My head felt heavy, far too heavy, not to mention that it was hurting so bad since something hit me to knock me out. I had no knowledge of where I was, since I felt my hands were tied behind my back and my chest was hurting for no reason. I remember waking up, seeing things sideways and feeling hay underneath me. My hands were tied, the raw material of the rope was rubbing into my skin to the point of making me bleed, and seeing myself on a cart going somewhere, the dull sound of the wagon filling my ears, along with horses and the sound of armor. Where was I?
"Where is the Red Woman?" I heard above me, having me try to look up to see who was talking but my head was far too heavy to move at all. Everything was hurting on my body, it felt like someone dragged me through rocks since my bones were hurting and I felt bruises on my neck and back.
"She's getting the boy. The Brotherhood made a deal with her." Another voice replied as I felt my eyes close once more, I was far too tired and weak to try and move as I felt more sleep come over me.
"Are you sure we got the right one?"
"Positive. The Red Woman said she's the one they are looking for."
Darkness once again engulfed me.
I woke up once more, feeling myself being shaken awake and blinking a few times before I was pulled to my feet. Automaticly a gag was around my mouth and head to stop me from speaking. My hood was thrown over my neck, having me realize that my bow and sheath of arrows were taken. My legs were sore from laying down for so long, having me wince in pain as I looked around to see where I was. I was in one of the cargo rooms of a ship, feeling the sway of the ship move back and forth on the sea we were on. Whomever was holding me, a gird of some sort, was looking down at me and making sure I was wide away. But I looked on his tunic or armor to see where I was, at least have some kind of hint at to what was going on. I then saw that there was a stag on his armor.
Stag. He was working for the Baratheons. I was in Baratheon territory.
He pulled me up to the top deck of the ship, having me squint from the brightness. Once my eyes were back to normal, I was in awe at to where I was. I saws huge castle in front of me, the high stone walls made me feel as though this place, compared to Thedra Ascent and even Winterfell, has been around for thousands of years. The ancient feel of the crumbling stones and the crooked towers had me see that this castle had it's time of damage and pain. It made me look in both awe and fear, since I was dragged off the ship with this soldier, two more were with me now as we walked along the beach towards the castle. I was trying to think, back before I woke up on that ship, I had to remember what happened to me and why I was there? I did nothing wrong, at least that's what I had implanted in my mind. But that was no matter, since I was being dragged into the dungeons.
I saw nothing but darkness around me, a few lights here and there from the torches and I could smell the stench of the jail cells. I walked with the soldier, seeing him point to another one whom opened a cell for me. Once inside and shoved to sit up against the wall, I felt him undo the top behind my back and released me. As soon as I took ogg the gag, the doors were closed and I was alone in the cell. Without hesitation I crawled to the cell, reaching my hand through the bars at the soldiers who were walking away.
"Please! What did I do? Where am I?!" I called out, hearing my voice ring in the dungeons. But they left me there, having me sigh and lean my head against the bars in defeat. This was all too new for me, I having no idea what was going on and where I was. There was a time when I had hope in my life, hope that I would be safe at home and nothing bad would ever happen to me again. But now, now it was gone. I had nothing else to look forward to at this point. I was bruised and battered, I had no weapons now since they were taken from me, and I lost my friends. No Arya, and No Gendry.
No Gendry.
That pained my heart even more No matter how much I hated him and wanted to be mad at him, I couldn't. He had some sort of hold over me, whether it was from his protective and kind nature towards me, or the fact that we were growing close together from the first moment we met, I finally knew that I would never see him again, and it felt as if I was dying and no longer breathing, I clutched the bar in front of me, my bruised and bloody wrists were shining in the light from the torches in the dungeons and I had no reason left to live, not yet.
"Girl." Someone called from the dungeons, having me go silent as I looked around the dimmed dungeon. I saw nothing at first, then seeing someone look at me through his own bars of his own cell, a couple of feet away from me on my left.
