A short chapter. Sorry for the delay in the releae of this chapter. I experienced a block recently. I hope that I'm back on track now.


SANSA VII

"Ow!"

The first word. Ow! That was the first word she said after they came back to the Red Keep. She didn't say a word when they got her through the gates. She didn't say a word when he asked her if she was hurt. She didn't say a word as they escorted her back to her chamber. Not a word, until now.

"Shh. It's not deep."

The girl with clear brown hair and eyes of the same color pressed a wet cloth on her temple. She cleaned it, then applied some mixture, probably an ointment of some sort.

"Here. In two days, there will be no trace left," the handmaiden said.

Perhaps there would be no trace left on her face, but on her mind, the trace would never leave. How could she ever forget the way they looked at her?

The princess Myrcella left for Dorne today. Lord Tyrion had arranged her a marriage with Trystane Martell, the heir to Sunspear, and she was sent under heavy escort to Dorne. Sansa was almost jealous of the princess. She wished she was the one to escape King's Landing and Joffrey. Not to mention that Myrcella was always kinder to her than Joffrey. She and Tommen might be blind and unaware that she was miserable with their brother, but at least they were kind to her. Tommen even said in front of Cersei that he wouldn't like that Joffrey kills her brother.

On their way back to the Red Keep, an accident happened. They were walking back to the castle under heavy escort. Since Ser Arys Oakheart had gone to Dorne with the princess, that Ser Jaime Lannister was with the army in the Riverlands and Ser Mandon Moore accompanied Lady Margaery in the Stormlands, there were only four kingsguards to protect Joffrey: Ser Barristan Selmy, Ser Preston Greenfield, Ser Lancel Lannister and Sandor Clegane. The escort was completed by Lannister guards and men of the City Watch.

They were travelling in silence. People gave way to Joffrey, stepping aside on the passage of his guard. Some threw praise at him, but others insulted him. Sansa heard the insults more than the praise. Halfway, the king received dirt in the face. Someone in the crowd probably threw it at him. She didn't see who else it could be. Ser Arys told her not long ago, before he left, that some people despised Joffrey since the riots and the slaughter of children. Joffrey had immediately ordered that the man who threw the dirt was brought to him and be executed. As a result, the guards began to fight the crowd and chaos followed.

Sansa was lucky that she got out of there with a simple cut. It could have been far worse. If it wasn't for the Hound's timely intervention, she would be dead. He saved her.

"I thought they were going to kill me," she said.

She felt a hand on her shoulder. "It's over. They can't hurt you now," the handmaiden reassured her.

"He hated me, the man who hit me. I saw it in his eyes. He hated me. He never met me before, but he wanted to hurt me."

She moved a chair and sat in front of Sansa. "It's over. Don't think about it again. It won't help. Better to forget."

Sansa nodded, but she knew she could never forget. "Thank you, Sera."

Lady Lannister's handmaiden smiled a little. "I wish we were back at Winterfell." Sansa wished for the same. "That's where we met, you remember?"

"I do." She remembered. Sansa had seen Sera Durwell for the first time the day following the king's arrival, while she was heading for the glass garden. They sewed during the morning, and after that she walked with Lady Margaery in the glass garden.

"I think you should sew with me tomorrow, Lady Sansa. It could change your ideas."

"Yes, good idea," Sansa replied distractively.

"I know I'm not the best when it comes to sewing but… At least, you'll have some company, and we could talk a little."

Sansa nodded. Then for some time they both said nothing. Sera didn't leave, but she didn't seem to know what to say. Sansa tried to resume the conversation. It might help her to think of something else than the events of this afternoon.

"Don't you have friends you sew with?"

"Yes, but… Since Lady Margaery and Mira left… let's just say that I'm not as much good friend with the other girls. I like them, but not as much."

"Who's Mira?"

"My best friend. She's a handmaiden too. She left not long after Lady Margaery. She may be riding to her wedding as we speak."

"Her wedding?"

"Yes. She's getting married very soon to a cousin of Lady Margaery, Willas Tyrell." Sansa thought she heard something about it some time ago. "I envy her."

"Why? She's your friend. You should be happy for her."

"I am, but… I can't help it. My best friend is getting married, and she has a good marriage." Much better than mine, Sansa thought, musing about her own wedding. Now that she had bled, she could be married to Joffrey anytime.

"I have nothing. No marriage in sight," Sera continued. "I'm seeing most of the handmaidens around me receiving marriage proposals, already betrothed, or even about to get married, while I stay there, waiting for my turn."

"I'm sure you will marry a good man, Lady Sera," Sansa said, not sure at all.

"Hm. It's mostly that… I have no one. My father… died during a tournament while my mother was pregnant, and she died two months after I was born. I have no brother and no sister, so I can't wait to get married."

"I'm sorry. I didn't know."

"Thank you, Sansa." Sera took her hand in hers. "I wanted to tell you that I'm sorry for your father. I should have told you before but… you see, I was afraid. Afraid… afraid of how you might react."

