Chapter 2: Of hurting feet and new friends
Riley had been enthusiastic in the beginning. So much to learn and to see! But as the days turned into weeks and the newness of everything started to fade, Riley started to lose her good humour. Not only did they walk for hours on end, she had nothing on her name except the clothes on her back and a pouch of money that apparently had magically appeared when she came to the universe of Game Of Thrones. The bouts of homesickness she had been suffering from were not making it easier either. She had resolved to help Daenerys in any way she could when she first came here, but she still had not made any contact with the Dragonqueen. During the day everything seemed easy, but it was during the nights that the homesickness and panic came. These days Riley fell more often asleep weeping than anything else. With no way of returning home, no idea on how to help Daenerys on her journey, the days grew bleak and so did Riley's mood.
Thank God (or should she say Seven Gods now?) for Damotra, without her it would have been much harder. The girl was a positive and sunny companion to have on the long hours of walking to Meereen and she stuck with Riley even after weeks of travelling. Riley did not want to admit it to herself but the girl had found a way in her heart and in the safeness of her mind she even dared to call her her friend. Damotra would tell tales of her life as a slave, the funny ones at least, and when she understood Riley knew nothing of Essos in general, the girl tried to learn her stuff from culture to customs to religion to even language. Riley did not speak low Valyrian as it was called, but Damotra had taught her enough that she could ask simple questions such as for food, water, shelter, ... when Damotra was not there. Damotra had also taken to learn Riley how to read in low Valyrian since she could not read it. Damotra did not pretend she did not see Riley weeping but left her to her own devices, letting her know she was there if she needed someone to talk to. It was not easy, but it made the change to this universe a bit easier.
'Riley, we're starting to leave.' Damotra shook her awake, already packed and ready to go. 'Yeah, I'm awake.' she muttered, eyes still not opening. 'No, you're not.' Damotra smiled in good humour, helping her friend stand up. Damotra had shared the little stuff she had, she had even given Riley her extra pair of shoes. Well they were more like primitive sandals with straps of cloth tied around their feet. But they would do until they found better footwear. Both girls carried a rather big hamper on their back, with all their belongings in it. Everytime they exchanged stuff or got something new, they shared it with each other. Riley had now two pairs of 'leggings', two pairs of long halfway dresses (like Daenerys wears in season 4, the blue one), some underclothes, some ties to braid her hair or fasten it, a comb for her hair, a blanket to sleep, some products to wash herself (some sort of soap and sort of watery shampoo) and some food and water. Damotra pretty much had the same, and some books she had managed to take with her before she followed Daenerys to Meereen.
'Another long day of marching, awesome.' Riley sighed sarcastically but a smile grew on her lips when Damotra grinned back at her. 'You seem to be in a better mood today.' Damotra said as they walked next to the cattle. The girls had taken to help herd the animals, if only to have something to do on their journey. Riley nodded and scratched a sheep on it's head, smiling at the shephard when he walked by. 'I did sleep better. I feel a little bit less homesick as well.' Damotra smiled back at her, taking a deep breath. 'Come on, be happy! It's a beautiful day to travel. Let's pretend we're going on an adventure.' Damotra said, marching ahead of her. Riley nodded and followed her friend.
Each night it was the same. The girls would groan as they sat down and massaged their hurting feet and than they'd put up their makeshift tent. It was more a big piece of fabric tied over their heads but it kept them dry from the rain. They would eat from the communal pot their other companions made, helping them with cleaning up. If there was a river nearby they'd go wash there and on regular nights also their clothes. By than, it would be dark and they'd be dead on their feet. They would throw one blanket on the ground to sleep on, put the other one over them and cosy up together to keep warm at night. On nights when they were not too tired, Damotra would teach her to write and read or they'd join people at the fire, listening to what they were saying (even though Riley did not understand much of it).
