A/U: To Lose a Crown: After the marriage of her sister, Sansa is bereft of the crown that should have been hers; Demoted to the unmarried sister of the future queen, Sansa is the most sought after bride in all Westeros.
Chapter Seven
the time came for Sansa to depart King's Landing, she had begun to hope it would be forever.
The previous week had seen off her son. Little Cedric was now aged four moons, changing much in that small time. Sansa was disappointed when his eyes faded from a bright blue to a muddy brown. His hair still held itself in little ringlets, but had deepened to Sansa's own Auburn colour.
As she dressed for her own journey, Sansa wondered what her son would look like next time she saw him. Would he be a boy covered in mud, playing at knights. Would he be a sullen teen, wanting to carve out his own mark on the seven kingdoms. Or would he be a man grown, with a wife and children. She considered the fact she may never see Cedric again.
she remembered watching as he was loaded onto a royal carriage by Septa Airis. Princess Myrcella began to cry just as the horses began their trot. Which in turn caused Cedric to start wailing. Sansa also remembered the comment Prince Joffrey had made Princes shouldn't cry. He had growled as the carriage reached the courtyard gates. He's a baby, of course he's crying Sansa had wanted to respond, but thought better of it.
She had stood there watching, long after the others had left. She imagined the carriage making it's way out of the city, Cedric still bawling. She stood there until dusk, thinking of the inn her son would be staying in that night, would he still be crying.
She finished tying the knots on her riding boots, a carriage could not be spared for Sansa. It had been decided she would make the journey on horseback. Along with a trusted Knight for protection.
Sansa moved towards the exit of the Red Keep. Reaching the same courtyard she had been in a week ago. Her thoughts again turned to Cedric, wondering where the little lad was now.
Waiting for her by the Keep's gate was Ser Willas. wearing dark brown leather riding gear embroidered with bronze roses. In his left hand he held the reigns of the two horses, the right held the same ornate cane he had used at her wedding.
"Lady Sansa."
"Ser Willas." Sansa spat coolly, she had hoped for a more capable knight than a cripple. Ser Willas seemed to sense her dislike of his being here, but chose not to show it.
"Would my lady like any assistance in mounting her horse?"
"I can manage." Almost effortlessly, Sansa pulled herself up onto an elderly white palfrey. Sansa looked down at Ser Willas. "Are you to ride also Ser? or shall you hobble behind with your stick." While he was very much offended by the Dowager Queen's cruel words, he smiled politely back at Sansa.
"Of course not my lady" He turned his back on Sansa, which was almost always considered an insult when it came to royalty.
"It is customary, to never turn your back on royalty ser" Willas smiled to himself.
"I know" Sansa huffed her disapproval as Ser Willas holstered his cane in his saddle. Then with great difficulty, he pulled himself onto the back of his sandy war horse. "Shall we?" He asked indicating the Keep gate.
"Lead on."
Two days into their ride towards Casterly Rock, Sansa had to admit Willas was an excellent rider. She remembered back to the tourney when he had shown both strength and speed. But she hadn't realized the cripple warrior could also be graceful.
"Apple?" Ser Willas asked while Sansa found herself lost in a daydream.
"What?"
"I said would you like an apple?"
"Of course" She took the fruit from his outstretched hand and began to bite. As she did, the Knight reached out and plucked another from a tree.
"I must admit" He began to muse as he rubbed the apple clean. "I have never been a great lover of apples myself."
"Nor I knight." Sansa responded.
"Back home we have great orchids filled with apple trees." He began as the two horses took them along the Forrest road. "I used to run barefoot through the trees with my cousins Margaery and Loras." he sighed. "It's nice to remember a time a time when I could run."
Sansa suddenly felt a great pity for the knight, and regret for mocking him earlier. Perhaps she would think less cruel things of him from now on.
"I personally much prefer citrus." Sansa responded.
"Sorry?" Asked Ser Willas clearly bemused.
"Instead of apples peaches or pears, I much prefer citrus." They continued to ride down the long road. continuing to converse jovially as they did.
Their journey lasted for three more days. Made ever more turbulent by the changeable weather. Sansa had never been to the Westerlands before, and was surprised by its beauty. Great fields of golden wheat stretched for miles waving in the breeze like cloth on a cloths line.
Jagged stone hills stretched for miles around the glorious countryside. Casting great looming shadows whenever the golden sun arched over them.
When they reached Casterly Rock, Sansa's breath left her. The castle stood high on the peak of a jutting cliff, watching over the enormous city of Lannisport below. The Castle was ornately constructed from thick sand coloured stone walls. The Lannisters were clearly unafraid to display their vast wealth as the keep was covered in golden ornamentation.
As Sansa and Willas rode up to the giant red gate with two roaring lions carved onto it. Sansa was suddenly was filled with dread. Passing through the portcullis a realization dawned on her.
She was really going to miss Ser Willas
A/N: I'd like to thank everyone who is supporting this story, and a certain someone who is not, "Arya is a birch" I had no clue my portrayal of her character was so wooden. And to address your concerns dear reviewer, no the story will not just be one depressing update after another it gets happier from here on out. (in all fairness to Arya and Gendry, Sansa has been a bit of a C-U next Tuesday to them in the past.) Again having this annoying af trouble with the site showing my reviews, Until next time, Phillipe.
