Sansa sat in silence as she let her fingers play at the pendant of her necklace, Sandor's final words replaying in her mind again. 'I love you little bird.' She had to fight back the urge to cry, she was to make one final appearance in front of the King, and today she would see Margaery as well. Tywin had kept her so hidden away before their wedding, it was nice that he was giving her some free reign. Though she chose not to walk about the castle, in fear of ghosts of her past coming back to haunt her.

"You look so lost Lady Sansa." The sweet voice of Queen Margaery roused Sansa from her thoughts.

Sansa quickly stood and curtsied to the Queen, "your grace."

Margaery giggled slightly and wrapped her arm around Sansa's, "we're friends, remember? You need not be formal with me." She then moved to sit with Sansa as she looked her over. "You have that same look again, the one you had so long ago. When I first came to Kings Landing, that miserable girl who stood there as a statue." Margaery stroked Sansa's cheek softly. "You did not want this marriage, did you?"

Sansa looked at her friend, how badly she wanted to scream how much she hated what she had done. How much she hated Tywin and hated that he had forced her into this marriage. But Arya and Sandor were still his prisoners, and she would not risk their lives. She forced a small smile, "it was not a marriage I expected or wanted, but Lord Tywin has been very kind and generous with me."

Margaery sighed slightly, "Sansa, I can tell you are not being honest with me. Though I do not blame you, I know of the deceptions that Lord Tywin has been telling my sweet young husband."

Sansa's eyes widened as she looked to her friend, "you… you do?"

Margaery nodded, "I had the misfortune to stumble upon your sister and the Hound in their… chambers. Your sister was not hesitant in telling me everything." She smiled lightly and shook her head, "feisty little thing, isn't she?"

Sansa nodded, "I did what I must to protect what family I have left." She looked at her, tears filling her eyes again, "he would have killed them, and he already had Ser Meryn killed because he tried to protect me."

"I know, Tommen does not know any of this though. Lord Tywin has been careful to keep the young king in the dark." Margaery took a hold of one of Sansa's hands. "I wish I would have known sooner, I had just returned from visiting Highgarden shortly after your wedding. It was so late I did not think to visit with anyone until the morning."

Sansa shook her head, squeezing her friend's hand. "You could not have done anything, Tommen may be King, but Tywin has always been in charge." Sansa sighed slightly, "He said he is handing over his title as Hand of the King so that we can return to Casterly Rock. He wishes for me to conceive an heir that will be true to the Lannister name."

"After how Tyrion died, I can understand it."

Sansa's eyes shot up to look at Margaery, "Tyrion is dead? When? How?"

"You had not heard?" She sighed sadly, "an assassin in the night. He was paid to kill Lord Tyrion and his Lady, Shae I believe was her name."

Sansa nodded sadly, "Shae was my handmaiden for a while, and yes, she was Tyrion's love."

Margaery nodded, "the man was able to catch Tyrion off guard, killed him in his sleep. But Shae was not with him, no one knew where she was. We all assumed she was killed as well."

Sansa shook her head, "we found her at The Saltpans, she travelled with us to Braavos before…" Sansa's eyes began to water, "she was killed trying to protect me." She then looked down at her hand in Margaery's, "who hired the assassin?"

"Cersei, she still blamed him for Joffrey's murder and since no one could prove him guilty, she had him killed." She sighed and shook her head, "it broke poor Tommen's heart to have his mother executed, but she committed treason."

Sansa could hardly breathe, Cersei was dead too? It seemed as if there would be no one left at this rate. "Your Grace, please do not say anything to Tommen about his grandfather." She looked to her with pleading eyes, "Tommen loves him, and he and Ser Jaime are the only family he has left."

Margaery nodded, "I will do anything to keep my sweet Tommen from being sad, but if Lord Tywin betrays your trust in any way, I want to know. You will write to me once you arrive at Casterly Rock, promise?"

Sansa smiled a bit and nodded, "I promise, I will want to hear how things are here in Kings Landing anyway."

…..

"I am sure Lord Mace will be a fine Hand for you Your Grace." Tywin held his glass up in approval as he spoke with Tommen about his replacement.

Sansa and Margaery sat next to their husbands as they all dined one final time before Tywin and Sansa would be leaving.