Riley plopped down next to Damotra, happy to be off her feet. 'My feet hurt more and more each night!' Damotra groaned in agreement, throwing of her sandals. 'Yes, it was harder than other days. But people have been saying that we are slowly approaching Meereen.' Riley sighed and looked at the setting sun. 'I'll be happy to sleep in a real bed. It is not the journey that bothers me, it is the walking! Have you not remarked that most people have horses or mules or some kind of animal they can ride when they are tired? We are one of the few on foot.' Damotra nodded. 'I would do anything to have a horse or even a donkey right now.' Riley complained, Damotra looking on silent. 'Most people here are just happy they are free. Free to do and live as they please. If the price to pay for that is going on foot, it is a price I'm willing to pay.' Damotra answered. Riley quieted down, feeling embarassed she had been complaining so much. 'I'm sorry.' she muttered. 'You're right. We're alive and free, that's all that matters. I'm sorry if I have been complaining too much.' Damotra shook her head and smiled at Riley. 'I do not know where you lived. If you were used to a different lifestyle it's normal you'll find it harder to adjust.' Riley nodded again and resolved she would try to be a better person, instead of complaning all the time. There were worse things in life.
As Riley was bathing in the river, washing her hair and resting her hurting feet, she heard a noise from the other side of the riverbank. She looked up, knowing it could not be any enemies since the Unsullied were patrolling. Her mouth fell open when she heard something whinnying, the water splashing when something moved towards it. Her eyes widened in disbelief. Before her were two horses, one a beautiful grey (imagine a Lipizzan) horse with a greyish mane. The other one was a bigger horse, black with white socks and a white mane. It looked like some sort of Shirebreed, if they even had this breed in Essos. The horses did not seem disturbed by Riley. Her curiosity won over her shyness and Riley swam over to the other bank. When she came closer the horses stopped drinking and looked at her, but did not flee. They must be used to humans than, she thought. Riley slowly stood up and held up her hand, the Shirehorse sniffing it. Riley smiled and heard Damotra calling for her, causing her to turn around and swim back to the other bank.
'You seem to have made a friend.' Damotra whispered to her a few days later, seeing none else than the Shirehorse and the Lipizzan follow them. Riley turned around and walked to them, holding out her hand again. The Shirehorse sniffed it, this time breathing softly into her outstretched hand.
Over the course of several days, Riley spend time with the horses in the hope to get them accustomed to her. The mare, which had taken a liking to her, allowed her now closer. It even allowed her to feed and pet it. Damotra was charmed by the Lipizzan mare she had started calling Pearl. As Riley and Damotra were walking ahead of them, Pearl and Ruby (well, since the names were in the theme of jewels) following them at a short distance, someone stopped his horse next to them. He said something in Dothraki, which made Riley confused. Damotra answered and scratched her head, the man nodding. 'He is asking why we are not riding the horses. I answered him they are not ours. They just follow us.' Riley nodded. What followed was a rapid conversation, of which Riley decided was not important enough to know.
'He says we should try to ride the horses since they're clearly not taken by anyone.' Damotra explained, as Riley watched one of the Dothrakiwarriors take a bridle and put it on Ruby's and Pearl's heads. Damotra and Riley both looked at each other, as the man motioned for them to take their baskets off their backs. Riley was steered towards Ruby, who was stomping her legs, tired of waiting. The man that had spoken with Damotra motioned to Riley, making her look confused again. He sighed and said something in Dothraki to Damotra who nodded her assent. 'He says he'll help you mount up. So please don't hit him when he helps you mount Ruby.' Riley did not know what Damotra meant, but soon understood as the man grabbed her under her arms and hoisted her up, giving her a chance to grab unto Ruby's mane. She nodded at the Dothrakiwarrior and smiled as he handed her the reins. He than gave her her basket which she secured on her back.
Riley watched as Damotra was also helped with mounting Pearl, her basket also being handed over. 'They do not have anymore saddles, but the surcingle they have secured on the horses' back should be enough to hold onto.' Damotra explained. Under the surcingle was a blanket that was secured to sit on, but it was smaller and of better material, a bit like a saddle pad. 'It will do.' Riley smiled and thanked the man, the Dothrakiwarrior nodding and going back towards the front of the procession. 'Why did he help us?' Damotra smiled a sad smile, looking as the Dothraki disappeared. 'You reminded him of his sister. She got captured and was sold as slave. He is still looking for her.' Riley nodded, smiling sadly back. 'I hope he finds her. She's maybe in Meereen.'
