Inside Maegor's Holdfast the highborn women of King's Landing weep, pray and sing hymns as they cling to one another in fear. Outside the battle rages on while sounds of swords clashing, screams and battering rams assaulting the gates of the city resound inside the Red Keep. Sansa remains close to Shae, both women cautiously watching Cersei get progressively more drunk as the evening wears on.
The Blackwater Bay is now completely alight with wildfire, casting its eerie green glow over the entire castle. Tyrion's ship, heavily weighed down with its payload of stockpiled wildfire, was sent adrift and slowly drained its deadly cargo into the waters of the bay.
As Stannis' forces continued their approach, Tyrion's sellsword Bronn unleashed a a hideous welcome for the enemy fleet when he loosed a flaming arrow on the Blackwater. The night air was pierced by a deafening hiss as it made contact with the wildfire and the result was a massive explosion igniting a tremendous fireball, completely engulfing Stannis' fleet.
The subsequent concussive waves violently shook the castle of King's Landing to its foundation, frightening all inside its walls. Sansa was sure after that Stannis would give up and yet still the army came, slowed down but by no means diminished in their bloodlust for the city by the destructive power of the wildfire.
The foot soldiers scurry ashore in waves, eager to plunder King's Landings' daughters and wealth alike, filling the castle with the sounds of horror and death. With each sound, Sansa wonders what is happening to Sandor and if he is still alive.
Unable to listen to Cersei's ranting any longer, Sansa prays for Sandor. "He is no true knight but he saved me all the same," she told the Mother. "Save him if you can, and gentle the rage inside him. I…I love him, please help him, help us get through this night."
Afterward, Sansa and Shae sat together in silence, bonded by shared worry for their men. Cersei quickly drains another flagon of Dornish Red and then amuses herself by taunting Sansa and the other highborn ladies, regaling them with the frightening details of what befalls women unfortunate enough to be inside the city when the walls are breached. Ser Ilyn sits nearby, watching Sansa with a emotionless expression that sends a chill through Sansa's body.
At first the young woman resisted Cersei's insisting that she join her in drinking the wine but as the hours crawl by her fear for Sandor intensifies to an unbearable level. She alone knows the story of how he came to be burned and Sansa cannot imagine anything more horrific for him than a battlefield full of fire. Taking several of the cups offered, the young woman downs them quickly, eagerly welcoming the dullness it brings to her mind.
Shae, meanwhile, strives to make herself as inconspicuous as possible, sitting in a nearby alcove and angrily listening to every word Cersei says to Sansa. Bored with Sansa's tipsy chirping, stands up to announce the real reason for Ser Illyn's presence, bringing a tense unspoken panic to the room. "She is a sadistic bitch," mutters Shae.
She has known that type of woman her whole life, one who does not support other women but rather relishes in making them squirm. Shae hates Cersei for mocking Sansa's innocence and terrorizing the other women during what may be the last moments of their lives. Her evil son gets it honest, she concludes to herself.
Memories of her time spent with Tyrion leave her marveling at the differences in the siblings. Shae decides to provide Cersei with another target, so she moves to a more visible seat and innocently glances at the queen. Smelling fresh meat, Cersei quickly takes the bait and beings interrogating Shae, all but forgetting Sansa.
Lancel storms in, bringing news of the battle and Joffrey and though the women strain to listen neither Sansa and Shae can hear most of what is said between them. Enraged, Cersei grinds her fist into Lancel's wound before grabbing Tommen and abruptly heading for the throne room.
As the women begin singing, Shae takes Sansa aside and whispers, "You must go! Run to your chamber and bar the door. Stannis won't hurt you but this one will." Nodding to Ser Illyn, Shae waves her off. "Go!"
"Come with me!" Sansa implores, desperately holding on to Shae's hands.
"I have to say goodbye to someone," Shae whispers. How foolish of me, she means Tyrion, of course she would stay to see him, Sansa realizes, understanding her handmaiden must be terribly frightened for him as well.
Suddenly fear for Shae grips Sansa as she recalls Cersei's words. "The queen said they would rape everyone!"
Shae is deeply touched to know that Sansa fears for her; no highborn woman had ever treated her with such kindness while the highborn men only greedily took what they paid her for.
Lifting her skirt, she flashes her leg at Sansa, surprising the young woman by the sight of a knife strapped low on her leg. "No one is raping me! Go! Run!" Shae orders without a trace of fear in her eyes or voice. Glancing behind her one last time at Shae, Sansa runs toward her room wishing she had a portion of her loyal handmaiden's fearlessness.
