Mirrorball // Sansa Stark

11. In Your Blood

"I lied." Sansa whimpered as she  lay beside Jae next to the fire. Jae turned slightly to her. "Arya hates me forever now." 

"No she doesnt." Jae corrected. 

"I got lady killed..." Sansa whimpered and Jae sat up. 

"You didnt." Jae corrected. 

"Father killed her because I... Because I..." Sansa was hyperventilating. Jae pulled her closer and she clung to him. 

"Lady isnt dead." Jae whispered kissing her temple. Sansa's teary eyes met his. "I set her free." Jae whispered and she smiled through the tears nodding into him. 

"You are not lying to me?" Sansa rasped. 

"I would never lie to you." Jae assured. 

"She's alive..." 

"But no one must know or your father would be in trouble, real trouble." Jae remarked. Sansa nodded. 

"Thank you Jae." Sansa said softly and Jae assumed she would have pulled from his grasp, from his lap but she nuzzled into him holding him closer. He ran a hand down her back. 

"One more day sweet girl," Jae whispered. "Then we are at your new home." 

+

The castle was beautiful, it was grand and golden, lions and stags. The lions were just as large as the stags which Jae nor Ned found surprising since the princes keenness to his lannister side. Even his cloaks were majority Lion. He wore reds too not the baratheon yellow and blacks. As if to say, yes Robert sits the throne but make not mistake it is the lannisters that are in charge. 

"I wanted to get started." Ned admitted. "See whats been happening in the palace since Jon passed and Robert left."

"I can keep the girls company." Jae offered and Sansa nodded in agreement. 

"Thank you, Jae. I owe you." Ned remarked. 

"Happy to spend time with your girls." Jae assured. 

"ALright, lets get this stupid trunk unpacked." Arya murmured. 

"Thats the spirit." Jae agreed as he wrapped an arm over Sansa's shoulders. "What do you think? Is it everything you pictured?" 

"It's beautiful." Sansa agreed looking around. "Its bigger and yet somewhat smaller than I imagined." 

"It can't be both bigger and smaller!" Arya corrected as they were shown to their chambers. 

"I understand what Sansa means." Jae countered. "You picture something in your mind so grand that the real thing no matter how big could never compare to what you had in your mind." 

"Yes, exactly." Sansa agreed. "You sound like you know from experience." she added. 

"Oh, just a bit, but not about castles." Jae offered as they stopped in front of Arya's door. 

"Nice." Arya decided as she ran to the bed jumping up and down. "This will do!" Arya assured. Two doors down was sansa and another two doors down on the opposite side of the hall was Jae. 

"If you need anything I'm just right here, my door is always open to you two." Jae remarked honestly.

"Thank you Jae." Sansa said softly as she brushed her hair behind her ear. He was perfect and sansa wished she was marrying Jae but it was too late and she had to focus on Joffrey. Jae would never want a girl like her, she was a child compared to him yet it didnt stop her from staring a little too long in his direction whenever she caught his eye. 

+

''Someday your husband will sit there and you will sit by his side. And one day, before too long, you will present your son to the court. All the lords of Westeros will gather here to see the little prince..." Septa Mordane told Sansa

''What if I have a girl?'' sanas countered.

''Gods be good, you'll have boys and girls and plenty of them.' Septa Mordane said hopefully.

''What if I only have girls?'' Sansa asked again.

''I wouldn't worry about that.''

''Jeyne Poole's mother had five children, all of them girls.'' Sansa informed her.

''Yes, but it's highly unlikely.'' Septa Mordane informed her.

''But what if?''

'''If you only had girls, I suppose the throne would pass to Prince Joffrey's little brother.''

''And everyone would hate me.'' Sansa declared worry filled her.

''Nobody could ever hate you.'' Jae cut in. 

''Joffrey does." Sansa corrected looking to him. "Arya too." 

''Nonsense. Why would you say such a thing?" Jae countered. 

"That business with the wolves?" The septa realized.  "I've told you a hundred times... A direwolf is not...''

''Please shut up about it.'' Sansa spat as she got up. She moved to Jae hiding her face in his chest. "What if I'm a bad queen and everyone hates me Jae?" Sansa whimpered. 

"Nonsense, everyone is going to love you." Jae assured holding onto her. 

''Do you remember your lessons? Who built the Iron Throne?" Septa Mordane cut in noting their warm embrace. 

"Aegon the Conqueror." Sansa answered.

"It's a nice throne." Jae remarked moving towards it. Sansa watched the muscles in his back and legs as his shirt moved, tight, taught against his body.

''And who built the Red Keep?'' septa must have asked thrice before sansa heard her and pulled her gaze from Jae as he admired the throne. 

''Maegor the Cruel''. Sansa answered. 

''And how many years did it take to build...''

''My grandfather and uncle were murdered here, weren't they?" Sansa realized and Jae turned back to her. Yes they were he thought glumly.

''They were killed on the orders of King Aerys, yes." Septa agreed. 

''The Mad King.'' Sansa corrected locking eyes with Jae. 

''Commonly known as the Mad King.' she agreed

''Why were they killed?'' Sansa asked

''You should be speak to your father about these matters." Septa remarked. 

"He wouldnt tell me, he doesnt like to speak about them. COuld you tell me Jae?" Sansa questioned. 

"Your septa is right, that should come from your father." Jae offered. 

"But you know." Sansa pushed. 

"I know, I was young, very young but know what happened and why the mad king claimed he did what he did, because he was mad and scared, but it wasnt pretty my dear, you should know that. You should know they were brave too though, your family. Bravery runs in your blood."