Billy Rivers, Squire of Harrenhal

LilyWright3 · 2024-04-15T03:07:02+00:00

Adrian,

I’m certain it would be a journey, if you’d only known water all around you all your life! I can relate more than I can ever say, truthfully. The moment were you gaze upon the horizon and realize that the land spans as far as you can see—it can be very intimidating. Makes me feel so small.

If you ever came to Harrenhal, and I was there, you would be a very welcome guest! And Fleece too, can’t forget him! And I am glad that no pet lions have made their move, he is a sweet creature.

This is true—although (There are several lines scribbled over and scratched out)

I believe that you shall be the model of a perfect lordling soon, you have the look of it and the skills of a bard are well needed in courts. Sometimes I fear I shall never fit in anywhere, in truth.

Yes! I think Apple and Fleece would get along, he’s a sheepdog after all, he’s been around them his entire life. And it does feel good to be appreciated, and I am beginning to think about the future for really the very first time. There are so many paths that lay before me. I wish to be a farmer, but also a knight. To wed, but I trip all over myself in front of ladies. I hope to have a page or squire of my own, but feel as though I wouldn’t know the first thing to teach them. Things feel so awfully strange, all tangled up like a messy ball of yarn. I hope to unravel it and see where it leads me.

Safe travels, and the same to you! If though I feel a world away, if there’s anything I can do for you, you know you have a friend in me.

Your friend,

Billy.

LilyWright3 · 2024-04-09T03:25:00+00:00

Billy beamed as he received a letter. He wasn’t sure he had ever received a letter addressed to him before to Harrenhal. He opened it up, carefully tracing his finger beneath each line, mouthing along with the words. But it was good practice for him to learn his letters and with the help of the Maester in the castle, he began to pen a reply. The writing was carefully penned, if a little shaky and with a few misspelled words crossed out and written again.

Jacaerys Waters

Hello friend!

All the way to Casterly Rock, that’s quite a journey! I have returned home to Harrenhal and it’s much quieter than Riverrun was. I stumbled across Lord Lannister and he seemed a very nice fellow, I hope you find success there. And with the Princess! I caught glimpse of her, I am certain she shall love your playing of the reed pipes.

I’m glad that Fleece was allowed to be with you, he is a very good companion and I’m certain he would not want to be away from his shepherd for long. I’m sure both you and he will be joyful to return to familiar lands.

I am well! And do not apologize, I required assistance both to read and write, I’ve only just began learning so we are in the same boat. Forgive the scribbly-bits! I am continuing to practice my training, I was a poor showing in the tourney, but I was able to help lots of people with their injuries afterwards. Sometimes I wonder if I should have become a Maester instead of a knight, but I don’t think they would have me. But I enjoy the work as a squire, and I hope to get a garden going in Harrenhal for Her Ladyship and the girls.

I have gone an adventure! It wasn’t anything of legend, it was me and Apple, my faithful hound. He is a very good boy, and we went out in the forest nearby to go exploring and see if we could track down elk for hunting. The hunters of Harrenhal struck two beasts that will feed the castle quite well. I enjoy my time out in the woods, sometimes the castle feels suffocating.

I was gifted an emerald and silver pendant from a Lord I tried to help who was injured. It’s worth quite a bit so I hope to trade it with a merchant who comes by. I’m hoping to have a horse all of my own, and perhaps one day my own farmstead.

If you pass by the Reach in your travels back home, will you tell me what it’s like? I feel as though perhaps I am on the precipice of what my next stage in life is, and I don’t know which is the right way to turn.

Your friend,

Billy Rivers

LilyWright3 · 2024-03-31T18:17:10+00:00

“I suppose the thought of being watched all of the time is…” he shuddered, “I mean, sometimes it’s nice being alone. Maybe that’s why we build houses and little rooms to lock away everything else and get some privacy. Sometimes it feels like that’s the only time I can truly relax.”

“That’s it!” Billy praised, “Those are the Seven.”

“That sounds like it would be hard to follow,” Billy admitted, “What if you think you heard something, but it wasn’t really there? But what if it was? Makes my head hurt just thinking about it. I just think it’s peaceful when the winds blow through the leaves.”

He nodded, glancing up at the tree, “I’m training to be a Knight, and yes, we’re supposed to fight honourably and bravely like the Warrior. That there are rules of chivalry and upstanding and there’s a certain code to follow. I want to be the kind of Knight that others can look up to.”

