authorsnote: my fav chapter so far, I hope you enjoy it
the wheel turns...
songrecs: die for you - the weeknd
The last time she was in the Great Sept was her wedding day.
She remembers it almost too well, the stiff gold dress, her hair in some awful intricate design that had hurt her scalp, Joffreys arm in hers as he'd leered at her, Tyrion trying his best but far, far too Lannister for her to see past. Cersei and Tywin side by side, having to kneel to be cloaked, feeling as far from home as she possibly could.
This time is very, very different.
As they'd arrived, the crowd hadn't ignored her or jeered at her, the daughter of a traitor, like they once had, instead they'd cheered, especially as Aegon, with a grin, had stepped out of the carriage, crownless for now, and held out a hand for her.
She had of course, had to take it.
Take it and emerge hand in hand with the future King.
She wasn't planning any of this, but she could see Daenerys, Varys, even Tyrion perhaps thought she had. She wasn't that calculating … was she?
No, her smile was genuine as Aegon helped her out and then held onto her hand. He only briefly stopped to wave, and she raised her arm to the cheering crowds, just as they had when she'd arrived, and the crowd roared twice as loud.
King Aegon!
Lady Sansa!
They didn't linger though, Aegon would, once crowned, and she couldn't wait to watch as he waved to an adoring crowd, for they did adore him, after the cruelty of the Lannister's, the apathy of King Robert, here Aegon was, as though drawn from a picture of a perfect King, kind but fierce, handsome, brave, caring for his people but tough. He was everything a King should be.
And the people screamed and screamed, even as the doors shut behind them, and they stepped inside.
She certainly remembered how the crowd had cheered for Joffrey, and even Robert Baratheon before him, and she knew she wasn't imagining that the crowd screamed far, far louder for Aegon than they ever had his predecessors. That was her thought, a smile on her features as they went inside the Sept.
Then the eyes turned to them.
Sansa realised she was still holding his hand, and dropped it quickly, though Aegon just grinned. Even as people began to greet them, Sansa was still red, and turned to Jon, though he looked like he wanted to disappear into the wall, this was not his home, nor was he comfortable here.
She was finding she was, more and more.
People hurried to gain favour with the new King, wanting to catch him before he was crowned. He spoke to everyone, nodding and smiling, he was a natural as he moved forward, stopping to speak to Minor Lords and Ladies of Great Houses, and vice-versa, Sansa remained by his side, not even consciously, she just liked being near him.
Especially as…
"Your Grace" A deep curtsey, a swirl of skirts, Margaery Tyrell, looking as pretty as Sansa remembered, her own suffering in the Capitol hadn't affected her, she was still beautiful, still wearing a daring dress in Tyrell colours, and without a doubt Sansa knew, still had her eye on being Queen.
Sansa didn't want to look too closely at how much, or why, that bothered her so much, though she certainly subconsciously shuffled closer to Aegon as the Flower of Highgarden straightened and beamed.
Aegon noticed.
"My Lady" He said with a smile, but before he even spoke of something innocuous such as the weather, he instead turned to her, "I believe you know Lady Sansa?"
"Why yes" Margaery said with a smile, and turned to her, as if they were old friends … they had been once, though Sansa knew now it had only been genuine on her end, Margaery had, had ulterior motives, and Sansa had never quite forgiven how the Tyrells had turned from her when she'd no longer been destined to become one of them, her smile was a touch strained.
"Sansa and I were good friends when we were both last in the Capitol" Margaery insisted, and Sansa smiled, and was reminded one of the reasons she had been reluctant to stay in the South, even if that reluctance was fading, the damn falsehoods of it all.
"Yes, for a time" Sansa said, politely, nicely even, but she would not gush nor lie, and she noticed something shift in Margaery's gaze before she turned back to Aegon to ask how he was feeling.
"Excited to take my Throne" Aegon said with a smile.
"I can imagine" She said with that grin, and it did make Sansa almost wince, she was very pretty, Sansa knew she was too, but how could she compete with the likes of Margaery Tyrell?
"I'm glad I won't have to" Aegon said smoothly, and then with a nod, and to Margaerys chagrin he then moved them on, putting a hand on Sansa's elbow to steer her with him.
Sansa didn't catch the look Margaery threw at her back, but she knew it was there.
She knew how this looked, knew what it implied with Aegon escorting her around.
