* Special thanks to my Beta Reader who keeps me sane aka Bunny xoxo *
Lady Olenna had given Shona and the other ladies a challenge of sorts that they were all desperate to win. It was not only to win a dazzlingly expensive necklace, but also to earn the respect of Lady Olenna. She was a very powerful woman and even though Shona had the upper hand, it seemed she still wanted desperately to please Margaery's grandmother. She felt like she knew Margaery well enough to pick a necklace worthy enough for her future queen. They had very similar tastes in clothing and jewelry. It was simply a matter of picking a necklace she knew she herself would love to wear. Something that spoke to her and said, This is the one.
Normally, Lady Shona would have been terrified to venture forth onto the streets of King's Landing on her own, but this day she was ever so grateful for the adventure. It was like a game to her and being cooped up in The Red Keep was growing duller by the day. She longed for her tower by the sea more so now than ever. Blackwater Bay loomed on the horizon, littered still by the remnants of the battle fought there between Baratheon and Lannister men. Baratheon soldiers fighting for two different men of the Baratheon name. Shona decided to take a walk by the inlet river called Blackwater Rush after she had stopped and picked out a necklace for Margaery. The necklace was dainty and silver. with pendants that dangled and glittered with diamonds. The jeweler had given his best piece to her and was confident it would be the best necklace for the future queen. She bit her lip and held the little green box tied with a satin ribbon a little tighter as she stared out across the river, with it's rolling green waves coming in from the bay. The smell of salt took away the stench of the city and she was genuinely happy just smelling its aroma in the air. It was so much like the salty smell she loved back home.
"Thinking of jumping in? Your dress is much too pretty for that."
Shona turned abruptly, frustrated at the interruption of her peaceful time on her own, to find a bald man of stocky stature standing before her. She was surprised she had not smelt his arrival, for the lavender oil he wore seemed to overload her senses. Shona fought the urge to sneeze and smiled as a lady should before dropping into a proper curtsy, "Good afternoon, Lord Varys."
He tisked at her and motioned for her to rise, "I am no Lord, sweetling. I am merely a spider in the garden. A spider who hears the secrets and whispers of everyone around him."
"A spider? But nobody likes spiders."
"Precisely," Varys grinned, "and spiders can be dangerous."
The eunuch disappeared into the crowds of fishermen arriving into the capitol with nets full of fresh fish and bins overflowing with oysters and clams. Shona stood for a moment, absorbing what Varys had spoken to her. Spiders were unpleasant, but not all were dangerous. Some spiders are good spiders for they eat flies and other unwanted insects. She had learnt that from a book. The question which lingered on her mind was whether Varys was a good spider, or a bad spider. She decided that she did not wish to find out.
It was close to sundown when she finally made her way back through the River Mud Gate and to Fisherman's Square, where she laughed as fish were thrown through the air over her golden head and prices boomed from loud mouths. Fishermen trying to make a few coppers for their starving families. She stopped and bought half a dozen fresh oysters which the dark haired fisherman's son shucked for her. Shona shared the oysters with him, which made him grin in thanks, explaining to her that he had not eaten an oyster in six months because his father was so desperate to sell his meager catches. Shona slipped the boy a handful of silver coins and left with a wink and a smile. She watched around the corner as the boy showed the handful of money to his sweat soaked father. The pair gleefully took off down the road to where she assumed they lived. It warmed her heart to help those in need. Shona and Margaery had that in common.
Lady Olenna chose her necklace as the best of the bunch, much to Shona's delight. She got to keep the second best on her word. It was a dazzling, but heavy golden necklace encrusted with hundreds of tiny blue sapphires that almost formed waves in the glimmering metal. A sea of sapphires, she smiled and offered words of gratitude. She then took tea with both ladies and discussed the fisherman and his son from earlier as well as her good deed. Margaery was giddy with happiness and clapped, "What a happy ending! We should go to the Square more often. I go to the orphanage quite frequently but never thought to help the merchant families. We shall buy all our fish for the upcoming wedding feast there! Oh, what a marvelous idea."
Upon arriving back in the keep, Shona took to her chambers immediately. The walk up the stairs seemed longer than normal due to her sore feet. She was aware that a blister had formed on her heel but kept her pace, regardless of the burning pain, with her hands folded in front of her. When she actually set foot into her room, the uncomfortable heeled shoes were thrown across the room whilst Shona made rest on the chaise lounge. Twyla had tutted at her sore feet and doctored them accordingly after sending Ayla to Grand Maester Pycelle for a poultice to soothe the burning. She laid back and drifted off into a state of half sleep when a frantic knocking sounded at her door.
"Shona," the red haired girl cried out upon entering. She immediately rushed to Shona's side, crying the entire way, "It is simply awful. How could they force me to marry him?"
Shona was momentarily stunned to silence but offered the younger girl a seat on her chaise and wrapped an arm around her sobbing shoulders, "It is okay, Sansa. It cannot be as bad as you're making it out to be. You get to leave if you are married."
Sansa shook her head with force and stood abruptly, "You don't understand! They're making me marry him," Sansa's usually sweet voice had turned coarse as she choked out, "The Imp. Tyrion Lannister."