Sansa

Being at court was not at all like I had dreamed it to be. First off, the king was so kind but only saw me as a child and did not even let me be present in court. I was sent off to the children and left there. We had lessons, tea, sewing lessons and meals together but the worst was I was treated just like one of them and not as an adult representing a major house and one that was close to the king. How was Joffrey supposed to meet me if I was locked away with the children.

Then to top it off on the second day here, I was told that he wasn't even a prince, and the crowned heir was undecided between the children of King Robert. The first heir was a male, but I didn't know where he was at and the second was a girl. The third heir was a boy, but he was Arya's age and there would be no reason for me to marry him being only third in line. Then add in that nothing was like mother had made it seem with dances, singers, poets, tea gatherings and so on. Well maybe for the so-called adults who I rarely seen as they seemed to be very busy doing only the gods knew what, but I was treated as a child not the representative of the north. Why is it because I was a girl, I just knew it. Myrcella says that isn't true, but it had to be. If my brothers were here, they surely would have been treated better and included in things not left with the children.

"Did you see the new gown that the princess was wearing, I am going to try and make one like it." Jeanne said and I nodded barely paying attention to her or Beth and Lyra. I was still lost in my sadness that my dreams of marrying my prince were falling apart. It wasn't fair, why was I not given this like I was promised. I was beautiful, could sing, play the harp, stitch better than anyone I knew, was educated, and knew my manners to the letter and now it would be wasted if I wasn't queen.

"Ladies, we have been told that we shall leave court in a few days, headed back north with the king and his family. We must prepare and get packed back up." Lady Margo explained coming into the room we had all retreated to this afternoon during the storm outside. In reality, all I wanted to do was stomp my feet and scream how unfair this all was. This was not the trip I was promised but Ladies did not act that way nor future Queens. "Tonight, Lady Sansa you have been invited to dine with the Prince of Dorne and his family. The princess is also here, and she would like to meet you. Come let us dress for the meal." This excited me some as I had not met many yet and this was royalty, sort of, that wanted to dine with me. Now this was more like it.

I picked out one of my new gowns and taking my time I made sure that my hair was perfectly done in the southern ways like I had practiced and that my lips were painted just so that made me look a bit older.

I was bothered when my escort was nothing a maid and a guard but brushed it off as just the Princess running late and would meet me there. I would make sure to sit myself next to her so that we could chat while I took in all the others around us.

"I hope your stay has been pleasant Lady Sansa." The king asked as I walked into the room that was holding the dinner. There were three tables set and most of the chairs were filled by others. Not even a single one at the table with the King and his family nor that of the Prince of Dorne. I did see that Princess Myrcella was seated with Arianne of house Martell and they were chatting happily. I should have been there with them and wondered if a maid had just made a mistake until I was led to a chair at the other table. Once again disappointment tugged at my heart as I realized I was with the other ladies in waiting and not being included.

"It has been, your grace." I said quietly with a nod of my head like mother and Septa Mordane had taught me.

"I imagine you are ready to return home to your family though. It was such a long trip, I am just sorry that you had to come so far, but I look forward to getting to know you and your family better." King Robert said and that hurt even more as it was clear he didn't want me here nor had thought the North would send anyone in place of my father. Or maybe it was because I was a girl that made me unimportant.

"I as well your grace, I have enjoyed my time with your daughter my grace." Sansa said as she only really included Myrcella because the others were bastards and mother had always taught her that bastards were dangerous and look what happened now elevated to the same status as a true born.

Dinner was a long affair with little talking on my part. It was not that these ladies were uninteresting, I just couldn't find it in me to care. My whole dream of becoming queen and marrying my prince was gone and it left me struggling to figure out who I was and where my life would go now. A large part I did not want to admit to hates my mother for filling my head full of a pipe dream and my father for letting her do it. I just wanted to go back home and never leave again. Blinking the tears away I offered my goodbyes and retreated to bed where I cried my eyes out until the sun rose the next morning.

As usual I was up before the sun and as I looked out across a cliff face and into the sea that held storm clouds off in the distance it felt very much like a sign of what my life was to become. I could not shake the feeling that it was a warning of some kind. At the first knock I sighed and rubbed my face knowing I would have to face yet another day full of hard reality and nothing like what my mother had always told me of some fairy tale life.

"Mi Lady, you have been invited to break your fast in the small solar with the Martell family and some other selected houses. The king has agreed, and Lord Arryn is going to come and escort you along with Princess Myrcella and Princess Mya. Would you like to bath before?" the maid asked, coming into the room and I smiled. Maybe it would not be like the rest of the days after all.

