"I feel wrong indulging like this."

Ser Duncan the Tall, the newly minted Lord Commander of the Kingsguard, looked over at his king, Aegon the V, and let out a bemused huff. "You feel wrong but you are still going to enjoy it."

Aegon smirked at that, raising his goblet. "True. Very true." He took a long sip of the spiced hard cider and let out a content sigh, slouching in his chair. "That hits the spot."

"You shouldn't sit like that," Duncan warned him. "Its not kingly."

"Haven't you heard the lords of court? I'm not a king… just a peasant with a crown."

"And it must drive them mad to kiss your pale peasant arse."

"Pale!" Aegon squawked in protest. "My arse is not pale!"

"Everyone's arse is pale," Duncan stated, reaching over and pouring himself another goblet full of the spiced cider. It had come from their old friend Raymun Fossoway's orchards, as Aegon had declared that only Raymun's family would see patronage from the crown; while Duncan had assured him it was fine Aegon had never forgiven Ser Steffon Fossoway for lying and betraying Duncan during the Tournament at Ashmark. "We haven't seen the sun in a month. There are small folk claiming its another Second Long Night."

Aegon frowned at that, swirling his goblet. "I'll need to talk to Maester Crowler about that… I don't want anyone panicking. Perhaps-"

"Egg," Duncan said, cutting the king off, "not tonight."

After a moment Duncan's old squire chuckled, shaking his head. "Of course. Not tonight."

As if summoned by that comment a servant chose that moment to enter the room, carrying a platter covered in small cake-like squares that were a bronzish color. Duncan quickly snagged two, knowing if he didn't then his king would claim the entire platter for himself. Made using all manner of spices from Essos the Pumpkin Bars were a favorite of both of them, reminding the two of good times back when they'd just been Dunk and Egg, traveling the Reach during harvest time, sampling all sorts of baked goods at the countless festivals the breadbasket of Westeros had to offer.

"If I might be bold, your grace but… you said something about tonight?" the servant said. She was a slip of a thing, with dusky skin and pale eyes, her hair falling down her lean shoulders in ebony rivers.

"Ah, just that tonight is not the night for work," Aegon stated. "It would rouse the spirits."

"The… spirits, my lord?"

"Of course," Aegon said with a smirk, leaning across his desk to look more intently at the serving girl. "You know they are all around us, don't you? Especially here in the holdfast. Maegor the Cruel had all the workers who helped build the Red Keep gathered up and killed , their bodies-"

"That is an old story," Duncan stated. "And I never believed it to be true. The Old Man always said that blood and bones would have made for poor mortar. He always figured that Maegor tossed them out into the Blackwater or just dumped them somewhere in the Kingswood."

"It's a good story though," Aegon said. "Like the claims that the Red Keep is only read because their blood is still oozing from the stone-"

"You're going to scare the girl!" Duncan admonished him, wishing that his friend wasn't king so he could clap his ear.

"That's what tonight is all about though!" Aegon said, sounding far more like the boy he'd once been rather than the grown man, and more importantly KING, that he was. "Treats and Frights." He looked at the serving girl but she merely bowed her head, it clear she was confused. "It's Theon's Night," Aegon finally stated.

"Theon's Night?" the girl asked.

Aegon nodded. "It's a Norther Holiday but it has some followers in the Riverlands and in the Northern Westerlands." He paused and he got a familiar glint in his eye, one that made Duncan wonder if it wasn't time to cut the king off. "You have heard of King Theon Stark, haven't you?" He lowered his voice. "The Hungry Wolf?"

"I… know of the Starks, your grace."

"And Theon was the my bloodthirsty of them all. It was said that he was inflicted by a curse that caused him to wither away unless he sacrificed the blood of his enemies to a weirwood ever evening at the Hour of the Wolf."

"Who says that?" Duncan asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Shhh," Aegon said before looking at the serving girl once more. "When the Andals tried to take the North Theon Stark killed their leader, the Sevenstar, and then tied his corpse to his ship like a figurehead, allowing the birds to peak away at it and the sea to crash against its body. He sailed to Essos and found every Andalos village he could… and he punished them for trying to take the North. He gathered the villagers up and had them dig a great pit, bringing down food and water so they could keep working without pause. And when the pit was so deep that none of them could hope to clamor out he told them that they would need to build ladders out of bones if they wished to escape. Whole families turned on each other, slaughtering brother and sister, mother and father, all to gather the bones needed. The bottom of the pit grew into a small pond of blood and they men would drown in the fluids they'd drained from their own kinsmen. And… when they finally were able to build the ladders and escape… Theon cut them down and tossed them back in."

"…no he did not," Duncan replied.

Aegon shrugged and reached for a Pumpkin Bar. "It's a good story."

"Ignore his grace, he's had far too much cider," Duncan told the girl.

"Of course I have, that's the point of tonight!" Aegon declared. He leaned back, a goblet in one hand and a pastry in the other. "This is the anniversary of when Theon decided to travel to Essos. To chase away the spirits of the dead, looking to take their revenge on those that came from Westeros to slaughter them, we are to tell stories more frightening than even them while eating treats that remind us how much better it is to be alive." He paused. "Except I can't think of any good stories to tell."

Duncan shrugged. "The Rat King?"

"Everyone knows that one," Aegon said. "Mad Axe too."

"Black Auddie?" Duncan suggested.

"That isn't a scary story at all!"

"You didn't say that when you first heard it," Duncan reminded him with a smirk. "I remember a certain little squire who needed to press up next to me in order to fall asleep after hearing that tale…"

"Only because you kept whimpering," Aegon charged as he refilled his goblet.

"I… know a story, your grace."

Aegon and Duncan looked at the serving girl, having honestly forgotten she was there as they'd bickered about the story.

"Oh?" the king finally said. "And what is it?"

But the girl shook her head. "I couldn't."

"You can," Aegon said with a charming smile. "You will. Your king commands it. Scare me." He gestured at a chair and Duncan watched as, after a long moment, the girl finally settled down. Aegon grabbed another goblet and poured her a drink in order to bring up her nerves and Duncan, taking pity on her, handed her a Pumpkin Bar. He mentally promised that no matter how tame the story was he would pretend to be frightened.

The serving girl swallowed down a mouthful of hard cider before finally saying, "The tale begins during the reign of your uncle, Aerys. On a little used path near the God's Eye Karia of house Spicer…"

~MC~MC~MC~

Karia snapped back in her seat, at once her neck aching from the action.

"'orry 'bou' 'a'," the carriage driver called out. He was a squat little thing who was missing half his teeth and thus when he tried to talk his words came out utterly muddled, blending together so one had to focus to actually understand what he was trying to say. ''oa' ain' 'at 'ared for, mi la'y."

