Sansa felt herself gently rousing from slumber, becoming conscious of lips in her hair and a strong hand squeezing her waist. She moved her head slightly and groaned.

"Jaime, it is the middle of the night!"

"I am afraid not, sweet wife. All too soon your handmaidens will arrive to make you look even more beautiful than you do already and I shall take my leave to prepare to win the tourney."

Sansa reluctantly opened her eyes, the light shining through the small gaps in the window shutters confirming that Jaime spoke the truth. She sighed and moved herself so she was fully atop him.

"How long do we have?"

Jaime raise his brows.

"Not long enough for that, Lady Lannister! Besides, abstinence is said to improve the performance of knights."

"Then you have little chance of success, my love."

She grinned at his surprised laughter. In recent weeks, Sansa had felt almost as if she was a newly wed once more. Baby Tyrion had begun to wake in the night with increasing frequency and Sansa had found it impossible to continue to nurse him and carry out her duties. A wet nurse had been engaged and the boy now spent his nights in the nursery. Although she missed having her babe close by, Sansa could not deny that she was benefitting from her sleep being less broken. This was especially true in the last few days as the Rock had begun to fill up with visiting nobles in anticipation of the tourney. Another benefit of more restful nights was that she and her husband had more time and energy to spend on each other.

Jaime pulled her into a kiss, moving his hands to her buttocks and pressing her against himself.

"You will regret those words this evening, my lady. I will win you that crown and you had best prepare yourself for a ravishing."

"If it please my lord."

They grinned at each other, the desire between them palpable. Jaime raised a brow and sighed.

"Oh what the hells, best I give the others a fighting chance at least."

Sansa had barely time to take in the meaning of his words before he captured her lips in a searing kiss. Jaime flipped her onto the bed and ran his hand up her leg, deftly removing her small clothes. She shuddered as his fingers made their way straight to her core.

"Gods, woman, how you desire me."

"Yes, yes I do."

It was a struggle to get the words out, Jaime had one hand between her legs and the other caressing her breast. Sansa felt herself throbbing with anticipation and desire and desperately wanted Jaime inside her. She moved her own hand to his long, straight member and pulled it towards her. Her husband quickly adjusted himself and soon they were joined. She gripped his blond hair and pushed his head to the crook of her neck, revelling in the feel of his lips and teeth against her skin. The coupling was frantic and urgent and they came together in an ecstatic frenzy. As they caught their breath Sansa smiled at her husband.

"I hope I have not impeded your performance too much, my love."

"I think not, the memory of this morning will be fresh in my mind when I see you at the tourney field and I have no doubt it will spur me on."

Sansa flushed, imaging the looks her husband would give her before the large crowd. She was surprised to realise that it was expectation rather than shyness which drew colour to her cheeks. She gave Jaime a brief further kiss before rising from her bed, pulling on a robe and calling a handmaiden to prepare a bath.

The morning was bright and clear. There was a paleness to the sunshine and a chill to the sea breeze which spoke of the coming winter and as Sansa sat in the Godswood she wondered if the ramparts of Winterfell had received their first dusting of the season's snow. Once she was washed and dressed, Sansa had made her way to the great hall to ensure that any guests who were breakfasting had been provided with sufficient victuals. She had also sought out the steward and other household staff and ascertained that all was in hand for the feast which would take place that night. Having seen to her duties and spent a little time with her son, the young woman had decided to seek some sanctuary from the hustle and bustle in the one place she was certain would be deserted. However, Sansa's solitude did not last for long. She had barely been in the Godswood for ten minutes when she heard the crunch of footsteps behind her and turned to face Brienne of Tarth. It seemed the warrior maiden took her duties as a sworn shield extremely seriously and all too often Sansa felt as if she had acquired a second shadow in the tall blonde. Brienne bowed slightly.

"I was not aware that you worshipped the Old Gods, my lady."

"My siblings and I were brought up with two faiths; my father followed the Old Gods and my mother the Seven. Truth be told, I never felt particularly close to my father's gods, I come here for this."

