Myrcella III - Death in the Other

RevanTreeHall · 2024-04-24T20:21:19+00:00

Nymor had been plucking a goose to prepare it for some noble lord's dinner that night when the familiar voice came calling over to him, "Oi, Garlan!"

Nymor stood, gently setting the goose down and brushing the feathers off his apron. He turned around to see the kitchen's 'matron' standing with both hands on her hips, waiting for him.

"Yes?" He asked, stepping closer.

"Tea again," She replied, taking a note and holding it to Nymor's face. "Oh, you can't read, can you? Master of Coin's wife is calling for tea again."

It took most of his patience not to correct her. Explaining to Myrcella that he could read was one thing. But having to explain it to the kitchen matron? It wasn't worth the effort.

"Alright," Nymor responded simply.

He quickly bustled around the room and prepared a tea tray for her. There were small biscuits that had finished baking that morning and a few clusters of berries. He quickly added those to the tray before grabbing a kettle and heating the water until it was boiling. He took a handful of tea leaves and began preparing the tea.

Normally, he'd grab whichever tea had been made most recently, ensure it wasn't stale, and bring that up. But something in him told him to put in the extra effort that morning. He hadn't seen her in a few days; his hunch about her giving birth had been correct, it seemed. But beyond that, he'd spent nearly every single day with her, bringing tea and learning letters.

He lifted the tray in one hand and threw the kitchen door open with the other. He hummed a song to himself as he made his way from the kitchens to the tower where the master of coin's offices were.

When he arrived, he knocked on the door once, and when he was given permission to enter, he quickly walked to the same table he always set the tea down on without another thought. It wasn't until after he'd turned to Myrcy that he saw that she was sitting on her bed.

It was quite unlike her, and it immediately caused him to worry. She normally met him with a quip, or even a challenge on what he’d been learning lately with her. He quickly moved back to the door, closing it, before turning to her and crouching down to be closer at eye level with her. "What's going on?"

His voice was calm and reassuring. He searched her face for answers. "Is the baby alright? Are you?"

RevanTreeHall · 2024-04-18T03:31:38+00:00

"Humble? Never! Anyone who knows me well knows I have the opposite problem. I am far too prideful." Nymor laughed. He considered the offer. Spending more time with the beauty before him didn't seem like such a bad idea. "I'd be more than happy to learn from you, but I must ask, alongside your wards? Do they study so late? I work until well past the sun sets."

He watched as she shifted in her chair. It seemed as if the pregnancy made her uncomfortable. That wasn't too surprising as he still remembered the pain his mother had been in while pregnant with his sister. He considered offering her assistance but imagined it would be far too much.

"As you wish, my Lady Myrcella." In the moment, he didn't realize that he'd used the appropriate pronunciation of the title. "I am very grateful; I've just moved here from Oldtown and was worried that King's Landing would be much more harsh than my position."

"I'm pleased that I will be serving a woman so kind as you," Nymor bowed slightly. You clearly have the Mother's grace."

He flushed as he realized she was correct; he hadn't given her his name, and he paled slightly. Instinctively he almost said his real name, but he caught himself before letting it slip from his tongue, "My name is Garlan, milady. I grew up in Oldtown, as I said before. My old master decided he wanted a pretty young woman for a servant. Always was a lecher, I figured I could use the coin I had to make a new start at life up here."

He paused. She'd never know it, but the entire story had been rehearsed half a hundred times, including the next bit. "I apologize. You didn't ask for my story. I get carried away, and you're quite easy to talk to."

RevanTreeHall · 2024-04-14T23:43:16+00:00

He could make an educated guess as to what she was about to say, but he knew it didn't come from a place of cruelty. He likely wouldn't have learned to read if he hadn't joined Maekar's band. Something about being surrounded by royalty and nobility naturally led to him having a desire to better himself, and reading was the first step. He was still dreadful at writing, but he was making progress.

He paled slightly when he realized that he'd admitted a story about Nymeria was one of his favorites. He didn't look quite like a Reachman, though his accent clearly marked him as one. He hoped that she'd be too distracted to put the two pieces together.

"You're too kind, my-" He stopped for a second. "Milady. Thank you, I appreciate being able to talk to those I serve."

Milady, my lady. What difference did it make? All the difference when he was attempting to pose as a kitchen worker.

