In which we get to hate Qazlas a little more and our little wolf assassin is finally becoming more of herself again...slowly
*Year 304 After Conquest(AC) - New Future*
Arya didn't know what possessed her to try and speak for the first time in a long time. Maybe because of Daenerys keeps calling her that name she loathes, that never truly represent her or maybe because she is too irritated of the older woman constant buggering.
Either way, she had spoken and told Daenerys her real name. Arya glanced towards the silver-haired woman and regret starts to fill her as the said person stares at her with a repressed smile. The smaller woman glares in return finding nothing at all amusing. But, it only has the opposite reaction as Daenerys continues smiling, genuinely this time.
Arya looks away, ignoring her and proceeds to tie the cloth again. The pieces of cloths are becoming more and more like a rope now. Though she had doubts it will serve as properly as one, it will have to do. She steals some glances towards her cellmate.
Well, at least she's quiet now.
"So, Arya." Daenerys trails softly. Arya groans inwardly as her peace got short-lived yet again. "You have a lovely name," she commented.
Arya reaches for another piece of cloth leaving her compliment hung in the damp air. At the corner of her eyes, she saw Daenerys scoots closer to her. She only stops when one of her knees made contact with hers. Arya looks to her side, frowning which Daenerys responded with a perfectly arched brow, her smile still lingers on her face. The younger woman tries very hard to ignore the warm skin against hers.
What is she so damn happy about?
"Did your parents gave you that name?" Daenerys asked gently.
At that, grey eyes turn cold and hard. The last memories of her father and mother come uninvited at the back of her mind. The changes did not go unnoticed by the older woman. The tension surrounding them almost palpable by the second. Not wanting to offend the younger girl anymore, Daenerys tries to change the subject.
"What are you going to do with these?" she asked as she reached for a piece of cloth among the others. "How did you even smuggle all of these without notice is beyond me." she murmurs.
Instead of answering, Arya shoves a cloth over to Daenerys. She held her gaze until the older woman finally takes it from her hands and then mirroring her action, tying them against one another.
"Does this mean you will include me in your plan to escape?" Daenerys asked. Arya looks up to find her looking down, still focus on tying. Her violet eyes calm but a trace of anxiousness is in there.
She thinks I'm going to try and escape alone.
It's not that the thought had never crossed her mind or anything, but, after experiencing the earlier incident with the slaves, it was obvious that this woman, Daenerys will either die or seriously injured if she leaves her alone in here. The other slaves might try something else the next time the cell door opens again.
And while all of these are not her problems anyway, it seems to be one of Qazlas's. Though her master showed no specific interest in this claimed to be Queen of Meereen, Arya knows better. After all these years living under his grip, she knows her master like the back of her hand. The man is a sadistic and egoistic bastard. He will try to break your spirit first before finally getting to his true intentions. That was always his way of doing things and it has always work to his favour. With herself being here, struggling to speak is the proof of that. Moreover, this place is a perfect medium to achieve whatever he had planned for the silver-haired queen. Arya will not let that happen naturally, for the sake of pissing off Qazlas, of course. So, there is no other way than bringing the older woman along.
Daenerys looks up, making Arya focus her attention back at her. Knowing that she still has not gotten her answer, Arya gives her a subtle nod. If anyone wasn't paying attention, they would miss it. But luckily Daenerys had her close by that it's hard not to notice it.
At that answer, Daenerys looks down again with a smile tugging at the corner of her mouth.
*
When the sun disappeared and the stars take its place, the young woman stays rooted in her place ever since the last hours. Her back leaned against the wall with her feet straight. Her breathing in an orderly manner and her eyes closed. If anyone were to see the young wolf, they would think she was in a deep slumber. Dreaming of good things and places even. But, that was not the case at all.
In fact, she was waiting and studying. She finds that the other slaves sometimes tried to make conversations with one another despite their captivity. How the guards would ignore the noise and the fact that they only bring food to a certain slave at a time. She still waits for her turn. Also how her cellmate, Daenerys seems to hum a certain kind of song at a time when she thought the younger girl had drifted off, though it never minded her that much. The sound was soothing to her ears.
The faint lullaby grows even fainter until it stops completely only to be replaced with a set of footsteps echoing outside the hallway. Calm as still water, Arya waits until the crunch of boots against cold ground sounded no more. Only to be followed by a distinct thud soon after and then the steps echo again and grew fainter by the seconds. She guesses her food had finally made an appearance.
Perfect timing.
Now she can finally start her plan. But, first thing first. She needs all the energy she can get to make her escape succeeds and naturally the food that arrived become just that.
