The next days, Rebekah stayed in bed although it bored her immensely. Tyrion brought her books, Shae stayed and talked to her and Bronn showed up from time to time making some snarky remarks and leaving again. Shagga and his men were guarding the doors on Tyrion's command. After a week, Rebekah was able to walk again. The first thing she did was taking a bath, then letting her maids prepare her. Her dress was put together with a wide, high waisted skirt with a golden leaf pattern and a small embellished belt. Her look was unusual in the capital but reminded her of her home. And when Lady Rebekah would return to the life at court, she needed to look as strong and confident as possible.
Her leg still hurt, but it was bearable and the wide dress covered up the limp.
"M'lady, you shouldn't walk alone." The handmaiden said softly. Rebekah shook her head. "I can handle myself, thank you." She was annoyed that someone had to rescue her again.
She opened the door, only to bump into Timmet, one of Tyrion's wildings. "Valla" he said, nodding respectfully. Rebekah swallowed and answered with a firm voice. "Timmet. You are dismissed from your service as my guard." She tried to put as much authority as possible in her words, and to her relief Timmet obeyed: "Aye, Valla."
Rebekah tried to look for Lady Kenna in her favourite garden, the one with the yellow roses, but her friend was nowhere to be found.
"Lady Rebekah. You look astonishing, my dear. I am so glad you are alright." Lord Varys approached her in his usual cloud of perfume. "So am I, Lord Varys." Rebekah gave him a short smile. "But I fear I must leave your company although I would most likely enjoy it... do you happen to know where my friend Lady Kenna Rykker is? I haven't seen her since the riot." She asked, using the opportunity to have the Spider in person to ask.
He widened his eyes in surprise and raised an eyebrows quizzically. "Lady Rykker is still with the Maester, my lady. Haven't you heard? She hasn't been as lucky as you... I pray for her and the other poor Ladies to the Seven."
First, Rebekah thought she misunderstood him. "What do you mean, my lord?"
-"Do I have to explain it, my lady?" he asked softly. "I'm only surprised you don't know. Then again you've been injured yourself and locked away safely in your room."
Rebekah forced herself to stay calm. "Thank you for informing me, Lord Varys. I'll go visit her." She managed to say quickly, feeling her heart bounce in her chest heavily. The Spider nodded and Rebekah walked away, trying not to run. She felt her blood boil in anger.
OoOoO
"Maester Pycelle, would you please let me to Lady Kenna?" she demanded and the old man watched her sceptically.
-"The Lady Kenna is resting, my lady. Visitors are not allowed."
-"Where is her room?" Rebekah put more authority in her words.
-"Her room is right here, to the left, but..." Before he could intervene, Rebekah walked past him and knocked on the door. A handmaiden opened and Rebekah repeated her request.
Her friend was sitting in her bed, pale as a ghost with dull eyes. Kenna's brown hair had lost it's smoothness, and her face appeared way older.
-"Kenna. I'm so sorry." Rebekah whispered and sat on the bed. Kenna just watched her, tears falling down her cheeks. "I would have come earlier. They told me you were alright. I should have fought harder. I should have brought you to safety. I should have questioned Tyrion's words."
"No, Rebekah." Kenna said softly. "It's not your fault. You tried your best and if it wasn't for you, I would have been even worse. You brought me away from the riot. The goldcloaks... they found me because your sellsword pointed towards me." Her voice was coarse but her words seemed genuine.
"Lady Lollys... they found her the day after. It's much worse for her." Kenna explained, but it sounded like she was telling it to herself. "Oh Kenna." Rebekah sighed and hugged her friend, one of the few at court. They may just talked about hairstyles, gowns and marriage, but Rebekah appreciated the kind young woman nonetheless. "You're strong, you know that? I admire you." She whispered, stroking Kenna's hair. The girl chuckled and it almost sounded like her old self. "You're the strong one, Rebekah. I heard they didn't get to you because you were such an insistent fighter."
"There's nothing you could have done either, Kenna." Rebekah said, meeting Kenna's brown eyes.
"I wonder who could have. Maybe if the people weren't so hungry and hateful towards Joffrey, they wouldn't attack us." Kenna reasoned. Somehow, her calm attitude made Rekebah think there was much more Kenna was holding back, which was understandable.
"Rebekah, I'm glad you came. My mother couldn't come here, she's still in Dun Fort. But I want to rest now." She asked quietly and Rebekah nodded. "I'll leave you, but I can come back tomorrow. Are there other ladies visiting you?"
-"I asked Maester Pycelle to send them away."
-"Oh. I didn't think, I'm sorry Kenna." Rebekah saw how rude she had acted. "I worried for you, that's all." With those words, Rebekah left her unlucky friend.
Kenna would recover from the physical wounds, but being raped would alway mark her in a terrible way.
OoOoO
"Renly Baratheon is dead, but the Rose Road is still blocked. I hope Littlefinger can negotiate with the Tyrells but I seriously doubt it. And Stannis will never give up his claim, his army is strengthened by Renly's men. If we..." Tyrion told Lord Varys, using him to discuss their strategy when the door swung open and Rebekah Waldorf walked in.
