Fire and Iron
Every Storm
When she was a small child, Yara loved the darkness. She would hide out in cupboards and in the deepest parts of Pyke, where not even the sound of the waves or the smell of the sea could reach. She didn't love the darkness because it was damp, or lonely. She loved it because a person couldn't be untruthful in the dark. If you're afraid, it's obvious, and you're therefore sincere. If you're not, you don't feel a need to lie because you can lay your soul bare, and no one will ever see it.
Trust Euron to bastardize her love of the dark like this. It had taken her a while to adjust to her new surroundings. A musty smelling dungeon, far deeper than the one Obara Martell had been in, far smaller, infinitely more uncomfortable. The floor didn't even have straw to absorb the moisture, so Yara was certifiably soaked and miserable. The only light in the room came from a small hole, where she could see her uncle's axe hanging perilously over a fire, held by a weakened rusty chain.
So it was fair to say Yara wasn't enjoying her time here. What's worse, she couldn't say how long she had even been there.
After sending Obara off in Rhaegal, she and her men had been surrounded by Euron's drunken hoard. They had been ordered to leave her, but no orders had been issued about the men who accompanied her. For all she knew they had been slaughtered, she certainly saw them fight back until a duo of cowards hit her in the back of the head with a shield after the other nearly blinded her with the ashes of his torch.
And here she was. No news, no commodity, barely any light, and what was most unsettling, no visits from Euron. She had expected him to come in gloating about finally having her in his grasp. Definitely a little torture, some taunting, anything. But the only thing she had received was subhuman food at random times, and the obscene screams of her guards. Yara loved the dark, but being in the dark about her situation was driving her mad.
-oOoOo-
Obara Martell woke up on the softest bed she had ever slept on. Granted, she had been sleeping on the floor for ages so anything above rock would be infinitely comfortable. The speared sun banner on the door flaps definitely helped, her sister sitting vigil by the door probably had more to do with it.
"Hey" Nymeria took a couple of steps to sit by her, her usual mocking smirk was gone, instead replaced by full blown concern. Frankly it was disconcerting "how are you feeling"
How are you feeling. Simple question. Impossible answer really. If she said how she really felt, Nymeria would never let her out of her sight. If she lied, Nymeria would know and she would never let her out of her sight. Sometimes it was hard to know who the older Sand Snake was. "like hell"
"I'll bet" the younger girl reached out to trace one of the bandages on her sister's shoulder. It had been one of the worst ones. It was a bite mark, and the maester guessed whoever it belonged to had been coated in a heaping helping of poison, because it had caused some serious skin death "do you want to talk about it?"
Usually, when they returned from a particularly hard training session, they would talk to each other. Debrief essentially, a clear minded warrior was a more effective one. Once the training stopped and the actual battles began, Obara closed up more and more. It became about controlling her emotions, and keeping everything at bay. Nymeria almost always got a 'no thanks' or 'do I look like a child to you Nym'.
"I think so"
"okay" the older sibling moved towards the middle of the bed almost on instinct, leaving enough room for her sister to lay beside her or at least be comfortable enough to look at her.
"how long?"
"about three weeks"
The Martell heir laughed humorlessly as she shook her head. It only took three weeks, Euron Greyjoy deserved a prize.
"I Uh. It seems funny that we got so used to the inviting Greyjoys" ~We're gonna have fun~ "Yara and Theon Greyjoy are nothing like their uncle"
"or their jerk uncle is nothing like them"
"could be" Obara's hand unconsciously reached for her wrists, which were bandaged instead of shackled "what do you know"
"Obara…" Nymeria wanted her sister to get everything off her chest. Obara wanted to say as little as possible. Both of them were bound to annoy each other "if you keep this bottled up…"
"I know you know" the heir apparent to Dorne had never sounded so fragile and broken "I know because I can see it"
"what are you talking about"
"you gave me moon tea" Nymeria's eyes widened, the healer was sure Obara wouldn't know, so how in the world has she figured it out "you know when they tell you to take the goblets to the kitchens it's not just because it looks messy" both turned towards the bedside table where a cup with some leaves at the bottom sat.
"I… alright, I'll give this one to you"
"you know what he did. Other than the obvious" ~All the Dornish women, so beautiful and so feisty~ "who else knows?"
"the healer… and the queen"
-oOoOo-
The feeling of being watched is an unnerving one. It intensifies when you know you're alone in a room, particularly in a dungeon where no one wanted to be in, at least voluntarily, for more time than required. That's what Yara was feeling, it might have also been a sense of impending doom for all she knew. But she could swear she felt someone's crazy eyes over her.
