Disclaimer: I own nothing. George R.R. martin and the producers of the show own everything.
Chapter 4
Twenty men stood in a small cramped room, chains around their wrists. The room was dark and all you could hear was the sound of their breathing. They had all been forced to stand there since the night before, after what people were already calling 'the blood feast'. The door to the room swag open and they all cringed away from the light of the torch, it burned their eyes.
"All of ye out!" The turnkey yelled. His name was Dorv and he was a fat man, with repulsive looks and yellow teeth. He was also known for his love of torturing the prisoners and keeping a monument of each one of them, whether it be a tooth or an eye or a finger.
The prisoners quietly shuffled out of the room, all energy had already left their bodies and they no longer had the will to argue. Fear struck their hearts as they saw Lady Everra and her black murderous panther who slaughtered Lord Gilbert and his family waiting for them, along with a man dressed in all black whose name they recalled was Ser Daavos and Maester Liwin, Lord Yullian and Lord Edwin and two guards.
The dungeon was a dark place with only the few occasional torches providing some light. It had a horrible odour and was very cold, it was hard to blame Dorv for being so cruel for being in a place like this every day and night.
They stood in front of them, heads bowed towards the ground, trying their best not to shiver.
There were a few moments of silence and then the young woman spoke, "Dorv, leave us, your services are no longer required at the moment."
They could hear Dorv shuffle away from them, his footfalls slowly fading out of hearing range.
"These men were appointed by longer as members of both Lord Gilbert's household and when he was residing here he made them apart of my household, correct?" The Lady spoke, her voice lacking any emotion.
"They were originally apart of lord Gilbert's Household at his home, the RedFall however when you traveled abroad he brought them here with him and slowly began replacing Redrun's household with his own. Ser Rollick your fathers master-at-arms was shortly replaced with Ser Gregir a man who had served Lord gilbert for many years and so on and so forth, he also brought more servants to spy on the other lords and to do his bidding, my lady," Maester Liwin said, his voice wary.
He had not expected Lady Everra to treat lord Gilbert and his family so, he wanted to minimise the amount of bloodshed.
"Is this true my lords?" Everra asked, both Lord Yullian and Lord Edwin nodded and after a few moments she addressed the prisoners, "Did any of you know of Lord Gilbert's plan? Do any of you know who supplied him with the poison that was intended for me?"
They all shook their heads and kept their heads bowed, too frightened to speak.
Everra sighed softly, "If the person or people who assisted Lord Gilbert come forward now, I will grant them a quick death . Fail to come forth and I'll have to bring you all in for questioningand when I discover who assisted lord Gilbert with his treachery, they will receive the same treatment as his accomplice."
No one said a word, they all stood there, hearts beating wildly in their chests, two men shifted uneasily and quickly glanced at each other, hoping that the women had not noticed. Unfortunately for them, she did.
"Step forward," She commanded, gesturing towards the two of them. They did so slowly and with their bodies trembling.
"What did Lord Gilbert promise you in turn for your assistance in my murder, hmm? Gold, lands, what did he promise you?"
One of the men spoke, his voice pleading, " My lady please, you must understand-"
"Must I?"
The man quickly realised his error and tried again, 'He promised us some gold my lady, but he never said who he wanted the poison for, all we did is find it and bring it too him."
Everra raised a long elegant eyebrow and spoke, "You're telling me that the both of you went and found some of the most rare poison in all of Westeros for a few gold dragons and you did not know whom it was for?"
Both of the men looked at her pleadingly, eyes begging "My lady please-"
"Enough of your begging," she commanded. she glanced towards Lord Yullian and Lord Edwin, her green eyes assessing them, "Lord Yulian, Lord Edwin, what would you do if you were in my place?"
They both turned to look at her, Lord Edwin with curiosity and Lord Yullian with caution. Finally, Lord Edwin spoke "My lady, they claim not to have known about whom Lord Gilbert was planning to murder, however, they were still planning on helping him murder someone, even if they thought it was not you," Lord Edwin looked at her directly in the eye for a few moments and then glanced back towards the pitiful pair, " I think you have already decided what to do with them."
Everra nodded, whether it was in agreement of his judgement or that he was right, that she had already decided what had to be done with them, no one knew, what they did know was that they would no longer have twenty prisoners in a few short moments.
"You're a smart man, Lord Edwin, quite smart indeed," Everra said, eyes trained on the two men in front of her, she let out a small sigh and said, "Kneel."
The men whimpered but slowly sank down t their knees, tears streaming down their face. Everra stepped towards them and gently placed her hands on one of the man's neck and quickly snapped his neck upward with a sick crack and watched with a passive look on her face as the man fell to the ground, lifeless. She repeated the actions with the second man and gestured towards the guards,
"Well, go one, take the bodies and bury them somewhere."
