Hello, hello!

I have to say, I'm pretty pleased with how this chapter went down. Especially with Sansa's emotions.
Also I channeled my best drunken-engineering-student-self for the guest POV so I hope you like it x).

Please review to tell me what you think ;).

Thank you to everyone who read, followed or favourited!

Part I.6: Cycle of the Stranger

The Stranger takes the life away,
when us men have done our day.
His sweet kiss leads us on his way,
and he kills the little children.

Sansa wore her white gown, the one with the red leaves on the inside of the sleeves. She had made it so it could easily be altered to fit her growth, she loved it very much indeed. It made her feel better to wear it, more confident, more like the Starks were in control this time. In truth she was terrified as they all waited in line. At least Arya had been there on time and had not ran off with a soldier's helm. And Bran had not climbed the towers to see the King arrive. Sansa had made sure to stop his habit as soon as she had noticed it. For that, she had captured a living squirrel – an animal Bran admired as it was a good climber – and let it fall from the broken tower. Obviously, it had died, and Bran had cried for days. Sansa had been in trouble with her mother for traumatizing her little brother, but the cruel act was worth it, Bran did not climb again.

The trumpets sounded and Sansa knew what would happen next, King Robert would arrive followed by Joffrey, the King would dismount, and they would all drop to their knees. She kept her gaze focused in front of her, avoiding Joffrey's, but she knew the 'prince' was watching her. She followed the movement when they knelt as well as when they got back up.

"You got fat!" Last time the King's joke had confused her, this time she ignored it and Arya tugging at her sleeve, no doubt her little sister was shocked. Her father and King Robert exchanged the same pleasantries as the last time, laughing together while the rest of the assembly stood in embarrassment. Then the monarch moved to the children and said the exact same words he had in Sansa's memories.

"Your Grace." Her nod was polite, but without warmth when he came to her. She knew it would earn her a lecture from her mother. Queen Cersei arrived in her wheelhouse with young Myrcella and Tommen. She said little, as she had before, except to try and prevent her husband from going to the crypts, to no avail. Sansa did not dare a look in Jon's direction, but she could only imagine his fury. She followed diligently as her mother escorted the Queen and her children inside. They were sorely ignored as Lady Catelyn showed the royal family around.

"He's fat!" Arya uttered as soon as no member of the Court was in sight anymore.

"He is." Sansa replied to her sister. "Though you must never speak like it in front of any southerner. It would be treason."

"Treason to speak the truth." Theon scoffed. "What a weird bunch they are…" He sighed. "What do you think they're doing in the crypts? Hardly anyone goes there but you Starks."

"They're visiting Aunt Lyanna's grave, she was betrothed to King Robert before the Rebellion." Sansa explained and saw Jon flinch from the corner of her eye.

"I don't think she missed much…" Robb commented sarcastically. It made Theon laugh but not Jon.

"Now, we have to get ready for the feast." Sansa declared. In truth, they had all day, but she did not want to risk crossing paths with Joffrey… and she thought if she was 'busy' or at least looked like she was, maybe her father would not summon her to his solar.

He did, and she had no choice but to go. She remembered last time… In the crypts, King Robert had asked her father to be Hand of the King and proposed that Joffrey and Sansa would be married. She had been summoned to the lord's solar and had done her best not to sound too excited. No doubt her father had known anyway. Then, she begged her mother to make her father say yes. It's the only thing I've ever wanted, I remember saying. Lady Catelyn had not been very enthusiastic, pointing out that for the betrothal to happen, her husband would have to accept the position as Hand of the King and leave them, or at least her. Sansa knew it would be different now. The relationship between her parents had soured and it had always been her mother's goal to see her children married into great southern families. The wedding between Robb and Wynafryd annoyed her, even if she tried to hide it.

Surprisingly, Sansa discovered not only her father but her mother in the solar. As usual, she was invited to sit. "Sansa, the King has asked me to be his new Hand." He started. "And he also suggested a betrothal between you and Prince Joffrey." At least he was direct… Sansa tried very hard to keep a neutral face, as she had in the courtyard, but Joffrey still caused her to cringe no matter how long had passed.

