Wow! I should cliffy you guys more often! I think that last chapter got the largest response EVER! Thank you all so much for the love even though I pretty much ended the chapter with Daenerys sentencing Tyrion to death. That just shows how MUCH you guys love me!

Again I apologize for how short these chapters are. I know I usually give you about 2000 words a chapter but these ones are small little moments in time that are important and I want it to feel as real as possible. (Does it feel real? Are your hearts pounding? Have your tears run out?) I went back after I finished chapter 12 and made it longer. Not a lot. But I figured I could add some stuff in. Ended up putting in more to make you cry. I'm good at making people cry I guess.

I have seen a lot of you quoting Tyrion's "I am coming, my sweet Sansa" line a lot. Perhaps we should make shirts for that. I am seriously considering marketing some Team Demon Monkey shirts (I will also do it in other languages if you're interested). Anyone interested?

The song for this chapter is Brave originally by Josh Groban (I have some serious reservations about listening to him sing anymore. Blame my mother for playing him 24/7 when I was younger) but I am using the cover by the MAGNIFICENT Peter Hollens! EVERYONE should look him up and play this song while you are reading. Trust me. (Ps he tweeted me back. It's a sign that this song was meant to be for this chapter)

TISSUE ALERT! While I don't think this chapter is nearly as angsty or depressing as some of the, er, previous chapters, it will probably make you cry. Most likely. Almost definitely.

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Disclaimer: I own nothing. Not the Iron Throne, not the North and definitely not Tyrion Lannister. But oh the things I could do if I did.

Chapter Eleven: Brave

Sansa abandoned her packing to answer the pounding on her door. She'd tried to ignore it, not interested in speaking with anyone after her conversation with Daenerys but whoever it was refused to relent. She was packing her things to head back to Winterfell. Varys told her of the destruction of her childhood home but he assured her that Tyrion had already started men working on restoring it shortly after they were married. She didn't delight in returning there. She didn't want to go anywhere. She spent her days in her room, mourning her husband and crying. Any strength that she had died with him. She flung the door open with a dismal on her lips but it died as she saw Lord Varys leaning breathless against her doorframe, pale as death.

"Lady Sansa… Tyrion… you must hurry," he gasped out.

"What," she asked breathlessly, hope lifting her like a bird against her will.

"Tyrion," Varys said, more composed. "He's not dead. The queen had him as a prisoner. But she's passing judgment now. I tried to speak for him. She wouldn't listen. You must go now." Sansa didn't hesitate. She took off running through the halls of the palace, pushing people aside. Her lungs burned and her legs felt like they were going to freeze and stiffen on her. She flew through the stone corridors like a blur, mind spinning in confusion and horror. What if she was too late? What if she arrived just a second too late? This thought pushed her harder until her entire body screamed with the protest.

She finally arrived at the throne room but two Unsullied guarded the doors. She tried to push past them but they refused to budge. She told them who she was, what the queen was about to do but she might as well have been talking to a wall. She began to yell, hoping her voice would penetrate the thick doors and someone would open them. Varys appeared behind her a moment later and nodded to them. They bowed and stepped aside, opening the doors for her.

"… for the crimes you have committed against the crown and the people, I sentence you to death by beheading," she heard Daenerys proclaim to the room. Her eyes sought out what the queen was looking at and she saw him. Her heart soared at the sight of him kneeling on the floor, head bowed and shoulders slumped in defeat.

"Stop," she called into the room as a man with a sword moved towards him. Everyone turned to stare at her except him and she waited until slowly, almost as though he was afraid it was a dream, he turned around to face her. Their eyes met and she watched as his face morphed from shock to relief until he was furiously blinking away tears unsuccessfully. He looked like hell. His face was dirty and soot stained. His clothes were ripped and frayed, his hair matted with dirt and sweat. But it had never been so good to see him. She felt tears in her own eyes but she blinked them away, determined to be with her husband… one way or another.

