"Little sister! Are you well?" clamored a loud voice in her ear.
Startled, Myrna swatted her small hand toward the voice and hit Nicholas right on his pointed nose. He flinched but not enough to avoid the impact. Then he rubbed his face with a disapproving look as he stared down at her lying in bed.
"What are you doing in my bedchamber? What time is it?" her voice squeaked.
"Mother told me to check on you. Don't you remember what happened yesterday?" he asked. "And aren't you going to apologize to me?"
Myrna shook her head. "You are the one who yelled in my ear. I was sleeping so soundly…"
"Fine, but do you remember what happened?" he asked more sternly.
Finally she sat up in bed escaping the furs that piled over her. Then she felt a jolt of pain in her ankle and went to touch it. Peeling back her faded purple skirt she saw her right ankle wrapped in bandages. "I fell…" she simply stated.
Nicholas had a laugh. "'I fell' is what you say. You are right, but you fell into a bloody hunting pit! What if a wolf had been down there? Or an elk? And what if they weren't completely dead?"
"Shut up, Nicholas. Of course they would be dead," she sneered.
"You didn't die," he crossed his arms and leaned in towards her. "Maybe other things could survive the fall, too!"
Myrna recollected everything that happened. Nicholas and her went out into the Wolf Woods but ventured out into parts where they had never been. Perhaps they had been told once to not go out into those parts but they did not remember, nor did they care. They decided on hide and seek and it was Myrna's time to hide. As Nicholas faced a big oak tree he closed his eyes and counted aloud backwards from twenty. Without any knowledge of these parts she randomly picked a destination and ran towards it, looking for any decent place to hide whether it be a hollowed out tree or a tree that was climbable. There was still remnants of snow on the ground but it was clearing up day by day. Little did she know in a second the ground would collapse beneath her feet.
All she could do was gasp as she ground rose above her head. Leaves, twigs and other parts of these woods that covered the pit came down with her. Her body made a loud thud as she landed on her right side and that was the first time she ever felt real pain in her life. When she sat up and tried to move her ankle she cried out in pain. She did not even attempt to touch it. The fear she felt was so great she did not even look down at her pained ankle. All she could do was sit there in that damp, dark hole that was lined with old stone.
"Nicholas…!" Myrna wailed up at the sky, trying not to panic. Her voice was loud to her as it bounced off the enclosed space.
There was no response. How far did she run?
"Nicholaaaas…!" she wailed again, this time her voice trembling. Maybe a minute later she began outright sobbing. Tears streamed down her white cheeks. Her mouth hung open and she wept like a baby, shaking like a leaf. "Someone help me!" she cried out as hard as her little voice could manage.
At last Nicholas's face peered down at her, wide eyed. "Myrna!? Why are you hiding down there!?"
"I'm not hiding down here! I fell, stupid!" she yelled up at him. Seeing her brother's face made her feel brave. "Get me out!"
"We're not too far off from the main road. I'll go find help!" he assured her as he disappeared but Myrna felt a lump in her throat.
"Wait, no! Don't leave me!" she pleaded but he did not return.
The cold gray stones around her turned hazy and her surroundings were engulfed in a quiet darkness just for a moment. Then she opened her eyes to her new surroundings. She saw a familiar table and chair returned to their place. The celebration… it must have ended. When she turned to her side to see if Sandor was still asleep on the ground beside her she saw she was alone. At first she was careful to move her ankle but realized it was just a dream of a memory from long ago. Myrna shook it off and stretched as she stood. When she straightened up she did not feel her hair fall around her shoulders as it was still up in braids, which were now messy. She had to visit the village's outdoor privy and did so discretely since she had no idea how the night turned out.
No one seemed to pay any particular attention to her. The way to the privy made her cross paths with some folk but a regular smile was the most attention she received and after she relieved herself she felt more confident walking back. Myrna noted that a lot of the able bodied men that normally left the village for work were still around. Her mind wandered off to where Sandor could be.
Believing he would return shortly to the lodge she walked through her front door and stood there in the middle of the room. Their table had nothing on it but the window sill above it held the journal that she had begun to read the night before. Bored, she went to grab it and sat on the cold chair. It was clear it had been out all night. The leather on the journal was cold, too, for sitting alongside the window for so long. It was not just the touch of the journal that sent a chill through her. Myrna opened the journal and found where she had left off:
Today was my first day at my new home. My husband-to-be was
not with me at all today but I am relieved. The short meeting I had
with this man on our travels here was anything but pleasant. He
barely said a word to me. There was almost disappointment in his
dark eyes. They were such dark, angry eyes. No one will tell me
when our wedding will be but I feel it will be too soon. At least
the maids who tend me to here are kind. They gave me a hot
bath and readied my supper as soon as I arrived. But there is some-
thing odd about them as well. They may be kind but they
hardly speak to me. It is almost as if they fear me. Oh! How
could I almost forget. As the future lady of this house it
is important for me to have my own little lady it seems. I
am just reminded by this because she laid down by
my feet as I am writing this. She is a beautiful pup and we are
getting along so well. Looking down at her gives me some
hope that this could feel like a real home in time. When
Gregor returns I wonder if he will give me a
chance to speak with him. I really hope my mother could
make it to our wedding.
