Game of Thrones Tales: Back to the Throne Room…
Summary: There's only one solution when Tyrion and Sansa have found the new King as mad as the Mad Targaryen and cynically evil, once on the throne, as Joffrey. So evil he's happily allowed the world to be invaded by unspeakably hideous creatures from some little planet out on the spiral rim of the Galaxy, to secure his reign of terror.
Part XXXVIII…
The garlanded and well-swept VIP sleeping quarters of the Lord Hand and Defense Minister and his Lady…
"Tyr? No chance?" Sansa hissed, cuddled against him on a bed which that day had been hastily remodeled…Expanded by combining two normal berths, raised from its usual floor-hugging level and provided with extra furs and relatively sweet-smelling rush-filled cushions, thereby making it just a tad less uncomfortable than the average recruit's bunk.
"Gods no, Sansa." He whispered back, frowning. "Bad enough you spent time with us…"
"Come now, they'd kill me anyway." She shrugged. "I'm your wife, the Dirters believe in equal justice for the sexes."
"Yes, perhaps…But they'd soon realize you knew nothing and not torture you, before they'd kill you or exhibit you in some menagerie on Dirt or one of its gods' forsaken colonies."
"Nothing about…That…" arch low tone.
"Sansa…" reproving tone as she stroked his hair.
"I don't mind risk. I mind not being in your confidence…'In the loop', the Terrans call it."
"I trust you with my life and you probably do know too much already but this affects many others."
"All right, fine…" she turned over.
"Don't sulk." he sighed.
"Not sulking…" she replied, curtly. "I understand…"
He rolled eyes…Sansa Stark, I know that tone.
"…You want to play hero alone and leave me alone, again…Naturally."
"Sansa…" he sighed. "Wait…Isn't that from that Dirter song?"
"It applies…" firm tone, shrug.
"You know if some of my allies heard this, they'd put you down for a Dirter spy, trying to manipulate me." he noted, shrewd nod.
"Damned poor one, given how little you tell me." She rolled back over. "Tyrion, I'm sorry, but I just want to know the summary…This is remarkable, he's remarkable. I'm feeling like we could win." Eager tone.
"So did Stannis, apparently counting on his resurrected status to protect him somehow, even from Dirter weapons. One successful agent implanted among them isn't going to win this." He shook head.
"But it means we're actually making progress…Learning details about them, real intelligence, not what scraps we can overhear." She nudged him. "Gives a girl hope, you know. I just want to know if things are hoppin'."
" 'Hoppin''?" he stared.
"Moving along, coming to fruition, getting started. You don't have to give me details, just a bit of hope." She reached to touch his scarred cheek. "I want to know if there's even a chance my baby will be born into a free world."
"What?" he choked.
"You really shouldn't drink in bed while you read, darling. At least when we're traveling." She sighed at the spilled ale.
"Sansa…?"
Sounds of people running in the hall outside, cries, the occasional clang of metal armor on stone…They eyed each other.
"Honestly?" Tyrion asked to her cautious look, she glancing at the door.
Well, does not sound like they mean to come storming in to arrest us.
"Hey…Who are you talking to here?" she mock-frowned at the impugning of the Stark rep for sterling honesty, then peered at his stunned, paling face… "You going to faint or…?" grin.
More noise from the hall… "The Commander…" one male voice called…
"Is that Jon, back, you think?" she looked over. "We'd ought to get up…"
"He won't be receiving formally at this hour and certainly not before you tell me? Sansa?"
"Oh…" arch smile. "From me you expect details…"
"For the gods' sake, girl…"
"Three months…I'm sure…I only hoped till this week…And, no, I haven't asked what. See, I can't keep anything from you." She sat up and reached for a robe at the foot of the bed. "Can you fetch me that candle?" she pointed.
"Jon can wait…He'll be reviewing his little kingdom for a bit yet. Sans? You're all right? You did see a doctor?"
She pulled robe, he helping now… "Not one of theirs, but yes, I did see a maester. Flyestir."
"That idiot protégé of Pycelle?" sputter, Tyrion now seated beside her. "What did you say the Dirters call his type…"
"He's not a duck…Quacker…" Sansa frowned. "Margeary puts great faith in him."