-"I'm sorry, my lord, would you mind giving me a minute alone with the Lord Hand? I'm sure it won't last long." She said sweetly, but Tyrion immediately saw the anger in her eyes. And he already knew the reason.
-"Of course, my lady." Varys gave Tyrion a meaningful look before going away.
As soon as he was gone, the sweet expression vanished from her face leaving only the anger. "You lied to me!" she cried, her fists resting on her hips. "Why didn't you tell me about Lady Kenna? They raped her, Tyrion! She needed me!"
Tyrion took a deep breath. He had expected her reacting this way, and now he had to calm her. Bronn stood behind him, resting casually against a column. Tyrion's head ached from all the things he had to care about and Rebekah wasn't making it easier right now.
-"Rebekah, if I'd told you what happened to her – would you have listened and rested? You may don't remember it, but you were harmed as well."
-"Not like her." Rebekeh answered harshly.
-"She's not your responsibility! But you are mine! A few days did not matter!" Tyrion said in a more pleading tone. "I understand you feel sorry for her, I know you want to help, but putting yourself first for one time does not make you a bad person."
-"The girl will get better. Unlike the other one, the fat lady, what's her name?" Bronn threw in, drawing Rebekah's attention towards him.
-"Lady Lollys." Tyrion muttered and Bronn nodded "Aye, a hundred men had their way with her. And she ain't even pretty."
Tyrion rolled his eyes and then buried his face in his hands.
-"That doesn't change anything for Kenna! You knew Tyrion was lying, you could at least told me!" Rebekah cried, stepping forward and raising her chin.
-"I don't get paid to tell you anything, kitten. If you ask me, she reminds you of the brother you couldn't safe either."
Now Tyrion and Rebekah stared at him in disbelief. This crossed the line of insolent towards insulting.
"What? I'm just being honest, kitten." Bronn shrugged. Rebekah's next words were ice cold, as well as her golden eyes.
-"I tought you do not get paid to say anything. So maybe you should just keep your honesty to yourself because you seem to forget who you're standing in front of. I am not one of your inn wenches, I am not one of your sellsword friends and I am certainly not your kitten." she said slowly, emphasising every word.
Bronn shrugged again.
-"The last man who talked to me on this tone I cut open from balls to brain." Although he said it nonchalantly, Tyrion was sure he wasn't joking.
But so wasn't Rebekah and she shrugged as well, mimicking his posture. "What do I care what a sellsword without compassion thinks or does. One day you'll regret your attitude, and then there will be no one to help you."
-"I can help myself much better than you can. You just have a pretty face and a bit of temper but I could kill you within seconds without even having to use my sword." Bronn dared to say.
Tyrion kept looking from the one to the other. Rebekah, with eyes like hard gold and raised chin, and Bronn, leaning lazily to the column, not showing any annoyance although his hand rested on the sword grip.
Although Tyrion's bodyguard was one of the most dangerous swordsmen and cold hearted bastards he knew, Rebekah was certainly the best when it came to defy this kind of men.
-"I do not fear you." Rebekah said, getting one step closer until she stood directly in front of Tyrion's table.
-"Well everyone already knows you're a fool."
-"Better a fool than rotten from the inside." Now Bronn walked slowly away from the column and around the table, so that he faced the small woman. Rebekah didn't move an inch. "You have no idea, kitten."
-"Rebekah. Bronn. Stop it. I command it as the Hand of the King, and if you don't behave I call the guards and I get you both locked it." Tyrion interrupted, giving both angry glances.
-"You're both useful allies. You may have your differences, but I can't have you going at each others throats every time you disagree on something. I would be grateful if you could use all your..." he made a indefinite gesture "energy against our enemies. Lady Rebekah, you can leave now. It's my last word." Tyrion said insistenly.
Although they both stopped, Tyrion wasn't sure how long he could control his friends.
OoOoO
Bronn would never grow tired of teasing her. The kitten acted very passionately, holding onto her principles even when Bronn threatened her. Most of the time, she was easy to read for him: Being overprotective and goodhearted was part of her nature, but it helped to distract her from her own issues as well. Tyrion gave his mercenary the evening off, and Bronn was thankful enough. Before Rebekah made her entrance, he had found new soldiers for Tyrion's guard. He let the men fight against him, and who survived could join the guard.
Killing made Bronn long for women and wine, so the way led him towards the city.
OoOoO
Rebekah couldn't sleep. Her head was aching from the images of the hungry, hateful men in King's Landing, the sight of Lady Kenna and Bronn's harsh words. The sell sword was simply unnerving, but Rebekah had to admit there was a similarity between Roran and Kenna.
Rebekah tried to protect them both but failed, and it had been easy to turn her shame into anger against Tyrion. To sum it all up, Rebekah felt miserable. But a Waldorf should always try to find a solution, she reminded herself, and her next idea was reckless and obviously a distraction – but it was a start for finding new strength.