"Will you accept?" She kept the trembling in her voice in check.

"Sansa, this is the best opportunity our family has ever had. Why would your father refuse?" Her mother rolled her eyes.

"The last Stark who went South did not fare well, Mother." Sansa replied a little more sharply than she would have wanted. "Besides, we would have to leave the North and you and Robb, Bran, Arya and Rickon." She was careful not to mention Jon and Theon.

"Arya and Bran would come with us." Her father intervened. "And I would be Hand of the King, therefore well protected by the Crown." He added.

By the Lannisters? I doubt it. All this protection did not help you last time. The Stranger got you… No! Joffrey did! She wanted to reply. "If you say so…" She said instead.

"You don't seem thrilled." He observed.

"I don't know Prince Joffrey well, but he strikes me as too arrogant." And cruel and a bastard. Again, she could not say that. "And I had imagined I would stay North… But I will do my duty." She felt like she wanted to cry.

"You're the daughter of a Great House, it's normal that you would be married into another Great House." Her mother scoffed. "And you'll be Queen, you should be honoured."

"I should…" Sansa answered quietly.

"I'll give you my decision in a few days, now go get ready for the feast." Her father told her. She curtsied and left the room, to go cry in her own.

She wondered if her father would still want to betroth her to Joffrey if he spent only one hour with him. Maybe he would… It was not as if he had a real choice anyway. Even if he and the King were friends, he was still the King. Refusing him could cause his anger and she had trouble imagining what could happen if they did. Probably nothing, considering how inefficient the fat man was, but his advisors could use it as an excuse to rig the economy of the North. It could destroy all of her efforts.

If she did get betrothed to Joffrey… Well, she would be in King's Landing to prevent the catastrophe that could happen to her father. And maybe this time she would be able to control Joffrey. She had seen Margeary do it, the last time around, she could do the same.

Her other option was to tell her father of the true parentage of the 'royal' children. But she would have a hard time explaining how she knew it. So, she could be dismissed as a liar. Or worth, her father would make the same mistake as last time and warn Cersei. They would have a war with the Lannisters on their hands much too soon. She could also send a servant or a guard to check on the Broken Tower during the hunt. She knew she would find the twins there, but it was no less risky. Whoever she sent would likely end up dead and Cersei would become weary of the Starks that much sooner.

She was terrified and stuck in a way. She did not know what to do. She decided she would give it a try. Interact with Joffrey while he was in Winterfell and move from there. Well, she would sooner rather than later as she discovered when her mother arrived.

"Sansa, you will accompany Prince Joffrey to the feast tonight." She told her. "By the Seven, Sansa, your hair…" She had braided it in a northern style which apparently did not meet her mother's approval. She refused what her mother wanted her to do with her hair, but she agreed to a high braided bun, not without annoyance.

"Mother says I have to 'accompany' Prince Tommen." Arya did not seem pleased when she arrived in her sister's room. "He's small and boring." She complained.

"You don't have to spend all evening with him." Sansa tried to soothe her. "Only walk with him to the great hall. Prince Tommen loves animals, you can talk to him about Nymeria, or his cats." She suggested.

"How do you know that?"

"I have my ways." Sansa chuckled. Arya pretended to pout for a minute but quickly hugged her before they exited the room. Sansa had managed to put her in a dress, one she had made herself, dark green with the direwolf of Stark in the front and tight sleeves so it would not bother her. Her own dress was a little closer to what she could have worn in the capital, open in the front. Actually, it was a replica of the gown she had worn at Joffrey's wedding, but grey with a white underskirt and flying crows embroidered on it. Her mother had not seen it yet, she would have found it scandalous.

The Stark children waited in the hallways before the Great Hall for the lords and ladies of the Court they would be accompanying. They were the first, of course, as befit the hosts. The Queen arrived with her two younger children. Sansa was happy to hear that Arya immediately engaged Tommen on the subject of pets. She had nothing about the young boy, he was always nice to her and suffered at the hands of his brother like the rest of them. Myrcella would walk with Bran… They did not talk.

