A Son of Ice and Fire

Chapter 3: House Thorston

Ruffnut

The horn bellowed, and he charged. Eyes full of fury, full of madness. The clashing of metal was so loud it blurred out any other noise. My sword was locked with his, scraping up and down until we locked above our heads. I took my eye off the swords, looking down to see the twisted grin pinned to his lips. The man was in his late twenties, with several scars across his face, three stripes painted diagonally across his left eye. His bright red hair and beard looked like they were aflame in the boiling heat. As the blades swerved side to side, backwards and forwards, like a deadly game of tug of war, the man started to laugh hysterically. Deep cackling laughs that sent shivers through to the bone.

"How did a mad fucker like you survive this long," I grunted, stepping back as he broke free from the lock and drove his sword at me. I dodged to the side, parrying the blow, and tripping him as he swung wildly. The man stumbled to his feet and laughed again.

"There's no-one that fights here that isn't a bit mad," the man grinned, then gritted his teeth and charged again.

Swords clashed again, and again his blow struck nothing but the edge of my sword. I pushed him off, and we circled each other. As we turned I could see Tuff out of the corner of my eye. He was facing off with a man a foot taller than anyone else, locked in combat. The man lunged but Tuff was too fast, too agile. He ducked under the swing, striking a bone shattering blow on the man's back with his trusty mace. The man fell to his knees with an almighty shriek, but managed to save himself by widely swinging his sword around him until he got back to his feet.

CRASH. The loud thud of my opponent's sword crashed off the edge of my shield. The distraction allowed him to regain his composure and he came straight for me. Six, seven blows later and he'd got me pinned back down on the floor, locked only under the protection of my shield. I tried to get up, swiping my sword at his legs, but his grip was too strong. Only then did I hear it.

"Aaaaarrrrghhhhh." Tuff screamed as his opponent's sword pierced straight through the weak shoulder pads he had been given and straight into his right shoulder.

"TUFF NOOOOO!" I screamed as I bashed my shield forward. Straight into the man's face, knocking him back. Blow after blow I hit him with, only stopping my swing to hit him with a new one. I caught him in the leg with a strike, his upper thigh now oozing with blood. He barely seemed to notice the pain of the first strike as my second cut deep into his lower chest. Looking over to see Tuff scrambling back defenseless. I had to stop this now. The man, now brought to his knees due to his injuries, stared up at me. I'm sure he expected to die, he looked like he was ready to die. The man closed his eyes, his head drooped forward in the hope of a quick death as he clutched his abdomen with two blood-soaked hands. I brought my sword up to end it but killing him wouldn't help Tuff. The man looked up at me, the fight and fire in his eyes faded into a calm acceptance. With a heavy blow of my shield, the man toppled back. I saw his eyes close, luckily for him, it wasn't for the last time. I didn't hesitate and had already began to sprint before the man had hit the floor. I turned and ran. Ran for Tuff. As the man hit the floor, the ground shook, but I was already long gone.

The shield was slowing me down, so I dropped it. My blade now out in front of me held in both hands. It was then that I heard the cheer, but it didn't make me look up. I needed to save Tuff, he is all I have left. The sound grew and grew as I ran, with dust from the ground swirling higher and higher into the air behind me as I picked up speed. He was only a few feet from me now, I could see the man pulling his sword out and holding it with both hands above my brother. I was nearly out of time. Without breaking a stride, I charged, plunging my sword so hard into the man's back only the hilt was visible from my end. The crack of bone was followed by the sharp thud as the man's great-sword hit the dirt. There was no scream, no final words, as the man's knees dropped to floor. Blood was seeping from his midriff, down the front of his armour, down the hilt of my sword, and bubbling from his mouth. He knelt there for a moment, then fell, his head landing between Tuff's legs. I rocked back, letting out an almighty sigh, the realization that one more second would have meant a life without him in it. I had no time to celebrate, he was still hurt, I could still lose him.

"Brother, BROTHER, STAY WITH ME," I screamed, wiping the tears from my eyes as I watched the blood dripping from his shoulder. I grabbed his arms and lifted him up, then I felt it. My right hand on Tuff's back was soaked in blood. I slowly looked round, lifting his shirt up to reveal a deep, wide slash along the base of his back. With my arm around his waist, and the other on his uninjured shoulder, we headed towards the podium at the side of the arena. The crowd burst into cheers. I looked around, at all the rows of people standing up cheering. At all the masters in their golden tunics smiling on. How had we come to this? Fighting for the amusement of the wealthy in a foreign land. I looked at the two men on the floor in the arena, the blood that glittered on the dust and then to Tuff, who was fading out of consciousness.

"HELP HIM, PLEASE HELP HIM. SOMEONE HELP HIM PLEASE."

The gates had opened and I had hobbled Tuff inside, laying him down on a bench. I couldn't stop crying. He was my brother, and he was dying.

