A Holiday by Decree

~~ Day 9 ~~

The large door had fallen shut behind him, but Sansa watched as he seemed to hesitate by the threshold.

"Tyrion?" Sansa replied. Surprised, she had leaned up off her pillows.

"I must have woken you, I'm so sorry," he apologized, looking around through the dark.

"No - I mean, it's alright," Sansa added. The fact that she had been languishing in a depression in a perfectly dark room for hours would sound no better. "What are you doing here?" she asked him from across the room.

"Um, please relax, if I may, I-I'll come closer," he offered awkwardly, and Sansa nodded more shakily than she would have liked.

"Damned thing," Tyrion cursed. It took Sansa a moment, but she realized he was clearly fighting to keep the too-long lantern off the fabric of his shirt. She may have smiled and found his frustration cute or comical under different circumstances, but the moment passed too soon. He got the lantern to the low table, where their shells still sat on Tyrion's handkerchief. He seemed to pause minutely at the sight of them, but soon found a seat on the bedside chair Hirat had vacated earlier.

Tyrion fidgeted with one of his rings momentarily. He looked up at Sansa with one of his almost-smiles. "I hope it's perhaps obvious and does not reflect too badly upon me that I decided not to wait until morning to come and apologize, Sansa."

At the sight of Tyrion's gaze that showed her all his sadness, Sansa felt herself stiffen, although her resolve was quickly melting. "Tyrion, your apology - it isn't necessary," she blurted out. Gods, no, she thought, as her tear ducts were already feeling uncomfortably hot.

"No, but I think it is. Sansa, you trusted me, and I violated that trust. I - it was unthinking of me, but I never should have touched you without your consent. In the library it was unavoidable, but the times in the pool were totally unnecessary. I was so scared when you went underwater, and I - Sansa, Sansa - are you alright? Hells, I don't know what I'm doing. I shouldn't have come - I'm so sorry!" he questioned and then quickly exclaimed, as Sansa's expression reddened then crumpled.

:

Sansa was a mess of hot tears.

What have I done? What have I done? Tyrion panicked. This had devolved quicker than even the most pessimistic parts of his mind could have predicted.

"N-no, it's me, I'm sorry," Sansa heaved in heavy breaths around her tears.

"Sansa, no, no, no - I'm the problem. I should definitely go - this was wrong-" he said, pressing a hand to the edge of the bedspread as he made to get up.

"No," Sansa only moaned, as she suddenly leaned over. His arms were short, and she had to move fast to capture his hand in hers. Tyrion stared in shock, as she tearfully fought to get the words out. "No, d-don't go. I can't let this get any worse. Please let me explain."

:::

Note: Poor Tyrion - I just pictured him being so scared and anxious himself and not really knowing what to do, but I wanted Sansa to finally be able to let it all out and have a good cry, and the chapter title surely gave it away.

Has anyone else had a vacation day like that before, where finally getting a break helped open the floodgates, even it was inconvenient or tough to explain at first? If yes, you're in good company.