I hope you enjoy this new chapter!
Slightlynerdy.
Wolves and Hounds: Part Two.
Chapter 7.
Edmon's happy gurgles lightened her heart. With the news that Stannis was intending on marching against King's Landing everything seemed dire and Tarynn relished the precious moments she had with her son. He was blossoming, his eyes, once a dark blue had brightened to a blue the colour of the purest water. He had gained weight, no more was he a tiny babe, plump and happy was how she would describe her son. He cried when he was hungry, he smiled when full, he was like every other babe despite being a bastard. Gently she picked him up, cradling him to her chest as she moved around her rooms, disposing of her son's spoiled nappies and generally having a bit of a tidy up.
She hummed softly to herself as Edmon laid in her arms staring up at her with big, trusting eyes. He had gained features from both mother and father. She feared that he would grow to bare more resemblance to Sandor then her and then his parentage wouldn't be able to be disputed. The future was going to be a difficult place for the both of them but she had hardened her resolve. She wasn't going to let anyone harm, slander, or take her son as long as she was breathing.
As she was about to settle down and give Edmon his feed there was a knock at the door. Standing, she called out to whoever it was wishing to see her, "Enter."
The door swung open, revealing a pale faced Sansa, "Tarynn, I… We can't talk here." She rushed into the room, going to Edmon's cot and taking his blanket, "Here wrap Edmon in this… We have to go…"
She caught Sansa's arm, forcing her to stop, "Slow down San, what is it? What's happened?"
"Nothing… Well sort of something… I… Can we please just talk about it somewhere where we're not going to be overheard?"
She scruitinised her sister carefully, "Has Joffrey hurt you again Sansa."
"No, no, it's not about Joffrey."
"Very well, let me get Edmon sorted first."
Wrapping her son in his blanket, she gestured for Sansa to lead on, an inkling forming in her mind over what it could be about. The walk to the Godswood, which Tarynn realised was where Sansa was leading her to, was uneventful. Guards nodded out of courtesy, often their eyes would stray to the babe in her arms, a couple of servants' whispered greetings before scurrying off. But that was about it. It seemed being connected to two traitorous families made you a sort of pariah.
The heady scent of the trees filled her senses when they entered the old grove. The weirtree stood stoic as always, watching over them as they moved closer to it. She had taken Edmon here the day after his birth to present him to the Old Gods and to ask for them to bless him. Although her faith in them had been shaken after her father's death, she knew that her father wouldn't have wanted her to turn her back on the Old Gods completely. She had also decided not to have Edmon blessed in the Sept. Even though Sandor was a southerner, she regarded her son to be northern like her, she had met a lot of opposition from Cersei and the High Septon regarding her decision.
She had reiterated what she had said to Cersei: Edmon was her son, not hers, therefore she should be allowed to make choices for him without the interference of everyone else.
The queen had not liked that but Tarynn didn't give her time to object. She knew that she was making powerful enemies but she couldn't bring herself to pretend to respect Cersei, it was too draining, and seemed to be disrespectful towards her father's memory and what he believed in.
Sansa sat down on the grassy ground and Tarynn followed suit, Edmon began to cry, balling his fists up as he began to scream at the world.
"Hush, hush," Gently she rocked him, looking up at her sister, "He's hungry, do you mind if I feed him?" Sansa shook her head and so Tarynn sorted herself out so that she could give Edmon the milk he needed, "There you go my darling… Now, what is it you wanted to tell me in the privacy of the trees and woodland animals?"
Sansa took her eyes off of Edmon feeding and directed her gaze at Tarynn, "I have… Someone has offered me a way out of the city."
Tarynn raised an eyebrow, "And who is this someone?" She knew full well who it was, after all she was one of the orchestrators behind the plot to get Sansa out of the city, she just needed to ensure that Sansa didn't know of her involvement. That would make Littlefinger's job just that much more difficult.
"He said I shouldn't tell anyone… Maybe I've told you too much already…"
"Sansa I am your sister! Do you really think I want you to stay in this city? Why would I try to thwart whatever it is that you are planning? You are all I have left of home," She reached with her free hand to take her sister's, "I will want whatever is best for you which at the moment is getting you away from Joffrey's depravity. So tell me, what can I do to help?"
Sansa looked away at the rippling pools of water, "You can't. I… I just didn't want to keep it from you any longer. I've never kept a secret from you Tarynn, it felt odd trying to, I just wanted to confide you."
