A Sansa chapter that will remind many people of Season 1.
SANSA V
She had donned an olive green gown made of silk and brushed her hair in braids. She had to make the best impression for today. Her father's fate may depend on it, and she couldn't allow herself to make any mistake. She repeated what she needed to say again and again before today, and she was ready. Joffrey, her prince… no, her king now, was her only chance. Joffrey is not who he seems to be. For your own sake, I hope you'll realize it before it's too late.
Lately, these words turned around in her mind without stopping. She heard them in her sleep, during breakfast, at dinner and at supper, as she sew, as she wrote, and even when she relieved herself. No matter how much she tried to ignore them, the words of Margaery Lannister were more alive now than they ever were. She hadn't seen Joffrey since the morning of the day she went to speak with Queen Cersei. She told her that her father wanted to send her back to Winterfell, and begged the queen to convince him to stay. She had then been confined in her rooms. She saw no one for two days, and the servants who brought her food didn't talk.
Finally, the queen summoned her and told her that her father tried to betray Joffrey. Sansa still didn't understand how her father could have done this, and she had wanted to see him, to know what happened, but the queen refused. She wrote a letter to Robb on the orders of the queen, telling him to come to King's Landing and kneel before Joffrey. Sansa hoped they could end all this when Robb arrived, but she strangely felt that Robb wouldn't come. Things were not right here. In the last weeks, she was given free movement in the castle, though there were two guards following her everywhere. Cersei claimed they were an honor guard for her future daughter-in-law, but Sansa didn't feel safe with them around. They scared her more than anything else.
Sansa had no news of Arya. No one wanted to tell her anything. It was as if she became a ghost. There were also fewer people in the Red Keep. As she walked to the Great Hall, she saw another example of how deserted the Red Keep was. Where a hundred men would stand on the floor for an audience, they were only twenty or thirty today. None of them paid her any attention as she took her place in the attendance.
Gold cloaks and red cloaks were lined along the columns, a hundred of them. Janos Slynt, their commander, was there. His men had been patrolling the Red Keep ever since Sansa got the permission to leave her rooms. She never saw the gold cloaks here before. They appeared at the same time her father was arrested and her sister disappeared. Their presence didn't make her feel safe. She looked at Janos Slynt who stared angrily at her. She looked away.
"Lady Sansa." Her eyes fell upon Ser Kevan Lannister, the Master of Laws. He was always kind with her since she arrived, and he was the first person to address her today. He was also a friend of her father.
"Ser Kevan."
He bowed before her. "I'm surprised to see you here, my lady. You're not forced to assist, if you don't want to."
"It is my duty, ser. I have to."
"Have it your way. I will keep you company, if you wish."
"Thank you, ser."
He smiled reassuringly. They stood there in silence for a long time, waiting. "I heard that your son Lancel was knighted. I'm very happy for him," she said timidly and with a voice so low that she was afraid for a moment he didn't hear her.
"Thank you, my lady. Lancel is very proud of it," he returned in the same whisper.
"Shouldn't you be on the dais with the rest of the small council?" The Grand Maester Pycelle was already there, just like Lord Petyr Baelish. The others should arrive soon.
"I am no longer on the small council, my lady."
"What happened?"
The knight sighed. "There were changes, after your father was arrested."
Unable to refrain herself, she asked him. "How is he? Where is he? Are they going to kill him?"
Ser Kevan looked at her with an empathic smile. "He's alive, and well. I assure you. He was injured in the recent events, but he's being well taken care of."
"Are they going to kill him?"
He pursed his lips. "It's too soon to say what will happen, my lady, but no one wants to see him dead. He's a good man. No sane man would want him dead." If no one wanted her father to die, then she had a chance. "My lady, if I may give you an advice, trust no one here."
Sansa frowned. "What do you mean?"
"Trust no one, you hear me? You can only trust yourself in this city, and no one else."
He looked ahead of him once more. "Shouldn't I trust the king?" Sansa asked in another whisper.
"You should trust no one," he repeated.
