The Last Stag • Game of Thrones

13.

Chapter Thirteen.
The Princess Who Perished

Ren dragged the boat ashore, her arms burning from hours of tireless rowing. It may have been easier had she been the only person in the boat, but alas, her eighty-pound, two-year-old bear was of little help when it came to propelling them across the Bay of Crabs. Goji had been no more useful than a sack of rocks the entire journey, seemingly scared of the water below them that teemed with hundreds of colorful crustaceans. 

As she pulled the boat onto the beach, Goji flopped out of the wooden structure, his paws sliding around in the loose sand. While not a fan of the water, Goji seemed delighted about the beach, digging his paws around.

"Goj," Ren heaved, her muscles sore. "We'll have time for that later, baby."

Ren began to make her way up the beach, Goji groaning and following after her. The moon was shining overhead, illuminating her path. 

She looked up at the looming castle overhead, the twin dragon statues looking down at her in disgust as if to say you don't belong here, stag. 

As she reached the gate, it slid open. Her hand found the dagger at her belt, brow furrowed. 

Two guards stepped out wearing the emblazoned stag sigil across their armor, hands on the hilts of their swords. One tall and thin, the other short and stocky.

"Drop your weapons." The short guard barked. "Put your hands up."

Renfri blinked slowly at them. Behind her, Goji let out a low growl in warning.

"Which is it?" She tilted her head. "Drop my weapons, or put up my hands?"

The second guard grabbed her and she allowed it, relaxing her body. He held her hands uncomfortably behind her back while the short one stepped forward, sliding her dagger from its sheath. 

"Lannister lion." He noted as he turned the dagger in his hand. His eyes flickered to her throat. "One around yer' neck, too. You didn't even try to conceal your motives."

Next to her, Goji began to rise onto his back legs, his mouth contorted in a snarl. She gave him a look of reassurance, and he reluctantly sat back down.

"Have the Lannisters gotten so lazy that they're sending girls to commit their assassinations for 'em?" The tall guard mocked. "We'll send 'em your head as a warning."

"I'm obviously not-" Renfri tried to protest. The short guard smacked her square in the mouth with the hilt of her dagger, forcing Renfri to bite down hard on her tongue. 

Blood pooled inside her mouth. There goes another tooth, she thought.

"We're taking you to the King." The short guard spat. The taller of the two kicked her in the back of the ankle, forcing her forward. 

The trio began to ascend the long pathway to the doors of Dragonstone. As they walked, Ren tried not to grimace as the tall guard brushed something uncomfortably hard against her bum, undoubtedly intentional. Goji trotted behind them with the short guard's fist dug into the back of his neck. He let out occasional groans of annoyance, as if to say, Can I kill this one yet?

The guards led them up through the front entrance, passing the occasional cluster of other guards as they went. Renfri eyed them as they walked, noticing that there were much less men than she was expecting. She knew that Stannis was on the losing side, but had not anticipated just how badly he was losing.