Tyrion's trial begins. Remember he is not accused of Joffrey's murder, but of attempt of murder against Joffrey AND the murder of Tywin. And if Tywin isn't there to judge him, Joffrey is still alive and we know what kind of justice he gives.

The trial is covering seven chapters and this is the first one. A lot of things are going to happen.

SANSA VIII

Mira was brushing her hair. It was the beginning of the afternoon, so normally Sansa wouldn't have her hair brushed at this hour, but this day was different. In less than an hour, Tyrion's trial would begin. Uncertainty and anxiety filled Sansa's head and body. She was afraid. Afraid for Tyrion, and afraid for her. If Tyrion was sentenced to death, things would turn worse for Sansa than they ever were. If Tyrion was dead, she would be forced to marry another Lannister, and who knew what he might do to her. Tyrion was kind, he never mistreated her, showed her more respect than everyone else ever did since her father died. She didn't want him to die. He didn't deserve it. Sansa knew he was innocent of the crimes Cersei accused him. She hoped the judges would believe it, and if they believed it, that they would be prone to exonerate her husband.

Mira put down the brush. "Do you want to wear any jewel, my lady?"

"No. I'll be alright like this." Sansa played a little with her necklace. She only took it off when she took a bath now.

Mira stood away from the glass. Sansa looked at her image. She had to make a good impression at the trial, but she knew it counted for little in the outcome. Everything would depend on the testimonies on both sides, and the willingness of the judges to spare or sentence Tyrion. She didn't know what to expect of the judges. Ser Kevan Lannister had come to visit her when he arrived in King's Landing a few days ago. The knight didn't seem as ruthless as Tyrion's father, he even seemed sincere when he said he would judge Tyrion fairly. Tyrion was the one who had the idea to call him here, so perhaps he really trusted his uncle. However, Sansa couldn't be sure of anything. Tyrion might have done this in despair and only because Ser Kevan was a little bit better than his sister. It wasn't difficult to find someone better than the Queen Regent. Furthermore, she knew Ser Kevan had been Lord Tywin's main advisor for many years, and she wasn't ready to trust someone who advised the man behind the slaughtering of her family. As for Lord Mace Tyrell and Prince Oberyn Martell, she didn't think the first would have any favorable prejudice toward Tyrion, and the second would surely want to see him dead for the atrocities the Lannisters committed against the Martells during the last rebellion. She could only hope to convince Ser Kevan and Lord Mace.

Sansa looked at Mira. The Forrester had become Sansa's closest friend these last weeks, taking Shae's place as her confident. Mira came from the North and her situation was so much like Sansa's that she felt a lot of sympathy for the girl. Sansa could also speak of things she had never been able to talk about with Shae or Margaery. With Mira she could talk freely about the North, and she had someone who could really understand her. Mira was also an ally in Sansa's fight to get Tyrion free. Both of them needed Tyrion alive, Mira for her family, Sansa for herself. She thought she understood better now why Tyrion had tried to help Mira. She hadn't cared about it after her family's death, but now she realized Tyrion had been ashamed by what his family did at the Twins. Perhaps it had been an attempt to mend the horrors his family was responsible for. She remembered Margaery's words. I think he has nothing to do with it. He looks ashamed by what his family has done, he has bad relationships with his father and his sister, he obviously hates Joffrey, and he never caused you any harm. And she remembered as well the words he told her not long after. What happened to your family was a terrible crime. I didn't know your brother. He seemed like a good man, but I didn't know him. Your mother, on the other hand, I admired her. She wanted to have me executed, but I admired her. She was a strong woman. And she was fierce when it came to protecting her children. The memory nearly brought tears to her eyes.

"My lady, we should go now. The trial will start very soon."

Mira was right. Sansa restrained herself and pushed back her tears inside. She had to be strong today. She couldn't allow herself to look weak. If she wanted to save Tyrion, she had to stay focused on the trial and find a way to have him cleared of all charges. She rose from her chair.

"Let's go then." Mira followed on her heels.

Outside the door, Brienne was waiting for them. They walked in silence to the Great Hall where the trial was to take place. No one had anything to say. They had already talked about this day long enough before, they all knew what they had to do for the trial. Sansa's heart was pounding in her chest. She wondered if Brienne and Mira could hear it. When they got close enough of the Throne Room, Sansa heard someone whispering on her right.

"Mira."

Sansa turned to face the person. It was a girl with brown hair and wearing Reach clothes. She had seen her before. She was one of Margaery's handmaidens. Sansa believed her name was Sera. She was Mira's friend.

