Chapter #8: Cripples & Snakes


Weiss

Winterfell had been so much quieter than Weiss had ever experienced once the king had left. He'd taken the Warden of the North in Eddard as well as both Sansa and Arya, the younger of which had just started training under Weiss' instruction, down to the capital of King's Landing.

Bran was meant to go with them, but after he'd fallen from the tower he was bed stricken and remained unconscious. The only up side to that was Catelyn was staying by his side meaning Weiss didn't have to put up with her attitude and looks.

Jon too had gone, but he had headed north to The Wall, something she found intriguing and wanted to see but remained in Winterfell unable to make up her mind about where to go. At least where she was there was food and shelter and more than enough reading material, but once the library tower went up in flames there was less to read and a decision needed to be made.

That night was the busiest it had been since the King had arrived, people fought the fire quickly and efficiently. Weiss didn't even need to step in, but it was what happened in Bran's room that had everyone truly concerned. The fire happened to be merely the distraction.

Weiss hadn't been there or even allowed near Bran since, but she eventually got Robb to let her in and examine Bran. She knew aura would help, but Bran, no one in this world had it. Sure she could have unlocked his, but she knew what that could do to this world. Fighting amongst others with aura and then semblances would only escalate things.

Bran's face was gaunt with his skin sticking to his bones like drumskins. Skin greyed and eyes sunken into black pits with his hair having grown long. It was worse than how Arya had told her it was and Weiss found herself wondering how this child could still be alive, living off nothing but honey and water.

Robb was ever watchful as Weiss looked him over and checked his pulse. She was very gentle knowing that the current Lord was watching over her and his brother. Deciding to keep her aura to herself Weiss apologised to Robb but thanked him for letting him see Bran. That's when things got interesting for Weiss. Robb had pointed out that she still carried around her own blade with strange colours on it.

Defending her rights to keep her blade at her side only made Robb's drive to have his own steel on him at all times. Something that he brought up with Ser Rodrick, the Master-at-arms who agreed that steel should be give to those who they thought deserved it, Theon Greyjoy among them.

It was a good thing that Catelyn was still sleeping after the incident where Bran was attacked. Robb informed Weiss of the injuries his mother had received, deep cuts into her fingers and palms from an attacker that was there to claim her life. But that wasn't why is was good, this gave Weiss the chance to goad Robb into sparring with her and showing the young Lord that she could more than handle herself, just like she'd done with Jon and Arya.

It was easy to get Robb to agree, but Ser Rodrick had insisted that he oversee the sparring match after Weiss swiftly defeated him with her words. Insulting him and telling him that she would beat the old man after she'd educated Robb thoroughly first. Ser Rodrick had then agreed and told Robb not to hold back, that Weiss needed to learn her place beneath them all, especially the Starks.

The match, if it could be called one was over quickly. As soon as they were let at each other, Weiss had darted forwards with a glyph, one that didn't require the use of her limited Dust. Swatting his sword aside, she pointed the tip of her Myrtenaster at his throat. Both Robb and Ser Rodrick accused her of some kind of trickery but Weiss had suggested they continue sparring.

So they did, with Weiss taking a defensive stance and never once allowing Robb to get close to touching her with his blade. Aura or not, she didn't want him getting close. She found he was much like Jon in his swordplay, good technique to begin with but as they tired they began to swing with more strength. Wider arcs, heavier blows, overextending, all of which allowed Weiss to show Robb that she was vastly superior to him.

There had been a small gathering that had come to watch the sparring match. Theon, Maester Luwin and Hallis Mollen. All three and Robb would then go on to watch Ser Rodrick attempt and fail to educate Weiss, but again Weiss simply outlasted him and won every single time. She didn't mean any harm and without Eddard Stark there and Catelyn out cold, she was finally able to show them all what she was capable of, a small, tiny bit.

She went on to tell all five about her aura and how it worked, protected her against attacks revealing a little bit about herself to them. Maester Luwin wanted to see it tested but Weiss refused claiming that she'd not allow herself to struck. A Schnee still with her pride intact.

Once she'd shown up Robb and Ser Rodrick, she was granted a little more leniency. Robb allowed her to see the knife that was used in the attempt on Catelyn's life. Ser Rodrick claimed it to be Valyrian steel, something Weiss had read about but never seen. Getting to compare the steel side by side and seeing the obvious differences between them, she could quickly tell the blade was different.

