The Grey Wolf & The Golden Dragon | Aegon Targaryen II

Suffer the Children

*Notes: I am so very sorry, in advance...*

Elin

"We were supposed to leave at first light," Dorran complained as he rolled up the furs he and Elin had slept on. "We should have arrived last night. Lord Stark will be waiting for our arrival." Elin rolled her eyes. Cregan could wait. She didn't give a damn.

"I'm tired, Dorran. We've been riding nonstop for a damn fortnight."

"Those were our Queen's instructions." he replied stiffly.

"Don't pretend you're not as pissed about this as I am." she told him as she pulled on a clean tunic. When the pair had traveled south to King's Landing, Elin hated being stuck in the carriage; now she wished they had taken one back. Every inch of her ass and thighs ached and she was far filthier than she preferred.

Fuck Cregan Stark, all Elin wanted was a warm meal and a hot bath to soothe her aching muscles.

"You should relieve yourself before we go, it's still more than an hour's ride." the knight said before he disappeared into the tree line. Dorran had been short with her since the night before, complaining as the sunset that they should have made it to Winterfell. Elin was sure he blamed her for stopping more than was necessary. She didn't dare tell him that she'd been sick to her stomach the entire journey.

"Are you ready, then?" she asked as the snap of a twig announced his return. When no reply came, Elin turned to glare at him, stunned instead, to find four men approaching.

"All alone out here, my lady?" one of them asked. The question would have seemed like kindness and concern, but a feeling of warning stirred inside her. Knowing Dorran was somewhere in the trees gave her some reassurance, but she was still a woman alone in the wilderness.

"I'm not alone," she replied, instinctively taking a step back, glancing at the tree line again.

"You look rather alone to me." the man replied. As he stepped forward, Elin realized she recognized his face. She had seen it before in the keep, many times, in fact. Relief and confusion warred inside her.

"I know you... But, you're a Kingsguard, what are you doing out here?" Only, they weren't dressed as Kingsguard, but as travelers.

"Looking for you, of course," he replied politely.

"Has Her Grace asked for me back?" she asked, a prickle of hope surging through her at the thought or reuniting with Aemond so soon.

"I'm afraid not, my lady," he replied solemnly. He shared a look with one of his compatriots, a look of conspiracy that made her blood freeze in her veins. "For what it's worth, I am sorry," he offered, pulling his blade from its sheath.

"Dorran!" she managed to scream his name only once before he darted forward, and then Elin was running toward the horses; her legs screaming in protest. As she moved, she pulled her dagger from the strap around her thigh, gripping the handle so hard her knuckles turned white.

"Elin!" Whipping her head around to look for Dorran, Elin's foot caught a rock and she tumbled over, falling to the damp ground. She could hear blades clashing as the knight she'd spoken to hauled her up off the ground. Wasting no time, Elin jammed the blade forward, piercing through his leather coat and into his shoulder.

"Fuck!" he shouted, trying to keep hold of her. "Make this easy on yourself. I'd rather not hurt you. I'll make it quick—" Remembering all the time she watched Annie and Aemond spar, she wrenched her arm away, balled her fist, and punched him as hard as she could.

"Elin!"

"Dorran!" she screamed, trying to locate him. The three other men had their blades drawn, circling the knight; his nose streaming blood. The horses were right there, only paces away, but Elin couldn't leave Dorran, she couldn't leave him to such an unfair fight. Kneeing the man in the stomach, she tore the blade from his shoulder, and he doubled over in pain.