A Son of Ice and Fire

A/N: This is the last chapter for Ruff & Tuff this season, and it is a lot darker than I intended when I started writing it, that's your warning. The next chapter will be back at Dragon's edge and will be a lot happier I assure you. S3 will focus a lot more on the game of thrones characters, so the timeline will be a lot easier to pinpoint than S2. I hope the end of this chapter goes someway in helping show where we are in the show. For those that want to see Danaerys in this, I'm a bit on the fence about forcing characters over to Essos too early. Her storyline is a bit set in stone, and I don't want to write 3 seasons of 'conquer this city, move on.' I may have characters meet her and those GOT characters in Essos, but nothing permanent until the middle to end of S3 a the earliest.

Guest: I'm only doing a max of one house history/lore at the end of each season going forward. This way I don't take too much time away from the main story. I haven't decided if I want to start the first one at the end of S2 or S3, but I will let you know. If I get an amazing idea about one of the house's lore, then I may get it done sooner, I guess we'll have to see.

Guest: Dragons will come, I promise that. I've just enjoyed having all characters on the ground and showing all the relationships before I want to force the dragons in. By the end of this story, more time will have been spent with the dragons, than without, so it'll be worth the wait.

Guest: I've got six seasons more after this one is done, so marriages and children will definitely be included later on. Hiccup and Astrid may be destined to be, but hardtimes for both are ahead :(

Guest: Snotlout x Yara could be quite funny to write, but I don't see me doing that until at least after Balon dies and Yara/Theon go to meet Danaerys

Chapter 41: Rains of Castamere

Tuffnut

We've been docked in the shallow waters in a secluded bay on the West coast for nearly three weeks now, and sitting here is not getting us any closer to getting home. I've done all I could to get Ruff to let go, and to move on, but she wouldn't budge. I didn't push her at first because she was still recovering, and I had no idea what she had suffered in those weeks she had been taken. Even when I tried to talk to her, she remained closed off in her own mind. No matter how hard I tried, she wouldn't open up, wouldn't give me the key. Wouldn't even tell me what happened. Tell me how to help you Ruff. Please tell me. Even now, she just refuses to leave. I can't stand it anymore.

I stormed from my quarters up onto the main deck of the ship. She was sat there at the very front of the ship, her legs swinging over the edge as she cried into her hands. I walked up to her, placing a hand on her back. "We have to go home, Ruff. Johann won't put up with this much longer." She spun round, slapping my arm away, before she turned and stared back out towards the ocean.

"You go then. I'm waiting here." She sniveled.

"Face it Ruff, he's not coming." I snapped at her, with no response. "He asked me to wait here for him, if we got separated, so, where is he?"

"He'll be here. If he promised." She insisted, both of her firms firmly planted on the wood to either side of her.

"THREE WEEKS. It's been three weeks. Just let it go." I pleaded. "I want to see mum and dad. I want this nightmare to end. I just want us to go home."

"What if I don't want to go home?" She responded timidly, tucking her shoulders into her body.

"WHAT?" I yelled loudly. "Everything we've been through. Everything we've suffered. Why would you want to go anywhere else?" She can't be serious. All this time sat waiting here and she had no intention of going home. How could she not have told me?

She brought her legs up and tucked them to her chest, as she rocked back and forth. "They wouldn't want me. Look at me. I'm broken."

"You're not brok…"

"YES, I AM! AND NOTHING YOU DO WILL CHANGE THAT." She bellowed, standing up firmly and walking towards me. Stepping down from the raised platform, she stared me down with dark eyes. A stranger's eyes. "I can't sleep. I can't think. I still feel everything he did to me right here. Right now. You can't even imagine to under…"

"…Then tell me." I cut her off. "Eighteen years together, and now you shut me out. Please just tell me. How can I help you?"

"YOU CAN'T! GET THAT INTO THAT TINY BRAIN OF YOURS. I AM FUCKED UP. I AM SO FUCKED UP THAT NOTHING ANYONE CAN DO CAN FIX IT." She shoved past me, barging into my shoulder with force, as she tried to storm away. I'm not having that. I will get to the bottom of this. I grabbed her arm, holding firmly as she struggled to get away.

"You'll get past this. I'm with you to the end of the line." I tried to reassure her, but all it did was cause her to burst into a stream of tears.

