If you haven't done so earlier, I recommend reading Whore's Brother before this chapter. It's a short piece that, though not necessary, might explain some of the things that are happening in here.
Also, this is a bit of a filler. A bit.

-Nan-

303 years after Aegon the Conqueror's landing

It was quite ridiculous how often most patrons of the Peach would think Lanna to be a maiden, despite the fact that she worked as one of the Peaches. They would even ask her about it before bedding the girl. Maybe it was because of the lovely, sweet face she possessed, or the fact that she always smiled very shyly and blushed prettily every time someone paid her a compliment.

She was no maiden, obviously. And she wasn't truly shy. Lanna would laugh about "those poor, foolish fuckers" later, when left alone with other girls, and when she did, her smile looked entirely different. Nan liked her a lot, though. She'd spent way too much time learning how to lie well to not enjoy such admirable acting.

"They are all just tiny little sheep, thinking so much of themselves, their honor and strength and glory," Lanna would always announce as they were sitting in the basement with Bella, Cass, Jyzene and all the other girls, drinking ale. "So who are we then if we're able to finish them with such ease? We are the powerful ones, remember my words."

Nan frowned at that statement.

"If that's true then why it is men who rule in this world?"

"Because being a ruler is dangerous!" explained Lanna, smiling her smug smile as if her words were all the evidence she needed to prove herself to be right."From what I've gathered, all the rulers perish. Late king Robert? Dead. His Hands? Dead, both of them. His first son? About as dead as a person can be. The next Hand, lord Lannister? His brother? The Young Wolf, the King in the North? His brothers? King of the Iron Islands? King beyond the Wall? King Renly Baratheon? King Stannis no-fun Baratheon? Lord Mance Tyrell? The Targaryen one, king Aegon? Dead, dead, dead. They all died, at least according to my clients. And this boy-king, he'll die too, you'll see. That man who bedded me two nights ago said king Tommen is really sick. I bet they're poisoning him. All that happens and yet queen regent, king Robert's wife, still occupies the throne, while yet another one, the Grey Queen, is beginning her own war. They say she has allied herself with one more queen too, still unrevealed. Tell me now, my sweet Nan, are you sure women do not rule this world? No man will ever admit it, but if you read through their drunken rambling you can find more facts than they would be willing to give you. And there are a lot of rambling to read through… if you only know how to play."

But I don't need to play decided Nan in silence, biting her lip thoughtfully. What I need is to find what happened to my memories and home. My own name. And Jon- especially him. Nothing else. I just want myself.

She did not say that out loud, though, only scoffed skeptically, extending her hand to reach for the ale.

It was quite common for Peach girls to come to their little cold basement and drink and complain about their recent clients whenever they were not needed or when they felt overwhelmed.

Prostitutes often felt overwhelmed, as Nan had once discovered in Braavos, but here it all seemed intensified. Not all of the girls though, of course. And she couldn't decide which ones she understood better. She just knew she started liking them, really.

It was quite surprising. She did not remember how it would be in those times with a pack of her own, but she definitely knew she did not have that many friends when living an almost-a-beggar life in Braavos. It was rather hard to gain a friend when you had nothing to offer. Of course Merry and her girls had always been there with their kind smiles and smart, harmless japes, but she always figured it was just how Happy Port was. They were good people, sweet enough to tolerate invasions of a gutter rat like her.

She had some new friends now, at least she quietly hoped they were that. Peaches were in no way alike the courtesans she met in Braavos. They didn't read (most people in Westeros couldn't) or played with knives for laughs, weren't hired to simply accompany the client to a play, only used to bed. It made her angry sometimes, that nobody was willing to appreciate them, but maybe that was just how war worked. And the girls were great nevertheless. There were some who felt uncomfortable about having under their roof a worker who does not earn her coin like them, but safety was important. Soldiers were still occupying the area around the Stoney Sept and Gods knew how long they were going to stay.

She would stay as well.

Bella handed her the wineskin and Nan took another sip of ale, wincing greatly.

It tasted like shit.

