~Elena~

I found her, staring wide eyed out the window, her hands wringing the hem of her dress as unshed tears glistened in her eyes.

"Lady Sansa." I called, raising my voice to be heard above the tolling bells. She jolted, a squeak falling past her lips before she jumped from her stool and rushed into my arms.

"It's starting." She spoke simply, hands gripping my waist tightly as I smoothed her hair.

"Yes. They are at our doorstep. Soon they will be busting down our door. I do not tell you this to frighten you, but I want you to know the dangers. You do not leave my side unless I say so. No matter what anyone tells you, understand?" I spoke as I held her at arms length. She wiped at the few stray tears on her cheeks before nodding.

"Grab your knife, hide it like I showed you. It would be unwise to be unarmed at these times." I explained before she rushed to snatch up her knife, placing it in it's sheath before buckling it to her thigh.

"Dry your tears, we have to hide with the queen tonight. I don't want her to view you as weak. She will be a caged lion, and caged animals are dangerous." I finished before I took her hand and led her down a series of hallways as drums took up rhythm close by.

"Joffery wishes me to see him off. I fear what he might do." She whispered as we passed guards and soldiers yelling orders to each other. The mixture of noise was almost deafening, and did nothing to soothe the darkness at the edge of my mind that craved violence as we entered the main hall. My heart fluttered in my chest at the site of Tyrion, dressed in battle armor, a stern look on his face as he came down to greet us.

"Lady Sansa, and um. Lena." He spoke, stumbling over my name. I cocked my head to the side, wondering at his mispronunciation, deciding it was his way of keeping me safe should people get the wrong idea.

"Elena, my lord." I corrected as he quickly looked up at Sansa once more. There was a fondness in his eyes that I hadn't noticed before, and the darkness crept ever closer. Perhaps he has developed feelings for the young girl while I was not looking. Don't be ridiculous. I scolded myself.

"Elena, right. Surely my sister has asked you to join the other highborn ladies in Maegor's Holdfast." Tyrion spoke as he turned his back on me to look at Sansa.

"She has my lord, but King Joffery sent for me to send him off." Sansa explained as I caught sight of the child king, dressed in fine gleaming armor, a smirk on his lips as he was flanked by his golden guards.

"He has been a great romantic my nephew." Tyrion commented as Joffery called for Sansa, his smile more of a sneer as he marched towards us.

"I will pray for your safe return my lord." Sansa commented as she slowly made her way towards Joffery.

"Will you?" Tyrion asked with a grin that turned my blood cold.

"Just as I pray for the king's." She finished before she rushed off to Joffery who was smiling much to widely for a person about to go to war. It was only then that Tyrion acknowledged my presence, speaking low so no one would hear him.

"Stay safe, my lady."

"And you, my lord." Sarcasm dripped from every word before I could catch it, the darkness almost blinding as I turned from him, not caring to look upon him until I could gather myself as I walked to stand just behind Sansa.

"Your king rides off to battle. You should send him off with a kiss." Joffery commented as he unsheathed his sword. It was far to shiny and light weight to be of any real use in battle. The hilt ,gold and jeweled.

"My new blade." He spoke proudly as he presented it to Sansa. "Heart Eater I've named it. Kiss it." Sansa looked at him, face carefully guarded, but she obeyed and bent to place a kiss on it.

"You will kiss it again when I return, and taste my uncle's blood." I wrinkled my nose as his cruelty, a smile touching my lips as I pictured his head on a stake, before I shook the thoughts from my mind, demanding my mind to get a hold of itself.

"Will you kill him yourself?" Sansa asked. Be careful of your words. I warned silently, knowing I would not be able to protect her from so many guards should Joffery feel the need to be away with her head.

"If Stannis is fool enough to come near me." Joffery replied haughtily looking at Sansa as if she'd lost her mind.

"So, you'll be fighting outside the gate with the vanguard?" Where are you going with this? I thought as Joffery gave her a look of disdain.

"The king doesn't discuss battle plans with stupid girls." He sneered with a roll of his eyes.

"I'm sorry your grace, you're right, I'm stupid. Of course you'll be in the vanguard. They say my brother, Rob, always goes where the fighting's the thickest, and he's only a pretender." She commented with a smirk. My eyes widened at her boldness, my mind wondering what she thought would happen should he decide to lose his temper. No one will step up for her against the King. I thought as he glared at her.

"Your brother's time will come, and you can lick his blood off Heart Eater too." Joffery finished before walking away, cold malice gleaming in his eyes as Sansa came to stand beside me.

"That was stupid, you better hope those boys never come back." I snapped as I gave her a disbelieving look.

"Joffery will come back. The worst ones always do." She announced her I took her hand.

"Come my lady. We must get you to the keep." I spoke with a resigned sigh as we hurried off, my mind to full of dark thoughts to worry about the consequences of Sansa's actions.