Holding Sansa by the hand Rhaena led the way, her cloak swirling around her feet as she moved. The castle was empty. Everyone was either fighting or hiding so their path remained unhindered as both girls went deeper underground until they were in the dungeons. The moment Rhaena came face to face with the giant dragon skull which long ago Arya had hidden herself in to hide from two speaking men, Rhaena dropped Sansa's hand in order to walk around the back and climb inside. There she found two packs. She rooted through them quickly, patting at the pockets until she found the paper she was after. Varys had told her to look for it and once she had it in hand she held onto it tightly as she dragged the travel packs out and dropped them on the floor before Sansa, walking over to a nearby torch in order to read the paper. Instructions. Directions. It appeared Varys had done more than he had said and not only provided them with supplies but also a safe place to stay until the battle was over, as well as passage on a boat with a captain who was in his own employ. "What is it?" Sansa dared to whisper as she also searched through one of the bags, finding food, waterskins, a change of clothing and more.
"Sanctuary. At least for a little while." Rhaena responded before looking at Sansa. "Come, bring your bag and follow me. We shall have to change in the dark." Nodding her head, Sansa placed her own bundle of possessions into the bag she had selected as Rhaena did the same, pulling out the clothing which would allow them to pass for commoners so that once they were in the tunnel that Arya had showed to her all that time ago, they could take off their clothes and redress themselves. Rhaena pulled on the britches underneath her dress then disposed of the gown altogether. She would not need it again. Naked from the waist up, she hurriedly pulled on the shirt, tucking it in before then drawing the thin dress over the top. It would pass for now, at least until she was able to buy clothes that suited her needs and taste. The most important item, however, were the slim daggers sheathed and attached to a belt inside Rhaena's pack. There were a pair of them so she swiftly wrapped the belt around her waist but only wore one upon it, shifting it so that it lay flush against her back the same way Bronn wore his, thinking of him as she did so. The other she slipped into her boot, loosening the ties so that she could make room for the dagger inside it then pull the laces taught once more so that it would not move but remain within reach should she lose the other. Sansa had also been given a dagger, but she did not wear it upon her, thinking that she would have no idea how to use it properly. Instead, she left it in her pack as she finished dressing and did her best not to think about how itchy and uncomfortable the clothes were, praying they were not riddled with lice. "Are you ready?"
"Yes." Whispering back to Rhaena, Sansa groped in the dark until she had found her, gripping tightly onto her as she did her best not to tremble.
"Wait here. I will go fetch that torch so we can see. Do not move." Although Sansa was terrified at the thought of being left alone she obeyed quietly, listening to Rhaena's footsteps as they echoed away from her and was glad that she did not stay absent for long and when she returned, Sansa could see her face in the glow of the flames. She rushed towards her. "Careful, the path will drop suddenly in places. Stay close to me and do not let go of my hand. Our voices will echo so let us not speak again until we are safe, alright?" Too afraid to speak in any case, Sansa hurriedly nodded her head. Taking hold of her hand, Rhaena began to lead the way. Arya had found her way out by simply stumbling in the dark so Rhaena hoped that eventually she too would find her way. She tried to find a scent of the ocean, of saltwater and the sound of waves lapping against the rocks. Before that, however, she followed the stench of sewage which caused Sansa to recoil in disgust and begin to refuse as she pulled back and shook her head adamantly.
"No, no I can't go in that, it's…"
"Sansa we have no choice. This is partly why we changed clothes. Come, we can wash in the ocean once we are out. Just bear with it. No more talking." Reminding her that they were meant to be moving stealthily, Rhaena seized hold of Sansa and firmly pulled her into the filth and waste. Sansa gagged audibly and clamped her other hand down over her mouth and nose to try and stifle the smell, whimpering with each squelching step she took. Rhaena was just as disgusted but bore it better, focusing entirely on the path as she followed the movement the waste was being directed in as it would surely take them to where they needed to go. She could not imagine how Arya must have managed being as small as she was. Perhaps she had fallen once or twice which was why when she had returned to the keep she had been covered in the foul waste. The city needed a far better plumbing and waste solution, no wonder it stank all the time. Perhaps the city should simply be burned to the ground so that it could be rebuilt in a better fashion. At least it would kill off all the rats. The first one Sansa saw she had screamed though thankfully since she had her own hand covering her mouth already the sound was stifled. It was a huge, fat, ugly creature with beady little eyes staring at them. Rhaena waved her torch at it and made it scurry away, holding onto Sansa's hand more tightly now.
