Chapter 17

Heartbreak and stupidity

Tommen

Tommen stands in front of the doors leading to his brothers' chambers with a rage unlike he had ever felt coursing through his body. When he was allowed entry, he marched in and stood in front of Joffrey his breathes coming in small pants.

"Tommen? Why are you here?" Joffrey asks.

Before his courage can fail him, Tommen says, "I'm here about Lady Sansa."

"Lady Sansa? About her kidnapping you? I was told it was you who ran away but I never believed it. You aren't that brave." Joffrey said dismissively.

"She did not kidnap me! I am brave! And I don't want her to marry some stupid knight from the reach. She's my friend. She's my Sansa." Tommen all but shouted.

"Why would you run away? You are a prince." Joffrey says.

"I ran from you. And from mother. Your always so mean to me, always making me feel small and hurting me. Mother doesn't care and barely notices me. Sansa does. She's always so kind to me and cares about me and I don't want her to leave." Tommen looked defiantly at Joffrey.

It was quiet for several moments before Joffrey spoke. "I was always awful to you. I hit and berated you. I have no explanation other than to explain that my whole life I felt the same from father, it wasn't until Lord Stark arrived and has shown me nothing but understanding and kindness that I realised people can be kind to each other and it is not a weakness but a strength." Tommen was shocked but Joffrey had not finished.

"Mother has ignored you, but she has smothered me. She believes me a child incapable of rule and I would be if it wasn't for Lord Stark helping me and showing me what it means to be a ruler. I apologise for how I have treated you Tommen and I will try and be a better brother." Joffrey finished and sat down in front of the fire and invited Tommen to sit with a gesture of the hand.

"Thank you. Does that mean Sansa doesn't have to marry Loras?" Tommen asks hopefully.

"Tommen. It's not as simple as it seems. You are eleven years old, too young to marry. If it was not Ser Loras, it would be another, she is of marriable age. I'm sure she likes you too but maybe its more like she likes her brother's somebody to protect. When you marry it's a different type of love." Joffrey said trying to be gentle.

"She loves me though I know it." Tommen said on the edge of tears.

"She might. It is not enough, however. Marriage when you are a Lord's daughter is rarely for love it is about what is best for the family. The north needs grain especially with the war they are fighting, and the Tyrell's can provide that. If Sansa waits for you, what can you provide her? For her family?" Joffrey asked these questions and Tommen realised; it would be selfish for him to ask Sansa to wait for him not just for herself but for the people of the north as well. He could feel his heart break as he stood and said goodbye to his brother.

Without thinking about where he was going Tommen ended up in his own rooms before he broke down into sobs, he needed to let Sansa go. But he could not face seeing her and telling her to her face, he would only ask her to run away with him. So, Tommen decided to write her a letter before he could convince himself that the love he held for Sansa was worth the starvation of all the north men and women.

Dear Sansa,

I have cherished our friendship more than I can express to you. To have somebody understand me the way you have is rare and cannot be taken away from either of us. I hope our friendship means as much to you as it does to me. The time we spent out in the world, however scary, are some of my favourite and cherished memories and I will forever be grateful that you took me with you.

I was in the gardens today when I heard word of your betrothal. I am unsure why you kept this from me, but it is of no matter. You need not tell me everything. I wish to tell you I am happy for you, truly. Ser Loras is a brave knight, and he will treat you well, I am sure. You have a fine match Sansa, and I am sure you are delighted. I only wish I was old enough to be considered for your hand but alas I not only lack the age but also the resources to take care of you.

I hope we can remain friends as you enter the new chapter of your life, and I will always be your greatest admirer.

Yours,

Tommen.

Tommen stood and quickly affixed his seal to the letter handing it to a guard outside his door lest he lose his nerve and throw the letter into the fireplace. Once done he lay on his bed and cried until he fell into a fitful sleep.

Cersei

"How dare he?" Cersei shouts pacing back and forth in front of the desk of her father. He barely looks up from the papers he is writing upon, used to her moods as he is.

"Coming here and whispering poison into my sweet son's ear. I know its him." She seethes. "What is it with those northerners?! First Rhaegar and that frozen bitch and even Robert was in love with the chit. He was half in love with fucking Ned Stark the way he went on about him and now my own son is listening to his council over mine!" Finished she threw herself into an armchair and stuck her lip out. It was cute when she was younger but now it just looked ridiculous.

"Well, what are you going to do about it?" Tywin asked.

"I tried to have Joffrey send him away and he refused." Cersei muttered.

"I offered myself as his hand, but it seems he would rather have Lord Stark, even went so far as to remind me I am at war with the North but as he is a Baratheon he is not." Tywin said a glint in his eye.

"He is no Baratheon. I raised him to be loyal to me only and to the house of Lannister." Cersei replied.

"Be careful how you speak daughter, those words with rumours flying would not do well to be heard outside of these walls." Tywin said sharply.

"You know I'm not that stupid Father. The fact remains that we need to dispose of Ned Stark or the work we did to get Lannister blood on the throne will all have been for naught. I did not marry and lay with that disgusting man just to have my power taken away!" This was punctuated with a foot stomp from the grown woman.

"I cannot be seen to dispose of the man. I am at war with house stark and the blame will undoubtfully fall upon me. I mist be seen elsewhere. However as a woman you are able to use your own brand of manipulation to get close to the man. Have Pycelle give you something to put into the mans drink. I trust your capable of that at least." Tywin said raising his eyebrows.

"Yes father. Ned stark won't know what hit him." Cersei smiled. She'd soon have her son back under control.

Nice set up for the next chapter! How upset will Sansa be once she receives the letter? Will Ned be poisoned? See next chapter! Thank you so much for reading and especially reviewing it makes my day!

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