Chapter fifteen – Part 1

The proud lion

Sansa

Sansa and Tommen were completely lost. Both had very limited knowledge of the geography of Westeros so when they came to forks in the river they just kept turning left. They clung to each other during the dark nights and rationed the limited food they had available. Sansa curled around Tommen at night as he shook from the cold not used to sleeping without his feather bed and roaring fires.

Sansa herself was suffering with shakes whenever her mind went to the past few days of the butcher looming over her. Her feelings of helplessness caused her breathing to get so out of control only Tommen's soft hands stroking her face brought her out of these episodes. It had been four nights since they had escaped the riot in the village, and they had finished the last of the food the previous night so they knew they would have to leave the boat and try to find food unless they wanted to starve.

They abandoned the boat come sunrise and warily and clinging to each other's arms they approached the village which looked to be unaffected by the war. They passed the walls into a marketplace and immediately knew they had made a mistake. The proud lion of house Lannister was displayed prominently. Sansa gasped and tried to pull Tommen back out of the village, but it was too late. The guards had closed in behind them.

"All travellers must be declared," Grunted one.

"Where are you from?" Asked the other.

"The Riverlands." Sansa answered, trembling as the men stood over her.

"I think not." The larger one said. "Your accent is wrong, and the little man looks too blond to be anything other than a westerlander."

"Liars!" The first one said. "We caught some liars!" He shouted.

More guards appeared and they grabbed at Sansa and Tommen trying to pull them apart.

"No. Please, don't." Sansa cried.

"Please let us stay together!" Tommen shouted.

"What is all this noise about?" Came a sharp voice.

Everybody stopped and turned to the large man with balding blond hairs upon his head. He commanded respect without raising his voice and his presence could do nothing but be acknowledged. Sansa could sense the power in the man from across the square.

"Grandfather." Tommen breathed. Sansa's heart sunk. They were caught. It was all for nothing.

In the end she wasn't separated from Tommen as they were led to the small keep in the middle of the village. She kept her head down huddled into Tommen as he kept stroking her hand in reassurance.

Once they were in the study Lord Tywin commanded everyone else to leave and then turned to the two of them. He didn't even say a word but his whole demeanour was hard and made Sansa want to spill every secret she held.

"Grandfather." Tommen eventually spoke.

"Tommen. I trust you are well." Though his words seemed caring his tone was anything but. It sent a chill down Sansa's spine.

"I'm well Lord Tywin. Sansa took good care of me." Tommen said smiling at Sansa.

This however turned his attention upon her.

"Lady Stark. How is it you and my grandson have ended up away from King's Landing? There have been rumours of you kidnapping him." His eyes blazing.

"She – "Tommen tried.

"I was speaking to Lady Stark." Lord Tywin barked.

"I- "Sansa stuttered.

"She never!" Tommen raised his voice,

"ENOUGH." Tywin raised his voice.

"I never kidnapped him. There was fighting in King's Landing and me and my sister were leaving, Tommen asked to come with us." Sansa said trying to be brave but the grip on Tommen's hand increased.

"Why were you and your sister leaving? You had no guards. Your Father hand of the king. I find it hard to believe you would be able to just leave." Tywin's blue eyes sparkled.

"We missed home. We asked to go home and were not allowed so we decided to go anyway." Sansa lied hoping it didn't show on her face. "Me and Arya are completely different, and we fought so she decided to go a different way and me and Tommen got lost." She really hoped Arya would never find out her words after they had made up.

"Well, it's lucky we found you both then isn't it, Lady Stark. We are heading back up to King's Landing now and we will take you both back with us." Tywin said as he headed out of the tent. Sansa and Tommen just looked at each other in horror.

Ned

Honour dictates that a battle is preceded by a parley. Ned knows as he rides out to meet Stannis Baratheon and his retinue by the raging sea that it was pointless. Stannis was a stubborn man and he had set his designs on the iron throne. It was a surprise he had even agreed to parley, and it was only with his signature that the deal was done, his reputation of being honourable preceded him.

It had been difficult for him to convince the King to stay back in the castle but his idea of the King being needed to come up with battle plans had saved the day. That boy was improving but still had his moments of being difficult to manage.

"Lord Stannis." Ned greeted as he reached them.

"His grace." A lady from his right corrected.

"He is not my King. I have sworn no oaths to him." Ned replied evenly, he did not want to get the conversation off to a bad start.

"That's fine, Lord Stark." Stannis interrupted before anybody else could further push the matter. "I come here to claim my throne. I was the true heir of Robert as the three whelps Cersei pushed out her cunt were not of my brother's blood but of her brothers."

Stannis paused expecting Ned to be shocked. When he got no reaction, he continued. "Surely you must see Lord Stark. They are all yellow of hair and the Baratheon's famously have black haired children."

Ned was surprised that this was all the evidence they had to offer. "Lord Stannis, you must see the ridiculousness of this claim. My daughter Sansa is red of hair as is my heir Rob, but I know without doubt that those are my children. Robert had many children as was proved to be virile, so I very much believe he got children upon his wife as well. I also must say I see much of Robert in Joffrey. Mostly his stubbornness but also his temper."

The grinding of Stannis's teeth could be heard across to Ned. "The King offers the following. He offers you Storm's end after the death of Renly and for you to send ravens out debasing the claims you have made. He gives you fair terms as you are his uncle after all, but it also comes with a message. This will be the only parley."

Stannis looks at Ned for a long moment before speaking. "The iron throne shall be mine. It has been foretold that I should rule."

Ned just turns his horse and heads back to the Red Keep to prepare. 'I tried, Robert.' He thought on his way.

Once he reached the keep nobody asked how it went. It was clear there would be a battle come nightfall and there were only so many hours until the sun set. Swords were handed out to all men and the women were herded into the Magor's keep. A large meal was set out in the hall for those who could stomach it as who knows weather it would be their last.

Ned however headed to the battlements, bowl in hand, to look over the preparations and clear his head. He had never liked battle, not like Robert of even Brandon. His thought's turned to his brother burned alive in this very castle he now lived and tonight he might meet the same fate. Lord knows Stannis likes fire as much as the mad king did.

The preparations were all in order and so Ned headed to the gates where he met with the young king.

"My King. I come from the battlements. Everything is in order. You did well this afternoon." Ned smiled at Joffrey.

"Lord stark." Joffrey nodded at him looking very green.

"Worried?" Ned asked quietly. "You'd be a fool not to be. I've lost count of the battles I have been in and each time I am as nervous as before my first."

Joffrey was surprised anybody would admit to this and didn't even think to lie. "I am Lord Stark."

"You will be protected, Your grace. Remember the plans. Don't try to do anything worth a song remember those are written by the winners and if you die Stannis will have you declared and known throughout the history books as a bastard." Ned said seriously. "I will see you after the battle Joffrey."

Ned was surprised when Joffrey reached over and embraced him. "I will see you after the battle Ned."

Long time no see. There will be a part 2 to this chapter as it got far too long.

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