Chapter 13: Bricks, Arrows & Horses

King Benjen smashed his fist on the wooden table in his tent. He wanted to yell, he wanted to scream, he wanted to take up his sword and run straight towards the cowardly lion. But he knew better. As soon as he had received the raven with the declaration of war, King Benjen had called his banner men and marched towards Casterly Rock. Within two days they had been on the way. When news came from King Rowan of the Reach that his daughter had been kidnapped, King Benjen had traveled even faster with his soldiers and knights. Now they were near Casterly Rock, less than five hours march away. Then the news had come to him: King Terry had lied to them about not having Queen Ailith of the Reach – which they already knew – only now he was also gathering his army and wanted to transport Ailith to somewhere else. Transport, he had said!
'What do we do, my King?' Benjen, the Kings oldest son asked. The King wanted to open his mouth but a messenger entered the tent and bend deep.
'Speak,' he said and sad down in his throne again, he was getting to old for this.
'My liege, King Rowan is on his way to join us,' the boy said, he was probably not much older than eleven.
'How far is he?' the King asked.
'One day away from us, my King,' the boy was still gasping for air. The princes looked at their father, Benjen en Eddard had come with him, even Thorne had come with them. Only Harlan had staid behind in Winterfell – there must always be a Stark in Winterfell.
'When will he join with us?' the King asked.
'He does not want to join, my King,' the boy said, afraid he would be punished for it – seeing the eys of Northerners flame up, 'He wants to set his tent on the other side of Casterly Rock, so King Terry is almost surrounded.'
'Clever,' Eddard murmured.
'I agree,' King Benjen said and nodded.
'Father, we cannot wait another day!' Benjen said.
'Perhaps we should,' one of the lords said.
'I beg your pardon?' Benjen said amazed, all he wanted was to save his sister, not sit around waiting for King Terry to let her go.
'If we wait one more day, King Terry might think we have second thoughts about an attack,' the lord explained, 'While actually we have another day of preparing ourselves.'
'I agree,' the King of the North said again, stroking his graying beard. Benjen turned to his father, but dared not to oppose him.
'One more day, lords,' he said, 'Then the Lion shall feel the wrath of the Wolves.'

Ailith sat on the cold floor, her knees high up to her chin. She was cold and hungry. For four days she had been in the same cell. Even though there was light entering the cell from a small window high up in the ceiling, the small square cage had frightened her. She had prayed and prayed. But feared the gods could not hear her through the thick stonewall. All of the sudden someone started to move the door. With the small strength which she still had, Ailith stood up and quickly ran a hand through her hair. A knight dressed in gold and red entered and smiled, though Ailith did not know him. He said not a word to her, but chained her hands and pushed her before him. Ailith noticed her hands were chained before her this time, in stead of behind her back. A small spark of hope came to her. Yet there were five knights around her and several in the small hall they were currently walking in. Ailith did not even want to think about the hundreds of knights and soldiers which were in the city around her! The small spark of hope left her again.

Ailith was lead to a small round chamber, which was like all the chambers cut out of the rock on which Casterly Rock was build on. King Terry sat on one of the two chairs. He sat casually and even smiled when she entered, drinking his wine. Apart from the two chairs there was a curtain before the window, nothing more. Ailith could see way: the room was slowly falling apart and there had already been bricks added to the wall. Yet, none of that seemed to concern the King of the Westerlands. One of the knights pushed Ailith down on the chair opposite of King Terry. Only now Ailith saw that the King was dressed in full armor. The spark of hope returned: there was some enemy outside his gates of the King would not wear his armor! Could this enemy be her father? Or her husband?
'I hope you are having a pleasant-' the King began but Ailith interrupted him.
'I doubt you brought me here to chat about small talk, King,' she said sharp. He smiled.
'Clever girl,' he smiled. Ailith raised her eyebrows. 'O, I beg your forgiveness, your highness. Of course you are not a girl! Silly me!'
'Don't mock me,' she hissed and looked straight at him, her face showed no emotions – but hate. King Terry stood up and walked to the window. Immediately a knight laid his hand on Ailiths shoulder, preventing her to stand up.
'You know why I am dressed in my armor?' he asked.
'Because you fear something outside your castle,' Ailith asked, praying she was right.
'No, I don't fear, my Queen, a lion knows no fear.'
'Yet here I am, chained up like a hostage.'
'I said I did not fear,' the King smiled, 'that does not mean I don't know when to mistrust people. Anyway, I am dressed like this because your lord father and your lord husband and both outside my gate.'
'You should fear them,' Ailith said. Her heart leaped with joy, but she tried to hide it.
'Fear them?' the King laughed, 'Why should I? I will wipe them out like flies from my meat.'
'Then why are you still here and not on the field?'
'Women,' the King laughed, 'they will never understand war.'
'You underestimate me,' Ailith said. But before they could continue a soldier entered the room. Without even saying a word, King Terry nodded and left. His goodbye was a smile to Ailith. Two knights remained in the room and Ailith could hear several others move away from the door. Ailith looked around, this was her chance! Her one and only chance! Yet, if she would strike now her chance would fly away. There were still to many soldiers around, for sure. Ailith counted to five-hundred six times, by then the soldiers were already talking to each other. Ailith could walk to the window and saw a line of white and grey banners rise. They truly had come! Ailith could not contain herself that moment. She tried to walk casually to the other side of the room and picked up a loose brick. When one of the soldiers walked up to her, she quickly turned around and smashed his skull with it. His blood spattered on her orange dress, but she had no time to think of it. The other soldier was near and almost had his sword in his hand. Ailith smashed his hands, his face, his stomach and finally his head. Both men laid dead on the ground. Slowly she sat down on the ground, her hands and knees shaking. She had killed two men, murdered them. Ailith swallowed. There was no turning back now. She had to go on! Quickly she took the keys from one of the soldiers and released herself from her chains. Carefully she opened the door a bit and peaked around. There was no-one in sight. She took a deep breath, lifted her dress a bit and started running.