The claim of Valyrian steel being able to hold its edge for longer than any other metal and its ability to cut through other steel made Weiss curious. Testing and showing them her aura with Robb's sword by cutting gently along her palm she'd smiled. But when she did the same with the dagger, it cut right through her aura and she flinched in response.

Blood dripped from her clenched hand as the men, plus Robb, stood there while Weiss quickly came up with a theory that she was confident in. This Valyrian steel contained some sort or magic or ability that could cut right through her aura. Memorising this, Weiss asked Luwin to tend to her wound. It was gone within a few days, completely healed by the time Catelyn woke up, not even a scar thanks to her aura.

Weiss still hadn't managed to get enough trust from who she figured to be the six most powerful people in Winterfell at the time and missed the secret meeting that was held once Catelyn woke. Although she did soon realise that Catelyn and Ser Rodrick were both gone, something that she quickly came to Robb about and asked if there was any way she could help. She was living there and being fed but barely doing another else other than her own training, she felt the need to provide what assistance she could. The Schnee name was nothing in Westeros and she figured she'd need to make it known.

What Weiss did manage to learn after a few days of showing Robb and Luwin what she could do in terms of organisation and writing, along with her prowess in swordplay being the best Winterfell currently had, even if she wasn't sworn to the household. But this also strained the trust between them as giving knowledge to someone who wasn't sworn to them was a risk, one that Luwin advised Robb on. Yet after training one afternoon, Robb partially answered her question. It wasn't Catelyn the attacker was after, but Bran. It was another piece they'd been hiding from Weiss and the reason Catelyn and Rodrick were gone.

Robb went on to explain that they had their suspicions but because Weiss was an outsider and an unknown, that was all he was willing to say. Frustrated and displeased, Weiss came to the conclusion that she too wouldn't trust someone she barely knew. She had been trained in the ways or running a global business and Robb was raised to one day rule the North, they were fairly similar regarding their responsibilities.

Many days later something happened that had Robb called to the great hall of Winterfell where Hallis and Theon were to stand guard behind him and the walls lined with Stark guards. Weiss didn't know why there were so many when all she could see were four guests, one being rather stunted. Wonder what these people want. She darted off to the side as Robb addressed them.

A man of the Night's Watch accompanied by a Lannister and his two guards/servants. Weiss couldn't figure out why Robb had his sword on display, lying across his lap but felt his hostility when he claimed only the single man from the Night's Watch was welcomed to stay within Winterfell's walls.

All the Lannister had said was that Robb was a boy, and by Weiss' opinion he very much was still that. A boy who was even younger than Ruby but given a great deal of power. He's too proud. They should have appointed someone… older. She thought as Robb had done nothing but piss on the Lannister's presence and revealed that both his father and now mother weren't in Winterfell, although the Lannister probably knew about Eddard's appointment as Hand.

Hearing Jon's name come from the little man was all it took for Bran to cry out. Having woken up some days ago he was already looking far healthier than he did while unconscious. He could no longer walk or feel anything below his waist, something that Weiss could have ordered fixed if it had been in Atlas. But in Westeros, there was nothing she could do accept feel sorry for the poor boy.

"So it is true, you Starks are hard to kill." The dwarf smiled softly as he said it, Weiss noting while Robb only say the chance to retort.

"Any you Lannisters had best remember that." The dwarf had been called that a few times already. Lannister… there were some with the King… Tyrion? Weiss wondered, hoping she'd placed the name with the right brother. Once she recalled Jamie being the more handsome one she knew she'd nailed it.

"Bring my brother here." Robb commanded, the giant halfwit as Weiss had heard some servants call him lumbered forwards with Bran in his arms. His name was Hodor, Weiss knew next to nothing about him though. Hodor placed Bran in some high seat that looked uncomfortable to her.

"You said you had business with Bran? Well here he is Lannister." Robb snarled. Weiss again shook her head not knowing why Robb was being so cold towards his guest.

The dwarf asked Bran if he could recall anything from the day he fell but everyone jumped in saying that the boy, Bran, remembered nothing. Weiss had gotten to talk to him briefly a couple of times and Bran hadn't seemed to remember anything while she spoke with him.