'Let's go than.' Riley tried to remember the horseriding lessons she had learnt when she was young. In the beginning it was a bit difficult, but Riley soon remembered enough to be able to steer Ruby where she wanted her too. The mare was kindhearted and calm and in general an easy animal to ride. Ruby needed a bit more encouragement to trot or gallop, but walking was easy. Since she was one of the few horses who could pull a cart, they soon secured a small cart behind her. Riley still rode her, but in the cart sat a few children, older people or just people taking turns who were tired of walking. Riley did not lie when she said her feet were in a much better state.
After a few more days of travelling, and both Riley and Damotra getting used to be on horseback, the procession was stopped abruptly. The cart was now being pulled by two sturdy plow horses, which meant they didn't need Ruby's services anymore. Damotra encouraged Pearl into a light trot, the mare soon stopping next to Riley. Ruby was grazing and Riley pushed herself up on the handles of the surcingle, in the hope to see more. 'I'm not sure. I cannot see anything.' Damotra sighed and bit her lip for a minute. 'Let's go see.' Pearl broke out into a small gallop, Ruby eventually following her. They soon stopped at the front, Riley nodding at the Dothrakiwarrior who had helped her on Ruby's back a few days ago. Damotra asked something in Dothraki, the man answering and pointing to a wooden structure. Riley steered Ruby closer, not seeing Daenerys, Missandei or the others. Riley's eyes widened and a small shout of shock and disgust left her, causing Daenerys and Missandei to look at her. 'But that is awful! She's just a child! Who would do this?' she raged, Ruby feeling her anger and dancing nervously around. 'Monsters.' Missandei answered her question, causing Riley to look to her right and her cheeks to warm. 'I'm sorry if I interrupted you. My apologies.' she smiled awkwardly, an amused smile passing between Jorah and Ser Barristan. 'No offence taken.' Daenerys answered, Riley internally fangirling. Riley nodded and turned Ruby around as she heard Daenerys say to take the collars off and bury the bodies.
That was the least they could do. Riley could only hope that the ones that did this would be severely punished.
The taking of Meereen was all but peaceful, Riley mused a few weeks later as Ruby was grazing a bit further away. Riley lay under the shade of a tree, relaxing and taking advantage of her day off of work. She and Damotra, as their other travelling companions, had followed the taking of Meereen with nervous hearts. Well, Riley was calm since she knew Daenerys would win.
Everything had calmed down somewhat when the masters had been crucified and the people got settled in. Damotra and Riley had rented a little house at the outskirts of the city. Ruby and Pearl had a little yard where they could graze. Riley and Damotra both worked as servants in the Pyramid of Meereen where the Targaryen queen had taken residence. It was hard work but the pay was good, and they both made enough to live comfortably. Damotra and Riley would take Ruby and Pearl out of Meereen when they could, so the horses could work their excess energy off.
The only thing that alerted Riley to another presence was a gust of wind, a shadow that fell over her and Ruby whinnying further away. Riley frowned and opened her eyes, a scream leaving her throat when she saw what was sitting before her. Intelligent eyes looked at her, the dragon before her sniffing her hair. The cream and gold colored scales and the red-orange wings distinguished him as Viserion. Though he was not so big yet as she had seen he would become, he was damn well big enough to scare her. Riley lay still on the ground, gaze locked with Viserion's. She didn't dare to move, she didn't even dare to breathe.
Viserion made a sound in his throat and came even closer with his face to Riley, the girl trying to bury herself in the ground underneath her. Viserion breathed right in Riley's face, the warm air making her hair move. Eventually a screech sounded from above them, Drogon clearly having had enough of his brother's charade and asking him to come back. Viserion breathed one last time in Riley's face, almost making a purring sound in his throat, and than flew up. It took Riley several minutes to move, still not understanding what just happened. She only reacted when Ruby knocked her snout against her cheek, causing Riley to scratch the mare behind her ears. 'Let's go back home, Ruby.' she muttered as she mounted the mare and at a leisure pace went back to Meereen.
'Interesting. We should keep an eye on her.' Daenerys said to no one in particular, as she thought about the exchange between the girl and Viserion. 'Jorah?' Ser Jorah nodded and stopped next to Daenerys. 'Yes, Your Grace?' Daenerys looked as Riley trotted back towards Meereen. 'Try to find out who she is.' Jorah nodded and turned his horse around, leaving Daenerys deep in thought.
'Interesting. Very interesting.' Daenerys muttered as she as well turned her white horse around and followed Jorah back to the gates.