Theon was led into the Great Hall still bound in chains. He could feel the judgemental glares of her father's men, and Robb stern-faced by his parent's side. Robb turned away at the sight of him, that struck Theon at the heart. Robb was a good friend, the only true friend he had and even he would have nothing to do with him.

If he were honest he knew that he deserved it. He had betrayed his best friend and brought shame onto her family.

What else could I do? He asked himself torn in two by conflicting demands on his honour and conscience. Sansa, the girl he loved and married, the only one he could see himself spending a lifetime with, the mother of his children had begged him to save her from Joffrey. In doing so, he'd ruined her family and brought the displeasure of the royal family on them.

King Robert and Queen Cersei sat on the dais, ready to pass judgement on him. He was dragged before them by the guard who were none too gentle, twisting his arms behind him so forcefully, he worried they would dislocate his shoulders.

"These are very serious charges, Greyjoy. You are accused of abduction of a high-born maid. The prince's betrothed, no less! Deceiving her into entering a fraudulent marriage with you and debauching her. How do you plead?" the king thundered glaring at him as if he had committed a dreadful treason. "You were caught in the act with Lady Stark half-naked for anyone to see!"

"Your Grace, that is not what happened!" Sansa exclaimed, unable to hold her tongue at the twisted version of events presented before the court.

"Lady Sansa, I suggest that you keep silent! You are in enough disgrace as it is!" snapped Cersei in her iciest tones.

"Now, now we must have both sides of the argument if we are to come to a just judgement." Renly interjected seeking to lighten the mood. Theon gave him a slightly grateful look. At least someone was on their side, even just a little.

"This isn't one of your legal games, Renly!" Robert rebuked his younger brother. "This is my son's betrothed and his future bride."

"Do you deny the charge?" he snapped, turning to Theon. "-That you fled in the night disguised and evaded capture?"

There was no point in lying. "No, I do not."

"What right did you have to do that? When she was so clearly betrothed to a young man who's claim was in every way superior to yours?"

Theon faced these claims with an impassive face despite their hectoring tone. He could have laughed at the statement that Joffrey had a superior claim but for once he controlled himself; the situation and Sansa's pale worried face were too serious for mirth. He wanted to go over to her and comfort her, tell her to be strong and that they could fight the world if she were by his side, but he couldn't.

"The fact of the matter is, your Grace that Sansa didn't want to marry Joffrey. She wanted me." Theon said to them all. "She asked me to take her away. I asked her to marry me and we were wed in Seagard by the laws of your faith. Deny the truth as you will. She is my wife. I love her."

It's done, Theon thought as uproar welled up in the courtroom, both parties raising their voices and talking over each other. Let them say what they will, the truth is out there now. Gods help us both if they do not accept it!

"I have made a decision regarding the Stark girl and my betrothal to her." announced Joffrey in the main hall on the second day of the trial. His eyes glinted as if he were enjoying every moment of this and having the advantage over Lord Stark and his family.

"Of course I am disappointed she saw fit to dishonour me by dallying with the Greyjoy lad. No man lest of all a king want to think of himself as cuckolded by his beloved, but I can forgive. We can start again-" he said in a voice dripping with insincerity. "- after all she claims quite vehemently that he didn't touch her, and I wouldn't like to call the lady a liar."

Sansa didn't believe a word that dripped out of that lying mouth of his. There was a vindictive glint in his green eyes that told her different. They wouldn't make her marry Joffrey, not after all that. He would never cease punishing her for her disloyalty.

"You shamed the prince, but Joffrey is willing to forgive your transgressions and accept you as his bride. All he is asking is that you take vows in the next couple of days and then we will all make sure to forget this unfortunate incident." Cersei chimed in, all fake bonhomie and smiles.

"It's a very generous offer, Sansa, and perhaps more than you deserve considering your rash actions." Her father said, reluctantly falling in with the stronger will of the Lannisters.

They were all going to pretend as if this didn't happen and sweep her shame under the carpet, as if Theon had never fastened his cloak round her shoulders and promised to protect her with his sword. She was his now. She would not be parted from him in a thousand years.

"I'm sorry, your Grace, but you know why I am reluctant to marry you." She looked at him unflinchingly, her blue eyes as cold as frost and winter as she stood up defiantly facing them. "I cannot."