"Well then, I come baring a gift for you Bran. I've heard that you like to ride." Weiss grew a sad smile on her face as the dwarf mentioned riding. She'd been riding a horse lately and knew Bran couldn't.

Maester Luwin stepped forward telling Tyrion that Bran had lost the use of his legs making it impossible for him to ride again. Tyrion was quick to answer that he still could. Saddles could be made differently and horses could be trained to listen to other commands.

"Train a fresh horse. Get it used to taking commands by voice and by the reins. You must mould the horse to fit the rider, give this to you saddler and he'll be able to do the rest." Luwin took the paper and looked it over. Stupid! You could have come up with a saddle that works… Not that you've ridden before coming here. Sure Weiss came from a more advanced world, but horse riding and saddles were rather foreign to her until a couple of moons ago.

"Will I truly be able to ride again?" Bran asked, excitement in his joy showing how much he appreciated the gift, given it would work.

"Yes, you'll be as tall as anyone up there." Weiss was thankful that Tyrion had given Bran hope, even if it was only to be able to ride again. It was better than him longing to ride and not being able to.

"Is this a trap Lannister? What's Bran to you? Why would you bother helping him?" Robb was clearly puzzled for some reason while Weiss figured it was a simple act of kindness.

"Your brother Jon asked me to help if I could. And I have a tender spot for cripples, bastards and broken things." With his back towards Weiss she couldn't see what he was doing.

With little Rickon bursting through the door to the yard, all eyes turned to greet this new arrival. While the youngest Stark stood there wide eyed, it was the wolves that came with him that moved. Summer and Shaggydog, Grey Wind too. Bran's wolf Summer was the one to start growling first, but Robb's larger wolf joined in while the dark Shaggydog crept around until he was behind Tyrion.

"Perhaps its time I took my leave." Tyrion suggested, stepping back as the wolves came for him. Shaggydog snarled from behind him, scaring the Lannister dwarf. Are they not calling their pets away? Weiss wondered, drawing her weapon and summoning a glyph. She was at the far back of the hall listening, but as Summer lunged and Grey Wind tore some of Tyrion's sleeve, she propelled herself forwards.

She was aiming for the largest one, Grey Wind. Just before she reached him she heard Bran call his wolf, then her feet collided with Grey Wind, toppling the wolf and sending it several feet along the ground as it whined in pain. Weiss summersaulted after pushing off Grey Wind and landed elegantly, her blade raised and pointing directly at Shaggydog as Rickon yelled for his wolf to come to him.

Weiss' off-centre bun tail resettled as she stood there poised in defence of the guest since Robb nor any one else seemed to care. She could see something in Robb's eyes, something she didn't like.

"Bran, Rickon. Take your wolves and Robb's out of the hall this instant." She commanded, everyone in the room waiting, watching. Weiss was in a mood, pissed off by the lack of common decency.

"Go on, take our wolves from here… I don't know why they did that." At Robb's command his brother, reluctantly did just that. Hodor carrying Bran out too with Rickon running alongside, all three wolves at their heels.

Tyrion took this time to start towards the door, eager to leave the hall and the presence of the Stark boy Lord. It was Maester Luwin's voice that caused him to halt. Weiss finally sheathed her blade once Robb started speaking.

"I may have been hasty with you Lannister. You've done a kindness for Bran and coupled with the way our wolves acted I will give you the hospitality of Winterfell at its highest." Weiss smiled, it was something that should have been offered in the first place given how this world worked.

"Spare me you false courtesies boy, You don't want me here. I saw an inn outside the walls in the winter town. I'll find a bed there, perhaps even a wench to warm my sheets for me." Tyrion then spoke to the man all in black, similar to a man that Weiss had seen during the King's visit. It was a man of the Night's Watch, she was sure of it.

As Tyrion left she went after the dwarf, eager to ask him some questions. Catching up with him after giving them several meters from the hall, Weiss called to him.

"Tyrion Lannister? I am correct in assuming that you are… Jamie Lannister's and the Queen's brother?" Weiss looked into his eyes, a mismatched green and black. Just the simple fact that his eyes were different colours reminded her of someone she didn't know the name of but had seen a couple of times. A short female who had never spoken a word but worked with a criminal.

