Chapter Fifteen – 299 Kings Landing
Daario
At the same time Visenya and her army were arriving at Riverrun, Daario had already arrived in Kings Landing and was searching for the Stark girls. He had arrived in the capital with little fanfare. It wasn't hard for him to blend in as a sellsword and to make friends with a few gold cloaks. They were the ones who told him everything he needed to know about what was going on. He learned that Amory Lorch was always in the brothels and that the Stark girls had been confined to the Red Keep and were never without supervision.
Visenya had entrusted him with half a dozen letter, to spies hidden in Kings Landing since the sack. He grinned when he found out how easily it would be to get to Amory Lorch. It was going to be much easier than he anticipated. But getting to Lyra and Sansa Stark was going to be a chore in itself. He was a sell sword and had also worked as an assassin. He was used to getting into places he didn't belong that was why Visenya had sent him. He knew Visenya had complete faith in him. But even he could admit, he didn't usually smuggle noble girls behind held hostage out of cities.
His plan was going to take a lot of creativity.
He only had a party of ten men with him and the ship, Sea Glider, that was from Visenya's original three that made the journey from Dragonstone to Essos all those years ago. The first night he and his second in command, Reymond, sat in his cabin and planned out what they were going to do as he looked at the vial of potion his queen had handed him before he left, five drops will make him sleep for a week, she had whispered. He was truly thankful he had decided to pledge his men to her cause, nothing was ever boring around her.
His first step started the second morning in the city. He snuck into a one of Petyr Baelish's brothels where he met Amia, the first letter he needed to deliver, who agreed to help with his plan. She said that Amory Lorch visited just after lunch time everyday, and it wouldn't take much for her to see him as she was one of the guests favorite girls. A few men would just need to collect him when they were finished and the girl, Amia asked him to tell her Queen what she had done to help her, passing him a thick stack of paper, which he tucked into his breastplate.
Daario agreed and now he just had to wait a few hours.
The Stark girls had been more difficult. He wasn't sure how much the Lannister's knew about Visenya or her army. He didn't want to risk going up the palace as himself, as it hadn't been quiet news that the Stormcrows had bent the knee to the Dragon Queen in Essos. Reymond couldn't be sent as the task had been given to Daario himself, not to mention, he had the letters needed. He finally decided to disguise himself as a gold clock and snuck into the Red Keep while court was in session.
It didn't take him long to find the Stark girls after that.
Fifteen-year-old Lyra and thirteen-year-old Sansa were walking through the gardens, two soldiers in Lannister red cloaks following behind them. Both girls looked healthy, though they had shadows under their eyes and an air of fear surrounded them. Daario knew it would be easy to get rid of them, but he needed to know how many men were watching the girls. He waited three hours, quietly shadowing them as they moved around, until he concluded that only the two men were watching. Probably because they didn't think the two girls were much of a threat. Visenya would change that, he knew.
They were in the Godswood when he snuck up behind him and slit their throats one by one before either one noticed. Lyra caught the movement and turned to him her mouth wide, ready to scream but one finger at his lip and she remained quiet as did Sansa who had turned when her sister did, their hands grasped so tightly together, their knuckles were white.
The Sellsword listened intently before raising his hands in the air, making it clear he meant no harm and approaching the girls. He had chosen a spot deeper into the wood where no one would be watching the girls other than the Lannister guards. At least that's what he thought before a man in a white cloak came out of the trees towards them, hand on his sword.
Daario instantly placed himself between the man and the guards, "Who are you?" the man demanded.
Daario just raised his eyebrow, "Who are you?" he asked hand on his dagger. He knew he could throw it and kill him easily but something inside him told him to wait.
"Ser Barristan Selmy," he introduced himself looking the Stark girls over, when he knew they were unharmed he turned back to the man.
Daario released a heavy breath and reached into his armor before throwing a letter at Ser Barristan who caught it. When he saw the seal, he inhaled sharply and broke it. When he was finished reading, he moved closer and walked over to the girls who had watched quietly.
