(So I'm going to rewrite the other chapters to work on. Melara's chapter will be deleted and revised/rewritten to fit the story I'm trying to convey. To keep the story in order, she and the other future characters will be included into the story later on.)

CEDRICK

"What can I do? I will do anything. Give me any task! I will fulfill it, I swear!" Cedrick burst into the room, his voice steadfast and promising, his heart thundering in his chest.

For a short moment, Ser Jorgan looked at him in silence. Then he beckoned him to come to him.

"Boy, listen well. If you truly wish to join us on our voyage, you must prove it. I need you to do a task for me." Ser Jorgan started.

Cedrick's heart jumped into his throat, his legs flew to Ser Jorgan's side. Hazelle followed him closely behind.

"Cedrick ...now, listen well." He murmured.

"What is it, Ser Jorgan…?" asked Cedrick "Just tell me."

Ser Jorgan sighed. "You will travel into town for an errand for me. Food and medicine for your ailing Queen. Venture into the Street of Sisters for a bottle of dreamwine, and then finally travel to the Street of Steel to build me a new sword,"

Cedrick felt his spirits beginning to waver. A wave of uneasiness rippled through his stomach when he thought of the Unsullied. "How?" He blurted out. "The Unsullied are almost everywhere."

"For your travels, take this." Ser Jorgan then perched himself on the bed, pulling out a leather sheath.

Cedrick's eyes went wide. "A sword," He said in a small, hushed breath. It was a slender and thin sword that fits perfectly with his slight frame but still appeared sharp enough to penetrate flesh.

"Handle that sword carefully and wisely. If you are successful, then I will take you and your sister."

Utter silence. Cedrick was left with his mouth agape, his body completely frozen in place, not even a single breath coming out of his mouth. Cedrick could feel the uneasiness rising in his stomach.

This might be our opportunity. I need to do this. I need to... He guaranteed. Then he took the sword and slowly squeezed the hilt, instantly sensing a difference from what he might have felt the day before. No longer was he the terrified, helpless boy. He felt himself alive in a different way.

In the midst of his silence, Cedrick caught the glimpse of Ser Jorgan's plaintive eyes locking onto his.

"Cedrick ...I wish there had been some other way...I know that this wasn't what you wanted to happen...I could tell just by the way you spoke...you were so desperately wanting to protect your sister and find a safe place. I know this is terrifying to a young boy like you...I know a lowborn like you knows nothing of fighting...but yet I'm asking you to lay down your life. But I don't want you to continue to suffer...but you seemed to be willing to do anything to survive no matter the cost, so..."

"Ser Jorgan!"

Cedrick looked at the injured soldier with nothing but kindness in his gaze.

"I accept!..I...I'm ever so grateful to you, sir. I will do your task for you!" Cedrick vowed.

Ser Jorgan blinked in confusion. "Cedrick?"

"This is a great opportunity I will not pass up! I already said that I want us to travel with you and the others. I don't care about the Unsullied or whoever I run into! No one is going to stop me! I know that! I promise you that I will be back by soon!"

A pair of warm hands had taken hold of Cedrick's free hand and he peered down at Hazelle. Streams of fresh tears flowed down her chin.

"You can't go alone!" She whimpered. "Can I come?"

A lump formed in his throat. "No. You stay here." Cedrick replied precisely. "Just wait for me. I'll come back before you know it." He gently swept a lock of her hair from her eyes, now red from so much crying. "Just be brave for me, Haze. I know you can do it." He made sure to brighten his voice and forced out a broad smile. "I promise you."

Then Ser Jorgan proceeded to pull out a small bag of coins and several daggers. "Here...take these." Ser Jorgan said. "If you can, find yourself a cloak, something to hide all of that."

Cedrick nodded, remembering Conin's homemade, brown hooded cloak he kept for rainy days. "I have one I can use."

Cedrick promptly took all of the items and bowed his head. "Thank you, sir."

Persistently, Hazelle threw herself on her brother, wrapping her skinny arms around his neck.. "Cedrick….the Unsullied….they'll kill you!" She pleaded. "You can't go!"

Cedrick disentangled himself and draped his free arm over his weeping sister, pulling her close. Her little face buried into his side. "Please, just stay here! Please!" She begged vehemently.

"I promise, sis. I will come back." He stroked her golden hair and smiled. "Don't worry, we'll be sailing across the sea in no time. I just need to do this first." He insisted.

Hazelle sniffled softly and nodded understandingly.

She slipped out of Cedrick's grip and came closer to Ser Jorgan. "Do….do...you need something?" She croaked.

"Nothing for now. You don't have to worry about me, dear, I just need to move around and stretch out my legs." Ser Jorgan explained.

Hazelle nodded her head with a soft sniffle. "Yes, sir." She murmured.

Cedrick bowed his head while exclaiming his thanks to the soldier.

Leaving Flea Bottom was easy as Cedrick reserved himself to the alleys, weaving close to a herd of citizens bypassing the Unsullied.

Once he reached the Street of Flour, he came to the realization that he had no sense of direction.

But yet he doggedly ventured in the series of alleys to reach the Street of Sisters or the Street of Steel.

