The knock that woke them was a gentle one, the voice soft and full of understanding as it called out, "Lady Sansa? Sansa? We are well away from Sunspear now, and I'm certain you must be hungry for your evening meal."
Sandor had started beside her and was clearly about to leap out of the bed to put on his clothes before they could be caught in such a compromising situation, but Sansa laid a hand on his shoulder and smiled. "Thank you, Ellaria. I will be out in just a few minutes."
"Very good. Loreza and I will be waiting on the top deck. The sun is setting and the evening is quite beautiful."
Ellaria's steps quickly faded away, and as soon as Sandor relaxed under her touch Sansa withdrew, stretched languidly, and rubbed the sleep from her eyes. "I fear we've slept most of the day away," she murmured, blushing.
"We could find something productive to do with the rest of it, I'm sure," Sandor rasped, pulling her into his lap and kissing her. Sansa let him do so for several long moments - kissed him back quite readily, even - but finally she broke their embrace and stood up, swatting him on the chest as she did so.
"We can't spend all of our waking hours doing that. I believe that Ellaria is understanding, but I'm certain that we must draw some lines," Sansa teased.
"Seven hells, just when I thought we'd have some freedom..." he growled - but at the same time, Sansa thought that he appeared at least a little bit relieved. She knew that he would never take advantage of her, but for her own part she wasn't sure if she could wait much longer to let him have her. To have him in return, she mused, smiling. "What?" Sandor asked when he caught her looking at him.
"I feel...relaxed," Sansa admitted. Finally. Sandor merely grunted in response, but she took that as an agreement on his part and set about dressing herself. Soon enough they were up on the top deck and being greeted by the captain, Ellaria, and her pretty little daughter Loreza. The men working the rigging seemed intent on ignoring Sansa and Sandor, and for that she was grateful.
"Come," the captain said, leading them to a sheltered area where a young man awaited, a platter of olives, cheeses, flatbread, and chickpea paste in his hands. The captain waved at the food, inviting them to dine, and Sansa set upon it hungrily. Soon enough small skins of wine were passed around as well, and though the breeze grew chilly as the sun dipped below the horizon, Sansa couldn't help but wonder at the amazing shades of yellow, orange, and red that spread across the sky. "I would tell you where we are headed, now," the captain suddenly announced. Sansa, Ellaria, and Sandor's heads all snapped in his direction.
"Yes...please do," Sansa said slowly.
The captain nodded. "Prince Doran sent his son Quentyn to Essos, to meet with one Daenerys Targaryen."
Sansa couldn't help but feel surprised. There had been some small rumors of a Targaryen princess living in Essos and hatching baby dragons from eggs thought to be made of no more than stone, but for the Prince of Dorne to send his eldest son across the Narrow Sea in search of a mere rumor... No, she realized. It was all true. She nodded, encouraging the captain to continue.
"The Prince has not heard from his son in quite some time, but we know that this so-called Dragon Queen was last in the city of Meereen. We will head first for Volantis, to take on supplies and listen for more information. From there we will decide whether to sail around to Meereen or to take the overland journey instead. Neither way is particularly safe, mind you - "
"My life has not been truly safe since I left Winterfell," Sansa interrupted. "Thank you for this information, Captain."
The man seemed to want to say more, but Sansa met his gaze and refused to look away. Finally he nodded, bid them a good evening, and left Sansa, Sandor, Ellaria, and Loreza to themselves.
"You have a way with men," Ellaria murmured, a smile playing across her lips. "Though you would be wise to heed that one's counsel. If traveling to Meereen is as dangerous as he says, he may very well refuse to take you there by sea."
"I know," Sansa admitted. She shrugged. "And if he does refuse, there is likely nothing I can say that would change his mind. I will listen to his thoughts on this journey when we are closer to Volantis, but for now...well, to be honest, for now I would like a week or so of peace."
Ellaria gave her a look full of both understanding and sorrow. "I think you have earned that. I know I would like to feel some peace in my life, myself." Sansa opened her mouth to reply, then closed it again. Ellaria was gazing over Sansa's shoulder, her eyes seemingly focused on nothing in particular. She must be thinking of Prince Oberyn, Sansa understood - and she knew that there was nothing she could say just now to make Ellaria feel better. After several long moments of silence, the beautiful woman seemed to suddenly remember where she was and who she was with. "Your journey should be as comfortable as possible," she told Sansa, glancing at Sandor before continuing. "I believe they have assigned two cabins to us. Perhaps one is larger than the other, but either would sleep two people, I'm sure...and what you do in the seclusion of your own cabin is no business of mine, I think."
Though she immediately understood what Ellaria Sand was saying, Sansa was almost afraid to believe it. "Why...I would not want any...any issues...to arise..."
"You've not a thing to worry about, dear," Ellaria promised. "But if you'd rather not..."
Sansa looked to Sandor, who, obviously preferring to leave the decision up to her, merely shrugged in response. "No, I...why don't you and Loreza take the larger room. There are two beds, and with the rocking of the ship it may be more comfortable for you to sleep separately," Sansa finished lamely. An amused expression passed over Ellaria's face, but then she nodded in agreement and Sansa breathed a sigh of relief.
"At least for now, while it is just us, there does not have to be any pretense, Sansa," the older woman insisted. "Unless of course you want - or need - there to be. But...might I make a suggestion?"
"Please, do."
"We do not know what will happen when we reach Volantis, but it is very likely that eventually we will end up in the court of this so-called Dragon Queen. At that point...well, we must assume that we will have to once again do our best to abide by Westerosi standards, no matter that she was raised in Essos. It is because of this that I suggest you take advantage of what little freedom you have just now."
"I see. And...you are correct, I'm sure. I will do my best to not allow old ways to shackle me, at least while we are on this part of our voyage," Sansa promised. "But I must admit...I hold out hope for a message, a message that will tell me I am no longer the wife of Tyrion Lannister and that I may henceforth do as I please. And if that message arrives..."
"Then Daenerys Targaryen will have to accept whatever decision you make in regards to your own future," Ellaria finished.
The days that followed passed as blissfully as Sansa could have possibly imagined. At times they caught the edge of an autumn storm, but clearly nothing that the ship's captain and his men couldn't handle. When the weather cooperated, Sansa's days were spent enjoying the fresh air on the top deck with Ellaria and Loreza; when it didn't, they nestled down in Ellaria's cabin, telling stories and singing songs. All the while, Sandor watched over them - sometimes sharpening his sword, sometimes sipping from skin after skin of wine, sometimes just watching Sansa in a way that made her stomach flutter and her face go hot as she recalled the things they experienced together when they were alone at night in their own small cabin.
One clear - but cold - afternoon, Sansa was making her way back to her cabin from the top deck, hoping to warm up, when she heard a commotion from above. Fear gripped her for a moment, but she forced herself to tamp it down and make her way back outside to see what was going on. Sandor was close on her heels as always, but when they reached the deck and saw the raven perched on the ship's rail and the letter in the captain's hand they both stopped short.
There were very, very few reasons for a raven to find them this far out at sea, and only one of those reasons was a logical one.