Picking up from the last chapter. Stannis just met Sansa and now they must talk...hmmm...enjoy!
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Talks of Home
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The silence was quite unbearable as the group sat at the long dinner table, waiting for their food to be served. Sansa watched as Petyr poured her a glass of wine and placed it in front of her, "Drink, Sansa, the sea has made you pale." She heard Stannis chuckled from her left and she quickly glanced at him before he questioned, "So, I assume that Lady Stark is not one to travel by sea?" Sansa smiled and shook her head,
"Unfortunately, your grace, I was quite ill for most of our trip here."
Stannis watched as she took a sip of her wine and then he turned his attention to Petyr, "Lord Baelish, you expect me to accept Lady Stark as a gift?" Petyr nodded and as he responded, their food was served, "Your grace, Sansa Stark is the key to the future of Westeros. Now, whether or not you see that right now, her brother is fighting a war on his own, but with you by his side and your men behind him, truly the throne would be yours." Stannis looked over his shoulder at Davos, of whom was standing near the doorway listening to everything. Stannis nodded, "And you believe that because I have his sister, Robb Stark will fight this war with me?"
The nod of Petyr's head answered his question and all began to eat their meals. Only moments later, Sansa cleared her throat, "Pardon me, but your grace, what Petyr forgets to mention is the fact that my brother is doing quite well on his own. He has my mother by his side, giving him advice, and he is trying hard to avenge our fathers death." She paused and stared at Stannis in the eyes, "I mean no harm by my words, but truthfully, I do not see Robb fighting for your right to the throne."
Petyr pinched her leg under the table and hissed, "Be quiet."
Stannis put down his glass of wine and cleared his throat as he leaned forward in his seat. He stared at her, making her squirm before he finally questioned, "Avenge your father's death? Was it not you that caused his death?" Sansa frowned, "What?" Stannis smirked and leaned forward just a bit more to explain, "You were so loyal to the Lions that it blinded the obvious in front of you. Let me ask you this, my Lady, why did you stay? Did you want to? I suppose the idea of pretty boy Kings made you-" Sansa stood from her seat, "How dare you! I didn't WANT to stay-" Stannis continued, "Your father was a true believer in my cause and yet even after he tried to prove Joffrey's false claim, you let them lock him away. You sat pretty in your chambers, singing songs with your maidens while Ned Stark was rotting away."
Sansa shook her head as she began to cry, "No, no I did not. Cersei-Joffrey- they told me that if I didn't agree with them, if I didn't speak against my father, they would..." She looked at Petyr who was remaining quiet, his eyes staring at the wall.
"They would what?"
"I am a traitors daughter."
Stannis laughed then, making Sansa turn red in anger and upset, "A traitors daughter? How stupid are you truly? Sansa Stark, your father was beheaded and if I heard correct, he was beheaded because you told him to confess that he was a traitor to the crown!" Sansa was near hysteria as he finished and he noticed her knuckles turning white as she held onto the table to keep herself standing. Through her tears, she shouted, "You mocked me once, never do it again! I died that day! That horrible day when my father was killed before me. I have been tortured mentally and physically by Joffrey and his mother, told what to do, how to do it."
She watched as he leaned back in his seat, "You are a horrible man." Without another word, Sansa turned and fled from the dining hall, leaving the men in the room quite baffled and amused. Stannis looked at Petyr and smirked as he raised his glass, "I accept your gift, Petyr Baelish." Petyr smiled and raised his own glass, "Enjoy, your grace."
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Neither Petyr or Stannis went after her, but the older man who she encountered in the hall did. Davos found her curled up on the floor in her lovely gown, her sobbing quite evident as he got closer. He chuckled as he knelt beside her, "Hush that crying, girl." Sansa jumped and looked up at him before she sniffed, "What do you want, Ser?" He sighed, "Off the floor with you, my Lady." He grabbed her hands and she reluctantly let him lead her back onto her feet. Davos cleared his throat and looked down at her, "Let me give you a bit of advice, my Lady, since you are so eager to stay here. When it comes to Stannis Baratheon, do not challenge him. He is a man who enjoys a good challenge and his competition will not win." Sansa frowned,
"Well, Ser, as a Stark, it is also in my nature to not back down from such challenges. What he said in there about me-about my father- it is unforgivable."
Davos nodded, "Agreed, but if you wish to live here in peace and safety, you will have no choice by to forgive and forget. Besides, my Lady, his grace is quite enjoyable to be around once you know him a bit more."
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As Davos brought Sansa to her new chambers, Stannis and Petyr walked down the halls side by side, talking of what was to come. Petyr explained, "Understand that the child has been locked away for so long, she is not exactly used to the travel. Perhaps she is just tired-" Stannis laughed and looked at Lord Baelish, "My Lord, do not make excuses. She is a Stark and deep down I know them to have fire in their bellies. Worry not about her when you leave, after her display tonight, I doubt she will act the same again." Stannis thought of Sansa and how she stood up to him, just the thought of her standing before him that way nearly made him hard. He had only just met the girl, but at the age of ten and three, she was just flowered and lovely.
"I will leave at first light in the morning without a word to her. I find that leaving without goodbye would be best. Shall I leave a note?"
Stannis was interrupted from his horrid thoughts and he gave a nod, "Leave it with Melisandre and she will give it to Lady Stark in the morning." They stopped at the room Petyr would be sleeping in and Stannis question, "Lord Baelish, before you retire answer me this." He thought for a moment, "Why did you truly bring her here?" Petyr smirked and gave a simple answer, "For the good of Westeros, your grace. Sansa must always be safe, for if she is harmed and lost, then what chance do any of us have?"
Without another word, he left Stannis alone in the hall to think on the words he had just heard. What good could she bring to Westeros? How could he play such a role in her safety?
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Anddd that is the end of that. I hope you have all enjoyed thus far! Thank you for the reviews!