Each guard dragged a lifeless body away from the group, leaving them with the other eighteen prisoners. She regarded them closely, slowly strolling up and down the line of prisoners. Finally, she turned towards Lord Edwin, Lord Yullian and Maester Luwin and said, "My lords, Maester Liwin, if you would all be so kind as to wait for me in my study, I have some private matters to discuss with the prisoners."
They all nodded, looking slightly curious as to what 'private matters' she wished to discuss with the prisoners, but they slowly walked away, until their footsteps echoes out of earshot. Everra turned to Ser Daavos,"Unshackle them."
All the prisoners snapped their heads up in shock and glanced at each other, hope rushing to their hearts. Everra noticed this and raised an eyebrow saying, "Believe it or not, I do not kill innocent people for no apparent reason."
For some reason their cheeks warmed at this, as they looked once again at the ground with… shame? They did not know, they were just too glad to be alive.
"However, even though I am to going to execute you, you are all relieved of your services to my house, but, I do have jobs for all of you too do. It will be dangerous and life threatening and I will need your absolute trust and loyalty if you choose to do accept my offer, " she glanced at them all, her green eyes piercing them with their intensity," If you have any doubts now, I suggest you leave at this moment. I will only tell you what this job holds only if you are sure. If you wish to leave RedRun now, no one will stop you,"she paused looking at them.
No one moved and she stood there almost expectantly as if already knowing that none of them would have left. A small satisfied look graced her face but only for a brief moment, before it went back to its usual blankness.
"None of you have any doubts? Good. Lets begin." She clapped her hands together and Andromache came up next too her, rubbing her face against Everra's legs.
"There are eighteen of you, eight of you will go to Kings landing, you will be given a new identity before you go there, you will no longer be whoever you are right now. You will become whomever I wish you too be. The eight of you will go to kings landing you will find positions in the castle, whether it be a squire to a knight or some other position, I do not care, as long as you are not caught. I will be expecting information from all of you every week, you will write down everything you see or hear that you feel may be of some sort of importance. Do you all understand?" She paused, glaring at them. they all nodded feverishly and she looked somewhat impressed. She continued on, " From the eight that I chose to go to Kings landing you will go straight to the stables and ask for YoungBird, he will lead you all separately to your respective horses where you will each find a bag filled with water and bread and 10 gold dragons with fifteen silver stags along with pieces of parchment with instructions. You will learn these instructions word for word, do I make myself clear? I assume you all know how to read and write?" she asked. They nodded slightly, looking slightly overwhelmed.
Everra looked slightly amused and muttered to Ser Daavos, who had just finished unshackling the prisoners, "Lord Gilbert may have been a greedy bastard but at least he recognised the importance of literacy." Ser Daavos snorted slightly and returned to Everra's side.
"Everyone understands what I'm instructing you to do?" she didn't wait for a response, "Good. As long as you are in my service, you will be paid for and provided for accordingly. When I am in no longer in need of your services, you will be rewarded. In return for your payment you must serve me well and remember, if any one of you are ever tempted to sell me out, remember this, whatever their price or reward, I'll beat it."
There was a moment of silence after this declaration. Everyone knew that there was no turning back after this.
"Ser Daavos, escort eight of whomever you chose to the exit of the dungeons to ride for Kings Landing. Oh and remember, ride out at nightfall and try to be as discreet as possible whilst you are leaving and if any of you try to escape with the money and ride off to gods know where, I will find you, I will find whoever you hold dear to your heart and I will chop off their heads and send them to you then I will cut off all your fingers and then your hands and I will keep on cutting until you will no longer be recognisable as a human being, do I make myself clear?"
They all nodded again and Ser Daavos shoved eight men in to a line and lead them to the entrance of the dungeons.
"As for the rest of you, come with me." Everra grabbed a torch from one of the handles on the wall and started to stride further into the darkness of the dungeons.
If anyone thought that the Bloodlands themselves were something to be avoided, then they should have seen how so many people feared and dreaded the dungeons of RedRun. The dungeons were specifically designed so they let no light or warmth travel to the cells and the cells were so small and cramped you were unable to sit down so you had to stand for hours upon hours until they finally released or executed you. It was a cruel place for cruel people.
Everra finally reached the end of the dungeons and stood in front of a stone wall, the light of the torch highlighting her striking features. the prisoners -no spies- stood there in confusion. They had reached a dead end, with no door or window or someone in sight.
Everra must have noticed their confused expressions so she glanced behind them, making sure no one was following them. She couldn't take any risks with anyone discovering her secrets. She then turned her back towards them and gently placed her head against the stone wall and started tapping at it with her hands, util finally she felt what she was looking for and pushed at stone, until it finally gave way and revealed a tunnel behind it.