Did he mean that she couldn't even trust Joffrey? Joffrey was her betrothed, the king, the man she loved. How couldn't she trust him? However, there was a reeking feeling in her that made her afraid of Joffrey. Why did she have this impression? Joffrey is not who he seems to be. For your own sake, I hope you'll realize it before it's too late. No, that couldn't be true. And yet, she kept the impression that she was missing something about Joffrey.
She looked at Ser Kevan. He was Joffrey's granduncle. There was something he told her once. Of all the children my niece and the king had, Joffrey was always the most difficult. But he seems to behave well with you. She remembered her discussion with Lady Margaery before she left Winterfell. He's always in a bad mood. He was insulting for all his name day. If you ask my opinion, Joffrey is a spoiled brat. Was it possible that Lady Lannister told her the truth? Was Joffrey a charming prince with her, but entirely different with everyone else? There had been a time after the Kingsroad when he seemed furious with her, or annoyed. He would barely look at her. But everything got better later, and he apologized to her. If he was different with her, if he was good with her, then there was hope for her lord father. Make sure Joffrey remains someone good, my lady. As his wife and his queen, that will be your main duty, and maybe the most difficult. Ser Kevan told her that one day. She could make Joffrey better.
"Ser Kevan, may I ask you a question?"
"Of course, my lady."
"Well… back at Winterfell, I spent time with Lady Margaery Lannister, you see."
"You never told me, my lady."
"She told me… certain things about Joffrey. She told he wasn't a good person. Is it true?"
Before the knight could answer, the great doors opened to let a long trail of people through it. A herald's voice rang out.
"All hail His Grace, Joffrey of the Houses Baratheon and Lannister, the First of his Name, King of the Andals, the First Men, and the Rhoynar, and Lord of the Seven Kingdoms. All hail his lady mother, Cersei of House Lannister, Queen Regent, Light of the West, and Protector of the Realm."
Ser Barristan Selmy led the way. Ser Jaime Lannister escorted the queen behind him, and Ser Arys Oakheart escorted Joffrey behind them. The four other kingsguards, Ser Mandon Moore, Ser Boros Blount, Ser Meryn Trant and Ser Preston Greenfield, closed the march. The seven White Swords were present. Joffrey climbed the steps and sat on the Iron Throne. Queen Cersei sat by his side, while the rest of the small council stood next to them. Sansa looked at Ser Kevan. She regretted he wasn't on the dais like the others. Her father said he was a good man. He kept his face straight, dignified. Sansa wondered how he felt about being left aside, when not long ago he was advising King Robert. She felt sympathy for him.
Sansa looked back at the throne to Joffrey, who had a golden crown on his head. She never saw him with a crown before. One day, she would sit by his side. Strangely, the prospect didn't cheer her up like it used to, and yet, he wore the crown like a true king. His eyes stopped on Sansa for a moment, then he looked ahead of him. He smiled. He smiled at her. However, there was something in his way to behave that gave her the impression she saw this before, and it didn't make her feel good. She remembered the Hand's Tourney, when he looked away from her as she tried to catch his eyes. Just like now. She was looking at him, expecting something, hoping for something, but he didn't look back at her. Lady Lannister's words came back.
"It is a king's duty to punish the disloyal and reward those who are true," he declared. "Grand Maester Pycelle, I command you to read my decrees."
The Grand Maester took a scroll from his heavy robes and began to read slowly. "King Joffrey of the Houses Baratheon and Lannister, the First of his Name, King of the Andals, the First Men, and the Rhoynar, and Lord of the Seven Kingdoms, and of Cersei of House Lannister, Queen Regent, Light of the West, and Protector of the Realm, and the small council, hereby summon the following people to present themselves and swear fealty to His Grace as soon as possible. Lord Stannis Baratheon, his wife Lady Selyse Florent, and his daughter Lady Shireen Baratheon. Lord Renly Baratheon. Doran Martell, Prince of Dorne, his brother Prince Oberyn Martell and his son Prince Trystane Martell. Lord Mace Tyrell, his wife Lady Alerie Tyrell, their son Ser Loras Tyrell and their daughter Lady Margaery Tyrell. Lord Tyrion Lannister. Lord Hoster Tully, his brother Ser Brynden Tully and his son Ser Edmure Tully. Lady Lysa Arryn and her son Lord Robin Arryn. Lady Catelyn Stark and her children, Robb, Arya, Brandon and Rickon Stark. Lord Balon Greyjoy, his wife Lady Alannys Harlaw, their son Theon Greyjoy, and their daughter Yara Greyjoy. Lord Alester Florent, his wife, and their children. Lord Leo Lefford and his daughter Lady Alysanne Lefford. Lord Sebaston Farman. Ser Gregor Clegane. Lord Jason Mallister. Lord Bryce Caron. Lord Tytos Blackwood. Lord Walder Frey and his son Ser Stevron Frey. Lord Karyl Vance. Lord Jonos Bracken. Lady Sheila Whent. Lord Yohn Royce. If they were to fail to obey this command, they would be adjudged traitors, their lands and titles forfeit to the throne."
