Chapter 7: Crisis on the Trident

Sansa

It had been two weeks since Sansa had left Winterfell and as they neared King's Landing, her excitement grew. She couldn't wait to see the capitol. To see the knights in their shining armor, and the candles burning in the windows after dark.

Sansa sat in front of the mirror and carefully straightened the clasps of her gown. She had been invited to ride with the queen and princess in the wheelhouse and she wanted to look her best. After fixing her hair, Sansa got up and made the journey to the royal tents.

She turned to her direwolf, "come Lady," she said.

The direwolf rose to her feet and followed her mistress

As they walked to the Queen's tent, many of the people stopped to look at her. Sansa knew that they were more interested in her direwolf than herself. Along the way, Sansa came across her younger sister.

"Are you coming to the wheelhouse?" Sansa asked.

Arya shook her head "No way, I don't like the queen. She won't let me bring Nymeria, she says the wheelhouse is no place for a wolf".

Sansa sighed, it was probably for the best, Arya would likely cause a commotion if she did come. She turned to leave but her curiosity got the best of her.

"Where will you go then?" Sansa asked.

"To the Ruby Ford, Mycah and I are going to look for rubies?"

During the journey, Arya had made friends with many people of the lower class. Particularly squires, servants, and lowborn commoners. Out of all of them, Mycah was her favorite companion. Mycah was a butcher's boy, thirteen years of age, wild and not very comely.

Even though Sansa didn't care much about him. The mention of rubies caught her attention.

"What rubies?" She asked suddenly curious.

Arya rolled her eyes and sighed in exasperation "Rheagar's rubies." She said like it was the most obvious thing in the world." Arya continued her story. "This is the spot where King Robert Baratheon battled Prince Rhaegar Targaryen in the Battle of the Trident. Rhaegar had a breastplate with rubies in the form of a dragon. During the duel, Robert struck Rhaegar so hard the rubies fell off."

Sansa listened to Arya's story, she opened her mouth to object but decided against it. She knew by now not to argue with her sister so Sansa decided to let her have her fun.

"Well good luck then," she said before continuing the walk to the wheelhouse.

Sansa used to wonder how two sisters could be so different. That thought stopped when she saw the Baratheon princes. The Joffrey and his younger brother Roland were as different as night and day. Both were tall and handsome in their own way. But while Joffrey's was a fair kind of handsome, Roland was the darker kind.

For some reason, she couldn't figure out. Sansa found herself attracted to Roland. She had been told by many knights that Roland was the spitting image of the king during his younger years. Sansa wondered how anyone who looked like Roland could turn into the fattened man that was the king of Westeros.

Sansa admitted that she was jealous of Arya, Already the rest of her siblings had already formed a bond with him even Jon Snow. She was surprised at the way Roland treated Jon more like an old friend rather than a bastard. Sansa herself barely spoke more than two words to him. She was nervous about speaking to him so she decided to make more of an effort to get to know Joffrey's younger brother once they reached King's Landing.

As she neared the tent, Sansa noticed two men kneeling in front of the queen. The first man was tall and powerfully built wearing a dazzling armor of forest green. The man stood up and faced her and she gasped. For the briefest moment, Sansa believed it was Prince Roland but realized right away he wasn't. He had black hair and blue eyes and the same face as Roland. But Roland had shorter hair and his eyes were darker also Roland's face had an air of ferocity about it while this man seemed gentle all around.

It didn't take long for Sansa to realize that the man was Renly Baratheon. Just then Roland approached with Shadow by his side. He smiled and pulled his uncle into a one armed hug.

"Uncle Renly," he said in a delighted tone. "How was the journey?"

As Renly told his nephew about everything that had happened in the past 6 weeks, Sansa turned her attention to the other man. His face was gaunt and grim with hair as long as a woman's. His armour was battle worn and he had a greatsword slung over his shoulder. His face was frightening, yet Sansa couldn't help looking at him.

Roland noticed the man as well and turned back to his uncle.

"So Renly, why did you bring grim and gloomy with you?" He asked nodding to the other man.

Renly laughed "the queen insisted on it, she believes that Ser Illyn Payne to be part of the honor guard.

As if sensing her eyes on him Illyn Payne turned and stared back at her.

Sansa quickly averted her eyes.

Roland noticed her discomfort and approached her.

"Does Ser Illyn scare you Lady Sansa?" He asked with genuine concern on his handsome face.

Sansa blushed and nodded. Roland turned to Ser Illyn "unless you have a further purpose here, go frighten something else". The prince said in an authoritative tone. Giving a slight bow Ser Illyn walked away. "Not to worry my lady," he said. "Ser Illyn is the royal executioner, he often frightens many people.

Soon his mother, the queen approached. "It is Ser Illyn's business to frighten the wicked Roland, you shouldn't send him off so abruptly in case wicked is around."

"There is no wicked here," Roland replied, "Unless someone brings wicked bearings with him."

Sansa was surprised at the manner in which the prince spoke.

Suddenly a voice shouted, "a wolf, a direwolf, what's it doing in the camp." Soon everyone took notice of Lady and started whispering to each other. Renly and a few other men instinctively drew their swords. Sansa looked around terrified at what they might do.

Sansa heard growling beside her. She turned and saw Roland's dog, Shadow had put himself between Lady and the men snarling causing them to keep back. Beside him, Roland had drawn his own sword and crossed it with his uncle.

"Sheath your swords all of you!" He demanded. "This direwolf is Lady, Sansa's companion. As close to her mistress as Shadow is to me."

