The next day, after lunch in her solar and a warm bath, Sansa wore her finest gown to meet Lord Tywin. A navy-blue velvet piece which complemented her eyes. Her hair was down in simple braids making her look every inch the northern queen, with a crown that portrayed two direwolves holding each other up in a representation of her mother's family words.

She wanted someone by her side when she negotiated with the Lord of Lannister but she had already informed the Small Council about her choice, and had told them she could handle the Great Lion. Her mother would've been her first choice, but she'd refused the idea from the beginning. Which left her little sister Arya. Though Sansa was sure she he would mock her if she brought someone underage to negotiate with him.

Lady was at her side as she waited Lord Tywin. She'd been snoozing all day and had only roused herself briefly to eat before resuming her slumber. Outside the doors guarding her were Ser Erwin and Ser Brynden. Her grand uncle had insisted on guarding her today as he was just as untrusting of Tywin Lannister as her mother.

Just as she was beginning to wonder if he was going to dare to arrive late to make her sweat, there was a knock at the door.

Ser Erwin called out. "Your Grace, Lord Lannister has arrived."

"Please let him in, Ser."

The lord of Casterly Rock wore a grayish, black leather doublet with gold trim that made his broad shoulders more pronounced. His white gold beard was neatly trimmed.

"Your Grace," Tywin bowed to the Queen.

"Lord Lannister, please sit. Would you like a drink before we start?"

"No, we have urgent matters to discuss, Your Grace. I would not prefer to drink as we discuss them."

"As you wish, my lord. As you know we sent a letter asking you to become our Lord Hand. You accepted, but not without having your own demands met. What are your demands my lord?" Sansa asked, getting straight to the point.

"Your Grace, I have but one demand, which will be of great benefit to both our houses and the realm at large." Tywin paused for a moment before continuing, "A marriage. I propose a marriage between our two houses."

Sansa was stunned into silence by his words, unsure how to respond to such a proposal. Of all the things she expected to him ask for, this was not one of them.

Gathering her wits after several moments Sansa responded carefully. "My lord, I thought Ser Jaime was married, as well that he's no longer the heir of Casterly Rock..." She trailed off in askance.

"I'm not talking about my son. I'm talking about you and I. It is true that I disinherited my son after he married without my leave. Likewise, my daughter, Lady Cersei, has proven herself is unable to produce heirs, besides being a drunkard to boot." His lips curled. "And the less said about my youngest son, the better."

Sansa digested his words as she began to see more clearly why he was proposing such. "Ah.. I don't know what to say my lord..."

"It's a reasonable demand. The Crown Lands, The North, The Riverlands, The Vale, The Stormlands and after our marriage The Westerlands will be on your side, Your Grace. I would highly recommend you to accept my marriage proposal. The mines of Casterly Rock would make sure the crown would never fall into debt for many years to come."

Sansa sighed. She knew she would have to marry sooner rather than later. Already she was over the average age of marriage for women in Westeros; nor did she have an impending betrothal either. Quietly Sansa contemplated Lord Lannister's proposal, while he waited patiently for her answer.

Finally speaking, "You're right. The benefits of this marriage outweigh any negatives, making my choice on the matter clear." Sansa looked Tywin Lannister in the eye, "I'll marry you, my lord, but I have a request that is non-negotiable. Our first-born son will be the heir to the Iron Throne; thus he will have Lannister-Stark as his last name, and so will his line after him be as such."

Tywin lips almost upturned in a smile at her cleverness. "I'll agree, as long as our second born son is the heir to Casterly Rock and will carry the Lannister name alone."

Sansa nodded. "That is a fair exchange, my lord. Then it's settled. We will announce our betrothal in two days. The wedding will be in a month and a half, and the ceremony appointing the Hand will be on the same day. No need to waste time when our marriage will be one of political convenience that will be beneficial to the realm as it unites five of the Seven Kingdoms."

Tywin bowed his head. "You honor House Lannister by accepting me to be your husband, Lady Sansa."

"I accepted not just because of what will it bring to the realm, but also believing there is good in you. Contrary to what many people may think, there is a reason for everything you did. Perhaps one day you will feel comfortable enough to share it with me, Tywin."

Tywin was astonished by her words and her calling him by his first name.
"Perhaps…" he conceded, after recovering from his shock.

"You may call me Sansa now. The gods have seen fit to have us be married after all. I told you before to call me Lady Sansa, now it's Sansa when we're alone."

"Likewise, you may continue calling me Tywin. As your Hand and betrothed, I think we shall be seeing each other often. I take my leave of you now. When you're ready we will tell the small council about our betrothal." He bowed and kissed her hand gently before leaving the solar.

After Tywin left, she ordered her knights to follow her to the godswood. The Red Keep's heart tree was a great oak covered in smokeberry vines. Though it was no weirwood, she still came here to pray and think.

As she sat before the heart tree her mind wandered from one worry to the next, until settling on thoughts of her dear father. Oh, what would father say? Would he be angry? Or would he understand my choice and be happy for me? Either way, I have to tell my mother and Arya, and send ravens to my brothers Robb and Jon. First though, the Small Council must be told. Tywin will have to be there when I break the news to them.

…
Tywin headed straight towards his brother's room to tell him of the news. When he knocked and entered, he heard Kevan talking Tyrion in low tones.

"She's a beautiful woman, the queen..."

"That she is Uncle. Dare I say it, her future husband is a lucky man. I mean just look at her body..."

