~Elena~
I should have killed him. Who would miss an Imp?. The thoughts licked at my mind like poison as I followed Sansa through the gardens, listening to her stories of past winters. She'd taken to telling me more about Winterfell and snow. Normally, I enjoyed her stories, recounting the tales long into the night, but today, my mind was on revenge. Revenge for making me feel helpless and afraid. He will rue the day he did this to me. I thought angrily as I pictured all the ways I could make him pay. During our stroll, a maid came bearing the message that King Joffery wanted to see Sansa in the throne room. Her lips trembled as she wrung her hands nervously.
"He can't possibly want anything good." She whispered as I followed behind her back into the castle, mind split between worry for the Stark girl and hatred for the Imp.
"It will be alright my lady. Perhaps he only wishes to discuss wedding details." I reasoned as we approached the doors leading to the throne room.
"Ah, Sansa, my betrothed! Come here!" Joffery called uproariously as we entered the throne room. I was instantly put on guard as I noticed the attention of all the King's Guards on us and the crossbow clasped firmly in Joffery's hands. She made a soft distressed noise in the back of her throat, before she approached the king. I wanted to call out to her, but I figured that would cause more trouble than its worth.
"My king." She spoke in greeting once she was standing before him, head bowed. I stopped myself from moving as he lifted the bow and pointed it at her as if he meant to put an arrow between her eyes.
"You're here to answer for your brother's latest treason." Joffery announced with a sneer as he closed one eye and took aim. Tears leaked from Sansa's eyes as she collapsed before him.
"Your grace, what my traitor brother has done, I had no part, you know that, I beg of you please-"
"Sir Lancel, tell her of this outrage." Joffery spat, cutting off her plea for mercy. A growl built low in my chest as I clenched my dress tightly, while a rather feminine looking boy stepped from the gathering of nobles.
"Using some vile sorcery, your brother fell on Stafford Lannister with an army of wolves. Thousands of good men were butchered. After the slaughter, the northmen feasted on the flesh of the slain." I scoffed at the very idea. The ridiculousness of such tales ought to have been wasted on those of higher intellect, but it seemed Joffery took great pleasure in the violent story, his bow still aimed at Sansa who looked around for someone to help her, though all that were present turned their noses up at her. What a horrible place this is. Are all these people monsters?
"Killing you would send a message to your brother, but mother insist on keeping you alive. Stand." He ordered as he put away his bow, a small smirk pulling at his lips. She stood slowly, a whimper falling from her lips as tears of hatred burned in my eyes. How could someone treat another like this? Someone as kind as Sansa Stark.
"So, we'll have to send your brother a message some other way." My internal alarms were ringing painfully loud as I watched the scene with wide eyes, unable to move or scream at all those who watched.
"Meryn." Joffery called as a pompous looking man with dark hair and shining gold armor stepped forward, a nasty smile plastered on his face as he made his way towards the trembling girl.
"Leave her face, I like her pretty." Joffery chuckled as he settled in his throne as if he were about to watch some great show. A cry of outrage fell from my lips as the gold knight grabbed Sansa's shoulder and punched her in the gut, a cry of pain whooshing past her lips as she doubled over, tears streaming down her face. Someone help her! I screamed inwardly as I looked at the crowd of nobles who merely watched as the gold knight removed his sword and smacked her with it, knocking her to the ground.
"Sir Meryn, I believe the lady is over dressed. Unburden her." Joffery laughed as he stood, his smile growing wider. No! I cried as he ripped her dress, the shreds being held into place only by her hands as she cried harder.
"If you want Robb Stark to hear us, we're going to have to speak louder!" He shouted as the knight raised his sword high in the air.
"Stop this! What is wrong with you?" I screamed as I rushed to put myself before the gold knight who sneered nastily at me.
"Who do you think you are whore?" Joffery spat as he shook his fist at me.
"Please, you'll only get yourself into trouble." Sansa pleaded as she grabbed ahold on the back of my dress.
"You would do these unspeakable things to someone you are supposed to marry? Look at her? She begs for mercy and you have your goon beat her?" I barked as I shot an accusing look at the gold knight who dared stepped forward. I will kill him if he does, damn the consequences. I decided as I to took a step forward.
"I am the king!" Joffery shouted, his face growing red with his tantrum.
"You are a child playing at king. A real king does not have an innocent girl beaten." I growled, voice cold and hostile as my hand inched towards the knife strapped to my thigh.