The rats were a constant companion and each time one scuttled past them Sansa would begin to breathe heavily in her panic and horror. They were also a guide, however, for the rats knew the tunnels better than anyone else for it was their domain. Rhaena watched them carefully, noting how they would avoid certain tunnels and so did the same, following them whenever they ran to take them as an expected guide. They would know the way out, and sure enough Rhaena was soon able to hear the swell of the ocean as well as the sound of battle in the far distance. When the girls emerged from the tunnel, filthy and disgusting, they immediately ran towards the shore and splashed into the water in order to hurriedly scrub themselves as clean as possible, washing the muck from their hems and their boots. Sansa was crying quietly as she rubbed furiously at her dress, almost sitting in the waves as Rhaena stood beside her. She had never actually stood in the ocean before and now that she was here with the first taste of freedom she had ever had in her life, she breathed it in deeply and savoured it. Her head then turned to look at the Red Keep.
Fire was burning upon the water. A torrent of green and gold in bay just barely within sight. The fighting sounded fierce and desperate but still continuing even as ships lay devastated and broken, sinking under to their watery graves and dragging their sailors and soldiers with them. Rhaena stared at the fire and felt a strong desire to walk towards it, as if she could reach out and bask within it like it were a cloak of regal glory. She took a step forwards, deeper into the sea. The hypnotic draw drained all other thoughts from her mind as Rhaena began to stretch out her hand, longing to touch the flames, to feel them, even to burn within them. It was Sansa who pulled her back. "What are you doing? We have to hurry, before they catch us!" Rhaena jolted, snapping back to reality and looked behind her to Sansa whose features she could only just make out in the gloom, fire and moonlight fighting to dance upon her face.
"Yes…yes you are right Sansa. Come. I know the way." Shaking off her previous lapse of reality, Rhaena strode through the waves back to the pebbled shore to grasp her pack and the torch which still flickered where it rested. She launched it into the ocean so that it disappeared, reasoning that from now on a fire would only be visible and draw attention to them. The girls drew up their hoods and ran hand in hand away from the shore into the city where Rhaena followed the directions and little map Varys had made for her to find the place where they would hide. A simple and small building which appeared to be a shop but when Rhaena pushed open the door it was completely empty of any wares inside, stripped bare. Perhaps it was simply a front. Perhaps it had been looted already. Either way she did not care. Drawing Sansa inside she locked and bolted the door within then had Sansa help push a bookcase in front of the door, struggling and grunting from the effort which caused her lungs to itch. Coughing from the effort, Rhaena slumped once their task was done, the door effectively barred though she now felt exhausted. Sansa fussed over her, trying to help her to stand as Rhaena struggled with her fit but shook her head. "I'm fine, it's alright. Check the shutters. Make sure all the windows are barred then we'll go upstairs." Rushing to comply, the girls ensured that their little sanctuary was completely secure before going up the stairs to find an open space with two mattresses, blankets, pillows, food and even some wine. "Lord Varys has been kind to us."
"Lord Varys did all this?" Sansa questioned in surprise as she helped Rhaena to climb the stairs and moved her towards where the bedding had been spread. "Is he the friend you were talking about the entire time? What if he changes his mind and tells Joffrey and the queen where we are?"
"He won't. Despite what people say about him, he is a good man. I think he even has a certain amount of honour in him. He gave me his word he would help us, and I do not think he would break it." Now breathing more comfortably, Rhaena allowed herself to rest for a few moments in order to catch her breath back. "In any case, to tell Joffrey and Cersei, he might be discovered to be our accomplice. He will not risk his own life, so rest assured. For tonight at the very least, we are safe." Pouring some wine for the both of them, Rhaena drank deeply. She never much cared for the taste of wine, often it was far too sweet but it helped to settle her nerves and she knew Sansa was still shaking, so they drank and even ate a little of the food before Rhaena urged Sansa to sleep. Now more exhausted than she was afraid, Sansa was able to settle down and find some rest beside Rhaena who sat upright with her hand resting upon the dagger in her boot. She fought sleep for as long as she was able, terrified that some desperate commoner would break in searching for anything of value and discover them there, or worse, Baratheon men would break down the door and drag them from their bed. Rhaena trusted Varys, but neither of them could tell for certain who might find them even by accident so Rhaena continued to keep watch, but eventually her eyes began to sink. She fought for as long as she was able until eventually exhaustion won her over and she sank into a deep sleep where her hand slipped from her dagger and came to rest at her side.