Chapter 19: Sansa

Both Margaery and myself jumped as Joffrey stood up abruptly, yelling, "Silence! Clear the floor!" The people milling around scrambled to comply and the talking died abruptly. Most knew of Joffrey's moods and did not want to anger him. "There's been too much… amusement here today. A Royal Wedding is not an amusement! A Royal Wedding is history, and the time has come for all of us to contemplate our history. My lords," Joffrey smiled cruelly and the mouth of the strange lion fell open, "my ladies," and a red carpet rolled out of the lion's mouth like a great tongue, "I give you the Father, the Mother, the Maiden, the Crone, the Warrior, the Smith, and the Stranger!" As he said each a dwarf came out of the lion's mouth dressed as each of the Seven in grotesque ways. I looked horrified to Lord Tyrion, trying to apologize and show him that I was not part of this farce.

The audience laughed as the dwarves ran around laughing and making crude gestures. They acted out the history of the Seven. The Father, who was a bearded dwarf with scales hanging from the front of his pants, spoke of how he brought down seven stars to place them on the head of Hugor of the Hill, the first King of the Andals, to form his crown. The Maiden, dressed in white but with her breast exposed, spoke of bringing Hugor of the Hill his comely wife. The Mother, who had cloth babes hanging from her breasts, spoke of making Hugor's wife fertile and how she bore forty four babes while feigning coupling with the Father. The Crone, a witch-like women, spoke of foretelling of the children of Hugor and his wife. The Warrior, who's torso was bare and painted with muscles and who's sword was wooden and small, spoke of giving each son strength. Last the Smith, who kept tripping and hitting himself with his plush hammer, talked of making the sons a suit of iron plate.

As the dwarves finished they bowed to the audience and then to the royal table. People were clapping and laughing again. I was silent, as was Robb, Tyrion, and Margaery. "Well done!" Joffrey yelled over the noise, clapping. He gave them a purse of gold and turned to me. "Now you know the story of your true religion, my Queen." Joffrey said, looking at me with a smile. I smiled back, knowing it did not reach my eyes.

"Thank you, Your Grace. It was so thoughtful of you." I grabbed his hand and kissed it. He seemed pleased and turned towards Lord Tyrion.

"Uncle, maybe next time you can join them, I'm sure they have a spare costume." He looked at Tyrion with hate and giggled at his joke.

Tyron smiled and stood, bowing to Joffrey. "I fear I am not pious enough, dear Nephew. Perhaps you should join them? I'm sure they could use a King to crown and your greatness and ability rivals King Hugor! I speak as a first hand witness. Be careful though, this one" he indicated the Maiden, "is obviously mad with lust. It would be a tragedy for the King to loose his virtue hours before his wedding night." Tyron sat back down. There were nervous giggles in the audience but most had gone silent.

Joffrey looked livid and shocked at Tyrion's response. He looked out upon the tittering guests and then, grabbing his goblet, slowly walked over to Tyrion. When he got there he poured out his wine on Tyrion's head. Smiling with a glint in his green eyes the whole time.

Tyrion licked some of the wine off his lips and said, "Fine vintage. It's a shame that it spilled." Never looking back at Joffrey behind him.

"I did not spill!" Joffrey started and I had had enough.

"My love!" I said, reaching for him, "Come back to me? It's almost time for Lord Robb's toast!" I smiled my best smile at him, hoping he would listen. he was making a fool out of himself. The dwarves left and the audience clapped for them. They were all very uncomfortable, it was like a blanket wrapped over the guests, thick and stifling.

"How am I to toast without any wine?" Joffrey said, making his way back to me anyway.

Littlefinger stepped up then and poured Joffrey more wine, saying, "I would hate for you to miss Lord Robb's toast to your beautiful Queen, Your Grace." Joffrey looked mad, he had obviously had another plan but it was foiled now.

He was about to say something but I was able to distract everyone. "Look, my love! The pie!" The crowd cheered and Joffrey drank deeply from his cup. Littlefinger filled it again and moved back into the shadows of the royal table. Joffrey drank almost all of that cup and then handed it to me. He pulled out his sword as the cooks placed the giant pigeon pie in the middle of the dais. I dropped the gemstone from my hair in his glass as I placed it on the table and turned around. Joffrey lined up his sword and smashed through the pie with a childish swing. Some of the live pigeons in the pie were killed but some burst free. A bloody pigeon fell out of the pie.

"Wonderful!" I cheered, and the audience started to cheer with me. He approached me and I kissed his cheek and clutched his arm. Serving girls brought us a slice of the pie on a golden plate and I thanked them for it. I started to feed him pie off the plate and he was smiling at me again. I thought he was over his anger but his face shifted.

"This pie is dry, I need more wine!" he said as he grabbed the plate and kept eating. Littlefinger filled the cup again and I handed it too him.

"Here you are, my love." I said. He thrust the plate at me and I struggled to keep it from spilling on my dress. I turned to place the plate on the table as Joffrey drank deeply.

"Mm, good." I heard him say. Then he started coughing. He kept drinking the wine, trying to get rid of the cough.

"Are you alright, my King?" I said, looking concerned.

"It's nothing." He said, drinking more now even as he coughed more, clutching his throat. He looked at me in panic and started breathing heavily.

"He's choking!" I scream, clutching his arm. I hear someone call to help Joffrey, I think it was Lady Olenna. I stand and watch as he drops his cup and stumbles, wheezing, onto the dais, and falls onto his hands and knees.

"Idoits, help your King!" I scream, moving towards him. Ser Meryn comes rushing out of the crowd as Joffrey starts vomiting on the floor, moaning and trying to get air into his lungs. I run to him, screaming his name. Meryn roles him over and I'm clutching his chest. He is making animalistic noises and shaking. Meryn tries to take him from me but I'm screaming for him not to touch Joffrey. I put his head in my lap and grab his hand.

"Please! What is it! Help him!" I am frantic, blood is coming out of his nose now. He points towards the royal table where Littlefinger is picking up Joffrey's cup. As I look I hear Joffrey stop making noises. I look down, his eyes are red and blood is coming out of his ears and nose both. He stops moving and his weight falls heavy on my lap.

"Joffrey!" I scream, trying to make him move again. He does not and I feel tears coming down my face. I hear people yelling "He's gone" and "The King is dead". I turn to Littlefinger and sob, "He did this. He poisoned my love! YOUR KING!"

Littlefinger looked shocked as the Kingsguards grabbed him and he struggles to get away. I look down to Joffrey in my lap. I'm still crying and I pull a handkerchief to wipe away the blood of Joffrey's face.

After the take away Joffrey's body I go back to my room supported by Margaery. She helps me take off my wedding dress and I sit down so she can help me take my hair out of its ridiculous style. I catch her reflection in my mirror and we both smile at each other. We are not done yet but the hardest part was finished.

Varys:

Clever little wolf. She got rid of two threats in one. Oh this was turning into quite the game. I smiled as I went to write her dear cousin a letter.