"Sir." I said aloud, trying to find my voice once more, "Where am I? Please, I don't know where I am." I felt like being polite in this kind of situation would be better than being bitter, and I saw him watch me intently as we made eye contact. He was older, much older, with aging in his face and beard.
"You're at Dragonstone, home to Stannis Baratheon." He replied to me, almost as if he was reciting it to a court of some kind. I looked at him with confusion, seeing him eye me up and down, "Where are you from?"
"Thedra Ascent." I replied back to him, seeing him get up on his knees to face me and brace his own cell bars. I noticed something off in his hand, the fingers seemed shorter than usual.
"I know of that place." He said to me, his voice was smooth yet rough at the same time, which left me confused, he didn't sound like a lowborn. He sounded like he had authority before he was in a cell, "Close to Winterfell if I recall correctly. So you're a bit aways from home aren't you?"
I sighed and leaned against the bars, resting my head against them and seeing my hair cascade over the bars, having me notice that my hair was grown a bit since Gaila cut it. My hair was almost back to it's original length now, but my fingers tapped against the bars.
"I have been home in awhile. I was traveling with companions from King's Landing." I explained to him in a sorrowful manner.
"Why were you coming from there?" He asked me aloud in wonder, having me look over at him and see his genuine interest in why I was there.
"I was in trouble." I replied back in a shrug, "It's funny, trouble seemed to have followed me ever since I took one step in Flea Bottom."
"Flea Bottom." The prisoner said aloud to make sure he was saying it right, well to me that's what I thought.
"I was there to make dresses for…..for the Stark Family." I had to pause, since saying their name was more of a mourning feeling than joyful one, "I had a friend who worked in Flea Botttom as a Dressmaker. she's been there for years and years—"
"Gaila." As soon as he said her name, I looked at him finally with shock in my eyes. He knew her? Him, of all people in the dungeons of some foreign castle in Westeros, he knew her? I sat up on my own knees as well, looking at him with anticipation.
"You know Gaila?" I asked him in shock.
"Knew is more of the term. She was the only Dressmaker in Flea Bottom, the only decent one to be fair. I lived there in Flea Bottom when I was a lad, met her when we were young and was friends with her before I left the place." The prisoner explained to me, dozing off with his own memories then looking back at me with his determination present again, 'How do you know her?"
"She's friends with my master, I've known her since I was a little girl. She looked after me while I was in King's Landing, and helped me escape." I explained to him.
"Escape? Why did you have to escape?"
"That's the thing: I don't know. Apparently Queen Cersei wanted me dead, along with the Stark family after King Robert died. I didn't do anything wrong..I didn't….." I started crying again, because it was all booming far too much for me to handle. I had to cover my mouth from the cries bend heard and echoed in the dark dungeon.
"Oh dear….hush now child…it's alright." The man tried to sooth, but I was still crying for another moment or two. I sniffed, wiping the tears from my eyes with my dress sleeve and moved the hair from my face with was now sticky with tears.
"Tell me, what's your name?" He asked me, as if he was trying to make me feel better and get my mind back at ease. I sniffed once more, placing my face in the light so he can see me better.
"Nora." I replied back to him, seeing him watch me. As soon as I said my name, something shifted in his stance, as if his spine went straight and his eyes went wide. It was as if he as seeing a Ghost, or some kind of creature and he said nothing. But there was only pure shock on his face. I was about to ask him his name, since he was nothing but helpful for me in this situation, but I heard soldiers coming into the dungeon and I was silent. One of them opened the door to the man's cell, having me see him get up and walk up reluntantly and look at the soldier with questions in his eyes.
"Lord Stannis wishes to speak to you." The solider said to him, shoving him alone to the middle of the room and having me see the man look down at me from my spot in the cell. He smiled at me, nodding his head at me with acknowledgment.
"I'm Davos Seaworth. It's nice to meet you child."