"Sansa Stark! I am surprised at you." Cersei gasped. "Do you have any shame at all! You should be begging for forgiveness!"

Sansa trembled at defying the queen but her voice was firm.

"I cannot marry you, Prince Joffrey and furthermore I will not. You know why, my lord-"

"What does she mean by that? Ned, what is this?" Cat fretted.

Joffrey shrugged as if he had no idea of what she spoke of but his eyes glinted with a vindictive malice.

"What is this utter insolence! Are ye going to stand for it Lord Eddard? Your daughter could do with some months with the Silent Sisters to remind her of her place!" Cersei scowled infuriated by the chit's stubbornness and shameless refusal to fall in with their plans.

"You will marry Joffrey and we'll have no more of this nonsense." The king thundered. "Your wilfulness has caused enough trouble, lass."

Sansa trembled in the path of Robert's anger but she managed to hold her ground, chin up like a queen. "No, I absolutely categorically refuse. I can't marry him any more, your Grace. I am truly sorry but there's the truth of it."

She quailed to defy the King in one of his rages, but her voice by some miracle was steady. Theon marvelled at her bravery which would have done honour to a warrior. Robert had the hot temper of the Baratheons in full measure and many a grown man had quailed in his boots at the blast of his wrath.

"Why not?"

Because I am already wed? Because right now I am carrying Theon's child and the only heir to the Iron Isles within me. Because I love Theon with all my heart and soul and your son is a vile foul creature who tried to despoil me.

"Your Grace I am already wed. I cannot wed another even if I wanted, which I do not."

"You're lucky the offer is still on the table, lass. Don't be so swift to look a gift horse in the mouth." King Robert said grumpily.

Sansa stood her ground. "I cannot marry your son, your Grace. I am wed."

"She insists upon this foolishness!" the king's voice rose in exasperation.

"Please... Did you believe Theon when he said that?"

Robb's disbelief stung her but she stuck to her stance. "We spoke words in front of the Septon. We exchanged cloaks. I am his. I am truly sorry to have disappointed everyone. I have done wrong and neglected my duty as a maid of high birth. But it cannot be undone now."


"She seems absolutely adamant that she is married." Robert sighed as he sat with Ned. "Gods, never thought a daughter of your's would be so stubborn. She seemed like such a meek biddable girl..."

Ned was inclined to agree. This behaviour was most unlike the Sansa he knew. How well do you really know her? A small voice inside him said.

"She has no right to dispose of herself so. Does she not know who she is? She is a Stark of Winterfell and she wants to throw her self away on an Ironman? A Greyjoy? Scum of the seas, reavers and raiders." Robert was working himself up into a passion. "Damn it, Ned, perhaps we should have shown old Balon no mercy and drowned his whelp when we took Pyke. Stannis said there'd be trouble and I heeded not his words-"

Renly observed in a mild voice, watching the disagreement between the older men. "Shouting at the lass isn't going to get you results. The girl is just going to dig her heels in and refuse to budge. Lady Sansa believes herself to be head over heels in love-"

"She's a maid of ten and six she barely knows her own mind, Renly-" scoffed Robert. "How long can she resist for?"

The younger man shrugged as if he respectfully begged to differ. "She hasn't changed her story no matter what we've said. She swears that they are wed in the sight of the Gods, she will not relinquish him."

"You're right, brother." Robert grudgingly admitted that his younger brother was speaking some sense. Maybe honey rather vinegar might catch more flies- who knew?

"We have to get someone to talk to her; someone who can persuade her to do her duty and forget this rash and reckless match." Ned said.

"How about if I try?" Renly suggested with a diffident little shrug. "I don't promise anything but a civilised talk, finding a little common ground might help matters..."

"You think you can get through to her, Lord Renly? Succeed where we have failed?" Ned asked.

Robert seemed to come round to the idea, the scowl disappearing from his face. "Renly's good at charming people and persuading them. Perhaps if the lass won't listen to us, she'll listen to him."

"You must speak to her, get her to see sense. What a to-do. I have no idea why the lass is so set on not having Joffrey. Doesn't she realise that she would be Queen if she marries him?" Robert fretted, before Renly could get a chance to speak with the lass.

Renly suspected that there was more to this situation than first met the eye. Something must have happened.