It took a very long time to read all these names. Sansa reflected that it would take a lot of ravens to carry these commands. The Grand Maester took another scroll and was about to start reading it when Ser Kevan Lannister stepped forward. He stood before the king, and he did nothing else.
"Ser Kevan, if you have a matter to set before your king, you will have to wait until his decrees are read," Cersei Lannister said.
"I came here to talk to the king, not to his mother," Ser Kevan said. Sansa saw the smile on the queen's face tense. The knight turned to Joffrey. "Will His Grace let his lady mother decide who he can hear and when?"
"No," Joffrey answered after a moment. "You may speak, Uncle Kevan."
"Thank you, your Grace. I believe that summoning all these lords is useless."
"They must swear fealty to their king," Cersei pointed out.
"Your Grace, you allowed me to speak, but not your lady mother. A king should maintain obedience among the members of his own family."
Joffrey looked at Cersei. "Mother, you will allow Ser Kevan to speak. You will only express yourself when I give you the right to."
There was something in the queen's gaze that Sansa didn't like. Ser Kevan continued. "Your Grace, your crowning didn't happen in the best circumstances we could hope for. Summoning all these people to the capital would be a great mistake. Some will need months to arrive. A pledge by raven and an official oath taken during an organized ceremony in a few months would be far more appropriate, and cause fewer trouble."
"I see. However, there are traitors among them."
Whispers traveled the crowd. "Your Grace, they are not traitors. Your decree specifies that they would be branded traitors only if they failed to swear fealty to you. You say so in your own decree."
Joffrey was silent for a moment. "I will consider what you said, Uncle."
"There's something else, your Grace. I don't believe this is wise to command people like Robin Arryn, Brandon Stark and Arya Stark to take an oath. They are young, no more than ten-years-old. They probably don't even know what a traitor is. It would be useless to ask them to take an oath. They may not even understand what the oath means."
Joffrey tapped his leg with his hand. "If they can't understand what an oath to me is, then this means they are actually traitors and I should kill them."
Sansa gasped in horror. Did he just say he would kill Bran and Arya? No, he said he should kill them. He would be obliged to kill them. He didn't really want to kill them.
"Your Grace, with your respect, this is a foolish."
The Great Hall went silent. Sansa held her breath. Joffrey was looking at his granduncle. "What did you say?"
"You heard me. Your thinking is foolish. You will unite half the Seven Kingdoms against you with that kind of thinking."
Joffrey looked at his mother, then back to Ser Kevan. "What did you say?!" Joffrey's voice raised as he stood up. Sansa had never seen him like this. Well, no, there was one time when he was like this. She remembered. It was on the Kingsroad, when he fought with Arya.
"This is no way to address your king, ser," Cersei said.
"I am advising the king, and if the only way for him to listen to advice is to talk to him in this way, then I'll do it," Ser Kevan retorted. "And this is not the only stupidity contained in this decree. You threatened your own uncle and your own aunt, the two people who are more loyal to you than anyone, your Grace."
"If they come and swear fealty to Joffrey in time, they have nothing to fear."
"And how much time do they have before you decide to strip them from their titles? I suppose you'll make sure a decree deprives them of everything the day before they arrive."
"Joffrey, perhaps we should get to the matter concerning Ser Kevan Lannister immediately," the queen suggested as she gazed at her son.
"Oh, yes. Do it, Mother," Joffrey said, sitting back into the throne.
