~ Elena~
I'm not sure what awoke me, perhaps it was intuition, the feeling of some wrongness trickling along my naked skin, but my eyes fluttered open to see that Tyrion was gazing at me, worry dancing in his eyes. I sighed lightly as I offered up a tired smile, my body aching as I scooted closer to him, resting my head on his chest as I took his hand in mine.
"Are you afraid my love?" I asked as I rubbed circles on his palm with my thumb. News of the war had found it's way to me through the kitchen staff, long before Tyrion had hinted at his plans to battle. King Joffery was to lead his troops, and that fact set like a cold stone in the pit of my stomach. He was still a child, an innocent to the blood lust of war frenzied men.
"If the city falls. Stannis will burn every Lannister he can find. Of course I'm afraid." He sighed in response as he looked up at the ceiling. I pictured his small body, burning as his screams echoed into the night sky and rage boiled in my blood. He is mine. I growled inwardly as I sat up and looked at him, turning his chin so he was forced to meet my eyes.
"I won't let anyone hurt you. I will kill anyone who tries." I tried to reassure as he shook his head with a small smile.
"I'm a Lannister. I don't have a choice in all this. It's not your war." He spoke as I sat up, determined to make him see reason.
"It is my war now, or have you forgotten so fast? I am yours and you are mine." I spoke firmly, climbing up so that I straddled his legs, bending to capture his lips, moaning lightly as he ran his warm hands along my back.
"I shall go with you to war. I will fight by your side." I spoke between kisses. A chuckle rumbled in his chest as he pushed my hair from my face, being careful of the bruises.
"You must stay with Lady Stark. I fear what might become of her if she is left unguarded." I knew he was right of course, but it didn't make me feel any better.
"You should go and get dressed. I fear the war is not long off now." He whispered before he placed a few light kisses along my shoulder. Tears burned in my eyes, but I knew I had to stay strong for him, so I kissed him once more and stood, the cool breeze caressing my naked skin as I gathered up my discarded dress, sliding it over my head, using the time to compose myself. I have to stay strong for him. I told myself as I took a few calming breaths, before walking over and kissing him once more, like it was the last time I would ever get to taste those wine stained lips again.
"You come back to me lion lord. Or I will follow you to the gates of the underworld." I demanded as he looked at me with glistening eyes.
"I will come back to you." He spoke, though the quiver in his voice was not lost on me. He was afraid that he wouldn't come back, but he did not mention it. Instead, he handed me my knife and one of his, before sending me on my way. I rushed to my room then, tears trickling down flushed cheeks as the war bell tolled low and haunting. It would not be long before the war would be at our doorsteps. The thought of a fight was oddly thrilling. The blackness that crept at the edge of my mind eager for more blood to be spilt. Any other time, I might have worried about such lethal thoughts, but it was a comfort now that I would have another life to worry about. I entered my room to find a piece of rolled parchment on my bed. I looked around to make sure I was still alone before carefully rolling it open. It read: I have taken the children to the safe place. She will be well taken care of. Please stay safe and keep your vow. I knew it was from Rosette, and a small weight fell from my shoulders as I pictured my sister sheltered somewhere far from here. It's for the best. I wouldn't be able to protect her. I reminded myself as I burned the paper, before quickly discarding my dirty dress, replacing it with one of pale grey, making sure to buckle my knife to my thigh, using spare twine to fashion another belt for Tyrion's knife. I decided to braid my hair so that it wouldn't be in my face incase the time came for a fight before rushing off to find Sansa.