A Song of Ice and Fire, #3
A Storm of Swords
by George R. R. Martin
Contents
CHAPTER 28: SANSA
Overview
Sansa is abruptly forced by Cersei and Joffrey to marry Tyrion, shattering her Tyrell hopes. Public humiliations follow during the cloaking and feast, until Tyrion halts the bedding with a threat to Joffrey. In their chamber, Tyrion drunkenly chooses not to consummate, promising to wait for Sansa’s consent, deepening their fraught alliance.
Summary
On the morning her new gown is finished, Sansa is pampered and dressed by Cersei’s attendants, only to learn the finery is for a secret wedding arranged by the crown. Cersei declares Sansa will marry Tyrion, overriding Sansa’s protests as Kingsguard escort her to the sept.
At the sept, Joffrey claims a father’s role and delights in taunting Sansa. Tyrion privately apologizes and offers to break it off for Lancel if she prefers; Sansa, resigned to her lack of choice, proceeds. During the ceremony Joffrey removes Sansa’s maiden’s cloak, but Tyrion cannot reach to cloak her; after humiliating laughter and Joffrey forcing Dontos to serve as a stool, Sansa kneels to complete the rite.
At the small wedding feast, the Tyrells keep their distance while Sansa sits beside a drinking, stony Tyrion. Ser Garlan gallantly dances with Sansa and suggests Tyrion will be a better husband than Loras. Joffrey later threatens to use Sansa despite her marriage, heightening her dread of the bedding.
When Joffrey orders the bedding, Tyrion refuses. Provoked, he slams a dagger down and threatens to geld Joffrey, forcing Tywin to smooth matters and declare the bedding unnecessary. Tyrion, feigning bawdy bravado, leads Sansa away to avoid further spectacle.
In their chamber, Tyrion drinks and recounts his brief first marriage to Tysha. Pressured by Tywin’s command to consummate, he has Sansa undress but, seeing her fear and youth, ultimately relents. He vows on his honor not to touch her until she wants him to. When Sansa admits she may never want him, Tyrion bitterly accepts, leaving the marriage unconsummated.
Who Appears
- Sansa StarkForced into a surprise marriage to Tyrion; publicly humiliated; spared consummation when Tyrion vows to wait.
- Tyrion LannisterReluctant groom; endures mockery, halts the bedding by threatening Joffrey, and chooses not to consummate.
- Joffrey BaratheonStands as ‘father,’ taunts and gropes Sansa, orders a bedding, is checked by Tyrion’s threat.
- Cersei LannisterArranges and oversees the forced wedding; mocks Sansa; supports Joffrey’s authority.
- Tywin LannisterBacks the political marriage; diffuses Tyrion’s threat by canceling the bedding custom.
- Ser Garlan TyrellDances with Sansa kindly; suggests Tyrion will prove a better husband than Loras.
- Margaery TyrellAttends feast; dances with Joffrey; offers Sansa a sad, distant acknowledgment.
- Queen of Thorns (Olenna Tyrell)Arrives with attendants; deliberately avoids Sansa after the Lannister match.
- Ser Dontos HollardWitnesses the wedding; forced to kneel as a stool so Tyrion can cloak Sansa.
- Ser Osmund KettleblackKingsguard escort; laughs at Tyrion’s jest after the threat to Joffrey.
- Ser Meryn TrantKingsguard escort enforcing Sansa’s forced procession to the sept.