Chapter Eleven

The weeks that followed were the most eventful Sansa could have imagined and by far the most tiring. Margery Tyrell was busy putting together the largest wedding Sansa had heard of in some time. The Tyrell Princess called upon Sansa for help and guidance, tried to persuade the girl out of her room more and more. Sansa didn't mind at first, but within two weeks, she was getting a bit cranky. She was exhausted from bustling about between Margery and Sandor and trying to placate King Joffrey whenever the boy King called upon her presence.

The worst part was she had been so stressed out lately she noticed some nausea whenever she woke up and when she knew Joffrey would want to call upon her for meals. She was short-tempered with Sandor when he was around her, fatigued by the end of the day, and occasionally revolted by the sight of the meals brought before them. None of the handmaidens seemed too perplexed by these changes, even as she began to gain a bit of weight despite the fact she wasn't eating nearly as much. When she made comment about it, one of the girls told her it was simply because she was so stressed out being newly wedded still. It had been almost twelve weeks! Surely, there was no reason for her to be stressed out still.

By the third week into planning the wedding, Sansa refused to allow her handmaidens to touch her beside Shae. The rest of the girls had been lacing her up so tightly she'd started getting sore around her chest. "Just, just leave it be," she managed out, frustrated, but still trying her best to sound polite. She stared at the plain gown with distaste, unsure as to why Shae had picked such a strange gown. She continued, trying to sound polite, "Why don't you just fetch breakfast instead? King Joffrey has been too busy to have a traitor interrupt his meals. And Shae is more than capable to help me herself." Why did they insist on having four handmaidens help her get ready in the morning anyhow?

"Should we bring you anything special milady?" one of the girls murmured, stepping away from her almost reluctant.

"Maybe just a lemon cake and some peaches? Surprise me with everything else." Reluctant, but obedient, the girls bowed and stepped out, leaving Shae and Sansa alone. The foreign girl stepped forward and gently tugged the ties together until she was just settled enough that she looked proper. Sansa noticed she was unusually quiet and had the same thoughtful expression on her face she'd had lately.

"How have you felt lately?" she asked eventually, finishing the last tie for her dress. Sansa turned and gave her an odd look.

"Why do you ask?"

"I've just noticed you have been a bit strange. I worry for you, milady."

Sansa opened her mouth to answer her, but a knock to the door interrupted them. Shae hesitated a moment, staring at Sansa and then turned towards the door. She answered it, asking and sounding annoyed, "What do you need here?"

Sansa giggled softly, so used to her rude behavior that it made her laugh whenever someone else had to see it too. She was startled to hear, "And a good morning to you too, Shae. By any chance is Lady Sansa in this morning?"

Shae stepped to the side without answering, a scowl on her face, as Tyrion Lannister hobbled inside. Sansa tried not to look anything other than pleasant to see him, but she was afraid a bit of her pity would spread across her face. It was terrible, to think a man such as himself had lost even more during the battle of Blackwater bay. She'd heard what had happened, where he'd nearly been cut in half, but she'd yet to see his face until this moment. She curtseyed as best as she could and said, "I'm very grateful you would think to see me this morning, milord. I apologize for any disrespect I might cause; I'm still preparing myself for the day."

He gave her a smile, somewhere between pity and respect and waved off her apology. "Not to worry, my dear. I'm the one who's been intruding this morning, but I felt it was necessary. I have yet to give you my congratulations on your marriage."

"Oh, thank you, milord," she said, bowing slightly and giving him a gentle smile. He was the least one she worried about in King's Landing, even though he was still a Lannister. He'd stood up for her, fought against Joffrey's word, and tried to give her the moments to grieve her family. She appreciated it, although she knew it would be stupid of her to trust him anymore than the rest of his family.

Before they could say more, Sansa's handmaidens had returned. They all paused as soon as they saw Tyrion, but then they each curtseyed, brought the food to the table and started to make themselves busy. Sansa hesitated, then told the three, "I shouldn't need any other assistance this morning, please go find something else to do." She wasn't comfortable enough to discuss any topics with Tyrion while her handmaidens were about.

The girls were reluctant again, hesitating to leave, but a quick glance from Sansa sent them off into the hall. Tyrion called back Shae before the foreign girl could disappear and after a moment, she closed the door to the hall. Then they were alone. After an awkward moment, Sansa offered, "Would you like something to eat this morning?" Her handmaidens had certainly brought enough food for two people easily. They'd started doing that shortly after noticing the Hound ate far more than their Lady they'd been serving.

