Tweeting of birds filled Charley's ears, as she slowly opened her eyes. Her bedchamber was flooded with sunlight as it sat high in the sky, as she laid still in her bed, yet she felt cold as she realized the absent of Sam beside her.

Turning over, so she was laying on her back, Charley stared at the ceiling in silence, while her mind went back onto last night. She had missed Sam's company; more than she could express. But she knew she had to tell Sam the truth about everything, or else she would hear it from another's mouth, or it would arrive with surprise, which would make her not to trust Charley ever again.

Yet at that particular moment, Charley felt her blood boil with rage, as well as her heart sink in its cage due to guilt. She blamed herself for T's action, she guessed he had the right to say what he said with his anger rage, as well as experience his harsh actions. Holding her neck with her right hand, Charley knew she was lucky to be alive, she had witness her brother's angry blows and witness him kill many times. She knew deep down, if he wanted her dead, her skin would be cold, while her body would be stiff and underground by then.

Had she been so blind recently for not seeing this happening? Or had T's anger been building up for a long period of time, and she was standing in his wreath? Who could Charley trust? The person she thought could always relay on tried to kill her, and blamed all what ever happened to them upon her, he now wished her dead and called her a whore's bastard; all pained her equally.

Letting out a sigh, Charley raised both of her hands to her face and rubbed her eyes; to get rid of any sleep. If she was being honest, it was the best sleep she had for a long time. As she dried her eyes of the tears, last night, Charley knew it was time to go to bed and think about her plan of action on the morrow, when her head was clearer and had rested her tired body. Sam had stayed with her, Charley guessed she was worried and she tried to show she was ok, but Sam stayed, maybe she thought T would wander back to the house and finish his task of killing Charley, or Charley would go out and search for her brother instead.

Sitting on the edge of her bed, Charley reached out to her bedside table to pick up a note, which laid upon the surface. Her eyes scanned the note until the end and read the name at the end, telling her it was from Sam. The letter held the question surrounding around the event of last night, Sam wanted Charley to make up with her brother.

"I got to find him first." Charley muttered, while she looked into her brother's room, and saw that his bed had not been slept in. The room held a coldness, there was a small amount of furniture, which was well spread out in its big space.

Letting her eyes roam around the room, a flashback of a time she sort of wished she could go back to and change flashed before her. She remembered standing at the exact spot looking through her four year old eyes and watched a man who held an expression of worry and guilt, something Charley never saw the man expressed before, which stared to form many questions within her mind. Her father sat on the edge of the double bed, his head lowered and let the silence be the speaker, Charley than turned her eyes away from her father and onto a bag which sat upon the bed nearby. It was the last time she had seen her father, before he decided to leave her behind; the first of many.

A frown of confusion expressed upon Charley's face as she heard a noise coming downstairs, and a low voice. Wearily walking away from her brother's bedchamber and down the stairs, Charley's hand was on the hilt of her dagger, her eyes landed on Shadow, who was wagging his tail in delight; his back to her. He let out an excited yelp, as his eyes were on the other side of the room.

"You will have to wait, boy. We have to wake up your master in a minute." Charley heard a voice say, she now stood at the bottom of the stairs, and her eyes were on a man with blonde hair, his gold cloak brushed the back of his ankles, while his helmet and weapons were sitting on the table. Allen.

"There is no need for that, she is already a wake." Charley stated, she watched as Allen jumped and turned around from the fire, which was settled in the fireplace. From where she was, Charley noticed a pan was boiling upon the flames, and she could smell the food it contained; something she never came across.

"I never heard you coming down the stairs." Allen stated, containing himself. He smiled, before turning his back onto her again to reach for the pan. "I guess that's why you are in the City Watch. The wild has taught you many tricks."

Charley stood by the table and watched as the man dished the food into three separate bowls in silence, when he finished, Allen picked a bowl and placed it on the stone floor for Shadow, before placing the other one near him. He pulled a chair out and gestured his head towards it, to let Charley know the chair is for her.

