Samwell:
"You should have eaten more." Sam said with concern heavy in his voice as Gilly and him walked up the staircase to their shared room. Having just come from the breakfast the Inn supplied to them.
Gilly sighed and made her annoyance known as she snuggled the baby closer to her chest. "I wasn't hungry."
Sam gently put his arm behind her. "But you only ate a bit of brown bread last night, you don't need to reserve yourself."
"I'm fine Sam, why won't-" Gilly then paused as they reached the top of the stairs and pointed to their door and asked. "What's that over there?"
Sam looked at the door and noticed a note hanging from it. After carefully walking to it he noted the neat penmanship and read the name Marwyn at the top. You will meet me at the Bright Star Inn. Read the letter nailed to the door to Sam's room. He looked around the hallway and after realizing that no one was watching, he pulled the nail and letter from the door. Gilly gently tapped him on the shoulder and asked him what is was. "It's a letter." Sam replied and then ushered Gilly into their shared room. Sam didn't think it made sense to rent two rooms when Gilly's room already had a bed she wasn't using.
"Well what does it read?" Gilly asked as she sat on her bed and began feeding the baby.
Sam looked over the note and felt his stomach knot up at the thought of meeting Marwyn again. Sam had forgotten completely about his promise to the man and his offer. But I had no choice. Sam told himself. I had to ... Sam couldn't even finish his thought as the pain was still too fresh, as Sam and Gilly had maester Aemon's body brought to the Sept-Beyond-the-Sea and cremated the day earlier. With a bit of the coin Marwyn had given him, Sam had bought a urn of black steel for Aemon's ashes.
"Are you alright?" She asked.
Sam tore his mind away from Aemon and nodded. "I'm fine ... I just miss maester Aemon is all." Sam then tried to relieve Gilly's mind with a quick smile and not make her worry. She does certainly take to those new clothes. Sam thought as he looked over the doe eyed girl's new dress of green and bright red, he had thought she would need a more appropriate attire for the south, as her old furs would be far too hot in that climate. Sam then blushed furiously as the baby's mouth released Gilly's nipple and it came into full view. She didn't notice his stares and tried to reach out for the note in his hand, but Sam pulled it away. "I just need to go see the man who gave me the coin is all."
Gilly stared into his eyes and thankfully for Sam, she didn't notice his red cheeks. "You're afraid."
"No I'm not." Sam replied and then stuffed the letter into his belt. "I'll be back before too long I promise." With that Sam gave one last look at the urn resting on the table beside his bed, and walked to the door.
"Don't break this promise." Gilly murmured just loud enough for Sam to hear and for it to hurt him.
I won't. Sam had wanted to say, but couldn't and simply left the room silently. After closing the door and locking it shut, he walked back down to the lobby and out into the cold morning air. Sam noted how empty the streets were today and spotted a single woman on the street who was diligently sweeping the cobblestone in front of her shop with a tiny broom. "What hour is it?" He asked her in his best effort at speaking Braavosi.
But to his luck it was good enough and she called out. "Six, but nearly seven I believe." She called back and then returned to her sweeping.
Sam looked to the sky and struggled to find the sun rising behind the heavy clouds. He then remembered that he didn't actually know where the Bright Star Inn was, so he approached the sweeping woman and asked her if she knew. She nodded and pointed down a street that ran north.
He followed her directions the best he could and as he passed by several mean looking bravos, Sam was thankful he left his sword back in his room. While walking through the Purple Harbor, Sam felt very out of place as many who passed him wore the dark blues, grays, and purples that identified them as being wealthy. Looking around a street that looked to contain several prominent and very luxurious inns, Sam still had no idea which one was the Bright Star. At least the inexpensive ones have signs and such. Sam complained as he walked up and down the cobbled street.
"What are ya doing acting all suspicious like that for fat boy." Growled out a voice from behind Sam that nearly made him lose his bowels.
As Sam turned to the voice, he immediately regretted coming here as he stared up at a grotesque monster of a man, who had a severe harelip and chin that looked infected. "I'm sorry, I was just leaving." Sam squeaked and tried to turn from the man, but he grabbed Sam by the shoulder and stopped him.
"I asked ya a question." The man spat and forced Sam to turn back to him.
Sam felt his head going numb and was sure that this was the day he was going to die. "I- I ... I was supposed to-to meet archmaester Marwyn." Sam managed to stutter out.