"I wouldn't mind a bite," he said after a moment, waddling over to take a seat at the table. Sansa sat across from him and offered Shae a spot as well, though she declined and instead fussed about with Sansa's hair while she ate.

They were silent for some time, quietly chewing without saying much. Eventually, Sansa swallowed her food and asked, "If you don't mind, I was just wondering why you decided to stop so early this morning milord?"

He swallowed his own food, smiled at her gently and told her, "I just wanted to see how you were fairing, being married to…"

"To Sandor? Oh, it's been just fine. He's gentle enough with me and doesn't speak to me too harshly." She tried smiling brightly, but she just had a feeling there was more to the meeting than what he was telling her.

"How have you been feeling? I know I've been hearing some concerns about your wellbeing…"

"Oh, everything has just been grand. I wouldn't worry about me at all, milord." Was her voice too high? Or did she sound too cheerful?

"Have you been feeling off? A bit sick or with too much energy?"

Her brow furrowed together, but she shrugged and told him, "I've been a bit stressed out, so I've been feeling a little off. But I've been eating plenty enough for myself, if not more." Sansa hesitated, then inquired, "Might I ask why you're questioning me on all of this?"

"… I've just been hearing some very interesting news around here, milady."

Sansa stilled immediately and asked, "What have you been hearing?"

Tyrion tilted his head to the side and gave her a wan smile. "There's nothing to concern yourself with my dear. But there have been some whispers that have been brought to my attention. More specifically about your moonblood."

"W-what about it?" she stammered, losing all sense of strength. Why were they questioning her bodily functions? Since when was it anyone's business?

"Do you mind if I'm asking you these questions? I certainly don't wish to make you uncomfortable, I just thought I could get a better grasp on the situation, so no one else would feel the need to come here and bother you more. I've heard you've been very busy between Lady Margaery, your husband, and King Joffrey."

Could she even deny him this information without being offensive? She shifted in her seat and kept her eyes fixed on her plate as she told him, "It is all fine, milord. You may ask whatever you may seem fit." She could feel herself beginning to blush, mildly embarrassed to be discussing this with someone other than a woman.

"When was the last time you had your moonblood?"

"Oh, well…" Her brows furrowed and she thought about it for a moment. Eventually, she told him, "It had just finished just after the battle at Blackwater Bay. I believe it was just before my wedding, milord."

"Have you felt any discomfort like before? Or bloating?" She thought again and shook her head when she couldn't think of a situation. "Have you felt any nausea? Or an increase in your appetite?"

"I have been a bit nauseous, but my handmaidens have assured me it is simply because I've been so worn thin with my marriage and all the planning for this upcoming wedding." She didn't add the fact Joffrey had her so stressed out she could hardly focus at times.

"How about any cravings to foods?" Immediately, Sansa's eyes focused on the peach in her hand. She almost didn't mention the fact she'd basically developed an obsession with eating peaches. But nothing had seemed quite so good or juicy in some time. Reluctant, she nodded and told him about the fruit and her increase for lemon cakes. "But mother had always told me it wasn't unusual when someone has been a bit stressed."

Shae tugged on her hair a bit harsher than necessary. Sansa flinched and told her, "Be gentle, please."

"My apologies," she muttered, sounding far from sorry.

Sansa almost huffed, but focused her attention on Tyrion, who seemed to be very unfocused at the moment. Reluctantly, she asked gently, "Milord?"

Immediately, his mismatched eyes focused back on her and he gave her another wan smile. "Would you mind coming with me today, Lady Sansa? I have someone I would like you to meet."

Sansa tensed and tried out, "I'm not sure if Lady Margaery will be calling for me today-"

"It won't be for too long. And I'm sure Shae would very much like to accompany you on this trip. I promise nothing will happen to you."

She almost told him about what had happened the last time someone had promised her something. Instead, she swallowed, and looked to Shae. Reluctantly, the foreign girl nodded and told her, "Go with him. It's probably for the best."

She swallowed again and reluctantly nodded to Tyrion. "Would you like to go now?"

"That would probably be best," he told her gently, managing out of the dining chair and walking towards her. "I just feel this will all give us the answers to the questions I've been hearing."

Sansa stood. She scribbled down a quick note to Sandor, in case he managed to come back to their chambers early, and reluctantly followed Tyrion and Shae out to the hall. They were silent as they walked, though Sansa noticed pretty quickly that Tyrion tried to avoid any of the halls that the Kingsguard might be strolling through. Was he even allowed to take her wherever she was going?

