The candle diminished as the flame vanished. Talya woke up. She glanced at the bed by her side, the other handmaidens asleep.
Her face was stoic as she stood up on her feet. She was a highborn woman, a lady in waiting to the Queen in Green, Allicent Hightower.
She cleared her bed properly, making it seem as if she never left. Walking up to the desk, she lit up a lamp before leaving the room.
She saddled a horse through the damp roads before meeting the woman where her true allegiance lay.
"It has been quite a night, my lady."
Myssaria looked at Talya who was a middle-aged woman yet retaining her curvaceous figure that was hidden with a cloak from top to bottom.
[Character Images here- Talya/Myssaria]
Myssaria sighed and shook her head, "I'm not sure what is going on... I have to admit that I was surprised when you showed up here."
"My lady," Talya bowed her head, "Otto Hightower released an order to poison the crown prince. He is set to die, his wails could be heard across all the hallways of the Red Keep. Aside from that, King Viserys's health as of late has deteriorated by much."
Myssaria did not speak and simply nodded. It seems Baelon would die. What would come after was a mystery but it was either a civil war or Aegon Targaryen's promotion to Crown Prince.
One thing was certain, under Aegon's rule... the realm would suffer terribly.
Myssaria had an account of all of his actions. From having multiple bastards to having them fight other kids in an open arena. Her heart could not help but bleed.
From what she had heard, Rhanerya, Prince Baelon's older sister and King Viserys's first child had been vying for the throne for a long especially due to the crown prince being sickly.
She could feel a headache coming over, her face throbbed all over.
"Thank you, Talya. Return to the keep and tell me anything more of interest."
Talya bowed slightly and left from where she came.
Once Talya was gone, Myssaria took off her clothes revealing her beautiful body. She moved to the bed, kneeling down on the floor.
Things were beginning to get chaotic.
~
Talya returned to the Red Keep without much suspicion. She walked towards her chambers which were on the way to Baelon's room as well.
A look of surprise came over her, has the crown prince already passed away in his sleep? Even she had not known about the Crown Prince's poisoning.
She would not have known anything about it if Grandmaester Mellos her father had not discreetly mentioned so. The woes of her father were hard to bare. He was the one who removed Prince Baelon from the Late Queen's stomach, cutting it.
The first one to hold the crown prince was none other than him, it greatly saddened him to also be the one to kill him.
Especially considering the fact that her father had deeper secrets that he refused to confide in. Although she had a few inklings as to what those could be.
Shaking her head, she continued walking. For now, all she wished for was a good sleep. Tomorrow would be chaotic.
However, as she was walking suddenly she saw a red gleam in the darkness of the hallway. Her body instinctually froze.
She knew that that was not right. Someone was standing there, watching her. She could see the outline of their body, they were tall and muscular.
The air seemed solemn and nothing could be heard other than the sound of silence. Suddenly, footsteps could be heard from behind.
*Thump- thump... Thump!*
Talya turned around and sighed exasperatedly. It was a man clad in armor. One of the many guards of the red keep.
He looked at her coldly and spoke.
"What are you doing awake at this hour?"
Talya frowned. Not many spoke to her like this but the man probably could not recognize her in the dread of no light. Plus most lowborns worked at this hour.
"Fetching water for the Queen."
The guard nodded.
"-And what are you doing here?"
"I had gone for a break but have now returned."
Talya nodded. That seemed likely. After all, it takes time to remove amour and finally pee. So the breaks are a little longer but they compensate by holding it.
Talya looked back into the darkness. The red gleam seem to have disappeared and her body was no longer much afraid.
Maybe because the guard by her side gives a sense of protection. She sighed lightly and held the lamp higher, the knight following behind to get back at his post.
They walked a little further until the guard suddenly spoke.
"Did you see anything strange... right now?"
Talya blinked.
"Strange how?"
As soon as she questioned, an unnatural cold breeze suddenly flew, the flame in the lamp instantly flickered put and the hallway was filled with darkness.
Suddenly a loud bang sounded, it was similar to a tong hitting a large bell. The same that was in King's Landing, often used during emergencies.
However, this was a single tong.
*Clang!*
Talya and the guard froze. Fear once again filled her entire body as cold sweat dripped down her nape. She had a feeling someone was watching her... and the more she stared in front of the dark hallways, the more her belief strengthened.
Talya could see it, a pair of blood-red eyes that gleamed in the darkness flickering ever so slightly as if the spark of a flame.
"Stay where you are!" The guard whispered to Talya faintly although she may not have heard it.
His body trembled as he unsheathed his sword. The fear was getting to him as well but it was less compared to the passion of being a hero who saves a lady from distress.
"S-Show yourself, c-coward!"
Talya was suddenly broken out of her daze hearing the guard's voice that was shaking with fright provoking the gaze.
She felt it to be too obvious that she was there, yet the figure did nothing to respond.
Suddenly she realized something, she had not noticed... she was alone.
A warm liquid touched her feet, despite the temperature, a chill went across her body amidst the darkness.
She lowered her head and her eyes widened in astonishment, her body trembled all over as if she was going to collapse but not before releasing a scream of fright.
However, before she could do so... she felt a pang of pain in her neck as all power left her body in complete surrender.
Her vision began to blur, her eyesight almost completely lost. A passionate fire burned inside her, yet her body felt as if it was paralyzed unable to even moan or whimper.
'Why?' She thought as she closed her eyes and let the darkness take over but not before seeing the red eyes again.
This time it was up close and by what she could make out, they were strangely beautiful.
Her fingers reached out to them but all she could feel was the soft cold skin beside.
***