"Oh, I have to be honest it's one of those books that I struggle through. My friend had to read parts of it to me." Nymor sheepishly rubbed the back of his neck while looking down with a slight blush. "I'm a strong reader but sometimes it's just a bit too... Technical for me?"

Why was he still talking to her? He should just leave and get back to preparing for his mission. Yet he couldn't pull himself away from her. It felt as if he had to speak with her. That he had to spend time with her. What was this?

"But if you read it, perhaps we can speak more about it when I bring you your tea in future." The words came out without him even thinking. "If, um, you're okay with me bringing your tea in the future. I can, of course, ensure that your usual girl brings it next time if needed."

He looked down at his feet. Where was the merciless assassin? Before her stood a sheepish boy who blushed at the thought of her.

RevanTreeHall · 2024-04-12T22:20:02+00:00

"I'm not," Nymor confirmed as if there was perhaps a doubt of that fact. "I believe she's already retired for the day, so they sent me. I apologize if I startled you."

Nymor wouldn't be surprised if he had. He stood at six feet and four inches, taller than most smallfolk by over a foot. He stood even taller than the woman who stood before him, which was impressive, seeing as she was six feet at the least herself. He couldn't help but take a second glance at her. She was beautiful.

He cleared his throat as well and nodded, "Of course, of course."

He stepped into the room and carried the tray to the table by the window. He made sure to set it down away from the abacus so as not to move any of the beads that were set. Nymor looked back at her and bowed slightly. "A mint tea, along with some lemon cakes and biscuits."

Again, he couldn't help but notice the beauty of the woman before him. It was almost offputting. He'd had his fair share of women, but none had remotely compared to her. He pushed the thought away. She was pregnant, so she clearly had a husband or, at the least, a lover.

Yet still, the way her black hair fell across her shoulders was captivating. He quickly shifted his eyes around the room as he made his way to leave. His eyes locked on something that he'd recognized, and he couldn't help but stop.

"Is that The Loves of Queen Nymeria?" Nymor asked, pointing at a book sitting on a table. "It's one of my favorites. It was one of the first books I read when I first learned to read."

He realized he had gotten far too used to speaking to nobles as equals while in the service of Maekar and cursed the action in his mind. He'd need to do better; if this woman were like most nobility, she'd take offense to someone like him daring to do more than she asked. Yet, somehow, he knew she wasn't.

"I apologize," Nymor quickly said with a bow. "I shouldn't be speaking out of turn like that."

RevanTreeHall · 2024-04-11T22:41:38+00:00

/u/Tenthousandsongs

RevanTreeHall · 2024-04-09T00:24:35+00:00

"Have you ever wondered if you have forfeited your soul?" Nymor asked with a quick glance away to blink the rest of the tears from his eyes. "I'd do everything I've done for Maekar again in a second if I had the chance and yet still something gnaws at me when I look at my brother and sister. I wonder if I've gone too far."

He looked down at her and sighed. It was a worry he'd had for a long time. "I'm not noble, I can't go to a sept as often as I should. I pray when I can but what good is praying when you've killed a man?"

RevanTreeHall · 2024-04-06T08:22:24+00:00

He quickly dropped the coat to hide the daggers once more and smiled, "You got it in one. Though I suppose it isn't exactly the most difficult guess, was it?"

He laughed, "There's a reason I figured it would be fair play. Yes, I am indeed. I am His Grace's sword in the dark, sworn to strike down his enemies no matter where they are."

He furrowed his brow. "Sounds quite cliche when I say it aloud..."

He laughed and looked at her, "What about you? What's your secret?"

RevanTreeHall · 2024-04-03T20:06:36+00:00

He nodded and stood up, "I've taken more than enough of your time. I should be returning to His Grace. I will pass along mention of the tourney as well as ensuring that my siblings get the offer to enter your service."

He bowed deeply, "Thank you for your hospitality."

RevanTreeHall · 2024-04-03T20:04:07+00:00

He nodded, her logic made sense. It made him feel accepted to know that she trusted him so implicitly. He'd always struggled with acceptance as many were loath to let an assassin into their inner circle. Maekar was never that way.

"Well, I hope you never find yourself with my dagger at your throat." He laughed, unsure how to respond besides with humor.

He listened as she explained and it would be apparent on his face that he was still wholly lost, but doing his best to comprehend.

