Sansa

Margery looked – if possible – more radiant than ever. She wore a dress of deep emerald green, embroidered with rich, golden thread and jewels. She had yellow roses in her hair and a necklace of gold roses around her slender neck.

She stood beside her husband-to-be, greeting guests as they entered the Baratheon estate. Sansa flew to her friend, embracing her and congratulating her.

"I am so happy for you, Margery. Tell me you will be staying her in Kingsland Park where I can visit you often!"

"Oh, no we will stay in Renly's house in Highgarden," she told her, smelling of roses and glowing like the sun, "thank the gods it isn't too far away – you can visit me often and you must come stay with us!"

"Of course I will!" Sansa promised, kissing her dear friend's cheek.

She moved to Renly who embraced her like he would a sister, "congratulations!" she said to him also, pulling away to smile up at him.

"Thank you, Sansa, I promise I will treat her well, treasure her like the precious rose she is" he told her, beaming at Margery.

Sansa was tugged away then by Arya, "if I stay there a second longer I'll vomit all over his precious rose" she muttered.

"Hush Arya, they're happy and have every right to be" Sansa scolded her sister as they moved into the ballroom.

"Yeah well they could turn it down a little." Her sister replied, standing on her tiptoes to look about the room.

"Who are you looking for?" Sansa asked, following her sister's gaze through the throng of bodies.

"No one" Arya replied, using Sansa's shoulder for balance as she jumped up to get a better look over all the heads.

"It better not be Gendry," Sansa warned her.

Arya returned to ground level, "heavens no!" she exclaimed, looking up at her sister, "I'm not going near him while Joffrey is around, not going through that again, no thank you."

"Then who are you looking for?"

"Aha! Found him!"

Sansa followed her gaze but saw no one specific, "found wh-" Arya's hand pushed her hard forwards and she stumbled through the shoulders of two guests, smacking right into a body as they walked by. She fell backwards but a pair of hands gripped her by her upper arms, catching her.

"Oh I am so sorry, please forgi-" Sansa stared into a pair of grey eyes in a face that held a great deal of amusement.

"Watch your step, little bird" Mr. Clegane rasped at her, his smile widening when she turned crimson red.

His hands steadied her on her feet and she brushed her dress nervously, "good evening, Mr Clegane. I apologize, I didn't see you."

"Of course not," he was sill smiling at her.

She glowered and was ready to walk off when Arya re-appeared beside her.

"Gods, Sansa you really should watch your step! Poor Clegane here could have crushed you!"

Mr. Clegane rolled his eyes at the younger Stark girl.

"Better watch your step, Miss Stark," Arya narrowed her eyes at being addressed so formally, "might be you who goes stumbling next time."

Arya was about to retort when Jon appeared beside her grinning and pulling her towards the dance floor, Robb behind him who offered his hand to Sansa.

"Excuse me" she muttered to Mr. Clegane who bowed, still smiling and followed Robb to the floor.

It was another dance of changing partners. The couples would face each other, hands joined, moving close then stepping back, repeating then the girl would spin under the man's hand. They would then waltz for four three-steps then turn and change partners – again continuing around the hall until joining again.

She danced with Robb, and then Loras was her next partner. Then Jaime Lannister, then her father who smiled at her and kissed her cheek just before delivering her to her next partner who was Margery's father, then it was Theon, then Jeyne's father, then Sansa froze as Joffrey was the next to take her hand.

"My sweet lady" he greeted her, pulling her almost violently against him and dancing with her.

His fingers gripped her hard and his eyes wandered all over her body, especially lingering at the neckline of her dress. She wanted to struggle free from him, strike that awful smirk off his wormy lips and run as far away as possible, but he had her where he wanted her. She was surrounded by people and there was no hope of escape without causing a scene.

"Has my lady missed my company of late?" he asked, his voice mocking.

Sansa made no reply which seemed to anger him for his grip tightened and she had to fight not to cry out, keeping her composure as if nothing were amiss.

"You know of my family's wealth – of our influence. If I wish to marry you it will be done, so there is no point in running from me. I will have you, you can be certain of that, my lady" he hissed in her ear, then let her go, moving to his next partner. Sansa found herself face to face once more with her brother. His wide grin slackened as he looked upon her face and she quickly smiled at him.

"I'm dizzy, I'll go for some fresh air" she told him, turning to leave.

"I'll come with you-"

"- no, I would rather be alone" she lied, walking away before he could argue further.

She pushed through the suffocating mass of bodies until she was in the main entrance hall. She walked fast and only stopped when she was outside in the cold, autumn air.

She hugged herself as she stood in the cold air, dragging in long breaths and choking back her sobs. The air was icy but clean. Winter is coming she thought to herself.

"Are you alright?" she jumped at the voice but her shoulders sagged in relief when she saw Mr. Clegane standing beside her.

She looked up into his face, tears rolling hot down her frozen cheeks, "you see? I can't escape from him." Her voice was only a whisper.

He said nothing, only unclasped the thick jacket he wore and draped it over her shoulders. It was warm from him and she pulled it close around her. He wore a tunic and waistcoat and seemed unaffected by the cold air. But he led her back inside, leading her to sit on one of the seats in the hall. She sat and stared at the floor, wiping the tears as they blurred her vision.

"You won't be free from him until you marry." His voice was so soft and quiet, she thought she imagined he spoke.

She looked up at him, he towered over her and she had to crane her neck. But he moved and sat beside her – not close enough to look intimate but close so she could feel his heat.

"if that is the case I am doomed. Everyone thinks I have been courting Joffrey and even if I courted someone else, it would take too long – there is no knowing what he would do."

The man beside her was quiet but his breathing was quicker than usual. When he eventually spoke, his voice was so quiet she wasn't sure what he had said.

"what did you say?"

I sighed, obviously irritated – as if the words he were trying to speak were difficult, "I said – you could marry me."

She stared at him. For a long time it was all she could do. The shock had blanked her mind and so she simply stared.

"Christ, little bird. Look, I may not be a pretty prince from one of your songs, but I could keep you safe. I would give you a good life; Clegane House is far away but I have my coach and enough money to keep you happy. I would protect you and if he or anyone tried to hurt you, I'll kill them." He spoke fast now, his voice louder but only so she could hear.

"Why would you do this for me?" she asked him, turning in her seat to face him. His scarred mouth twitched under her gaze but he remained silent, his eyes intense on her. She saw something in his face, like a flickering shadow. He took a deep breath and she thought his words were being chosen carefully.

"You remind me of her, my sister; only that I couldn't protect her. But I can protect you. You need only say the word. If you say yes it will be done, if no I will remove myself from you and you will be free to do what you chose – you can court all the pretty princes you want." He rasped quickly. She saw a twinge of annoyance in his face like he hadn't said all he wanted to or in the right way. But she understood him well enough.

But how could she ask him this sacrifice? He would be giving up everything for her. And what would she lose? Her reputation? It seemed a fickle thing. And when she considered a marriage to this man that she had come to regard as almost a friend, the though did in no way repulse her.

"Think fast, little bird."

She looked up in those honest eyes.

"Yes."

V