~Elena~
"When Lucia was only two, she ran across a pack of wild dogs fighting over a rotting carcass. Being so small and naive, she thought the dogs were playing and set off to join them. I was only twelve at the time, but my mother had entrusted me with Lucia's safety. I was buying food from an overly friendly vendor when I saw that she had disappeared. I was so scared, shouting out for her, looking a freight I'm sure with my red splotched face and endless stream of tears. I found her being stared down by the dogs, their eyes feverish, mouths foaming with barred teeth as Lucia giggled and held out her hands. I had such a small knife back then, not much to protect two girls from wild dogs. I ran with her, pushing her into a nearby house before the dogs pounced. I was taken down almost immediately, nails and teeth clawing at my back and dress. I could hear my sister screaming for me as I tried to stay alive. Her scream must have awoken something dark inside of me, because I went from being prey to predator so quickly, tearing into those dogs with teeth, nails, and knife. Blood coating my skin as I became feral, savage." I recounted the absence of pain as I stood, breathing labored, amongst the dead canine corpses. Rosette let loose a deep moan of pain as I went back to wiping sweat from her face. She had a fever, but I held faith that if it broke, she would survive.
"I tell you this so you'll know what I'm willing to do to protect my sister, but I can't without your help. I need you to wake up Rosette." I plead as I dipped the rag into a bowl of chilled water.
"Please wake up." Voices filtered past closed curtains, filling the room with obnoxious chatter. Rosette let loose another pain filled moan, louder than the first, but it was drown by the noise from below.
"Tyrion's trial is today. I'm meant to be there." I sighed as I smoothed down my rose colored dress, golden bracelets twinkling in the sunlight. I walked on aching legs, going over to pour a cup of water before setting it by Rosette's head.
"I'll be back when the trial is over. Try to wake up Rosette, please." I begged once more, making sure she was close enough to the bed that no one would see her should they step in. Taking a second to make sure my knife was properly secured, I gave Rosette one last pleading look before venturing out to join the flow of people coming to watch the trial.
I spotted Ellaria standing close to the open arena under a lavish tent, surround by a flock of pretty girls. She seemed to bold and out of place amongst the fair people of King's Landing. Her dark skin on display under a dress that some would consider scandalous, predator eyes forever watching. I carefully slipped through the crowd, maneuvering my way closer until I came to stand beside her. "Hello again my lady." I greeted with a curtsy, drawing her intense gaze. A smile pulled at the corner of her lips as the flocking girls donned identical smirks. No doubt they thought I was a girl sent to entertain the Dornish woman.
"Leave us for a moment girls." Ellaria purred as she trailed a finger down my cheek. They did as told, laughter trailing them as I took a step closer.
"The ship will leave as planned. Meet me at the port tonight with Lucia." She whispered as she leaned down, before placing a kiss on my cheek. I turned to see my uncle walking swiftly through the crowd, and made my exit before he spoke and I lost what little control I had left.
"Did you hear who Lord Tyrion has as his champion?" I paused in my journey to the back of the crowd as two young noble girls stood close together, stretching onto their toes to see above the crowd.
"Oberyn Martell. I hear he's amazing with a sword." They burst into a fit of giggles as my heart stuttered. I prayed to the Gods to find Tyrion a worthy champion, but I hadn't expected the Gods to present my uncle. My fist clenched as I thought of my uncle's selfishness. No doubt he was doing this as some backwards way of getting revenge for Elia, his beloved deceased sister.
"But he has to beat Sir Gregor Clegane, and I've heard he's unbeatable." Sir Clegane. The Mountain. He's on a suicide mission. I thought darkly as I spotted Oberyn lavishing kisses along Ellaria's neck, as if he wasn't about to get himself killed.
"Look, it's Lord Tyrion." A gasp leaked past my lips as I spotted him coming to stand beside my uncle, hands shackled before him. He'd grown haggard during his imprisonment, eyes filled with a mixture of fear and hatred, mouth pulling in a deep frown. He spoke softly with my uncle, as a a squire walked out dwarfed by the largest man I'd ever laid eyes upon. His hulking figure casting a long black shadow as his armor clinked tauntingly. What unholy demon is this my uncle has to fight? The juggernaut remained silent as the pitiful Grand Maester hobbled forward.
"In the sight of Gods and man, we gather to ascertain the guilt or innocence of this man, Tyrion Lannister. May the mother grant him mercy and the father give him a justice he deserves. May the warrior guide him and the-" His droning voice was cut off by fanfare, which seemed very unkind, but I expected nothing less from a black heart like Tywin Lannister. He bowed, before walking off with a clink of chains, while the champions were motioned forward. I couldn't help the smile that pulled on my lips as my uncle took up his spear and put on a show. He wanted this fight to be remembered.
"Have they told you who I am?" Uncle Oberyn asked as the giant demon took up his sword.
"Some dead man." The demon growled before taking a swipe at my uncle who danced around his attack, easily knocking the blade aside with his spear.
"I am the brother of Elia Martell. The reason I have come to this stinking shit pile city is for you." Their weapons clashed again, the giant to bulky to keep up with my uncle's lithe movements, laughter falling from Oberyn's lips as he slid to a stop. Be careful uncle. I plead silently.
