Mirrorball // Sansa Stark

4. Charmer

Robert heartily hopped down from his horse Ned Stark and his family bowed before him on their knees as Robert approached. Robert motion for Ned to stand, Ned rose as did the rest of his family.

'Your Grace,' Ned said tipping his head to Robert.

'You got fat,' Robert noted but Ned looked down to Roberts stomach both men started laughing before they hugged joyously.

'Cat' He said happily hugging her before fussing with rickon's hair.

'Nine years it has been nine long years, I have not seen you where have you been?' Robert asked

'I've been here guarding the for north for you, your grace.' Ned said obediently. Jon and Theon stood like statues behind the starks.

Robert went down the row of stark children greeting them happily. Cersei cleared her throat waiting to be announced but in all honestly Robert had forgotten she was even there, he didn't care for his wife or his children, he wasn't a kid person considering the amount of bastards he had running around kings landing.

'Right, right, Cersei, Joffrey, Tommen, Marcella,' he said rushed as he looked around.

'It is an honor to have you, your grace.' Catelyn said curtsying before cersei.

"Gatsby!" Robert declared pushing through the Starks. "I didn't know you would be here." Robert hugged him tight and Jae thought he was going to pop a rib.

"I didn't know you would be here either." Jae countered. "I just got in but a fortnight ago."

"Wonderful timing, one of your henchman die too?" Robert mused. Jae forced a smile. "I know, you and Ned are always the good boys." Robert agreed. "the resepctable gentleman. But don't worry, I'm here and we can change that."

Jae wasnt fond of the king. He had went to kings landing on a few occasions and did host the royal family for a time at the manor. The youngest children Mycella and Tommen were sweet and kind. They liked the music Jae played and the food that was perpared. The prince and heir to the iron throne complained about everything. The food, the weather, the music, even the waves crashing against the shores, as though Jae had a say in that.

Cersei and Robert were not fond of each other then and it seemed nothing had changed on that front.

Robert slapped a beefy hand against Jae's back as he passed. Jae kept a smile on his face as Robert already smelled of ale and a mixture of prefumes.

"Your grace." Jae said kindly as he approached Cersei.

"Lord Gatsby, what a lovely surprise." Cersei remarked. "So nice to see a familiar face. I had not realized you were close with the Starks."

"Oh yes, I've known Ned since I was a boy. His children are wonderful. Each and every one of them." Jae informed her. "I'm sure you will love winterfell as well. Big change from the blue seas and piercing suns." Jae remarked.

"Yes." Cersei agreed. She liked Jae, he was a kind man, always tolerated Robert. Was always kind to her children. Cersei would have rather had Jae as the new hand. She knew he wouldnt go snooping where he didnt belong, Jae was smarter than that. Ned Stark however, she didnt know.

"You must come back to the capital with us once we take our leave." Cersei declared.

"Oh, I don't know." Jae remarked softly. "I don't know how long I am staying in winterfell."

"Consider it," Cersei requested holding to his hand. Sansa watched them talk and her smile fell. She knew her crush on Jae was silly but still seeing him talk with a woman, the queen and seeing her smile so fondly back at him, broke her a little bit.

"Ned, take me to the crypts. I wish to pay my respects."

"We have been traveling a full moon my love, don't you think the dead can wait?" Cersei offered sweetly.

"NED!" Robet barked.

"Always a charmer," Jae mused glancing back at Robert. "Please, let me show you inside." Jae offered Cersei his arm.

"You are the charmer Jae, I wish Robert would take note on how to treat a lady." Cersei remarked.

"You are too kind," Jae replied and Sansa watched them go.

"Oh no, Jae is going to fuck the queen." Theon teased and Sansa jumped, swatting him back. "Don't be so uptight about it." Theon remarked.

"I'm not." Sansa corrected.

"I see the way you look at him." Robb agreed. His eyes fixed on her necklace. "Giving you gifts too?" Robb questioned reaching out to touch the daisy charm but Sansa brought a hand up covering it from them.

"I don't know what you are talking about." Sansa offered defensively as she headed inside.

"She's smitten," Robb declared.

"She is cockstruck more like it." Theon murmured and Robb whacked him over the head. "Ouch!" Theon declared.

"that's my sister, don't say shit like that." Robb demanded.

'I heard about Jon Aryn.' Ned said once they were in the crypts.

'One minute he was fine. And then right through him... whatever it was. I liked that man,' Robert remarked.

'We both did ,' ned agreed. Jon Aryn had been a mentor to them, helped them during roberts rebellion, he was family, having married Catelyn's sister.

'Never had to teach you much,' Robert noted 'but do you remember me at 16? all I wanted to do was crack skulls and fuck girls.'

'I recall.' Ned admitted.

'But you always knew what was what.' Robert reminded Ned and he stared back at Robert a knowing look in his eye. 'Don't look at me like that,' Robert told Ned 'it's not his fault I didn't listen. I need you down in Kings Landing Ned. Not up here where you're no good to anybody,' Robert told him. 'Lord Eddard stark I would name you the hand of the King.' Robert declared. Ned got down to one knee.

'I'm not worthy of the honor.' He told Robert.

'I'm not trying to honor you I'm trying to get you to run my kingdom will I eat drinking whore my way to an early grave,' Robert informed him. 'Come on Ned, stand up,' he said patting his shoulder 'you helped me win the iron throne now let me help me keep the damn thing. We were meant to rule together. If your sister had lived we would've been bound by blood but it's not too late,' Robert told him. 'I have a son you have a daughter we will join our houses, see if you can't convince Gatsby to come too, it would be good to show that man a bit of fun before he heads back to his island.' Robert declared walking off.