Gold Rush | Ser Harwin

15.

Daerla

  "Mama," a small voice says and I feel an accompanied shake on my shoulder. I peel my eyes open as Rhaena looks down at me with tears rolling down her face. I'm instantly sat up, from behind me Harwin is already up and alert.

  "It's Naerys, he's gone," she cries and falls into me. I wrap my arms around her shoulders as Harwin runs out of the room.

  "He can't be far, come on," I say to her and I take her hand and follow Harwin into Naerys' room.

  A single candle lights up the room and that's when I see it. Written on Naerys' bedsheets.

R h a e n a   i s   n e x t

  Their painted in red- Blood. Naerys' blood. I collapse to my knees and Rhaena cries out loudly. I'm getting painful flashbacks from years ago. Naerys has gone before. He should've been able to defend himself. He should've been ok.

  "We'll find him," Harwin says before sounding an alarm. I listen as he directs the commander.

  I'm not going to do this again. I'm going to find my son.

  I stand back up and go into my room. I grab my sword, the same sword that killed Freyah.

  "Where are you going?" Harwin says as he grabs my arm. "You don't have a plan. We have no idea who did this, the bed is cold, they could be miles away by now."

  "Then what do you suggest?" I yell. "This can't happen again! This is the second time, Harwin. We are not safe here. We are not safe anywhere." My hand reaches for my belly. This world is cruel and harsh and I can't handle it.

  "The city guard are scouring the city," he explains as he puts his hands on my shoulders and talks directly at me. "Hundreds of our troops are searching the lands. There is nothing else we can do."

  I fall into his arms in exhaustion. He puts his arms around me, pulling me in as I cry.

"Why is this happening again?" I cry out and he smoothes over my hair. "We can't do this, we can't live like this."

"My princess," a voice says and Harwin and I both look up. One of our maids stands in her nightwear.

"What is it?" Harwin says as I keep my head rested on his chest.

"Imrie has not returned to bed," she says. "She has gone missing too. I wonder if she has also been kidnapped." I pause for a moment.

"Or she took him," I say as realisation sets in. "I never found her a husband, I did this." Harwin grabs my face in his hands.

"This is not your doing," he says. "How could a maid kidnap a teenage boy?"

"She had to have help," I say before running off down the corridor.

"Daerla!" Harwin shouts as he follows me.

"I have to find him," I say. I run down the staircase, down into the servants quarters. The castle is alive with noise, servants running round, shouting for Naerys.

"Imrie!" I yell as I open and close doors, searching for her. "Imrie, where are you?"

  And then I see her. She's stood before me, blood covered on her skirt.

  "My princess," she says and her face is covered in a mixture of blood and tears. I grip onto my sword. "S-some man came running through with Naerys. He saw me and dragged me along. He did terrible things."

"Where did he take him?" I ask calmly. I don't know if I believe her. I do know that she isn't the one who took him. Or maybe she was just caught in the crossfire.

"This way, I'll show you," she says and I cautiously follow her. I'm looking at all directions, watching as the servants dwindle and we arrive at a pet of the castle that I didn't even know existed anymore.

She opens a door and I see Naerys. He's on the ground in a pool of blood.

"No," I whisper before running over to my son. "Naerys, my boy. My son, don't go, come back." I shake him. His eyes open.

"Mama," he says and I fling my arms around him. "It hurts so much."

"I know, i know," I whisper. "We need to get out of here. We'll get you straight to the maister, I promise."

I help him up so that most of his weight on my body. He is limp and he is struggling to keep his eyes open. I am going to destroy whoever did this to him.

My eyes scan the crypt and it's empty. Only Imrie who is stood by the door. Who could've done this?

"Imrie," I say and nod towards the door. She pauses and looks at me and then a small smirk spreads across her face.

"Only one of you is allowed to leave," she says. She's tricked me. For years. Was this her plan all along?

"Go, Naerys," I say and I help him to the door as Imrie opens it. It's no question about who is leaving. I will always put my children first.

"No!" He yells. "I'm not going to leave you, mama." His eyes are glistening and he can barely stand on his own. Is this the last time I'll ever see him?

"Go get your father," I say and I try to hold back the tears. What if I never seen Harwin again? "I'll be ok."

"I love you, mama," he says.

"Go, quick now," I say and then Imrie shuts the wooden door. I don't get to see if he manages to get away. Maybe something else is out there to claim him.

"It's just you and i now," Imrie says before stepping towards me. She reveals a dagger I didn't even notice before. She stands behind me and I feel the cold metal on my neck. "Let's have a little chat, hey?"