Ser Addam had just returned to the Tower as Tyrion was fastening a thick waterproof cloak around his neck. Sansa had gifted it to him before they had left Winterfell to march on King's Landing and Tyrion could feel her essence in every stitch. He had spent his nights on that long cold march bundled in it, smelling her scent and wondering when he would see her again. Looking back he knew he had already been in love with her then but hadn't allowed himself to acknowledge it given her declaration in the crypts coupled with her rejection of him on their wedding night. (He hadn't wanted to consummate his marriage anymore than she had, as he only ever wanted a willing participant in his bed. But the phrase "What if I never want you to" was like a paper cut on his brain that reminded him that she would never desire him in that way.)
"Lord Tyrion, some of my guards think they may have seen a woman slip out of the Keep's gate into the city but were unsure if it was Lady Sansa. Also the Kingsguard report that she has not entered the Holdfast. If she hasn't returned back here yet I will need to report this to the King and Queen and alert my men to start looking for her."
"No need Ser Addam, her brother told me exactly where she is headed." Tyrion said being deliberately obtuse in his wording as not to get the King involved yet. "I just need an escort to the Sept."
Ser Addam looked at Tyrion dubiously, but his eyes skirted Reyna's who gave a small nod of agreement and he acquiesced. "Very well, let me get some horses."
He returned with an ancient destrier that must have been mostly deaf given how unperturbed it was by the thunder and a very cross looking black pony that Tyrion recognized as Prince Jorah's. "These two were the only ones that didn't look half out of their minds with fright by the storm." he said by way of apology.
After Ser Addam had helped Tyrion mount the pony (Balerion was his name. Jorah had named him after the Black Dread and the little thing was just as fierce and willful as his namesake.) he turned to find Lady Loreyna already in the destrier's saddle. "My lady…" he began to say.
"Don't bother Ser Addam. She either comes with us now or she will follow us later." Tyrion said dismissively, impatient to be on his way to Sansa.
Reyna raised her eyebrows in challenge, scooting forward in the saddle. Ser Addam mounted behind her with a sigh, acting put out but looking thrilled to wrap his arms around the petite woman. Tyrion rolled his eyes at the scene that was reminiscent of Jaime and Brienne's courtship at Winterfell. He wished he had been as brave as Jaime back then, laying all his feelings on the line. 'I will be brave this time' he thought as he urged Balerion into a swift trot towards town 'after all what else do I have to lose. She already has my heart."
The drumming of her heart became louder than the steady beat of the rain on the sails above as Sansa sensed Tyrion beside her. She found herself burying her head in his shoulder, breathing his familiar scent that had haunted her in his bed, as he folded her into his arms. The irony wasn't lost on her that she drew succor from his embrace even though it was her feelings for him that had caused the tears to begin with. When she had calmed enough, he tipped up her head to look at him and she could see that his eyes looked red as well. Had he been crying as he held her? He gave her a wavering smile and brushed her hair away from her tear streaked face.
"Tyrion…" she began. "I'm so sorry…." she said, pulling away from him.
"Sansa, you've had your say in the garden. Please let me have mine." he interrupted with a firmness in his voice that he softened by intertwining his fingers with hers before sitting next to her on the ground.
Sansa sat quietly, not knowing what to expect. She wasn't sure if he was there to tell her that he did not feel as strongly for her as she did for him or if he was there to persuade her that they could be together, even though she knew it impossible.
Tyrion didn't speak for a few minutes, prolonging Sansa's agony. He would either stare at their hands, her father's statue, or the ground. Finally in a low hesitant voice he asked "What do you think her response was?"
"Who?" Sansa said stumped that this is how this conversation would start.
"Jenny." He said, clearing his throat "What did she say to Duncan when he told her he chose her over the Iron throne?"
Sansa had never really thought of that side of the story, the real details. She had just pictured the two star crossed lovers running off together, choosing love above all else. "I'm not sure."
"You're not? What would you have done if you were her?" he implored and somehow she knew this answer was important.