"Sera." Mira greeted her politely. Her friend told Sansa she had to cut her links with Sera after everything that happened, on Sera's wishes moreover, but it was strange in this case that Margaery's handmaiden wanted to speak with Mira.

"My lady." Sera bowed before Sansa. "Mira, I need to talk to you, it's very important. Can I, Lady Sansa? It will only take a few minutes."

Mira looked to Sansa with the question on her face. The other girl looked distressed. Sansa gave her leave. "Very well. Join us on the benches when you're done."

Mira went away with Sera and Sansa continued toward the doors. People were entering to assist the trial as if it was a tournament. She heard some making wagers on the verdict. She also heard some whispers on her as she walked. Imp's wife. Traitor's daughter. Maiden wife. Sansa ignored them. It was no use to take care of what they said. She took a place with Brienne on the benches, in the middle of the right side of the Iron Throne. There were many conversations around she couldn't understand, but she felt a few eyes on her. She was the wife of the man who was accused of murdering his own father and attempting to murder the king. The accusations were untrue, but people were mocking her all the same. They didn't know the truth. She would have to show them the truth.

She saw Ser Kevan standing next to the Iron Throne. She also saw Margaery, Ser Loras, their father and Lady Olenna discussing before the dais. She caught Margaery's eyes and her friend gave her a smile. She also saw Prince Oberyn, his arm around the waist of a woman dressed even more lightly than Margaery. She was probably his paramour. Cersei sat in her own chair, staring right in front of her. That might be the first time she was allowed out of her rooms for weeks. The thought brought a quick smile upon Sansa's face. Joffrey was nowhere to be seen. With some luck, he decided to not attend the trial. Sansa also spotted Bronn on the other side of the room. She had agreed with him and Brienne that they would both ensure her safety and Tyrion's safety during the trial, but they weren't to be seen together. It could attract too much attention. Mira joined her and Brienne at this moment. Sansa saw that her face was quite gloomy, but before she could ask her anything, a voice she always feared thundered in the Throne Room.

"OK, let's get over with this." Joffrey was there. He sat on the Iron Throne, looking bored and impatient to get over with this. Sansa feared the worst for a time. What if he decided to judge Tyrion himself? Tyrion had no chance in this case, and Sansa neither. She made a silent prayer to the Mother. Have mercy on us all.

Ser Kevan spoke at this moment. "My lords, my ladies, take your place. The trial will begin very soon." People rushed to take a place on the several benches in the room. There were too many people and not enough places. One of the benches toppled. Finally, the City Watch had to escort outside the people there was no place for and closed the doors. It took a few minutes to make sure everything was in order. When everyone was seated, they were tighter than in the streets of King's Landing.

After some time, the doors opened again. Everyone went silent as Ser Jaime entered. Behind him was Tyrion, flanked by two gold cloaks. He seemed in good health, his clothes were clean and in good state, and he was well shaven. She looked at him, waiting for him to return her gaze. He did it after some time, and gave her a thin smile. Sansa returned one to him. At least, he seemed alright for now. Sansa realized as he approached the box of the accused that he wore shackles around his wrists. Sansa was furious about it. As if Tyrion represented a threat. He was innocent furthermore. Anyway, if they really wanted him to represent no threat, they should have gagged him. His tongue was much more dangerous than his hands. She heard someone shouting "Kinslayer" in the crowd. The gold cloaks attached Tyrion's chains to the box and each of them went to stand guard before one of the two rows of benches, facing the king. Ser Jaime went to the left of the throne.

After a moment, Joffrey raised from the throne, and everyone followed him. Sansa, Mira and Brienne had to do the same, though Sansa didn't like to imitate Joffrey. Her former betrothed started to speak. "I, Joffrey of the House Baratheon, First of my Name, King of the Andals, the First Men, and the Rhoynars, Lord of the Seven Kingdoms and Protector of the Realm, do hereby recuse myself from this trial. Kevan of the House Lannister, Hand of the King, will sit as judge in my stead. And with him Prince Oberyn of the House Martell and Lord Mace of the House Tyrell. Once the accused is found guilty, bring me his head."

At least he didn't order to bring him his head immediately. Sansa felt very much relieved when Joffrey left the room with two kingsguards. Ser Kevan sat on the Iron Throne, while Lord Mace Tyrell sat on his left and Prince Oberyn on his right. Everyone sat down as they did. The trial began.

