Hard rain pounded the ships as they neared Dragonstone. Arya had found some rope and tied herself to the railing of the ship to keep herself from falling overboard. Several men had already been lost to the rough waters as the storm only intensified.
"There is no way we can attack in this weather my lord!"
Sandor growled as he looked to Eldron, his anger growing with the storm. "The longer we wait, the more danger the Lady is put in!" He then looked around the fleet of ships that sailed with them, each being battered by waves and wind. "Keep formation, we will wait out the storm." He then moved to Arya, "get yer ass inside wolf-girl!"
Her protests fell on deaf ears as the howling of the wind nearly drowned out any other noises. Sandor withdrew his dagger and quickly sliced through the ropes that held Arya in place. Before she could even move, he threw her over his shoulder and headed to the captain's quarters. "Fight all you want." Finally placing her down once they were in he looked to her with anger filled eyes, "you will do no one any good gettin' sick. Stay in here til the storm passes!" He then stormed out before she could even respond, slamming the door and locking it behind him.
…..
"Winter has come…" Sansa looked from the skies to the waters, watching as the rain poured down. Her family's words rang through her mind. They were always a warning, and that warning was coming true.
"Worry not my love, we are perfectly safe here." Joffrey stood behind her, watching as the waves grew in size. "Though I cannot say the same for your sister." He looked to her as she suddenly turned to look at him, placing a finger to her lips to keep her from speaking. "She is on a ship in these waters, I cannot guarantee her safety until she arrives here to Dragonstone."
Sansa nodded, silently turning back to the windows. He was right, Arya and Sandor were out there, gods only knew if they would make it. She silently prayed to her parents to protect them all as they made their way to her.
A knock on the chamber doors caused them both to turn, and without word, Melisandre entered. She wore her traditional red ceremonial robes. "My King," she nodded to Joffrey, "my Queen." She then nodded to Sansa before moving to the hearth at the center of their chambers. "Are we ready?"
Joffrey nodded, "we are." He then took a hold of Sansa's hand and led her to the fire, his eyes never leaving Melisandre as to ensure she was not about to betray them.
The smile never left the red woman's face as she pulled a dagger from her robes. Turning to the fire, she pointed the blade directly to the fire, her red pendant instantly began to glow. "In sight of our lord, the one true god, the god of light. Joffrey Baratheon, first of his name gives his vow and allegiance to his lady, Sansa of house Stark. His words to her shall only be that of truth, his hand will only touch her in love and affection, not anger and hatred. He will show no cruelty to his bride, as this goes against the laws of our lord."
She then turned to Joffrey, taking his free hand. "He vows this with his own blood," turning his hand over, she sliced the palm of his hand. She then moved his hand over the flames and turned it over, allowing his blood to fall into the fire. Releasing his hand, she moved to Sansa's side, taking her hand, she mimicked the same movements, slicing the palm of her hand and allowing the blood to flow over the fire.
"Joffrey Baratheon, your vow will only be sealed, when your blood mixes with your beloved." She then nodded, giving Joffrey the signal to take Sansa's bloody hand with his own.
Sansa hardly moved as he lifted her wounded hand, placing his palm against hers. He had warned her that the ceremony would require their blood. She had not thought that they would have to mix their blood though.
"As your blood mixes…" Melisandre moved behind Joffrey, "your vow seals." She then placed the bloody dagger across his throat as she continued speaking. "Should you break your vow to your wife and to your lord, your punishment will be greater than death. You will lose all that you hold dear, you will lose your life. You will live in an eternal limbo, as a slave to the god of light. You will face pain that you have never experienced before, it will be eternal suffering." Suddenly she slid the dagger hard across his throat, slicing his flesh open.
Sansa let out a scream of horror as she watched Joffrey fall to the ground lifelessly. She then looked to Melisandre who seemed to be in a trance of her own. She clutched her hand to her chest as she looked down at the lifeless body of Joffrey, memories of Kings Landing rushing back to her, remembering how he had died before.
Suddenly the fire grew, knocking Sansa to the ground, causing her to scream once again. She looked to it in horror as she saw an image appear in it. She could not make out more than a shadow, half man, half demon.
The figure moved from the flames and directly to Sansa, it hovered over her a moment before she suddenly heard her own voice.
'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.'
She looked at the figure as it remained over her a moment, she slowly nodded as she felt herself being lifted to her feet. She understood what he was trying to show her, that she was going back on the word she had sworn not long ago.
The shadow then returned to the flames, slowly disappearing as the flames returned to normal. She then turned to see Melisandre praying over Joffrey's body. Her eyes widening when she heard him gasp for air. She watched as Melisandre helped him to his feet, the gash in his throat completely healed. She then looked to her hand, the cut now gone as well. All that remained was stains of blood.
"It is done your grace." Melisandre curtsied to Joffrey, then looked to Sansa. "Heed the Lord of Light's words my Queen." She then turned to leave, "I will have Fiona and Fiana prepare a bath for you both. Indeed you are in need of it." She then closed the doors behind her, leaving a stunned Sansa standing in silence with Joffrey.
…
"Any word from the fleet?" Tyrion sat in his chambers, looking to Eswar as he entered.
"My lord, it seems they have come upon terrible weather and have been delayed." Eswar then held out a letter with the Kings Landing seal on it. "You also have word from King Tommen, I fear you will not like the news."
Tyrion took the letter, opening it quickly. The look on his face grew hard as he finished the letter. "You read this already?" He looked up to Eswar.
"I did my lord…" He looked down slightly, "the news hard to believe."
"It says Joffrey is alive! It says he is the one who has the Lady Sansa!" He quickly stood from his seat, moving to his desk. "Has word been sent to the fleet?"
"I am unsure my lord, though I am sure the King would want to warn Lord Clegane."
Tyrion was already writing a letter himself, "Well I am writing my own, I know that brat better than Tommen. I know his weaknesses, they will need to know all they can." His hand moving at a rapid pace, "this is not good Eswar, I would have preferred it to be Stannis!" He then rolled the letter and handed it to him. "Take this and have it sent to Lord Clegane immediately! Use our strongest crow to ensure he survives the storm."
As Eswar bowed and left, Tyrion moved to his windows, looking to the sea. His eyes had built up a few tears. "My sweet Lady Sansa, I pray my deranged nephew has not harmed you."
….
Arya paced back and forth, Sandor still refused to let her out of the room. The storm was slowly letting up, but he insisted it was still better that she stay inside. Everything she could have possibly broken had been broken within the first day she had been locked up. Now she had resorted to stabbing the walls with her sword, though careful not to dull the blade.
"Damn it! I'm not some Lady who needs to be waited on!" She pounded at the door again. A squawk at the window grabbed her attention. A crow stood in the window clutching a letter. "Well, you made a long journey, this must be important." She then took the letter from the crow before pulling out some corn from her pockets. "Here you go." She placed it in a small bowl so the crow could eat it.
Pounding on the door once again she shouted, "Get lord Clegane, a letter has arrived from the King!" She then moved to sit on the bed and began to read it. By the time Sandor arrived all the color had drained from her face.
"What is it wolf-girl?" Sandor moved to her and pulled the letter from her hand.
"It's… Joffrey." She looked up at him, her eyes turning dark, "he has my sister!"
….
(((Ok so the war was delayed. Next Chapter Perhaps?)))
~Huggles~