"But Aegon makes sure she sees her Dirter doctor because he is a quacker. And I've little doubt Pycelle is happy, and quite eager to keep him so." He moved to grab candle on small table by his side of the bed and got up, moving to the fireplace where a log still burned, low. Lighting and turning back to her… Wait?" stare. "Did you tell the Queen? Before me?"
"No…" sidelong glance as he came back to her, taking seat beside her on the bed. "She guessed."
"He's not even a trained healer, Sansa." He passed the candle to her with shake of head, she setting it on the small table by her side.
"Many of the court ladies consult him…" annoyed.
"Yes, I'm sure he follows in his senior maester's ignoble footsteps to every lady's…"
"Tyrion!" angry look now.
"Sorry…But…" he saw the tears rising…
"Sansa, I am very happy…"
"Hardly seems so…And after we've tried so many times…" slight smile. "Well, in addition to it being so nice." Beam.
"Really happy?" she leaned head on his stunned frame, touching the shoulder, putting arm round. Candleflame lighting her face to him…
"Ecstatic…Once you have a competent healer or even a Dirter doctor see you."
"When we get home…I thought if a boy Tyrion Edduard… And if a girl…Catelyn Joanna…I don't hate your mother, you know that." Anxious look. "Joanna Catelyn is fine as well."
"Stark of course." Firm tone.
"Are you sure? I could let it be Lannister…Honestly." she eyed him.
"Never. I've said so and I meant every word."
She rose now, he anxiously eyeing. "Lets go…I want to see if Jon's come. Did you see my slippers?"
Thought she looked tired…He hopped off bed. "Let me help you. You shouldn't have come up here. What were you thinking coming to this wretched place now?"
"I'm fine, Tyrion. And I wasn't going to miss the Wall or Jon…Or anything else. Should we tell Jon?"
He blinked. "Good Heavens, girl…He'll kill me."
"Not Jon…" she shook head. "Rob or Father, likely yes."
…..
The ruined old Builders' Keep, south of the Wall…
Where an anxious "Hanuk" had insisted on keeping strict vigil over "Lady Stark" in her swaddling in which she lay on her bed, the doctor having pronounced it a serious fever. He sitting by in chair, occasionally rising to check breathing and pulse. Bledsa stopping by periodically to check on the patient and express his regret the Lady had been taken ill under the Watch's roof.
He is good, Arya eyed the doctor, now dropping off to a brief snooze. Who could believe this comfortably hefty, reasonably successful for the times, obviously well-learned and experienced doctor, projecting such gravity and confidence that he could afford a bit of humor, had been, but a few hours ago, a wizened old member of the Watch. Living out his last days earning his keep by fetching, carrying, and amusing the younger members of an isolated post.
May I prove to be his equal at the very least…Though I know I wasn't placed in command here because I was the most able of the Faceless at hand.
He woke with a sudden movement that startled her…
"Ah, Doctor…Sorry that I disturbed you."
"Not at all, Mistress…Not at all…Forgive me for letting my years catch up with me." he waved a hand, rising and moving to the figure on the bed, taking her wrist and gently pushing back folds of the swaddling sheets.
"Is she all right? Any better?"
He stepped back. "No better, no worse as yet but the fever is high."
"Should we have more ice brought?" she asked.
"No, perhaps later…I don't want to chill her too severely, she might take on a miasmata of the lungs. 'Infection' as the Terrans call it. Don't worry, Mistress. The lady is strong like all her family." He smiled.
"Yes. A true daughter of the Starks." "Hanuk" nodded.
"When daylight shows, we'll move her to town, to the hospice where she can be properly cared for."
"I hope her brother, Lord Jon, will approve."
"I'm sure he'll agree it was the right thing to do…" the doctor noted, kindly. "Don't worry yourself. And you should be resting a bit as well. This fever can catch hold easily if the body is weakened, that much I agree with the Dirters' notions."
"Not till I know my Lady is safe." She shook head.
And I mean that, though perhaps not in the way my tone would suggest.
