Trials and Tribulations of the Oathkeeper

Chapter 154: Trouble on the Homefront

—At King's Landing—

Red Keep — Courtyard...

Sansa watched her children Lyonel and Cassana playing in the snow; even though the capital city was far away from Winterfell, it didn't stop the weather's cold climate from spreading further south. Now that winter has arrived, many had begun accumulating stockpiles of spare granaries in anticipation of a potentially brutal season. Summer and spring lasted 10 years, and with reports from the Order of Maesters stationed at the Citadel, this winter might be even longer. Eventually, the air grew to be somewhat chilly.

"Brella," she calls out, "take my children to their rooms before they catch a cold."

"At once, Your Grace," the servant curtsied.

Brella put on a thick, warm fur coat and stepped into the snow to fetch the royal twins. 

Red Keep — Maegor's Holdfast...

Despite their whining and protests, Lyonel and Cassana were led by the hands by their mother's handmaiden as they were escorted into Maegor's Holdfast. Sansa, in the meanwhile, rose from her seat to check on her children. Sure enough, Lyonel and Cassana were fast asleep in their beds; Sansa leaned forward to see into the royal crib and smiled warmly as little Torrhen wiped his eyes, the toddler puckered his lips while dreaming pleasant dreams.

Such sweet children, the Queen pondered.

"They're rather fortunate to have such a loving mother. You really are Catelyn Stark's daughter," someone called out to her.

Sansa turned around to see Tyrion in the doorway, holding a wine goblet in one hand and a rolled-up document she noticed before moments after Nymerios Martell was born. Tommen mentioned he had something to deliver to Tyrion, but had no clue what it was. Glancing down, she noticed the wax seal was broken. "Lord Tyrion."

"Perhaps we can continue this outside... and quietly," the Imp motioned.

Sansa nodded and followed Tyrion out into the main hall, quietly closing the door behind her so as to not wake up her children. "You have something you wish to discuss?" she pressed.

Tyrion nodded somewhat. "In a manner of speaking. Tommen just stopped by my quarters earlier this morning and gave me this," he refers to the letter. "Says it was important."

"What does it say?"

The Imp cleared his throat and rolled up the parchment. "Ahem! Here's what it says: 'Dear uncle, as I prepare to lead my armies north to face the greatest evil this world has ever known, I feel I must finalize some unfinished business between us – lest there'd be many more left unsaid considering our familial ties. That being said, as Lord of Casterly Rock and Warden of the West, your role in ensuring House Lannister's survival is more vital now than it ever is. You will need a wife to marry and father children named Lannister. As such, I've taken the liberty – albeit a great political risk on my part again – to make an arrangement possible: I hereby elevate the common girl Shae to the rank of Lady with the formation of House Sadelyn and at once be granted the ancient seat of Harrenhal. Call it what you will, uncle. We can discuss this if and when I come back. Until then, tell my wife, Her Grace, that I will always be with her even if I'm not there. Signed, Daveth of the House Baratheon, the First of My Name · King of the Andals and the First Men · Lord of the Seven Kingdoms · Protector of the Realm'" he looks up at Sansa, half-surprised and half-eager. "Did my own nephew keep you in the loop about this?"

The Queen furrowed her brow. "May I see?" she asked. Tyrion handed Sansa the letter and she scanned over each sentence. "This is Daveth's handwriting... No, I wasn't informed about this at all." She sighed. "Still, I'm happy for you two."