The King's Bastard
Chapter 6, Kings and Queens
Alora winced every time the screams would ring throughout the room. Gendry placed a hand on her shoulder as an attempt to comfort her and soon after that the screams stopped.
"He's dead." An older woman stated, "He was my son."
Alora's heart sank in her chest before placing a hand on her stomach. How could she be so calm? She's never seen her unborn child but she knows she would be much more devastated than the old woman.
"My sister was three days ago." The woman continued, "My husband the day before that."
"They take someone every day?" Gendry questioned as his sister wiped away stray tears while the woman nodded.
"Does anyone live?" Arya questioned but the old woman didn't answer. Alora started to hyperventilate. They needed to leave and get out before one of them gets murdered.
"We're gonna die," Alora whimpered, "My babies gonna get eaten alive by rodents!"
Gendry turned to his sister, "We are not going to die. We'll get out of here."
Alora shook her head, trying to catch he breath as anxiety rushed through her.
Gendry was leaned up against a block as Arya and Alora laid beside each other. All the people that were in the cage had been soaked wet from the rain. Alora would give anything to be back home and see her father again. She had no idea where to go anymore and neither did her companions. Alora glanced back at the chuckling men that were standing watch before a couple of them walked over and opened the gate. Alora and Arya sat up immediately as they watched them closely.
"Come 'ere, whore." One of the men demanded before grabbing Alora's wrist, causing the three other men to laugh.
"Držte špinavou ruku pryč ze mě!" Alora shouted at the man to stay away from her before pulling her wrist back. The man laughed again before gripping onto her hair and dragging her away from the two. Arya started to hit the man several times in the gut before the man pushed her over with his foot. Gendry went to swing but the man that came with him caught his arm before kicking him in the knee. The blonde man dragged Alora out of the cage and into the other room.
"Prosím! Prosím! Nech mě být!" Alora pleaded as the laughing men followed her captor into the room.
"Shut up!" The blonde man commanded as he back-handed her. There were at least 4 men in the room. Hot tears started to stream down her face, "Hold her down, I go first."
Alora cried out when she realized what they were going to do to her. The men did as they were told before pinning her to the ground. Alora kicked and screamed which caused the men to hold her tighter. The man undid his belt before tugging down his pants.
"Please." Alora pleaded.
The man went to ram himself inside her but stopped. The men slowly let go of their grips before falling to the ground. Alora forced herself to breathe as tears fell from her eyes before using her feet to push her away from the men. The girl covered her mouth as she tried her best not to scream.
Their eyes had gone black.
Alora shook with adrenaline and fear as the men started to convulse on the floor. Blood seeped from their eyes, ears, and mouth. Alora heaved her breath as she watched the men die.
The girl held herself for a long while to calm herself down before searching one of the men for the keys. Alora stood up and stumbled out of the room when she found them. Arya and Gendry stared at the blood on her dress as she hurriedly opened the gate.
"W-We need to leave. Now." Alora stuttered before unlocking the chains around their wrists.
"Did they hurt you?" Arya questioned as the three left the building. Alora placed her index finger over her lips to indicate silence. Alora scanned the area before motioning for them to follow her and making a run for it to the woods nearby.
The three ran as fast as they could for as long as they could before Alora collapsed on the forest grounds.
"Alora?" Arya stopped running and turned to the girl behind her, "Are you okay?"
Gendry stopped running as the two knelt beside the pregnant woman. Alora stared up at the sky, the sun was starting to come up. The girl rolled onto her side, feeling the intense pain from her stomach. Alora grabbed onto Gendry's forearm before clenching it as hard as she could.
"Ow!" Gendry exclaimed as he tried to tug his arm away, "Shit, Alora."
"Baby." Alora seethed, "My baby."
"Is the baby coming?" Arya questioned, not knowing what to do with the weeping woman.
Alora shook her head as much as she could, "It's too early… He's upset."
"How do you know?" Gendry questioned his older sister.
"I can feel it." Alora breathed before forcing herself to sit up and lean against a tree. The girl placed her hands on her stomach before caressing it, "Shh, calm down, I'm okay… Mommy's okay."
The two watched the pregnant woman before glancing at each other. Soon enough, the pain stopped and Alora let out a sigh of relief before laying her head back against the tree.
"We need to find shelter." Alora nodded her head before attempting to stand up. Gendry immediately helped his sister up.
"We don't even know where we are." Arya stated.
"Then we'll walk until we find it." Alora commanded, glancing over at the girl.
"There's the road." Gendry pointed out as they reached the end of the woods.
"We'll keep walking till we see an inn." Alora commanded as the three started on the road, "We'll figure out what to do tomorrow."
"We don't even know where the nearest inn is." Arya whined.
"Where else are we going to go?" Alora glanced back at her, "We can't stay out here where anyone and everyone can find us."
