NOVEL WEB Chapter 21: Hungry Lions
After three days, during one of the Maester's visits, there was a agitation in the castle entrance courtyard, Gwayne went down there quickly. A very wounded man was being sustained by archers while talking briefly with Ser Jason. What happened? — Gwayne. – The Siege fell, as predicted. – Sor Jason said, if we were to turn on wide steps. — Let's go! For the side they'd leave, Gwayne wanted to be very far, towards the west. There's no way he would cross enemy territory to Tywin's troops. It was an insane idea, Tywin himself would be surrounded now if Mrs. Arryn decides to join the Stark. - home. - he said. Daeron smiled excited, and went to help Gwayne put on the armor.
After that, he went down to inform Ser Jason of his departure, found him plundering the castle with the men, looting what he could. The Blackwood children were locked in their rooms, together with the servants. He gave up reporting the match, apparently they would go too. Gwayne did two horses in the main yard and went to get Daeron, who was waiting ready in the room. Now, Daeron. – he said, pulling him by the arm. – Goodbye Maester. They came down fast and rode on the horses, there were only three lancers at the gate. Gwayne ordered the gate opening and they did it without blinking. They left the gallop by the road, leaving it at the first opportunity towards Jocelyn's village.
When they saw the village between the trees, they saw one of the houses was on fire and rode as fast as they could, Gwayne sent Daeron to stay in a more distant place watching, Daeron retruited but he wasn't willing to debate, it was an order. A soldier with blood-covered clothes, Gwayne didn't know if it was his blood or the man he'd just killed, was one of the ones who had entered to protect Mrs. Jocelyn, when Daeron and Gwayne searched refuge in her house. The other was fighting two men, they all had the banner of the Brax house's empowered unicorn. Gwayne advanced with the horse over the two men, trampling one of them. The man who was fighting with them earlier, fell on them and finished them while they were on the floor, he seemed to be hurt. — get back inside his house! Gwayne spined the horse and looked at Jocelyn's house, the door was completely open, so it fell on the soldier who was on his way. He managed to defend the first attacks, but he fell to the third one who ripped his face, Gwayne went down to finish it and ran to Jocelyn's house. When he got to the door, Gwayne noticed a body full of blood in the darkness of the house, by the size of the body he thought he was one of the soldiers. Jocelyn was standing up front covered in blood and with the dagger in her hand while her daughter was screaming for her in the room.
- Are you hurt? She attacked him quickly at the screams and Gwayne held the dagger and held her against the wall. - Gwayne, he said he was panting. - It's all right now... She regained consciousness and started crying. A horse sound outside was approaching. — it's me! — it screamed Daeron, outside. – doesn't seem to have any more enemies. Gwayne looked at her again. — forgive me... — whimpered Jocelyn, in his arms. – was the first man... — it's okay, did the right thing. Go and get your daughter. — said him, leaving out the outside. - Are you sure you don't have any more enemies?
- said the friend, from the horse. Gwayne sat on the edge of the well in the middle of the village and rested a little. The peasants began to leave their homes, some to cry for their dead and others to thank. A woman threw herself at him. — Thank you very much! The man who was wounded held a cloth in his arm and thanked him gesticulating. Jocelyn left her house and walked to them with her daughter in her arms.
- You don't have to thank me, I just fulfilled my oath to protect the innocent. Even though I say that, the peasants still brought bread and water for them. So, a knight broke out of the trees at full speed and Gwayne went ahead pulling the sword. But looking closer he noticed that he wasn't a knight but a child of about 12 or 13 years old. Jocelyn seemed to recognize him and ran to him, who got off the horse quickly and threw himself into his arms. "My boy!" Gwayne thought he heard. The boy looked at him and walked away from Jocelyn's arms, pulling his sword and went up on him screaming. "Damn Gwayne defended without difficulty, hitting on the base of the sword, making her fall out of his hand.""" Jocelyn held him from behind.
- He's one of them! – said the child, and untied him. – he's not like the others. — he's muttered her. — this man just saved us from them. — Listen! — bradoured him. – if they stay now, they've all died. The Stark broke the Lannister siege, which means there'll be many of the ones who escaped or survived the battle by passing here. Gwayne watched the peasants. Two grown men and gray hair, ten women, some old women and other new ones, seven children. "They won't survive." They looked at him curious. — In a few days maybe, or even today, the Lannisters will abandon Corvarbor's Solar castle. If you go there you can face them. - Gwayne said, with the hard voice, but it's the best choice you can make, go to Corvarbor and wait hidden in the forest, when they leave you go to the walls and ask for shelter for the young sir, his name is Brynden Blackwood.
The peasants looked in and started to mumble. Jocelyn fell down and asked her son something. - Where is he? He asked her, with a rigid face. - He's alive, but he was seriously wounded in battle over the walls. Gwayne took the swords of the dead and delivered to the two men, was better than his axes. The peasants went back to their homes to pack their luggage and Jocelyn went near Gwayne. - It's alive... that's good... said Jocelyn, while smiling with happiness.
Gwayne put his hand on her arm and the boy looked at him frowny. If they're discovered, they'll all be killed. — I will. — she said, so hugged Gwayne. — Thank you very much, you'll need food to travel, I'll gather what I can get. Gwayne thanked and waited with Daeron already mounted. She brought a bag of cloth, with bread and cheese. And he wished them good trip. They left and rode until nightfall, the next morning they continued to reach the Golden Tooth, and after two days they crossed the ashmark castle, headquarters of the Marbrand house. Where they stopped to get water and get something to eat with the few coins left, arrived at the edges of the golden forest at night.