Soon enough, he had her duck into a room. First he handed her a cloak, a plain cloth with very little color aside from the grey. Reluctantly, she threw the cloak around her shoulders and tied off the strings. She watched Tyrion quietly while he moved aside a massive painting to expose a hidden hallway. "After you, milady," he said, bowing low. Reluctantly, she ducked her head and stepped inside the passage. There was very little she could see in the darkness, but she could tell the stairs spiraled down, further and further into what seemed like a very damp place. A light flickered from behind her. She turned and noticed the torch Tyrion had in his hand. She moved out of the main entrance enough where he could move up in front of her. Behind her, she felt Shae's presence and reached for her hand instinctively. She felt a squeeze of reassurance and slowly followed down the winding stairway.

Sansa didn't dare look behind her at the darkness that engulfed the trio as they moved. She tried to focus just on the flame in front of her, but her eyes wandered to the walls around them. She noticed small doorways as they passed, just as dark and almost more forbidding than the hall they were in now. Eventually, she asked quietly, "How did you find this place?"

"An acquaintance of mine happened to show me this direct passage out of the city. He thought it be best to lead you out this way rather than directly out the front door."

"W-we're going out into the city?" she stammered, eyes widening.

"No, not directly, milady. This passage- we're going to turn here, please watch your head- this passage leads us into a household that I wished to have you come to. There's something that you should have checked out." This time, the passage was shorter, almost to the point she had to crouch a bit, but it was even footing. Faintly, Sansa thought she could hear the rush of water below, but the sound quickly faded away and they fell into complete silence once more.

Every once in a while, Tyrion pulled out a map from his tunic, squinting in the light so he could see what looked to be a badly scrawled map. He turned them down several corridors, to the point Sansa lost track which way they'd come and gone before. The heights and space of each corridor changed. Sometimes it winded, others it was hilly or flat and occasionally, Sansa found they were walking across earth packed ground. She tried not to ask too many questions while he studied his map and led them this way and that way. Shae never seemed to worry while they followed Tyrion, so Sansa trusted the stunted man to lead them the right way.

She ignored the voice whispering in her head about Sandor's warnings to trust no one.

Soon enough, Sansa could hear the sounds of people through the walls. It was muffled, hardly hearable, but she could tell they were there. Then Tyrion slowed to a stop and paused at what looked to be an old worn door. He raised his hand and rapped on the door with his knuckles, twice fast, paused and two more slow raps.

They waited.

For several long moments, they stood there in the dark, mildly chilled. Then the door unlatched and swung open. Tyrion settled the torch in a holder just before the door and waddled in through the door way. Sansa was greeted by the sight of a much worn down cottage. They stepped inside and Sansa was greeted by quite the sight in front of her. The room was large, but based on what she could actually walk through it looked tiny. The ceiling looked as if it were collapsing, bowed low and with a few holes that light peeked in through. The walls looked weak, a bit moldy, and discolored and the floors were covered with random objects, from jewels and foods and pots and wood. A quick glance to Tyrion told Sansa he was just as taken back by the state of the room. "Oh, don't look at it like that, my dearies! My home is more than pleasant." They all spun around immediately to notice an old lady in front of them. She looked as if she were at least a hundred, layered in wrinkles upon wrinkles and hunched so far over she was nearly bending at the middle. Sansa gave her a hesitant smile, trying not to think too much about where she was at.

When Sansa glanced at Tyrion, she noticed he was gave the old woman a hesitant grin and told her, "Jaynie, I'm guessing he told you we were coming?"

"Yes, yes, now let me see the gal." Sansa wanted to cringe away the moment this woman 'Jaynie' grab hold of her wrist and tugged her towards a back room. "Come now gal, don't have all day. Many a gals like ya need me attendin' to 'em," she said, waddling towards the room and tugging Sansa along. She glanced back at her two temporary companions, who were quick to follow along. The room she was tugged into was the complete opposite of Jaynie's main living quarters. This room was spotless, with a single mattress wrapped with a clean white sheet. "Sit on tha bed," the lady said, voice creaking as she shuffled over to a washbin.

Sansa stood frozen on the spot, looked between this Jaynie and Tyrion and finally demanded, "I need to know what is going on. I don't have a clue as to why I'm here and I feel as if I'm being led to the slaughter!"

