Mirrorball // Sansa Stark

3. Tripping Over Air

Boys like you / Tyrion lannister out now!

"Well don't you look beautiful." Jae remarked and Sansa spun around. She looked to the little box in his hands. "With the royal family coming, I thought you might want something that sparkled." Jae held the box out and Sansa pulled it open. 

"A daisy." Sansa remarked pulling the necklace free. The center of the daisy twinkled as it hit the light. "It's beautiful. Thank you Jae." 

"You are very welcome." Jae assured.

"Would you mind..." she held it out for him as she lifted her hair. Jae took it carefully from her as he delicately wrapped it around securing it on her neck. She stared at their reflection in the mirror as she let her hair fall and his hands rested on her shoulders. "Thank you." She repeated locking eyes with him in the mirror. 

"My pleasure." Jae took a step back as she turned around her fingers going to the petals. "I best let you get finished." Jae remarked tipping his head to her as he headed out. Sansa sighed turning back to the mirror. She had never seen such intricate jewelry before it was beautiful. 

"Jae!' Catelyn called down the hall and he turned that charming smile always on his handsome face. "Your friend Nick... He is huddled next to the fireplace, declaring he is going to die of hypothermia." Jae chuckled as he followed her. 

"Nick is a good lad, not good with change." Jae looked down at Nick. "Isn't that right old sport?" 

"F-f-f-fucking freezing!" Nick told him. 

"I thought an adventure would be fun." Jae informed Catelyn. "He sits and he writes, he tries to write. You see he lives in a little cottage next to mine." 

"Next to your manor." Catelyn corrected. But Jae was modest like that. He knew he had a lot he knew he had more than he could spend or use thats why he liked the Starks. A big family, filled with love and kindness. Something he wanted. This happiness. There was no other word for it. Happiness filled the dark castle of winterfell. 

"He writes and scribbles everything out I thought a trip would help him spark some ideas to life." Jae went on. 

"I'm going to die here!" Nick corrected. 

"You are not." Jae corrected. 

"How are you s-s-s-so fine? Why are you n-n-not freezing?"

"I travel, explore, see the world. I love winterfell." Jae declared. 

"You all seem nice." Nick remarked. "But I'm never coming back to the north again. I'm fine hiding and wasting my life away with my scrolls." 

"That's the spirit." Jae declared. "Catelyn," Jae led her away from a shivering Nick. "Is there anything I can help with? Anything you need?" 

"You are so sweet Jae, but everything is fine. We have everything under control." Catelyn assured. 

"Well, know that I am here if you or your family want or need a thing." Jae reminded her. 

"I still can't believe you havent found someone." Catelyn remarked. "You are so kind, so sweet, love children... I mean what woman wouldnt want you?"

"Oh, Cat, I won't tell Ned you are flirting with me." Jae teased. 

+

"You boys mind if I stand by you?" Jae asked Theon and Jon. 

"You can stand up front Lord Gatsby." Jon assured. 

"Yeah you don't need to be seen with the riff raff like Jon." Theon agreed. 

"Nonsense." Jae declared. "Oh you boys would love my parties, all the riff raff, they go on all night and I sleep the day away."

"Sounds fun." Theon agreed. For as proper as Jae was he wasnt a fuddy duddy. He liked to have fun. He liked a good glass of wine. He loved music. He played the piano and the strings.  The notes seemed to bounce off the walls. 

It was how he met Nick. Nick was invited to the manor being he was new to the island and heard the music echoing to his little cottage. He saw more people than he thought even lived on the island all dancing and singing, drinking through the manor having the grandest of times. He didnt met Jae that night or the next party. He went to every party Jae threw for a moon before finally catching a glimpse of the marvelous Jae Gatsby.

"Robb and Sansa keep begging Lord Stark." Theon remarked. 

"We all do." Jon admitted. 

"sansa is quite smitten with you." Theon added. 

"I quite like Sansa." Jae agreed kindly. 

'I see them coming, the riders!' Bran announced.

'How?' Catelyn questioned hands rooted on her hips, Bran looked up at her sheepishly. 'You were climbing, you said you wouldnt climb anymore.' Catelyn reminded him.

'I wont do it again.' Bran lied looking to his feet. Catelyn took a gentle hand and brought it to his chin.

'You know every time you look down I know you are lying.' Catelyn countered. 'Go on, line up.'

"Did you see me Lord Jae?" Bran asked. 

"I saw you were up so high." Jae agreed. "Better climber than I ever was or ever will be. That's for certain." Bran smiled back at him before Ned lined them up straight. Sansa spun around holding her head high so Jae would see she was still wearing the necklace he gave her. 

"So lovely you are, the prince is going to be tripping over air to get to you." Jae informed her. 

"Sansa face forward." Theon instructed. She blushed looking at Jae before turning around. 

'Where is arya?' Ned questioned looking back to Jon and Theon. Jon just shrugged. "Jae you don't-"

"I'm with the riff raff as Theon called us second row men." Jae informed him proudly.  

"You are such a softie." Ned remarked with a chuckle. Ned's eyes drifted around looking for her when arya came running up with a guards helmet on her head.

'What are you doing?' Ned questioned, "where did you get that?' he pulled the helmet from arya's head and flattened her hair down. 'Go.' He told her pointing down the row of starks as the royal family approached.

"Get ready Lord Jae." Theon mused. "All hell is about to break loose."

"Wonderful optimism." Jae agreed.