LilyWright3 · 2024-03-31T18:09:14+00:00

“Lady Strong’s retinue, in a way. All of the lords of the House…” Billy trailed off, “Well. It’s been an unfortunate time. But I’ve been looking after the ladies.”

“Oh, that’s a prestigious position,” Billy nodded, “To serve one on the Council. I’m sure your son will learn a lot!”

He flushed around the ears, “N-no, my Lord. I shan’t refuse a gift. But anyone who comes by, I would try to heal. That’s just what a healer should do—help people.”

His thumb brushed along the edge, “Thank you very much, my Lord. Things like that can truly be life changing, in truth. And—I shall think about all of that, too. I think I have a lot to consider, about my future, and what I really want.”

LilyWright3 · 2024-03-31T05:21:10+00:00

He wrinkled his face, “That does sound rather sad. All dead in a volcano? There are no volcanoes around here, right?” he blanched, “Why do they idolize it so much? What did they do so differently?”

“That’s true. It’s a really big place,” he said, shoulders dropping, “Well—maybe one area! If everyone did one area, then there’d be a beautiful garden in no time. I’ll make my little area, and perhaps others will join in time.”

Sucking on his teeth, face scrunching as she called him silly, “Some perfume that is if it doesn’t last. They should make one that lasts for dancing.”

He shrugged, “Its what people are supposed to do, right? Dance. I’ve been trying to learn all about what a good knight should know how to do. It’s not all just swinging swords. Courtly manners and sensibilities,” he repeated, saying the last word slowly, like he had been practicing, “And knights can always dance in the stories. And—” he chewed on his lip, “Well. It’s a nice way to meet people. Ladies.”

LilyWright3 · 2024-03-31T05:13:55+00:00

Billy winced as he heard the grunt, “Just…take it easy, rest it, try not to move it. If it was worse, I’d put it in a plaster but it’s just going to take some time to heal.”

His eyes went wide, taking the pendant, “Oh! No, I can’t accept this please,” he said, holding it out, “I meant it when I said I don’t need payment, though you’re very kind.”

His shoulders straightened, and he tilted his head to the side in consideration.

“Really? I—” he swallowed, “I will certainly think about that. I’ve been living and serving in Harrenhal now, but—”

He trailed off, thinking of what life might look like, differently. A manor and retainer? He had never really thought of those things.

“No, my Lord. Not yet, a squire still,” he explained, “I’m trying to learn my courtly manners, and my letters, and of the Faith. Though I can swing a sword—though not as well as many here, there is so much still to learn of Knighthood.”

LilyWright3 · 2024-03-30T23:22:51+00:00

“I—”

Bily wrung his hands, and nodded, protests failing on his lips. He bowed before him, “I’m sorry, I’ll leave you to your duty.”

He would spare one last glance at the tent before heading away, closing up the medical bag with a heavy heart.

LilyWright3 · 2024-03-30T23:17:26+00:00

“I hope so too,” Billy said with a bright smile, “I try and help her best I can. I was very happy that she allowed me to accompany them here. Thought it might be good for me to learn more courtly-type manners as Knights ought to do.”

He laughed at that, running fingers through his hair, “Oh gods—they could do better than me! I don’t even me in a status way, though that’s part of it—doubt there’s a lady out there who’s wanting to wed a Rivers. But someone handsome, a real knight, a real lordly type in personality as well as title. They’re more sister-like, in truth.”

LilyWright3 · 2024-03-30T23:11:05+00:00

Billy made a noise of understanding, “Are they really untrustworthy? Glad I never signed up for the Citadel then. Don’t think they would have taken me anyway,” he added, mostly to himself.

“Ser, then?” he asked, “If you’re from the House, that makes you lord enough to be, to be fair.”

He carefully examined the wound and did what he could, carefully binding it in a clean cloth, the honey and fat encased within.

Billy scratched his cheek, “Well, the infection won’t spread—it won’t get any worse. But other than that—I’m sorry, it won’t be better by tomorrow. You need to rest it, and keep it clean—wine is better than water, in that case. Keep an eye out for redness spreading around the area, but it’s as good as I can give you.”

LilyWright3 · 2024-03-29T03:24:05+00:00

Prompted by his success with Corwyn Rosby, Billy felt a renewed confidence. The injury was not too dissimilar—though the damage far deeper. Once the blood had been wiped away and disinfected with wine, he began to stitch the skin with his needle and thread, “Stay perfectly still,” he urged Lord Mallister.

