Author's note: Some Sansa and Joffrey interactions. I like writing Sansa's p.o.v it is a nice change of pace. I hope you all like it as much as I did.

Disclaimer: I do not own Game of Thrones, I own Lyrina.

Chapter 21: Don't be a pawn.

Sana's P.o.v

Two days from camp and she was already wishing to turn around. Arya was more obnoxious than she would have imagined and the guards her brother sent were mostly silent. Sansa wanted some kind of company that was not either silent or too loud. She wished Robb had let Lyrina come back to Winterfell with them, Sansa had hope it would be safer there. She prayed that Joffrey would not send men so far north to get to her, she knew he really did not want her. He wanted Lyrina, and she only hoped her brother could keep her safe.

Sansa rode along with her sister and the ten guards sent to protect them keeping mostly to herself. It would take weeks to reach home, and that was too long for her. She knew the roads they were taking were so they could not be seen easily but she knew they would make the trip longer than she had hoped for. She wanted the safety of the walls of her home, the comfort of her own bed and the faces of her younger brothers.

Lady walked beside them as they rode, having no issues keeping up but when she stopped in her tracks Sansa became worried. The wolf was on edge, growling off into the distance. Her wolf was her protector, all their wolves were their protectors, so when Lady began acting up Sansa knew trouble was coming. Before she could speak up to the guards, fifty men or so on horse back surrounded the small group.

"Give us the girls and no one will be harmed." Sansa did not believe them, and she knew her guards did not either.

There was no way for them to fight though, ten guards against fifty soldiers, the odds were stacked against them. Sansa looked to Arya who had her hand on needle, but she knew even that would not help them. Sansa got off her horse and walked over to her sister, eying the soldiers as she did so. She knew they from Kings Landing, no doubt from Joffrey sent to drag them back.

"Arya, if you get a chance you need to run back to camp or take your horse. I don't care how you get there but you must. I doubt their will be any survivors, and if you don't tell Robb no one will." Sansa knew that no matter what she would be brought back there. She knew when Joffrey had failed to take them from the camp that he would come up with another way.

"I can't."

"You can, and you will." The two girls had been whispering while the guards tried to get the men to leave.

As soon as one of the soldiers drew their swords against them, Lady attacked causing the man to scream. Lady was a well behaved wolf unless she needed to defend her master, and in that case Sansa was in need of protection. The wolf tore the man's throat out, and soon a fight had begun. Most of the men were focused on the guards and the wolf. Sansa turned to Arya and pointed to the clear path behind them.

"Go, now."

"Come with me, we can both escape." Sansa knew that would not work.

"They are after me, not you. Run to camp, tell someone, now hurry."

Sasnsa watched Arya run, but she did not get far the young girl was grabbed by a man Sansa had recognized. The hound grabbed her sister off the ground, and Sansa made a move toward them, unsure of the man's intentions but he put her down. Arya looked back at Sansa before she continued on her path.

Suddenly Sansa was grabbed from behind, she was not paying attention but she began to kick and scream. The man just held her tighter pulling her against him, whispering in her ear to be silent. She knew he was not one of her guards, and she knew she would not be able to escape from this fate. She had her hopes rise as the hound came toward them, his sword drawn but those hopes faded fast.

"What happened to the other girl?" The man holding her asked.

"She was too fast for me, she isn't important anyway. The king wants this one, and his sister. Where is the princess?" She could believe the hound betrayed Lyrina, but it would not explain why he let Arya go, she had seen him let her go.

"She isn't with them, we will just have to settle for this one." Sansa felt her self being put on a horse, she did not fight, she did not argue, she knew she could not win.

She looked back to where she was once riding with her sister and their guard only to find the area a bloody mess. All ten of the guards were killed, and Sansa held back a sob when she saw Lady bleeding on the ground next to the men. They had killed her wolf, she was angry and broken but it was fifty men against just her there was nothing she could do. All she could do was hope her sister found the camp soon, it would take days, soon enough that her brother could ride and catch them before they reached Kings Landing.