No one refused the singular honour of becoming a future queen without a good reason. His nephew was a wicked horrible boy, he'd seen that at close range ever since he was a child. That incident with the cat had stayed with him for a long time; even Robert had been disgusted and appalled by his son's budding cruelty. So many incidents brushed over and hushed up... Perhaps he'd done something to the girl, to make her change her mind about the betrothal and throw her into the arms of the tall dark and dashing Theon Greyjoy.

He wasn't blind, he could see that Theon was attractive; in fact with his own proclivities he was -shall we say- rather too qualified to see exactly what she would see in a handsome man even if he was personally spoken for.

If she was already fond of him, it would be all too easy for it to happen.

Renly had to own that he had a certain amount of sympathy for the Stark girlCould he really blame her for not wanting to marry Joffrey? If she had feelings for the Greyjoy lad currently languishing in Ned's dungeons for his temerity in absconding with his eldest daughter then she would be very hard to persuade.

Why Robert seemed to think that he would be the one to be able to perform miracles he had no idea.


"No one will listen. I've tried to tell them the truth, but it's like they refuse to hear. We were married by a septon in Seagard. We lived as man and wife, humble but happy, and he loves me, I know he does." Sansa pleaded with Lord Renly trying to win him over to their side.

They walked in the glass gardens giving them some opportunity to speak relatively privately although Septa Mordane stood guard at the entrance keeping watch over them, taking no chances since Sansa's disgrace.

"Sansa, you must understand people find it hard to believe you. Why would you risk so much?" he urged her.

"I had no choice, ser."

"No choice but to run away and disappoint your family?"

She raised her chin in defiance. "Is that why they sent you here? Because I am a stupid little girl who doesn't know her own mind?" She asked.

He was disconcerted by her self-possession, her utter faith in Theon. "You are a girl of high-born family, engaged to a prince of the realm no less, you cannot dispose of yourself so!" he urged.

"And it would be a sin to break my vows now! My lord I am not doing out of mere stubbornness. I really can't marry Joffrey, I just can't." she pleaded.

Renly stopped, watching her intently. "Why are you so adamant you will not have him? What did Joffrey do to you?"

She flinched and Renly knew that he was right on target. That little pustule! He thought savagely. I knew he would have been up to something. If only Robert had bothered to delve deeper into what was going on instead of passing judgement.

"He did do something didn't he? That's why you're so determined you will never submit to the will of your elders."

She looked up at the young strikingly handsome lord. He seemed friendly and almost reasonable. Could she trust him with her explosive truth? She hadn't even dared tell her parents yet!

"There is a reason, isn't there?"

"I...My lord-" she hesitated for a moment wavering in her decision to trust caught between her impulse to unburden herself and her caution.

"You can trust me, Lady Sansa." he took her hands in his and looked her earnestly in the eyes. "Confide in me...Why can you not accept Joffrey? Why are you so determined to stay with Theon?"

She decided to take the plunge. She was going to have to reveal the truth soon. How much longer could she hide her condition?

Despite her lacing, the curve of her belly was starting to show and it would only get more obvious as the days and weeks passed.

"I'm pregnant, Lord Renly. Theon and I-" the words spilled out of her mouth, as if it were a relief to utter them. "- we're going to have a child."

"What!" his mouth fell open in shock but he didn't turn away in disgust at her disgraceful secret. She fancied she spotted more than a little compassion in his blue eyes.

"Please tell me you are joking, Lady Sansa? Gods, you've done it now, haven't you?" he shook his head. "You poor foolish girl-"

"I do not jape. Not about this. Theon is my husband and I am carrying his child." she reaffirmed.

"Gods, what a mess." Renly couldn't help but feel pity for the girl.

"I did no wrong. When it happened we were wed and I am his wife. Don't you see, Lord Renly? I can't abandon him now."

"You are absolutely determined to stay with Theon, aren't you?"

"Do you blame me?"

He looked at this girl, steadfast and proud in the face of overwhelming odds that would have cowed a lesser girl and slowly shook his head.

"Is there any hope for Theon and I?" she asked. "Do you think Father will bend? The king will change his mind and break the contract with Joffrey?"

He sighed. He couldn't believe he was about to do this, Robert and Cersei would be seething when they found out but it was the right thing to do. "If the Greyjoys can be contacted and they will accept you and Theon as a couple then maybe the family could open re-negotiations with yours."

