Screams filled the air as the royal group was ambushed by the peasants. Sansa could hear the kingsguards swords being unsheathed as they drug the king and queen regent from harms way. She felt unfamiliar hands grabbing at her, but Tyrion was pulling her through the crowd. His strength surprised her as he dodged attacks from all sides, never letting go of her. She chanced a look around and saw everyone fighting for their lives. The High Septon was dragged down to the ground and ravished by the crowd. She cried out in terror as she saw his body being literally ripped apart. She heard a woman's scream behind her and turned. Lollys Stokeworth gripped her arm and begged for help. Two men grabbed her arms and pulled her off, tearing the sleeve of Sansa's dress. Sansa reached out for her, but they were already ripping her dress apart. The crowd shifted and Sansa and Tyrion were pulled away for the poor woman who was struggling against her attackers.

Suddenly a stranger wrapped his fingers through Sansa's hair, yanking the braids free and pulling her hand from Tyrion's. She shrieked in fear as the man grasped her dress and tore the silk. This was so much worse than Meryn's beating the other day. She whirled around, feebling trying to fight the man off. Her palm connected with his cheek weakly but he only laughed gruffly. He backhanded her, throwing her to her knees. She waiting for him to grab her again, but instead heard a strange gurgling noise. She glanced back up at the man and saw a sword sticking from his throat. The sword slid back out and the man fell by her side. She looked up and saw Sandor reach a hand out to help her up. Once she was back on her feet, she saw Tyrion by Sandor's side, looking at her bleeding face with concern.

"Thank you, Clegane." he breathed, reaching out for Sansa's hand again.

"Just get her out of here" Sandor roared as he sliced through another attacking commoner.

Sansa held her disheveled head down as Tyrion led her through a passageway to where the rest of court was seeking rescue. She could hear Joffrey's loud, petulant voice screaming.

"Traitors! I want their heads! All of them!"

"Joff, you must send someone to find the Stark girl!" Cersei's desperate voice pleaded with him. She saw the queen grasping her son's tunic. "If she dies we'll never get Jaime back!"

"Let them have her" Joffrey cried angrily before storming away.

Cersei sobbed in fear before turning to the guards. "Find her. Now!"

"That will be unnecessary!" Tyrion cried, leading Sansa towards her. Cersei immediately sighed in relief before snapping her fingers towards one of her handmaidens to treat the cut on Sansa's cheek. As she was being led away, she grasped Tyrion's hand one last time, squeezing it in thanks. He nodded tightly to her and let her go. Just as he did before. She was brought to the other side of the room where a maester began applying a salve, but she could still hear the raised voices of the siblings.

"This is what I'm talking about, Cersei. The girl needs guards. What do you think Robb Stark will do with our brother when he hears his little sister was beaten in court? Or if she had died today? Joffrey is not going to do anything to protect her. We must!"

"He is the king!" she insisted. "And he was punishing her..."

"For what crimes?! She's certainly more innocent than Jaime. You cannot let him throw Jaime's life away. Do something!"

Sansa saw Cersei glare at her little brother. "Fine. I'll speak to Joffrey. You already have that disgusting thing watching over her most of the time. I won't send it away anymore." Sansa sighed in relief. "What were you doing out there with the girl, anyway? You should have been protecting your king!"

"I was walking back with her from the dock" Tyrion snapped. "And Joffrey had the whole kingsguard. She had no one." Cersei nodded before turning away, letting him take inventory of who had made it out. She made her way over to Sansa.

The queen lifted Sansa's face up with her fingers, appraising the damage. "It'll heal," she confirmed. "Make sure to administer a salve every day. Joffrey cannot have a scarred queen." And then she swept out of the room.

...

That night, Sansa sat in front of her mirror, staring at her face. At least Joffrey had seen to it that she stayed pretty. Her busted lip and black eye would take a few weeks to heal and until then, every time Sansa looked in a mirror she would be reminded of that man's face. He had been so full of hatred. Even when Meryn had hit her, it was controlled. The knight was cruel, but he had not been angry with her like this man was. Sansa had never met this man, but he was so furious with her. She sighed and motioned for her new handmaiden to brush her hair.

Shae was new to her service and Sansa wasn't sure how she felt about her. When she had first been appointed, she was one of the worst handmaidens Sansa had ever seen. She clearly did not have much experience and Sansa was annoyed that she had to instruct the woman how to do her job. However, as time went on, Sansa grew to like Shae's manner. She was not the simpering little things like Cersei's spys were, nor was she rude, like most of Joffrey's grooms. She was just honest. And in this vipers nest, honesty was refreshing.

She had thought that she and Shae would become friends, but ever since the day in the throne room, Shae had gotten distant. Sansa wasn't sure what had happened, but she had guessed that Shae had finally realized that being close to Sansa would not bring her any prestige at court.

Whatever it was, Sansa wanted to fix it. She liked Shae and didn't want to lose another friend at court.

"Do you know Lord Tyrion, Shae" she tried striking up conversation. "He's been kind to me lately. If I sent you with a message, could you give it to him? I'd like to invite him to walk with me tomorrow-Ugh!" Her words were cut off as Shae pulled at a tangle quite hard.

"Sorry, My Lady" she muttered enthusiastically. "I believe I can get a message to the Imp."

Sansa moved to her desk and penned out a quick note, sealing it and handing to the handmaiden. "You shouldn't call him that" she said as Shae pocketed the note. Sansa moved to ready herself for bed and missed the heated glare on the handmaiden's face.