authorsnote: woah what is this, an update?

you'll see the previous chapters have minor edits, and in the first I explain why, but for previous readers I will reiterate here:

before making edits I disliked this story and where it was going. it felt very simple, a bit dull, just the romance, and I disliked how I portrayed sansa, as very Book 1, but I've made updates! don't get me wrong this will still be firm sansa/aegon romance, but there will be much more to it!

do enjoy, do lemme know whatcha think and where you're hoping this will go!

songrecs: the hanging tree - james newton howard, jennifer lawrence

That night, she lay in bed, and yet she could not sleep.

Her fingers brushed over her lips, ghosting over where Aegon's lips had merely danced over hers, and yet it had set off stars in her mind, like a shooting star she'd once seen soar over Winterfell's tallest tower, it had felt like that.

One of Jon's household, her household now she realised, a maid, had brushed her hair, helped her into some new nightclothes, and seen her tucked into bed, and yet it was too warm, she had kicked the covers off her, and stared up at the ceiling.

And her mind had just stuck on that kiss.

She knew it was dangerous, stupid even, to be attracted to Aegon, to entertain any thought of feeling his lips on hers again. What had Littlefinger told her again and again?

'Life is not a song sweetling, you will learn that to your sorrow'

Had she learned nothing? Life was not a song, and Aegon, as sweet a melody as he would be, was not a possibility for her, not now, not ever. She had been a fool to drop her guard with him, to reveal her true feelings, she couldn't be with him.

He was to be King, the King of the 6 Kingdoms, he would rule from here Kings Landing, the place she hated, and part of her still resented coming to. She did not want to be here, not really, had only come for him and Jon. She couldn't live here, she couldn't give up the North, not again.

And yet, she had said to him, 'Can't I?' When he had said she couldn't stay; couldn't she? A shiver ran up her spine, but not just out of fear.

She couldn't stay here, she couldn't be his Queen, as that was what this would amount to, she knew, she couldn't. Could she?

Her head felt like it was scrambled, so confused and unsure. What did she do here? She barely knew Aegon, and yet he made her heart race like no one else could, her heart still thudding in her chest after their encounter. He had encouraged her to be strong, and more importantly had known she could be. He had made her feel strong, brave, like none ever had.

It's just a crush, she told herself firmly, it couldn't be anything more. Had she not learnt her lesson? Littlefinger, Cersei, Olenna, they had all taught her to survive, had all tried to pull her in one direction or another, had taught her so much and yet left her with so little. She knew what they'd all say to this:

Littlefinger would likely encourage her, tell her to play it smart, subtle, do everything she could to become Queen without tipping her hand. Smile and play it coy.

Cersei would laugh, tell her to open her legs and tempt him with the honey there, bring him in and make him addicted to her. She'd tell her to be free with her kisses but to hide her heart, for love was weakness.

Olenna would be straight with her, Margaery offering her two pence too, to try and enjoy herself, to have a kiss, to give her smiles, and yet to focus on the end goal, to be smart.

They'd all push her towards him, not away, and yet not for the reasons she wanted, and that raised the real question, the question she had not asked herself, nor been in the position to ask herself for years.

What did she want?

Did she want to be married? Have children, a family, the thing she'd always hoped for? The marriage part made her frown, for she couldn't imagine trusting a man ever again, and yet with Aegon she had taken his hand, she had stepped out of the carriage, perhaps she could trust again, with time. A family … hers was mostly gone, could she remake her own? Jon, Aegon and more? She could, and she managed a small smile.

What about her home? She knew in her heart she wanted to go North, to return to Winterfell, to the thick snow, the chill in the air, her homeland, where she belonged. Kings Landing was not a home to her, never had been really, she didn't want to stay here, that much was clear, and yet in conflict with Aegon, with him being family, even though she'd voiced the opposite to him.

Was her desire to go North lessening with a lack of urgency now she was safe? Or was that her mind in the heat of the moment wanting to stay with Aegon. Did she want to go home to Winterfell as much as she felt she did?

And finally … did she want to be Queen?

Something thrummed inside of her, at the idea. Once it had been her ambition, to be Queen, 'I'll make them love me', to wear the crown and make a difference, to leave the world a better place than she'd come into it, to lead her subjects, to wave and smile, to see her son reared to be King. It had been an ambition primarily out of wanting to marry Joffrey, but it had been more than that to.

When she had gone to Littlefinger, part of her had liked his idea, to take back the North, to make her a Queen, to be a player this time, to never have to be a pawn again. She bit her lip, looking up at the canopy. Is that what she wanted?

To be a player rather than a piece?

She rolled over and brushed her fingers to her lips again. In truth she barely knew what she wanted, but what she did know was that she needed to figure that out before anything else.

And yet that kiss…

'Life is not a song'

It wasn't, that she had to remember, even as a tune filled her head and hummed her to sleep.

