Cold Hands

15

"Valar Morghulis," Izzy uttered quietly to the Captain of the small vessel as she turned to leave the dock.

"Valar dohaeris," he replied quietly as he watched her duck into the small litter.

They traveled less than half a league, climbing steep staircases carved in stone and through winding streets and alley-ways. Izzy could hear the sounds of the markets as they passed through. She perked up when she saw the building that housed the Iron Bank, suddenly realizing where she was.

Soon, they stopped in front of a large beautiful lavender colored house, with the wisteria flowing like waves down the front facade. Contrasting the lovely facade were two well armed Dornish guards that Doran had posted at her new home. She exited the litter and turned to watch a small cart pulled by two sand horses harnessed in the colors of orange, red and gold. Ilia fidgeted and she slid down her mothers skirts then clumsily made her way to the guard on the right.

"Oben," she squealed.

"No Darling. Not Oberyn."

"Ooobennn!"

Izzy sighed heavily. "Ser? Would you mind...?" She pulled her finger across her face to signal that he remove his fabric face shielding. She looked into the man's brown eyes. "Please?"

Elia grabbed onto the guard's leg and attempted to climb up the man's body. Izzy felt blessed that the man chuckled and picked her up and held her for a moment. He carefully removed the silky fabric from his face. "I am sorry little one. I am not your Prince Oberyn."

Elia screamed and pushed herself away as the guard placed her into her mother's waiting arms.

"I'm terribly sorry," she whispered quickly as she ducked in through the door. "We will apologize later."

An older woman approached her quickly. "Princesses Isabelle and Elia...I am Morlana, your head of household. Welcome to Braavos."

"Thank you," Izzy said quietly.

"If I may, what was all the fuss outside?"

"She thought one of the guards was Prince Oberyn."

"Ohhh nooo..." She moved closer and held her arms out for the child. "Prince Oberyn is too old to be manning a door...although it probably would not hurt his feelings any to be anonymous for a day. Come child...come see what we have for you...Princess, if you would please follow me?"

Izzy was not in the mood to inspect the household staff. What she wanted was a bath and a bed. She would eat later.

Izzy met briefly with the staff and it was apparent to everyone that she was exhausted; a chambermaid quickly stepped up and offered to help her to her room. With the head housekeeper's direction, Izzy was lead up a sweeping staircase to a set of double doors at the top of the stairs. The doors were opened and Izzy was escorted inside. The scent of flowers in bloom mingled with the wisteria wafted over her, bringing her a sense of calm.

"I've drawn you a bath, Princess..."

"Izzy, please...and where's my daughter?"

"Probably in the garden. There is a pony..."

Izzy laughed at the thought, then heard her child's squeal through the opened windows and doors. She moved through the master-chambers and walked onto a small balcony. She looked down to see her child being lead around the large garden on the back of a full-grown dessert horse that had been fully outfitted to appear that it was a golden unicorn. "That's quite the pony," she mused. She called out to Elia and the festivities ceased immediately. A young boy stopped and looked up at her and smiled, then waved jovially, while Elia's chubby arms flapped like the wings of a baby bird as she sat, secured in the tiny saddle, made just for her and she was instantly reminded of perching upon the large boulders below Casterly Rock, dreaming of riding a mammoth dragon. She wondered if her child was dreaming of flying?

"Where is the nursery?"

The chambermaid pointed to another set of doors only a few feet away.

The double doors were slid to the side and a sunny room of muted jewel tones greeted her. She could still smell fresh paint on the walls and she walked inside to see a freshly painted mural of unicorns and baby dragons along with wolf cubs and fawns all playing peacefully in a gentle wooded setting. Four houses represented...no big cats though, she thought as she sighed. She gazed at the elaborate bedding upon the tiny bed and wished she could curl up and close her eyes.

She walked over and touched the elaborate rocking horse, complete with genuine high-quality tack and real horse hair for the mane, tail and feathering over the hooves.

I wonder who's idea this was, she thought aloud. Such over indulgence...Benjen would not approve...

She sighed again as she turned toward the exit.

"Would you care to inspect your quarters Princess?"

"Please, it's just Izzy..." She gave a quick glance and the matron lowered her head. "Never did grow accustomed to grand lofty titles."

"As you wish, my lady?"

Izzy chuckled and nodded. "That's fine. I suppose you've been instructed to address us in some kind of fashion...but truly, I need a friend right now, not a servant."

The woman's eyes softened and she nodded. "I can do that...Izzy."

"Thank you."

Izzy gazed at the door and breathed hard. She was dreading the heavy colors that reminded her of jewels on fire. She opened the door to find stonework iron along with the dark colors of tar and evergreen...she thought that Benjen might have found it a bit pretentious and it make her laugh until she cried.

"Ohhhh....you're exhausted. No doubt your journey has been long and hard..."

The woman put her arm around her and led her to the bed. "I'll see to Benita. She's full of energy, isn't she?"

Izzy nodded and chuckled quietly. "If only I could brew and bottle it," she joked. "And my daughter answers to Elia. It's her middle name, but I thought it would serve her better whilst in Dorne."

"Truly."

"Please forgive my manners, what is your name again?"

"Jadaia," the woman replied.

"It's nice to meet you. I'm sure we'll become fast friends."

"If you please, you are far above my station..."

"Not really," Izzy replied. "I'm a bastard."

"Most of us are, Lady Stark..."

Izzy's eyes widened. "You know about that?"

Jadaia nodded and smiled. "Yes. We all do."

Izzy lowered her head. "My husband's house is in open rebellion..."

"We do not care about any of that."

"Oh?"

"We were told that the Lady Isabelle Stark of Winterfell was a kind and just woman. Intelligent and resourceful."

"High praise..."

"And not to be trifled with," Jadaia added with a grin.