When the first peal of the bell rang, they ignored it. Probably just more celebrations for the royal wedding. If anything, it only served as a reminder that they would not be able to absent themselves for much longer. Tyrion had changed out of his soaked doublet the moment they had arrived, so their excuse had long since run it's course. Tywin would expect them to return to the festivities soon.
But then they had continued on and on until Sansa's head was throbbing. Then they had heard the pounding of feet and the clattering of armour as what sounded like a full company of soldiers passed by their chambers.
"What in the seven hells..." Tyrion cracked the door open, just catching a group of Gold Cloaks disappear around the corner. He glanced back at Sansa and shrugged.
"Perhaps it is time for us to return to the feast..." she murmured softly, unable to shake the uneasy feeling dripping down her neck. Why would a host of Gold Cloaks be rushing towards the gardens in such haste? Tyrion nodded, moving to collect his shoes when a piercing scream rang out over the sound of the bells.
The two froze, staring at each other before Tyrion dashed to throw open the door again. Sansa watched as he scanned the hallway before ducking his head back into their rooms.
"Stay here," he commanded quickly, pulling on his boots. "I will be back in a moment. I'm going to see what's happening." As the door closed, Sansa couldn't help her heart from speeding and foolishly wishing he hadn't left her alone and confused.
As she waiting, unmoving, for her husband to return another mournful cry rang through the halls. Panic flooded through her and when a sharp rapping knock came from the door, she visibly jumped. With hesitation, she moved to slide the heavy bolt to open the door, cracking it gently and peering out.
"Shae?" she opened the door wider as her old friend smiled widely at her. Sansa had all but forgotten about the woman's promise to help her escape. Or her revealing her secret trysts with Sansa's husband.
"My Lady, I had hoped to find you! Quick, we only have a small window of time before they look for you. We must flee!" She clutched at Sansa's hands, her fingers wrapping around her wrists like vines.
"What...What's happened?" Sansa gasped, trying and failing to step away from the frantic handmaid.
"The boy king is dead. Killed at his own wedding and the Lion Queen is prowling for someone to blame. You need to leave. Now." Sansa froze and the breath left her lungs. Shae used her stilled motions to drag her through the door before Sansa came back to reality.
"Joffrey is dead?" she squeaked, tears of relief coming to her eyes. Shae gave her a wicked grin and nodded.
"But you will follow if you do not come with me now." She tugged Sansa all the harder and pulled her into the hallway, practically running towards to opposite direction Tyrion ran to.
The thought of her husband had Sansa digging her heels in. "But Tyrion-"
Shae's face contorted in ugly fury. "The queen will deal with the imp. He'll find himself in the black cells by nightfall"
Sansa pulled them to a stop and ripped her arm from the handmaidens hands. "No! He is innocent! He was with me the whole time! He couldn't have killled the king! I have to go back I have to help him!"
"He would not do the same for you! If his own neck was on the line, he would abandon you in a heartbeat! Please, my lady, we have to go now!"
But Sansa was shaking her head. "He would not. He promised me I wouldn't be alone again. How could I leave him?" She started walking briskly towards the gardens, where cries and shouts of guards and worried courtiers were drifting from. Where her husband was in danger. But suddenly a hand tangled in her hair, pulling her back and to the ground. Sansa shrieked in fear and twisted to see Shae, panting with exertion with a cruel grimace on her face her eyes narrowed in a sneer.
"You will not save him, you little bitch!" Her growl was nothing like she had heard from the handmaid before and Sansa stared, open-mouthed. "Dontos!" she cried, hands still wrapped in Sansa's delicate hair. The king's fool leapt from around the corner, running towards them a look of despair on his face.
"Stop it, you're hurting her!" he reached to pull Shae's hands from Sansa's hair, but the handmaiden only gripped tighter, bringing another squeal of pain from Sansa's lips.
"She's not going to come quietly. But she must come. Hurry! Before someone finds us, take her and make sure she doesn't get away." She thrust Sansa towards the disgraced knight who looked at her apologetically.
"Please, good ser!" Sansa cried, rising to her knees and clutching his tunic. "You are a knight, no matter what Joffrey has made you. Do not do this!" He sighed carefully before his hands wrapped around her wrists tightly.
"Forgive me, My Lady. This is for the best." He twisted her wrists so that they were behind her and despite her struggles, his grip was iron. As he tied her wrists together behind her back, Sansa screamed.
Please God, let someone come. Let someone save me.
But Shae's palm connecting with her cheek, silencing her cries. "Shut her up, you fool! The guards will only be distracted for so long! The queen and that vile imp will be looking for her!"
"No!" Sansa screamed, but the fool's hand covered her mouth, muffling any sound she made.
Tyrion! Gods, help me! Don't let them take me!
She struggled as hard as she could, flailing in the fool's arms and even ripping the shoulder of her gown. But it was no use. With Shae in front, scouting for onlookers, the fool and the whore dragged her through the keep.
