"My lady, I did not return to take Casterly Rock, I hope you know that."

Tyrion and Sansa sat together the next morning, both enjoying breakfast together.

"I know that Tyrion, but it is only right. I am only Lannister by marriage, not blood. All the men here respect you, and are happy to see you have returned." She smiled a bit, "as am I. When Tommen told me you had been killed, I felt a piece of me had been killed."

Tyrion chuckled slightly, "my lady, you are too kind, as you always have been. But you will find, I am much harder to kill than many think I am. I am only sorry I did not return before you were forced to bed my wretched father." He frowned slightly as he drank from his wine glass.

Sansa shook her head, giving Tyrion a reassuring smile. "Even if you had returned, I fear your father would have found a way around it." She leaned over the table to place a hand on top of his, "he never hurt me, and he was nothing like Joffrey."

"Still… to marry a man of his age." He shook his head, "but none of that matters now." He raised his glass to her, "you are finally a free woman."

Sansa nodded, holding her glass to his. "I can drink to that." Both laughed slightly as they drank. "I just wish Shae was here, she would be overjoyed to see you here."

Tyrion nodded, his face showing a sadness in it Sansa had never seen. "I loved her, more than I had ever loved anyone in my life." He then looked to Sansa, "she is at peace though, and she did what she always swore to do. She swore she would give her life for you if she had to."

"She shouldn't have though." She sighed looking down at her glass, she never realized how much she missed Shae until now. "I pray no one else has to die for me." She then looked back to Tyrion, "perhaps now things can become more peaceful. With you here, me in the North and Tommen as King, I am sure peace is most possible."

Tyrion nodded, "indeed my dear."

….

"The Lady Sansa travels to Winterfell soon." Jon was walking through the courtyard with Gregor as he spoke. "It has been agreed that Tyrion will take over the duties at Casterly Rock so that Sansa can take her rightful place here."

Gregor grinned slightly, "That is indeed great news. I am sure you are pleased to have both of your sisters returning home."

Jon nodded, looking to the large man beside him. "And you? Your brother will be with them, last I heard the two of you were not on speaking terms."

Gregor nodded, "Sandor wants to see me dead for what I did to him. Though I do not blame him for it. I will reach out to my younger brother, perhaps the Lady Sansa can assist me in regaining his trust and perhaps one day his love."

"Well, if anyone can get through to him, it would be Sansa." Jon chuckled slightly, "she's stubborn, just like her mother." He then turned to Gregor, "we will need to see to it that her chambers are prepared. As well as Arya's."

Gregor nodded, "The Lady's chambers have already been prepared, and I will see to it that Lady Arya and my brother are also given proper chambers. Since my brother is Sansa's shield, his chambers shall be placed near hers."

Jon nodded, "thank you Gregor." He then turned and headed to the stables.

Gregor watched the boy walk away before turning away as well. His grin never fading, "see you soon, brother."

…

"Please send word when you arrive my lady, for each day we wait we will all worry for your safety." Rocar held Sansa's hand tightly as he placed a kiss to it.

"I promise Rocar, though you should not worry. With Sandor by my side, as well as the soldiers Tyrion provided, I am sure we will be quite safe." She then turned to Tommen and Margaery who were also preparing to depart for Kings Landing. "I will also send word upon my arrival to you Your Grace." Sansa curtsied to Tommen.

With a giggle Tommen nodded, "You will have to tell us how things are in Winterfell. I hope they have most of it rebuilt by the time you arrive!"

"We will visit once things are settled as well my lady." Margaery had taken a hold of Sansa's hand, "I cannot wait to see the famous Winterfell."

Both girls giggled lightly as Arya and Sandor stepped behind Sansa. "We must begin our travels, all of us have a long road ahead of us."

Sansa turned to Sandor with a nod, then looked back to Margaery and Tommen. "Thank you both, for everything." She then turned to Tyrion who stood near their horses, "Tyrion." She moved to him, placing a kiss on his cheek, "you I have to thank more than anyone. You helped me survive in Kings Landing, you were always kind. For that, I will forever be grateful."