The first thing Arya sees after opening her eyes is the side of a woman sitting by the metal door. In front of her, a tray of food lay untouched. Her violet eyes seeming focus on the warm meal as if she was feasting with only her eyes. Arya stifles a chuckle at the scene. She made an effort to move closer to her then, making the older woman snaps out of her stupor.
"Arya, you're awake?" Daenerys asked softly, eyeing the younger girl her every move as she slides over and sits right in front of her. The tray of food now between them.
There is only one small loaf of bread with a bowl of some kind of thick soup in it. Without wasting any more time, Arya reaches for the bread, breaking it in half and dips it into the soup before shoving it inside her mouth, feeding her hunger. When only that she had taken another bite of the bread that she realizes the older woman is staring at her and at the other piece of bread that left untouched, repeatedly.
Daenerys swallows dryly as she studies the meal in front of her, looking unsure. The bread looks inviting despite its looks making her stomach grumble in response. Even though she had not eaten since they captured her and brought her here, it was obvious the younger girl is in need it more. Especially since her last course of activities.
She remembered back the first time she saw the wolf-girl in the cell. At that time, she almost thought that a beast was in fact in here. Her clear grey eyes shine over the darkness. Her unkempt hair and her clothes, stained with blood and dirt and how she had actually growled at her. But, after spending more time with her, those things had not bothered her that much, now. There is something with this girl that Daenerys cannot point out. She intrigued her somehow.
Arya raises a brow at the older woman blank face as she reaches for the bowl of soup and gulps half the content before finishing her bread. Seeing that Daenerys still in her reverie, she takes the other half of bread on the tray and shoves it to her hands, forcing her to take it.
Violet eyes focus back into grey ones. "You can have it," Daenerys said kindly, pushing the bread to her again. Arya frowns.
What is this woman's problem?
"I don't feel very hungry." Daenerys continues, trying hard to convince the younger girl. As if on cue, a rumble of noise suddenly can be heard from her way. Arya shot her an incredulous look and the older woman blush under her gaze. Clearly her stomach feels the exact opposite.
"Eat."
Arya didn't know if it was because the silver-haired queen was shocked to hear her voice came out again or the fact that she cannot hide her hunger anymore. But, either way, Daenerys finally accepts the bread and starts eating. As Arya stares at the older woman, a huff escaped her, amused seeing how well-mannered Daenerys is while eating, despite the obvious hunger.
As expected from the Queen of Meereen, I guess.
Letting her finished her meal, Arya stands up and walks toward the corner of the cell, where her treasures lay hidden within the shadows. She picks up the tangled of cloths which are now perfectly tied together and wind the make-shift rope over her shoulder and down her chest. The two rusty nails soon follow suits and are kept within her grip.
"You're escaping now?" Daenerys voice enters her ears. Arya turns around then, finding the silver-haired queen already finished her meal.
She strides over to the metal door and reaches for the lock that binds the cell door, answering the question with her action instead.
With the rusty nail in hand, she inserts the thin steel into the bottom of the keyhole and another nail at the top. Pressuring both the nails until one of them suddenly goes further into another hole. She pushes the nail further until it catches and a few seconds later, it clicked and the lock opens up. A small smile tugging at the corner of Arya's mouth as she succeeds in breaking her first obstacle. She looks over her shoulder to find Daenerys standing behind her with a disbelief look.
Carefully, Arya pushes the metal door further, not wanting to make any unnecessary noise and steps outside. Daenerys follows closely from behind. As expected the guards are not visible along the hallway, though she knows outside the slaves' resident is a different matter. Arya just hopes the guards for the night had lessened in numbers.
She continues further until a hand over her shoulder caught her, halting her steps. She looks behind to lock with violet eyes.
"What about the others?" Daenerys's hush voice sounded in the darkness of the hallway. Arya turns fully with a frown, not believing what she just asked.
Did she forget who tried to hurt her earlier?
Besides, letting the other slaves out is not a smart move. And even if Arya wanted to save them, time is running out and she will not have enough time to get them free anyway. What she had learned the last hours is that the guards will usually send one of them in a routine to check up on them every fifteen minutes. And the time is ticking away as Daenerys questioned every moves that the younger girl already decides.
She swallowed dryly before trying to form the words. "There is no time," Arya answered. That seems to shut Daenerys up.
Without wasting any more time, Arya turns back around and strides faster towards the end of the hallway. Another familiar metal door greets her and she carefully approaches it, afraid of unexpected guards outside. She crouches and takes a peek from the corner of the locked door to find no one is guarding outside. At that, Arya pulls out her very own key and stick them into the keyhole. Like before, after a few twisting and pressuring, the metal door unlocked itself. Carefully, she pushes it open and steps outside with Daenerys in tow.
