Notes:
To prevent confusions. The prologue of the story takes place in the year 287 while "Jon I" begins in the year 300, shortly before Robert arrives at Winterfell but after the direwolves are found.
Likewise, "Sansa I" takes place during the royal family's banquet at Winterfell.
SANSA I
Prince Joffrey embodied every expectation of a prince: tall, handsome, and chivalrous. Despite being younger than Robb, he towered over him. He had little resemblance to his corpulent father; every aspect of him suggested a lion, one who would marry her and make her queen of the Seven Kingdoms. A lion who would love her as the songs proclaimed.
But what excited her most was that her family would soon travel to King's Landing, as her lord father had been named Hand of the King. This position would make him the second most powerful man in the realm, after the king. It was the greatest honor a noble could receive, along with the opportunity for his daughter to become queen, a privilege that House Stark would also gain.
"I still can't believe we're going to be separated," Jeyne said sadly.
Sansa was also saddened by the prospect of losing her best friend. However, as a future queen, she could not cry in public. And while they were at the royal banquet, she had to maintain her composure. Furthermore, Jeyne was now married, so their separation was inevitable.
"It was bound to happen, Jeyne," Sansa responded with a friendly smile. "You were going to Queenscrown anyway."
At her comment, the other girls giggled. Jeyne was the second of them to marry and therefore the second to lay with a man. Although Septa Mordane had forbidden such discussions, mischievousness inevitably emerged in the form of small comments.
"Lord Jon seems to be getting along well with the King," Tania Forrester, one of her ladies-in-waiting, added.
Tania was correct. Jon, her half-brother, was joking around with the King, along with Robb and Gaston Poole. They couldn't hear their conversation from their table, but it was evident that they were enjoying themselves. Sansa found it difficult to believe that a man of his caliber was king while Ser Jaime Lannister seemed relegated to a mere guard, despite wearing the white cloak of the Kingsguard.
"Although Jeyne is right," intervened Beth Cassel, another friend and Gaston Poole's wife, Jeyne's elder brother. "We'll miss you. Winterfell won't be the same without you."
"I appreciate your kindness, ladies," Sansa said gratefully.
"It's a shame you can't accompany us to King's Landing, Beth," Lyra Mormont lamented.
At first, Sansa thought Lyra wouldn't be interested in traveling to King's Landing with Tania Forrester, Alys Karstark, Wylla Manderly, and herself. Among all her ladies-in-waiting, she was the least interested in southern courtesies. Nevertheless, her loyalty to House Stark was unbreakable, and she would follow Sansa throughout all of the Seven Kingdoms.
Alys, on the other hand, appeared fearful, as ever since the engagement between Robb and Princess Myrcella became public, she feared that her father would not allow her to travel south. Wylla, on the other hand, appeared unflappable, as if she wasn't interested in being involved with Robb, perhaps because her family didn't exert as much pressure on her as the Karstarks did, or perhaps because she wasn't interested in Robb.
"Robb is handsome," Sansa considered for a moment.
"My place is in Winterfell," Beth affirmed, proud to remain in the North, although Sansa knew that her interest was to stay close to her husband.
"Robb looks very happy with the princess," Alys suggested sadly, and Sansa felt sorry for her.
…
The next day, she was in the training yard watching the men train with her ladies. Lady was by her side as a faithful companion. The other direwolves, on the other hand, remained in the Godswood, as if they weren't interested in watching the fight. Sansa was proud of Lady because, unlike her brothers, Lady was obedient and sensible.
"May I pet her?" Princess Myrcella asked.
"Of course, Your Highness," Sansa replied.
"Call me Myrcella," she retorted. "We'll be sisters in a few years."
"You can pet her, Myrcella."
The princess smiled and crouched down to pet Lady, who received the affection with pleasure.
"Do you think Grey Wind will be as kind to me as she is?" the princess asked.
"Lady is the kindest of the litter, but I'm sure you'll please Grey Wind," Sansa replied.
Myrcella continued to stroke Lady, although she looked fearful as if she might suddenly attack her. Sansa considered taking offense, but she remembered that despite her politeness, her direwolf was still a wild beast to most people in the Seven Kingdoms.
