Chapter 6.

Tyrion had to keep the smile off his face. He sometimes wonders how someone as small as himself can have so much fun just setting the pieces and watching the game play out. He muses on what had transpired over the past days. So far, so good. Things are in place, he just has to keep Joff from any stupidity. Too bad he can't let Clegane in on Sansa's protection but he's so damned unpredictable. He kills his toys then walks away. Besides, he gives is own sort of protection to Lady Sansa even if he thinks that no one sees it. Lucky for Clegane, only Tyrion and Varys seem aware of this. Tyrion, for his own part, prefers to play with his toys, and he's secretly thankful The Hound is so deadly and loyal. Tyrion has watched that loyalty waver over the past months not that he blames him. Clegane hides it well, except from Tyrion and Varys, of course. Varys. No one would ever believe the odd combination of Tyrion and Varys. Or the number of years they have had a healthy, albeit, guarded understanding of each other. He supposes it takes one broken thing to understand another. Thank the Gods it doesn't take a strong, whole body to have a strong, focused mind. He and Varys have had common cause for years. It hadn't been hard to hide.

Myrcella was safe. Lady Shalene was here. Cercei didn't waste any time trying to bully her into her service. If only Cercei knew the truth. Shalene was as deadly as The Hound, maybe more so because she was a small, petite, beautiful woman, who would ever guess... she knew her part and he knew he didn't have to worry about her. It was like having a younger sister around. He was glad that she and Shae had gotten along so well. Not that Shae would be jealous, he just wanted her to be at ease and trusting of Shalene. They were both alike in many ways, Shae was deadly in her own right. He had Shae appointed as Shalene's handmaid, he might have her changed to Sansa, he would have to talk with Shalene and Shae to get the female opinion. Gods, listen to him! Seeking the woman's opinion! Well, better to have them with you than against you. He did have to admit that it was an enjoyment having Shalene around. She was very educated, being so young. She fluently spoke High Valaryian, Lysene, Dothraki, Ghiscari, Lorathi, he found that out when her overheard Shalene and Shae speaking in Shae's native tongue, Volantene, Myrish, he couldn't remember them all. She absorbed knowledge and language like it was food for her soul. He had often walked with her about the castle and grounds and when someone came upon them, she would switch to another language leaving the other person completely at a loss. No one overheard their conversations, Hells, no one knew what she said. They had developed a way to communicate by mixing all the languages together. It worked for them.

Tonight, there would be a small dinner welcoming Shalene. He hoped it went well, with Joffery and Cercei, you never knew. He knew Shalene had asked to continue some of the things she enjoyed doing, a good way to put it, he mused. If Cercei only knew. He was glad she had agreed to it, he would have allowed it anyway, let Cercei think she controlled this. It amused him that Cercei had appointed Clegane to the task. Tyrion laughed, if only Clegane knew! Tyrion hadn't bothered to tell anyone what Shalene's "pursuits" were, nor that the Lady wasn't an innocent maiden. She was a Martell, Gods, how could she be innocent with Oberyn Martell as a father, but that tidbit had been left out.

He knew she had planned to take out that magnificent desert steed that she rode and that Clegane was in a rage because he had to play wet-nurse, as he called it. He also knew that from the time she could walk, she had ridden, being trained by the descendants of the ancient desert horse lords and she knew their magical ways with horses. Tyrion had asked her to put on a show in the yard today, he wanted to watch and see. If he was totally honest, he wanted to see how far she could push The Hound before he broke. Tyrion knew how well-trained Clegane's warhorse was, no one but he and Lucian touched it. Clegane had to be on hand to keep the beast in line the entire time the farrier attended to him.

Tyrion headed down to the yard, Bronn following behind as usual. When he arrived, he waved at Shalene. One of the stable boys had brought Tyrion a chair so he made himself comfortable and sent the boy for some wine. He looked up at Bronn and grinned, "Watch this. I know you like to prod The Hound. Watch how a Lady does it." Bronn immediately found this interesting so he made himself comfortable and waited for the show.

Shalene was dressed in very tight leather breeches, soft black leather boots that came up to mid-thigh, they fit her legs like a second skin, just like her breeches. She wore an emerald-green, a tunic made of the finest linen, it fit well, not too tight, just enough to peak the imagination. She had her long, curly, raven hair pulled back with a silken, emerald ribbon. Her mount, Aulonex, had come out of the stable on his own, and came right to Shalene. He wore nothing. No bridle, lead or halter. Tyrion marveled at the animal. Pure white, not a blemish on him. His eyes as black as Shalene's. He had the look of the ancient desert lines. Compact, powerful body, deep, broad chest, solid, muscular hindquarters, tall at the withers. Powerful neck, pulled up high and proud, his ears held high and forward. Aulonex's head was held proud, shaped differently than the Western breeds. His nostrils flared, taking in all the scents and smells. Prancing, tense, proud. His mane and tail were long and wavy, his tail touching the ground, his mane so long it fell to his muzzle in the front and almost below his knees on the side. His coat shone in the sun. As bright as fresh snow. Bronn let out an appreciative sound and Tyrion couldn't help but grin.

Aulonex was becoming excited and unruly, stomping, rearing, throwing his head around, garnering attention from those in the yard. Shalene was there, but didn't stop him, she just continued to busy herself with whatever it was she was doing. Aulonex ducked his head and pawed the ground, stomped around in a tight circle but didn't move too far from Shalene. There was cursing coming from the stable about that time and Tyrion grinned even bigger and told Bronn," Now, let's prod the mad dog!" Sandor walked out of the stable with Stranger, the warhorse clearly in as rabid a temper as The Hound. Aulonex reared and screamed at the destrier, flattening his ears, stomping and pawing the ground even though he had no restraints, he did not try to leave. It was clear that Stranger wanted a battle. Sandor was knocked about and even for all his strength and size, he was sorely put out to hold Stranger in check. His anger mounting by the minute. Tyrion wasn't sure if it was at Stranger, Aulonex, Shalene or that he had to be there. He decided that, knowing The Hound, it was all the above. Shalene finally turned around and looked directly at Sandor and asked in the most calm, polite, Lady like way Tyrion had ever heard, "Are you having difficulty managing your steed, Ser? He does seem to be very distraught. I was under the impression I would be able to ride with you as my escort. Do you perchance have a mount that you can control?" Sandor roared at her, causing some of the men in the yard to move closer for when they needed to try to rescue her, though none really wanted to get close to The Hound now. "Control your own damn horse, My Lady! He's the one who has mine ready to kill!" Shalene looked at Sandor calmly, her eyes flicked to Stranger, she turned to Aulonex who was so wound up he was shaking and said, " Bectay Entu Maloon." She walked around Aulonex calmly, and said it again, never touching him. She walked to his left side and said it one more time and laid her hand upon his wither and Aulonex became as calm as a babe sleeping. She walked in front of him and it seemed that they were one, the way they gazed into each others black eyes. She then placed her hands on either side of his muzzle and took in a breath as Aulonex snorted and he took in a deep breath as she exhaled. In essence, exchanging scents. She closed her eyes and so did Aulonex. Everyone was quiet, except Stranger. Shalene then went back to Aulonex's left side and said," Endel." Aulonex tucked his left foreleg back and went down to his knee, Shalene grasped a handful of mane and swung up on his back and he promptly stood, ready to go. She looked over at Sandor and asked," Ser, do you need help with the mounting process?" and gave Sandor a smile so dazzling it made the sun seem dim. It was all Tyrion could do not to fall out of his chair laughing. He and Bronn quietly slipped off to laugh themselves sick over a few flagons of wine.