Chapter 30.
Shalene was by his side at the bow of the ship when they arrived in Emerald Harbor. The quay was large enough to easily port half a hundred vessels. He was awe struck at everything he saw, to try to comprehend that he was Lord over it all was staggering. Emerald Bay, by far surpassed Casterly Rock. The port town was clean and prosperous. The ships that were in his fleets were the very best that gold could buy. He was readily accepted and the various Captains sought his time to bring him up to par with their ships business.
He met several of the merchants, all were loving to Shalene and proud to be in his service. Shalene walked him around the town, holding his hand, showing which shops were his and explaining how the others paid their taxes to him and such. As they left the town to travel the few miles to the palace, Shalene rode beside him. He wanted desperately to think it was because she wanted to be there, but he knew it was to show those he was Lord over, that they were a couple in love and that he should be accepted and trusted as she was.
The lands were fertile, this close to the coast. He could see the mountains in the hazy distance. Everywhere it was lush and beautiful. They rode through the olive orchards and she introduced him to the mill wright who lived in a cottage nearby. Sandor assured him that he would be visiting soon. They rode on and he saw the palace rapidly approaching. He was awe-struck! It was like a white vision rising from the green. It was surrounded by a vast citrus orchard, he could smell the oranges, limes, and lemons in the air. He also noted date and fig trees. The walls surrounding the palace were white marble. Tall marble guard towers rose at each corner. Palm trees were everywhere. He noted that there were guards walking on top of the perimeter wall. He nodded at this. He saw Shalene looking at him and he turned to her, she gave him the first genuine smile she'd given him in weeks. It made his heart soar. She said," I'll race you!" And she charged Aulenox towards the gate, he let Stranger have his lead but knew she would win, Stranger was much more massive than her desert bred stallion but he didn't mind.
As Shalene raced through the gate, he noted that this must not have been the first time she sped through them like some sand demon because guards and the people behind the wall, laughingly chastised her and threatened to take a strap to her if she didn't behave! She laughed as she jumped off of her steed and ran to a crowd, hugging them all. He slowed Stranger to a trot, thinking these are her people and they love her. She called him to her and he wasn't surprised to see some of them back away and see looks trepidation but for once he let it go. He hadn't expected them to greet him, they didn't know him, but he was determined that they would grow to trust him and know that he would be fair and just. He would not let them down.
As he dismounted and stood to his full, towering height. The stable boy came forward to take Stranger but Sandor quietly explained to him that Stranger was a war horse, trained to fight in battle and to only allow him or Lucian, and Shalene to touch him. The young man, named Genett Sand, said," My Lord, if you will allow me, I can tend to your war horse. Shalene has taught me how to calm the descendants of The Stallion Who Crosses the Sky. I would be honored to care for your stallion." Sandor looked at him a moment and said," Alright, Son. Go ahead, if Lady Shalene taught you then I trust you." He watched Genett approach Stranger and go through the same ritual that he had watched use before. He let go of Stranger's lead as Genett finished and turned away, Stranger calmly followed him to the stables. Shalene sent Aulonex off with a pat, as he followed Genett.
Shalene came to Sandor and put her arm around his hip and started introducing him to others. All were pleasant, some reserved. They were all healthy and happy. They were dressed in good quality clothing. He could tell that Shalene made sure that everything was maintained and that no one went without. He was very proud of her and couldn't help himself, he leaned down and kissed the top of her head. He felt her body tense but no one else saw it.
She finally turned him to the palace and he let his eyes take in his home, for the first time. It was huge! White marble with fine green veins running through it. The doors and windows were tall and large, walking into it he found it bright and cool. Breezes blew through the open windows, sheer panels fluttered as it moved through. They were greeting by a short, middle aged man who had so many winkles around his eyes that Sandor knew this little man smiled all the time. He took Shalene in his arms and twirled her about, laughing and kissing her cheeks and forehead. Sandor couldn't help but smile. Shalene took Sandor's hand and pulled him forward," Edgar, this is Lord Sandor Clegane. I wrote you about him."
Edgar looked Sandor up and down then said," I'm very pleased to finally meet you, My Lord. I am the Steward of your palace and lands, I realize that you may wish to bring someone in of your own choosing I will do all in my power to assure that they're trained properly." Sandor looked at Shalene and she gave him no indication about how to handle this. He looked at Edgar and said, " Edgar, I have no desire to change anything. You seem to be more than capable. I would be a fool to even think such a thing. It's me that you're going to have to teach as this is new to me. If it wasn't for our beautiful Princess, I would still be guarding that buggering King!" They had a small laugh at this.