A grotesque smile formed on the man's face and he jumped at Sam, and in a panic Sam fell over onto the hard cobblestone. Sam covered himself, waiting for whatever came next, but only heard a bellowing of laughter from above him. "He lives over there." The man stated between laughs and pointed at a three storied and black bricked building. "First room at the top of the second floor." He then walked by Sam, still snickering.
"Thanks." Sam whispered and then pulled himself back to his feet. He walked in the building and couldn't help but to admire the mosaic floor of the inn which depicted the Titan of Braavos plucking a golden star from the moon. Much nicer than the Basilisk. Sam thought as he walked up the granite stairs and let his hand slide up the smooth railing. When he made it to the second floor, Sam took a moment to study the weirwood door in front of him and remembered the Black Gate at the Nightfort. Hopefully this one doesn't speak as well. Sam prayed and then knocked on the door.
It took a few moments before the door swung open and Marwyn stood before Sam with a fierce scowl, but it soon turned to a smile when he looked at him. "Ahh it's you Tarly, come on in. Make yourself comfortable." Marwyn ushered Sam into the room and quickly shut the door behind them. As Sam looked around the room, he was surprised to find that it was a living area for the inhabitants. "Would you like something to drink? I just opened a cask of plum wine."
"That would great." Sam replied and then Marwyn pointed him to a table in the center of the room. As Sam took his and waited for Marwyn to return with the wine, he looked around the room and noticed a silver haired man seated by the window in a heavy oaken chair that had his back to him. How did I miss him? Sam wondered and felt nervous as he sat alone and stared at the man's back while he peered out the window towards the bay.
"Good to see you found the room alright." Marwyn said as he returned to the room with a tray of two crystal goblets and a dark red flagon.
"I was lost for a bit." Sam admitted as he watched Marwyn pour him a cup of wine.
Marwyn poured his own cup and made a noise of annoyance. "I asked Branton if he could keep an eye out for you. It seems he ignored my request."
Sam sipped his wine and enjoyed the taste of the sweet liquid, and it made him remember the days he spent in Oldtown as a child. "There was someone out there, but he had a harelip."
"That is Branton alright." Marwyn said before taking a deep drink. "I hope he didn't scare you too much. He is rather unfortunate to look at."
Sam hid his eyes in his cup to avoid the look Marwyn was giving him and murmured. "Well ... he did knock me down. And he laughed at me." Sam admitted and then regretted it. What are you a child? He asked himself.
The man sitting at the window seemed to growl in anger when Sam finished. Marwyn himself turned to look at the man and asked him. "Do you have something to say?" The man remained silent, and combed his silver hair back over his ears.
"Is everything alright?" Sam asked as he was worried that he himself had done something wrong.
Marwyn turned back to him and Sam noted that his eyes looked a bit sad, but he quickly smirked at Sam. "It's nothing, but I am sorry for Branton's actions, it's hard to find reputable sellswords as I'm sure you can imagine. But I do believe you owe me an explanation, I asked you to find us after you checked on your group and it's been nearly two weeks since then."
"My friend had died that night after I met you." Sam exclaimed and Marwyn took on a look of genuine surprise. "We just had him cremated a few days ago. And I didn't know where to find you." Sam said truthfully.
"You have my sympathies for your friend." Marwyn refilled his own goblet and asked. "What was it that killed him?" Sam then explained that it was simply his age and the tough voyage they had went through to get to Braavos. "Unfortunate." Marwyn muttered, and as Sam looked over his shoulder he saw the man sitting at the window peering back with his distinct violet eyes. "Was he a brother in black like you?"
Sam nodded and felt sad just talking about him. "He was. And he was wise and always knew what to say. I had him cremated, because I remembered reading that's how Targaryens did it."
Marwyn choked on his wine and sputtered out. "Whats this about Targaryens now?"
"Oh I'm sorry, I forgot that you didn't know him. He was Aemon Targaryen, he had been the Night's Watch maester for many years." Sam explained and then saw a strange look in Marwyn's eyes.
"Now that is a name I haven't heard in many years." The archmaester sighed. "I had been a big fan of his, and always thought it was tragedy that the Citadel cast him away to the frozen wastes of the North. Nothing good ever came from that direction, only death and heartbreak. But tell me true, did he go peacefully and happy?"
Sam had thought about lying to Marwyn, but decided against it. "He ... he was agitated. He truly wanted to meet the Dragon King the city has been talking about, but I didn't know what to do."
"Ah yes ... I'm sure he did. They were the last two male Targaryens ... it's a shame he never got his last wish." Marwyn murmured into his cup and seemed to be in a trance.