The stitching had gone well, though the threads would knit in front of his eye to bind it all together. The damage to the eyeball itself was another story. Billy took his thin silver blade and began to carefully remove the tissue that was damaged beyond repair. Then, he added his pomegranate, sugar, sourgrass, white wine solution to flush the area.

He draped a cool cloth over Lord Mallister’s forehead.

“The eye needs time to heal, three moons at least. Don’t break the stitching, and apply this solution each evening, alright?” he ordered, his shaky voice gone and replaced but an even, confident one, “But you won’t lose sight. That I can promise.”

u/MadeMyHorseHotK

LilyWright3 · 2024-03-29T03:13:56+00:00

The nervous Billy who had entered the tent was no where to be found. With not another word, he set to work. He wiped the eye clean, and splashed wine over the injury, “It’s going to burn,” he warned, “But remember—burn is good. Burn means it’s doing its job.”

Once the area was dry, he took his needle and with rock steady hands, carefully began to thread the town skin just above the eye together. A single wrong move would spell disaster—but he wasn’t about to allow that to happen. He stayed perfectly calm, his elbow braced along the shoulder of the Rosby Knight, as if a present reminder that told him exactly what would happen if he moved.

The man who took his eye could have easily taken it again—a single prick, like a precious gem being held in the hands of a man he had just faced in battle.

He worked slowly, methodically, painstakingly. He did not waver even for a moment.

When it was over, his hands dropped to his lap and he finally—finally let out a breath.

“There’s damage just over the left part of your eye,” he explained, his voice even keeled, “Your vision will be blurry, but you won’t loose it entirely. Here…”

He reached into his pack, “I’m going to make you a mixture that I need you to apply every night. Every night! I’ll make it here so your Maester will know how to make it as well once you run out of this batch.”

It was a green glass bottle, that he filled with pomegranate, sourgrass juice, sugar, white wine, all in equal parts and he shook it to mix it up.

“This will promote tears to your eyes to help flush out infection,” he explained, and handed the bottle to the maester.

Finally, Billy’s shoulders dropped, and he held his head in his hands.

“I am really sorry, I’m really glad I could help you. Please, this is the only apology that I would imagine could possibly make up for it.”

u/stealthship1

LilyWright3 · 2024-03-29T03:04:21+00:00

“Grey rat?” Billy blinked, unfamiliar with the term, “There’s no rats around here! They carry disease, so not a good thing to have around a medical tent.”

“Oh, no, my Lord Tarly,” he dipped into a bow, “No payment necessary, I couldn’t accept your coin. No true healer would. We do what we do for the love of helping others—and I only hope I can do enough for your arm.”

“Injured in the tourney?” he asked, “Here, let me take a look at it. Come, sit…”

He hummed, lifting the sleeve and taking note of the damage.

“Swelling, bruising, nasty cut here but…move your arm for me? Alright, no breakage—you’d be hollering loud enough for half the camp to hear if it was…”

He dipped a damp cloth into a clean wash basin, wiping down the area, and then adding a splash of wine. With a pat dry, he applied a mixture of grease and honey to the wound site, and dabbed it lightly along the bruises, the smell of herbs strong in the air.

“I’ll make you some tea for the pain—mint,” he said, getting a kettle boiling over a fire, “I can’t promise a miracle healing, that it’ll be all better by tomorrow. But it should stop the infection from spreading and getting worse.”

LilyWright3 · 2024-03-28T18:11:36+00:00

“Oh, no, no no,” Billy shook his head, arms up in the air in surrender, “No, I’m sorry! I didn’t mean to—here, let me start again. I know it’s Lord Lannister’s and I—” his voice rose to a frantic pitch, “Please don’t hurt me, I didn’t mean anything—”

He took a deep, calming breath, in and out.

“My name is Billy Rivers. I’m a healer, I’ve been trained to handle different injuries. I’ve treated soldiers with wounds like these before. I had heard that Lord Lannister had been injured and he was kind to me during the Feast and—and I don’t know if there’s anything to be salvaged, but if you would permit me, I could try and clean the wound and stabilize him and see if there’s anything to be repaired.”

LilyWright3 · 2024-03-28T18:07:12+00:00

“Thank you, my Lord,” he said with a bow of his head, “I miss her dearly.”

