In the cramped corner of the wagon Myrna peered through the cracks of the rough wood. The sun was still high in the sky and the gate had been long gone, but she still looked south to where Kings Landing was. Now it was a tiny city and in another few bumpy hills it would be gone from view. The stench of it had disappeared thankfully. The attack she had earlier that day made her breathe in that filthy air more than she had wanted. There was still a tightness in her chest, and she refused to look at the other end of the wagon.
Below them the wheels of the wagon groaned. At times it became too bumpy for her and she had to hold onto the side of the wagon so she would not bang into it. Only an hour into this journey and her body began to ache. Soon they entered a tiny village, the first since the capital. Around them were wattle and daub huts that were huddled together. It did not appear too lively but she watched a few children who seemed to be siblings play with one another. Her eyes lingered on them until she felt a touch on her shoulder.
To turn her head the opposite direction was like twisting a stubborn top off a jar. Next to her she saw a wineskin being offered to her from The Hound except it was filled with water instead of wine. He liked to complain about that even though he had only had it for a short while. Brenda had showed them the supplies they had gathered for their trip and there were a few wineskins given out amongst them. Myrna accepted it and took a swig, and in the middle of swallowing she allowed her eyes to go past The Hound and towards Nicholas in the back corner. He had her same dark eyes and he was watching them as Brenda sat above him and steered the horse. As soon as she felt her heart begin to race again she stopped drinking and wiped her mouth with the back of her hand. The Hound took back the wineskin and gave Nicholas a hard stare after he noticed Myrna taking a peek at her brother.
"Are we going to be on this wagon the entire way North?" Sansa asked Nicholas politely, as she was completely ignorant of the past between him and Myrna.
Everyone gave Sansa a quick glance since no one had spoken much since they all gathered onto the wagon inside the city. The girl was sitting with her legs tucked in underneath her and across from Myrna. She, too, also watched the city disappear. Myrna could see a tiny smile on the girls face once they exited the gate. Next to her was Arya, and Myrna was still in disbelief. Once they had climbed onto the wagon after Myrna's panic attack they saw that Arya had been with Brenda all along. Watching the Stark sisters reunite helped her pull through.
"We must make a stop inside Duskendale first," Nicholas calmly replied and did not elaborate further.
Is that where we are meeting Baelish? Myrna wondered. Her brother had to know about the trade. Their freedom in return for Sansa Stark was the deal. Nicholas was never part of the deal, though. Somehow, her brother and Baelish had come to be acquainted with one another and that was a troubling thought. How much did Baelish truly know about her now?
Brenda pulled over to the side of the road and stood up to stretch once they were at a complete stop. "If anyone needs to take a piss, you should do that now," she yelled back at them.
The Hound pushed himself up and when he jumped off the end of the wagon it bounced. When he left Myrna felt unsafe. Something made her look at Nicholas again and she met his eyes once more. He was so quiet and his stare was cold. Arya noticed. "You two alright?" she asked cautiously. Arya knew a little about Nicholas thanks to the fight Myrna had with Brenda.
"I'm just fine," Myrna snapped back and threw her legs off the end of the wagon before pushing herself off. From being careless Myrna gave herself a splinter when she jumped off and she winced. The bandages on her other hand prevented her from being able to pick it out. Despite the tiny wound in her hand she felt great to stand and let her blood circulate easily through her bottom and legs. She stared at her hand as she made her way into the woods where she saw The Hound go. The grass under her feet was soft and when she entered the woods she scanned the area to find The Hound. Not too far in she saw him facing a tree and she went to lean against another tree while she waited for him to finish. When he turned around while still lacing the front of his pants he gawked at her.
"Spying on me now?" he japed. When she did not respond to that and gave a look back at the wagon through the trees he sighed. "You wanted your chance to kill him. Now you have it," The Hound told her as they watched Nicholas speak with Brenda as she jumped off the wagon to enter the woods herself.
Sadly, she shook her head. "I... I can't do it..." she muttered.
The Hound marched to her side and grabbed her shoulder, pulling her off the tree. "He killed your parents and he gave you that scar on your back. You know how fucking happy I would be if I were in your shoes right now?" he asked and then he made a gesture with the blade he has received from the dungeon's with his free hand. "A blade in my hand, and my brother a few feet from me..." he spoke as if he dreamed of that moment.
"When I see him everything stops..." Myrna felt her eyes get glassy. "I can't breathe. Everything gets all fuzzy. I can't..." she looked down at her feet and a tear rolled down her cheek.
Once her sobs began to grow a little louder he let go of her shoulder and grabbed her jaw to force her to look up at him. "Quiet, now..." he rasped. "I'll make sure he doesn't get too close until the day comes where you find your sense to kill him again. Do you understand me?" he squeezed but not enough for it to hurt. "I know you understand me... I know you do..." his voice grew softer and he let go of her face.
