King Joffrey Baratheon had agreed to ride North to meet with Robb Stark. All but in one condition. Sansa and him had to get married first. Honestly, it did not matter to Sansa whether their marriage was a condition or not. Either way, she would have happily married the King.
After their conversation, the King had pestered the Small Council non-stop for their marriage. It was the acting Hand that was telling Sansa of the happenings since Joffrey made it clear that he would handle the negotiations with the Northmen personally from that moment onwards.
Ravens were flying to and fro the King's Landing in an attempt to reach a truce with the North. It was surprising that the King was actually doing all of that. And it did not stop there. He ordered everyone to start planting crops wherever they could. It was Tyrion Lannister's suggestion that was - again - surprisingly approved by the King himself. The leftover food in the Red Keep were given to the poor and the extravagant feasts started occurring less and less.
The King was cutting back expenses to accommodate everyone's needs and soon people outside the Keep started to live happily. They were fed, clothed and protected. Life in King's Landing started to get better even in the midst of war.
Little did they know, the King was only doing it all for himself. Joffrey was advised that in order for a wedding to be possible at that time, his city had to be peaceful and loyal to him. So nobody would betray them to the enemies.
Sansa rarely saw the King, but when she did, she was always happy. Joffrey, however, had not completely changed. He was still the arrogant, self-assured, temperamental high-born that he was but only when he was at the foulest of moods.
Two moons later, King's Landing was ready to have a wedding whether in the midst of war or not.
The little boy smiled gently at her. He had fair hair and bright blue eyes. Sansa smiled back at the child, her heart warming up at how he looked like. She was almost positive that child was the most beautiful babe she had ever laid eyes on. The boy walked unsteadily towards her and Sansa was suddenly afraid for him.
He might fall. She thought.
But just as she was about to approach the child, she felt someone hold her back. She abruptly looked behind her and saw Joffrey holding her arm, his expression unreadable.
Sansa blinked slowly, temporarily not comprehending what was going on. Where exactly was she? And what was she doing there? Then she remembered everything all at once.
They were just outside the Great Sept of Baelor. It was her wedding day and she was wearing the most beautiful gown she had even seen. She and Joffrey exchanged their wedding vows not too long ago. The King looked genuinely happy the entire ceremony until Lord Varys stepped beside him and whispered in his ear.
Suddenly, Joffrey looked like he wanted to get to the Red Keep in a hurry. Sansa did not ask but she had been with him long enough to know when he was anxious. She held on his hand tightly and started looking for Lord Tyrion.
There was something very wrong. The King squeezed her hand back and guided her to their shared carriage.
"What is it, Your Grace?" she finally managed to ask.
Joffrey inhaled deeply, his face crunched into a grim expression. "It's Stannis. His fleet will arrive at our shores in a fortnight."
Sansa paled. The King was scheduled to meet the Northmen in a fortnight. Just in time for Stannis' army to attack.
"And we are certain of this?" she inquired, desperately trying to believe that there must have been a mistake.
Joffrey nodded, looking straight ahead. "Varys' little birds are never wrong,"
Then he looked at her and in the little carriage, they kissed. But Sansa felt the apology in his lips even before he said it.
"Forgive me, my Queen," Joffrey whispered against her lips, "but I must postpone the meeting with your brother to prepare for the impending attack,"
And as much as she wanted to refuse and make him ride North, away from Stannis and the war, she knew he would only do what he had to do. So she agreed.
AUTHOR'S NOTES:
This is just a filler chapter! Sorry it's so short. Stannis is coming to King's Landing tho! Battle of Blackwater Bay in a few chapters!
With all the love for writing,
Lace Ashdown