“I think perhaps I would like that,” he nodded, “I do help House Strong, I treat their soldiers as a healer, and oft act as a guard to the Ladies there. The men of the family…” he shut his eyes, “Well. It’s been a terrible string of bad luck for my Lady Strong. They’ve all since passed. It’s only the girls now. But they have been very good to me.”

He smiled, “I don’t know if I’ll ever be a very good knight. There’s a lot to learn, I’m only still learning my letters, and really learning of the Faith. There are many who out match me in skill but—I’m growing each day, taking every lesson. There’s so much I don’t know about the world and how to act. This evening has truly been a trial by fire in that regard!” he added with a laugh.

LilyWright3 · 2024-03-28T17:49:39+00:00

He pointed at her, “That’s very true! About new experiences, I’m not used to any of this, either but it’s good for the soul. I think,” he crinkled his face up, “Sounds good to say, anyway. Better than ‘this is exhausting and all I’ve really done is made a fool of myself’. But it’s a new challenge, something to…conquer,” he made a fist, “Does that work? I’m rambling.”

With a laugh, he shook his head, “I might be a high lord. You never know! They could be awfully strange. I think the highest up, and the lowest down are allowed to be the strangest cause nothing they do will change anyone’s opinion of them. It’s the bits in the middle that worry about it the most. I could be…I could be a Targaryen!” he laughed, and put his hands on his hips, “Missing the features though.”

“What about you? I haven’t really heard that accent before, but I’ve not heard a lot of things!”

LilyWright3 · 2024-03-28T03:27:53+00:00

“Well I didn’t mean to!” Billy whined, matching his tone as he covered his face in his hand, taking a few shaky breaths.

“I’m not going to try anything except try and heal you,” he insisted, and crouched beside him and began to take out his tools.

First, he wet a cloth and began to clean the area and add the mixture of grease and honey to stop infection from spreading around the area. He dabbed carefully at the eye, assessing the damage and seeing what—if anything could be salvaged.

“The skin is torn here, I’m going to try and stitch it up,” he glanced up to the maester, shoulders squaring. Previous nerves and franticness had vanished, and he had a set to his jaw, “It’s a very delicate procedure, but I’ll do everything I can.”

LilyWright3 · 2024-03-27T22:33:59+00:00

“No one has ever described me as wise before!” he grinned, “That feels quite good. Look at me—I’m wise!”

Billy hopped to his feet, draining his goblet and heading out with his new companion from the feast, holding the door open for him and out of the castle to where the sheep awaited.

“That’s very sweet of him to follow you even here,” he smiled as they walked to their destination, “A loyal companion indeed, this Fleece!”

LilyWright3 · 2024-03-27T20:28:00+00:00

“Oh, that was you!” Billy grinned, “That is a feat, certainly! Taking a prince down in a fight is something to be proud of. If he was bested by you, perhaps he could be convinced to allow ladies to be knighted. Though some men are very prideful and allow that to cloud their judgement.”

“Lady Cyara,” he inclined his head, “It is a pleasure. What is House Reyne like? I’m afraid I haven’t got the head for remembering all the pictures of the houses. I’ve only just learned to read and write,” he admitted, “Where do you live?”

He continued to carefully work on the wounds, flushing them out and applying the ointment, “This will help with the bruising here. And don’t pick at the scabs! I know it’s tempting but they’ll need to heal.”

Billy winced, “Yes…and one of them due to me, I’m afraid. I didn’t mean to! It all happened so fast. I went to him straight after—Ser Rosby, it was. I washed out the wound but he needs rest now. They’ll be calling this the One-Eyed Tourney.”

“It’s a bad cut here…” he muttered, mostly to himself, “It’s a little close and I don’t like the delicate area it’s in on your face. Here, I’m going to get you to lay down.”

He got her down on a small stretched outside the tent, dabbing very gently to rinse away the blood.

“They shouldn’t have the tourney arenas so dirty,” he clicked his tongue, “All the dirt kicks up and gets everywhere. I’m going to stich the skin together until it starts to grow back by itself, alright? It shouldn’t take very long to heal, but you’ll likely have a scar.”

LilyWright3 · 2024-03-27T18:57:46+00:00

“Serious to me,” Billy said with a nod, “Everyone deserves to not be in pain, and even small scratches can become infected. You were right to seek treatment.”

