(Location: Gogossos Harbour)
(Time: Late Morning)
(3rd person)
"Arthur... you can dock us right" Jon asks with uncertainty in their voice as they get ever closer to the docking port. Jon can be seen standing next to the Arthur by the wheel of the ship who was awkwardly scratching his head.
"Yeah of course... maybe" Arthur says with a uneasy smile on his face as he directs the boat.
"I'm lowering the anchor we can keep the ship out here and take row boat to shore" Jon says resolutely as he heads down the steps to the anchor wheel.
"Could've at least let me try" Arthur mutters to himself as he lets go of the wheel, he follows Jon down the steps to help him drop anchor.
"Oh we've arrived?" Rhaenys asks as she can be seen coming out of the captains cabin, Sansa trailing behind her they approach the duo as they strain their muscles doing the work that usually took 4 men, Rhaenys and Sansa can be seen appreciating Jon's physique as he had claimed some of the pirates clothes in order to better blend in, he was wearing a sleeveless brown leather jerkin with no shirt underneath, he also had some black breeches on and black boots he had taken from the captain.
Arthur remaining the knight that he was decided to stick with the nobleman clothes he acquired from Zamettar which include a white tunic with a sleeveless black doublet with black breeches and brown boots.
"Yep, can't trust Arthur not to ram us into the docks so we've decided to leave the boat just outside the harbour and take a rowboat to shore" Jon states while looking up at the girls. He saw that they had gotten into their disguise by taking some of the clothes worn by the small pirates, though they insisted on washing them first, even in men's clothes both girls were a vision of beauty with the male clothes not doing a good job of hiding their curves or in Rhaenys case large chest.
Finally having dropped the anchor, Jon when to go lean on the side of the ship and enjoy the view of the ocean, Rhaenys and Sansa joining him, Arthur went and grabbed something from the captains cabin, throwing a small pouch at Jon, he looked in it to see numerous gold and silver coins.
"We don't want to stay here any longer than we have to so it's best we split up, Me and Rhaenys can handle recruiting anyone who looks even remotely trustworthy and you and Sansa can handle supplies" Arthur says in a serious voice as he addresses the three who were currently leaning on the edge of the ship.
"I'm sure it can't be that bad Arthur why can't we stay around it's the first place with actual people we've seen in over a year" Sansa says with a smile as the sea breeze blows through her hair.
"She's right we should take the opportunity to relax a bit" Jon added with a small smile at Sansa who looked dreamily back at him.
"Jon this isn't Naath, we aren't going to arrive to a welcoming party of dancing, drinking and songs about peace and love" Arthur says as he sighs.
"It's much more likely that they'll try and kill both of us and then take Sansa and Rhaenys for concubines or just sell them" He continues as he looks at the three seriously.
Jon thinking that Arthur is exaggerating can't help but roll his eyes, 'Compared to Sothoryos this place will probably be a haven' Jon can't help but think to himself. But considering that Sansa and Rhaenys could be in danger he decides it wouldn't hurt to have some precautions.
"Sansa, Rhaenys you should wear those hooded cloaks we found, you two are very beautiful so I don't want the pirates getting any ideas" Jon says seriously, Rhaenys preens at the attention while Sansa blushes profusely before they both head back into the cabin though not before Rhaenys gives Jon a kiss on the cheek.
"Don't worry too much Arthur, between the two of us I'm sure we could escape easily" Jon says clapping him on the shoulder.
"I know Jon It just feels like until we can get to real civilisation we are still at square one" Arthur replies to Jon as he stares out towards the ocean.
(2 hours later)
The group had gotten off their stolen ship and had made it to the Port of Gogossos, Sansa was looking around at the bustling city in amazement, even though it wasn't as advanced as the cities in the north it was still rather exotic.
Most of the houses were wooden and packed closely together, in the harbour there was a main road that stretched 20 metres in diameter, it lead all the way to the keep which was said to be where the pirate king resided, along the road was lots of different stalls selling different products from fruit to medicine and clothes to weapons.
Not to mention further up when the houses decreased in number and the road widened is where you could buy people. Jon and Arthur looked uneasy as they saw people in chains get led up the main road though they had to admit seeing other people in what seemed like forever was a good feeling, even if they were scum.
