It was Sansa who woke Rhaena, rousing her gently as not to alarm her but uncertain of what to do herself. From the condition of her lips, Rhaena could tell that Sansa had been chewing them out of fearfulness. "Are you alright? What is it?"
"It is morning. Or at least, the sun is up, I do not know if it is still morning." Sansa explained worriedly as her eyes constantly flit about her. "I did not know whether we needed to move again or when the ship you mentioned was scheduled to leave." Nodding her head in understanding, Rhaena blinked until she was more awake, rubbing at her face and yawning as she stretched her limbs.
"Have you heard anything outside?"
"A little, I think people are moving outside but it does not seem very noisy." Thinking for a moment, Rhaena rubbed her eyes again to clear the sleep from them.
"If it is quiet then it means the battle must be over. We won't know who won from inside here, not that it matters. No boats will be leaving the bay today, however ours is already prearranged. The instructions say to wait until nightfall before going to the harbour and finding our ship's captain." Checking the paper Rhaena showed it to Sansa so that she could see it for herself. It gave the ship's name, the captain's name and a description of him as well as a phrase they were to deliver to him in order to secure their passage. Varys was indeed excellent at arranging such intricate details so smoothly. Everything had been done for them despite Rhaena's limited expectation. She had thought getting out of King's Landing would have been dependant upon her but Varys had ensure that all she needed to do was escape from the Red Keep, and since that part was already accomplished, there was little more for Rhaena to do. "Have you eaten anything yet?" Shaking her head, Sansa looked to what remained of the food that had been left to them.
The bread was now a little stale, but it was filling and with the little pot of butter it went down rather smoothly. They shared the salted pork and partook of the cheese and fruit but kept some aside for later. Sansa was content to stay quiet for a little while however Rhaena struggled to stay still. Her nerves jolted her at every little sound so instead she decided to occupy herself with something. Taking her pack, she pulled out everything inside hers as well as Sansa's so that she could take an inventory of everything they now possessed in their names. It was more than most but unlikely to get them all the way to Robb Stark's army. Still, everything there was useful and would no doubt help to keep them alive. Varys had even thought to put in sparking rocks and kindling for fires as well as medicinal supplies. He had thought of every little detail, including a female's necessities which caused Sansa to blush but as she was still blooming, she particularly needed them now and was glad to exchange the cloth to keep from bleeding through her clothes. It was a tough business to be a woman. Soon Sansa could do nothing but lay down for the pains in her stomach so Rhaena gave her some of the other medicine that Varys had sent with them specifically for these pains, allowing Sansa to at least be comfortable. "Perhaps now was not the best of times to choose to run away." Rhaena joked softly as she stroked at Sansa's hair.
"You were right, it was our only chance."
"Still, you will feel better once you are in your mother's arms and she can comfort you. She will have better ideas and tricks to deal with women's problems than I." Smiling softly at the thought of seeing her mother again, Sansa sighed wistfully. Thankfully she was better by the afternoon so she was sitting upright once again, going over the story they had devised together as not to forget any of the details. Her new name was to be Leya and she was travelling with her sister Numa. They were orphans from a small village unnamed on any map and they were travelling north to find somewhere safe to start a new life. It was vague enough that no one would be able to determine who they were and convincing enough that no one would bother asking any further questions. At least that was what Rhaena hoped. They spent the afternoon practicing calling one another Lea and Numa as to not get caught out. They played a few games of cards as a pack had been found in Sansa's bags but neither could truly concentrate, waiting earnestly for nightfall to come. They could only tell by the streams of light which came through the cracks in the shutters, Rhaena sometimes opening them a little in order to see what the sky looked like until finally it was completely dark out. Now was their chance.
Gathering up all their belongings and supplies, Rhaena ensured that everything was secure on both packs before moving back downstairs. They proceeded to shove the bookcase out of the way again, causing a few tickling coughs but not a complete fit from Rhaena, much to Sansa's relief. They then held hands with their hoods pulled over their heads and scarves around their necks to hide their faces. If ever Rhaena saw Varys again, she might even kiss the man for being so thorough. Giving Sansa an encouraging nod, Rhaena opened the door first just a crack in order to listen before opening it a little wider so that she could look out into the street. It was utterly deserted with nothing stirring so she deemed it safe to begin moving. Holding Sansa's hand once more then began to make their way to the harbour and the docks, once again relying upon a map which Varys had included in their supplies. It helped them to navigate the streets as Rhaena had spent several hours memorising the way, avoiding back alleys but also the main streets in order to keep them away from danger as much as possible. The last thing she wanted to do was to have to shout for the City Watch to come and save them only to be captured. No doubt Cersei had already ordered the entire guard out to find them, so each time Rhaena heard the clanking of armour she hurried to find a hiding place for Sansa and herself, melting into the shadows with their dark cloaks and remain unstirring until they had passed.