"My Lady." Joffrey's voice was enough to cause a chill to run down her spine. "What a lovely gown… though the choice of embroidery…" She could see his eyes had been fixated on her breasts and he clearly disapproved of the crows.

"Ravens bring us news even in the depth of winter. They are animals of paramount importance, my Prince." Her voice was sweet, but every bit of her body screamed for her to flee. "Especially here in the North, I thought it well to honour them."

"Of course, of course." She was certain he had not heard what she had said. Soon enough, the King and her parents appeared so they had to move. Joffrey offered her his arm. She took it ever so lightly. As soon as her fingers wrapped around his elbow, she started feeling sweaty and as if she would cry or retch or both… She steeled herself. It's only a few steps. You can do it Sansa. She told herself.

Finally, they reached the table and she was free of him. But all throughout the evening, she felt his gaze on her and had to answer politely to everything he said. "I don't doubt it, my Prince." "Of course, you are very brave, my Prince." "It sounds delightful, my Prince." She repeated like a puppet every time he mentioned some of his 'exploits' in a hunt or a fight. She knew he had never really hunted or fought in his life. Coward that he was.

At some point, while the King was already completely drunk and fondling serving wenches and her father was the gods knew where, her mother motioned for Sansa to join the Queen and her on the dais. She could see her disapproving looks regarding the dress as she climbed the few steps.

"You are a beauty." The Queen commented with that venomous smile of hers. "And tall!"

"Thank you, your Grace." She curtsied but kept an emotionless face. The Queen looked annoyed for a second but remained unperturbed. Her mother could not have seen it, but Sansa had spent years with Cersei.

"Still growing?"

"Yes, your Grace." She would eventually be taller than the Queen.

"And have you bled yet?"

"No, your Grace." She held Cersei's gaze and saw the flicker of satisfaction in it. Not for the first time, she wondered how she had not seen the evil of the Lannisters the first time around.

"Your dress, did you make it? It looks quite southern…" Cersei commented.

"I did. I asked around to see what could be in fashion in the capital. I wanted to honour our guests." Sansa replied with a smile.

"Well done." The Queen seemed to genuinely approve of Sansa's choice. It was the first time it ever happened. "You have a talent. You must make something for me." The venomous smile was back on.

"I will, your Grace." And I'll make sure to smother it with poison, a sweet kiss from the Stranger.

Sansa went back to her place. Arya did not use her spoon as a catapult against her and the rest of the feast was quite uneventful, save for the shock the King's behaviour caused. He was groping every woman that passed next to him. Sansa was sure if she got too close, he would do it to her as well. It would make for a fun end to the party, no doubt, but she wanted to avoid the embarrassment, so she stayed away from him.

The Manderlys arrived only one day after the King, so they were not exactly feasted since it would have made for too many feasts, there would be one for the wedding anyway. The ceremony itself would be divided into two. One in the sept in the afternoon, followed by the Godswood as soon as the sun set. The King had insisted on a double ceremony actually, and it surprised Sansa. It was a sensible thing to do and she had not known he was capable of that.

Wynafryd asked Sansa and Arya to assist her before the wedding but not their mother, which to the older sibling said a lot. Sansa knew she should not feel impatient to see how Wynafryd and her mother cohabited, but the truth was she was impatient, it would be fun to watch. Though Robb might have a different opinion. For once, Arya did not complain about doing 'girly' things. She dotted on the Manderly lady. After all, their brother's betrothed had done all she could to win the favours of the younger Starks on her trips to Winterfell in the past years. She had read stories about knight to Bran and Rickon and even agreed to try archery with Arya. The entire Stark family loved her, except maybe for the matriarch.

It was a lovely afternoon. Sansa and Wylla were putting crystals in Wynafred's hair while she and Arya chatted away. It was happy… until the guards at the door announced Queen Cersei and Princess Myrcella. The four girls stopped their chatters and welcomed the Queen and Princess with a curtsy.

