Chapter 6

Baby I'm preying on you tonight
Hunt you down eat you alive

Just like animals, animals, like animals

Maybe you think that you can hide
I can smell your scent for miles

Just like animals, animals, like animals

No girl don't lie
You can't deny
The beast inside

- Maroon 5 - Animals

Sansa was only briefly impressed with the Keep at a distance, but every wheel turn closer she grew a bit more frightened. It might have been very grand at one time, but was in a terrible state of dilapidation now. The whole outer wall was covered in thick ivy, and the stonework had collapsed in several places. The trees lining the overgrown cobbled road hung low and Sansa imagined dozens of bony fingers clutching at the carriage as they rolled toward the castle itself. She shivered as she tried to clear her overactive imagination and calm her pounding pulse with deep even breaths.

As the castle loomed nearer Sansa saw even more signs of neglect. The gardens looked eerily similar to the pictures of jungles from her storybooks as a child. Several gargoyles had fallen to the ground, some smashed to pieces but others still mostly intact, threatening sentinels in the darkness. They unsettled her more than she cared to admit.

A sour faced man with a thin smile and hard eyes greeted Sansa as she exited the carriage at the bottom of the steps that led up to the castle doorway. His hand was clammy as she grasped it and descended the carriage steps. He held only a single torch to keep the dark at bay. Introducing himself as Boros with a slight bow and an ill disguised smirk spreading across his face, he gestured for Sansa to continue on as the carriage driver helped Arthur with her trunk. Sansa took a deep breath and took comfort in the thought that at least Arthur seemed like a nice man and spoke favorably of his lord, even if this man before her made her feel uneasy. Sansa did her best to put her fears aside as she climbed the few stairs up to the doorway, where she slowly let the darkness swallow her.

There was hardly any light inside the castle, a sconce was lit here and there but mostly Sansa walked in shadows. She saw nothing that looked new or even repaired. Everything was falling apart, tapestries were tattered and moth eaten. Curtains were frayed and flimsy, if not out right torn to shreds. Many of the doors barely hung on their hinges, and some rooms didn't have any doors at all. Rugs were worn to bare threads in the middle. It looked to be clean and dry at least, from what she could see, there were no cobwebs or any dust collecting in corners, no smell of must or decay.

Boros led Sansa to what looked like newly built and oddly thick, quite solid, pair of doors in the farthest part of the left wing of the castle. He paused in front of them, turned his head to look at her with that same sly smile that was beginning to unnerve her. He opened the heavy doors slowly with what looked like some effort. He stepped to the side of her so she could enter the room.

There were many candles lit sporadically around the spacious room. It was warm and inviting, so very different from the rest of the castle. It was furnished with all new pieces, she could smell the fresh cut wood and varnish, and a hint of lavender under that. Sansa was rather surprised. To her right was the bed, and it was absolutely beautiful, large, ornately carved posts, with a canopy overhead that almost reached the ceiling. It looked wonderfully comfortable, piled high with soft pillows and pale furs. She walked to the middle of the room and spun slowly around in awe. Directly across from the doors, by two large windows that sported heavy new drapes, was a brand new wardrobe, and even appeared to contain a few dresses already. A fine desk and chair that matched the bed and wardrobe to the right of that, paper and quill already placed on top, which delighted Sansa immensely. To the left of the wardrobe was a large full length mirror stationed beside a dresser that held a large washbasin, a lovely jade green comb and brush, even a few pretty hair pins. She had never had such fine things before. Someone had gone to quite a lot of trouble to make her feel welcome. Sansa was not sure how to feel about that. She was certainly impressed, but also a bit skeptical.

Boros cleared his throat from the doorway behind her. "I take it the Lady is pleased?" Sansa was speechless, so she just nodded and smiled. "Well then, you get settled in quickly now, M'Lord has requested you join him for the evening meal. When you are ready, I will escort you, M'Lady."

Boros closed the door with the same lazy bow once her trunk had been delivered inside by Arthur and the carriage driver, leaving Sansa alone. She was still clutching her small bag of odds and ends, pictures she had drawn, her diary, a necklace of her mother's, some ribbons and a sewing kit, all things a young girl might hold dear.

