TW: Mentions of Rape
They rode fast and hard, and at times, Brienne had to urge Visenya to slow down as her horse couldn't take it. Jaime, as he only had one hand, rode on the back of Visenya's horse, holding onto her with his left hand, to ensure his stability, though he knew in the back of his mind, he felt so ill, that he felt like he was dying.
They had been riding all night, and it was mid-morning when Brienne suggested they stop to rest the horses. Visenya reluctantly agreed, which shocked both Brienne and Jaime, as every other time Brienne suggested they stop, Visenya kept riding.
Once they reached a clearing, Visenya, Jaime, and Brienne all got off the horses and took a sigh of relief, they were miles away from where Locke's camp was, and thankfully, they weren't followed by any possible survivors.
"If we continue riding like we are, we'll reach Harrenhal by dusk." Visenya explained grabbing a small canteen.
Brienne gestured for the canteen. "I'll go and find water, ensure the Kingslayer is alright."
Visenya nodded glancing back to Jaime who sat down with his back against a tree. His hand was rapped up with scraps of fabric from one of the men the dragons killed, and his hand was placed in one of the bags, attached to the saddle on Brienne's horse.
Maegor walked over to Jaime, and laid down next to him, making Jaime frown in disbelief.
"I thought he hates me." He murmured as Visenya knelt in front of him.
She huffed in amusement. "Don't worry, he still does."
"Maegor the Cruel." He mused, closing his eyes and leaning his head back against the tree. "Fitting name for a fitting wolf."
She rolled her eyes as she began to unwrap the bandage covering his hand. Once it was unwrapped, she sighed. It was pretty bad, and there most likely was no way to attach it.
"How bad is it?" He asked, picking his head up to look over her expression.
She sighed, before meeting his gaze. "I don't know. The Maester's will need to look over it."
"I'm dying, Princess." He began.
She shook her head. "You can't die. You need to live to take revenge."
"I don't care about revenge." He explained. "I got my revenge."
"On who?" She frowned.
"Locke. Right before he sliced my hand off, I attacked him. I attacked him like he attacked you." He began. "I feel as though I failed you."
She shook her head. "You didn't fail me, I failed you."
"And now I feel as though the Gods are punishing me. I lost my sword hand. I was that hand." He began.
"You have a taste- one taste of the real world where people have important things taken from them and you whine and cry and quit." She scoffed in disbelief. "You sound like a bloody woman."
Once Brienne had returned, they all drank water, and ensured that the horses had water as well, before they continued to ride. Brienne suggested they'd walk for a while through one portion of the forest which was slightly rocky, before returning to their original speed. Brienne led the three of them on her horse, with Visenya following close behind, with Maegor trotting by her side.
"Who taught you how to be an archer?" Jaime asked from her position behind her.
"Lord Stark." She replied calmly.
"You shoot better than any archer I've ever seen." He mused. "I'm surprised you didn't take up the sword as well."
She shook her head. "I had the option, but I never found it as...interactive. I felt more precise with the bow."
Silence fell over them, once they reached another clearing, allowing for the horses to go into a gallop to continue to head for Harrenhal. Just as she predicted, they arrived at Harrenhal by dusk, and were met with the banners of House Bolton.
"Riders coming through!" One of Roose Bolton's men yelled, as the gates to Harrenhal's courtyards were opened, allowing for them to ride in.
"The Kingslayer." A man said in triumph, allowing for other men to yell in glee seeing Jaime, looking withered astride the horse, holding onto Visenya for dear life.
"Kneel!" The men began, and tried to usher Visenya and Brienne to kneel, but instead of treating Jaime the same, they pushed him down with their feet, allowing him to fall onto his face without resistance.
"Pick him up, now!" Roose ordered as he walked into the courtyard. He frowned seeing Visenya's disheveled state, seeing bruises on her neck, and blood on her clothes and face. "Princess Visenya."
"Lord Bolton." She coldly replied.
"Where is Locke?" He asked, seeing as it was only the three of them.
"Dead." She swiftly replied. "As he rightfully should...he defiled me."
Roose's eyes widened in disbelief, as he remembered Robb Stark telling Roose and his men to not lay a hand on Visenya.
"The King gave swift orders to him to not lay a hand on you." He explained.
She huffed in amusement. "I'm sure he did."
He looked to Jaime and sighed. "Pick him up."
The men then picked Jaime up, allowing for Roose to look him over.
"You loss a hand." He said after a while.
"I have it here." Brienne explained handing the hand wrapped in rags, to Roose.
He nodded. "Thank you my lady, you're under my protection now."
She nodded. "Thank you, my lord."
"Find suitable rooms for our guests." He explained addressing his men. "We'll speak later."
Just as he started walking away, Jaime perked up.
"Lord Bolton." He called making Roose stop in his tracks, to turn around and face the knight.
"Is there word from the Capital?"
"You haven't heard?" He asked in disbelief. "Stannis Baratheon laid siege to King's Landing. Sailed into Blackwater Bay. Stormed the gates with thousands of men. And your sister How can I put this? Your sister is alive and well. Your father's forces prevailed."
In response to hearing all of this, Jaime fell to his knees in relief, making Visneya's eyes widen.