"You're not enough. Nothing will ever be enough again." Collapsing onto the floor, she ripped her arm from my hand and used her fist to repeatedly strike at the wooden deck. "Nothing you do will undo what that monster did to me. NOTHING!"

"Its in the past, Ruff. Now we can move on. Leave all that shit behind us." I said firmly. She stopped her assault on the floorboards, and scowled at me.

"The past, huh?" She said softly, her tone breaking halfway through as her eyes diverted from me down to herself. With a shaky hand, she began lifting her shirt, scraping the fabric up above her belly button. Slicing across her abdomen were two grotesque jagged scars, diagonally crossing each other. A storm of tears flooded down her face, down her shirt and onto the deck of the ship. "I had one dream. ONE. Now I'll never be able to have kids of my own." Her cries echoed all around, as she clutched her midriff, as if to cradle the child that was slowing fading from her dreams. No. Ruff. No. Don't you break down on me. I did the only thing I could, I held her, as her entire body shook from head to toe. "Now no-one will ever want me."

"Don't talk like that. You have to fight."

"Fight for what, Tuff?" She said defeatedly. "Fight for what?"

"Your future, we can still…"

"DO YOU STILL NOT GET IT? THAT MONSTER TOOK MY FUTURE!" She stopped yelling, to shove me away once more. "Please leave. Just go. Find a wife. Settle down. Have a family. Forget about me. I'm done. I can't live like this. I'm done."

I moved back towards her, "I'm not leaving you, sister, not for anything."

Soulless eyes stared at me, as she raised herself to her feet and screamed in my face, "YOUR SISTER IS DEAD! She and all her dreams died weeks ago. I've got nothing left to live for, but you better believe it, I'm going to take as many of the bastards down with me when I go. Now you better get off this boat this second or I will start with you." She's kidding right? Her eyebrows narrowed into daggers pointing in my direction. Her fingers coiled into glaring fists, pointing at the parts of me they would attack first. She's not joking. This can't be happening. Not again.

As she advanced towards me, I slowly began to back up, "Ruff, listen to me, this isn't you."

"This isn't me?" She growled. "It is now. When you lose everything, you will know. You will feel just like I do know. I've warned you once, now go. I don't want to hurt you, but you keep pushing me and you regret it."

"You're hurting, but this doesn't have to be the end for you." I pleaded, but she pressed forward.

A hateful smile crossed her lips, "No, brother. This is just the beginning. The lord gave me false promises of love and family. Where are they now? Finn's probably forgot about me. Dagur's nowhere to be seen. You just look at me with pity. What have I got left to live for?"

"Your family will never leave you. I will never leave." I reasoned, but her advance continued.

Without halting in her steps, she growled under her breath, "Five…"

"Don't push me away."

"Four…"

"Are you counting me down?"

"Three…" Oh god, she actually is.

"I can help you."

"Two…" She voiced a lot more louder this time, increasing the pace in her steps.

"Ruff, stop this!" I ordered, but it had no effect.

"One…"

I stopped retreating, and stood up to face her, "Then you're going to have to kill me. Come on, sister. Do it. Kill me." I said strongly, standing tall, even as she charged at me.

"Zero." She stated coldly, as she rushed towards me. I expected the hit, but it didn't hurt any less. She jabbed me once in the gut, but used her other hand to pin me by my throat. She forced me backwards, until my spine was locked against the edge of the boat.

"Go on then. If your heart is as cold as you say it, then just do it. If my sister is as dead as you say she is, then killing me should be easy. GO ON! DO IT!" Her hand began to shake, even if ever so slightly, and I could see the clouds grief in her eyes begin to part. She gritted her teeth, and I could see the internal conflict she was fighting as clear as day across her face. The lump in her throat grew larger, as her fingers remained clawed around my throat.

One heavy shove to my chest was all it took. One minute my legs flew above my head, the next my back hit the water. Cold shivers struck through me, as it surrounded me. One strong push upwards and I reached the surface. Spluttering a few times to rid the water from my lungs, I opened my eyes and looked back up towards the ship. She was stood there, a sad look in her eyes as she looked down at me. One of her arms pointed to the shoreline, the sandy beach lying no more than two hundred feet away "GO HOME. LIVE YOUR LIFE. YOU'RE BETTER WITHOUT ME." As she turned to leave, I tried to call out to her, but she beat me to it. "Don't fight for me Tuff. I'm already gone…" And then with one last flick of her hair she vanished from sight.