Cersei Lannister smiled as she looked down at her uncle. "In these times of treason and turmoil, it is the view of the council that the life and safety of King Joffrey be of paramount importance. Ser Kevan Lannister, you served the Realm long and faithfully, lately as Master of Laws, and before that as advisor for the Lord of Casterly Rock. Every man and woman in the Seven Kingdoms owes you thanks. Now it is time for you to retire."
"Retire?" The knight looked perplexed.
"You allowed Eddard Stark to conspire against me, Uncle. You failed to protect me," the king said.
"It was your duty to uncover such a conspiracy and to warn the king, and you failed," the queen continued. "You are not fit to be Master of Laws. Still, in his generosity, the king decided to grant you a handsome tract of land north of Lannisport, beside the sea, with gold and men sufficient to build you a stout keep, and servants to see to your every need."
Ser Kevan burst into laugh, though Sansa had the impression he didn't laugh because he found that funny. "And you believe you will be able to buy my loyalty with this, Cersei? These lands belong to House Lannister, to Casterly Rock, and only the Lord of Casterly Rock can grant them. Unless you believe that you are Lady of Casterly Rock, but you're not. I am loyal to House Lannister and to my lord, and to your father's memory. I was with him in his last hours. He said many things, but there was only one time he talked about you, and I will never forget what he said. Of all the members of my family, Cersei disappoints me the most. She believes she is clever when she is not. And she doesn't know her place."
Sansa could see that the queen was furious. There was real anger in her eyes this time. Ser Kevan addressed Joffrey. "Your Grace, if I were you, I would remind my lady mother of her place, and quickly. As for me, if you no longer have need of my services, I will go back to my wife and my children. I thank you for your offer, but I must decline it. I wish you good fortunes in the wars to come."
Ser Kevan bowed and left. There were no sounds in the throne room for a long moment, except for the great doors opening and closing as Ser Kevan Lannister walked out. No one dared to speak. Sansa didn't know Ser Kevan very well, but she felt his departure as if she lost a friend. Cersei told the Grand Maester to resume the reading of Joffrey's decrees.
"In the place of the traitor Eddard Stark," the old man began. The name caught Sansa's attention. The Grand Maester seemed to have difficulty to talk. His voice was shaking more than usual. "It is the wish of His Grace that Jaime Lannister, knight of the Kingsguard, take up the office of Hand of the King, to speak with his voice, lead his armies against his enemies, and carry out his royal will. So the king has decreed. The small council consents."
Ser Jaime came to stand before Joffrey and received the pin. Sansa was used to see her lord father with it. It was strange to see the handsome knight take it, though he didn't place it on him. He only removed his helmet, took the pin into his hand, then took back his place among his sworn brothers.
"In the place of the traitor Stannis Baratheon, it is the wish of His Grace that his lady mother, the Queen Regent Cersei Lannister, who has ever been his staunchest support, be seated upon the small council, that she may help him rule wisely and with justice. So the king has decreed. The small council consents."
The lords who were present murmured for a short time after this decision was revealed.
"In the place of Ser Kevan Lannister, it is the wish of His Grace that his loyal servant Janos Slynt, Commander of the City Watch of King's Landing, be seated upon the small council as Master of Laws. It is also the wish of His Grace that his loyal servant Janos Slynt be at once raised to the rank of lord, and granted the ancient seat of Harrenhal, and that his sons and grandsons shall hold this honor after him until the end of time."
The lords muttered more than for Cersei when they heard this. Janos Slynt, now Lord Janos Slynt, stood before Joffrey and bowed, then went back to his place at the head of the gold cloaks.
"Such is the will of King Joffrey of the Houses Baratheon and Lannister, the First of his Name, King of the Andals, the First Men, and the Rhoynar, and Lord of the Seven Kingdoms, and of Cersei of House Lannister, Queen Regent, Light of the West, and Protector of the Realm. The council consents," Pycelle concluded.
"If any man in this hall has other matters to set before His Grace, let him speak now or go forth and hold his silence," the herald declared loudly.
It was time. She had come for this. It would be her only chance. She stepped forward, fearing what could happen next. She was afraid of Janos Slynt, afraid of Cersei, and afraid of Joffrey too. The words were pounding in her head. Joffrey is not who he seems to be. She had to be courageous, for her father, for her family. It wasn't time to doubt. If she doubted, then everything was lost.
