~Elena~
The smell of horse piss and misery clung to me like a second skin, wrinkling my nose as I pulled an unwilling body forward. Fingers digging as I tugged my deep green hood lower, obscuring my face.
"Do you have to pull so hard?" The whining voice of my younger sister, Lucia, piped up above the crowd's roar. Pace slowed as I side stepped a puddle of suspicious liquid, pulling at her once more.
"Not if you'd learn to keep up." I growled, pulling once again. She huffed, pushing raven feather hair from her youth filled tanned face.
"I wish I could have brought Reeva. I bet she misses me." Reeva was our canine companion back home. Baggage we couldn't afford.
"You're making enough noise on your own, without adding that over barking trouble maker." Golden eyes filled with defeat, her hand no longer resisting as she now kept up with her head bowed. She's too young. I should have never brought her. I sighed inwardly, watching the girl of only ten years covertly wipe tears from her eyes. It was selfish thinking that had snuck her onto the boat with me. Selfish to think I could protect her in this strange land.
"There's a marketplace here. When we're settled, I'll get you a necklace for your collection. Would you like that?" She squealed, catching the attention of a nearby guard who looked around, trying to locate the source of such a noise. I yanked her forward again, slipping into a shadowed alleyway. Just a little further.
We traveled until we came to a large stone wall, the pale gray stone catching the early morning light.
"I'm going to lift you up and over." I instructed, eyes darting to every shadowed corner, heartbeat pounding with the thought of being caught. Lucia nodded while I clasped my hands together, creating a foothold.
"One, two-" She stepped up, hands reaching as I helped propel her up, feet scrambling against the wall. Thank the Gods. I sighed when she finally reached the top, leaning down flat against the stone. I wasted no time in joining her. A running start soon seeing me up beside her. She waited patiently until I'd dropped to the other side, arms outstretched.
"I'll catch you." I reassured, air leaving in a soft whoosh as she rolled off the top, landing heavily in my arms.
"Nice catch." She giggled, leaning up to kiss my cheek. I almost gave in to the urge to drop her.
"It's beautiful." I turned to see we'd entered a vast garden, the floral smell working hard to mask the outside stench.
"He said to meet him by the white roses." I instructed, spotting the cluster of rose bushes at the far end of the garden.
"Stay low." I hissed, hand clutching my sister's once more, before I tugged her behind the cluster of bushes, patting the spot on the ground.
"Don't make a sound." I instructed firmly, while she plucked a rose. She nodded, carefully breaking away a blossom, before mouthing some rhyme to herself while she picked the petals.
We waited long until the sun had begun to set. Legs numbing from staying crouched and hidden for so long. Where is he? I thought, a sudden suspicion almost making me leave.
"There he is." Lucia spoke softly, nearly rising, before I yanked her back down. Trust no one.
"Elena? Are you out here?" I watched as Varys, keeper of spies and secrets, walked into the garden, hands deep inside his robe, eyes scanning the garden. I put a finger to my lips, a sign for Lucia to be silent, before raising, rushing to get behind him, leading him away from the white roses.
"What am I doing here Varys?" He yelped, hand going to his chest as he turned to look at me with wide eyes.
"By the Gods Elena. You startled me." He chuckled, coming over to join me. I didn't apologize, my patients wearing thin while I waited on an answer.
"Always to the point with you." He sighed, casting a weary smile. "The eldest Stark girl. I need you to keep an eye on her. Protect her." An eyebrow raised at his request.
"You want me to be her caretaker? Her wet nurse? Honestly Varys, I am not good at that sort of thing. You know this." I explained in a frustrated whisper. If I had known this was anything other than another spy mission, I wouldn't have come.
"She's a gentle thing. This needs to be done the right way, and I know I can trust you to see this through. Don't leave the poor girl to the Lannisters." Teeth nibbled at my lower lips as I tried not to squirm under my heavy decision.
" What about Lucia?" I asked. If he could not find a safe place for her, then no pretty words would make me stay.
"I thought you might bring her. I have a place where you will not have to worry about her." I shook my head, knowing that I would regret this decision.
"Alright Varys, you win." He laughed joyously, before reaching into his robe sleeve and pulling out a tightly rolled up dress.
"I'm happy to have you back Elena." Varys commented as I removed my short fighter's dress, unabashed by my nudity, though Varys turned with an affronted gasp. "I know you always complete your missions." Only time would tell if he was right, and by the Gods I hope he was.