"MURDER! MURDER! MURDER!"
Everyone at Winterfell and the village surrounding it, was awakened to chiming bells, mingled with screams of MURDER! Tyrion slowly raised his head and massaged his temples. Sansa slowly came awake as well, pulling a blanket tightly around her nude form. After all, the sun was coming in through the windows!
"Sansa, sweetling, what is that?" Tyrion groaned. Suddenly, Sansa came fully awake and scrambled out of bed to put on her clothing! Tyrion noticed that she was moving in a blur and peered at her.
"What is it?" he asked groggily again.
"Someone has been murdered! It's the murder bell!"
Tyrion squinted at his wife.
"You have a 'murder bell' here at Winterfell?"
"It does not happen often. Murder. But when it does, Father...Father was expected to investigate. The people look to us to keep them safe." Sansa said solemnly.
Tyrion resumed massaging his temples.
"That makes sense. I suppose. Who is murdering now? I sent Sandor away so unless this is some stranger..."
He suddenly focused on Sansa.
"I want you to stay here on the grounds until we can find out what this is all about." he said, now looking away from his wife. What if Queen Dany had sent an assassin here? But what sense did that make? She was already sending Littlefinger and Cersei here to see if he was lying about Sansa being with child. The fact that Tyrion could not figure out what was going on, made him realize that he'd better hurry and find out INDEED what was going on!
There was an insistent knocking at their door. Sansa called for the person to enter and an embarrassed looking Paddock, curtsied Sansa, before focusing on Tyrion.
"Well? What news have you about this damnably loud murder bell." Tyrion asked grumpily.
"The victim was Marissa Fraust and the people are screaming for either Sandor Clegane's head or Theon Greyoy's."
Tyrion gave Paddock a confused look.
"The Hound is long gone. How do the townspeople know about Greyjoy?"
Paddock gave Sansa an embarrassed glance. Tyrion smiled wanly at Sansa.
"Sweetling, Paddock and I need a moment alone."
"If Marissa Fraust was murdered then I want to know about it!" Sansa insisted.
"And you will, precious, just not right now. The details are too disturbing for someone of your delicate nature to hear this early in the morning. Now please ask one of the maid's to fill in as your handmaiden, until we can find you another."
"My Lord..."
"Sansa," Tyrion said with earnest, "I need to make sure that Marissa's murder isn't connected to the Queen and our 'problem'. Now please, do as I ask."
Sansa nodded reluctantly and Paddock bowed before she left the room. Tyrion then hopped out of bed and Paddock helped him dress.
"What is it that you wanted to tell me, that you could not in front of my wife?"
"The day Greyjoy came to Winterfell, someone spied him with the Fraust girl in the woods. Only the person that saw them, seemed to think he was with the Lady Lannister."
"Which he wasn't. But since this young woman and my wife supposedly looked so much alike, this witness assumed that?"
"Well Bronn made sure he knew it was a mistake," Paddock told Tyrion, "but we still have a problem. Greyjoy is in the dungeon. There have been no signs of The Hound anywhere. Bronn and the other men are in the village now, questioning people, but they seem to think that someone else killed the Fraust girl."
"How did she die?" Tyrion asked quietly.
"Badly. She was strangled. There are handprints all over her throat."
Tyrion bit his lip. So when Littlefinger arrived to look into Marissa Fraust's claims, that she was really the love child of Ned Stark and his sister Cersei, he would find her to be already dead. Not good. Now there was a murder to investigate, a new fiend in their midst and he still had to slip in making love to Sansa at least three times today! Where would he find the time?
"Take me to Bronn. I want to hear what he has found out." Tyrion said.
Meanwhile, poor Cersei(if she can be described with such an adjective), had survived her first night in the woods alone. Wolves had howled and she suspected an owl had flown past her face! But other than that, she was no worse for wear.
Damn that Baelish! Damn him to hell! Damn her father, the late Tywin Lannister, for not entrusting her with a secret, like he did her mishaped, stupid brother, Tyrion. Damn Jaime for not thinking to take her with him, when he ran off with that large, bigfooted woman, Brienne something or another! Damn Robert Baratheon for not only being a drunken, insolent slob, but for not killing the last Targaryen heir, when he had the chance!