"Sir Meryn." Joffery snapped before lightning struck my cheek and spots danced before my eyes. I swayed on my feet, but did not fall. I refused to fall.
"Again." Joffery ordered, I dodged the next swipe, trying hard not to let my blood lust run wild, as I danced around the knight, head still singing with the last hit as I tried to get my vision to focus. He growled in outrage before swinging his sword, catching my arm and snapping my arm link. The gold clanging against the floor as I hissed in pain.
"I'll kill you, you stupid whore." He spat as he stepped forward as if he meant to swing again.
"What is the meaning of this?" A voice, familiar in tone, called out. The gold knight dropped his sword to his side as I turned, losing my footing and falling to the ground next to a hysterical Sansa who grasped me tightly, one hand firmly holding onto the remains of her dress.
"It's Lord Tyrion Lannister." Sansa whispered in my ear as my vision swam and the pain in my arm grew worse. I could hear two sets of boots clomping against the stone floor quickly, but I was not focused on them.
"I have.. To get you.. Out of here." I wheezed as I felt blood trickle from my nose and bile rise in my throat. How hard did he hit me? I mused inwardly as I tried to find something to focus on.
"What kind of knight beats helpless girls?" His voice was cold with barely concealed hatred as my eyes found something to focus on. I should have been angry with him, after what he'd done, but I found my heart held to much hatred for Joffery and his gold knight to hate anyone else.
"The kind that serves his king, Imp." The gold knight spat as Tyrion came to stand before us.
"Careful now, you don't want to get blood all over your pretty white cloak." This voice was new, and whoever it belonged to did nothing to hide his sarcasm. I made a note to ask about him as soon as we were out of here.
"Are you alright my lady? Is she?" Tyrion asked as he knelt before us, a hiss of pain leaking from my lips when he caressed my swollen cheek.
"She protected me. They could have killed her." Sansa whispered as I tried to focus on which one of the Tyrion's before me was the real one. I settled for the one in the middle.
"She needs a cloak... She shouldn't be exposed like this." I panted as I tried my best to continue to shield her half dressed body.
"Someone get her something to cover herself with." Tyrion called out, though from what my blurred vision was telling me, no noble moved. I could make out the sound of metal clinking before a hulking figure bent and put his white cloak around Sansa who pulled it around herself gratefully.
"She's to be your queen. Have you no regard for her honor?" Tyrion chastised as he approached the throne, feverish anger leaking over his words.
"I was punishing her." Joffery protested, his voice taking on the whine of a small child being told not to stomp on bugs anymore.
"For what crime?" Tyrion asked outraged. "She does not fight her brother's battles you half wit."
"You can't talk to me like that. The king can do as he likes."
"Spoken like a true child." I whispered as my stomach churned unpleasantly. Sansa shushed me as she cradled my head, no doubt noticing that I was swaying dangerously. I closed my eyes as I listened to her thumping heart, focusing on not spewing as she smoothed down my hair.
"The mad king did as he liked, has your Uncle Jamie ever told you what happened to him?" What is he doing? I thought past the pain as I tried to push myself away and stand. To tell him to stop before something happened to him, but Sansa held me firmly.
"No one threatens his grace in the presence of the king's guard." The voice of the golden knight growled as the clinking of boots signaled he'd stepped forward.
"I am not threatening the king sir, I am educating my nephew." Tyrion spoke, his voice slathered in no nonsense. "Bronn, the next time Sir Meryn speaks, kill him. That was a threat. See the difference?" Then there were softer boots against the floor coming towards us. I struck out blindly, my hand caught by a familiar smaller hand, fingers rubbing small reassuring circles.
"It's only me, my lady." Tyrion voice was soothing, though I knew it should have invoked rage.
"Get her out of here. I can stand on my own." I croaked as I stood, my legs betraying me so that I collapsed back onto the stone.
"Bronn." Tyrion called before strong arms scooped me from the floor.
"Sansa." I cried out softly, not knowing why I sought reassurance that she was there.
"I'm here." She spoke up, taking my hand as I closed my eyes against the spinning world.
"I'm going to be sick I think." I warned as the swinging of the stranger's arms made my stomach perform acrobatics.
"Not on the armor love." The voice, Bronn, chuckled as doors opened and we left the room.
"Tell me what happened Lady Stark." Tyrion voice before the world began to fade.
"She stepped up for me and-" Then there only blissful nothingness.