Sansa motioned to the older woman to follow and walked towards the wolf statue.

"Jaime had this made for me, so I could grieve for my family and remember them."

"How noble of him."

Sansa looked at her sworn shield's grim face and sighed.

"Brienne, I know how things appeared to you when you first arrived but you must see now that I am happy here."

"You were forced to marry him."

"Yes. Yes I was, my family abandoned me in King's Landing and I did what I had to do."

"You have your mother's courage, Lady Sansa."

Sansa placed a hand on the large woman's shoulder, trying to convince her of her words.

"Thank you for saying that, Brienne but I am not simply enduring here; I am happy. I love Jaime and he loves me. Yes, there are those of house Lannister who were cruel to me but Jaime is not one of them, he and his brother are true family to me."

Brienne looked incredulous.

"My lady, you cannot believe the Imp to be a man of honour, your mother believed he-"

"I know what she believed. Tyrion stood trial before the gods and was exonerated."

Sansa looked at the blonde woman's confounded face and could not help but feel some satisfaction. Brienne was far too attached to knightly codes of honour to try and dispute the outcome of a trial by combat, however much she may believe that outcome to be wrong. When Brienne had arrived, Sansa's initial shock had given way to joy. Joy in knowing that her sister had survived for so long and in having a companion with whom she could talk freely and warmly of her mother and family. Her joy had been tempered with a resurgence in her feelings of self reproach for loving a Lannister; made all the keener by the very real possibility that Arya was making her way to Jon at the Wall. Sansa cringed at the thought of them reading the letter Tywin had bade her send her brother. As the days went on it became clearer and clearer that the two women did not hold the same views of all those Sansa cared about. Brienne could barely conceal her contempt for Jaime and it seemed her opinion of Tyrion was little better. Sansa had received a beautiful gift from the little Lannister and his wife the week previously; some ornately carved wooden animal figures for Ty, when she had shown them to her sworn shield and mentioned her friendship with Margaery, Brienne had remained grim faced and stated that she knew Lady Margaery when she was Renly Baratheon's wife. In some ways Brienne reminded Sansa of herself as a child; seeming to see the world in a very black and white way. Sansa found that having learnt sharp lessons regarding how simplistic this was, she was not tolerant of this trait in her sworn shield. She knew that the actions of her new family had not always been honourable, but these days Sansa was aware that honour was perhaps not the best way to determine whether an action was the right one or not. Sansa knew Brienne still addressed Jaime as 'kingslayer' when the two were alone, without any awareness of true reason behind Jaime's actions. The maid of Tarth may be more straightforward than the scheming courters of King's Landing, but that did not make her any easier to bear at times. Sanse turned away from the older woman and spoke:

"You may leave me now Brienne, Go and ready yourself for the tourney."

"As I said before, I do not intend to compete, my place is by your side my lady."

Sansa smirked to herself, what did Brienne believe could happen to her in a pavilion in full view of half the nobility of Westeros? But she did not wish to prolong their conversation.

"As you wish. Be outside my chambers in an hour."

The sun was high in the sky when Sansa seated herself in the raised pavilion, listening to the excited chatter of the girls' around her and the more sedate tones of Ser Kevan and Lady Dorna. Myrelle and Cerenna were seated beside her accompanied by Alysane Lefford and Desmera Redwyne. Brienne stood behind the group, her eyes rarely straying from Sansa.

The first pair to joust were Daven Lannister and Dickon Tarly. Sansa and the ladies with her watched in amusement as the heir to Horn Hill gallantly approached Cerenna and asked for her favour. Sansa had seen the pair in conversation several times over the past few days and from the secret smiles they both gave each other is would seem there were tender feelings on both sides. They would make a good match. Perhaps old Lord Tarly will have to soften his opinions towards Lannisters. She reflected sardonically. Cerenna's delight was short lived as her brother won the bought, unhorsing his opponent. Alysane Lefford smirked at the other girl's dismay.