"That is, if Joffrey is prepared to let you go." He added hastily seeing her face light up for the first time since the couple returned to Winterfell in disgrace.

"We would need proof of this septon that you said married the both of you. It's all highly irregular but if there was proof-"

"I can get you proof. If you could send a letter for me, ser."

"You know I can't do that." he said, shaking his head sorrowfully.

"Ser, Please!" her beautiful blue eyes welled up and her shoulders started to shake. Renly patted her back delicately, awkwardly trying to comfort the weeping maid.

"I have no one to turn to but you. No one will listen. I couldn't be with Joffrey; I'd rather be dead than be his. Please. I'm trying so hard to be strong, but-"

Renly pitied the couple if he were honest and if any one understood hopeless love, it was he. How many lies had he been forced to tell to stay with his Loras despite the odds?

He leant close, his voice low so Septa Mordane could not hear. "I promise you nothing."

She stared at him with startled blue eyes, scarcely daring to hope. "My Lord?" she stammered.

"My page Mathis will go to Seagard in the morning. You say you were wed-"

"In a sept by the docks, The windows were broken-" She whispered back. "Near the Trout and Boots-"

He nodded. "Mathis is a resourceful lad. He can find what you seek."

Jeyne slipped the key into the palm. It lay cold and iron in the palm of her hand tempting her to go and see her beloved.

"Your father would probably have my head if he ever found out I lifted the spare key from the turnkey. But you said you were desperate to see Theon one more time..."

Sansa was touched by her best friend's loyalty. Jeyne had taken a great risk to give this to her so she could see her beloved and she would not forget it.

"Thank you!" she said, her eyes shining with the start of unshed tears she blinked trying to disperse them. "You are the best friend anyone could ever have!"

She headed towards the brig cloaked in one of Jeyne's old cloaks. If she were caught out of her room and especially heading towards the prisoner in the brig the consequences didn't even bear thinking about.

She slid the key into the lock, praying it would work and she wouldn't get caught..

"Theon?" she whispered.

He was awake at once. "What are you doing here? It's too dangerous."

She flew to his side covering his unshaven face with kisses.

He wanted to wrap her in his arms, she must be cold in only her nightgown in the unheated cell.

"I had to see you. Oh Theon, Joffrey is still determined to marry me, and father will not relent. They all refuse to listen to reason. I tried to tell them-"

"About us?"

"If they knew the truth then they wouldn't try to marry me off any more. They would know that I am yours, body and soul."

There was a part of him that still revelled in her words and the strength of her love for him which was unbroken despite all their travails, and a very practical part that knew that Lord Eddard would be furious with him for marrying his eldest daughter his treasure without his consent.

"I promised to be yours and that still holds true no matter what happens."

"Through Storm and Spring." her fingers interlinked with his as a symbol of their love which remained unbroken. "My love, I have something to tell you..."

"What, dearheart? Why did you risk everything to come here in secret?"

She put her hand on belly and Theon knew. A part of him was exhilarated that they had a child, an heir for his line, a part of him and her growing and living within her, the other realised that things had got a lot more complicated and dangerous.

Oh gods, if Lord Stark finds out I've got his daughter with child...

They'll send her to the Silent Sisters or make her drink tansy. Lord Stark and the king will never forgive our transgression.

"You're having my child?"

She nodded, looking apprehensive. "You aren't angry, are you?"

"Angry? Of course not!" he cupped her face in his free hand and kissed her deeply, silently expressing all the love he could not tell her any more day by day.

Oh sweetling, inside I am the happiest of men, that we made an heir for the Isles. A babe of our own, yours and mine but now we're in terrible danger. I need you to be braver than ever. Can you do that?"

"Yes, I can. I promise you. I-" she hesitated wondering how to tell him of what she knew and what she'd said to Lord Renly. "I spoke to Lord Renly. He might help us-"

"Why?" Theon asked. "What would be in it for him?"

She nudged him earnestly. "He sympathises with us. He understands and he dislikes Joffrey as we do. He can help us find the septon."

Theon had trouble following her logic for the moment. "I'm sorry...what?"

"The septon! The septon who married us. If we can prove we are wed then we could negotiate with your family. We could stay together!"

It was a fragile hope but it was all they had right now. He held her close, trying not to get his hopes up but failing. Gods, if only it could work!