"It would seem you release has been requested," he said as he stopped in front of Lyra. Sansa looked between the two men wide-eyed, "By whom?" she wondered.
Daario grinned at them, "Queen Visenya of House Targaryen," he said proudly.
Lyra was surprised, "Why would the Dragon Queen send someone to rescue us?" she asked suspiciously.
Ser Barristan snorted not even surprised by what he was hearing, "It would seem that the Queen had allied herself with the North," he said bluntly.
Sansa gasped, "Robb," she whispered to her sister.
Lyra had heard rumors of the Dragon Queen as Varys had spoken of the Targaryen family often when they talked. He had never said that she had come to Westeros though, Lyra thought they were still across the Narrow Sea. So she looked to Ser Barristan questioningly, who had saved her from being raped by Joffrey's Knights and also stopped him from beating Sansa, trusting he would not lie to them.
He rubbed a hand against his cheek, "Visenya grew up here in the Red Keep. She never had any tolerance for rape or the belittling of woman. She wouldn't send someone here to retrieve you that would put you in danger," he said nodding to Daario.
"Who are you anyways?" Sansa asked as she moved closer to her sister.
Daario grinned, "Terribly rude of me. I am Darrio Naharis, Captain of the Stormcrows and one of my Queen, Visenya's commanders," he announced proudly.
Lyra stood linked hands with her sister, "How are you going to get us out of here?" she asked curiously as Cersei and Joffrey had the placed locked up and guarded tight.
He smirked mischievously at her, "We are going to walk right out of the front gates," he said producing two gowns from somewhere on him.
Now it was Ser Barristan's turn to frown, "How do you expect to do that?" he asked doubtfully.
"I came in dressed as a gold cloak. You will escort me out as a gold cloak and the girls are going undercover as a couple of whores," he said bluntly.
Lyra took a disgusted step back, "Whores?" she snapped.
Daario nodded, "No one ever pays close attention to whores. With your hair covered, wearing one of their gowns, they won't take a second look at you. No one will expect two highborn ladies to dress like whores, even to escape," he explained his idea.
Halfway through Ser Barristan nodded his agreement, "He's right my ladies," he said softly after the man had finished. He had never thought of a plan like this, while trying to figure out how to smuggle to two sister out of Kings Landing. It was so far out there, that it would probably work. However, one thing everyone knew about Ser Barristan was that he was completely chaste. He would never take a whore to his bed.
Sansa looked at the gowns in his hand, "If we do this, do you promise we'll be going home?" she asked staring at him deeply.
Daario nodded understanding why she asked, "There is a ship called, Sea Glider in the harbor at this very moment. It's destination is The Crag where horses and a host of fifty men will be waiting to escort both of you to Riverrun, where Robb Stark has stationed his men and my Queen has joined him," he said watching hope bloom in both girls.
Sansa took the dress, her sisters protests falling on deaf ears and began to strip right there, not caring what anyone thought or saw. Before she could drop her dress to the ground, Lyra grabbed her arm and looked at her in disbelief, "What are you doing?" she hissed.
The red head shook her hand away, "Do you want to go home or not?" she snapped.
Lyra looked at her for a few moments, mind wandering to their family before determination swelled in her eyes, turning to reluctantly take the dress Darrio was offered. The girls stripped out of their clothes, the two met turning their backs, leaving them in a pile on the ground as they slipped into the very exposing whore gowns.
Once they said they were decent, the two men turned back around.
The girls were dressed in matching gowns high at the neck, low in the back with a simple string holding it together hanging behind them and giving easy access. Sansa wore light pink and Lyra in a sea blue. They each bore simple slippers, which would be replaced with sturdy boots on the ship, also going along with the charade.
Daario nodded, "Pull your hair down, whores don't wear it up," he said and watched them release their hair from their binds. He handed each of them a light white wrap that went over their hair and draped over their shoulders, down their back to hide their skin from the sun. He took a step back to stand next to Ser Barristan and both men nodded their heads, "That's good, you don't look anything like noble ladies," Ser Barristan said surprised.
