Sansa I

A gigantic knight galloped past them like an avalanche. It was the first day of the Hand's Tourney, and Sansa had come with Jeyne Poole and septa Mordane. Tents had been set up outside the city by the river, and the common folk came in the hundreds to attend the Tourney. Everything was as Sansa had imagined: the shiny armors, the great stallions, the banners waving in the wind... and the knights.

Sansa saw on horseback the heroes she had only heard about in songs: Ser Jaime Lannister, in his white cape but dressed entirely in gold, Lord Yohn Royce, with his bronze armor that had magic runes engraved, or Ser Barristan the Bold, dressed in an all-white armor. There were also many free riders and squires from all over the kingdom to whom no one had written songs or performed great feats. There were also young sons of great lords such as Ser Andar Royce, son and heir to Yohn Bronze, Horas and Hobber Redwyne, the two sons of Lord Paxter of the Arbor and also Ser Loras Tyrell, who was called the knight of flowers. He was only sixteen years old and the youngest knight in the Tourney, but he was by no use the most inexperienced. With his youth he had already won major Tourneys, such as the Tourney for Prince Joffrey's name day, earlier that year.

Jory, Alyn and Harwin represented Winterfell. The Hound also participated in the jousting, as well as the king's brother, the attractive Lord Renly, lord of Storm's End. Sansa wished that he had come to dinner with them nights ago, rather than the unfriendly Lord Stannis and his wife. Sansa was still nervous just remembering that night and the shame she had gone through. It had all been Arya's fault for meddling in their conversation and screaming for everyone to hear. I should forget it, when I marry Joffrey no one will dare to pick on me, not even the princess of Dorne.

However, she became pale as soon as she saw the place they had been assigned in the stands. Behind them sat Arianne Martell and her husband, who could not even hide the discomfort in his face from having to go to the Tourney. If they didn't want to come, why did they? Why couldn't they stay in the Red Keep?

The septa Mordane and Jeyne bowed to them before sitting down, but Sansa sat down immediately without even looking at them. The septa made a gesture of disapproval to Sansa when she sat down, indicating that such behavior was not appropriate of a great lady. Her father was sitting in the royal box, below the queen, so at least he would not have to engage in conversation with the Dornish princess. Nor was Arya to embarrass her, because she had dance classes that day, even though tomorrow she would go, or so her father had told her.

The jousting lasted all day until the sunset came in. The horse's hooves left the field turned into a barren of torn earth. Sansa and Jeyne screamed several times as the riders collided and the spears leaped into the air, but Lord Stannis and Princess Arianne did not do it even once and the few times they said anything was to whisper something between the two of them. Sansa could not understand how they could be married, with how different they seemed from eachother, although she then thought of King Robert and Queen Cersei and wondered if these marriages between such different people were common in the South. Jeyne looked away every time a knight fell, but Sansa was tougher, as a great lady had to know how to behave in a Tourney. I'm not a baby, I can't behave like one, she said to herself. But she didn't know if it was herself she was trying to convince or Princess Arianne. She could feel her gaze fixed on her, waiting for her to make a mistake so she could reproach her, but Sansa didn't intend to give her that satisfaction.

Jaime Lannister's performance was exceptional, knocking down one rider after another. He even defeated the grey-haired Barristan Selmy, who had defeated men he doubled or even tripled in age.

The Hound and his gigantic brother, Ser Gregor, who people called the Mountain that Rides, also seemed invincible. The scariest moment of the day occurred when Ser Gregor hit a young knight of the Vale under the gorget of the armor with such strength that the spear pierced in his throat and killed him. The knight fell a few steps away from where they were. He still had the spear splinter stuck in his neck and blood was flowing from the wound as if it were a fountain. The earth turned reddish as the blood soaked it.

Jeyne burst into tears hysterically and the septa Mordane had to take her away to regain her composure, leaving Sansa alone there. It was the first time she'd seen anyone die. She knew she should be crying like Jeyne, but for her the knight lying dead there was nobody. She didn't even remember his name.

