Chapter 8
I grudgingly made my makeshift bed in my tiny drafting room before anything else. I then examined my drawing desk and the supplies it contained. Nothing of much use, they obviously knew nothing of how drafting out a repair for the whole damn castle would work. Whatever, can't say lions are ever truly that smart I suppose. As I was making a crude list of what I needed to gather from my shop to begin the drafting process, the door flung open, smashing against the wall (great, something else I might need to fix) and in walked the cunt of a king.
"I heard mother brought in a different blacksmith to handle the repairs. Kneel blacksmith, your king is talking to you" his whiney voice, eerily reminding me of Viserys' voice shrilled at my back. I turned and gently knelt
"Your grace, yes I am the blacksmith of Rosby. Your mother has given me her ideas of what she wants the repairs to look like."
"Ugh, of course she has. But I have a different request. I want these made. The sooner they are made, the less likely I'll be to kill you and spike your head." I nodded and looked over the list.
"Of course, your grace, I shall let you know when they are done"
"Make sure its soon, my future wife will be looking forward to it much less than I am."
He spun on his heels and paraded out of the room. I stood up and gently shut the door. As soon as I heard the click of the door shutting my face turned sour. Who in the hell would even think of a list like this, let alone have actual use for it in the bedroom?! Ugh, this stupid cunt needed to die, 100 percent before he would get a chance to use any of these demonically twisted contraptions. I thought briefly about what to do, then quickly walked out of the room. Without any thought, my feet traced their way through the floors they had learned to walk on. No need for directions, no need for confused wandering. I gently knocked on Sansa Stark's room door.
Three knocks…. Nothing… three more knocks, still nothing… damn all the gods, was she not in her room?! Frustrated, I smashed my fist holding the list against the door twice…. Hard enough to make the door shudder and threaten to break. Then it creaked open, Sansa's maid blocking my way into the room any further.
"Please maiden, tell me where Lady Sansa Stark is"
"And why should I do that? BLACKSMITH"
"I… I need to talk to her. Apologize for trampling over her earlier today" we stared almost accusingly at one another for what seemed like an eternity.
"Let him in Shae, but keep alert" the quiet voice said, seemingly almost as quiet as a whisper. She nodded and stepped aside, only opening the door wide enough that I had to turn sideways and still get squished on my way through. As soon as I had entered the room, I gently bowed.
"What do you want?"
I held out my clenched fist holding the list out at her "I know you aren't that fond of me….. but your father was kind to me every time I saw him, and so was your aunt Lyanna, so I feel as if in return, I must warn you. The king….. your future husband… commissioned me to make these for your marriage night since I am working on rebuilding the castle" Shae grabbed the list from my hand and took it over to her. her eyes widened in pure terror and disgust and panic and she read through the list.
"Please, Lady Stark, I know you cannot refuse to marry that twat, but for your own sake, flee before the marriage. I have to make these for the king, or I will die, but if he manages to use them on you…. I swear your family would rise out of their graves and murder me themselves, and I would not resist them at all, for I would deserve the most horrible death imaginable"
"I wish I could flee….. but I am to be wed to him. I cannot abandon my duties as a lady." She rose and handed me the list back. She tried to look me in the eyes, but my face had fell and I could not meet her gaze. I was ashamed. I sulked out of the room, ridiculing myself as I absentmindedly walked into my room. As I opened my door, I looked up and swear I saw Lyanna.
"Be the brave caring protective prince you always were daemon" that's it…. I'm not fucking bowing to that cunt. I've been good at dealing with it all since I fled kings landing, but I am not letting him torture anyone like that. I will make him the contraptions, but they will not be operational. Hell, maybe I'll make them backfire so it tears his head off. I threw the list on the table and glared out the window, wishing the birds would take my frustration and anger away. I never was a violent child. I was taught to fight by Rhaegar and then by Rodrick, even sparring with a couple of knights every once in a while, but I was always calm, serene. Ever since my head felt like it was set on fire, my anger rose to uncontrollable sometimes, causing violent outbursts. I sat at the desk and started to draw. I lifted my head up only momentarily when a soft knock sounded on my door. Gods, I didn't even notice it was getting darker out. I lit a candle by the desk, and opened the door. Shae was standing on the other side, a plate of food in her hands. "My name is Shae, in case you didn't pick up on that in our earlier conversation. Lady Stark noticed you were not in the dining hall for dinner, and asked me to bring you a plate, in case you had lost track of time and forgotten to eat." I nodded gently.
"Thank you, Shae, and please thank Lady Stark as well. I got lost in my drawing."
"It shows, you have ink smudges over your hands and face" she mocked. "May I see the drawing?"
"hmm….. I'm not quite finished the courtyard yet. How about I finish it up tonight, and you and Sansa can see the drawing tomorrow during the day?"
"sounds like a plan…. Blacksmith"
"Name's Asher."
She nodded and handed me the plate of food, turned and left. The food looked delicious. I sat on the bed and ate my dinner, making a mental note to not skip dinner again. I set the empty plate on the shelf, and settled back into the drawing table. I drew all through the night, picturing the courtyard from my memories and how I was going to recreate it with my smithing skills. By morning, the candle had burnt out, my ink well had run dry, I was covered in ink smudges, and my courtyard drawings and designs laid on the table, ready to display all their infinite glory. I had the materials list ready to go, I would be able to show the ladies, and Queen Cersei by midday, and start the work this afternoon. I stood up, creaking like an old man, stretched my stiffened body, again, more cracking and creaking, one would swear an old maester was in the room instead of a 21-year-old guy. I mindlessly made my way back to Rosby, cleaned up and gathered my supplies, and a couple personal items. The desperate cries of the dying poor hauntingly followed me as I made my way to the red keep once again. Through the entrance, through the halls, into my room, I might be able to throw a nap in quickly if I'm lucky today. I barely even noticed Shae and Sansa examining my drafts as I set my stuff down. Sansa however, nearly scared the absolute shit out of me. "Is this REALLY what it's going to look like?!" I jumped back, and my torso snapped up.
"Sorry, Lady Stark, you startled me. Yes, it should look like that when I finish the work, but I don't know how long it will be kept like that, since its will need the attention of a caring person to upkeep."
Her eyes went from shimmering and happy to cold and disappointed.
"So not long then, most people here don't take care of themselves, never mind plants"
I sat down on the bed, staring into her innocent face "Tell me, Lady Stark, what do you want to see to remind you to stay happy while you're here?"
Her face lit up as she sat down on my bed beside me, and took a deep breathe getting ready to explain her ideal happy place.