"Try and be careful!" Karia snapped in frustration, leaning towards the window and calling out so he could hear her over the clatter of hooves. "Its bad enough that we are already so late I don't want the wagon breaking down because you couldn't watch out for holes in the road!"

"'e'll 'e fi'e, mi'la'y!" the driver called out, trying to make his words sound cheerful but only causing Karia to grimace at how he butchered common speech.

"We better," Karia declared in annoyance before settling back in the carriage. She had been trying to catch a few winks of sleep, as the last thing she wanted was to be yawning when they finally arrived, but the road was so full of divots and ruts that she'd already been awoken three times by the sudden bumps. 'And that's the best way to describe this journey,' she thought bitterly. 'Full of bumps.'

This was supposed to be the first step towards a grander life for Karia Spicer but it seemed like fate was doing all it could to make things difficult.

Karia had only been a lady for a few years, thanks in part to her father being elevated by the newly ascended Lord of Casterly Rock, Tytos Lannister. The boy of only ten and 3 had selected Karia's father to join the rnaks of Westerosi nobility due to his services in providing all manner of goods and, well, spices, to the lands. In truth it was that her father was very rich and Lord Tytos wanted to make the man feel endebted to him. She had an older sister and two brothers and they had already been eyed up by their neighbors as potential matches even before they had been given their new status. Yet while she had only been called 'milday' for a few years ever since she could walk Karia had known she was meant for grand and stately things. She was smarter than the other children around her and far cuter too… everyone said so. And as she'd grown that childish charm had turned into true beauty, one that was meant for more than her simply marrying another minor lord's son and tying her family closer to the Westerlands.

No… she was meant to be a grand lady known throughout Westeros.

Karia leaned back and thought about what life would be like then. Able to sit in her castle, drinking spiced wines, having someone wait on her hand and foot, not needing to do anything at all. Yes… that was the life she wanted. That she needed. That she DESERVED.

It was why she had pestered her parents into looking beyond the Westerlands for opportunities. For months she had pleaded with them to send ravens out to the great houses of Westeros, to find noble daughters in need of ladies in waiting. She dreamed of Highgarden, of Riverrun, of the Red Keep itself. Places where she might prove herself. Finally her mother had given in and seen the wisdom in Karia's suggestions…

And then the first bump.

They had gotten back several replies and it had finally been decided that Karia would go to House Inchfield. While it was a house of the Reach it had been far smaller than she'd hoped but in the end she'd accepted… only to discover that her mother had also received a request by Lady Lothston. When she'd confronted her parents they had dared to tell her that her sister Jeyne would be the one that would be going.

"She is your elder sister and it is time to find her a match. This will be good for her!" Her mother had smiled at that and Karia had forced herself not to spit in her face. Jeyne was a pathetic little thing, constantly wishing she could do more in the world. She spent so much time with the Maester going through his books that Karia knew, had she been born a boy, they would have sent her to the Citadel. Jeyne would have no idea how to take advantage of the opportunity being granted her! She would squander it! Not like Karia.

She hadn't said any of that, of course. No… she had merely returned to her rooms and ordered a servant, on penalty of having her tongue ripped out if she spoke a word, to pack her things while Karia had scribbled out a few quick letters. One to Lady Lothston to state that the family would accept… and one to her parents, warning them not to interfere. She'd snuck out in the middle of the night, hating that she couldn't have the grand farewell she deserved, and begun on the journey all on her lonesome, using her father's name to get where she needed to go.

'They have no choice but to leave me be,' Karia thought as the carriage hit another bump. 'Father would not risk the embarrassment of trying to have me recalled. He would-'

A shriek filled the air, making her jump.

Karia sat in utter terror, trying to press her body and make it as small as possible against the padded seat of the carriage. The scream… it was lasting far too long. 10 seconds… 20… 30… 40! It seemed to go on and on, growing louder. A continuous cry that never waivered or altered other than its strength growing on the winds. It made Karia tremble, all her earlier anger and bravado fading away as she heard that terrible sound bursting into the window and worming its way into her brain. It was driving her mad and soon she clutched her hands to her ears and squeezed her eyes shut, pleading with the Seven to make it stop-!

Finally the sound began to decrease again and, after another minute, was so faint that she couldn't be sure if she was still hearing it or if it was purely her imagination. Slowly, almost painfully, she straighten her self back up and looked about, realizing that the carriage had come to a stop. She trembled, her nerves utterly frayed, and turned her head towards the curtained window, wondering if it… if it was safe to peak her head out, to find out why-

"So''y mi'ad'," the driver said, his round moon face suddenly pearing at her from the window, making her jump. "S'a''led 'a 'o'se."

"What… what was that?"

''ynx."

"A… what?"

"A 'ynx." Karia just started at him and the driver smiled a gummy grin. "Or ol 'ad Da'ella go' a'o'her 'id."

It took a moment for Karia to translate that last part and when she realized what the man was saying she scowled. She'd heard at one of the taverns she'd stayed at some of the rumors going around about Lady Lohtstron… chief among them that she captured naughty children and hauled them away, never to be seen again. She didn't find the joke humorous at all so she merely stared down the driver before he finally shrugged and pulled away from the window. There was a muddled call and the horses began to trot again, getting them going.

Karia frowned, looking out upon the dark countryside… and did her best to not flinch when she saw dark shapes suddenly burst from a tree and take flight, telling herself they were merely birds.

The strange scream soon left her mind as they took a bend and she saw it at last the castle that would be her new home for a while.

Harrenhal.

The largest castle in all of Westeros. Center of so many grand and amazing events. Aegon the Conqueror had taken it. The Old King had held his great council there. Daemon Targaryen had battled Aemon One Eye above it. The castle of Harren the Black was steeped in history and soon Karia would be able to place her own name amongst those great men. She knew that many would have looked at the looming structure with its melted towards and dark stonework and trembled in terror but Karia didn't fear the place. How could she when it was going to give her all she desired? A position… a life! It made her giddy! And besides it wasn't that frightening at all. She could see torches lit at the gate and several windows were illuminated with candle light, piercing the darkness.

The wagon rolled along the path, pausing finally in the main courtyard as a guard with a spear walked up to the carriage door. He opened his mouth to say something but Karia never got to hear what he might have been ready to ask as suddenly a strong feminine voice called out behind him.

"Leave her be, she has had a long journey!" The guard nodded and pulled away, allowing Karia to emerge from the carriage and look upon the new arrival.

She was beautiful.

Pale skin that seemed to glow under the moon. Fiery red hair that hung down to her shoulders. A lithe yet strong form… which she needed to carry the armor she wore, black as the night itself. Crimson lips that parted to reveal pearl-white teeth. Though she was most likely in her late 20s she had an eternal beauty to her, like something made by the gods that had been left for mortals to find.

"A long delayed journey as well."

