Baelish and one of his whores walked onto the dock together and headed towards Sansa and Aldarra.

Sansa chuckled and said, "Don't you know the truth is always either terrible or boring." Aldarra smiled at her.

Baelish said with his masked smirk and smile on, "Lovely day for it. Watching the ships?"

Sansa nodded her head, "Lord Baelish."

Baelish rudely said to Aldarra, "Might I speak with Lady Sansa alone for a moment? I'm sure Lord Lannister is probably already looking for you anyway, Lady Blackthorne." Aldarra looked at Sansa remembering their conversation after overhearing Baelish with her earlier. They were going to set him up one day for being the snake that he was. Sansa had a look on her face like she didn't want to be alone with him.

Sansa said, "You can say anything in front of Aldarra. She is my close friend and in a similar situation." Baelish noticed the guards were back from the docks enough to not overhear.

Baelish said perturbed because he would have to word it all differently, "Fine then. I saw your mother not long ago. She is very eager to see you eventually. And your sister."

Sansa asked curiously, "Arya's alive? You could take me home?"

Baelish said evasively, "You said King's Landing was your home. You are the property of the crown. Stealing you would be treason." Aldarra thought, 'Manipulative cunt.'

Sansa said, "I won't tell anyone and I know Aldarra won't."

Baelish said snarkily, "How do I know she wouldn't run to her betrothed and tell him?"

Aldarra was looking at the lying bastard and wondering how he found out about Tywin and herself being betrothed because it had to be Cersei or her two boys. She said, "Because I don't want to be here anymore than Sansa does, but I need my family sword in order to leave, but I am starting to realize that it may be unrealistic to wait. Until I can leave, I am being forced to marry him."

Sansa said smiling eagerly, "Also because I'm a terrible liar, but I completely trust her. You said I was a terrible liar yourself. Please, Lord Baelish, tell me what to do? Tell me when I can go? Can we take Aldarra too?"

Baelish sighed thinking that two valuable women in the Erie, trapped in the fortress would be more profitable to manipulate to his agenda. There was one for the claim to the north and one to a very wealthy keep with lands and gem mines of inheritance. He acted like she was pushing him into it and said, "Depends, I'm waiting for word on an assignment that will take me far away from the capital. When I set sail, I might be able to take you with me. But you'll need to be ready to leave on a moment's notice. Perhaps, I might be able to, but cannot guarantee, Lady Aldarra can go if she gives up on her father's sword." Both women agreed. He was excited to get away with them both and said good day to them both and left with his whore.

Aldarra whispered looking in Sansa's eyes, "Sansa, that man would be the death of you if you went anywhere with him alone. I know for a fact from listening to gossip that he is a horrible person stabbing everyone in the back because it suits him. Promise me not to go away with him or anyone? I could get you out of here safer, but with how everything is going with the war, it would be extremely dangerous for you and even both of us to travel. I guess I can try to protect you once I'm married to Tywin in nine days here. Trust nobody at all, but me, ok?" Sansa nodded and put her head on her new friend's shoulder as Aldarra patted her hand leaning her head on Sansa's. She knew what it was like to be alone and Sansa felt like a little sister.

Tywin approached with his guards and said reprimaning, "Aldarra, what the hell were you thinking of leaving like that out of the throne room? I had the Red Keep searched and didn't know where you were all this time until your guards sent a message. Come now!" He put his hand out to her.

Aldarra looked at him incredulously, "My friend needed to get away from there and I brought my guards, so why are you angry?"

Tywin put his arm down and said angrily, "Because when I don't know where you are, it means you could get yourself in trouble."

Aldarra was getting upset, "Oh so now I'm irresponsible if not under your thumb is it? That's not fair, Lord Lannister. My friend was in need and we were never in danger of anything. You know now she is vulnerable to the beatings and sexual whims of your grandson. I refuse to let her get hurt by him even if I must move in with her to protect her myself."

Tywin was getting upset and mocked her saying, "Indeed, like what do you think you can do to protect her? You can't do anything."

Aldarra said glaring at him, "Because I'm a woman, right? Really? Get a sword, give me one and I'll show you what I can do in the training yard, my Lord. Or are you afraid I might prove something? You think I had my father's sword for decoration and don't know how to use it? Let me demonstrate for you then?"

