Chapter 4

After spending a week in a ship with Prince Rhaegar, she still can't believe that he was alive and was the one tasked to retrieve her from the Tyrells. At first, she had been afraid of him. She had faced a lot of horrors in King's Landing thanks to the joint participation of Joffrey, his mother and the Kingsguard that she learned not to trust royalty.

Prince Rhaegar though was the same man as he was described in the songs. There was no denying that he was handsome (his otherworldly beauty was a common trait in Targaryens) and he was also kind, gallant and understanding to her. She even learned that he had to give up his own chambers in the ship to accommodate her and choose to sleep with the crew or sometimes he would lie down on the deck of the vessel and spend his time staring at the stars before drifting to sleep.

She tried to coax him into taking the rooms pointing out that she could just share with the ship's cook and wife but the Prince rejected her offer saying that he even sleeps at the ruins of Summerhall with nothing but his sleeping furs to separate him from the ground. It surprised her and realizing that she can't do anything to persuade her, she stopped but there are times however that she worried he might get sick sleeping on the deck for the weather during night was cold.

Her wolf, Lady, seemed to have taken a liking on the Prince. It amused Sansa when she first saw her wolf nudging at the Prince side almost asking him to ruffle her furs and Sansa saw how Lady would whimper in delight once the Prince touches her. Lady had always been a gentle wolf but like her siblings' wolves, Lady was keen to company and doesn't normally trust a person she just met and it amuses Sansa how her wolf which was almost a size of a pony acts like a pup around Prince Rhaegar.

He was a nice company too, during the past days, he had briefed her on what to expect when she arrives in Dorne. He also assured her that there was nothing to be worried with. Dorne wasn't King's Landing, the Prince also stated that she is a guest there and she will be free to do whatever she wants and will be treated as a woman of her station. When he noticed her tense up and saw the fear in her eyes, he calmed her by telling her that she won't be treated unkindly there. Abuse was prohibited in Dorne and raising a hand against women is a serious offense and can result to a grievous punishment.

His words of reassurance calmed some of the storm brewing inside her. She can't help but fear what could happen to her there. She certainly doesn't have knowledge of Dornish people because she didn't expect that she would one day take a step on the Dornish sand. All she knew about the place was their spices, the Dornish wine, blood oranges; the abundant supply of lemons (this thought excited her and she blurted to Rhaegar that she was looking forward to eat lemon cakes and the man rewarded her with a hearty laugh and told her that there is an overflowing stock of lemon cakes in Dorne) and of course their rules about paramours and bastards.

As she stared at the mass of land a few leagues away from the vessel they were in, her grip on the ship's railings and she can't help but remember the first time they arrived in King's Landing. She was very excited and all she ever wanted to do was to roam around the capitol, see the famous places there and meet a lot of people.

Now that she was again in an unfamiliar and new land, she wondered if she would be enjoying it here. Dorne was much different than King's Landing and the North. It was the hottest place in Westeros and people and customs here are slightly different compared to the rest of the realm.

"The captain informed me that we will arrive before sundown, it is best that you rest, Princess. We shall have a long ride ahead of us once we dock." Prince Rhaegar said as he stood beside her.

Her cheeks burned as once again he had addressed her as a Princess. She had continuously told him that she wasn't one and that her brother was a traitor and a usurper, a king pretender but the Prince insisted that as the North crowned Robb, King, it only means that she was now a Princess.

She nodded in response to his words.

"Are we going to Sunspear?" She asked curiously and the Prince shook his head, his silver hair slightly moving with the action.

"Unfortunately no, Princess, we shall not be visiting Sunspear soon. We shall go directly to Vulture's Roost. The Martells still can't risk anyone knowing that the two of us are here especially that the Princess Myrcella is currently residing in the Water Gardens." He answered as his hand reached down to touch Lady standing in between the two of them.

Travelling via ship made her uneasy and sick. It was her first time to ride such vessel and the first few days were hell for her. There was no time that she won't retch and she was very much embarrassed facing the Prince and the other crew but the cook had reassured her that she wasn't the only person in the world who hasn't vomited in sea travels. On the fourth day, she became used with the swaying of the ship's body and sometimes the violent racking brought by the waves during a windy day. She somehow envied her wolf, Lady didn't even showed any signs of discomfort, instead it acted normal and at home in the ship.

Sansa's brows furrowed. She certainly hasn't heard of a place called Vulture's Roost in Dorne. Maester Luwin always commended her memorization skills especially when it comes to the different houses and castles in Westeros but she hasn't heard of this place before. Where was he taking her?

"Vulture's Roost?" She asked sceptically.

He must have seen the look on her face that he smiled softly at her, she looked for signs of malice, of deception but there were none, and his smile was rather a comforting one as if to promise her that there will be no harm done.

He hummed in response and nodded, "Aye, it's a manor owned by the Martells. It's located in depths of the Red Mountains. It's the safest place for prying eyes…" He said in his gentle voice and then sighed, "It was my asylum for years."