Closing her eyes, she placed herself in Jenny's shoes. Imagining the man she loved, giving up his birthright for her, the throne for her. A lump of ice formed in her chest at the certainty of the response "I would have called him a fool. I would have told him that in time he would come to resent me and that sometimes love just isn't enough and that duty comes first."
"So why do you think that wasn't the end of their story?" he asked and she could tell by the glimmer in his eyes he thought he knew the answer. "Why did she allow him to give it all up for her?"
With tears reforming in her eyes, she shook her head. She was clever enough to know that there was a piece missing to this puzzle, but she didn't know what it was . Finally she just whispered "There was more to it."
He smiled warmly and squeezed her hand, and seamed buoyed by her response. "I think so too." Closing his eyes, "I can't help but wonder if Duncan even wanted to be King. If he felt trapped and miserable in the gilded cage of a first born son, his destiny set for him from birth. That meeting Jenny and marrying her was the first thing he ever got to choose for himself. If that was the first time he had ever felt happy."
Sansa didn't respond, ruminating on what Tyrion said. "So he didn't just choose Jenny, he chose his own freedom and to write his own future as well."
They sat in silence for a while, "Did you know what I had decided on that balcony, just moments before you sought me out?" he said, raising their joined hands to his lips. "I had decided to resign as Hand."
"WHAT?" Sansa said in shock. "You can't, they need you. Nobody could replace you as Hand."
"I can and I will Sansa. I'm tired of living to work, I'm tired of playing the game. I also think you overestimate how important any one person truly is in their position, nobody is irreplaceable. The heart" he sighed painfully, "is another matter entirely. I have been learning that the hard way these last few years. I tried to fill this void in my heart, first with work and these last few weeks in a futile and lackluster attempt at looking for a wife, as if just any woman would quell this ache in my soul."
He turned to look at her, locking his green eyes with her blue. "The night we quarreled, I finally realized what the hole in my heart was Sansa. It was you. I was in love with you." He took in a deep breath, gauging her reaction. "Truth is I've been in love with you for years. Every time I got a raven from you, I fell deeper and yet every year that crept by without seeing you I grew more restless and depressed. I missed you Sansa, not just these last few days but everyday I haven't been by your side since we were reunited. Maybe even before that."
"So at the Summit's end, I am leaving King's Landing to start a new chapter in my life. The question I have for you is whether the North still has room for a lovelorn vagabond to serve at your behest? Or should I go to the Rock and serve my brother until he grows weary of my presence and places me on the first ship bound for Essos?"
Sansa's heart swelled with joy at Tyrion's words. He loved her, he was in love with her and had been for years. This time it was her that drug their hands to her mouth before pressing a kiss to each one of his knuckles, making him suck in a surprised and shaky gulp of air. Smiling broadly, she reached forward to brush the damp curls from his forehead before tracing the scar on his face, feeling him tremble at her touch as his eyes closed in pleasure.
"There is only one position I have available in the North, my Lord, and I'm afraid it is all I can offer you at the moment." she said with a hint of humor.
"Whatever it is I'll take it. Stableboy, servant, scribe, or squire. As long as I get to lay my eyes on the Lady of Winterfell everyday." He said, placing his lips on her inner wrist while gazing longingly at her.
"Not only would you have to see her everyday, but every night as well." she said as desire shot from her wrist to the rest of her body. "The Lady of Winterfell can be quite demanding, especially of her Lord."
"Lord?" he swallowed nervously, staring at her father's face. "Lord of Winterfell?" he asked in disbelief. "I don't think I could dishonor your family like that."
"You protected me when my family could not, you and your brother fought for the North against the dead, and you have helped a Dragon-Wolf claim his throne. You have brought honor back to the Lannister name, and there's only one way you could shame the Starks." She leaned forward and kissed him gently on the lips. "And that is by not making an honest woman out of it's Lady."
Tyrion repositioned himself so he was down on one knee and looked at her openly with such love and hope, fumbling for something in his pocket. "Sansa Stark, I love you with all my heart. Will you do me the honor of…" he began before he was interrupted by a loud voice.
