Game of Thrones: A Name Doesn't Make a Person
Chapter 9 of my Game of Thrones story, enjoy.
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Now onto the story.
Disclaimer: Game of Thrones belongs to George R.R. Martin.
Chapter 9
Sansa smiled lightly as she walked through the school corridor during morning break. It was winter now and their uniforms had been changed to reflect that. While staying mostly the same both the boys and girls now had school issues black jackets and gloves and the girls all wore black wool tights for warmth. It had been a couple of months since the pool party; in that time she had noticed Pod grow more confident. She had to admit she was impressed with his progress; he now actively started conversations, rather than waiting to be invited to join in. There was also something else; some strange feeling that stirred within her around Pod these days.
'It's strange; I'm proud of him for all his progress, he's also a great friend but…I don't understand these unusual feelings.' She pondered; deep in thought. 'Surely it cannot be; I mean, it's not like I…'
Her thoughts were cut off and she was forced to stop when someone stepped out in front of her. She glared and tensed as she noticed it was Joffrey. He was glaring at her, yet still managed to look haughty and superior. She could tell from his expression that he still couldn't accept their break up; messy as it had been. He felt she was being ungrateful, that by breaking up with him, she was throwing away a good thing. The truth was very different, Sansa had simply had enough of him and the way he treated her.
Joffrey glared at Sansa.
'Does this slut think I'm blind; does she honestly believe I can't see her trying to ruin herself with that false Lannister.' He thought furiously. 'I'll have to put her in her place and tell her where her loyalties should lie. I'll turn her little schemes into my own game.'
With that he stepped up to her and snarled.
"Don't think I've not seen your little game, whore." She stared in disbelief as he addressed her that way. "Playing around with that loser Podrick; you're just wanting to make me miss you enough to take you back and fuck you."
Sansa shook her head. "Get over yourself; I never want you back; I'd rather die than let you touch me like that. We're through, just get over it."
"Bitch!" He snapped suddenly lashing out and slapping her across the face.
She stumbled; startled at his sudden action.
He shook his head. "When are you gonna learn; you belong to me."
With that he turned and stalked away; Sansa was still startled, absently noting that Joffrey seemed to have been careless. When they had dated, he had never struck her where it would be easily seen. Sure enough, later, as she stood talking to Pod, waiting for their next class to start, he commented.
"Are you okay, what's that mark on your face?"
She shook her head. "It's nothing you need to worry about."
Pod narrowed his eyes; he said nothing else, but he could make a pretty good guess as to the origin of the mark.
'Yet is does worry me, Joffrey may be my cousin, but there's no way I'm letting him get away with this.'
He knew he'd have to do something, the only question he had was what.
Sure enough, at lunch time; Sansa found herself confronted by Joffrey again.
"What have I been telling you, yet you didn't listen." He snarled at her.
Sansa shook her head. "I don't have to listen to you; get it through your skull; we're through, I don't want you; nor will I."
Joffrey growled. "That's too far bitch; nobody, nobody refuses me. If I say you are mine, you are mine!"
As she said that he grabbed her; his grip like iron. She pulled against him but he pushed her, roughly, against the wall.
Sansa grit her teeth as she still struggled. "Get off me!
"Let her go Joffrey!"
Startled they both turned to source of the voice that suddenly spoke up. Pod stood there, glaring angrily at Joffrey.
"You have no right to tell me what to do." Joffrey growled at Pod. "A false Lannister, adopted by a dwarf and his whore; go crawl back under the rock you came from."
Pod ignored the comments, despite the fact his blood was now boiling. "You're hurting her, let her go."
Joffrey scoffed. "She needed to be taught a lesson, she's mine and…"
"No she isn't; Sansa doesn't belong to anyone, she's her own person." Pod cut in.
