Escape from Westeros

Subject: Escape from Westeros Wed Aug 22, 2012 11:18 pm

Katherine woke up to screaming and the smell of smoke. At first she assumed her apartment complex must have caught fire, and she was going to be engulfed within it to die. She was surprised to find herself in a different setting altogether. The walls were made of stone. Her bed had shrunk. She was in a castle.

In a castle?!

She hurried to her feet, finding her body naked, and went searching through the wardrobe on the other side of the room for some clothing. She pulled on a dress, for that was all she had, and made sure to pick one that would be easy to move in. She surprisingly found some boots and pulled those on underneath, just in case she had to move quickly. A bag was sitting by her door, packed with clothes, food, and two pairs of shoes. Was this event foreseen?

"Katherine! Hurry!" She could hear a woman's voice outside the door.

She rushed over and opened it to find a woman dressed even nicer than herself. She must have been the Lady of the castle. She looked frightened and yet strong as she took Katherine into her arms.

"Listen to your mother." She looked behind her and heard a few men shouting. "You are to go out the back and climb on the horse that is there waiting for you. Go and do not come back until you know it is safe."

If this was her mother, the man that showed up next had to be her father. He took her in, as if it were the last time he would ever see her.

"Run, my sweet, sweet girl." He seemed to be shedding tears, but did a good job at hiding them.

She did as he said and left the way she had been instructed to go. One of the knights was standing there, holding the horse. He looked at her with relief as she came out of the castle.

"They have finally rebelled, my Lady, and it is important that you survive this." He helped her onto the back of the horse. "Now go, toward the sea at the west, and do not turn back!"

He smacked the horse on the bottom and it began to gallop away. She got a glimpse of the battle that had been taking place behind her and couldn't help but feel a sadness overwhelm her heart. Were these people all going to die who thought her to be their daughter? Was she their daughter?

Where am I going?!

Subject: Re: Escape from Westeros Sun Aug 26, 2012 10:40 pm

Jorah Mormont was on his horse, riding to the harbor of Pentos. He was to meet with Viserys and Daenerys Targaryen to pledge his loyalty to them. He had only wished he hadn't travelled so far and so alone. His only companion was his horse, and even he grew boring the longer the days drew on. He would often find himself dozing off on the way, needing to stop to jump into the waters so he could wake himself up.
Days passed and turned into maybe two weeks when he finally reached the city. He noticed there was a ship coming in and he wondered what sorts of things were being carried in its bunkers. He stopped at the pier, allowing it to come in and dock fully. He always enjoyed seeing things unloaded, he never understood why. Maybe it was because in his heart he longed to be a collector of sorts, and he was always waiting to admire the beautiful things he wished to collect.
Off to the side he noticed a young and worn woman coming from the ship. He knew she had to be a stowaway, and he knew she was about to get caught. The man had spotted her and was now yelling as he thrashed her around. He galloped his horse to the commotion, hoping he wouldn't be too late to stop what he knew was about to happen.

Subject: Re: Escape from Westeros Wed Aug 29, 2012 11:48 pm

Katherine was horrified. She hadn't expected when she had sneaked onto the trading ship that the captain would try to kill her when she tried to sneak back off again. Yet, he had her arm grasped tightly in his hand, and was threatening to kill her slowly because he didn't allow stowaways on his ship. She tried with all of her might to explain who she was and why she had run onto his ship, but he was having none of it. She even carried her elegant clothing, proving she was a lady of one house or another, but he wouldn't let her prove it to him. She was going to die there after all her family had done to protect her.

She closed her eyes, giving up hope, and waited for him to cut her down. She thought back to her life she had left and wondered what good it was to send her here only to die shortly after arriving. Was this supposed to be a lesson to her? Appreciate what you have because once it's taken from you you'll regret everything you chose to take for granted? Well, it was working, but it didn't seem to matter. Her life was about to end regardless of whether she promised to appreciate the small things or not...

Please, just let it be quick...

Subject: Re: Escape from Westeros Thu Aug 30, 2012 12:08 am

Jorah jumped off of his horse and ran right up to the captain of the ship, stepping right in between his sword and the girl's throat. He put his hands up, parallel to his shoulders, and stared directly into the man's eyes.
"Now, now. I do not believe we should be so hasty. Where is the good in killing the woman who will make you 3 gold pieces richer?"
The man stared at him then, sword unwavering, but obviously listening.
"I will pay you 3 gold pieces for the girl. Just let her go, and we will be on our way."
The man bit his lips as he thought about the offer for a moment. Small breaths and mumbles escaped his lips before he finally came up with an answer.
"Make it 5 and you've go yourself a deal. Who knows what that rat has been eatin' on my ship!"
"5 gold pieces then."
Jorah reached into his pocket, slowly so not to stir the man, and pulled out his pouch of gold. He untied the string, poured out five of the pieces, and hand them to his outstretched hand.
"Now. We will let you be, then."
Jorah offered the girl his hand and quickly walked back to his horse, not sure what he was going to do with this poor girl now that he had her.