It did not help that Sansa whimpered often so Rhaena hushed her gently, keeping a tight grasp of her hand. Rounding another corner Rhaena halted abruptly as she heard more guards coming, the glow of their torches betraying their movements so she looked hurriedly around her. There was little by means of cover and they could not very well break down someone's door to claim sanctuary. "They're coming!" Sansa moaned as she shook like a leaf in a violent wind. Spying a market stand with a few crates stacked around it, Rhaena dragged Sansa with her. It was not much but it was all they had available and as she pushed Sansa down in order to hide she clamped her hand over her mouth and whispered for her to be quiet and still, praying that their cloaks simply rendered them as shadows. The rhythmic footsteps grew louder with the metallic clinking of armour as the light grew brighter from the flaming torches the City Watchmen carried.
"Alright lads, keep searching. You lot go down that way, you back that way." Rhaena almost yelped when she recognised the voice. Bronn. Thank the gods he was still alive. He was standing only a few feet away from her with his back facing them, directing his men to their patrols. "Remember if you find them, bring them straight back to the queen unharmed as ordered. Come on then, snap to it." Daring to crane her neck a little, Rhaena briefly saw Bronn as he turned around and began to walk away with a pair of guards flanking him leading them down one of the other streets. Soon enough they were all gone, allowing Rhaena to slowly get back up, checking to ensure that the way was still clear before pulling Sansa to her feet. The girl was now so petrified that she was utterly silent which suited Rhaena fine, they needed to be quiet.
They continued to flee through the streets, moving quickly when they were able and halting only to hide. It appeared Cersei had sent the entire City Watch to search for both herself and Sansa, causing Rhaena to grit her teeth and curse the spiteful queen to an early and horrible death. For a time they were doing well and had almost reached the harbour. The docks were within their sights and for the first time, the girls began to hope. Somewhere down there was a boat waiting just for them to take them away from King's Landing, away from danger and towards safety. Rhaena increased her step, focusing so much on the docks that she did not notice the pair of guards as they turned a corner and spotted them. "Halt!" Both girls froze in place. Sansa made a whimpering sound of despair. Still holding her hand, Rhaena discreetly moved her hand towards the dagger at her back, grasping the hilt under her cloak as not to be noticed as the two guards approached them. Using the noise their armour made to cover the sound of her drawing the dagger, Rhaena continued to hold it out of sight as she lowered her arm but held the dagger with the blade pressed against the inside of her arm. "Show your faces. Lower your hoods." The one who had halted them ordered sharply, their hands both resting on their swords though one also held the torch towards them so that the light fell upon them. "Lower your hoods!" Turning her head, Rhaena slowly lifted her hand to obey.
At first there was nothing distinguishable about her to be able to identity her as Rhaena Targaryen. She was dressed as a commoner and had dry, brittle brown hair. Nothing like that of a highborn lady. However the guards looked closer at her eyes and squinted in their attempt to distinguish the colour of her irises though the firelight made it slightly difficult at first because when she looked at them, her eyes gleamed a disconcerting shade of amber. "Now you." The other guard spoke, thrusting the torch towards Sansa who shakingly began to lift her hands to grasp her hood as Rhaena stepped to the side quietly as she bowed her head, adopting the role of the meek and insignificant lowborn once again. The moment the firelight caught upon Sansa's hair, they recognised who she was. "We…" The burst of delight at the prospect of a handsome reward was cut from the guard's face as it fell into shock, his words snatched away by something which nicked at his exposed neck. It was the only vital area Rhaena had access to and so with a swift strike of silent movement she had cut the man's throat open. The burst of blood sprayed outwards like he was only spitting out wine, clutching at his neck as he then dropped to the ground. Before the second guard could even realise what had happened Rhaena had turned and sliced through his neck also so quickly that Sansa had barely even noticed what she had done. Only when the blood spurted out and they fell to the ground did she realise.
Her mouth dropped open in order to scream but was quickly silenced by Rhaena who clamped her hand down over it, hissing at her furiously. "Quiet! Or you'll bring the entire guard down here!" Freezing in place, Sansa could only press her eyes shut and block the sight of the dead men in front of her. Now a little flustered and uncertain of what to do, Rhaena wiped the blood off her dagger using her cloak and slipped it away. "Help me to drag them over there." Pointing to an alleyway, Rhaena grasped hold of the first guard but then looked up when she realised that Sansa had not moved. "Sansa!" The fierce snap caused Sansa to jolt into movement. She began to cry again as she fumblingly took hold of the guard by his other arm but was too weak to pull him with the heavy weight of his armour, they could barely drag him twelve inches before they were exhausted and there was still the other to handle. Now Rhaena began to panic, wondering if they should simply run away, but to leave two dead guards in the open like this was bound to draw attention and soon enough, these docks would be flooded with City Watch soldiers searching for them.
