𝐖𝐇𝐎 𝐖𝐄 𝐀𝐑𝐄 - 𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐬𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐝𝐫𝐚𝐠𝐨𝐧

𝐓𝐖𝐎 - a look to kill

merilla shouldn't be doing this, she knew that, court would surely shun her for it, but she persisted. even since she had discovered the large painting in her guest chambers moved to reveal the secret tunnels, she had taken to mapping them. she had only been a child, not even a teenager when she discovered them, and then she had never dared to leave the keep, even when she knew how easy it would be.

tonight she knew she must, weeks of wedding planning, forced courting with Aemond and her father and uncle talking to her of duty every five seconds. the girl needed a drink. and to talk to people not around her just to praise her, but most importantly a drink. as she stalked carefully through the intricate tunnels in her plainest dress and a cloak with the hood up, she began to fear she hadn't memorized maegor's tunnels as she thought she had.

those fears were subdued when she finally found her way out, breathing a sigh of relief as she slipped through kings landing unnoticed. merilla liked to think herself fearless, but the pounding in her heart suggested otherwise. if she were recognized, her life would be over, her reputation tainted. it wasn't like she was going to a brothel, just a tavern, but still an unexceptable place for a young lady. she entered the tavern, her hands shaking as she sat down. ordering in the smallest voice possible as she kept her cloak hood up, paying as if these were her last coins.

she sipped on her beer, trying not to make a face at the cheap liquor and scanning around the tavern to make sure there were no knights or men of the court there. she had finished her beer quickly, opting to just chug it instead of tasting it, as she ordered a second, promising herself it would be her last. her heart raced suddenly when a woman sat next to her, the woman was smallfolk, but it still startled her.

"i despise men," the woman huffed to no one in particular after she got herself a pint.

merilla looked over at her slowly, "i know how you feel" she offered, taking a sip.

"i believe every woman does," the woman looked at merilla next to her, not a single hint of suspicion in her eyes, "gods, i don't know why i married him."

"what did he do?" merilla asked, knowing it was best she didn't engage in a conversation but she allowed her nosy side to get the best of her.

the woman sighed, "gambles all of our coin, visits the street of silk more than his own wife, i do not think the man even knows our children's names."

"good gods, what a prick" merilla scoffed, sipping her beer quicker, desperate to get back to the keep before she was spotted.

the woman smiled at her, she was an older woman, and despite her stance, merilla sought this woman's wise eyes, "does a girl like you have a man?"

she took a deep exhale, feeling the beer hit her, "unfortunately," she sighed out, "if you could even call him that, he doesn't talk, i swear you'd think he was struck mute."

"have you married this mute man?" the woman's nosiness didn't bother merilla for some odd reason, she felt as though she was looking in a mirror.

"not yet," merilla admitted, getting her third pint of the night, deciding she definitely needed it, even thinking of aemond made her head hurt.

"you should call it off," the woman advised, making merilla more aware of the women's very different situations, "a man who ignores you now will ignore you for the rest of your life."

she snorted slightly, fighting back a laugh, "i wish i could," she found herself turning to directly face her now.

"you could," she grabbed the girls hand, and merilla hoped the woman wouldn't notice how clean she was, "you are young, you are beautiful, you could find another husband."