Chronicles of the Red Daliah
by Samwell Tarly
Dia frowned as her mother walked into their frail home. Normally the sight of her mother brought joy unbridled to the frail child, being nearly bed bound, she cherishes her time with her mother, spending hours retelling all of the glorious stories she absorbed from the books her mother managed to smuggle in a desperate attempt bring her joy despite her weakness...a light and joy to carry her until she died. Something they both knew would come one day soon...
Yesher mother was her light in the cold dark pain of her life... and yes the sight of her mother brought Dia a frown.
"Mother, are... are you well?" The words barely left Dia's lips before she saw it...blood, spattered upon her mother's sleeve. Her heart swelled with pain, she knew the signs.. gray skin, sweat despite the cold, wheezing, coughing up blood... her mother had consumption. Just as Dia's father and grandmother had...just as her mother once had whilst pregnant. A suffering Dia had always had, one that rendered her bed bound, frail and weak.
It had never left her mother, coming im waves before fading away. Dia hated it, her mother's suffering was a nightmare she could not stomach.
And yet despite her clear discomfort she managed to flash a smile at her daughter, a radiance filling her beautifully tan skin. A daughter of a Dornish man and a prostitute, her mother outshined many. It almost gave credence to the lie she spoke. "I'm fine child, a bit of the has hit the castle. It will pass, it always does.."
Dread came, but Dia put it aside, her mother would never heed her pleas to rest. "I hope so... I cut potatoes and the chicken, they are in the pot."
"I can smell as much. I cannot wait to try it, was it in your book?"Her mother removed her coat and apron, approaching Dia and grabbing her comb.
As her mother brushed her hair, Dia began to regal her mother. "Yes, it was a dish used in feasts... mind you, they have other ingredients but I think this will be fine."
"I'm sure it will... " Her mother suddenly stopped brushing her hair, pulling out a small book from her bosom. "I found a book on the Red Priestess, just like I promised."
Eager, Dia ripped open the book. "I thought there was nothing in our kingdom on them?"
Fiona chuckled at her. "The Faith is old, some records are here. Not many though. Thoros of Myr is a secretive man despite his whoring ways. I mentioned to my friend, after he took her to his chambers, my desire to learn of his faith... she spoke to him and learned if this book. It isn't much, all found only vague references, but perhaps it is enough for your curious soul."
As her mother began to finish their supper, Dia searched the Book with unnatural ferocity. She had a goal, a quest.
'I will save you Mother... medicine won't help, the maester won't help us without pay...prayers to the Gods have done nothing...I will heal you...with magic...' She turned to her mother, hearing jer soft wheezes. The fire burned brighter within.
The tales her mother spoke of from her father's time in Dorn, of the secretive Red Priestess and Priest amd thier powers sparked her first curious ideas...
Hearing of Thoros of Myr and his flaming sword only confirmed the power of his faith.
If she could learn to use their power, she could save her mother...
She could save herself...
Her mother never noticed the herbs in her drink, and so she faded into sleep quickly. A skill Dia had learned from a book in an earlier attempt tp cure her mother. It was this same skill that strengthened Dua just enough to sneak out of her house each night to look for a way in the castle... and she found it, a tunnel in the sewer that lead under the castle.
It was here she walked, briskly and with purpose. She slept during the day, she was fully awake now. This gave her more strength.
'Almost there... I pray that the rumors are true...'
Light flickered in the distant, giving wings to her feet. She almost crowed as she found her quarry...
A large dragon head. 'Thank you, King Baratheon. Your hatred of the Targaryn may have saved us...'
It was hard work to silently remove a tooth, but Dia managed it and fled quickly. She made it to her house, knowing the gaurd schedule by heart.
Cautiously, she crawled over to her their fire place, grasping her dragons tooth. A swift motion opened her palm and spoke in broken Valaryn. "Lord of Light, I beseech you... with my sacrifice, heal my mother... take my own life if you must... please heal her." Drops of blood fell from her hand, sputtering in the flames. "My mother's faith in the Seven is wrong. Your Priest's power proves your greatness... I offer you this dragons tooth, a piece of a great beast far greater then us. A being with magic long after humans, like myself, lost it... a far greater sacrifice then I can be worthy of giving." She placed it in the flame, which grew hotter. "If it is your will, heal her... heal her and I will spread your name across Westeros."
A loud crack from the flames made her jump. She looked down... and nothing happened.
"Damn it... this was my last..." She couldn't finish her words as tears choked her. Defeated, she crawled into their bed and breathed in her mother's heat.
Sleep came quickly...
... and then she woke.
The light of day, wonderful heat, trickled through her body. Without thinking she stood, cracks coming from her joints. She sighes, breathing deep, relishing in the glory of the air.
Her eyes shot open, a smile on her face. Turning towards the fire place, she saw the dragons tooth, unharmed save for a new pattern of blood that filled several grooves.
"My sickness, its faded... mother!!"
Her shout should have woken her mother, the herbs no longer in effect... but it didn't.
Dread came and she shoke her mother. Her skin was cold...
"Mother... no... no! She was supposed to live!" She held her mother close, sobbing well into the day...
People came, her mother's friends mostly and she was burned to stop the spread of her illness. Many questioned Dia's own recovery, thanking the Gods and calling it a miracle.
She knew better...
She sat, for days, considering her future... the tooth, despite everything, was a great comfort. She felt stronger with it in her hands. It was proof of her success, that had she more time, she would have succeeded...
With it in hand, only one future seemes right...
"Mother... I... I failed to heal you, healing my self instead... I am sorry, so sorry... Ester has offered me stay at her home. I think I will take it." She rubbed the tooth. "I.. I think I will seek apprenticeship with Ester herself. She helped us recover many times... I want to do the same for others... I want to see if I can save them too... I hope this will honor you... I love you..."
And so, she stepped from her home, ready and eager to rebuild her life from the ashes she created despite the greatest of intentions.
Chapter end, Read, Review and enjoy.
Yes, I am back. I missed it too much, but I'm imposing two rules. No deleting stories and only four at a time. I usually overstretch myself.
I hope you enjoy! This will be a masterpiece.
Love, your Ninja Overlord,
Mika, SPN2.