A/N I have watched the first 2 seasons of HBO's portrayal of the books and I am currently in the middle of the third book, A storm of swords. I am taking some liberties with my story, so it is not based on cannon. I am not up to date on GRRM's version of Sansa and the Eyrie and what transpires. From what I have read in fan fiction, I am going to base the fiancé loosely on the Harry the Heir character. Forgive where I stray from cannon. Any criticism and/or opinions are always appreciated.
Sansa walked away from Sandor, whose mouth was hanging open. Sansa couldn't believe what a strange morning it was turning out to be. Sansa was shocked by her boldness. There was something about Sandor that endeared him to her. She wasn't certain what it was.
The following morning as Sansa entered the church sanctuary, she saw Sandor, and he was hard to miss. He was outside raking leaves. It was a beautiful fall morning. She approached him, and gently touched his arm "How is you this morning Sandor?" she greeted him.
He turned, surprised, and grinned, putting down the rake "I hope you are better today than yesterday," he rasped, "I have outside chores to do; I won't be there to catch you if you fall today."
She looked him in the eye. She couldn't believe this new boldness in her. She was approaching Sandor, making the effort, flirting with him. That was not like the usual Sansa. "Oh, I think if I needed you, you would be there." She said softly, but confidently. Then she heard the chimes, signaling the start of mass, so she hurried off, waving and grinning over her shoulder to a wide eyed Sandor, who shook his head, afraid to trust his ears.
After the service, Fr. Sam invited Sansa to join him for coffee again. She gladly accepted, hoping to see Sandor and eat some more lemon cakes. She took Fr. Sam's offered arm and they chatted casually as they walked to the rectory.
Sansa was young and naïve, yes. But she was also not a complete fool when it came to recognizing how men stared at her. She was stunning to look at; and hid her true personality behind a veil of mild disinterest and prim and proper attitudes. Men generally sought her out to make idle conversation or would just blatantly stare at her. Perhaps it was Sandor's aloofness that drove her to seek him out. Maybe it was because he didn't look at her like a piece of meat or a free meal ticket. Sansa had been in two relationships. The first one as a teenager, Joff had been horribly abusive, physically and emotionally. Luckily, she had been spared sexual abuse and her virtue remained. She managed to escape him by going to college. He lost interest and she hadn't seen or heard from him in years.
Sansa was pleased to see the lemon cakes but the table was set for two and Sansa did not see Sandor anywhere. She sat down and they chatted and eventually the conversation came to Sansa's situation. Engaged, cared for with food, clothes and shelter, but how she was lonely and her Sansa had grown up in a wealthy family, surrounded by loving parents and siblings. Misfortune had struck and her parents and older siblings had passed away. Now she and her remaining siblings were displaced and estranged. Sansa had become close to the family's attorney, who doled out the inheritance. He was rather slippery, but had introduced her to Harry. Harry meant well, by all appearances they were a good match. But there was no love or affection. Harry was well to do, he would make a good husband. Sansa was beautiful and refined. She would make a stunning wife. Now that Sansa realized she had a confidant, the years worth of pent up worries, concerns, speculations, deep dark secrets and dreams came spilling out. Sansa could not hold back one thought that constantly saddened her. While she and Harry tolerated each other's company. They were friendly, cordial, pleasant, but Sansa was in no rush to the altar. She knew she would have marital duties. Sansa knew she was selling herself short in the marital duty department, as she and Harry were about as hot for each other as lukewarm bath water.