He found himself, half an hour later, seated in the Small Council room, his Small Council room, though so far, he'd said nothing, and only listened, and listened to the silence.

'A good King listens to his Council, takes onboard their suggestions and ideas' Jon Connington had said that to him, and he had always heeded the man's advice, but for now he wished he hadn't.

"Dany, you're making something out of nothing" He offered then, feeling the need to say something, as the silence punctured the room. He sat at the head of the table, with Dany to his left, Varys, and Tyrion further down, Greywind guarding the door, only Jon was absent, and Aegon did not have to guess why.

"Am I?" Dany said with a shake of her head, having gone quiet after dragging him here, insisting they needed to talk, "I see the way you look at her Aegon, we all do" She said, lifting her hand, to which Varys and Tyrion offered respectful nods, "And it has to stop"

"I barely know her" Aegon offered, gritting his teeth, he knew Dany meant well, and he had meant it when he had said he would always take her council, treat her like a Queen in all but name and relationship, but this? This was making a mountain out of a molehill. "She's a nice girl, kind, but again I've spoken to her only a handful of times"

"Don't try and play me for a fool" Dany said, and shook her head, her cheeks turning pink, a Targaryen temper lay in her just as it did him, and Jon to some extent, and god forbid when it was roused, in any of them, "You like her, care for her even, a lot"

"So, what if I do" Aegon shot back, clearly denying was not going to work, but then had he been?

It was true, he did barely know Sansa, but it was also true what he did know he liked greatly. She wasn't just kind or nice, she was warm, sweet, and the kiss they'd shared, as brief as it had been and as much as he wished he'd made it more epic, more special, it had been brilliant, like fireworks against a night sky, like the displays he'd seen of them exploding against the backdrop of Pentos, wonderful and bright.

He did like her, he wasn't sure how it had happened, or so quickly, but he did, and he knew there would be no fooling his Small Council and so he held up his hands, "So what if I do?"

"Your Grace" It was Varys who spoke then as Dany made a dismissive 'ach' sound and reached for some wine, evidently drinking would help this situation, "It is a delicate situation, who you will marry, delicate and difficult indeed"

"What he means" Tyrion piped up then, also reaching for another cup, though offering it to Aegon (which he took happily), before pouring himself one too, yes drinking would be necessary, "Is that who you marry will be key to cementing your reign"

"I know that" Aegon jumped in, for he did, having thought it many times himself, one of his first big decisions would be on his bride.

"And unfortunately, Your Grace, Sansa Stark does little to help in that regard" Varys said again, lord knows he trusted the man, but Aegon frowned; this was not what he wanted to hear, no matter if he was right or wrong.

"How so?" He asked, he already knew the answers of course, had raced them over in his head the very first time he'd spoken to Sansa, and had tried to recite them to himself often since, and yet such a technique wasn't working, or he never would have kissed her, or been so honest in wishing she would stay.

"You know how so" Dany said with a roll of her eyes.

"But for the sake of things I'll entertain you" Tyrion said with a smile of his own.

"You know Lady Stark is of the North, Jon's Kingdom, not yours, and you already have strong ties there, you do not need more. Trade and diplomacy with Jon are already as strong as can be, Sansa makes little difference to that" Tyrion offered, before he drank deep, and Varys took over.

"Agreed my Lord" Varys said, "To cement your reign it is best you marry a Southern bride, Margaery Tyrell, Arianne Martell or another from a minor house, someone who shows you welcome a Westerosi union, in your own Kingdom, not another"

"And finally" Dany jumped in then, "It sounded to me like Lady Sansa does not want to reside in Kings Landing, which is your seat of power"

"Seats of power can change" Aegon shot back quickly, hot tempered now, rash, which was rare for him, but he did feel rather put on the spot, and in doing so, his dragons fire had come to the surface, "Though Lady Stark did indicate she could consider staying" A stretch of the truth … just.

"There's more to it than just her heritage" Tyrion offered then as Dany had fallen silent, eyes widening with her point thrown back, and Varys clearly knew what Tyrion was going to say but didn't dare approach it, instead deferring to Tyrion.

Aegon was pleased to be surrounded by such good advisors, loyal and smart, but sometimes they did say things he didn't want to hear, things that went against his wishes, it was rare, but it happened.

He knew this would be one of those times.

"Sansa Stark may be nice, and kind, and I don't dispute that, she was always kind to me, as much as she hates my family, which she has every right to" Tyrion said before he paused, drawing on his strength it would seem, "But she is not just a kind Lady, she has survived and been tutored by some of the most ruthless, cunning players in the game, do not underestimate her, you would do so at your peril"

It was Aegon's turn to scoff then.

"Really?" He said, reaching for more wine, he felt he'd need it, "This is your argument? I can't marry Sansa because she's too dangerous?" He said taking a drink and shaking his head, "Really?"