"I am grateful Allen, but I got to go…" Charley started, but before she could finish the excuse, Allen was quickly behind her and placed his hands on her arms, before moving her towards the chair. Sitting down, Charley looked at the bowl and saw it was some kind of soup.

"The men won't miss you for another hour." Allen stated. "It seems you had a night sleep, it's nearly one in the afternoon." Seeing Charley's panic, Allen placed a hand upon her arm and added: "You needed the rest."

Charley stared at the man, before taking her arm back from the table. Lowering her eyes back onto the bowl of soup, she lifted her spoon and dipped it into the bowl, before moving the spoon to her mouth. The soup was still hot, but that didn't matter, it tasted good; it was something substantial, something she hadn't had for the previous week, or so.

"This tastes good. Whoever knew you could be a cook, Allen." Charley said; breaking the silence.

"I cook a lot, something else you don't know about me. As you didn't know about Andrew's weakness."

"He is a vulnerable man, no heart, but he should place his money where his mouth is." Charley scoffed, as she remembered the night of beating Andrew of cards; he was a gambling man, and had lost much of his wages on.

"You still haven't told me what happened."

"What is there to tell? Andrew lost and I won; fairly. He gambled with his money and body, and well I couldn't miss that kind of opportunity." Charley explained, after another spoonful of soup. "The end result was quite satisfying to say the least. He was lucky not to be in the North, where the water could have frozen his cock!"

"Charley…I told you his weakness so you could get square, but you have made it worse. I'm afraid, Andrew will not let his go easily."

"Oh please, Allen. At least give me a bit of credit. I know I pushed the mark, but the man needed to be taught that he weren't the only who can fight dirty."

Silence beheld the room, while the two of them polished off the soup. Shadow seemed to had scoffed his share before them, as he sat watching patiently, before he sensed the truth of not getting any more of the delicious soup.

"We couldn't find your brother on the morning search." Allen stated; breaking the silence. Charley lowered her gaze and stared at the surface of the table. "I thought you would want to know."

"Thank you."

"I am sure he is still here in the City."

"Maybe. But if you seek him, don't punish him." Charley added, daring herself to look back at Allen. "I was wrong to judge last night. I was scared and…well angry."

"I understand. Siblings are born to make us crazy, they are our first experience of wanting to kill, as well as love at the same time. But there is some law about siblings which none talk about, yet we all know. We may hate them, but we protect them from others and harm."

"You should tell that to the King."

"If I want to get my head chopped off, maybe."

"What is this?" Sam asked, as her sapphire blue eyes met Charley's. She was sitting down on a couch, with a few whores, which Charley didn't know their names.

Charley stood before them, she felt herself redden as many pair of eyes stayed upon her. She didn't dare speak, afraid of mixing her words and make a more of a fool of herself. She forced herself to smile, and accepted a glass of wine, in which she took a sip of and felt her body relax a little. Placing the glass onto the table, which stood before her, Charley straightened up, before saying: "I only have a short break, and I hoped you, Sam would accompany me on a walk."

Silence followed Charley's words, which made her nerves multiple; she glanced towards the door, wanting to run and never face the others again. Yet before she could even move, Sam stood up and moved towards her, she wrapped her right hand around Charley's arm and walked with her. Silence beheld the couple, which made Charley nervy still.

"You have to start learning how we do things." Sam stated, as they walked down a street. The sun was high in the sky still; telling Charley she had many hours of daylight left. The streets were busy as usual, yet that didn't gain her attention, she only had eyes for Sam, she noticed she was wearing a lilac, flowing dress; her blonde hair was plaited into a fishtail, which laid peacefully on her shoulder and down to her hip. She gets more beautiful every day, Charley thought, as she torn her eyes away. "If you want my company, Charley, you don't ask."

"Sorry for being a gentleman."

"It makes a change, though. I could get used to it, I suppose."

"Are my forgiven?"

"Forgiven?" Sam echoed, she paused, turning Charley around by grabbing her arm; to show her confusion. "I don't believe I need to forgive you, you haven't done anything wrong."

