Gara
-ooo-
There they were; lined up like children before the maester. Gara averted her eyes and shuffled on her black destier, his jet black socks trembled in this northern wind. Gifu was to her left side, looking like Gara in every sense; such is the way of twins – Gara was at a loath to admit. The first brigand was thrown down before Gifu; the older twin looked down on the man with a curl of her pretty upturned nose.
"What are his crimes?" She asked Horn; the grizzled man frowned deeply and growled,
"Larceny and rape, milady."
Gifu nodded bored already. Gara shook her head in annoyance at her sister's complacency and leaning over to Gifu's side, snapped; "Just get this over with, Gifu!"
Gifu's black eyes were on Gara in an instant, "You don't command me, sister! Learn your place." Gara leaned back and cocked an arched eyebrow, "As you wish." Was all she said before returning her attention to the brigand on the muddy ground. Gifu's mouth was pursed as she lazily gathered up her gelding's reigns,
"Horn, get this over with. It is my father who should be dealing with this, not me,"
Gara rolled her eyes at Gifu's stupidity and waited for Horn to respond with the inevitable,
"Milady," He began a little uncomfortably, as he threw a pleading look to Gara. "You are the one who must deal with this man; it is Lord Stark's command that the one who passes the sentence must be the one who wields the blade." Gifu scowled down on him and snapped,
"You expect me to execute this man?!"
Horn nodded and bowed his head, "It is the old way, Lady. Our Lord commands it." Gara watched carefully as Gifu licked her lips, her blood red hair shifted as the wind caught it. Curls of hair tumbled down her back to contrast Gara's own straight wind-swept blood red locks. Gifu's sharp black eyes squinted as she thought and peered over to Gara; she knew what her sister had in mind,
"Sister, you would do the honours of condemning this thief so that we may yet get home and out of this damned cold." Gara eyed Gifu for a long moment before gazing down at the brigand,
"You would have me kill him in your stead?" Gifu shook her head and Gara swore she saw a ghost of a smile cross her pink lips, "No, I command you to kill him in my stead, you are after all the one who said rapers should not be tolerated. You condemned him before me." Turning to Horn, Gara nodded as the bearded man glanced from sister to sister. In a fluid motion, Gara dismounted her large destier and landed nimbly on the ground.
"Are you sure about this, Gara?" Asked Horn while Gara motioned for the man to be lifted to his wandering feet; Gara touched Horn's muscled shoulder and bowed her head to say quietly,
"What choice do I have? Just take him and put a distance of at least four or five meters between us, if you will?" Horn bobbed his hairy head, "Aye, milady." Gara nodded and Horn strode off with the raper in his grasp, the man trembled as he was dragged away from them. Gara felt herself tense when Gifu sneered behind her,
"This doesn't make you better than me, remember it." Gara flicked her gaze up and shook her head as she produced her bow. Plucking an arrow from her quiver, she set her straight gaze down the way towards the raper. The whole courtyard was quiet; Gara could feel herself shiver in the cold air. She and her sister's hair were verdant against the greyness of the yard. Nocking an arrow, Gara took aim as Horn returned to her side. His presence was comforting and full of support. Gara took a breath as she lined up the shot,
"Get a move on!" Hissed Gifu to Gara's back. Gara ignored her sister and kept her arrow trained on the raper when suddenly his voice rang out in the courtyard.
"Huntress!" He bellowed meaning Gara. She dropped the arrow, and frowned while cocking her head. Gifu clicked her tongue in pure annoyance and watched as Gara stepped over her fallen arrow towards the raper. Horn outstretched his hand to stop her,
"Gara!"
The redhead whipped round and hushed him with a stern look. Horn fell back and Gara saw his jaw clench and Gifu's eyes flash. Gara ignored them and walked forward until she was at the raper's back. His shoulders were shaking. Gara eyed him and said,
"What is it?" The raper rasped and sobbed, "I-I didn't do it, milady. I swear, she-she, she said I had to or she'd tell everyone it was a rape, then her father found out anyway...Miss, I know I have to die, but I didn't rape her and I didn't steal her father's money. Please believe me."
Gara swallowed hard. She did actually believe him. She listened as he let out another sob and Gara placed a comforting hand on his shoulder. He jumped timidly at her touch but said no more. Gara nodded to herself and patted his shoulder before turning around and uttering,
"Old gods keep you."
Taking her leave, she walked back up the way and picked up her arrow that lay embedded in the mud and wiped it clean on the silk of her gown before nocking it again and taking aim for a second time. She breathed deep and felt Gifu's rueful eyes on her; Horn was standing tall at her side.
"Take the shot, Lady."
He whispered and Gara let go. Letting the arrow loose, it flew down the way; the twang from the bowstring resonated throughout the clearing, accompanied by the sound of the arrow as it whizzed and embedded itself into the base of the raper's neck with a thud. He went down quickly; crumpled to the ground like a sack of potatoes. Gara lowered her bow and took a shuddering breath.
"Finally," Gifu huffed and tugged on her reigns, "Let's return home, I grow weary of this cold."
Gara turned and watched as her sister glared down at her from her elevated position, and Gifu leaned down and snarled, "You had best get used to doing my dirty work, Gara. It's all you're ever good for."
Gara frowned and nodded with a sarcastic smile, "And you're not even fit to do your own dirty work, Gifu." Gara revelled in Gifu's positively raging expression and watched silently as Gifu spurred her gelding on and turned her back on her.