A Holiday by Decree

~~ Day 6 ~~

After Sansa declined to take breakfast tea or coffee before they left, Tyrion and Sansa descended to the beach. When they reached the sand, they removed their sandals. Sansa looped her fingers through hers to carry, when Tyrion offered to tie them with his own with a loose strap on his bag.

It was unusual to see people of their status carrying anything because they were usually attended by servants. Sansa commented on his bag with interest, as they walked, looking for a spot to settle down.

"Like a lot of things I've owned over the years on my sundry travels, this doesn't get much use when I'm on official business. However, even I ended up carrying things on the road, in particular when it wasn't convenient to be 'Tyrion Lannister'. That is how I can testify that one should never underestimate us dwarves - we can carry a lot, like little pack animals, when we have the right bags," he replied.

Sansa had to admit she wasn't entirely sure how to reply. Seeing his smirk up at her though, she smiled. She was beginning to realize that references to his height came up regularly in Tyrion's conversation. His feelings about his height were among the more intimidating, complicated things she anticipated about getting closer to him. She told herself understanding would come with time. Perhaps, they would talk more about it at some point, beyond just his japes and jabs at himself.

For now, she just admired that he was more self-sufficient and stronger seeming than she remembered him being when they were together in King's Landing. A drive to do things for oneself was not commonly found in people of their echelon either. To Sansa, who had to rely on herself so much, she found this inclination in him familiar and attractive.

They picked a spot that was in view of the midway-point guard station, which sat up on the red-stone cliffs above the beach. It was a picturesque place, where jungle greenery spilled over the high rock, and shapely boulders crowded on the sand at the bottom of the cliffs.

While Tyrion spread the berry-colored woven picnic blanket, Sansa unpacked their meal. She found the items had been packed with care.

Dry things were wrapped in paper and twine. Wet items were in small jars, closed with oilcloth and more twine. There were spiced, cool, white cottage cheese balls, the size of melon balls. A couple pieces of unleavened bread brushed with oil were wrapped in fabric and still warm from the oven. In smaller jars, there was hummus and small servings of golden honey and a pale dipping sauce that smelled strongly of sesame. In paper, she found sliced, green cucumber; a handful of bright, cherry tomatoes; the same candied dates they had loved before; and a few dried figs. Finally Sansa and Tyrion marveled at an exotic looking fresh fruit that had been quartered, exposing shiny, juicy looking, crimson pips.

:::

Note: So I have a confession... I became OBSESSED with the Alexandre Desplat original soundtrack for Greta Gerwig's version of Little Women around the time I wrote this next set of chapters (and throughout writing most of this fic, actually...) Feel free to listen to the track "The Beach" in particular if you get curious ✨✨✨