Brothel AU for draconita

[darotisentys]

[It's only been a day, but he is anxious to get back to her. He won't say he's desperate to go to the brothel, because that's not the case. He would want her no matter where he found her.

The brothel is it, however, and once he's gathered with his men and orders given for the day, meals taken and a bath, he manages to sneak out once more and go to where he knows he'll find her.

His Alys.

He doesn't take his time. He's at the door as soon as he can and enters as quietly as possible, not wanting to draw a scene. He doesn't stop until he's found her.]

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[draconita]

[ The guards keeping watch over the entry to her tower don't give any sign of acknowledging his presence; mechanically, they simply stand aside to grant him entrance.

It's quiet, in the tower.

The woman in question is seated in front of her vanity, combing her long hair and humming. She has closed her eyes, looking calm and absorbed in the task, dressed only in a light nightgown. A pretty, peaceful picture. ]

[darotisentys]

[He likes the quiet. And the peacefulness presented to him. Almost as if it's his natural element.

He steps closer to the chair, making no effort to hide his footsteps.]

May I?

[draconita]

[ When she opens her eyes, it's to find his through the reflection in the mirror, a knowing little smile making itself seen. ]

You're late.

[darotisentys]

I came when I could.

[He holds out a hand to take the brush from her.]

[draconita]

[ Which she'll relent, content with simply watching his face. ]

You look tired.

[darotisentys]

It has been a long day.

[He moves with a practiced hand, slowly running the bristles through her hair, gently but effectively.]

And you, Alys?

[draconita]

All is well with me.

[ The motions seem t relax her, although her eyes remain clear and set on him. ]

Have you eaten? I will send for a servant if there's anything you require.

[darotisentys]

I require only you.

[After several minutes, he hands the brush back to her and kneels beside the chair.]

I could not wait to see you again.

[draconita]

[ The comb is discarded without much of a thought as she twists her body to face him, both hands reaching to cup his face.

She leans down, a little, without yet kissing him. ]

You missed me.

[darotisentys]

[It been over a week since he's visited. Half because of him actually being busy, but also half of him wanting to see if he can stop himself from returning. It turns out he can't.

This night, he finds himself back at the front of the brothel, scanning the area to see if he can find her. As usual, all the other girls are ignored, brushed away as an annoyance. But she's nowhere to be found. He considers that she might be with another customer, growing angry at the thought. He barges his way further in to see where she might be.]

[draconita]

[ Right at the very back, following the cry of a man and the panicked sobs of a few girls that go off running to the safety of the service rooms.

The woman in question stands calmly, flanked by the men usually guarding the doors to her quarters. The dress she is using tonight has been ruined, the skirt damaged and leaving in sight a garter- most likely to keep hidden the bloodied dagger she's holding at the moment, no doubt used to damage one of the two young men's face. ]

You ought to leave soon. Any more of this and your life will be off my hand.

[ A warning they don't deserve, a last kindness from her part. When at last he sees her, she has turned her back on them, clearly bored with the affair already. But men and their bruised egos don't take lightly to a woman's might.

"Fucking old bitch--"

So it's no wonder the maimed lad gets to his feet, quick and vicious, a broken piece of glass raised in his hand with the intent to attack her back. ]

[darotisentys]

[He reaches the scene just as the man makes to lunge at her, glass in hand. He's on the man in seconds, arms around the patron's neck and twisting brutally. He falls to the floor as Aemond stands above him, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand. He's breathing heavily as he turns, glaring at her guard.]

You cannot even do your fucking job! Take him outside.

[Then he walks to her, inspecting her with his gaze.]

Are you hurt?

[draconita]

[ The loud crack of a neck breaking. By the time her guards have turned, the boy's corpse is already littering the floor, his companion squealing for mercy like a piglet. The madam's amused little smile makes itself seen her her men kneel and beg for apologies until she nods for them to take out the boy and dispose of the corpse.

She puts the dagger back into the garter, walking to him with outstretched hands, a palm pressed against the wild tune of his heartbeat. ]


You have lost weight. And there are bags under your eyes.

[darotisentys]

Are you hurt?