The spies could not hold in their gasps of surprise, no one would have guessed that there was a secret tunnel behind the stone walls. Everra turned to face them again and rolled her eyes at their astonishment, "Yes, yes I know how exciting, a secret tunnel!' she said dismissively, she had not time for this.
"This tunnel will lead you all directly to the blood mountains. As long as you keep on going straight you all should get there fine."
'My lady," one of the men spoke out tentatively, "May I ask what awaits us there?" He cringed, almost as if expecting her to kill him on the spot.
'I think the better question would be who is waiting for you there," she replied, handing the torch over to one of the men.
"Everyone, there will be 15,500 soldiers waiting for you there. Majority of them do not speak the common tongue fluently, so when you get there say ' Tubi daor' and ask to see Stormer. Stormer will then give you set of things to do and you will do it without question. I expect to see each and every one of you once every two weeks. You will give me progress reports on everything and everyone and when you come here there will be supplies and messaged I expect you to deliver, so expect many trips back and forth," Everra paused for a moment and then said something that made everyones heart grow cold with fear, "If any one of you dares to tell anyone that they are in the blood mountains or anything about what you have been doing….. I will not be responsible for the pain it causes you and your loved ones, do I make myself clear?" They all nodded and muttered 'my lady'.
"Good, now you best get going, so all of you into the tunnel, come on!' She commanded and once they all past through the door she muttered, "Good luck to all of you. Now whatever you do, whatever path you come across, you keep on going straight," Everra then slowly began to close the secret passage and their faces slowly disappeared from view.
She stood there for a few moments, allowing her hand to rest on the wall. Everything was slowly coming into place, she couldn't afford anyone finding out what she was doing.
"My lady?" Ser Daavos asked, voice slightly concerned.
"Has everything gone well?" She questioned, voice stiff.
"Just as we planned, my lady."
At that, Everra let out a small sigh of relief but she did not let it consume her, there was still so much work to be done.
"Come now, Daavos, we've kept the Lords waiting for far too long wouldn't you say?"
And with that, she turned on her heel, Andromache and Ser Daavos trailing behind her as they walked through the darkened dungeon. As they passed Dorv who had at some point come back to the dungeons, he looked at them, slightly gobsmacked as to where the prisoners had gone. Everra turned towards Ser Daavos and held her palms out expectantly. Ser Daavos in turn tossed her poach filled with coins which she tossed to Dorv, who clutched it greedily to his chest.
"Not a word to anyone," she muttered and brushed past him, ignoring his mutterings of 'thank you m'lady and 'f 'course'.
Her study was a large room, with a grand wooden table in the centre, with another wooden desk towards the corner of the room, next to the windows. Books were scattered across bookshelves and letters and scrolls were stacked on top of the table. Chests were stacked on the floor underneath the table. Lord Yullian, Lord Edwin and Maester Liwin were standing near the entrance in silence, patiently waiting for her. They had not noticed that she was at the doorway until they hear Andromache growl at Lord Edwin whose hand had been resting against the table.
They snapped their heads up to look at her and Everra noticed Maester Liwin scanning her body for any signs of blood. She snapped at him, irritated, " Maester Liwin, contrary to popular belief I do not go around killing innocent people for my own personal amusement, Maester. You would be wise to remember that."
There was no mistaking the warning in her voice. Maester Liwin shifted uncomfortably and stared at the ground, hands clasped together tightly.
"My lady may I ask why we have been summoned to your personal study?" Lord Edwin drawled out, sounding bored.
Everra snapped her eyes towards him, regarding him closely. She remembered him from when she was younger, he never did like her father but he had been close to her mother, she remembered that much from her childhood. He had been kind towards them both, but he never tried to stop her father from-
"My lady?" Lord Edwin asked, eyebrows drawn together. It was then that Everra realised that she had been staring at him, lost in thought.
"Apologies my lord. As to why I have asked you all to come here it would seem that we have some important matters to discuss. Please have a seat, all of you."
They all went and sat down around the large wooden table, Everra taking her place at the head. Andromache had settled herself next to Everra's feet and Ser Daavos stood behind her.
"It would seem that due to Lord Gilbert's recent…. dismissal, we are in need of new members of the household. A new Master-At-Arms and a new Master- of Horse's and so on and so forth. I, have not been here for a good ten years and even though I had been regularly updated as to the wellbeing of my home and lands it would seem that I had not been updated as to the loyalty of my household and lords, as proven in recent events. Seeing as you three have been most loyal to me, my father and my mother, I am asking of you all to give me recommendations as too whom shall be granted the titles I previously mentioned," she paused, looking at all of them directly in the eye, "I realise that this is much to ask for from all of you but troubling times are upon us and I have other important matters I need to prepare for."
