The doors of the throne room opened with a creek, symbolizing Sansa's arrival.
There were plenty of people in attendance of court today, and each and every one turned to look at Sansa. They talk had quieted when she entered, but then whispers had begun.
All stared at Sansa as the descended into the belly of the room, and people parted to let her pass, their eyes glued to her every move.
Based on their actions, Sansa could guess they knew about her father. And they were all here to witness the verdict.
Sansa was arriving just as the last townsperson presented Joffrey with their grievance.
Sansa froze as a complete, all encompassing fear took over her entire body, rooting it in place. Fear for her sister, who she never got along with, and didn't know if she was dead or alive.
Her mother, the woman who had comforted Sansa always, and had listened without complain to her childish prattle.
Her brothers, Robb, the crippled, loveable Bran, and baby Rickon, a boy so young he probably didn't understand why his family was all gone away.
For Septa Mordane, a woman who cared for Sansa always, instructed her and sometimes acted as surrogate mother, regardless of how cruelly and brazenly Sansa treated her.
But Sansa's greatest fear was for her father. Eddard Stark was a proud man, powerful. Sansa couldn't believe that he had done the things the Queen claimed, but she knew that unless she convinced Joffrey to spare her father, Lord Eddard Stark of Winterfell would die.
Sansa breathed deeply and stepped forward, all eyes were on her.
Both Joffrey and the queen smiled at her, Sansa took strength from their approval.
But the Grand Maester Pycelle began to speak. Sansa paused to listen, unsure of what he would say.
"In place of the traitor Eddard Stark.."
Sansa frowned at the announcement of her father's crime.
"It is the wish of his Grace that Tywin Lannister, Lord of Casterly Rock, and Warden of the West, be appointed Hand of the King.
Sansa's face fell entirely. Her father's position was gone; there was little hope in Sansa's mind for his redeeming.
But the maester wasn't done.
"Lastly, in these times of treason, and turmoil, it is the view of the council that the life and safety of King Joffrey be of paramount importance."
The queen rose, and addressed Ser Barristan Selmy, the head of the King's Guard.
Sansa couldn't believe it; the queen was dismissing Ser Selmy, believing him too old to properly protect her son! Sansa watched the old man crumble, for he had boldly protected kings his entire life.
As Ser Selmy snapped off his white cloak of the King's Guard, Sansa watched the fabric ripple to the floor. Sansa would remember the fall of that pristine, white cloth, as the fall of her happiness, and her girlish dreams.
The noble knight stood his ground even as Varys the Spider disrespected him, and Littlefinger mocked him.
Ser Selmy cast his sword as Joffrey's feet, commanding him to melt it down and add it to the extensive Iron Throne, before storing from the room.
"If any man in this hall has other matters to set before His Grace, let his speak now, or go firth unto silence."
Sansa looked up to the queen, who stared back at her, blank faced, and unmoving.
"Your Grace," Sansa spoke, her eyes sliding from mother to son.
Joffrey stared into her eyes. "Come forward my lady."
Sansa moved from her position on the fringes of the crowd to the center of the room, directly in front of Joffrey, and his intimidating King's Guard. Sansa couldn't help notice the hole left by Ser Barristan Selmy, and she doubted the Kingslayer would be able to fill it.
"Lady Sansa, of House Stark," the foreman announced her to the assembled crowd.
The Queen spoke to her with a smile.
"Do you have some business for the King and council, Sansa?" The queen questioned. Sansa wondered what the older woman was doing, she had known, and almost instructed Sansa to speak on her father's behalf.
Sansa swallowed her throat dry from anticipation. "I do," Sansa spoke, going down on her knees.
The queen looked almost surprised.
Sansa looked up at Joffrey from her new vantage point, gathering her meager courage to speak.
"If it please Your Grace, I ask mercy for my father," Sansa spoke the words she had been practicing in her mind all day. She did what Septa Mordane told her, she remembered her courtesy, for it was a lady's armor.
Sansa was proud, for her voice didn't shake as much as she expected it too. She battled down her fear before continuing.
"Lord Eddard Stark, who is Hand of the King," Maester Pycelle was quick to interrupt.
"Treason is a noxious weed!" He proclaimed. Sansa's head whipped in his direction, fearing his next words, but knowing what was to come.
"Which should be torn out! We-" Sansa flinched inwardly at his proclamation.
Joffrey spoke before she could.
"Let her speak." Joffrey had interrupted his council member for her; Sansa felt her fear drain away. Her Joffrey would listen to her. Her Joffrey would protect her. "I want to hear what she says."
Joffrey gave her the strength to continue.
"Thank you Your Grace." Sansa smiled at him, her first in days.
Littlefinger spoke before she could. "Do you deny your father's crime?"
It was a loaded question, and Sansa was suddenly afraid again.
"No, my Lords," Sansa responded. "I know he must be punished, all I ask is mercy. I know my father must regret what he did,"
Sansa was getting desperate, and Joffrey leaned forward to hear.
"He was given the milk of the poppy, he was Robert's friend and he loved him, you all know he loved him."
Sansa almost begged them to believe her, they had to, or her father would pay the price.
"He never wanted to be Hand until the King asked him. They must have lied to him. Lord Renly or Lord Stannis, or-"
She was getting increasingly frantic, and the look of Joffrey's face was not helping.
"somebody! They must have lied."
Joffrey leaned on the arm of his gilded, dangerous chair, and spoke.
"He said I wasn't the king." Joffrey's demeanor adopted and almost childlike appearance at his words, like he was slighted by a bully.
Joffrey asked her a question she couldn't possible know. "Why would he say that?"
Sansa was so upset; she didn't know what to do, so she just answered with what she knew.
"He was badly hurt, Maester Pycelle had given him the milk of the poppy, he wasn't himself, otherwise he never would have said it. "
Joffrey looked from the Maester to Sansa; a small hope began to flower in her chest.
Varys looked at her patronizingly. "A child's faith," he proclaimed, "such sweet innocence."
"And yet they say wisdom oft comes from the mouths of babes." Sansa kept her eyes trained on Joffrey, hoping something on his face would give away her father's fate.
Maester Pycelle spoke again.
"Treason is treason!" the old man said definitively.
Joffrey chimed in, "Anything else?"
Sansa was desperate again. She said the only thing she felt could persuade Joffrey her way.
"Of you still have any affection in your heart for me, please, to me this kindness Your Grace." Joffrey leaned back into his chair; an expression of annoyance mixed with indecision clouded his fair features.
Cersei looked apprehensive, also not sure what her son would decide.
Joffrey eyes strayed down to the floor, deep in thought, before popping up suddenly, and training on her face. His mouth proclaiming her father's fate.
"Your sweet words have moved me."
Sansa's heart leapt in her chest, she knew her beloved would listen to her.
"But your father has to confess," Sansa's hope fell slightly, its petals blown by the strong wind of Joffrey's decision.
"He has to confess, and say that I am the King." Joffrey spoke with passion and permanence.
"Or there will be no mercy for him." Sansa remained on the floor, pausing, and knowing full well that if her father didn't confess, it could be her head as well.
"He will," Sansa promised solemnly.
…...
Once again, let the dramatic music play! I figured it appropriate to end the chapter where the episode ended, and may I just say, this being my first chapter fic, I never fully appreciated how difficult it is for authors to copy word for word what is spoken in a show or movie, because I'm sure I looked ridiculous pausing the TV every 2 seconds to type what was said, and trust me, it was a pain. I have midterms coming up so please don't hate me for taking a bit until my next update. I hope you guys enjoyed this chapter, and as always, any feedback is appreciated!