"Tyrion of the House Lannister," started Ser Kevan. "You stand accused by the Queen Regent of the murder of your father, Tywin Lannister, the Lord of Casterly Rock and the Hand of the King. You are also accused of attempt of murder against the king. How do you plead to these accusations?"

"Not guilty." Tyrion talked as if he was bored by all this.

"Do you have any idea who might have killed your father then?"

"None. I believe we're not even sure he was killed."

Tyrion wasn't wrong about this. Jaime Lannister didn't believe Lord Tywin was assassinated. This trial was Cersei's doing, nothing more. His uncle didn't seem to disagree with him but he said nothing.

"We will start the trial now. The accusation will call its witnesses first, then the defense will call his own. Both the accusation and the defense will have the right to a final speech once the testimonies will be over. The Crown may call its first witness."

Sansa was already aware of the way the trial would take place. With the number of testimonies, it would surely take more than a single day to go through all of it. First, they would have to listen to Cersei's witnesses. Sansa didn't know who would testify against Tyrion, except two kingsguards, but at least the fact Cersei's witnesses would go first may allow her to adjust her own testimonies afterwards.

Ser Meryn Trant was the first to testify for the Crown, and his testimony filled Sansa with rage. He began to talk about the day Joffrey caused a riot. Of course, he didn't say Joffrey caused the riot. "Once we'd got King Joffrey safely away from the mob, the Imp rounded on him. He slapped the king across the face and called him a vicious idiot and a fool." Sansa didn't know if Tyrion really did it, but if he did she could only agree with his words. "It wasn't the first time the Imp threatened Joffrey. Right here in this Throne Room, he marched up those steps and called our king a halfwit. Compared his Grace to the Mad King and suggested he'd meet the same fate. And when I spoke in the king's defense, he threatened to have me killed."

"Oh, why don't you tell them what Joffrey was doing? Pointing a loaded crossbow at the Lady Sansa Stark while you tore at her clothes and beat her." Tyrion decided to speak at this moment, telling the truth Sansa wished herself to shout in this moment.

"Silence!" Ser Kevan shouted. "You will not speak unless call upon, Tyrion. If you want to present a different version of this you will wait for your own time to speak. You're dismissed, Ser Meryn."

There was nothing she and Tyrion could do for now. Ser Meryn wasn't entirely false, but he used words taken away from their context. Tyrion had never meant those words as a threat for Joffrey, more as a lesson. He had protected her this day, and now his sister was using it against him. Sansa was boiling in anger at Ser Meryn, but his testimony had no value. She could easily destroy it with her own witnesses later.

Ser Boros Blount came next. Sansa hated him even more than Ser Meryn. He was crueler. He told the same tale than his fellow companion, adding that Tyrion didn't only slap Joffrey, but also kicked him, and that the king was covered with bruises when they brought him back to the Red Keep. Sansa knew that if Joffrey had some bruises, he had much less than the ones she had received at this occasion. She could destroy Ser Blount's testimony as well.

Next came two men called Osfryd and Osney Kettleblack, Ser Osmund's brothers. They talked about a supper Tyrion had with Cersei not long before the Battle of Blackwater when he threatened to hurt her one day. Afterwards came Ser Osmund who stated supposed words Joffrey told him on the day he was given his white cloak. "Good Ser Osmund, guard me and my father well, for my uncle loves us not. He means to be king in my place."

Tyrion scoffed at this testimony, and Sansa would have done the same if she wasn't so used to hide her true feelings behind courtesies. This testimony was so stupid. Even Joffrey wasn't so stupid to believe something like that. The whole accusation was a farce.

Grand Maester Pycelle was the next one to speak. He was holding several sheets in his hands and began to enumerate a long list of names Sansa never heard, except for the essence of nightshade. After a moment, Oberyn Martell stopped him.

"I think you have made your point, Grand Maester. You have a lot of poison in your store."

"Had, Prince Oberyn. My stores were plundered."

"By whom?" asked Ser Kevan.

"By the accused, Tyrion Lannister, after he had me wrongfully imprisoned. Furthermore, a few weeks before Lord Tywin's death, he came to me asking for essence of nightshade, saying it was for his wife who had problems to sleep. He took enough to kill a man."

Sansa knew Tyrion had imprisoned the Grand Maester while he was Hand of the King, but she knew nothing about the stealing of his stores. As for the essence of nightshade, Tyrion really took some to help her sleep, but the little vial was still next to her bed, nearly unused. It was almost completely full. Tyrion couldn't have used it to poison his father.

