Prettier than I thought, but timid--boring, Laela thought as she approached Lady Karstark. It had been quite the journey around the Keep to finally locate her--Lady Karstark seemed not to be particularly interested in the gardens, nor in the ladies of court. Instead, Laela found her sitting quietly beneath a Heart Tree in the Godswood. She jumped a bit when she heard Laela’s footsteps signaling her approach.
“Oh, ah, if you have business here I can--I can leave.” Sansa offered, already beginning to gather her book and skirts as if to get up and depart.
“Please, Lady Karstark,” Laela curtsied, “My business is with you, if you have the time. I am Laela Bane. I believe you are well-acquainted with my sister and brother.”
“Y--yes, I am acquainted with them.” Sansa’s face showed her discomfort with the introduction and it told Laela two things. First, Sansa was not prepared to meet Laela just yet, which meant that Thorne (and perhaps Rowyn) had already “warned” her. And secondly, that Lady Karstark was not one who was keen on being caught unprepared.
“Splendid.” Laela smiled as sweetly as she had to Rowyn the day prior. “It’s so good that Thorne was able to find such a lady--I was so worried that he would never find someone who would be capable of understanding his moods, his absences, and his complete disregard for others when he is working.”
“He doesn’t have--” Sansa frowned. She was still sore about Thorne having neglected her to sort things out. She knew he had warned her about Laela, but his sister did speak the truth. It was the thing that wounded her most about him. “--a complete disregard.”
“Oh, yes, of course not. I’m sure things are much different with you than with the last woman who held his interest.” Laela didn’t actually know if any woman had held Thorne’s interest for long. She had never heard of him courting another woman, but surely he was not a stranger to women. At his age, it would be absurd. She placed a hand on Sansa’s arm gently to offer a false reassurance. “I’ll bet the King himself has to make an appointment with Thorne to pry him away from you.”
Sansa smiled back at Laela woodenly. She had always hoped that she was more to Thorne than the Princess had been, but perhaps she was not after all. Their romance had not worked out either--was it for the same reasons? It was easy enough to have so little of Thorne’s time when things were secret--unofficial. In the beginning any small ration of affection was more than enough, but would it always be? He had asked her to court him, but the gesture would feel hollow if he did not make her a priority, and how could she ask him to put her before his duty?
“Are you all right, my lady?” Laela asked softly. It was so lovely to see little seeds sown into Lady Karstark’s mind blossom so quickly before her.
“Yes, of course. I apologize.” Sansa bit her lip. Very real fears were welling up inside behind eyelids and she did not want this woman to see her cry. “I forgot that I am to meet a friend. I hope we can spend some time together again. Thank you.”
As Sansa gathered her things and strode off as quickly as propriety would allow, she did not see Laela’s smile grow behind her. All she could think about was making it to her chambers before her tears won the stalemate. Once she was done, she would have to ask Lady Brienne if she could have the training yard to herself for a little while this afternoon. There were several heads she was keen on imagining while practicing her swordplay.
jimmyeatworldofficial
turnnoffyourmind
blakekathryn
gamechangershow
yousharknotpass
theartofmadeline
