Sansa could not wait, after everything that had happened to ruin her life, her beloved's hand being taken away, Arya getting promised to the prince and that business at Castle Darry, she was going to watch the tourney that her father had told her about, where there would be jousts and glory to match the songs she had heard when she was younger. Her father had said that he might find a worthy husband for her amongst the competitors and hoped that there would be someone who could hold the smallest of candles to the perfect prince. It was for that reason that Sansa could barely stay still as she took a front row seat and watched the knights who would be competing riding past, the tournament had not yet started, but most of the knights were still riding to the enjoyment of all present, including Sansa and her friend Jeyne. She spotted Jason Mallister, Beric Dondarrion, a huge man, as big as a mountain who was called Gregor Clegane. Six of the Kingsguard were present in their white armour, apart from ser Jaime who wore gold. Apparently Barristan Selmy was not in the capital, but on a quest for the king far away, or so they were told, and so was not competing.

Sansa looked at the strange and wondrous sigils, of which there were more than she ever knew existed. She saw a field of nightingales, bales of wheat, apples, backgrounds of red, gold, purple and white, borders of even greater varieties. Even the most basic of sigils had a certain elegance to them, but her eyes were drawn to those with the most beautiful designs, ser Balon Swann's sigil of two opposing swans caught her eye as he rode past, waving to the crowd, as did Lord Yohn Royce and his sons Andar and Robar.

It was as she was observing them that the bugles rang out and all those who were in the crowd took their seats and the competitors rode off the lists. As Jeyne Poole sat down on her right, Arya sat down on her left with her father on her left. She watched as the Royal Family sat in the royal box, glad that the brute Jasper, who was nothing like the golden Joffrey and more like his fat father, was not present. "May all those competing ride out." Sansa finally got to see all those who would compete at once as they all rode out into the lists. They were in two lines, one on their side of the lists and one on the other. About half the knights were in full armour with the other half exposing their heads to the crowds. Sansa held her breath as she looked over all of the knights, from the young ser Hugh to the monstrous Gregor Clegane. "For the first tilt", the crier called out, "will Ser Andar Royce and Ser Balon Swann remain, the rest, to the sides." She saw the beautiful swans and the orange of Royce remain behind as all other competitors spurred their horses out and, after a bow to the royal family, those two went to their ends of the lists. Her heart beat faster and faster as the two knights charged at each other, their horses kicking up the sand and dirt of the lists before Ser Balon knocked Ser Andar off his horse. Sansa clapped just as a refined lady should, Arya, who seemed interested in watching the tourney and yet impatient for it continue, clapped four times before letting her hands rest. The crier called out the next competitors, a Horas Redwyne and Ser Beric Storm, Sansa noticed Arya look up eagerly as she recognised the straight brown hair and sharp features of the second prince's sworn shield approach. Sansa did not think much of the man, he could not be a true knight if he was the way his master was and so she was sure the Redwyne would defeat this untrue ser. However she was disappointed as Beric Storm sent Horas Redwyne to the ground on his first pass at the lists, eliciting a cheer from both the crowds and Arya, who ignored Septa Mordane's chastisement at her childlike behaviour that was unfit for a lady. It seemed the knight waved at Arya who waved back at him eagerly before he rode off again, this time to face the most recently knighted of all the competitors, Ser Hugh of the Vale, unseating him with little trouble on his first pass. Ser Beric's last joust was against the huge Gregor Clegane, a monster of a man who looked ready to kill. Ser Beric ducked under the huge man's lance and shattered his own against the Mountain's helmet, as the Mountain was struggling to his feet, Beric bowed to the royals and left. Next up to ride, was Ser Theo Frey and Jaime Lannister and, as expected, Ser Jaime had no trouble in defeating the Frey knight. Jaime Lannister then won two more tilts in a row, against Bryce Caron, the lord who bore the Nightingales and Balon Swann, who had won earlier.

