Dust settled upon the stone floor, in which many walked upon them each and every day. A pair of shoes could tell a story itself, many stepped upon the cracks without notice, yet the stones could feel their woe, worry, happiness, stress or anger, all without a single whisper. Blood stained the stones, just like the walls. Yells of agony, remorse and anger muffled by the thick walls, as well as helping the soldiers to hide, and to keep the King's enemies at bay. Numerous walls had been knocked down due to hunger of power; shaking a century worth of history. Nothing lasts forever.
Within one of the stone bedchambers, Charley sat in a warm bathtub, swallowing the silence. Everything was still, no dust stirred, not even the flame of the fire flickered in response. The dying sun settled upon the horizon, turning its kingdom into shadows; another day without his queen. The sky was filled with shade of dark oranges, yellows, reds and purples, a wonderful sight for those who had time to admire of the power of the sun.
In the wild, Charley could use nature to her advantage; something she missed. The lands belonged to a lifeline of blood that spanned for centuries, lords with strong names, priceless jewelry hidden within their walls, men at their service, loyal to their last breath. Yet none knew how to use the land to their advantage, only something a savage knew how.
Lowering her eyes, Charley stared at the bruises and scars that her clothes hid from the world. Those were the things that prevented her to walk about, to show her face to the world and to laugh at danger. As well as my pride. Look of sympathy betrayed the young handmaidens as they poured Charley's bath, none spoke, but she knew what they were thinking. Rumors, Charley knew would likely have spread across the city, something Andrew would relish, to know what his beatings had done to her; each of his men's hits knocked her pride, each sharp cut of a knife burned away her hope, soreness of the chains locked around both her wrists and ankles reminded her that she was useless and under him once again. He was close. So close, Charley kept reminding herself, he nearly had what he wanted.
Charley shook her head as if that would get rid of the thoughts and moved her gaze to the fire. Warmth it provided, yet Charley felt cold. Over the years she had survived broken bones, shattered lines of trusts, fleeting moments of hope and joy whirled into disaster, causing Charley to run. T had been through it too, by some miracle town folk have said, they had escaped Death himself, but the two savages knew it was by their own wit and use of skill they had escaped. However, Charley could feel Death drawing nearer, he wants what he was promised. Looking around her, Charley knew she should not be where she was, she should be dead, laying six feet underground somewhere, many times she and T had shared being in the hands of Death, the marks were left on their skin. She had no idea why she was still left to live, if the circumstances were different, Charley would be grateful, but men belonging to different kings and lords made her life difficult. Their screams of help and mercy still echoes.
Change it, Charley heard a voice within echo her dying hope. The past is set in stone, the future is the gift and now is a present. Mister Stone taught you how to use a sword, bow and arrow, daggers, as well as your mind. He gave you a gift. Stop drowning in woe on something you cannot change. Change what you can before it's too late.
There's no point remembering what an old man taught you, another voice awakened, making Charley stiffen and her hairs on her arms stood on their ends. Look what all of that, got the old man. Dead. He is probably rotting away under a pile of rubble, if the men didn't bury him six feet. You've became useless. Weak body and mind. Cannot even give Sam what she wants. Broken her trust and heart. T you let go and don't see the worry he expresses. A cheat and broken thing. Why would the world cry over you?
"Stop. Please." Charley whispered frightened.
The truth hurts doesn't it? I'm just echoing what you've been thinking. Let it all go. Make your death easy, before anyone could make it worse for you. Andrew will only get stronger, you be again in his hands; beaten and raped.
"Please..." Charley whispered again, but she knew it was useless.
Stop dragging people down with you. A cheat. A murder. A beggar. A wild bitch. A savage. A whore. Nothing to miss. Nothing to cry over.
The voice faded away, yet the words left their sting, as Charley slowly drew her legs up and slid down, letting the water wash over her face. She could feel warm again, as if Death was wrapping his hands around her body. All seemed peaceful, until Charley felt her body telling her that her lungs weren't getting enough air, while her heart was pumping frantically the last supply of oxygen. Darkness filled her room, bringing Death with it, he stopped in front of the tub, looking down at her naked body; motionless he stayed. A tight grip, Charley felt wrapped around her neck, as if Death himself was choking her, yet he stayed standing. Confusion took over her making her struggle. A voice she heard yet it was muffled under the water, slowly it became clear it was yelling one word: No!
A voice she recognized, making her open her eyes it seemed Death had vanished once again. However, she was still in his hold, as her body was closing down due to lack of oxygen, which made her sit up and swallow a lot of oxygen, her chest raised and fell rapidly. While getting her breath steady, Charley looked around the bedchamber but her eyes didn't land on a person, not even T, who she thought she heard yelling.
Laying back into the tub, Charley thoughts went onto the man. A boy still he was, however, a man on the battlefield and a monster with ale in his bloodstream. Someone she loved and protected like a brother, yet she feared him as the monster the ale brought out of him, making her sleep with one eye open. She remembered the town folk calling him a monster, not knowing his true self, while the lords and their men called him dim, a stranger to his dreams and hopes; something the men took. Charley knew the man looked up to her, despite being younger than him and smaller, but ever since the orphanage, the man had stuck close to her, something Charley hated yet grew to be thankful. Many times she tried to shake him off, but she learned she needed him more than he needed her, a reason why she couldn't show T how weak she was.