"You killed them." Sansa finally gasped, dropping the arm of the man she had tried to help drag away. "You killed them both…"
"They knew who we were Sansa."
"But…but they…" Ignoring Sansa's emotional dilemma, Rhaena looked around to try and find something useful. Time was running short, they would have to just run now. She reached for Sansa again, however even as she did so another pair of guards appeared from the opposite way and the moment they saw two girls standing bedside a pair of motionless guards they froze. Each of them stared at the other like deer who had spotted a hunter, no one moving even as their muscles twitched and tensed. Eventually, however, the stalemate was broken. The guards gave a shout and started forwards at a sprint, intending to charge the girls down. "Rhae!"
"Run!" Catching hold of Sansa Rhaena dragged her once more into a run, fleeing for all they were worth. Now Rhaena did not know what to do or where to go. They could not go to the boat with guards on their heels, but they had nowhere left to hide. They could not go back as it was too far, so all they could do was simply run forward. They took a sharp turn, hoping that they might be able to throw off their pursuers by losing them in the labyrinth of the city. Their armour slowed them down and it was perhaps their saving grace as the moment they fell behind out of sight, Rhaena all but flung Sansa down a side street with a narrow pathway to follow it away from the main roadway, clattering down some steps before diving forwards to circle around behind the guards. She hoped this would throw them off but they new the city well, far better than Rhaena and had anticipated her move. When they rushed back out into a brighter street, one of them was there waiting. Rhaena all but slammed into the man who quickly locked his grip upon her and lifted her off her feet. "Release me! Let me go!" She hissed and spat, even cursing at him as Sansa froze rather uselessly, staring as Rhaena fought against her captive. The other guard arrived having circled ahead and quickly took hold of Sansa which prompted her to begin struggling as well, though not as fiercely as Rhaena. "May the gods make you piss glass for this! Unhand me!" Perhaps she had spent a little too much time in Bronn's company.
"Enough! Stop resisting or I'll break your bloody arm in half." Pausing for a moment, Rhaena pretended to shoot the guard a fearful look, twisting in his grasp to gape at him. "Not so fierce now, are you? Fucking pig swill." Loosening his grasp in order to arrange Rhaena into a more submissive position and bind her hands, the guard did not anticipate Rhaena's quick movement. She was faster than a snake, going for her dagger again however the ring of the metal gave enough warning to react, grasping hold of her wrist to hold off the attack, squeezing his fingers until Rhaena moaned from the pain but held onto her weapon, refusing to let it go. Instead she balled her fist and rammed it with all her might against the guard's nose. The first time it did not break so she struck him again, hammering away until the blood poured like a waterfall and his nose was completely squashed. When his grip went slack, Rhaena buried her knife into him though as he staggered she initially missed, hitting armour and bone. "You bitch." With his nose completely massacred, the guard disregarded his orders and drew his sword. Rhaena gulped slightly, holding up her knife in readiness though she doubted she would last long in a fight against a real sword. Ser Barristan had taught her how to defend herself with her fists and with a knife, but against a sword? She did not know how well his lessons would work. Rhaena moved, beginning to circle smoothly as surprisingly, she began to think of the lessons she had sometimes watched Arya take with her teacher, Syrio Forel. The Water Dance, he had called it.
Whatever the outcome of their fight may have been, Rhaena never had the chance to find out. The sound of tearing flesh pulled their attention to the second guard who had hold of Sansa who had long since given up fighting to see him drop to the ground where a figure moved in the shadows. The guard turned to face the new threat, however before he could even move towards it, a knife came flying from within the darkness and struck him in the neck with expert aim. Standing upright, Rhaena turned towards the new threat, however when Bronn emerged from the shadows, she almost sobbed with relief. Was he here to save them? Help them? But he was still Commander of the City Watch, was he not? "Not bad lass. Guess I was right. You've got some real fight in you." Bronn said to her in his usual nonchalant tone before jerking his chin at the last guard he had killed. "Help me move them." Rhaena recovered far more quickly than Sansa, putting away her knife and rushed to help Bronn drag the guards away and hide them in the darkness of an alley for the time being. "I'll see to the other bodies as well but we best get you two away. Won't be long before they're discovered."
"How did you know where to find us?" Rhaena questioned him as she pulled Sansa along with her, now following Bronn as he led the way through the darker, more menacing pathways of the city. With him present, no one dared attack them so they moved more freely, making their way back to the docks.
"I didn't. Pure luck I happened across you."
"Then…how do you know where to take us?"