Chaos reigned in the castle. Women and children ran around as soldiers were cursing them. Ailith was just another face in the crowd. All dirty from the days in the cell. She ran and ran. Out the castle, through the yard, straight through the city to the main gate. It was wide open, with still several soldiers leaving. A mile away the army of King Terry stood ready. Almost ten miles away was the army of her father. Ailith bit her lip as she slowly walked through the gate, towards the open field. What should she do? Wait, until the fighting began, or leave now and hopefully prevent a lot of blood. All thought, blood would be spilled today. Suddenly Ailith saw King Terry mounting his horse and realized she had walked further than she wanted. But the fact that the King was mounting his horse, while others did not, meant that he was going to bargain with her father! There was always that 'last chance' moment before the battle, when both enemies would approach each other and gave the other a last chance to turn around. Gods be thanked she was right on time! Quickly Ailith looked around for a horse. There was no way she could do any more running today! She was still catching her breath.
When King Terry left with his right hand and banner men, Ailith still had not found a horse she could use. Time was something she needed, but what the gods did not grant her. Far in the distant, Ailith could also see her father with five other men ride towards King Terry. Quickly Ailith kept looking. Soldiers were lining up to see the meeting between the two Kings, and left their horses. Ailith did not think for long, but grabbed a horse – a grey mare. Color of the Starks.
'Take me home,' she whispered both to the horse as to the gods. She stirred the horse up and moved her hands by the horse's neck. Immediately it leaped forward. Soldiers jumped aside, amazed and shocked – yet they did not act. What were they supposed to do?
Ailith raced down the field. Making the horse ran as fast as he could. Her hands were sweaty as she prayed King Terry would not look around. Yet he did, he completely turned around. At first he did not recognize her. But when she came closer he unshielded his sword and yelled some commands. Apparently the soldiers behind her were waiting for some shouts because a loud roar was heard behind her. Ailith could see her father turn around and yell commands to his soldiers as well. King Terry made his brown horse run towards her. The grey mare kept running and passed the brown horse almost without difficulty. Ailith could hear a soft fsh through the sky and heard arrows hit the ground behind her. She yelled at the horse to go faster, but the mare already ran as fast as she could. Soldiers and knights from the North moved forward, Ailith was so close. All of the sudden, the grey mare lifted her head and fell to the ground. She had been hit by and arrow. Ailith fell on the ground and rolled a bit. She looked up and shook her head. A high bell rang in her head. Quickly she got up and tried to run, but she kept falling and tumbling. She was so tired. She could hear the stamping of hooves approaching from before and behind her. Perhaps it had been a stupid idea to come out like this! An arrow whizzed past her and scratched her arm open. Ailith grabbed her arm and lost her balance. Horses ran all around her and Ailith dared not to open her eyes. When all of the sudden, she felt two strong warm arms lift her up.
'Benjen,' she said with a sigh of relieve. Her brother placed her in front of him on his horse and guarded by two knights they rode back. Behind the lines, to the camp. Ailith let her brother carry her to his tent. He laid her on his bed and called for a maester. He took her hand and laid his right hand on her forehead.
'You silly, silly girl!' he said, 'How could you ever do such a thing?'
'Thank you, Jen,' she smiled. A maester who Ailith did not know entered the tent and knelt beside her. He looked at the wound and smiled at Benjen.
'Its just a scratch,' Ailith immediately said.
'Well, a bit more than a scratch,' the quite young maester said with a smile, 'But just as harmless. A bandage will do, it will heal with time. May I remove the sleeve, your Grace?'
'Of course,' Ailith said, 'Never liked the dress anyway.'
'Very well,' the maester said. Benjen shook his head. The maester removed the sleeve by ripping it from the dress and bound the wound. He was gone within a few minutes.
'Sleep,' Benjen said as he kissed his sister on her forehead.

When Ailith opened her eyes again, she was surrounded by several people. Her three brother, her father and her husband all stood close to her bed. But she could see different faces even behind them. Rowan sat closest to her and held her hand. When she opened her eyes he kissed her, but did not let her sit up straight.
'Have you no brains!' her father said.
'I do,' Ailith smiled, 'but a wolf cannot be held in a cage, father.' King Benjen tried to keep his face straight, but failed. He laughed and the other men joined in his laughter.
Ailith quickly learned that after King Terry knew he had lost her, he retreated his troops and told the King of the Reach and the King of the North he had been foolish. Rowan wanted to punish him, but King Benjen knew better. Everyone in Westeros would know about this and the name of the Lannisters had been damaged enough. Even though Ailith knew her father was right, she wished Rowan still had punished King Terry. In what ever way, it did not matter. As long as he was punished! But she was still alive, and she would not die before she had some revenge. The King and Queen of the Reach stayed with the Northerners for four more days, then they traveled back to their home and kingdom.

Inspirited by the amaaazing soundtrack: 'Game of Thrones official soundtrack: 29 finale'
Well, the part where Ailith's on the horse trying to reach her father at least is ;)

Let me know what you think of it !