At once Karia curtseyed. "Lady Lothrstron."

The woman in question laughed lightly at that, her amusement like sept bells. "Oh, none of that! Please, call me Danelle. We are going to be good friends, you and I, and good friends should not barricade themselves with formalities!" She hurried to Karia and took her hands in her own. "It is so good to see you at last! I was so worried when you were delayed."

"The recent rains flooded the river… we had to detour."

"As I said to the Maester," Danelle declared. "He thought you were dead… he is a bothersome creature, always thinking the worst!" She turned and began to walk, linking her arm with Karia and forcing her to follow after. "Let the servants get your things… you are my lady in waiting and I don't want you wasting time on such trival matters! Are you hungry? The cook has long gone to bed but we could sneak into the kitchen to find something… I often have cravings late at night so I know my way around."

'How could anyone thing this woman to be a monster?' Karia thought at Danelle led her into the main structure of Harrenhal, leaving the carriage and its mud-mouthed driver behind. Danelle happily yammered away about the castle and all she hoped the two of them would do, passing by sleepy-looking servants who she greeted by name. She'd heard so many mutterings about Danelle Lothrstron but the woman that had latched onto her side was more like a puppy giddy that her mistress had returned from a trip than the savage wolf people made her out to be.

It was for that reason that Karia didn't protest as they clearly excited noblewoman declared that she MUST give Karia a tour of Harrenhal.

"The smoke isn't getting to you, is it?" Danelle asked in concern as they made their way down a hallway, gesturing towards one of the many torches that hung on th wall, illuminating their path. "Because of how big the castle is we need to keep them lit all the time, or else we'd never be able to properly travel."

"Its fine," Karia assured her.

That was a lie.

The air was thick and heavy and it was making her eyes water. Her throat burned but she didn't want to cough, worried that doing so would annoy the noblewoman… and prove that Karia didn't belong. After all Danelle was moving about the halls without any problem, an endless stream of facts and information filling the air nearly as much as the choking smoke. It seemed that every room had its own place in history and Karia tried her hardest to keep track of it all.

"Here is where the Old King killed Harren the Black and his sons on his dragon, Seasmoke. Oh, and this is where Gargon the Guest was killed during the Maegor's war. Of course there is the Widow's Tower where…"

Names and dates and places all blended together into a chaotic mess and Karia blinked her watery eyes as they passed servants. She nodded and fought back yawns as Danelle introduced her to Princess Rhaena who merely glared at her with black sightless eyes and wished well Lord Harren as he ran by in a rush, fire chasing him. They went up steps that led to the underground cells and traveled to the godswood where the Heartstree weapt. They walked through towers and Karia heard music that was harsh and jarring and screams that were soothing and all around her a thick haze danced about-

"Oh, careful there!" Danelle exclaimed and Karia blinked only to let out a cry, ripping herself away from the doorway that led to… nothing. Just a drop, straight down. "I knew you were too tired, I knew it!" Danelle said, clearly concerned. "I am so sorry… I was so excited to meet you but I wasn't thinking! You could have fallen if I wasn't paying attention. Please forgive me-"

Karia panted, her heart racing, all feelings of weariness leaving her after that shocking moment. "I am fine… I swear." She forced herself to smile. "I merely wanted to look."

Danelle considered her for a moment before nodding, accepting the claim. "Well, we are almost done. I wish to introduce you to a few people. Come, come!" Danelle once more wrapped her arm around Karia and dragged her along. It took nearly twenty minutes but they finally reached the bridge that connected the Widow's Tower (where they had been… apparently Danelle had been showing her a broken bridge that was supposed to lead to the Tower of Ghosts when Karia's had nearly sleptwalked into the darkness) to the Kingspyre.

"Are you okay going across?" Danelle asked and Karia forced herself to nod, refusing to show how scared she was to making her way across the long stone bridge. Satisfied Danelle continued on, commenting on the stars overhead but to Karia it was as if she truly had stepped out into the night sky as the black melted stone of the bridge melded with the dark night around her, so that she couldn't tell where solid footing ending and plunging death began.

The walk was a long one, even if it was in reality rather short, and when she made it finally inside the tower her face was flush and her heart beat so fast in her chest she thought it might burst out. Danelle though was giddy, wrapping her arm around her in a way that was most decidedly not appropriate for a land of her standing.

"I love taking evening walks!" she said as she pressed herself against Karia. "I love the feeling of blood racing through veins and nerves dancing with fire. It reminds me of being alive… of the joys of being alive." She giggled at that and Karia tried to figure out what the joke was but then Danelle was pulling her towards another set of stairs and down they went, plunging through the melted tower until they finally came to a set of rooms. "Sorry to keep you waiting, good sers."

"It is your right, my lady," a voice that cracked with age said and Karia blinked as she took in the three.

"Allow me to make the introductions," Danelle said, pointing first to a Maester with a twisted spine and head that seemed to have been put on crooked. "This is Maester Robart. He tends the ravens and sees to our health and… oh, you know all that!" Danelle laughed. "I am being silly, treating you like some stupid thing that doesn't know what a maester does. Please forgive me. Please?"

Karia, realizing that Danelle was waiting for an answer, swallowed and nodded, smiling softly. "Of course."

"And this is Ser Lucamor Paege, the master of arms who handles to garrison." Lucamor was a truly large man, looking so big that Karia thought he could lift both her and Danelle up simply by wrapping his fingers around their waists. There was a horrific scar on his face, cutting through his glassy white eye and going down to his nose, where the left nostril had been split slightly. Karia did her best not to stare. "And finally our castellan, Almic."

"Welcome to Harrenhal," the thin man said with a nervous little smile, placing a hand against his chest and bowing to her, Ser Lucamor following after a moment's hesitation. "We are delighted you finally arrived," he said in a tone that didn't have any joy in it, though if Danelle noticed she didn't comment.

"Are you the majority of the household?" Karia finally asked when she couldn't think of anything else to say."

"More or less," Almic stated. "There are of course the servants, though you will meet them well in time and-" he suddenly caught himself before saying, "And the servants you will meet in time."

"come along, Karia!" Danelle suddenly said, dragging her back towards the stairs. "Let me show you to our rooms!"

Karia nodded, chancing just a brief glimpse back and seeing the hard stares the three men sent her way. She put that out of her mind, however, as Danelle led her back across the bridge, the trip back over far less frightening than the one before.

"You don't keep your chambers there?" she asked.

"…no, I don't," Danelle said, for the first time since her arrival the Lady of Harrenhal growing quiet and thoughtful. "I don't."

Karia glanced back and saw that in the highest room of the Kingspyre tower a figure watched.