Her hopes were not realized,by the time they reached Kings Landing Sansa knew her brother would not reach her. She wondered if had even tried to get to her, he had promised she would never return to Kings Landing, but she knew not all promises were meant to be kept. She was weak, dirty and tired by the time the party entered the gates of the city, she wished it would end already. She knew once she was in the Keep she would be bathed, and presented to her betrothed. She would play her role, just as Lyrina had warned her to before she had left.

"We all have roles to play in their game, Sansa, play it well. Don't be the pawn, but don't let them know you are a queen in spirit."

Lyrina wanted Sansa to play her part, to be the dutiful wife, but she also did not want her to be weak. Sansa knew she had strength hidden inside of her, she found out when she was in her brother's war camp. Gone was the girl who longed only to marry Joffrey, and in her place was the girl who knew she would have to fight to stay alive just a little longer.

"I will take the Lady from here." When they reached the Keep Sansa was swept away by a handmaiden, no doubt by Joffrey's wishes.

She found herself back in the chambers she thought herself to be rid of. She was supposed to be back with her brothers in Winterfell, she was supposed to be safe behind the northern walls of her family's home. Yet she found herself back in the place she was thankful to be rid of, but she knew in her heart she would always end up back in Kings Landing and she knew Lyrina felt it too. No one could keep Joffrey from what he wanted.

The handmaiden bathed her, getting every trace of dirt and grime from her skin. Sansa would have preferred to keep the dirt, it reminded her of the camp. The camp where she found the strength she knew she would need to survive being held in Kings Landing once more. She needed strength to survive Joffrey once more. Sansa looked back on the days where her heart would race with joy when she saw him, but now the joy turned to fear inside of her. She had seen the things he did to Lyrina, she remembered the beating his men had given her. He was no sweet prince, he was a monster trapped inside a handsome young man, he was just mad.

"The king will be in shortly to see you, M'lady." She was left alone, and for a moment Sansa could breath.

She thought of all the ways she could flee the capitol but she knew they would catch her before long. She was not Lyrina, who had somehow always had an escape plan. She was just Sansa, the foolish girl who believed everything she was told. She had thought her father was a traitor, she knew better now, her father had died thinking his daughter thought he was a traitor and that killed Sansa. She had let her father die, she should have done more. Lyrina was going to die for him, and Sansa had made no move to do the same. She was just a foolish child.

"My sweetling, I am so glad you are home." I am not home. Joffrey's voice was just as sweet as she remembered,

"I am, my king." She bowed her head before him, she knew her place. He was her king now, not her brother.

"Did you enjoy your stay with your family, I fear it will be sometime before you see them again." She knew by his tone that she would never see them again.

"Yes, my King."

Joffrey lead her to the table in her room where food had been set aside for them, and she ate quietly. He asked her all kinds of questions about the camp, he asked her everything. Joffrey did not keep his language formal, he cursed her brother and family. She answered his questions, told him of the slaughter that took place when he sent men to get her. She told him of his uncle, and all the men in her brother's camp.

"What of my sister, how is she fairing?"

"When I saw her she was still under the influence of milk of the poppy. I am sure she is feeling better now." She hoped Lyrina was feeling better, it was causing great distress in the camp when she left.

"I never intended for her to get hurt, and I thought she would be with you my sweet. I was hoping she could be home as well."

"My brother saw it better for her to rest, and he did not want to send her away."

She knew her words angered him, she saw the way his hand gripped the table. No doubt Joffrey had expected Robb to just let her go, but Joffrey had no clue of the love between the pair. Sansa had found herself jealous of them at times, she had been the one who wanted marriage and love not Lyrina but yet she was the one who had it. Sansa knew her time would come, she just hoped it came sooner rather than later.

"I am sure that your brother keeps a very careful eye on my sister." He sounded bitter and Sansa almost wanted to laugh. "I am just glad to have my soon to be queen back."

"Thank you." She was going to be polite even if she knew he was lying.

"Get some rest, sweetling, it is my Nameday celebration in the morrow."