Joffrey glowered and, seeing he wasn't going to let her go; Pod knew he had no choice. Joffrey; regarding Pod as less than dirt, ignored him and began threatening Sansa again when Pod suddenly, physically intervened. His actions were not aggressive; merely trying to prise Joffrey's hands from Sansa's arms. Yet Joffrey immediately struggled; furious at this. The upshot of the struggle was Joffrey did indeed let Sansa go; instead staggering back, clutching a bloody nose.
"Broke my nose, you bastard!" He yelled.
Pod glared. "Well, sorry, that wasn't my intention, but for the way you were acting…"
Joffrey snarled again. "Lying prick, I…"
They were cut off by a shout and a member of the faculty approaching. All went quiet then. After a brief trip to the infirmary for Joffrey to get his nose seen to; they were all soon escorted to Principal Oberyn's office.
Determined to get payback, the moment they were ushered into the room, Joffrey spoke out.
"He assaulted me!" He cried, gesturing at Pod.
Principal Oberyn however remained calm. "Patience, I'll be hearing all three of you out…Ladies first."
With that Pod and Joffrey were taken back outside. Sansa was trembling; all that happened had shaken her.
Oberyn noted her nervousness. "You may speak freely Sansa; no harm will come to you."
"Unless Joffrey finds out." She said forlornly.
"Just tell me." Oberyn said gently.
Taking a deep breath Sansa began. "We used to date but he was abusive so I left him. He feels he can't be refused and keeps harassing me. Today, he was rather aggressive towards me; slapped, me, grabbed my arms and pushed me against the wall. But Podrick saw us and tried to protect me. Breaking Joffrey's nose; it was an accident."
Oberyn nodded slowly. "Any witnesses?"
"I think, the cleaning lady would've been there at the time, I'm sure she would've seen or heard most of it."
"Very well." Oberyn replied. "Thank you, please wait outside, I'll have Joffrey in next.
Sansa left, still shaking; a few moments later Joffrey entered; once again repeating his earlier statement.
Oberyn shook his head. "Yes; you already said, let's hear the full story."
Oberyn noted that Joffrey's story was very different, with him claiming his and Sansa's break up was a mistake and that Pod was a jealous person. One who felt Sansa belonged to him and attacked Joffrey in rage; when Joffrey wanted to fix things with Sansa.
"Very well; go and wait outside, I'll hear Podrick's story now." Oberyn said finally.
As he left Joffrey glared. 'Doesn't matter what that cunt says, things will go my way; as they're supposed to. Sansa will be mine and that loser will get in trouble for assaulting me.'
Finally Podrick entered the office.
Pod sat down and let out a slow breath.
"Before we start, sir." He said quickly. "Now that I've cooled down, I want you to know that I'm truly sorry, about breaking Joffrey's nose. It was an accident, but still…"
Oberyn shook his head. "That's a good start, young man, tell me more."
"Yes sir; Joffrey is, abusive to Sansa; he hit her today, I saw the mark on her face. I then caught him, holding her against the wall, hurting her. I tried to intervene, to separate them. He…He struggled and, I just reacted; which led to me breaking his nose. I was scared he would hurt Sansa, but I never meant to…"
Oberyn raised a hand to stop Pod and for the boy to calm down.
"Perfectly understandable." He stated. "That will be all; there are still some more things I'll need to verify before making a decision. Please wait outside with the others."
"Yes sir." Pod replied, standing up and leaving the office.
As he did Principal Oberyn thought for a moment. 'I'll have to ask the cleaning lady about what she saw and heard. Although I should probably take into account that Podrick Payne-Lannister has always been a rather quiet boy. Joffrey always seems to act up while Sansa isn't the kind of girl to make scenes. Her and Pod's accounts are closely similar; Joffrey's the only one claiming he was attacked for no reason.'
So Oberyn got to work, he sent for the cleaning lady and, also, decided that now was as good a time as any to put the school's new CCTV surveillance to good use; he would see if the camera's caught the act and would verify at least one of the two stories he was hearing.
End of chapter, hope you enjoyed it, read and review please.