"You are." His eyes studied her, she had remained hidden for the entire time the king was at Winterfell but had observed others. She knew Tyrion by appearance but he knew nothing of her. "Thank you for interfering with those… vicious beasts."

"The wolves aren't that bad. You must have done something to upset them." Weiss said plainly, although she couldn't think of anything that he might have done.

"But I'd only just arrived, I wouldn't dream of annoying creatures so much bigger than myself." There was a cheeky smile on his face the Weiss found strangely familiar. He was teasing like Yang, even though he was tiny and weak.

"I realise that, which is why I found it curious that Robb was so rude to you, his guest. Do you have any idea why he greeted you so coldly?" Weiss was interested in finding the answer since Robb still hadn't told her everything.

"Before that, is he not your Lord? Shouldn't you address him properly?" Tyrion asked, probing for the young girl's stance.

"Lord Stark," She said sarcastically, "is but a boy on a chair. There is little I've seen that gives him the title. Someone older and more knowledgeable should be seated there." Weiss found Tyrion's mismatching eyes studying hers.

"You should be careful about saying that, who knows who could hear you." He warned, a smile on his face. "Besides our views on the boy, thank you for stepping in when those wolves began to hunger. I would taste terrible, deformed and full of wine."

"Although I haven't tasted anyone before, just because you are deformed and drink a lot, doesn't mean you lack intelligence. There's something about you, you know things since you can't fight like most men on this world." Weiss watched as the dwarf's eyes widened. What's that about?

"Excuse my hearing, I am quite the way down. But did you say, from this world?" Weiss saw something in his eyes and squatted down to his eye level. She held a stern yet hopeful gaze as Tyrion looked at her with interest.

"You've met someone else from Remnant?" Weiss said in a low tone. Tyrion smiled and nodded. Weiss' heart began to race. "Where? Who?!" Excitement more than creeping into her voice.

"Information has a cost, I'm sure you're aware of that." Weiss scowled and stood back up.

"Seeing you came here with a man of the Night's Watch, I assume whoever it is, is up there. I could just go there and see for myself." Weiss stated, crossing her arms.

"Cleaver girl. Perhaps I should have hidden my words better. I will tell you, but if I may ask two things from you." Again Weiss leered at the dwarf.

"So long as they aren't inappropriate. I've heard rumours that while you were here with the king most of your time was in the brothels." The dwarf before her just laughed.

"So you were here back then, irrelevant. I want to know your name, and if you'd be so kind as to not lie to me, should we meet again. I will do the same to you, honesty, just between the two of us." Weiss considered it for a while and the put her hand out to shake his.

"Weiss Schnee, and I'll agree to not lying to you. However, if I don't want to tell you something I won't lie, I simply won't tell." Tyrion shook her hand with a smirk.

"Intriguing, versed in… politics perhaps?"

"You only said two things, Tyrion." Weiss said with a smile. The dwarf laughed and nodded.

"The one up at the wall was a boy. His name was Lie Ren, please remember my honesty in the future." Ren! Ren's here. So it's not just me, someone else from… home. Tyrion waddled away leaving Weiss with a sparkle in her eyes as she thought about Ren. He was quiet and they never really spoke, but she still considered him an ally, a friend. In this world he would be her closest friend.

Walking back towards her quarters she was headed off by Robb. Grey Wind was at his side as well as Luwin lurking beyond. Weiss looked up at him from her height of five foot three. Robb was currently five foot ten, tall for a fifteen year old boy but his father Eddard had reached over six foot.

"You disrespected me in front of everyone." Robb growled, hand filled gloves curling into fists at his side. I don't have time for this. Weiss thought as she sighed.

"You showed no courtesy to a guest and you say I had disrespect? Just remember I am not one of your people and I can best anyone here." She saw his eyes twitch and Luwin come forward. Perfect. "Maester Luwin, you should instruct him more on his manners. I wonder what would have happened if the wolves had of torn apart a Lannister?"

Seeing both of their expressions change for the worse, she knew they'd understood. Even though she was new to these lands and their rules, she'd been reading and reading, trying to get an understanding of how this world work. In her readings there was plenty about wars, the great houses falling into conflict time and time again. Just as would have happened if Tyrion lost his life to the Stark boy's wolves.

