Chapter 6: Another king

Sansa giggled and threw her head back into the pillow as Willas' lips teased the sensitive skin of her neck. He kissed his way up her neck, following her jaw, then her cheeks, until he finally caught her lips in a searing kiss, muffling a moan from her. She kissed him back, digging her fingers into his soft curled hair.

"Willas," she moaned softly when he began kissing his way down her pale skin.

He had already gotten rid of her nightgown, so he had full access to her soft body, his lips and tongue gently teasing her breasts. She loved it, he had quickly learned; without fail, it made her quiver and arch her back wantonly against him. He toyed with her for a bit until he began kissing his way down, slowly disappearing under the silky sheets.

"Oh-" there was a hitched breath from her when he reached his destination.

She loved that, too - she had been self-conscious and embarrassed at first, especially on their wedding night, but Willas had been adamant that her pleasure mattered, and that she should let herself enjoy what felt good, and tell him what did not.

"Oh, gods," Sansa gasped.

His head was buried between her thighs, his tongue expertly teasing with her, making her feel hot all over. He was slowly, playfully working her up, and soon she was moaning and quivering as she came undone. She was still a bit dazed when he slid up her body and slightly readjusted her so that he could push into her.

Sansa arched her back; it felt so blissful now, without the pain and anxiety of losing her maidenhead. She knew some things as well now, she knew how to gently scratch his back, how to move with him, meet up his thrusts - little by little, she had figured out little things that made him shiver or moan in appreciation. She kept doing those things, and trying to find new ones, as it pleased her to please him.

Gently, he rolled on his back, taking her with him so she would be riding him; she was rocking against him, her small hands on his chest to hold herself up. She leaned a bit forward, slightly repositioning herself, and that newly found angle sent unexpected shivers of pleasure down her spine. It brought pressure and friction to that spot Willas had been pleasuring earlier, and it felt so very good still.

"Oh-" Sansa whimpered.

Her pleasure crashed over her like a tidal wave, and she was trembling on top of him, her womanhood clenching on him. The sudden tightness and the sight of her pleasure pushed Willas over the edge as well, and he threw his head back, his moans mixing with her voice.

Once she had regained her spirits, Sansa got off him, laying to his side in their bed. Willas held her close, kissing her forehead. His usual morning routine had been cut short today - not that he had any reason to complain.

"I need to get Jennisei so she can get me ready."

Lord Mace and the rest of the Tyrell family were set to arrive today, according to the messages Willas had received. She had planned to get up early to make sure she could have enough time to get ready, but a morning kiss from her husband had... escalated.

"Stay a bit," he said, his arm still around her shoulders.

Sansa shook her head, but she stayed all the same, a smile lingering on her lips.

"If Margaery mocks me for looking a fright, I will blame you," she joked.

Willas laughed.

"I doubt you could ever look a fright even if you tried, darling."

She laughed, but she was feeling nervous all the same. She was happy to see Margaery again, but Lady Olenna intimidated her still, and she had never spoken to Lord Mace or Lady Alerie. It felt odd to her that she was to meet them only now, being already married to their elder son. What would they think of her? Would it be a problem at all that she was not yet with child? She did not have the slightest idea how long it was supposed to take. They agreed to this match, she reminded herself. Everything will go well.

Willas, Garlan, Sansa and Jennisei were waiting outside, in front of the main door. Willas was sitting down, his younger brother standing to his right, his wife to his left, and the handmaiden was politely a few steps back, behind her mistress.

Sansa was wearing a gown that was very much from Highgarden still in the style, but its colour was a deep, greyish purple with silver accents, and around her shoulders she had a silky shawl to protect her from the chilly wind, white in colour with silvery wolves on it. She was wearing the medallion that Willas had given her went they met, as well. The gown and the shawl had been made for her, and suited her perfectly. Willas had been adamant that she should wear her house's colours and sigil, at least sometimes. "But I am a Tyrell now, am I not?" Sansa had asked, almost worried that it had been a trap. Willas had smiled. "Now and forever, darling, Lady Sansa Tyrell - but you were born a Stark. House Stark is a great house, an ancient house, noble and respectable. There is no harm in a bit of northern pride."

Sansa was pulled from her memories by the sound of people clamoring: she glanced forward, just in time to see multiple carriages, surrounded by an escort of many knights and soldiers, all clad in green and gold, some of them holding Highgarden banners. Willas stood up from his seat. From the corner of his eyes, he could see that Sansa was visibly nervous. He gave her a reassuring smile, to which she responded as best she could by smiling back - or trying to, at least.

The carriages had stopped, and several people were stepping out - some of them cousins, some of them handmaidens; soon Sansa saw Lord Mace and Lady Alerie walking up the stairs to meet them, with Loras, Olenna and Margaery behind them.

"Welcome home, Father, Mother," Willas said warmly to them.

Mace put a hand on his shoulder, smiling as Alerie glanced sideways towards Sansa.

"Willas, dear," she gently said, "Are you not going to introduce us to your lovely wife?"

Sansa blushed, and Willas took her hand gently.

