Chapter 1

Sansa fought the drowsiness that was starting to take over her. She tried to stop her eyelids from dropping but it was too hard. To prevent herself from dozing off, she bit her thumb several times until it grew swollen and bloody.

The pain keeps her from falling asleep and she can't risk closing her eyes. No, she can't. It was still dangerous and she would only sleep peacefully once her and the small guard with her reach Highgarden. It was the only place that she could be safe.

She was supposed to be sitting comfortably in a litter right now, wearing warmer and cottony clothing but she knew that she had no other options left especially that some craven bastard had tipped Tywin Lannister about the Tyrell's plans of shipping her off to the Reach and marry her to Willas Tyrell.

Instead, she was now riding a horse like a man, wearing an armour and helm as a disguise. Though it was very uncomfortable and rather loose for her, she can't complain and she can't still take it off since any time now the Lannisters will notice the dead guards and handmaidens in her doorway and will know of her disappearance.

She doesn't want to be caught and she doesn't want to go back to King's Landing, no, even with the luxury she enjoys there. The wonderful dresses and the gaudy jewellery that the crown provides her won't equal to the pain the King and the Queen Regent has inflicted on her, she'd rather starve to death and wear sack cloth than continue living in King's Landing.

She had suffered so much under Joffrey and she was not a fool to just decline the Tyrell's offer of a chance of escaping the wrath of the "Mad King II", her secret moniker for the Joffrey. He had been once a knight of her dreams, golden and handsome. Yet she was deceived by his appearance and if only she could bring back time, she would correct her own stupidity and distance herself from the mad and vile boy who ordered her Father's head, strip and beat her in front of court and now fighting a war against her brother promising her that he'd bring her his head.

So when Margaery had told her about her brother "Willas" and that he is still an "unmarried man seeking a wife" she jumped into the opportunity and pretended to be interested with the man. And if Margaery was true to her words, Willas will be a better option than Joffrey. She would gladly become the Lady of Highgarden than become the Queen of the Seven Kingdoms if Joffrey was to be her King.

She sighed and glanced at Ser Hugh Clifton, one of the guards that Lady Olenna had given her. He was the one who rouse her from sleep and helped her escape the guards that the Queen and the Hand had assigned to secure her chambers and prevent an absconding attempt.

He must have felt her gaze that he turned his head towards her and gave her a reassuring smile before speaking, "Only a few more hours of riding my lady and we shall rest. We just need to move further to prevent the gold cloaks and the Lannister guards to catch up." He explained and she nodded in response.

She had no right to argue or complain, she should be thankful that there are still people and knights left that were helping and risking their lives for her when her family had been branded as traitors.

However a part of her mind was smiling bitterly at her, they only want your claim stupid, now that Robb had been crowned as the King in the North and he still doesn't have a child, you are considered as his presumptive, if something bad happens to him before siring an apparent, the North is yours, a part of her mind said reminding her that she is still a pawn of the game.

But she would rather be thrown in the bush of thorny roses than go back to the den of lions. She had enough of cruelty and madness and though she doesn't know the Tyrells' true colors, a part of her has hoped that they were as nice as they are acting.

Two years of living in the capitol and suffering pain, sneers and pitiful glances, she learned how to read people. Though she still don't know how to learn who should be trusted, who's truthfully nice and aren't spies, she knew that somehow she could trust Margaery and her family. She knew that she was a valuable piece and unlike the Lannisters, the Tyrells seemed to be nicer and kinder breed. They won't hurt her; her wellbeing will be needed to secure the North.

And the North heeds only to no one except for the Starks.

The Tyrells maybe as beautiful as roses (except for Lord Tyrell, Sansa almost giggled at the memory of Lady Olenna calling her son a fat oaf) but Sansa knew that roses have thorns, ones that can pierce skins and make fingers bleed. But Sansa was a wolf and thorns are nothing compared to fangs and claws. She will learn to fight, she'll learn to play this game and she'll go home. She'll see her family again. She'll hug Robb and Mother…

A scream woke her up from her thoughts and panic swept through her system as she heard horse hooves and shouts of men approaching them. She quickly glanced at the back of their small company and saw a group of men following them.