"Only way out is by boat. They've sealed all the gates in the city. No one's leaving by road until you two are found. Boat is your only chance. Quiet now, and keep up." Reaching forwards Rhaena grasped hold of Bronn's belt in order to keep up with his pace whilst she continued to lead Sansa who stumbled blindly after her. Bronn kept his hand on his dagger ready but fortune seemed to smile upon them, or perhaps the gods merely felt that they had endured enough for one night and allowed them an unhindered path directly to the docks. "Which boat are you looking for?"
"It's a fisherman's boat. Small with a white maiden painted on the prow." Nodding his head, Bronn found a place for the girls to hide out of sight before venturing out on his own in order to find the boat for them rather than wander aimlessly through the docks and draw attention to themselves. Now able to properly tend to Sansa, Rhaena whispered to her and apologised, holding her close and rubbing her head as she promised that she would soon be safe and never have to see anything like that again. They waited in tense silence after that, fearing even the smallest noise was someone about to discover them and drag them all the way back to the Red Keep to face Cersei's wrath. It felt like an age waiting for Bronn to return, the moments passing so slowly Rhaena felt like screaming in frustration. Eventually he did return, moving aside the crates and netting he had stacked behind him to block the way and better shield the girls from sight.
"Found it. Hurry up, they'll be onto us soon." Taking Bronn's hand Rhaena allowed herself to be pulled to her feet and helped over the remaining crates before letting go so that Bronn could then help Sansa. Looking back down the street, Rhaena searched for the bodies of the two guards she had killed earlier but they were gone. Had Bronn already moved them out of sight? How was he going to explain four dead guards to the queen? "Come on little lass." With an arm around her back Bronn guided Rhaena forwards, drawing her away and guided them both down onto the docks and to where the boat waited. A man was stood on board looking a little dishevelled but kept quiet as the three strangers approached.
"Fine night it is, miss." He spoke first and Rhaena immediately thought back to the paper Varys had written his instructions upon, recalling the return phrase.
"Perfect for a midnight sail." Nodding his head, the captain set about putting down the boardwalk for the young girls to climb onto his little crabbing boat, Sansa going first and wavering unsteadily but managed to climb up with the captain offering her his hand to help her back down. Rhaena did not follow immediately, however, but turned back to Bronn. "Did Tyrion send you? Is he alright?"
"Little lord is hurt but he'll live, and no he didn't send me. I volunteered meself." Taking her hand, Bronn turned Rhaena around in order to walk her over to the boat.
"Then you are out here because of the queen's orders? Because you're the Commander of the City Watch?"
"I've been dismissed from my post and the little lord is the King's Hand no longer. Was knighted though, so it's Ser Bronn from now on. Ser Bronn of the Blackwater." Looking at him sharply in shock Rhaena stopped moving, standing upon the boardwalk with her hand still in Bronn's as she processed his news. She was torn between wanting to be upset for Tyrion but happy for Bronn's anointment. Frowning deeply, she turned back to Bronn as her mind whirled.
"Then…you were not paid to come and save us, and you were not ordered to find us?" Behind her the captain told Rhaena that they needed to be off soon whilst the tide was in their favour, but Rhaena barely heard him. Even when the captain gently took hold of her other hand to draw her away from Bronn, she continued to look at him. "Will you have Tyrion pay you for this as well?" Giving her hand one final squeeze Bronn then let Rhaena go as the captain lifted her down onto the deck of his boat, setting her back on her feet before drawing the boardwalk away. Rhaena grasped the side of the ship as Bronn moved to stand opposite her, looking down as the captain untied the mooring rope.
"Reckon you owe me a proper kiss now, little lass." Placing his foot against the boat, Bronn pushed it away from the pier. With wide eyes Rhaena continued to stare at Bronn in disbelief, shocked that he would do something and place such a cheap price upon it. Suddenly she smiled.
"In that case, Se Bronn of the Blackwater, you will have your payment the next that we meet. Farewell." Drawing herself up Rhaena dropped into a deep curtsey even as the boat continued to drift further out into the water. When she rose up, Bronn smirked as he imitated a flouncy bow he'd seen those other lords and knights do for the ladies though he made a mockery of it, spreading his hands wide whilst casting his body low before then standing tall again. He watched as Rhaena Targaryen faded from view into the dark of the night, swallowed by the water which would carry her out into the open sea. He hoped she would lead a better life from now on, though he doubted he would ever see her again or that she would remember him years from now. Turning away Bronn returned back to the city in order to arrange the guards who had been killed to make it look as if they had either died in a brawl or had been killed and robbed by desperate peasant folk. It was easily done though he doubted he'd get paid for his troubles. Never mind, at least the lass had a chance now. If ever he saw her again in King's Landing he wouldn't be able to rescue you her a second time, not without getting himself killed. No. Better she simply disappears and never shows her face again and live somewhere quietly. Though, knowing the fiery little Rhaena Targaryen, that was unlikely to ever happen.