"Me and Rhaenys will go and try looking in the local inns to see if anyone is looking for work" Arthur says turning to Jon who nods back at him.
"Me and Sansa will head up the main road and see if anyone can supply us" Jon replies back to Arthur, they clasp arms and both head off in different directions.
"I guess we're very close to getting back home" Sansa says with a smile as she walks close to Jon, they have to be careful avoiding people as you never know when you might encounter a pickpocket or someone dangerous.
"I guess we are" Jon says with a sad smile as they walk in the midday sun, Jon is being unusually quiet and solemn as soon as Sansa brought up the idea of reaching home. Knowing something was wrong Sansa decides to say something.
"Is something wrong Jon" Sansa asks as she grabs his arm making Jon flinch a bit. He feels bad that he hasn't told her after all this time, that he wouldn't be coming back home with her, but he steels himself and decides to just let it out.
"Sansa... I'm not coming home" Jon says bluntly to her, as he looks straight at her, Sansa being shocked would be an understatement, she never considered the fact that Jon wouldn't want to come home as it always felt natural that he'd join her back in Winterfell.
'And then what?' Sansa thinks to herself as she still feels Jon's gaze on her.
'We'd go home and you'd confess your love to him before having a fairy tale wedding... grow up' she keeps thinking while she clenches her fists even harder.
In some part of her she always knew that Jon wouldn't be coming with her, he'd just found his sister again and that's not to mention Arthur, neither of them would be safe in Westeros.
'I thought I'd grown up, but I really haven't moved passed those stories mother would tell me' she thinks to herself as a self pitying smile appears on her face.
"I see..." Sansa just says simply hiding her face by receding deeper into the cloak that she was wearing so Jon couldn't see the tears on her face.
"We will still see each other, It won't be the end" Jon tries to say encouragingly as he grabs Sansas hand, Sansa revels in the warmth of his hand before snapping out of her thoughts and removing her hand to wipe her eyes.
"Jon it's fine really" Sansa tries to say in a light tone but her voice can be heard trembling.
"Let's just do what we came here to do, okay?" Sansa says with finality as she walks ahead of Jon slightly, Jon feeling a bit guilty decides to leave it until they're out of this place.
Having an idea Jon grabs Sansas hand and takes her to a stall that seemed to be selling fruits that they'd never seen before in the north, though it couldn't compare to the strange ones that were abundant in the jungles of Sothoryos.
"One of these" Jon says in Valyrian to the stall owner who brightens up as Jon flashes a silver piece, you can see the gaps in his teeth and his uneven beard, he looked like the kind of person who would steal your coin purse than the kind that would sell fruit.
The rough looking man at the stall holds up a fruit thats red and scaled with small green plants growing from the side, Jon takes his dagger and cuts the top of the fruit off and slices a bit off for Sansa who takes a bite of it in her mouth and eats it, the juices from the fruit sliding to the sides of her full lips.
Her eyes light up as soon as the fruit spreads across her taste buds and she immediately looks to Jon who has a small smile on his face from watching her reaction "Jon that's so good! Try it" Sansa says while holding up the bit of fruit she had left to Jon's mouth, Jon opens his mouth and eats it, the sweet juices from the fruit spread all across his mouth bathing him in the taste of the fruit.
"You're right I don't think I've ever tasted something like this before" Jon says to Sansa, while making a note of coming back and buying some of these mysterious fruits before leaving.
Taking Sansas hand back in his own he drags her down the road, "We should have some fun while we are here I'd say we deserve it" Jon says while looking at Sansa who just nods her head with a big smile on her face having been cheered up from her previous mood.
Meanwhile Arthur and Rhaenys were currently at the tavern not having much luck recruiting for their crew.
Arthur and Rhaenys were both sitting in a dank and smelly bar, Arthur had just sat back down from going round the tavern asking around for anyone looking for work.
"I just don't get it, why are people so reluctant to leave" Arthur says mostly to himself though Rhaenys sighs when she hears what he says, she looks around the tavern and sees that a lot of the people that are there seem solemn and not very happy with some outright complaining about being in this 'cursed place'.
