The Kitten's Queen
A wide smile played on Sansa's lips as she beamed at the gift before her. She reached out her fingers and allowed the small puppy to lick at them, nipping playfully. She couldn't help the laugh that escaped her and she turned to the giver, her sweet husband.
"Oh, Tommen he's adorable! I love him!" She pulled the squirming puppy into her arms and bent to press a kiss to her husband's cheek. It wouldn't be too long until he was of a height with her. He was growing so fast these days. She remembered the day in the sept when she had been required to kneel so that the little boy could tie the black and gold cloak around her shoulders. She had been so relieved that it had been little Tommen she had been sworn to and not his dangerous older brother.
When she had been brought to King's Landing all those years ago, she had come with stars in her eyes. Joffrey had seemed like the perfect prince-golden, gallant, and heir to the iron throne. She had been dreaming of the day she could become his queen. But slowly she began to notice certain things about her betrothed that worried her. He was less gallant than she originally thought. She had witnessed him being cruel to his siblings and she had tried to brush it off. She fought with Arya all the time, perhaps she just didn't understand the dynamic within the royal family. But then he had tried to hurt Arya while she was training with her squire friend. And then the day in the sept when he had insistently touched her even though she had asked him to stop. They had been all alone and she had been so very afraid. When she had finally forcefully pushed his hands away from her chest, he had struck her across the face. He had stormed out after, leaving her in tears.
She had not slept for weeks after, dreading being married to him. Then the unthinkable had occurred. The prince had been out on a hunting trip and had been gored by a stag he had been chasing. He died in the kingswood. The capital had been in mourning for a few weeks, the queen even longer, but in the end King Robert and Sansa's father had decreed that it would serve the realm best if the new heir, Tommen, stepped in and took Joffrey's place in their betrothal. Although the queen was furious and had not spoken to her kindly since that day, Sansa couldn't help but be relieved when she heard the news. Tommen was gentle and sweet-nothing like his brother.
Now they were 2 years into their marriage and Sansa couldn't be happier. Granted, it was a hollow marriage. The match would not be consummated until Tommen grew to manhood but as she ruffled his sandy blonde hair, she couldn't help but think that would be very soon. He was already so different from when they had been pledged to each other.
The boy had obviously been overshadowed by his demanding brother. Without Joffrey hanging over him, Tommen had flourished. He had spent more time with his father, learning how to hunt and spar. He had sat in with Lord Tywin on multiple occasions, listening to the old lion teach him about the way of the world. And he had a wonderful relationship with Sansa's own father. The only issue was the Lannister queen. She seemed hell bent on making Sansa as miserable as possible.
But as she tucked the puppy under one arm and looped the other through Tommen's, she knew Cersei would never succeed. When they took the throne together once Robert's time was passed, the golden woman wouldn't matter.