Queen was not happy about the news she got. She didn't like to be stabbed in the back. She didn't understand how could Tyrion do that to her. He was supposed to be loyal to her. He was supposed to pick her every time and now he picked Stark girl over her. She barged into John's chambers and he jumped out of bed.
''Are we under attack?''
''No, but I am…''
''What happened?''
''Your sister stole Tyrion from me…''
''I beg your pardon?''
''They are married…again…But you know that because you were the one who performed the ceremony.''
''I did?''
''Yes, apparently entire castle, but me was there.''
''I don't remember even seeing them… I must have drunk a lot…''
''Well, they are man and wife…''
''I had no idea she would have married him again… I believed that it was over when she left after king Joffrey's death…''
''Well it looks like we all were fooled…''
''How did it happen?''
''I have no idea… But something changed during the battle.''
''Everything changed… History changed…''
''I meant when it comes to them.''
''Oh…''
''Yes…''
''I had no idea she was even thinking about the marriage.''
''You know she had to be married to be Lady of Winterfell…''
''I know, but we never spoke of it…''
''Well, she took care of it. She picked the man herself… A man she can manipulate.''
''He is not stupid…''
''No, but he is a man and your sister is a beautiful woman.''
''Maybe, but I think they share some bond that is beyond her using him.''
''I think you are naïve.''
''I don't know what to think. I am surprised she took any husband, let alone Tyrion.''
''Well, she did and I lost a hand.''
With that she left Johns chambers and went back to hers. She went to the window and she saw Tyrion and Sansa in the yard talking to some people. It looked like he was accepted as her husband and that people forgot that he was a Lannister.
Two of them had a lot of people come to them and congratulate them on the wedding. Girls brought her flowers and Sansa was really touched by that. They continued outside of the gate where dead would be burned and they were finally alone.
''Am I wrong or most of those people who congratulated us was there last night and saw us get married actually.''
''I think that most of them don't remember most of the night.''
''I agree…and I find it sort of entertaining… Being sober could be fun.''
''I know!''
''But I am not ready to end my love affair with the wine.''
''And you tell that to your wife?''
''At least you were warned about my mistress…''
''I guess that is correct…''
''Sansa.''
''Yes, Tyrion…''
''Are you still good with us being remarried?''
''Yes, I am. And what about you?''
''I am…''
He kissed her hand and she smiled at him.
''I am glad.''
''So, when do you want it done?''
''I guess soon. When everyone wakes up.''
''We should do it as soon as possible. We must prevent disease and rotting.''
''We can't prevent it my lord… We can just do something about it before it becomes issue.''
''Let's go back and make sure to do this as soon as possible. After we are done here, we should retire to our chambers.''
She gave him a surprised look.
''I want to talk your books Sansa… And I think that if we do that we will have some privacy… ''
He could see her thinking about his words.
''No one wants to enter the chambers of the newlyweds.''
She blushed a bit.
''Let's go back my lord.''
As they got in they met with John. He went out to see what was happening and if some of the works started. He was surprised to see people already working on the repairs and everything running smooth.
''Sansa…Tyrion…''
''John….''
He looked at them a bit weird, like he was studding them. Sansa took off her gloves as they were getting in and John saw her ring. Tyrion walked after her and started talking about the crops that could be grown here and how she could try to write to some other houses to send her seeds for some other crops too. John was stunned how domesticated they looked after being married (again) for few hours and after not seeing one another for years. It looked as like they were never apart. He continued watching them during the lunch. Sansa was putting food on his plate and there was just the right amount of the things he loved there. She put some extra cranberry souse over his meat and he left some of his lemon cake for her…and it was all done without speaking a word to one another. There were just few glances and smiles exchanged, but not a single word. Queen was watching them too. She was watching how happy he looked and with how much adoration he watched his young wife. Lady Sansa was his pride and joy and he was so happy with the fact that she was his again. And this time he had a feeling she will be forever his. Queen watched how girls were coming to them and giving them flowers, wishing them happy life together and some of them wished them many children to lead their home. At that Sansa would blush like a child and Tyrion would just smile. Queen was sure he already knew how big family he wanted and what he and Sansa would do in next many years of marriage. Queen left her place and went to Missandei.
''What happened in the crypts?''
''We were attacked by the dead.''
''I meant, between two of them?''
''They talked and he said that they should have stayed married… She told him he was the best… and then she told them that their marriage wouldn't have worked out because of you My Grace.''
''Me?''
''Yes, Lady Sansa suggested that his divided loyalties would cost them their marriage.''
''So, he had to pick me or her?''
''Something like that…''
''She made them choose between wife and a queen.''
''So, he would prefer her as a wife than serving me?''
''I think so Your Grace.''
