Three lonely days had passed before someone came to Sansa's door. She had refused any company from her handmaidens, sending them away as soon as they were done with their duties. And true to her word, Chella kept a distance-though the woman was never far from her door, fully armed. So when Queen Cersei swept into her room unannounced, it was almost welcome. Almost.
The golden queen was radiant in purple and gold silks with her blonde curls elaborately styled over her shoulders. She held an unconvincing smile of her face, but her eyes gleamed as Sansa rose to curtsy.
"Little dove," she purred."It's come to my attention you are to be a married woman! I've brought my best seamstresses to see that you are dressed befitting a Lannister bride." She waved her arm and a shorter, wide woman stepped forward and took Sansa's hand.
As the woman measured Sansa's growing body, Cersei reclined on the chaise, watching over the rim of a seemingly never empty goblet. Her narrow, catlike green eyes surveyed Sansa and made her uncomfortable, but she did not squirm under the seamstress' hands. When the woman was finished, Cersei dismissed her with a wave of her hand, leaving the two women alone.
"As soon as the gowns are finished, the wedding will take place." the queen announced, causing Sansa to flinch. It would be within the week then probably. "Come, sit with me" Cersei patted the space next to her and Sansa stepped away from the mirror.
"Tell me, little dove. As your mother is not here to advise you, you must have questions about your wedding night?"
The mention of her mother made Sansa's throat go dry, but she forced herself to swallow and smile at the queen as if Cersei were doing her some huge favor. The last thing she wanted to do was talk to the queen about the night she would share with her brother, but she had to play along.
"I believe I know what is expected of me, your grace..." she said vaguely, but Cersei's insistent glare told her it was not enough. "We will consummate the marriage." was her weak addition. To be honest, Sansa wasn't very sure what would happen. Septa Mordane had been impossibly vague in her descriptions, only telling her that she should please her future husband-that her duty was to obey and conceive a son as quickly as possible.
Cersei's drunken giggle made Sansa blush at her own naivety. "Oh Sansa, you will be in for a rough night. My brother will fuck his way through you and use your body in any way he wishes. He's a perverted little imp, as it's known throughout the seven kingdoms. You ought just lie there and let him get on with his business. He's had plenty of experience with all the whores he's had, he'll know how to get you pregnant quickly"
The queen's tone was almost casual, as if they were discussing the weather, but her words made Sansa's blood run cold. She hadn't thought of Tyrion's history with...women. Of course she was aware of his reputation but while they were friends it had not bothered her. Now that she was to be his wife...
Cersei was eyeing her with cruel curiosity and when Sansa met her eyes, she smiled and patted her shoulder. "Fear not, little dove. Once you have a few sons I'm sure he will find his comfort in the brothels." then her voice dropped to a syrupy whisper, "And don't worry, sweetling. Joffrey will not allow him to abuse you in any way that will diminish your beauty. You'll still be an ornament at court and once you drop your traitorous family name, you will be one of us. A Lannister at last. Doesn't that make you happy?"
Sansa was breathless at her bleak future but forced herself to nod at the queen's words. When Cersei dug her nails into her shoulder, she met her gaze and smiled weakly. "Yes, your grace. It's all I ever wanted."
"Here I thought you were to be my daughter. Who would have ever thought instead you'd be a sister!" Cersei purred as she enveloped Sansa into her arms. Caught in her cold grip, Sansa felt lonelier than she ever had.
"Now, let's discuss colors. Red and gold, of course, but with this hair-" Cersei pulled on a lock disdainfully "-more gold than crimson. I'll have several made for you. All in Lannister colors. No more of these drab, dark gowns. You're a proper lady now and I won't have you embarrassing the Lannister name." Cersei stood and brushed the creases from her gown. "You will have more expectations of you now as well. You cannot surround yourself with monsters like that thing outside, or with those Tyrell bitches." Clearly the wine was getting to her. "You shall sit with me an hour a day so that I can teach you what it is to be a Lannister lady."
"Thank you, your grace" Sansa curtsied politely, eager to have her gone.
Cersei nodded approvingly and left in a swirl of silk.
Sansa sank back down onto the chaise as her conversation with the queen repeated in her mind. She pressed her thighs together tightly at the thought that within a week she'd have to spread them for someone who had betrayed her. Cersei's description of her wedding night struck true fear in her heart though. She would be nervous enough with a stranger, she could only imagine how it would be with someone who had hurt her so deeply. Biting her lip, she forced herself to be calm. She would survive as she always did-with icy endurance.