READER'S DISCRETION ADVISED

THIS STORY CONTAINS MAN ON MAN, WOMAN ON WOMAN, GRAPHIC SCENES, RAPE, GORE, SMUT, AND STRONG LANGUAGE.

DISCLAIMER

I DO NOT OWN THE GAME OF THRONE SERIES OR SOME OF THE CHARACTERS.

}¡{ ZHALIA }¡{

A chorus of frogs can be heard from the bubbling creek, along with a myriad of softer sounds stir in the night. The moon is bright is the hazy sky, surrounded by both stars and bluish rings. It looks like a beautiful silver ball sitting on a glittering black velvet cushion.

Rain will come tomorrow… Zhalia thought to herself.

The little blonde is sitting next to Orion who is driving the caravan. He practically begged Blake to take the reins to their destination. The old man figured Orion is old enough to handle one night on his own.

Zhalia wanted to stay up so she can learn how to drive, and also she hasn't been able to get much sleep lately.

Days following after eating that elixir slop Zhalia has been eating less and less food to the point where she barely eats anything, and when she does she only ends up vomiting it back up. Now her meals need to have ginger to help keep it down. But despite that she can only eat small portions of food, often she will go a whole day without eating and only drink ginger mint tea. And during the past fortnight things only got worst. The poor girl's muscles feel sore and as if they're being baked on the inside, and her bones feel like they're caught in the tight grip of a vice- and keeps getting tighter with each passing day.

Orion tries to help distract his little sister from her discomfort by talking about the stars; mainly the visible constellations and the stories behind them, and depending on their origin he'll speak in either Dothraki or High Valyrian.

Of course the girl's two favorite is Zhalia, which she's named after, and Draco. Two of the few things that Zhalia knows a lot about is of the Dothraki and Targaryen's. She's always had a deep fascination about them. The Targaryen's because of the fact that they use to ride and command dragons. The Dothraki, pretty much of the fact they are like pirates but on land.

Time goes by unnoticed and it isn't until the stars start the fade do the children realize that dawn is approaching.

"That's strange," Orion says when they reach a river that flows between them and a village, spanned by a stout bridge.

As they approach it, a greasy man steps from behind a bush and bars their way. His shirt was too short, and his dirty stomach spills over a rope belt. Behind his cracked lips, his teeth looked like crumbling tombstones.

"You c'n stop right there." He says. "This's my bridge. Gotta pay t' get over."

The two look at him for a moment, then Orion tells Zhalia to go get Blake. She hops down and dashes inside the caravan, soon returning with their father.

"What's going on here?" Blake asks.

"This's my bridge. Gotta pay t' get over." The apparent bridgekeeper says again.

Blake lifts a brow and looks up at Orion, who also look at him, then back at the man. "How much?"

The birdgekeeper's lips pull into a broad smile and tells the price. Zhalia is still learning how currency works but when Orion starts to complain hotly she safely assumes the requested amount is unreasonably high. Blake silences the boy with a quick look and wordlessly hands over their coins.

The man puts them into a sack hanging from his belt and stands aside. "Thank'ee much,"

As Orion gets the horses to start moving again Blake gets up and takes the reins. Zhalia quickly rushes up to join them- and gets an idea. As she is climbing up she uses her abilities to cause the caravan to jolt and she falls, into the bridgekeeper's arms.

"O- oh. Pardon me, sir." Zhalia apologizes sweetly.

"Careful there little lass," the man snarls as he sets her on her feet.

Issuing an apologetic smile the girl gets up to sit beside her father who then gets the horses moving again.

"Why didn't you haggle? He skinned you alive!" Orion exclaims when they are out of earshot. "He probably doesn't even own the bridge. We could have pushed right past him."

"Probably," Blake agrees, and gets the horses to move into a trot.

"Then why pay him?"

"Because you can't argue with all of the fools in the world. It's easier to let them have their way, then trick them when they're not paying attention. Wouldn't you agree, Zhalia?"

With a smile the girl nods.

Blake then moves the reins in one hand and extends his free one to her. The little girl groans and reluctantly hands over the pouch. Then there is a sudden howl of anguish from the other side of the river.

The village is composed of of stout log buildings with low roofs- some thatched, others shingled- and smoke billows from the chimneys, giving the air a woody smell. As they drive through the streets it isn't long until about a dozen curious villagers begin to follow after them, making Blake having to park so to conduct business.

As the older man makes sells Orion goes off to wrestle with a few other boys. Zhalia simply watches her brother roughhouse as she treats the horses to a apple each. There are some other small girls around but Zhalia isn't really so good at interacting with other kids. Especially when she knows more than any other kids her… physical age don't.

"Hello, little one." a voice greets.

Zhalia looks up to see a woman who looks like she's in her third decade, with tan skin, a flat nose, and long glossy black hair tied back.

"Hello," Zhalia greets back, and quickly wipes her hands on her tunic. "Would you like to buy a book?"

"Yes I am curious to what you have," she looks over to the few people speaking to Blake. "Though you have drawn quiet a crowd."

"Well is there something specific you are looking for?" Zhalia looks the woman over and notices she is carrying a basket full of peculiar plants. "If you like we have a lot of books on herbs and healing."

The woman smiles. "Why yes I would be interested in such books. As a Godswife I must always be prepared to cure any ailment."

Zhalia's eyes widen with interest. "Oh! A priestess of the Great Shephard from… Lhazar."

"You are correct," the woman confirms.

"I think I know a few books you might like," Zhalia says excitedly as she rushes into the caravan.

She picks out three books and comes back out to show them to the woman.

"Ah this one looks interesting," the woman says when she picks one up and flips through it for a brief moment. "I'll take it. How much?"

Zhalia and Orion always wear a special leather beaded bracelet that always changes certain colors to tell the price of a book, in case Blake is ever too busy with other customers. Zhalia was a bit hesitant to tell the woman the price of the book she had picked, it happens to be rare. But the woman smiled kindly after being told the price, saying that it was a fair price and gave the girl the money.

"Thank you, miss!" Zhalia says as she takes the coins.

"Please, call me Kira. Kira Maz Duur."

"Thank you, Kira Maz Duur!"

"And if you happen to come across any more good books be sure to hold onto them for me."

"Of course!"

With a smile Kira pats Zhalia on the head and turns to go on her way.

AUTHOR'S NOTES

Alright… tbh guys I was actually thinking of taking down the story because of how disappointed I was with the last season.

Yeah I am part of that crowd of fans. I mean I get why the show ended the way it did. BUT THE POTENTIAL WASTED! I mean I tolerated the death of Peter Baelish, but I should have took it as a sign.

*sigh* Well sorry the chapter was a bit short, hope you all enjoyed it anyway and are looking forward to more:)

…if there'll be more….