The Last Stag • Game of Thrones

9.

Chapter Nine.
Sex, Schemes, and Sinners.

Sleeping in the open rain was similar to being waterboarded, Ren decided. 

She sat helplessly in her pen, Goji coiled around her, having now grown to the size of a small horse and standing at the height of Renfri's chest. The rain drizzled down on their heads, flattening Renfri's curls against her skin. 

Across the yard, Jaime sat at the edge of his cell, staring at her. He waved his hand in greeting, and she waved back. She could barely see him in the dying light of the setting sun, but his presence was still a comfort. 

Ren had so many questions. How did he get here? Why did he leave King's Landing? How did they manage to capture him? She wanted to tell him of what she had learned by eavesdropping on the soldiers as they patrolled her cell. That they were near Riverrun, that Robb's grandfather had died. 

But they said nothing to each other.  Just stared, and occasionally waved, until the sun went down. 

Ren jolted as someone obstructed her vision. A large man, a Stark soldier, with balding hair and a thick, white beard. 

"You are a pretty one." He mused, his gruff voice disrupting Renfri's thoughts. "Even if you're a Lannister." 

He was close enough to her that she could smell the stench of piss and ale that radiated around him. He turned over his shoulder, looking to Jaime then back to Renfri.

"That's your uncle, is it?" The man knelt down to her level, smiling in a sickening way. "Does he fuck you too?"

Renfri's throat dried up. She stared into his eyes as if stuck in a trance, her stomach rolling over. His hot breath fanned across her face, burning her eyes.

"How old were 'ye, the first time?" He asked. "When he snuck into your room and kissed you the way an uncle never should. All down that pretty, tight body. When he spread open your legs, and put his fingers inside of that little-"

Renfri spit at him, her wad of phlegm landing directly in his eye. He cried out in surprise, stumbling backwards, wiping at his eye. 

"You little bitch!" He roared. "I'm going to rape you bloody and make Jaime Lannister watch-"

"Lord Karstark!" Interrupted a familiar voice. Ren looked passed him, seeing Lady Catelyn and Brienne of Tarth come to a stop between the two cells. Karstark turned, dropping his hands. "Leave the Princess alone."

Begrudgingly, the man stumbled off. Renfri watched his retreating figure, committing that name to memory.

Lord Karstark. 

Catelyn gave her a sympathetic look before she and Brienne slipped into Jaime's cell. Ren scrambled to her feet, squeezing her face between the bars as she squinted to make out what was happening. 

They spoke for a long moment, too quietly for Renfri to make out. Finally, she watched as Brienne of Tarth unsheathed her sword, raising it over her head.

Her heart dropped to her stomach, her eyes widening as she stared helplessly. Her lips formed words, and she heard her own voice crying out;

"Please! No!"

But the fatal blow never came. She watched, awe-struck, as Brienne grabbed Jaime by the collar of his shirt, dragging him out of the back exit of the cell. He looked over his shoulder at her but was helpless to escape, to run to her. 

None of the soldiers roaming the camp had seemed to notice. They were too drunk, celebrating their upcoming arrival at Riverrun.

Lady Catelyn quietly crossed the field to Renfri. She came within arms reach of the girl, her hands locked in front of her.