Then the boy slipped into one long alley, only in time to be encompassed by a towering gang of children twice his age.

The largest boy that appeared to be of fifteen or sixteen years, extended out of a meaty hand to him. A scowl firm on his pudgy face. "Hand it over!" He shouted. "Or else, we'll beat the hell from ya!"

One boy with straw-colored hair reached out for the hilt. Cedrick recoiled. "Back off, you scumbags!" Cedrick yelled.

"Where's a gutter rat like you got him a longsword? Did you steal it off of a dead man?"

"You gimme that before ya kill ya." The boy demanded. "You don't know how to use it."

Cedrick took a defiant step back. He whirled around to make a retreat, only for the largest boy to grab the back of his shirt. "You're gonna have to pry this out of my cold, dead hands!"

Cedrick pulled out his sheathed longsword, and then whacked it across his face. Blood poured out of his nose. When the oldest boy started to weep, he spun around to the other boys. "You want some as well?" he screamed.

"You gutter rat!" The boy lunged at him, only to receive one swift kick to the groin, Cedrick rained down a fleet of fists into the oldest's face while he sunk his knees. The two boys stumbled apart for a brief second to catch their breaths before diving back at each other, punching and kicking. The other boys stood by, cheering on their oldest friend to be victorious. "GO! PEONY! GO!"

A sudden gush of pain jolted throughout Cedrick's body. his stomach ached, his arms lost tension and his legs began to weaken. He saw the second blow come for his abdomen. One balled fist collided with his cheekbone, flaying his neck backward like a willow caught in the wind. He staggered back, struggling to catch his breath. The violent gesture caused Cedrick to stumble almost falling flat on his face.

"GIMME IT!" Peony's harsh voice was brutal against his ear. Cedrick struggled against him. The other boys proceeded to join the fight. Fists and feet jabbed into Cedrick's sides and in the back, the aggressive boys grabbed at his arms, only for Cedrick to brandish his sheathed sword at them. "FUCK OFF, YOU SCUM-" He hollered. Then Cedrick was overwhelmed by Peony. There were no holes barred. He pulled out hair in handfuls, scratched, bit, kicked, raining down relentless punches. Nevertheless, the battered boy adamantly fought back, keeping a firm grip on his sword, feebly kicking and punching into Peony's chest.

Peony, purple in the face, yelled dark obscenities and horrid swears. "I'LL KILL YA! I'LL KILL YA, YOU LITTLE SHIT!" He yanked out a small dagger from his pocket. The dagger was just a rusted and jagged blade set in aging wood. "GIMME THAT SWORD BEFORE I KILL YA!"

"NO!" Cedrick swung a hard fist into the boy's nostril, painting his knuckles in crimson.

Then the knife met flesh, soft and pudgy, and made a satisfying squish as the tip of the blade sank into Cedrick's left shoulder deep enough to make him go blind with agony.

With a sudden burst of energy, Cedrick managed to squirm away and unsheathed out his longsword.

Peony gritted his teeth in unbridled rage. "You're dead!" Peony lunged for him.

Cedrick stuck him with the unsheathed sword, blindly driving the blade forward at a wild pace.

The blade penetrated through his tunic and into the center of his chest and came out of his back. Peony made a soft cry, something between a gasp and a shriek. He released out a long moan, as his undertunic began to redden.

All cheering ceased.

Cedrick suddenly released out a loud gasp and yanked out the blade as quickly as he could. Peony dropped to his knees and facedown, dead.

The group of boys screamed in horror.

Cedrick could only stare, frightened, and helpless at the face of death. His stomach violently churned at the sight of the blood. Blood flowed from the boy's mouth, and more of it was pouring from the hole in his chest, pooling underneath his body. He's dead. He's dead. I killed him... Nausea clawed at his throat, and he tried to force down the bile.

Cedrick scrambled to his unsteady feet, only to kneel over as he violently gagged. His hands flew to his mouth, dropping the sword to the ground.

Rushing feet darted past Cedrick, one boy kicked Cedrick in the head so hard, it knocked him to the ground. The boys called out to Peony, attempting to arouse him and grabbing at him.

Eventually, they resorted to dragging the body of their deceased friend out of the alley, leaving a slick trail of blood.

Finally, Cedrick was alone.

Cedrick's vision blurred, his head whirled, his body paralyzed with sharp pain, darkness slowly threatening to consume him. His deep wound bled profusely in the flesh of his upper left arm. Colorful spots contour the sides of his eyes and he had to bite his lip from the pain of it all.

A heavy silence settled upon him as he laid there limp and exhausted.

He did his best to reassure himself. Swallowing down the fresh fear threatening to overwhelm him. "It's...okay, Cedrick...Just think about Hazelle….You have to get up and move ..." With a long breath, he rolled to his side and gazed up at the darkening skies. The shimmering sun lowering behind the horizon, cascading a wave of colors that were flung over the sky with terrible alacrity.

He staggered to his feet, the world revolving around him, warm blood cascading from the right side of his head.

"Hazelle….Hazelle….Hazelle.." Cedrick trudged down the alley.

Next chapter will come. Next up is Jorgan. REVIEWS AND THOUGHTS.