Chivalrous knight after chivalrous knight rode past her that day, and still Arya seemed uninterested except when Ser Beric Storm rode, especially when he unseated the Mountain to massive applause from the crowd. But then she heard the crier call out a dreaded name. "Prince Jasper Baratheon and Lord Renly Baratheon, to the lists." She gasped and Arya looked on eagerly as Jasper rode out to the centre of the lists, resplendent in black armour, he gave a lazy bow compared to the long bow that Renly gave, but both appeared to be crowd favourites.

"100 gold dragons on the prince", a man behind them called out and she turned to see a man in a green cloak, with short hair and sharp eyes, with a very strange smile affixed to his face.

"I'll take that", called out another man, "Lord Renly has more experience."

"Why did you bet on Jasper?"Arya asked.

"Last time we had a tournament, the prince unseated the Mountain, the Hound, and a half dozen other knights, believe me, he can win this."

"Is that so lord Baelish?" Her father asked and he looked on with more interest. It seemed the man her father called lord Baelish knew what he was saying, on the first tilt, the brute Jasper sent his uncle Renly flying off the back of his horse and the crowd went wild for him, many of them on their feet, Sansa was horrified to see that many of them were noble ladies, who should not behave in that manner. Loud applause drew her gaze to the royal box where all were cheering, except her beloved, who saw what a brute Jasper was, but none louder than the King himself. Jasper bowed at the waist to his family before kicking his horse down the lists to his tent. Nymeria, who was at Arya's feet was just as wild as her mistress, only the chain tying her close to Arya preventing her from running up to the prince. Meanwhile, Lady was perfectly refined, sitting quietly and patiently at her ankles and, apart from a few fearful looks, no-one seemed to mind her. Even though he was in no way comparable to his brother Joffrey, Sansa could not help but deny that Jasper was a skilled and valiant fighter, he went on to unhorse three knights of the Kingsguard, Ser Meryn, Ser Boros and Ser Mandon on the first tilt before removing Lord Yohn Royce from the tourney, helping the aging lord up to his feet afterwards. This earned Jasper a place in the semi finals and he bowed to his family before returning to his tent.

Then out came the most handsome man Sansa had ever seen, in shimmering silver armour and riding a pure white horse was Ser Loras Tyrell, the Knight of the Flowers, who gave out flowers to the ladies. Sansa blushed when he approached her and offered her a rose, "your beauty is unmatched my lady", he said in a voice of pure silk, "but this flower may hold the smallest of candles to it."

"Thank you ser Loras", Sansa said breathlessly as she took and smelled the flower. Loras rode off to the end of the lists. Smash, smash, smash, smash, in quick succession, the great Ser Loras removed two more Kingsguard, Ser Preston and Ser Arys from the tourney before also unseating Lothor Brune, Ser Robar Royce and finally Ser Jaime Lannister without a scratch on his immaculate armour. Sansa sat back, still repeatedly inhaling the luscious scents from ser Loras' rose as the day wore on.

However, Robert ended the day before the tournament, stating that the Melee, the Archery and the last three jousts would take place the next day. Those jousts would be, Ser Loras Tyrell would ride against Ser Beric Storm and then Jasper would ride against Sandor Clegane and then the winners would ride for the final.

And so, Sansa made her way back to the Red Keep for the night, eagerly awaiting the next day, when the gallant Ser Loras would win the tourney, she wondered whether her father would contemplate her marrying him, for he was almost as pure and noble as the prince.

Everything was going well for Sansa's dream. She got up, ate a lovely breakfast with her family, with even Arya being civil and uncomplaining about going to the tournament again, although on the way they did argue about who would win the tournament, for Arya seemed to fervently believe that Jasper would win, even though it was clear he was no match for Ser Loras. Nymeria and Lady also seemed to be arguing about the same issue, but much more playfully. Their father decided to sit between them since they would not stop arguing all the way there.