No wonder Peach was a brothel, she decided quietly. If it tried to survive only by selling ale such as that, they'd never stay in the business.

"So, what was it this time?" Cass nudged Bella slightly with a knowing smile. "Come on, you had some new ones lately. Give us the cringing details, sweet love!"

The girl grimaced as if she took yet another big gulp of the gods-awful ale.

"A man named Ambrose, right? I mean, what kind of name is that?"

"What did he do?" asked Nan, almost interested. Anyone named Ambrose must've indeed had some fascinatingly disgusting preferences – the core of basement gossips.

"He said he wants us to pretend he's raping me, can you believe it?" Bella twisted her pretty face with disgust. "So gross. I almost said no, but Tansy would probably be furious."

Lanna chuckled scornfully, taking the wineskin from Nan to drink herself.

"Believe? It's absolutely believable. That damn winter is making them go crazy. And everyone else too. We're not Northerners to sit around in such cold. What I won't believe is that lovely boy of yours is gonna be thrilled to hear about this whole thing."

It suddenly seemed like all the blood had escaped from Bella's face.

"Don't tell him" she mumbled clumsily. "Nobody ever tells him. He might kill this guy, aye? Nobody tells him."

Nan wanted to ask who the hell is that "lovely boy" of Bella's, but Jyzene passed her the ale and, listening to her friends' complaints, she felt the need to simply continue drinking.

ooo

"I've been trying to connect with my friends" confessed Tansy one evening, as they watched Lanna being taken upstairs by one of the sellswords. "but they're not close enough and I can't risk sending anyone too far. Especially one of the girls. They'll get themselves raped and murdered in a matter of seconds, just like Red Lanna did, that poor thing.

"You think anyone will come and rescue Peach whores like some fair maidens locked in a tower?" asked Nan skeptically. "'Coz I somehow doubt it. Unless you have some valuable highborn lady hidden in here. Again, don't think so."

Tansy only snorted and poured herself more ale.

"I don't expect any knights, all right? Not the real ones, at least. I guess they theoretically are knighted, most of them. Brotherhood Without Banners, that is. A bunch of dumb outlaws with stupid ideas of helping the weaker ones and changing the face of war. Great way to fill young boys' heads with dreams of glory and honor and ideas that almost always lead to getting 'em hanged."

"Really." She glanced at the older woman with a frown. Tansy's voice was sounding peculiar. Maybe from the ale. The woman drank all the time and a lot at that.

Tansy sighed. "No. Not since a while ago, when their first leader finally died. Though I still prefer to think of them that way. They were more fun when they weren't trying to bring down those Freys. But I do really think they would be some help. I mean, this boy that beds Bella constantly is one of them, right? I'm sure he would come to the rescue, since they are apparently in love, from what I've heard."

"Didn't know Bella has a lover," lied Nan smoothly, in hopes of getting out of her friend some interesting facts. "Does he even approve of… well, this?"

"Somehow. No idea why, though. I think he'd love to take her away from here, every time I see him he looks more and more grumpy. I'd try to stop them from seeing each other but I'm afraid she might leave then. Plus, he pays for the time they spend together. Whole nights."

"How romantic" snorted Nan, holding the mug of ale to her mouth. "I bet Bella is thrilled."

"She is, actually. Prepare to hear a lot about our dear Florian and Jonqil."

But that wasn't what she was here for. She was waiting for the news every brothel seemed to provide, holding onto the hope that appeared the moment she recognized the Peach and protecting its workers until there was no danger. And…

"What did you say? About this… Brotherhood. They are hunting Freys?"

"Aye, that they do. For quite a few years now. Already got several of them and many of their people, but they say there are more Freys than all the other highborns together so I guess it has to take a while. That new Lord Frey is probably shitting his pants most of the time and buying more and more guards."

It was more than weird to hear. Freys, as a family were mentioned on that list Ser Meryn's name also graced, the one she'd been trying so hard to forget. They did… they killed them. Some people, she knew it. Her people, part of her pack. Was it possible that the Brotherhood Without Banners had similar motives to the ones she ought to be having? But no, that was quite ridiculous. They were supposed to be the good people. And she, as much as she might've loathed herself for it, was no one of those.