"Of course. Father, Mother - Lady Sansa of House Stark. My lovely wife, as you put it."

"Lord Mace, Lady Alerie," Sansa gave them a deep curtsy, "It is a pleasure and an honour to finally meet you."

Alerie giggled. Even the sound of her laugh was melodic.

"My word, is she always so formal? Not to worry, dear, I can see and appreciate that your mother raised a true lady; I am pleased to finally meet you as well. I am eager to know you - but later, if you will allow me. For now, I need to rest after such a long travel."

"It will be my pleasure," Sansa politely replied.

Lady Alerie walked away, her handmaidens rushing behind her, following her closely.

"We need a talk," Mace said towards Willas before walking away inside the castle.

Olenna approached them, and Margaery hugged Willas tightly.

"We will speak after you've met with Mace," Olenna told him in a low voice.

She glanced at Sansa, who was busy greeting Margaery and chatting with her and was paying them no mind. Loras was already discussing with Garlan, as well.

"Bring her. She needs to learn, if she's to be Lady of Highgarden one day."

Willas gave her a nod, and Olenna loudly complained that she needed to eat and bath, and she was quickly followed by a pretty handmaiden with dark hair.

"I must meet with Father," Willas said.

He smiled at Margaery and Loras, his hand squeezing Margaery's. Margaery was speaking the truth, Sansa realized. It was clear that she loved all of her brothers dearly, but now that she finally able to see Margaery and Willas together, she could tell that Margaery had been truthful when she had told her that she was always closest to him.

"I will see you both later," he added.

It had been said towards Sansa and Margaery, but he ended with a pointed look towards his sister before taking his leave. Loud and clear, brother, Margaery thought to herself. She turned to Sansa, a smile on her lips:

"Will you accompany me? I would love to catch up with you."

"Of course," Sansa was beaming, thrilled to see her friend again. "If that would please you."

"Very much so," she took her arm under hers and led Sansa away, inside the castle.

Ellena, Margaery's handmaiden, had left after assisting her mistress in changing out of her travel gown and bringing them a platter full of fruits and sweets.

"So, tell me, dear sister, is Highgarden to your liking?" Margaery asked likely.

"Highgarden is... it's everything you and Garlan promised and more. It is beautiful and welcoming, and everyone here has been so kind and considerate with me."

Margaery finished eating her strawberry before following with another question, a mischievous smile on her face:

"And what about Willas?'

Sansa's face turned as red as the raspberry she had been eating.

"Has he been good to you? If he has not, tell me, I'll knock some sense into his head."

"N-no!" Sansa vehemently replied. "Willas had been... he's just..."

Her cheeks were so red that she could feel them burn.

"He is wonderful," she finally confessed, "Kind, intelligent, very considerate and caring. I can see why you love him so dearly. I have not been this happy in a long time."

Margaery beamed.

"That is so very good to hear. I'm glad married life suits you."

Sansa bit her bottom lip. Had she not known, she would have offered her condolences to Margaery, but she knew that her friend had been aware that Joffrey would be poisoned during the feast to their wedding. Margaery did not know that she knew, though - should Sansa pretend? Should she let her know? She was so lost in her thoughts that she did not realize her friend's eyes were studying her.

"I'm glad you did not attend the wedding," Margaery continued, seemingly paying no mind to her friend's dilemma. "Joffrey had... more than one cruel jokes up his sleeve, for the feast."

Sansa lowered her gaze.

"I know I should not say that - my lord father always said we should not speak ill of the dead, but... I'm happy he's gone."

"Sweet sister, after everything he put you through, I wish you could have poisoned hin yourself."

Margaery shrugged.

"I'm glad, too. I prefer him dead than in my bed. Though I did not see this coming, I suppose I should be happy that I am back home, at least. If Cersei had it her way, my head would no longer be attached to my shoulders. It's good to be back here with my whole family, and to have you be part of that family as well," she completed, giving her friend's hand a gentle squeeze.

Sansa smiled gratefully, her hand still in Margaery's.

"I can never thank you and Lady Olenna enough," she said. "To have saved me from King's Landing and allowed me to call Highgarden home. It's like a dream come true - I still feel like I'm about to wake up and none of it will have happened. It's... Willas, Highgarden, your kindness, it's so much more than I deserve."

"Don't be silly," the brunette scolded her, 'Of course you deserve happiness. It pleases me to hear that this marriage has brought you joy."

She glanced outside briefly.

"Will you accompany me for a walk? I swear, all these weeks sitting in a carriage almost turned my legs into stone!"

Sansa laughed and got up on her feet.

"Of course, gladly. It is an incredibly long ride, isn't it?"

Arm in arm, the two young ladies headed out.

Thry walked through the elegant gardens as they chatted, Margaery making sure to show her favourite spots to her friend along the way. Soon, their casual stroll took them to a secluded spot, with a table under a canopy, where Lady Olenna was seated, sipping tea.

"Ah, dear Sansa," Olenna said towards her, "A pleasure seeing you again. Have a seat, the both of you."

They obeyed, Sansa politely thanking the matriarch.

