The Last Sand Snake of Dorne (Game of Thrones Fanfic)

Chapter 7: Silence, a poison.

(I'm so sorry for not updating for a long time because I was so busy with school, night shifts and late projects. So, to those who had unwaveringly waited for this update, this is all for you! ×××, Y.G)

     It wasn't long before Sweet Lady unfurled her sails once more, her belly swollen with chests of food to last them until they have reached their destination at Braavos. Ser Merrys was wroth to hear about the attack last night, and he looked at the new girls  Lord Daecel the way a butcher chooses sheep for the pot. Gwyen understood why the old knight acted this way; she was to be kept safe. But Gwyen was tired of everything: the running, the hoods to hide her face. Four years on the sea was enough. 

"They could be trusted, ser," she said for the umpteenth time. They were seated in the captain's cabin, Ser Merrys pondering over a lambskin map of Westeros and of the Summer Isles, of Volantis and the Free Cities, but giving a cursory glance every time one of the women moved. Gwyen couldn't call them her slaves, nor servants, so she called them as they were: the women, though they were only one or two years apart in age. "Leave them be." It was her mistake, in the first place, to withold Ser Merrys when she made her decision in Lord Daecel's solar. He could have seen to them first than dragging them on board. 

"I did not say I don't trust them, m'lady," he responded icily. 

Gwyen waved off the remark and asked for Mareon to fill her cup. Out of the three, Gwyen seemed to like the Lorathi-Lyseni girl's company. Mareon was quick to understand, to move with deft movements, and to know whether Gwyen wanted this or not. Jaienna was quieter and kept to herself though Rhoy wanted to follow her around like a lost puppy. Kayrah spent time with the sailors and was soon grappling with the ropes and masts like she was born to be on board. The two kept guard around Gwyen every time she went out on board to train with Tyr, but Mareon took special charge of her. Though shy at first, she began to talk about her childhood in Lorath, hours before they set sail, as she run her bath. 

"M'lady has beautiful hair," Mareon said quietly as she undid her hair and run a gentle hand through its twists and tangles. Gwyen looked at the Lorathi-Lyseni's fairer skin and back to her own copperish color. She said nothing, but shivered as Mareon removed the clasp of her dress. She clutched it to her chest. Gwyen wasn't used to someone doing this, she was almost a lady grown! She looked at Mareon sheepishly. Mareon laughed. "No need for that, m'lady. It's alright."

Gwyen tried to swallow the lump that formed in her throat, and shakily lowered her  hands. "I'm...not used to someone doing this for me..." she stated as Mareon then proceeded to remove her gown. Gwyen grit her teeth but then, Mareon did nothing but gently lead her to the steaming tub that she had covered with dried flower petals.

She relaxed as the girl began to comb through her hair with fragrant oils and massage her temples. She variantly knows what to do, Gwyen thought lazily as her hand drifted in the warm water.

But then, just by this water, Gwyen's thoughts drifted towards Sunspear and its own glittering pools. The scent of blood oranges that burst ripe when squeezed. The soft sea breeze that wafted to their gazebos. The gentle waves when it comes to greet the white powdery sand that whisked underneath her feet. Home.

"Mareon, what age were you when you were whisked away?" Gwyen asked suddenly, twisting in the water despite her hair being tangled around the girl's fingers. 

She looked at Gwyen thoughtfully, as it seemed she was contemplating on what she would say to her. "Seven," she said finally. "My family... sold me to the traders for quite a large sum of money. They needed a scribe... and I.. Well, set on being a linguist one day, said my brother." Mareon laughed lightly, but there was a glint of sadness in her eyes.

"Brother? So you had siblings then?" 

"Fifth of seven children, to be truthful. You, m'lady?" 

Gwyen kept silent. 

And Mareon continued to wash through her hair like she never talked in the first place. The silence was heavy suddenly, but neither of the two wanted to be the first one to speak. And in Gwyen's head, there must have been words floating out, narrating whatever she had loved, left and forgotten. She couldn't exactly see whatever look on Mareon's face was like, but then Gwyen felt that she had more than what she had told her. Obviously. More than she wanted to tell her. Gwyen felt prodding, but the more she thought about her own thoughts and Mareon's memories, both felt like it was the same. Same everything. Losing a family she loved. Like poison in warm honeyed milk.