The Viper and The Wolf

Chapter 9

The sun was shining brighter than normal, which came as a good sign to Sansa. The sun was almost shining as bright as the smile on her face as she danced around her room in the early morning, her hair loose and still in her nightgown with her silk robe tied shut, her trunks and chests open and filling with her belongings. But she was careful to be quiet, seeing Oberyn was still sound asleep in their bed. He was currently sleeping on his back, his chest rising up and down still. He was still breathing. He was still alive.

Oberyn had toppled the mountain, something many soldiers and warriors had failed to do. Though the trial was a success, it still kept Sansa from sleeping peacefully. The image of Oberyn nearly being crushed to death haunted her every time she attempted to close her eyes and rest. Oberyn had prevailed and kept his promise to her, and yet she still failed to be at peace. Perhaps because she was still in King's Landing, surrounded by very angry lions who she knew were itching to do something over their losses. But she knew, deep down, they could do nothing. She was a Martell princess, and she was leaving. She was leaving King's Landing earlier than what Oberyn had initially planned. After his near death, Sansa didn't need to convince him not to have to stay and see Tommen's coronation. It seemed he was as anxious to go home and share his victory as much as she was.

Sansa held the velvet dress Oberyn had given her on their wedding night, holding it up for the fabric to match the brightness of the sun pouring in through the open windows. She smiled, holding it by the shoulders as she twirled it around the room as if dancing with it. She knew she must have looked mad, but she was alone, her husband asleep. This was a moment of happiness she could keep to herself.

Sansa folded the dress neat and carefully before placing it in her favorite trunk filled with her favorite belongings she would be bringing with her. But she stopped when she saw Oberyn stir on the bed, grunting as if in pain. Sansa frowned, moving carefully away from her trunks and approached the side of the bed. There was a faint bruise still visible on Oberyn's neck from nearly being strangled to death, but fortunately it didn't make its way all the way around. Whatever pain he was in he ignored it and didn't allow Sansa to worry about it, even though it was clearly evident.

Sansa carefully sat down on the side of the bed, reaching and taking one of his hands, and she sighed. Her mind traveled back to the day before the combat trial, how she allowed the stress and anxiety to bubble up to her surface and forced her to say she loved him. And she had meant it . . . for only a moment. He'd been the closest thing to the affection she'd had since her father. And the closest thing she'd gotten to the romance she'd read about so often in story books. She felt horrible from the possibility of leading Oberyn on with her half-truth confession, but he still had Ellaria. He had and could have anyone he wanted. He didn't need her.

She certainly felt safe and comfortable with him, but did she truly love Oberyn from only having a week to truly know him? She didn't think so, but she wanted to. And she wanted him to love her too.

"Mm," Oberyn grunted again as he finally seemed to have awoken. Sansa smiled as his eyes fluttered open, pulling his hand away to stretch. "Good morning sweetling."

"Good morning," Sansa greeted. She gingerly reached and touched the bruise on his neck. She didn't press down, merely touching his skin. "How are you feeling?" She watched as he also reached up to feel his neck.

"I feel no pain, sweetling," he said gently. "It's only when I swallow do I feel any discomfort. Just like my past bruising, this too will fade into nothing."

"Into a bad memory." Sansa mumbled. She leaned back a bit as Oberyn sat up with a smile.

"Just a bad memory." He agreed.

Sansa giggled as he leaned forward to place a gentle kiss on her nose. She did have to stand to give him room to get out of bed and decided to make her way back over to packing. She watched Oberyn leave the section of the room to use the privy chamber, and she turned to the table in the room. A still warm breakfast sat at the table inside of the room, Sansa's plate empty while Oberyn's was still plentiful. She glanced at the other doorway before deciding to make Oberyn's plate more presentable. She smiled as she did so, feeling like an actual wife doing her wifely duties for her husband. Even making his breakfast look sensible.