But because NONE of those things happened, here she was, alone in the elements and without a title. Only women without one, were caught out and about like this!
Cersei rubbed her upper arms. Well, news did travel slowly around these parts. She could say her carriage was in an accident. That the driver had perished and the horses had run off. But if she did come upon someone and had to tell that lie, where did she say she wanted to go? Did she return to King''s Landing, without having done the Dragon Queen Whore's bidding? Or did she continue on to Winterfell?
Winterfell seemed to be the best option. There she could run into Lord Baelish...
Cersei stopped suddenly and sniffed the air. There was a fire brewing around these parts! Just the smell of it made her feel warm! She made her way through a thicket of forest, before finding a clearing. There was indeed a roaring fire and a man, that looked vaguely familiar, sat in front of it.
Good God! It was...what the bloody hell had been his name? That ugly bastard that used to protect Joffrey? His face was half burned off...
"Lady Mormont!" Sandor Clegane whispered, standing up. Cersei decided that she would have to put on quite an act to ensure her survival. She pretended to trip and look confused, as Sandor hurried over and caught her. He then pulled her over to the fire.
"Lady Mormont! What has happened? Why are you out here unguarded and alone?" Sandor asked suspiciously.
"There was an accident. Lord Mormont and I were headed to Winterfell, per the Queen's bidding. The carriage driver lost control...the driver, my husband...the horses ran off!" Cersei 'teared up'.
Sandor said nothing. There would be a large reward if he could return Lady Mormont back to King's Landing, unharmed.
"I should get you back to King's Landing." Sandor advised her.
"No! We're closer to Winterfell, wouldn't you say? I was sent to check on My Lady Lannister and find out when her due date was." Cersei said, then stared at Sandor-HARD! Sandor lived at Winterfell and yet he was way out here! Why?
"Due date?" Sandor snorted. "For what? Surely My Lady is not implying that the Lady Lannister is with child?"
Cersei tried to keep the look of contempt out of her eyes.
"Lord Lannister sent the good news to the Queen by way of a raven. He said that was the reason he and the Lady Lannister could not appear before her."
Sandor snorted again!
"Nothing has been happening in THAT bed! I can tell you for sure, that My Lady Lannister would have never willingly spread her legs for your dwarf brother...no offense, My Lady."
"None taken," Cersei assured him, "since this is what the Queen suspected. Lord Mormont and myself were sent on this mission to find out if Lord Lannister was lying. It appears as if he was. I will need to continue on to Winterfell to prove that."
Sandor eyed her.
"I have no quarrel with My Lady Lannister. I don't wish to see her harmed by her husband's lying tongue."
"I know her husband is a liar...er...uh...I forget your name?"
"Why would you have ever known it?" Sandor asked instead.
"Well since we will be traveling together..."
"Who is saying that?"
"Alright," Cersei said carefully, "what will it take for you to guide me to Winterfell."
Sandor knew he would be taking a risk going back there. But Lady Mormont would surely speak for him, when Lord Lannister questioned his return, wouldn't he? And, once Lord Lannister's treachery was discovered, Sansa would be without a husband.
"Fine. Just as long as we understand that Lady Lannister is innocent in all of this." Sandor said, unsure as to whether the sister of the Kingslayer could be trusted.
Cersei nodded in agreement. All she had to do was get this beastly man to take her to Winterfell, BEFORE he discovered that she had no title at all. Otherwise, Sandor Clegane would be free to do whatever he wanted to her.
Dany sat before her council that included Varys and the Red Woman. Jorah was off somewhere with Margaery and she did not want to disturb their private time.
"I received word by raven that Cersei Lannister flung herself from the carriage that carried her and Lord Baelish."
Varys glanced at the Red Woman, who stared at Dany.
"Why would she do that? Did she perish from the fall?" Varys asked the Queen.
