authorsnote: I cannot believe i haven't started a new WIP this year yet, so despite needing to update a few (cough cough) here we go! this came to me and demanded to be wrote!

do enjoy, I do so love this pairing, I have ages as: jaime: 30, sansa: 16.

lemme know if you want more (lol if you don't I've got like 20+ chapters planned and chapter 2 half written), fav/follow etc, and enjoy!

songrecs: in the end - epic cinematic version (there is a youtube video by xladyxmacbethx called sansa stark | in the end to this song and it is fantastic, go and check it out)

'You have my word'

'And you have mine'

He'd spent a long time outside the door, hands screwed into fists at his side, white cloak bunched up between his fingers … of the hand that remained at least. What was he doing? Screwing up the courage? No, he'd never been short in the bravery department. Thinking of what to say? More likely. Stalling? The most probable.

But no, he knew what to say, knew what he had to say, he knew what it would come to, he knew what he'd be asked to give.

Jaime wasn't stupid, contrary to his families' beliefs. Sure, he was no schemer, player of the game as they all were, Cersei, his Father, even Tyrion, the black sheep of the family, at the core was just as desperate for power and willing to play for it too. Not Jaime though. Not stupid though, never stupid.

He'd just always been more at home swinging a sword, riding a horse, leaving the scheming to his family, and instead laughing and smiling, blonde hair flowing in the wind, a dagger strapped to his thigh, a weapon in hand, deadly, always, but never one for politics. He'd been a legend with a blade, why had he needed to be anything more? A legend.

Had been.

Not anymore, not ever again.

Now he didn't really have a place. Remained on the Kingsguard, crippled as he was, but had no real use. What had Tyrion said to him?

'Command'

He could lead armies, he could sit at the front on horseback and charge into battle at the head, but from home? He knew tactics and strategies, he could do it, but a general that didn't fight? What use was he? It seemed ridiculous to be a general that stayed at home as his armies went to war. His Father did that, but Jaime couldn't imagine it, not for himself.

What use did he have then? None? Some? He didn't know. He hoped to find out.

Well, at the very least he had a use now, as he looked at the door to The Tower of the Hand, he had one use, but not for himself. For once, this wasn't something he was doing for his own gain, or for Cersei, no, this was for someone else.

Jaime had always been loyal to his family, a loyal lion, and now more than ever, he would prove it, had to prove it.

So, he pushed the door open, and stepped into his Father's domain.

He had a brother to save, a fellow lion, even in defiance of others.

He stepped inside.

Her room felt cold, even though she knew it was not.

Perhaps it was because it felt even more like a prison than usual, like a cell even. Tyrion had been thrown in the black cells, but she? She'd been put in a room 'fit for her station', her rooms, two guards outside the door. They didn't need to be there; this place had always been a prison to her.

Being deemed an actual prisoner made no difference. Not really.

She sat on her bed, reached for a blanket, wrapped it around her. She felt so tired, and yet sleep would not come, it never did. Tyrion … she'd never liked him, how could she? He was a Lannister. But then he'd been kind to her, when none others had, and now he was rotting.

If he'd killed Joffrey she might love him, and yet she didn't think he had.

Someone had though, hence their current situation, both locked up, prisoners, just in differing levels of jail. Still, she had been a prisoner in Kings Landing for over a year, again there was little difference to her.

She ignored the food someone had brought in, just sat on the bed, shivering a touch, waiting, waiting.

What was going to happen to her?

Was she considered in cahoots with her husband (even if in name only)? She hadn't been, part of her wished she had.

A little smile creeped onto her features, she may not have played a part, but she could still glean a great deal of satisfaction from Joffrey's death, that made her feel warm, like she was glowing from the inside out, warming the heart that had been cold for so many years.

Ironically, she felt safer now, even locked up, than she had since her Father had died. Joffrey couldn't hurt her anymore, would never hurt her again; her smile widened a touch.

But again, her mind strayed; what was to happen to her?

She supposed there was one of two paths.

If they found Tyrion guilty and her innocent, Tyrion would be executed or at the very least exiled, her marriage would be dissolved, likely annulled, and she'd be passed onto another Lannister. Worse, much worse, she didn't imagine any other man would spare her virtue on her wedding night.

If Tyrion were found guilty and she guilty, then they'd execute her alongside her husband. It was a grim day that seemed the better of the two options.

Death didn't sound so bad nowadays; like going to sleep, closing her eyes, curling into a ball, and taking a nap that she'd never wake up from; it almost sounded peaceful. It had been so long since she'd managed to catch more than an hours sleep at a time, maybe, just maybe going to sleep forever wouldn't be so bad.

Maybe she'd see her Father again, Mother and Robb, Bran, Rickon, Arya too, no doubt had joined them. They'd be together again, spare Jon, but then one day he'd join them as well. She could see them again, Lady too.

Might not be so bad.

She didn't even think of the possibility they'd both be found innocent, and things would carry on as they were; she'd seen Cersei's face after Joffrey had died, she'd have Tyrion hang for this.

Perhaps Sansa along with her.

'Where's his wife? Sansa! Take her!'

