Sansa stood at the bow of the ship watching as the water crashed against the wood. Her eyes were wide and the smile on her face was the largest Sandor had seen since the day he had met her. He stood beside her, glancing around as he watched the men who worked around them, knowing they were eyeing her. Shae had gone back to her room a while ago, claiming she was feeling a bit seasick, but Sandor didn't believe her. He could tell something else was troubling her, but he wouldn't push the subject now.

"Look!" Sansa gasped out as she pointed ahead of them. A group of dolphins began jumping from the water, causing Sansa to laugh in delight.

"A sign of good weather for today m'lady." Tymad approached them with a smile. "Dolphins are always a good omen, and a welcome sight to all sailors." He smiled with a bow.

Sansa turned to him with a smile, Sandor on the other hand, stepped closer to Sansa, letting his hand rest on the hilt of his sword.

"The captain has asked that you join him for dinner tonight in his quarters."

Sansa looked up at Sandor a moment then to Tymad, "I would be honored, but only if my companions are welcome."

Tymad laughed a bit and nodded, "of course m'lady, he insists the three of ya join him." He then bowed slightly again then turned and walked away.

Sandor placed a hand on her shoulder, "I don't trust him little bird, somethin' about him just doesn't seem right."

Sansa looked up at him curiously, "he seems perfectly fine to me." She could see the look in his eyes though and she nodded, "but I trust your instincts, and if you wish us to be careful, we will be careful." She then turned again to watch as the dolphins continued to jump from the water ahead of them.

…..

"We are making good time, I expect we will make it to Braavos in a months' time?" A young squire had just set out a plate of food for Ser Meryn in his quarters aboard the royal ship.

"Aye," Meryn nodded, "hopefully the Lady and her party will still be there when we arrive. It will make things a bit easier." He then growled slightly, "Though this task at hand will not be easy one bit." He then lifted his dagger that he kept at his belt and slammed it into the table before him, causing the young squire to jump. "Go on boy, back to your duties."

The boy nodded and quickly hurried away, leaving Meryn to pick at his dinner as he continued to try and figure out how he would exactly gain the trust of a Lady he had brutally beaten in the past.

…

"Shae?" Sansa knocked at her friend's door to let her know of the dinner they were having but could not get an answer. She looked up to Sandor with a frown, "did she say anything to you before she went into her room?"

Sandor shook his head, "she did not." He then moved to try to open it and found the door locked. He then pounded on the door harder, "Shae, open up!" When they did not hear anything from inside, Sandor pushed Sansa aside. "Keep an eye out little bird." He then began to ram the door with all his strength until he managed to break the lock. Carefully he walked into the room and let out a groan or a gasp, Sansa wasn't sure.

She quickly followed him in and let out a small cry, Shae was on the floor unconscious, blood falling from her lips. "Shae!" Sansa quickly ran to her friend, falling to her side. She placed a hand to her neck carefully and looked up to Sandor, "she's alive, but weak."

Sandor nodded and lifted her, bringing her to the bed as Sansa stayed close. "Stay here little bird, I am going to see if the captain has a healer aboard." He then stepped out, closing the door behind him.

Sansa held onto Shae's hand, running her hand over her friend's cheek. "Shae, what has happened?" She looked over her body but could not see any sign of injury. She carefully lifted Shae's skirts and saw her moon blood was not upon her. She then covered her with her blankets and returned to her side, feeling her forehead slightly she gasped. She was extremely hot, but her hands were ice cold. She sighed slightly and spoke in a whisper, "poison."

…..

"You are sure of it?"

"Yes m'lord, my man aboard their ship assures me that the wench has taken the poison." The hooded man stood beside Lord Baelish on the deck of their ship as a crow rested on his shoulder. "It was not enough to kill the woman, but enough to weaken her." He then pulled a handful of corn from his pocket and fed it to the crow. "He cannot carry enough in his talons to kill her."

Lord Baelish looked at the crow with a laugh, "too bad you cannot skinchange into something more useful, such as a hawk or another bird which can carry larger amounts. Then we could probably even poison the Hound."

The hooded man looked at him and shrugged, "they will be testing all the food now, and there will be no way to poison anyone again." He then stroked the back of the crow, "besides, I cannot make that long of a trip for a few more days."

Lord Baelish turned and moved to sit at a small desk, "well we know that at least the wench will not be a problem right now. We can only hope she has not told Sansa everything."

The hooded man nodded in agreement.

…

"I agree with the Lady, this is the work of poison." An older man had been sitting on the edge of Shae's bed. "She will survive, there was not enough poison to kill her, but she will be bedridden for most of our journey."

Sansa stood behind him looking at Shae, "but why would anyone want to poison her?" She looked up at Sandor, "do you think the poison was meant for me?"

Sandor shook his head, wrapping an arm around her shoulder, "no little bird, you are too valuable to kill. Someone wanted to get rid of Shae, she must know more than she should." He looked to the old man who had finished with Shae.

"She will need to be fed, I have a special soup for situations just for this. I will have a batch made up just for her." He then looked to Sansa, "and I will make sure it is tested before given to her." He then bowed slightly before leaving.

Sansa moved to sit on her bedside again, "we should probably move her to our room, and I do not want to leave her alone."

Sandor nodded, "I will have the captain assist in having a second bed made up in our room, I agree I do not want her alone." He then moved over and picked Shae up carefully, "follow me little bird, we will have her belongings moved later." He then walked to their room, carefully laying Shae into their bed, covering her with the blankets. "Lock the door behind me, and only open it for me."

Sansa nodded and followed him to the door, he looked at her for a moment before walking out. He did not walk away until he heard the familiar sound of the door locking behind him.

…..

"Have you thought on my proposal Your Grace?" Lord Tywin entered the Kings private dining chambers to join him for dinner.

Tommen looked at him for a moment then down to his plate, he hated the thought but had to agree that his grandfather was right. Sansa was too valuable to just let go of. "I have grandfather, you are right that we should wed her to someone loyal to us. But can you not think of anyone else?" He looked up at him, hope showing in his young eyes.

Tywin sighed at the boy, he was a child which meant he still believed in dreams and believed there was good in everyone. "I have thought on it, I considered the Tyrell's again, but cannot find myself trusting them again." He moved to sit opposite of his grandson, "I had considered Roose Bolton's bastard son Ramsay, but he is a little too unstable to trust with such a precious treasure such as Sansa." He reached for his glass of wine but did not drink from it, "you know we can only trust our own Your Grace."

Tommen gave another sigh, "but…" he looked at his grandfather with a serious face, "are you sure that children will be possible?" He saw the look on his grandfather's face, "I mean no disrespect, but do you believe you can still have children?"

Tywin let out a laugh as he drank some of the wine, "with a young bride, anything is possible Your Grace." He then raised his glass and drank from it once again.

….

(((Ok be honest, who expected that twist?)))

~huggles~