"Grand Maester, you examined Lord Tywin's corpse. Was it without question poison that killed him?" asked Ser Kevan.

"Without question."

"What poison was used to kill him?" This question came from Prince Oberyn.

The Grand Maester seemed to be looking for his words for a moment. "Tears of Lys."

Sansa never heard that name before. Strangely, Prince Oberyn asked a very specific question then. "Were his belly and his bowels damaged? Was there an insufferable smell coming from Lord Tywin's body?" The Grand Maester looked lost for a moment and Sansa too, until Prince Oberyn spoke again. "These are the effects of the tears of Lys. If he was poisoned by this, that's what you should have observed. Did you observe it?"

The Grand Maester took some time to answer again. "Yes, of course." He didn't seem so certain from what Sansa could say. She had some doubts that he wasn't saying the truth. In fact, she didn't believe him at all. Cersei's witnesses obviously all lied or distorted the truth. With his uncertain ways of speaking, she wasn't about to believe the Grand Maester. Sadly, some may believe him, perhaps Lord Tyrell, or even Ser Kevan. That wasn't good.

Cersei testified after the Grand Maester. She wore a black gown to show she was mourning her father. She told the tale about a dinner she had with Tyrion. She repeated words Tyrion supposedly told her at this moment. "I will hurt you for this. A day will come when you think you are safe and happy and your joy will turn to ashes in your mouth and you will know the debt is paid."

"Your own brother said this to you?" It was the first time Lord Tyrell spoke since the beginning of the trial.

"Shortly before the Battle of Blackwater Bay. I confronted him about his plans to put Joffrey on the front lines, and his attempt to assume the function of Hand of the King permanently. He was trying to prevent our father from coming back to the city to save it against Stannis. He intercepted the messages I was trying to send him and imprisoned the Grand Maester when he tried to do his duty. I finally managed to send a rider to my father to inform him about what was going on and he came to save us just in time. When the attack came, Joffrey insisted on remaining at the battlements. He believed his presence would inspire the troops."

Sansa felt anger rising in her again. That was a disgusting lie. Joffrey had left the battlements like a coward as soon as his mother asked him to. When Lancel Lannister tried to convince the queen to send him back, she hit him right where he had been injured by an arrow. It was Tyrion who saved the city, and she was lying about it in front of the whole court, just like she lied about Sansa's father. That was unfair. Sansa wanted to shout out the whole truth right now, but she refrained herself. She would have her time to speak.

Prince Oberyn asked a question to Cersei at this moment. "Tyrion said, and you will know the debt is paid. What debt?"

Sansa was surprised by Prince Oberyn's behavior. Among the three judges, he seemed to be the more skeptical one about Cersei's witnesses. Why? He hated the Lannisters, what did he have to gain from questioning her witnesses? Tyrion's innocence? This confused Sansa.

"I discovered he'd been keeping whores in the Tower of the Hand. I asked him to confine his salacious acts to the brothel where such behavior belongs. He wasn't pleased."

"Thank you, your Grace, for the courage of your testimony."

Sansa wanted to laugh at Margaery's father statement. There was no courage in all this. This testimony was a lie just like the others. Sansa didn't believe what Cersei said. Tyrion wouldn't do such threats without good reasons. She knew him enough to be sure about that. If he really said that to Cersei, that was because she had done something really horrible. If she didn't, he would never have said it. In both cases, Cersei was lying, as always. She always lied. What a hypocrite woman she was, crying when Sansa knew she was happy to talk against Tyrion. She remembered how she told her once that tears were among a wife's best weapons. However, Cersei wasn't the only one who could use such things to persuade other people.

Cersei went back to her chair on the dais. Lord Varys was the next to testify. Sansa had wondered on which side Varys was, but after his testimony she had a strong impression he was serving Cersei, though she still had some doubts. You're not looking at the right place, Lady Sansa. You must search the army of wolves. The eunuch's words came back to her mind. Why did he tell her that?