"I'm afraid you will struggle getting any of these men to leave friend" a tall, fat and balding man said to the duo, they hadn't noticed that he had taken a seat next to them and was taking a big gulp from his cup, his clothes were a faded red robe that looked tight on him, he had a leather breastplate over his chest though that looked just as faded as his robes.
"And why is that friend" Arthur replies putting unnecessary emphasis on the word friend, he narrowed his eyes at the newcomer with suspicion as he only knew one group of people who dressed in red robes no matter how faded they were 'Cant let him meet Jon, he'd probably start calling him a prophet' Arthur thinks to himself as he waits for the man's response.
"The New king has decided to forgo allowing any residents to leave this island" The man bluntly states as he finishes off his cup of ale, the liquid soaking his beard.
"Why would he do that?" Rhaenys finally speaks from under her hood, curious at why people would be banned from leaving this place.
"The new king is an ambitious man but for that he has to have manpower which isn't very abundant when you rule over a bunch of pirates" the man replies before laughing a big belly laugh, Rhaenys sees him eyeing up her cup of ale and pushes it toward the man "Be my guest" she says not really wanting to drink anything from a place like this, the man happily takes her drink and takes a big gulp and releasing a large belch by the end of it.
"How is he keeping people in line" Arthur asks with curiosity, pirates are an independent and free seeking people so keeping them all in one place cant be easy.
"For a lot of people this is home, this is where they live when they don't raid and where they keep their possessions, the king has decreed that anyone found to have not stayed after returning or fails to return at all will have all of their possessions seized to fund the city" the man explains.
"That can't make him very popular with these folk" Arthur states as the man laughs shaking his head at his words.
"People think the new king has cursed this place for what he did to the people who lived on the isle of toads" Thoros states grimly his jovial mood disappearing completely as he puts his cup down.
"What did he do" this time it was Rhaenys who broke the silence as her curiously got the better of her.
(With Jon and Sansa)
Wearing a new emerald necklace that Jon had just bought for her Sansa was having an amazing time as they walked down the long road exploring all the stalls, Jon had managed to get supplies for the ship but for some reason he had to pay a lot more than usual which he wasn't too happy about but at least they would deliver it to the dock for them.
As they walked down the stalls started getting fewer and fewer until they came to the end of the road a large opening in the road could be seen just before the keep, all the stalls in this square had people instead of trade goods, though to these people I'm sure there wasn't a difference, in the middle of the square was a deep pit.
Jon and Sansa both approached this pit and saw it went deep at lest 5 levels and all of them had people on them but in the middle of the pit was a large black stone statue probably 40ft tall of what looked like a toad.
"Seven hells" Jon whispered as Sansa tightened her grip on his arm.
(Arthur snd Rhaenys)
"One day the king went to the island of toads with a large fleet, he plundered the entire place and ordered his men to take the toad statue that the inhabitants worshiped"
The man explains with seriousness in his voice.
"Why would he do that" Rhaenys asks with shock in her voice as she puts her hand over her mouth.
"He needs manpower, it's only rumours but I've heard he plans on colonising Sothoryos as he isn't happy only ruling this small island, he's heard of riches beyond what anyone can imagine being abundant there" The man chuckles as the ridiculousness of his own words.
"Only thing in that place is death and ghosts of a past that should be forgotten" Arthur says grimly as he tightens his grip around the cup confusing the man as to how he knew such things.
"Why did he take the statue" Arthur finally says after thinking back to his time in Sothoryos, looking back at the pudgy man in faded red robes.
"Because the residents worship the damn thing, they couldn't stop him from taking it so they did the next best thing and followed it here, they're kept in the pit in the slavers market along with their 'god'" The man continues as he laughs at the idea of that statue being any sort of god.
"Though things have been getting strange here, the seas are rough and the water seems to be rising the residents think they've been cured, I don't care if they have but a scared people will do stupid things so I wanna get out of here but no one seems to be leaving" The man says with a small smile on his face as he finishes Rhaenys cup of ale.
While Arthur seems to be considering letting this man on their ship Rhaenys doesn't like the bad omen she's getting from this place and will take anyone at this moment as long as they can leave.