[He repeats, not willing to give up until he has an answer. He doesn't pay attention as the guards remove the body, focussing solely on her. The rest of the people may as well not exist.]

What did he do?

[draconita]

He refused to play nice. And so I scolded him.

[ Her other hand takes his, giving it a little squeeze of reassurance. ]

I am fine. See? Not a scratch on me.

[darotisentys]

[He is immediately relieved, the tension draining from his body. His hand holds hers shakily, as he stands before her now, a tired, simple boy.]

If he had done anything...

[draconita]

He didn't.

[ Her lips, as sweet as her words against his cheek ]

All thanks to you, my sweet one.

[draconita]

[ The men grow restless,and sicker by the day.

No one dares to comment on the prince's moods. But things worsen as time passes by, as surely as day becomes night: on the first week, exhaustion. By the second week, men had started to fall on their knees, clutching their stomachs and emptying their contents beyond all capability.

By the third week, even castle folk began to show symptoms.

Now, reaching the month, what remains of his captaincy stands looking haggard.

"The septon's no use, your grace. The little man has resorted to prayers now, writing to fetch for some sisters."

"What we need is a Maester, but the one residing in Harrentown died a while back, and no one has come to take over the post."

"We could fetch for one from the Capital."

"The men can't wait."

Tired heads put to thought. While the men ruminate the issue, the woman pouring Aemond's wine look particularly nervous, eyes jumping from one face to the other, lips tight - eager to speak, perhaps. ]

[darotisentys]

[Sickness is not something he had considered when marching on Harrenhal. Truth be told, he didn't think they'd be here this long, but it has turned into a home away from King's Landing. And now the close quarters have allowed something to infect just about everyone. He doesn't need this.

His own exhaustion is starting to concern him. He sleeps little, which could very well be the culprit, though he cannot deny this illness may be starting to take hold in him as well. His men are right, though - they need a Maester and quickly.

His wine is the last thing on his mind, the maid more interesting. She looks about to burst with some news, unlike any of his other attendants.]

Come, now. Speak it.

[draconita]

[ The men fall silent, heads turning to the now red-faced woman who seems to freeze under the attention, but still finds it in herself somehow to swallow down her nerves and speak.

"T-There's a woman in town who knows her herbs, your grace, just as good as any old maester, she does. She fixed my boy's fever last winter, and a few good others, she did".

One of the men scoffs, while the others look desperate enough to consider it.

"I'll take anything over the old septon and his praying at this point. Lads are suffering enough without his gloom and dronning adding to it". ]

[darotisentys]

Mm. Fixed a fever, did she?

[He seems to consider what's been said, drumming his fingers on the table.]

Bring her to me. I would see what she can do myself.

[draconita]

[ The relief on the woman's face blooms with a satisfied smile as she bows.

"I'll ask one of our boys to fetch the miss Alys right away, your grace!"

Darting off with relief without sparing a glance to the prince in question, eager to send off a rider. ]

[darotisentys]

...Alys?

[But the woman is gone. He's suddenly lost his appetite, pushing his plate away. The wine looks no more inviting. He retreats to his room, preparing to be called once she has arrived.]

[draconita]

[ It's well over an hour until the rider can be seen coming back, a woman comfortably sitting in front of him, her long black hair wild, her cheeks flushed.

Some of the soldiers still standing seem to recognize her, dipping their head in respect as she passes them by. She pays them no notice, for the second the lad has helped her to dismount she's fixing up her hair in a bun, pining up the sleeves of her dress. The man is seen carrying an old, bulky wooden box with a leather strap - a Maester's consultation bag alright.

A soldier approaches in a hurry to notify her of the prince's summoning, but he is very much ignored as she marches on. ]

Your prince can wait - not so much the sick. Don't bother me while I'm working.

[ And that's it. Like a storm, the woman marches on, seemingly knowing just where she is supposed to go, picking up baffled soldiers and staff as she goes for assistance, most of which obey silently, too worried for their comrades to argue. ]

[darotisentys]

[The same soldier attends the prince's chamber to let him know the woman has arrived, and that she's attending to the sick already. Rebuffed his summons. Aemond is not surprised. He sends the soldier away and simply sits on the edge of his bed, deciding to let her do what she can for those that need it most.]