The outside surrounding seems quiet, almost too quiet and Arya didn't like it at all. Even their breathing sound too loud in her ears. She pushes the door close again and put its lock where it was supposed to be hoping it will give them more time and the guards would not notice someone just walk out from here.
Just when she is about to take the nails out of the keyhole, a sound of footsteps alerts her senses and she instantly snaps her head at the direction it was coming from. But, it becomes a second too late as she comes upon a man who stands across them, staring at both of them repeatedly with his eyes blinking hard. Arya tightens her grip with the nails on both her hands.
Well, shit.
"Hey! You!" the guard's voice booming around them. He takes a hesitant step forward. His right hand reaching for the hilt of his club. "What do you think you are doing?" he asked threateningly.
Arya can sense Daenerys tense up from the back. Earning no answer, he finally takes out his weapon from his belt. His steps become more confident now as he moves closer to the two unidentified figures. Instead of turning and running away, Arya takes a step towards him instead, mirroring his actions. The man seems taken aback by the unexpected advance.
"Stop right there!" he orders. Arya pays him no heed and sprint towards him instead, nails on the ready.
The guard makes the first move as he swings his club over her. But, it caught nothing but air as Arya ducks away. She thrusts her fist – where the nails had been secure within her fingers – to his side then, earning a groan of agony from her opponent. Quick as a snake, she thrusts again and again until the nails puncture his neck, cutting his artery. The man kneels on the floor with his body full of holes as he finally falls down. His blood drips from the thin metal joining the already soiled ground.
Daenerys stares from across with a daze. It's always amazing to see the little wolf moves. It was as if she was dancing a deadly dance, gracefully if she might add. Her trains of thoughts got interrupted when the said person strides towards her and caught her by the arm, pulling her away from there.
As they both run outside the opening and into the arena, a flicker of lights caught their eyes. And sure enough, where the main door is, stood two guards who are keeping watch. The lights from the torches surround them. Instead of running, Arya slows down and walks with careful steps. Her hand still gripping the older woman's wrist as they practically slide over the wall, using the darkness to their advantage.
When they are far enough from the guards and the opening, Arya stops her track and turns around facing the wall. Although the height from the ground to the crowd-stand is above her head, it's not really that high. Plus, with the crooked wall – from where the mismatch bricks – will give her the medium to go up easily. She decides then, taking a few steps back, she runs forward to the wall and lunged herself up. The pain shot her middle almost makes her faint right there as she hung against the wall but she grits her teeth, absorbing it when her hands caught the edge of the brick wall. She pushes herself up, climbing her way using the crooked walls, effectively closes the remaining distance and lands safely on the other side.
She slumps into the floor as she takes shaky breaths. Looking up at the beautiful starry sky, it calms her nerve somehow and eases the pain, where it becomes almost bearable now. Slowly, she stands up and looks down over the ground. Daenerys is still there, looking around every now and then to check if any of the guards notice them. Arya reaches over the wall, offering both her hands out for the older woman to take.
Daenerys looks up at the hands and at the younger face repeatedly. Doubt showing on her features whether she can go up and join the younger girl or not. But, clearly, she had to go up one way or another. Not wanting to ponder her useless thoughts anymore, Daenerys takes her hands with hers and starts climbing too.
After a few pulling and pushing from both women, Daenerys finally managed to climb over the wall and join Arya on the other side.
"Are you alright?" Daenerys asks. Concern plastered on her face as she studies the girl beside her. Arya gives her a nod while trying to ease the strain she had forced on her broken ribs. There is no time to linger about it now.
She stands up then and walks further upward where the crowd-stand ends. The first thing she sees over the wall and down to the ground on the other side is darkness. And it stretches until her eyes can see.
"Are we climbing down?" Daenerys voice breaks the silence. Arya chanced a glance over the silver-haired queen to see her looking down with a frown, hoping the young girl to tell her otherwise.
Arya pulls out her very makeshift rope from her chest then, unwinding it. Looking around, she found nothing suitable to tie the rope to. So, she takes the end and tied it against her middle instead before throwing the rest over the wall. It is hard to see if the rope ever touches the ground on the other side, but she doesn't have the luxury to be certain. She just wishes it did for Daenerys sake.
All this while violet eyes follow the little wolf every action. And as second goes by, she cannot believe what the young girl in front of her is suggesting. Her guess proved right when she speaks her precious voice again.