By now, she had tired herself thinking of ways to escape. Even if she could make it out of her shackles, she would never make it out of the rock alive. At this point the resilient woman had settled for waiting, particularly for her wife to get in contact with Obara Martell and come break her out.
Her wife. Now that was a thought that had been ever present since the queen of the Iron Islands had departed Dragonstone.
For one, Daenerys would kill her for getting herself into a stupid situation, when she could've very well waited for reinforcements. Then she would bring her back and kill her again because of her bone headed decision to not tell her she wasn't actually dead. With all the time in the world to reflect, Yara began imagining the heartbreak she would feel if someone told her Dany had died. She had willingly put her through that, and if she got out of here alive she would never hear the end of it. Finally, and most recently, Yara had begun thinking that she might never see Daenerys again. For the self confessed unfeeling ironborn, it stung. The short time she had with the sassy, intrepid, brave queen had almost made every struggle up to that point worth it. The thought that she would never get to feel the queen's small frame against her body, which felt like a puzzle piece that fit perfectly, or smell that scent that was uniquely hers… well it nearly drove her to madness.
"oh my sweet niece" Yara snapped out of her thoughts when the door to her cell creaked open. In waltzed in her insane uncle, clad in his usual black garments, holding his ridiculous bag of torture toys. The young woman had been expecting this visit, and at this point had almost wished for Euron to get it over with and stop toying with her.
"oh my insane bastard of an uncle" Euron smirked at her retort, carefully setting his bag on the table across the room "kind of you to grace me with your presence"
"oh my sweet, we are family" the man nearly skipped up to her, Yara could swear the crazy shine in his eyes was brightening up the room "and I had to see for myself what masterpiece I created" the queen had to resist the urge to kick Euron in the groin when he reached over to examine her missing eye. It could only make the situation worst, or it would've been what Euron expected, and she refused to do that "beautiful".
"absolutely dashing. Got me married"
"so I've heard, my delayed congratulations on bringing such a boon to the Greyjoy family"
"shame you couldn't make the wedding" Yara's hateful gaze made Euron giddy. Torturing the Martell girl had been fun, but she wasn't bred like the tough ironborn. She had broken, he could almost say too easily. Yara wouldn't. No, she had been raised by his insane brother, she would fight him back, any ironborn would, any blood of his would.
"it's a shame. I'll be sure to send my niece-in-law a beautiful wedding gift" Euron pulled out a knife from his back pocket, curved at the tip, it almost looked like a knife to skin a fish… Or a person "or an apology for the death of her beloved wife"
"do your worst"
Euron had stationed a couple of ironborn guards outside, and had left Daario Naharis outside the door. The man had a unique way to irk him, but he couldn't get rid of him quite yet. He wouldn't let him touch Yara either. Be what she may, she was ironborn, she was a Greyjoy, he would be the only one who would end the Greyjoys until he was the only one left.
For his part Daario almost felt angry about being left outside, like a glorified guard. That was until he heard the near screams of pain coming from the room. He wanted to hear the fish queen scream, until her throat gave way, but didn't expect her to. No, he knew this was the most he would probably get. But knowing she was suffering was more than enough for the proud man. He would bide his time and wait until Euron was distracted, he wanted to see the damage with his own eyes, and possibly inflict some of his own.
-oOoOo-
With each passing say Daenerys grew more and more anxious. It almost felt like the first time Yara's life had hung in the balance, they were trudging through borrowed time. And yet it seemed like the gods wanted to delay her as much as they could. A storm had fallen on their march, the ground was too muddy to move their army, and the storm too heavy for her to fly even a small detachment to the rock. So they were stuck in Crakehall, thankfully the ancient castle was big enough to accommodate the bulk of the Targaryen forces, and much of the returning Lannister army.
Roland Crakehall had graciously received them, and Daenerys suspected he had probably received Reginald Lannister at some point, judging by the excitement with which the queen was welcomed to the Westerlands. He had loudly talked about it being time the Targaryens came back to fix what the Baratheons broke, casually ignoring that Cersei Lannister was now crowned queen of Westeros, though not for long if Dany had a say. He had purposely stayed away from the dragon queen however. Despite being a smart man he knew, if given the chance, he might step on his own toes, or tie his own hangman noose as it were.
That's how Daenerys found herself in the company of Nymeria Martell, making the long walk from the queen's chambers to the room where Obara had essentially sequestered herself since her arrival. Daenerys had strongly suspected what the oldest Martell had gone through, her fears confirmed by the dutiful maester who felt it a necessity to inform the queen of every treatment he had administered. Possibly to show off, likely to cover his ass in case anything had gone wrong. Either way, she had been given confirmation, and it only made sense that she see the heir apparent to Dorne, and the woman Yara had gotten herself captured over.