"I myself find it is time that I learn to enjoy the finer things in life, put wars and politics behind me." Tywin glanced to his side to look at Sansa who had been sitting completely silent.

"Your service to the kingdoms will never be forgotten grandfather, and any children you and Sansa should have will of course inherit your lands and titles." Tommen smiled to Sansa as he spoke.

Sansa nodded to him, giving him a smile. "Your Grace is too kind, I thank you for everything."

"Your happiness is important to me Sansa, as I said, I am not my brother Joffrey. I will not rule my people with fear and blood." He then smiled to Margaery who sat beside him, "and it seems my Queen has taken a liking to you as well."

Margaery let out a small laugh with a nod, "I was friends with Sansa long before she left Kings Landing. It pleases me to see her happy once again." She gave Sansa a small wink.

"Once Winterfell has been rebuilt, we will all return there for Sansa's coronation as Queen of the north." Tommen looked to his grandfather, "and of course being her husband, you will be crowned King of the north."

Tywin nodded, looking to Sansa who had turned to look at him. "An honor that I will gladly accept with my lovely bride by my side."

Sansa could feel her stomach churning in disgust, the thought of a Lannister taking Winterfell was enough to almost make her cry. 'I am a Stark… I am a Stark…." She kept reminding herself as Tywin continued to gloat over his marriage to the King. She could only pray that in his old age, she would not have to be married to him long.

….

The carriage that Tywin had arranged for Sansa was the fanciest carriage she had ever seen. The dark wood on the outside had been carved with the Lannister lion and dyed red, while the inside remained the dark wood color. Pillows lined the entire inside except for where a table had been bolted to the floor for Sansa's meals to be served to her. Plenty of furs and blankets had been provided as well to ensure her comfort. She would be travelling with her new handmaiden Tyina as well as two other maids.

Sansa could not help but cry when she bid her final farewells to Tommen and Margaery, though it was the thought of possibly never seeing Arya or Sandor again that caused the tears to fall.

She now sat inside her carriage, silently watching as her handmaiden had been mending a few of the maids' clothes. She hadn't gotten to know any of the girls, she didn't really desire to. All she wanted was her life back, she would have been happy to stay in the Free Cities with Sandor, to live out a life as a common woman, but that was never her destiny.

As the carriage finally began to move, she felt the knot in her stomach tighten. It felt as if she were being pulled to a new prison, though she did have the reassurance that she would at least not be beaten in this one. 'I am a wolf. He can make me wear his colors, make me bare his children, but I am forever a Stark.' She looked to her maids once again, the two younger girls were both talking to each other excitedly, no doubt pleased to be going to Casterly Rock.

'I love you Sandor…' She knew he could not hear her words, and she did not dare repeat them to him when he had said them to her, but she knew she loved him and she would sacrifice everything to keep him safe.

…..

"You expect me to travel in that?!" Arya looked at the carriage that was pulled in front of her in disgust. "I want to travel on horseback!"

"Orders are orders My Lady, Lord Tywin insisted that you travel as the Lady you are. A Lady cannot travel horseback." One of the Lannister soldiers had approached her cautiously.

Sandor chuckled a bit at Arya's outburst, "she's never been a Lady, and she's a wolf." He looked to the soldier, "she's a tough one, might be easier to let her do as she wants."

Arya looked to Sandor and grinned a bit then looked to the soldier, "I want needle back too!"

The soldier looked at her a moment then nodded, turning to another soldier who stood behind him. When he turned back, he offered her the skinny sword she was given so long ago by her brother Jon.

"Needle huh? What good is that thing?" Sandor teased as he had just placed his own sword in its sheath.

"I've killed with it, it works for me since I'm small. I can move faster with it." She looked at him proudly then looked to the soldier. "Where is my horse?"

"I am sorry My Lady, but you must travel in the carriage. Our Lord gave us permission to allow you to carry weapons for your protection, but you are to travel fitting your station." The soldier then turned from her and walked away.

Arya looked to Sandor and moved closer to him, "when we make camp?"

Sandor nodded, "aye, when we make camp." He then moved to his own horse and signaled her to obey and get in the carriage.

…

(((Hmm... what could those two be up to?)))

~Huggles~