Her eyes froze. Then she re-read that last part. Once more she read it again. How could this be? The beginning of this page proved that Tysa indeed moved away from the village but Myrna never thought this is how her story would turn out. If Tysa married Gregor at some point then why did Sandor not know?
Now she demanded answers. Myrna closed the journal loudly and held it against her stomach as she marched out the door and down the lane passing by her neighbors and towards Thalina's house. Luckily no one was out to see her storm through. It took her less than a minute to go from her door to Thalina's and she allowed herself in without knocking. When she was inside she stopped in her tracks and was startled to see the company they had. At the big mahogany table sat Thalina, Ryler… and Sandor. Thalina and Ryler looked as if they had just woken up with their messy hair and circles under their eyes but there was more than tiredness to their look.
"What's going on?" Myrna asked, caught off guard.
Thalina and Ryler held a forlorn gaze at her as Sandor peered down at his arms that were resting on the table but he spoke. "They needed to know the truth, Myrna."
"The truth? What do you mean the-" she began until she realized he said her real name aloud.
"So your real name is Myrna. You're not Ina Rivers," Ryler stared hard at her.
Sandor and Myrna exchanged glances when Ryler interrogated her. He was calm but the look in his eyes almost seemed to urge her to come out and say it. He did not want her to lie anymore, she knew that, but she had no idea he would do something like this without her permission. "Yes. My name is Myrna Beaumont."
"A year and a half ago they began rallying up women who fit a specific description. Fair, dark curls, dark eyes. Tysa was a perfect fit. I thought the Gods had blessed her. She was to marry a well to do knight down south. Oh how wrong I was," Thalina's eyes were red and tired.
Myrna closed in on the group and threw the journal on the dining table they sat around. "So it seems I don't need to bring that up. You admit that you were lying as well?" she accused Thalina.
Sandor's eyes focused on the two ladies. "What are you two talking about?"
"Tysa did not die from a fever. She was one of Gregor's wives! Why didn't you tell me?" she turned her anger towards Sandor.
He looked down deep in thought. "Tysa. That Tysa? Now that I think about it Gregor did have a wife by that name. Pretty sure she was the last one to die. Then when they were about to send off to find Gregor another wife you were brought to King's Landing…" he stared back at Myrna. "You were the one he really wanted."
"How could you two talk about Tysa like that in front of me!?" Thalina screamed and stood up from her chair but Ryler grabbed his mother's arm and calmed her down with a soothing expression. Gently she found her place again but refused to look at any of them.
Myrna felt as if she should say something despite her temper. "Thalina, I really am sorry…"
"I cursed the woman who ran off and created my daughter's fate. If only you had gone to King's Landing in the first place all those years ago!" she stammered, still looking off to the side.
Ryler broke in. "That's enough, mother."
"What do you mean that's enough!?" Thalina cried out and returned her gaze at them. "This woman killed your sister!"
"She didn't kill Tysa. The Mountain did!" he stood up to his mother.
Thalina gave a curt command. "Leave. All of you. Now!"
Sandor quickly eyed Thalina and Ryler then gave a small nod as he made his way towards the exit. Ryler also stood up and followed Sandor as quickly as his injured leg allowed him but Myrna remained standing there. When they were alone Myrna went to grab a chair for herself but Thalina glared at her. Myrna pulled her hand back and decided standing was just fine. The journal was lying on the table between them. "Do you want to keep that?" Myrna pointed at it.
"It was already mine. You must have snooped around upstairs and found her things. You stole it," Thalina accused her now. "Had plenty of opportunity to after all the warm welcoming I have given you in this house!"
Myrna put her hands on the table. "I have never stolen from you!"
Thalina's lip trembled as her glare turned into a sorrowful stare. "You stole my daughter. My only daughter…"
A wave of guilt washed over Myrna. It was a type of guilt she had never experienced before. She watched this old woman slowly break down. Somehow she found herself being convinced that she actually had something to do with Tysa's death. Had Myrna originally left for King's Landing all those years ago would Tysa still be alive? Did all previous wives of Gregor die because of her reluctance to marry him as well? This was a brand new thought to Myrna. For years she ran to save herself, but had she sacrificed others while doing so?