"Obara" Nymeria slowly opened the door to the room. Her sister laid in bed, her hands behind her head, examining the ceiling carefully "the queen is here to see you"
"brilliant" Dany couldn't miss the sarcasm in the gruff voice of the warrior. Nymeria rolled her eyes at her sister's antics, and stepped aside to allow Daenerys in, whispering that she'd be right outside the door in case of interruptions "your grace".
"your highness" Obara scoffed at the title Daenerys gave her, her defensiveness pushing out of its restraints, like a wild animal "may I sit"
"you're the queen, you can do whatever you want"
Dany, who apparently was always surrounded by tougheaded warriors, took the snarky comeback in stride, and took a seat right by Obara, who she could almost swear retreated into herself.
"I'm not your enemy, you know" the eldest Martell stayed quiet, not because she couldn't think of a million things to say, but because Daenerys wasn't lying "my wife saved you"
"would you like me to drop to my knees and thank you for that?"
"no" Daenerys fiddled with the strands coming off her light cloak, uncannily shy "I'd like to know how she was, last you saw her"
Obara sighed deeply, she couldn't deny the queen this much. She couldn't imagine what she had felt, thinking her wife was dead. Or how torturous it must have felt to hear from Obara that Yara was alive, and not being able to get any information off her, because of the swarm of healers and her sister's permanent presence.
"she looked fine" the sand snake cringed, at how ridiculous and dry that sounded "she was ever the dashing savior. Got me right out to your dragon" she could feel her hands shake, and the unnerving stare of the silver headed queen on her "she looked incredibly fierce when she ordered her men to go"
"well, that definitely sounds like my Yara" Dany smiled on reflex, softening the Martell woman "what do you think we'll find when we get to the rock?"
Obara took a sharp breath, she definitely didn't want to talk about that, about what she thought may be happening to the spouse of her young queen "your grace… I"
"I'm driving myself insane thinking about what may be happening to her. Sometimes I think she was better off dead in my mind. At least she was at peace"
"she's not dead. And she won't be. At least I hope not" her shaking hands grasped at the blanket underneath her, knowing she was going to be forced to speak about what happened, inadvertently or not "he hurt me. And frankly your grace, I think he's going to hurt her too" Daenerys nodded, she already knew that "Yara Greyjoy is Euron's biggest threat. Her crown, her fleet, her wife, everything indicates that Euron is in for a bad time" that certainly wasn't making the queen feel any better, so Obara hurried, trying to put her thoughts together before she could put her foot in it "but he won't kill her. As insane as Euron Greyjoy is he's not without honor. Killing his niece when she's in uneven ground would hurt his pride"
"I don't think that is as comforting as you think it is"
"I suppose not" the young queen smiled towards the Martell heir, trying to liven up the mood "but it's the truth. She'll be with you in no time"
Dang nodded, willing herself to believe that her words could be true. It was better than the alternative.
"how are you?" to both of their surprises, the Dornish woman did not shrink into herself again when the question was asked. When Nymeria asked her how she was holding up, it was with the intention of Obara getting everything off her chest. When the queen asked, it was an opening to speak about whatever she wanted, her weeks at the Rock notwithstanding.
"itching to get moving, if I'm honest" the warriors looked towards the window where the rain was patterning incessantly, the occasional bolt of thunder rattling the glass.
"me too" Daenerys sighed, knowing full well that they were going nowhere, she at least intended on helping someone.
"even this storm has to break"
Daenerys smiled with nostalgia, Yara's voice popping up in her head "every storm runs out of rain" she had told her during a particularly trying leg of their journey, where their ships rocked so hard they could've capsized at any moment. They had been reluctant to make landfall anywhere, so close to their endpoint, with so many ships. Of course she knew the rain would eventually stop, but living in the moment it seemed endless. Like so many things had before Yara, where now her life was far more stable than ever before, and the rain did eventually stop, just like her worrying had.
"yes, every storm eventually does" the heartache faded away if even for a second, cementing her determination to get her wife back.
-oOoOo-
Daario opened the door to the cell carefully. He knew Euron was very far, and so were the iron born, but it always paid to be cautious. The Greyjoy captain had his men bring straw to the dungeon, and had a torch lit up. The weird request had been a large shiny mirror, that had been placed in a corner. Daario hadn't understood what that was about, until he saw Yara in person.
