GOLD

As he waited for the raven, Maester Gold warmed his numbing hands with the white wisps of his hot breath. It didn't matter how tall the Eyrie stood, the air was still not fresh but thin and barely breathable. The height of the stone tower made even the warmest day cold or that was what it felt like to the Maester who was used to the warmer climates down South.

'Come on…' He whispered to the night in hope that the raven he was suspecting would arrive before his absence was noted. His new position in thought should have taken him from the eye of the political public as the truth to his service to the realm had begun to unravel. In reality it had only created more distraction for the man with a bigger purpose. A pleasantly surprising but unplanned and unwanted distraction. Lady Belle Arryn if he were to be more exact. She was drawing him with such kindness that he had never experienced but she was so much more than that…

His thoughts were interrupted with a cawing that was soon followed with the batting of feathers. The raven landed on the perch beside him and Gold reached for message about its talon. He unrolled the chalky parchment in his fingers and stood over the small light that threatened to snuff out. His eyes widened as he read the words, so simple but enough to force him to read them numerous times with increasing anger. He let out a frustrated growl that echoed in the small confinements of the Eyrie's raven tower. Then he crumpled the parchment in his hand not wanting to see the words again.

The Saviour has been lost. She crosses the sea to your Seven.

All that work and planning for nothing! He had helped the foretold prophecy of the Seven Kingdoms come into motion and the saviour wasn't ready for it to come to light yet. She may be lost to the undying guardians but now Maester Gold would have to ensure that she returned or be kept from harm until the prophecy came to pass. Taking the small candle holder in his hands he descended the keep back down the steps to his quarters.

'Maester Gold is that you?' The hearty voice of one of the guards sounded from beside him as he stepped inside. Gold was startled slightly by the sudden voice but tried to act accordingly without seeming suspicious. 'You shouldn't be in the tower this late at night Maester, it gets dreadfully cold.' He chirped with a grin. During his time here he had tried to learn the names of those surrounding him. He recalled the man's name to be Ronan. Thank the gods he hadn't questioned his actions. Although it might not seem abnormal for him to be in the raven tower, just the hour that he be there.

'I shall remember to wear my gloves on my next visit,' Gold nodded with a small forced smile. He didn't want to seem rude so he stayed for a moment in hope to steer his thoughts in another direction.

'That's why I wear these on my nightly watches.' Ronan continued to grin as he clapped his thick gloved hands together. There was a reason why Ronan was placed in the guard. He was quite dim-witted and lacked the skills of a higher position. What he lacked in brains however he gained in brawn and honesty.

'I may talk with the seamstress and ask for such a fine pair as yours,' He complimented but that seemed enough polite talk to ascertain no cause for concern. 'If you will excuse me I must get back to my quarters.' He said not too quickly and turned from the guard to start back.

'Oh Maester, you dropped this!' The guard called to him a few moments later and Maester Gold froze. He glanced down at his now empty hand where the parchment had been. He must have dropped it when he had been startled! He turned but Ronan had already closed the space between them with his hand outstretched.

'How foolish of me, many thanks Ronan.' He covered politely and as he took the note in his hands he waited anxiously for the questioning. That was if he had looked at what was scrawled on there or could even read them for that matter. If he had any questions he didn't ask them but he couldn't be sure if he was just holding back. Ronan merely nodded before walking past him to continue his patrols.

Ronan had just unwillingly become a problem. If he had seen and read the words on that parchment then he was going to have to be dealt with. Even if he didn't understand them a whisper in the right ear could mean disaster for his plans and the saviour would then be truly lost. The troubled Maester walked back to his quarters as he mulled over both new problems that had arisen.

He had laboured over his own quill and parchment for the coming night and into the morning. He had to think of what steps to take next. They had to be quick and effective if the future was to remain in tact. He had finally just begun writing as the time for breakfast neared, when he heard quickened footsteps sound across the stone outside. His quarters were away from other rooms so he didn't usually hear such patter. A few moments later and a flurry of knocks rattled against the wood of his door.

'Maester, come quickly, its milady s-she has…' The servant didn't even get a chance to finish before Gold was on his feet and hastening toward the door. He picked up his apothecary box on the way out and it jostled in his hands. Belle? That could only mean that she had been injured in some way! If it were to talk of any other matter she would have come herself.

'What's happened? Where is she?' He demanded, his voice wavering a little as he pushed past her and started to journey down the steps. His breathing soon became heavy but the servant quickly caught up with him.

'In her r-room. S-she's…s-she's been h-hurt…the the…' The woman stammered trying to talk and catch her breath at the same time.

'I have no time for this stammering!' He scorned her wanting to know what had happened before he got there. His stomach was twisting with nerves and anxiety for her safety and he didn't have the patience to wait for what was wrong.