Ruffnut

I had to make him leave. I had to. I had no choice. If he stays I'll just hurt him. At least this way he's free of me. He can go off and be happy. It'll take time but eventually he'll forget me. That's for the best. I laid motionless on the bed. Every muscle aches, even just staring up at the ceiling. Not a single shred of light could squeeze through the gaps in the wooden boards as the veil of darkness smothered me. Even the soft rippling of the tide swaying the ship no longer feels soothing. Silence filled every inch of the room, a grim reminder of the emptiness. An emptiness that I will have to live with every day. I hugged the pillow, the fabric still damp, from a night spent doing nothing but crying. Viggo was right. No-one will ever want me now. No-one. Tears began to stream once more, as I closed my eyes. I felt myself falling off, but sleep is so much worse. So much worse. I could see the same darkness, but I was no longer alone. Before I could open my eyes, he was there, haunting me. Mocking me. Dismantling me, piece by piece. No. Viggo. No. Before I could stop it, I was stuck, reliving the same memory again. Not again. Please. Not again.

A single candlelight shone in the darkness. A single flicker of hope in the pit of pure misery. But he is there. Just like always. His scarred face coming to life behind the flame. The burns across his skin begin to glide across his face, coming to life within the fire. As the candle falls to the floor before me, Viggo walks forward, smiling at me as everything else around us is ablaze. I was back in that room. That room where I lost everything. This is what hell looks like. His blade plunged deep into my shoulder, and I screamed out in pain. No. I don't want to live through this again. I don't. It'd only been rough cuts and punches before that, but Viggo didn't even hesitate before he lunged the dagger into my skin. A look of ecstasy shone in his eyes, and he seemed to take a moment to savour the feeling. After the high he lived for had faded, he stepped once more towards me, re-tying the gag and heading for the exit. "You, Lady Thorston, will make me very happy indeed." As he reached for the door handle, I shuck my head violently. The pain in my shoulder becoming almost unbearable, I somehow managed to stretch the rough fabric around my mouth enough for it to loosen and fall around my neck. Don't do it Ruff. Let him leave. If he leaves you may survive. You may not suffer. I tell myself to stop, but I have no control here. I can't change the past, only watch as my world crumbles to dust.

"You won't break me." I yelled defiantly. "No matter what you do. You won't break me."

His hand slowed to a stop, as he placed his palm on the back of the door. He began to laugh, as he rubbed his hands together eagerly in anticipation. "Don't worry, my Lady, I know it will take some time to adjust to the new reality." A quick swivel, and he advanced towards me once more. Don't do it this time Viggo. Don't do it. Please. Without breaking his stride, he once more grabbed me by my neck, the metal chains around my wrists chiming out loudly. I fought back the tears, as his dagger cut deeper into my shoulder. The stretching motion tearing my flesh further and further as the metal buried so deep it could scrape the bone. A sharp tug and he pulled his blade from my skin, the blood oozing down the side of my shirt, a crimson waterfall, with no sign of slowing down. Ruff, shut up. Don't aggravate him. For once, shut up, save your future."

"DO YOUR WORST! THEY WILL COME, AND THEY WILL SAVE ME. I WILL NOT DIE BY YOUR HAND!" I yelled at him. No. No. His mouth opened, as he grinned widely, silently laughing as he flicked the blade with his finger. His eyes diverted to my blood now on his fingernail, and he held it up to the light. NO. DON'T. NO.

"When they come for you, they won't want you. No-one will ever you want you." My eyes locked with Viggo's, his lust for inflicting pain shining brightly. Then it was done. NOOOOOOOOOOO! Two heavy swipes of his blade struck me, but not for a moment did he divert his gaze. He wanted to watch. Wanted to enjoy it. Relish it. I only saw the smile that beamed across his lips for a moment, before I looked down, but I will never forget it. I couldn't even reach down to hold myself. I just had to watch. Blood spewed from all directions, as everything stained red. The pain surged through me, like my chest had been ripped apart. "So many women die in childbirth, my dear, let's just say I've done you a favour." His laugh bored into my chest, grabbing my heart, and tearing it in two. "No-one will want you now…"

"NOOOOOOOOOOOO!" I jolted awake, drenched in a coating of sweat, from head to toe. Hair covered my eyes, and blonde strands scattered all around on the bed, as if I'd pulled it out trying to escape the nightmare. I pulled the sheet up tight to my chest, hugging it close, as every muscle in my body shuck uncontrollably. I reached for the pillow, cuddling it, as more tears trickled down my face. The room was no longer pitch black, but Viggo's face still stuck out in front of me. His smile permanently engraved on my eyelids, choking me as I clutched at my throat trying to breath. A cone of light shone into the room, as Johann barged into the room. His hat laid bent to one side, and his beard hung loose instead of the being tied, as he rushed to my side.

