A Holiday by Decree

~~ Day 5 ~~

Carefully, Sansa looked away from ogling him, while Tyrion was still distracted with wringing the hems of his pant legs where he sat.

"Thank you, I requested a few clothes be made for me locally, and I just received them today. Some of the pieces turned out a little differently because of the local materials, but this set fits comfortably at least. Would you like this?" she asked, picking up the bathing linen behind her, having noticed him looking around.

A moment later, Tyrion sat with the cloth wrapped around his shoulders off the side of the low lounge beside her. He ruffled his wet curls with the fabric, turning the water darkened blond a bit wild. Having grown up around men with beards, Sansa took a particular interest in the way the water glistened in his dark whiskers, before he dried those too.

"I don't really know the time, but you are up much earlier than I would have guessed after last night," he observed with a reserved but pleasantly amused smile. "Again, it was nice of you to stay and help me."

"Of course," she said. "I'm a bit surprised I didn't sleep longer too, but the staff opened the windows in my rooms early to keep the heat down. I was already up when I heard the splashing in the pool. I saw you were already out for a swim, and I thought I would ask the staff to make us a bite to eat and come down here myself. You look like you swim very well."

Tyrion responded to the compliment and told her about the time he spent swimming in Casterly Rock. While no love had been lost between Sansa and the King Slayer, she had to admit that it was interesting to hear Tyrion refer so warmly to his older brother, and she wondered if she might finally get some more insight into what Brienne had fallen so madly in love with about Jaime. The mere mention of the man was enough to send the poor woman into tears for months after his death, and even now almost years later, Brienne struggled to speak about him at length. Sansa mentally filed her curiosity away for a bit later, as their breakfast and coffee service had arrived, and Tyrion had asked her a question between bites.

"How about you, Sansa, do you plan on swimming during your visit? It's certainly hot enough during the day. One could probably stay in the water the entire time and still be hot," he commented.

Sansa chuckled slightly at the unaware enthusiasm of his question, "Well, I certainly would like to, but swimming isn't exactly something most people do growing up in the North. I've never learned how."

"Of course," he acknowledged his blunder. "However, we certainly seem to have time - we could change that. If you'd like to learn, I'd be glad to help."

"Perhaps, I may try, as I think I might like that," she smiled.