The Dungeons of the Sea Lord

[Deleted]

"Neither have I. I had hardly been home more than half a year before I came back out here," Aranya said. "Things are not as well as I would like. Especially in Duskendale."

[The Smith]

Timm nodded and when she did not continue, he turned, "If that is all then I will leave."

[Deleted]

Aranya bowed her head. "Thank you once again."

[The Smith]

Timm turned and walked out.

[Fel]

A rat pokes it's head out from under the cell door, and sniffs the air with caution. It seems to have a great interest with Aranya, and approaches slowly, careful to stay a safe distance from her.

[Deleted]

Aranya bathed, feeling immense relief at being able to remove dirt and sweat and greasiness from her hair and body, and afterwards lay on the bed, in the lacy pink satin dress that was so revoltingly girly. Aranya barely noticed. She felt deep happiness at the secret Timm Vikary had whispered to her, though it was not enough to overcome her guilt.

She rolled on her side, missing her children horribly. If she were in her bed at home, little Selyse would clamber all over her, kiss her hair, and fall asleep beside her. She was such a cuddly little girl, and she loved to curl up next to her mother. Hawkeye would wag his tail and lick Aranya' toes, and then also want to sleep on a pillow with them. This bed here was so cold and lonely.

Her own feelings took her aback. Being a mother was at odds with her very nature. She had not considered her children when she risked her life in that inn. It was an uncomfortable thing to acknowledge.

[Deleted]

May 13, 2008 10:59:12 GMT -5 Fel said:

A rat pokes it's head out from under the cell door, and sniffs the air with caution. It seems to have a great interest with Aranya, and approaches slowly, careful to stay a safe distance from her.

Aranya raised her eyebrow at the rat. "Did you follow me up from the dungeons, my friend?"

[Fel]

The rat moves tentatively closer, keeping eye contact with Aranya. It stands on its hind legs and squeaks when it's near to her.

[Deleted]

Aranya smiled when it squeaked. She slid over to the edge of the bed, and teached her arm down to the ground, palm up. "Come here, little rat," she said softly. "I'm not going to hurt you." There was an intelligent look in the rat's beady little eye.

[Fel]

The rat crawled up onto her palm, it's whiskers twitching as it sniffed around curiously.

[Deleted]

She grinned and set him down on the soft bed beside her, by her lace-covered knee.

[Deleted]

Her sight blurred for a moment and a hazy vision swam before her third eye. A farmer of rocks gazed in fear at a noble mare, putting down his scythe he mounted the magnificent, plunging beast. The horse bucked and kicked. It looked like the man would die before he ever managed to tame the wild steed.

[Fel]

Curiously, the rat began tearing gnawing a piece of lace off, then pulling it onto the bed. He pulled it out in a straight line, then crossed it to the side, making an upside down L. He moved back onto Aranya's knee to take another piece, and moved it onto the bed, putting it over the upside-down L to make an F.

[Deleted]

Aranya laughed at first. "You don't like the lace anymore than I do, eh?" But when the rat began fiddling with the lace, drawing it into shapes, she sat up. She stared silently as the rat spelled F, and then looked at the rat with piercing eyes, suddenly understanding.

"I wonder who you are," she said. "There are few skinchangers known to me, and none of them live in Braavos. But, continue."

[Fel]

The rat worked away then, pulling off more lace until he had spelled out FEL.