Once he was gone Sansa felt better, she was rid of him. She did not look forward to his Nameday celebration it would no doubt be something horrible. She knew Joffrey's idea of fun was something much different than her own, but she would make sure she pretended to find the same pleasure in his company as she once had. She must play the pawn while truly being a queen.

The next day Sansa was not awoken by a handmaiden but instead by Jofrrey's younger sister. Sansa had no issue with Myrcella but she did not understand why the young girl had come to wake her up. As Sansa dressed the girl still just sat there, as if waiting for something.

"How is my sister?" And that was what the girl was waiting for.

"Lyrina is fine."

"I miss my sister, I wish she was here." Sansa did not know what to tell her.

She missed her own family. She missed her dead father, her crippled brother, her king brother, her bastard brother, her child brother and her wild sister. She wanted her family back, all of them safe in Winterfell but she could not have that, and part of her did not want the royal to family to have it either. Why did they deserve to have their family intact while her own was broken and spread apart?

Myrcella took Sansa out to see the beginning of Joffrey's tournament, the one celebrating his Nameday. She was not one for tournaments after what she had witnessed at her father's. Blood, and violence did not suit her fancy, but she did enjoy the painted knights. The ones from noble families who seemed to exude confidence and beauty in the way they walked, such as Ser Loras.

Joffrey did not greet her, she just took her place beside him under the tent and drank the wine put in front of her. She never cared for drinking too much, but she did not enjoy the company of these people any longer. She used to dream of Kings Landing, and escaping the dreary place she called home but now that was all she wanted. She wanted to be in her bed, or in her lessons with Septa but she too was dead. Everyone Sansa had cared for was being killed around her and she knew it was only a matter of time before Robb fell, or even her mother. War was viscous and no one would get out of this one alive.

She watched the hound butcher a man who stood no chance against him, and Sansa felt herself look away. He had saved Arya's life, saved Lyrina's life and yet betrayed them all in the same time. She did not know where his loyalty lied but she knew for the moment it was to Joffrey. Sansa did not understand why Joffrey garnered so much support, he was not kind or just, he was cruel and manipulative. Her brother was fair, kind and was now married to the princess of the seven kingdoms, she wished more people would support him. They could take the iron throne and keep it for years to come, bringing a peace to the seven kingdoms.

"Make sure the man drinks his fill." Sansa was brought from her own mind when there was a commotion in front of her.

Joffrey's guards had a poor man on his knees, forcing wine down his throat. He would die, and Sansa knew she could do nothing to stop it. Speaking against the king would only garner her punishment, but all the same she could not sit by and watch him die.

"My king, if you kill someone on your Namday it is bad luck." Joffrey looked at her with disgust as she spoke, but the hound backed up her claim.

"Fine, spare the fool I will kill him tomorrow."

"You are right, he is a fool my king. Don't you think he would be more use to you as a fool, to make you laugh and entertain you." Act like a pawn but be a queen. "Much better than giving the man a quick death for embarrassing you."

"You are right, my Lady. Did you hear that, you will become my new fool."

"Thank you, your grace, my Lady."

Sansa had saved him, she had saved a man from the clutches of Joffrey. If only she could have done the same for her father, no doubt he would be alive now. She would slowly learn how to keep her head up high, while still keeping herself safe. She was going to tear down this family from the inside if she had to, they were trying to kill everyone she loved, it was only fair.

Tyrion Lannister seemed to have appeared out of no where and Sansa could not help but stare at him. She had no seen him since he went north to the wall with Jon, and he looked the same as the last time she had seen him. She heard of her mother kidnapping the poor man but no one ever told her what for, she was kept out of the loop in her family's affairs. Sansa could only assume he had done something against her family, most of the Lannister's had done something to slight her family.

"I am sorry for your loss, my Lady." Tyrion seemed so sincere.

"Her loss? Her father was a traitor, a confessed one at that, he got what he deserved." She flinched as Joffrey spoke.

"Still her father, you just lost your own surely you can understand." She knew he didn't understand and when Joffrey turned to her, she knew it was time to play.