"What happened to those men?" Gendry asked as he looked over at his sister while the three continued to walk.
"They just died." Alora said simply.
"They couldn't have just died." Gendry stated.
Alora stopped walking and turned to face her brother.
"They just did, okay?!" Alora exclaimed as a carriage came from up the road.
"Get out of the way." The man that was controlling the horses demanded.
"I-I'm sorry, we'll move." Alora nodded as the three moved out of the way. The three of them grew confused when the carriage didn't move. Alora grew scared of what was about to happen next until someone came into view. The girl turned red from the intense anger she felt when she realized who it was.
"Alora?" Petyr called.
Him saying her name made her grow even angrier.
"Let's go." Alora seethed as she motioned to her brother and Arya. The three went to walk away but Petyr grabbed for her arm. Alora turned around before her free hand made contact with his face and yanking her arm back.
"I deserved that." Petyr nodded.
Alora went to tackle him but was held back by her brother.
"How dare you." Alora seethed.
"You were never going to get hurt, Alora." Petyr reassured.
"That's what they said about Lord Stark." Alora spat as Petyr let out a sigh, "I trusted you."
"I'm sorry." Petyr pleaded as he stepped closer to her. Gendry let go of his sister but ended up lightening his grip because she made a move to swing again. She was so angry that tears started to seep from her eyes.
"You have no fucking idea of the shit you put me through." Alora yelled, "Me and Arya starved for weeks before her father died! We watched hundreds of men be slaughtered just to have our lives threatened again!"
"Please, let me make it up to you." Petyr pleaded, "I'll take you to your uncle Renly. All of you. You'll be safe."
Alora wanted to scream but she had no other options. The girl looked to Arya and she gave her a look as If to oblige. Alora then looked to her brother before he nodded. The girl sighed before looking back to Petyr.
Alora walked up to Petyr so that that their faces were inches apart, "You will keep your mouth shut about us." The girl whispered through clenched teeth before climbing into the carriage. Arya and Gendry glanced at each other before climbing into the carriage themselves. Alora made sure she sat in the far corner of the carriage while Arya and Gendry sat beside her. Petyr glanced over the three before sitting in the seat across from them.
Alora avoided all eye contact with the man that had betrayed her. She stared out the window as the carriage begun to move.
"We should be there soon." Petyr stated, "We're very close."
Alora crossed her arms while she intently stared out the window, trying her best to ignore his every word. The girl felt her unborn child move around in her womb, causing her to remove her stare from the window and to her stomach. A smile crept up onto her lips before placing her hands on her plump stomach and caressing it.
The three of them stood close to Lord Baelish as he spoke to one of Renly's men. They had been waiting for him for quite a bit. Alora was excited to see her uncle again.
"Well, if it isn't my favorite whoremonger." Renly stated as Lord Baelish came into his sight, "Pray I haven't kept you waiting long." Renly immediately stopped walking at the sight of his very pregnant niece, "Alora."
"Uncle." Alora grinned from ear to ear before the man took her in his arms.
"I thought you were dead." Renly took her face in his hands as they pulled away from the hug.
"I would think the same, given my condition." Alora glanced down at her stomach before looking bac up at him again. Renly placed a hand on the girls stomach in surprise.
"You're huge." Renly shook his head.
"That's rude, your grace." Alora stated.
"I'll get a ten set up for you and your friends, love, I'll see you sometime later." Renly promised before turning to Petyr and walking into his tent.
Petyr watched as the young King walked into his tent, "Your grace."
Petyr and Alora shared a glance before the girl and her companions walked off.
"Now you do the Lannister's bidding, is that it?" Renly questioned as Petyr walked into the tent, "Tell me, was my brothers body even cold before you secured your newest patron?"
"I'm a practical man." Petyr stated.
"Just not a loyal one." Renly mocked.
"And who would you have me to be loyal too?" Petyr questioned, "Your brothers corpse?"
Renly stood from his chair before walking over to him, "I don't like you, Lord Baelish. I don't like your face. I don't like the words that come oozing out of your mouth. I don't want you in my tent one more minute than necessary. So tell me, why are you here?"
Petyr glanced over at Brienne before Renly spoke again, "You can trust Brienne. Her loyalty comes without charge."
"You still have many friends at court, your grace, many that believe that Ned Stark erred by not supporting your claim." Petyr reminded.
"Now I understand." Rely realized, "You know I have numbers. You know I'm marching on King's Landing. When I take the throne, you hope to retain your position…and your head."
"I would give priority to my head." Petyr joked, "I understand that you don't like me, and while that saddens me greatly, I did not come here seeking your affection. When you march on King's Landing, you may find yourself facing a protracted siege or… open gates."
The two stared at each other before Renly let out a sigh.
