Thread: A Rose in the Snow (heartlesskitten x Rivine)

The restraining hand was not needed but the whispered words reminded her of what Dallin, her father's master at arms, often said. That a man does not pull a blade unless he means to use it. Despite her dislike of Cason, she did not want to cut him down for mere insults, it was just a defensive gesture. Vorian's admission that he visited the brothel enough to have fathered bastards made her shoulders sag slighty. Her first impression of him, with his tall handsome form and lilac eyes were one of a lord of the south, come to do his duty to the realm. Instead, he was like the rest of them. Riyana listened to their laughs and she sighed inwardly, the Night's Watch, once the selfless and noble was just a den of misfits and n'er to wells. Her full lips pressed in a line when he patted her shoulder and she nodded, giving him a small bow. After taking her garron to the stable and see him settled in she gathered her things and went to the barrack. Her heart pounded and she swallowed hard as she entered the room full of men and boys. With trembling knees, she sought out a bunk far away from the rest, trying to put as much distance as she had not been prepared for the closeness of the sleeping arrangements. Cason spotted her and sneered, Look at the River bastard, he's shy. One of the older men glanced up, Might wanna sleep a bit closer, little red. Nights get cold up here and the fire is far from your chosen bunk. I'll be fine, she muttered. Too shy for whores or men, Cason laughed, wincing a little at the soreness of his split lip and he felt the fresh anger at the person who had beaten him, Maybe he's a eunuch. I bet you ain't got a set of balls on you. Riyana flashed her icy blue eyes at him, Maybe I don't want to catch some pox your slut of a mother passed on to you. Cason crashed over the bunk to get at her and she was ready for him. Catching him as he swung, she drove her knee sharply up into his balls, causing the wind to be knocked out of him and he gasped loudly, grabbing at his crotch. Riyana dropped him and swung around to face the others, Looks like he's not gonna have balls if he keeps it up. The boys snickered and one of the men glared, You're a dirty fighter, Rivers. A fight is dirty, she replied calmly, stepping over Cason. Her heart betrayed her cool exterior, it was thumping wildly at the rush of adrenaline and the fear the other men would jump in to defend him. There was already proving to be a difference between them. Lad deserved it, one of the other boys said, a dark haired lad with light hazel eyes. He was young but tall and broad of shoulder, still loose limbed in is youth but with decent food and excerise would fill in with muscle, Ain't none of his business where another sleeps. Riyana gave him a nod and he extended his hand, Tomis. From King's Landing. He said it with a sense of pride, a boy from the big city, even if it was Flea Bottom. Certainly he was not the only one and Riyana shook his hand, Brydan Rivers, you can guess where I'm from. Still on edge, the reply was sharper than she meant but the boy grinned anyway and went over to Cason, pulling him up, And you, black bastard, you need to learn to protect yourself or you're going to be plucking hens until you die. Aye, Cason grunted and glared at Riyana, So what? Ain't no different here or at the brothel, except you lot are uglier to look at. Tomis laughed and gestured to Riyana, That one's for the rangers, I'm sure of it. And so am I, if I've got to take the Black, I'll at least have some fun. Fun? You call tramping through the snow for weeks on end, getting your fingers and your pecker froze off if you're not butchered by some wildling fun, Cason countered, I'll stay by the fire and pluck the feathers from the ass of chickens, thanks. Are you craven? Tomis asked, his golden brown eyes narrowing. Riyana saw Cason stood up straighter before he made a rude gesture, No I'm just not blinded by stories. I grew in the shadow of the Wall, remember I'm a black bastard. I've seen enough to know being a ranger is good if you don't fancy living to be a graybeard. Tomis snorted and gripped Cason's bony shoulder hard, You sound like an old graybeard. Hey, Brydan, doesn't he sound like an old man, scared of his own shadow. Riyana raised an eyebrow, He sounds like someone who doesn't want to be here, like most of the rest. I don't really care, I've fought him twice and wouldn't want the likes of him backing me up. Cason curled his fist and said nothing, You both are fools, go on and play at being knights of the Watch. I don't want any part of it. I'd rather be at home. One of the men laughed, I would too if I was surrounded by all that treasure! You still have lessons, she replied in her soft low voice, Vorian Dayne is waiting, we best not make him wait too long. She checked her sword and dagger, keeping her cloak on as it added to her size and with measured strides, walked out of the barracks. Long had she practiced walking so that she did not sway her hips like a woman and it was still something she had to check herself on. Tomis was after her, trotting to catch up with her, Cason and the rest straggling behind. You know who he is? The Dayne? she asked, He's a southerner for sure, those eyes...very unusual. Aye that they are, Tomis replied, glancing at her sword, I can't wait to get my own. He's a lord I hear, or he was. I'm sure he was, Riyana said, not wanting to speak too much, keeping her voice neutral and she had to remind herself during fights not to shriek or yell as it would be high pitched. Silence was best for her. Tomis chattered about lords and houses of the south, rattling off many that she had recognized and some she did not. Her own house was a minor one, Rysell mostly known in the North and the Riverlands, she doubted the boy from King's Landing would have even heard of the black stallion with the flaming red mane sigil. A small smile threatened when she glanced down at her black clothing and realized she must look quite the Rysell now. Her gloved hand ran through the cropped bright copper hair, ruffling the locks that were starting to grow out. The dozen or so recruits stood in a loose circle, glancing around nervously as most had never used a weapon, let alone had lessons. Riyana stood still, keeping her shoulders back and did not arch her back or jut out her hip to keep from looking anything but a boy. Her hands were crossed in front of her, fingers clasped as she waited for what orders Vorian might give. Her blue eyes ran over the other recruits, some were men well grown and strong, backs and arms thick from hard labor and she worried about going up against them. Dallin always told her that her speed was her asset, she would never have the strength to go blade to blade and he tried to help her learn to adjust her style to suit her abilities.