Chapter Thirty-Five

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Brienne had stood diligently outside of Sansa's door the entire day, but even she had to leave her post for a few moments when her bladder was full. She knocked on the door and told them she would be stepping away and to lock the door. Brienne had heard what Joffrey said to Melara, and she knew that as the night came closer the danger of him acting on his words grew. She had failed Renly but she would not fail Lady Catelyn. She didn't know if she would be able to face herself if she continued failing the people she swore herself to.

Melara and Sansa had enjoyed each other's company throughout the day, despite the threats that hung over their heads. Melara even saw Sansa smile, no matter how small, when she told the younger girl what she knew of Arya. Sansa expected nothing less from her strong-willed and free-spirited sister. Both girls had agreed that if they were more like Arya the things that had happened to them wouldn't have happened. If they were more like Arya they would stand-up for themselves. If they were more like Arya they would be free from the Hell known as 'the Red Keep'. But Melara knew there was no use anymore thinking of the 'ifs'. There are no 'ifs' only 'whens'.

Melara had locked the door and returned to stand behind Sansa. She ran a brush through Sansa's fiery red hair, the motions soothing them both. It sent them both back to another time, back to Winterfell and the day that their lives began to change. They had sat in a similar position, Melara helping Sansa to prepare for the feast in honor of King Robert's arrival. The biggest worry on Sansa's mind at the time was if the prince would like her despite her hair color. The girls had mourned for their lost innocence throughout the day, but Melara was ready to be strong once again. After the night she had with Jaime she was certain that he loved her and that thought gave her confidence. Jaime loved her, not Cersei. Jaime would protect Melara and not let the people in the capital use her more than they already had. She thought of Tywin's words as she began to plait Sansa's hair. The way he had spoken about her getting pregnant and having a child, as long as it were a Lannister, really did make her feel like nothing more than an animal to be used for breeding. She felt a blush creep on her cheeks as the images of last night came to her mind for the hundredth time that day. I guess if I am to be forced to be with a man and produce children, it is better to have it be Jaime. I didn't know that it could be like it was last night. It was like a dream. Melara finished braiding Sansa's hair just as she heard the door open. It took her mind a moment to remember that the door had been locked from the inside and that unless someone had a key they could not get in. If only she had come to the realization a moment sooner she may have been able to prevent the events that were to follow.

Joffrey entered through the door and handed the key he had used to Meryn, who followed behind his King. Melara didn't think that Sansa's shoulders could be any tenser until another man, larger and wider than Meryn, had entered. The Knight that Melara did not know shut the door behind him, effectively trapping the girl in the room. Melara prayed that Brienne would return while Sansa prayed that the visit would be over quickly. Joffrey had taken to punishing Sansa behind closed doors once Margaery had become his betrothed. Sansa had thought that the beatings were over, that some God had felt pity upon the poor wolf stuck in the lion's den. But Joffrey was too sick, too twisted, to stop his torment of the girl. He enjoyed it too much to stop. He looked to the pair of girls before him, waiting like lambs for the slaughter. But he wouldn't hurt them both tonight. Not in that same way at least. Sansa stood and curtsied, hoping to appease the King and prevent him from allow his guards to injure her too much. Her efforts were usually wasted but yet, Sansa would still try. Joffrey motioned to the door with an open palm as he addressed the night's victims.

"A locked door? Did you think that would keep you safe?" Sansa hated when he asked questions, she never knew if he was truly looking for an answer or just speaking his own thoughts out loud. He brought the same open palm to gesture around the room. "This is all mine. The lock, the door, the both of you. As long as I am King, it will all be mine."

"I pray to the Gods that your time as King is long, Your Grace."

"Of course it will be long, why wouldn't it be long?" Joffrey tensed his body and looked to Sansa for an answer. Sansa did not have an answer that wouldn't lead to her being smacked across the face so she stayed quiet. Melara followed Sansa's lead, knowing that the poor girl had been through this all before. Joffrey relaxed and shifted his weight, his hand coming to rest on his sword. Melara did not like the look of his face. She didn't like any look that crossed his face if she were to be honest. "Ser Meryn, I can't seem to make up my mind on which of these two is to be labeled as the bigger traitor." His feet carried him to where the girls stood, the chair that Sansa had been seated on the only thing keeping Melara from her. She wanted to throw the chair out of the way and put herself in-between Sansa and the false-Knights, but did not want to make a move for fear of what could happen. Joffrey sat down in the chair, Sansa nearly running to the backside of it to stand by Melara. He did not turn to look at the girls as he lounged, but instead motioned them to the front with an impatient hand. "Well. Come around so I can see you properly. I don't have time to waste, I am ruling seven kingdoms, you know.