"Lord Baelish said that she flung herself from the carriage and then ran off into the woods. Lord Baelish suspects that Cersei Lannister knows where her son, Joffrey, is and is meeting him. I gave both of their scents to one of my dragons. They will both be killed on the spot as soon as they are discovered." Dany informed them. The Red Woman nodded approvingly but Varys continued to frown.
"My Queen, I do not mean to doubt Lord Baelish's word, but he is a...a...cunning liar, if the truth be told. I can't see why Cersei Lannister would take such a chance, knowing Lord Baelish would inform you. The woman has no horse, friends or knowledge of the land beyond King's Landing, without a guide." Varys argued gently.
The Red Woman, surprisingly, agreed!
"Varys has a point, My Queen. There would have been no time for Cersei Lannister to plot with her son."
"Except when she handed him the weapon to slay Ser Loras Tyrell with." Dany countered. "And why would Lord Baelish lie?"
"If I may be so bold," Varys spoke up(and was happy to do so), "it is common knowledge that Lord Baelish was a spurned suitor of the former Lady Catelyn Stark. When he could not win her affections, even after then King Joffrey's slaying of her husband, he focused on Lady Lannister. There were whispers of a plot hatched by Baelish, to kidnap her by ship."
"The rumors proved to be unfounded?" Dany asked, a little surprised that she had never heard this particular tale before.
"Well they play into why the late Tywin Lannister, married Tyrion to her." Varys told her. But the Red Woman interrupted the gossip session.
"So we are thinking that Lord Baelish wanted to rid himself of Cersei Lannister on this trip. He still has plans to make Sansa Lannister his own." the Red Woman guessed.
"And he would not have wanted Cersei bearing witness to his attempts to lure her from Lord Lannister. After all, he is there to look into those foul rumors, nothing more." Varys insisted.
Dany nodded to herself. What she was thinking was that Jorah had been correct. She shouldn't have kept so many people from the Baratheon realm, on in her court. Now she did not know who to trust.
"What do you suggest?" Dany asked the Red Woman. Varys looked away, mildly offended.
"Let me search for Cersei Lannister. I have special ways, as you well know. You send a raven to Winterfell and have Lord Baelish return immediately. We can find out if there is anything to that other business about Ned Stark and Cersei, at a later time."
But Dany shook her head!
"I still need to know if Lady Lannister is with child! I cannot have Lord Lannister telling lies to get out of appearing before me. Varys, find out if we have any friends at Winterfell. A spy or two in the village, that can tell us what is going on within the Winterfell Castle walls. And yes, search for Cersei Lannister." Dany told the Red Woman.
"How bad are things in the village?" Tyrion asked Bronn.
"The people are sure it was Greyjoy. I am not convinced at all."
Tyrion stared at Bronn. Something was wrong. Whenever a situation was serious, Bronn gave it due attention, but never looked as if the world was lost!
"What is it? What aren't you telling me?" Tyrion asked. Bronn suddenly handed Tyrion a locket.
"Do you recognize it, My Lord?"
Tyrion looked the delicate piece over, but shook his head.
"I do not. Who does it belong to?"
"It was found around Marissa Faust's neck. But, My Lord, I specifically remember seeing My Lady wearing this, on the former King's orders, back when she was his prisoner." Bronn said grimly. Tyrion looked from Bronn to the locket, before clutching it!
"What are you saying?" Tyrion asked, his mouth dry.
"I think the little fucker did it!" Bronn revealed loudly. "And I think that dead girl looked like your wife and that's why she was killed! My Lady left her jewelry behind that she received from your nephew. Why would it suddenly be on the body of the daughter of a pub keep?"
Tyrion closed his eyes briefly. There would be no reason except if someone brought it from King's Landing. Someone who had come to Winterfell, murdered a Sansa look alike and placed this on her body.
Joffrey. And he wanted them to know he was here.
"Find him. I will find Sansa and make sure she stays in the castle."
"Will you tell her why?" Bronn asked.
Tyrion shook her head.
"I wouldn't want to frighten her. Just FIND HIM!" Tyrion exclaimed. He then thought of something else. Once Joffrey was found, he could be used as a bargaining chip with the Queen...and Lord Baelish.
