As they started watching the first movie of The Lord of the Rings, Boromir appeared on the screen. Sansa froze. Her hands flew to her mouth. She began crying, her body trembling in Jacob's arms.
"That's not your father," Jacob explained gently. "That's just an actor—or what you call in your world a mummer. His name is Sean Bean. In my world, he plays characters in movies and shows. A movie is what's playing now on TV—it's a story recorded with a special device called a camera. I'll show it to you later. It's like a mummer's show, but recorded." He paused. "There are many worlds—like yours and mine. You could probably find someone who looks exactly like you or people you know in other worlds. Sean Bean just happens to look and sound like your father. He has nothing to do with him."
Sansa nodded, wiping her eyes, but she couldn't stop staring at Boromir. Younger than her father had been, but the same face. The same voice. The same sadness in the eyes.
Then Boromir died—pierced by arrows, trying to protect the hobbits—and Sansa broke down completely. Not quiet tears this time. Real, heaving sobs.
Arya cried too, though she tried to hide it by pretending to rub her eyes. Jacob just held Sansa tighter and said nothing.
When the movie ended, the room fell quiet except for the soft hum of the television and Sansa's occasional sniffles.
Jacob looked down at her. His expression was soft, but his eyes were serious.
"I hate to do this to you right after you cried," he said, "but can you tell me what happened to you in King's Landing?"
Arya sat up on the couch. Her face was serious. "I want to hear it too."
Sansa looked between them. Jacob's arm was still around her, warm and solid. Arya was watching her with an intensity that said she was ready to kill anyone who had ever wronged her sister.
She took a deep breath.
"I was so naive back then. So stupid. Unlike Arya, I was the good girl—the proper lady. I did everything I could to be what my mother wanted me to be." Sansa's voice was soft, distant, as if she were speaking about someone else. "When we left Winterfell, I was so happy. I was going to marry a prince. I was going to be a queen. I thought King's Landing would be like the songs. I thought Joffrey was the true knight I'd always dreamed of." She laughed bitterly. "But he was just a demon who turned my dream into a nightmare."
She paused, collecting herself. "I didn't see what he really was—not at first. Even after he had my wolf, Lady, killed… even then, part of me still wanted to believe there was good in him. I wanted to be his queen. I even lied and let my own sister down so I wouldn't ruin my engagement to him." She looked at Arya. "Sorry about that, by the way."
Arya sighed. "It's alright."
Sansa continued. "Not long after we arrived at King's Landing, the nightmare started with my father's arrest. 'Traitor's daughter'—that's what they called me. Cersei tried to manipulate me into believing Father was a traitor and that the only hope for his survival was for me to write a letter to Robb telling him to swear fealty to Joffrey. Naive and stupid as I was, I never believed her. I knew Father was no traitor—he was an honorable man. But to save him, I wrote the letter. I believed Robb would never fall for such an obvious lie."
Her voice trembled. "The day of the execution, the Lannisters made me stand on that platform with them against my will and made it look like I was there by choice. Cersei convinced me that if I publicly begged for mercy and Father confessed to his alleged false crimes, Joffrey would be merciful and let him live."
She swallowed hard. "I had an agreement with Cersei and Varys. I don't think they lied about that agreement, but they didn't account for Joffrey's recklessness and stupidity. Or Littlefinger's manipulation, as we learned today. The agreement was for Father to be sent to the Night's Watch—not executed. But Joffrey suddenly ordered the execution. I screamed. I fought to reach Father, but I was held back by the Kingsguard. That was the moment my naive world officially ended."
"After they killed Father, Joffrey made me walk out onto the bridge and look at his head on a spike. He told me he'd give me Robb's head next. Every day after that was a trial. If Joffrey was bored, he had his Kingsguard beat me. A knight named Meryn Trant would strike me in the face or stomach with his sword while the whole court watched. They stripped me in the throne room—in front of everyone. Just to shame me."
Arya's voice was cold. "Meryn Trant. He's on my list."
Sansa touched her cheek absently, as if she could still feel the sting. "I was alone in a city full of enemies. And the boy I thought loved me made sure I knew I was nothing."
Jacob's arm tightened around her. His jaw was tight. His eyes flickered red for just a moment before he controlled himself. "Too bad that little shit Joffrey is dead, or I'd make him beg for a merciful, quick death. But Meryn Trant will get what he deserves for beating and humiliating you," he said.
"Did anyone else hurt you?" he asked. "I want names."
Sansa's voice grew steadier. "Cersei. She was worse than Joffrey in some ways. She never hit me—not with her hands. But her words…" She shuddered. "She would smile at me while telling me how my mother was probably dead. How my brothers were probably dead. How I was a fool for ever believing in love or honor. She made me undress in front of her while she inspected me. She made sure I knew I was a hostage, not a guest. That my only value was as a womb to carry Lannister children."