Varys's testimony did more damage to Tyrion than all the other ones. He seemed to know everything that was going on in the Red Keep, everywhere, every time. He confirmed many facts of the other testimonies. He confirmed that Tyrion slapped Joffrey after the riot, he confirmed the insults he used against the king, he confirmed his words when he saved Sansa from Ser Meryn (without mentioning her beating of course), he confirmed Tyrion's words to Cersei during the dinner, even adding that he said at this moment Joffrey's place wasn't on the throne. He confirmed that it was Tyrion's plan to have Joffrey on the battlements during the battle. He confirmed that Tyrion sent no request of help to his father while he was Hand of the King. He mentioned a conversation when Tyrion mentioned he liked to be Hand of the King and wanted to stay at his office. He confirmed the arrest of Grand Maester Pycelle, and confirmed that Tyrion remained in the chambers of the maester for some time after the maester was brought to the black cells by two of his men. He even confirmed that Tyrion had been keeping a whore in his personal service in the Tower of the Hand when he was acting Hand. Sansa didn't know why, but she didn't feel right for a moment, picturing Tyrion with another woman. She didn't like the thought. She banned it from her mind. It was before Tyrion married her anyway. However, the two last facts he mentioned were the ones to catch Sansa's attention the most.

Varys began to talk about a threat Tyrion made against Joffrey during a meeting of the small council.

"Do you remember the precise nature of this threat?" Lord Tyrell asked him.

"I'm afraid I do, my lord. He said, Perhaps you should speak more softly to me, then. Monsters are dangerous and just now kings are dying like flies."

"And he said this to you at a meeting of the small council?"

"Yes. After we received word of Robb Stark's death." Sansa's attention was caught by this. "He didn't seem gladdened by the news. Perhaps his marriage to Sansa Stark had made him more sympathetic to the northern cause." This brought murmurings in the crowd and Sansa felt eyes on her. She was indirectly accused by this last testimony. It was a theory, nothing more, but it was enough to make her Tyrion's partner. The Master of Whisperers continued.

"When this meeting was over, Lord Tyrion remained in the room and had a private discussion with his father. My little birds were not able to understand everything that was said, but they heard the voices of Lord Tyrion and Lord Tywin rise. It was obvious they had some disagreement. Among the things Lord Tyrion said at this moment and that my little birds could understand, there was a very interesting sentence. The Northerners will never forget." Again, Sansa felt eyes upon her. Did Tyrion really say this? She would probably have hugged him in other circumstances, but now it was used against him, and against her as well. Lord Varys didn't stop. "Lord Tyrion had many altercations with his father from the moment Lord Tywin came back to King's Landing, each one more violent than the previous. He wasn't happy to be no longer the Hand of the King. The last altercation happened the evening before Lord Tywin died."

"You say that Tyrion met his father right before he died?" That was Ser Kevan who asked the question this time.

"Yes, my lord Hand. Very strong words were used on both sides at this moment. Lord Tyrion accused his father of many atrocities, including the murder of innocent children and women. Among the names he mentioned on this occasion were those of Catelyn Stark and Talisa Stark. He said that King Joffrey was as mad as the Mad King himself. He said that his brother, his sister, and his nephew the king weren't fit to rule once Lord Tywin would be gone and that House Lannister would collapse once he would be dead. He said, I don't care anymore what will happen to House Lannister in the future."

"Kinslayer!" The shout came from the benches, and immediately a thunder of insults rained on Tyrion, but Sansa also heard a few for her. She understood what was going on now. Cersei was turning Tyrion into a monster sworn to avenge the North, and she made Sansa the cause of this. If Tyrion was sentenced to death, Sansa would probably end up like him.

"SILENCE! NOW!"

Ser Kevan's voice resonated through the Throne room with a great force and everyone went silent. For a moment, Sansa saw he was Tywin Lannister's brother. "You're excused, Lord Varys."

As the eunuch left the box of the witnesses, Tyrion surprisingly spoke. "Uncle, may I ask the witness one question?"

Ser Kevan was still standing up after he had brought back order. He sat again in the Iron Throne. "You may, but only one."

The question Tyrion asked wasn't what Sansa was expecting. She thought he would try to make Varys contradict himself, but the question wasn't even about the testimony. "You once said that without me, the city would have faced certain defeat. You said the histories would never mention me, but you would not forget. Have you forgotten, Lord Varys?" It was asked on a soft and low tone, a sad one even.

"Sadly, my lord, I never forget a thing." Sansa thought she heard some regret in the man's voice as he spoke. He had worked closely with Tyrion when her husband was Hand of the King. Perhaps Tyrion had considered him a friend, and this friend betrayed him. The room was entirely silent now. No more accusations were shouted, no one whispered. Sansa believed that in this moment, everyone realized a friendship was over. When Lord Varys was gone, Ser Kevan decided it was time for a pause in the trial.

"We will adjourn for now. Toll the bells in an hour's time."