I didn't know how long it has been since Davos was taken to see Lord Stannnis, but I knew now that it was dark outside, so it gave me some time to sit here, since I could to do was to think. Think about what it would of been like for me if I would of said "no" to Eddard Stark and his proposition. What if Sophia went in my place? Would she of been in the same position as I am in now, sitting in a cell for doing absolutely nothing?
I head someone opening cell doors and closing them, the very cells that were next to mine on my right, but I didn't get up. I was far too tired, and by that point I didn't care who it was, even if it was Davos, to get up and see who it was. As soon as the soldiers left again, I heard nothing at first, having me think that whomever they brought back was now dead. I pulled my knees to my chest and rests my chin there, my mind going off again on it's own daydmreaning scenario when I heard it.
I then heard it. I heard him.
"Seven Hells…" I perked up. I knew that voice. Was this some kind of trick or dream? I panicked, reached down to touch the straw underneath me to know that it was real. That voice, the same voice that plaugued my mind since I was taken from the Brotherhood. But it had to be real didn't it?
"Gendry." I said in low but worried tone, thinking that I was dreaming once more and hearing his voice in my head. Sure it was soothing, but a brutal reminder that I was alone.
"Nora?" He said my voice, having me scramble to my knees and move to the wall behind me, hearing his voice on the other side, "Nora! Is that you?"
"Gendry!" I said in a panic, moving to the bars so I can try and see him. His voice was good enough for me, but to see his face, that would make me so happy. I saw nothing at first, hearing rustling around in the other cell on the other side of the stone wall, but then I saw a hand reach out from in-between the bars. Without hesitation, I grabbed his hand, feeling the calloused ridges in his palm and fingers. I smiled, tears in my eyes knowing that it was him, I knew it was since I've held his hand so many time. I was holding him like a death grip as I leaned against the bar as much as humanly possible.
"Nora, oh Seven Hells….how did you end up here?" He asked me, his voice was urgent and was ringing in the dungeons walls.
"I don't know. One minute I left that cave after seeing you and the next I was on the ship that came here!" I replied to him in a sigh of relief.
"I was on that ship." He said aloud, having me loose my breath, "Nora, your wrists! What happened?" I looked at my wrist, seeing it crimson from the blood and the cut.
"The rope they tied me with." I explained to him, hearing him take in a breath as if it was painful to see.
"How where you on the ship?" I asked him aloud, "Why are you here? I thought you were with the Brotherhood Without Banners?" I didn't understand, and it left me confused. I heard nothing at first, but he spoke up once more less urgent and concerned and more low and sad.
"They sold me." I said nothing as he said it aloud, "The Red woman bought me and brought me here." I felt distant from him then, so I squeezed his hand in my own to show that I was still there and listening. He sighed from his cell, the sigh sounded like defeat or failure in my ears.
"What did they do to you?" I asked in a low tone, having me fear the worst. Once again, he said nothing at first, having me worry that it was something serious.
"Gendry." I said his name in encouragement.
"I'm sorry." He said in a lower tone for us to hear, having me freeze in my spot and not say a word.
"I'm sorry, sorry for choosing them over Arya and you. I thought I was making the right decision for me…but I was wrong." He sounded so defeated and sad from confessing to me that he made that mistake. I felt horrid then, all of those times that I thought ill of him and hated him. I shook my head, knowing he wouldn't see as I tried to find the right words to tell him otherwise.
"It's okay." I merely replied, not thinking of anything else.
"No it's not, Nora. Look, I know I'm stubborn and a idiot at times, but what you said to me…back in that cave…that made me realize what I was giving up." He explained to me with determination in his tone, "I never had a lot in life, not even a family. Arya wanted to be my family, but I knew that it wouldn't be right since she would be Milday. I was a fool, Nora, a fool to let that in the way. All it took was seeing you…seeing what I did to you and watching you cry to make me know that I was a disappointment and failure." I immediately placed my other hand on top of his that was still holding my own, The bloody crimson wrist and my dirty, stained hands held his one for dear life as I leaned my head against the stone hall, thinking that I would be closer to him.