Only Tywin had stepped in and seen her taken to her rooms not a cell, as a noble Lady. She wasn't sure which she preferred.

But again, it didn't matter, a prison without bars, walls or guards, was still a prison if you couldn't leave, and Sansa wasn't able to anymore before Joffrey had died than she could now. A constant prison.

Like a little bird in a cage, a gilded cage but a cage all the same, wings clipped, unable to fly high where she belonged, fly high to heavens depicted by the Old Gods, eternal piece…

Not so bad.

And so, she waited, in her cage, the little bird who couldn't fly. She waited for someone to come and tell her what was happening, wrapped in her blanket, for a moment looking so vulnerable, if someone saw her, they wouldn't be able to stop feeling a stir of pity, of worry. Of course, when someone came, she'd straighten up, gather her courtesies, and greet them.

Her courtesies, her armour, the only thing that had kept her alive here, walls of ice that kept all at bay and locked her true thoughts, her traitorous thoughts away from prying eyes. They'd come to her, she didn't even have to try now to make sure they did, they'd come to her when she needed them, when someone came.

Hours passed, no one did.

But Sansa didn't move, she didn't pace or worry. She just sat on her bed, gathering the blanket closer as night ticked on. Eventually she fell back on the pillows, never in danger of falling asleep. She settled back, waiting, wondering.

What would her fate be come morning? Executed? Annulled? Remarried? Dead? Only the latter sounded appealing.

Like an eternal sleep … dark and quiet.

It would come as a surprise to her in the morning, that she did drift off. Perhaps it was how hectic the day had been, perhaps it was Joffrey being gone, in a place where he couldn't hurt her anymore, she wasn't sure. But as night crept on, Sansa drifted away, into the dark, blissfully unaware.

When she woke, she wished she'd stayed that way; unaware, asleep, dead.

Anything better than this.

"Jaime" His Father greeted him with a curt nod, as any sign of affection any of his children could hope for.

"Father" He returned, Tywin Lannister had no time for fawning, affection or flattery from his children, only the cold, hard, honest facts, which Jaime had come to deliver, had come to offer.

It felt more like he was offering his own head on a platter, perhaps that was the more accurate description too.

"You here to advocate for your brother I suspect?" His Father said, understanding him immediately, he always did, very few people were able to lie to Tywin Lannister and not be caught out, Jaime was not one of them.

"You're condemning your own son to die" He said, he hadn't bothered to wait to come for the trial, he knew any trial would be a sham, Cersei had cast the die when she'd accused, and there was no point holding out in hope that his little brother would be found innocent.

He wouldn't be, Jaime knew, and so he had to step in.

Never had a problem with bravery, and yet he clenched his hands hard into fists at his side, so not to shake.

"I've condemned no one, the trial hasn't even begun yet" Tywin said, tone cold, as he ate his food, unbothered that the topic at hand concerned the possible death of his youngest son.

"Any trial will be a sham you know that" Jaime said with a shake of his head, "Cersei will manipulate everything"

His sister would indeed, why did he love her? His hateful sister, he did, and didn't, a long time in a cell and then a chilly homecoming welcome had cooled his feelings a touch, but he knew deep down he still loved her, always would, regardless that his eyes had been opened a touch more to her viciousness, her toxicity.

Like a poison, and yet it hadn't been fully purged from him, not yet, maybe not ever.

"I know nothing of the sort" His Father spat back, with an eye roll, which spurred Jaime's next words.

"You've always hated Tyrion" He said with a shake of his head, they both knew it, he was just stating it out loud.

"He killed his King!"

"As did I!"

Saying the words out loud never cooled them, never made them any harder to say; Kingslayer they sneered, if only they knew the truth.

"Do you know the last order the Mad King gave me?" He threw back, knowing any argument he made would have to come from a place of truth, desperate as he felt, "To bring him your head, I saved your life so you could murder my brother?"

"It won't be murder it'll be justice" His Father's voice was flat now, and that worried Jaime a touch, that usually indicated; decision made.

"Justice?"

"I'm performing my sworn duty as Hand of the King" His turn to eye roll then. "If Tyrion is found guilty, he'll be punished accordingly"

"He'll be executed" There was the truth.

"No, he'll be punished accordingly" He might as well have just repeated 'executed'.

Jaime knew this line of argument wasn't working, he'd never been a master manipulator, he knew ironically Tyrion would do far better if the roles were swapped, would talk, and talk, and somehow come out on top, not Jaime though.

For the first time in his life, he regretted hurrying off to sword practice after lessons, and not lingering behind like Tyrion.

'An empty golden headed fool'

He'd been called that before, he couldn't remember by who, he'd probably taken their head, but had they been right?

He couldn't let them be, not now, not with Tyrion's life on the line.

'Think like Tyrion' He told himself, and then it came to him, and he knew what to say next, he knew what to say to save his brother.

"Once you said family is what lives on, all that lives on" He paused then, stepping forward, "You told me about a dynasty that would last a thousand years, what happens to your dynasty when Tyrion dies?" Time to nail it home, "I'm a Kingsguard, forbidden by oath to carry on the family line"

"I'm well aware of your oath" And that was his point to win.

