Chapter 260: Sansa's Promise to Herself
Winterfell, Stark Lands
POV of Sansa Stark
If Ser Jamie did not look so dazed and weak right now, Sansa would have wondered if Domeric's punches would even do anything against an armored opponent.
"THAT'S ENOUGH!!!" the Queen shouted from her seat. "Someone stop that madman. He's killing him."
A moment after she said that, Domeric stopped punching Ser Jamie, who wobbled dangerously on his feet before he tilted to the side and fell on the ground like a sack of potatoes. Unconscious.
Maester Lewin and a few Red Cloaks immediately ran to help Ser Jamie.
The people burst into cheers at that point as Domeric won the first match.
Sansa, on the other hand, wondered if Ser Jamie was even capable of fighting the next round, let alone three whole rounds.
"Did you count how many times Lord Bolton punched the Kingslayer?" she heard someone speak behind her.
"Must have been a hundred times easily." Someone else said. "The Kingslayer didn't even stand a chance."
"What a total beatdown."
"…a little disappointed. I was hoping for a better match."
"…see the dents on his armor. They were…"
"…even be able to fight anym…"
"…put a bet on…"
"…couldn't see the…"
"…Sansa… Sansa… SANSA…" She jerked as Robb shouted in her ear.
"What?"
"You were looking a little lost. Are you alright?" Robb asked, a little loudly to be heard among all the cheering.
"Umm… yeah." She said.
Sansa was thinking about how the King's decree ruined her opportunity to marry the dashing and victorious Domeric in the arena and how she was forced to become a broodmare for the sadist prince.
There was once a time in her life when being the Queen and siring the prince and princess for the King would have been her greatest desire. But now… after meeting with Domeric, going to Dreadfort and seeing the life that the people there lived…
She doubted that she would be satisfied with a life in Kings Landing. And more importantly, she doubted she would be happy with anyone other than Domeric.
But was there still a chance she could be with Domeric? Seeing him so close in his victories, yet not being able to be by his side, was breaking Sansa's heart.
"You're crying, Sansa." Her brother said with a worried look in his eyes,
She touched her cheeks and realized that there were indeed tears in her eyes.
"I'm alright." She said. Wondering who she was really lying to—Robb or herself.
Robb continued to look at her with worry for a long moment before he spoke. "You need a hug."
She thought about accepting Robb's offer, but then she remembered how she had betrayed Domeric.
No, she didn't want any comfort. She didn't deserve it.
She shook her head and wiped the tears with a handkerchief. "I'll be alright." She said with a smile that didn't reach her eyes.
Robb gave her a worried look but nodded in response. He went back to his seat, but she had a feeling that he would keep an eye on her for the rest of the duel.
If it even continued.
She looked at the arena where the Red Cloaks and Maester Lewin managed to remove the helmet from Ser Jamie's head, which was filled with cuts and covered with blood.
Maester Lewin threw some water on Ser Jamie's face while the other Red Cloaks started to remove the dented chest plate from him.
On the other side of the arena, Lord Bolton was sitting back in his chair, and Ygritte, the woman Domeric loved, was by his side, wiping his sweat and offering him water.
Sansa's chest hurt when Domeric smiled at that woman. A warm smile that she had never received herself.
By now, the Queen was shouting at the men to arrest Lord Bolton. The King was telling her to shut the hell up, and the crowds were still cheering.
Why were they cheering?
She felt her chest grow heavy, and it was becoming difficult to breathe.
She could feel the world closing around her. She needed to get out of here.
She got up from her chair, her eyes once again blurry with tears, and ran.
She heard Robb shout her name from behind her, but she didn't care.
She didn't care about anything anymore except for reaching her room, lying down on her pillow, and crying until all her tears and sorrows melted away.
She had thought she could endure. She had thought she could remain strong, unwavering, and brave the odds for the man she loved.
But it seemed Sansa wasn't as strong as she thought. Ever since she learned Domeric loved another woman, she had been trying to console herself with various excuses and holding back her tears.
But it seemed life wouldn't be so easy for her. Seeing Domeric, the man she loved, with another woman was far more painful for Sansa than she had imagined.
Domeric stood before her, so close, yet at the same time so distant for Sansa. No matter how much she wanted to, she couldn't go and stand beside him, and another woman was standing beside him.
Sansa reached her room and threw herself onto her bed, closing the door behind her, and began to cry.
She knew crying wouldn't do her any good. No matter how much she cried, Domeric wouldn't abandon Ygritte and run to her. There was no way she could win Domeric's love by crying.
She knew she would have to be strong and face many hardships for this, but her eyes and heart wouldn't listen to her at the moment.
So, Sansa wept as much as she could. Today, she would tolerate the weakness of her eyes and heart.
But she made a promise to herself. From tomorrow on, when she arrived at Dreadfort, she would have no time for tears or sadness. If she wanted Domeric's love, she would have to work for it.
No matter how long it would take, the hardships she would endure, or how hard she would have to work, one day she would finally earn a place in Domeric's heart.
With this promise to herself, Sansa slowly drifted off into dreamland.
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Next Chapters' Name:
Ch.261: Ritual Preparations
Ch.262: Dragon Army Plan
Ch.263: Gemini Project in Action