"We believe a Lannister pushed Bran from the tower… and sent the man to kill Bran not mother. He may have…"

"Seen something…" Weiss finished his sentence and turned to look at the wall as she pondered the reasons. But why? And why Tyrion?

"My Lord are you sure it was wise to inform her. She is not loyal to you." Luwin said from behind Robb.

"Perhaps if we had told her before Tyrion returned, she would not have intervened." Robb suggest with Luwin sighing.

"So you'd kill a man on a whim? This world truly is broken." Weiss pushed past, shorter but confident and proud. "I'll be gone in a few days." She called, making her way to her room and bolting the door. What am I going to do? Do I go south or do I go to Ren? Lying on her bed and gazing at the ceiling in thought, Weiss drifted into a light sleep.


Neopolitan

Two moons had passed since Neo found herself in this new world. She'd adjusted quickly, though everyone found her to be interesting thanks to her constant silence. She had to write down her words in order for people to get what she meant and spent a lot of time with Oberyn, much to his woman's dismay. Though no matter how many times the viper tried to slither between her legs, Neo always declined.

With her unwillingness to have some fun during their free time, Oberyn eventually gave out to his former promise and decided to let her fight. This was only a week after arriving and since that day where she fought against several of the Martell guards, she sought better competition but the viper only ever watched, never putting himself in the area against the extremely mobile mute.

This day was different however as he'd brought in his three daughters that were all chomping at the bit to have a go at the mute. Obara stepped into the arena first, a large clear space near the gardens that was often used as the nobles place of sparring.

Neo was a master at dodging and held a consistently confident smirk on her face as she danced around the sharp end of Obara's spear. When she did stand still it continued to feel too easy for her to redirect the attacks, batting them to the side with her umbrella and countering with gentle pushes to begin with.

Each failed strike by Obara angered the Sand Snake who continued attacking more ferociously and with a greater extent of her techniques that her father had taught her. The blade glided through the air, always on target but never actually hitting it. Neo's reflexes, her movements, they always allow her to escape harm.

It was mostly the smile Neo wore that pissed Obara off, but as the fight continued, the Sand Snake slowly wore herself out with sweat dripping from her brow, Neo's smirk turned into a frown as she became uninterested, disappointed that her opponent had tired without her even breaking a sweat, despite the hot climate she was in.

"Stop moving bitch! Ha!" She yelled, another spear thrust that found only air, but this time she dragged it back attempting to at least hit the girl with the shaft of the spear. It wasn't to be as Neo leaned back in a display of incredible flexibility, putting her hands on the ground arching her back before flicking her legs up as the spear passing over her. Her handstand saw her fall away from Obara and end up back on her feet exuding confidence.

"I'll get you… I'll fucking get you!" Obara attacked again, Neo humiliating her as she redirected every attack before growing so tired of it that she ended it then and there. Pushing the spear high, she hooked the curled handle of her umbrealla around Obara's heel and pulled. The Sand Snake crashed to the ground dropping her spear while Neo just walked off happy. She didn't need to show her blade to have everyone know it was her victory.

What a shame, I thought she was going to be entertaining, at least she was better than the guards. Neo reflected as she moved into the shade of a tree, watching the two younger sisters speaking to their elder sibling in whispers. Neo was sure it was about her, about her fighting style, something she knew they'd never be able to overcome thanks to her "talks" with Oberyn.

She brought the wine to her lips, the glass given to her by Oberyn along with the bottle she was slowly going through that day. Dornish red tasted much like Vale's standard red wine she could get from the supermarkets, or more often than not, stole from someone's residence.

"Hey doll. You're fighting me next." One of the other sisters called. Neo barely acknowledged her which led to a mistake on the girl's part.

The cracking of a whip echoed in the arena as the glass Neo had been drinking from shattered. The wine wet her clothing as she stood there looking at the wet patch that started with her chest and inside as the wine drizzled down her torso. Tasting a little blood from a piece of glass that cut her. There was something about her eyes that changed, a killer instinct taking root as she brushing the broken glass off her, her aura protecting her skin as the glass shards trickled to her feet.

Glass further cracked and broke as Neo stepped through it, swinging her umbrella while she carelessly approached the one called Nymeria who used the bullwhip that broke her wine glass. She watched the arm movements of Nymeria and sighed to herself. She's so slow.

