A Holiday by Decree
~~ Day 5 ~~
Tyrion stopped walking to try to understand her proclamation. They stood holding their shoes and facing each other where the tide came up to the sand.
"Sansa, I don't understand. Please forgive the expression, but why wouldn't you issue the Winterfell heir?" Concerned and confused, he lamented sounding argumentative.
"I mentioned that the last six months have been hard for me. You see, it's been six months since our maester concluded that I can't have children," she explained.
Tyrion was unable to form words at first. "Sansa, are you sure? If you are, then I'm terribly sorry. I know well the intensity of this kind of blow. I know you are aware from Jon and Daenerys that they struggle with the same problem. It's difficult for the realm, but that's to say nothing of the emotional side of things. Do others know though?"
Sansa shook her head: "Outside of the maester, no, it's a secret. I had suspected it for a while about myself though. I'm probably going to say some things that would shock others, but anyone who gets involved with me deserves to know - you see, things have never been quite regular with me. Perhaps, because of the stressful years over which I came into my womanhood?
"Anyway, Ramsay tried everything with me," Sansa continued, pained looking. "But it looks like it's not a surprise I never got pregnant by him. This, with Ramsay's abuses of me - he was far rougher than he should have been and did not think much of medical care for me, you see (Tyrion winced at this) - the maester has made it clear that's what's likely ruined the chance for me to bear children. This probably comes as a shock to you, notwithstanding what you revealed to me first. I would understand if this isn't something you want to handle, and decide not to continue with me - I would also warn you this is only a glimpse of the scale of the issues Ramsay left me with."
Tyrion looked up at her longingly. "Sansa, I'm not sure if 'handle' is the right word. I'm not sure if I'll ever handle knowing that we parted ways, no matter the circumstances, just so that monster could hurt you, as he did," Tyrion said, his expression showing how hurt he was for her. "That you can even bear to look at me, let alone consider restarting with me, and that you don't seem to want to blame me by proxy until the day I die is a miracle to me."
"I think if you had asked me two or three years ago, I might have tried, but I was also mad at the world then," she replied. "The war and its aftermath forced me to reflect more. I know it's changed me as a person, and I thought you might be one of the best people around to understand that."