"I have to tell you something. It's very important," Myrna wiped away her tears and looked up at him on her own.
He grew serious. "I'm listening," he told her.
She took in a deep breath. "You know that deal I made with Baelish so all of this could happen?" she asked. The Hound nodded. "There was a price," she explained.
"What was the price?" he sounded troubled.
Myrna paused. "Sansa," she answered.
The Hound gave her a blank stare. Myrna was unsure of how he was feeling. "The little bird? You're giving her away to that worm so we could go and live happily in the bloody North?" his voice trembled.
"No, no... I mean, I told him I would convince Sansa to leave with me and I would in the end give her to him but I don't mean to do it. I swear. I just don't know how to do this. I believe Nicholas is in on this," Myrna made herself sound as genuine as she could. Truly, she did not want to give up Sansa.
"Good," The Hound barked at her. "All the more reason to kill him," he tried giving his sword to Myrna but she did not take it. They stared at one another until he groaned and put the sword back on his hip.
"We can't let this happen. I'm sure Duskendale is where it is happening. Remember what he said before? We have to make a stop in Duskendale," Myrna said and noticed how annoyed The Hound was acting. He glanced back at the wagon and shifted his weight between his feet. In a way she was glad he being more supportive than anything. She must of looked like an idiot to him right now. All this way and every time her brother was brought up all she would think about was how she would kill him right where he stood. Now Myrna could barely stand when she saw him. What was wrong with her?
The Hound touched her back so she would follow him back towards the wagon. Myrna blushed but did her best to hide that. "We won't let anyone take the little bird. I'll keep my blade close," he rasped.
Everyone gathered together after their little break and they had left on their way towards Duskendale. It was too quiet between the lot of them, but Myrna did not even try to lighten the mood. Too much was on her mind and she noticed The Hound was more serious now. He kept his hand on the hilt of his sword and created a barrier between the girls and Nicholas with his body. Next to Myrna he sat with his legs stretched out, and he nearly touched the other end where Arya was sitting and Sansa was next to her.
The sky turned orange in the west, and a wall of clouds over the sunset were a pink hue. Duskendale was not too far north of Kings Landing and every mile they went by made Myrna more nervous. When everything was passing them at a slower pace Myrna looked ahead and saw a party was in their way. A few men holding crossbows aimed at their wagon and Brenda made the horse come to a complete stop and the agitated horse let out a neigh. Nicholas turned his body and stood up. A small laugh from him made Myrna feel chills. "They're early," he said aloud.
"Who's early?" Arya questioned him but he did not respond.
The Hound stood up as well and drew his blade. "The little she-wolf asked a question," he aimed his threat towards Nicholas and did nothing when Myrna tugged on his pants from where she was sitting.
"Don't do it this way," Myrna whispered but Sansa and Arya seemed to be the only ones that were listening to her from the way they reacted.
The men with the crossbows were now split up into two groups and were on either side of the wagon. "Drop the sword, Clegane," a familiar voice hollered.
Baelish revealed himself from the small crowd. He wore a cloak similar to the one Nicholas was wearing but he kept his hood down. He wore a tight smile as he glanced at Sansa. The Hound gave one good look around him as if he were studying each face of the men who aimed arrows at him before throwing the sword down loudly.
When Myrna pushed herself up and sat on her knees to peer over the edge of the wagon Baelish caught sight of her and now gave her his attention. "Ah, Myrna. I need to thank you again for everything you have done," he exclaimed.
"What is he talking about?" Arya asked everyone in the wagon though no one paid her any heed.
"Sansa Stark. You may come with me now. Your aunt in the Eyrie is waiting," Baelish called out to her as he walked toward the back of the wagon. His eyes also fixed on the other Stark girl. "Arya Stark? What a wonderful surprise. You may come with your sister if you wish," he almost sounded kind.
Myrna felt guilt completely overwhelm her as she watched Sansa become frustrated and confused. "What do you mean? I am going North. I am going home," she turned pink as she tried to talk some sense into Baelish. Her dream was being ripped away from her at that moment.
"We're not going with you. We're staying with Myrna and her family," Arya backed up her sister and grabbed her arm as if she physically keep her from Baelish.
Baelish glanced over at Myrna and she knew what that meant. "Then tell me why you gave me permission to take them away if you intended on keeping them for yourself? This was not part of our deal, Myrna Beaumont..." his words chilled her to the bone and in the next moment she felt the eyes of the Stark girls on her.
"What deal?" Sansa stammered.
"Nicholas, I have waited long enough..." Baelish's voice grew irritated.
From the front of the wagon Myrna heard loud footsteps come at them and Nicholas bent over to throw Arya off her sister and he roughly grabbed Sansa by her elbow. When the girl cried out The Hound took a step towards Nicholas but reminded himself of the arrows being pointed at him. Myrna watched him ball his hands into fists and angrily glare at Nicholas as he continued to be rough with Sansa. Her red hair was now wild, and some was sticking to her face from the tears. Through her hair Myrna saw green eyes peeking through that were once again filled with such despair. There was more there now. Anger. "I'm so sorry..." Myrna whispered softly but she doubted Sansa could hear over her screams.