Neo sidestepped the first whip as it cracked beside her. She continued her approach, never giving the girl time to think for too long. It was a game for Neo, an easy game that required some punishment. The whip continued to crack as Oberyn and his other two daughters watched on as Neo slowly cornered the whip user. With a sadistic smile she licked her bloody lip.

Pulling the blade from its concealed compartment, Neo cut her bullwhip into five pieces and then marked the girl with shallow slices, repaying her for the cut lip and wine smelling clothes. Nymeria screamed in shock and pain, the matches were to be of good nature, but she'd soured Neo's mood and the mute didn't care for these people at all. None of you can harm me. You're all pathetic and weak, slow and arrogant. She spat on the girl, a little of her blood colouring her saliva.

It was as she was turning away that she was attacked again, a spear narrowly missing her face before she hooked it and hit the smallest of the sisters who was about to strike. The spear levelled Tyene before Neo cartwheeled over the spear planting her feet on Tyene. Dipping her head left and evading Obara's fist, Neo kicked and then opened her umbrella, knocking Obara back.

She spun elegantly and made the sharp blade extend from the tip of her umbrella, levelling it at Tyene's throat as the girl was about to rise. Neo's trademark smirk was on display as she pressed it gently to her throat. Oh how easy it would be, ending your pathetic life. The only reason she didn't, was that she was being treated almost like royalty by the family. She wondered if that would change now that she'd drawn blood from two of them. A small dot with a slight trickle on Tyene's neck and several shallow lacerations on Nymeria for causing offense to her.

"Enough." Came Oberyn's voice.

"Come on papa, we can take her together." Obara hissed as she readied herself for yet another round, one that Neo truly didn't want to participate in. Yes, they were better than the guards Oberyn had her against in the early weeks of her arrival, but they still weren't enough.

"Quiet my child. She just took down you and you sister while you attacked from nehind. I'd be a little politer to our guest, even if she did, threaten to end one of my daughters." Neo found his gaze and instead of anger or fear she saw something else, a gaze that Roman sometimes used to have but this man, this man had it perfected and it unsettle her a little.

"Is it normal from where your from, to fight and harm a man's children?" He asked with a wry smile on his face, further unsettling Neo who was watching his movements very closely and moving counter to him. If he struck, she be ready.

"Obara, take you sister to the healer. See her wounds are treated and do not return until evening." With that, Oberyn left, his gaze not returning to Neo and leaving the four girls there to wonder.

Neo would spend the remainder of the day as she usually did. Walking around Sunspear taking things she wanted and toying with those who decided to have a go at her, though the list was growing short and her days less and less eventful thanks to her reputation getting out there as someone you didn't want to mess with.

When dinner did came around, Neo found herself at the opposite head of the table the two chairs on her end sides empty. It was a huge table, but one that was empty with only three Sand Snakes, Oberyn and Ellaria, the woman she'd flipped head over heels on her first day in Westeros.

"How did the girls do?" Ellaria asked keeping her eyes from Neo, acting as if the mute wasn't even there. It was something Neo was used to, she preferred not being spoken to as it was difficult to communicate with these people.

"Lost, even in a two on one. The need more training." Oberyn said before tearing some meat off the bone.

"More training? That's all they ever do? Why haven't you just ended the girl? She has no loyalty, look what she did to…"

"I know what she did." His voice was calm and collected and his eyes hard as they met Neo's mismatched eyes. She just smiled and reached for her glass of wine, something different this time, something Oberyn had said came from across the Narrow Sea.

"And you're just letting her get away with it?"

"And he gave her some wine from Braavos. Look at that pink shit, thinks she owns the place." Obara growled. Neo tilted her wine glass a little, taking it as a compliment and acknowledging that she could get away with anything.

Nymeria stood from the table and pulled her whip from its resting place on her hip, it was a new one since Neo had cut the other to pieces. The two stared at one another, Neo just sitting there waiting while Nymeria fought the urge to start fighting again, a fight that Neo knew would end with more wine being spilled. And she didn't want that, she wanted to taste this superior flavour from another landmass.

"I'll break that glass to bitch, then I'll wrap my whip around your neck until you pass out. You stupid magic won't protect you from that now will it." Her whip unfurled and snaked onto the floor. Neo just remained seated, calm. She wore a "come get me" expression on her face, just begging the usually tactical minded Sand Snake into lunging.