"Lady Wynafryd, we have come to congratulate you before your wedding and wish you a happy married life." It was expected of me! Sansa remembered the words of the Queen during the battle of the Black Water. Like on that occasion, blessing Wynafryd's day was expected of the Queen, so there was no truth in her words.

"What is it in your hair, my Lady?" Myrcella was a curious little girl. I wonder what happened to her in Dorne… Did she die? Probably, otherwise Cersei could not have become Queen, it would have been Myrcella.

"Rock crystals, Princess. They are not expensive stones, but I find them pretty." Wynafryd replied. It was common in the North to make hairnets of the clear crystals that could be found everywhere in the mountains.

"They are pretty, and so are you." The princess complimented excitedly, though she did not hold any of their gazes. The little girl mostly looked at her own feet and blushed a lot.

"Thank you, Princess." Wynafryd replied. "You are very pretty yourself. I must admit, I always dreamt of having hair as golden as yours. I bet one day you will be as beautiful as your mother." She gave the Queen a sweet smile. Myrcella blushed even more and whispered her thanks.

"Would you like to stay with us your Graces?" Sansa offered. It was expected of me! She heard Cersei's voice again. Not all Cersei told her was wrong, it was true that politics and diplomacy called for some polite steps, even if she disliked Cersei's company. Though, contrary to her son, Sansa could still tolerate the Queen's presence. She was not repulsed by her.

Cersei Lannister seemed genuinely surprised by Sansa's proposition. She is so hateful nobody must have asked her that before. Everyone pretends to like her in the Red Keep, but they know who she is, the smiles are masks and as soon as she is gone they are relieved. Sansa's heart melted when she saw Myrcella's little face turning up to her mother with so much want and anticipation. Sansa knew her hopes would be crushed. "No, Lady Sansa, we will be on our way." Myrcella's happy face deflated. "Thank you… for your hospitalities, Ladies." From her tone, Sansa wondered if the Queen would have turned out different if more people had shown her kindness. In fact, she realised she knew very little of the Queen's life other than the part she had lived. Reluctantly, little Myrcella followed her mother outside.

As soon as the door closed, Wylla started laughing. She laughed at the absurdity of the situation, at Myrcella's excited naivety and at the Queen's surprise when faced with kindness. Hesitantly, Wynafryd and Arya followed her with small chuckles. But not Sansa, she did not find it funny. She found it sad that Myrcella was stuck in a golden prison and that Cersei was so bitter and paranoid that she could not spend time with her subjects. For the first time, she realised she pitied most of the royal family.

Most, but not all. She did not pity Joffrey. She hated Joffrey. She hated his grin, hated his arrogant look, hated the way he walked, hated his stupid golden hair, hated his voice and his whining whenever he faced true opposition.

She was confronted to it once more that night, when she had to accompany him to her brother's wedding. Just like she had done a few days before, she repeated a mantra to give herself courage as she walked beside him towards the sept. Then, to the Godswood. When a blushing Robb kissed a blushing Wynafryd in front of the weirwood tree, everyone clapped and cheered. Everyone but Joffrey who remained with his arms crossed over his chest, grinning mockingly. Sansa did not think anyone other than her noticed, but when she looked at him, the cruel prince locked his gaze to her. He stopped grinning, leaving only the monster behind the royal mask. Sansa shuddered, terribly frightened. She breathed with difficulty all the way back to the Great Hall.

In fact, she struggled all night as she felt his eyes on her the whole time. He did not leave her be, not for once. So, she tried to distract herself as best as she could. King Robert was as disgusting as ever. He made graveling comments about the bride's mother, fondled the serving girl and spilled more than a skin of wine on himself. Robb and Wynafryd, thankfully seemed oblivious to the King's behaviour. They only had eyes for each other. Sansa saw with fondness that Wynafryd gave her brother a piece of cake to eat, and whenever he thought no one was watching, Robb stole kisses from his wife. It would have brought a smile to her face if she had not been so startled by Joffrey's insistent gaze.