"You know that you can confide in me whenever you want to." Tarynn decided not to push the topic, she already knew that it was Littlefinger's pawn, Ser Dontos who was meeting with Sansa in secret. "But… Maybe we should talk of something else? Something to take our minds off the present?"
Sansa nodded fervently. Her blue eyes lighting up as she thought of something, "I've been making something for Eddy. My maidservant, Shae, taught me how to make paper figures. I've made a swan, and now I'm attempting to make a rabbit. I was going to fix them to some wood and string and make a mobile for him… It keeps my mind off… Off…"
Tarynn smiled, "That sounds wonderful Sansa, I'm sure Edmon will love it," Her voice turned to concern however as she watched her sister's face become sad, "What is it San?"
Her voice was small, "I can't go back to Joffrey Tarynn, I can't marry him, I won't… He says that everytime Robb kills a Lannister that he will punish me for it." She gripped Tarynn's arm tightly, "I hope that Robb storms the Keep's walls. I hope that he kills Joffrey just like Joffrey killed father. I want his head on a pike."
Tarynn stared in shock at the violence in Sansa's voice. "Come here Sansa," Sansa shuffled closer, moving so that she was sitting beside Tarynn, Tarynn wrapped an arm around her and pulled her close, "Joffrey will get his comeuppance, I assure you, but for now I need you to be strong and endure anything that he throws at you. Can you do that?" She kissed the top of her sister's head, "I will make sure that no more harm comes to you. Trust me."
As darkness descended Tarynn stood next to her window, gazing out across the twinkling city and then at the fires which burned beyond it. Those fires represented Tyrion's attempts at making the city as inaccessible as possible for Stannis' men. She glanced at the moon, soon Tilana would arrive with Sandor for his daily visit to his son, the arrangement was the best she could do without drawing attention to him and with Tilly as a distraction who ensured no one disturbed them during these precious moments it was working well so far.
There was a hard rap on the door, and she guessed that it was them, taking Edmon from his crib she went to the door and opened it. "Lady Baratheon… I am sorry to disturb you."
Tarynn looked down, surprise flashing across her face, she looked up checking the corridor briefly when she saw two shadowy figures hiding in a dark alcove. One of them raised their hand, and she inclined her head briefly giving them her acknowledgement, letting Tyrion into her chambers without taking her eyes off of Tilana and Sandor who lurked in the shadows. Before she closed the door she mouthed 'Wait' and one of the figures nodded in response.
Closing the door she faced her surprise visitor, "Lord Hand." She gestured for him to sit before settling Edmon back into his crib, her darling boy looked up at her, kicking his legs and smiling as he gurgled with delight. She touched his head gently with adoration before resuming to address Tyrion, "To what do I own the pleasure of your company?" She moved to the cupboards where she stored her wines and glasses. Selecting a deep red wine and two glasses before returning to the dwarf who had made himself comfortable in one of her armchairs.
"I have received news from the North, Winterfell specifically," There was an edge to his tone which made Tarynn wary, she poured a generous amount into Tyrion's but only a small amount into her own, she was after all still breast feeding.
"I have a feeling that I am not going to like this…" She handed him the glass and he accepted it graciously before taking a deep drink, she sipped at her own, "What has happened? Is Robb alright?"
"From what I know Lord Stark is still alive and well and giving our forces a run for our money… No, I wanted to inform you of… Of your other brothers' wellbeings…"
She narrowed her eyes, anger colouring her tone, "We might be fighting for different things Tyrion, which makes us clear enemies, but to harm innocent children… My baby brothers…"
How long has it been since I've heard about Bran and Rickon? About Maester Luwin and Gerta? With communication to the north being severed by Cersei I haven't been able to inform them of anything which has happened to myself and Sansa. Or that Arya is missing. They don't even know that I am now a mother. But saying that neither does my own mother know that she has a grandson.
"I want you to know that Lannister forces had no part in what has happened to Winterfell…" She stood, downing the wine in one go, preparing for the news that Tyrion was about to break to her, "Theon Greyjoy has proven traitor to your brother's cause, whether this is retaliation because of your refusal to marry him or something bigger I do not know… He has your brothers, Bran and Rickon, hostage."
She glared at Tyrion, "Are you saying that this is my fault because I married Renly instead of Theon? How dare you!"