Sansa did as she was told and took hold of Melara's hand to bring her with, knowing that it was better to do what Joffrey said the first time he asked. When the girls stood before the boy-king, his guards took hold of them with an iron grip on their upper arms. There would be no escape from whatever Joffrey had planned. Sansa knew what was in store for her and she began to shake as soon as Ser Meryn had grabbed her. The larger unknown guard stood behind Melara, hips fingers digging into her arm. When Melara looked to the girl, she saw so much of herself in Sansa and wished that she could take the girl's fears and troubles away, just as Catelyn had done with her when she was just a girl. Joffrey's voice brought her attention back to the sadistic boy who sat before them as if eyeing up livestock. Do all of these sick men see woman as only good for breeding and beating?

"I'm feeling very generous tonight. I think only one of you needs to be punished for your traitorous family." Melara wanted to scream at him that her father, Stannis, was Joffrey's uncle, and therefore family also, but then remembered that Joffrey was the result of Jaime and Cersei's affair. The thought hurt her, but she shut it away to stay focused and alert of the situation she found herself in. She knew that Brienne would be along very soon and just needed to stall as long as possible. She had to try, to protect both herself and Sansa. Joffrey shifted his eyes between the two girls weighing his options carefully but he ultimately settled his gaze onto Melara. "I'll have that one in my bed tonight." He nodded his head towards his cousin then looked to Meryn. "Ser Meryn, Lady Sansa is yours…"

The gruff man turned Sansa quickly and the girl did not fight. Meryn had brought his hand back to strike Sansa near her stomach when Melara stopped him with her panicked yell.

"NO!" All eyes turned to her but she did not care. She would not stand and say nothing, do nothing, while Sansa was beat before her eyes. The anger that her namesake was known for built up inside her, giving her courage to face her sadistic cousin. She would not bow down in fear before him. Meryn had yet to strike Sansa, his hand held in midair, waiting for the King to tell him to continue. Joffrey stood at Melara's outburst but did not pay any mind to the Knight looking to him for direction. Instead his eyes, full of lust and hate and anger, looked straight into the face of the girl who dared to defy him. His voice held the same emotions that his eyes showed as he addressed Melara.

"No? You would take her place, then?" She did not hesitate with her answer.

"I would rather be beaten than grace your bed." She held her head high, anger forcing her to be brave. She almost enjoyed when her anger took hold of her. It gave her a confidence that she normally couldn't seem to muster. She wanted to antagonize him, drawing out the conversation until Brienne could come bursting through the door. Melara tried to recall if the guards had locked the door behind them or not. If they did, she hoped that Brienne was strong enough to break through the door to get to them. Until that moment came, Melara would have to be brave. But am I being brave or am I being stupid? It was such a foreign thing to her that she couldn't be sure which one she was being at the moment. She knew that the two could be interchangeable but hoped that what she was showing was bravery. The fury she saw in him at her words made her almost believe he truly was a Baratheon.

"So be it! Mother said that Uncle Jaime is only using you to give him a chile. He won't mind if his toy is a bit broken." He nearly was squealing when he yelled, his finger pointing straight at Melara's face. "Ser Boros, teach this traitorous bitch a lesson!" The man behind her did not say a word, and even if he did Melara would not have heard him. Her mind had gone blank, fear taking over at the possibilities of how the man could 'teach her a lesson'. She was roughly shoved to the ground and tried to scramble to her feet before the large man could put his hands back on her. She was too focused on her own safety to see Sansa struggling against Ser Meryn with intentions of helping Melara somehow.

Melara had almost made it to her feet when she felt the large Knight grab a fistful of her hair and yank her up the rest of the way. She let out a small cry of pain as her hands flew to her head, trying to pry his fingers off of her locks. Her eyes had closed from the pain and so she did not see his knee, but she felt it when it met with her stomach. She doubled over in pain as the air left her lungs from the impact. Her mind began to show her flashbacks to another man who had beaten her, just before he raped her. She could not regain her breath, because of both the blow and the panic, and so she did not scream. It seemed to make the man angrier that he could not make her yell out and he flung her across the room like a child would throw a doll. She opened her eyes for just a moment and saw the table seconds before her head made contact with it. She fell to the floor with a sickening thud as Sansa's scream tore through the room. Melara barely registered hearing the door burst open and voices yelling as she slipped into the welcoming darkness.