~MC~MC~MC~

"Do not worry about sleeping in," Danelle told her the next morning. It was well past noon, with the sun high in the sky, when Karia had finally awoken and made her way to Danelle's chambers. Her own were just next door to the Lady of Harrenhal's and were finally furnished, with a great canopy bed that had been old when Karia's grandfather had been just a boy. Everything was well cared for and Karia, had she not been so tired from her journey, would have loved to have just sat and soaked in the opulence. "You were tired… I frequently don't leave my bed until well into the day so I understand."

"Thank you," Karia said as she sat on the bed, watching as one of the servants brushed Donella's hair.

"It is my fault," the woman admitted guilty. "I was just excited for you to finally arrive but I should have considered how late the hour was. I… have always felt a pull towards the night, I don't know why. I think its because the shadows hide the dreariness of this place." She waved her hand about. "My family has done all they can to make Harrenhal have a touch of glory but there is only so much one can do to make it appealing. Harren the Black wasn't interested in having a home that made one feel safe and content… he wanted to strike terror into his subjects. One can't put a bow on a savage wolf and make it a pet. At night though…" She paused, considering her words. "I know there are many that fear this place and think it mad that I prefer it at night but the shadows have never harmed me. They have been a comfort."

She looked down at her hands.

"They have been friends," Danelle stated before casting a look at the servant and forcing a smile onto her face. "But you have been a friend as well, having you Wenda?"

"Yes your ladyship," the servant said softly, with little emotion. That made Danelle's smile fall and after a moment she waved the woman away, allowing her to retreat. Karia watched her go but Danelle barely spared a glance, merely examining her reflection… until the door shut and her face crumpled.

"I hate them," Danelle bemoaned. "I hate them all."

Karia at once was at the other woman's side, knowing that this was why she had been brought to Harrnehall. To be a friend and companion to the woman before her. "I'm sorry," she said, unable to find anything else she could say that might bring the lady comfort.

"It isn't your fault," Danelle murmured, slowly leaning her head to press against Karia's arm. "It's this place. They are all against me… I have to exert so much control just to keep them from rebelling aginst me. They hate me… I know they do."

"I don't know aobut that…" Karia began only to be cut off.

"They do," Danelle said bitterly. "They aren't here by choice." She looked at her reflection, face distorted by her annoyance. "Mother…"

"Mother?"

Danelle started at that. "Pardon?"

"You called me mother."

"No," Danelle said. "I was… it doesn't matter."

Karia frowned. She had wondered about that… she knew that the Lothston family had held Harrenhal for several generations but she could not, for the life of her, rmemeber anything about them other than Lady Danelle currently commanded the castle. Yet as she had said the servants didn't seem to treat her like they should the head of such a grand an important castle. They either moved about with a quiet determination to due their tasks or stared at her with sullen acceptance.

"Enough of that," Danelle said, wiping her eyes and putting a happy look on her face that almost convinced Karia that everything was okay. "Let us go tour the godswoods today. It is quite large… we could have a picnic! That would be fun!"

Karia smiled and allowed the other woman to lead her out of her room.

~MC~MC~MC~

As the weeks went on Karia easily fell into a routine at Harrenhal. She would awaken late in the day, sometimes only a few hours before the sun actually set and would get dressed. The servants would sometimes come to help her but after that first day, seeing how distressed Danelle was when it came to them, she had decided to give them the cold shoulder and do things herself. Once that was done she would go to Danelle's room where they would discuss what they wished to do that day. It seemed as if the Lady of Harrenhal always wanted to look into a different part of the castle and while normally Karia wouldn't have enjoyed things like poking about the disused cellars and empty cells Danelle always was there to make the time fly by.

Eventually when it became time for them to eat their midday meal (though considering when they awoke it was more often after the sun had set) they would hold court, where the surrounding villages would send representatives to speak with Danelle and ask for her aid. Karia had been surprised to see the change that came in her friend when she held those meetings; the giddy and bubbly girl would turn into a cool and proper lady who handled even the most sticky of situations with a deft hand. It was as if she had aged 30 years when she took her seat in the Hall of a Hundred Hearths, dispensing justice and handling potential disaster without batting an eye.

It was during those gatherings however that Karia saw more of how unfair all were to the Lady of Harrenhal.

"My lady," one peasant said nervously one day, bowing their head and keeping their eyes on the fabric wraps that stand in place of proper boots, "my family his starving. The harvest has been bad this year-" There was a judgement in his tone that made Karia frown, as if he were hinting it was Danelle's fault that his crops weren't growing, "-and we can barely feed ourselves. We are trying to pay our taxes but it would leave us with nothing."

Danelle considered that before declaring, "Harrenhal is rather large. That is why I ask for the tax. But there are other ways to serve it. There are rooms that need to be cleaned, the godswood has paths that are overgrown. Do you have a son or a daughter you would be willing to send to help? I will even pay them a wage… not as much as others, not until you taxes are paid, but they won't be left with empty pockets."

Rather than be delighted by that the peasant had stared at her with disgust and then horror before finally nodding their head, not even bothering to thank Danelle for her kindness.

It frustrated Karia.

Sometimes she would listen to the vistors as they arrived and the tales they told made her stomach twist. If a child went missing it was Danelle's fault… they claimed she sent bats to capture them and bring them to her tower so she might experiment on them. They claimed that she bathed in blood to keep her youthful appearance; that was offensive both in turns of her doing such a vile thing and them acting as if she were already an old crone trying to disguise her wrinkles. They said she could turn into a scaled wolf and would prowl at night hunting their cattle, slaughtering them just for fun. She held a dinner early on to celebrate Karia's arrival and she'd heard some guests whisper not to touch any of the meat because it was made from human flesh.

Ungrateful little peons!

And then there was the way they were always staring at her. Large, watery, mournful eyes. Like she was to be pitied. It disgusted Karia and she had been tempted more than once to yell at them. But… she always held her tongue. It wasn't her place to do so. She just wished she understood why all thought so poorly of Danelle.

And then, two months into her stay… she learned.

~MC~MC~MC~

"There is still nothing?" Karia asked as Robart handed Danelle a few raven messages. They were seated in one of the smaller rooms in Harrenhal that Danelle had decided served as a perfect place for tea; Karia had to admit she was right. With its large windows and more cheerful colors it was easy to forget just where she was and how dark and somber the rest of the castle tended to be.

"I'm afraid not, my lady," the Maester with the twisted spine said simply.

"Could-" she began only for him to turn his back and walk away, causing Karia to gap in shock.

"He is like that, sadly," Danelle stated, take a sip of her tea. "I know there are some maesters that love to force their words into one's ear like a drunk lad forcing himself onto a girl-" Karia's eyes widened at that comment before she began to giggle, "-but he has always been a man of few words. Always scurrying about."

Karia shook her head. "That might be but I don't have to like how he treats me. I was only wondering if I'd received a message from my family yet."

