AN: This chapter contains more of the beatings to Sansa but don't worry, Joffrey will get his soon. Thank you to everyone who has been reading, it means a lot to me.

Chapter 17: Sansa

Joffrey repeated his beatings twice in the following two weeks after my Name Day. Each one went the same as the first, I would defy him and Ser Meryn would beat my arms and torso. The difference was that after each time I would go to Margaery and she would help me clean my wounds. After we would talk of mundane things, like how her and my brother got on and how the wedding plans were going. The nights after she would spend in my chambers. I would feel safer with her there, listening to her calm, even breathing. We would discuss how to rid Westeros of the wretched King. We decided on poison but we needed someone to take the fall and we could think of no one.

My days after my Name Day were spent mainly with the Tyrells and Robb or entertaining noblemen and women who had come for the wedding. Margaery and Robb would would take tea in the gardens with me and various nobles. I felt like I was learning much about the houses of the South and how they interacted. It was more intricate than the exchanges in the North but I enjoyed getting to know more people and make friends. I knew instinctively that I was becoming loved by the nobles of the Realm.

I felt safe during the days when I was surrounded by people, thinking that Joffrey would never harm me in the presence of others. I was wrong.

Joffrey had not called me to him this week and I hopefully thought that he was done hurting me like that. He was holding court, sitting upon the Throne and hearing the complains of his people. He was being particularly violent today. Two people had been slashed through the stomach and died with Joffrey laughing as they sobbed and screamed. I hated these days, when Joffrey would force everyone into the Throne Room so he could show them his "strength".

I would have to stand next to him and keep a blank mask on my face.

After the second man had died and his body taken away, Joffrey turned to me. "Come her, my love." He said, his eyes glazed with joy. He reached out to me and I took his hand. That was a mistake, I realized, as he yanked me into his lap. I tried to get up, feeling his arousal beneath me. I felt sick.

He gripped me hard, not letting me get up. His hand found my breasts, needing at them while holding me in his lap. I was shaking. No one was saying anything. I felt the tears start to form in my eyes and tried harder to get out of his grasp.

He growled, "I AM KING! I COMMAND YOU TO BE STILL!" His hands became rougher, pulling at my gown.

I managed to get out of his grip, scrambling down the dais, looking frantically for Robb, Margaery, any kind face. "SER MERYN!" I heard behind me and I felt a strike to my stomach.

It was so unexpected that I fell to the ground. Feeling wetness beneath me I realized I was in a puddle of two dead men's blood. I was shaking then, hot tears falling down my cheeks.

"Please," I was sobbing quietly, "please." I couldn't look up, I knew what was coming.

"Did you hear that, Ser Meryn? She said 'please'! I think my lady is over dressed. Unburden her." Joffrey laughed, and I looked up at him. He was leaning forward in the Throne, looking like he had receive a wonderful present.

It was then that I felt another blow on my back. I swayed forward but straighten almost immediately despite the pain. I would not be weak. I would not let these people think that he could break me. I stood up, blood staining my blue gown, hair falling out of its braids.

I felt the cold of winter flow through my veins and steel strengthen my spine. Joffrey looked like a mad little boy, eager and vile. I felt gauntlets at my neck and heard the rip as my dress was split down the back. It fell down my body but I clutched it to my chest, staring at Joffrey.

I said nothing as he demanded I let the gown drop. See Meryn hit me but I would not let the dress fall. He pulled at the dress, ripping it more until it was nothing but ribbons and I was in my corset and shift.

It was then that Lord Tyrion burst through the doors with my hand maiden Shae behind him. She had gone to get help, bless her.

"What is the meaning of this!" He says, walking briskly towards me, his guard by his side. The Throne Room is heavy with silence and worry. Only his footsteps make any noise. I watch him approach me. He looks enraged, "What sort of knight beats a helpless girl!" He says, looking at Meryn with disgust.

Meryn looks outraged, "The kind who serves his King, Imp!" He almost spits out the insult.

"Some one get the girl something to cover herself with!" Tyrion says, looking around the room. Ser Clegane rushes forward and places his cloak on my shoulders as Tyrion rounds on Joffrey, who, for once, looks a little frightened. "She is to be your Queen! Have know no regard for her honor?"

Littlefinger steps forward then, "The King may do as he sees fit, Lord Tyrion, as you well know." He looks down at me, leering. I feel somehow sicker.

Joffrey spoke then, before Tyrion could respond. "I was punishing her!" He said it like a child caught in a wrong doing, trying to defend himself.

"For what crimes, you half-wit?! What could she have possibly done?" I was so thankful for Tyrion at that moment.

"She was impertinent to His Highness." Littlefinger said, stepping closer to Joffrey.

"Exactly! And you can not talk to me like that! A KING CAN DO AS HE LIKES!" said Joffrey, huffing like a child having a tantrum. I was holding back vomit, trying to hold back the tears I felt falling down my face. The energy of the room felt sympathetic around me,

"The Mad King did as he liked. Did your uncle Jamie ever tell you what happened to him?" said Tyrion, advancing on Joffrey now.

Ser Meryn stepped up, "No one threatens His Grace in front of the Kingsguard!" He started for his sword.

"I am not threatening the King, Ser, I am education my nephew. Bronn, the next time Ser Meryn speaks, kill him." Tyrion said, turning to look at Ser Meryn. "That was a threat, see the difference?" Ser Meryn was silent. Tyrion turned around fully then and approached me slowly.

He gave me his hand and lead me out of the Throne room. "I apologize for my nephews behavior." He said, my hand maidens followed us out. "Tell me the truth, do you want an end to this engagement." He said it with such sincerity. I believe he has a good heart.

I turned to him, allowing my neutral mask to fall back into place. "I am loyal to King Joffrey, my one true love." I move past him, walking with all the grace I can manage.

I hear him speak as I walk away, "Lady Stark, you may survive us yet." I smile. He has no idea.

As I reached my chambers, I dismissed all my hand maidens, sending two to get Robb and Margaery. They came rushing to me soon enough and I let them into my chambers. I was still in my bloody shift. Margaery rushed to help me change.

"That little shit! I'll kill him!" Robb was flaming, pacing around the space with his hands in his hair. My heart broke at the sight. Margaery busied herself helping me remove my soiled clothing and wrapping me in my robe.

"No Robb, I will." I say as Margaery and I finish. He looks up and stops moving, Margaery goes to sit down.

"Sansa?" Robb asks, looking at me with so much pain.

"Have you decided on the person we will blame then?" Margaery said, her eyes bright with rage.

I nod, looking between both of them. "Do not worry, Robb, I have a plan. Winter is coming and I will never forget what that boy did to me." I felt like I was made of cold steel and for the first time I really felt like a Stark wolf.