Sansa understood the meaning behind her words. She was afraid of Joffrey. Everyone was afraid of him.

Another of her handmaidens came from the door. "Lady Sansa, Lord Tyrion would like to speak with you."

Tyrion Lannister, the Lord of Casterly Rock. Sansa had few interactions with him. They crossed paths a few times back at Winterfell and exchanged a few words in the library before she left her home. Back then, he wished her all the happiness in the world with Joffrey, saying she would need it. He had looked sorry for her.

The only time she spoke with him, or more specifically exchanged a few words with him, wasn't long after he and Lady Margaery arrived in King's Landing. She was heading to her chambers after a supper in company of the queen and her two youngest children, and she was crying. At the turn of a corridor, she came face to face with the Hound.

"Look who's come out to play. You think the king wants his little prize out wandering alone?" he told her, smiling, but the smile didn't reassure her. She felt more reassured after Joffrey showed her father's head and he wiped the blood from her lips.

"I'm going back to my chambers, ser," she had answered, tears in her eyes, choking on her voice.

The Hound then looked at her from head to toes. "You're almost a woman. The king will be having you soon." He was right, for she bled for the first time two days later. He had approached her. "Taking you into his bed."

"My wedding night will be the happiest…" she had started to say mechanically.

"Stop lying!" He had grabbed her violently.

"You're hurting me, please, ser!" she cried.

"Ser? I'm a dog. Remember. The king's dog. And you're his bird. Would you sing a song for me, little bird? A song about nights and fair maidens. Come on, sing."

His expression had changed as he spoke. There was something different, like when he stopped her from pushing Joffrey over that bridge.

"You won't hurt me," she declared.

"Sing!"

She didn't know how she gathered the courage, but she looked at him straight in the eyes when she answered. "I don't know any songs, not anymore."

His grip on her had weakened. He looked… sad for her.

"Clegane, what's going on here?" That was when the Lord of Casterly Rock had arrived from the nearby stairs. The Hound had turned his attention to him, freeing Sansa from what was left of his grip on her arm.

"Never mind, Imp. I was just… taking the little bird…"

The little lord hadn't waited for an explanation. "I'll see to the lady. Go and find a tree to piss on."

The Hound was gone in an instant, not without shooting a hating look to his lord. Sansa was surprised that Lord Tyrion did nothing before the lack of respect from the Hound. After all, he wasn't a kingsguard yet at that time and still at the service of House Lannister. He could have punished him easily.

When Sandor Clegane was gone, Sansa thanked Lady Margaery's husband and resumed her path to her chambers. However, he called her.

"Lady Sansa." She turned to look at him, uncertain about what to expect from the Hand of the King. He served Joffrey, after all. He had a contrite expression. He was standing two steps up from her, but despite this she was a little taller than him. "My lady, I'm sorry for your loss."

Sansa wasn't sure what to make of it, but despite the fact he was Lady Margaery's husband, she didn't know if she could trust him. "My father was a traitor. My mother and brother are traitors, too. I am loyal to my beloved Joffrey."

He had looked at her in a strange way when she said that, as if that was the first time he saw her. Then the shape of a rictus appeared on his lips for a very short moment, before he took back a very serious expression. "Of course, you are." He then showed again a remorseful expression. "Sleep well."

Sansa had walked away and the discussion had been over. It was the only time they spoke in King's Landing, except for the short moment after Clegane had brought her back into the Red Keep, when he asked her if she had been hurt. She hadn't been able to answer. The Hand of the King had never asked to speak with her before. Why did he want to talk to her? He was asking to speak to her. Sansa didn't think the question had multiple possible answers.

"Let him in."

Lord Tyrion Lannister looked exhausted when he walked in, but his eyes were very much alive and looked at Sansa without wandering. "Lady Sansa, I hope you are right."

He seemed concerned, just like his wife. "I thank you for your concern, my lord."

"Lady Sera, could you leave us alone for a moment, please."

Sera Durwell bowed and obeyed immediately. She followed his orders without question. She didn't care to ask Sansa her permission to leave. The Lord of Casterly Rock looked at the handmaiden leaving, and when she was gone, he looked back at Sansa, still the same soft expression on his face.

"You won't mind if I sit, my lady?"

"No, you can."

He did as he asked and they found themselves sitting face to face. "Lady Sansa, I want to apologize, in my name and in my family's name, for today's events. I know what happened with these men. Clegane told me everything. You should never have found yourself in danger. What happened is unforgiveable. I wish Joffrey had come to present his apologies himself, but he wasn't very receptive to me after the riot."

Sansa would have been surprised that Joffrey was receptive to anybody. He listened to nobody but himself. Even Cersei was afraid of him. She overheard a conversation between the queen and her brother on the docks, as the ship carrying the princess receded. She wasn't far from them and heard Cersei say something to Lord Tyrion.

"You love your rose, don't you, little brother? I know you love her. I pray you love her. I pray you love her so much, when you close your eyes, you see her face. I want that for you. I want you to know what it's like to love someone, to truly love someone, before I take her from you."

