"Lord Loren is not taking visitors," the guard said firmly, standing in front of the door with his arms folded. "The effort of bringing the supplies to the capital and fighting the ironmen have left him weakened, he is very ill and needs rest."
"There you are Sansa," Dany said, turning to her, "let's go back to our rooms." It had been a good effort by Sansa, to get her to leave, but in vain, now she could go back and hide under the covers again, as she had been that morning.
Dany turned her head away from the spear of light as Sansa opened the curtains. "Come on Dany," Sansa said softly, gripping her shoulder and shaking her gently. "You can't remain here forever, you need to get out."
"And go where?" Dany asked, pulling the covers up to cover her face. Sansa had let her sleep in for a little longer today, as she had every day since the… incident. Why did she have to open the curtains like that?
"Anywhere," Sasna replied, seizing the covers and pulling them down. "Come on, you have been in this room for two weeks it can't continue.
"Yes," she said weakly, rolling over and pulling a pillow over her face. "It can," she said into the fabric.
"Come on, up," Sansa said, jabbing her in the side to make her loosen her grip then snatching the pillow. "We're going out."
"Where?"
"I think it's time we go and see Lord Loren."
Dany opened her eyes and looked at Sansa. "But Lord Loren is ill."
"I know, but I'm sure we'll be able to see him. Come on, let's go."
She had given in not long after that, Lord Loren had been kind to them, they should be kind in return. But now it looked like they were not going to be there. "Come on Sansa, let's go," she repeated.
"Is he so ill that he can't see visitors, we just wanted to thank him for his kindness, and for bringing the food we all so desperately needed," Sansa said, batting her eyelids softly.
"Only the council and the servants bringing his food can go and see him, orders of the Hand."
"That's quite alright," a voice said from the side. "They're with me."
Lord Tyrion sauntered over with a smile and a dismissive wave. "You can let us pass now."
"Lord Tyrion!" Sansa beamed at him.
He bowed his head to them. "Lady Sansa, lady Daenerys, it's been quite a while hasn't it. I hope you're…" he paused, looking at Dany, eyebrow cocking up slightly, "well." He turned to the guards. "You can let us pass now."
"Lord Tyrion, these two are not permitted, by order of the Lord Hand."
"Yes yes, the Lord Hand, who was that again? I'm sure I know him, do remind me." He looked at the guard expectantly. "No answer. Well I might be wrong, but I believe I know the Lord Hand, one might even say I know him better than you, my good man. So be a good little soldier and let us pass, won't you." Tyrion smiled at him, it made his face twist horribly.
"I-" the guard stammered. "Yes, lord Tyrion." The guard unhooked a key from his belt and opened the door, standing aside to let them enter.
Tyrion gestured for them to enter. "After you ladies." Dany heard Tyrion assure the guard they wouldn't take long, before the door shut behind them.
"Have my meal times changed?" Loren was standing before the window, arms clasped behind his back. "I wasn't made aware." Far from ill, she could hear the disrespect and sarcasm in his voice.
"Not a meal brother, we're just here to visit."
"And who would come to visit me?" He asked, looking over his shoulder. He saw Dany and Sansa and turned to face them full on, clearly surprised to see them. "Sansa, Daenerys. Tyrion," he added as an afterthought.
"Loren," Tyrion reached up to a table near the fireplace, where a cup of wine sat untouched.
"As you can see," Loren said, gesturing to his surprisingly sparse room, "I have little to offer you, and Tyrion is happily helping himself to my wine."
"You're clearly not drinking it," Tyrion replied.
Loren's lip twitched, then hardened as he caught sight of Sansa's hand. "So it's true, Joffrey took your hand."
Sansa held her hand to her chest. "Yes," she whispered.
"If I'd been here, I wouldn't have let it happen," Loren growled. It wasn't a growl of frustration, it was a growl of rage, a rage that settled into a person's heart. The dead boy's face flashed in front of her vision again and she squeezed her eyes shut, trying to dispel the image.
Tyrion set the wine cup down with a clunk. "There was nothing you could have done, Loren, Joffrey was set in his ways, and father needed to punish the Starks."
"He's too set in his ways. Someone needs to take him in hand," Loren sat down on the bed and looked Sansa in the eye. "I'm sorry I wasn't there to protect you."
"You've protected me enough," Sansa told him she made to step forward but caught herself. "Is it safe for me to come closer."
Loren laughed. "Yes, yes it is."
Sansa sat on the bed next to Loren and took his hand. "Thank you, for everything you did for us."
Loren shifted a few inches away for propriety's sake. "It wasn't enough, clearly."
"This is clearly rather personal," Tyrion said. "I suppose your answer hasn't changed, brother dear?"
"Will father give me what I asked?"
"No."
"Then no."
Tyrion sighed. "Always a pleasure, Loren," he said. "I was hoping to talk to you about something, but I can come back tomorrow, these two can't, I'll return."
"We don't want to interrupt," Daenerys said, "if you need to talk, we can go."