Sansa and Tyrion had no idea that that many eyes were on them. They simply enjoyed the meal they shared and waited for the sign to get out and start with the burning of the bodies. Dead were honored and Sansa's heart broke when she recognized Theon in one of the piles. She held on to her husband's hand and tried to control her tears. They stood for over an hour waiting for all of them to burn and wind to carry their remains all over. Tyrion looked at Sansa and gave her very sad smile.
''They are going home. Winds are taking them where they came from.''
They got back in and went to the library to get all they needed for their session. Sansa went behind to check some shelves in search for some letters and documents she wanted Tyrion to see. He sat at the table with some of the books they started to work on when the queen came in. She shut the door very loudly and Tyrion just looked at her.
''Your Grace?''
''So, you abandoned me for a wife? She made you pick?''
''Your Grace what are you talking about?''
''In the crypt she told you that your marriage would have failed if you stayed married because of me.''
''Your Grace? Why does it matter now? I am not your Hand anymore…''
''It matters because she used you against me.''
''Your Grace, I can assure you that.''
''No, listen to me you were given a choice…Queen or wife and you picked wife…WHY? I want to know what made you choose?''
''It was a logical choice…''
''What?''
''It was a logical and simple choice… I just never knew I had it.''
''You got the offer you couldn't refuse…. Did she promise you something you always wanted? Did you get the chance to bed your wife finally? Who knew that a woman with such a frigid exterior could be fire in bed to get Tyrion Lannister to betray his queen?''
Sansa was hiding in the back and she was sick to her stomach listening to queen speak of her that way. She had no idea how long she could hide and not defend herself.
''Your Grace…you don't need to fall to that level… But to answer you… My wife didn't promise anything or tried to trade bedding her for something. Lady Sansa is far from something like that. I will not talk about our intimacy, because it is disrespectful to you as our queen, me as your former hand and her husband and especially to my wife. I am a ladies' man… but I never disrespected women I was with… Even when they were prostitutes and some believed that it is fine to speak of them in some bad manner.''
''Then why did you leave…if you say she has nothing to do with your decision.''
We were sailing somewhere and an old men was on the ship with us… You remember…he was a begger…you took him in on the ship because you felt bad for him…''
She nodded and Tyrion continued.
''We got into talking and he told me that if he could turn back time…he would do things in the right time. And at first I was confused about what his comments were about. And then he started talking about his life and opening up. He was married young, they had children… He was in the trade, then he was at war…and in short, his wife died and he realized that he had no idea who she was, no idea who he was, ho the children were and what did he spent most of his life fighting for. He told me that in life of every men there is time for war and time for being in your home with people who mean to you… Time to be with your wife, time for children, time to be a good father… But in all, he kept talking about times in life when it's important that you do something.''
''What do you mean?''
''I am too old to go to war. I don't have illusions… I don't believe in concept of better tomorrow or times coming. I am also too old to think about how wars are great…You need a Hand who would stand by you when you want to go to war. I am someone who started to believe in peaceful solutions… ''
''You think we can win against your sister if we talk?''
''My sister is not an issue here…''
''What is then?''
''That it's my time to leave war to ones that still believe it is worth it and for me to find a wife and settle down… ''
''And out of all the women…Sansa Stark?''
''She is my wife…and I think we both deserve a chance…''
''She could have been married to someone more suitable… Winterfell needs heirs.''
''I don't think I appreciate you speaking of Lady Sansa like she is some sort of object. She is a person and for her very tender age she was treated as an object too many times… First, she was forced to marry me…against her will…then she was married to Ramsey Bolton who treated her very badly… Our marriage this time was her choice… She picked me for some reason I would never understand… But the point is she picked me.. I know I am far from handsome man she dreamed of and I am sure she deserves better than me… But the fact is that she wants me. She sees something in me that she needs and I am there for her. As I said, I am too old for wars and new round of court and intrigues… I am ready to retire and live qiet life with my lady wife.''
''I never imagined you settling for something like that…''
''I am not settling… I am just choosing to live finally.''
''And with her?''
''Yes, with her.''
''Why?''
''Because she is all I ever wanted in the wife.''
''She is beautiful, I'll give you that.''
''Not her beauty…But she is beautiful… I am talking about her personality… She is force of nature… My wife is survivor and a person who inspires me.''
''You are in love with the girl…?''
Tyrion smiled sadly…
''Unfortunately, she stopped being a girl long ago… Thanks to politics and disgusting people, she stopped being a girl…''
''You didn't answer me.''
Sansa stopped breathing for a moment. For some reason she wanted to know his feeling and she was afraid of them. Knowing he loved her would change a lot... It would mean that he really has expectations of her to share his bed for real. But she also wondered how it felt to be really loved by a man. Not being seen as a key to the North or object to torture.
''I've been in love with her for a long time… How could I not? Sansa Stark is the most powerful woman I've ever met.''
Queen made fun of him.
''Her? Powerful?''
''Yes, she is…''
''What makes her powerful?''
''She is survivor… And that is the power I grew to appreciate…''
And then he smiled.
'' And she plays mean chess…''