"Sansa, dearheart, you have to go soon. I don't want for your father's guards to catch you here." he warned her before the guards returned and caught them together.

She pressed her mouth to his once more in a desperate kiss. "I don't want to leave you, Theon. I need you."

Theon sighed, his fingertips trailing over her lips and jaw tenderly. "I know."


Jeyne was on Raven duty that day so she untied the messages from the birds that had arrived that morning and sorted then according to the recipient.

Three for Lady Catelyn, Five for Lord Ned, a rose scented one from the Reach for Lord Renly, and one sealed with the great red wax seal of the Lannisters.

Jeyne was sorely tempted to read the contents of the Lannister's scroll. She would have to be careful; if she was caught she would be in a whole lot of trouble. It was scarcely worth thinking about. But she had to risk it, for Sansa's sake.

Before she could over think it, she slid the knife underneath the seal and prised off the message carefully.

Jeyne's eyes widened as she read the message enclosed. Things were becoming more complex by the moment. Lord Tywin wrote of making sure that the Starks were as indebted to the Lannisters as the royal family. Of using Lady Sansa and her position as the prince's bride to persuade them to take on loans at an extortionate rate, that Lord Eddard would never have a chance of being able to repay.

Like it or not, she was involved now. At least she knew and now Sansa would know exactly why the Lannisters were so keen to ally themselves with their family and pressing for the wedding.

Ned

Ned heard a knock at his door as he sat in his private office. He was up late burning the tallow candles low, still worrying about the ramifications of his daughter's unlikely rebellion and his ward's disloyalty.

How was he going to handle this? With Robert and Cersei still keen on the match with the Prince and the scandal that would result if what happened became common knowledge, he was in a real bind and the situation threatened to get a whole lot worse. He pushed back the heavy dark hair from his face, groaning under his breath as he did so.

God preserve me from headstrong daughters and wards who overreach themselves!

"May I come in, my Lord?" a timid female voice said from the door.

Ned sighed. "Of course, child. Come in. What can I do for you?"

The maid looked round nervously. She wrung her hands, fretting about her daring in coming to see the lord. "My lord, I have something to admit to you. In confidence."

In confidence? What was this?

Ned had enough sense to encourage her to talk. She looked as she had screwed up all her courage to talk to him and he'd prided himself all his life on being a fair and approachable lord. "Of course. Anything you tell me will be in confidence. Please come in and sit down-"

She took a deep breath, preparing herself to admit the truth. She settled in her seat, her feet swinging far off the ground. "Lord Eddard, I know what happened between your daughter and Theon Greyjoy. I know why she refuses Joffrey." She clutched the packet of cloth in her hands as if it were a lifeline.

Ned blinked. This was the last thing he was expecting to hear- from the mouth of a child no less!

"Tell me everything. From the beginning." he said gravely.

"On their last visit, when his Grace proposed the match between Lady Sansa and the prince. ..." she stopped as if not sure how to say what she must. she started again, aware of Lord Eddard's frown.

"Prince Joffrey... it's terrible to admit it but he is not a good person. Lady Sansa was willing to do her duty but after he accosted her, she could not-"

"Accosted her?" Damn her, he wished she would speak plain!

"He was determined to have her, encouraged by his mother."

"When you say 'have her' what do you mean?" he asked sharply. He did not like the sound of this. Not one bit. If Joffrey has done something...

Venna bit her lip, shooting an anxious look at the door as if she still feared being discovered. "I know Lady Sansa didn't want you told, but enough damage has been done. You have to understand why you can't allow his Grace to marry her, not now."

"Did she put you up to this? Tell me true." Ned asked, eyes narrowed in suspicion.

Venna looked up at him with terrified eyes. "Lady Sansa doesn't know I'm here. Pray the Gods she never finds out. She wouldn't like me talking of this-"

"Please speak plain, 'tis important!"

"Joffrey tried to force her before the betrothal and Theon found out. There was a fight-" she squeaked in fright as if terrified that Joffrey would catch her talking of things she ought never to have witnessed. "I saw him dragging her towards the stables and I...well I followed them. I'm sorry, I meant no harm m'lord I swear it!"

"A fight, Venna?" Ned tried hard not to focus on the horror of Joffrey forcing himself on his daughter. "What else did you see?"

"He struck her. She tried to get away. I couldn't move. I was so scared he'd see me-" she stifled a scared sob.