"That was not what I was insuinating at all, I was just pointing out that it could be a factor…"
"All I know is that my brothers could be in danger… Tyrion," She sat back down again, "I know we are on different sides but could you not send a contingent to get my brothers out of there? Our of Theon's grasp? They are just children…"
Tyrion shook his head, a solemn look in his eyes, "I am sorry Tarynn, there is nothing I can do…"
She hung her head, anger running through her veins, she struggled to keep it under check, "I see… Thank you for informing me of this. I shall share it with Sansa in the morning. Now, if you wouldn't mind, I must tend to my son."
"Of course." She followed him to the door, "I am sorry to be the bearer of bad news Tarynn…"
She raised her hand, stopping him from saying anything further, "Say no more. I will have to find out the fates of my brothers on my own."
"I hope that this does not put us at odds."
Tarynn laughed, rather coldly, "Tyrion we have been at odds ever since your nephew had my father decapitated in front of the entirety of King's Landing. We will always be at odds."
The dwarf didn't respond to her, instead he stiffly left, anger radiating off of him in waves. She leaned heavily against her door frame her eyes flickering to the shadowy alcove. Once Tyrion's footsteps had receded entirely Sandor stepped into view, hurriedly he pushed past her and immediately went to his son. Tilly touched her on the shoulder and nodded, Tarynn thanked her silently before closing the door and turning the two people she loved more than anything else in the world.
"He is growing bigger by the day." Edmon reached up, smacking his father in the jaw with a small fist, his gurgles increasing, "And become a little fighter it seems." Playfully Sandor lifted him, gently throwing him up in the air, his laughed resonated through the room, she went to her son and lover, placing a hand on Sandor's shoulder as she looked at Edmon.
"Do you like it when daddy plays with you? Do you?" She laughed, and took one of Edmon's hands, "Oh my darling boy, you are always so happy."
Sandor laughed, before cradling Edmon in his arms, "I have no idea where he gets that from."
She turned away from him, sighing as she put Edmon's dirty clothes into the basket ready to be sent to the laundry women, "My brothers are hostages Sandor."
Sandor stopped cooing over Edmon and looked over in her direction, "What do you mean? I thought Robb was slowly winning this war."
"Bran and Rickon. Robb from what I know is fine, probably angry at being stabbed in the back by a man he used to call a friend… Theon has taken my home Sandor, has taken my baby brothers hostage…" She looked at him, her eyes welling with tears, "My baby brothers…"
He went to her, embracing her with one arm, sandwiching Edmon in between them both. He kissed the top of her head, "I know some guards who were posted near there… I could write to them… Stating that the king wishes to know more of the situation…"
"No. No, I wish to go there myself." She looked up at him, a fierce light in her eyes, "You wanted us to leave Sandor, then let's go now, let us go to Winterfell so I can force Theon not to harm my brothers and force him to stop his siege of Winterfell."
"And how exactly would you stop him?"
She swallowed, her mind spinning with thoughts, before she came to a conclusion. "By offering him my hand in marriage."
Sandor let go of her, turning away with Edmon, intent on putting him back in his crib, "No."
"Sandor please, be reasonable, I know I could convince Theon to pledge allegiance to my brother again if I just offered myself to him as…"
"I said no." Sandor faced her again, "After what that fucker tried to do to you? After what you've promised me?"
"My brothers need me…"
His face grew dark, he pointed at Edmon in his crib, "Your son needs you, and does he mean so little to you that you would take him away from his father? That you would marry another man who won't give two shits about him because he isn't his blood?"
"I need to protect my family."
"I am your family. Edmon is your family." He glanced briefly at Edmon, "We are a family."
"Sandor…"
"Don't fucking Sandor me. I won't take you to Winterfell just so you can fucking marry Theon fucking Greyjoy."
She wiped away a tear, indignation sweeping over her, "Fine, I will just have to take Edmon and go on my own."
He came towards her, his hands gripping her shoulders, "I won't let you take my son away…" His voice softened, as did his gaze, "I won't… Can't let you leave."
His mouth descended on hers. His lips urgent as if he was trying to convey his need of her. His fingers went to the laces on the back of her dress, it cascaded off her shoulders, his fingers ran lightly over her bare back.
How long had it been since they were intimate? Certainly before she had realised she was pregnant with Edmon.
He gathered her up in his arms, never breaking the kiss, lying her on the bed. With one sweep he had pulled the dress completely off of her, pulling her undergarments down with it, leaving her exposed. She covered her stomach with her hands, still conscious of the weight she still had due to pregnancy. Pale scars also crisscrossed her stomach now, stretch marks the Maester had called them, something that women often got when they fall pregnant due to the stretching of skin as the bump grew.