Tyrion nodded, taking her hand to kiss it lightly. "My lady, it was my duty to care for you. You are destined for great things, I only assisted in getting you there." He placed another kiss to her hand, "safe travels sweet Sansa."

Sansa nodded before she turned to Sandor who took her hand and assisted her into her carriage. She looked around Casterly Rock one last time, looking to each servant who had served her and to each soldier who had protected her. "Thank you, all of you." She then entered her carriage and let the doors close behind her.

The silence that followed was remarkable, the impression Sansa left on the men of Casterly Rock would last forever.

…..

"Insist on taking a group of men to intercept them, to give the Lady more protection."

Flames danced in the dark room, a large figure looked over them. "My lord… he may suspect something if I push the subject too much."

"FIND A WAY!" The flames had burst, nearly engulfing the man, "it will be easier to take the Lady on the road, and once she is in Winterfell she will be heavily guarded."

"It will be done my lord, one way or the other, the lady will be delivered to you."

The flames slowly started to extinguish, "unharmed Gregor… unharmed."

…..

Sansa sat in her carriage, her fingers toying at the pendant of her necklace. The same necklace Tywin had given her back in Kings Landing. She wasn't sure why she had kept it, but she only felt it was right. It was a connection to her lost child after all. She had to find a way in her heart to forgive him, to forgive Tywin for forcing her to marry him. Sansa knew she could not continue her life with all this hatred built up inside of her. She knew that she had to find a way to forgive all of those who had hurt her in the past. Starting with Joffrey…

"Sansa?" Arya poked her head inside the carriage, "we're stopping for the night."

Sansa looked around, she hadn't even noticed the carriage stop moving. She then looked to Arya and nodded, "have the men set up camp yet?"

Arya shook her head as Sansa slowly stepped out of the carriage, "they are setting up now."

"I need to do something…" She looked around, noticing the forest was thick around them. "I need a place I can pray in private."

"Sansa you cannot go wandering off alone, Sandor would have my head if I let you."

"Let her do what?" Sandor approached the two girls.

Sansa turned to him, "Sandor, I need to find a private place to pray. I am not asking to go alone, but I do not want to do in front of all of these men." She signaled around them.

Sandor nodded and offered his arm to her, "I shall escort you then, as well as your sister. She has proven a strong warrior."

Sansa smiled taking his arm as she watched Arya smile lightly. Together the three of them moved into the woods until they found a small clearing near a stream. "Perfect." Sansa then released her arm from Sandor's and moved to kneel before some rocks near the water.

Both Sandor and Arya remained a distance from her, to give her as much privacy as possible. Though both kept their swords drawn and eyes on everything around them.

Sansa clasped her hands before her as she looked to the night sky, taking a deep breath she decided to say her prayer out loud. After all, the same people that had wronged her, had wronged her sister. "Mother, father. I speak to you tonight. I cannot go on living my life with all this hatred in my heart. A proper Queen need to love with all of her heart, and my heart is not full of love as long as I hold hate in it. I need to learn forgiveness, I need to find peace in the pain I have suffered."

She looked to Arya who had turned her attention to Sansa. She then slowly closed her eyes as she continued her prayer. "Tonight I find it in my heart to forgive Joffrey, for taking our father from us. For forcing me to be tormented daily, for all the cruelty he placed in this world. Tonight I pray you give him that same forgiveness."

Arya was about to say something when Sandor placed a hand to her shoulder and whispered. "Let her do this wolf-girl, she needs it." The both then looked back to Sansa.

"Mother, father, I also forgive Queen Cersei, Ser Jaime and Lord Tywin. In a world such as this, there are things you must do to survive, and I believe in my heart they were only trying to survive." She then took a deep breath before continuing, "I also forgive Walder Frey, for taking my mother and brother away from me. Though his intentions were cruel and unfair, I forgive him. Tonight I free myself of hate, I forgive all of those who have harmed me and my family. Those living and those who have died. And I pray I can be the Queen our people deserve."

Slowly she opened her eyes, feeling her eyes wet from tears that tried to escape during her prayers. She then stood and looked at Sandor and Arya who watched her in awe. She did not say another word, simply walking past them to head back to camp.

…

(((Sansa is such a sweet girl. It may get her into more trouble!)))

~Huggles~