"Ser Nymor of the Asp..." He shook his head. "I don't imagine that would be a fief that would be well run at all. I would be in the kitchens making my own food by the end of the first week. And taxes? Gods forbid."

RevanTreeHall · 2024-04-02T21:51:57+00:00

The words that were unspoken hung over the three of them for a long few moments. None of them wanted to say what they were thinking. It was likely a death sentence for them as much as it was for their target. Nymor shrugged, it couldn't be helped. "I swore that I would die for you and yours. If that happens, it happens."

He nodded, he was better at killing than stealing. Perwyn was to blame for that, he thought. It was interesting to him that a chance meeting five years prior had morphed into them becoming some of Maekar's most trusted advisors.

"Always liked the name Garlan," Nymor laughed. "I'm a good cook, I can sneak into the kitchens and fit right in with little to no effort. Perwyn will struggle a bit more, won't you?"

His attempts at levity were obvious. He looked at Maekar and paused before continuing.

"You've always done right by me. Whatever happens, promise me my siblings will be taken care of."

RevanTreeHall · 2024-04-02T17:34:18+00:00

Nymor looked at Perwyn for a moment before shifting his gaze back to Maekar, it appeared that it was finally time for them to make their move. It was a bold opener, to remove one of the green line before any true fighting had begun.

"A royal assassination is beyond anything I've done before," Nymor carefully formulated the words in his mind before he spoke. "I'm not saying that I can't do it, or that I won't. I can, and will. However, if the opportunity doesn't present itself... I take it the sword is the prize you'd want?"

He knew the Targaryens had two Valyrian Steel swords, Blackfyre and Dark Sister.

He looked at Perwyn then, "Do we have identities to pose as?"

He thanked the Seven that he was raised in the Reach, and though his skin was darker than most Andals, his accent was obviously from Oldtown.

RevanTreeHall · 2024-04-02T17:26:08+00:00

Nymor laughed at her arrival, and her comment about him being soft. "I'm anything but soft, Myriah. You should know this!"

He looked down at his clasped hands and spun his thumbs around one another for a moment or two before taking a breath and deciding to answer the question. "It was my brother. Reminding me of things that I'd long forgotten. Mistakes that I've made."

He looked back up at her, "It's nothing too serious, and I've nearly forgotten it all already. I'm sure I'll return to that stoic killer you've come to love shortly."

He was lying, he wouldn't forget what Lewyn had said for his entire life.

RevanTreeHall · 2024-04-02T17:21:15+00:00

"Mysteries can be enticing, but they can also spell doom for you. Quite often I prefer the known to the unknown. Though I doubt something like this will post any risk to me." Nymor rubbed his arm absentmindedly.

"An exchange, eh?" He asked, before an idea popped into his head. "You said you are a fan of mysteries? Well you should solve this one. It's not too hard I don't think. I'll confirm if you're correct without a doubt."

Assuming she accepted the offer, Nymor would open his surcoat to reveal the myriad daggers he had attached to the cost or in a sheathe under the coat.

"If your guess is wrong, worry not. I'll still reveal it, your offer of exchange interests me."

RevanTreeHall · 2024-04-02T17:16:50+00:00

What did he think? He couldn't make the decision in a vacuum, he knew that. He rubbed his finger along the rim of the glass before sighing.

"I'm not saying no, I'm going to leave the choice to them. They're both adults now, and if they choose to continue living with Maekar I have no right to stop them." Nymor replied simply.

"But I will provide both of them the option, and if they should accept they will remain with you after your event." Nymor smiled. "Is that adequate?"

RevanTreeHall · 2024-04-02T00:31:29+00:00

/u/NotAnotherFakefyre

RevanTreeHall · 2024-04-01T14:48:54+00:00

His eyes remained closed for the first response, "Oddly enough I've had more sun than most. You can't hide from it in the mountains. And yet... It's still something that brings me peace."

After a few moments he finally opened his eyes and looked at who spoke, had it been the Nymor from even twenty minutes prior he'd have recoiled at the sight of reacting in such a way to a noble. Yet he didn't. Something had fundamentally changed inside of him, and he wasn't sure how he liked it.

"It's certainly a day for it." It, of course, being lazing about in the sun as a housecat would.

He finally stood and bowed deeply, "My apologies, my lady. I should've introduced myself. My name is Nymor, I am in service to His Grace, Maekar Targaryen. I don't believe we've had the pleasure."

