Rabbit Heart

The night ended quickly when Tyrion lost the game to Shae. They began to kiss and forgot the presence of Bronn and Rebekah.

-„Well, I'm going to sleep. Good night." Rebekah said quietly, wanting to leave.

-„Bronn" Tyrion gave the darkhaired man a quick wink between two kisses. Rebekah didn't understand the meaning of it until Bronn got up and followed her, smiling with played innocence.

-„Tyrion?" Rebekah asked, cursing herself for her higher pitched voice.

-„Bronn will stay in your tent, protecting you. Your actions today and this lovely dress do make this an important safety measure, my lady. Your honor will be safe with him." Tyrion exclaimed impatiently, not understanding her problem.

Rebekah gasped and answered curtly: „I don't need protection. Those are your father's men, why would they come to hurt me? This is not the enemy's camp. And I can fight for myself."

Lord Tywin Lannister would surely not allow anyone harm her, she thought.

Tyrion released Shae to look at her, his lips pressed together creating a thin line. Bronn laughed shortly at Rebekah who chose to ignore him.

„Lady Rebekah. You do not understand what my father made clear when he dismissed you this morning, do you? He said you are my responsibility. He said no word to his men about them having to leave you alone. He said no word about your status as the daughter of his Bannerman. He said nothing, Rebekah."

-„Which means almost every soldier in this camp will be thinking about you, m'lady." Bronn said lightly. „Men don't care to which side you belong as long as you're-"

-„Bronn!" Tyrion interrupted him agitatedly.

Bronn saw the fear creeping into Rebekah's eyes, turning them into dark amber. Again, her naivety stopped her from seeing thing as they were.

-„I have my bow." She muttered, but the girl didn't sound convinced herself.

-„That won't do anything, my lady." Tyrion said softly.

„You're telling me that our own soldiers are a danger to me, yet you ask me to trust him?" Rebekah pointed to Bronn, who shrugged, not feeling offended.

-„I ask you to trust me. Bronn fights for money, and he will get a fair share of it, but only if you are alright. I command you to rest now."

"Then I suppose you leave me no choice.", She said bitterly, turned her back and marched out of Tyrion's tent. Rebekah was furious, yet it was hard to explain why. She took deep breaths, inhaling the cool air outside. Maybe it was because she didn't like the idea of being protected and dependent. Or because she was stupid enough to believe the camp would be a safe harbor after days of travelling. And because of having a sellsword sleeping in her tent, although he clearly wasn't trustworthy.

Rebekah felt his presence next to her and looked up to him.

-„You can go if you want to. No need to spent the night before the battle with me. There's surely company you would enjoy more, so please, I will not stop you. "

Bronn scratched his chin, then met her eyes.

-„Aye, m'lady, but with the coin I'll be able to buy myself even better company afterwards. Tyrion pays me for watching you, so I stay near you. There's no talking me out, m'lady." He said lazily, as if he couldn't see the revolt behind her mask of calmness.

The sellsword estimated a night with Lady Rebekah without the fun but with payment was still more worth than spending the night with a common whore. No one would approach her tent, he could make sure of that, and in the morning the soldiers would envy him for being so close to the golden-eyed huntress.

He let her lead the way, thinking that her curves and the way she balanced her hips while walking made it hard for any men to resist.

She made herself comfortable on the pillows and blankets, then braided her hair into a thick braid, placing it above her shoulder. She watched Bronn take his seat in front of the entrance, close enough to see if anyone approached and far away enough from her in so that no one could question her honor.

They looked at each other in an awkward moment, then Bronn cleared his throat. „So tell me, m'lady, what's with you and the imp? How comes you're so close?"

The questions had passed his mind already a few times, seeing how trusting she was towards Tyrion Lannister.

Luckily for him, Rebekah decided to answer.

-„He saved me from Lord Kenning. My mother's husband was kind and loving towards us, but everything changed when my mother died... and when I began to grow up." The last words were only whispered, and Bronn wondered if he had hit a weak spot. He was already suspecting the way the story would turn. Hopefully the girl would not cry. He didn't knew how to act around crying women.

-„Apparently, I look just like her. And Mycah had always been like a father to me. It was hard for me to understand that he didn't saw me like a daughter anymore" Her voice broke again, and she cleared her throat. „Anyway, nothing happened. Jaime, Tyrion and Lord Tywin were guests in our castle, and I befriended Tyrion. Told him about Mycah. The next day, Tywin announced he would take me and Dawen to Casterly Rock. It made Mycah furious but allowed me to escape until a few months ago." She finished, and Bronn felt there were many details left out on purpose. But he could see what forged Tyrion's and Rebekah's friendship.

-„Is it the reason a young maiden like you is not married yet?" he said boldly, seeing how uncomfortable it made her. Yet he enjoyed to make her cheeks blush.

-„Lord Tywin places his alliances carefully. Lord Mycah has plans in mind I will never accept." Rebekah said, her golden eyes hardening. Her hands clenched into fists, gripping the blanket until her knuckles turned white.

Bronn laughed loudly, returning her asking glaze. „The imp told me. Seven hells, I wonder if any girl with a sense of survival would want to marry the Mountain that rides."

-„It's not funny!" Rebekah exclaimed grimacing.

-„Is Lord Mycah angry because you spend time at Casterly Rock?"

She explained angrily: „He tried to replace my mother with me. He tried, I did not let him touch me. Instead, I punched him."

Now that was surprising, even to Bronn. „You... punched him?"

-„I broke his nose." She muttered, hiding her face with the blanket.

„And then hid in the castle, met Tyrion, and you know the rest of the story."

„Lord Mycah is a cunt, alone for wanting to wed you to the mountain. He should be ashamed though by letting a girl break his nose. Good for you Tyrion took you away."

She laughed a little, and Bronn admitted she was dealing with her issues rather well. Rebekah had courage, but that courage could get her easily killed.

Thank you so much for your reviews, they mean a lot to me! :) It's good to know what you guys think, so please let me know how you liked this chapter!
Liebe Grüße & xoxo