Mirrorball // Sansa Stark

27. I Hit Back

Sansa didnt want to seem like a child but she sobbed and sobbed after her fathers death. Jae held her close and she cried into him until she tired herself out of tears and fell into a restless sleep. She stayed in his room, curled up in bed for a full moon, she didnt ever say a word, he didnt push her to talk, she just lay curled into him finding comfort in his gentle touch. Sansa found some semblance of safety with Jae until Joffrey came knocking.  

"Not you Jae." Joffrey corrected. "My mother requested you."

"I will go after." Jae assured as Sansa clung to him nervously. Joffrey rolled his eyes. 

"I suppose you have become her guard dog, should I call you hound jr?" Joffrey cackled out. Sansa's gaze shifted to Sandor behind them. 

"If it pleases you, your grace." Jae agreed simply. Joffrey scoffed. 

"You are no fun to belittle." Joffrey sneered. 

"I'm sorry your grace." Jae offered. Joffrey turned his sights on sansa knowing a weaker target when he saw one. 

''Sansa... You look nice.' JOffrey offered. Sansa's lip quivered looking to Jae before locking eyes with Joffrey. 

''Thank you my lord.' Sansa said stiffly as she followed Joffrey along. She could try, but she couldnt. Joffrey was too awful to even pretend that he was a half decent human being.

'Your grace.' Joffrey corrected. 'I'm king now. walk with me, I want to show you something.'' He grabbed her arm pulling her from Jae's arm. 

"Of course... your grace." Sansa said through a shaky breath her gaze shifted back to Jae as he fell into step with step with Sandor. 

"You can't protect her forever." Sandor remarked softly. 

"I can try." Jae countered. "I promised her father." 

"Her father is dead. WOrry about your own head, Gatsby." Sandor countered. "Thats the only way to survive the capital." Sansa hesitated her feet dragging. Sandor looked to her nudging her forward. ''Do as you are bid girl.'' Sandor told Sansa and she glanced back at Jae desperately. Sandor gave her a little nudge again, Sansa turned back forward, she had to force her gaze away from Jae's gentle smile. 

''And as soon as you had your blood I will put a son in you, mother says that shouldn't be long.' Joffrey remarked as they walked and then sansa realized where they were. She wasnt listening to Joffrey, she wasn't paying attention she was focused on Jae's footsteps behind her, needing his safety behind her to know she wasnt alone. 

'No, please no!" Sansa begged pulling away but Meryn Trant held her put. Sansa looked up and her face went pale as she begged.

''This one is your father, this one here.' Joffrey told them. ''look at him and see what happens to traitors!'' Jae swallowed the lump in his throat looking at Ned's severed head. 

"Let her go Trant." Jae demanded. Meryn shoved Sansa forward. 

''You promised to be merciful.' Sansa whimpered not looking up, her eyes slammed closed. 

'I was, I gave him a clean death.' Joffrey corrected. 'look at him.''

''Please let us go home I swear I won't do any treason,' sansa sobbed, she inched back towards Jae but Joffrey grabbed her arm pulling her forward. 

'mother says I'm still to marry you, Sansa," He hissed out her name "so you stay here and obey. LOOK AT HIM!" sansa's eyes slowly looked up to her fathers head. Joffrey grabbed the front of Sansa's dress pulling her forward taring the fabric. Jae opened his mouth but Sandor elbowed him keeping him quiet.  ''Well?'' Joffrey demanded. 

''How long do I have to look?'' Sansa whimpered. Jae couldnt help but think how brave sansa was going to have to be to deal with the capital, to live here, to marry this monstrous little boy. 

''as long as it pleases me. do you want to see the rest?" Joffrey questioned happily as he took another step away from Sansa.

"If it pleases your grace.' Sansa answered stiffly.

''That one there is your septa.' Joffrey told her and Sansa stared up at septa mordane, honestly with everything going on sansa had forgotten about her. ''I will tell you what. I am going to give you a present.'' Joffrey went on as Sansa stared up at their severed heads. Jae took a step forward but Meryn blocked him. 

"No boy." Meryn corrected. 

''After I raise my armies and I kill your traitor brothers I'm going to give you his head as well.' Joffrey told Sansa as she was staring up at her father severed head. Then she looked to Joffrey again taking another step towards him. "Won't that be wonderful."

'Or maybe he will give me yours.' Sansa threatened staring Joffrey in the eyes. Jae wanted to clap to hoot to cheer, a smile curved his face for a fraction of a second before Joffrey spoke up. 

''my mother tells me a king should never strike his lady,' joffrey said calmly but nervously as Sansa's gaze held venom. If Meryn and the hound were not so loyal he might have shown his fears. 'Ser meryn.' Joffrey declared and Meryn spun Sansa around slapping her hard twice in the face. Sansa tasted the metal tang of blood on her tongue.

"Trant, thats enough!" Jae demanded pulling him back. "Whats the matter with you?''

"I dont take orders from you." Meryn reminded him. 

"You wouldnt hit young ladies under my orders," Jae agreed. "But I'm sure you get off on it." Jae added. 

"Watch it boy." Meryn hissed. 

Sansa looked to the catwalk Joffrey was standing on it would be a long way down. She took a few steps forward, just one push, her pain would be done and they could run but sandor grabbed her arm spinning her around. 

"What are you going to do? Hit me too?" Jae challenged. "Careful, boy, I hit back." 

"Girl.' Sandor held out a rag for her bloody lip. Jae's gaze shifted to Sansa and Sandor.

'Will you obey now? or do you need another lesson?" Joffrey questioned. Sansa's gaze shifted back to him. "I will look for you in court' Joffrey said marching off.

'save yourself some pain girl. Give him what he wants.' Sandor said following after Joffrey. Jae gave Meryn a shove on his way before sansa sat on the catwalk closing her eyes hiding her face in her hands. Jae sat beside her wrapping an arm around her. 

"I'm so sorry." Jae whispered kissing her temple.