[Sansa Stark — Characters]
Robb Stark wins a major victory at the Battle of Oxcross . Joffrey responds by having Sansa Stark publicly beaten, sparing her only because of Cersei's orders, that if Sansa is killed the Starks will exact vengeance on his uncle Jaime. Tyrion intervenes and halts the ordeal, causing further deterioration in his relationship with Joffrey.
Cersei provides refuge for the women of the court in Maegor's Holdfast during the battle. She prepares for the worst by having Ser Ilyn Payne present and obtaining deadly essence of nightshade poison from the reinstated Pycelle. She drinks heavily during the siege and torments Sansa Stark when she tries to keep up the morale of the women by praying. She tells Sansa that the gods have no mercy and that Ser Ilyn is there to kill them should the Red Keep be breached.
During her meetings with Littlefinger, Cersei again feigns ignorance about Loras' arrest and seems unconcerned about what repercussions this might have. The Queen Regent is about to dismiss Baelish when he admits that even though he lost track of Arya, he has discovered Sansa Stark's whereabouts.
Joffrey rules with cruelty and arrogant whims, while his grandfather Tywin Lannister fights in the War of the Five Kings to secure his hold of the Iron Throne . Joffrey celebrates his nameday with a tourney and continues to torment the captive Sansa Stark , also naming Ser Dontos Hollard as his new fool as punishment for showing up drunk (although would have had him executed if not for Sansa's intervention, whose claim that it is bad luck to execute a man on one's nameday was supported by the Hound).
Robb Stark continues to win victories against Joffrey's Lannister allies. Furious, Joffrey has Sansa Stark brought into the throne room. Before the whole court, he demands she answer for her brother's treason and threatens to kill her with a crossbow. Instead he orders Meryn Trant to strip and beat her. Tyrion interrupts the proceedings and scolds Joffrey for his behavior, as Sansa is his future queen. When Joffrey retorts that as king he can do whatever he wishes, his uncle reminds him that the mad king thought he could do whatever he wanted as well.
Joffrey was a cruel, arrogant, stupid, and sadistic boy who became the King of Westeros. His remorseless and tyrannical rule gained him comparisons to be called another Mad King, quite a feat given the depravity and madness of Aerys II Targaryen. Sadism and brutality were his chief weapons, and he smiled as he wielded them, indulging in the agony of his subjects and servants (for example, giving a man a choice between losing his hands or his tongue). Even the people he claimed to love were not free from his cruelty, as he delighted in the thoughts of serving Sansa Stark the head of her brother Robb at his wedding feast, raping her as his mistress, and having his knights beat her in front of the court to exert his authority. However, he was also incompetent, impulsive, petulant, and prone to rash outbursts of violence when angered, frightened, or slighted showing he was a coward more than anything else. As Tyrion noted, the realms had been cursed with many a vicious and foolish king, but it was unique to be cursed with a vicious idiot in one body. Much like earlier Targaryen kings , it was suspected that Joffrey's sociopathic behavior was a result of his incestuous bloodline (though his sister and brother both were of a kinder disposition). While sadism and cowardice came to define him, Joffrey was consumed by megalomaniacal delusions of grandeur, even though his actions proved he was unskilled in politics, warfare, or wisdom. Narcissism and his delusional fantasies made him incapable of realizing his own shortcomings, defaulting to his royal authority when challenged and seeing dissent as defiance, making far more problems than he solved.
He was deceitful, but showed even less tact than his mother, who had little to begin with. He was willing to take advantage of the trust that Sansa Stark initially placed in him, when she was blinded by fantasies of marrying her handsome prince. In general, however, Joffrey was too short-sighted and impatient to bother lying, often committing various atrocities in public, without concern for the consequences, believing his authority as King gave him the right to do whatever he wished. Joffrey had precious little restraint emotionally, and would resort to petty, impractical, and childlike delights on violent degrees - for example, pouring wine over Tyrion's head, grinning at the brief duel between the Mountain and the Hound or sneering whilst scarring Mycah . In his deluded and remorseless view of the world, he would cling to any sadistic urge that came to mind and never considered the long-term repercussions of his actions, thinking himself clever when he was fool (not unlike his mother). His execution of Ned Stark was more than likely an impulsive decision for his own sole and personal enjoyment, than for the latter's supposed treason, and was a disastrous move that plunged the Seven Kingdoms into war.
Baelish colludes with Sansa Stark that he plans to smuggle her out of the city on his ship when he leaves on an upcoming mission. She displays an eagerness to leave as soon as possible. He suggests that when he next leaves the capital by sea, she might be able to stow away. Sansa advises him not to give her too many details since she is a terrible liar. Meanwhile, Ros, who seems to be acting as Littlefinger's aide, reminisces about the day Sansa was born, when all the bells in Winterfell were rung in celebration. She asks Shae to look out for Sansa, particularly in regards to Littlefinger.
After Joffrey's death , Dontos Hollard delivers Sansa Stark to Lord Baelish's ship. After Sansa climbs aboard, Dontos reminds Lord Baelish about his payment. Baelish snaps his fingers, and crossbowmen kill Dontos. Baelish takes off Sansa's necklace, which he made himself, and throws it overboard, landing on Dontos' body.