Without sunlight and only with the help of torches she can't conceive if whether or not the riders were gold cloaks and Lannister soldiers or mere outlaws. She knew that a lot of outlaws are now spreading all over Westeros but most of them only focus on the Riverlands and not on these parts of the continent.

No, this is not happening, she miserably thought as she heard the clashes of swords and the sounds of bowstrings and arrows being released. She didn't dare turn back again and check what was happening to the soldiers who went with her. They're probably dead and right now she needed to focus, she need to outrun them. She had no idea how to protect herself and though the guards have sworn to protect her, with them fighting for themselves she won't be able to do anything if one of the riders will corner her.

"Hurry!" Ser Hugh screamed at her.

They need to outrun them as soon as possible, if these men were outlaws and they'll learn that she's female or of high birth, they might use her as hostage and ransom her to the highest bidder (which will obviously be the crown) or in worst cases they might rape her and she doesn't want that to happen, she had escaped the riot in Flea Bottom and Joffrey's advances thanks to the help of the Hound and Lord Tyrion but now, when everyone's dying around her, no one would be able to keep her safe.

She cursed herself for being useless and defenceless as she tightened her hands on the reins of her horse and urged it to run faster. Ser Hugh had fallen behind and right now she was galloping with two other Tyrell guards who already had drawn their swords and looked as vigilant as ever.

Fear crept into her veins, her heart was hammering fast against her chest, her hands were getting sweaty because of anxiety and her vision started to become blurry.

The first rays of light already had lit the road for them; they were in the deeper parts of the kingswood now. They didn't use the Rose Road for it would be the first part of Westeros the Lannisters will probably check. But now, it seems like their caution for safety had lead them to their deaths. She prayed to both Gods of Old and New to spare her from bloodshed and let her escape.

She can no longer bear it. The pain, the death and suffering around her. She wanted her mother, she wanted to go back to Winterfell two years ago when the King haven't visited their home.

However it seems like everything is never on her favour, the man on her left let out a painful grunt and fell from his horse, an arrow sticking on the exposed part of his neck. This made her even more nervous and afraid that she didn't seem to hear the shouts from the only guard she had left. Ser Hugh had probably fallen and she won't dare look back. She would move forward, there might be a nearby town here where she could hide.

But no, the last of her guards had fallen and her eyes were clouded with tears as she knew that it was over. There was no use running. Wherever she goes, misery followed her. How could she even face the Tyrells now that she caused the deaths of their guards? And what if by any chance these riders were Lannisters? What would Joffrey do to sweet Margaery if he'll learn that she was also behind her escape?

Now, it wasn't only her Father, Septa Mordane, Jory Cassel and Vayon Poole's life she had led to death, she also dragged other people and her friend. Arya's probably right, I'm stupid and useless. I'm unlucky and I only bring destruction and pain wherever I go. Its best I end my life now, let them kill me. I won't mind.

But suddenly, through the darkness, a familiar and soothing silhouette emerged. Her unshed tears had started to fall as she saw Lady standing and growling in front of her horse.

Her direwolf was snarling angrily, its golden eyes full of heat, power and hatred it was looking right through her.

Lady's come for me. I'm probably dead. She thought as the horse lifted its front legs in panic at the sight of the wolf. The movement caught her by surprise and her sweaty hands had loosened the grip on the horse's reins. She felt herself falling, falling to the void.

Her back attached to something hard, uneven and something warm and wet was gushing from her head. She can hear muffled shouts around her. She can't understand what the men were saying around her, she can hear angry voices and shouts, but she doesn't care, Lady's come for her and it means that her wolf was taking her, taking her away from further pain and suffering. She'll now join Lady and her Father in afterlife.

I'm sorry Mother, Robb. She wept silently, thinking of her Mother and brother fighting to save her. Their efforts are useless now, she was going to die, die.

Black spots formed into her eyes and a pair of warm indigo eyes was the last thing she saw before falling into the darkness.

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