A/N: This was actually posted on my tumblr for a while, so if you followed that then you've already read this. But if not than here's a new chapter for you!

Chapter 2

Sansa woke up exhausted and in something of a foul mood the next day. She couldn t put her hand on why for a moment, and then the memories came flooding back to her. Joffrey, Lord Tyrion, the garden . and her reaction. She blushed with shame and burrowed into her covers, thinking to not come out.

After tiring herself out she d had a moment of clarity. She didn t know Lord Tyrion Lannister to be horrible, that much was true. But that hadn t helped her in other respects. She was still being married off to someone she didn t know, by a family she knew she couldn t trust, as a bartering piece to make sure that they stayed in power. She d broken down into tears again at the thought. That was how her handmaidens had found her. She d been inconsolably distraught. Someone sent for some dreamwine from the maester, which had effectively sedated her enough that she allowed her handmaidens to undress her and put her to bed.

It was a bit late in the day now, clearly she d been let to sleep in for a time. Sansa didn t feel much like getting up, but nor did she feel much like spending the day in bed. She still felt miserable about yesterday, but unlike with her previous situation with Joffrey staying in bed wasn t really a useful instinct now. It had been a defense mechanism to be where Joffrey could not go without impropriety. But now

This had been done to make her miserable, Sansa reasoned. Perhaps not deliberately, to here her husband-to-be tell it, but all the same people were going to enjoy her misery. King Joffrey, Queen Cersei all of the court who liked to titter at her. What was the proper defense for that?

Sansa got out of bed and called for a maid to help her start her day. It was a bit late, but she d start her day with a visit to the sept, as she always did. As one of her nameless handmaidens started brushing out her hair, and the other one started helping her get dressed, Sansa stood a bit taller with resolve. The only proper defiance when one was expected to be miserable, was to be thrilled. And so she would be.

Sansa tried to call to mind the excitement she felt when Margaery told her of her brother, the thrill that it might ve been Loras she would wed. That was how one was supposed to feel when they were told they were going to be wed. Her heart skipped a beat and a smile rushed to her face, almost against her will, when she remembers that brief moment of giddy happiness. She knew it was an impossible dream, but as such there was the benefit that it could not truly be taken from her. She looked at herself in the mirror and was pleased to see that she really did look happy. It was ruined, perhaps, by the fact that she knew she had no reason to be. But all the same, it was convincing and that was all that mattered. Even her handmaidens looked quite confused at her sudden change in demeanor.

After she was ready for the day she left her rooms and took herself to the sept. She didn t take the long, deserted way around today either. For her defiance to work she needed to be out in the open where people could see her. She held herself straight and walked with poise across the yard on her way to the sept. To her surprise she didn t make it there without interruption.

No less than three different ladies of the court impeded her progress across the yard. She didn t recall all of their names . Swyfts, a Marbrand All of them giving her invitation to visit them or to sew with them or some other amiable activity. Unsure of what to do with this Sansa simply waved them away, informing them that she d give their offer the utmost consideration but she really did with to be on her way to the sept. She hadn't any idea what had earned her these invites, but she didn't intend to show up to any of them.

Sansa finally got to the sept and stepped in quietly. She wondered for whom or what to pray. She might pray to the Warrior, for Robb. Or the Stranger, for Arya But before she could put either of these thoughts into action she spotted Margaery Tyrell sitting in the pews in front of the the Maiden. Margaery nodded at her and beckoned her over. Sansa took pause what did she want?

Sansa walked over to her hesitantly and sat down next to her.

"Your grace." Sansa greeted softly.

"You needn't call me that yet, Sansa. I have yet to marry King Joffrey." Margaery remarked. Sansa nodded in acknowledgment, but said nothing in reply.

"I have heard the good news," Margaery commented. Of your betrothal to Lord Tyrion.

"I learned of it myself just yesterday." Sansa informed her. But of course news does travel fast in the Red Keep.

"I do hate to take you from your devotions But the sept is hardly a place for gossip. Shall we depart to less solemn surroundings?" Margaery asked.

"If you wish," Sansa replied. Margaery smiled at her as they stood up and linked their arms as they walked.