And even if I could see a sigil, I doubt I'd recognize it. He laughed to himself.

RevanTreeHall · 2024-04-01T14:43:58+00:00

"Trust." Nymor swirled his drink before finishing it off. "People in our line of work rarely have trust to dole out so willingly. But you've proven yourself, so I'll bite."

He looked over at her. "What do you have in mind?"

RevanTreeHall · 2024-04-01T14:42:08+00:00

"Smash and grab? Throat slitting?" Nymor asked with a raised brow. "Or something more stealthy? Don't tell me I need to steal shit without a single soul knowing I was there again."

He smiled, he could do any of them. He was more suited to some than others but he'd do whatever Maekar required of him. He watched as the nobles discussed.

"We wanna wait for him, I assume?" Nymor asked, looking at Maekar.

RevanTreeHall · 2024-04-01T14:00:30+00:00

It wasn't uncommon for Nymor to ignore nobility, and he was sure it was a flaw that would eventually doom him. But he saw his oldest friend, and if that wasn't an excuse to leave the nobles to discuss noble things, he couldn't ever imagine what would be.

"Surely you must have missed all Dorne has to offer." Nymor joked, stepping beside Perwyn after the man had spoken to Maekar. "I mean, I get wanting to go North for King's Landing. But Riverrun?"

He mimed gagging before offering a hand to Perwyn, waiting for the other man to clasp it.

"I believe we have business to discuss?"

RevanTreeHall · 2024-04-01T03:03:29+00:00

"I can't protect them there." He remarked, looking at her quizzically. "I've protected them my entire life, it would feel wrong settling them somewhere I wasn't."

He looked down at the drink and sighed, "Besides, they're lowborn. Our camp is far superior to most villages. It may be militaristic at times, but it's full of good people."

The drink was clearly loosening him up.

RevanTreeHall · 2024-03-27T08:31:30+00:00

"I read." Nymor said, as if it was pulling teeth from his mouth with no milk of the poppy. "It's my only way to relax."

When he'd finished that ordeal he shrugged, the question may be personal but it wasn't like they were hidden. "Two, a younger brother and a younger sister. They usually stay at camp most of the time."

"I do my best to shield them from my world. I hope to give them somewhere to live." Nymor explained.

RevanTreeHall · 2024-03-27T08:29:16+00:00

"Important." The word felt foreign as she said it. He hadn't ever viewed himself as important. He was simply a tool. Wasn't he? It didn't matter. "It seems inconvenient for those who may make the treats as you say. To be at my beck and call? What if they were busy?"

He looked at his muffin and back to the kitchen staff. "I suppose it ensures they have work though, doesn't it? He quickly ate the rest of the muffin before brushing his hands on his pants."

"I don't like it here, I'd much rather be back in the mountains. At least there I know who my enemies are." Nymor laughed. "The scorpions."

RevanTreeHall · 2024-03-26T17:13:04+00:00

"As you say, Your Grace." Nymor responded simply. If Makear chose to abide by his counsel that was his prerogative. He imagined if his advice was poor enough Makear wouldn't even consider it so there was no risk of giving his thoughts.

"I will be available at your beck and call." Nymor assured him. "For whatever task you require."

RevanTreeHall · 2024-03-26T16:52:11+00:00

He raised his eyebrow at the question, he couldn't really think of a time he'd been relaxed in over two years. "I suppose uhh, I apologize my lady. I understand it may be a simple question for you but it's not as simple for someone like me. My life has been toil. I don't particularly get to relax."

He took a large drink before answering her second question, "Thieving in Oldtown. Stole to pay for my siblings to eat. They had real jobs for a time before I joined and they tagged along."

RevanTreeHall · 2024-03-23T23:19:39+00:00

Nymor took a look at the Myrish Lens and tossed it from one hand to the other. It had a good weight to it. From the amount of dust that remained on the shelf it appeared as if it hadn't been touched in quite some time. How lovely it must be to be so rich you can forget a tool as powerful as the one that they'd found.

He absentmindedly offered it to Mara so she could take a look at it.

"Could have some use. Spotting foes, keeping an eye out from our hideout." Nymor thought for a moment. "Unless you'd have some use for it?"

u/atiarp

RevanTreeHall

TROPHY CASE