"You are not a failure, Gendry." I said to him aloud, my voice was breaking because of my heart breaking for him now, not because of him, "Stubborn, yes. A fool, maybe, but you have not one bit of failure in you. I was the fool who yelled at you and made you feel this way, since it was your choice with what you wanted to do. I'm sorry for yelling at you." There was nothing then for a moment of two, just the two of us holding hands between the stalls and hearing each other's breathing. How we both ended up here in cells, really contemplating if we are going to wake up in the morning or die in our sleep. I was just glad, beyond glad, that I was no longer alone in this. I then felt him stroke my skin with his thumb, a gentle rhythm and soothing as well, as if he was trying to take away my pain.
"Did you mean what you said, when you yelled at me?" He asked me aloud then, his voice was now softer and less sorrowful.
"When I said what?" I asked him aloud in a whisper.
"When you said you needed me." His voice sounded very light then, as if he was hoping it was true. Was it? Did I say it in the heat of the moment of anger and hate with him? Or was it all true, how I needed him in my line of sight constantly or his voice in my ears, even feel his skin against mine when we would walk together? I could no longer kid myself as I answered him, a small smile on my face.
"Yes." I replied aloud, having it feel like a weight was lifted off of me now that I said it aloud in the open. If it was any other time, I would be afraid to say it to him, going back to the girlish part of me that would be too shy to voice it outside of my head. But this was different, merely because I had no clue if we were going to get out of here in once piece. So I might as well tell him…in a sense…what I was feeling.
"I need you too." He said to me, having me feel my heart stop beating as he said it aloud, not broken or scared, but bold and true, "I didn't realize that I needed you too until you left the cave. I went out to find you..but you were gone."
"Gone." I said aloud, repeating it, just as Davos did with me hours before.
"We searched for you everywhere. Anguy thought you were killed and taken by poachers…..or he even thought they….they were going to." I felt and heard him getting worked up about it, having me squeeze his hand again.
"Shhh." I hushed him hearing his voice break once more.
"I thought you were dead, Nora." He croaked, "I really thought they killed you and took you away from us. It killed me that we couldn't find you, killed both me and Arya." I cringed as he mentioned Arya. Was she just as broken when they thought I was dead? She must of been? I could imagine Gendry holding her back as she kicked and fought with tears in her eyes. It sounded like her, something she would do.
"I'm glad we're here." I said aloud in a light tone, though it cracked because I was on the brink of tears again.
"How could you say that?" He asked me aloud in disbelief. I had to smile when he said this.
"Well, better us to be here together and die then to be how where else alone and afraid." I explained to him.
"You're not afraid?" He asked me aloud in wonder, having my smile widen slightly.
"Not anymore." I confessed, thinking that he must of been smiling at that point.
"Nora?" He asked me aloud, having me perk up a bit when he said my name.
"Hhmm?" I said aloud.
"You're my family." Once he said it, my heart was no longer broken and it was no long bleeding in betrayal or pain. He sounded so sincerer, so gentle when he said it, and almost like a declaration as well, "And I won't ever leave you again, okay?" I only squeezed his hand in reply, feeling as though there were no proper words to say what I wanted. But I had to say something, anything.
"Okay." I said back to him, feeling him squeeze my hand and my breathing loosing me. It made me think back to when we were with the Brotherhood Without Banners, who it all unfolded and what took place. I then remembered what happened before this while thing went to shit: the moment in the cave with The Hound.
"Gendry." I said aloud, "What happened to the Hound?"
"He was accused of murder, so he had to fight someone to the death because of it: trail by combat." He replied to me, his voice was back to being gruff once more.
"Did he die?" I asked hesitantly, hoping that it was true that he died. He was the one who was sent to kill me, King Joffrey must of sent him, if not his mother. But I heard nothing at first from Gendry, having me think go the worst.
"He got to go free."