"It s quite a pity that things didn t work out the way we would have liked." Margaery commented.

"Yes," Sansa agreed. "I'm rather sorry of that as well."

"I really did mean what I said, Sansa." Margaery said. "I would have liked to have you as a sister. I know what you must think, that it was all for some political gain, but that really wasn t the case. I really would like for us to be friends, if you would have me."

"You are to be queen, how am I to deny you anything?" Sansa asked. The question made Margaery smile. It was rather bold, Sansa reflected, and that must show a bit of trust.

"Indeed, but we both know that s not what I meant." Margaery answered. "Though really, it is to your best interest to be a friend of mine, as I m sure you know."

"And is it in your best interest to be a friend of mine?" Sansa asked.

"You're to be my aunt very soon, that s nearly as good as sisters." Margaery informed her. "You're moving up in the world Sansa, very soon you'll no longer be just a prisoner, you ll be part of the Royal Family."

Sansa pondered on this. Was it really that simple? Would a marriage really change everyone s opinion of her so quickly? Her thoughts landed on the invitations she d gotten on her way to the sept. Were they because she was very nearly a Lannister?

"Does everyone already know of my engagement to Lord Tyrion?" Sansa asked Margaery.

"Oh yes. It made the rounds at court this morning. Many people seemed disappointed that neither you or Lord Tyrion were there to receive a proper congratulations." Margaery answered. "Does it trouble you that people know?"

"No, I just wondered of the influence of the news." Sansa answered.

"Ah," Margaery exclaimed knowingly. "You've been treated differently today?"

"I did notice a difference on my way to the sept." Sansa confided.

"Well, you are are going to be line to be the Lady of the most influential house in all of Westros. No doubt that changes people s view of you drastically." Margaery mused to her.

Sansa reflected on this. With Ser Jaime in the Kingsguard, should he make it back alive, Lord Tyrion was the heir to Casterly Rock and likely to be Warden of the West when his father died. If she were married to him, then she might one day have some influence over the Lannister family. Now that she thought on it, the ladies who had approached her were all from western families, all of whom might be eager to curry favor from the Lannisters. Was it possible that it was that easy?

She looked over at the slightly older girl who was going to be queen soon. It seemed too good to be true that she might have a friend in a high place that would console her and guide her in such a way that Margaery seemed to be leaning towards. Sansa knew she was far enough beneath Margaery s notice that the only reason she associated with her at all was because she thought there was something to gain. But it didn t seem so important just at the moment, not when she wanted someone to talk to so desperately.

"It seems too simple, that the way people treat me is so easily influenced." Sansa said skeptically.

"People don t often think for themselves." Margaery said dismissively. "They're told what to think by their lords. Tywin Lannister, by making this match, has vouched for you as a decent sort. If he wants you as part of his family, than who are his underlings to treat you as if you were shameful?"

Sansa had never even been formally introduced to Tywin Lannister. She couldn t imagine that he had many thoughts about her at all.

"I hardly think that was his intent." Sansa protested lightly.

"No. I suspect he just wanted to see Lord Tyrion married to someone suitable. Apparently he s been searching for a bride for him for quite a long time." Margaery agreed.

It did seem somewhat odd to Sansa that Lord Tyrion was unmarried. She wasn t sure of his exact age, but knowing he was only a bit younger than the queen she surmised that he was nearly as old as her mother.

"Because he is a dwarf?" Sansa mused aloud.

"I suspect so." Margaery agreed, sounding a bit as Sansa felt.

Sansa was determined not to feel pity for Lord Tyrion about this, or to ever let him know that she knew of it. But she did feel a pang of guilt when she realized that his stature and deformity were also part of her objections to the marriage. It really didn t seem fair, now that it was drawn to her attention.

"So I am a suitable bride because I am highborn, and not in a position to refuse." Sansa said. That didn t seem very fair either, she thought.

"But it works to your benefit." Margaery was quick to remind her. "And Lord Tyrion's as well, no doubt. I m sure you ll make a wonderful wife for him."

"Why do you say that?" Sansa asked.

