Vaenera stepped into the hallway with the intention of finding Sansa. Reaching the castle had taken longer than expected, and servants were already preparing supper. Thankfully, she had already changed from her trousers into the robes Shea helped her get into that morning, so no one suspected anything.
It seemed everyone was too occupied with the wedding to notice her absence for a few hours.
Vaenera sighed with relief and continued walking. She was just outside Tyrion's and Sansa's chambers when someone stopped her.
"M'lady?" The Iron Princess smiled at the soft voice behind her.
"Este?" Vaenera turned to one of her servants. "What is it?"
"M'lady, your wedding gift for Lady Sansa arrived today." The girl handed her a nicely wrapped package.
Vaenera's smile widened.
"Thank you, Este," she said. "I believe I haven't paid you for that yet. Come by tomorrow morning for it."
"Of course, M'lady."
"Now go and check if my dress for Margaery's wedding is finished."
Este nodded, and a second later, Vaenera was alone again in the corridor. She immediately tore open the package. Inside, besides the actual gift, was a letter with a drawing of a kraken on it.
You see, Este wasn't just Vaenera's servant. She was her spy and contact with the outside world.
Vaenera had saved Este's life two years ago. Este was working in Madame Helen's brothel when a client almost beat her to death. Madame Helen threw her out, and Vaenera found her. The Kraken's Daughter wasn't particularly compassionate, but Este's look reminded her of her mother, and she felt compelled to help.
Vaenera did more than just tend to her wounds. When Este could talk again, she revealed the identity of the man who hurt her.
The Iron Princess hunted him down and killed him. He was the first person she had murdered.
That act earned Este's loyalty and friendship. Soon after, Vaenera discovered Este had brothers living near the Iron Islands. Since then, Este had been her close confidante, sending letters to her sister Yara through her.
Vaenera opened the letter and read it. She sighed when she finished. Thankfully, there was no new bad news except for Theon still being Reek and Yara wanting to rescue him. Vaenera hid the letter in her bra and started thinking.
All the men in her family were fools. Theon was no exception.
When Vaenera found out Theon had taken Winterfell and killed Bran and Rickon, she almost collapsed. She couldn't look at Sansa's face for a month. The Starks were her family more than any Greyjoy could ever be. Her twin had purposefully murdered two innocent kids.
As if that weren't enough, he then lost Winterfell to the Boltons and became Ramsay's puppet. A cockless puppet, as Yara had described in detail.
Every day, Vaenera prayed to the gods that the Boltons would keep quiet about it. With Theon now unable to beget children and her uncles not having any, she was the heir to the Iron Islands in the eyes of Westeros. A future Lady Reaper of Pyke.
But Vaenera wasn't stupid. She knew they would never accept her, just like they didn't accept Theon. She was more of a Stark or Tyrell now than a Greyjoy. Yara was a far better candidate, but at least half the Ironborn would follow a man over a woman. And Vaenera had many uncles.
Yet Tywin Lannister wouldn't care about that. The moment he sensed that Sansa might inherit the North, he married her off to his son, bringing another kingdom under his rule.
YOU ARE READING
The Great War- Oberyn Martell
Fanfiction''This story unlike many others from this world begins not with inflaming fury, not with debt needed to be paid or not even with a winter that was coming. It begins with love that was sowed and had grown and it will end with fire and blood"