Still, the bunch of outlaws was also most likely not serving justice properly. Did they know? He who passes the sentence must swing the sword. Nan certainly hoped they kept to that.

ooo

Of all the girls that worked at the brothel Nan considered Lanna to be the most fascinating one. She was one of the youngest, barely seven and ten of age, very short and childlike in appearance, but still so confident, so smug. She supposed it must've come from the years she spent among the ever intimidating courtesans of Braavos, all of them so proud and sure about women's superiority over men. So unwilling to show any weakness, no matter what.

And yet it was also the child of Happy Port that Nan found in the basement, crying her eyes out.

When the girl noticed her, she tried to hide her face and for a second Nan opted on letting her; she was probably the last person who should be taking care of anyone with a breakdown. But for some reason she stayed and gently poked the young courtesan with her foot, trying to show her something alike support while also having no idea how to do so.

"Don't cry" she ordered her harshly, though not without some kindness in her voice. "It's stu… dumb. If people see you cry, they think you weak. Is that what you want? Weren't you supposed to be stronger than them all?"

Nan was able to see the rage boiling in her friend's eyes.

"I was. Thank you for reminding me, really."

"Fine. You can continue being dumb, if you so much want to," told her Nan, turning away, irritated. "If Tansy gets mad 'coz you ain't in form tonight, it's your problem."

"Nan…"

There it was. She turned back to face Lanna. The girl stood up and even managed to adopt quite a confident pose. Nevertheless, Nan was hit with a realization that her friend really is only a child, already a whore for years and evidently too young for the life she got. Back in Braavos she at least had a mother with her. In here though, she was just as alone as the rest of them.

"What."

"You won't tell Tansy. Don't ever dare tell her about this, or I'll make sure you pay for it."

"Mhm." What was it with whores and their secrets?

What was it with people in general and their secrets?

"This man bedded me last night." Started Lanna with a shockingly small amount of certainty in her voice and Nan could hardly say she liked where it was going. But, as it turned out, that was not what the girl had in mind.

"He wasn't young or even very handsome. Or anything, really. His skin was red like a tomato, he stank of ale and only had seven fingers. But I liked it, for the first time. He made me feel good. I was flying, you know? Like that dragon. And… oh, I hate that. I hate him."

Nan understood her all too well. Both she and Lanna seemed to hate showing their weaknesses to others, or being vulnerable at all, to be honest. The fact that some ugly little man managed to held over Lanna a power the girl herself usually got to hold (and loved to do it so very much) must have been devastating for the young woman, Nan knew.

She wasn't a perfect friend. She didn't have any good (or even bad) advices that could make Lanna grin once more. And so, she said the only nice thing that came to her mind.

"I could kill him, If you want. I'll stab that cuntsucker and he'll die. What do you say?"

She hasn't killed anyone since King's Landing. That was a while ago and she is a monster after all, isn't she? The man with the red tunic certainly would've agreed.

Lanna glanced at her with a hardened look in her bright green eyes. For a second it all seemed weirdly familiar and Nan couldn't stop herself from feeling a sudden rush of aversion towards the girl. But the second soon passed and so did the feeling. And Lanna smiled through her tears.

"That's the only thing he deserves. You're a true friend, Nan."

ooo

Despite the large number of soldiers, the one she was looking for was not at all hard to find.

Lanna was right, Nan had to admit, there was nothing to him that could catch the eye. Two of his front teeth were missing and his eyes were watery. Seeing that, she sneered to herself. There was no way in a thousand years that that man could ever deserve her beautiful, lovely friend. She watched him drink with his friends from a safe distance. At least they were enjoying the ale- that meant it couldn't have come from the Peach.

She had no idea how to kill him. There were men all around and he certainly wouldn't be willing to leave his cups for a while. She could probably wait for an opportunity to show up, but that meant the Peach would be unprotected the whole evening or longer. She could not risk endangering her friends, or even Tansy finding her unreliable.