Finally Nicholas struggled enough towards the back of the wagon with Sansa and jumped off with her in his arms. Arya began following him with such a sorrowful expression but then she was held back by Brenda. "What are you doing? He said I could go!" Arya tried to rebel but Brenda stared straight ahead at Nicholas with Arya tight in her arms.
The Hound noticed and then gave a cautious stare at Nicholas. Before he handed over the weeping red haired beauty, he reached into his pocket and pulled something out. Baelish spotted and before he could react Nicholas threw a pouch full of some sort of powder right in Baelish's face. The area they were in was shrouded in smoke and Baelish began wheezing and coughing and hollering. Nicholas whirled around to reveal a blade being held against Sansa Stark's neck, and the girl continued to wail even louder now.
"Do not harm the girl!" Baelish managed to holler between his coughing fit.
The archers took their aim away from The Hound and now focused on Nicholas but released no arrows on Baelish's command. "We will be leaving now, Petyr Baelish... and the only way we will leave Sansa Stark behind is if I slit her pretty throat open and let her bleed out right here," he threatened as the dust began to clear away and Baelish stared at Nicholas with red, puffy eyes. Baelish was furious but did not want any harm to come to Sansa Stark. Nicholas peered over his shoulder to see the archer's still holding their arrows but when Baelish raised his arm they put their bows down. Backwards, Nicholas made his way back to the wagon and Brenda let go of Arya to help him up, so he would not have to pull away a hand that threatened the girl's life. Sansa was now quieter, but she was still in shock and every now and then had a hiccup from crying so much. The blade at her throat remained and she was ever obedient to go wherever Nicholas made her go.
Myrna was stunned. Nothing could have expected her to witness this. The Hound had already picked up his rusty sword once the archer's had taken their attention elsewhere but stood aside when Nicholas was making his way to the front of the wagon but now with Sansa in his arms. Brenda hopped back to the seat in front and gave the command to the horse to start trotting again. Slowly, The Hound sat down next to Myrna but kept his eye on Nicholas. When Myrna sat down she peered through the cracks again and saw Baelish swipe a wineskin from a fellow party member and poured something in a cupped hand and splashed it on his face. Once they were too far to see, Nicholas pushed Sansa aside and Arya crawled towards her sister to check up on her.
"That went exactly as planned," Brenda yelled back at Nicholas happily.
For the first time she saw Nicholas break a genuine smile. He did not reply, but instead stood up and with the end of his cloak he cleaned off his blade as best he could while taking small steps towards the back of the wagon. The Hound made a threatening gesture when he saw Nicholas was making his way toward Myrna.
The two of them stared at one another. Nicholas' smile vanished and he looked to Myrna. "Sister, if I may give you something..."
"No," Myrna said sharply.
He knelt down, even though he was out of reach to give her anything. He rested the blade in his hand and Myrna felt her skin crawl. "My dagger?" she gasped.
"I retrieved it from the knight they gave it to at the capital. This blade is only meant for the most beautiful woman of the North. My dear sister, please accept this back on your own terms..." he softly charmed her and gently placed it on the ground of the wagon and returned to where he was sitting before.
The dagger bounced around from the wagon's movement and the light from the sunset at times would shine just right so the etched oak tree would reveal itself on the steel. Myrna stared at it longingly. Everyone grew relaxed despite all of the drama that happened to them, but mostly because The Hound offered to keep watch while the others caught up on some sleep. He did not trust Nicholas at all from her perspective, and would probably have trouble sleeping anytime soon. At least, that's how Myrna felt and she was sure The Hound felt the same as she did.
Sansa and Arya were huddled together now farther away from Nicholas and they were napping. The sister's were quiet and paid little attention to the rest of the people on the wagon, and rightfully so. Nicholas also had his eyes closed as he rested against where Brenda sat. The moment felt right, and she silently scooted closer to the dagger ignoring any look The Hound might give her. When the hilt was on her hands it reminded her of better days. Quickly she returned to where she was sitting while examining the dagger. Then she looked at her bandaged hand and slid the edge of the dagger over the cloth. After she placed her dagger on her lap and peeled off the cloth. Her skin was pale and damp underneath, but it was relieved to breathe again. It was nowhere near as bad as she had assumed it was. Perhaps there would not even be a scar.
"You're lucky," The Hound had been watching her.
After engaging in a gaze with him, she pulled her eyes away and looked at her blade again. Dark brown eyes looked back at her from the reflection. At first she had thought of Nicholas, and then she thought about what he said. The most beautiful woman of the North... could not be her. Not after what he had done to her.