She had enough of seeing Thalina sulk. When she slipped outside Thalina's door she saw the end of a hushed conversation between Ryler and Sandor. Ryler began walking away with a limp down the lane and Sandor caught her eye.
"How could you do that!?" Myrna demanded as she hurried up to him.
He frowned. "It's better this way. Believe me…"
"The only person who gives a damn about me in this place now thinks I am responsible for her daughter's murder. That's so much better!" she crossed her arms.
His mouth tightened in agitation. "That woman doesn't matter, no matter how much these peasants love her. The one that matters is the man of the village and I just spoke to him. He doesn't want your hand anymore but we can stay. Isn't that what you wanted?"
"You trust his word?"
Before replying he scoffed. "I saved that man from a bloody cart that fell on him. He owes me if anything."
Their little conversation went silent as they stood there facing each other. Myrna could feel he was thinking the same thoughts as she was. Her mind raced back to when she was just falling asleep, his lips touching hers in the dark. Not once but twice. She went to touch her pendant as she tried to think of something to say. "Could we talk about last night?" she abruptly said.
Myrna could see him physically tense up. "You remember?" he simply asked.
"Of course I remember. I wasn't that drunk," she continued to fiddle with her pendant, making it slide back and forth on the chain.
He took a step closer to her and lowered his voice. "Then you should remember I asked you not to say anything," he glowered down at her. Before Myrna could reply he hurried off towards their lodge. She noticed the rough state of his clothing for some reason as he walked away from her. There were stains that were hard to see from the green-gray color of his tunic and the ends were nearly shredded. Myrna wished she had spent her time more wisely at Thalina's. Here she stood with her hair up in pretty braids, a new dress and a fancy pendant that was given to her from him. At the very least she could have made him something new to wear. That was likely to not be able to happen anytime soon.
"For me, spending my name day in a stupor does not sound like much fun but I can't speak for everyone I suppose…" a voice teased her from behind.
Myrna was faced by Katherine when she turned towards the voice and blushed. "You saw me last night?"
"At least you had a man to take care of you," she added and gave a glance at the pendant she wore, her golden curls bouncing. "But I bet you did not have a chance to take care of him last night. You could barely stand!"
"Excuse me?" Myrna blushed more and looked off to the side to see if anyone was close enough to hear their conversation. When she averted her eyes she noticed from behind Katherine someone walking out of Thalina's house. Once the figure stepped out of the shadows she saw it was Thalina wearing a hooded shawl. With as much haste as her old legs could muster she made off towards one of the exits of the village.
Katherine laughed and when she stopped she looked over her shoulder to see what Myrna was looking at. "Oh? Thalina must be upset. Looks like she is headed off to town," she commented.
"How do you know she is upset?" Myrna questioned.
Her pretty freckled face turned forward and she smiled. "I remember the last time Thalina was upset. It was when her husband was still alive. They always had bad arguments, and when they were bad enough Thalina would run off to town. I suppose that is how she deals with her emotions?"
Myrna's stomach twisted in a knot from hunger. She had almost forgotten that she had not eaten anything in almost an entire day. "Thalina left some food for me yesterday. I think I might fetch it. It was nice speaking to you this morning," she smiled at Katherine.
Another obnoxious laugh escaped her thin lips. "Don't forget to save some for your man!"
Feeling bewildered, Myrna forced a small smile before escaping Katherine's presence and winding her way through the tiny village to the baker where Myrna was sure her Tully-styled fish pie was being kept. It was not time yet for everyone's mid-day meal so the small shelter-like building was not busy and Myrna obtained her belated present with ease. The cook, a short round lady with a contagious grin, placed the oval shaped ceramic pan on the long table that separated the cook and the people who would line up to pick up their meal. Along with the pan she placed a piece of cloth and a two-pronged fork with it. Myrna could not help but pick up the lid to peer down at the beautifully cooked pie that indeed was shaped into the Tully fish and lied on a bed of rosemary and thyme. "Looks beautiful. I can't wait to warm this up in my oven," Myrna thanked the cook and put the lid back on the pan so she could pick it up to carry home. As she approached her doorway it flew open. Startled, she took a step back and gripped the pan harder so it would not slip from her hands. Sandor stood in front of her and was just as surprised to see her.
