The first thing Griffith felt after regaining consciousness was an aching pain at the back of his head.
His first instinct was to touch it but he couldn't, something was holding his hands in place.
Only then did he notice something soft was stuck in his mouth, Griffith gagged, and his eyes snapped open in panic he felt like he was going to suffocate.
Toppling over he hit his head on the bed, that was when he saw the woman lying on it, and all the memories from last night came back.
He shuddered and was about to sit back up when the woman lying on the bed stirred.
His breathing quickened and he pulled at his restraints, but they wouldn't budge.
Griffith saw as the woman sat up her long back hair falling across her face, her eyes narrowed as she looked at the boy.
She smirked and sat up leaving her chest uncovered.
Griffith's breathing quickened and he shuffled back against the wall, but the woman didn't seem to care and just strode over to the chest.
It opened with a creak and she reached inside, pulling out a leather tunic which she immediately put on.
She was soon fully dressed with a pair of sturdy boots and a long sword at her hip.
Spinning on her heel she strode over to Griffith, a cold look in her eyes.
Crouching down before him she grabbed him by his hair, violently pulled him forward and tore the gag out of his mouth.
He gasped for air and fearfully gazed up at the woman, "What is your name?" she asked sternly.
Griffith gulped and licked his lips, "Griffith Snow."
The woman laughed, "Do not lie to me!" She then pulled a dagger from behind her where Griffith assumed it was attached.
She then placed the blade to the side of his face, "Now I shall ask you again, what is your name?"
Griffith felt a rivulet of blood run down his face and tears welled up in the corners of his eyes, "I-I told you, my name is Griffith Snow."
She snarled, "Fine, if you don't want to tell me then the King will force it out of you, but I don't think he would mind if I brought you to him missing a few fingers."
His breathing began to quicken and Griffith pulled at the restraints, he had once read that if you manage to get one hand out of the restraints it'd be easier to remove the other.
The woman smirked and punched his face, causing him to topple, leaving his hands exposed to the woman's cruel pleasure.
He felt as the long dagger was placed against his pinky finger drawing blood, but he wouldn't allow this stranger to remove his finger.
Taking in a deep breath Griffith steeled himself and with a mighty wrench, he dislocated the fingers of his left hand, allowing the other free movement.
Lunging forward he rolled across the ground coming up on the other side, his hand ached with pain, urging him to scream.
Looking into the woman's eyes made the young boy flinch, there was nothing but hatred buried in them.
She snarled and swung at him, her long arms giving her a huge advantage.
As if by instinct Griffith ducked and stepped forward closing the distance, but the woman who seemed to be a trained fighter wouldn't be tricked by a boy who had never wielded a sword.
She smirked and kneed him in the stomach, sending him flying right into her open chest.
Griffith gasped and as pain exploded in his lower back, but not wanting to be stabbed he pushed himself upright.
The woman sighed in exasperation, "Why can't you just be a good boy and do as I say?"
Gritting his teeth in anger Griffith ran forward and somehow dodged the first slash the woman sent at his shoulder.
She was about to stab him when a particularly high wave struck their ship sending them both flying.
The woman hit the wall above her bed and Griffith hit the side of it, sending all the air out of his lungs.
"Fucking damn it!" He heard the woman curse and looking up Griifth saw that she had lost her dagger.
A light of hope reignited in his heart and he lunged at her, the first punch connected with her jaw, but the second one sadly missed.
Griffith felt an elbow hit his ribs and he gasped in pain, but he fought on.
He lashed out and luckily his fist connected with bone he didn't know what bone but it was jagged.
The woman grabbed his tunic, in rage and the next thing he knew his back had hit the floor.
He tried to stand up but couldn't as the woman grinning from ear to ear was sitting on top of him.
A cold shiver ran down Griffith's spine, he had lost, and now he would die.
He felt as the woman's long cold fingers wrapped themselves around his neck and squeezed.
She chuckled, "You really are like a dragon aren't you?"
Panic filled Griffith's bright blue eyes and he started clawing at the woman's exposed arms.
She winced and tightened her grip, "You fucking dragon spawn, just fucking die like the rest."
'This is how it ends, this is how I die.' Griffith thought as his vision slowly became hazy, and his head lulled to the side, but he could see something there right in front of him under the shadow of the bed, something was glimmering.
He reached out and his hand wrapped itself around a hilt.
Griffith grinned ferally and lashed out, the blade flashing before his eyes.
He felt it connect with something soft and slice right through it, and a fountain of warm dark red blood rained down on him.
Griffith gasped as the cold hands loosened from around his neck, the cool air filling his lungs and the warm blood covering him seemed to add to the surreal feel this whole experience gave him.
He grunted as the corps fell onto him, and desperate for space he pushed her back off.
Grabbing hold of the bed he pulled himself up and onto the bed where he collapsed exhausted.
As he drifted off into sleep the words the woman had said to him kept resounding in his head, ' "Little Dragon", "Fucking Dragon Spawn", "Like A Dragon".'
***
I hope you enjoyed the chapter and please tell me if you see any mistakes.
Did you know King Aegon II had 9 hands of the King during his reign?
Then I hope you have a nice day or night depending on where you are, goodbye ;)