"You have all the skills and social graces he lacks." Margaery explained. "He seems to be quite clever, if what I've heard of him is true, but he rarely has the opportunity to put it to good use. With someone like you by his side, who sees the need of navigating through the court, he'll get much farther."

Sansa didn t know what to say to that. She certainly didn t that in herself, she had barely kept herself alive in the machinations of the Red Keep. Even now she felt as though she was only just keeping herself afloat. She wondered if a clever husband would help her survive.

TYRION

"I hear your bride-to-be nearly leaped from her window last night." Cersei said, in a way of greeting when the small council was due to meet that evening.

I"'d take the words of your silly girlish spies with a grain of salt." Tyrion responded. He d heard the same rumors that morning at court. From people who wished to tease and jeer at him behind his back . Varys, who seemed to have some bizarre investment in the situation that Tyrion couldn t fathom, assured him that his little birds knew the truth. Sansa hadn t done anything nearly so drastic. She d merely cried all night, and had to be dosed with dreamwine so she could fall asleep. This truth did not make Tyrion feel any better, but sounded better on the ears at least.

"Oh? And what do you know of it?" Cersei asked, clearly feeling as though she had the superior hand.

"Enough." Tyrion answered. "And what of you, dear sister? Has our father sent a raven off to Highgarden to offer you up yet?" Cersei looked as though she were about to hit him, but their father stepped into the room at just that moment.

"You two are early." Lord Tywin commented.

"Well, I had a good day with the ledgers. So I thought I d spare myself the long hours just this once." Tyrion excused. In truth he d thought to hide away from the rest of the inhabitants of the Red Keep for a bit. The news of his upcoming nuptials had gone over as quite the joke at court, and proceeded as such into the day. Bronn had laughed himself sick recounting some of the things he d heard during the day. A bit of mummery had been going on somewhere, with a man on his knees playing the part of a dwarf attempting to jump to kiss his bride. He had a sneaking suspicion that his nephew had arranged it for his benefit. Tyrion wanted no part of it, so he'd holed up for the day doing his work, and then retreated into the Tower of the Hand, where no one was likely to suspect him of going.

Tywin accepted this excuse for what it was, an excuse.

"Well done. Take the day off and call on Lady Sansa tomorrow." Tywin said in response. "She seemed to be in quite good spirits today, so should you be. It will quell the laughter well enough no doubt."

"Good spirits?" Tyrion asked skeptically.

"She was seen strolling arm in arm with Margaery Tyrell and looking quite cheerful. I've been informed their conversation was all about her betrothal and how well a fit you two would be. It seems to me as though that's a conversation she should be having with you." Tywin answered pointedly. He then turned to Cersei. "And why are you early?"

"I heard that my dear brother was hiding away in here. I thought to discuss the sort of plans he had for his wedding." Cersei answered.

"You'd do better to discuss that with Sansa." Tyrion answered. "I've little interest in what the affair will look like, and as a young girl she likely has several ideals for it."

"I wouldn't be so quick to say such a thing. Sansa is a ward of the crown, meaning the crown must pay for the wedding. It will be your job to find the coin for it." Cersei pointed out.

Tyrion carefully didn t flinch at that. He hadn t taken that into account at all. He didn t think Sansa would expect or desire anything as lavish as Olenna Tyrell and Cersei were demanding for the royal wedding, that would be just absurd, but still Finding the coin for another wedding, on top of everything, else was going to be a nuisance. He wondered how simple he could make the wedding and still be respectable.

"The wedding must be fit for a Lannister." Tywin said. "As such, should the crown find it s funding falling short I m sure the Lannister family would be more than willing to chip in."

To anyone else it would have sounded like a gracious offer. The wealthier family of the groom chipping in to help fund the wedding, how sweet. But Tyrion knew better. It was clearly a challenge. His father had all but said that if Tyrion didn't think he was up to the task than he d bail him out of this one. Tyrion knew without a doubt that he d find the money to fund the wedding himself, even if it killed him.

A/N: So, I'm not exactly starting this up again. But I've started getting into Game of Thrones again. So you might see more of this in the future. I have plans to upload my other GoT fanfic here, it's called "Of Spiders and Doves". Look for it soon.