"Going out for food?" Myrna raised the pan a couple inches up in the air. Without saying anything he opened the door for her and Myrna swiftly walked in and he returned with her. It continued to be quiet between them as Myrna lit the fire in the fireplace and placed the pan securely within it to heat up the pie. Having to be on her knees to do so, she decided to remain sitting there in front of the fireplace. Sandor had watched her from sitting on the bed behind her. "I know you wouldn't do anything that you think would cause me harm…" she said as she watched the pan sit over the flames.
He replied from behind. "You're right."
Myrna spun herself around so she could see him, still sitting with the skirt of her dress piled around her. Their place was no longer dark like the night before. Afternoon light shone bright through the window. Sandor stared down at her, silent. The light in the room casted a shadow across the burned half of his face.
"Do you think Thalina will ever forgive me?" she asked.
Sandor shrugged. "Who fucking knows?" he rasped and Myrna let out a troubled sigh. Seeing her disappointment in that answer he continued on. "But you were wrong before... saying she was the only person who gives a damn about you in this village."
Carefully Myrna thought of how to reply to that. "Well you did show me last night that you care an awful lot."
"Bloody hell, you were drunk and I took advantage of that! Just forget that ever happened!" he suddenly blurted.
Myrna shook her head. "I was plenty conscious of what was going on. I would even say I was the one that initiated it by saying-"
He leaned forward. "Shut up. Don't repeat yourself. I don't need you going on thinking I am just dragging you along to get back at my brother. I have my blade for that…" he tried hard to make himself clear.
"Okay, say that day comes and goes. Gregor is dead. Then what?" she asked.
Caught aback by her question, he leaned back again and looked out the window as if searching for an answer. After a minute elapsed he shrugged. "That's not important," he declared.
"It's plenty important," Myrna nearly laughed. "You know what I think is wrong with us? We don't know what we really want."
Sandor smirked as best he could. "I do know what I want. I want some unburned pie," he said with sarcasm.
Using the cloth the cook gave her with the food, Myrna was able to safely remove the ceramic pan and place the hot pie on their table next to the window. The aroma of fish on the herbs it lied on filled the air around them. However, staring down at the fish shaped pie made her feel empty. Thalina had given this to a girl she thought was from Riverrun. Now this beautiful dish had no real meaning. It seemed Sandor could see that her thoughts were taking her to less than happy places and nudged her shoulder. Myrna did not even see him follow her to the table.
"What's the matter? It looks fine to me," he said.
She exhaled. "No. I don't deserve this," she held herself and marched away from the table, knocking into Sandor. That gave him an opportunity to grab her. A tear ran down her face and she could not bear to look up at him. "It's all my fault, isn't it? Tysa and Gregor's other wives, they… they died because of me?"
He gave her a shake. "Don't be a fool! Gregor killed them, not you!"
"If I had gone to marry him when I was supposed to-"
"Then you would have been killed just like the rest of them. You were smart. You survived!" he insisted. Sandor's grip turned into a hug and she was pulled into his embrace. Myrna pushed the side of her face against his chest only to have more tears stream down. A craving came over her. Myrna wanted a comfort she had never had before. With her hands she placed them on his stomach and began to push him back towards the bed. He nearly stumbled, and his rear ended up falling onto the edge of the bed. They were now face leveled, and Myrna tangled her arms around his neck. "What do you think you're doing?" he rasped.
"I want this," she faintly replied.
He laughed. "With me? Did you fall and hit that pretty head somewhere?"
Almost roughly she pulled him in and kissed him. He let her with no resistance. Myrna felt his large hands touch her waist and run down towards her hips. Their kiss was a long one, and when they pulled apart they only went in for another. She climbed on top of him, making him fall back onto the bed. Their kisses turned wet, and they began exploring more of each other's bodies through their clothing. Before they went any further Myrna knew she had to say something.
"Remember a long time ago you were wondering if I was a maiden or not?" she spoke between heavy breaths.
His labored breathing slowed and he paused his hands from moving. "Are you really…?" he asked in a very low, deep tone. When Myrna nodded his expression softened.
"Don't stop. I want you to be my first… and last," she kissed him hard and he continued to travel her body with his hands, more eager than before. He undid the laces on the back of her dress, and they stopped kissing for a moment so the dress could come off and they threw it next to them. The only smallclothes she wore under the dress was her loincloth, so Sandor laid his eyes on her breasts for the first time. Almost hungrily he held her tight as he kissed her chest, trying to avoid her ruby pendant that would slide around on her smooth chest. Myrna continued to breath heavy, running her fingers through his brown hair.