Ned had trouble coming to terms with all this. "When did this happen?" he asked.

"Do you remember when the prince was all bruised and beaten and he wouldn't say who had waylaid him?"

Ned remembered all too well. He'd had his suspicions but Joffrey had refused to admit who'd beaten him up, claiming that he'd fallen down a flight of stairs. Yet, how would he have got a black eyes and no bruises on his lower body and legs if that was the case?

Ned was shocked. He dreaded to think what would happen if Theon had attempted to strike the prince. But then what if he only done it to defend his daughter?

"What proof do you have of all this, child?"

Lady Sansa wanted this destroyed , but I kept it m'lord. She doesn't know. She swore m'lord Greyjoy to secrecy, begged him to take 'er away before you all forced her to wed the prince."

Ned didn't know what to say. "Let me see, Venna-"

Venna opened the package on her lap. Ned recognised one of Sansa's dresses, a madder red wool dress he hadn't seen her wear in a few months. He had thought to ask her what had happened to it when he noticed the long rip in the bodice. The dress was completely spoiled. Ned knew the truth in a blinding terrible flash. It was the truth, Venna has told him the truth!

Venna flushed, terrified of how her master would react. "There was a letter. Umm, they said it was from the prince-"

"I'll take that." Ned took the letter as well, scanning it and getting more and more angry at the truth admitted in it. He couldn't deny it to himself. It was all there, in pen and ink in the prince's own hand.

He attacked her...Joffrey was determined to have her...

I know why she refuses Joffrey...

Ned felt sick at the thought of what his girl had undergone. He even started to think a little better of Theon for stepping in and avenging Sansa's honour.

"Venna, you were very brave to come and tell me this. You did the right thing." he told the scared maid as gently as he could.

"I did?" she gazed up at her master with big dark eyes.

"Yes." Ned sighed. Now things had got a lot more complex. He knew about Joffrey and what had gone on behind his back, what was he going to tell Cat and the king? How would he handle this new trial? "You can go back to your duties now."

Venna bobbed a curtsey and scurried away before he could change his mind.

"What shall I do? I should have listened to her. She tried to tell me but I didn't want to hear it. How could Joffrey have done this?" Ned fretted as he talked to Cat that night. He'd had to tell her, though he worried how she would take the news that Joffrey had attacked their daughter.

The spoiled venal little brat! Every time Ned thought about Joffrey laying hands on his daughter a cold shot of rage went through him. He's lucky that he's a crown prince, or I would have his head for what he dared. And for him to piously stand there and say to everyone that he would accept her despite her sins. How dare he act the hypocrite!

"She told no one of this. Why did she feel that she couldn't confide in her own family?" Ned fretted.

Cat looked up at her husband, her face stricken. "She didn't trust us to help her. She turned to Theon instead. No wonder he was able to seduce her into running away with him."

The knowledge sat heavy with both of them. How well did they they know their darling daughter? What could have made her throw away everything to be with that young man, despite the consequences?

"Perhaps she really does love him. They always been fond of each other, although Septa Mordane and I tried hard to discourage it. I thought we'd cured her of such notions-"

"I know you tried Cat, I hold you blameless in all this." Ned tried to reassure his wife.

"We have the Boltons challenging our authority at every turn. We simply cannot afford to forfeit the royal goodwill."

"Cat we may be faced with a choice which destroys our daughter's hope of happiness. If I don't obey the King and abide by his judgement." Ned didn't even have to utter the rest of the sentence. The implication was already there.

"Gods, give us strength to do what we must." Cat laid her hand on her husband's arm seeking to comfort him.

Sansa was dreading having to reveal her condition to her parents. They already didn't believe that Theon married her. What would they say once they found out that she was carrying his baby? It had to be done, she could put it off no longer. The curve of her belly was close to betraying her condition to the world. There would be no hiding it in a week or two.

"Father, Mother I went to see Maester Luwin-" she started. This had to be the hardest thing she had ever done. Mother would be so ashamed and disappointed in her. She wasn't sure how her father would react but his wrath while rarely directed at her was fearsome.

"Why you're not ill, are you?" Ned met Catelyn's eyes and the pieces all fell into place. They knew exactly what had happened to their wayward daughter.