Suddenly the man at the window spoke up in a melodious voice and asked. "Did you keep his ashes?"
"I-I did." Sam stuttered in confusion and intimidation.
The sound of the man's voice broke Marwyn from his daze, and the archmaester called out. "Anything yet?"
"I was running through shallow and murky waters after a wolf. Then I tripped and fell into the waters and nearly drowned, but as I struggled for air I was saved by a scaled monster with a tail." The man called out with firmness in his voice.
Marwyn grimaced and took a moment before replying. "Was it a dragon?"
"No." Was the simply reply and then the man turned back to the window and resumed his silence.
What are they talking about? Sam wondered to himself.
Marwyn then resumed their conversion like nothing had just transpired. Sam then began telling him of the battle at the Fist of the First Men and how the wights and other dead things rising and attacking them. He continued on about making it back to Craster's Keep and of the Mutiny that happened. Marwyn hadn't interrupted once and simply sipped at his wine and would occasionally rub his chin in thought. Sam then told of how Stannis had saved them from the wildling army and of how he legitimized Jon Snow and released both from their vows. After he finished, Sam had drank nearly four cups of wine and Marwyn had nearly put down nine himself.
"So ... the rumors were true." Marwyn had finally broke his silence after Sam finished his tale. He looked to the man still sitting by the window and asked him if he heard everything, The man then grunted out something Sam couldn't understand and thought it sounded vaguely Valyrian.
Sam could feel his face heating up from the sweet wine, and felt very happy as he asked Marwyn. "What did he say?"
"Nothing important Tarly." Marwyn replied in a slurred tone. He then stood from his chair and stretched wide. "I assume you still need that ride to Oldtown?"
"I do." Sam stated and then stood up, and his knees nearly buckled on him. How long was I here? Sam wondered and he looked past the man sitting at the window and saw the sun was setting in the sky.
Marwyn walked over to a satchel in the corner of the room and threw it onto his back. "Well I have a ship waiting for me in the Purple Harbor and you and your group are welcome to come along as I promised."
"Now?" Sam asked in confusion. Marwyn nodded and turned to the flagon of wine and drank directly from it. "I'll need to go tell Gilly." Sam exclaimed in a panic.
Marwyn seemed to ignore Sam and walked over to the sitting man with quill, parchment, and an ink well in hand. "If you work out the rest, write them down and give them to Tyrion, I instructed him to write a copy and send it to me in Oldtown." Marwyn stated and the man nodded his head and continued staring out at the fading sun in a trance. "Be safe Aegon." Marwyn said just above a whisper and ruffled the man's hair, before turning and walking past Sam. "That right there is the last male Targaryen. And he will the King of all of Westeros soon ... so rest assured that the south will listen to the pleas from the Wall." With that Marwyn left Sam alone in the room with Aegon.
Feeling his stomach knot up in his presence, Sam felt obliged to ask just one question of the man. "Are you really Aegon Targaryen?"
Aegon turned to Sam, and for a moment Sam believed that he was looking at the Father born human as the dimming sun perfectly outlined the man's body and his dark violet eyes shown through his shadow. "I am. Good luck at the Citadel, Samwell Tarly." He said in a sweet, but solid voice that left no room for doubt in his words.
"Thank you, your Grace." Sam replied meekly and bowed his head.
But before he left the room, he heard Aegon murmur under his breath. "I have one question. Could you indulge me?"
"Of course."
Aegon looked to be struggling with the words, but forced them out all the same. "Does a burning field filled with arrows sound familiar to you at all? It burned all around me and the grass turned as red as blood." Sam had no response for Aegon and shook his head. Aegon looked slightly disappointed, but smiled brightly at Sam all the same. "Thank you anyway."
Sam then left the room and closed the door behind him, just as a demure voice asked him. "Is the room cleared? I need to change the linens."
"Oh no, Ae-I mean the owner of the room is still in." Sam stated and cursed himself for almost calling the man Aegon. Sam looked down at the girl and noted her grey eyes and shaved brown hair and wondered to himself why a girl would shave her head.
"That's fine." She replied bluntly and then nudged her way past Sam into the room as she dragged a linen cart on wheels behind her.
Sam felt like he knew her from somewhere, but knew it impossible. You don't know anyone in Braavos. He chided himself and then in a panic remembered that he need to go retrieve Gilly and the baby. So he ran as fast as his legs could take him down the granite stairs.