"Lady Stark! Lord Hand!" cried an affable and cheerful voice. "Right on time, although I don't know how he does it. Touched by the Gods he is, but he said you'd be here and that I should be here so here we are!" the older man babbled as he came into view. Tyrion and Sansa had risen to their feet at the intrusion and were surprised and a bit annoyed to see the High Septon come into view.
He doddered closer on his cane, holding his lamp aloft observing the fact that they were still holding hands. The High Septon was an older man, injured in the wars, but his eyes were sharp and penetrating and belayed the intelligence under all that affability. The Faith had sent several candidates to the Queen (the King only worshiping the Old Gods) for approval and she had appointed him after a day long interview without even talking to the other candidates. He studied their faces for a long moment. "Why don't you two come to my office? I think we have some things to talk about." It was clear this was a command and not a casual invitation by his tone.
Wordlessly, they followed him through the small hidden door tucked behind one of the statues and through the empty back halls of the Sept. Another small wooden door revealed a set of stairs that ascended not to the Septon's official office, but to his modest living quarters where he escorted them into his personal office that was covered in layers of scrolls, books, and half filled cups of cold tea. He moved some things around revealing two chairs gesturing for them to sit before lowering himself to his chair behind a massive desk.
He steepled his hands across his stomach leaning back before addressing Tyrion. "I had thought that you might have visited me a few weeks ago Lord Hand. I am surprised that you didn't."
"I have been busy, your holiness, with the Summit, and you have never needed me as an intermediary between yourself and our Queen before." Tyrion smiled placidly. "You also full well know I'm not much of a man of the faith."
"Yes busy. Busy looking for a wife so the rumors say. A man that has been married twice, now looking for a third. His first marriage annulled thanks to the gold that flowed from the Rock and the singular determination of the man that controlled it." He cocked his head studying Tyrion. "Do you know how truly difficult it is to get an annulment regardless of the circumstances? How much gold and veiled threats it took your father to rush that through?"
"Given the circumstances, it was not foremost on my mind." Tyrion replied flatly.
The Septon's face softened. "But we're not here to discuss the status of your first marriage. The record of that annulment was verified before your marriage to Lady Sansa was allowed to take place. I had assumed that before marrying again you would ask me to verify that your second marriage had been properly nullified. Obviously, the records here were destroyed in the inferno but most records, especially those of the noble houses, are duplicated and sent to the Citadel. This morning I had finally gotten around to writing my inquiry on the matter and was getting ready to hand it to my clerk when I received two scrolls. One from the Citadel," he gestured to a scroll on his desk "and one from your brother." he gestured to the second looking pointedly at Sansa. "Both of which pertain to the matter of your marriage."
Sansa smiled tightly. A protective elder brother was both a blessing and a curse. Jon was probably just trying to make sure she wasn't as legally entangled with Tyrion as she was emotionally. "Since you asked to meet us here, I'm assuming you're going to tell us what was in the King's note."
The Septon just chuckled, causing Sansa's forced smile to falter. She turned to Tyrion who looked as perplexed as her for a second before burying his face in his hands. "Wrong brother." he whispered to Sansa as she remembered the black feather and the raven that had guided her to Tyrion in the garden.
Tyrion addressed the Septon, "Bran Stark sent you the note and told you when and where to find us tonight."
"Indeed Lord Hand." he said with a smile. "He also told me I should fetch you straight away to my office to share the contents of this second scroll. In his note, he indicated he had written to the Citadel weeks ago with the same inquiry and that I should be receiving the reply at the same time that this raven was received." He picked up the scroll and Sansa could see that the seal was still intact. "Shall we see what it says?"
"With all due respect, your holiness, I'm not sure how much it matters." Sansa said, reaching for Tyrion. "I love this man with all my heart and intend on being his wife before I leave this office. It is only paperwork if our marriage is valid from years ago or tonight." She turned to Tyrion, "I love you and only you. It's always been you even when I wasn't ready for it yet." she said with a tremulous smile. "I could ask for nothing else in a husband. Will you please…."