"I have taken advantage on your good will and loving heart." Charley replied, while lowering her eyes. "My actions were not on purpose, but time has speeded up, or I have been a fool to believe that time was ever slow. You see I have been in the wild for a long time…many times I dreamed of being on my own, to know the meaning of peace and feel what you call freedom, but within the ten years of no stationary place, or somewhere to feel safe, the dream has driven me to madness. But being here again…there is something still missing. I cannot explain the feeling, but I guess the work helps me to push the memory and the thoughts away. I am not the person you know."

"Yes, at times you are a stranger to me. But Charley that isn't a crime."

"You want to know the truth about me, what happened after the event of the orphanage, the time T and I spent on the roads that seemed to lead us to nowhere, but death. The scars that burned onto me. I will tell you, but I will tell you in my own time, you have to understand that it isn't a pretty tale, nor something to be repeated with happiness in your heart, or sadness."

Sam wrapped her hand around Charley's arm again and started to walk the streets. "I understand. What you got to say, I will listen and I promise I won't judge."

"Not judge? We all judge, although we don't mean too. Some think they're better than others, or some think they deserve much more then what they're given, it is what we have grown as a race to be. But it is not your judge that I need. After hearing my word's, you can leave me and move on, I will not develop any bad feelings towards you, all I want is the best for you, Sam, and I will still protect you; by any means."

"And if I stay, to love you even more and think of our future?"

"Then I am more of a fool to ever think you would leave me."

Charley's eyes wandered around the scene that surrounded them, she felt a bit of weight crumble away from her shoulders, yet the weight was little compared to the ton she still felt. Within time, she had promised not just herself, but Sam that she would tell the truth and she hoped she would feel free once again. She couldn't remember what freedom felt like, people saw T and her as being free, due to them of having no one to answer to, no title or money, no chains locked around their wrists. They had nothing but each other, on a long travelled road, with a few weapons between them, while trying to survive all circumstances. Yet both never felt free, they felt pain and grief, within the ten years, it seemed they had forgotten what both words meant. Time is a precious thing.

"Charley, have you been listening to what I have been saying?" Charley heard Sam's voice; bringing her back from her thoughts. Knowing Charley hadn't, Sam repeated: "Have you spoken with your brother?"

"The men couldn't find him this morning." Charley replied sadly. "I fear that he is waiting for me. I know that if he wanted to kill me, he would have by now, but the more he drinks, the more the idea looks perfect."

"You have many people on your side."

"I somewhat guess that they wouldn't stand in T's way."

"Allen and Bronn did last night, why do you think you have to face these kind of troubles on your own? If you only ask, I'm sure they will help you."

"I do not know, Sam. I know I should ask, but deep down I feel like I am just burdening myself yet again. I want to prove them wrong, I want to say I can do this on my own, I can be my own person, to do that, I believe I have to do things on my own and struggle through."

"Fine, but I know those men would be by your side and help you through anything. So will I."

"But you do not know the risk."

"When in love, we as humans do the craziest of things, without a good enough answer, except for our heart told us to do it. We are the victims of love. Blood imprinted upon our hands. Harsh words screamed into the open air, while we swallow our pride and lies." Sam paused, as she noticed Charley's body grew tensed, she realised they had stopped, and felt many eyes upon her, as they were in the way of people, they had to push past them. Ignoring their glares and words of annoyance, Sam looked at Charley and saw her eyes were scanning their surroundings, as her face expressed concern. "Charley, what is it?"

"Nothing." Charley replied after a few moments of silence, before she moved forward, Sam followed closely; weariness overcame her. She watched as Charley kept on glancing around her, her pace quickened and many times Sam had nearly lost her through the crowds. However she saw Charley pushing her way through the crowds towards the other end of the street.