"No one likes how he treats people," Danelle admitted. "But I am sure that they will send a message soon. Perhaps they are embarrassed that they have so little going on, when compared to all we're doing? Or they don't want to make you homesick." She shrugged helplessly. "Families are… strange."

"Perhaps," Karia murmured. 'Or perhaps they don't want to speak with me after what I did.' She couldn't believe they were still made at her for what she had done… they must have gotten over it! It had been several months! And yet every day when she'd asked the maester had simply told her there were no letters for her. No messages from home. Nothing. "Why do you keep him around if you do not like him? Why not request a new maester?"

"I can't," Danelle admitted. "I wish I could but I can not. Mother-"

"Mother?" Karia asked and Danelle started, nearly spilling her tea. "What do you mean by mother?"

Danelle considered her for several moments before setting her cup down, her shoulders slumped with resignation. "My… mother… is the one that determines all matters when it comes to the servants. While I am the public face of my family, handling the concerns of the smallfolk and attending banquets and the like she is the one that rules Harrenhal."

Karia was struck by that. "I didn't know that."

"Few do. Most forget." She rose and let out a weary sigh, heading towards the door. "Come on."

"What?"

"I have tried to keep you away from her for a while now… I begged and pleaded with her that I be allowed to have a companion like you, to keep my company. The servants are all her creatures, spying on me and making sure I don't stray out of line. I am sure that Maester Robart had already gone to see her, to tattle on me for… some assumed crime, I don't know anymore. But she has wanted to meet you all the same and I have sadly put it off for as long as I can."

Karia had risen from her chair when Danelle suddenly was on top of her, grasping her ahdns in her own. "Please… promise me you won't be scared away by her! She is a horrible, jealous creature and she will do all she can to make you believe you must abandon me. She wants me kept locked away, all alone… she has the servants monitor everything I do so that I can't step one toe out of line. I can't leave Harrenhal without her men on my heels. If… if you leave… I won't be able to follow…"

Karia was struck by Danelle tears and after only a moment drew her in close, hugging the older woman; though even with her extra years she still seemed younger to Karia. "I promise."

The journey to the Kingspyre Tower was far less terrifying that her first night at Harrenhal and she supposed that had to do with the fact that it was still light out when they made their way. Of course with the sun shining down around them that only made the damage that had been done to the castle a hundred years ago stand out all the more.

Her gaze must have lingered upon the distorted stone because Danelle suddenly said, "Its inspiring, isn't it?"

"Not… quite the word I'd used for it," Karia stated.

"Why not?" Danelle asked, pausing on the bridge that connected the Widow to the Kingspyre. "Harrenhal was supposed to be the greatest castle that ever existed. Its size not only meant that no army could breach its walls but it could hold out against a siege. There is a river, you know. Not the one that winds through the godswood… an underground one. Harren had it dug, connected it to the God's Eye. Fresh water that could never be poisoned. And with watchtowers set up he'd be able to know if an army was coming and draw in all manner of cattle and other beasts to consume. There were store rooms to hold over a year's worth of firewood. Harren and his sons should have been able to rul over the Riverlands from a thousand years. And yet… they do not."

She waved her hand towards the black stone that made up the Kingspyre. It drizzled down the tower like candle wax, at places so thin that previous owners had been forced to make patchwork repairs using brown and gray stone while in other spots it was so thick that it hung off the tower in black warts. One side was shorter than the other and she remembered hw there had been places where she'd been forced to duck her head because the stone had twisted down, half blocking the path.

"Shouldn't you not be impressed then?" Karia asked. "After all, they spent so much time and effort and gold on Harrenhal and they have nothing to show for it. Doesn't that prove how fruitless it all was?"

"Not at all!" Danelle exclaimed. "Aegon TOOk Harrenhal. He did the impossible."

"With a dragon."

"Yes yes, with a dragon," she waved her hand dismissively, "but they weren't impossible… when I was a child dragons were common. They are gone now but something else will take their place. That is the point, Karia… nothing is impossible anymore."

Having said all she wished Danelle continued towards the tower and once they were inside Karia blinked her eyes, trying to adjust to the low light. The sun that had been before so bright and powerful could not hope to find even a crack in the black stone of the tower to slip through, leaving them only with the candles to fight against the darkness. Even what few windows existed were little help, for the fires of Balarion the Black Dread had caused their frames to warp so badly that even with the glass replaced they had become too small to do much good.

Up the two of them climbed until they reached the highest floor and Danelle, after a brief moment, knocked on the door before opening it, the hinges creaking and groaning in protest.

"Mother… I've brought Karia."

The room might have been elegant once and Lady Lothrston had tried her best to maintain it but the sheer size of it meant that not much could be done to keep it properly cleaned… not without an amry of servants. Honestly there were dining halls that weren't as large of the Lady's solar. A fine layer of dust covered main objects and the smell of stale smoke and air filled Karia's nose as she was drawn further inside by Danelle. A large bed sat off to one side, large enough for an entire family to sleep in, and a desk covered in parchment for writing letters was near one of the few windows that actually let light into the room.

But it was the chair towards the farthest back of the room that was Karia's focus. There, sitting utterly still, was a corpse.

"Mother," Danelle said with a smile, walking up the the desiccated body. It was lying in the chair, propped up with pillows, head lulled slightly to the side. Karia stopped right in the middle of the room, heart thundering in her chest, as she watched Danelle great the dead body, smiling as she reached out and patted the bony hand with its leather wrinkled flesh. A shawl had been wrapped around the emaciated skull and the weak sunlight shifted and illuminated its sunken in cheeks, the wetness on her chin, and the pale yellow eyes.

Which shifted in Karia's direction.

She let out a little gasp and Danelle looked at her, surprised. Karia struggled to regain her composure. It wasn't a corpse. It TRULY was a woman. A living woman… if her state of being could be called living.

"Mother," Danelle began once more. "I brought Karia to meet you. Wouldn't you say hello?"

The head turned slowly, bones groaning from disuse as they scraped against each other in her neck as Lady Lohtstrom looked at her. Her mouth was slightly parted, revealing a gray tongue that slowly moved along her lower lip and Karia swore she heard a rasping sound, much like a woodworker sanding a new project.

"Its okay," Danelle assured Karia. "She's just sleepy." Danelle reached over and brushed her mother's hair from her eyes. Suddenly it made so much sense why she had been placed in charge of Harrenhal… the poor creature before her looked like she could barely lift her head, let alone run a household. "Mother, don't you want to say hello?"

"Nnnnn," the old woman said, her gaunt head trembling slightly like she was having a fit. "nnnnn….nnnnoooooooooooooooooooooooot yooooooooooour...moooooot…mooooooot…..mooooooooootthhhhhhhhhheeeeerrrrrr."