Sansa sucked in a great big gulp of air, suddenly feeling like the world was going to slip from beneath her feet at any moment. She was not quite sure what she had expected, but this was certainly not it. She wondered who this mysterious man was that had searched the country just to purchase a wife he had never met before… She was still a little frightened, but now she was also incredibly curious. Her nerves were wound so tightly though, she wasn't sure if she was going to cry or not from all her confusing thoughts and feelings. She stood pondering her situation for a moment, struggling between dismay and steely determination.

Determination finally won out and Sansa made her way over to the washbasin to freshen up. The water was still pleasantly warm and had flowers and lavender floating in it. The smell was wonderful and she inhaled deeply as she brought the cloth to her face, the warmth was soothing. She took her time and appreciated such a thoughtful gesture. She sighed as the aroma of lavender worked its charms and calmed her some.

After Sansa had washed away all the grime from her journey she pattered over to the wardrobe and took out a soft pink dress. It was pure silk, and the loveliest dress she had ever seen. It's layers were lined with pale cream lace and the sleeves were puffed and ruffled at the shoulders. An elaborate and beautiful neckline. It was a dress fit for a princess and Sansa uttered a sound of pure delight as she twirled around in it, admiring the way she looked in the mirror. It fit her surprisingly well but she had trouble binding the laces as well as she would have liked all by herself. For a fleeting but powerful moment she missed her sisters terribly, but she quickly put it out of her mind. She must get through this evening without tears. Later, once she was back here, she would absorb everything the day had brought, if tears came as well, so be it, but not until then.

Sansa then set to the task of doing something presentable with her hair. She put half of it up, using one of the hair pins, in what she hoped was a flattering style, as she was not used to doing anything other than a simple plait down her back. She brushed the rest of her red curls into waves that flowed down her back and shoulders. She decided she looked as acceptable as she was going to get, clasped on her mother's necklace, and turned to the doors. She wondered what they were made out of, as she had to pull with all of her might to open them, for a brief moment she thought she was locked in, but soon realized the door could only be bolted from the inside, no key hole at all. A detail she did not overlook that left her feeling rather comforted.

Boros was waiting outside her door and looked relieved once she finally emerged. "Hurry now M'Lady, the master is sure to be growing impatient by now." Sansa had forgotten he had told her to hurry, she had gotten lost playing with her appearance, not being used to such experiences as her sisters were. With a pang of regret she finally saw the appeal of it all and wished she could have shared their enthusiasm when she had the chance. "I'm sorry for the delay, I only wanted to look presentable for our lord, ser…" Sansa trailed off, blushing fiercely, and lowered her eyes. Boros' eyes quickly and greedily raked over Sansa when her eyes were lowered. "Never mind that now, let's be off then!" He promptly turned and began to quickly stride down the hall, she had to hurry to keep up with him.

As they neared what must be the dining hall Sansa's stomach started doing flips. She was so nervous, her stomach was in such turmoil, she hoped she would be able to eat once she was seated. She absentmindedly wrung her hands together in front of her. Boros finally stopped in front of two of the largest doors she had seen in the entire castle. Sansa's stomach jumped to her throat. This is it.

It seemed to Sansa that everything now moved in slow motion. Boros' outstretched hands clasping the intricate handle of the doors. The way they ever so slowly opened on the scene before her. The warmth of the hall whooshing past them. Her feet dragging, feeling as though they were made of lead, she slowly followed Boros inside, every hesitant step bringing her closer and yet closer still. Once her eyes finally focused on the man at the far end of the table, her sudden gasp of breath was heard clearly in the utter stillness of the hall.

*NOTES:

Thank you so much to everyone who has reviewed, followed or faved! I so very much appreciate the feedback and support! This is my first attempt at fan fiction! I'm so sorry I don't update with better regularity, I just don't get as much time to write as I'd like, plus I'm annoyingly fussy and go over the chapters several times. I promise I will finish this though! Thank you for sticking with me! I really hope you're enjoying it so far!