Hear me Roar - English version

CHAPTER 9 - And I sentence him to death

               When Littlefinger finally releases me, Jaime is already gone. There is only my father, a spear driven through his thigh, kneeling on the ground. I rush toward him but am quickly stopped by the discovery of Jory's lifeless body. A dagger has been driven into his eye. He is dead.

               The man who taught me how to fight. The one who carried Theon back to his room when I couldn't manage it, the one who protected Sansa from the cold with his cloak. The captain of Ned Stark's guard, his friend... left for dead in the streets of the capital, far from his home. Alone.

               My eyes filling with tears, I slowly raise my head toward my father.

"Forgive me..." he whispers before fainting, his strength spent.

               In my turn, I fall. My legs are unable to carry me; my whole-body trembles, shaken by powerful sobs.

♐︎

               I am awakened by the sound of clanking armour. Baelish is kneeling beside me, his hand resting on my forehead while he barks orders to the Gold Cloaks. When he notices my eyes are open, he helps me up and escorts me back to the Red Keep in silence.

               It is only once I am lying in my bed that the Master of Coin speaks to me for the first time.

"This is all most unfortunate..."

               'Unfortunate' is not the word I would have used to describe the situation. I would have used 'horrible' or 'dreadful'. Littlefinger hands me a glass of water before sitting beside me. My hands are shaking. I have never felt so weak.

"I cannot imagine what you are feeling."

"Regret... We should never have left Winterfell."

"My dear..." he says, passing a hand over my back. "It is not good to live in regret. You are here to accomplish something; you surely know that better than I."

               It seems our complex relations with the Lannisters have dissuaded Baelish from following through with his original plan. The cards have been redealt, and perhaps I am no longer the best prospect for him. I confess to feeling a bit disappointed...

"No one escapes their fate"" he adds.

"Lord Baelish..."

"Call me Petyr..."

               Pressed against one another, our eyes meet. My heart beats rapidly and, to my relief, his beats at the same pace. Our ragged breaths mingle to become one.

"Petyr..." I whisper in a breath.

               Littlefinger's soft lips meet mine in what becomes an inflamed kiss. I do not know if this is an expression of my sadness or my feelings for this man I am supposed to hate. For I do hate him. I hate him as much as I love him.

               After long and passionate seconds, Baelish and I pull apart. I see that small smile that exasperates me so much appear on his face. He is satisfied. To be honest, so am I. It will be difficult to ever forget the taste of his lips.

♐︎

               The King spoke with Ned as soon as he was recovered enough to talk. While Cersei demanded a punishment, Robert decided that all my father had to do was send a raven to the Vale to ask Catelyn to release her prisoner.

               We learned that Jaime had set off in search of Tyrion and that he represents a real danger to my mother. I wish Ned had admitted he was not behind Tyrion's abduction, but he stood his ground.