"Lady Ruffnut. Lady Ruffnut." He said in a panic. I could no longer see him, instead just staring forward blankly. I felt the cold fabric, as he shoved a pouch of liquid into my hand "Drink this." I shakenly rose it to my mouth, taking long deep gulps of the water. Although half of it must have trickled to the sides, or down my chin, I emptied it completely. I shut my eyes, taking deep breaths, as the daggers in my chest slowly started to fade. "The same nightmare again, my Lady?" Johann asked sheepishly. With a nod, I opened my eyes. The black shadow looming to every direction slowly receded, and soon the entire room was bathed in a soft orange glow. Only as I looked to the side did I see him, stood at the door with a face stricken with shock. He looked almost in as bad of a state as me, a face painted black and blue, but it was the same look I got off Tuff. I can't take that from you as well, Dagur. I can't.

"Dagur. Don't! I don't want your pity!" I shouted, as he rushed in through the doorway.

"You need help, Ruffnut." He replied calmly, standing by the other side of the bed.

"HELP! I'm far beyond help. I waited here. Tuff wanted to go, but if you said you'd be here, I thought you would. You lied." I lashed out, giving him a hateful stare.

"I'm sorry. We did all we could to get you out. I couldn't get away." He protested, putting his hands up to surrender.

"You were too late." I wept, my tone breaking halfway through. "You were too late."

"You've been through a lot." He sighed heavily, "But you weren't the only one who suffered there."

"I suffered more than you." I growled. "Now can we just go."

"Go where, Ruffnut? I'm not staying in Westeros. I can't. Not after everything."

I threw the pillow I was holding across the room, as I turned to face Yohann. "We're going back to Essos. Right now. Let's go!" I'm sorry Tuff. I can't protect you, and I won't burden you with my miserable life. If I stay with you, you will die. Either because I fail to save you, or because you are trying to save me, you will suffer. I'm broken. Only someone as broken as me could possibly understand. I'm sorry. "Don't question it. We're going! Now! I won't let Tuff suffer because of me."

Dagur stepped forward, leaning closer, before asking gingerly, "Won't he suffer more if you leave him now?" I know he'll suffer now. But he'll be alive. I'm doing this for him. He needs to live for our house. He can keep the Thorston House going.

"ENOUGH! We leave now, or you'll have to explain to him Tuff that his sister killed herself because you tried keeping her here." I bellowed at them. Johann recoiled back a pace or two, wearily nodding before practically sprinting out of the room.

Dagur just looked at me, frozen in his position, "Would you actually do that?" He asked softly, fear clearly evident in his voice. I looked up at him, but then just sadly looked back down to the sheets, hanging my head. I wanted to yell at him that, of course, I wouldn't, but the words wouldn't come out. Viggo took my future. My entire life. Now I have nothing. Even Tuff will grow to hate me. No. I wouldn't do it. Viggo has to die, before I would ever go that far. I couldn't look up to meet him, just instead falling into another storm of tears.

"Just go. Get the ship ready. We leave as soon as we can."

Tuff

Soaking, cold, and empty inside, I walked away. Hours and hours, I walked, but I eventually made it. The tall manned walls did threaten to keep me out, but I no longer cared and headed towards Lannisport anyway. I had to use some of the few coins I had to pay off the guards, so I could get inside, but I did it without a second thought. With the remaining coins I had tucked away inside my boot, I purchased some spare clothes, which were more like rags, and headed deeper into the town. I didn't have much left, but with what I had, I headed straight for the nearest tavern. With every step, all I could feel was more and more guilt. I was too late. I couldn't save her. Now she'll hate me forever. It took me a while to find one, but I got there, and it was going to be a long night. I'm sorry Ruff. I'm sorry.

