A Shadow and a Wolf

Sansa XVII

Sansa spent the rest of the morning with the chief dressmaker of Casterly Rock, a thin man with a sweet voice and precious manners. He started to show her the new gowns that were made for her during the last three months. Half of them were red, but there were also of other colors: blue, yellow, white, purple, green, rose... Each of them had gold, silver, or precious stones on it. Sometimes it had the three. The fabrics they were made of were costly and soft, sometimes coming from the Free Cities of Essos. The dressmaker took again her measurements to be able to make more gowns with more precision, then proposed her a multitude of designs for future gowns. Sansa was surprised by the wide range of choices she had, and even more by the cost of the clothes. It seemed money was effectively no object at Casterly Rock.

Sansa didn't really know what to make of all this. She had wanted to be a great lady or a queen all her childhood, but she lost all her illusions during the last two years. She liked beautiful gowns and fine silk, but she wasn't sure she wanted such luxury. It remembered her too much of the pageantry and arrogance of King's Landing. Also, her mother always told her she should remain humble and simple. Sansa couldn't really make a choice, so the chief dressmaker left her the designs so she may look at them longer before she made a choice. Sansa then called all her handmaidens. They all came from noble families of the Westerlands and showed great respect to Sansa. She didn't really expect something different. After all, despite the fact all her family were considered traitors, she was still the Lady of Casterly Rock now, and the highborn people of minor houses couldn't really show disrespect right in front of her. She asked them all their names, and luckily Sansa was able to remember a detail about the family of each one. All the girls seemed happy that Sansa knew a few things about their house. She gave them instructions about how she wanted them to serve her, and soon she could send them away.

Sansa spent an hour afterwards looking at the patterns of the gowns that were suggested. She tried to choose some that weren't too lavish, but beautiful at the same time. Unfortunately, it was difficult to choose some that weren't too lavish. They were all. If only Mira was here, she would have asked her opinion, but her friend was about a thousand miles away. She couldn't even ask Margaery. Finally she put aside this task for later. Two of her handmaidens came to prepare her for the midday meal with the Lannisters. Sansa wasn't sure what gown to choose. Some people there wouldn't see her as a Lannister, so she feared she may offense them by wearing the color of their family. Anyway her mother didn't wear clothes proper for Northerners and she was accepted in the North all the same. Sansa chose a blue gown with silver at the hem. She was glad at least that all gowns properly covered her body. She remembered the plunging necklines of some Cersei's gowns, or the light dresses Margaery wore and that revealed most of her back. She wouldn't feel comfortable in that kind of clothes. These were just fine. The only jewel Sansa wore was her golden necklace. Anyway, she always had it on her. She then left for the gardens where the meeting would take place.

On the way, Sansa discussed with the handmaiden accompanying her and showing her the way to the gardens. Her name was Willia Marbrand, a niece to Ser Addam. They talked about him for a part of their way to the gardens. Sansa had met Ser Addam in King's Landing where he was still acting as Lord Commander of the City Watch. Sansa had the time to ask the girl where was the Stone Garden. It was the godswood of Casterly Rock. Sadly, the girl couldn't tell her precisely where it was. She never visited it. Sansa felt she may be the first person who would use this godswood to pray in decades.

Genna welcomed her at the entrance of the gardens and sent Sansa's maid away. "You're in time. Come." The greeting from Tyrion's aunt was short and she brought Sansa with her through the gardens. Sansa quickly realized they were wider than those in King's Landing and contained more specimens of plants and flowers. It was strange to think the king lived in a place smaller, poorer and less welcoming than the Lannisters. Genna started to talk to her about what was about to come.