Eventually, what had to happen happened. Sansa had not been there for Robb's wedding to Talisa Maegyr the last time, but she would have imagined that her brother would refuse a bedding ceremony. She was wrong. Robb laughed as the Ladies of the North and some Ladies of the Court lifted him up. Wynafryd was embarrassed when the men did the same to her. Thankfully, the King did not partake. In fact, by the time the drunken lords and ladies came back from the heir to Winterfell's room, he had taken his place next to Lord Stark on the high table again. He did not seem that drunk anymore, he looked at the guests with calm, it was startling for Sansa. She had seen him calm and serious a few times in King's Landing, it was never a good omen she had found.

The King took a sip from his goblet and stood up with difficulty. His protruding belly threatened to knock the table over. For a second, Sansa could see a flash of disgust in his eyes, she could only imagine how the man he had become would disgust a former legendary warrior. Surprisingly, when he asked for silence, the King was obeyed immediately, he had enough authority for that at least.

"Today, we have seen the heir of the North marry. A fine wedding, one that will benefit the Northern kingdom and the Realm greatly." The King started raising his goblet. "And soon, the North and the Realm will have more cause to rejoice. I never got the chance to marry the beautiful Lyanna Stark, the dragons took that from me." Sansa held her breath, she had a bad feeling, she knew where this speech was going. "But House Baratheon and House Stark can still be joined. Today, I announce to you the betrothal of Prince Joffrey Baratheon, my heir and Lady Sansa Stark!"

Sansa did not know what had been the worst. Hearing the cheers from the Northern Lords? Being forced by her mother to dance with her 'intended'? Or the princeling's fake politeness towards her? By the Stranger, if only I could slap the grin out of his stupid face!

She had pretexted to be tired as soon as she felt it would be acceptable to retire. But she did not go to her room, she went to the crypts, the only place where she felt at peace beside the Godswood. She cried her eyes out in front of her Aunt Lyanna's statue.

Not long after, she felt hands on her shoulders. Startled, she jumped back and found Jon with a concerned face. "What is happening Sansa?" He still held her shoulders.

Without thinking, she launched herself at him, wrapping her arms around his torso and holding on to him. The tears and the sobs made it difficult for her to even try to speak. "He… he…" She hiccupped but nothing would come out.

"Who?" Jon now looked slightly frightened by how upset she was.

"The King!" Sansa lashed out. "He betrothed me to 'Prince' Joffrey." She backed away from Jon as she spat the title and she started to pace the ground in front of the tomb.

"You knew it would most likely happen…" Jon tried to reason with her. Deep down, she knew he was right, but she could not hear it.

"You don't get to tell me that Jon!" He did not deserve her anger, but she could not help herself. "Every time he's near me I start trembling. He repulses me Jon! You don't know how that is!"

"I'm not saying that I'm happy about it. But you can't do anything about it." Jon said.

"I did all I could to change the course of our family's fate, I managed a betrothal between Robb and Wynafryd, I gave us lessons so that we would be prepared, I strengthened the North, I warned Father against Lysa and Baelish. Seven Hells! I even proposed betrothals I did not even wish for myself! All of that for him to betroth me to that monster again!" Sansa snapped at Jon who was lost for words. "You know what's even worse?" She asked and did not wait for an answer. "I told him of my reserve, and he told me he would inform me of his decision. Yet, I have to learn it from that fat King instead!"

"Lord Stark probably didn't have a ch…" Jon tried to calm her down, but she was not listening.

"And the oaf had the guts to bring your mother into it!" Sansa spat; Jon immediately stopped arguing. "He said that since he could not join our Houses then, he would do it now! Who does he think he is? As if Aunt Lyanna would have married him!"

"Sansa, you cannot talk like that." Jon had a look of hurt and concern on his face. He closed the distance between them and enveloped her in another hug.

"Why? Tell me I'm wrong! Tell me Aunt Lyanna would not have rather killed herself than marry Robert!" Sansa started crying again in Jon's doublet.

"Shh." He stroke her back lightly, but he did not answer her question.

"Better still, she would have killed him!" Sansa remarked bitterly. "I should do that…"

"Sansa…"

"No, I'm serious. I'll never marry Joffrey. I'll kill him myself if I have to!" Sansa snarled with anger. "I will stop at nothing. I swear it by the Stranger, I will even ally myself with Daenerys bloody Targaryen if I have to!" She shouted. Instantly, Jon placed his hand on her mouth.

