. Maybe they pitied her. Maybe they envied her. Did it even matter? None of them were doing anything. She doubted she even had one true friend at court.

As she walked through the court halls, she occasionally nodded towards someone that smiled at her.

Suddenly, Cersei Lannister, followed by at least 8 guards, popped up in front of her. She looked at her with her crooked smile and eyes filled with so much hatred. Tears aren't a woman's only weapon. The best one's between your legs.

"Little dove."

Sansa immediately bowed her head and curtsied.

"Where are you going?" asked Cersei.

"To the God's Wood, your grace."

"Are you going to pray for Jaime's quick and safe return?"

Sansa knew no answer would satisfy Cersei. So she just went with the most obvious one.

"Of course, your gr-"

"Oh shut up, you little fool. First you love Joffrey with all your heart, now it's going to be Jaime?" Cersei spit out. The jealousy was obvious. "You little whore."

"I-"

"Leave." Cersei ordered. Sansa curtsied and quickly escaped. That woman gave her chills. The way she cut herself from loving anyone but a few family members just because Love is weakness. Sansa could never do that. She did learn from Cersei, but that one piece of advice is one she promised herself she would never follow. Love may be weakness, but Sansa was nothing without it.

As she approached the God's Wood there was no one left. The guards had trailed far behind her, talking, not really paying much attention to her. Not like she could possibly escape; the God's Wood was towering over a cliff. She decided to turn and turn again and leave the path to trail in between the trees, until she shook off the guards and was entirely alone, in a new spot she had never been to before. If she peaked through two trees she could see the sea. She was very shielded, the many leaves dimmed the sunlight. It was quite quiet here. She knew she'd like to stay here in the future, she was protected. Cut away from it all. And if she wanted, she could stare at the sea, and imagine herself climbing on board of a ship that would sail north.

"My lady." She heard a voice say, disrupting her thoughts. She abruptly turned around, to look into the silver eyes of the caramel-haired guard.

"Forgive me, I must've frightened you."

"No, you… What are you doing here?" she asked him.

He chuckled. "I could ask you the same question."

"It is considered rude to ignore a lady's question."

He chuckled. He seemed to be in a playful mood. "Well, I was praying a little further away, but then I heard you and I came to see who was here. Now you."

"You pray here?"

"Yes."

"To the old gods?"

"Now, I would pray in a sept if it was to the new gods, now wouldn't I?"

She stared at him. Few people held to the old faith in the south. Then he probably wasn't from the south.

"And what are you doing here all alone, my lady?"

"I lost my guards. They must be around here. But I prefer to pray alone, in peace."

"You weren't praying."

"This is a quiet and peaceful place. I like to just be here."

He smiled gently. "I understand."

Someone brave and gentle and strong. Someone worthy of you.

Sansa heard noise a little further away, heard her name being spoken by one of her guards. Panic took over.

"We mustn't be seen together." She was starting to move away from him.

"What? Why?"

"You're a guard. I'm Lady Stark. We're alone in the woods. Joffrey could have our heads for this."

"Joffrey? I thought your engagement was broken?"

She looked him straight in the eyes. He looked confused. Was he new enough to not see what Joffrey really was? "The Lannisters. I'm theirs."

"Well, technically…"

She cut him off. "You know I'm betrothed to Jaime Lannister."

"But that's not public knowledge y-"

She cut him off, again. She heard the guards coming closer.

"Tell that to Joffrey when he feels like flinging multiple bolts at you." Sansa immediately turned and ran in the direction her guards' noise was coming from.

"I'm here!" She said. She was praying Silver hadn't followed her.

"My lady. You shouldn't trail off from the path." Said one of them.

"I apologize. I was just praying."

"We should go back to the palace. A messenger has come to say the Lady Margaery requests your presence for luncheon."

So Sansa walked ahead of them, quietly, towards the palace of her nightmares to eat with the woman who took her place.