The next day, Rebekah spent with the other ladies, eating lemon cakes and gossiping. She was in no mood to see Tyrion anyway, and she was hoping to hear something about their husbands' hunting trips. Clearly a dozen men kept riding into the woods to hunt for pleasure although the rest of the city was starving and not allowed to go into the parts reserved for the crown. Rebekah was able to find out the men rode out tomorrow and even a couple of Ladies joined them. Hunting with them was relaxing, and Rebekah immediately felt at home in the woods. The trip began very early in the morning and they arrived late in the evening.
No man had questioned her presence, even as she didn't stay behind during the actual hunt like the other ladies. A kind goldcloak named Ser Gower lent her a horse and congratulated her when she shoot the deer. Hunters weren't complicated, Rebekah mused, unlike the intrigues at court.
The hard part of her plan came at night. The meat had been given to the kitchen, but Rebekah's deer would be served for her alone. So the girl in the kitchen packed it up for her without questioning but with surprised looks.
It wasn't stealing, but it was suspicious to take the meat late in the evening without explanation.
-"No one needs to know I was here." Rebekah whispered to the two girls left, giving each of them a gold coin. "I'm not getting you in trouble, as I do nothing forbidden. I just want to avoid questions." Rebekah explained quickly before leaving. Sneaking out of the Red Keep wasn't as hard as she tought it would be. A cloak hid her face, and she simply stayed with the soldiers, goldcloaks and smaller lords who headed towards the city for the night.
The sun still draw orange streaks on the horizon, and loud noises and laughter filled the city. If Rebekah wouldn't have the riot still in mind, she would have been able to enjoy the almost magical atmosphere. No one bothered her, although she feared for the big backpack she was carrying. The woman looked around to find the perfect place. Children played in front of a large house and Rebekah could see their rips even from afar.
Rebekah entered the house, only to see she was standing in a brothel. No one looked at her, the men being occupied with the half undressed women. "My lady, how can I help you?" a dark-skinned woman purred, surprisingly looking very graceful. But Rebekah noticed how skinny she was as well.
-"I'm here to help you, actually. Can I talk to the mistress of this establishment?" Rebekah asked, and the woman smiled, showing perfect white teeth. "You are talking to her already, but I am willing to go to a more private place, my lady." Rebekah nodded and followed her into a empty room. It wasn't decorated like the other ones, obviously not meant for the usual customers. With a questioning look, the woman gestured Rebekah to sit down. "You may call me Rona, my lady. What is it what you need?"
-"I saw the children outside. They need to eat more. I happen to be allowed to hunt in the King's woods, and since I don't like to see children or women suffering, I thought you could use a part of the meat." Rona stared at her in disbelief. "My lady, I do not want any trouble..." she said slowly.
"Of course, Rona. I promise you the deer was shoot legally and I want nothing in return."
"Would you remove your cape, my lady?" Rona asked, her eyes not leaving Rebekah's package. "It is better for me if not everyone sees my face here. All you need to know is that I am from the Red Keep and that I can't stand having wasteful dinners when other people are starving. Children especially." Rebekah added, hoping Rona would accept her gift. After a short moment, Rona opened the package hesitantly. "You would offer it to this establishment, my lady? Just because..."
-"Because I follow the way of the Seven, Rona. Share it between your girls." Rebekah pleaded and took a gold dragon from her pocket. "Oh no, my lady, I can not take any more from you." Rona said agitatedly.
"It's for your discretion. See it as a little addition, Rona." Rebekah smiled, although the woman could hardly see it.
-"Thank you." Rona muttered, but her eyes were shining. "May the Old and the New Gods bless you, my lady. Please, give me a name, so that I can remember your kindness." Rebekah just used what came into mind.
-"Valla."
-"What an pretty name." A man appeared in the door frame, and Rona stared at him annoyed. "This chamber is for private business." She said politely but the man just smiled.
His skin was bronzed by the sun and his eyes were black as the night. They had something mischievous and intelligent about them, while his smile was sweet as honey but dangerous as poison.
Hi guys,
Thanks to your great support I find myself writing much faster than before, so here you go with the next chapter... I hope it's not too long! The story around Lady Kenna might be a bit bored compared to the rest, but it's important to set a few things for the future. Rebekah and Bronn are both in the city now, and guess who Rebekah meets at the end ;)
Sparky She-Demon: There a are still a couple of chapters before the actual tourney, but don't worry, it will be quite soon ;)
HarleyQuinn: I'm sorry, it's the German quotation which is automatic in my writing program. Didn't think it would cause a problem for American readers but I will fix it for the previous chapters...
Anna.B: I agree there are not enough Oberyn/OC stories out there! You won't have to wait much longer for him on this story...
Veri01: Oberyn's synchronisation in German almost ruins the character! Is it just me or does he sound like Barney Stinson? Your questions will be answered in time... and you're giving me so many good ideas :D
Again, you guys are amazing reviewers!
xoxo & Liebe Grüße