Tyrion would turn Joffrey over to Baelish to take back to King's Landing. Baelish would win favor with the Queen by doing so and forget about snooping around Winterfell and Sansa.
"Just find him!" Tyrion exclaimed again.
Unfortunately, Sansa had not done her husband's bidding. She walked into the pub and nodded as people curtsied her. Thaddrick Fraust saw her coming and walked swiftly to a back room. His fiancee, Shae, followed quickly.
"I know how you feel, but cannot just ignore her." Shae warned.
"That highborn, silly girl, was who Marissa wanted to be like! I don't believe Greyjoy killed my Marissa! I think they're hiding the one known as The Hound! No one saw him leave these parts! And he's a known murderer!" Thaddrick hissed.
"I know for a fact Sandor Clegane has left these parts," Shae said firmly, rubbing his arm, "and Castle Winterfell will find out what happened to Marissa. I will go and accept Lady Lannister's condolences."
Thaddrick nodded and Shae left the room to find Sansa standing nearby. She looked relieved to see Shae, since she did not frequent establishments that sold spirits.
"Shae, I had to come by and tell you how sorry I was about Marissa."
"Thank you, My Lady." Shae said in a tight, sounding voice. "Maybe you should be on your way. With a murderer loose, you wouldn't want to be on your own, alone."
Sansa HATED how formal Shae was with her!
"I know you had hoped to be a mother to Marissa."
"Begging your pardon, My Lady, but you don't know what I planned to be to Marissa. You didn't even know I was seeing her father. Now please leave. Your presence is upsetting Thaddrick."
Sansa was shocked!
"Why? Why would my presence..."
"Lady Sansa, please! Someone killed Marissa because she looked like you or reminded them of you. Now the villagers think either Lord Greyjoy or Sandor Clegane are the culprits."
"Lord Greyjoy has been in our dungeon for almost a day. And Sandor Clegane has left these parts. And begging your pardon, Shae, I do not appreciate your words. I know that there is something else behind them."
Shae smirked!
"Is Tyrion still tutoring you on how to be a proper woman in his bed? Better yet, is he teaching you to please him like I did?"
Sansa was aghast! No one had heard her and Shae's words.
But they did see Sansa slap Shae across the face! Sansa was instantly contrite and unable to take back what she had done in that moment. She turned and fled the pub! Everyone looked at Shae, but she didn't shrink and gave a few gapers withering glances that caused them to look elsewhere.
Meanwhile, Sansa ran all the way back to Winterfell castle! It wasn't right that private moments between a husband and wife, would be known to another woman! And yet, Shae had been the only thing that had made her imprisonment at King's Landing, bearable. There had to be a way to salvage the friendship they had?
Then again, could someone of her station and Shae's, ever be friends? Would it be proper?
She hurried through the castle gates, completely missing the dead hand that peeked through some nearby foliage...
Joffrey had murdered one ot he Winterfell guards and disguised himself in uniform as to gain access to the castle. But he had been forced to look as if he was on his way to the dungeons, instead of the upper floors, where he hoped to find and strangle Sansa...and maybe stab his Uncle Tyrion...
But something unfortunate happened, as he ended up going lower and lower into the rank dungeons of Winterfell.
He heard screams. Screams that would not let him turn away. And then Joffrey emerged in a clearing of sorts. He could see a battered Theon Greyjoy, screaming bloody murder!
"YOU INSULT LADY SANSA BY MAKING HER LAY WITH THAT DWARF! I SPIT ON THIS HOUSE!"
"You'll take a cock down the throat to shut you up!" one of the guards cackled, as he began lowering his codpiece...
Joffrey wretched at the sight and the memory of Ser Loras Tyrell, forcing his cock down his own throat! He wretched and wretched...loudly...calling attention to himself. Soon the other guards surrounded him and removed his uniform...
"Bloody Hell! Get Ser Bronn of the Blackwater down here! And My Lordship! The Incest Bastard is among us!" a guard cried out.