She didn't think anyone else heard. Tommen was crying, and Joffrey too occupied mocking him to notice the discussion between his mother and uncle. As they proceeded to leave the docks, however, Sansa saw Lord Tyrion taking his nephew aside and talk with him for some time. Joffrey had been hostile at the beginning, but as his uncle spoke, he quieted. Sansa couldn't hear most of their discussion, but at the end, the king said he agreed with his uncle. After that, he had been in a lighter mood. On their way back to the Red Keep, Sansa even heard him muttering I'll soon be rid of her. Joffrey looked happy, until he received the dirt.

"I'm sure the king has good reasons to not see me. I don't blame him," she said to Lord Tyrion.

"He has reasons, for sure. That doesn't mean the reasons are right," the little lord replied.

"The people should never have thrown dirt on him." They shouldn't have. That could only make Joffrey angry, and that's what happened. Without this dirt, the riot would never have taken place.

"Indeed, they shouldn't have, just like Joffrey shouldn't have ordered them to be killed. But I suppose the man who threw that dirt had his own reasons to do it."

"They attacked the king. It was wrong. We all swore loyalty to Joffrey," she said, hiding behind words like she always did.

A quick smile appeared again on the lord's face. "Tell me, what do you feel for my kingly nephew?"

"I love him with all my heart," Sansa answered without hesitation. She learned slowly, but she learned, and once she learned something, she never forgot it.

"Truly? Even now?"

"My love for his Grace is greater than it has ever been."

Lord Tyrion smiled and shook his head. "Lady Stark, you may survive us yet. Someone has taught you to lie well. You're flowered, aren't you?"

"Yes, my lord." This was no secret by now, and anyone who might not be aware would learn it soon.

"Well, if it can give you some comfort, it is possible that you never marry Joffrey."

"Why?"

"Let's just say a marriage is made when it is in the interest of the crown. Would you say your marriage is in Joffrey's best interest right now?"

"I only wish to be a good wife and a good queen to him," she replied, not wanting to say anything dangerous.

"I don't know if you would make a good wife to him, but we may never be able to find out. And I know for a certainty that Joffrey wouldn't be good husband."

"I'm sure he would be, my lord."

"Today, he just proved he couldn't be."

"It wasn't his fault."

"When he heard that you had not come back, my lady, he shouted to his men to let the mob have you. A husband who abandons his wife to be raped is no husband."

He said the last sentence on a lower tone. He was looking at the floor as he said that, the expression very dark. It only lasted a moment as he stood up.

"Well, I suggest you avoid Joffrey as much as you can, but I'm sure you already know it. Take care of yourself, my lady. If you have need of anything, don't hesitate to ask."

He walked to the door, but before he pulled it he turned to face her. "Lady Sansa, I think you would make a good queen, but for your own sake, it would be better if the queen was another woman."

When he was gone, Sansa pondered whether she could trust him or not. He was a Lannister, like Joffrey and Cersei, but so was Margaery, and he was her husband. Lady Margaery always spoke fondly of Lord Tyrion. Maybe she should trust him. Now that she thought about it, she believed he might have tried to warn her about Joffrey in Winterfell. Since Lady Margaery left, she thought she couldn't rely on anyone. Maybe, after all, there was still someone she could trust in this city. Maybe two someones.

Sansa had an agitated night. In her dreams, the man who wanted to hurt her was stabbing her with a knife, and she woke up only to see that it was her moonblood again, which didn't reassure her. Why did she have to start bleeding? Couldn't she be barren? Joffrey wouldn't want her for his wife then, and she would be free.

That morning, Sansa walked to her meeting with Sera Durwell when she came across the Hound, heading in the opposite direction, not giving her a single glance. She wished he did. Since he didn't talk to her, like most of the time, she did, overcoming her fear to address him. It was easier to talk to him than to Joffrey.

"I beg pardon, ser. I should have come to you after to thank you for saving me. You were so brave."

She received a glare in return. "Brave? A dog doesn't need courage to chase off rats."

Emboldened, Sansa shouted back. She wasn't scared enough of him to not do it. "Does it give you joy to scare people?"

"No. It gives me joy to kill people. Spare me. You can't tell me Lord Eddard Stark of Winterfell never killed a man."

"It was his duty. He never liked it," she opposed. Whatever she couldn't tell Joffrey, she said it to the Hound.

"Is that what he told you? He lied. Killing is the sweetest thing there is."

Sansa sometimes thought she could understand him, and other times like that, she had no idea who he was. "Why are you always so hateful?"

"You'll be glad of the hateful things I do someday when you're queen and I'm all that stands between you and your beloved king."

Sansa walked away, not daring to look one last time behind her. Would Sandor Clegane truly be the all that stood between her and Joffrey? She hoped that Lord Tyrion was right when he told her she might never marry Joffrey, for a part of her didn't want to rely on the Hound for her safety. The other part wanted to rely on him. She hoped that Lady Margaery would be back soon.


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