"Quiet Tyrion! You drunken beast! Do not talk about the queen in that manner ever again, or I'll cut your filthy tongue out myself!" Tywin roared.

Tyrion jumped at his father's sudden appearance, almost falling out of his chair. Recovering he responded, "Father, I was just admiring her beauty. You can't deny she's one of a kind, can you? Still, I don't understand your sudden defense of her. I understand you'll be her Hand, but you're acting as like she's your lady wife." Tyrion gave a flourish will the flick of his fingers. "Not that she would accept an old man such as yourself to be her husband, even if you are the Old Lion of the West," he mocked, as he took a sip of wine.

Tywin's nostrils flared at the insult. "As a matter of fact," he said through gritted teeth, "we are in fact betrothed. She will be your new mother. So, you better watch your tongue from now on." On hearing this, Kevan nearly spilled his wine in his shock.

"Ty, are you serious?!"

"I am Kevan. This was what I had planned to demand from her in exchange for becoming Hand of the Queen. The betrothal will be announced in two days, and the wedding will take place in a month and a half."

Kevan shook his head in amazement. "After all this time. I never thought you would ever get married again. Not after dear Joanna."

Tywin nodded solemnly. "Neither did I brother, but circumstances have forced me to reconsider."

There was silence for several moments as everyone digested the news until Tyrion suddenly laughed.

"Seeing my father become jealous! Oh joy! Father, you are indeed a lucky man!"

Tywin wanted to punch his son's monstrous face. He was halfway across the room, fist raised and made to strike Tyrion before stopping an inch from his face. "This is the last time I warn you Tyrion."

The dwarf trembled before nodding to his father in fear.
…

Her mother and sister were waiting in her solar when she got back.

"Mother, sister. I have something important to tell you."

She took a deep breath. "As of today, Lord Tywin Lannister and I are now betrothed. Mother," Sansa interjected, as she saw her Mother turn red with anger as she opened her mouth to no doubt shout her opinion, "I won't listen to your objections to this. I've heard your opinion about Lord Lannister a hundred times and I will not hear it again."

Catelyn almost fainted on hearing her speak to her in such a manner, while Arya expressed her approval mockingly.

"Sansa, dear sister, congratulations! Soon you will marry an important man and become a mother!"

One could say Arya was taunting Sansa, and she was to an extent, but deep down she knew Arya loved her and wanted to see her succeed.

Sansa hugged Arya in elation, tears streaming down her face. Before she left to break the news to the small council, she turned to address her now dumbfounded mother, "From henceforth, we will be having dinners together with the Lannisters and you will be expected attend every one mother. I won't tolerate you leaving the dinner before it is over. And that's an order, not a request."

…

When she told the small council about her betrothal to Lord Tywin, many took pity on her but none objected to it in front of the Great Lion himself, with the exception of Littlefinger.

"Your Grace, you are still a young woman. To be married to a man of his age... Frankly, you deserve better," Baelish said, with heavy flattery while throwing a falsely apologetic look at Tywin.

Tywin wanted to choke the insufferable little upstart but refrained from even acknowledging him.

"I've made my decision, my lord and will not be swayed from it. This marriage will be for the good of the realm, and I'm willing to do my duty."

"Yes, but Your Grace..."

"Thank you, Lord Baelish, for your concern. I have other matters to attend to now." Sansa spoke with stern finality.

She turned to address Lord Tywin. "My lord, I trust everything else will be taken care of left in your capable hands, seven's blessings upon you." She then swept from the room.

…...…...

In the evening, dinner was served in honor of Sansa and Tywin's betrothal, a celebration of the uniting of their houses. Sansa sat opposite of Tywin at the dinner table much to Arya's amusement.

"So," started Arya with obvious mischief, "you're going to be my goodbrother soon."

"And you, are going to be my goodsister," he returned mockingly.

"Then, as your goodsister, I ask that you please teach me how to be a good swords-woman."

The Queen Mother grimaced and began to scold Arya.

"Arya, it's not proper for a lady to talk to a man in such a manner. Furthermore, ladies do not engage in swordplay. Why would he teach a lady to be a good swords-woman as you put it?"

"I didn't take any offense, Your Grace" Tywin said before Arya could respond. "As a matter of fact, I'll teach her in exchange for her learning how to be a proper lady and princess worthy of her family name."

Though he hadn't known her long, Tywin was sure the carrot and the stick method would work best with Lady Arya She might want to learn how to fight well but she had the responsibility of one day being the lady of a great keep.

Arya sneered at the offer. "I don't want to be a lady! I'm not like Sansa! Gold, diamonds, and other jewels don't turn my head like her, not like a sword does."

"Nevertheless, one day you will have to marry and be a good wife to not just your husband, but for your children as well. It may not be what you want, but I'll let you in on a secret. It's not what many people want but we must all do our duty least the realm fall into chaos from people acting on their own selfish desires."

Arya rankled at the truth of his words. She knew marriage wasn't a punishment but a duty, and not one even unique to her or the nobility. Everyone had to marry. Yet, that didn't mean she liked it wasn't a choice she could turn down. Thus, with hesitance she decided to accept Lord Tywin's offer.

"I'll learn to be the lady you, my mother and the rest of the world wants me to be but I prefer to learn how to defend myself in case I need to!"

"Enough Lady Arya. Finish your dinner and go to sleep. You shouldn't stay up late." The Queen Mother tried to hide her anger but couldn't quite pull it off.

Tywin ignored her and turned to Sansa who was talking to his brother Kevan.

She would be dealt with later.