"Nora." I heard in fort of me, having me blink once more and wake from sleeping in my cell. But I saw Gendry looking over me, wearing a cloak and a determined look on his face. Wait, how did he get into my cell? I looked at him with confusion as someone was behind him holding a torch and another cloak in his arm. Gendry gently grabbed my hands, pulling my up and facing him. I saw his blue eyes again, how blue they were in the darkness of the dungeon. He looked a little cleaned up, no more grime on his face that I was used to, but his shaggy black hair a bit longer now.
"What's going on?" I asked him aloud as she scanned my face and eyes.
"We're getting out of here." he replied, taking my hand in his.
"But how…" I trailed off, seeing the man behind him with the torch and cloak, showing me a kind smile. I knew who it was: Davos. How did this happen?
"No time to explain, Nora. You must come now if you two wanna live." He said to me, handing me the cloak gently and having me get it on. Gendry then took my hand in his, walking with me behind Davos. Gendyr looked over at me as we walked out of the dungeons in the moon light, looking shocked and concerned.
"Your head." He said to me, his voice was concerned as I reach up to feel the dry blood and gash on my head. I winced, it was still tender, but Davos look back at the both of us.
"Hide yourselves." He explained to the both of us, Gendry and I shooting the hoods over our heads and shielding us. WE walked behind him as he lead us away from the castle. I looked back once more, seeing it was somewhat lit and silent. It made me cringe as we walked, knowing that I was no going back.
"Why are you helping us?" I asked Davos aloud.
"Because I know what they want to do to the both of you, and I can't sit by knowing that I can prevent you two from death." Davos explained, gruff in his voice as we walking on the shore of the beach, having me hear the waves calmly sitting the dirt and sand. I was about to ask another question, but I was cut short when we reached a small row boat on the beach. Davos had a sack in his hand, throwing it in the boat as he looked back at the both of us.
"Aim for that star, don't stop. There's bread and water, go light on it. " He explained to us, pushing the boat out a bit into the water and then leading me to the boat, helping me in and having me sit on the bench, "If you finish it off, not mater how thirsty you get, don't drink the sea water."
"We know not to drink sea water." Gendry told him as he took off his cloak, throwing it in the boat.
"Row a full day and night, and you'll reach Rook's Rest. You'll wanna stop there, don't. She'll find you." Davos said to the both of us, but the last bit to Gendry. I looked at him with confusion: who was she? The Red Priest that was mentioned before when I was taken? Why was she a threat to Gendry?
"Where should we go?" I asked him aloud in wonder, seeing him look over at me.
"Keep the course on your left side, until you reach King's Landing. I advise you both to get there, go to Flea Bottom, and find your friend Gaila. She'll help you." He explained to me.
"Gold Cloak are looking for us." Gendry reminded him.
"They've been looking for me for twenty years. Do they know your faces?" Davos asked him, the both of us shaking our heads.
"No." We both replied at the same time.
"I'd be more worried about the Red Woman." Davos said in reply, Gendry hopping into the boat next to me and grabbing the oars. But the way he got inside the boat, it made it look like a boat was foreign to Gendry, even Davos looked at him with a hesitant face.
"Have you ever been in a boat before?" He asked with confusion and amusement.
"No." Gendry merely replied.
"Do you know how to swim?" Davo asked with a bit of hope in his voice. I looked at Gendry as well, the one thing I did not know about him. But Gendry shook his head.
"No." he said, as if it was nothing as he held the oars in both of his hands. I looked at Davos, seeing him look at me for some support.
"I know how to swim." I said to him in a nod of my head. Gendry started rowing, having me feel the boat push us farther and farther away from the beach and into the open water, away from despair and death and towards hope. Davos stood, knee deep in the water and watched as we were slipping away from harm.
"Why are you doing this?" Gendry asked aloud as he rowed, thinking the same thing I was. Why would be risk his own risk for two people he had no allegiance with? We were prisoners, practically nothing in the world of Westeros, yet he was kind enough to get us out of harms way. I watched the castle looking less dim and less threatening as we venture out into a new adventure and new risk, hearing Davos talk back to us his answer.
"Because it's right, and I'm a slow learner."