The ironborn queen was shackled to the wall, knees on the ground, her arms raised over her head and to her sides, almost like she was crucified to the wall. Her face was bloodied by a nasty cut somewhere on her forehead, it was hard to tell with how messy the whole scene looked. What was most stifling was her eye. Previously it had been covered by an eyepatch, a proud crowned dragon and kraken adorning it. Now it was raw and exposed. Whatever stitching she had gotten by the maesters and healers when the injury occurred was gone. Euron had wanted to see his full masterpiece, and had cut the wound open, the only thing keeping her empty eye socket from seeing the light of day was that her eyes were shut tight. The mirror then made sense, if the queen were awake she would've seen her bloodied, injured figure staring back at her. With no slack in her shackles, she wouldn't be able to move anywhere. She could close her eyes, or put her head down, but eventually she would have to look up, at herself.
Daario tried to feel more hatred for her. He knew this was war, and more than anything he knew she had taken what had been his. But he couldn't help feel pain, no one deserved this.
"unbelievable that my uncle would leave you unsupervised" Yara's gruff voice broke the silence in the room, startling the commander of the second sons. She looked up, keeping her eye shut tightly, managing to load her gaze with hatred and contempt "what do you want"
Honest to the gods he tried to say something, anything, but shock had done a good job at shutting him.
"very well" Yara shook her head, a humorless laughter coming off her "unless you're here to break me out, get going"
"does it hurt?"
"unshackle me and I'll show you how much it hurts" the man felt his hand sneak to where his sword would've been, if he had one. Even tied to the wall Yara could manage to inflict fear "get out"
"I'm sorry"
"no amount of apologies will save you from me if I ever get out of here" Yara's head lifted, but she didn't look at him, she looked at herself in the mirror. Bloodied, tortured, but not broken. She looked up higher, straight at the man, so he could see her, what he had caused and smirked knowingly "nothing will save you from my wife either, cutthroat"
"you should've never taken her from me. You don't deserve her"
"she's not yours" thinking about the silver headed queen filled the queen with bravado "and yes, I probably don't deserve her. But neither did you, and you will never have her again"
"clearly, neither will you" he still felt unbelievably guilty for what Yara had clearly been put through. But not because she was suffering because of him. He could tell the difference, he felt for Yara because he could never imagine living through that. Her in his place however, worked perfectly "enjoy the view your majesty. When you cross to the afterlife, be sure to look me up, taking back what you think is yours"
What could've been a triumphant walk away was entirely ruined by Yara's nearly maniacal cackle. Daario could be forgiven for realizing the madness may run in the family after all. He turned his head back to the kneeling queen, who was fully laughing, head thrown back.
"what?"
"she will chop your manhood and make you wear it for a necklace" the laughter ceased immediately, replaced by a predatory grin "if I don't get to you first. And mark my words, you will suffer"
"if you ever make it out of here"
"I will. Because you're worth nothing to the cause. If we don't get you first, Euron will. And I will be glad for him getting his way for once" a flashing thought ran through her head, she definitely had nothing to lose at this point "if it makes it any easier, you can sleep better knowing that Daenerys finally had someone to satisfy her like she deserves, so your loss will mean nothing"
Daario Naharis, always in control of his feelings, saw bright red. Before he knew it, his body was back where it had been at the beginning of the conversation, but his knuckles were raw, having taken his anger out on the kneeling monarch.
"brave of you to ignore my orders, cutthroat"
Euron stepped into the cell, his arms behind him. Daario froze in position, and Yara, spitting blood from the hit, chuckled drily.
"get out" Fast as his legs could carry him, but far slower than he wanted to, Daario left the room, leaving Yara alone with her torturer. "I'm glad you can flex your impertinent attitude with someone"
"impertinent, big word for a self identifying savage" Yara knew it would take much more to snap Euron out of control, although she wouldn't put it past him to have this in his plans "come to try again?"
"oh my dear sweet Yara, no" Euron reached down to raise her face, admiring his handy work "you're much too valuable for me to break you, at least completely" he smirked, reaching out for a solid metal rod resting too far from the queen's reach "doesn't mean I can't… send a message"
-TheIronDragon-
Hello everyone! I just wanted to point out, if anyone noticed, that the parts of the chapter aren't split by house words because it pretty much goes back and forth between Yara in the Rock and Dany in Crakehall.
Also, if anyone catches the song reference in the story I'll be most impressed.
This was a much more emotional episode on purpose, I'm very much counting on your emotional pain before the action, sorry. But since we haven't had a lot of Yara/Dany so far, I thought it would be good to have some fluff about what they're going through, if that could even be called fluff.
DON'T FORGET TO REVIEW AND CRITICIZE/PRAISE IF YOU THINK IT WORTHY! (Lol)
I'll catch you guys in the next one!