Jaynie clucked, shaking her head and turning towards her. "Don't start with me gal. I just have one job to do and that's to check ya. Sit."

"Lady Sansa, I promise you, as soon as she tells us what she finds, we will inform you of what is going on," Tyrion promised, waddling over to her. "Please, do as she bid you."

Reluctant, but keeping her head raised, Sansa walked over to the bed and settled on the edge. Jaynie shuffled over to her and grabbed hold of her chin without warning. Trying not to flinch at the sudden movement, Sansa kept her eyes trained straight ahead as the old woman moved her head side to side and examined her closely. She startled Sansa by suddenly grabbing hold of her at the chest and giving a good squeeze. She squeaked in surprise and mild pain and pulled away. "Hold still," Jaynie scolded and began to squeeze on her arms and waist. Then she used her hands and gently started pressing around, feeling her belly all the way towards her lower abdomen. For several moments, Jaynie focused on a certain spot and then she made a very pleased noise and said, "There is it!"

At those words, Sansa noticed Shae had paled considerably and Tyrion looked less than pleased by the news. "Are you positive?" he demanded, looking over at Sansa as if he was going to feel for whatever it was Jaynie was talking about.

Sansa wrapped her arms around herself, so very confused at the moment.

Jaynie looked more than pleased with herself and fairly snapped, "Imp man, you ain't gonna question what I say neither. I been doing this job years afor you were born!"

"Are you absolutely positive of what you found? I need to know, before we start having to plan," Tyrion said urgently.

"I is as positive as anyone can be at this moment. Could be anywhere 'round ten ta twelve weeks. Watch her closely, wait for signs of the moonblood if you doubt me so." The lady sniffed and patted Sansa's knee. "Ya go and keep safe these next few months. Come see me 'gain, if you in need anythin'. Now, go, all ya."

Jaynie fairly shoved them back through the door which they came. Everyone was utterly silent, although Sansa had no clue why either of them had brought her to such a strange woman or why the news seemed so ghastly. The trip back was eerie and a bit unnerving. All Sansa wanted to do was stop and ask what was going on. Still, a glance at Shae's face or Tyrion's hunched shoulders and she bit her tongue for a bit longer. The trip seemed to take twice as long going back and Tyrion seemed to be getting lost more often than before. Still they eventually they managed their way back to the winding staircase and found the entrance back to the palace.

"Let's get back to your chambers, Lady Sansa," Tyrion said quietly, snuffing out the torch and starting out of the room without another word. Shae followed after him, her spine stiff and a bit of worry in her eyes. Again, the halls were unusually empty, the usual bustle very absent. As they passed an open window, Sansa noticed it had started to rain, a light drizzle at first, but the dark clouds promised a very bad storm. She couldn't remember the last time it had rained in King's Landing, so the promise of heavy storms was a bit exciting.

As soon as she managed through her chamber door and had closed the heavy wood, she turned and asked, "Now, why had you taken me to that strange woman? What did she mean about my moonblood?"

"Please, have a seat, Lady Sansa. I will explain all of it to you soon enough." Reluctantly, Sansa did as Tyrion told her and waited patiently. Shae had gone over to the closet and fished out a new dress, with much more flow and less ties. For some reason, the foreign girl was refusing to meet her eye. "Do you know who Jaynie was?" he asked her finally, settling down in his own seat. Sansa shook her head. "She used to be a healer, further up in the South. She was well known for her ability to be able to feel out any diseases or any other conditions one might be faced. She has almost always been spot on and when she was chased out of her village for witchery, a man here pulled some strings, called some birds, and brought her here in case he ever had use for her."

"But, then why did you bring me to her?"

"There's been some rumors, one of the handmaidens of yours or someone else spreading rumors of the lack of moonblood. Cersei has been curious and several others as well. Shae came to me finally, worried about what might happen if Joffrey decided he was going to listen to some of these rumors."

"What does my moonblood have to do with any of this?" she asked, fiddling with the cloak in her hands.

He gave her a hesitant smile and told her, "Well, Lady Sansa, she was able to successfully guarantee us that you are, in fact, pregnant."

~A/N~

So, I'm not sure how I liked this chapter, but I knew this was one that needed to get out. Of course, who couldn't expect this to happen? It isn't much of a shocker, but I'm really looking forward to the next several chapters after this. Hopefully you all enjoyed this chapter as well and that it wasn't too strange! Thank you soooo much for all of the reviews!

R&R

XmX