He placed his hand on Shadow and caressed the fur of his neck. Shadow's snarling stopped almost instantly. Sansa thought about Roland relationship with his dog. They did seem very close. Whenever she saw Roland, Shadow was always close behind. Shadow was large for a dog even her own Lady was still only half his size.

It was at this point did Sansa's betrothed, Joffrey approached. He stood beside Sansa and placed a gentle hand on her cheek. "There is nothing to fear my lady, I will protect you." He said in a chivalrous voice. He turned to the crowd and said. "Leave her alone, all of you have caused my betrothed enough discomfort for the day."

At this, the crown departed, but a small group stayed close to Renly. Sansa felt relief that her prince was finally with her.

He smiled charmingly and offered his arm. "It is a beautiful day. Would you like take a walk with me down to the river?" He asked.

Sansa smiled and nodded taking Joffrey's arm as they began their walk.

Sansa's spirits lifted. She was finally getting what she wanted a chance to be with her betrothed. His golden hair and emerald green eyes. Joffrey looked just like the heroes in the songs.

Occasionally Joffrey would take a drink from a bottle of wine he was carrying. He turned and offered it to Sansa.

"I really shouldn't," Sansa said. "Father only lets us drink a single sup at meals."

Joffrey smiled "My betrothed can drink as much as she wants," he insisted.

Sansa blushed and accepted the bottle but only took a small sip.

As they walked along the ruby ford they heard a strange sound.

Twack, twack, twack, twack, twack, twack, twack.

Curiosity got the better of both of them so they walked towards the sound. As Sansa and Joffrey got nearer, the sound got louder.

TWACK, TWACK, TWACK, TWACK.

Finally, they reached the source of the noise. Sansa saw that it was her sister Arya and her friend Mycah doing swordplay with sticks. By the sound of the laughing, it seemed like they were having fun.

"What's going on?" Joffrey asked with a wicked gleam in his eyes. His voice caught their attention. Mycah dropped his stick and gave a bow to the crown prince. Arya, however, looked at Joffrey intently.

"What are you two doing here?" Arya demanded. "Go away and leave us be."

Joffrey ignored her and turned to her companion. "Who are you boy?" He asked.

The boy gulped, "M-Mycah, mi'lord" he replied keeping his eyes on the ground.

"He's the butcher's boy," Sansa said.

Joffrey gave a malicious grin. "Oh, I see, a butcher's boy who wants to play a knight. Is that right boy."

Mycah's eyes grew wide with fear and he shook his head. "N-n-no mi'lord."

Joffrey approached and drew his sword Lion's Tooth, "Pick up your sword then, lets see how good you are."

Mycah backed away, "it not a sword mi'lord, it's only a wooden stick-."

"And your not a knight," Joffrey sneered. "Pick up your sword,'' he repeated as his blade came in contact with the boy's cheek

Sansa's eye grew wide in shock as the events unfolded. Arya and her friend were doing no harm, why does Joffrey wish to bother them. Hoping to diffuse the situation Sansa spoke up. "Please my prince," Sansa implored. "Don't hurt him Let us continue our walk and leave my sister and her friend alone. You don't have to do this."

Joffrey turned and glared at her with eyes that Sansa had never seen before. "I am the crown prince," he said. "I do what I wish, and I intend on teaching this peasant his place." Venom dripped from his voice and it caused Sansa to back away.

Joffrey turned his attention back to Mycah smiling. "Besides, I won't hurt him, much." As he spoke Joffrey pressed the edge of his blade against Mycah's cheek causing blood to spill from the cut.

"LEAVE HIM ALONE," Arya screamed. With all her might, Arya swung her stick and hit Joffrey in the head. Joffrey howled in pain and started swinging his Lion's Tooth at her. Much to the horror of a terrified Sansa. Arya simply dodged Joffrey's wild swings as she kept her distance from the furious prince. He was bellowed cursed that made Sansa'a ears hurt. Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed Mycah sprinting into the woods as fast as he could manage.

"Please stop this, both of you." She cried out. But her pleas fell on deaf ears as her prince advanced on her little sister. She knew that one swing from that sword could cut Arya in two.

Arya suddenly lost her footing and was layingon the ground. Joffrey advanced on her his eyes burning with anger. "I'll gut you for that, you little cunt," he roared.

Suddenly Sansa saw a flash of grey. The next thing she knew, Joffrey was on the ground. His sword arm was stuck between the maws of Nymeria's mouth.

"Get it off, get it off," he wailed in terror.

"Nymeria," Arya called. Immediately the direwolf let go of Joffrey's arm and trotted back to her mistress.

Arya picked up Lion's Tooth and pointed it at a whimpering Joffrey.

"Don't worry," Arya said in a mocking tone. "She didn't hurt you, much."

Joffrey looked up at her with fear in his eyes. "No," he pleaded, "don't hurt me please." He held his hand in front of him and shuddered his breathing now rapid quick.

Instead, Arya threw Lion's Tooth into the river with all her might. It made a light spash in the water. With that, Arya and Nymeria ran into the woods as fast as they could.

With her sister gone, Sansa rushed over to Joffrey and knelt beside her prince. He had shown a side of himself that Sansa didn't know existed. Part of her cheered for her sister's bravery and thought Joffrey deserved it. Yet still, another part of her wanted to help him. After all, he was still her betrothed and she must try to help Joffrey.

"Don't worry my prince," Sansa said as tenderly as possible. "I will go to the holdfast and bring help."

Joffrey whipped his head around to face her. Sansa reeled back slightly. The look his face was that of pure anger and hatred. His vile expression contorted his once handsome face.

"Go then", he snarled, "and don't touch me."

Shocked and broken by his words, Sansa got up and rushed to the holdfast the look of hurt sadness all over her face.