"What happens to your name? Who carries the lion banner into future battles?" Now he knew he had him, think like Tyrion indeed, "Your nephews? Lancel Lannister? Others I don't even remember" His Father's silence spoke volumes.

"What happens to my dynasty if I spare the life of my grandsons' killer?"

Here it was.

"It survives" He paused then, as he knew what he would say next would change everything, change his life, change his world, probably be the nail in the coffin for ever repairing things with Cersei, that would be it.

And yet all it took was to think of Tyrion, his little brother, who he'd always tried to protect, who he'd failed too many times, once more than any other, Tyrion, and he knew what to say next, he knew that no matter what it changed, it would be worth it to keep Tyrion safe and alive.

"Through me" His Fathers head tilted, here it was, "I'll leave the Kingsguard, I'll take my place as your son and heir if you let Tyrion live" He could hear the desperation in his voice, his Father no doubt could too.

And yet.

"Done"

His eyes widened, and then as his Father seemed to smile, barely perceptibly, Jaime knew he'd been had.

To Tywin Lannister this was nothing, sparing the child he hated if it meant getting his heir back, nothing at all, to Jaime it meant everything. His Father had probably planned this from the moment Joffrey had fallen, knowing, knowing Jaime would always come to Tyrion's defence, as he had so many times before.

And yet, he'd do it again, even as his Father kept speaking, sealing his future, he'd do it again.

"When the trial begins, Tyrion will plead guilty, I'll allow him to join the Nights Watch" He said, "He'll leave for Castle Black and spend the remainder of his days at the Wall" He didn't even pause, "You will remove your white cloak immediately, you will leave Kings Landing to assume your rightful place at Casterly Rock, you will marry a suitable woman and Father children named Lannister, and you'll never turn your back on your family again"

This was it, his future laid out plain, and he'd asked for so little in return, at least to his Father, he knew this was it, and yet he knew there was room for negotiation, now it had been clear his Father had likely planned this outcome, he nodded, but spoke.

"Only providing I can stay in Kings Landing until things are settled down" Cersei would hate him for this, and he knew in making this decision things were beyond repair, and yet her face, her accusation of Tyrion … perhaps they already were, still, he'd want to keep her safe, and with the vipers circling he felt he needed to be here to do it, "Then I'll go"

"Fine" Tywin responded with a nod, "You have my word"

"And you have mine"

Done.

And yet…

"What about Lady Sansa?" He asked, remembering his vow to take her home, it had never seemed more impossible than now, and yet he would see her safe, hadn't he vowed it?

So many vows, they make you swear and swear…

Couldn't he keep this one? Sansa was an innocent, she'd just as likely killed Joffrey as he had, it would be wrong to let her die to keep Tyrion safe, asking about her was pushing it, and yet that twinge of honour, the shred he had left, had him doing so.

"She'll be found guilty alongside Tyrion most likely, as his accomplice" Tywin said, and Jaime flinched, flinched at how quickly he had put it together, "She'll plead for mercy, and I'll allow her to remain here as a prisoner and ward of the Crown"

"To marry her off?" Of course, they could hardly execute Sansa, any who married her would have Winterfell in their palm.

Still, he imagined she'd rather be at the hangman's noose, or the butcher's axe than married off again. He knew Tyrion had never consummated the marriage; she likely wouldn't get that again.

He should have left, should have set aside any honourable notions, should have ignored the vow at his back, what was one more broken? And should have walked away, Tyrion safe, his future in tatters but his brother safe, that was all that mattered.

Should have, could have, didn't.

"I'll marry her" He said, and as his Father's eyebrows shot up, actually shot up, Jaime knew then, it came to him like a flash, "If you exile Tyrion to the East instead, in a house, with enough money to live comfortably, but never to set foot in Westeros again"

His Father had schooled his expression as quickly as he'd lost it, "You think he should be rewarded?"

"Exiled" Jaime pressed, "And I'll marry Sansa Stark, and have Casterly Rock and Winterfell for my sons"

Why had he offered to marry her? For his vow? For honour? Or so not to see an innocent hurt? He didn't know, and yet one thing he did know, as his Father nodded, there was no turning back now.

"Done" He said, "We'll render the verdict on Tyrion, Sansa will be found innocent of any crimes, their marriage annulled, and you'll marry her within the week, and have sons, heirs to Casterly Rock and Winterfell and some spares"

He nodded then, he knew there was no point arguing anything further, he'd got what he'd came for and quite a bit more, whether he'd intended to, or wanted it or not.

A virgin bride, how old was she? 16? An innocent, and yet … perhaps he'd saved her from a worse fate, Tyrion too. He'd done what he could, and here he was.

"You have my word" He offered it this time, and his Father nodded.

"You have mine"

And it was done.

sooo thoughts?

lesgoooo

so the basic premise is: what if jaime had stepped in before the trial and made sansa (who didn't escape) part of the bargain? and we will go from there! there will obviously be huge canon deviations, lots of twists and lots of angst! also, this is book/show, much more heavy on book lore with some bits borrowed from the show! please don't whinge about the categories, you can only pick one on here!

do lemme know watcha think, follow/fav for more!

speak soon