After their conversation, Sansa had shown Margaery around. She had to reassure the Queen that she would not somehow get lost within the walls and ben left behind. She always loved the time she had with Margaery, with her she felt like everything was the way it should have been. The way things should have been had she remained in Winterfell, where her best friend Jeyne and her would sneak out in the night to watch the stars together. Sansa was not sure what had happened to Jeyne, she prayed that she escaped Winterfell before it was attacked. Now she had Margaery, and she considered her one of her nearest and dearest friends. She trusted her more than she trusted most anyone around her.

She now stood alone in her chambers, looking out the windows as the sun slowly set. She had not heard from Tommen since his arrival, and she could feel herself growing more anxious. Margaery had reassured her that they would find a way to make it work should Tommen grant her the freedom to choose her husband. But she worried that he would not allow her this freedom, she feared that he would give her to Jaime, that she would be forced to marry another Lannister. She let out a small sigh as she watched the final signs of daylight disappear. There was a time in her life she would have welcomed a marriage to Jaime Lannister. He was after all, one of the most desired men in Westeros. All of the girls in Winterfell swooned over him when the king came to visit. But Sansa had been so caught up in her betrothal to Joffrey, nothing else mattered to her.

A knock at her chamber doors broke Sansa from her thoughts. Slowly she stood as they opened, Sandor entered, followed by two of the Kings Guards then King Tommen. She smiled warmly at the young king, curtsying as he approached her. "Your Grace."

Tommen nodded to his two guards who dismissed themselves. Sandor closed the door once they left, he then remained next to the door as Tommen moved to Sansa. "My lady." He smiled as he bowed to her. He then led her to sit with him. "I am sorry I took so long to come and speak with you, but I found myself curious about my grandfather's home."

Sansa nodded, "it is incredible, and I am still finding areas that I have not been to." She smiled a bit, "I find myself getting lost while I wander the halls."

Tommen nodded, "I can see how you would get lost." He then looked towards Sandor who stood still, his eyes looking straight, he could almost appear a statue. He then turned back to Sansa and leaned closer to her, "is it true? That you have found love?"

Sansa glanced to Sandor then back to Tommen, she felt a lump in her throat forming at his question. She nodded lightly, "I have your grace, and I denied it for so long. But after losing my beloved husband and then my child, the only thing that kept me whole was that love."

Tommen sat back a bit, letting out a small sigh. Though he was still a young child, he showed more maturity in him than Joffrey had ever shown. "Margaery tells me the man you love, is of low ranking." He tapped his fingers to his lips, "I cannot allow such a high ranking lady to marry outside of her class you know."

Sansa looked down at her hands as they instinctively folded. "Your grace…" She looked up to him, "I am widowed twice now, and I've lost a child." She could feel tears wanting to escape her eyes, but she fought them back. "I fear I cannot face more heartbreak, I am not sure how much more I can endure."

"I know…" Tommen put his small hand on top of Sansa's hands, his smile showing genuine compassion for her. "Lord Swyft thinks it would be a great match, for you to marry Ser Jaime." He shook his head, "but I can see that you do not love him, that it would be another marriage you do not desire. And I cannot force you to marry against your will, not again."

Sansa looked at him a moment, her heart suddenly felt as if it would burst. "Your grace?"

"I know you did not truly love my grandfather, I know he used your sister against you to force your hand." He frowned, "he tricked me as he tricked you. I will not treat you the way my family has." He then looked over to Sandor again then back to her, "I want you to marry for love Sansa, but your husband must be a lord. If he is not, and I find him worthy of you, I will give him a lordship."

Sansa's eyes widened, she could no longer fight the tears that hid beneath her lashes, "truly? You will grant me the freedom to follow my heart?" She suddenly fell to her knees before him, kissing his hands as she cried lightly. "Your grace, you have given me more happiness than I could ask for."

Tommen laughed lightly, "Your father was close friends with mine. I want us to be the same way Sansa, and I want you to be happy." He slowly stood, still holding her hands to help her stand to her feet. "We shall discuss more in the morning." He then placed a light kiss to her knuckles before turning to Sandor. "Clegane, thank you for keeping my lady safe."

Sandor nodded, but did not say a word. He opened the door for Tommen as he approached. He then waited for Tommen to walk down the hall with his guards before he began to walk out. He suddenly felt Sansa's small hand on his arm. He turned to look at her, his dark eyes meeting her blue ones. "Little bird?"

"He knows…" She looked at him, "he knows who I love, and so should you."

Sandor frowned a bit, he feared to hear her words. He loved Sansa beyond anything else in the world, but knew she would never return those feelings. He had told her how he felt, she had never said the words back. He knew she pitied him, which is why she kept him around. Now she was about to tell him who it was she wanted, he could feel the dagger going into his heart.

"It's you Sandor…" Her grip on his arm tightened a bit, "it's always been you."

…

Jaime stormed into his chambers, tossing anything in his way across the room. He had been spying on Sansa and Tommen, he overheard every word they spoke.

"That little brat actually thinks she can just marry any man she chooses?" He grabbed a flask of wine and drank it in one gulp before throwing it to the wall. "The northern people may respect her, and accept her intended, but no one here will!" He grabbed the flagon of wine, now drinking from it. "I have worked too hard to get her, I will not let that brat king take her from me!"

He then turned to his doorway where one of the Lannister soldiers stood, listening to every word he spoke. "You know the Lannister soldiers, they respect Sansa. But how do they feel about Clegane?"

The soldier looked at Jaime a moment before stepping in and shutting the door behind him. "The men have no love for the Hound, some of which would pay to see him dead."

Jaime laughed a bit, drinking more of his wine. "I've been around Lady Sansa and Clegane long enough, I know it is him she will choose. And that boy king will make him a lord so that he can have her." He shook his head, "Casterly Rock will never belong to a Clegane!"

"What is it we should do?"

Jaime turned to the soldier, "gather your best men, the ones who are most loyal to me. We will have to kidnap the Lady Sansa and her little sister. I will simply take a page from my father's book, if I have to force her hand, I will." He then finished the flagon of wine before throwing it to the wall, watching it shatter to pieces.

…

(((Sorry I took so long, but I have so many ideas that I should be more active now)))

~Huggles~