Chapter 16

Love vs Duty

Joffrey

Long after the battle had ended, and the dead had been taken from the city in order to be buried in mass graves king Joffrey Baratheon sat in his rooms still clad in his armour and blood soaking his hair. He had ignored the suggestions from the servants and gentle coaxing from his kingsguard to clean himself. His head was still ringing with the screams of dying men and the sight of Eddard Stark pale and lifeless drifted across his mind far too often. Joffrey had enjoyed battle; he had enjoyed killing his enemies and had killed seventy-four before he had noticed Ned and then all enjoyment had fled from his body. That man had saved him. He was the only positive thing in Joffrey's life, and he was in front of him bleeding out after taking a sword meant for him.

It was only when he was informed that a council had been called and his Grandsire was heading it did, he move from in front of the fire. He knew his Grandsire. He would be trying to take as much power as he could with Lord Stark incapacitated and if Joffrey couldn't help with healing the man, he would make sure he was not disrespected in his absence.

Joffrey didn't bother to change. His mother would be furious, but he couldn't find the energy to care. He strode towards the small council chamber and nodded to the guards to open the doors. Joffrey strode through and just stood looking at his Grandsire sat in the chair at the end of the table until Lord Lannister spoke.

"Sit Joffrey." He drawled.

"I would. But it seems you are in my seat." Joffrey replied trying to keep his voice even.

There was several seconds of silence and neither man wanted to break eye contact until Lord Lannister nodded sharply once and moved to the other end of the table.

Joffrey moved to his seat and sat. He was about to speak but his Grandsire spoke first.

"How was the battle going so badly before I arrived? Lord Stark did poorly defending this city and I vote to have him removed as Hand officially." Tywin looked up expectantly, not used to anybody questioning his decisions.

"I agree Lord Lannister." Pycelle said.

"No." Joffrey said quietly.

"Excuse me?" Tywin said. "This city was about to fall. I am the one who saved it. You are just a boy king, and I am your Grandsire."

"I am King." Joffrey said.

"Any man who says, 'I am king.' Is no king." Tywin said.

"It was not a reminder to me. It was a reminder to you. I am king, Lord Lannister. You are pledged to me, Grandsire, or no. Lord Stark did an admirable job, and you did your job serving your king. He was my father's hand and has been guiding me since before his death. He will remain hand and that is all that is too be said about it." Joffrey sat back in his seat waiting for a rebuttal and one was not far from coming.

"Joffrey. The Stark's are in rebellion. It isn't right for their lord to be hand of the king." Tywin said as to speaking to a young child.

"The Stark's are fighting the Lannister's. I am a Baratheon. The issue is not mine but yours." Joffrey said. "This small council meeting is over, to be reconvened in the morning. Grandsire, your attendance will not be necessary."

The next morning, after a night of no sleep, Joffrey makes his way to the small council chamber and is glad to see his Grandsire is nowhere to be seen. He listens to endless reports of deaths and casualties trying to pay attention but also almost falling asleep. It wasn't until near the end of the meeting that Joffrey began to pay attention to the conversation when the issue of marriage was raised by Varys.

"Your grace, Lord Lannister promised much in exchange for the help of the Tyrell's in this war of his. He extended his reach and offered a betrothal." Varys said with a fake look of sadness on his round face.

"Who? Tommen or Marcella?" Joffrey asked.

"Neither your grace. He told them it would be you to marry the Lady Margery. She will be entering the city today." Varys said.

"He betrothed me. Without speaking to me? That man has overstepped his bounds!" Joffrey shouted.

"He is your grandsire." Pycelle tried to intercede.

"Yes. But he is a lord. I am the king." Joffrey reminded the old man.

"Your grace. The match, as much as it was done without your knowledge could be a favourable one. The Lady Margery is a beauty for sure and the food from the reach will be greatly welcomed come winter. I think you should consider it for the good of the Realm." Varys said.

"I will think upon it." He said, although what he really wanted was to ask Ned's opinion.

"There is also the matter of Loras Tyrell. He was close to your uncle. He's very angry at his death and his family are asking for a betrothal as well in order to keep him away from the battlefield." Varys continued.

"We cannot have two members of the royal family married to one great house." Joffrey thought aloud. "Marcella is not of marrying age and the age gap between her and Loras Tyrell is too large."

"We do have one noble lady under our protection. The Lady Sansa." Varys simpered.

"Her Lord father is incapable of negotiating a betrothal." Joffrey pointed out.

"She is under your protection currently. We can discuss it with Lord Stark when he wakes up. It would be a tentative agreement. The alliance with the Tyrells could rest upon it." Varys said and for once Joffrey thought he was telling the truth.

"We will sign an agreement for Sansa to marry Loras Tyrell but only upon the agreement of her father." Joffrey declared. He really hoped Lord Stark would wake soon.