Danelle reeled back as if she had been struck before her eyes flashed with anger. She grabbed the chair and twisted it back around, forcing her mother to look at her. "How can you say that to me?! All I do for you-"

Karia moved to… well, she didn't know what she was going to do… only for her arm to catch on one of the wooden bookcases. She winced in pain and lifted up her arm, watching as the line along her skin turned red and began to weep blood.

At once Lady Lothstrom let out an unholy shriek and threw herself from her chair, fingers curled into talons as she took a stumbling step forward. Her mouth twisted open, revealing sharp eye teeth that gleamed in the dark. Karia took a step back in fight and then Danelle had a hold of her, wrestling her away and throwing her onto the bed. Without waiting for permission Danelle threw herself out of the room, shifting away from the door and against the wall, fingers gripping at her head as what she had just saw sunk in.

The door opened and Karia screamed but it was only Danelle, who quickly closed it shut.

"I'm sorry," she said before heading down the stairs, her tone making it clear she didn't want to speak on the matter a second more.

~MC~MC~MC~

"I wish mother had been more pleasant with you," Danelle told her later that day. They were in one of the bathing chambers, the servants having brought warm water to fill a large tub big enough for both of them to lie in. It had become second nature for them to bath together, though Karia had to admit that at first she had been put off by the ritual, seening it as perverted and sinful. But Danelle had argued that they were made in the image of the Seven, who were blessed and holy, so how could their naked breasts and uncovered nethers be considered wrong? And they weren't engaging in any wicked acts… Danelle merely enjoyed company in the bath and eventually Karia had joined in without a second thought.

She also had a feeling it had to do with the rumors about her. She wanted SOMEONE to see she didn't bath in blood but rather rose water.

"It is fine," Karia said.

"No… it very much is not," Danelle said with a shake of her head. "Sometimes I just don't understand her. She behaves one way and then acts in a completely different manner." She sighed. "I do all I can to get her to love me…" She raised up one leg and began to wash it with a cloth coated in soap. "She did not birth me, you see. That is why she claims she is not my mother. But she is, Karia, she is… and I just don't know why she can't see that I am her daughter and I love her and I just want her safe…"

Karia pushed herself over to Danelle, wrapping her arms around her, and after a moment Danelle turned in her embrace, pressing her head against the hollow of Karia's neck, baring her skin against her flesh. Karia gently stroked her back as the older woman clung to her, allowing her some solace. She was acutely away of how their breasts were pressed against each other and how soft Danelle's skin felt. The Lady of Harrenhal's lips lightly played along Karia's skin but she made no move to yank herself away, understanding that she needed the solace that Karia offered.

So she held her and allowed her to mourn for the relationship she was denied with her mother.

"Karia…" Danelle murmured, "would… would you warm my bed tonight?"

"of course."

~MC~MC~MC~

Karia could feel the servants staring at her and she wondered just what they were reporting to Lady Lothston.

Ever since the meeting with the old woman Karia and Danelle had only grown closer. She often spent her nights in Danelle's room, many times never even returning to her chambers. They would speak till the wee hours of the morning on so many things, their bond growing all the deeper. It left her sleepy and sluggish many times, feeling as if she had spent the day before fasting, but it was worth it to see her dear friend smile and laugh.

But the servants… the servants didn't like it and they were working even harder to try and drive her away.

They whispered just loud enough for her to hear but she couldn't actually tell what was being said. The smallfolk who came to petition Danelle would avert their eyes when they spotted her; Karia wondered just what was being said about her. More tales that made her out to be a monster like Danelle? Most likely… and Karia had no problem with that. She was strong and could handel their jealousy.

It was a rare day where she and Danelle weren't together, for she had decided to go to the yard to train with a sword (as was her want… Karia never understood why Danelle wore armors like a man or engaged his blade work) and Karia was too tired from their last late night conversation to join her and thus nhad decided to simply stay in her rooms. She had begun to putter about when she noticed an odd book, one she knew she had never brought with her, lying on a table. She looked at the surface of the table, seeing that the servants had failed to dust it within the last few days… but the book was perfectly clean.

Recently left.

She picked the book up and began to flip through it. Written by a Maester Abrah to was a ghoulish thing that had her wanting to toss it into the fire the moment she saw what lay within its pages. Drawings of the dead… and worse. Twisted things, vile and disgusting. With distorted limbs and mulilated faces. Bones and muscles drawn in horrifying detail. And next to all of them were little blurbs, describing just what she was seeing despite her having no urge to ever know what sort of vile monstrosities they might be.

Karia nearly threw the book into the fireplace when she paused, noticing that someone had left a bookmark in it. With trembling fingers she turned to that page to find a drawing of a shriveled head with thin wispy hair and long sharp eyeteeth. A large block of text was to the right of the terrifying face as well as smaller drawings of bats and wolves.

'The Strigoi mort is one of the most dangerous of the vile beasts that roam the earth. They are either created by a Strigoaică cursing a mortal or by a Strigoi viu using a ritual to attempt to cheat death. The Strigoi mort, upon reawakening, have the appearance of a dried up corpse, with almost no muscle under their worn pale flesh. This is why it is so important to find them before they feed, for they are easiest to kill in this form. Should, however, they manage to drink the blood of the living they will gain a more natural looking form, with some even appearing far younger than they were when they died. In this form they are far faster and stronger than a normal human being and possess a passive hypnotism that causes others to ignore the danger they possess, which allows them to live amongst humans without fear.

'In studying the Strigoi mort it has been found that denying feedings will cause them to revert back to their corpse-like forms, though they can not cease existing merely through starvation. They will become sluggish and slow, only showing any strength when they sense blood. Rumors that some Strigoi mort will intentionally starve themselves to maintain this form have not been proven, nor that the blood of those they know is stronger than that of strangers…'

Karia shut the book, feeling sick to her stomach.

The Lady of Harrenhal's leather's hands reaching for her, eyes blazing and mouth twisted in a savage snarl flashing in her mind and she shut her eyes, pleading with the thoughts to go away.

~MC~MC~MC~

"Are you well?" Danelle asked during their evening meal, looking up from the glazed pork she was cutting into.

"Yes," Karia lied.

"Because… you would tell me if something was wrong, wouldn't you?"

"Of course." She paused, letting the air fill with the crackle of burning wood and the scrapping of knives on plates fill the air. "Just nightmares."

"Nightmares?" Danelle asked. "I hope nothing too dreadful."

"No no… they just linger, that's all."

"I will have to chase them away then," Danelle assured her, something in her gaze making Karia squirm in her chair and feel rather flush and warm. "But you would tell me if someone was bothering you, wouldn't you?"

"Nothing is bothering me," Karia assured her. "Other than the nightmare."

"Of course."

"You… would do the same, wouldn't you?" Karia asked. "If someone was hurting you… you'd tell me?"

