Lone Wolf || Tyrion Lannister

Chapter Fifteen

After a while, Anari had enough of Cersei's words. So, she stood up and wandered back over to where Shae still sat. Sitting with her handmaiden, Anari offered the woman a small smile. One Shae returned easily as she reached out for Anari's hand.

"How are you holding?" Anari questioned softly.

"As well as I can," Shae replied. "What you are doing for the women is very brave," she said. "You are doing more for them than the Queen ever has."

Anari merely smiled in return as she squeezed Shae's hand. "The sword?" She whispered as she glanced around. She didn't want unwanted ears listening to their conversation.

"Still hidden," Shae whispered back. "I haven't let anyone near it." Shae wasn't about to deny Anari a weapon. If she was confident enough to have it, then Shae didn't doubt the girl was confident enough to use it. It was so obvious that Anari was different from the other noblewomen.

She was vastly different from the women in King's Landing. Though, Shae could only speculate that had to do with the fact that Anari was from the North. From what she had heard, women in the North tended to be of stronger will than the women of the South.

Women in Essos varied, but more often than not, they were willing to do some fighting of their own. They had to, as Essos was a more violent and volatile place. Beautiful in certain parts yes, but deadly in many others. "Good," Anari replied with a smile.

Unfortunately, though, the women weren't left alone long. When Anari left, Cersei decided to take Sansa on a turn of the room. Together they spoke before making their way to where Anari was. "But you were Roberts Queen," Sansa replied.

"And you will be Joffrey's," Cersei mocked. "Enjoy," she scoffed. Soon enough, they stopped where Anari and Shae sat. "I don't think I know this one," she said as she regarded Shae. Anari and Shae stood once Cersei spoke. "Pretty,"

With nothing to do, Shae forced a small smile on her face as she curtsied for the queen. However, Cersei sneered the moment she saw the movement.

"That is the worst curtsy I've ever seen," Shae's smile faded as she fought not to roll her eyes. "Here, it's not difficult," Cersei demonstrated as she crossed her ankles and bent down. "I mastered it when I was four, straighten your back and bend," she instructed. Shae did as she was told which thankfully met Cersei's standards. "Better, you learn fast," She said. "How long have you been in Lady Anari's service?"

"A few weeks, your Grace," Shae replied.

"When did you leave Lorath?" Cersei questioned. Shae froze for a moment, as no one had ever known where she was from. Seeing her reaction, Cersei smirked. "I had a Lorathi handmaiden once," she explained, which caused Shae to smile again. "But he was a nobleman's daughter, you are not," Once more, Shae's smile fell. "When did you come to Westeros?"

"Ten years ago, your Grace,"

"From Lorathi commoner to the Red Keep in years," Cersei mused as she regarded her carefully. Even drunk, her mind was working on figuring out who and what Shae really was. "All without learning how to curtsy, I imagine that's a very interesting story," Cersei took another sip of her wine. "What's your name?"

"Shae, your Grace," Shae didn't like where this conversation was going. She didn't like Cersei's line of questioning, as she had been warned to be careful around Cersei especially. Cersei was one of Tyrion's biggest enemies, and in order to hurt him, she would use her if she found out they had a connection.

"Tell us a story, Shae," Cersei insisted. Shae looked to Anari who had been watching Cersei carefully. Anari didn't like how suspicious she was of Shae, while it was interesting to finally know where Shae was from, that didn't mean she liked where Cersei was going with this. However, glancing at Shae, Anari gave her a small nod.