We walked for what seemed like ages, my hands were in shackles along with the others. My heart was already close to the floor at this point. With no recollection if Brennon was alive, or even well, I was sure that I was going to die at wherever they were taking us. I sticked close to Arya, Gendry and Hotpie at this point, since I knew no one else in this whole situation and I was scared out of my mind with what was happening. Arya has a stone face on, since she not only lost her friend, but she also her word Needle to the thugs that killed her friend. I knew that I myself was going to be in hot water, since I was a female compared to everyone else. There was no clear idea s to what they were going to do with me, but once they shackled us, they did nothing to at at first, treated me with the rest of the group of caravan captives.
One of the days we were walking, I was next to Gendry and we saw what looked like a old fortress way up ahead of us, apparently where we were going to go. I looked in both fascination and horror, seeing how ancient and full of power it was, although it was giving me chills up and down my spine and neck. It looked so daunting, as if so many sins were created there.
"What kind of fire melts stone?" Gendry asked aloud to the four of us as we approached the city of ruins with our heads tilted up to see all of it.
"Dragonfire." Arya replied in a simple tone, having me look from the castle to her and see her have a nonchalant look on her face. Throughout the whole journey, she as shown no emotion on her face, not once. I wish I could say the same, since I was no petrified.
"There's dragons here?" Hotpie asked aloud in horror and worry.
"No, all the dragons are dead." Gendry said back to him. We were quiet for a moment or two, having me scan the place one more before Hotpie spoke up again.
"What's that smell?" he asked aloud.
"Dead people." Arya said dead panned. I looked down at my hands, no longer wanting to look as we pressed forward with our captures around us, urging us to move faster. I fell into step with Gendry as we walked, seeing him look at me once or twice before he spoke to me, finally breaking the silence.
"You alright Nora?" he asked me aloud, having me draw out a shaky breath.
"I don't know. I'm worried." I explained to him in a hushed tone. I was far from worried, I was petrified.
"It's going to be okay." He said to me, having me look at him with shock. He was trying to make me feel better, but it didn't feel right here. How was it supposed to be fine here, of all places?
"How, Gendry? Brennon is no where to be found and they're going to do something to me since I'm a girl in a caravan of boys." I hissed at him as we walked up the hill to the settlement, having me hear screams in the distance and it got me more scared.
"Nothing's going to happen to you." He said to me in a bolder tone, having me watch him and see a determined look on his face. He was trying to make sure nothing was going to happen me, as a friend, but I knew that it would be ten times harder for him to try and protect me from a bunch of fully grown men.
"You're so sure about that." I said in a muttered tone as we were about to enter the area, having me breathe in that stench we were talking about earlier and eyed Gendry next to me. It was going to be downright impossible for me to get out of this alive. I had to look at the reality and not the fantasy. I knew Arya was trying as hard to be strong in front of us, and in front of all of the men who captured us, but I knew too she was breaking. We all were, but all we could do was trying to be strong before we would die.
As soon as we got into the area, we were placed in a holding area like farm animals, all cramped together and waiting for the next course of action, sorting and moving people. I sticked close to the three of my friends, all whom were watching with weary eyes and concerned looks as people were being sorted out already by death. Even by the first day we saw a couple of the weak ones being taking around the corner and their screams were echoed along the stone walls. I hide within the group behind Gendry, shoving the purse of silver stags I had into my one part of my dress that would work: my chest. Making my chest look bigger, it hid it well enough. But it made me uncomfortable, since there were eyes on my chest now then my face. Great.
I was then taken from the group, one of the soldiers saw me and grabbed me by the arm in a jerk, having me loose my balance as I was taken out of the small area where they were holding us. I looked back in horror at Arya and Gendry, both of whom were looking at me with concern as the solider sneered at me.
"Girls on this side." he said to me, shoving me across the walkway into another holding area with the rest of the females that were being held there. All looked frail, lowborns that must of been taken from their homes and farmlands. I went up against the wall in the back, clutching the cloak I was wearing and looking to find Gendry and Arya. They were looking for me too with their eyes, as soon as they saw me, I saw Gendry nod his head at me. He wanted me to be strong, but how could I since all I wanted to do then was run and head home, wherever it was.
My head was spinning, my heart was breaking, my stomach was empty and I wished that I was back at home with Sophia. She was all that I was thinking about at that moment, since she was a good thought I had. But then, I thought of Lord Stark, how he lost his life for doing something good. He was nothing but gracious and kind to me, almost like a father to be honest, and how I wish I could somewhat be under his protection again.
I watched as a man was taken from the group Arya and Gendry was in, pushing to the a chair and strapping him down as Gendry and Arya watched from their spot. I looked as well, seeing one of the interrogators talking to the boy.
"I don't know!" He replied in a hoarse tone, having me watch in horror as they strapped a barrel onto his chest, then placing a fire underneath it and having me hear him scream in horror.
"They place a rat in the barrel and have them eat them out alive." a girl next to me said, having me look over and see her clearly. She was so pale, almost looking like a skeleton. Her dress was torn in certain places that made me want to give her a cloak to cover herself but she was far from being concerned on how she looked. The look in her eyes were deadly, as if this was nothing new to her at all. It made me question how long she was here for.
"What about the women?" I asked her in a low tone, hearing the screams from the boy and having em cringe. She stared at me, so haunting and deadly behind her cold eyes.
"They take us to their beds whenever they please." She replied, having me look at her in horror, "And when we refuse, they'll use us until we die."
"You best hope you're not appealing in their eyes." Another woman in front of us said over her shoulder at me, keeping her eyes on the now mourning boy who was now on the brink of death, "Some of the women who are taken don't come back. They are killed when they refuse their service."