Tywin said condescendingly, looking down his nose at her, "Don't be ridiculous."

Aldarra stood up from the dock and gave Sansa a hand up. She led Sansa back to the Red Keep, leaving Tywin behind to follow. Sansa asked softly, "You can do this?"

Aldarra said, "I didn't sit on my arse for the entire eight years I was on my own. I paid for it through training in swords, knives and archery. I had to be able to defend myself in the wilds. I am quick and underestimated because I'm a woman, but men hit harder. You use what you have to your advantage. Always remember that Sansa if you never remember anything I tell you. You are more capable and stronger than others will have you believe."

When she walked into the training yard all the men stopped and stared at the beautiful woman walking up to the sword racks. She bent over, pulled her dress up from the back and tucked it into a small belt making it look like baggy pants. She tightened the belt to hold the skirt up. She pulled a practice longsword from the rack. It was dull-edged on purpose but sturdy enough.

She turned and said cocky, "Any of you girls think you can take on me. Let's see how brave you really are?"

Tywin walked up to the training area and said condescendingly to her, "Stop this, Aldarra."

A soldier walked up to her and said, "I'll put you down." She smiled at him and stepped back letting him choose a training sword as she waved the sword to feel the weight of it. He looked at her and others gathered to watch. She gave him the come on sign with her fingers. He started swinging, dancing and thrusting in an offensive display. She parried, riposted, and defected, move after move until he fell for her feint and she disarmed him. Tywin was watching her footing and form. He was studying her moves. It was very surprising to him.

After two soldiers were beaten, Tywin picked up a training sword and said, "My turn, my lady." He flexed his wrist with his sword and started battling her match for match. He was impressed that she had held up to him after so long but he could tell she was tiring now. After all, she hadn't been practicing since she had been in King's Landing, he knew. He finally hit her with a blow knocking the sword from her hand and sending her to the ground at sword point.

Aldarra said, "I bet I could have kept up with you if I hadn't taken on two soldiers before and got more practice." Tywin helped her up. The men clapped for her. She undid her skirt and curtseyed smiling at them.

Tywin said curiously, "The gossip will be talking about you now. What else can you do?" They both walked to the racks and put the swords back.

Aldarra said proudly, "Knives and archery. I wasn't just some defenseless woman roaming out in the wilds. You just chose to think that because I'm a woman. You chose to underestimate my capabilities in survival."

Tywin walked her back into the Red Keep with Sansa following. Aldarra reached back and took Sansa by the hand and stood next to her. Aldarra said, "Lord Tywin, I want to protect her. She is my friend and has had threats made to violate her person. I don't want her harmed by your family because she is no longer under any protection and isolated in her room away from the general population of the keep."

Tywin asked harshly, "Did she come running and ask for protection of you?" He was thinking Sansa had an underlying motive.

Aldarra looked at him hard and critically. She said, "Not all people think and act like you. It was my idea and she never said a word."

Tywin snapped growling, "Watch your tongue, woman."

He said not looking at her, "I will have two guards assigned to her and have her moved into one of the extra rooms in the Tower of the Hand tomorrow. Will that make you happy?"

Aldarra said smiling, "Thank you Lord Lannister." She smiled at Sansa and squeezed her hand. Sansa was relieved and squeezed her hand back.

Aldarra had Sansa spend the night with her until they went to get her belongings all moved tomorrow into one of the rooms in the Tower of the Hand. Shae stayed talking with them for a while and left for the night. Aldarra laid in bed facing Sansa and said, "I always wished that I had a little sister, being I was an only child. I could see you needed a friend that hated the games these cruel people play here. I, Aldarra Blackthorne, do hereby swear, to never be cruel or lie to you, always protect you and keep you safe."

Sansa took her hand in her own and said, "Thank you, Aldarra. I wish we met when you first got here. I wasn't allowed to talk to you, being I was betrothed to Joffrey."

Aldarra said smiling, "I bet. I stayed up here to avoid everyone with Shae while Tyrion was Hand. Joffrey tried to force me in his bed walking down the hallway back after I was only out of the tower because Cersei summoned me. She wanted to grant me her own specialized treatment of telling me I had underhanded motives for her father and was a houseless nobody and ugly." Sansa's face frowned at first and Aldarra giggled, making her giggle too.

