Preparing the Game...

[JJ York]

The sunlight drifted slowly into the room, through the slight openings at the top of the wooden carvings. Mykel hadn't remembered falling into slumber and by the look of the light, he had slept through the day and night into the morn. As his eyes opened in a flash, Amelie's silver hair was all he could see firstly, her body draped over his while sleeping soundly. For a few moments he counted the rise and fall of her back as she breathed into his chest, then he remembered some of what happened. He had bedded his companion many times throughout the day and the beginning of the night, it was one of the most pleasurable experiences of his life. Mykel gave himself a private smile and slowly moved himself away from Amelie's grasp.

Despite the thought of spending another day exploring Amelie's body, he had a deep urge to get out an earn his keep. His coin was non existent now and the accomodation would have to be paid in game otherwise, if the landlords would allow it. He knew from his previous visit that the man of the establishment was getting older while his sons had no good training on the arts of hunting, especially now the deer and foxes scattered into different habitats. As soldiers marched, the landscape changed and it was harder to exploit the same hunting grounds.

Amelie hadn't sturred at all, still caught in a deep slumber from her actions the night prior. She had told him that she intended to walk the Wanderer's path with him and despite his mind telling him otherwise, she had some hold against him now. He was assured he could protect her, bolstered by her expectation of his invincibility. No man was invincible, Mykel knew this, a time would come when a sword would grace his skin and there would be no return.

Mykel dressed himself but left his leather strappings behind, for they slowed him under the intense southern heat. His bow needed to be tightened as the string had loosened from his quick pace, truth be told it were falling apart. The wood once may have been of good quality but it was now old and used. Mykel guessed he would get another week from it, he would have to barter in a close time to gain another. Arrows however were a commodity of his, he had procured plenty of left overs from the practise rounds at Storm's End. They wre tipped well and would pierce both air and flesh with relative ease.

He treated his eyes one more gaze upon the body of Amelie before leaving the room. It was worth the stay at the tavern but he hated remaining in one place for too long, considering just how viscous Stannis Baratheon could be. However his first objective of the day was to hunt, an activity that he would enjoy. As soon as he left the room, two of the landlord's sons emerged from their own rooms and caught sight of him.

"My mother tells me you will hunt with us again Wanderer" stated the first brother, a boy turned man of sixteen with the golden hair that could be mistaken for Lannister roots. "We worried you would still be... sleeping..."

The younger lad's laugh was a hearty one and Mykel knew that his actions weren't of the quietest that night. He would of felt embarrassed if it weren't for the nods of admiration from the lads. "Yes we'll hunt, i feel limbered up enough" smiled Mykel, and the boys followed him down the stairs and out of the tavern. The landlady waved good luck to them before they exited her eyesight, into the vast woodland beyond.

The last time Mykel had hunted here, he had used the right side of a stream that creeked from the ocean through the land like a scar upon someone's face. Now he wanted to use the other side, to scout his future route in the path to come. Now he travelled with another soul in his care, he wanted to prepare better than he had done before. The hunt gave him great chance to do so.

"Steer close to me, out sounds bounce off the trees. Move in time with the stream, so that it will mask your feet" whispered Mykel as he crouched down and slowly crawled forward in a dog like manner. He was searching for tracks, fresh ones that he could garner knowledge from. Whether it be a damp patch of urination, a heavy hoofprint or the smell of fresh excrement, they were all indicators that a chance at game had passed recently. Hunting was dirty work, at least it was for the most dedicated and desperate. While King's had vertile areas of land where boars roam, Mykel had never been so lucky, he had to learn the land's language and act accordingly.

His fingers could feel a dampness on the soil a few strides forward, he halted and wiped the stickiness on the closest dry tree. "You will take the first one, follow me" Mykel directed the elder to take out his bow and mirror his crouched stature. True enough, they tip toed across a mound and saw a slight movement of a deer. She was a beautiful creature, wide eyes and enjoying the summer heat. Their position towards her was brilliant, Mykel motioned for the elder boy to move across to a tree and take position. He did so, without alerting the animal and drew his bow with all of his might. The arrow flew true enough and punctured the leg with a thud. As soon as Mykel heard the Deer's scream of agony, he raced over with his knife and slit its throat to end the pain.

"Good shot, remember the drop angle and aim a little higher next time" explained Mykel as the boy hoisted the carcass over his shoulder with a triumphant smile. They hadn't been this successful beforehand, it had taken three attempts for him to catch his target, Mykel could tell they had trained. "How about you lad, want to try?" he motioned to the younger sibling.