Unexpectedly he brushed his hands over her lower back, his fingers tenderly rubbing over the ridges her skin had deformed into. Myrna expected some sort of repulsive response from him, but there was none. As he continued to kiss her chest and make his way to her rose colored nipples he continued to stroke the scarred mess on her back. What he was doing to her awakened a strong yearning between her legs. Myrna tucked her chin down to watch him and planted a kiss over where his right eyebrow should've been. He was already sweating and the pockets of burned flesh were moist but she did not mind. He stopped to look into her eyes,
"That's nice," she sighed.
He cackled. "We're only beginning," the right side of his face tightened from the way he grinned, wider than she had ever seen. He slipped a hand down her loincloth and she shuddered. A finger felt her up, but he continued to stare her hard in the eyes. "Hmm… you're not ready yet. You really are a maiden," he found a way to tease her in a moment like this. Not giving her a chance to frown, he gave her another hard kiss and pushed her down so she laid on top of her dress and furs. He then went down to remove her loincloth and she raised her hips in the air to assist.
Not too sure what he planned on doing, she asked. "What now?"
All he did was give her a smirk, and his head went down to give her a brand new kiss. Jolts of pleasure raced through her body, down her legs which made them shake and up into her chest. Her throat tightened, and moaning eased the tension. Hearing her small noises only encouraged Sandor to do more. Myrna felt herself sinking into the furs beneath her. The feeling only grew more intense, and her moans grew a little louder. Eventually her moans turned into her saying his name.
When he returned to her face they kissed and she could taste how she tasted down there. "I've always wanted to do that to a woman," he hoarsely whispered.
"That was your first time doing that?" she asked, even more out of breath than before and she could feel how hot her face had become. "But that was incredible…"
"There's no way in the seven buggering hells I would ever put my lips against a whore's cunt," he retorted. "Anyway… I think you're ready. This is your last chance to say no."
Myrna chuckled and smiled as she shook her head. "You've done well so far…"
With that, Sandor sat up on his knees to remove his tunic, and then took a second to get off the bed so he could remove his trousers and his loincloth. Myrna laid there on top of the warm, fuzzy furs and watched him intently. She looked at every scar she noticed on his body, how the sunlight bounced off him when he moved. When his clothes were scattered along the wooden floor he crawled back on the bed and towered over her. Back at the pond she had seen him nude, but not like this. Nowhere like this.
"Relax," he tried sounding comforting with his naturally bitter tone. They adjusted so his legs were between hers. He lowered his hips but his massive arms continued to prop him up above her. Myrna was nervous, but not as nervous as she thought she would have been. "Guide me," he commanded. "And tell me to stop if it is too much."
When she held him he lowered himself more, and began pushing when he touched the outside of her. He started off very slow, and Myrna now knew why he was so cautious. When she tensed up he immediately stopped but she insisted he kept going. As quick as the pain appeared, it subsided even quicker. When she was more satisfied than nervous Sandor began making his own moans. Myrna explored his wide chest with her hands, tracing over old scars as she grew more passionate along with him. So this is what it feels like, she smiled for herself.
The heat between them intensified, and Myrna spread her legs wider for Sandor. "Faster…" she gasped, turning her head to the side.
"Oh, that's… bloody sweet to hear…" he spoke and let out a longer moan as he listened to her request.
Not too long after that they both had hit their climax. Now they lied together on the small bed on their backs. Neither of them minded that they were forced to be close now. Myrna was nudged between his torso and arm, the scent of sweat filled her nostrils. She was on her side, with one leg over him and an arm resting on his chest. He'd occasionally run the tips of his fingers over her back. They didn't speak. Myrna wanted to let what just happened sink in a little. Now she was no longer an old maid. Something she had been ashamed of for the past few years was now gone.
After much resting Myrna sat up. "I don't feel any different…" she noted.
"Did you expect to feel different?" he asked, still lying down.
"I think I did," she went to grab her dress. When she held it up she gasped. "Oh… how did this happen!?"
Now Sandor sat up as well to see what she was talking about. There was a big, red bloodstain right in the middle of the waist area. "Well, fuck. That will be hard to get out…" he replied.
Myrna took a minute to think. Then she bundled it up in a ball and crawled out of bed still in the nude. Sandor watched contentedly but was curious as to what she was doing. The balled up dress ended up going underneath the bed, and Myrna pulled out her old clothes. The raggy red tunic and brown trousers were still there along with her dagger. "I was never much of a dress person anyway…" she tried smoothing out the wrinkles in the tunic.
"I liked the way you looked in a dress," Sandor sounded disappointed.
That made her smile. "Thank you… But look. It's only a little after mid-day and we have not eaten yet."
"That fish pie better not make you cry again," he finally crawled off the bed and began picking up pieces of his clothing to dress himself.
Myrna laughed. "If it does, I have you to make me feel better again."