"Your brother should be here soon," she added towards Margaery. "Speaking of which, how are you finding him, Sansa? Hopefully, a more pleasant husband than the Imp?"

Sansa blushed at the blunt question, but responded nonetheless:

"Willas is kind and clever - I'm very happy to be his wife."

"Ah, yes, he is quite a remarkable man, if I dare say so myself - a miracle, in fact, when you see how much of an oaf his father is.'

"Grandmother!" Margaery said reproachfully.

"Darling, I've known your father longer than you have; I'm his mother, I know a well-meaning idiot when I see one. His father was much the same, did I never tell you - who in the seven hells rides himself off a cliff?"

"Only about a thousand times," Margaery replied with a coy smile.

"A thousand times? Is our grandmother reminding you of our grandfather's tragic demise?" Willas' voice entered the conversation.

He kissed Sansa on the cheek before sitting in front of her, between his sister and grandmother. His presence surprised her, than Sansa was reminded that Olenna had told Margaery about Willas planning to join them once his father would free him. This meeting was arranged, at least between Olenna and Willas, and Sansa was starting to doubt that Margaery had just happened to lead her to them.

"Father has agreed to let me handle the rest," he said towards his grandmother.

"Good - that way, we will not have to do this again."

"Grandmother-!" Margaery said between her teeth, eyeing towards Sansa to remind her that this was not just the three of them this time.

"Dear, she's Willas' wife, bound to be Lady of Highgarden one day, as I was. She needs to learn."

"I know," Sansa quietly said.

She blushed a little when both women glanced towards her.

"I know about Joffrey," she completed.

"Ah! Good," Olenna said towards Willas. "You told her?"

"Not quite," Willas said. "She figured it out, and I did not deny. She even figured out our motive."

Sansa could swear there was the faintest smile on Olenna's lips as the old woman looked towards her.

"Does that bother you?" she asked her. "Do you see us any differently now?"

"No," Sansa immediately replied. "You know, my lady, how I felt about Joffrey. Everything I told you in King's Landing was true. You did what needed to be done - the three of you."

Margaery could not help but smile. What needed to be done. Sansa's words echoed in her mind, reminding her of the lessons her grandmother had drilled into Willas and herself. She truly is a match made in heavens for Willas, she reflected.

"Father will let me - that is to say, us - arrange any match I see fit for Margaery," Willas said. "This means we can still accomplish our goal."

Margaery frowned.

"How? Even if you could get Lord Tywin to agree to a match with Tommen, Cersei will never let her precious little boy marry me, not now. I can hardly be queen without a king to marry."

Willas's hazel eyes went towards Sansa.

"Westeros has more than one royal family," he replied. "There is another king without a queen - a king that might be willing to work with us, from a far more trustworthy house than the Lannisters."

Sansa felt all eyes on her.

"You mean Robb Stark," Olenna immediately understood. "The North mistrusts southern houses, even moreso now after what Joffrey did to Lord Stark."

"Grandmother is right," Margaery said. "He might not be willing to meet with us at all."

"From all reports, he is an honourable man," Willas replied. "And a reasonable one. He is at war with the Lannisters, he would be a fool to refuse to even consider an alliance with the Reach."

"My brother is not a fool," Sansa could not help but intervene. "He is intelligent, dedicated and valiant. My lord father was very proud of him."

"Precisely, darling. With the recent events, he will be a powerful ally, and this is the largest blow we can deal to the Lannisters. If they lose our support and your brother gains it, the war is unlikely to last very long."

"You want me to become his wife?" Margaery asked.

"Yes, that is correct. We know that he will treat you fairly, as well."

At that, Sansa could not help but shake her head.

"My brother would treat Margaery kindly, but the bannermen... the North does not like the South, much like Lady Olenna said. My brother values loyalty; if he believes his bannermen will not accept a Tyrell as his wife, he will turn down the match and the alliance."

Margaery giggled. Turn her down? Not likely - if she had been able to subdue Joffrey, at least to some extent, she was quite confident she could get Robb Stark to fall for her. All she needed to do was find out what kind of man he was so she would know what strings to pull, and she had Sansa to tell her all about that.

*Sweet sister, you said so yourself - he is no fool, and surely his advisors are no fools either. What is a southern wife for their king, if she brings the support of the Reach with her?"

"I have already sent a raven to him," Willas announced. "To invite him, as well as Lady Catelyn, here in Highgarden to discuss, and to see Sansa."

At that, Sansa felt her heart pounding in her chest. She was going to see her family again, if they were willing to come to Highgarden - they would, they had to, did they not? Surely they would want to see her even if they did not want to hear Willas. She would see her mother and brother again, at long last.

"I have yet to receive an answer, but I'm confident he wi-"

A young man's arrival interrupted him, giving all four of them a deep bow.

"My deepest apologies, my lord, my ladies - a raven of the utmost importance for Lord Willas."

The letter was sealed by a grey wolf.

"Thank you," Willas said, dismissing the servant. "How fitting, I was just about to say that I was confident I would get his reply soon."

Leaning back in the chair, he broke the grey wax seal and unrolled the paper.

As his eyes followed Robb Stark's words, a faint smile curved his lips.