"Fear not, Cerenna, I am sure you will find some way to console your dear Dickon."

Sansa did not hear Cerenna's response. Jaime was on the field and riding towards her. He was resplendent in his lion emblazoned armour, he was yet to don his helm, and his golden hair glinted in the sunlight, his eyes firmly upon hers. Sansa had wondered if in these moments she would feel foolish; he was no storybook knight anymore than she was a maiden princess. She was a married woman with a son of her own, who should surely have long ago put childish things aside. Yet somehow knowing that made her delight in the moment all the keener. What she felt for Jaime was no childish infatuation; rather the true love of a woman grown, there was passion between them and pain and both had earned this moment in the sun. He fixed her with a charming smile.

"May I beg a favour, for luck, my lady?"

She tied her handkerchief to his proffered lance tip, he gave her a long, devilish glance and headed to his squire to don his helmet.

Jaime won the bout with ease and Sansa was on her feet immediately leading the calls of

"Casterly Rock!" amongst the Lannisters and not caring whether Brienne of Tarth was glaring at her back. Jaime reigned his steed towards her and presented her with a single winter rose.

"The first of many, my lady, of that you can be sure."

Sansa met his lips in a kiss, applause sounding in her ears as she did so. Blushing slightly at having displayed her affection so publicly, she sat down as Jaime's cousin Daven once again took the field. While Myrelle cheered her brother enthusiastically, Cerenna was pointedly silent, Sansa nudged the blonde girl.

"Older brothers have a habit of spoiling one's fun, I always found."

Quieter and more sensitive than her sister, Cerenna's scowl fell at Sansa's words.

"I am sorry Sansa! You must think me foolish to be angry at my brother, when you still mourn yours."

Sansa smiled in reassurance.

"Not at all Cerenna, I miss all three of my brothers but I remember them fondly. And I know I would have been very unhappy if any or them had unhorsed a sweetheart of mine!"

The redhead happened to look up as she made the remark and caught Brienne's eye, the look on the woman's face took Sansa aback with its intensity. Mother, maiden and crone, does she truly expect me never to mention my family except in the throws of grief? Sansa felt anger rise within her, this woman had come to the Rock expressing her intention to protect Sansa, instead it seemed she wanted nothing but to judge her. Sansa's frustration distracted her from several other bouts and it was not until her husband tilted once more, again claiming a victory and again presenting her with a blue rose that she was able to turn her attention to events on the tourney ground. Sansa felt rising elation as again and again, Jaime defeated his opponents. Although the tourney was well attended, with knights from the Reach and the Crownlands present, most of the watching crowd were from the Westerlands and the success of the heir to Casterly Rock was extremely well received. Sansa's ears were ringing with cheers by the time Jaime faced his final opponent. This joust lasted longer and the pair were very well matched. Sansa held her breath as the second, third and forth pass gave no result. The fifth time the pair tilted, she noticed her husband seeming to approach with his sword held at an odd angle. There was a swift volley of sword and lance and before she could determine how it had happened, Jaime's opponent was unhorsed and her husband had emerged the victor. The approval of the crowd may have been deafening but Sansa could not hear it. All her awareness was taken up with Jaime riding towards her, a crown of blue roses on his lance tip. The words of the bard who had visited Winterfell all those years ago came back to her once more: life is a song and yours is just beginning. But unlike so often in the past, they did not feel like a cruel taunt. In fact in that moment as the man she loved crowned her and swiftly picked her up and placed her on his horse, to the vocal delight of all around them, Sansa felt as if she had made peace with that gentle, naive little girl. It may not have been as simple as I thought, but I was right believe that I deserved to love and be happy.

Later that evening they presided over a feast as joyous as the wedding which had taken place so many months earlier. Jaime asked her to join him in starting the dancing and grinned at her mischievously as the melody of Girl From the North Country began to play.

"I hope you recall that this was the first song we ever danced to together, my queen."

"Indeed I do, in the Tyrells' solar back in King's Landing."

Jaime met her gaze and sighed.