Lyra and Sansa both stood nervously as they watched Daario drape himself in a gold cloak. They both felt naked, and Lyra was tense as she had never worn a more revealing dress. When they were ready, Daario wrapped one arm around each girl, muttering for them to duck their heads and giggle when they were around anyone and Ser Barristan escorted them through the keep. They were stopped by Lord Varys and Daario's arms tensed around both girls.
However, Varys only handed a scabbard and sword to Ser Barristan, "Take this to our Queen," he said watching as Ser Barristan strapped it to his back. "In fifteen minutes a distraction is going to come from the throne room. In the chaos, you all need to get out of the keep. Daario, I have taken the liberty of having your other quarry sent to your ship as things happened a little faster than planned," he said walking with them through the halls.
The sell-sword nodded and handed the Master of Whispers a pile of letters, "Make sure these end up in the correct hands," he said seriously.
The eunuch nodded, "Of course," he promised.
A wicked grin crossed Darrio's face, "Much appreciated. My Queen told me to tell you, soon," he said as the stopped at a doorway.
Varys nodded his head before hurrying away to the throne room where he would need to stir trouble. Joffrey was on his throne, his Queen Mother and two siblings standing to his right and court in session. He entered the room with nary a sound and Joffrey instantly focused on him, "Lord Varys, you have some good news for us I hope," he demanded.
Varys swallowed knowing what he was about to say could cost him his head.
"It would seem that Stannis Baratheon was arrested on his own island and imprisoned for trying to burn his daughter alive," he said quickly.
Varys had worked under mad King Aerys, but he would say honestly that Joffrey scared him far more than Aerys ever had. They were both mad kings, driven by incest but Varys thought that while Aerys had been driven to it, Joffrey was born with it. He did not enjoy bowing to this false King but until Visenya had claimed more ground, there was nothing he could do yet.
Joffrey laughed, "That's good news. One less false king to go around. Who did it for they deserve a reward?!" he commanded wildly.
Varys breathed deeply, "He was arrested by Visenya Targaryen who has claimed Dragonstone as her own," he said watching the king carefully.
Silence echoed throughout the room for a few seconds before pandemonium broke out. Joffrey and Cersei were screaming, Tyrion Lannister had no idea what to say, guards were swarming the room, the men and women were speaking loudly to each other, and Tommen and Myrcella were watching everything is surprised fear. It took a lot for Varys to hide his smirk as more guards flooded the room, leaving the gate unattended for his allies to slip away.
The moment the guards started moving into the Keep, Daario wrapped his arms tight around the two girls and exited the keep. Ser Barristan went with them to look like he was escorting them away. However with Joffrey throwing a tantrum, no one was even paying attention to them as they hurried away. Lyra and Sansa Stark both breathed signs of relief as they hurried into the streets of Kings Landing heading for the harbor.
They didn't dare relax though as they knew they weren't free yet. Daario hurried them through the City as he knew it wouldn't be long before someone discovered the bodies he had left and the Stark girls missing, not to mention the Lord Commander of the Kingsguard was nowhere to be found within the Red Keep.
When they arrived at the docks, Daario directed them to the ship bearing the sail of three blue Wales on a grey background. Men were hurrying around getting ready to leave on said ship and one stepped forward to help the girls aboard and then hurried them into the Captain's cabin. Lyra and Sansa both held each other tightly as they watched from the window to see the ship slowly moving away from the pier. The waves rocked them, and they both closed their eyes hoping for the best.
Until they were far from Kings Landing, they were never going to believe they were free.
Two hours later Daario entered the room smiling, "You can come out now," he said standing beside the door.
Both girls rose to their feet, Lyra shrugging the hood off her head but keeping the covering wrapped around her shoulders and exited the cabin. The sun blinded them for a few seconds before the were able to focus. They were surrounded by blue sea on every side, land to the right in the far distance. The sun reflected off the ocean and Lyra nor Sansa had ever seen something so beautiful before.
