Sansa turned herself left and right as she surveyed herself in the mirror. The gown she had just commissioned was more mature than her older ones. The deep purple silk was finely embroidered and hugged her waist tighter than the ones she had brought with her from Winterfell. She looked more and more like a true lady these days and now that her blood was upon her, she knew the changes in her body would only continue. Thinking about that morning brought a blush to her cheeks.
Had Sandor not found her frantically trying to slice the stain away, she was sure the sharp knife would have cut her. The hound had not ungently taken the knife from her shaking hands and calmed her. He had talked her into going to the queen, stressing that if Cersei thought she was trying to hide it, things would not go well for her. It had led to one of the most awkward conversations with the queen, where Cersei had spoken to her condescendingly sweet. But Sansa knew that Sandor had been pain in her belly was still troubling her, but she was determined to not let it bother her today.
Satisfied with her appearance, she turned away from her reflection and headed towards the gardens, Chella in tow. She saw Tyrion already there, waiting for her with his squire and Sansa greeted them both with a smile. She waited while Chella and Tyrion exchanged pleasantries before moving to walk with the dwarf. She kept her pace slow as to match that of his stunted legs. She politely asked him about his work and he responded with a roll of his eyes, making her giggle.
"Thank you for accepting my invitation, my lord. I know with Stannis sailing towards King's Landing you don't have time to waste walking in the gardens, but I remember some nights when my father hadn't spent any time outside of the council chambers. He was a mess, not really being able to focus on anything, until my mother would drag him outside, forcing him to walk with her and speak of anything but what he had been working on. I know how healing it could be to take a break and I doubt anyone is forcing you to do so." She knew that she might regret opening up to the Lannister this way, but she found it healing to speak to anyone fondly about her family and Tyrion had never once admonished her for it before. Now he looked up at her with a strange, but grateful look in his eyes.
"Well I thank you for your kindness, Lady Stark. It has been quite trying, to be honest, and a walk in the garden's is just what I needed. Gives me a chance to stretch these legs as well" he gestured to his feet. "Though I must ask if for the next break we could perhaps play a game of cevasse in my solar."
"Cevasse?" Sansa asked, confused.
"It's a game, my lady. Quite a fun one. And something tells me you might excel at it." Tyrion's smile was not mocking and Sansa found herself intrigued.
"You'll have to teach me, my lord."
"If we both live through Stannis' attack, I will do just that, my lady" he said, looking troubled.
"I will pray for your safe return, my lord." she spoke her courtesies and he turned to look at her, taking a moment to truly appraise her.
"Will you?" Sansa looked at him for a moment and felt her mouth twitch at him unspokenly calling her out on her practiced words. She thought about responding in a similar manner, but again found the truth slipping past her walls.
"I will, Lord Tyrion. Truly." Despite wanting Stannis to take the city, she would honestly keep Tyrion in her prayers, hoping he would come out of the battle unscathed. She doubted he would be in the vanguard, so unless Stannis personally executed him, he would probably make it. Let the battle take Joffrey, but she did hope it would spare the little lord before her. Tyrion smiled at her wryly before they continued their walk.
After about an hour of milling in and out of the flowers, Tyrion's squire came running towards them.
"Forgive me, my lord, my lady," the out of breath squire bowed slightly towards Sansa. "News from the street of steel, my lord. The chain is complete."
Sansa was confused by the boys words, but Tyrion broke out in a grin and thanked the boy, sending him to invite some blacksmiths to the Tower of the Hand. He then turned regretfully towards Sansa.
"You'll have to excuse me, my lady. Business calls. Know that I've truly enjoyed my time with you. I am sure I can now return to work with a clear head. And I have your kind thinking to thank for that." His smile turned serious as he continued more quietly. "I know that my sister has invited you to stay with the other ladies at court and her in Maegor's holdfast when Stannis comes. Please do so, but make sure you have Chella with you. And if at any point you feel as if the battle has turned against us, I want you to take her and barr the two of you in your chambers. Stannis won't hurt you, but I can't say the same for his men. Or ours, to be honest."
Sansa listened intently and nodded tightly at his words. He swept her another bow before waddling away.
That night, the castle was abuzz. Stannis' ships were spotted not a days travel away. They would be upon them come tomorrow and everyone was frantically preparing. Her handmaidens were giddy with gossip as they cleared Sansa's dinner away and readied her for the night. One of the youngest, Sara, was brushing her mistresses hair- doing a rather poor job as she hit tangle after tangle, making Sansa wince.
"Where is Shae?" she scanned the room, looking for the foreign beauty, but did not see her among the other maids. "Have you seen her, Sara?" she asked, missing her gentle hand.
"She left this morning, m'lady. Didn't give us warning or nothing. Just up and took off with the month's wages." Sara grumbled, struggling through Sansa's thick auburn locks.
Sansa felt a stab of loss at the news, wishing that she had cleared up whatever had soured their friendship. "I'm sorry to hear that, Sara." The girl just shrugged as if it didn't matter too much to her.
As Sansa laid down onto her pillows later that night, she thought over her conversations with Tyrion. The more she got to know him, the more she felt her walls crumbling around him. He reminded her of her family. Reminded her of the easy jokes that always flowed at the dinner table in Winterfell. She closed her eyes, sending a final prayer to the seven to protect him against whatever came tomorrow.
A/N: A little bit of fluff leading up to the next chapter. Also some sweet Sansa/Tyrion moments.