Sansa

Margery Tyrell had entered the city to rapture from the common people. She was known for giving food out to the needy and the soldiers from the reach had spent the day before spreading tales of both her beauty and her kindness throughout the city. It was with the knowledge of these tales and the hope of another friend in the capital that Sansa was in the courtyard awaiting her arrival.

However, when she arrived Sansa was struck by the falseness in her eyes and actions. She watched as a shutter came across her eyes as she saw the King and simpered before him. Sansa clutched onto Tommen's arm and whispered in his ear. "I don't like her. She plays games with people."

A week later Sansa was overjoyed to be told her father had awoken and was asking for her. She had taken to staying in her rooms except for a walk each afternoon with Tommen. Margery Tyrell seemed to have made it her goal to befriend Sansa and if she caught her outside would talk to her for hours about meaningless subjects such as fabrics and music. Months before Sansa would have loved these conversations but after her experiences on the road with Arya and Tommen it all seemed so frivolous.

She decided not to wait for any guards to escort her too eager to see her father after so long apart. Sansa was a corridor away from the maester's chambers where her father was recovering when once again, she was accosted by non-other than the golden rose herself.

"Sansa. How lovely to see you. It's been a while since I saw you last. How are you?" Margery said. Her words were lovely but there was no emotion behind her eyes as she said them.

"I'm well thank you Lady Margery. I am on my way to see my father actually he's awoken, so I must be going." Sansa tried sidestepping her but to her frustration she just smiled and said "That is truly wonderful news. I shall escort you there."

"It's just –"Sansa tried.

"It's no problem. I was just speaking to my grandmother, and she told me there is talk of you being betrothed to my brother Loras. That would make us sisters!" Sansa's heart sank at her words. She knew it was inevitable a betrothal would happen soon, but she had hoped it would be another.

She was quiet until they reached the doors of her father's sick room and Margery left with a sticky kiss to her cheek and a smile. Sansa took a deep breath before she entered.

"Sansa." Her father smiled. He was still abed, pale and had bandages covering his side, but he was awake, and She was so relieved she immediately burst into tears.

"Oh, come here sweet child." Ned said. "It's ok. Dry your eyes and tell me of your adventures. How is it your back here? And where is Arya?"

Sansa took several deep breaths and then sat on the chair provided next to the head of the bed. It took her several moments to tell her father of the experiences she had encountered on the road and apologised for losing Arya. She really hoped she made it safely north.

"Sansa. You and your sister did me proud. I am very thankful you took care of each other and came to an understanding with Arya, I truly thought I would never see the day." Ned said smiling. "I'm still tired from healing and I know the King wishes to see me before I rest again. Is there anything else you wish to speak about?"

"Actually father just before I arrived I was talking to Margery Tyrell and she mentioned a possible betrothal between myself and her brother Loras. I was unaware of any negotiations between houses Stark and Tyrell." Sansa said looking down.

"There is no negotiations Sansa. I assume it was put forward in my absence." Ned said slowly. "What is your opinion on the matter?"

"I'm sure Ser Loras is a noble and kind man, father. But I must confess I have felt affections for another." Sansa said feeling her face flush.

"Sansa. Nothing has compromised you has it?" Ned asked urgently.

"No! Father no. I just think this boy is kind and wonderful and I could imagine a happy life with him." Sansa rushed to say.

"Well, you have not bled yet have you?" Ned waited for the shake of her head. "Then I shall delay negotiations it gives us a few months at least and if you come to me and tell me the boy you like is interested too then I shall support you Sansa."

Sansa beamed. She knew Tommen would love her too.

Tommen

Tommen is once again waiting in the gardens for it to be a appropriate time to invite Lady Sansa for a stroll when he heard the laugh of Margery Tyrell and ducked behind a pillar. That woman gave him a unsettling feeling. She was nice enough on the surface, but Tommen knew in his stomach that he could not trust the woman. It was as he was hiding that he heard the words that turned his insides to ice.

"Yes. I spoke to Grandmother and the betrothal between Sansa and Loras is practically agreed upon. The Tyrell's will soon have a hand in most of the seven kingdoms." Margery laughed as she bypassed Tommen's hiding place.

He didn't even stop to think. Tommen's anger was filling his chest as his feet carried him inside. Sansa was his friend. His only friend. Nobody had ever looked after him the way she had. She cared about him. He wasn't going to let some poncy knight from the reach steal the person most important to him. There was only one person who could stop this from happening and unfortunately it was the person Tommen feared most. His brother.

Happy New year to you all :) May 2023 be boring and calm the whole world around. I think we've all had too much excitement for a few years right?

Short chapter incoming next :)

xxxcrazyxladyxxx