"Lady Sansa, come forward. Did you have something you wished to add," Daenerys called in confusion and Sansa returned her attention to the queen. Sansa moved closer to the throne, her eyes frequently finding her husband. She ached with the longing to drop on her knees beside him and hold him, kiss him. But she remained in her rigid posture, commanding the attention of everyone in the room. She moved until she stood next to her husband and stared the queen in the eye.

"Your grace, I wish to beg you to pardon this man." There were gasps of disbelief and hisses of disapproval around the room. Sansa ignored them, focused on the queen who frowned slightly.

"Pardon him? Lady Sansa, do you know what Lord Tyrion has done?" Sansa's eyes narrowed perceptibly.

"I do, your grace. In the Battle of Blackwater Bay, he saved the entire city by using wildfire to destroy the majority of Stannis's fleet. After the king left the battle to hide in his chambers, Lord Tyrion rallied the men and personally led the attack on the gates, thus helping to save everyone in the city. He has worked relentlessly to save the kingdom from a debt incurred by his predecessor and King Robert. He saved me," she said and Daenerys began to frown deeper. "By marrying me, he saved me from the forward and unwelcome advances of his sadistic nephew. He showed me the beauty in a world I thought was ruled by death and misery.

"This man is my husband, your grace," she said and Daenerys's eyes widened. "If you would kill him, you must kill me also. I have committed atrocities which will haunt me for the rest of my life. It was my pleadings to King Joffrey which led to my father being branded a traitor and beheaded even though he had done nothing but what was honorable and right. It was my letter to my brother Robb that moved him to take up arms and call our banner men to fight against the Lannisters, thus leading him into a war which he and my mother paid for with their lives. The blood of my family stains my hands and I shall never be able to scrub it away.

"So if you would kill my husband, your grace, you must also put the sword to my neck. For a world without him would be like a night without the moon or the stars. I am his wife and I will remain with him until time ends." She looked down at him and then kneeled while he shook his head, a saddened expression turning his mouth down.

"Don't do this," he whispered but she shook her head.

"I am yours and you are mine, from this day to the end of my days," she whispered back. He smiled sadly, brow furrowing in sorrow.

"It doesn't have to be the end of your days," he whispered brokenly. She kissed his cheek softly.

"Yes it does," she breathed. Daenerys stood from her new throne and came to kneel before them.

"I had a love like yours at one time," she said quietly and Sansa could see the heartbreak in her eyes. "He was my world, my sun and stars and I was the moon of his life." She stopped and Sansa saw her throat working silently. "Our love will never diminish. Not until the sun sets in the West and the rivers run dry and the mountains blow in the wind like leaves. And it is because of that that I am doing this." She stood and addressed the room.

"Lady Sansa, though she blames herself, has committed no crimes. Lord Varys has vouched for her life and I have seen fit to grant it. If Lord Tyrion pledges fealty to me, I will grant him pardon. This is my final decision." She clapped and an Unsullied moved forward, releasing Tyrion's wrists from the manacles restraining him. His arms immediately enveloped Sansa and she felt her pain and fears melt away in his touch, tears stinging her eyes. A guard helped them to their feet and Tyrion took her hand, kissing it and bowing. They turned and walked from the throne room, heads held high as Daenerys dismissed the crowd gathered there. They walked hurriedly back to their chambers and entered before Sansa fell to her knees and placed kisses all over Tyrion's face, her hands moving over him to inspect for injury.

"I thought you were dead," she cried, unable to stop the tears from rolling down her cheeks. Tyrion's eyes and cheeks were wet also and he cupped her face in his hands, placing gentle kisses on her skin.

"So did I," he said.

"The queen… she said no one survived the battle," Sansa asked in confusion.

"No one did. My father, Joffrey and I were behind the company, trying to find a way to kill the dragon. Her men captured us before we could do anything. I've been in the dungeon since then. She… she killed Joffrey and my father."

"I'm just happy you're here," she said, wrapping him in a tight embrace.

"I can't believe that you told her to kill you, too," he said in disbelief and she stared at him. "Am I really worth dying for?" She grasped his face in her hands and stared into his eyes with an intensity that seemed to burn him.

"Yes, you are."

"No I'm not. There's no reason for you to die for me," he said.

"I have a reason. I love you," she said and his heart stopped.