"What are you doing?" Prince Joffrey asked his sister. There was haughtiness in his tone, very different from the gallant tone he used with her.
"I'm petting her, she's harmless."
"It seems like you're petting her with fear," he sneered.
Sansa didn't say anything. Although there was some truth in the Prince's words, she didn't like the attitude he was taking. She simply watched as her betrothed squatted down to pet Lady. Unfortunately, he didn't pet her gently but was rough and crude. Joffrey had truly angered Lady, so Sansa wasn't surprised when she defended herself and bite him.
The Prince shouted, and silence took hold of the training yard. His father, the king, and the queen soon arrived. Sansa pretended to be dismayed, although a part of her was smiling.
"What's going on?" the king asked.
"That beast attacked me," Joffrey replied.
"You were rough with her," Myrcella rebuked him.
"Shut up, girl," the queen demanded. "Your older brother is speaking."
"Is that true, daughter?" the king asked.
"Yes, father," Myrcella replied, despite her mother's orders. "Look, if you do it right, she's a very nice direwolf."
Myrcella knelt and started playing with Lady, much to everyone's consternation. The king watched in amazement, while his father, Lord Eddard, watched with concern.
"I think it's clear what's happening," the queen proclaimed. "This beast is trained, and Lady Sansa has ordered her to attack Joffrey."
Sansa turned to look at the queen. The woman who had seemed sweet and regal at the banquet had turned into a fierce creature. That woman was accusing her of a crime she didn't commit. That woman was attacking her without reason.
"That's not true," Sansa sobbed, letting her sadness replace her anger.
"Don't lie me," demanded the queen. "Your beast only attacked the prince, but now it behaves meekly. I don't need any more evidence." Then she turned to her husband. "My love, if you have any love for your heir, punish this beast and its owner."
Sansa did not respond. She only began to cry.
"What do you want me to do?" the king asked irritably.
"I want justice," the queen demanded. "I want the beast to be killed and Lady Sansa to be sent to the silent sisters."
When it seemed like her father was going to defend her, it was the king who responded.
"Are you insane, woman? If you bother a dog, the dog will bite you. Even the dumbest of children know this."
"They attacked your son, and you will do nothing?"
"You have heard me, it was Joffrey's fault. Now you will take him to see a maester, and we will forget about it. The word of the king."
There was only anger in the queen's eyes.
"I do not want my son to marry his murderer."
"Fine, they won't marry," the king shouted. "I'm sure he would find a way to hurt himself on the way to King's Landing."
"We will leave tomorrow," the queen said.
"No," the king replied. "You will leave tomorrow and take my incompetent heir to Casterly Rock so that your father can try to correct him. I will stay here with my other children, the ones who have common sense."
"You will not separate me from my children."
"Being close to you for so long has turned Joffrey into a fool. You will not do the same to Myrcella and Tommen. My daughter will stay in Winterfell to meet her betrothed, and I will send Tommen with the Royces."
"You said you would break the betrothal."
"I said I would break Joffrey and Sansa's betrothal, not Robb and Myrcella's. Now obey me before Joffrey faints."
The queen fell silent and left the courtyard with Joffrey, Ser Jaime, and some Lannister guards. Sansa didn't know what to think. Part of her still wanted to be queen, but seeing Joffrey mistreat Lady made her hate the prince. Still, she didn't know what fate held for her now that her betrothal was broken. Who would her cautious father betroth her to now?
Notes.
The ages of some characters had to be changed to give coherence to the story. For example, Sansa is one year older in this story, so she is 15. Here are a few family trees with the most relevant changes:
House Poole:
Lord Vayon Poole, High Steward of the North. Widowed and with descendants:
• Gaston Poole (Born in 282). Married to Beth Cassel, the same age as him.
• Jeyne Poole (Born in 285). Married to Jon Helder (Snow).
House Baratheon of King's Landing:
King Robert Baratheon, married to Cersei Lannister. Descendant:
• Joffrey Baratheon (born in 285).
• Myrcella Baratheon (Born in 286).
• Tommen Baratheon (Born in 288).