Sandor pulled her hands away and for the first time in many months they made love.
Edmon began screaming for his feed in the early morning. Untangling herself from Sandor and rubbing the sleep from her eyes, she pulled on her light bed gown before going to her screaming son. Sandor called to her from where he still laid in bed, "He certainly has a voice."
Picking him up she pulled down her bed gown freeing a breast, Edmon began feeding and she returned to her bed, "He is a relatively quiet baby, well according to Tilly, he only really cries when he is hungry or wants attention."
Sandor moved closer to her, wrapping an arm around her waist, he kissed her neck, "He has your eyes."
"Tully eyes my mother used to say to me... By the Gods, I miss her Sandor, I miss them all."
"I know you do… I… I promise I'll take you north soon. You and Edmon. I'll get you out of this shit hole."
"I think I'm already too late to save Bran and Rickon…" She looked up at Sandor, her lips brushing against his, "But maybe there is still a chance I can save my son."
She stood beside Sansa on the walkway overlooking the city. Builders scurried around, fortifying King's Landing for the impending attack, fires still blazed around the city walls. Tyrion had decided to burn down the outlying buildings, preventing any members of Stannis' army from climbing them and getting into the city that way, the whole of King's Landing quaked with invisible tension. Behind them guards and soldiers were drilling, the clanging of metal, the grunts, it all reminded her of home. If she closed her eyes she could still remember the day that father was going to make an announcement when Robb, Jon and Theon had been practicing in the courtyard, he never revealed what it was he was going to tell them, and now he had taken that secret to the grave.
Sansa held Edmon in her arms, gently swaying from left to right, Tarynn lifted her arm and pointed towards the distance, "You see those shadows there, across the land?"
"Yes."
"That is Stannis' army."
They were advancing fast, it seemed in only a matter of days they would be camping on their doorstep. Part of her wanted Stannis to raze King's Landing to the ground, to storm the walls and behead Joffrey in full view of everyone. The other part of her knew that if Stannis succeeded in his sack of King's Landing her son would be thrown to the crowd and devoured by those who supported Stannis. He would never allow a threat to the throne to live. Stannis was apparently too coldly logical to let that stand.
"There's so many of them..."
"Yes, but Tyrion and King's Landing have the advantage. We have walls, an entire barracks full of guards who are well rested and haven't marched for days on end, I have every confidence that Tyrion will lead the crown to victory."
"Tyrion doesn't seem to be that much of a fighter sister."
Tarynn looked at her sister briefly, "Sometimes the greatest generals are those who know not the best way to split a man in two but how to use cunning and guile to break even the largest forces."
"Father used to say that defense is the best offense."
"And it seems that Tyrion is already working on that."
A few moments of silence passed between the sisters as they both pondered the impending battle when Sansa abruptly handed Edmon to her.
"I have… Something I need to do."
She left without another word, leaving Tarynn slightly puzzled by her sister's hasty departure, Tarynn now knew about Sansa's meetings with Ser Dontos and so she didn't see why Sansa was continuing to be so secretive.
Quite peculiar.
~The next day~
"He has grown a fair few inches in the last few weeks, a very healthy babe he is my Lady." Sara put away her measuring tape, "How often do you feed him?"
"Thrice maybe four times a day, if not more."
"He's growing well. And will need as much nutrition as possible, keep doing what you're doing my Lady, you're a fine mother."
"Thank you Sara, that's very kind of you to say… And I'm sorry to have bothered you so early in the morning but I have other plans for today and I could not see you at any other time…" They stood over Edmon's cot, her boy was sleeping soundly, his tiny hands clenched into fists. They were disturbed by the sound of hurried knocking. "Enter."
A young maidservant curtseyed before Tarynn, "My Lady, it's the Lady Sansa, she has started her bleeds."
"What?" Tarynn rushed to the door, pushing past the young girl, calling to Sara, "Watch Edmon would you? I will be back as soon as I am able." The door swung shut.
...
"Sansa!" Tarynn ran into her sister's chambers, "San…" Her sister sat with her hands clasped on her lap at the foot of her bed, the room smelt of burning fabric. Standing beside Sansa's bed however was someone she did not expect to see. Sandor stood with a straight face which betrayed no emotion. Shae, Sansa's maidservant stood silent too, ignoring the both of them Tarynn hugged her sister tightly. Sansa sobbed against her neck.
