Comment fic meme #3

[gotexchange_mod]

Here we go for the post-exchange comment fic meme. (Posted on the mod account as usual because I don't want to enable anonymous comments on the exchange comm.)

A couple of rules:

- please include the pairing/character (and maybe a short prompt/kink) in the comment title - both for prompts and for fills.
- there are both show and book fans in this

Comments

Gratitude (is not bought, they say) 1/2

[heartlesskids]

It was night when he approached her, sitting awkwardly on her bed as Sansa pretended not to notice his discomfort. To acknowledge it would be rude, and Sansa was never rude. She was a queen but she was also a lady, and ladies did not take notice of their husband’s rather endearing gracelessness. So she waited for him, sitting next to him and smiling gently.
Finally, the king spoke.
“My lady,” Stannis said carefully, every word always the most forward one possible. His fingers were curled tightly around something in his hands. “It has been a year since we wed.”
“Yes, Your Grace,” Sansa said politely. Only a year ago she had been a scorned widow, he a widower king with hundreds of women clamoring for a place beside him. For a year, that place had been hers. For a year, the king had been hers. “I know that well.”
Stannis frowned, looking distinctly uncomfortable as he glanced at her on the bed beside him. His hard eyes seemed softer when they were alone, almost bewildered by her constant presence. They reminded her of Rickon’s eyes the day he’d quietly asked, “Are you going away again?”
Stannis cleared his throat.
“We’ve had a prosperous marriage despite the financial mess my brother and the war have left us.” Stannis scowled and she touched his hand. He glanced at her and his mouth twitched sideways. “It seems appropriate to gift you something for it.”
A gift? “Was this Ser Davos’s idea?”
“Indeed,” Stannis grumbled. Sansa bit back a laugh. “The man is sentimental and believes you should be rewarded for attending your wifely duties.”
“I don’t think that’s what he meant,” Sansa said. Stannis frowned.
“What else does this sort of thing mean? It’s another farce, a token to buy affections I do not need.”
A year ago, such blunt words would have hurt Sansa’s feelings. “Yet you bring me one anyway.”
Stannis glanced down, embarrassed.
“Ser Davos spoke truth, inane truth as it is,” he grudgingly muttered. “You have been a good queen to the people and have served Westoros well. And…” He flinched, looking away. “You have been a good mother to Shireen.”
“And you?” Sansa asked gently. Stannis raised an eyebrow.
“I hope you do not presume to believe you are my mother,” he said. Sansa laughed. “You have been a good wife to me. You have been more than dutiful, and your judgment is fair. For all of this, I thank you.” He held up the thing in his hands, a plain wooden box. “Accept this as a token of my appreciation.” Gentle as it was, it was still a command. Rough as it was, it was still a gift.
“What is it?” Sansa asked, smiling. Likely, Ser Davos had picked her something pretty from Essos. Stannis handed her the box and she opened it to find a delicate necklace, spun with thin threads of silver and perfect white pearls hanging at each end.

Gratitude (is not bought, they say) 2/2

[heartlesskids]

“Ohh,” she breathed. It wasn’t as gaudy as the jewels Queen Cersei used to wear but there was charm to its simplicity. She unclasped the necklace she was wearing (one of the few she had, a gold one gifted by Margaery on her wedding day) and tried to put it on. Stannis gestured for her to turn and he clasped it around her neck, fingere brushing gently against her skin.
“It belonged to my mother,” he said quietly. Sansa looked up, startled. “I know you lack finery and since you are the lady of house Baratheon…” He cleared his throat. “Devan found it at Storm’s End, in one of the storage rooms.”
Sansa raised a trembling hand to her throat, thinking of her own mother and how she missed her, how any reminder of her was so special and safe. It was the only reason she continued to visit the place of gods who had never helped her, so she could look at the Mother’s face and imagine Lady Catelyn Stark watching over her.
“I will leave you now,” Stannis said. Sansa said nothing, hoping hard she wouldn’t cry. Her husband rose and with a panic she realized she hadn’t thanked him - that wasn’t ladylike, that wasn’t right. She grabbed his hand and he froze, stiffening under her touch.
“Thank you,” she whispered. Stannis nodded curtly, looking extremely uncomfortable as he slowly pulled his hand from hers. “Would you - would you like to dine together tonight? Perhaps we could invite Ser Davos and his son.”
Stannis blinked. “If you wish.”
“I do,” she said sincerely. Stannis nodded, his shoulders relaxing as he made his way out. Sansa waited for the door to shut before she turned to her mirror, appraising her appearance.
The silver was slightly discolored, one or two pearls showing their age as well. It was not the most ornate necklace and probably not the most expensive. Yet as she looked, she thought of her mother and how simply she’d dressed, of the day Stannis had confessed why he put little trust in gods, how she had once worn the finest gowns in Westoros in front of a court that held no friends. She thought of the king’s backhanded approval for her as his queen (as his wife) and she didn’t think she would exchange the necklace for anything in the world.

Re: Gratitude (is not bought, they say) 2/2

[linndechir]

I love Stannis' awkwardness, how tense he is, and how Sansa tries to accommodate him. His bluntness is also spot-on, how he gives her a gift while telling her that gifts are stupid. That's so him. Beautiful detail that the necklace belonged to Cassana, because it must really mean a lot, coming from Stannis, that he would give something like that to Sansa. And I love that she appreciates it for what it is. Thank you so much for writing this, it's absolutely great. :)

(Just one little thing: it'd be easier on the eyes if you left a blank line between the paragraphs next time. ^^ That doesn't make this fic any less awesome, of course.)

Re: Gratitude (is not bought, they say) 2/2

[heartlesskids]

I had a lot of fun with it. :)

(ugh, LJ's awkward spacing drives me insane. will remember!)

Re: Gratitude (is not bought, they say) 2/2

[tempisfugit]

this is just beautiful. the tension, the understanding, the little gestures and brushes of physical contact, how Stannis actually talks about his past? Perfect.

And Stannis even cracks a joke!! “I hope you do not presume to believe you are my mother" - oh Stannis, you are HILARIOUS.

And the parallels between Stannis and Rickon are simply heartbreaking. Two little lost boys, abandoned by their siblings, alone in a cruel world. Ugh, off to cry a million tears now...

Re: Gratitude (is not bought, they say) 2/2

[emynithilien]

Gut reaction: Awwwwwwwwwwwwwwww...........

This was such a sweet story, and I loved how Stannis and Sansa interacted. I was surprised that Stannis picked out the gift himself, and the meaning behind it. See, Stannis, you CAN endear yourself to a beautiful woman, you just have to want to do it. I also liked your second to last line, the imagery great:

Yet as she looked, she thought of her mother and how simply she’d dressed, of the day Stannis had confessed why he put little trust in gods, how she had once worn the finest gowns in Westoros in front of a court that held no friends.

Re: Gratitude (is not bought, they say) 2/2

[lydzi]

This is exquisite :).

Re: Gratitude (is not bought, they say) 2/2

[ellethill]

This was wonderful :)