Knew and did so anyway.
She hadn't planned it, even though as Aegon greeted more Lords and Ladies and smiled and curtseyed, and was truly a pretty picture, but she knew his advisors would think she had.
Was that a good or a bad thing? She wasn't sure.
"Your Grace" Another person swept into the picture then, bringing Sansa back to herself, and as she straightened, Sansa felt she'd met the first person in the Seven Kingdoms who could rival Margaery Tyrell for beauty.
"Princess Martell" Aegon said with a nod, before once again he turned to her, it wasn't lost on Sansa that he was introducing her, which was typically reserved for Queens or Companions, which would she be?
She knew which she wanted now.
"This is Lady Sansa, I don't believe you've met" He said, with a smile, but there was something there, Sansa could sense he was on her side, even though he'd surely met Princess Martell before, the Dornish had been key to the success of the Targaryen conquest this time around, he seemed to be stepping closer to her, and she was thankful the Sept was warm, so to explain her pink cheeks.
"We have not" The Princess said, and she was truly stunning, but whereas Margaery was classically beautiful, Arianne Martell was what only one could describe as gorgeous, dressed in an orange dress made entirely of silks, she was somehow showing even more skin, Sansa admired her confidence, but if she'd been holding Aegons hand she would have gripped it.
She had to remind herself she wasn't his Queen, as Aegon and Arianne began to talk about his visit to Dorne, Arianne throwing him many a sultry look Sansa knew she could never achieve.
She had to remind herself she was staying in Kings Landing to get to know him, to understand where she belonged in the world, to understand herself, she wasn't just staying for him.
Wasn't she?
If she was, then she knew she'd feel just like this, she wasn't his Queen, and though he was treating her perhaps like he wanted her to be that didn't make it so.
She managed to bring herself back to the conversation, as Aegon again moved them on, and Sansa felt a spark of hope, Arianne kept any glares to herself, and Sansa managed a smile, but she felt nerves beginning to get her.
She was unused to playing the game, and the game she had played before had been one of trying to be invisible, of staying under anyone's gaze, here Aegon had her in front of everyone.
But didn't she need to get used to that? If she wanted to be Queen?
If … she knew the truth, there was no if.
"Are you ready?" Aegon asked, clearly distracted himself, as he hadn't noticed her quietness, or perhaps he had and was just being tactful.
She didn't know him well enough yet, nor have a secure position to mention any kind of insecurity, her cheeks pinkened, but she took his arm as he held it aloft for her.
"Ready" She managed with a nod, and Aegon gave her a smile.
"I'm glad I've got you by my side" Was all he offered, and that was the exact right thing to say, something he had a habit of doing, and then her smile became real, and she even grinned, to match his, as he led her into the step.
By his side indeed.
A smile that was wiped away as soon as the guards opened the doors, and she was confronted with a place she never thought she'd see again.
The place of so much sorrow, of having her life stolen from her for yet another time.
The Sept.
Her mind flashed back again, the stiff gold dress, the pain in her scalp, Joffrey, Tyrion, Cersei, Tywin … she stumbled, only glad no one else had been allowed in the main chamber yet, except for Jon, Tyrion, Varys and Daenerys and a compliment of guards, but the were already on the main dais.
It was just her and Aegon, and he saw her falter immediately.
But unlike people before, Baelish who would roll his eyes and softly say she needed to 'figure that part of her out', or Cersei who would laugh cruelly, or Tywin who'd she'd never dare panic in front of, Aegon just paused, out of concern, on his Coronation Day, and drew her a touch closer to him.
"Are you alright?" He asked her, so gently, and yet it wasn't like others had treated her, as though dealing with a wounded bird, the concern was there but not the pity. Never the pity.
She allowed herself to be drawn closer.
"Yes" She managed, and then for once, she was honest, "It's just … challenging sometimes"
"I can't imagine" He said truthfully, and somehow that eased her, she managed a stuttered smile, "I know you got married here before" He said quietly, "I'm sorry"
"That was one of the better parts" She japed, and the fact she could jape told her she was okay, and she took a breath, she was not a fragile flower, she couldn't be, if she contemplated staying here, she had to be stronger.
I am turned from porcelain, to ivory, to steel…
Steel.
"I promise nothing like that will ever happen to you again" He said, and he was so sincere she almost believed him.
