I sink into the warm soothing water and let out a deep sigh. I can feel the tension leaving my body and watch as Irri shucks her dress and steps into the water. Alva hesitates, her hands clutching the hem of her tattered dress. She looks uneasily back at Rakharo who stands guard. He pointedly looks away from us, scanning the area for threats or unseen dangers. Rhaego sleeps soundly in a nest of soft furs, his little snores filling the quiet area. Alva glances at the steaming water and then back at Rakharo. I look to Irri and she frowns.
"Don't you wish to bathe as well Alva? I'm sure it will help you feel better." Alva squares her thin shoulders and turns her back to Rakharo. She quickly sheds her dirty dress and plunges into the water. It surges around me and I can't help but let out a small giggle. Alva surfaces and dirt and grime trickles down her face and hair. My heart twinges with sadness for this young woman.
"Would you like to wash with soaps? I have a collection that smell heavenly." Alva gives a short clipped nod and Irri hands me a bottle of soap. I open the lid and the sweet fragrance of sweet honeyed lilacs seem to calm Alva. I stand up from the water and pour a handful in Alva's dirty tangled hair. I work my fingers through the various knots and snares and Irri washes her arms. Rhaego lets out a snort and then a small cry.
"Rakharo can you check on Rhaego please?" I can hear Rakharo comforting Rhaego before he once again falls asleep.
"He is alright Khaleesi. Possibly just a sleep cry." Rakharo speaks close behind us and I can feel Alva tense up. She tries to move deeper under the water but I stall her movements. I pat her shoulder gently and Irri smiles at her.
"Thank you blood of my blood. " I see Irri nod at him and he moves back to his original position. I lean down to whisper in Alva's ear.
"Do not fear Rakharo young one. He is my guard and blood of my blood. He is also Irri's sun and stars." Alva looks to Irri and she smiles widely. I tap her shoulder and motion for her to dunk her hair. She complies and when she comes up she stares at me with a contemplative gaze.
"Why are you so kind to me?" She slumps her shoulders and looks dejectedly into the water.
"Why wouldn't I be. You are also a Khaleesi." Her gray eyes shine with tears and she throws her arms around me in a tight hug. I pat her back and murmur soothingly to her. Irri smiles at us.
"You will find that my Khaleesi is a wonderful person." Irri looks to Alva with soft eyes and I smile my thanks to her.
...
A short time later I sit by the fire in our tent and brush the tangles from Alva's hair. She sits cross-legged in front of me, eating a bowl of stew and a chunk of horse meat. Irri sews a new dress for Alva, humming softly. She was making a new dress for me but decided to fit it for Alva. My friend truly has a kind heart. Now that she is clean I can finally see how beautiful Alva is. Her hair shines and falls around her shoulders like black silk. Her skin is dusky tan color and her face sharp and lovely. I pull her hair back into an intricate braid.
"How long were you married to Khal Rhalko?" Alva chews her food and wipes her mouth on the back of her hand. She sits her bowl down and laces her fingers together in her lap.
"My parents gave me to him when I was twelve in the hopes of receiving a gift back as well. He liked how I looked." Alva pushes her food away, disgust clear on her face. Irri continues to sew but has her head tilted to the side to listen to the conversation. I sit silent as I wait for her to continue. She looks at the fire, her mind reliving memories.
"I was fourteen when I finally became pregnant. I was very scared but also excited. Khal Rhalko had become less violent towards me." Alva's voice is quiet and soft.
"I gave birth to the most beautiful little girl. She had the softest brown hair and smelled so sweet. I loved her instantly." Tears pool in her eyes and she swipes her hand across her face.
"Khal Rhalko was not happy. I was supposed to give him a son. Not a daughter. I cared not what he said. I loved my babe and was so immensely happy." She hunches her shoulders.
"I should have known it wouldn't last. Khal Rhalko took everything from me that made me happy." Her voice cracks and her back shakes with her tears.
"I thought as long as I had my little Shalla I could overcome anything he did to me." Irri sits down her leathers and moves to Alva's side. She takes her hand and squeezes softly, showing her support.
"A few weeks after she was born he stole her from me. He ripped her from my arms and sold her away as if she was nothing more than a slave." She weeps quietly for the babe she lost and I wrap my arms around her shoulders. Irri lays her cheek on her arm and hugs her tightly.
"I was so angry. All I could feel was the hatred I had for him. I went into a blind rage and attacked him. He beat me almost to death." I hold her tight as she weeps for her lost little girl. I remember the terror I felt when I thought Drogo wouldn't want our babe if it was a girl. Irri rubs her arm softly.
"I tried to find her but It was useless. Either no one in the Khalasar would help or they didn't know where she had went." Rage fills my chest at her words and I wish this Khal Rhalko was still alive just so Drogo could kill him.
"I laid broken and bruised in my furs for weeks after he beat me. One of the midwives felt pity for me and secretly started supplying me stoneseed root." Ah. A herd that can prevent pregnancy.
"He raped me repeatedly. I would never become pregnant thank the ancestors. One night he was in a rage bellowing that no matter how many times he fucked me I wouldn't become pregnant." A rare fierce smiles curves her lips and she blinks back tears.
"I taunted him. I told him that the great stallion would not bless him with another child for he had forsaken our daughter." She grins despite her pain and I rub her back.
"He said I was a lying whore and that It was my fault. He said it did not matter anymore. He had found a new wife to fuck and give him his heir." I look at Irri, my eyes wide. She looks to Alva, her dark eyes shinning.
"I saw the girl he had "found". She was barely twelve moons. I decided that night I would not let another suffer what I had." Alva grows quiet. The mood in the tent suddenly shifts and she looks around, her eyes suspicious.
"What is it Alva? You can tell us anything." Irri nods in agreement and pats her leg in encouragement.
"I'm afraid to." Her voice is but a scared whisper. I squeeze her shoulder.
"I swear what we speak of will not leave this tent." I reach my fingers up to the stars. Alva finally nods her head and sighs.
"The night my Khal died he was killed in his sleep, his throat slit. It was no accident what happened to him." Irri leans up and watches Alva, her head cocked to the side as she assesses her.
"I killed him. I killed Khal Rhalko." She whispers the words and I close my eyes. She killed him. Instead of the horror I might have been expected to feel, all I can muster is the deep satisfaction that she got the justice she deserved, for herself and her little Shalla.
"I understand why you did it Alva. I swear to the ancestors these shared secrets will not leave this tent." I look at Irri and she nods her head, her eyes fierce. I smile at her and reach around to gather Alva in a tight hug. Irri follows suit and wraps her arms around us.
"I can't say that your life will be perfect Alva but it certainly should be better here with the Dosh Khaleen." Alva wipes her red eyes and sniffles.
"I do not wish to stay with the Dosh Khaleen but I understand that I have no other choice." Sadness swirls in my chest and I want more than anything to tell her that she can come with our Khalasar but I know that it would be a false promise. Only Drogo can decide what is to be done with her and he must follow customs. The fires have grown low and the night is late. I watch as Irri makes a bed of furs for Alva to sleep in and she settles into them with a tired yawn. Irri stays a little longer as she finishes the last touches on the dress for Alva. I walk her out of the tent.
"I wish she could come with us Khaleesi. My heart breaks for her." Irri hugs me tightly and I place a kiss to her cheek. Irri says her farewells and lumbers towards her tent. I push the tent flap aside and move to my furs. I gather Rhaego in my arms and hold him close. His breath puffs against my chest and I kiss his hair. I hold my little babe close and try to push the unhappy thoughts from my mind.