Mirrorball // Sansa Stark

25. Make Him Believe

"Cersei when you were shipped off to robert werent you scared?" Jae questioned. "Sansa is scared. Let me be there for her." Jae begged. "She wont hatch any plans. She is scared and confused. Please. You know what its like. You are a good person looking out for your family. The starks are like family to me. Let me take care of sansa." 

"Bring her to the throne room." Cersei agreed before walking off. Jae nodded moving to Sansa's chambers she lunged into his arms when the door opened.

"Jae, whats going on?" Sansa begged. 

"The queen wishes to see you, to discuss your fathers... crimes." Jae offered. 

"He didnt commit any crimes!" Sansa begged. "YOu have to make them understand." 

"I will try but it is you that she wants to hear from." Jae remarked gently. 

"I hate them all!" Sansa whimpered. 

"You have to make Joffrey believe you love him." Jae corrected and Sansa pulled back appalled. 

"What? Why would I do that after he locked my father up?" Sansa demanded. 

"Because begging, falling to your knees will boost Joffrey's ego. He is pompous and arrogant, use the relationship you could have had with him to gain his trust." Jae offered. 

"I dont know if i'm that good of an actress." Sansa countered. 

"You would be surprised what people will do when their lives are in danger." Jae countered gently. 

"Will you come with me?" Sansa whimpered. "I'm really scared." 

"Of course, I convinced Cersei to let me see you. I think we can show her reason." Jae assured. "Come on, we shouldnt keep them waiting." Sansa nodded holding tight to Jae's hand as they walked. 

''Do you deny your father's crime?" Petyr questioned, immediately upon their entrance. Jae grit his teeth, how did slim like Baelish always come out on top? 

"No, My Lords. We know he must be punished. All I ask is mercy. I know my Lord Father must regret what he did. He was King Robert's friend and he loved him. You all know he loved him. He never wanted to be Hand until the King asked him. They must have lied to him, Lord Renly or Lord Stannis or somebody. They must have lied!" Sansa spoke truthfully and honestly, begging for her father. Cersei watched as Sansa was guided to a seat to make her seem smaller among everyone standing, staring down at her, watched as Jae held Sansa's hand, her knuckles white gripping him tight. 

"Your father said I wasn't the King. Why did he say that?" Joffrey shouted back.

"He was badly hurt. Maester Pycelle was giving him milk of the poppy. He wasn't himself. Otherwise he never would have said it." Sansa remarked. He wasnt stupid as to confront the prince in public, calling him a bastard. Ned Stark was smarter than that, yet here they were. Jae wished that he could have done something more but Ned knew the risks and didnt want him anywhere near the court incase something went wrong. Something did go wrong. 

"A child's faith. Such sweet innocence. And yet they say wisdom oft comes from the mouths of babes." Varys said solemnly.

"Treason is treason!" pycelle declared.

"Anything else?" Joffrey sat pompously in the iron throne. Make him believe you love him, Sansa glanced to Jae and he gave the slightest nod.  Joffrey is an arrogant child he will believe you if you fall to your knees and proclaim love in your heart. Sansa dropped to her knees.

"Please... If you still have any affection in your heart for me as I do for you... please do me this kindness, Your Grace." Joffrey leaned back in his chair debating Sansa's words.

"Your sweet words have moved me. But your father has to confess. He has to confess and say that I'm the King. Or there'll be no mercy for him."

"He will." Sansa agreed.

+

'You have seen better days my Lord.'

'Another visit?' ned questioned varys.

''Sansa came to court this morning to plead for your life.' Varys informed him.

'I don't need her begging for me, did you laugh with the others?' Ned asked

'You do me wrong my Lord your blood is the last thing I want.'

'What do you want?'

'When I was still a boy before they cut my balls off with a hot knife I traveled with a group of actors through the free cities they taught me that each man has a role to play the same is true at court. I am the master of whispers. I am a good actor my Lord.'

'Can you free me from this pit?' ned spat.

'I could but will I? No. As I said I'm no hero.' Varys reminded him.

'What do you want? no riddles no stories tell me what you want?' Ned begged

'Please do you know that your son is marching south with an army of Northman?' He said kneeling before him 'fighting for his father's freedom'

'Robb, he's just a boy.' Ned muttered.

'Boys have been conquerors before but the man giving Cersei the keys is the Kingdom... the Brothers ban together with Stannis. He has the best claimed to the throne he's a battle commander and he is-''

''Renly doesn't think so.' Ned remarked

'Sansa pleaded so sweetly for your life it would be a shame to throw it away. She dropped to her knees and begged." Varys remarked. "Cersei is no fool she knows a Wolf is useful to her more alive, than a dead one.' Varys went on. "But she also knows that Starks are stubborn, Jae is a wildcard but the queen admires him and-"

''Leave Jae out of this." Ned demanded. 

"It's not up to me." Varys reminded him. 

"Do you want me to serve the woman who killed my king? who butchered my men? who crippled my son?'' ned questioned incredulously.

''I want you to serve the realm.' he shouted 'tell the queen you will confess your vile treason and tell your son to lay down his sword and proclaim Joffrey as the true heir that he is. Cersei knows you as a man of honor if you give her the peace she needs and promise to carry her secret to the grave I believe she will allow you to take the black and allow you to live out your days there with your bastard son.' Varys informed him.

''You think my life is some precious thing to me? That I would trade my honor for a few more years... Of what? You grew up with actors you learn the craft and you learned well.' Ned told him 'but I grew up with soldiers. I learned how to die a long time ago.'

'Pity,' varys said 'such a pity. what of your daughters life.... my Lord? is that a precious thing to you?'