"I would ask you to refrain from comparing me with Ned."

"I do not compare you. You asked if I regretted that you were not more . . . and this was your word . . . diverting. I merely said you have a more serious nature like my lord father. I have learned to respect that nature in you and in my memory of him."

"What you are saying is that we are both dull. In this, I actually have the better of him at least."

"Stannis, you seem intent on creating an argument. It was so at supper. Have I done something that offends you . . . recently?"

"I . . . no . . . no, you have not. Go to sleep."

"I will not until I discover the root of this mood you are in. I may make you angry in persisting, but persist I will, so you might as well tell me."

"You are right. I am agitated and taking it out on you. It is nothing."

"Can you not tell me the source of the agitation?"

"Something Ser Axell said in the Small Counsel. It is of no importance."

"You are not one for dancing, My Love, but if you insist, I'll continue this dance with you until you tell me."

"Why do you call me 'My Love'?"

"You are changing the subject."

"No, I am not. You claim often to be content in this marriage and even allude to having a . . . singular affection for me. I do not ask it of you, so why go to such lengths?"

"I see. Something Ser Axell said challenged your belief in the sincerity of my regard. What did he say exactly?"

"He said you were using your charm as a scheme to obtain funds from the treasury to rebuild Winterfell. I released him from the Small Counsel and have banished him from King's Landing this day. You have refused my personal funds so I know he is in error in this particular instance."

"Yet you wonder if I am not scheming for some other reason?"

"No . . . I do not believe you are scheming for a purpose other than your own delusion. I think you delude yourself into seeing me as something I am not."

"I allude and delude . . . you see me as a very stupid little girl, do you not?"

"I did not say that."

"Then you are saying I do not know my own mind or my own heart. I did not love you the day we were married, this is true. I respected you on that day and later that night, I realized the start of an attachment to you. One child, one seeing you off to battle, several months of fearing for you, feeling my heart break as I was told you were dead, the joy of knowing you were not, nights of giving each other comfort, and nights like this where we've talked ourselves to sleep and the feelings that stem from all assure me that I am, indeed, in love with you. I do not say it to you as your natural inclination is to receive such words with a scoff."

"Therein lay the real question. How can you feel thus for a man who . . . who cannot even say the words back to you?"

"Oh Stannis! You may not say the words, but you tell me know constantly. Look at what you did this day? Ser Axell insults me and you banish him, which you must take back if he has not yet left. I have little liking for him, but he does bring out a side of things you need to see and judge for yourself. Find some other penance he will agree to do, but do not take it this far."

"He cannot talk thus of the queen of the realm, of my queen. I would not have allowed it if he had been talking of Selyse either."

"I realize that as well. But after you censured him, you would not have given a second thought to what he said because you would not have dwelt on it."

"How is it that you know this?"

"Am I incorrect?"

"No."

"You study your maps; I study you. And do not forget you told me you loved me the day Steffon was born."

"I did not say the words."

"You asked me if I 'knew' and when I said I did, you were perfectly aware of what I thought I 'knew' . . . as you wanted me to be."

"I do not lavish you with gifts as Davos does Lady Marya."

"You are not impractical by giving me gifts a queen already has plenty of, such as jewels. Do you think I do not know that the fresh flowers maintained in Shireen's and my apartments are by your command?"

"I did not know you knew that. I specifically said you were not to be told. I suppose you will not tell me who did not obey that part of the command?"

"I was not told. I guessed as much and you just confirmed it."

"You have so little expectation of a husband that flowers are a declaration. That would not be the case if you had not spent the time you did with the Lannisters."

"We both know it is more than flowers and I will gladly elaborate more if you require, but you are right in that my betrothal to Joffrey removed my girlish notions of what a husband should be. I know more than most how cruelty can be done with a smile and polite words. You are always kind, but usually with no words and a scowl. That alone does not prove to me your regard, but if nothing else, the fact that you care so very much whether my regard is genuine does prove it."

"I suppose it does."

"We have had this conversation before and I fear we will have it again. Be very careful, Stannis. Should I become too worried that you do not have faith in my love for you, I will have to resort to speaking of it constantly to remind you."

"You mock me."

"A little . . . but now you are agitated because you are being teased instead of wondering whether you have given your love to someone who does not return it. I quite prefer the former."

"Sleep well, Sansa."

"Goodnight, My Love."