"What is going on?" Charley asked a man that was standing on the edge of the small gathering of people, her ears filled with chanter and laughter. However the man just glanced at her before closing his mouth; thinking it was better not to answer to the likes of her. An explosion of laughter filled Charley's ears, making her push through, yet standing at the front, her eyes landed on a young boy of maybe ten, or twelve years of age, curled on the ground; his hands covered his face, hiding his tears, where she stood, Charley could hear the boy's cries for the pain to stop. Lifting her gaze, Charley saw another boy who maybe was fifteen, or sixteen standing before the young boy; blood was on his hands, while anger was expressed upon his dirty face.

Charley noticed there was a small group of boys just a few paces away from the other two, cheering the older boy on. Before the older boy could finish the young boy off, Charley ran into the circle telling the older boy to stop. She grabbed his shoulder, whirled him around and pushed him towards his friends.

She stood her ground as his friends held him; preventing the boy to fall in front of the crowd. He pushed them off and started to walk towards her; a bloody smile upon his face. "What you going to do about it?"

"I have the power to arrest you." Charley replied, before lifting her gaze onto the other boys. "All of you." She sensed their fear of being arrested, she turned around and wanted to examine the young boy, but a heavy hand fell on her shoulder, she turned around and drove her fist into the boy's face making him stagger back. "Anyone else?" Silence beheld the boys and the crowd, all was shocked, before they quickly departed. "I thought not. Now go!" She yelled at the group of boys.

She turned back around and knelt down beside the young boy, he now sat up; his hands away from his face. Charley smiled, although the sight wasn't pleasing. The young boy's face was bloody to say the least; cuts and bruises marked upon his youthful face.

"I'm not going to hurt you, lad." Charley told the boy, sensing his weariness. "Tell me why those boys were fighting you." However silence was the only response Charley got, a shadow fell upon her, making her look up to see Sam's worry.

"Your knuckles are bleeding." Sam exclaimed, before Charley rolled her eyes and stared back at the young lad. "Charley you have to get it cleaned."

"What of the boy? I cannot just leave him here."

"Where is it that you live?" Sam asked; her voice small, but her worry was still noticeable as she knelt down beside Charley.

"I am fine." The boy lied.

"Tell that to your mother, when her eyes land on your face." Charley stated, before she wrapped an arm around the young boy's shoulder and then one around his waist. She lifted him up and started to walk away from the scene, her ears filled with excuses of being fine, but she ignored him. Quickly, the boy told her the way to his house knowing she weren't going to let him go.

It didn't take them long to get to the young lad's house, standing outside the rundown house, Charley's heart skipped a beat, her eyes wandered up and down the street, as well as the houses that stood closely together. She recognised the house and the street, but why?

Sam knocked on the door, and it opened quickly by a woman with greasy dark hair who stood five foot four, and looked in her forties. Anger was expressed upon her face as her eyes landed on the young boy, who still laid in Charley's arms, she cut of Sam's words and went on rampage about how many times she had told her son about thieving.

Sitting the boy down on a chair in their small kitchen, Charley stood with Sam who was close to her. "If you please, madam, I believe the boy wasn't thieving. He was caught in a fight and…"

"Why can't you be like you're father?" The woman carried on, ignoring Charley all together. Charley glanced at Sam and was unsure what to do. She watched as the woman carried a cloth and a bowl with what Charley guessed was water, while carrying on ranging.

"If you please, Madam…"

"Or your brother Luke?" The mother asked the young boy, cutting Charley off.

"Excuse me…"

"Roseline." A man's voice cut through the kitchen, it held sternness, making Charley's attention move to the stairs at the other end of the room. The mother fell silent, but carried on cleaning her son's wounds. The man's eyes moved onto Charley and Sam, he moved with heaviness and stood by the table, it seemed he casted a large shadow. "Excuse my wife, she can drabble on, but she has a tender heart. What has my son done now?"

"I believe he hasn't done any trouble, sir." Charley replied. "He has been a victim of a vicious beating of a young gang. I have stopped the fight myself, preventing the lad who seemed to be the leader to kill your son."

"Thank you."

"If we may, what is your name?" Roseline asked, making Charley turn back around to face the family.

"Charley, madam."

"You look somewhat familiar."