"Ser Hugh of the Vale" said a voice beside her, where Jeyne used to be sitting. Princess Arianne had left her seat beside her husband and had sat next to Sansa during the shock that had caused the young knight's death. In her hand she had a bowl of fresh grapes that she was eating from time to time. Its juice spilled down her lips every time she opened her mouth. "Poor thing, he had just been knighted. Tourneys aren't as wonderful as you expected?"

Sansa did not respond to her comment. The princess's melodious voice seemed so false that she was feeling nauseous just by hearing her. Why can't you leave me alone?

"Another victim to add to noble Ser Gregor's list. I wonder how many he has already killed" sighed the princess as she was playing with a grape between her fingers.

"It was an accident" Sansa said with a whisper without knowing very well what had prompted her to answer.

"You think so, don't you? That the good Ser Gregor has had his spear deflected right to the point where that poor bastard hadn't adjusted his armor well. If so, you're far more stupid than I thought you were."

"Why are you so cruel to me? I haven't done anything to you" Sansa said with a tiny voice. "You don't behave as a lady should."

"Well, I'm a princess, not a lady, and you'll see that no one here behaves the way they should. Do you know what the brave Ser Gregor did during the rebellion?" Sansa shook her head. "He was part of Lord Tywin's army when he sacked King's Landing at the end of the war. When your father was still crossing the city's gates, the Mountain was climbing Maegor's Holdfast, where my aunt and cousins were. My cousin Aegon had his head smashed like it was an orange, and he did the same with my Aunt Elia, but not before raping her. Believe me, I saw their bones before they were buried." At that moment, she squeezed the fruit between her fingers so hard that it burst. The juice splashed Sansa's face and part of it got into her eye.

Sansa threw up her breakfast without being able to restrain herself. She could not see the rest of the onlookers looking at her, but she heard their comments and their laughter, believing that her discomfort was due to Sir Hugh's death. The princess got up and accompanied her out of the stands without Sansa having the strength to deny her. As they left, servants quickly passed in front of them with rags to clean up her vomit.

When they were finally alone behind the stands, the princess offered Sansa a glass of cold wine. Sansa didn't know where she got it from, or maybe she'd had it all this time, but she swallowed it anyways. Inadvertently, Sansa had started crying.

"Why are you like that with me?" she asked the princess between sobs. "What have I done for you to humiliate me this way every time we meet?"

"I didn't mean to humiliate you, child. It's true that I wanted to scare you with that story, but I didn't expect you to throw up in front of everyone. I'm sorry for that."

Sansa didn't believe any of her words. "It's not true. You don't regret it in the least. You are cruel."

"I hope you never have to realize what true cruelty is, child. Although if you're going to marry that little monster, it won't take long before you discover it."

"Joffrey is no monster. And when I'm married to him, you won't dare insult me or humiliate me again" Sansa said angrily. "You won't even be able to call me a child again, you'll have to bow to me and call me Your Grace. You're only jealous of me because I'm going to marry my Prince Charming while you've married an ugly, half-bald man."

"It must be the freezing cold of the north, which have frozen your brain. Otherwise, I can't explain how you northerners can be so naive," she said as she rubbed her temples. "Come on, Your Grace, let's go back before your father notices your absence and starts to worry."

She grabbed her by the arm and practically dragged her back into her seat. Arianne Martell did not sit with Lord Stannis again, but stood by Sansa's side. Luckily, she didn't speak to her again for the rest of the day. By then they had removed Ser Hugh's body and the jousting had resumed. She had come back at just the right time to witness the Hound knock down Lord Renly so hard that he was thrown from his horse. Luckily, Renly got up without any scratches without counting one of the antlers of his helmet, which had been broken.

"If he goes on like this, one day he's going to get himself killed" Stannis said with contempt behind her. But the people, on the other hand, seemed excited about the big show and cheered on Renly when he got up. Soon after, septa Mordane returned, though she did so alone. She told her that Jeyne was not well and had returned to the castle. With everything that had happened, Sansa didn't even remember her. At the end of the day there were only four left: The Hound and his brother, Ser Jaime Lannister and Ser Loras Tyrell.

Ser Loras Tyrell, who was called the Knight of Flowers, was the most handsome man she had ever seen. He had a green armor adorned with golden flowers, and the white steed he rode wore a blanket of white and red roses. Every time he got a win, he threw a white rose at one of the ladies in the crowd.