"You go first," Arya orders firmly. Daenerys frowns deeper.
"What? No. You won't be able to hold me down. And what about you? Who is going to hold the rope for you then?" Daenerys said back, shooting a frustrated glare at her.
"I'll manage," Arya replies, ignoring the glare completely. "Go." She continues the second time.
But, Daenerys still hold her stands, looking around to find another alternative. Arya was about to chew her teeth out at the stubborn queen but her action got cut off by a sound of a bell. Both of them freeze before looking at each other silently. The sound only grows louder by the seconds and down below, the lights from the torches are now becoming larger in numbers.
"Go. Now!" Arya said in a desperate tone. If they linger any longer, everything will be in vain. Daenerys stares at her and at the hustle down the arena repeatedly, conflicted. But as the noise of the men shouting from below grows louder, she made her decision then, to trust the wolf-girl.
As she climbs down, gripping the rope of clothes tightly like her life depends on it, she glanced up to find Arya struggling to keep her weight and to not fall over herself. Glancing down, she notices the simmering of sand from the ground and trust that the distance is close now. She lets go and jump down. Sure enough, her feet landed on the muddy sand.
A sigh of relief escaped her and Daenerys quickly looks up again to find the young girl, hovering over the wall. Her eyes darting down below.
"Arya!" Daenerys calls out. Arya instantly finds glowing violet eyes staring up at her despite the darkness and let out a breath she didn't know she held.
Wanting to waste no more time, the little wolf untied the rope from her waist and ready to climb over the wall using her well-developed skills. But, just as she is about to do that, a swish sound of something cutting air enters her ears. She didn't have the chance to confirm her suspicion when the said sound stops behind her only to be replaced by a force knocking her against the wall.
Arya blinks hard as she tries to understand the sudden pain that shot her back. She looks over her shoulder to find an arrow sticking out. Her breath caught in her throat as she looks down again to find violet eyes staring back in shock.
As the sounds of hurry steps echo from behind her, Arya forces herself up. She turns around and finds that the guards have already made their way up. Now here she stands, alone, with two rusty nails as her weapons while more than a dozen men just a few feet before her, their own weapons at the ready.
Gritting her teeth while trying hard not to acknowledge the fact that she just got shot by an arrow, she lunged at one of the guards. Her nails finding another victim as it pokes another hole. The man falls down reaching for his neck, trying to stop the bleeding, but it was of no use. Seeing that the others are not prepared, Arya continues her attack on them. As another one falls down, she isn't aware of a club swinging her way, successfully knocking the breath out of her. It only takes a second before the other guard swarm her way and pins her over the wall.
As she struggles, her grip on the nails loosen and one of the guards intentionally force the arrow on her back further into her flesh. Arya whimpers as the pain caught her off guard. Her limbs automatically lose control as black spots keep clouding her vision. But, as she looks down again at the ground on the other side, she finds no violet eyes looking back, only darkness.
*
It was hard to focus when you keep drifting in and out of consciousness. For a moment Arya thought that she was already dead. But, the hot sand on her knees and feet tells her otherwise. The occasional sharp pain on her back keeps bugging her. And there are murmurs floating around. She tries to focus on them.
"–do you hear me?!"
A stinging pain shot through her face making her snap her head to the right. She can almost hear the ringing inside her ears. And then her head is forced up.
Arya grunts in response as she tries to open her eyes. She blinks a few times to adjust the now bright light before registering a man is in front of her, looking down.
"Accalia, my dear. I am very disappointed in you." The man said. His voice was disturbingly gentle as he tightens his grip on her hair. "Has the cunt Queen whispers you good things, that you are willing to help her escaped?" he asked. Arya swallows dryly as she studies the man and soon his features were familiar.
Qazlas.
"Have I not given you enough?" Qazlas asked again, locking with grey eyes for a moment before he lets go of his grip – none too gently – and let out a sigh.
She takes a shaky breath as Qazlas walks away, leaving the space to herself. As she glanced to her right, there is a shackle secured tightly around her wrist. Same goes for the left, making her arms spread wide. Her knees and feet strain against the hard sand. And when she tries to get up, the chain rattles in protest making her stay where she is, kneeling. She looks around then and recognize the place as the arena. A few guards are standing within a safe distance from her.
"I had plans for her, you know," Qazlas speaks up again, turning around towards her. "And now, I had none." He finished. Frustration is clearly evident on his features.
Arya frowns as she tries to recall back what had happened. It took her a moment but everything falls back in place as she remembers why she is in this predicament. Daenerys face comes flashes back only to be replaced with her being gone along the darkness of the night.
