The king doesn't say any more, he leads her back to the table after a single dance, but she likes to think that he pulls his hand away from her arm just a little less quickly than before. As the king turns back to Lord Davos, Jon leans forward a little and whispers into her ear.
"What did you say to make His Grace smile?" It is not very lady-like, but for a moment she stares at him with her mouth open like a fish.
"That was his smile?" And as Jon's eyes brighten with humour, so much like father's when he watched them play, she finds herself smiling as well. Next to her the king is sipping water from a cup, and she has seen enough drunk men to find his sobriety reassuring. His eyes meet hers for a second, and in that one moment she remembers all the things he has said to her the few times they met before today.
I know you will not love me, nor will I ever ask you to. I only expect you to do your duty.
You do not want this. No, don't flatter me by pretending otherwise.
You will be protected now, you have my word on that. You have nothing to fear from the Lannisters, from anyone. Nor from me.
Queen Cersei will be executed tomorrow morning. I thought you should know. That had been the last time the king had spoken to her before the wedding. She had straightened her back at the news, and even to her own ears her voice had sounded like ice when she replied, With Your Grace's permission, I would like to be present at the execution. She thought she had seen something like approval in his eyes then, and he had granted her the request.
Maybe, she thinks, maybe it will not be so bad. Mother married father out of duty when he was nothing but a stranger, and they loved each other more than any other couple she ever saw. She cannot imagine ever loving King Stannis – and his eyes are so cold that she cannot imagine him loving her either – but for just one moment she allows herself to hope that he might at least treat her kindly.
It was more than she had dared to hope for in years.
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timeasmymeasure
Fill: Stannis/Sansa, wedding, 3/3
Date: 2012-03-08 03:45 pm (UTC)"What did you say to make His Grace smile?" It is not very lady-like, but for a moment she stares at him with her mouth open like a fish.
"That was his smile?" And as Jon's eyes brighten with humour, so much like father's when he watched them play, she finds herself smiling as well. Next to her the king is sipping water from a cup, and she has seen enough drunk men to find his sobriety reassuring. His eyes meet hers for a second, and in that one moment she remembers all the things he has said to her the few times they met before today.
I know you will not love me, nor will I ever ask you to. I only expect you to do your duty.
You do not want this. No, don't flatter me by pretending otherwise.
You will be protected now, you have my word on that. You have nothing to fear from the Lannisters, from anyone. Nor from me.
Queen Cersei will be executed tomorrow morning. I thought you should know. That had been the last time the king had spoken to her before the wedding. She had straightened her back at the news, and even to her own ears her voice had sounded like ice when she replied, With Your Grace's permission, I would like to be present at the execution. She thought she had seen something like approval in his eyes then, and he had granted her the request.
Maybe, she thinks, maybe it will not be so bad. Mother married father out of duty when he was nothing but a stranger, and they loved each other more than any other couple she ever saw. She cannot imagine ever loving King Stannis – and his eyes are so cold that she cannot imagine him loving her either – but for just one moment she allows herself to hope that he might at least treat her kindly.
It was more than she had dared to hope for in years.