A knock, the door opening slightly…
"How does my Lady fare?" Bledsa's lean, weathered face showing, eyes peering in.
"No worse, Commander." The doctor, gravely respectful. "Which is a hopeful sign."
:"Good. And you, Mistress Hanuk?"
"I'm well, sir…"
"There's mercy. None other have been stuck as yet. Well, it should be daylight in a few more hours. We're getting a cart ready to take her in."
"What about Lord Stark?" "Hanuk" asked.
"No word as yet but it takes time to reach the Black Castle, especially by night when our ravens prefer not to fly, those few we have. But Hatch won't fail us." Bledsa nodded.
"That's good. My Lord should know of that Dirter's message. Tis pity he won't know his sister's so ill. And poor Master Pie…" she sighed. "He knows nothing as yet either." Quick glance…
"Do you think I may ride with the cart, see my Lady safely to the doctor's hospice?"
"If he has no objection and I doubt he would." Bledsa smiled. "But shall I send to your home? Let her servant know?"
"I think he be more than that, Ser Bledsa…" "Hanuk" smiled. "But no, I'll be home and can tell him myself once my Lady is settled."
Order received, Commander…The boy Pie not to be told, Stark, naturally, must know…Bledsa eyed her calmly. Dangerous but if you can deceive him, a fair test before the real trial. "Too much honor, Mistress. Bledsa is all I am. Well…If we can get a raven out by morning to the Castle we will, but the Commander might well return before then if he wishes to learn more about this Dirter and his warning after Hatch reaches him. We'll see to it he's informed one way or the next. Go myself if I have to."
"Thanks, Master Bledsa." She smiled.
"More than a servant, is he?" wry smile. "To Lady Stark?"
"Tis a new world, Master. I myself took a farmer, though my House was no great one." Depreciative shrug.
"Very true, indeed, lady. A new world…" nod.
Where even the day may be full of terrors, girl.,,He did not say.
…
Castle Black, courtyard…
Where the Knight Commander's unexpected return by night was being greeted by the Acting Commander, several of the night duty watch, and Sam Tarly, awakened by a combination of the noise and Kendrick's anxious call.
"Didn't expect you'd return so late, Commander…" the AC noted as several Watchpersons took charge of Jon's and aides' horses. Two hurrying to secure the gate to the courtyard.
"I thought I'd best return as soon as I could, given His Majesty's arrival. How is he?"
"I'd say thanks be to our Quartermaster Tarly here, he's pleased with our greeting." Smile to Sam who shrugged.
"Nothing less than I expect, fine job, Oswald…Sam, well done. And my Lord Hand?" Jon beamed, kicking snow from a boot. "Is he enjoying his visit?"
"Given he was the soul of the party, I'd say he enjoyed himself." Wry grin. "As did your lady sister."
"Sansa came?" broad smile. "That's wonderful. Is she well? How'd she like the Wall?"
"Turn round and ask, brother…!" Sansa's happy call. "Jon!" she came to him, embracing.
Tyrion in heavy robe and fur behind her, smiling but a bit anxious for her likely cold feet despite the heated boots he'd insisted on putting on them.
"Sansa!" Jon lifted her gently, kissing her and being kissed… "It's so fine to see you both…Hello, my Lord. Welcome!" he greeted Tyrion, setting her down.
"It's Sansa and Tyrion when we're away from the folderol." Sansa insisted, mock sternly. "You look fine…Very commanding, Commander."
"The black makes anyone look good." Jon grinned, loosening straps holding his fur cloak about him. "Well, come…Lets get you inside. Even I'm freezing out here in this fur. Tyrion? Did you manage that coat for her yet?"
"Just got here, Jon…" Tyrion put up a hand. "Give me a day. Besides I'm counting on the King to catch an extra bear for me. His Grace is a kind friend and won't begrudge me one of his. But lets inside, Sans is freezing."
"He's all silly just because I've told him I'm pregnant." She shrugged. Jon blinking.
"She says you won't kill me though your father and brother Rob would've." Tyrion noted.
"I said they likely would...And only before they'd known your standing with your father and sister." She insisted.
…..