"I had thought that I could at least give you one part of the wedding of your dreams. I forgot the reality of our situation."

Sansa looked up at Jaime and smiled tenderly.

"I may not have had the wedding of my dreams, but I do have the marriage of my dreams. "

He beamed down at her and she lost herself in his eyes. The song came to an end and they parted as was customary. For the second time that day Sansa inadvertently caught the baleful gaze of Brienne of Tarth. She decided enough was enough. She may respect the woman for her loyalty to Lady Catelyn and her devotion to duty but that did not mean Sansa was going to allow the lady knight to spend her days judging the happiness Sansa had made for herself. Leaving Jaime with a smile, she made her way to where the blonde woman stood.

"Brienne, please come with me for a moment."

The two women departed the banquet hall and Sansa led her sworn shield to a small room. When they were both inside she confronted her.

"Brienne, can you not be happy for myself and Jaime?"

"I am loyal to you always, my lady."

"That I do not doubt, however, I am growing tired of your constant disapproval. Surely you realised that by coming here and pledging yourself to me you would be resigning yourself to a life amongst the Lannisters? I am a Lannister Brienne, I have a Lannister husband and a Lannister son."

Sansa had chosen her words deliberately and was not surprised to see Brienne flinch.

"Lady Sansa, were it not for the fact I know you to be as devoted to your child as your own mother was, I would take you to safety the first chance I had."

"'Take me to safety'?! Tell me, where exactly do you think is safe for the daughter of Ned Stark? I can assure you King's Landing was not, but then my brothers' did not fair so well in Winterfell, perhaps you think we should ask the Freys if they will let me enter my mother's old home at Riverrun?"

"There is your Aunt in the Vale."

"My Aunt, who I have never laid eyes upon. She could have raised the Vale on my brother's behalf and if she had he may still be alive today."

"Lady Lysa had to tread carefully, the Lannisters poisoned her husband and she feared for her son."

Sansa frowned.

"Jon Arryn died of old age."

Brienne' s faced turned puce, consternation plain upon it. Then she grabbed the younger woman's arm and spoke urgently.

"That was a lie put about to protect the Lannisters. Lady Lysa knew her husband had been poisoned, she wrote to your mother telling her so, that was why your father decided to accept King Robert's offer of the handship. Your mother found out the dagger that was meant for your brother was the Imp's because Lord Baelish told her; it had belonged to Lord Baelish but he lost it in a bet he made with the Imp on Joffrey's nameday. My lady, I know you believe the Lannisters have been kind to you but it is all part of their schemes, not one of them can be trusted."

Sansa stared at the lady knight, bewildered.

"How do you know all this?"

Brienne seemed to come to her senses and looked down.

"Your mother told me."

"No she didn't. You are a terrible liar. Either you tell me truth or I will call for my husband's guards right now and tell them you have accused him of murdering Jon Arryn."

"Lady Sansa, please."

"Brienne, you swore an oath to me, now tell me truly how you know all this."

Sansa knew she had the other woman then. Brienne looked anguished but she spoke:

"I know this because your Aunt told me herself. I spent a sennight at the Eyrie before I came here."

"And what was your business at the Eyrie?"

This time Brienne's sapphire eye's locked on Sansa's.

"I felt it was the safest place for your brother."

Sansa felt as if the room around her was spinning. When she spoke her voice sounded very far away.

"You mean my sister?"

She struggled to rationalise what she was being told. She must have lied about Arya, to hide her whereabouts from Jaime, surely she means Arya. Brienne's face softened but her honest gaze never left Sansa's

"No, my lady, what I told you of Arya is quite true. After I lost her in the Vale, I decided to take passage north, thinking I may find her on the way to Wall. Instead I found your youngest brother. Lady Sansa, Rickon Stark is alive and well in the Eyrie."

Told you the action would pick up at Casterly Rock : )

If anyone would like a reminder of Jaime and Sansa's first ever dance, you can find it in chapter 10 of Allies, Lovers, Friends and Siblings