When he finished his last joust of the day, he took a red rose from his steed, and approached Sansa. A red rose, the others have been given a white one. When he stopped in front of her, she believed that her heart was going to come out of her chest.

"How is your brother, Ser Loras? I hope he's already better of his leg" Princess Arianne said. Sansa turned and saw that she had an evil smile drawn on her face.

Ser Loras looked at her with a frown and his face turned red with anger. He threw the rose to the ground before Sansa could catch it and the horse trampled over it when Sir Loras walked away from the stands. Sansa looked at the trampled rose and imagined how wonderful it would have been that day if the evil Arianne Martell wasn't there.

When night fell and the crowd began to tire, the king decreed that the last jousts would take place the next day, after the archery tourney. The crowd dispersed and the court headed to the large tents for that night's banquet.

Sansa sighed relieved when she saw the places assigned to her and septa Mordane, to the left of the raised stand where the king, queen and most important guests were. Princess Arianne and her husband were right on the opposite side, so she had nothing to worry about. Suddenly, Prince Joffrey sat next to her. She hadn't spoken to him since what happened in the Trident. At first, Sansa believed she hated him, but she realized that the one she really hated was the queen and Arya, it was because of her that Lady had died. She couldn't hate Joffrey, let alone that night, he was too attractive with his dark doublet with embroidered golden lion heads. Sansa shuddered, fearful that Joffrey would despise her and tell her something unpleasant as Princess Arianne had done that very afternoon.

However, Joffrey smiled and kissed her hand, like the princes of the songs.

"Ser Loras cannot recognize true beauty, my lady. If he could, he would have given you that red rose without hesitation."

"It's not his fault. He was going to, but your aunt said some hurtful words to him" Sansa said, recalling what happened.

"My aunt is like that. My father says it's because she's got Dornish blood, the blood of traitors. But as far as I know, she's going to be leaving for Dorne in a few days, so you won't have to worry about her anymore" the smiling prince said. "When I'm king, I won't allow her or any of her family to be called princes anymore. That title should be reserved to our children, don't you think so?"

Sansa was greatly pleased to hear that news. Joffrey will make all my problems disappear: Princess Arianne, Arya... Later, she would not remember the rest of the evening, for she had been blown away by the luxury and splendor of dinner, enthralled by the wonders she had dreamed of since she was a child. Sansa spent the night talking to Joffrey, who was the vivid image of courtesy. He filled her with compliments, made her laugh and told her all the court gossips. Meanwhile, the various dinner dishes were served. There were so many that, when they arrived at dessert, Sansa could not eat more than a couple of the lemon cupcakes that she loved so much.

As the hours passed, King Robert had been raising his voice. Sometimes, he laughed loudly and roared orders above the music. At the time, he had a young lady sitting on his knees. The young woman, blonde and with skin as white as milk laughed every time the king whispered something in her ear or put some cupcake in her mouth. Next to him, the queen rose from the table, picked up her skirts and left the banquet, followed by half a dozen servants and her brother Jaime, who was still in the golden armor he had worn in the jousts.

Soon after, the king did the same, carrying in his arms the young lady he was hanging out with moments before as he stumbled across the way. The rest of those present looked confused without knowing whether they should stay or should retire as the king and queen had done. Lord Renly, Lord Stannis and many others gradually retired. Within a few moments, half the banks had been left empty. Sansa was startled when Joffrey put a hand on her arm.

"It's getting late" he said with a gloomy face. "Do you need company to return to the castle?"

"You don't have to" said a grave voice behind her back. Sansa turned and saw her father, with a serious expression on his face. "I'll take care of accompanying my daughter back to her rooms."

Joffrey retired without even saying goodbye.

Thanks for reading everyone! I hope there are no grammar or spelling mistakes... Well, quarantine is over so I have to get back to work, so updates will take a bit longer from now on. Worry not, this story will still be updated regulary, but instead of weekly updates now I'll probably update every two weeks approximately.

Take care everyone, and thanks for your reviews, I read every last one of them, although I don't usually reply.

See you in next chapter!