"No one can promise me anything" She said before she could stop herself.
"I promise this" He returned without even a second's hesitation, and his gaze, that Targaryen purple gaze was clear and sincere once more, and for a moment it flickered looking almost blue, like hers.
She could get lost in that gaze.
A cleared throat from Daenerys, and a significant look from Tyrion roused both of them, and Sansa felt her cheeks go pink as she retook Aegon's arm and he led her forward, Jon watched them now too, though he looked more confused than concerned.
"Come then, let's get this done" Aegon said, and offered her a smile, which she returned, "And I promise we can escape for a garden walk before the feast"
At that she truly smiled, which Aegon reflected.
And the world watched on.
It was truly a thing of glory.
Sansa knew that events like this were important to keep both the noble and the small folk happy. The nobles liked to see the spectacle Westeros could put on, and the small folk revelled in the beauty and the splendour of it wall.
What had Tyrion once quipped? 'Bread and circuses'; the two things to keep people happy. Perhaps filling an empty belly wasn't the only thing.
Sansa had loved these kind of events when she had been a child. Never able to attend them she'd devoured any history of them, any announcement that came via raven. She'd lamented not being able to attend any fancy Southern tourneys or weddings.
Actually, attending them, mostly as a hostage had disabused her of those desires.
Now, she found them a bit much. As a Northerner it was too much. The Northerners were simple people, celebrations happened or course, feasting and drinking and celebrating but that involved sharing the wealth with the small folk, inviting joy among everyone, and never dripping everything in gold unnecessarily. It was about the happiness of it all, not trying to show off.
And yet, even here, as she took her place on the dais, hands clasped to stop them shaking, she could tell the Targaryens were clearly trying to show off; they had to really to affirm themselves as rulers again, but it was still beautiful.
The entire Sept was lit with hundreds of candles, to represent the Targaryen fire. All of the gold, the statues, the floor all polished within an inch of their lives, she was sure. The entire Sept was gleaming.
Everyone was dressed in their best. Sansa in her new dress, Stark grey and Tully blue, her dragonfly necklace at her throat, white slippers on her feet. She wore no other adornment, she didn't need to, she shone.
Daenerys was in black, with a silver dragon necklace at her throat, her hair styled in plaits atop her head, she looked fierce and beautiful all at once. She wore no crown but there was no need, none could doubt she could have been Queen.
Jon was dressed in black too, the Stark and Targaryen crests on his chest but no other colour, Longclaw was strapped to his waist, he wore a crown of black and grey too, with wrought spikes, like the Crown of Winter, only his had a ruby at the centre, he didn't look comfortable in it, but he without question looked like a King, and Sansa felt proud.
The nobility were all wearing their finest. Dripping jewels and gold. And then there was Aegon.
And Sansa gasped.
He looked magnificent.
He wore a black and red slashed tunic, black breeches, and had the sword Blackfyre at his hip. His platinum hair brushed his shoulders, and he stood tall and strong, expression serious. He didn't wear his crown yet, but it didn't matter.
He looked like a King already.
He approached the dais, and her gaze caught his and then he offered her a smile, his first since he entered, and Sansa allowed herself to grin back, her cheeks pink.
People noticed.
Sansa didn't care, she watched rapt as Aegon was crowned. Her eyes never left him. Not even for a second.
It was a traditional coronation of the Seven, for the Westeros people would accept no less. Aegon knelt as the High Septon anointed him with the seven oils, read a prayer, and then, then came the crown.
It was a near replica of Aegons Crown, from his conquering, and a gasp swept through the Sept as it was raised. Aegon did not flinch as it was lowered to his head as he knelt before the High Septon, as he was crowned.
As he was made King.
"I proclaim him before me, Aegon the Sixth of his Name, King of the Andals and Rhoynar, Lord of the Six Kingdoms, and Protector of the Realm"
The applause was thunderous.
Sansa clapped as loudly as she could, pride surging in her heart that perhaps Westeros finally had a good King, someone worthy of the Crown, as Aegon rose to his subjects, pride too to know he was King of the Six Kingdoms, a Stark now stood as King in the North, as it should be. Her heart pulsed, almost overflowing.
