Aline sighed as she tried to peer through the misted glass panes of the window. It was her nameday, but no one knew. The reason why was quite simple: her last name was Rivers. So she was resigned to cleaning the rooms of Raventree Hall, the home of the noble house Blackwood.
Her mother used to be a maid for the noble family, but when she died she refused to tell her who her father was. This left many confused, for opposed to many noble families in the Riverlands, Aline had neither auburn hair nor blue eyes. She had her grey eyes from her mother, but there was no explanation as to where she had obtained her thick black curly hair, which she kept tied back or under a cap, out of sight. However, everyone assumed that she must be the bastard child of one of the nobles from elsewhere in the Riverlands. Nyla, one of the other servants called her "Bracken" because she claimed she knew that Aline was the offspring of a noble from house Bracken, who were involved in a feud with house Blackwood.
But to be honest, she didn't know who she was.
But then again, she didn't care, so long as it didn't get in her way.
She had only just finished scrubbing the window when Nyla came bursting in through the doors, a look of horror on her face.
"Bracken! There's some men from King's Landing, they want to talk to you!"
Aline looked up from her work. What did they want? She'd never even been to King's Landing.
"Who is it? Did they say?"
Before Nyla could reply, the doors opened once more. There was a small group of armour-clad men who had scowls on their faces. The smallest one seemed to be complaining to the man who seemed to be the leader of the group, who wielded his sword menacingly.
"I can't believe we've come all the way to the bloody Riverlands just to get one baseborn. We're above this!" He stopped and looked at Aline.
"Well, that was easy enough, I guess, I mean she looks just like the rest of them. Shame, this one's a pretty little thing." He laughed at that, showing his sharp little teeth.
Aline slowly edged back, thanking both the old gods and the new that she was wearing her comfortable old boots, which she could move in easily.
"What do you want with me? I don't know who you're looking for, but I'm not them!"
Her eyes darted around the room for an exit. She could only stall them for so long, and she didn't want to even think of the fate that would befall her should she stay. The men had begun to slowly move around the room, and she realised with a start that all of the possible exits were blocked. No. No. No! She couldn't just do nothing. Wait. The window! Of course! Then her heart sank as she realised that they were several floors up. Just her bloody luck.
The oldest one spoke, his deep baritone voice echoing around the hall.
"We're under strict orders to find any of the Baratheon king's bastards. And dispose of them."
He paused, realising that Nyla was still there.
"Move, and maybe I won't slit your throat. Or maybe I will, I have very little patience."
Nyla stood frozen for a few seconds, then ran off.
Aline continued walking backwards so that her back was facing the window. She fumbled with the latch, leaning backwards so that they wouldn't see. There! Done!
She slowly opened the window, and watched as the leader's eyes widened.
And then she fell through the air, dark hair and skirts billowing out beneath her, before she sank into the murky depths of the moat.