Abruptly standing up, Charley held her head as her body told her she got up too quickly, as well as her body wasn't use to standing without help, making her lean over and hold the edges of the tub. She opened her eyes again as the stars vanished, before reaching over to grab the towel that was left to hang over the chair nearby. Drying herself carefully, Charley avoided to dry roughly the wounds that were healing nicely, but slowly as they were still tender, as they prevented her to move and stretch as far. Making me an easy target.
Standing out of the bath, Charley held her breath trying not to show the room how much pain she was in, but she heard herself let out a groan, as both of her feet landed on the stone floor making her shiver. Raising her eyes onto the bed that was only ten steps away, it didn't seem far, but in the position she was in, she knew her body would not be happy about it. But how else are my going to get better? However, she stayed motionless, as if her feet was glued to the floor; not wanting her to strain herself, as she remembered what happened last time she tried to walk without assistance.
Within doubt, Charley lowered her eyes onto her body, making her wonder how anyone could love such thing. Three people confessed such affection; two of them saw what she tried to hide from the world. Rumors had spread what Charley was hiding, some of them she had heard which made her laugh at how absurd town folks tales could be. However, the girls at the brothel knew all too well what Charley was hiding, some would sell her out just for enough gold, while a small amount would keep it shut, but to end up like her, or to meet Death himself; something she wouldn't let happen.
Thinking of the whores, Charley's mind went onto Sam, she was the first to see the real Charley, to look through her dark eyes and see she was acting tough; seeing what the darkness was hiding. Trapped between the past and the present, to leave everything behind and move on, but also not wanting to forget those who were murdered. Stuck on doing good and defeating evil. Driving on justice, which led her to kill many, as well as hate many more. Sam knows more about me than I do, Charley admitted, she has always been there for me since we met, has protected me and cared for me, yet I still push her away. Stubborn as well, just like the young future queen… Charley paused, as her mind went onto the young Tyrell girl. She felt her heart sink low in its cage, remembering how those big blue eyes displayed lust in the candle light, her lips softly touching hers, and her fingers digging deep into her skin. Trapped in the cage, I had no choice, Charley kept telling herself whenever her mind taunt her of that night, yet guilt always grew, telling her that she was weak and there was always a choice.
"Charley…?" She heard a voice enter her bedchamber, making her jump and wrap the towel around her body, before whirling around to see who had entered without knocking. However, she felt herself lose her footing and hit the ground heavily, making her let out another groan. "I knew you would eventually fall in front of my feet."
Charley rolled her eyes and cursed the voice, before making sure her towel was still covering her and got to her knees. However, she felt a hand wrap around her upper arm, and she let herself be helped, before standing on her feet again. Standing, she felt herself redden staring into the dark eyes that belonged to Bronn, and found him smiling as if he was a boy again and saw a woman naked. With that thought, Charley stepped back and brought her arm back from the man's grip, and tightly held the towel against her body. She noticed the man's eyes lowered and saw a glint within the darkness, making Charley step away further, and followed his gaze, and understood why he was luring; the towel was not longer than she expected it to be, it cut short at her knees, though not exposed, men could imagine what was hidden underneath a towel, definitely a short one.
"Can you stop looking at me like that," Charley finally ordered looking back at the man. "and do you ever knock?"
"Why, when I would miss these opportunities?" The man replied.
"Shut up. You're not ever going to see much more anyways, as you and I won't happen." Charley stated, before sidestepping away from the man and turned around, so she was still facing him, while walking to the bed. Her mind preoccupied of not wanting to expose what her clothes had hidden away from the world. "Never."
"Never is a long time, Charley. And if you haven't notice, people have been slaughtered in their sleep, as well as on the battlefields."
"Thank you for the cheerfulness, something I need while recovering." Charley said, before holding onto the bedpost tightly, she cursed out loud as her body shook in pain. Feeling Bronn's arm wrapped around her waist, Charley pushed him away, before adding: "I can do this. I can do something so simple as to walk to the bed."
"I know you can, but your body just needs time to recover."
"I haven't got time to recover. I need to be out there and…"
"Charley, stop. Stop thinking of what's happening outside that door, it doesn't concern you at the moment. Let me and T sort things out, while you concentrate on getting better."
Charley glanced angrily towards the man, but she knew he was right. Letting out a sigh, she allowed Bronn to wrap his arm back around her waist, and help her to the bed, where she sat on the edge, trying to catch her breath. She reached over to her left and grabbed fresh clothes that was piled up, however, bringing them back, Charley gritted her teeth in pain again.
"Let me fetch a handmaiden to…"
"No, I can manage." Charley said irritated, cutting Bronn off.
"Charley you are in pain just…"
"I said I can manage. Speak what you wanted to say, as I'm guessing you wanted to tell me something, or why bother coming?"
"I came to see how you were getting on. But now I see."
The words hit Charley hard, making her stare at the older man with confusion, before lowering them cursing herself at being rash. She knew if she carried on like how she was, her small circle of friendship would grow even smaller. She didn't know how to ask for help, she was used to people turning their back on her and T, to call them beggars and whore's children. Charley remembered them all while waiting for Death's arrival, all look of interest, yet she could not detect any remorse, she knew they would not pray for their souls, nor would put their necks on the line. But why did we? Hearing the door close, Charley raised her gaze upon it, her mind on the man who went by his own laws, his actions had a simple answer, he never asked questions and he always obeyed just for a price. A man without a heart, yet why did he bother aiding helpless children? A question Charley wanted to know, but she knew she wouldn't get answer.