"Ser Jaime isn't well." Roose began to his men. "Take him and Princess Visenya to Qyburn."
While Roose's men picked up Jaime, leading him toward the Maesters, Visenya turned to Brienne.
"Watch Maegor for me." She explained. "I'm in need of a Maester."
"Of course Princess, what is wrong?" Brienne asked curiously.
"I need Moon Tea." She sadly stated, before she followed Jaime into the castle.
Visenya grimaced in disgust as she drank the Moon Tea. The taste was disgusting.
"I apologize for the taste, Princess." Qyburn explained sincerely. "It is harsh on the stomach."
She nodded. "It's alright, and thank you."
He smiled at her, before he began to unwrap Jaime's soaked dressing. Once it was removed, Visenya sighed. It looked worse under candlelight. As Qyburn began to inspect the dressing, Jaime winced in pain.
"Will it die?" He froaned.
"No." Qyburn stated simply. "The corruption has spread. I fear it must be cut away. The safest course would be take the whole arm off."
"To prevent infection?" Visenya asked, grimacing as she continued to drink the moon tea.
Qyburn simply nodded making Jaime's eyes narrow.
"Then you'll die." Jaime replied. "You're no Maester. Where's your chain?"
"The Citadel stripped me of it." Qyburn replied. "They found some of my experiments too bold. I can leave the upper arm...make the cut at your elbow."
In response, Jaime stood up and reached across the table, to grab Qyburn by the throat, making Visenya jump in response.
"I don't need my right hand to kill you." Jaime threatened.
"Jaime." She pleaded glaring into his eyes, Moon Tea in hand. He quickly glanced at her, then the Moon Tea, then back to her.
"I can take away the rotting flesh." Qyburn croaked. "And try to burn out the corruption - with boiling wine."
"Mmm." Jaime replied as he sat back down before he looked to Visenya. "Senya, finish your tea."
She sighed before she drank the last of the Moon Tea, grimacing with the taste as Qyburn began to lay out various tools to complete the proceedure he was about to do.
"With any luck, that will suffice." He began. "You'll need Milk of The Poppy."
"No Milk of The Poppy." Jaime sternly replied.
Qyburn frowned. "There will be pain."
"I'll scream."
His frown deepened. "Quite a bit of pain."
"I'll scream loudly."
Qyburn nodded, as he began to boil the wine. Jaime turned toward Visenya.
"You should leave...go check on the dragons." He began.
She shook her head. "No, I'll stay."
"Princess, I recommend you rest." Qyburn instructed as he sat back down across from Jaime. "You do not want to watch this."
Visenya shook her head again. "I'll stay."
Jaime and Qyburn frowned in disbelief before letting out a sigh.
"As the Princess wishes." He uttered, before he began his work.
Qyburn was right the process was utterly disgusting, and Jaime's screams didn't help the matter. Once Qyburn began to redress the wound, Visenya decided to go and take a bath, as she not only wanted to get rid of all of the grime on her body, she thought it would help her stomach, as she has been quite a bit of pain since taking the Moon Tea.
Once she was undress she settled into the bath, and began to harshly scrub her entire body, to try and get rid of any mark of dirt, Locke, and or grime she had. She was disgusted.
Disgusted with Robb.
Disgusted with The North.
Disgusted with Roose Bolton.
Disgusted with everyone...except for the people she traveled with.
Eventually, Brienne entered and joined her in the bath, looking at the Princess in shock, as she continuously scrubbed her skin. Eventually, Jaime entered with a squire and frowned as he saw Visenya scrubbing harshly at her skin. He bantered with Brienne, as he entered the bath, but Visenya was too focused on cleansing her skin to care.
"Princess, I think you've scrubbed hard enough to take your skin off." He began making Visenya look up from her arm to look him in the eyes.
She let out a huff, before she submerged herself in the bath, coming up a few moments later.
"Are you trying to drown yourself?" He asked in disbelief. "How long have you been in here?"
She shrugged. "Right after Qyburn was finished."
"Senya, that was over 2 hours ago." He sighed, making Brienne look over to her in shock.
Visenya let out a sigh gesturing to the handmaiden who was standing in the doorway to come and help her get out of the bath. The handmaiden provided a towel for the Princess, to allow for some modesty, but it was only when she was walking out of the bath, with the towel around her, was when Jaime noticed the dried cuts on her legs, and the upper portion of her back. His eyes widened in disbelief before turning towards Brienne in shock. Once Visenya was out of the room, Brienne shook her head.
"She didn't deserve what they did to her." She began. "I know you hate her, but-"
"I don't hate her." He immediately replied. "I told you that before. If anything I admire her more than ever now. How strong she was, after everything Locke did to her...she's remarkable."
Brienne nodded. "That she is."
Visenya fell asleep in her room after her bath with Maegor by her side, and when she woke up, she knew it was around supper. Instead of going downstairs to dine with Roose, she decided to stay upstairs with Maegor. She was sitting on an alcove in her room that overlooked the courtyard in Harrenhal. She wondered if Robb had married the Frey yet. Hopefully he did, and he was close to winning the war.