"Oh Gods, tell me it's not true- you didn't. He didn't-"

Sansa didn't know what to say. She lowered her head wishing and hoping for some sort of forgiveness though she knew she didn't really deserve it. "I'm sorry." She could feel the tears start to well up. "I'm so sorry for everything-"

"Seven Hells, how could things get any worse?-" Ned went pale."You're with child?" Even as he voiced his disbelief, he could hear the landlord's statements...Swiving twice, sometimes thrice a night. If she was anything like as fruitful as Cat he shouldn't not have been surprised at all.

Cat pleaded with her daughter unable to come to terms with the disaster she had just presented to them. "No Sansa, please tell me you are mistaken; you didn't let him debauch you?"

She bit her lip guiltily bowing her head.

"How many months?" Ned questioned, trying to establish facts.

"I-I don't know for certain, maybe two-"

Cat gritted her teeth, furious at Theon. "I am going to string that lad up by his heels and hang him off the castle walls!"

"No please Mother, Father...we were wed when we- I know what we did was wrong to marry without your permission, but-"

"He stole you from us and treated you like one of his doxies. Sansa, you could have been a queen if you'd just accepted Joffrey. How could you throw that all away?"

"She couldn't have accepted Joffrey, and that's an end to it." Ned said firmly.

Cat tried to be practical in the face of this disaster, she shot Ned a questioning glance but he refused to budge. "Well, it's a couple of months...Septa Mordane will prepare some tansy and everything will be back to normal."

Sansa set her chin, stung to defiance. She'd fight to the death for her child. Their child. she told herself with new determination. "I'm sorry but I'm not drinking tansy."

"I cannot tell you how sorry I am, your Graces. This whole situation has not turned out well-" Ned started. He'd never been more humiliated in his life, but he had to do this, he had no choice.

"What do you want, Ned?"

Ned drew himself up, ready to plead for his family's well-being. He had to at least try. "I would ask that the agreement between our families be terminated. We tear up the contract. If you require a penalty Cat and I would pay it. We know that this entire situation is our fault."

It was humiliating but Ned had to shoulder his share of the blame.

Cersei smirked at Robert's side enjoying Ned's discomfort. "Yes, we do require a penalty." she gave him an icy look, which told Ned there would be little hope of mercy from Robert, not with her causing trouble next to him.

"Your daughter broke her vow to Joffrey. She ran off with your ward. She claims she married him- how can she have disposed of herself so recklessly? Rutted with him so shamelessly?"

"Our son still wants her, you know." Robrt added, not making the situation any better.

Ned knew he would have to admit that Sansa was with child or the situation would get even worse. Robert and Cersei were going to be furious when they found out. What a mess! -

Ned resolved to get King Robert alone and have a private talk to him, hoping he could persuade him for the sake of their long friendship to dissolve the contract without any further dire consequences.

Surely things have gone too far? We cannot marry Joffrey and Sansa, not nowNed asked himself.

Maybe, just maybe we can salvage the situation, if the king is prepared to be reasonable.

Robert shuffled awkwardly, reluctant to refuse his best and oldest friend. "No can do, Ned. My Queen utterly insists on it. Says that the prince will have no other but her. He'll have her even now, disgraced or not."

Robert noticed Ned's stony face. "What Ned? I would have thought you'd be pleased!"

Ned said nothing not believing Robert's wilful blindness.

"Of course she's hurt her own cause here by sleeping with the Greyjoy lad. That was not very clever on her part for sure. She doesn't know how lucky she is."

Ned silently resented that remark, this coming from the man proud of his ability to 'make the Eight', a man who hadn't been faithful to his queen for one day of his marriage and probably for all his protestations of love would have cheated on Lyanna as soon as breathing.

"This isn't about ambition, this is about the happiness of my daughter." he at last gritted out coldly.

"And your family name, don't forget that."

"Cersei is pressing to have you sued for breach of promise. She won't rest until you pay a fine for the broken engagement."

"We'll pay if that's what needed." Ned said stiffly.

"She seeks to beggar you, I hope you realise that Ned-" Robert shook his head. "The only thing that will pay for this insult to our house is gold or blood.

Ned groaned. This was what he had been trying to avoid. It was starting to seem as if this royal betrothal was nothing but a curse. He wished he hadn't accepted Joffrey and his father's proposal which had caused nothing but trouble.. All this wouldn't have happened had I accepted Theon's attempt to court her.