"You're going to be fine Tuff, I promised I would protect you and I will. Trust me. We're going to get through this." I cried out. He tried to speak but instead of words, it was blood coming out of his mouth. "No No No No No this can't be happening," I panicked. As I held him, I heard a loud thud as the gates smashed open. I turned to see the man I had just bashed, stabbed, and knocked out limping through the gates. His red hair, completely covered in dirt. His armour, stained red from his wounds. I gave him an angry glare, but instead of anger, all it was returned by was a look of sympathy.

"The names Dagur, let me help you." The man said softly

"Why would I trust you after that? Why would I put my brother's life in your hands?" I yelled, pointing at the closing gates and the arena beyond them.

"Out there it's life and death, that's how the fighting pits work, but in here, what use is there in fighting. You spared my life, the least I can do is help you to save him." The man pointed to Tuff then offered his arm out. This man who nearly killed me five minutes ago now wants to help, I highly doubt that. Then I looked in his eyes. The same emerald eyes that terrified my very being in the ring, were now filled with compassion and understanding.

"I lost two brothers a few years back, believe me when I tell you, I only want to help. No-one should have to go through something like that."

I nodded reluctantly, and he quickly rushed over, helping me to prop Tuff's head up so he doesn't choke on the blood. We lifted Tuff up, carrying him further inside and laying him down on one of the beds. The healer ran over and I pointed to the wounds. She ran off to gather medicine, I hope it's medicine anyway, but I couldn't leave. He is my brother, I will stay here until he wakes up, for as long as that takes. One thing for sure, this is going to be a long night.

A few hours had passed, and there were no signs of improvement. Someone had come and stitched up the wounds, as well as giving him something to keep him asleep and out of pain, but I just hate feeling like there is nothing I can do. I rested my head in my hands and used my palms to wipe away the tears that had been all but continuously dripping down my cheeks since the fight. Through the split in my fingers I saw a shadow of the man approaching, so I dropped my hands back to my side and sat up straight, at least attempting to put a brave face on. He smiled at me, as he limped over, still clutching his thigh where I had struck him.

"Thank you, for helping me. Helping him." I said as I looked over to Tuff. "You were hurt as well, you should have sorted yourself out first, before even bothering with us." I said softly.

"Hey, hey, don't worry about me. I've got a few more scars to add to the collection. That's thirty-three now, so thank you for that." He said jokingly, as he came closer. He sat next to me and then looked over to Tuff, "How is he?"

"Still no change. I hate seeing him like this. Like I'm useless. He's fighting for his life, and I'm sat here crying like a baby." I blubbered, tears once more rolling down my cheeks.

"Come here," he said gently, opening his arms out. I paused for a moment but soon scooted along the bench and into him as he wrapped his arms around me. "If your brother was going to die, he would be dead. He is still there fighting for you. You need to stay strong for him, can you do that?" He smiled as he lifted my chin up with one finger to look at him. I closed my eyes but nodded. "Just talk to him. Tell him everything you wish you could say to him when he is awake. Hold his hand and tell him it will all be all right. Tell him you'll always be there, and you'll be by his side when he wakes up." I could see the tears swelling in his eyes, but he smiled at me, as he got up and hobbled away. As he went, I can only guess what had happened to him. I would like to know, but that can wait. "Tuff, I'm here for you, don't let go."

Tuffnut

"RUFF! RUFF!" I yelled as I sat up from the bed. Then I felt it, the tearing pain in my back and then the intense burning pain, feeling like there was a hole in my shoulder.

"TUFF! TUFF!" She yelled, "I'm here, I'm here, calm down," she followed, more calmly now.

"What's happening? Where am I? What is this?" I cried out to my sister, still shaking as I reach over and grasp the large bandage covering my shoulder.

"Everything's fine Tuff, I'm here, I've got you. I've got you."

"What happened? Where am I? Are we still in the pits?"

"Unfortunately so brother. You've took a few hits so don't expect to be going anywhere for a while. You're safe now. Let me help you."

"I'm just glad you are all right sister, that's all I care about. We should never have come here in the first place."

"I know you're hurt and all, but don't you try acting like this was my idea. 'We're great fighters' you said, 'we need money' you said, 'we'll fight in the Meereenese fighting pits' you said. Look at you now." She said with a somber tone

I couldn't help but chuckle, "I'm fine Ruff, nothing a few weeks won't fix. At least I'll have a nice new couple of scars to add to the collection."

"Really, you too," she sighed, "joking at a time like this, are you serious?"

"What else can we do?" I huffed, suddenly feeling short of breath.

"Just relax, your wounds are still raw, they need time to heal." Ruff spoke, her hand now gripping mine, "I need you with me brother."

"For what, more fighting. I'm done with this, we need to get up and go. We need to leave. "

"Leave and go where, where can we go that will be safe? Where can we go and be free?"

"The only place we can go sister… Home."