He knew of course Sansa had been through difficult circumstances and to her credit had survived them all, but she was a victim, not a viper.

Wasn't she?

Yes, he had seen her shut down, quell her fears, close off and use her courtesies, but that was her defence, nothing more, surely nothing more?

"Your Grace" Varys spoke then as Tyrion rolled his eyes, "Lady Sansa was near good-daughter to the former Queen Cersei and spent much time with her, was then near good-granddaughter to Lady Olenna and the same again, and then spent over a year in the Vale with Littlefinger, one of the greatest snakes and players of all. She has had Margaery Tyrell whispering in her ear, and Littlefinger giving her many tricks of his trade, Lord Tyrion is quite right that she is not to be underestimated"

"You forget Aegon, that Lady Sansa not only learned from all of these people, but has survived them all, many of them are dead, or about to be, and yet Lady Sansa stands, sleeping in a room in the Red Keep, cousin and basically sister to a King and now charming another" Tyrion offered, held up a hand when Aegon went to speak, "I don't discredit she has been through hardship, and at her core is a kind and sweet girl, but she is much changed, she had to, to survive what everyone put her through"

"She is not the same girl Jon remembers" Dany offered, for Jon had told them many stories of sweet, Ladylike Sansa, "Not after what she's been, not after what they've done to her"

Aegon felt something like a chill creeping up his spine. He wanted to deny it all, rant at all of them and throw them out, his temper threatening to rear its ugly head.

He couldn't reconcile this, what they were saying about Sansa, couldn't reconcile the Sansa they were suggesting a player of the game with the girl he had just kissed, the girl whose hands were soft and smile softer, the girl he already cared for and could easily see himself falling further. Could they be right? Surely not?

"You also forget your Grace" Varys said, tone delicate again, clearly sensing his train of thought, "She once wanted to be Queen, left her home and family to do so"

"She is a lovely girl" Tyrion swept in, clearly sensing how close Aegon was to breaking something, "And has suffered more than anyone should, and in that has had to adapt, to play the game, as we all have, her more than most"

"She's not…" He stumbled then, something he never did, "She's not like that" Surely she wasn't?

"She's had to be" He turned to Dany then, who was looking out the window, gaze pensive now, anger seemingly drained, he had seen that look on her a few times, and he always wished he could take it away, but he never could for he couldn't understand it, "Being a woman in this world … she's had to be"

He wished they were wrong, wanted to tell them all they were, and yet he was getting a growing sense that they weren't.

But what did that mean? For him and Sansa?

"Margaery Tyrell will whisper in your ear, try and sway you with honey, will give gifts to the poor and pies to the children to win favour" Varys said then, jerking him back to the conversation that was apparently not done, "But you will see through that, realise she's playing a game, and her efforts will fall short"

"Arianne Martell is obvious, she'll be free with her kisses, and everything else, give you a heated gaze, and tempt you with sweetness" Tyrion spoke then, "But again you'll see it, and she'll grow frustrated and give up playing"

"And Sansa?" He asked, even though he didn't want to hear it, he knew he had to, knew he had to ask.

"Sansa will smile, and blush, will call the servants by their names and remember their children's namedays" Varys said, smile sad, "She'll charm every Lord and Lady who visits"

"They'll curtsey a bit deeper to her than you, they'll bow a touch lower" Dany chimed in, though her tone was one of caution, "The Red Keep will be ran by her, the servants deferring to her, not you"

"You won't even realise it, she might not even be doing it on purpose, this has all been drilled into her since she was thirteen after all, it's who she is now" Tyrion said with a sigh, "But soon, she'll have everyone on her side, you included, and you won't have even realised it"

"Littlefinger didn't groom and teach for her for the sake of it" Varys said, "He did so, so she would rule, likely in his mind by his side"

"She'd do it well" Tyrion said then, and Varys nodded.

"She would be a good Queen" Varys agreed.

"Is that a bad thing?" Aegon asked then, voice a mere whisper now, as Tyrion poured him more wine, and all of the smiles at the table were sad.

"No, it's not necessarily" Tyrion said as he pushed the cup over before drinking deep himself, "As long as she decides she wants to be married to you, as long as she decides she doesn't want the Throne for herself" He paused then, "And when you have a child…"

"You better hope she doesn't decide it'd be easier without you" Dany said, knowing what would be said, having near been down this path herself, "Without any King"

Aegon sat back against his chair and drained his cup, his skin pale, what did he say to all of that?

There was nothing to be said.

sooo thoughts?

do lemme know watcha think - I know some ppl may be mad at dany/varys/tyrion here but their job is to look out for aegon!

I did love writing this dynamic and intend to do more of this. this will be one of my biggest changes to this story, making it more politics orientated, more 'play the game' esque, which should be fun! before I made edits the story felt one dimensional, there was no conflict, no drama, but here oh boi there will be plenty!

speak soon