An astonished looking Tyrion interrupted, "Sansa, I believe that is my question." he said seriously before getting down on one knee to finish what he had started. He pulled a pouch from his pocket opening it up to reveal a bracelet covered in small charms. He fastened it around her delicate wrist and placed a single kiss in her open palm. "I had this made for you so you'd know no matter where you go, your family, your pack is always with you. Now I ask if you would have me as your husband, so that we can start a pack of our own." She admired each charm and was amazed at how well each one represented her respective family members.
Stunned and overwhelmed by the gift, Sansa didn't answer immediately as tears threatened again (seriously how much could she cry in one day.) "There appears to be a charm missing my Lord." Frowning he pulled her arm in for a closer look and she took the opportunity to bring his face to hers. "There should be a little lion for my beloved husband." she said kissing him softly aware of the High Septon's eyes watching them.
"So that's a yes?" he said hopefully.
"Yes, my love. I will be your wife or continue to be your wife but now in truth, not just in name." She turned to the High Septon, "Will you marry us now, your holiness. I meant what I said when I said I intend to be his wife before I leave here today."
"We will need two upstanding and noble witnesses if this is a new marriage for people of your station. If not, I can just reaffirm your vows. Let's check to see if your first marriage is valid." the Septon said with a smile as he cracked the seal on the scroll.
"Let's not." Tyrion said placing his hand gently on the Septon's. "Plus I know of two such exemplary witnesses that are waiting close by. Will the Captain of the Gold Cloaks and the Lady of Evenfall Hall serve?"
A quarter of an hour later, Sansa and Tyrion stood facing each other, repeating the vows of the seven in the cramped office with a slightly confused looking Ser Addam and a positively giddy looking Lady Loreyna bearing witness.
"Father, Smith, Warrior, Mother, Maiden, Crone, Stranger…" they said in unison, a ribbon from Sansa's hair wrapped around their joined hands.
"I am hers and she is mine." Tyrion said in a husky voice his eyes riveted on his beautiful bride.
"I am his and he is mine." Sansa said squeezing his hand, this time knowing the words were true down to her soul.
"Let it be known that Tyrion of House Lannister and Sansa of House Stark are one heart, one flesh, one soul. In the light of the Seven, I hereby seal these two souls, binding them as one for eternity." the High Septon intoned.
As Sansa kissed her husband deeply, she couldn't imagine a more perfect wedding. It didn't matter who was there, or what she wore, or where they were. All that mattered was that she and Tyrion were finally in the right time and the right place for their love and lives to flourish together.
Later, as her husband thanked the High Septon and pocketed the yet unread scroll from the Citadel, (for them to read later, it was a moot point now but she knew he was just as curious as she was), Reyna pulled her off for a private conversation.
"Strange as it sounds, I think I have a wedding gift for you." Reyna said with a twinkle in her eye. She started to pull something out of her pocket.
Sansa placed her hand on Reyna's. "First, I just wanted to thank you. For everything you've done for me, done for Tyrion, some of which you don't even know about. For being a true friend to us both."
"Don't know about?" Reyna asked arching an eyebrow.
"Let's just say a little bit of jealousy can go a long way in clarifying feelings, even if it turns out to be unwarranted. Seeing Tyrion's friendship with you, made the realization of him remarrying all too real and forced some truths to the service that I wasn't fully aware of yet." she smiled.
"I don't think it was ever going to be an issue of him marrying another." Reyna said, handing Sansa a familiar sheaf of papers that she recognized as the list she had dropped at Tyrion's feet in anger that awful night. "There was only ever one woman for him."
Sansa held the list of potential brides that had caused her so much heartache only to see that every name had been struck out except for an addition at the bottom that had been written ten times larger and circled vehemently that simply read Sansa Stark, Lady of Winterfell.
Author's Note
GRRM created the Deus ex machina that is Bran Stark, I just hijacked his somewhat ambiguous powers to my own purpose. In other words don't think to hard about what Bran can or can't do. Just repeat to yourself this is just fanfic, I should really just relax ***MST3K music plays***
Goodness, I can't imagine what these two will get up to in the next chapter. Oh wait I can, but you my lovelies will just have to wait. 3
Thanks for sticking with me as this story approaches the finish line. Love to you all. Stay safe and be well.