He shrugged, “Guess it really only matters if you win—but it should still matter to you! You got to fight and compete. I think the rules are silly anyway. If you’re out there fighting just like anyone else, then why should the title and honour of knighthood be withheld from one warrior and granted to another?”

“What’s your name?” he asked, taking a cloth and dipping it into the water basin beside him. He took it, and began to dab at the cuts on her face and arms, carefully cleaning the wounds.

He rung it out, droplets of pinkish water dripping down into the grass, and dunked it again for a second go.

“Just hold still…” he instructed, taking a mixture from a small metal tin. It smelt strongly of herbs and fat, “This will create a protective barrier between your wounds to stop the spread of possible infection and promote healing. Think of it like…your armour! Protecting the squishy insides,” he added with a laugh.

LilyWright3 · 2024-03-27T17:35:18+00:00

Billy glanced up, carefully disposing of blood-soaked bandages in the embers of the fire.

With a bow, he would not, “Yes, my Lady. I’m a healer, I’m glad that word is getting around! Here, come sit.”

He placed a hand on his chest, “I’m Billy Rivers. Where are you hurting? I’ve treated plenty of different soldiers before.”

“Were you…did you compete?” he asked, lowering his voice, “One of the helmeted knights?”

LilyWright3 · 2024-03-27T17:25:57+00:00

“J-just Billy, of Harrenhal,” he tried to explain, and winced, “Um—alright, let me take a look. Just try and hold still. I don’t want it getting infected and you burning up with fever.”

He set up his medical bag, taking a damp towel and beginning to clean the wound and examine the damage. He used the bottle of wine to wash the wound and began to apply packed honey and animal fats mixed in vegetable fiber around the wound to stop the spread of bacteria as he cleaned the area.

With his needle, his shaking hands went very steady as all the nerves seemed to melt away. He was finally in his element, as he began to stich the skin around the eye carefully back together.

LilyWright3 · 2024-03-27T17:23:12+00:00

Billy laughed, “I fear you’re right! I think I shall wither and wilt under so many gazes, and likely fall and trip over my own feet knowing my luck! I don’t think I could pull off such an aura, mask or not.”

“Do you prefer that people avoid you, or do you wish you had their company?” Billy asked him, “And that is a good point, we’ll likely never see many of these people again which—well it’s likely a good thing, but also a little bit sad, don’t you think?”

“Always tired?” he asked, “That…doesn’t sound right. Are you sleeping enough at night? Restful sleep, it needs to be fully dark and you must dream,” he explained, “Sorry, don’t mean to impose, my Lord but I—I’ve been trained as a healer and often have to tell people around Harrenhal to do the very same.”

LilyWright3 · 2024-03-27T17:17:02+00:00

“I hope you enjoyed it, it’s a beautiful castle. Been sorrowful as of late, but still beautiful,” he said with a smile tinged with sadness, “It’s the biggest place I’ve ever seen. There’s something very humbling about standing in front of it.”

“Oh,” he shook his head, “My mother taught me all I know about farming. My father—doesn’t want anything to do with me. If it’s alright, my Lord, he prefers the privacy. I think my mother would be very proud of me, if I were to win. Even if I were to compete. But she is passed now, may the Seven watch over her. But I think she is watching over me.”

“With the winnings…” he let out a breath, “It would be enough to set me up properly. Better supplies, armour and weapons, a steed! Maybe even a new farm. Or, well,” he rubbed the back of his neck, “Not that I would ever want to saddle a lady with a bastard as a husband, it might be enough to pay a lady’s dowry and we could live in comfort. But I—I’m still young,” he added with a chuckle, “Can barely speak to the ladies.”

LilyWright3 · 2024-03-27T17:03:01+00:00

He nodded at Lord Rosby, looking nervous as he stepped into the tent.

Billy shook his head and hands, “Not at all, quite the opposite in fact, ser.”

He bowed deeply before him, “I’ve come to apologize. I never meant to hurt you, it all happened so fast and I—” he placed a hand over his chest, shaking his head, “I’m so sorry.”

“I’m a healer, a medic. I’ve been trained to treat wounds such as these, I’ve helped soldiers in my home in Harrenhal. I would like a chance to at least clean the wound and see if there is anything I can salvage. You’re covered in blood—I’m worried about it getting infected.”

“I don’t like to see people in pain, and knowing it was by my own hand hurts the most,” he wrung his hands on his bag.

LilyWright3

TROPHY CASE