"Thank you… for bringing my niece to me." Renly nodded as he sat back down in his chair.
Lord Baelish pursed his lips to the side in thought before answering, "It was no problem, your grace."
Renly laughed, "Don't you wish you were the one to stick your prick in her before Ned Stark's bastard did? Because if you did, she might have forgave you for ruining her life."
Petyr stared at him for a long while before bowing and making a move to leave, "Your grace."
"I want to slit his throat." Alora seethed through gritted teeth as they walked past several tents and people.
"I'll help." Arya grinned.
Alora shook her head, a smile creeping onto her lips, "Lord Baelish will be leaving soon. No worries."
"What exactly did he do?" Gendry questioned.
"He betrayed me." Alora glanced back at her younger brother as they continued to walk.
"But ho—" Gendry was cut off.
"Arya?"
The three looked back at the woman who called for the little girl.
Catelyn Stark.
"Mother!" Arya shouted before running and quickly embracing her mother.
Gendry and Alora glanced at each other before turning their attention back on the reunion. Catelyn knelt down so that her daughter was slightly hovering over her before taking her face in her hands.
"Are you okay?" Catelyn questioned as she scanned her daughters appearance.
"I'm okay, I'm okay." Arya reassured as a few tears escaped from her mother's eyes. Catelyn pulled her youngest daughter into an embrace and held her before looking back at the siblings.
"Lady Alora?" Catelyn questioned as the two pulled away from their embrace.
"My lady." Alora bowed her head as she held her hands that rested on her large stomach. Catelyn stood up and walked over to the pregnant woman and pulled her into a hug.
"Thank you." Catelyn breathed.
Alora was surprised that the woman had embraced her. The girl wrapped her arms around the crying mother to return the hug.
"My son has no interest in the iron throne." Catelyn reassured.
Renly took a sip of his wine, causing his niece to awkwardly shift in her seat in between him and Catelyn.
"Then I see no reason for hostility between us." Renly stated as he set his glass down, "Your son can go on calling himself 'King in the North', The Starks will have dominion over all lands north of Moat Cailin, provided he swears me an oath of fealty."
"And the wording of this oath?" Catelyn questioned.
"The same Ned Stark swore to Robert 18 years ago." Renly replied, causing the women to glance at each other, "Cat, their friendship held the kingdoms together."
Alora shook her head at the debate between her uncle and Catelyn.
"And in return of my son's loyalty?" Catelyn questioned.
"In the morning," Renly started, "I'll destroy my brothers army."
"He's your brother." Alora seethed, "And my uncle. Why must you kill off our last living family?"
Renly glanced over to his niece, "He's a threat, Alora." The man turned back to look at Catelyn before continuing, "When that's done, Baratheon and Stark will fight their common enemy together, as they have done many times before."
Renly stood from the table before walking in front of his mirror. Brienne walked over to her king before removing his cape. Catelyn stood up not to long after.
"Our two houses have always been close," Catelyn stated, "Which is why I am begging you to reconsider this battle. Negotiate a peace with your brother."
"Negotiate with Stannis?" Renly mocked, "You heard him out there. I'd have better luck debating the wind." Brienne removed the man's armor before turning to his niece and Lady Catelyn, "Please bring my terms to your son. I believe we are natural allies. I hope he feels the same. Together, we could end this was in a fortnight."
Alora looked down at her hands as her uncle faced the mirror again. The wind randomly picked up. The two women looked over to see black shadow seeping underneath the tent and trailing over to Renly. Brienne stood up, ready to fight but was startled by what she saw. Alora screamed as the shadow in the form of her eldest uncle stabbed Renly in the heart.
"No!" Brienne screamed as Alora trembled to her feet, holding her stomach as if to protect her child. Renly looked as if he was about to fall to the ground but Brienne caught him and laid him on the ground. Renly's guards ran into the tent, pulling out their swords.
"You'll die for this!" The man shouted as he stared at Brienne. The large woman pulled out her sword as Catelyn spoke up.
"No, wait, it wasn't her!" Catelyn pleaded as the men attacked Brienne. The blonde woman fought back and soon enough, both men were dead. The three women stared in shock, adrenaline pumping through their veins.
"Mother!" Arya shouted as her and Gendry ran into the tent to see what was going on. Brienne fell to her knees as she grieved her King as Catelyn rushed next to her. Alora started to hyperventilate with the realization that her uncle was dead. Gendry scanned the area before taking in what had happened as he walked over to his breaking sister and wiped away the stray tears on her cheeks.
"We've got to leave." Catelyn stated, "They'll hang you for this!"
The group listened to the male shouting from outside the tent.
"Now." Catelyn demanded as she pulled the woman to her feet.
Brienne looked the woman in the eye, "I won't leave him."