"Don't scare the child." An older women said in a sharp tone, the two previous girls went into silence as a soldier walked to us. I hide behind the older woman, seeing her not move from my action as the soldier grabbed a woman and pulled her away, laughing as he did this. I cringed for her, knowing what was going to happen to her. And I knew, sometime in the future, it was going to happen to me. The very thought of what was going to happen, and knowing that it will, made me want to empty my stomach at that very moment. So this was what was going to happen to me after all.
"If you're lucky, they're only use you once and leave you alone. They did that to me." The woman said to me in a light tone, as if she was trying to make it a better situation. I looked away from her back to the other group, seeing Gendry look at Arya with a hint of concern, and then he looked over at me and I felt a wave if depression coming over my eyes. I had to look away, since looking at him was making me want to cry. We both were in over our heads.
The next day was the same, all of us standing and seeing what was going to happen to us. But it made a turn for the worst when I saw Gendry being chosen and taken from Hotpie and Arya. Arya only followed him slightly, but she was stopped by another soldier who pushed her back. Gendry was walked to the chair, strapped down as I pushed my way through the women to get a better view. No, not him. Please, Old and New Gods, spare him. He tried to look strong, but I could tell he too was afraid as they started questioning him. He didn't give them what they wanted, and as they were about to strap the barrel to his chest, he looked over at me finally. I saw the blue in his eyes, taking me back to when we met in Flea Bottom the first time…but that had to of been when we were children: young and innocent. I knew that was him when we met as young children, and now I was watching him die. All of my strength was holding myself there in the group of woman to running over to save him, since i knew he was far too important to die. But before they could do anything to him, everything stopped when a man was riding up on his horse, other following him and he was wearing shining armor. He stopped right in the middle, everyone freezing and watching him as he looked at the interrogator.
"What's this?" He asked in a booming tone.
"We weren't expecting you until tomorrow Lord, Tywin." the interrogator replied in a small tone.
"Evidently not." The Lord said in a snort, "Why aren't these prisoners not in their cells?"
"The cells were overflowing, Milord."
"This lot won't be here long," Another soldier growled from not far off, "don't need no permanent place. After we interrogate them, we usually just.." He gestured with his head to the spikes on his sword, having me cringe and look at Gendry again since he was close to having that fate. He was staring intently at the Lord, whom was not pleased at all with what he was hearing.
"Are we so well manned that we can afford to discard able young bodies and skilled laborers?" Lord Lywin asked in a authoritative tone. Noe one said a word, not one thing. He was off his horse now, walking around the prisoners and then ending up in front of Gendry. looking at him with intensity.
"You," he said aloud, "Do you have a trade?" He asked as if it was casual.
"Smith, Milord." Gendry replied back to him from his chair. I saw the Lord look at him up and down. Once he looked at the soldiers, they looked as if they wanted to blame someone else instead of taking them. Unfortunately Arya was caught in the fire as she then dodged a sword that was swung at her. I got petrified for her as a sword was held closely to her, having me see her freeze in her spot.
"Kneel!" The soldier commanded, "Or I'll carve out your lungs, boy!"
"You'll do no such thing." The Lord commanded from his spot, then walking over to stand next to the solider and looking at Arya up and down,"This one's a girl, you idiot." I was surprised at that he knew from the moment he saw her as he questioned her, "dressed as a boy..why?"
"Safer to travel, my lord." She replied to him in a soft tone.
"Smart." He said to her, "More than I can say for this lot." He then nodded to his soldiers around him, "Put these prisoners to work." He was about to walk away before he turned and looked at Arya once more, "Bring the girl, I need a new cupbearer."
I watched as Arya was pulled out of the group of boys and men, then seeing her look back at me with worry as Gendry was being unstrapped.
"Milord I know of a seamstress." She said aloud, Lord Tywin pausing and then looking back at her with a curious look in his eyes. Even the solider who was unstrapping Gendry, and Gendry himself, looked at her with confusion and intrigue.
"Do you now?" He asked, turning back to face her.
"Yes, my lord. She can mend shirts and tunic with no mistake." Arya explained aloud, having me see him eye her to see if she was telling the truth. I knew she was talking about me, trying to save my own life in the process.
"And you think I should save her from the fate of the other girls who are going to be sent to the Brothel?" Lord Tywin asked aloud in intrigue. I saw her look at me in panic, having me nod my head in agreement. She needed to save me, she knew that if I went to the Brothel, I would end up dead or worse. I knew what she was doing, the same that happened to her. She was helping me be spared.
"Yes, my Lord. I promise you she's good with mending and sewing." Arya reassured him aloud, "and I doubt you want to loose another shirt for your soldiers in a war." Lord Tywin paused, having me see that he too was thinking about what she just said aloud. She was smart, she knew how to play her words even to a Lord.
"Point her out to me, child." Lord Tywin commanded, having Arya point in my direction. The women around me parted, having em stand alone as a soldier walked over and grabbed my arm, pulling me with him to stand in front of the Lord. I saw him more clearly, his aged face but I saw that he had so many years of being a Lord behind him. He scared me, scared me to the point of not wanting to look at him in the face.
"She's young." Lord Tywin, eyeing me up and down as he did to Arya. I didn't look at him though, I went to Gendry, whom as still being held by the arm by another soldier and was looking at me to see if I too was spared from going to the Brothel. I wouldn't want to loose him, not again. It was too much to almost loose him once, and I had no clue as to why I cared too much for him.
"Fine, bring her along too, we can put her to work with mending the tunics." He replied. I sighed in relief.
I was spared.