Chapter 12: Sansa

As I walked towards Queen Cersei's chambers I moved the small bottle of Sweetsleep from my pocket to my sleeve. Tonight would be the night Cersei paid for killing my Father and trying to kill my Lady. I knocked on her door with a smile on my face and entered when I heard her consent.

"Well hello, little dove." She smiled at me as I entered, and I noticed her eyes drift to my slightly red eyes and my necklace.

"Good evening, Queen Cersei, how has your day been?" I moved towards the table of food set up near her, eyeing the wine.

She turned towards the window and away from me, sipping the wine in her glass. "Not as good as your day, it seems." She turned back around as the empty bottle of Sweetsleep was put back in my pocket and I moved more towards the seat designated for me.

"What, your Highness?" I looked at her with concern, feigning ignorance.

"Your brother, sweetling, he has come to King's Landing." She said, moving to fill her wine glass again before sitting at the table.

I relaxed visibly, "Yes, your Highness, it is so nice to see him again." I sat down after her, filling my glass as well. "You must know how sweet it is to see your brother after a long time." I smiled as she blanched.

"Yes," she said, taking a large gulp of wine, "family is important." She filled her glass again and started to serve herself. After she finished I did the same.

I needed to keep her talking. "How did the fitting go today? Joffrey seemed particularly excited about a red tunic with golden embroidery. At least, I think was what he said." I took a small sip of wine and took a soup full of the thick pumpkin soup.

"Yes," she seemed happy to talk of her son, "it was very becoming on him. He looked like a true King." I doubted that but with that topic established we ate our meal. The whole meal I drank maybe half my glass of wine where Cersei drank the whole pitcher. Soon she asked me to leave for she was going to retire for bed. I bid her a good nights sleep and left with a smile on my face.

When I got to my room there was a letter from Jon on my desk. He told me that Bran's health was good and hoped Robb had made it safely to Kings Landing. I smiled brighter. He was going to help his aunt get the throne. I penned a reply, telling him of Robb's arrival and thanking him for news of my brother. With that I asked the Lannister guard outside my room to give the letter to Pycelle, so he could send it, after his rotation. With that I went to bed.

The next day I rose early, going to call on Robb. I made sure to wear the pendent Joffrey gave me and moved to go to Robb's chambers. The guard outside the door was kind enough to escort me there, telling me he had delivered my letter. I thanked him and bid him a good day as I knocked on Robb's door. He answer, smiling upon seeing me, and moved so I could enter the room.

"Good Morning, Robb, how did you sleep?" I smiled at him, moving to his table by the window where he had food to break his fast.

"It was okay. It is very hot here, how do you stand it?" He asked, sitting opposite me.

"I've gotten somewhat used to it." I laughed, taking an apple to eat as Robb grabbed some mutton.

"To what do I owe this early morning visit?" He asked, taking a bite of food and looking at me expectantly.

"I need to tell you of some things, and many do not rise until the sun is high in the sky here." He nodded for me to continue and I took a bite of my apple to give me time to gather my thoughts. "Joffrey is the son of Jamie and Cersei Lannister, as are the other children. Father discovered it and Cersei must have had him arrested and sent away so he could tell no one. She ended up getting him killed because Joffrey is a malicious boy." I ate more apple to give Robb time to take this information in.

"So, there must be a Targaryen that you want on the Throne over him." I nodded and he continued. "Why? You would still be Queen if Joffrey stayed on the Throne." He continued to eat then, looking at me to make sense of this.

"I don't want to be Queen, I care very little for power and I care even less for this place." I looked around at his room, allowing my distain for the extravagance of the Red Keep to show through. "Daenerys Targaryen lives and her claim is strong. There is something else though. Father told me of Jon's birth before he was killed. He is our cousin, Robb, he is Lyanna's boy."

Robb sat back then, looking at me in shock. "Sansa, that means…" he trailed off, allowing the full impact of the information sink in.

"Yes, that means he is Rhaegar's son. Rhaegar married Lyanna before Jon was born. That makes him a Targaryen, but he doesn't want the Throne. He sent word to me to continue on the path I have been on. We are going to put Daenerys on the Throne." I settled in my chair, watching Robb's face closely. I saw the determination grow and smiled.

"I'll send word to Theon and Jon today to rally the North and the Riverlands quietly." I nodded at him when he finished and he went back to his food. We did not need to talk more about this now.

"So," I started, grabbing some porridge, "tell me how your journey was." I looked at him expectantly. He smiled at me and started to talk, I had missed this ease I had with him and it was nice to get it back.

It was as Robb and I were saying goodbye for the morning that news of Cersei reached us. The Keep was in chaos. Cersei had been discovered dead by her brother, Jamie, who was roaring with rage. Grand Maester Pycelle was called and deemed her death to be by natural causes, having slipped away peacefully in her sleep. Tommon and Myrcella were inconsolable and Joffrey was no where to be seen.

I rushed to his chambers, begging him to let me in. He opened the door and moved away quickly, telling me to close the door as I entered.

I looked around and saw that we were alone. He had moved to sit by the window. I rushed over to him and knelt down, grasping the hand that had been resting on his lap. "Joffrey, my love? I came as soon as I heard. Please, talk to me. The court is worried about you." I kissed his hand and hoped he would look at me.

He looked up finally, tears streaming down his face. "Oh, love!" I said, reaching up to wipe the tears away. "I'm here, you are so strong. You will get through this." He wiped the rest of the tears away and pulled me up into his lap. I settled down and pulled his head to my shoulder. I played with his hair and allowed him to grieve. He did not cry anymore but he seemed more human than he ever had in that moment.

After awhile he had calmed down and started to play with the necklace he had given me. "What are you thinking about, Joffrey?" I asked, allowing him to touch the necklace as long as he doesn't stray even though having his hand that close to me made me uneasy.

"How amazing my Queen is." He said it softly, looking up and my face. He had one hand around my waist, holding me on his lap, the other moved to grab my neck and hair.

"Joffrey, we shouldn't. It is not proper." I pulled away a bit, not wanting to kiss this boy again.

"No one will know." He said as he pulled me to him with strength I did not know he had. His lips were wet and his hands uncomfortable on my body but I could not pull away. He had to want me, that was part of my plan, but that did not meant I enjoyed this. Again, an image of a the Northern man came to mind. It was as if the Gods were telling me who I should be with. I could see that the man had lovely curly, black hair and his grey eyes would crinkle in a smile when he saw me. Joffrey's hands turned to the calloused hands of a warrior, his arms became stronger. I yearned for the man I saw in my head. I was pulled out of this fantasy when I felt Joffrey's arousal.

I pulled away, looking at Joffrey. "We must stop, love. We can not continue." He whined, shifting under me so I knew how much he wanted to continue. I wanted to be sick. "I know, my King. But I would not want to spoil our wedding night. Please." I looked at him with all the warmth and beauty I could, knowing some of my fear was also showing as well.

He sighed, allowing me to slip from his lap. "You are right, Sansa. I'm sorry."

I kissed his cheek, wishing there was a dark black beard there and not the smooth skin of this boy. "We will be wed soon, my love." I moved for the door and he followed. As I left I heard him call for a maid and felt my stomach drop to the ground. That poor girl did not deserve what was about to happen but I could do nothing to stop it. I hated myself for what had happened. I must not push it that far again.