I finished chapter three! Technically it's chapter 4, seeing as the prologue was chapter 1, which will drive me insane at some point in the near future. I'm working on chapter 4 (technically chapter 5), and that should be up within the next couple days. I hope you guys enjoy this! Thanks for the reviews!
Chapter 3
Alana felt like she could fly away as she spurred her horse onward faster, almost to a gallop, with the two guards flanking her following suit a moment later. She was alone accept for them - they didn't really count, they never spoke except to say "yes, m'lady" or "no, m'lady" and only took off their helmets to eat and sleep - with Robert and the rest of her family now far behind her. She snuck away in the middle of the night, when everyone was asleep at the Crossroads inn, save the guards Robert posted at her door, who simply followed her without a word.
Still, in the three days they had been traveling, they had proven themselves to be as good company as if she were alone. Alana almost felt bad for the fact that they followed her. If Robert ever captured her again, he'd kill them.
Fortunately, they had lucky, and any riders Robert sent after them weren't fast enough to catch them.
The wooden boards of the drawbridge creaked and moaned as the horses crossed into Riverrun, while the water rushed underneath. Alana rode to the gate, passing underneath the mossy stone walls into the courtyard. She was pleased to have reached the castle by the end of the day; with the sun setting and painting the sky in a dark red, she thought they'd have to spend another night in another rotted inn or sleep on the side of the road.
The courtyard was packed with smallfolk carrying bundles of grains from the fields out of the castle walls, while a blacksmith hammered away. The rhythmic clanging of metal on metal reminded her of Byron, and she kicked her horse onward towards the keep, trying to ignore the clenching of her heart, and trying to forget the look on his face when she caught him. He was almost triumphant, like he was getting revenge on her for going up North to marry another.
There were two guards waiting at the door to the keep when she dismounted, both wielding long pikes. Alana glanced over her shoulder at her own guards, who were catching up to her, and couldn't help but compare them against the two guards of Riverrun. The two men at the door were well armed and well rested, but not nearly as well trained. Her guards were clearly a formidable team; they dismounted in unison and stood in either side, each of them resting their hand on their swords casually enough, but ready to draw them if need be.
"Halt," one of the Riverrun guards commanded, raising an open hand and advancing forward. "State your names and your businesses in Riverrun."
Alana flashed a smile at him. "My name is Alana Estermont," she lied, choosing the maiden name of her grandmother. "These are my men. We are travelling through Riverrun and need a place to stay for the night."
"Estermont?" the man mused. "I think that's a Stormlander name. You're a long way from the Stormlands, Lady Estermont. Where are you travelling to?"
The question took her off guard, mainly because she didn't know where she was going. She couldn't go back to Storm's End, Renly would be forced to let Robert take her away. Anywhere she went, the lords would be more than happy to sell her to Robert. "That's none of your concern," Alana replied testily, choosing to deflect the prying questions rather than answer them, crossing her arms over her chest. "What matters is that you find a place for us to stay, or I'll have a word or two with Lord Tully to see about getting you shortened. By a head or so."
The Riverrun guard gulped loudly and glanced over his shoulder at his friend for reinforcement. "I think we have space. I'll have to speak with Lord Tully, first."
"Of course," she responded with a triumphant grin. "Take as much time as you need."
A nervous smile flickered across the man's face before he disappeared into the castle. As she waited, one of her guards leaned forward and whispered in her ear, "Are you sure it is wise to stay here? You may be recognized."
Alana shook her head. "These men barely knew what House Estermont was. None of them will recognize me. The only danger I'm in is if Lord Tully or his son know what I look like, and we won't even have to see them."
As she spoke, the door cracked open, and the Riverrun guard stepped out. He waited for her to finish before speaking, "There are several unused rooms in the keep. If you'd follow me, my friend will take your horses to the stables," he nodded to the other guard before entering the castle once again, holding the dark wooden door open behind him.
Following him inside, Alana saw Lord Hoster Tully leaned against his son's arm as he nodded and listened to several commoners on the other side of the hall. It had been years since she last saw Lord Hoster, when he came to Storm's End to discuss political matters with her father during her eighth nameday, but she could see even from where she stood that he was weaker. His limbs were shriveled, and it seemed to take him quite a bit of effort to simply stay lucid. With a sinking feeling in her stomach, Alana realized that if she could recognize him, he could recognize her.
Fortunately, he didn't seem to notice they entered, and, with several pounding heartbeats, they were out of sight, climbing up a spiral staircase of marble. Alana released a breath of relief.
"I hope you don't mind, but your rooms may be a little dusty. Under normal circumstances, Riverrun can host a small army, but the sleeping quarters are closed off for the next several days," the guard apologized.
"Oh?" Alana responded. "Why is that?"
The guard cleared his throat nervously. "Its rather silly. I shouldn't have brought it up."
"And now I am intrigued even more."
"Well..." he began, his brow creased in the effort of trying to find the right words. "Many of the men here have got it in their heads that the sleeping quarters are... haunted."
Alana nearly choked with the effort to not laugh. "Haunted?" She asked, fighting a grin.
The man made a strangled noise that Alana decided was either a laugh or a cough. "Lord Tully and myself share your disdain. But, alas, it seems Riverrun is now run by the dogs. There's a septon in the barracks now, attempting to banish the evil spirits."
"What made them think it was haunted?" Alana asked as they reached the top of a flight of stairs and turned down a long hallway.
"Some of the other guards claim they can hear voices when they are alone in the barracks. Another claimed he woke up in the middle of the night to see a pale figure watching him." He glanced down sheepishly at his boots as he walked, his face turning pink with - Alana nearly laughed - what appeared to be a blush.
"There's a wall back in Storm's End that we like to call the Wailing Wall. On windy days, the wind whistles through the parapets and sounds like the screaming of damned souls. Maybe something like that is happening in your sleeping quarters?" she suggested.
"Maybe," the man muttered, his brow creasing in thought. Seven hells, Alana cursed to herself, her heart pounding. I told him I'm from Storm's End. She had to force herself not to run away and leave all three guards behind in the corridor. If the man didn't even know the house she was from, it was unlikely he knew the house seat. He might think that House Estermont was a minor house that resided in Storm's End with the Baratheons. "I don't believe it myself," he continued, "but many of the men do. They are refusing to sleep in the quarters until a septon has blessed every room in the building."
"I see," Alana responded, giving a weak smile. If the man knew she was lying, he said nothing, and lead her the rest of the way to her room in silence, except for the sound of her guards' boots rapping rhythmically on the floor.
"Here is your room," the man said, stopping in front of a door made of a pale wood, lighter than the floor. "I thought you would prefer if your guards were in the chamber next to yours."
"I appreciate that, thank you very much."
"I will send Lord Tully the thanks of Lady…."
"Estermont," Alana replied quickly. "And that won't be necessary. No need to bother him with such trivial day-to-day events." She flashed the man another quick, weak smile. "If you don't mind, I will retire to my room." She stepped past the man and his suspicious gazes, keeping her guard up until, at last, she closed the door behind her, her heart still hammering so much that she was surprised none of them could hear it.