As soon as she thought of them, an idea came to her mind. She rushed back to the house. Bella was far too tall and busty and Lanna too short, but both Cass and Helly seemed to be of roughly the same size and, hastily going through their few dresses, Nan soon managed to find something for herself.

"Ser Lucan?"

He glanced at her, startled. Sure, she knew he wasn't a knight, but few men dislike hearing that title next to their name, and, as it quickly turned out, he was no exception.

"Yes, girl?"

"I'm from the inn. The Peach, that is. You were there last night." She glanced down, biting her lip in fear of looking too straight forward. Men rarely like that kind of girls.

There was something horribly familiar about the things she was doing, so much that she wanted to scream and cry and never look anyone in the eye again. But she did none of those things.

"Aye, I was." The soldier took a long sip of ale. "Don't remember you though."

"Was off duty then, ser," she explained at once. "But my friend wasn't. Lanna, that is. She told me what you did. Said… Said it was really nice. So, I was wondering…" She blushed for a better effect, but it was hardly needed. Lucan was already on his feet, motioning for her to follow him to the woods. It's easy, whispered a voice in her head as she was forcing herself to take the first few steps, and you've certainly done this before. See how stupid they are? She was right. He deserves to die.

But, no matter how much she reminded herself of Lanna's weeping face, she could not stop herself from doubting those words more and more each passing moment.

ooo

The next day Nan presented a head of the man to Lanna and got the brightest of smiles and the sweetest kiss that she could feel on her lips even hours later.

"See?" pointed out Lanna, glaring at the head as if it were already full of worms. "Now he's dead but, really, who cares? Their seed is the only part on them that tends to be useful. We don't need them."

We don't, agreed Nan silently, trying not to look at Lucan's fearful grimace, still present on his face. But, apparently, we need their deaths.

ooo

She did, in the end, befriend the Peaches. Although suspicious at first, the girls turned out to be hardly prejudiced and actually accepted her to their community with no problems. Drinking ale in the basement became also her tradition. It was nothing like visiting the courtesans in Happy Port, where most women were experienced and educated and wore silks. Those girls spoke like commoners and behaved like ones as well. Nan though could not mind less if she tried.

Jyzene had the weirdest sense of humor Nan enjoyed so much. Leslyn gave creative bedding tips, coming from her years of experiences. She even liked to visit Bella in her small chamber and talk in whispers about everything and everyone, a girlish custom she would normally both be jealous of and for some reason despise. (And despised still, only not with Bella, not with her. There was just something too familiar and sweet about the girl to not crave for those moments.)

She teased her new friend about a lover she heard other girls speaking of. They said he never visits any other girls and comes regularly.

"He is not my lover, actually." Bella's quiet confession flowed through the dark room, as they were lying on her bed one night, staring at the (countless) imperfections on the ceiling. "That's really just my brother and I'm no Lannister or Targaryen – obviously – to fuck a sibling of mine. I just don't tell the others. They might be jealous or uneasy and if Tansy finds out she might not let us buy me time for those nights when he comes. And I like him a lot. We simply stay in the room, sometimes talk. He is not too much for talking, tough. I don't mind, truly. He's a fine brother. My fine brother."

'You have a brother too. His name is Jon and he's waiting for you to get home, to him... He loves you', whispered a voice in Nan's head and she almost said it aloud. But she couldn't. What if Jon did not love her anymore? It must've been years since their last encounter. He may not care about her now, especially if he realizes what she had done, if he finds out how many people she had killed. Glancing at Bella she noticed her sweet smile. It surely wouldn't have been half as sweet if she knew.

"That's… that's great. I suppose."

The girl grabbed Nan's arm with surprising force. She was much stronger than she seemed.

"Don't tell people. Tansy or Leslyn… even Lanna. He's my little secret, right? Gendry is my little lovely secret."

Those words awoke something in her - or maybe it was just that one word?

Gendry.

Yes. She knows that name.

POV: -Nan-
Year: 303 AL
Time period: 4 moons
Characters: Nan, Lanna, Bella, Tansy, Lucan (OC), Cass;

Sansa's up next. Duh.