"Sansa!" He shook her and she saw the panic in his eyes. "You cannot talk like that. What if one of them heard you? They would come for you!" He stumbled on the words.

Sansa felt her anger boil down. It was still very much present, but it was calmer. "Let them come. They don't know who I am." She replied coldly when he let go of her shoulders. She fell back into Jon's arms and cried more silently.

Sansa Stark did not sleep that night. Neither did Jon Snow actually. And in the next morning, Jon accompanied her to break her fast with their family even though Lady Catelyn would still most likely be there. She was and she glared at the 'Bastard of Winterfell' as he sat himself at the table, way too far from her own seat for Sansa's liking. She had not wanted to let go of her cousin, but she knew she had to. And she knew she had to put on at least a neutral face. She was incapable of summoning a happy one.

The meal was very quiet at first. The children were tired from the feast the night before, and their parents rarely spoke at family meals anyway. The mood changed drastically when Robb arrived a few minutes later with a big smile on his face.

"Well, that's surprising." Their father commented. "We did not expect you to come out of your rooms today." The Lord of Winterfell frowned and his intervention owed him a reproachful look from his wife. Though Lady Catelyn soon smiled herself at the happy face her son made. Their mother had always dotted on Robb, she tried not to show it, but he was her first-born, and to her he was special.

"Wynafryd is to have a meal with her family." Robb explained as he took place at the table and helped himself to a good portion of bacon and honeyed porridge.

"I take it you're happy?" Their mother tried to hide her own grin by dabbing her lips with a napkin. Nobody was fooled. It must be the happiest day of her life. Her son happily married, and her daughter set to become Queen. Sansa thought bitterly about her own fate.

"I am!" Robb replied, his mouth full of bacon.

"And famished!" Theon commented. "Did she wear you out already?" He laughed.

"Theon!" Sansa did not know who spoke first. Her or her mother. It only made Theon laugh more and turned Robb's attention to his sister.

"And you how did you sleep, 'your Grace'?" He could not have known, and it was not unusual for Robb to tease Sansa. But as soon as he said it, Sansa's improving mood turned to ice again. Robb laughed at his own joke, but Sansa started feeling the tears well up in her eyes. She had no wish to cry in front of her family. So, she fled. She got up abruptly and turned to leave.

As she reached the door, she heard Jon say: "Well done, Robb!" to her brother.

At first, she thought of returning to the crypts, but she realised that she needed to sleep almost as much as she needed to cry. Her father caught her in the hallway that led to her rooms. "Sansa!" He called after her. She thought of ignoring him, but she would never be able to outrun him, so she stopped. "Sansa." He said again when he stopped to face her. "What is it sweetling?"

"I don't want to marry him…" She whispered in a pitiful voice, refusing to look at her father.

"Oh, Sansa… it will be alright my Sweet. You don't have to marry him just yet. You can get to know him first. I never got to know your mother before our wedding…" The last thing she needed was a lecture on the love her mother and father still swore to have for each other despite the fights.

"Mother was not a monster, Father!" She snapped, she could not help herself.

"Sansa, you do not know Prince Joffrey yet…" His tone was half-reproachful, half-pleading.

"Neither do you!" She turned her face sharply to him, she did not care that the tears were falling anymore.

Robert Baratheon

Robert was drunk. Again. It should not come as a surprise. He had tried not to get too drunk at the feast. After all, he had an important speech to make that night. At first, he had been proud of himself. He rarely got to feel as regal as he had when he had announced his heir's betrothal and he had enjoyed the cheers of the northerners. He always enjoyed cheers. It reminded him of battle, and battles were amongst his favourite things in life. Yet, Ned – of all people – had come and killed his moment of glory.

