Lord vs. Sellsword (UPDATED 3/20/2013)

It had been another trip to the market, and another time she was disappointed that she hadn't seen the stranger. She had since learned he was a sellsword. He had come back to the city with the Imp, after a great battle. And she learned that the Imp didn't travel anywhere without the sellsword in tow now, so she assumed she was less likely to see him, as he was busy guarding the queen's brother.

It was hot and she was irritable, so she took a shortcut that she wouldn't normally take, to avoid the crowds of people and animals. The street here was nearly deserted, and she suddenly remembered why she had started making a point not to travel this way. All alone on the street, she could easily be approached by anyone, with any intentions. And as soon as she had finished the thought, Lord Petyr Baelish stepped into the street directly in front of her, stopping her cold.

"Good day, Rowena," he said, smiling sweetly, but his eyes were as cold and mean as ever.

She didn't speak or move, and avoided making eye contact with him. He casually brushed a stray hair back from her face, and she shrunk away from him.

"Have you considered my offer any further, Rowena?" he said lazily. "You know, you won't be this young and beautiful forever. Eventually, someone may be too tempted by the fact you are a still a virgin at almost 20. Men can be animals, you know, forcing themselves on women, especially young innocent ones. How could that be any better than my proposal?

He slowly circled around her as he continued to speak. "You have no prospects for marriage. I could have you in the finest gowns and jewels, keeping company with only the finest men in the city. I would even let you choose which of my clients you would be with." She had glanced at him then, to see him looking down at his fingernails as he spoke the last sentence. Of course she knew he was lying.

"And you would get a part of every coin we collect. What other options do you have? Will you live in a room over a barn until you are an old maid, smelling of horses and dogs your whole life?"

A part of her knew he was right, she had absolutely no prospects outside of her current situation. But she knew that he was a cruel and evil man. He had made veiled threats against not just herself and the stable master, but even against the animals in her care. He knew what would hurt her the most, and made no secret that he would use it against her. And she felt he would take pleasure not just in hurting her, but in the physical act of hurting an animal. This thought sent chills down her spine. She thought she would definitely be better off living in a barn smelling of animals than to be under his employ.

Just then something behind her caught his attention, and she heard a voice call out, "Is everything alright here?" She turned to see the sellsword, Bronn, standing there, eyeing Baelish suspiciously, one hand on the handle of his sword, the other behind his back. Baelish smiled his evil grin, but the disdain and anger was clearly visible in his eyes. He did not appreciate the unspoken threat of violence. When he spoke, in clipped tones dripping with exaggerated politeness, his face was red with fury. "Nothing that concerns you, my good man."

The sellsword looked at Rowena then, and raised his eyebrows. She hoped he could see in her eyes what she was screaming in her head. Please don't leave me alone with his man. She held her breath until he spoke.

"Well she concerns me at the moment," he said, eyeing Baelish insolently, "Was sent to look for her."

Now Baelish was looking at Rowena with suspicion. "Do you know this man?"

She hesitated for a moment and then made her decision. "Y-yes," she stammered." She prayed to the gods she had put her trust in the right place. But what other option did she have at the moment? Other than the three of them, the street was completely empty. And she had left her dog behind because the day was so hot and she thought the trip might take longer than normal.

"Really?" Lord Baelish mocked her. "Tell me who he is." The nobleman, who was not much taller than her, she suddenly realized, folded his hands together in front of himself, and leaned his head back, narrowing his eyes at her.

"He…is…Tyrion Lannister's man." She managed to say, though her voice was shaky.

He was not totally convinced but she sensed he might be yet.

"And what business would you have with Tyrion's Lannister's man?"

Without hesitating, she responded. "He was coming to the stables to see about a new horse," she said, wondering if her Uncle Bayard, the stable master, could actually be talked into giving the sellsword a horse. Quite possibly, if he knew the man had rescued her from Lord Baelish.

"That's right," confirmed the sellsword, now smiling back at Baelish arrogantly. "I was told I had to get my advice on the horse from no one but the girl." He gave Rowena a quick polite smile, folded his arms across his chest, and waited to see how the lord would object now.

"Well, then, if she is so skilled with horses, I'd love to see her at work. I will come and observe, if it would not be an inconvenience to either of you?" Baelish smiled his smile and looked back and forth from Bronn to Rowena.

"No…of course…it would not be an inconvenience", she replied, only slightly defeated. The sellsword made no response, just continued regarding Baelish smugly. She had no reason to refuse Lord Baelish an audience, without being rude. But she also knew he wanted to come because he doubted she actually had any knowledge of the horses.

Rowena smiled to herself, as she turned to lead the way back to the stables. Wondering what an interesting sight they must make. She herelf was a practically a old maid, an unmarried virgin at 19, who lived over barn. The angry little man behind her, a lord dressed in his finest robes, had just been speaking of whorehouses and brothels. She glanced back at the sellsword, who was chuckling to himself and tilting his head to the side so that he might admire her more easily from behind. For the first time she realized she liked the feeling of a man looking at her this way. She wanted his approval. She longed for HIS admiration. And as she had that thought, his eyes raised to hers, catching her watching him. He smiled knowingly, and she felt her cheeks redden, and looked forward, trying to remember to put one foot in front of the other as she walked. And now she couldn't stop thinking about his eyes on her as she walked, knowing that they were…and wondering if she should feel ashamed for liking it.