"Don't tell the queen. Don't tell the queen."
She turned to Shae, "Please, if you would, some warm water, towels and linen strips." Shae nodded and went out the room to fetch the things that Tarynn requested. "And you Hound, you have seen what has happened to my sister this morning, no doubt you will report it to your master. If that is your intent then go, don't want you to miss out on your reward." Sandor remained silent as he stalked out the room. She softened her voice as she spoke to Sansa, "Give me just a moment my sweet."
She followed Sandor out the room.
Her voice was little more than a hurried whisper, "Sandor please, she is petrified that now she has shed blood that Joffrey will try to bed her."
"I can't keep this a secret Tarynn… If I do it will make our situation worse. The queen will begin to suspect that I have some sort of allegiance to you, to Sansa… I have to tell him."
She clutched at his arm, "Sandor I beg you. She's just a little girl and Joffrey… He's a monster…"
Sandor reached up and touched her tenderly on the cheek before his eyes hardened, "I'm doing this for us, to keep up this illusion of loyalty so that no one suspects anything… I'm doing this for us and sacrifices must be made."
He left her and she had no choice but to return to her sister and comfort her as best she could.
...
The inevitable happened, a maid came to call Sansa to the Queen's quarters, Sansa begged Tarynn to come with her but Tarynn knew that if she even entered the same room as Cersei she would lose control of her anger and start saying something she probably shouldn't. She had to prise Sansa off of her when the guards who were to escort her down to Cersei came.
"Please, don't let Joffrey hurt me, don't let the queen do this." She sobbed, tears cascading down her face.
Tarynn gripped Sansa's hand tightly, "Be strong Sansa, you are a woman now, you must face your demons. Do not allow her to scare you so…"
Sansa threw herself at Tarynn one last time, wrapping her arms around her older sister's neck, "I won't let her get to me, I promise." The young girl stepped away, wiping away her tears before steeling herself, she turned to the guards who were to accompany her, her voice was clear holding no traces of sadness, "Take me to the queen."
Once Sansa had left, Tarynn turned to the handmaiden that served Sansa, "Shae is it not?"
"Yes, my Lady."
Tarynn picked up on the accent in the young woman's voice, she smiled, "Where are you from? One of the Free Cities… Lorath perhaps?"
"I… Yes… Not many people recognise my accent my Lady."
"I studied languages when I was younger, I speak three currently, the Valyrian of the Free Cities, Westerosi and what little that is left of the Myrish language… I know only a few words in Lorathi but it is enough to know what sort of accent goes with it." She sighed and looked at her sister's bed, Sansa's blood had soaked into the mattress, "I thank you for your obvious loyalty to my sister, she is but a young girl and this has shaken her somewhat, I would be pleased if you continued looking out for her when I am not available…" There was a weight behind Tarynn's words, especially since someday soon Tarynn would have to leave Sansa behind and alone.
"I understand my Lady… Motherhood is a tiring thing no?"
Tarynn smiled, "Tiring but rewarding."
When she was returning to her chambers, she was grabbed by the arm and pulled into a cupboard of some kind, she pushed back against whoever had hauled her into the tiny space and attempted to leave. She wasn't fast enough however and her assailant clamped a hand over her mouth, preventing her from calling out, "You are a tricky woman to get a hold of alone Lady Tarynn."
Her eyes opened wide as they grew accustomed to the dark, Littlefinger leered at her, she grabbed his hand and tore it from her mouth. "If you had wanted to speak with me Baelish you could have simply come to my rooms."
He laughed and it sent a chill up her spine, "If I went to your rooms I wouldn't just want to talk," He ran his hand up her arm and she withdrew with disgust from the contact.
"Just tell me what you want Baelish," She held up her hand, "And that wasn't an invitation."
"Your sister needs to be more discreet… A certain… Dog is catching her scent." There was a glint in his eyes and she looked at him with suspicion.
"Sansa wants to leave King's Landing… She wouldn't jeopardise that."
"Not intentionally but… Little girls tend to crack under the pressure," He tightened his grip on his arm, "Maybe next time I will visit you in your quarters."
He left swiftly, yanking open the door and disappearing, leaving Tarynn with the feeling that she needed a bath to wash away the violation she felt.
I must watch that man… I doubt he is helping myself and Sansa out of the kindness of his heart. He wants something and I am hesitant to ask what.
