Peter Baelish broke fast with Tyrion and Sansa, while trying to hide his deep fury!
He had heard the tales, by way of servant gossip, about what had went on in the marriage bed of the Lannisters.
Clearly, he had been wrong. Tyrion Lannister had been telling the truth when he claimed Sansa was with child. Maybe.
But as he sat across from both of them, and gazed upon Sansa, the idea of her never being his, made his cock tighten with fury! If he had known that tying Sansa Stark to a bed to make love to her, would've won his way into her heart, he would've done it back when she was a hostage at King's Landing!
Lord Baelish had decided that he was still going to tell the Queen that Lord Tyrion had lied and that Sansa was not with child...
"Lord Baelish?" Tyrion inquired, interrupting his rude thoughts, "I thought you would like to be the one to break the news to my Lady wife."
Lord Baelish blinked in confusion.
"Break the news?"
Tyrion eyed him.
"Yes...about what you told me the other night? About Catelyn Stark?"
Sansa looked from Tyrion to Lord Baelish.
"Lord Baelish? You have news of my mother?"
"Oh, my lady, he has better than 'news'," Tyrion said, casting a sly glance in Littlefinger's direction, "don't you, my lord?"
Peter Baelish's return look to Tyrion was unreadable, though Tyrion could very well sense, that under that civil mask, Littlefinger would've gladly strangled him in his sleep!
Sansa smiled at Peter.
"Please, tell me Lord Baelish, have you been in contact with my Lady Mother?"
"No. Not as of yet. I discussed with your Lord husband, the idea of the both of us traveling together to see her."
"You know where she is?" Sansa asked, looking from Peter to Tyrion.
"I do. My Lady, I intend to offer for your mother's hand in marriage. As my wife, she could come out of hiding."
Sansa's smile faltered. It had never occurred to her that her mother would marry after her father's execution. But she supposed it was bound to happen. And yet she found this whole concept a bit confusing. She was vaguely aware that Lord Baelish and her mother had grown up together. But she had no idea he had had any feelings towards her mother, one way or the other.
Her mother owned no property any longer and she had her younger siblings to think of. Yes, what Lord Baelish was offering her did seem sincere. HE seemed to be getting nothing out of the bargain at all.
"I see," Sansa said, "well, I would love to see my mother. But I fear that I could cause trouble for myself, and my Lord Husband, if I dare see her while she is considered an enemy of the Queen."
Tyrion reached for Sansa's hand and squeezed it, before addressing Baelish. He knew how much she missed Lady Catelyn. That had not been easy for her to say.
"My Lady, you would be within my protection. And the ceremony would take place right away." Baelish replied.
"Yes, but what if my mother refuses you?" Sansa asked, not quite understanding, why Lord Baelish was arguing her point.
Tyrion interrupted.
"Lord Baelish, secure the marriage first and then Sansa and myself, would be more than happy to visit the both of you at Harrenhal. That is where Lady Catelyn, her remaining three children and yourself would live, correct?" Tyrion asked. But he knew damned well, that Lord Baelish had no plans to truly ask Catelyn Stark's hand in marriage! He planned to abscond with Sansa!
Littlefinger had to phrase his next words carefully. Already this whole line of conversation was going awry!
"I don't expect any problems securing the marriage, Lord Tyrion. Catelyn and I grew up together. She would've married me if fate had not intervened and brought Sansa's father into her life. And while it wounded me to lose her, Ned Stark was a good man. As long as she was happy and well provided for..."
Tyrion interrupted.
"Yes, well that is what true love is all about, isn't it? Would you excuse us, Lord Baelish? I would like to discuss this with my Lady wife."
Lord Baelish stood. Tyrion had not outright flatly refused. But then again, he could see Sansa wanted to see her mother again. He would probably relent if it would make her happy. Baelish left the room, closing the doors behind him. He was tempted to listen in, but Paddock was lurking about, so he decided against it.
Meanwhile, Tyrion tightened his hold on Sansa's hand.
"Dearest, you do realize that Lord Baelish is being...er...less than truthful?"
"In what way, My Lord? I do believe he wants to offer for my mother." Sansa said.
"I love you," Tyrion said suddenly, "and that means there is nothing I wouldn't give you, or deny you. But I do not believe that Baelish has any plans to allow you to see your Lady mother."
Sansa stared at him for a moment, before speaking.
"What does loving me and allowing me to leave with Lord Baelish, have to do with one another?"
"I think you know," Tyrion replied, looking deeply into her eyes, "and he has plans to keep you for himself. Men can see these things. Besides, it is rumored that your mother is fueling the rebellion against the Queen. She wants to put Jon Snow on the throne as the supposed Targaryen heir. What if Lord Baelish couldn't protect you from Queen Daenerys wrath?"
Sansa sighed, then said something unexpected.
"Come with, my lord."
Tyrion blinked.
"Come with Baelish and yourself?"
"Yes. Come with us to see that he is sincere."
"Sansa, I am telling you that he is NOT sincere. I've known him a lot longer than you have. He ran a whore house..."
"My Lord!" Sansa protested. "Please refrain from using that type of language around food!"
"I'm sorry, precious," Tyrion said, now kissing her hand, "but we cannot lose sight of our goal. You cannot be traveling about and possibly be with child. I will agree to a compromise: after our child is born, we will invite your Lady mother and her new husband, Lord Baelish, here to Winterfell. Would you like that?"
Sansa smiled and nodded. Yes, that would please her.