"No no, it's a minor thing," Tyrion said, making his way to the door. "I'll tell the guard to give you a little time, but you won't have long before he comes to get you." He glared at Loren. "And you, brother dear, I know these are two gorgeous young ladies but do remember that you are married."
"You told me before, I haven't forgotten," Loren said, in the sincere tone of a remembered promise. "I'll see you tomorrow Tyrion."
Tyrion nodded, waving to her and Sansa, "yes, tomorrow Loren, and you ladies, hopefully not much longer." Tyrion opened the door and stepped out, closing the door with a click behind him.
Loren gently placed his hand on top of Sansa's. "Thank you both for coming," he said softly.
Daenerys looked him up and down. He looked a little unkempt, as expected for someone who had spent weeks in the same room, she couldn't help but glance down at her own body, running her fingers through her hair. But despite his growing out moustache, his tunic being creased, he looked perfectly healthy. "What do you have, Lord Loren?"
Loren looked up at her. "What do you mean?"
"Your illness, what is it?"
Loren laughed dryly. "Impertinence. Apparently, it's highly contagious."
"Impertinence?"
"I can't say anymore, not without putting you at risk, suffice to say one day I will make a miraculous recovery and all will be well." His smile was insincere, his teeth gritted.
What did he mean by that? Was he a prisoner, like they were? No, more than they, they could leave their rooms, and it seemed that Loren wasn't even being allowed visitors. "We won't tell anyone, how would we be at risk?"
He looked between them. "You know better than any what Joffrey can do when he is displeased. I have gotten off relatively well so far, but I am his uncle. You have no protection, if Joffrey wants you to be killed or harmed, no one will risk anything to help you."
"Someone will have to risk something to stop him eventually," Dany said. It should have been her but - the boy stared at her again.
"You should be careful, even the mere whisper that you had thought such a thing would mean your death, particularly now."
"I'm not so sure," Dany replied.
"What are you saying?"
Sansa spoke up. "I haven't lost any eyes, lord Loren," Sansa said, "we can see, and we can hear, the court is not happy, and the whispers are getting louder."
Loren scoffed, "it took long enough," he clenched a fist. "I should have done more while I was Hand."
"Why can't you do anything now? You're here."
"Here," Loren said, gesturing to the walls surrounding them, "surounded by these walls. There's not much I can do."
"Can you not even leave?"
He shook his head. "No, I'm in this room until I've… recovered."
"Is there anything we can do?" Sansa asked. "You did so much for us, can we bring you anything?"
Loren chuckled. "I doubt you'll get it through the door, but I appreciate the offer. Why don't you tell me about whats been happening here, a good distraction might be helpful."
Daenerys didn't speak much, but Sansa was more than willing to fill him in on everything that had happened since he left. Loren listened, absorbing it all. Did he just listen that way? Like he was filing all the information into different drawers in his mind.
When they were finished, Loren sat back, clearly in thought. "Perhaps there is something you can do for me, if I can trust you?"
"Trust us with what?" Dany asked. Loren got to his feet and retrieved a letter from his desk. "Could you deliver this to someone for me?"
"What is it?"
He passed the letter between his fingers, looking at them like he was weighing them up. "A letter explaining my situation," Loren said finally. "You remember ser Gerold?" They nodded. "He will no doubt be worrying. I'd be extremely thankful if you could pass it on to him. Just to put his mind at ease."
"We haven't seen him, and we can't exactly get out of the castle," Dany pointed out.
"Just, if you have the opportunity, for whatever reason to get to the army camp and pass it on to him. I would be very grateful if you did."
Dany reached out and took the letter. She frowned. "What language is this?"
"Golden Company cant," Loren replied. "You'll have to tell him to get Tyland to read it for him."
"What is this?"
"Exactly what I said it was, in full detail as to why I am here." Loren looked at her.
Dany handled the letter gingerly. "Why do you think we won't just pass this on to the council?"
"You have more reason to hate them than me. And if that isn't enough, when I'm out of here, I will be in a powerful position, one where I am able to protect you. Pass that on to the council and perhaps they'll thank you, or not. Only Lord Varys could possibly read that letter, and has he stepped up to defend you?" They both knew the answer to that.
Sansa took the letter from her hands. "If we get the chance, we'll pass it on to him," she promised.
"Thank you." Loren said.
The guard came to evict them shortly afterwards. "Why did you agree to that?" Dany asked.
"If he can protect us, it will be worth it," Sansa said. "If not, then we haven't hurt ourselves."
"And how exactly are we supposed to deliver this letter to ser Gerold when we can't even leave the castle?"
Sansa pushed open the doors to their rooms and led the way in. "You're right, if only we had access to some secret tunnels perhaps."
Dany froze. "I can't," she said. She didn't know the way out, and the boy...
"Then don't," Sansa took her hand and squeezed. "Just know that we have the option, and depending on what happens next, that may be what saves our lives."
