The Traitor's Wedding

Chapter Eleven

The weeks that followed were the most eventful Sansa could have imagined and by far the most tiring. Margery Tyrell was busy putting together the largest wedding Sansa had heard of in some time. The Tyrell Princess called upon Sansa for help and guidance, tried to persuade the girl out of her room more and more. Sansa didn't mind at first, but within two weeks, she was getting a bit cranky. She was exhausted from bustling about between Margery and Sandor and trying to placate King Joffrey whenever the boy King called upon her presence.

The worst part was she had been so stressed out lately she noticed some nausea whenever she woke up and when she knew Joffrey would want to call upon her for meals. She was short-tempered with Sandor when he was around her, fatigued by the end of the day, and occasionally revolted by the sight of the meals brought before them. None of the handmaidens seemed too perplexed by these changes, even as she began to gain a bit of weight despite the fact she wasn't eating nearly as much. When she made comment about it, one of the girls told her it was simply because she was so stressed out being newly wedded still. It had been almost twelve weeks! Surely, there was no reason for her to be stressed out still.

By the third week into planning the wedding, Sansa refused to allow her handmaidens to touch her beside Shae. The rest of the girls had been lacing her up so tightly she'd started getting sore around her chest. "Just, just leave it be," she managed out, frustrated, but still trying her best to sound polite. She stared at the plain gown with distaste, unsure as to why Shae had picked such a strange gown. She continued, trying to sound polite, "Why don't you just fetch breakfast instead? King Joffrey has been too busy to have a traitor interrupt his meals. And Shae is more than capable to help me herself." Why did they insist on having four handmaidens help her get ready in the morning anyhow?

"Should we bring you anything special milady?" one of the girls murmured, stepping away from her almost reluctant.

"Maybe just a lemon cake and some peaches? Surprise me with everything else." Reluctant, but obedient, the girls bowed and stepped out, leaving Shae and Sansa alone. The foreign girl stepped forward and gently tugged the ties together until she was just settled enough that she looked proper. Sansa noticed she was unusually quiet and had the same thoughtful expression on her face she'd had lately.

"How have you felt lately?" she asked eventually, finishing the last tie for her dress. Sansa turned and gave her an odd look.

"Why do you ask?"

"I've just noticed you have been a bit strange. I worry for you, milady."

Sansa opened her mouth to answer her, but a knock to the door interrupted them. Shae hesitated a moment, staring at Sansa and then turned towards the door. She answered it, asking and sounding annoyed, "What do you need here?"

Sansa giggled softly, so used to her rude behavior that it made her laugh whenever someone else had to see it too. She was startled to hear, "And a good morning to you too, Shae. By any chance is Lady Sansa in this morning?"

Shae stepped to the side without answering, a scowl on her face, as Tyrion Lannister hobbled inside. Sansa tried not to look anything other than pleasant to see him, but she was afraid a bit of her pity would spread across her face. It was terrible, to think a man such as himself had lost even more during the battle of Blackwater bay. She'd heard what had happened, where he'd nearly been cut in half, but she'd yet to see his face until this moment. She curtseyed as best as she could and said, "I'm very grateful you would think to see me this morning, milord. I apologize for any disrespect I might cause; I'm still preparing myself for the day."

He gave her a smile, somewhere between pity and respect and waved off her apology. "Not to worry, my dear. I'm the one who's been intruding this morning, but I felt it was necessary. I have yet to give you my congratulations on your marriage."