"I am sorry, I think you must be mistaken…"

"No, I believe I am not." Roseline said, while standing up, ignoring her husband's orders. She stood before Charley and held her hands; examining them. "You need those cuts cleaned and covered." Before Charley could think of an excuse, Roseline sat her down at the table and started to wipe the blood that rose from the cuts; her soft eyes landed on Charley's face, curiosity filled her eyes. "I now remember why I recognise you. The cuts and bruises can't hide away your beauty, Charley. Your eyes show me the pain you have experienced since you left this town behind. You were a curious child just like your father, but you beheld your mother's beauty."

Charley's heart froze, she was unsure if she was hearing the woman correctly, she looked up at Sam and saw confusion behold her too. "Who are you?"

"I am not shocked that you cannot remember me, it has been too long since we have been under the same roof. You were just a child when you came here, a small child as I remember, but that didn't stop you to show that you could manage on your own."

"That hasn't stopped." Sam commented.

"Spare the young girl your riddles, woman." The man stated.

"Charley, I wished never to leave you, I promised your father that I would look after you until the day I died. But the money was short and we had children of our own."

Charley brought her hands away from Roseline and glanced between her and her husband. She felt the world had paused and she had become transparent. She abruptly stood up, her chair fell onto the ground and she ran out, she sprinted away, leaving Sam to run after her. She felt eyes upon her, her blood raced and her heart beating fast within its cage, she heard Sam calling her name, but she didn't stop. She wanted to run, far away from the City, the past was never that far from her, she sensed it around corners of the street; waiting for her. Blending in with the shadows. Moulding in human form. Nothing could diminish the past.

A groan escaped her mouth, as she fell heavily onto the ground. Charley looked up and met Bronn's dark eyes, she saw his confusion, but before he could ask what was going on, Sam caught up and expressed confusion and worry.

"I always guessed you would run to me, but I thought it would take you longer than it had been." Bronn commented.

Charley ignored him and pushed herself up, yet her body tensed as Bronn helped her up. Yet he didn't let her go when she stood, he ignored her statement of being ok and walked her into the tavern and sat her down at a table. He let go and went to the bar, Sam sat opposite Charley, both stayed silent, yet Charley could feel Sam's worry burning into her. Charley only raised her gaze when Bronn placed three bottles of ale on the table, she thirstily grabbed one and took two deep gulps. Lowering it, Charley sensed the other two's gaze upon her.

"It looks like you have seen a ghost." Bronn said breaking the silence, as he sat next to Charley. "Has your brother been back to the house?"

"No, the men couldn't find him on this morning search."

"He is hiding then."

"Thank you captain obvious." Charley stated sarcastically, while glaring at him, however she let out a sigh and turned her gaze back on the bottle which she still held. "Sorry, I shouldn't…I realize I was in the wrong last night and it came to a fast conclusion of casting my brother away."

"She fears that he is waiting for the time to kill her." Sam said picking up from Charley's silence.

"I knew you both shouldn't had moved out…"

"I believe it would have made the situation worse." Charley said cutting Bronn off. "Is there any way of T being in the City watch, or is there job that would make him feel good about himself and not feel weakened?"

"I will think about it. However seeing what he done last night, wouldn't get him any favours from anyone."

Charley brought her bottle to her lips, but before she could had the chance of tasting the ale again, she lowered it as Bronn asked her what caused her to run and run into him. She shifted awkwardly on her chair and glanced between Sam and Bronn, before looking behind her, anxious if Roseline, or her husband had followed her. She was unsure how to reply. At first she thought she misheard, or dismissed it as truth, but the more Roseline talked, the more Charley discovered the truth that surrounded her words.

Slowly, Charley explained about stopping a group of lads from killing a young boy and took him home to his mother and father, there the woman recognised her and talked about her past; including her own mother and father.

"My mother died in child birth, but my father…I do not know. He left one night and I had to live with my aunt and uncle for a small time, before going into the orphanage. Until now, I thought I was alone in the world, no one to call family; except T. But he has grown distant and angry." Charley added. "Roseline and her husband the young boy's parents…they're my aunty and uncle."