She left me behind.
Arya cannot help when a chuckle escaped her dried lips thinking how amusing fate is.
I should have left her here and escaped alone.
But, she didn't and here she is now. Kneeling over Qazlas, waiting for her punishment instead. She didn't realize the said man had stride off towards her with anger radiated through his body.
He yanked her hair again, forcing her to look up at him. "Do you think this is amusing, Accalia?" he asked, tilting his head. Arya looks back evenly with calm eyes. The chains that bound her wrists rattles as she pulls them, trying to get loose.
That seems to strike a nerve on Qazlas. He reaches at her back then and twists the wooden arrow that is still planted inside her. Arya's eyes grew wide as she stifles a scream at the sudden pain. A whimper escapes her instead.
Qazlas had a sick smile on his lips as he continues twisting and pushing the arrow further. She closes her eyes tightly, clenching her jaw tight as the pain double. It lasts for eternity for all Arya knew when the pain suddenly stops and she drew in a shaky breath.
"I don't think so too." He said, finally letting go of the young girl. "You know what I do to disobedient slaves, Accalia. Let this be a lesson for you not to cross me the next time." he finished and motion for one of the guards to come to him.
"You do not own me, Qazlas." Arya spat at the last word. She looks up to find Qazlas staring wide-eyed, his mouth slightly open. She smirks at that.
"Not before, not now and not ever. Let that stuck into your thick skull." She taunts with cold and dangerous eyes that would make men shivers if not for her shackles.
Silence stretch before them as they both stare at each other. Slowly Qazlas walks toward her with cold eyes of his own, though Arya can trace a hint of irritation in there.
"Fifty lashes." He speaks. Arya gave him no satisfaction in responding. So she stares ahead instead, not giving a damn about what he wants to do.
Qazlas's mouth twitches in annoyance. "Make that a hundred." He declares.
When none of the guards responded to his instruction, he snaps his head at them. Instantly, one of the guards walks out to him, a whip is in his hands.
"Master Qazlas, a hundred? She will not survive it." The guard whispered though Arya can clearly hear him anyway. Qazlas tilts his head to him, furious eyes staring at the man as he cowers under his gaze.
Taking that as a yes, the guard bows his head and strides towards the young girl. He walks past her and stays behind, whip at the ready. Arya closes her eyes then, bracing herself against what is coming.
The lashing starts immediately. One, two, three – in quick succession.
She grits her teeth and concentrates on not breaking down.
Four, five, six, seven – they keep coming thick and fast. The pain, Arya concludes is not too much since she had worse before, but then as the minutes go by and the blows rained down her body, her skin softened and the pain grew to the point that she felt her back was on fire.
Twenty-three, twenty-four, twenty-five – she swears she heard something torn apart. Maybe her skin or her cloth or maybe both, she didn't know. The blows keep coming and when it hit her injured shoulder where the arrow had been, Arya recoils involuntarily. The shackles rattle as she did so.
She vaguely hears the man still counting as her back was still on fire. But, at least she did not scream for the sick bastard's pleasure. That is all the satisfaction that she needs. Sweat trickles down her forehead as she stifles another scream. She tries not to move that much and hoping to get this over with.
As time goes by and the whipping still continues, Arya can hardly feel anything anymore. She guesses it's probably time for her. Maybe this is how she supposed to end things, though it makes no sense. Why would the Gods granted her wish and send her back in time just so that she can die in the hands of a sadistic bastard?
Truth be told, up to this point, Arya could not care less about them anymore, and their reasons. They all had been playing with her, the old Gods, the New, even the God of Death. They can go to hell, all of them. At least she can join her father and sister now.
A loud roar suddenly jolts her up. Arya looks up in a daze to find Qazlas looking up the sky with a frightened look. The other guards share the same sentiment as him. With the last energy she had left, she mirrors their action and looks up to the sky.
Another roar sounded as a massive beast of black and red coloured scales fly by them. Its wide red-black wings spread over them creating a moving shade as it flew around the pit. Arya was left in awe as the said beast fly up further to the blue sky before turning around and dives towards them. At that movement, the men grew anxious and started to wield their club against the incoming beast, though Arya doubts it would make any difference.
Before she thought the beast might crash down upon them, it breathes fire instead while flying off again, conveniently lighting up the men in front of her. Arya swears she notices a flash of silver on top of the beast.
The heat from the fire hit her face as the men screams and flails around in a circle but the chaos goes unnoticed by the young girl. A smile tugging at the corner of her lips as she watched the beast fly in its glory and thought;
Dragons do exist after all.