A Holiday by Decree
~~ Day 3 ~~
Night sky had hung over them like a canopy that Sansa wished to remain under forever.
The sun had fully set, and they had already passed the pipe stem between them several times. Sansa had started to feel a pleasant, warm weightiness seeping into her limbs and chest. In fact, she had touched her hand to her breastbone when Tyrion curiously asked, "Do you feel it too?" and she nodded.
"It's likely the 'soothing' effect of the spices and herbs that was described to you. It will probably get stronger, if we continue smoking," he explained, and Sansa noticed a certain calm darkness to his eyes that made her wonder - could he see the same in hers?
"Let's continue," she said, and before long, thankfully the staff served an assortment of unexpected but welcome snacks.
Whipped, delicately spiced squash with lightly-oiled flatbread tasted incredible. Dried legumes and seeds crunched satisfyingly. Small, whole dried fruits tasted sweeter than candy to Sansa, as they never had before. Dense, milky, pure-white sweets seemed inspired alongside more mint tea.
Best of all, she was reminded repeatedly of how glad she was that she had invited Tyrion to join her. Equally excited with their dinner spread, he had laughed and talked jovially with her while they ate.
As they continued to take turns on the pipe, she had realized that she had never been drunk with him.
"I had heard of your legendary capacity for carousing, but this evening has me feeling sorry that I had missed out until this," she found herself telling him somehow so easily, before popping another sugared date in her mouth.
She had to wait a moment for his reply, as he had inhaled from the pipe. Uninhibited thoughts that seemed less than innocent filled her mind when the smoke plumed sensuously from his nose and mouth.
"My lady, please forgive me for this denial then. My 'carousing' days ended, but for you, I will gladly perform once again," he pronounced dramatically, causing her to laugh, until he broke out into unbridled laughter alongside her.
The night went on like that. After the meal, they moved down to the assortment of cushions on the ground.
They had both finally quieted a bit (feat that she knew it was for Tyrion) and reclined side-by-side to each other looking up at the stars.
Feeling as though she was floating, Sansa had broken the silence, "This feels incredible – I cannot remember another time that I relaxed like this."
Finding Tyrion looking just as languid as she felt, she looked over to see his expression soften even further, as he had kindly replied, "I am glad that you have had a chance to experience this then."
Sansa had looked away, as her heart beat faster, as if it was trying to remind her of it inside her chest through the haze.
"I am glad that I got to experience this with you," she had heard her own voice say warmly into the night.