Ten men were moving around manning the ship, the Captain walked over to them, "Welcome aboard the Sea Glider Princess Lyra, Princess Sansa," he said jovially.
Sansa looked around in wonder and excitement. She was away from Kings Landing. She was going home to Robb and mother. She would soon be returned to her beloved Winterfell. She would never have to go back to Kings Landing. She wouldn't have to marry Joffrey. At that thought alone she started to cry, and Lyra rushed over to pull her into her arms.
Sansa clutched at her, "I don't have to marry him," she sobbed on her sister shoulder.
Lyra laughed lightly, "You don't have to marry him," she agreed as Sansa pulled away.
Daario smiled, "We've got a three-week journey to reach the Crag. From there we're heading to Riverrun," he explained, heart bursting as the knowledge he had completed his mission set into his brain. The trail Reymond had laid, would lead anyone looking for the Stark's inland towards the Riverlands. No one would suspect they had been snuck out of the city by ship.
A young boy stepped forward, "We have cloths for your to change into your graces," he said with a small bow of his head.
Lyra instantly nodded as she was uncomfortable in the dress she was wearing. Sansa followed behind them, shock still coursing through her veins, into a cabin below deck. There was on big bed in the middle of the room, a tub filled with water and a dividing screen in the room. It was warm and homey, obviously well used by the small comforts surrounding the room. The boy stopped and pointed to a trunk sitting in the corner, "Queen Visenya sent those for you. Unfortunately you'll have to share the room as there aren't enough cabins for everyone," he said apologetically.
Lyra nodded, "That's okay. Thank you," she said softly. The boy nodded and exited the cabin heading back to the deck.
Lyra and Sansa both stripped and shared the bath together. They were both lost in their own thoughts. They had never believed they would get out of Kings Landing. Orders had come from Tywin that Lyra was to marry Tyrion and Sansa and Joffrey's betrothal was to go a head as The Reach was determined to stay neutral in the war, so there was no other bride of Joffrey. She'd been dreading her future ever since she had heard about what he had done to one of the whores that snuck into his bed and now she was free. Free of the horrible city that had stolen so much from her.
Lyra was thankful she was on her way home. Back to her mother and her twin brother, back to the cold and wet, back to her family.
Sansa was still in shock. She had been suffering abuse at the hands of Joffrey since Robb had begun his Rebellion against the Lannister's and now, she was on her way home. She wasn't sure if she would ever become comfortable enough to marry as the threat of rape Joffrey had promised her, had scared her of intimacy with another, not to mention men in general. Knights were not everything she believed, and Sansa felt very humiliated that she had been just as naïve as all her siblings accused her of being. She had even begun to flinch at her own sister or handmaidens hands. It had gotten so bad Sansa was crying herself to sleep every night.
When they were finished, they took turned braided each others hair before opening the trunk. They were shocked at the sea of color inside. The only color they didn't see was orange and yellow as they would clash horrible with their hair. Sansa pulled out a light Tully blue gown with a high neckline, short sleeves and a beautiful silver band that would wrap around her stomach. Lyra went with a pretty dark green sleeveless dress that was low cut in the front and a beautiful emerald chain that would wrap around her hips and fall to the ground in the front of her dress.
The gowns were done in a style unknown to them, so they figured they weren't from Westeros. When they were dressed, they threw light cloaks over their shoulders and went back up to the deck, seeing many of the crew gathered around a small brasier, passing bowls between them. Night had just fallen, and fog was beginning to cover the sea, Daario was standing at the bow looking up and they turned to see men up on the sail poles releasing a line of thick black fabric. They drew in deep breaths when they saw the black background and then three headed red dragon that rolled down. It announced that ships allegiance to anyone who seen it.
Lyra and Sansa moved to stand next to Daario, "Are you ready?" he asked tilting his head at them.
Sansa and Lyra shared a glance before turning to face forward, "More than anything," Sansa said for both of them as the ship went around a corner and disappeared into fog to make their way to the Crag where men would soon be waiting eagerly to take two Princesses of the North home.