Mirrorball // Sansa Stark

26. Dead or Alive

The moment Ned saw Jae in the cells he shot up using all his strength. 

"Look after my girls. Get them out." Ned requested.

"The queen has Sansa under lock and key Ned." Jae warned. "They havent let me see her to check on her since her talk with joffrey, I will try again and again, I can get through to Cersei." Jae offered. 

"Damnit." Ned muttered. "And arya?"

"I cant find her." Jae admitted. "I've been looking. Ned it doesnt look good for you old sport."

"No it really doesnt." Ned agreed.

"What are you going to do?" Jae questioned.

"Fuck if i know." Ned muttered leaning back. "Damnit jae. This was supposed to be good. Roberts dead and now all this! Look out for them protect them. Get them out if you can." Ned begged.

"I will. I will." Jae promised. "First chance I get."

"Jae." Ned whispered and Jae offered him a sad smile. "Sansa has always had a bit of a crush on you." Ned admitted and jae chuckled slightly.

"Shes a pretty girl." Jae told him.

"If I would have offered a union between you two... would you have accepted?" Ned questioned

"I would have wanted to wait a year or so, wait a bit, see if she liked spending more than a few days with me." Jae remarked, "but yeah. I would have." Jae agreed.

"You get her out of this hell you have my blessing dead or alive you have it." Ned offered. Jae sucked in a tight breath, he didnt want Ned dead, he wanted to get him out of here but didnt know how. 

"When I get her out I will leave that up to her if she still finds me as charming." Jae offered kindly.

"Thank you Jae. You have been a good friend." Ned remarked sticking his hand through the bars. Jae shook it.

"You're not dying. Your family needs you." Jae told him and ned sighed.

"Take care of my girls."

+

"Jae!" Sansa declared pulling away from her gaurd and running to him He held onto her as she shook into him. 

"I'm so sorry." jae whispered. "They wouldnt let me see you, I tried." Jae remarked. 

"Is my father..." she whimepred. 

"Time to go." Sandor barked. 

"I will be right beside you" Jae assured holding onto Sansa. 

 ''I am Eddard Stark. Lord of Winterfell and Hand of the King." Ned looked to sansa. This was the end of Eddard Stark as they knew it, Jae felt it as he looked at the wicked stare of Joffrey. Sansa held tight to Jae and he wanted her to look away, knew this wouldnt be good, Illyn Payne was here after all. THeir executioner. 

"I come before you to confess my treason in the sight of gods and men. I betrayed the faith of my King and the trust of my friend Robert. I swore to protect and defend his children. But before his blood was cold I plotted to murder his son and seize the throne for myself." the crowd started yelling at him again, some throwing rocks at his head. Sansa cringed back as though they were throwing stones at herself. 

"I got you." Jae assured. 

"Let the high septon and Baelor the blessed bear witness to what I say. Joffrey Baratheon is the one true heir to the Iron Throne by the grace of all the Gods, Lord of the Seven Kingdoms, and protector of the Realm." The crowd once again started yelling at him. Sansa looked to Joffrey hopefully but Jae knew better. Ned was lying to try and save his head to keep Sansa and his children from losing a father.  But that would imply that Joffrey had a conscious. 

"As... As we sin...' pycelle continued seeing Joffrey loving the attention. 'So do we suffer. This man has confessed his crimes in sight of Gods and men. The Gods are just but beloved Baelor taught us they can also be merciful. What is to be done with this traitor, Your Grace?" Pycelle turned to Joffrey. Joffrey waved a hand settling the crowd.

"My mother wishes me to let Lord Eddard join the Night's Watch. Stripped of all titles and powers he would serve the realm in permanent exile. And my Lady Sansa have begged mercy for their father." He turned to look Sansa, who smiled just slightly at Joffrey. "But they have the soft hearts of women. So long as I am Your King treason shall never go unpunished. Ser Ilyn, bring me his head!" 

"NO!" she screamed as the crowd erupted into cheers. Sansa lunged forward but Jae grabbed her, keeping her back. 'No, no, no.' she sobbed trashing in Jae's grasp. Ned looked to her again, an apologetic look on his face. 

"Don't look." Jae begged holding Sansa to his chest, she sobbed into him. As the sword was brought above Ned's head, a single motion, swish, it was through his neck. Ned's head lay on the ground. Joffrey smiled down to it. 

"No," Sansa sobbed out, her vision soon clouded with tears, her knees weak she clung to soaking his shirt with her tears. 

"Hound. Do me the honor." Joffrey demanded. Sandor picked up Ned's head for all to see. 

Jae stared back at Ned's eyes still staring out blankly. Jae failed him, he wouldnt fail Sansa.