"Yes Wanderer, though my aim is bad" explained the youngster innocently. "Not a problem lad, i will fire straight after you, just in case you miss" replied Mykel, as much as Mykel wished to give him a proper attempt, he didn't want to risk missing out on valuable meat. It didn't take much longer to find another deer, this time from a horrible archery position. The ground dipped at an angle through a set of trees, it was a harder shot to make considering the elevation and foliage.

The youngster's shot was a miss but Mykel's caught the rump with a powerful blow, it was another lucky shot. Yet again he rushed over but handed the knife over to the young lad "You must do this, to learn, quickly to ease her pain". The deer screamed out for release and the youngster did so quickly, his hands shook slightly after doing so. "It gets easier, this is your trophy. Take it back to your mother and be proud"

They returned to the tavern and the sons were eager to show their prowess to their father, of whom Mykel also spoke to regarding the payment of his extended stay. The father was aged but happy to see Mykel's form of payment, even thanking him for training his sons how to listen to the land.

"Thank you Wanderer, i will take your payment, we will reap it for many years to come i trust" the father smiled "You wouldn't indulge an old man to listen to a story, the wood behaves better with friendly words". Mykel smiled and sat himself down on a finely crafted log chair, the make shift carpentry had a wonderful view of the stream and was open enough to let the cold air seep through.

"Such words are worth more than coin, i would be honored" his thoughts went to Amelie, and he wondered if she had awakened from her slumber.

[Penelope Jones]

Amelie felt the warm rays of the days sunshine filter through the bedroom window of the tavern. The slight breeze that rustled the curtains, snaked around her exposed naked body, cooling her from the warmth the sun brought. Nuzzling closer to her pillow, Amelie turned on her side, automatically searching for Mykels warm body. When she found nothing but empty space next to her, she began to properly stir from her sleep. Stretching her body out like a feline, Amelie savoured the delicious aches coursing through her body. Aches from her hours of passion with Mykel.

Rubbing her eyes sleepily she sat up in the bed, hugging the sheets closer to cover her modesty. "Mykel?" she ventured to the empty room, knowing she wouldnt get a response. She felt her heart beat pick up in pace as she tried to wrack her brain as to where he could possibly have gone. Perhaps he had left her in the dead of the night? After getting all the pleasure a man could take from a woman, perhaps he was sated enough to leave. Leaving the bed, wrapped in her bed sheet, she searched the room for his things and found only his leather strappings in the room. Would he have left those behind? Picking them up, Amelie held them close as her eyes scanned the room once more, her hair swaying with each turn of her head. She could feel panic rising in her which she tried to dismiss. 'Perhaps he's having a meal,' she whispered to herself. 'Why would he not wake you to join him?' a voice questioned in her mind. 'Perhaps he is hunting then,' she muttered in response to her fear. 'What if he gets hurt? You'll be left alone with no money and no protection,' the voice of her fears spoke once more.

Pushing the rising panic down, Amelie dressed quickly in the loose Maidens dress that the landlady had left for her. It was made of cotton, the bust laced up with green hues. It was loose around the bust and waist, something Amelie had expected when she had seen the landlady's curvacious figure. Smoothing her hair down and washing her face, Amelie decided to wait around no more. She would venture to the tavern below in hopes that she might find an answer. Mustering her resolve, Amelie left her room. She had never been truly alone before and it was a feeling she did not like. Walking briskly down the hallway, her eyes darted around her surroundings in curiosity. There seemed to be many rooms on the corridor she was staying but she remembered the tavern being empty the eve before. She was proven wrong however when a door near the opening of the stairs revealed a rather shaggy looking man who was headed for the stairs also.

Balling her hands into fists at her side, Amelie carried on her pace, careful not to make eye contact and of course not to seem too panicked. In her peripheral vision whoever, she could make out the patron eyeing her carefully. His gaze left a chill in its wake. " 'Alright sweetheart?" he asked as she passed him, seeing his sleazy smile. "How much for the night did you get paid then? You made a lot of noise, think I'd have you myself if you was as cheap as you look," he laughed taking a step towards Amelie.

Amelie felt her need to flee stronger than her need to defend herself especially as she remembered she left her little knife back in the room. She was painfully aware in that moment how isolated she was. Quickening her pace, she almost tripped over herself on the way down the stairs as she evaded the mans attempt at grabbing her shoulder. "I'll be seein you around darlin," he cackled after her as he took the stairs at a more leisurely pace than Amelie.

Arriving at the bottom, Amelie was overwhelmed to see the motherly Bess behind the bar filling pitchers of drinks. Cutting across the room, Amelie took note of the other room occupants, just two burly men drinking what seemed to be ale near the window. They seemed in deep conversation, their heads huddled together and Amelie was glad she didnt have more than the sleaze on the stairs to worry about.