"You should not have done that Robert." His tone was not accusing, just calm and disappointed and somehow it was worse. "I had not told Sansa yet. She will be shocked." Honestly, Robert had found himself feeling a little guilty. He should not have, he did not really know nor care about Sansa Stark. No, he was feeling guilty because Ned was exactly the sort of father he would have dreamt to be. Just like Ned had been the sort of brother Robert had dreamt to be when they were children. But he had never managed to be like him. He could not bring himself to care for his two you younger brothers and he could not bring himself to be involved in his children upbringing. Joffrey, Myrcella and Tommen were of little consequence to him. They lived with him. He enjoyed spending time with the two younger ones from time to time. But he could not say he truly cared about them. And it made him sad.

Though of course, he was too drunk to have those sorts of thoughts just now. Instead, he decided he was angry at Ned for being mad at him and he resumed his drinking. Yet, the feeling of uneasiness settled over him.

Did he stumble over the door to the crypts of Winterfell? Or did he walk there on purpose? He could not tell, but he found himself pushing it quietly and entering without even a torch. However, it was not completely dark as he would have imagined. There was a faint light deeper into the cave. He walked but stopped on his track when he started to hear cries.

Suddenly, he felt the gaze of dozens of Starks judging him for trespassing their place. He did the only logical thing he knew to do. He hid behind a statue – yes, he, the King of the Seven Kingdoms, hid behind a statue – and he listened to the cries.

"Tell me I'm wrong! Tell me Aunt Lyanna would not have rather killed herself than marry Robert!" Peaking from his hiding place, as his eyes accommodated to the darkness, he recognized the red hair of Ned's daughter. However, his brain refused to process what she had just said.

"Shh." A boy with dark hair was trying to calm her down. She was in his arms. Robert did not remember the boy, he had no idea who he was. Could a girl this young have a lover already?

"Better still, she would have killed him!" Sansa Stark kept going. Once again, Robert failed to see the sense in her words. The only thing he understood was that she was angry. "I should do that…"

"Sansa…" Robert heard fear in the boy's voice, even if he did not know why.

"No, I'm serious. I'll never marry Joffrey. I'll kill him myself if I have to! I will stop at nothing." Well, this time he understood her words crystal clear. Could he truly blame her? No. He had no love for Joffrey himself. But it was still the Crown Prince she was talking about! "I swear it by the Stranger, I will even ally myself with Daenerys bloody Targaryen if I have to!" Roberts blood boiled when she mentioned the Dragonspawn. How dare she? He had heard enough. He was going to make his presence known.

"Sansa! You cannot talk like that. What if one of them heard you? They would come for you!" The boy's voice made him stop. At least one of them had some sense. Besides, he could not attack his best friend's daughter. What would people think? And it was not as if the girl could actually harm Joff.

"Let them come. They don't know who I am." The tone of her voice… Calm and icy. He knew that tone. Suddenly, he found it hard to breath. He needed to get out.

He leaned against the door once he had closed it but still the tone of voice would not leave him. "You are disgusting! I will hang myself before I become your wife." Lyanna's voice came back to him. Clear as the day she had spoken those words in the same tone her niece had just used. They had been at the Tourney of Harrenhal, right after Rhaegar crowned her. Robert had been furious. When he hed left the tourney ground, he had drunk himself into a stupor and buried himself into two dark-haired whores before stumbling into Lyanna's tent. His beloved at been surprised to see him there. He did not remember what she had said when she saw him. In fact, he doubted he had listened. He had only listened to his heart and had gone to kiss her. She had slapped him hard across the cheek and had spoken those hateful words. It had only made him love her more. His fierce Lyanna, playing hard-to-get.

But now, the words of Sansa Stark were starting to register in his mind. And he was confused. Should he be disgusted with himself? Or should he be mad at those ungrateful Stark women?

So, what did you think of my portrayal of the King? What do you think Sansa will do next?

Next chapter: Sansa takes a drastic decision after meeting someone special. Guest POV: Arya.

Guest reviews:

- Thank you. I have not yet decided if Jon and Ygritte will meet, but they will not be a couple.
Aaaaah, nooope...

- Well, here is more ;)

- (Jesseka89) Thank you very much! I hope you will like where this is going.

- Yes it is.