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Tyrion ran after Brienne, his smaller legs struggling to keep up with the Maid's large strides. She wore her full set of armor and wished she hadn't, her speed cut down far too much in her opinion. Brienne had been confronted by the Imp moments ago as to why she had left her post. She told him the door was locked and the girls were safe inside of Sansa's rooms. But no one was safe with Joffrey as King. Tyrion informed Brienne that Joffrey held a key to every room and the woman had started off without a word. He chased after her, imploring her to tell him the reason for her haste. She did not stop her movements, hurrying back to ensure the safety of the Ladies, but spoke over her should to Tyrion. She told him what the King had said just hours before. She felt ashamed at her stupidity. Let them be safe. Or I will have failed them like I failed Renly.

"And you just left them? After hearing what Joffrey said to her ealier? Are you mad?" She did not answer him, instead trying to make her way back faster. As she made it to the door she heard a struggle just before an ear piercing scream. Brienne thrust her shoulder against the door and, without the lock in place, the force nearly tore the door from its hinges. Meryn threw Sansa down, in an imitation of what Boros had done to Melara, when Brienne burst through the door. He went to pull his sword but Brienne was already on him, landing two punches and a well-placed kick before Boros ran to help his sworn brother. She drew her sword then, ready to strike down the men, swine, before her. She took in the state of both girls and her blood boiled, urging her to kill the beasts responsible who called themselves 'Knights'.

"Kill it!" Joffrey kept his distance from the enraged woman, intimidated by the frightening image she created. But he would never admit he was scared. Where Melara had shown bravery, Joffrey only showed stupidity. Boros and Meryn both lunged for Brienne but they were no match for the enraged woman. A number of well-placed hits and Meryn was laid out on the ground injured and Boros was at the end of her sword. Just before she pierced his skin with her sword Joffrey yelled again. "STOP! As your King I command you to stop!"

"You. Are not. My. King."

"LADY BRIENNE!" She turned her head to see Tyrion panting in the doorway. She steadied her sword hand but had an itch to plunge her weapon into the man she held at her mercy. It would have been so easy and he would have deserved it. "Let them go. It will cause more trouble than good to kill these two pigs." Tyrion walked to Sansa, helping her up and only then did he notice Melara sprawled on the ground, a small pool of blood gathered on the ground near her head. Tyrion had felt fear before in his life, but never before had he felt such an intense fear at seeing Melara looking on the brink of death. Brienne released the man and he fell to the ground, not able to hold his own weight. "Joffrey take your guards and leave."

"I'm the King, you can't—"

"GET OUT!" Joffrey had never heard such a tone from his uncle, and even Brienne was surprised that such a small man could hold such a great power to his voice. Joffrey scoffed at his uncle but fled the room nonetheless. Meryn and Boros were too beaten to leave, but since they were not moving Tyrion did not find them a threat. He went to Melara's side and felt for signs of life, holding his own breath from fear and worry. Sansa came up and knelt beside Tyrion, her voice sounding as frightened as she felt.

"Is she…?" Tyrion gently rolled Melara onto her back, the girl giving no protest. He placed his hand on her chest and felt a slight rise and fall, signifying that she was alive. He let out a sigh of relief that she at least was alive, but when he saw the gash on her head he knew it would need to be clean and possibly sewn.

"She's alive." He turned to face Brienne, seeing the pained look on her face he knew she blamed herself. But the time for blame would be later, now was the time to see to Melara. "Go find Jaime and bring him here." He turned to Sansa. "Get me some pillows, blankets, water and a cloth." She did not move until Tyrion snapped at her. "Now!" She did not say a word but got to her feet and ran to get the things he had asked for. She was crying, knowing that Melara's fate would have been her own had the girl not stepped in to save her. Melara had gained Sansa's full trust back and Sansa prayed to the Old Gods and the New that they would let Melara heal quickly. That same prayer went up to the Gods that night from not only Sansa, but also Brienne, Tyrion and Jaime.

When Jaime had come into the room and saw the scene before him he felt so much anger that he punched the wall before going to his wife. Tyrion had said to leave her where she was but he would not let his love be on a cold hard floor. He scooped her up into his arms and did not release her until she was safe in their bed. The temporary bandage that Tyrion had made already had fallen off of her forehead and Jaime saw the evidence of what his nephew, no, his son had become.

"Jaime, this is Maester Gormon. He traveled here with the Tyrells." The unspoken meaning behind Tyrion's words was not lost on Jaime. Tyrion was assuring Jaime that this Maester would not bring harm to Melara on the orders of Cersei. "Does he have your permission to treat your wife?" Jaime nodded his head from where he sat next to Melara. Until she was awake and smiling at him he would not leave her side. And once he did, it would be to live up to the title of Kingslayer once more.

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