'The man that was put in those sky cells yesterday… he escaped and milady she…' She panted and the Maester decided that he had enough of her and waved her off before quickly making his way to Belle's room. Several people were crowded around her bed when he entered and he was instantly greeted by Belle's flustered handmaiden.

'Oh Maester Gold its terrible, the man came from nowhere, milady tried to calm him down but he hit her with the sconce, right across the head with it. There was nothing I could do, the…' She started to tear up so Gold ordered for her to be taken from the room and everyone else to leave also.

Once they had bustled out he went straight to Belle Arryn's side. She was limp across the bed in unconsciousness and the left side of her face was streaked with blood where the gash at her eye had streamed. Despite her injury he let out a few shaky breaths of relief that the attack hadn't been more serious. For a moment he had thought the situation far worse.

The chain about his neck tinkled as he sat beside her on the bed and leaned down. He started to clear away the blood efficiently with gentle strokes of a dampened compress which he had sent for. He slowly traced the outline of her cheek and down carefully at the soft lines of her jaw. Lost in her beauty he let the staining white rag brush across her lips. She talked to him as if she had known him for years, found interest in every word he uttered and even laughed at his jests that others raised an eyebrow at. He pulled himself from the fantasy of being able to kiss those lips and continued in the work at hand. When he reached the more sensitive area by the seeping cut, the peaceful sleeping features of her face creased into a wince and she stirred with a moan into consciousness. Her hand went to her head but Maester Gold reached to take her hand and eased it down to her side.

'We don't want to make it worse my lady.' He soothed as she flinched slightly at his touch. She softened however, when she opened her eyes to see him beside her.

'Maester…' She sighed quietly knowing that she was in safe hands. Her lips twitched up into a weak smile and he found it difficult to not return it. 'W-What happened? I remember walking down to breakfast with Bette and then…oh…' She realised and winced in memory.

'Oh indeed.' He smirked faintly as he rummaged around for his specialised needle and thread. 'Quite the nasty cut, can you sit up for me my lady? Two stitches shall do it or would you rather the milk of the poppy?' He asked as it wouldn't be a painless experience.

'I won't be needing milk of the poppy thank you,' She insisted and he spotted the small furrow of her brow as she masked what he guessed as a dull aching throb; normal of course with an injury like that. 'Has my father been told?' She asked as she sat up and shifted closer to him.

'I don't believe so; it is only a matter of time before he is however.' He replied with a frown. Lord Arryn had returned the night before and had only spoken a few words to him before retiring.

'I'm afraid that he will seek to place blame on someone, seeing as the man escaped.' She sighed and even though he was focused on threading the needle, he was aware of her curious gaze on him.

'Someone must be at fault my lady, this could have been far worse.' He noted and thankfully he stopped the slight nerved shaking of his hands to steady her head in one hand and applied the stitches with the other.

'But it wasn't and I know my father's wrath when it comes to such matters.' She countered and her eyes flickered shut for a brief moment at his touch. He remained silent as he sealed the cut and he was surprised that she had barely even flinched. He let his hand drop to his lap and with the other he dabbed the sewn wound with a gentle touch. Thankfully he didn't think the area would scar but that wasn't what Lord Arryn saw when he arrived.

The door slammed open and Belle's father enveloped the room with his presence. To look at he didn't seem an intimidating man but his actions often proved otherwise. One glance at his daughter was enough to enrage him.

'I demand to know who is responsible for this! Has the bastard been caught?' He raged, the tension was palpable and one of the guards informed him that the escaped man had been dealt with immediately. 'A shame I would have liked to run the blade through him myself. What guard was on duty of the cells this morning?' He inquired with his anger still no ceasing. Gold watched as Belle rose from the bed to stand before her father.

'Can't we let the matter to rest father? The prisoner has been dealt with and I am fine now.' She urged and glanced back to Gold to reassure Lord Arryn.

'No, I cannot. A breach in my guard nearly cost you your life Belle and I will punish whoever is responsible.' He said it with such authority that the Maester thought the conversation was at an end but once again Belle proved herself misplaced in terms of the house. She was as courageous as the kingly Lannister.

'It is no fault but my own. I will not have someone punished for my own actions. Father please listen to reason if you-' She held her hands out pleadingly but her father judged this as weakness and further drove him to action.

'I am reason and you will do as you are told child!' He shouted at her before turning to the guards at his side. 'Now, I will have a name for whoever jeopardised my daughter and heir to the Eyrie's life!' He commanded them. Maester Gold had never been one to ignore fate. Whether this was a placed opportunity or mere coincidence…he took the chance.

'Ronan.' Maester Gold's voice said distinctly over the cacophony of others. 'It was Ronan my lord.'