She paused. "Tyrion was kind to me. He never hurt me. He never even looked at me the way other men did. He was the only Lannister who treated me with basic human decency. He intervened to stop Joffrey's public beatings, and after our forced marriage, he never laid a hand on me."
Sansa looked at her sister. "Do you remember what I was like before? All the songs and the stories and the silly dreams about handsome princes?"
Arya nodded slowly.
Sansa smiled—a small, sad smile. "I hated you for calling me stupid. For saying I was blind. But you were right. I was stupid. I was blind. And I paid for it."
Arya's voice was softer now. "Well, you were just a little girl back then. But don't worry, sister." She nodded toward Jacob. "I think you finally found your handsome prince. And I think this one is a good one."
Sansa turned back to Jacob with a smile. "I think so too."
Jacob kissed her forehead.
Sansa sighed and continued her story. "When Joffrey decided to marry Margaery Tyrell instead of me, I was so happy. I thought I was free. I thought he would send me back to Winterfell—or at least let me live quietly somewhere away from him. I remember I couldn't control myself. A laugh escaped my mouth. I had to quickly hide my happiness."
Her voice hardened. "But Littlefinger didn't let me enjoy that happiness—not even for a moment. He appeared before me. He told me Joffrey would never let me go, even after he married Margaery. That he would keep me in King's Landing forever—as a plaything. That he would still visit my bed and abuse me whenever he wanted, still have his guards beat me, or marry me off to someone cruel." She swallowed. "And I believed him. Because I already knew Joffrey was a monster. Why wouldn't he do that?"
She paused. "I naively thought Littlefinger was a friend. So when he offered to take me away, I went. I had no one else—no family, no allies. Just a man who said he loved my mother and wanted to protect me." Her voice dropped. "But it turned out he was the worst of them all."
Jacob asked, "Anyone else?"
"Margaery was kind to me," Sansa said with a bittersweet shrug. "She gave me cakes and spoke of sisterhood. I know she was just trying to use me—to get me to marry her brother so the Tyrells could control the North—but it was still nice to have a friend, even a fake one. Myrcella and Tommen never actually hurt me."
She thought for a moment. "Myrcella and Tommen were just children… they were the only ones in that city who smiled at me and meant it. They didn't inherit any of Joffrey and Cersei's cruelty. Myrcella was a sweet, gentle girl, and Tommen reminded me of my brother Bran." She paused again. "And there was the Hound. Sandor Clegane. He was a monster to everyone else, and to be honest, he creeped me out too. But he was the only one who told me the truth. He frequently insulted me, called me a 'little bird' who only sang what she was told—but I think he did it to toughen me up so I could survive. He saved me from being raped and probably killed by a mob during a riot in King's Landing. He cut through the attackers and carried me back to safety. And during the Battle of the Blackwater, he came to my room—drunk and terrified of the fire—and offered to take me to Winterfell. But I was too scared of him to go."
She exhaled. "That was my life there. Until I escaped in Joffrey's wedding chaos with Littlefinger's help."
She fell silent.
Jacob pulled her closer. "You're safe now."
Sansa pressed her face into his chest. "I know."
Arya stood from the couch. She walked to the recliner and, without asking, squeezed in next to Sansa.
"I'm sorry," Arya said quietly. "I hated you from the day I saw you standing with the Lannisters when they killed Father. I'm sorry for thinking you betrayed our family and chose them over us."
Sansa wrapped an arm around her sister. "I'm sorry too. For not defending you when you needed me. For lying to King Robert. For being mean when we were kids. For calling you Horseface."
Arya snorted. "You called me Horseface because you thought it hurt my feelings. It didn't. I always knew I was prettier than you."
Sansa laughed—a real laugh. "You are not."
"Am too."
"Are not."
Jacob watched them bicker, a small smile on his face. Then he looked at the TV, then back at the sisters.
"So," he said, "should we watch the second Lord of the Rings movie—The Two Towers? Or do something else?"
Sansa looked at Arya. Arya looked at Sansa.
"Let's watch the movie," Arya said.
Sansa nodded. "Yes. I want to see how the story ends. You said there are three movies. Let's watch them all."
Jacob grinned. "Alright." Then he glared at Arya. "Arya, go back to the couch. I want to snuggle with Sansa."
Arya hugged Sansa tighter. "You go to the couch. I want to hug my sister. I haven't seen her in years."
Sansa smiled. "How about we all stay like this?"
Jacob snorted. Arya smirked.
And the three of them settled in, pressed close together, and started watching the next movie.
To be continued… 😊
if you like this story and want to support me please go to:
patreon*com/Ayoub_AMZ926
35 Chapters ahead of webnovel