"You can't avenge him if you're dead." Catelyn stated as men's shouting got closer. Alora grabbed Arya's hand, her brother not too far from her. Lady Catelyn went to drag in a different direction but Brienne stopped her.
"Not that way." Brienne warned before walking out of the back of the tent. Catelyn looked over at her Daughter and Alora and motioned for them to follow her. Alora nodded her head before dragging Arya out the tent, now far behind Catelyn. Gendry followed his older sister, still confused on what had happened.
"It looked like Stannis." Brienne stated as she tied her horse to a tree. Arya had rode with her mother while Alora rode on a separate horse with her brother. Alora was having trouble getting off of her horse so her brother helped her down.
"To me it just looked like… A shadow in the shape of a man." Catelyn stated.
"A shadow that looked like my uncle." Alora sighed as she patted any wrinkles away on her dress. Catelyn looked at the pregnant girl before turning away.
"We should reach my son's camp by tomorrow." Catelyn stated.
"Will you stay there long, my lady?" Brienne questioned.
"Only long enough to tell Robb what I've seen." Catelyn replied, "After that, I will leave to Winterfell with Arya." Catelyn glanced back at Alora, "I'll be leaving you two with Robb and Jon."
Alora's heart caught in her throat, "Jon?"
"He left the Night's Watch to help Robb." Catelyn stated as Alora slowly sat near the fire, attempting to catch her breath. Catelyn and Brienne continued to speak as Gendry sat himself down next to his distraught sister.
"You okay?" Gendry questioned.
Alora glanced over at her brother before staring into the fire, "I'm fine, no worries."
The siblings followed close behind Lady Catelyn and Arya, Brienne trudging behind them. Soon enough, Robb Stark came into sight.
"Robb." Catelyn called for his son as he turned to face the voice.
"Mother." Robb grinned at the sight of his mother before pulling her into an embrace then noticing his present little sister, "Arya?" Arya laughed along with her eldest brother as he picked her up so that her feet were dangling. Alora grinned at the reunion as she held her hands. He hadn't noticed her yet. Robb looked at his mother as he set his sister down, "How did you?"
Catelyn glanced back at Alora before looking at Robb, "Lady Alora brought her home to me."
Robb rose an eyebrow at his mother before looking at the pregnant woman as a grin plastered his face. "Lora." The man chuckled as he pulled Alora into a hug. The pregnant girl laughed with him as she placed her hands on the tall man's face.
"It's so good to see your face, Robb." Alora grinned.
"You've swallowed a planet!" Robb exclaimed as he placed his hands on her stomach, "When will my nephew be making an appearance?" Robb's stare went from her stomach to Alora. Alora grew confused on how he knew that her child has relation to him.
"How?" Alora tilted her head, a smile on her lips.
"A Lannister boy ratted you out." Robb stated.
Alora looked behind Robb to see a woman standing awkwardly.
Robb went to see what she was looking at and realized.
"This is Lady Talisa." Robb introduced Talisa to his family, "She's been helping with the wounded. She's been very… helpful."
"Very gorgeous." Alora noted.
"Lady Talisa." Catelyn bowed her head as Talisa did the same.
"Lady Stark."
"Lady Talisa…?" Catelyn questioned for her family name.
"Maegyr." Talisa replied.
"Maegyr?" Catelyn nodded, "Forgive me, I do not know this name."
"An uncommon name here, an old name in Volantis." Talisa stated, "Excuse me, my lady. Your grace." The woman had walked away as Catelyn glanced at her eldest son.
"I've missed you." Robb stated as he walked off with his mother. Catelyn glanced back at Arya to let her know that she was in a safe place and the little girl nodded.
"Shall we explore?" Alora questioned her companions as Arya and Gendry glanced at each other.
"I'm going to check out their armory." Gendry denied before walking away.
Alora stuck her tongue out at her brothers back before turning to Arya and raising an eyebrow.
"I'm quite hungry, I'm going to get something to eat." Arya smiled at the pregnant woman before leaving her all to her lonesome.
Alora turned to the opposite direction, "Guess I'll wander by myself."
The girl started to walk throughout the camp, a hand on her plump stomach. Alora smiled at the men that passed her by out of respect until a familiar face came into sight. Talisa. Alora looked down at her dress, noticing the blood and grime from her traveling. She should probably ask the woman to borrow a dress till she could make some of her own.
Alora walked closer but stopped in her tracks when she saw who Talisa was speaking to. His hair got longer and curlier. He had a small scar on his eyebrow, most likely from fighting alongside his brother. Alora wanted to walk closer but she wouldn't budge.
"Jon."
A/N: I hope you guys liked this chapter :) let me know if you did, it gives me to write faster and inspires me. Thank you guys so much for the feedback, it's the best feeling when i have new followers and reviews. See you guys on Saturday!