"Now, I will speak to Lord Baelish alone," Tyrion said as he released her hand to began caressing her arm, "and then later, we can spend some time alone."
Sansa nodded again and to Tyrion's surprise, she kissed him softly on the mouth, before taking her leave. He watched her with longing, leave the room, before forcing back his temper!
That damned Littlefinger! This was utter nonsense! Catelyn Stark wouldn't have had him when they were younger, and she wouldn't have him now! Enemy of the Queen or not!
But, he did make a convincing point. If Lady Catelyn did marry Lord Baelish, she would be within his protection. That meant she could come and go as she liked. Tyrion pushed back his chair and got down out of it, before calling for Paddock.
Paddock arrived quickly.
"Could you send Lord Baelish in?"
Paddock nodded, then went to find Lord Baelish, who was not that far away. His stride was quick as he returned to the room and Paddock closed the doors.
"My Lady wife and I would be honored to host yourself and YOUR Lady wife, after Sansa has given birth." Tyrion told him.
Lord Baelish raised a brow.
"That might be years from now." he noted.
"By that you are implying what, Littlefinger?" Tyrion asked drolly, dropping all pretense.
"While it is clear your Lady wife and yourself share a bed, I still have no proof that she is with child." Lord Baelish informed Tyrion.
"Just as I have no proof that you have any plans to ask for Lady Catelyn's hand in marriage. Does the Queen know this? That you plan to ask for the hand of a sworn enemy of hers? I'd hate to have to send a raven..." Tyrion trailed off in a threatening manner.
"I think we understand one another," Lord Baelish said, "I will leave Winterfell now. I will also tell the Queen that Lady Sansa is with child."
Tyrion said nothing to any of that, as a maid came into the room, looking for Sansa. A raven had arrived with a note from Lady Margaery, addressed to her.
Sansa gasped as she read Lady Margaery's note!
Dear Lady Lannister,
I was very pleased to read your letter for two reasons: one, because I have desperately missed your friendship here at King's Landing. But second, as much as we most desperately miss Ser Loras, I always doubted very much that Tyrion would give you up. He loves you dearly, that is clear when he looks at you. And your question to me makes me believe that with the arrival of your child coming one day, you are finally settling into your marriage to a Lannister.
As for your questions about pleasing Tyrion, just take his man's staff into your mouth. I will demonstrate what to do when I arrive there. Yes, I am coming to Winterfell! As is the Queen! I told her YOU would be most happy to throw Ser Jorah's and my wedding at your castle. Then the Queen can see you for herself and there will be no doubt that you are with child!
Blessings,
Lady Margaery Tyrell
Sansa's mouth dropped open as the note fluttered from her hands and to the floor! Lady Margaery expected her and Tyrion to host their wedding? Tyrion would be most displeased! And the Queen herself was coming?
Sansa felt herself swooning, until blackness overtook her.
Meanwhile, in the coldest part of hell, or a forest, Lady Catelyn Stark, Stannis Baratheon and Catelyn's brother, Edmure Tully, who seemed to come out of nowhere, rode on horses in that order.
But Stannis was no fool. Tully had to have been hiding out with Jon Snow this whole time. He too was seen as an enemy of the Queen.
"So, Ser Edmure, how did you end up hiding behind my son's skirts?" Stannis asked.
"Shut-up!" Lady Catelyn snapped in front of him. "Jon is not your son! And when we get to King's Landing..."
"When we get to King's Landing, both of you will be executed as traitors," Stannis said matter-of-factly, "but unless the both of you swear fealty to Queen Daenerys Targaryen, your heads will end up on a spike."
Ser Edmure snorted!
"And you don't believe your head will be along side ours? Even if you are not revealed to be a liar, that means you are a threat as the only living brother of the late Robert Baratheon. The Queen will have you executed for sure." Ser Edmure reminded him.
"I will have no problem swearing loyalty to this queen," Catelyn revealed, "since it won't be for long. Your Red Woman is on the Queen's council. She will call you out for the liar you are, before giving up that position. You will be killed for your lie..."
"Woman, are your brains addled?!" Stannis sniffed. "If I am revealed to be a 'liar' then the Queen goes back to believing that Jon Snow is her nephew and the rightful King. He goes back to being a threat and anyone in collusion with him, will die. That is why I strongly suggest that we turn back and forget this unwise course of action."
Catelyn had come too far to let Stannis ruin her plans. Jon was a Targaryen. Not a Baratheon. And she could not trust that with Stannis as King, he would show her and her children, the mercy she knew Jon would.
"Just shut-up!" Catelyn snapped again.
"I'm sorry that you feel that way." Stannis said softly, as he put two fingers in his mouth and whistled loudly!
Catelyn and Edmure stopped their horses.
"What did you just do?" Ser Edmure asked, his voice brimming with unease. Catelyn looked around wildly.
Then she saw him.
Or it.
And she'd seen it before.
It was the same, black, shadow...THING that she had witnessed kill Renly Baratheon, some time ago!
It appeared in front of the horses, signaled by Stannis, his 'father'.
"Kill them both, son." Stannis said softly, then watched as his 'Shadow Son' took a meaty arm and swept it upwards-towards the necks of Catelyn Stark and Edmure Tully.
Stannis swallowed regretfully, as their heads dropped to the ground beside their horses. He smiled at his 'son'.
"Throw the bodies off of the horses, then come with me. We're going to King's Landing." Stannis told him.