To think, just a month or two ago she'd been a prisoner in the Vale, crying into her pillow, weeping for her family, for a better life. And now she was here, back with her brother (for she considered Jon a brother as she never had before, even if he was her cousin, they were family, that was all that mattered), and then there was Aegon.
Aegon, who perhaps had changed her life.
The applause continued, and she grinned as he turned to look at them all, his gaze finding hers first.
Now he was crowned, he was King, and the applause was like thunder through the Sept, Sansa clapped loudly too, her eyes shining, her smile wide. For just a moment, as Aegon turned and looked at her again, she allowed herself to smile in front of others, really smile, it was nerve wracking, but Aegons grin back made her glad she'd done so.
Perhaps she could live here, but then that all depended on Aegon. There was much to think on there.
Could she live here not as his Queen? Watch him marry someone else?
No.
She knew that immediately, and that clarity helped her, cleared something in her mind, and felt like a little weight off her shoulders, if she were to stay here it would be as Aegons Queen, otherwise she would go home, adjust to life in the North and lament what couldn't be, she knew that now, startlingly clearly, and felt better for it.
Of course, then came a rush of nerves, of how she could possibly became Aegons Queen, she had no doubt his advisors would be against it, would want him with Margaery or Arianne, Jon would grumble too she knew but would want her to be happy; could she be happy with Aegon?
She hoped to find out.
Her mind snapped back to the present then as she watched with pride Aegon clap hands with Jon, both smiling, brothers, it made her ache for Robb, for Bran and Rickon, it was bittersweet, but she smiled at Jon's smile, even as she felt a pain for the brothers they'd lost.
Aegon approached Daenerys next, and she noted Daenerys smile properly for the first time, she could see then why Daenerys hadn't contested Aegon's claim, she too valued family highly, as her nephew kissed her cheeks and they shared just a moment, to the Targaryen restoration they had worked so hard for, Sansa felt happy for them.
And then, to the crowd, still applauding, but watching on, Aegon approached her, and she knew her cheeks were pink.
She offered a curtsey, bowing her head, and then Aegon, who perhaps she was already half in love with if she looked at herself hard enough, used his thumb to raise her chin, press a kiss to each cheek she knew was warm, and offered her a smile she couldn't help but yet again return.
"Your Grace" She whispered, "I'm glad your King"
Simple words, but from her heart, and Aegons smile told her he knew that.
"Aegon, Sansa" He insisted, and she giggled a touch to which he seemed pleased, "And I'm glad you're here"
"Me too" She managed, and something flickered in Aegons gaze then, she wasn't sure what, but his smile grew wider.
She stepped aside then, as she knew Aegon now needed to go to the other entrance of the Sept, behind the dais, to greet the smallfolk gathered at that side, and apparently they'd come in numbers, straining the guard holding them back, but they weren't rioting this time, instead they were cheering for their new King.
As the doors opened Sansa could hear them, screaming for 'King Aegon!' and she grinned as he stepped forward, and she left the dais, Daenerys and Jon following, Tyrion was ushering her forward
But of course it wasn't that simple, not for Aegons advisors at least.
As, she turned for one last look at him before she'd make her way to the carriages, he wasn't looking at the smallfolk screaming for him, no, instead, as she went to go left, to the carriages, he held out a hand for her to join him.
And she knew, Sansa knew this was it.
A defining moment to stand by his side, almost like his Queen already, that was what it had to mean, this would strike something, this wasn't just getting out of a carriage together or him helping her enter the Red Keep, this was her, going to his side as he'd just been crowned King.
Like a Queen would.
And so, instead of going left, she turned, and as Daenerys took a step, purple eyes wide and flaming, Sansa stepped too, she would not be stopped, and didn't stop, until she was taking Aegons hand and he was guiding her into the light, next to him, to stand by his side, as the smallfolk screamed.
"King Aegon! Lady Sansa!"
And they stood, side by side in the frame of the Sept doors, and the die had been cast, especially as Aegon raised Sansa's hand to plant a kiss there, her cheeks flamed, and the people screamed for them.
"Queen Sansa!" Someone screamed, and she knew then, Sansa knew, as Aegon raised a hand to wave and she did the same, the other still clutching his, she knew she would not go North.
She would be Queen.
aegons pov next and oof, that small council meeting is going to be INTERESTING
never forget, sansa isn't the player they made her in the show (not yet) but she's tutored under the best, she is not a pawn anymore...
speak soon