"I'm going to hear you confess before you die. You raped my sister. You murdered her. You killed her children. Say it now and we can make this quick." He is a fool. I thought darkly as their weapons clashed again, ringing out like thunder as the giant labored to unarm my uncle. But Oberyn was a dancer in the battle ring, and deflected the monster's attacks, soon knocking the knight's helmet to the ground as onlookers chuckled.
"I'm going to hear you say it. You raped her. You murdered her. You killed her children." Oberyn growled as they clashed again, my uncle putting on an acrobatic show as the giant roared with frustration. "You raped her! You murdered her! You killed her children!" My uncle was yelling at this point, that deadly look twinkling in his eyes as he stabbed at the knight who put a foot to my uncle's chest. A gasp of fear ripped from my mouth as he slid to the ground, turning to slice at the knight's feet before bounding back into rhythm. Oh Gods, no. Uncle! I panicked as the knight snapped my uncle's spear in two, before proceeding to try and hack at Oberyn who hopped around the oncoming attacks, landing back on his feet with a laugh before going over to retrieve another spear. The crowd loved Oberyn, cheering him on as they leaned forward, eager for more. The champions collided in a flurry of metallic thunder and shouts of fury, until the tides turned and my uncles spear stabbed the knights chest.
"You raped her! You murdered her!" He sliced the back of the knight's calf so that he fell to his knees in a shout of pain. Murderous rage contorted my uncle's face. His eyes held no mercy. There was a moment of silence as everyone collectively held their breath. "You killed her children!" Screams of horror and shouts of exclamation rang out as Oberyn's spear pierce the breast of the beast. Blood trickling from the monsters mouth as he struggled on the ground. He won! I resisted the urge to shout joyously as I watched my uncle circle his prize.
"No. No, no. no. You can't be dead yet, you haven't confessed." Oberyn growled as he snatched out his spear. No. What are you doing?
"Say it. Say her name. Elia Martell." Oberyn snarled as he paced beside his prey. "You raped her. You killed her children. Elia Martell. Who gave you the order?" He pointed an accusing finger at Tywin Lannister, his voice gruff with anger and grief. "Who gave you the order? Say her name! You raped her! You murdered her! You killed her children! Say it. Say her name." He met Ellaria's eyes for a moment, a moment that cost him. The knight swung out an iron arm and knocked my uncle from his feet, snatching him up before a fist connected with his jaw. Blood splattered the stones as my heart threatened to explode. The giant moved, rolling so my uncle was pinned beneath him, large hands outlining my uncle's head, thumbs gouging into his eyeballs.
"Elia Martell. I killed her children and I raped her." The giant shouted, voice raised above my uncle's screams. I tried to push past the crowd, to help. "Then I smashed her head in like this." My heart stopped and my uncle's screamed died beneath the crunch of his skull. Ellaria's hysterical screaming jolted me from my frozen state as I fought the bile that burned in my throat. He's dead. Oh Gods.
"The Gods have made their will known." Tywin called out as he stood, a smirk playing on his lips. I wanted to tear out his throat. Paint the walls red with his blood, as he looked down upon his youngest son. "Tyrion Lannister. In the name of King Tommen, of the house Baratheon, the first of his name, you are herby sentenced to death." The ground shifted beneath my feet, my head swimming, as I pushed myself to run. Feet pounding against stone as I raced away. Away from the screaming. Away from my uncle's blood pooling on heated stone. My lung were starved of oxygen and I found myself panting as I pushed through my door to find Rosette crying in the corner. Face buried in her hands. Blood oozed from a reopened cut on her cheek as she rocked gently.
"Rosette?" I called softly as I quickly shut my door, feet eating away the distance between us. She looked up at me with frightened eyes, before her sobs became louder.
"Rosette, please. Do you know where my sister is?" My voice was rushed as I knelt before her, carefully taking her hands away from her face. Her eyes were still puffy, opened enough that I could make out their misery.
"They took her." She cried as she looked about her, eyeing the corners and shadows cautiously.
"Took her where? Rosette, look at me." I snapped as I took her chin in my hand and forced her to look at me. "Took her where?" She stared blankly, mouth hanging slack as she seemed to go away within herself.
"Rosette? Stay with me Rosette." I shook her gently to get her to focus. "Where is my sister?" She shook her head, trying to pull away from me as the tears rained again. I hadn't been aware of moving when lightening struck until my handprint glowed on Rosette's cheek, blood gushing from her wound now, though the pain seemed to sober her.
"He took us to his chamber, chained her up, had his guards beat me while she watched and screamed. They thought I was dead, tossed me in the alley behind the Castle. I don't remember much afterwards, it's like a hazy dream then, I woke up afraid it had been a dream and that I was still in there." She whispered as if talking about it would bring Tywin to my door.
"Take me there." I growled as my vision tinted red. She nodded, releasing a groan while she heaved herself up from the floor, leaning heavily against me as we walked through the door, careful to stay quiet. Hang on Lucia. I'm coming for you.