Subject: Re: Escape from Westeros Thu Aug 30, 2012 12:42 am

Katherine was surprised and thankful that this man had saved her. She was also confused and extremely cautious. Why had he done so? Was it for selfish or unselfish purposes? Did he intend to help her or did he intend to sell her as a slave or keep her as his own? These were all questions she was far too afraid to ask, but gnawed at the back of her brain anyway. She took a deep breath and looked over at him as they neared his horse. He was traveling obviously, because there were packs attached to the back of his horse. Where was he going, though? Did he intend to take her with him? She didn't know where she was going anyway, and wasn't sure she'd mind tagging along as long as her safety was ensured.

"Thank you." She finally whispered out, hoping he would hear her.

Subject: Re: Escape from Westeros Thu Aug 30, 2012 1:36 am

When the girl had thanked him, Jorah wasn't exactly sure what he was supposed to say. "You're welcome" didn't seem to be enough for saving her life. The whole thing seemed somewhat childish to him. He couldn't believe he had to save her in the first place. The head on some men was just absolutely daft to him. He shook his head and grunted as he mounted his horse.
"I don't think there is much else to do than to bring you with me on my travels. Come with me, girl."
He stretched out his hand, offering to help her into the saddle in front of him.
"I do not know your name, or I would address you as such. I am Jorah Mormont..."

Subject: Re: Escape from Westeros Wed Oct 10, 2012 3:24 pm

Katherine took the man's hand and let him pull her up into the saddle. She didn't know why she was trusting him. Just because he saved her life did not mean he would do it again, or that he wouldn't use it against her later, but she chose to follow him anyway. She didn't think she'd be worse off with him. Chances are she would be killed if she chose to set out on her own.

"Katherine." She didn't give her last name, not wanting him to know she was the daughter of Lord Naylor.

She took a deep breath and looked out before them. Where were they headed to? How long would they travel? What was waiting for her in the future?

Subject: Re: Escape from Westeros Wed Oct 10, 2012 5:34 pm

Jorah thought silently to himself as the girl introduced herself. He was curious as to why she didn't give him both of her names, but he wasn't going to push the subject. If she had wanted him to know, she would have told him. And the reality of the situation was, he didn't need to know her family name to address her as something other than "girl".

He cleared his throat and pushed his horse to carry onward.

"Well, Katherine, you are safe with me. I can assure you that. It isn't in my nature to harm a woman. If you couldn't tell. I did buy you, after all."

He quickly realized this might sound bad to her, so he had to think of something else to say.

"And I swear to you I will not make you think badly of my intentions. For I do not intend anything. I had to buy you, yes, but that does not mean that I now own you. You are still free to go whenever you so choose. I just figured you obviously have nowhere to go, so I could assist you and take you where I am headed in the very least..."

Subject: Re: Escape from Westeros Wed Oct 10, 2012 5:41 pm

Katherine was glad that Jorah was being so easy to be around and that he was explaining to her that she was free to do as she pleased. She always figured he was a very sweet man, having watched him on the show, and was glad that there wasn't a side to him they weren't showing that she would dislike. He really would look out for her, that much she knew was true.

"Thank you, Jorah, for your kindness." She looked ahead of them. "And thank you for taking me with you."

She wasn't sure if they were headed to see the Targaryens or what they were doing. She knew that it had to be around this time that Jorah met up with them and pledged his allegiance. She wondered if she would be stuck with them, maybe serving Viserys. She tried to compress the shudder she felt rise up through her body. No, that would not do at all.

"Where is it that we are heading?" She asked sweetly, preparing herself for the answer.

Subject: Re: Escape from Westeros Wed Oct 10, 2012 6:23 pm

Jorah released some tension in his shoulders by shrugging slightly. This ride was just about over, he had to keep reminding himself of this. He took a deep breath and proceeded to give Katherine the information she was seeking.

"I have come to pledge my allegiance to the Targaryens. Daenerys is to marry the Dothraki warlord. I am to make sure she is kept safe."

He sighed and continued forward, knowing that this journey was drawing near its end.

Subject: Re: Escape from Westeros Wed Oct 10, 2012 6:37 pm

Katherine tried not to frown, because she didn't want him to think any of this information upset her. Her fears were right, though. They were going to see the Targaryens. She wasn't afraid to see Daenerys, of course, but her brother was a whole nother story. He was scary, cruel, and didn't think with his head on straight. She knew that Jorah would keep her safe, but if he was forced to listen to Viserys she wasn't sure quite how long her safety would last her. She took a deep breath, looking ahead and seeing a familiar building in the distance. They weren't too far away.

"Oh, so we are close I assume?" She pointed toward the large building looming before them. "It is nice of you to pledge to keep her safe, for I am sure she will need it."

From her brother and from being poisoned, anyway.