They took their seats, Sansa still wearing the rose she had received the previous day, and watched as the King drew a straw to see which joust would be first. It was Jasper and Sandor Clegane. The two of them passed each other twice without hitting the other, but on the final pass, Jasper caught the Hound's shield and claimed the victory, graciously helping the Hound up before celebrating his victory himself. However, that match was not all that interesting, with Sansa sure that Jasper would win, for he seemed more determined than the Hound. The next match was what she was after, and she watched with glee as Ser Beric was sent flying by Ser Loras, meaning that there was to be a showdown between Loras and Jasper, and therefore between herself and Arya. Both went and bowed to the King before they rode to the edge of the lists. She locked eyes with Arya, who was glaring at her in a manner that suggested she was still certain that Jasper would win, despite the silver armour of Ser Loras clearly being better than the armour of Jasper, all in black as it was. They both snapped their gazes back to the lists when the bugle sounded, Sansa confident in victory over her sister. However, she was disappointed, for Loras' shield was struck by Jasper, and her perfect knight fell off the side of his horse, desperately unhooking his foot from the stirrup so that he was not dragged along the ground. However, Arya was also disappointed, for Loras' lance had shattered upon Jasper's shield and the prince had waved his arms around to steady himself but in the end he rolled backwards of the rear end of his horse, landing face first on the ground. The squires of both knights came rushing over to help them to their feet.

There was silence as people tried to work out what should happen. Normally in a draw both competitors would remain in the tourney, such as yesterday when Lord Bryce Caron and Lord Jason Mallister drew in their tilt, however this was the final, there was no other competitor to face them. Many were looking to the king, who seemed unsure of how to proceed himself. A gasp of surprise took everyone's attention back to the lists. Jasper had sent his squire running back to the tent, and he returned a few moments later with Jasper's sword belt. He withdrew his longsword and Sansa was mortified that Jasper was about to attack the unarmed Ser Loras. Jasper however, remained where he was and beckoned Ser Loras come over. There was a cheer when Loras' squire returned with his own sword and he clambered over the lists to face Jasper in front of the king. They both looked at the King, who nodded his approval and the clang of steel on steel rent the air.

Sansa could not deny that both were brilliant swordsmen, but she saw more finesse in Ser Loras than Jasper and was still certain that Ser Loras would prove victorious, just like the songs. She gasped as Ser Loras ducked a blow that came very close to his helmet, but felt a sense of relief when her knight spun and slashed at Jasper's middle, slamming heavily into Jasper's shield before he continued with more strikes against the prince who struggled to block them all. Meanwhile, Loras effortlessly battered aside the weak counterattacks of the prince, who was desperately trying to stop Loras humiliating him in front of everyone.

But then, the unthinkable happened. Jasper ducked a strike from Ser Loras and slammed the edge of his shield into Ser Loras' knee, sending him to his hands and knees. Jasper then knocked Ser Loras' sword out of his hand and Loras, who tried to fight back using only his shield, was done for, and Jasper was able to get behind him and hold him up with his sword to Loras' neck, about to slice it open. There was a silent pause as Sansa prayed for Jasper not to be the brute he could be and not slit Loras' neck. Loras dropped his shield and held up his hands and there was a cheer as Jasper raised his visor and then his arms to the cheering crowd.

Most of the crowd were on their feet clapping and cheering him, as were most of the knights ho had competed in the tournament, for which Sansa was thankful, for it looked like Arya's bouncing up and down and cheering in unladylike manners would be overlooked. Lady and Nymeria were also happy, but reacted in similar ways to their mistresses once again. Jasper made his way to the foot of the royal box and bowed before his family. Strangely, it was the youngest of them that acted, with the Prince Tommen rushing down to his brother and hugging him tightly, Jasper laughed and picked up Tommen in response, hugging him tightly back. He removed his helmet and put it on Tommen's head, laughing with the crowd as it slipped down over the young prince's eyes and nose, almost resting on his shoulders it was so large, and Sansa, seeing the kindness and tenderness in Jasper's face was forced to conclude that she had been wrong about him, he was like a true knight.

Still not as noble and pure as her beloved Joffrey though.