Dressing in one of my best dresses that I had brought with me I had the maid fix my hair up with southern braids with a twist of the north at the very top. It was fitting I had reasoned being that I was in the south and I didn't want to make the major houses think that we had no fashion in the North.

Hearing the knock, I grabbed my last few items as I walked to the door to leave. "My Lady Sansa, are you ready." Jon Arryn asked, and I smiled at the man I had heard so much about over the years from my father. This was the man who had basically raised my father since he was just 8 when he started his fostering in the Vale. It was also my uncle having married my Aunt Lyssa.

"Yes Lord Arryn, how are you Lady Arryn, I had not known you were here or would have visited with you much sooner." I answered, getting over the shock of seeing my aunt with him and holding the hand of a boy who could not be much older than two.

"Hmm, there is no mistaking you are my sister's child, not a single drop of Stark blood in you. I was busy with other things than entertaining a child. Come before Sweet Robin gets a chill in this damp hall." She said and I was taken back by her tone and the way she was less than polite. I also felt like there was a negative tone in her voice and she didn't approve of me because I looked like my lady mother and not my Stark side. I knew mother and her were not overly close, but I thought they at least loved each other and got along. This lady seemed like a cold hostile person.

Taking my place just behind them I felt Myrcella squeeze my hand quickly as we followed but nothing was said until we reached the room that we would be taking our supper in. I watched my aunt take Robin and move to a table, off to the side and sit pulling him into her lap and essentially ignoring all those around her before Lord Arryn guided us to the right side of the room.

"Prince Oberyn Martell, his niece and the heir to House Martell Lady Arianna, Quentyn Martell who squires for Lord Ormond Yronwood, Lord Ormond Yronwood. This here is the princess Myrcella, Princess Mya, and Lady Sansa Stark of Winterfell." Lord Arryn introduces us, and I remembered every social nicety and cue I had been taught.

As the evening drummed on, I met houses Martell, Hightower, Velaryon, and to her surprise her grandfather Lord Tully who pulled her to the side right before food was served.

"Where is your mother and why did she not come with you? She has not answered my letters in months." He demanded.

"Father has stopped all mail from reaching her and it must go through our Maester first, and she is not allowed to write out. It was not till Bran, who is acting lord let her out of her rooms that I was able to even see her unsupervised. I do not know what they fight is about, but I have never seen father so mad." I tell him hoping maybe he can help my mother who seems so miserable lately.

"And just where is your Lord father at?" He inquired, having turned a bit red in the face from my answers.

"He and Rob are at the wall or beyond it still. There was trouble and father rode for the wall. I do not know more than that." I tell him honestly because I had not been told anything more.

Before he could question me more, we were called to take our seats. "Before you leave, I will give you a letter to your mother. Make sure she gets it immediately when you arrive home." He tells me and leads me to my seat next to him and at the same table as Lord Velaryon and his family. The only one close to my age was the heir and he was a quiet boy, but I could tell was passionate and well read about many topics as he didn't say much but what he did was well thought out and sourced.

"Lady Sansa, it has been a delight meeting you and you bring a unique view to topics at hand, and it was enlightening in some ways. I think we all forget about the vast North and the people in it as there are so few ever at court or travelling to the kingdoms. I look forward to many occasions to meet with you." Monterys tells me as we were saying our farewells to those around us.

Trying very hard not to blush and knowing I failed, I smiled shyly. I had never thought of someone other than the prince as a suiter but here was a handsome well-educated man from a well to do family who had paid attention to me and what I had to say all evening, debated topics, and even finished poetry that I had quoted. "I wish I could come to more, but we leave the day after, and I do not know when my father will let me return to court." I say sadly wishing I could stay here. There was so much more to do here and so many new people to meet. Winterfell would seem even drearier now that I have seen so many new things. Maybe I could become a lady in waiting for Myrcella, but I would have to do a better job becoming her friend.

"If it is not to forward, maybe with your permission, I could write to you." Monterys said quietly.

"I would enjoy that," I answered quickly before I was pulled away by my aunt in the most embarrassing tone I had ever heard.

"I always knew you would be like your mother, come along before you farther embarrass your house child." She barked at me and I blushed in anger and with a last smile turned and tried hard not to stomp my way back to my room where I let out an angry hiss once I was free of my aunt.