A Holiday by Decree
~~ Day 4 ~~
"What?" Sansa's expression was confused though it was mixed with something else that Tyrion couldn't quite yet read.
Still he continued, as now that he had started, he saw no way of going back: "Stop pretending that you are so glad to spend your time with me. I don't know what's causing it, or who's put you up to it. I've enjoyed the past couple days immensely, but you don't need to continue this. It's not good for either of us."
It surprised him, as he began to really think that Sansa looked hurt at what he said, and now maybe a bit annoyed too.
"Tyrion, I don't know what you're talking about - 'pretending' - but I now know that Jon had no idea you would be here. I received a message from him this evening, which the maid told me was received late from port - and was also the only message received today," she replied.
Tyrion felt his face fall, suddenly realizing that he didn't have a way or the will to cover his lie about receiving a message from the capital. Resigned, he turned away from her, as any feelings of boldness he might have felt a moment before threatened to collapse under his mounting uncertainty. Stepping up on the footstool at the bedside, he sat down heavily on the mattress.
"Tyrion, what is actually making you leave in the morning?" Sansa finally asked outright.
Cautiously, he turned his head to look at her out of the corner of his eye from across the bed. He had not liked lying to her, and now the feeling was even worse at being caught. How could he explain himself? Was there any point to? He didn't mean to hurt her, that much he knew. Carefully, he looked down at the bedding to gather his courage.
"It was not right of me to lie to you like that. But I still truly mean the rest of what I said as well - you should not feel forced to do anything, and I don't deserve it anyway. If I was a smarter man, I would have told that to you directly in the first place, but I'm afraid what I tried to do instead just makes me not only unworthy but also stupid and a coward," he confessed quietly.
To his surprise, when he managed to raise his gaze to Sansa again, her expression had softened. However, now she was the one looking down shyly at her hands, "Tyrion, while, I'd ask that you not to lie to me again, I think I am starting to get an idea of why you did. I think there's something that you should know, before we speak any further.
"You see, I have been thinking about you," she said.
"What?" Now, it seemed it was Tyrion's turn to be confused.