The three judges stood up and people began to leave. "Clear the court!" a guard shouted. Sansa saw Jaime Lannister leaving in a quick pace. He was angry from the expression of his face. Sansa on her side was desperate. She hadn't expected this. Varys's testimony made her at least an indirect partner of Tywin Lannister's death. She didn't leave the court, nor did Brienne or Mira. Even Bronn remained here. Strangely, the guards didn't seem to care about their presence and didn't prompt them to leave. They remained here, all alone, the three women side by side on the right benches, the sellsword alone with a dark face on the left ones, and Tyrion alone in the box of the accused. He was accused of a murder he didn't commit, believed guilty only because he dared to defend the Northerners and to condemn slaughters. He was judged guilty because of her. Sansa had never felt so much pity for Tyrion than in this occasion. Even worse, she felt responsible for the situation he was in. How could she pity a Lannister so much?

They stayed together in a heavy silence for a very long time. No one dared to speak, not even Bronn or Tyrion, which was quite unusual since they always had some bawdy or funny comment to make in all circumstances. Sansa's eyes fixed the floor and Tyrion successively. Not a single time Tyrion looked at her. Finally, Sansa rose from her seat and went to him.

"My lord."

Tyrion raised his eyes toward her. He looked surprised that she was talking to him. "My lady." That was good to hear. It was the first time they were talking since Tyrion was arrested more than a month ago. Sansa had missed his voice. "Not going well, is it?"

Sansa could only agree with that. "No, it isn't. But we can destroy some of the testimonies. You still have witnesses."

"They are more your witnesses than mine." Tyrion smiled in her direction and Sansa felt forced to smile in return. She felt her cheeks turn red. "You're right. You can oppose the testimonies about Joffrey beating you. You may even destroy the Grand Maester's testimony. He didn't look quite sure about the poison that killed my father." Tyrion sighed. "I wouldn't be surprised that he invented it only because he wants me dead. After all, I threw him into a black cell once. However, I'm afraid there's nothing we can do about Varys's testimony. Everything he said was true, even if that wasn't the entire truth."

Sansa knew Tyrion was right. There was nothing she could do against the Spider's words. She took some time before she asked Tyrion. She needed to know. "Was it really all true? I mean, everything about the discussions with your father."

Tyrion looked at her for a long moment before he answered. "It was all true."

"Why? Why did you do that?" Sansa didn't understand why Tyrion defended her family and her people, or even herself, before his father. He was a Lannister. She understood he could hate his family, but he had nothing to gain from speaking for her or the Northerners.

"Sansa, your family may be traitors in some way, but it doesn't matter. No one deserves to be killed that way. What happened at the Twins was criminal. It was butchery. My father, the Freys and the Boltons violated the few laws everyone thought they could rely on in the Seven Kingdoms. They slaughtered innocent people in the cruelest way there was." Tyrion's voice was full of contempt and venom. That was the same way he spoke about his family the night before he was arrested, or the way he talked to Joffrey after he had her beaten. "Furthermore, it's not only because I didn't want to see him dead that I was hoping your brother would bend the knee when I was acting Hand. I saw the North when I came to Winterfell and visited the Wall. I know your people will never forgive what my father did. Roose Bolton may hold the North for a time, but sooner or later the Northerners will rise against him, one way or another. I knew your brother and your mother were the only chance we could have to get a lasting peace with the North, and my father destroyed it. Now we will have a succession of wars without end, and my family will be remembered as assassins forever. My father always said the family name was all that lives on, but if that's the way it must live on, I'm not sure I want to be part of it."

Sansa understood what Tyrion meant. Deep inside him, Tyrion was an honorable man like her father. He wanted to do what was right, but at the same time he was loyal to his family. How couldn't he be? Family, Duty, Honor. Family came first. Sansa and her siblings would have done anything for one another. "This last time, when you talked with your father, was it the time when…?"

"It was. He told me then that I only had one night to do it. In some way we can consider it's a good thing he died this night, or else, who knows what would have happened after the wedding?"

A sudden thought crossed Sansa's mind when Tyrion said this. She remembered something he told her the last night she saw him. My father won't do anything. I'll make sure of that. If my father is ready to do everything for the family, then I'm capable to do the same for my wife. Everything? Could he have done it? A part of Sansa feared it, but she had to admit there was another part of her who wouldn't be angry at Tyrion if he had done it. "Tyrion, did you…? You didn't, no? Cersei is lying, isn't she?"

"Of course, I didn't kill my father. He was still my father. I hated him, of course, but to kill him? No. I'm not my father. I can't say I'm sad about his death, but I'm not responsible of it." Sansa was relieved. The bells rang.