"I can look after myself," Danelle assured her with a smirk. "That is why I train in the yard."

"Sometimes you can be hurt far worse by words than by blades," Karia reasoned.

"Well well… I didn't know you were a poet!" Danelle said in delight. "Perhaps you will write a sonnet for me."

"Perhaps," Karia said, watching as one of the servants stiffly moved to take away Danelle's plate, despite the fact that she still had food on it, before replacing it with another. Their eyes lingered on Danelle's form and for a moment KAria saw a burning hatred flash through the man's eyes before it was shunted away, leaving detached observation.

Suddenly she didn't feel warm at all.

~MC~MC~MC~

'I must hurry,' Karia thought to herself as she down the hall, head constantly twisting her head to make sure she wasn't being watched. She had noticed that she was being tracked more and more, that if she strayed from Danelle the servants would observe her a bit more intently than was needed. It made her skin feel like a thousand bugs were crawling along her skin every time she realized that no matter how alone she thought she was… there was someone nearby, making sure she didn't do anything to disturb the Lady of Harrenhal and whatever sick plans she had for Danelle.

And thus this secret trip to the Maester's rockery.

Robart was tending a farmer who had broken his leg, Danelle commanding him to care for the man because he had young children and they would starve if his leg was not seen too. Karia had snuck away, already planning to claim that the sight of the blood had sickened her; she would tell Danelle, if she asked, that she simply didn't have as strong as a stomach as her. With everyone focused on the farmer Karia was able to make her way up the stairs of the tower to where the ravens were kept, the note she had written tucked in her hand. She wasn't for sure how she would get the right raven but it didn't matter… she would get her message out all the same.

It was a simple plea to her father to come and visit. He would bring with him a guard and it was their swords she needed. He would arrive and he would help her. Save her. Danelle and her both. She just knew it.

Stepping into the rockery she was struck by the smell of bird droppings and the cawing of the ravens. It made her head hurt, the sudden sensory overload when compared to the quiet hall, but she pressed on towards the cages. Nearby there was a small barrel with an… off… smell and Karia nudged it open only to gag as she saw the bloody meat that lay inside. Quickly pushing the lid back on she looked for something to wipe her hands and spotted a few sheets of parchment lying on a nearby table, grabbing one only to notice that it had writing on it…

Her writing.

Her letters. All of her letters. The ones she had been sending to her family. She began to snatch at them, flipping through them, eyes widening. Every one she had sent…

And then she saw one written in her family's steady hand.

'We mourn for Karia but thank you for letting us know. When you can have her bones returned to us-'

"What are you doing here?"

Karia whipped around to find Ser Lucamor staring at her with his good eye.

For a moment she was startled and tried to come up with an excuse… but then she remembered the letters and anger drenched her tongue.

"Discovering your secrets, Ser Lucamor," she snapped, grabbing her letters and waving them at him. "Why does my family believe me dead? Why have you not informed my parents that I arrived or allowed my letters to be sent?" She took a step forward. "If you were not a part of this then I will welcome your help but if you were I swear I will-"

"You will do nothing," Ser Lucamor growled. "The lady-"

"I do not understand why Danelle's mother is doing this and I do not care! I am tired of how she is treated and I put an end to it now!" She moved to storm past him only for the man to grab her arm, forcing her to stop. "Let me go."

"No." His face twisted into a grimace. "You do not-"

Karia though refused to let him finish. Instead she stomped onto his foot, glad she had decided to go riding through the godswood that day and thus choosing boots rather than dainty slippers. Ser Lucamor let her go but rather than letting her remain near the door he shoved her back into the rockery. Karia stumbled into the cages, the ravens cawing and screeching in protest and she cried out as some stuck their beaks through the bars of their large cage, cutting into her skin.

"You must stop-" Ser Lucamor said, reaching out to grab her, but Karia lashed out with her hand, smacking his wrist and causing him to pull back. Using the surprise she grabbed the basket of meat and hurled it with all her strength, sending it crashing into Ser Lucamor, coating him in blood and bits of gristle and meat. Karia let out a scream of rage and kicked the raven cage three times, finally causing the door to break open before she dove away, covering her head with her hands. She heard the fluttering of wings and felt them beating around her and she squeezed her eyes shut, ready for them to attack but then they were past her and she heard them cawing followed by Set Lucamor letting out a pained scream.

Karia chanced opening her eyes and saw him thrashing about, trying to get the ravens away from him but that only aggrevated them all the worse, causing them to attack more violently. They pecked at his face, driving their sharp beaks into his cheeks and at his eyes, making him scream all the louder as he stumbled about before finally, after a terrible few moments, he lunged about blindly and crashed into a window, shattering it and sending him flying out. Karia heard his scream grow more high pitched before it was suddenly silenced by a thud.

She panted for several moments before he began to run.

The pounding of her heart matched the pounding of her feet as she raced up the steps, twisting higher and higher. She forced herself not to think of Ser Lucamor. To not consider what she'd done. No… she needed to focus on what needed to happen next. Because she understood… she knew what haunted Harrenhal and she had to stop it.

Across the bridge. Through the door. Up the stairs.

She threw open the door of the master bedroom, Lady Lothston turning her head slowly to stare at her. Karia panted, bracing herself against the door, palms against the wood as she stared wildly at the shriveled up woman. Lady Lothston slowly lowered her gaze to the cuts on Karia's arms, lips pulling back once more to reveal her sharp fangs.

"Die," Karia hissed before leaping forward just as Lady Lothston threw herself out of her chair. They collided in the middle of the room, the old woman clawing at Karia's shoulders and arms, but the young woman had been expecting that so she grabbed onto the noblewoman's head, fingers rubbing against her parchment thin skin before finally finding her eye sockets and with a savage scream Karia drove her thumbs into the old woman's head.

Lady Lothstrom shrieked and tried to pull away but Karia help on tight, falling with her so that she ended up right on top of her. Karia felt the noble's ribs poking into her legs, her bony fingers clawing and scratching her arms and neck, but she paid all that little heed. She thought of her letters that had never been sent. The servants that spied. Of poor Danelle who was a slave to the monster. She didn't know what the Strigoi mort had in mind for Danelle but she wouldn't let her succeed.

Using the woman's gouged out eyes as grips Karia began to bash Lady Lothston's head against the floor. Again. And again. And again. The screeches turned into gurgles but still she continued on. She heard bone crack but still she continued on. And even as the woman's arms fell from her form she continued on. She didn't stop until Lady Lothston was still and then it was only so she could go to the woman's chair, picking it up before smashing it down onto the old woman, breaking it into kindling. Selecting the largest piece she could, a snapped off leg, Karia grabbed it with bloody fingers and hefted it up before plunging it into the woman's chest.

There was no blood.

What kind of creature didn't bleed?