"Another tankard of mead, my good man." I requested, sliding across the last of my money. Is that my fifth? My sixth? Tenth? Does it matter? Ruff hates me. I've got nothing left. Nothing. It was always the two of us, and now, just like that, I'm on my own. The barkeep slid the drink across to me, and I instantly picked it up and half was gone in a second. I slammed it back down, sighing heavily, as I was nearly knocked to the floor by a very drunk Lannister soldier. I reacted just in time to catch the man, before he toppled fully over and slammed his head on the corner of table. I hauled him to the side, and planted him on the seat next to me.

The man swayed side-to-side on his chair, as he rested his head on my shoulder, "Thank… youuuuu… Friend…" I couldn't help laughing along with the man, I only wish I'd been able to get that drunk. I picked up the tankard and finished the rest of the mead, hoping somehow for it to hit me instantly. "One… for me… And… another drink for… my friend… here." The soldier slurred, flicking a coin towards the man serving, and he soon passed across another two frothing overflowing cups our way.

"Thanks. I really needed this." I smiled at him. "Been a rough day."

He slapped a hand on my shoulder, "No problem… Lannisters… always pay their debts." He turned to face the table, and in one long swig, he fully downed his tankard, slamming it down on the table and cheering loudly.

"So, what's got you in here drowning your sorrows?" I asked, as I started to go through my drink. He chucked more coins towards the front, and the drinks in front of him kept piling up.

"Haven't you heard?" He asked, and I just shook my head. "Stannis… he's left Storm's end… to attack King's Landing. We've been told… every man not needed here… gotta join up… we're leaving for the capital tomorrow…" He muttered sadly, sighing heavily, before reaching for the handle of his next jug of booze.

"Why would he do that? After all he did for his brother during the rebellion, he wouldn't…" I questioned him. Stannis would never attack Robert. What the hell happened when we were gone?"

"I think… You've had too much to drink lad…" He stammered, taking time in the middle to finish the mead. "Robert's been dead for ages, the drunken fool… Joffrey's our King now." I nearly fell off my chair at that statement. King Robert's dead. Joffrey is King. Then why would Stannis attack Robert's son? Oh no. No. No. No. My parents will be going with him. They were always loyal to Stannis. There's no chance I'll be able to get there in time. A loud buzz reverberated around the tavern, as the entire Lannister contingent present belted into song. The men waved their tankards around, as everyone smiled widely. I got up to leave, but the soldier dragged me back down to my chair with a heavy hand. "This one's the best... Come on… Sing along…"

"And who are you, the proud lord said, that I must bow so low?" Came the roaring voices of dozens of Lannister soldiers. I sang along hesitantly, just enough to not draw unwanted attention. "Only a cat of a different coat, that's all the truth I know. In a coat of gold, or a coat of red, a lion still has claws. And mine are long and sharp, my lord, as long and sharp as yours." As the song hit its second verse, the soldier at my side clanged tankards with me, and I couldn't stop myself from fully booming out the words. "And so he spoke, and so he spoke, that Lord of Castamere. But now the rains weep o'er his halls, with no-one there to hear. Yes, now the rains weep o'er his halls, and not a soul to hear." The end came with a loud cheer, and I had no reluctance to down the rest of my drink. Or the one after. Or the one after that…

Morning came, and my head was banging like a drum. I picked myself off of the tavern floor where I must have slept, and wobbled towards the door. The bright light did nothing but increase the intensity of the throbbing, and even squinting my eyes to it couldn't reduce the pain, or make me any less dizzy. I need to get back to Ruff. I know she will have calmed down and will listen to me. I can't do this without her. Many hours later, I arrived back to the bay, where I had been the following day. I rushed off the banking, my boots sinking into the sand, as I charged towards the ocean. No. No she wouldn't. I ran towards the sea, hoping somehow it would make the reality any less true. As the sun's rays burned into my skin, I rushed to the edge of the sea. As the golden sand ended, I fell to my knees, clutching the wet grains in my fingers. She's gone. She's actually gone. Tears began to stream down my face, as the tide rushed in and scratched at my knees. I've lost everything. We've lost everything. As my teardrops began to splash into the water, I could only think one thing. Is this the end for House Thorston? Have I destroyed our house? The shame racked through me, as I sung meekly, "Now the rains weep o'er his halls, and not a soul to here…"