"I'll go back to my seat." She began to walk away, but Tyrion stopped her.

"Sansa." She turned to face him. "Be careful."

Sansa nodded to tell him she would be. People were coming back, trying to find a place before they were all taken. Sansa saw Ser Jaime talking with Tyrion in low voices. The judges, the queen, Margaery, Ser Loras, everyone who was supposed to take his place on the dais took it. When she thought about it, Sansa wondered why she wasn't granted a siege on the dais as well. After all, she was the wife of the accused. They could at least have allowed her a reserved seat. Instead, she had to sit with all these people, some of them who now believed she played a part in Lord Tywin's death.

Everyone was sitting now. Ser Kevan spoke. "The Crown only has one witness left. Considering the hour, we will listen to this last testimony. Tomorrow, we will listen to the testimonies of the defense. The Crown may call its last witness."

That's good, Sansa thought. She would be able to prepare the defense in the best way to counter Cersei's witnesses. They only had to suffer one more lying witness and it would be over. Things would be different tomorrow.

However, all thoughts about the defense left Sansa's mind when she saw the witness approach. She recognized her immediately. Sansa had spent so much time with her, she could recognize her among thousands of other people. But that was impossible. What was she doing here? She left King's Landing weeks ago. She was supposed to be back at Lorath with her sister.

When she took her place in the box of the witnesses, Ser Kevan started to question her. "State your name."

"Shae." Sansa didn't understand. What was she doing here? Why was she among Cersei's witnesses?

"Do you swear by all the gods that your testimony will be true and honest?"

"I swear it."

"Do you know this man?" Kevan indicated Tyrion with a little movement of his head.

Sansa turned her head to look at Tyrion. Sansa tried to meet her eyes, but Shae didn't seem to see her. "Yes. Tyrion Lannister."

"How do you know him?"

"I was handmaiden to his wife Lady Sansa."

"Was? You are no longer her handmaiden?" Prince Oberyn was the one to ask the question. If Sansa could be sure the Red Viper would declare Tyrion guilty, at least he asked some relevant questions.

"No. My lady removed me from her service a few weeks ago. She said she didn't need me anymore."

That wasn't true. Shae had left. She was the one to leave without informing Sansa, without a single word to say goodbye. Though suddenly, Sansa realized there was something strange in the way Shae left. Why didn't she even leave a word for her? She could have given it to Podrick at least. Did Podrick lie to her? But then, who could have Shae believe that Sansa didn't want her as a handmaiden anymore?

Ser Kevan spoke again. "This man stands accused of murdering the Hand of the King, and of attempting to murder the king. What do you know of this?"

Shae's words couldn't have surprised Sansa more. "I know that he's guilty. He and Sansa planned it together." Sansa was paralyzed by the words of her friend. She felt the air leaving her lungs. People started to murmur all around the court. She saw many faces looking in her direction, but right now she couldn't care about it. She was mazed by Shae's words.

"Silence! Continue." Ser Kevan allowed Shae to speak again when the noises blew out.

"She wanted revenge for her father, her mother, her brother. She blamed their deaths on Lord Tywin and the king. Tyrion was happy to help. He hated his father. He hated the king. He hated the queen. He stole poison from the Grand Maester's chamber to poison his father. He and Sansa argued for days about which poison to use against him. She thought it would be better to use the essence of nightshade she had to help her sleep, but Tyrion convinced her the tears of Lys would be better in the end. He poisoned the wine of his father the evening they met for the last time."

Sansa's world was crumbling inside her. Shae was her friend. She trusted her. And here she was, lying in front of the whole court. Sansa couldn't move. In fact, she could barely breathe. She fell into despair. How could Shae do it to her?

"How could you possibly know all this? Why would he reveal such plans to his wife's maid?" Oberyn Martell's voice looked distant. It was as if it came from another world for Sansa. It was as if she had become deaf to what happened around her. Shae's betrayal had erected a wall between her and the rest of the world, and she could barely hear the voices from the other side.

"I wasn't just her maid. I was his whore."

The words brought Sansa back from her daydream state. "I beg your pardon? You said you were his…" Sansa could have asked the same question than Mace Tyrell. Surely she didn't hear well. However, Shae only confirmed what she believed she just heard.

"His whore."