Sansa said, "She must be mad."

Aldarra said, "Seriously, I know she is. Good night sweet girl."

Sansa said, "Good night my new sister and best friend." Aldarra kissed her forehead and rolled over to sleep.

—--

It was three days until the wedding and the dress was being finished. Shae had said Tyrion was feeling better but grumpy. Aldarra had Sansa go with her to visit Tyrion in his rooms. Aldarra knocked and he let her in. Shae was with him.

Aldarra said smiling, "Hello, Lord Tyrion. I came to see how you are. Shae has kept me up on your healing."

Tyrion in his clipped bitter sarcasm said, "Oh look you brought a friend. Did you come to see the monster dwarf?"

Aldarra bent down and looked straight into his face with the slash from his left forehead across his nose to his right cheek. He was wondering what she was doing. She said, "I would say it's healing quite well. I am glad the bastard didn't take your nose from you. You know scars are about the wearer's character who survived them. I am glad the filthy bastard is dead for trying to kill you." She kissed his cheek and stood up smiling at Shae. Tyrion was stunned at her not treating him cruelly or having a smart remark.

Sansa said meekly with a smile, "I'm glad you're feeling better, Lord Tyrion."

Aldarra said, "I know you think I don't like you, but you couldn't be more wrong. Just because I have always tried to keep to myself. Shae was my only friend until recently. Now I have Sansa with me too. I love them dearly and hope to count you as a friend too one day when you can trust I will never mean you harm ever. You could be the only Lannister I like right now. How long before you get your stitches out, Tyrion?"

He said, "Pycelle said a sennight."

Aldarra said, "That's good because then it will start to eventually fade lighter. Don't be so negative. Shae still loves you and I still care. Where is Bronn?"

Tyrion said, "Out visiting the whores houses."

Aldarra said, "I see."

Suddenly, Cersei burst into the door. She said nastily, "Oh look my imp of a brother has all the whores with him."

Tyrion asked, sighing, "What do you want, sister?"

Cersei said, "A word with our father's houseless whore."

Aldarra frowned and said, "Out in the hallway, ok?"

Cersei said smoothly, "Why don't you come to my sitting room? It's more comfortable."

Aldarra said smiling, "Because I feel safer in the hallway near my guards."

Cersei smiled and said humming, "Humm… yes, there is that. Ok the hallway." Cersei walked out of the door and down a ways from her four guards being she was with Sansa.

Cersei said, "I am just going to let you know that marrying my father is going to be miserable for you on your wedding night and a mistake. He is a tough man and will throw you on the bed, pin you down and tear through your body like he is splitting you in two. I hope you like it rough because it is all he knows from all of the whores he has had before you. He has no feelings for you whatsoever and never will. My father won't care if you scream in pain. He is a soldier on the battlefield and has taken many lives of men, women and children in warring and plotting as the Hand. Don't you think for one minute during the act of taking your maiden head, if you have one, that he isn't a man. I am sure you know men can't be trusted ever. I just thought you should know this is what your getting into with him. He is cold, calculating and distant. He is more interested in protecting the family's name and power than the people in it. Just so you know." Cersei turned around leaving Aldarra standing there stunned for a moment. That just scared the hell out of her. She didn't like people and especially men because they want to hurt you physically and sexually. She has always known that since her parent's death and hearing her handmaiden raped and then murdered afterwards. If he really is like this, being he has shown definite signs of his behavior and a reputation just like Cersei said, she was frightened of him again. She knew Cersei was a consummate liar. Aldarra couldn't see the lie here. He never would feel anything for her and she would be just a broodmare for his heirs. He was a violent man and he could just get pleasure from her pain. He wouldn't stop no matter how she told him to repeatedly. She had to get the hell away from him and her before he tied her to him. She promised not to leave Sansa though. They were going to need to talk.

Aldarra went back in Tyrion's room. He asked, "What did she want to say that was so important?"

Aldarra said with her mask of emotionlessness, "Just that I was marrying a cold calculating distant man."

Tyrion said seriously, nodding, "Yes you are."