A monster.

Karia slowly rolled off the body, turning to see that the corpse had already begun to rot away, the skin darkening before flaking off the bones, the eyes sinking into the skull before falling down into it with a dry 'plop'. She found herself giggling at the sight of it, her heart pounding in her chest as she clutched at her sides, trying to contain her mirth and failing horribly.

'I'd like to see Jeyne do that!' she thought morbidly to herself as she continued to laugh, threading her bloody fingers through her head, clutching them to her skull.

She didn't know how long she remained there, lying on the ground next to the rapidly crumbling corpse. Karia didn't care. She just laid there, panting in the dusty room, hearing a thudding sound that grew more frantic, then the sound of splintering wood-

"Oh," she said, slowly looking up to find the castellan standing in the doorway with a heavy axe, Maester Robart and Danelle standing there staring at the scene before them. "That's what that was." She let out a little deranged giggle.

"Mother?" Danelle whispered before rushing forward, dropping down next to the corpse and trying to gather it up in her arms. But it had become far too brittle and it collapsed in her arms, causing her to wail while Karia furrowed her brow, trying to understand why she was upset.

She looked towards Maester Robart, anger causing her giggles to disappear as she remembered how he had lied to her parents and claimed she was dead. Karia opened her mouth to rant at the filthy little maester and let him know that his days were done once she reported him to the citadel only for Robart to suddenly blink, his eyes focusing on her before he whispered in utter horror, "You stupid girl… what have you-"

"Quiet, Robart," Danelle snapped and Karia turned towards her friend, relieved that she was done mourning the monster that had pretended to be her mother. Maybe now they could set things right. "Karia… thank you." She slowly got up, though she kept looking at crumbled remains of the corpse. "I couldn't see it until now but… thank you."

Karia slowly stood up herself, smiling as she walked over to her friend. "When I realized that she was using you… I knew I had to stop her."

"Using me?"

"Of course! She was a Strigoi mort… she wanted to use your blood-"

"You found that out?" Danelle said, surprised.

"It was in a book I found in my room."

Danelle frowned at that. "Robart… you have been naughty. I thought after I snapped your spine you'd learned to not disobey me." Karia frowned and moved to turn towards the maester only for Danelle to grab her chin and force her to keep looking at her. "I tried so hard to make myself a happy family. Ameela… I thought she would make a good mother. Not like my birth mother… she never understood my power. Hated that I wouldn't share with her my secrets. Ameela though… she was so kind… giving up her youth so I might live. I just wanted her to be my mother… but she was greedy and wanted to gain back what I had taken from her."

Karia began to struggle as Danelle's grip grew more fierce, her jaw aching as her friend looked up at her with glowing yellow eyes, lips parting so Karia could see her eye teeth slowly lengthen into fangs.

"But it will be better this time…"

~MC~MC~MC~

Beyond the door a young woman said, "I am sorry Maester Robart treats you as he does. It is cruel for a maester to put so much pressure on a girl your age."

Danelle giggled at that, her voice betraying that she had only recently begun to make the shift from child to womanhood. "Oh, he can be a bother, that is true, but I manage well enough. And I do have my mother."

The door opened and Danelle led her new friend into the dark and dusty master bedroom at the top of the Kingspyre. Though the new arrival to Harrenhal was only 14 years old she was still younger than the 12 year old Danelle, who skipped happily inside the room before suddenly coming to a stop.

"Mother is very sick so please stay back… I tend to her and Maester Robart assures me that she can't harm me."

"Of coruse," the new arrival said, hiding her revolution at the sight of the emancipated woman who lay in the bed. The heavy covers hid her shriveled up legs, so thin and weak they'd shatter if she tried to put any wait on them. Her hair was stringy and there were many missing clumps and her face was so gaunt that one could see the blood vessels that rain just under her skin. She couldn't even turn her head as Danelle came over and kissed her on the cheek.

"Hello mother," Danelle said softly. "Have you fed today? Here, let me get you something to drink." She went over to a table, uncorking a bottle and pouring into a goblet the watered down blood that she'd claimed from a naughty child that had wandered away from home. "This will help," she said gently as she walked back over.

"P…please…" Karia whispered, wanting to sob but her body was so dry she couldn't even form tears.

"Shhhh… don't worry," Danelle said as she stroked her head, "you just sit there… drink your wine… and not worry about a thing." She leaned in close as she brought the blood to Karia's lips, fingers brushing over the two scars on Karia's neck. She didn't want to drink but her body fought against her mind and soon she allowed the life-giving elixir to pour down her throat. "Who knows… maybe soon I'll have a sister as well," Danelle said as she stared at her new friend.

~MC~MC~MC~

Aegon set down his goblet and leaned back in his chair, glancing at Duncan who licked his lips before taking a steadying breath. "That… was certainly an interesting tale," he finally told the servant, who bowed her head and smiled. "I have never heard that one before… if its an original creation then you have done well." He chuckled though he didn't feel mirthful at all. "Perhaps you should get a job with a mummer's group."

"I didn't create the story, your grace," the woman stated.

"Using Mad Danelle like that… well, whoever came up with that tale was cunning. It created quite a story. Don't you agree Duncan?"

"Yes, your grace," Duncan said, clearly preoccupied.

"Thank you, your grace. I am glad you ejoyed my… story." With that the servant bowed. "I must go back to my duties." With that she turned and headed out.

"The things people come up with," Aegon finally said.

"Hmmm."

"What is it?" Aegon asked. "You are thinking, Duncan… usually that isn't your strong suit."

But rather than growl in annoyance at the jest Duncan still looked penceful. "Did I ever tell you that I met with the some of the men sent to deal with Lady Lothston."

"No but I'm not surprised," Aegon stated. "You seem to know all the great knights of the realm."

Duncan though merely continued to stare at the fire that was burning merrily before him. "They didn't like to talk about it… normally men love to tell of their deeds in battle but everyone I talked to remained quiet. I only got a little out of Ser Tywin, Lord Lannister's son, and that involved me nearly emptying my money pouch getting him drunk. He said that they found her in the Kingspyre… her head removed from her shoulders."

"Is this where you claim she was still walking about?" Aegon teased.

But his friend didn't laugh. "No… she was dead. But Ser Tywin stated that the face… it seemed to rot off the skull as they picked it up. And the body… there were scratch makes on the door that led into the master bedroom."

"And…what did they find?" Aegon asked.

"Nothing. The way was blocked." He paused. "Or… at least that's what they said…"

For a moment… just a moment… Duncan was tempted to raise from his chair and go and find the servant. They couldn't have gotten far… the hall that led to the king's solar didn't have any halls that splintered off from the main one. It would be easy to step out and call for the servant to retrun…

But he remained in his chair.

Frightened by what he might find… or not… if he did.