Of Lions, Wolves, and Dragons (Jon Snow)

13. Cruelty

Tyrion had shown just how much he trusted Joellyn by allowing her to meet Shae.  If Joellyn was being entirely honest, she wasn't sure that she exactly liked Shae.  She was pretty, for sure, and she seemed to have a fierceness about her that she knew her brother would admire.  However, Shae seemed reckless.  That could get Tyrion into trouble, but Joellyn grew to believe that Tyrion was in love with Shae.  He probably hadn't even admitted it to himself at that point, but he cared deeply for her and was very concerned about keeping her safe.  In fact, that was what their current argument was about.  Shae was in the middle of complaining about being locked up in Tyrion's room at all times.

"We've come to a dangerous place," he insisted, but it did not appear that Shae was having any part of it, but he continued, "My sister wants to hurt me.  She'll look for any weakness she can find.  She can't know about you!"

Joellyn rolled her eyes as Shae's anger flared up, "I'm the weakness!?"

Tyrion tried explaining that it was compliment and that it meant that he cared about her, but they were already too frustrated with each other to listen to each other, so Joellyn shouted over them, "I think I have the solution!"

They both turned and looked at her, neither too happy that they had been interrupted, but Joellyn continued since she had their attention, "Tyrion, you are just as concerned for Sansa's safety as I am.  She is in our sister's clutches right now, and her handmaiden is Cersei's as well.  Shae is tired of being locked in here, as you or I would be as well.  The solution is simple.  Have Shae be Sansa's new handmaiden.  She gets out of this room and it gives her a reason to be here in the Red Keep."

Tyrion looked dumbfounded, but Shae looked at Joellyn with a mix of joy and confusion.  Shae asked, "What would being handmaiden require of me?"

Joellyn looked to Tyrion first, who nodded and encouraged Joellyn to continue, "Handmaidens change linens on the bed, wash clothing, clean the room, empty the chamber pot, help their lady get dressed..."

Tyrion interruped Joellyn at this point, because Shae did not look happy with the job description, "Shae, I do not like it, but it is the best way for you to be safe here.  You are also stronger than Sansa is.  You will be able to protect her from my sister and others who might want to hurt her."

Shae still did not look like she was sold on the idea of being Sansa's handmaiden, but she was looking forward to being out of Tyrion's room too much to argue.  Soon after the decision was made to have Shae serve as Sansa's handmaiden, Tyrion called on Varys to have Shae dressed and prepared to serve Sansa.  As soon as Varys had left with Shae, Tyrion told Joellyn of his plan to determine who was truly on Cersei's side in the small council.

"I do not trust any of them," Tyrion began, "and learning who is Cersei's will not make me trust the others any more.   But I have to know who is feeding information to her."

Joellyn nodded, "You need to know.  How do you plan to learn this?"

Tyrion told her all about his plan to arrange a marriage for Myrcella.  He would tell Grand Maester Pycelle that Myrcella was going to be married to Trystane Martell, he would tell Varys that she was going to marry Theon Greyjoy, and he would tell Littlefinger that she was going to marry Robin Arryn.  Cersei's spy would inevitably tell her of Tyrion's plans, and that would allow Tyrion to know who Cersie had in her service.  That would also tell Tyrion who he needed to arrange a marriage alliance with.

Joellyn was impressed with his cunning, but she was upset at the same time, "And you do not intend to let Myrcella have any choice in this matter?"

Tyrion looked confused at the tone she had taken, so Joellyn clarified, "Cersei would probably be miserable with anyone but Jaime, but you know how miserable her marriage to Robert was.  You also know how unhappy I was with being forced to marry Robb Stark.  No woman, no matter how young, is happy with an arranged marriage that she was no part of.  Look at Sansa, for gods sake."