Episode one: A Cold Whisper {Game of Thrones} (COMPLETED)

Marei

Marei's thighs rubbed against the dark brown stallion as it galloped along the fields north of Kingslanding.

She had already travelled past Rosby, the seat of house Rosby, north of Blackwater bay in the crowlands. A seat in which King Benedict II Justman added to the lands of the river kings during his reign. Marei had also already passed Antlers, a castle in the crownlands, seat of house Buckwell and located just north of Kingslanding. Marei had always kept herself aware of her surroundings and knew which castles were where. She was heading toward crackclaw point, a peninsula in the crownlands that jutted out into the narrow sea. Crackclaw point was just south of the bay of crabs and west of claw isle. Marei had been planning on getting aboard a ship and heading as far East as she could travel.

Her yellow hair clung to her forehead as she perspired in the heat coming from the blazing golden sun. The big ball of fire blasted its light into her eyes and face, along with its heat, causing her to become parched rather quickly.

When Marei came across a timidly flowing river, she decided to take a break to drink and wash.

Marei scooped the water into her left palm and drank. She slurped up as much water as she could, for she hadn't drank for several days now. She slipped off her thin garments, and dipped her feet into the lake. The water was a mild temperature, resulting in a pleasant feeling tingling over her bare skin. She allowed her full body to slide in, and she became immersed in the clean and clear water.

Marei lost herself in thought. She closed her eyes and sighed, before dunking her head under the water. She could feel the slimy fish swimming past her body. Salmon, most likely.

Marei's thoughts trailed to Chataya and the girls. She had left her whole life behind. She had witnessed Dancy's death, a girl she had known for a great chunk of her life. Marei's throat tightened.

She emerged at the surface of the calm water, causing a rippling effect to surround her. She rubbed her eyes, and opened them wide.

And what she saw made her squeal.

A large man crouched by the edge of the water, filling his flask and tightly screwing the top back on.

"Calm the fuck down, girl, nothing I ain't ever seen before."

The man was wearing chain mail, and looked very rough. He appeared to have recently fought, and was cleansing his mangled, and bloodied face in the same water Marei was swimming in.

She was speechless.

"Besides, what kind of whore is embarrassed to show off her tits and her cunt."

Marei's mouth dropped open, "how - how dare you -"

"Don't even pretend. Been in that brothel half a thousand times. I know your face," the large man growled, "what's a pretty whore like you doing this far from the brothel."

Marei, still standing nude, holding her hands over her breasts and covered in water up to her belly, let out a shaky sigh.

"It's none of your business, ser."

"Ser?" he scoffed, "I'm no knight," he ripped off his armour, and flung it on the grassy ground beneath him, "not anymore." he grumbled.

Marei eyed his mutilated and charred face.

"I know you," she spoke confidently, "weren't you part of the kingsguard? I remember you, in the city, wearing the dog helm. What was it they called you? The hound?"

The colossal man flinched.

"You've got balls, don't you?"

The man chugged down the rest of his flask of water, and refilled. He pushed himself up to stand, and looked down at Marei.

"You're stupid," he barked, "you're a weak whore, wandering around alone, unarmed," he licked his lips menacingly, "I could fuck the life outta you right now and you wouldn't be able to defend your damn self."

He straightened himself up.
"If I were you, I'd take my pretty arse back to Kingslanding and back to the brothel. It's safer there than out here," he paused again, "where're you going?"

Marei hesitated, "I'm - I think - essos. But I have no idea I'm just... I'm running..."

"Aren't we all?" he said, "well, you can't run on your own or I'll come across your corpse by tomorrow."

"You think I need what, an ally? Are you offering?"

The man puffed out his chest, "I can take you to Maidenpool. It's about half a dozen miles north of here. From there you'll be able to get aboard a ship, and get yourself the fuck out of westeros."

Marei took several deep breaths before replying. She had stopped shaking, but still felt nervous around the beast of a man.

"Why would you help me?" she questioned him.

"I ain't helping you, girl. What else am I gunna do? If I can get to Maidenpool, I can get food, clean water, and women," he growled, "and I suppose," he continued, "protecting weak, helpless people is what I do," he gave her a yellow-toothed smile, before retuning to his resting face with a grumpy-looking scowl.

"Well - thank you," she stammered, "now, could you please turn around? I'd quite like to travel to Maidenpool fully clothed."