"Nymeria. Sit down, you've already been beaten once."

"I can win this time father. I…"

"I said no!" His voice silenced her for a moment.

"Fuck this, I'll just break her precious fucking wine. Then she can cry over…"

"Don't! Touch the wine." Oberyn yelled, hands rattling the table and startling all at it. "It's expensive, and you know what she did to you last time child." He aimed the insult at Nymeria who fell silent quickly Neo's own expression went from fright to pleasure as the bullwhip girl learned her place, far beneath Neo's feet.

Idiot girl, hot headed and soft. She's lucky her father was here. Neo nodded to Oberyn who was looking rather tense. Must have been worried his daughter's stupidity might cause some blood at the table. Giggling in silence to herself alone, Neo took a long drink and smiled.

The meal continued with Neo taking to the wine with ease. It was much sweeter than the one she had earlier in the glass Nymeria smashed which led to cutting of the second eldest Sand Snake. The Martells, Oberyn and the Sands anyway continued talking but Neo started to feel ill.

She took another sip of her wine and looked at her food again, digging back it when a sudden rush had her sweating and feeling unbalanced even as she sat on the seat. Grabbing onto the table she tried to make the world stay still while from the other end of the table, she heard a voice.

"Is everything ok there Neo? You don't look so good." Neo expected to find concern on his face, but all she saw was a smile, a smirk similar to her own she wore when toying with an opponent. What… did he do to me? She wondered.

Walking towards the exit to get some fresh air, she didn't last long before her legs gave out in her weakened state. She crawled, grasping at the ground, fingertips hurting as she tried for the door. A weight rolled her onto her back and her pink and brown eyes stared up at the many faces looking down on her in mockery. I'll get you all… I'll kill you.

"Now lets talk." Oberyn said squatting down and smiling at her.

"You hurt my daughter, that is something you had to be punished for. Yet you didn't kill either when you had the chance." He looked up to his daughter, the one she'd cut several times. Neo just felt the strength continuing to leave her as they waited, watched her fading. I'm dying! She screamed internally, grabbing his sleeve with a desperate look.

"That's right, you need help. I almost forgot that I have the antidote right here." He pulled out a small bottle and smiled. "You understand now, that even with your magic we can weaken you, kill you in ways that you haven't yet dreamed.

Neo growled silently but she couldn't deny the fact that she was at their mercy, they could very well let her die in this moment. Nodding quickly, she felt her vision blur from the action. She felt a coolness on her lips and a hand behind her head as it was tipped back. A liquid slipped into her mouth which she quickly downed.

"You owe us everything girl, don't forget that." After she'd swallowed her head was released and struck the hard ground. A headache quickly set in. "Leave her there. She can learn humility as she drags herself to her quarters."

Neo felt her strength returning even before they were all gone from the room. Nymeria was the last to leave, smiling like she'd just defeated Neo in a one on one battle. The effects of the poison wearing off quickly thanks to the antidote. Still she remained lying there, thinking about what had happened, how she'd been poisoned and how easily she'd just lapped it up. Her actions led to it in part, that she realised. But it was that daughter of his, the one with the whip she felt the true anger and hatred towards.

After several long minutes Neo returned to her chair. She ate her food but didn't touch any of the wine or water on the table. If hers was poisoned then the others could be too. The Red Viper of Dorne. Sneaky bastard uses poison to beat his… people he dislikes. She wondered about her relationship to the man and whether or not she should just kill him and be done with it.

The wine bottle shattered against the wall of the room, poisoned liquor running down the wall making a trail to the floor. Neo was furious that she'd been so humiliated, put so close to death without even truly losing. I need to be more careful in this world now. Watch what they do, accept only what I know isn't tainted.

Neo returned to her room and the many books inside it. She began reading, gathering any information she thought might be useful. She desired to grow and thrive, to leave these snakes to their wine and sand. She didn't need either, she could make it on her own. But first, she desired knowledge on a certain substance and the antidotes she'd need. How to brew both for her own future use, she was very skilled in camouflage after all.


Well hello everyone! I know it's been far, far too long. But I'm back. I have another chapter ready for you but I'm thinking about saving it for Christmas unless I can write another one out before then.

Hope you all enjoyed!