"My family is a family of traitors, my Lord. My father, mother and brother are all traitors to the crown, I am loyal to my beloved Joffrey." She hated the conviction in her own voice, the lie was sour on her lips.

"Of course you are." She knew he didn't believe her, but she prayed he would not tell.

The tournament dragged on longer than Sansa had wished for it to, but she played her role. She watched, and commented on what Joffrey wished her to. She would occasionally catch the eye of the hound who looked at her with pity but she did not need his pity. She knew it would only be a matter of time before she was back with her family, her brother would never allow Joffrey to keep her long. She knew he would come up with terms to get her back, to save her once more from the horrors of the city.

Once the feast for the king had ended Sansa made her way to her chambers, she wished to send a raven to her brother to ensure he knew she was no longer on her route to Winterfell. On her journey she worried something had happened to Arya, and now that she was somewhere she could send a raven she would make sure word got to her brother.

"What are you doing my sweet?" Joffrey entered her chamber just as she had finished the raven, unwilling to let him read it she burned the paper.

"I was writing a raven home, your grace." He was upon her before she could speak again, snatching her from her chair.

"If I catch you writing a raven again, I will have you beaten. Do you understand me?" He was angry.

"I am sorry, your grace." Sansa looked down, passive.

"You are not to write to anyone do you understand? You are here because I wish it, if you disobey me you will die." Sansa let it sink in, maybe death would have been better than him.

"Yes, your grace."

He let go of her and Sansa stood on her own. She was not going to let him break her, not yet.

"You have some of the spark of my sister in you, no doubt she has been telling you to be braver. Did she tell you what her bravery got her?"

"Yes, your grace." Sansa thought back the talk she had with Robb, and she hoped he approached Lyrina calmer than he had her.

"What else did my sister tell you? Did she tell you of your father?"

"Nothing, your grace, my father is dead."

The sick smirk on Joffrey's face made Sans a panic. There was something Joffrey knew that she did not, and she was sure there were lots of things but this had to do with her father.

"I am surprised she stayed faithful to me, even in his bed, but since you will not be contacting anyone I guess I could tell you the truth. Just know, Sansa, if anyone finds out the truth through you I will deliver your family's heads to you for our wedding. All of them, even the young one all the way back in Winterfell. You understand me correct?" Joffrey was inches from her, his fingers lifting her chin so she was looking at him in the eyes.

"Of course, your grace." She felt a pit form in her stomach.

"Your father is alive."

Her whole world stopped, her father was alive. It was impossible, she had seen his head and Joffrey had told her himself that he was dead. He had gained so much satisfaction from telling her. It was impossible for her father to have been alive, he would have told someone, he would have sent word to them. And he said Lyrina knew, she would not have kept that from them, there was no way.

"Your father is at the wall, a man of the nights watch. He was told if he informed anyone of who he was, that his family would be slaughtered. My sister knows as well, I told her that if she told your brother I would lock her away for the rest of her life. I would rip her from your brother, kill him and any child they gave birth too as well."

Lyrina knew the truth, was safe in her brother's camp and had not told them. Her brother was a mess over the loss of her father, her mother was wreck. Their whole north was marching into a war for vengeance and Lyrina could not be bothered to tell them the truth. Sansa was angry, she could not believe her friend would betray their trust like that. But maybe she could understand, Joffrey was sick, he had hurt Lyrina worse than Sansa could imagine. The girl must have believed he would truly come for her, and no doubt she had to lie to save herself.

"Now you too must keep the secret, or maybe instead of killing your family I will send them your head in a box." He kissed her lightly on the lips before leaving her alone.

Kings Landing was just as dangerous as the day she had left it. She knew she would not be able to send word to her brother, she did not know if they would ever save her. She knew she could not tell a soul of her father, and that killed her. Her father was alive, and he had not even tried to get word to them. The lies Joffrey had made her love ones tell were stacking and now she was in his sick little game too. But Sansa would not let him win the game. She knew it would only be a matter of time before Lyrina told the truth and when she did everything would change. The Starks were already coming for Joffrey, but Sansa knew with each lie Joffrey made them tell, it was just another sword ready to slice through him.