"Your Grace," she said softly.
"The Lady Sansa of House Stark," the herald announced.
"Do you have some business for the king and the council, Sansa?" Cersei asked. Her smile seemed genuine. She didn't look angry anymore. Sansa took it as a good sign. She went on her knees and looked at Joffrey.
"I do. As it pleases your Grace, I ask mercy for my father, Lord Eddard Stark, who was Hand of the King."
"Treason is a noxious weed. It should be torn out, root…" the Grand Maester began.
"Let her speak. I want to hear what she says." Sansa could barely contain her joy when Joffrey spoke. He wasn't looking away now. All his attention was on her. She had the impression for a time that he didn't really care for what she said, but she tossed the thought aside. He wouldn't have asked her to speak if he didn't care, and she couldn't allow herself to doubt right now.
"Thank you, your Grace."
"Do you deny your father's crime?" Lord Baelish asked.
"No, my lords." She couldn't say that he wasn't a traitor. There was only one way to save her father. "I know he must be punished. All I ask is mercy. I know my father must regret what he did. He was King Robert's friend and he loved him. You all know he loved him. He never wanted to be Hand until the king asked him. People must have lied to him, Lord Renly or Lord Stannis maybe, or someone else. Someone must have lied to him! I know my father would never have done what he did otherwise."
"He said that I would die. He told my lady mother that I wasn't the king, that I had no right on the Iron Throne. Why did he say that?"
"He was badly hurt not long ago. Maester Pycelle was giving him milk of the poppy. He wasn't himself. Otherwise, he would never have said it."
The members of the small council looked at each other. Joffrey was no longer looking at her. The next person to speak wasn't the king she loved, but Lord Varys.
"A child's faith. Such sweet innocence. And yet they say wisdom often comes from the mouth of babes."
"Treason is treason!" Pycelle opposed.
No, it couldn't happen. She looked at Joffrey, pleading with her eyes as much as with her words. "If you still have any affection in your heart for me, please do me this kindness, your Grace."
Her king looked at his hand as he answered. "Your sweet words have moved me. But your father has to confess. He has to confess and say that I'm the king… or there'll be no mercy for him." His eyes were hard, unforgiving. Again, Sansa was afraid. She felt a chill run along her spine.
She dropped her eyes to the ground. "He will."
She should be happy. Her father was going to live. She saved him. Then why did she have the impression that things wouldn't go as well as she hoped? She dared to look again at Joffrey, and she met the same hard stare. Her time at the inn came back to her mind, when King Robert asked her what happened. Joffrey had a similar expression back then. He hadn't talked to her for months after this.
Joffrey is not who he seems to be. For your own sake, I hope you'll realize it before it's too late. For the first time, Sansa considered that Lady Lannister could be right. For a second, she believed that maybe Joffrey wasn't the charming prince she thought. It only lasted one second. She quickly, though hardly this time, told herself that Margaery Lannister could only have lied, or that maybe she was wrong, but she couldn't be right about Joffrey. If she was right, then her father was lost.
Very similar to Season 1 Episode 8, but there are divergences.
Barristan Selmy wasn't removed from the Kingsguard, Jaime was named Hand of the King, and Kevan was the one to be dismissed. I hope I made him leave enough like a boss. I would like you to consider that Kevan made sure for everyone to see that he disagreed with Cersei. He did it on purpose.
Sansa is already different from her version in the show. She's still blinded and she still wants to believe that Joffrey is a good person, but to the opposite of the canon, she has come to have doubts about her betrothed. Margaery's words did their work. The reason why Sansa keeps convincing herself that Joffrey is a charming prince is because, now, she needs him to be a charming prince. It is a question of need and no longer of want. She needs him to save her father, and to not believe it would mean for Sansa that her father is doomed. However, now Sansa must force herself to believe what she previously believed easily. She's more aware of what is or might be going on. She's somwhat less naive.
I must announce that I'm going back to publishing one chapter every two weeks. I simply can't keep up the actual pace. I'm sorry. If things get better, I may go back to one chapter per week.
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Next chapter : Margaery