Lord Yullian's face broke out into a smile, "Of course we can help you my lady! We have all always been loyal to you and your family! I will set out to find a list of candidates at once!" He exclaimed happily, rising from his seat in excitement.
"Yes, you do that," Everra said, almost feeling slightly amused. Lord Yullian was a fool, but a harmless one at that. He quickly exited the room, shutting the door behind him. Lord Edwin rolled his eyes at the mans foolishness and Maester Liwin looked slightly suspicious, he did not know this woman sitting in front of him, she left a victim and an orphan and came back a killer and a manipulator, almost like her father except she was more cold and withdrawn whilst her father was someone who took pleasure in the pain of others. What was the saying? Like father like daughter?
He spoke out voice firm, " My lady, what troubling times do you speak of?"
Everra glanced at him and folded her hands in her lap, "Winter is coming, and with Winter comes death, Maester Liwin."
They were all silent for a few moments after this declaration, Everra's words and its meaning echoing in their minds. "Maester Liwin, if you want or need anything, come to me directly. You are one of the main reasons, if not the main reason, that I am still alive today. I haven't forgotten."
Despite the sentimental and grateful words that Everra had just spoken, her eyes were still cold and unfeeling, for a fleeting moment Master Liwin wondered what her mother would have thought of her now. He rose from his chair and bowed his head in respect, "Thank you, my lady, for your generous offer. I was merely stopping a horrendous crime from taking place."
"Yes and I thank you for stopping it."
Lord Edwin rose from his seat as well, "My lady, I will do as you wish. Good day to you."
"Likewise, my lord."
Then they both hurried out of the room, shutting the door behind them. Everra and Ser Daavos were left in silence for a few moments, until he left his post behind her and came to sat next to her.
"You knew what Lord Gilbert was planning all along didn't you?" Ser Daavos asked, voice in slight awe. Everra lifted her head and turned to look at him, looking almost amused.
"Of course I knew what he was planning! Do I strike you as someone who is stupid enough to trust someone like Lord Gilbert?" her voice indifferent, as though she did not just reveal that she had been fully aware of the plot against her from the beginning.
"But then Maester Liwin didn't….?
She looked at him, voice slightly irritated. "No Maester Liwin did not in fact truly save my life. I made it so that Maester Liwin happened to 'accidentally' find out about the plot and then I waited to see whether or not he would tell me. Lets call it a test of loyalty."
Ser Daavos still looked slightly shocked but then considered something, "What about the other Lords, Lord Edwin and Lord Yullian? Aren't you suspicious of where their true loyalties lie?"
Everra raised an eyebrow at this, "I've already done so for Lord Yullian, and Lord Edwin well lets just say that we reached an understanding with each other many years ago, Ser Daavos."
Ser Daavos frowned at this and hated himself for feeling slightly jealous of the man. Everra rose from her chair and grabbed one of the chests and lifted it onto the table. She grabbed the letters and scrolls and pushed them towards the side and opened the chest, spreading a large map across the table and then emptied the landmarks from the chest and placed them on the map, placing the chest back onto the ground.
"How am I supposed to help a boy whom I've only dreamed about win this war. A war that he lost because of his unrealistic ideals," Everra looked almost vulnerable for a moment before catching herself.
Ser Daavos looked at her with a gentleness that Everra knew she didn't deserve, "You have a solid plan and good motives. You are one of the most talented warriors in the world and one of the greatest strategists-"
"I know what I am and what I'm not. I may know what could have happened to the Starks but I don't know what will happen. I haven't treated you the way you deserve," she looked him the eyes, her own eyes had not lost their coldness though. She still felt empty inside, even if it was Daavos she was speaking too, she couldn't make herself feel anymore not for him, not for anyone. She couldn't even make herself feel guilty for being the way she was and for hurting him, she just couldn't.
No matter how hard she tried, she really was her father's daughter.
She averted her eyes from his and looked back at the map, thinking of the path ahead. it wouldn't be easy, blood would be spilt, but she would make sure that she kept her promise.
Now, she just needed to make sure that no one knew her true motives for helping the Starks.
A/N I was not pleased with this chapter, but it had too be done. thank you too everyone who favourited and reviewed it means a lot too me. Hope you all enjoyed this chapter, tell me what you think!
Guest, in response to your review Everra is a very cold character and she's not your typical protagonist she kinds of more like an anti-hero. She is very damaged as you see in this chapter and she's almost like stone. Just to make something clear to all readers now actually, its not guaranteed that Robb and Everra will be together in the romantic sense. Lets just say that they will be together in some ways but not in others.
tHANKS AGAIN!