As they heard the others arrive, Edgar excused himself to get everyone situated. Shalene led Sandor through the palace. It was furnished with fine, well made, expensive furniture, carpets and wall hangings. All of the colors were bright, happy and comforting. Every room held a new surprise. She led him up a huge, winding staircase to the second floor and down a private hall, at the end were heavy emerald double doors. The hinges and ornamentation were gold. Shalene opened the doors, he walked in and was a sitting room, floor to ceiling doors were evenly spaced around half of the room, opening to a balcony that wrapped around this side of the wing. The couches and chairs were huge and comfortable, inviting his massive frame to relax. Wall sconces were spaced about the room. There was a huge fireplace, he didn't know when they would use it but it was hand carved and as with the rest of the palace, it was expensively decorated but comfortable and inviting.
Shalene told him that she had the furniture built especially for him so he would be comfortable and relaxed. He turned to her but she turned away and led him to the next room which turned out to be his solar. He knew this because it was very masculine and the furnishings were heavy and darker. There was a long table to the left that he felt would probably easily seat forty men. Again there were rich furnishings, built for his size. To the right was a massive hand carved desk. He recognized it as weirwood by the whiteness of the wood. He let his calloused fingers trace the master craftsmanship of the carved horses running, the battle scenes of old, and his initials carved in the center. His eyes met Shalene's and he saw that sadness in them again. He felt his eyes sting but she didn't give him time to grieve, she led him through a side door to a short hallway and into a room on the left, it was a room as large as the sitting room, again the same windows covered the walls and opened to the balcony, to the right was a wall that separated the last quarter of the room from the rest, the privy. The wall was covered in mirrors, on the opposite side of the room was a bath that was large enough for five men, easily. He wondered how the maids would fill it and empty it but Shalene had already reached for a handle on the bath and turned it he watched water run into the bath with fascination. When he held his hand under it, it was warm. She led him to the balcony where he heard water and looked over the wall and saw pipes around the wall that had small holes at intervals, that softly showered the trees below with the water.
He looked at her again, shaking his head. She went and turned off the water. He followed her, noticing dressing areas, tables and lounges for both him and hopefully her. He walked to the tables, his boots echoing on the marble floor, and touched her hair ribbons, he couldn't help himself, he wrapped a purple one around his hand and brought it with him as he followed her out of the room, to the next one. They went to the end of the hall and entered her solar. It had one chair his size, the rest was perfectly female. It reflected her numerous tastes and interests. He thought it odd to see bows, daggers, and various weapons mixed with sewing, music, books and other womanly things, but that was what made her special.
She hadn't said but a few words to him through all of this. She led him through another door and he found himself in the bedroom. There was another door and he knew it was the one directly across from the bath that they had passed. The room was open, bright and cool. The same type of windows opened to the balcony that he saw ended here, but to the right, led around to the sitting room. He realized that the rooms here were the only ones on this wing. Thick, plush carpets covered most the floor. The furnishings were weir wood, hand carved and very heavy.
His wardrobe was massive and when he opened it, he was surprised to see it filled with new clothing, all tailored for him, leather and light, smooth spun breeches in every neutral color, tunics of every color done in light, airy linen, silks, woven linen and soft spun wool. There were several different styles of boots, all made from different leathers and skins. She told him that his leathers and armor were near the stables, in his armory.
There was a deep, soft, large chair as well as a couch. Shalene had a matching set on her side of the room. He walked to the bed, he had to go up three steps to get to it. As like everything else, it was built for his comfort. There were tall posts at each corner and he noted that over the bed was a square frame, when he saw the sheer panels, he knew that they would fall around the bed, creating a private world within the bed as well as protection from any flying or crawling pests. The bed was soft and so inviting. Pillows were thick on the bed, he sat down and let his hand move over the bedding, feeling the lightness of it. He felt his chest tighten when he thought about Shalene and Tomaerys making love on this bed and he wanted to get off of it. As if reading his mind she said," No one has slept in this bed. I had it made for you while we were in King's Landing. Everything in these rooms are new."
She didn't follow him to the bed. He wanted to ask her if she would be sharing the suite with him but he didn't have the nerve. Their eyes met and they looked at each other for the longest time. He finally found his voice though it was strange and strained, to his ear, and said," Shalene, I am so sorry, I was wrong and I don't know how to fix what I've done or if I even can. I just want you to know that I love you. Until the end of my days, I will do everything in my power to show you that you are my world," She just watched him for a bit longer and then she turned away from him and left to check on the others. Sandor laid back on the bed and let the tears fall that had been threatening him for the longest time. He had no idea that outside the main door, Shalene was lost in her own pain and tears.