Tyrion slammed his hand on the table before rubbing his temples in frustration. Before him sat a letter from Falyse Stokeworth, begging leave to have a maester inspect her sister. Everyone knew that poor Lollys had been raped in the riot and it would only be his luck that the poor girl was pregnant. The Stokeworth's were a minor family, but to have a woman of noble birth who was a guest at court be in this predicament...it would not be a good image.
The incident in Flea Bottom was a disaster. Tyrion was being flooded with angry letters and he was trying his best to answer them all in a way that assured the security of all guests at court. He also tried to hint that with Stannis' impeding attack, it might be better if noble's stayed in their own holdings. At least until the battle was won. However, just thinking about that made Tyrion's head pound. He had discovered Cersei's store of wildfyre just a few days ago and while he was working on making a plan, it was still shaky. He thought about the horde of blacksmith's he had working on his heavy chain and sent a prayer to the seven that it would give them a chance. They were horrendously outnumbered and it would take a miracle for the Lannisters to keep the city.
His musings were cut short by the door to the Hand's Chamber slamming shut. He looked up from his letters to see Shae sauntering towards him, a seductive smile painted on her face. It had been a while since the last he saw her. He was desperate to keep her safe and just the other night, Cersei had thought she had caught him. Just the idea of Roz's bloodied lip made the hairs on the back of his neck stand. If Shae were to be found, there would be no stopping his raging sister. So he shot his lover a warning look before climbing down from his seat and shuffling towards her.
"Shae, you know you can't just come here. It's not safe..." he started, gently admonishing her.
"Nothing is ever safe in this city, my lion" she purred, taking his hand and pressing it to her lips. "You need to relax. Take a moment away from all these petty problems and come to bed with me." She pulled him towards the bed chamber, but he dug his heels, stopping them.
"I am incredibly busy right now, sweetheart. It's not a good time" he gestured towards the desk covered in papers. "And anyone could walk in."
"You always say that but no one ever does," she tried again, though he could sense a hint of annoyance in her tone. "It has been so long since you have had me, I ache for you" she reached towards the lacings of his trousers and for a moment, he considered giving in. It had been a while since he had taken her. But the thought of Cersei's smirk and his father's threats softened his arousal and had him pushing her hands away.
Shae's face transformed to one of fury. "You never have any time for me anymore. Always busy busy busy- trying to manage people that hate you!" Her accent worsened in her anger. "You don't want me! Don't have time for your whore anymore. You'd rather bed that simple-headed little wolf girl!" She dropped Tyrion's hand and strode away from him furiously, but her words confused him greatly.
"Wolf girl? You mean Lady Sansa?" What on earth had made Shae mention her? Yes, the girl had regularly been on his mind lately, but he had never said so out loud, let alone to Shae. Outside of saving the girl from being beaten or raped, he had had no outward interactions with her.
Shae's face twisted into a sour smile. "Yes, the Lady Sansa" she sneered. "Pretty little Sansa Stark has been mooning over you for a sennight. Would you rather her be visiting you?"
"Shae, she is a child!" Tyrion cried indignantly, though a small part in the back of his mind registered her soft, kind smile and her growing curves. She wouldn't be a child for long. "I'm sure the girl is just grateful towards me. She's had no one to protect her since her father died." He would be lying if the thought of Sansa thinking kindly of him didn't make his heart beat just a little faster. The first time he had seen her since Winterfell had been at the murderous tourney for Joffrey's nameday. The girl had held herself with impressive poise. Tyrion had watched the beauty use her wits to navigate the treacherous situation she had found herself in and he had to acknowledge her will to survive. Perhaps that's why he had rushed with such intensity to the throne room when he heard of Joffrey's punishment. Why he had been unsatisfied with her courtesies when he had pulled her out of the hall. They had shared a moment when she had given him pretty false words and he had silently pressed her for the truth. He had watched her porcelain veneer crack and had seen the scared girl beneath. His heart had gone out to her and he was determined to not see her hurt again. But that didn't mean he wanted her in his bed!
"A child who is growing by the day! A child who has a fancy name, like you! Admit it, you want that girl, just as she wants you. You have no use for me anymore!" Shae swept her arms across his desk, dumping the papers all around the ground. "I will leave, I swear it!" Here she fumbled in her dress before retrieving a letter. "You can have fun fucking that child instead! See if she can please you the way I can! When she ends up a disappointment you will wish you still had me!" she threw the crumpled parchment at him before ripping the door open and leaving, slamming it behind her.
Tyrion had watched in horror, hoping that her raised voice wouldn't attract any unwanted attention, but after she had gone he just sat in wonder. What could possibly have triggered this? His attention was caught by the discarded letter at his feet. He picked it up and made his way over to the disheveled desk. Taking moment, he picked through the papers that Shae had thrown to the ground. He picked up only what was necessary before turning his attention to Shae's letter. Turning it over he saw an intact blob of grey wax and his first name written with a delicate hand. Tyrion broke the seal and scanned the short note quickly. Sansa had asked him politely to walk with her in the gardens. There were no unnecessary flattering words, which was just like the Sansa he was starting to get to know. She was unendingly courteous, but never embellished past what was needed. Her note brought an unbidded smile to his face and he quickly collected the materials to send a response.
His own note was just as short and to the point, sealed with unlabeled red wax. He moved to the door and motioned to his squire, Podrick Payne.
"Deliver this to the Lady Stark, Pod" the young boy nodded and rushed off towards Sansa's rooms. As Tyrion watched him run, he wondered how much of the exchange between he and Shae the boy had heard. It was no matter- the youth was odd, no doubt, but extremely loyal.
As Tyrion poured himself a glass of wine and returned to his troubling letters, he couldn't help him mind wandering to the lady. From what Tyrion could see, Sansa was kind, intelligent, and beyond beautiful. Her striking features made her stand out now, Tyrion could only imagine how she would be as a woman grown. She would be breathtaking. It was truly a shame she was betrothed to the only man in Westeros that wouldn't appreciate her. She was wasted on Joffrey. He would play with her and ruin her. Tyrion sighed. The only thing that he could do would be to protect her when he could. Once they were married, there wasn't much that could save her from the king's cruelty.
Her kind, shy smile flashed through his head as he finished his wine in one gulp. A waste indeed.
A/N: Most of this story will be from Sansa's perspective, but I will be throwing in the occasional Tyrion chapter.