A Holiday by Decree

~~ Day 6 ~~

After handing over messages for the kitchen and Sansa, Tyrion slept. He then rose early to discuss his request with the kitchen.

He found that for a royal picnic an enormous hamper would be filled with an overabundance of food and possibly even a flagon wine. A servant would then caddy the hamper, if guests did not want to carry it.

"See, I do want to carry it, but if you could just prepare a lighter meal, I would like to carry it in here." Tyrion showed the cook and her assistant his linen, top-tying backpack. A staple in his personal equipment over the years, the bag's single strap had been sewn to fit over his shoulders. He could also lash soft items, like the picnic blanket to one side of the soft, sausage shaped bag. Being not very tall, he could not carry as much as a typical man, but with this style of bag he could carry a decent amount; Tyrion was also not about to ask Sansa to carry the heavy hamper, and he did not think he wanted a servant in tow.

There was quite a bit of confused looking around between the kitchen staff though. Tyrion was just beginning to lose hope for his request, when fortunately the housekeeper swept in to hear what had brought their Lord guest into the kitchens.

The staff spoke in their local tongue. The housekeeper's intelligent eyes swept over what was being prepared and returned to him. He thought he had seen a certain kindness in her brief gaze, before she gave an order in their language. The housekeeper then switched to common with a soft smile: "I understand your request my Lord. They will have it ready soon. If you'll please leave your bag, I will help them pack it for you to carry."

"Thank you, madam," he said with a nod, and went to wait in the grand dining area. The day was warming up, but the comfortable breeze that always seemed to pass through the dining area made his hot breakfast tea drinkable.

He sat appreciating the deepening cerulean color of the morning sky, perfectly cloudless this morning. He did not know how his idea for a morning outing with Sansa would go, but at least he could not have asked for better weather.

:

The prior night after Sansa had handed over her missive to Jon for sending in the morning, her heart had leapt when her maid's return to her door brought Tyrion's message

Sansa had feared her suggestion that they "wing" their courtship could still drive him off.

Did any good ever come of two people at their societal tier going at it haphazardly? Tyrion surely thought she was mad. However when she saw his invitation was for a morning walk and picnic on the beach, she felt relieved.

Perhaps he finally simply just wanted to live a little too? As she met him in the grand dining area, she longed to know.

:::

Note: I want to give a big THANK YOU to you, my lovely readers! Many thanks to those of you who recently started following and favorited this fic too. That means a lot! Please don't hesitate to drop a review if time allows ~ love to hear from you :)

Also a brief announcement that there could a few days delay on the next chapter, as I won't be with my computer as I usually am. I appreciate your patience and wish you all well in the meantime!