"Can you sail" Rhaenys quickly says to the man surprising Arthur.
"I know my way around a ship" the man replies.
"Welcome aboard? Sorry I don't believe you've given your name" Rhaenys says to him.
"Ah yes I'm Thoros, Thoros of Myr" the man says with a small head bow.
(Jon and Sansa)
"This is horrible Jon" Sansa says tearfully as she looks into the pit with the statue to see it packed to the brim full of people with fishlike appearances all varying to difference degrees, some are sitting there listlessly and some are actively worshiping the statue.
"We should go, there is no need to see this" Jon states grimly before turning around and grabbing Sansa hand.
They look at a small gathering around a stage and go to investigate, an auction seems to be taking place there as people buy slaves that are being brought up. A small blonde girl with curly hair and a tattered red dress that fit her body nicely was led up onto the stage.
Sansa couldn't understand what she was saying so she poked Jon in the side and asked him to translate for her.
"She's 1 and 3 name days old, a noble man's bastard from Westeros, her purity has been kept in tact and she is well learned in different subjects" Jon translates the slavers words for her, he can't help but feel a pang of sympathy for the girl, being a bastard isn't an easy life but having ended up here he can't help but feel kinship with her though he was lucky to have people look out for him.
"Jon you must help her" Sansa says as she grabs onto his arm and looks at him with pleading eyes.
"Sansa we can't help everyone, I'm sorry but we can't afford to have dead weight with us" Jon replies to Sansa though he can't look her in the eyes while he does it.
"Isn't that what I was" Sansa says back to him as she tightens her grip around his arm.
"Not anymore, you can protect yourself and for the past 4 months you've been helping me hunt" Jon says finally turning around to her with a smile.
"Please Jon, I'll take responsibility if she can't pull her weight, though you heard what the man said she could know things that could help us" Sansa says finally breaking Jon down enough to give in.
With a sigh Jon just nods and makes an effort to get to the front of the crowd where the bidding would take place. After a couple minutes of intense bidding Jon manages to win the auction to the chagrin of many of the rival bidders.
"Well done Young Lord, I hope you have fun breaking her in" The slaver says in Valyrian as gives Jon a small wink and hands him the lead to the collar around the girls neck, with the key.
Jon hands the man a fistful of gold without replying and grabs the girl before heading out of the crowd, they exit the slavers square and head to an empty alleyway.
"I truly didn't expect my first time to be in a place like this, though from what I've read Rhaenyra Targaryen loved mating in the open air so perhaps it'll be quite pleasant" The curly haired blonde girl says with a small smile on her face as she looks at the duo.
"Will both of you be using me or will it just be one of you, I'm afraid I haven't read much on the former the maesters at home and the faith think those books are quite scandalous" she continues with a small giggle.
Jon and Sansa are dumbfounded at the upbeat attitude of the slave that they had just purchase so much so that for a while they forget to speak at all.
Regaining his wits Jon finally replies to her "No there's no need to worry about that, you're not a slave anymore and wont be forcing ourselves on you me or Sansa" Jon replies to which Sansa just nods.
"That's nice, I was rather hoping to lose my purity inside on a bed to be quite honest" The girl says dreamily as she looks at the two.
Blushing a bit Jon coughs "Well no need to worry about that, so what shall we call you' Jon asks while using the key to take her collar off.
"I'm Joy Hill, to think this morning I was a slave and now I've got two new friends, today really is going well" Joy replies to Jon with her usual dreamy smile.
"I'm Jon and this is Sansa, right now we are heading back to the docks and hopefully getting out of here and heading back to Westeros, you're very welcome to join us" Jon asks her.
"That would be wonderful" Joy replies to Jon grasping his hands in hers with a beautiful smile on her face.
"Good, now let's hurry" Jon says before leading both of the girls out of the alleyway and heading back towards the harbour.
(AN: ughhhhhh sorry guys been pretty busy with work so took a bit longer to get this chapter out, imma start trying to make them longer since people like that stuff, ummmm I'm gonna be pretty busy this weekend with work so not sure how many chapters I'll do at least another one idk. Anyway hope you enjoyed it let me know)