~Elena~
"How do you know when you're in love?" I paused in my mission to wrestle Sansa's hair into a fashion that was really beyond my skill level. There were entirely to many braids and knots. It was a fashion I'd seen on Lady Tyrell one to many times. Sansa had become quite taken with the new queen to be. Following her around and keeping her company enough that I was little more than an afterthought in Sansa's mind. I'd felt slighted at first, before I realized it was quite a relief to be away from the Highborns for a while. I'd taken the time to visit the kitchen, often lending a hand with supper while listening to my sister tell jokes and stories. I also found myself becoming homesick, staring out the window with a glass of wine, longing to set sail across the ocean to my desert home.
"Why do you ask my lady?" I asked as I refocused on the task at hand, pleased with myself when I'd finished half of it without it looking to terrible, smoothing a few fiery stray pieces down with scented oil. She sighed lightly looking at me through the mirror, cheeks flushing as a smile stretched across her lips.
"I am merely curious." She answered simply. I knew better, though I didn't say so. I tried to think on how I felt the first time I realized I'd fallen in love, the fluttering of my heart and the agony at the realization that there would never be enough time between us.
"I suppose you know you're in love when that person is all you think about from the time you wake up to the time you go to sleep. When you feel like your heart is hovering on humming bird wings whenever they are near. When the thought of them disappearing nearly rips you in two." I answered, wondering what Tyrion was doing now. It had been so long since I'd seen him and I found myself craving his touch, his voice whispering in my ear. Tears burned in my eyes, but I blinked them away as Sansa nodded.
"I'm to be engaged." Sansa spoke suddenly, her voice hitched with excitement. I tilted my head, lips tucked between my teeth as I processed this, since it was the first I'd heard of it.
"To whom my lady?" I asked and I worked another rather complicated braid.
"Sir Loras Tyrell." Her voice took on a breathy quality that was slightly comical though I didn't comment. Sir Loras? I filed this away to ask Lord Varys about the next time I saw him slinking about. "And when was this announced?" She frowned then, looking down in her lap at her clasped hands.
"It hasn't been officially announced yet. Lady Margaery will announce it after the royal wedding. I am to marry Sir Loras Tyrell and move to High Garden. I'm so excited I can barely breathe." She giggled, a glisten of the old Sansa shining through her bright blue eyes. Something inside of me knew this was going to end in disaster, but I hadn't been much of an optimist lately, so I pushed the feeling down.
"I am so happy for you Sansa. This is excellent news. You deserve all the happiness I know you'll find there." I spoke up with a smile I knew didn't reach my eyes.
"What will happen to you? Will you be safe here without me?" She asked. I choked down laughter at her concern. The darkness had yet to go away since the battle, nudging me to fight, kill. Eat the heart of my enemies. It made me feel powerful and dangerous. Lethal.
"I will be fine my lady. Though I am touched by your concern." She smiled at me then as I finished up, stopping myself from being to critical of my work. I had, after all, warned Sansa that I was not skilled when it came to fixing hair. I always believed simple was best.
"I might could arrange for you to come with me to High Garden. I hear it's very beautiful there." My mouth went dry as I thought of being taken away from my sister. I refused to simply leave her anywhere in this cease-pool kingdom, but I couldn't tell Sansa about Lucia.
"You shouldn't worry yourself about that my lady. Just focus on enjoying your time with your betrothed. Now, we should probably get you going. Your guard has proved to be very slow and you don't want to keep Lady Margaery waiting." I replied with a smile as I dabbed sweet oils on Sansa's neck before sending her off. More determined to find Lord Varys now that I knew there was a threat of my being sent off to another foreign land.