Sansa was stunned by the statement. Shae was Tyrion's whore? That was impossible! She knew Tyrion visited brothels, but Shae? His whore? Sansa couldn't believe it. Tyrion couldn't even remember Shae's name, and Shae had always acted with him as if he was a danger for Sansa. She couldn't be his whore. And so my watch begins. Tyrion had sworn he would go celibate until Sansa wanted him to share her bed, and Sansa could see nothing to doubt his words. If there had been something between Tyrion and Shae, she would have seen it. She spent so much time with Shae and Tyrion, she couldn't have been so blind. Shae was lying, for sure.

"How did you come to be in his service?" Ser Kevan sounded intrigued by all this.

"He stole me." Sansa realized Shae answered very quickly. For the other questions she had always seemed to hesitate before she gave an answer. However, this time, she spoke very quickly. "I was with another man, a knight in Lord Tywin's army. But when Tyrion arrived at the camp, he sent one of his cutthroats into our tent. He broke the knight's arm and brought me to Lord Tyrion. You belong to me now, he said. I want you to fuck me like it's my last night in this world."

People burst into laughs, but Sansa didn't. That was so… improper. It was disgusting. Ser Kevan had to bring back order once more, but he wasn't the one to speak next. For the first time, Sansa wasn't happy the Dornishman asked a question.

"And did you?"

"Did I what?"

"Fuck him like it was his last night in this world." The prince looked happy about his question, and some people too since there was more laughter.

"I did everything he wanted. Whatever he told me to do to him. Whatever he felt like doing to me. I kissed him where he wanted. I licked him where he wanted. I let him put himself where he wanted. I was his property. I would wait in his chambers for hours so he could use me when he was bored. He ordered me to call him my lion, so I did. I took his face in my hands and said, I am yours and you are mine."

Sansa was disgusted by Shae's words, but she didn't know if it was because of the nature of the words or because she knew they were all lies. She didn't believe anything Shae said a single second. She couldn't imagine Tyrion mistreating someone in such a way, even a whore. Tyrion refused to bed her when he could. He barely ever touched her. The only time they slept in the same bed he only held her to comfort her. What Shae said couldn't be true. They were lies. Anger was rising in Sansa.

"Shae. Please don't." It was Tyrion who spoke now. He spoke very lowly, so Sansa barely heard him, but she heard him all the same.

"I am a whore. Remember?" Sansa didn't really know what it meant. For a moment, she had the impression Tyrion knew Shae, but before she could think furthermore about it, Shae started to speak again. "That was before he married Sansa. After that, all he wanted was her. But she wouldn't let him into her bed. So he promised to kill his father for her. They were planning to have the king and the queen murdered afterwards so Tyrion could be Hand of the King again for Tommen. A year later they would have Tommen killed as well before he got too old. Then Tyrion would have crowned him and Sansa king and queen to achieve what her father, Lord Eddard Stark, failed to do."

"THAT'S A LIE!" Sansa shouted before she realized it, louder than she ever did in her life. She could maintain her armor of courtesies in all circumstances, but now it was too much. These were horrible, filthy and stupid lies. Lies against her, against her father, and against Tyrion. She couldn't allow it. People started to yell as well in the court. They were yelling at her and at Tyrion, but Sansa didn't care about it. She was staring at Shae, but the woman who had been her friend refused to look in her direction. All the same, she didn't stop to look at her. Shae betrayed her.

It took some time for Ser Kevan to restore order in the room. When he did, he ordered Sansa to sit down or else he would have to have her escorted out of the trial. Sansa only half-heard him, but she complied all the same. She continued to fix Shae. Right now, she hated her former friend even more than she ever hated Joffrey.

"Do you have anything else to say?" Ser Kevan's question was directed toward Shae. He seemed exasperated, but Sansa couldn't decide from what.

"No."

"Very well, the trial is adjourned for tomorrow. Bring back the prisoner to his cell."

"My lady, we should go." Sansa felt Brienne' hand on her arm. "We must go before they decide to arrest you. Come quickly."

Sansa followed Brienne, her mind still half in another world. She noticed Mira followed them closely. As they left the Great Hall, she heard her husband screaming. "So you think I am guilty, Uncle? Don't you? I saved you. I saved this city. And all your worthless lives. I should have let Stannis kill you all."

Sansa heard the crowd shouting.

With a few changes, this chapter is mostly Tyrion's trial in the show, version "Sansa is present". I tried to imagine what would have been Sansa's reaction if she had been there the best I could.

Please review. I put a lot of work on this part of the story and I would like to know your opinion for this chapter and the six following.

Next chapter: Jaime