Great, she thought, she was going to be held in the same place that served as prison to Prince Rhaegar. Her mind started forming images of the place she's going to call haven and she pictured a tall dark, abandoned and scary castle. She cringed at the thought and it didn't escape the Prince who chuckled as he saw her dark expression.

She frowned at him, disappointed that he saw her discomfort as an amusement. She crossed her arm against her chest and raised her brow at him, waited for him to stop laughing.

"It's not like what you imagined it to be, Princess. Vulture's Roost is not a dark and scary place as its name suggests. It looks like a normal castle but it has been abandoned for a time only renovated when I was taken prisoner." He explained as if he could read her mind. "And need I remind you that you aren't a hostage here? You are a guest in Dorne, Sansa Stark; we only need to hide to avoid the Lannisters knowing that the both of us are here."

She nodded, still a little bit doubtful of his words.

"Don't worry, you shan't be lonely there. Prince Doran's daughter, Princess Arianne is very eager to meet you along with Oberyn's daughters. They shall be joining us soon and I hope you'll find them a good company."

The Sand Snakes, her mind registered as the Prince mentioned of Oberyn Martell's daughters. She had little knowledge of the Red Viper's girls but she knew that the four oldest of the famed Snakes are as infamous and deadly as their Father.

As much as she dreaded and was nervous to meet them, Sansa missed female companionship. Margaery and Shae were the only friends she had in King's Landing. Her best friend and bed maid, Jeyne Poole had been missing since her Father was taken into prisoner and she had no idea where her old friend was. She had included the girl in her prayers and again she blamed herself again.

If it weren't for her and her selfishness, Jeyne wouldn't have been lost. Her Father wouldn't have been dead, Septa Mordane too. Stupid, stupid girl, too trusting and naïve, her mind repeated.

She was busy chastising herself that she didn't notice the alarm on Prince Rhaegar as he saw her crying.

"What is it Princess Sansa? Did I say something wrong?" He said in a worried tone.

She shook her head and moved to wipe her cheeks free of tears and berated herself silently. She had months practicing how to hide her emotions from other people and hold a neutral face, yet she broke down in front of Rhaegar Targaryen! How embarrassing! The Prince will now think that she was a cry-baby like Arya called her once when her sister teasingly tugged her hair and she cried for Mother.

"No, I was just… I… I… My friend… My Father…" were all the words she can say. Her eyes gave out again.

She was scared, scared of what the Martells and the Prince has in hand for her. Scared that they might treat her like the Lannisters, scared that they might hurt her and that she won't see her mother and her brother again.

She wanted her Father so much. She wanted to see his solemn face that would often lit up when he sees her. She wanted to hear his calm voice that often soothes the fear inside of her, to lock herself in his strong arms where she would always feel safe. She wanted her Father but it was because of her that he was dead.

She wondered what Mother and Robb will think if they'll learn that everything was her fault. That if she didn't blurted her Father's plan of escape they won't be in this predicament. Yet all she thought about was her desire to be Joffrey's Queen. A childish desire that was ruined when he showed his true colors and killed her Father when she lowered herself, kneeled in front of him and begged him mercy. Will they send her away because of what she's done?

Lady whined in between of them, her furry hair nuzzling on her sides and she reached out to grip on her wolf. Lady was the only thing that gives her strength aside from her mother and brother.

"It was my fault. I killed him. I killed my Father. I told Cersei of his plans to escape. I told her because I wanted to be Joffrey's Queen… I killed him… I'm stupid…" She cried as she broke down.

Her body trembled as she sobbed. She would have collapsed on the floor of the ship if not for the strong arms that encircled around her. The next thing that she knew was she was already enclosed in an embrace.

Her mind screamed for her to pull back, to retreat and ran back to her quarters but she can't. She was too weak. All she wanted was for someone to hug her and to keep her safe. She was done acting like she was strong but it was all a lie, her courtesies were her walls and protection but she was already tired of it, tired pretending that she was only a mere puppet of the show, tired of following orders of everyone around her and tired of acting like she was someone else.

She wanted to feel love and comfort, feelings she haven't felt for so long as she became a prisoner of the crown.

She felt the Prince's large hand caress her auburn locks. He was whispering soothing words in her ears and it calmed her. She knew it was eerie to find comfort from him but she found that she didn't care. The Prince's arms seemed strong and as perfect as her Father's. She sniffed and inhaled his manly scent.

His smell wasn't Princely at all. His was a mixture of cinnamon, spices and sweat due to the warm weather. She wasn't disgusted with it though. She just continued resting her head on his shoulder like it was made for her.

The solace his hug gave her was nothing like her Father. It didn't feel Fatherly at all. There was something else in there, something that causes her heart to flutter.

She didn't mind it though, for now the only thing that matters was she feels safe. Safe in the arms of Rhaegar Targaryen, the Prince of Westeros and the last dragon.