B L O O M

Plans

     The room was dark, candles providing light while everyone ate. Everyone ate politely except for Rose, who had spent the afternoon hunting and was positively famished. Sansa looked at her food the whole time, only looking up to meet the comforting gaze of her one and only friend, Rose, who was making silly faces at her nieces and nephews in attempt to get them to laugh.

"When will Joffery and Sansa be married?" Little Mrycella asked, causing both Rose and Sansa's heads to shoot up in absolute horror at the thought.

"Soon darling, when the war is over." Responded Cersei, her sister's movements not going unnoticed.

"Mother says I'll have a new gown for the ceremony and another for the feast. I cannot wait to see the beautiful gown you will wear, Aunt Rose. It is sure to catch the attention of every man in the room. But yours will be ivory, since you're the bride. " Mrycella continued, innocently excited at the prospect of two new dresses, her Aunt's gown, and Sansa's. The thought of having to wear a dress because of a man angered Rose, but not as much as the thought of her sweet friend being married to her cruel nephew.

"The princess just spoke to you." Cersei spoke, her eyes daring Sansa to ignore her.

"Pardon your grace. I'm sure your dress will be beautiful Mrycella, I'm counting the days until the fighting is done and I can pledge my love for the King in sight of the gods." Both Lannister sisters looked at her. Cersei proud at the little dove's compliance and Rose with sadness at the thought of her friend in pain forever.

"Is Joffery going to kill Sansa's brother?" Tommen asked curious.

"I sure hope not." Rose responded, smiling briefly at her beloved nephew before turning back to her food.

"He might. Would you like that?" Cersei asked though her attention was transfixed upon her baby sister's sad face.

"No, I don't think so," Tommen told everyone.

"Even if he does, Sansa will do her duty. Won't you little dove?"

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"Did you have to discuss her brother?" Rose asked her sister. The two dressed in night clothes upon Cersei's plush bed, Cersei running a brush softly through her baby sister's wavy hair.

"Little dove must be prepared," Was Cersei's response, still working her way through her sister's locks.

"I miss Winterfell. Everything was so beautiful there, and the people - they treated me like I was one of them. It was a pleasant change."

"Little Lion, your place is with me. Forget the North, all that is there is grumpkins and snow."

"I met a man, he told me about the North. That Northerners look out for each other and that while snow may be unforgiving it is none the less beautiful. That people fear fire, yet they understand its importance. He told me the most beautiful stories." Now Rose turned to face Cersei, the hairbrush forgotten as Cersei saw pure love in Rose's chocolate eyes.

"Who told you these stories?"

"His name was Jon. He's my friend." At her words Cersei began to laugh.

"I've told you, Northerners are not your friends."

"Maybe they are not yours, but they are mine." Rose said simply, making Cersei look down with a frown as she shook her head softly.

"You never did what you were told, little Lion, ever since you could walk. You wandered the commons like a peasant, handing out coins to people who couldn't afford bread. You wielded a sword and trained with the best swordsmen until you could beat them in seconds. You read libraries of books and mastered skills that are utterly useless. I have always supported you, but please, do not trust anybody. They will use you as if you are nothing." Cersei pleaded with her, begging her to see.

"Let me go to Robb Stark's camp. I will speak with him. I am his friend, he will not harm me. I can see if Jaime is all right. Please."

"Absolutely not!" Cersei immediately yelled, raising from the bed to storm over to her mirror.

"We are losing this war because of your son." Rose yelled back.

"We will win."

"Let me help!"

"NO!" Screaming, Cersei grabbed a vase and smashed it on the floor.

"Let me try. Please." Her soft voice barely heard over the sound of breathing, she approached her sister to gently place her hand on Cersei's shoulder.

"What if you don't return? What if they take you like they did Jaime?" Cersei sunk to the floor, tears streaming down her face. "First Mrycella, now you?"

"I have to try." The sister's eyes met, emerald and chocolate staring into one another. Embracing, Cersei held her sister's small form inside her arms. Terrified to let go as if she would evaporate into thin air forever.

"When do you leave?"

"I shall leave on the morrow."

"Very well."

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"I will only be gone a short while. Sandor will protect you. I promise." Rose cupped Sansa's face in her small hands.

"Will you come back? Please I cannot be without you. How will I survive? Ser Merryn will beat me again, I know he will." Sansa pleaded with her, red cheeks stained with fresh tears. She truly wanted Rose to see her brother, to inform him that she was alive, she just did not want her friend and protector to leave her.

"Stay, please. Robb will come and save us, I know he will. Please just stay here, with me." Sansa added, pleading desperately that Rose would stay by her side. But Sansa

"I leave today. But if you truly wish for me to stay I shall." It was early, the day's sun shined through the silk curtains as Rose spoke. She had entered Sansa's room early the next morning to inform her of her leave, unprepared for the tearful conversation that would occur.

"Who will you go with?" Sansa asked, laying back down on her soft bed next to Rose, cuddling into her side while Rose braided a piece of her hair.

"I will ride alone," Rose tried to comfort Sansa, "I will have my weapons and no other clothes but those on my back."

"Be careful." Sansa begged, a fresh onslaught of tears pouring from her eyes, a sad smile made its way onto Rose's face.

"You be careful. You are a Stark, a wolf. Do not let them destroy you." The two relishing in each other's presence, knowing that shortly the two who had become best friends would be separated.

"I promise."

"Good."