Love beneath the Snow

18| 𝔱𝔥𝔢 𝔭𝔯𝔦𝔠𝔢 𝔬𝔣 𝔡𝔢𝔰𝔭𝔢𝔯𝔞𝔱𝔦𝔬𝔫

𝔫𝔬𝔯𝔱𝔥𝔢𝔯𝔫 𝔯𝔢𝔤𝔦𝔬𝔫𝔰

— THE EVENING HAD SETTLED INTO A SOMBER QUIET AS VALIRA WALKED THE QUIET HALLS OF THE RED KEEP. Her mind was a storm of grief and frustration after her mother's announcement and her father's death. The castle, once a symbol of grandeur and security, now felt like a cage. Seeking some solace, she ventured into a secluded courtyard she rarely visited.

The courtyard was bathed in the pale glow of the moon, casting long shadows across the cold, stone floor. The gentle rustling of leaves and the distant chirping of night creatures created a deceptive sense of tranquility. Valira leaned against a stone pillar, her heart heavy with the weight of her recent revelations. The serenity of the space did little to calm the turmoil within her.

Suddenly, a shadow moved behind her. Valira tensed, her senses alert. Before she could react, a rough cloth was pressed against her face, and a sickly sweet odor overwhelmed her senses. Her vision blurred, and the world around her spun uncontrollably. Darkness closed in, and she felt herself slipping away.

When Valira regained consciousness, she was disoriented and aching. Her surroundings were not the opulent halls of the Red Keep but rather a grim, open-air cell. The cell was surrounded by iron bars that seemed to offer little protection from the chill of the night air. The cold ground was uneven and hard beneath her.

The cell was dimly lit by torches mounted on the outer walls, their flickering light casting eerie shadows. The sound of distant murmured conversations and the clinking of chains echoed through the night air. Valira stood shakily, her legs weak and unsteady. As she approached the bars, she saw the silhouettes of armed guards patrolling the area, their figures moving methodically in the dim light.

Valira's heart pounded with a mixture of fear and confusion. She paced the small confines of her cell, trying to make sense of her situation. The cold night air seeped into the cell, amplifying her sense of isolation and vulnerability.

The heavy door to the cell creaked open, and Valira's breath caught in her throat. She squinted into the dim light and saw Lady Stark enter. The sight of her was both shocking and puzzling. Lady Stark's face was a mask of stern resolve, but there was a flicker of desperation in her eyes.

"Lady Stark?" Valira's voice trembled with a mix of confusion and anger. "What is the meaning of this? Why am I here?" Lady Stark's expression was a blend of determination and weariness. She looked at Valira with a troubled gaze. "Because I want my daughters back." Valira's eyes widened in disbelief. "Your daughters? What does that have to do with me? Why have you taken me?"

Lady Stark took a deep breath, her voice steady but strained. "The political climate in King's Landing is dangerous. After the death of my husband and the threats against my children, I needed to take drastic measures to ensure their safety. I have no choice but to use you as leverage." Valira's anger flared, her emotions boiling over.

"So, you think kidnapping me will somehow solve your problems? How does taking me from my home and my family help anything? This is madness!"

Lady Stark's gaze remained unyielding, though her voice held a note of pleading. "I understand your anger, but this is not done out of cruelty. My daughters are in immediate danger, and I need to secure their safety. Using you as leverage was my only option." Valira's frustration turned into defiance. "You think this will make things better? You're only adding to the chaos and suffering. I am not a pawn in your schemes!"

Lady Stark's face hardened, though there was a trace of sadness in her eyes. "The world is not fair. Survival often requires making harsh choices. If I can use you to protect my children, then I must do so." Valira's eyes were filled with tears of frustration and helplessness. "And what about my safety? What about my future? You've taken me from everything I hold dear. How can you justify this?"

Lady Stark's expression softened slightly, but her resolve remained firm. "I wish there were another way. But the political landscape is ruthless, and I am forced to act in the only way I know to protect my loved ones." Valira stood defiantly, her voice breaking with emotion. "Then perhaps it's time we both reconsidered our paths. There has to be a better way to ensure safety and justice than through fear and violence."

Lady Stark's gaze was pained but resolute. "You may be right. But for now, I must do what I believe is necessary to ensure my daughters' safety. I hope you can understand that, even if you cannot forgive me."

As Lady Stark turned to leave, the weight of the situation pressed heavily upon Valira. The chill of the night air seemed to seep into her very bones. Alone in the open-air cell, surrounded by the distant sounds of the night, Valira faced the crushing uncertainty of her future. The flickering torchlight cast long, shifting shadows across the stone walls, mirroring the turbulent emotions roiling within her.

A/N:
This chapter is shorter than the others but I hope you still enjoyed it.
Love you all!