Sansa

The announcement of Renly and Margery's engagement was not a surprise to anyone. Just three days after the Westerlings' ball – where he had apparently proposed to her in the gardens – the invitations to a ball at the Baratheon manner in celebration of the match were received.

The ball was in four days, Sansa convinced Robb, Jon and Arya to walk to the town for material and ribbons for a new dress to wear. Both her brothers had accepted happily, wanting to go into town to call upon Theon, but Arya had taken some bribing. She hated shopping and came up with a million excuses before eventually giving in to Sansa's persistent begging.

The walk into Wintertown was long, but pleasant, the Stark children and Jon laughing and joking all the while admiring the landscape of their home. They passed through fields of flowers, a forest with red leaved trees and the river that looped around and through the land. They crossed the bridge of the river and Sansa leaned over the edge, looking down at the water and laughing when she saw her reflection smiling back in the water.

Jon and Arya raced each other to the town once it was in sight then stood on the borders hollering to Sansa and Robb as they strolled leisurely, arm in arm towards them.

When they reached the town, Robb and Jon took off after spotting Theon at the fisherman's shop. Sansa dragged Arya into the material shop promising her a dress she proclaimed she didn't want but picked out a fabric anyway.

She chose a simple grey material with a pattern of silver dots. Sansa chose a lovely pink fabric with gold leaves so small they could only be noticed close. She chose a white ribbon for herself and a red for Arya.

When they left the shop Robb and Jon were still with Theon.

"Ah, Miss Stark, Miss Arya, how pleasant meeting you all here!"

Sansa turned to the owner of the voice. Tyrion Lannister sat upon a brown mare smiling down at them. A saddle had been fashioned so he could still ride with his legs being as short as they were. She remembered when she had first saw it after Robert, Jaime and he had visited their house after the Baratheon ball to go shooting with father and Arya had rudely asked him about it. But the dwarf had laughed and seemed more than happy to explain the saddle – his own invention to them. 'Wear your weakness as armor and no one can hurt you' she remembered he had said.

Sansa must learn to follow his lesson.

But her eyes were drawn to the figure sitting astride a huge black stallion next to him.

Sandor Clegane's eyes connected with her and he gave her a small nod of his head, his cheek twitching into what she had recognized as a small smile.

Robb and Jon rejoined them then, shouting out greetings to the Imp, nodding curtly to Clegane and helping Tyrion dismount. Clegane dismounted too and the horses were tied to a station as they accompanied the Starks on their walk through Wintertown.

Tyrion walked with Arya and Jon, Robb following closely behind, and Sansa finding herself falling into step with Mr Clegane. Her stomach jolted and her nerves prickled through the palms of her hands as they walked together. She searched for something to say, hoping to strike up a conversation but finding nothing that she thought would interest him.

"What brings you to town?"

He glanced down at her, "no need to try and start a conversation with me, little bird. I'll be happy with your silence, no need to exert yourself."

Sansa wanted to tell him she liked conversing with him – but this was their first proper opportunity at a conversation yet. But what could he talk about? she knew that what he had told her about himself while they danced at the Westerlings' was most likely all he wished to share. His past was a sad story and she didn't want to force him any further into it.

"Arya and I are here for material for the engagement ball. I'm going to make us both some dresses."

Mr Clegane frowned at her, but he didn't tell her to stop. She smiled at this and continued.

"I'm very happy for Margery. I have known her since we were children…"

She told him about all the times she had spent with Margery as a child. She told him about her first ball. She told him about her childhood in Winterfell. She told him about the songs she loved to sing, the stories she loved to read, and the dresses she had made that she was most proud of. She told him about her favorite flower (winter rose), color (blue), food (lemon cakes), least favorite food (mushrooms). She told him about her favorite walk through the red leaved trees that surrounded Stark estate. She told him everything about herself she could think of. He remained silent all the while, but when she glanced up to his face, his eyes studied the road ahead as they walked but his mouth twitched in a smile when she told him how Jon and Arya had played a prank on her when they were younger by putting a frog they had caught in the garden in her bonnet causing her to scream and hurl the hat – frog and all at her mother who looked at her most alarmed as she ran from the room screaming bloody murder at her sister and cousin. He listened to her intently and she was glad for it.

"Gods, Sansa give Glegane a break!" Arya interrupted her, stopping and turning from the Imp and Jon to grin at her.

"Upon my word, Miss Stark, even I can't get Clegane here to listen to me that long!" Tyrion said as he too turned to them, "I must congratulate you!"

Sansa blushed but Sandor was smiling down at the Imp, "believe me, Dwarf, nothing you say is even half as interesting."

"So from now on I will tell you about my favorite dress and sing you my best song?"

Sansa laughed at the thought and found Clegane smiling at her, "aye," he said, eyes shifting back to Tyrion, "mayhaps you should, then we will hear the little bird laugh again."

Sansa blushed but a smile was spread across her face she couldn't banish. It had been a long time since she had felt so…comfortable.

Tyrion smiled up at her. "Well, we best be going," he said, as they walked back to the horses, "got dresses to sew and songs to sing!" He was lifted into his saddle by Clegane who grunted at him when the Lannister cooed at him, pretending to be a lady gushing at how strong he was.

Sansa laughed with Arya and they all waved them goodbye as they rode off. Tyrion grinned and waved back happily. And Mr Clegane, he nodded to them but his mouth was pulled up at one end in a smile, Sansa saw.

"We all ready to return? Got everything?" Robb asked.

Sansa grinned up at her brother, nodding and they all set off back towards home.

V