A loud knock was placed upon her door, before it opened. It was Roose.
"Princess." He began. "Tomorrow, you and I ride for Riverrun, while Lady Brienne and Ser Jaime ride for King's Landing."
Visenya frowned. "I don't understand, I was tasked with accompanying Brienne and Jaime to King's Landing."
"Yes, I understand." He sighed. "That was before Lady Catelyn was a prisoner of Robb Stark. The King has mercy on you, and does not see your acts as treason, however, he requests you return to him at once."
"Return to him, after he sent Locke to come and bring me here? After Locke defiled me?" She asked with an eyebrow raised.
While she saw Robb as her brother, she was angry with him. More so now than she ever has been.
Roose nodded. "I understand Princess, but we are to attend the wedding of Edmure Tully."
She tilted her head to the side in confusion. "I thought he never wanted to marry."
"That is what we all believed, until the King broke his promise to Walder Frey." He explained.
Her eyes widened in shock as she stood up. "What? Who did he...Talisa...that fucking idiot."
Roose let out a sigh. "I will see you on the morrow, goodnight Princess."
Once Roose left, Visenya returned back to her position at the alcove, as she fell into a deeper anger towards Robb. She couldn't believe his actions...she couldn't believe his mentality.
He was an idiot.
At least, right now he was.
A little while later, another knock was at her door.
"Come in." She quietly replied, not looking away from the window.
"I wanted to see if you were alright, since you slept through supper." Jaime explained from his position, standing near the door.
She shrugged. "Debating if I should burn down this castle."
He smiled as he walked over to her, and sitting across from her. She looked away from the window and looked down at his hand.
"How do you feel?" She quietly asked.
He shrugged. "I feel a small amount of pain...I have difficulty eating...hard to use a knife."
"That's expected." She sighed as she looked out the window again. "I ride for Riverrun tomorrow."
He nodded. "I know. Lord Bolton told us."
"I want to go to King's Landing." She murmured.
"To kill Joffrey?" He mused with humor, trying to get a smile out of her.
"To get Sansa and Arya." She replied meeting his gaze.
"I'll bring them back...you have my word on that." He began. "I promise."
She shook her head. "I don't believe you."
"I will return them myself...I owe you."
"For what?" She frowned.
"For saving my life, more than once."
She sighed again, looking back out the window. Jaime let out a small sigh, this was the longest conversation they've ever had without trying to kill each other.
"I'm worried about you, Princess." He said after a while.
She turned her head to meet his gaze. "I'm alright."
"No you're not." He immediately replied.
"How can you tell?"
"Because you have the same look your mother had after your father raped her." He explained making her eyes widen in shock.
"What?" She whispered.
"Your mother was depressed and saddened by the losses of her children, that your father her confided her to her room in Maegor's Holdfast." He began. "On the nights she was not confided to her room, he would take her to his room, and rape her. As member's of the Kingsguard we had to stand by the door, and each time it happened, I urged the other members to intervene, but they were too childish to do so."
She felt tears come over her eyes as she remembered her mother with bruises on her body, and always being sad, but putting on a brave face for Visenya and Viserys.
"After hearing your screams the other night...and seeing them drag you out of the tent, I thought you were dead." He whispered, getting a distant look. "Striking Locke...gave me closure...that I was finally doing something preventative. Doing what I should've done when your parent's were alive."
"Don't blame yourself." She replied, grabbing his left hand with her right. "I've come to realize that..."
"That what?" He asked noticing she trailed off.
She let out a sigh, letting the tear fall down her cheek, knowing the words she was about to say was going to be hard.
"My father was the cruelest man in the world...and I was his favorite child." She explained. "He despised Rhaegar...Viserys wasn't as close to him...the memories that I have of my father when he wasn't...mad, were pleasant, but the ones where he was mad, and I didn't notice it, continue to flood my mind."
He let out a sigh. "I'm sorry I killed your father."
She shook her head. "Don't be...he was a cruel man. He deserved to die."
Silence fell over them again, before he broke the silence.
"Why did you stay when Qyburn was working on my hand?" He asked.
"I wanted to ensure you were alright." She explained. "I'm glad you are."
He looked at her in disbelief. "Forgive me if I misheard you, but did you just say that you are happy that I'm alright?"
She rolled her eyes in annoyance. "Yes."
He faked shock with her making her roll her eyes again.
"The progress we are making, Princess!" He began making her shake her head in amusement. "It only took us to be near death for us to finally become friends! At this rate, you'll let me near your dragons in 10 years."
She raised an eyebrow. "Friends?"
He nodded. "Friends...I'm happy to call you a friend. I fear if I call you an enemy, you'll burn me with that word you say...dra...dra..."
"Dracarys." She explained. "It is Valryian for dragonfire."
"My brother learned Valyrian." He began. "He is the only one in our family that can speak it, that I know of."
"I can teach you, if you'd like. Though you'd understand what I would be saying when I am talking to the dragons...and cursing your name." She mused.
"What if I learn Valyrian to curse your name?" He countered.
She thought for a moment before shaking her head and smiling.
"I highly doubt it."
A/N:
As always let me know if you have any questions or concerns, and fill free to comment. :)