"Amelie!" Bess exclaimed with a bright smile that gave Amelie an instant , if paper thin, sense of security. "Bess," she returned in greeting, her smile a little forced as she took a seat at the bar. As she sat, she heard the man from the stairs arrive into the room with the same cackle of a laugh he had earlier. "Dont go very far do you darlin? Would you like some company?" he winked to Amelie as he settled himself down on bar seat, two over from Amelie's.

"Do you know where Mykel has gone?" Amelie asked Bess, sure that her eyes would show her uneasiness as her hand ran through her hair. She knew what made her so uneasy. It wasnt that the man wanted her for sex, it was whether or not she would have a choice. At least back at the whore house, the master of the house would almost always assure safety. People knew who you were with and as the top whore of the house, she always had an escort to make sure she never got 'lost'.

"Lover boy done a runner has he?" the man laughed as he motioned for an ale from a tight lipped Bess.

[JJ York]

Mykel could feel the incoming noon heat rising against his skin, the sun's rays were major and refreshing. He could almost feel his skin burning and sizzling, toasting his flesh into a deeper colour. Through Mykel's journeys he had gained a healthy tan and it had remained with him even in the coldest of lands. During his times in the north, he was reminded many times that Winter was coming, the Stark words, he knew them well. He was old enough to remember the last coming of Winter, but the summer had been long and frivolous. When the cold would seep it's claws back into Westeros, it would last a long time also. He wondered if Amelie would be ready for it, she was younger than he was by a significant margin. She would of been a babe at the closest, her childhood days warmed by the summer heat.

The landlord handed him a pipe with some ground up tobacco, of which he was surprised to receive given it's obvious value. He toked on the fine herb for a small time while listening to various carpentry tips, he indulged the elder man with a few stories of his own and questions regarding the unique design of the tavern. Before Mykel knew it, the sun rose overhead and he knew that much time had passed while he listened to the stories of the past. He let himself have one final puff of the pipe and handed it over to the landlord, who bid him good day. Mykel wondered if Amelie had woken yet, or she still enjoyed her sweet slumber that he had left her in.

Upon re-entering the tavern to take in some of the game he had captured, Amelie looked as beautiful in her dress as she were nude. He stood at the door for a second and scanned the bar area, for several patrons had obviously taken a room as the night had rolled on. He knew the type immediately, sellswords and mercenaries. They seemed well armed but still of the king fearing type, any thoughts of caution were calmed by Bess' body language. She didn't seem at all phased by them and Mykel had to remind himself that not every man with a sword was primarily evil. Some were traveler's like him, though not many had traveled as far as he had done, most gave up when the road got tough. Mykel knew that the best sights in Westeros were the ones that made your feet bleed.

Amelie seemed out of place and slightly worried, sneaking looks around the room to his whereabouts. He walked up slowly to overhear the closest patron make a quip at his, and possibly Amelie's, expense. There was no point in starting something in the tavern, as much as a bubbling desire to strike the man for his words festered in his throat. It wasn't the first time that Mykel had sucked up his ego for the sake of surviving for the long run, such words said in the heat of moment had claimed many souls, he wished to be more intelligent than that. He did however place a heavy hand on Amelie's shoulder to reassure her and sat in an open seat between her and the patron that had seemed to have taken a liking to her 'abilities'.

"I wished to help two lads hunt, but alas, they needed little to none" he smiled toward the landlady and began to pick away at the small piece of meat that he was given, it was enough for a good meal and that was all he had managed to barter. While the establishment were more than generous, they weren't stupid and didn't look at Mykel as charity at all. He was fine with it however and respected them for their sense of self preservation. It did however place Mykel in an awkward situation, his lack of funds would mean looking for work at the next village or city that crossed his path. Such a place would be hard to come by considering the battle to come at the capital. Most hung tightly to what little coin they possessed, it was times like these he wished that he had spent some time across the narrow sea. He had heard stories of such places drenched in gold and splendor, he dared not wish to venture on some rumor though.

"My armor... it is safe?" whispered Mykel into Amelie's ear "These men will not hurt you, they lack both the courage or insanity to do so". As he ruffled his shirt slightly to avoid sticking to his skin, Bess handed him a flagon of clear water for him to drink. As soon as he took a drink, the sellsword let out an almighty laugh in his direction. Mykel simply shrugged off the act of disrespect and turned towards his companion once again and rolled his eyes.

"A real man drinks ale! I'd have that little one screaming for years!" laughed the sellsword as he stood up from his seat to garner a few more giggles from the other travelers. This man was testing Mykel's patience, he instantly wondered if his future would involve many more interactions of this kind while traveling with Amelie. Her beauty was a beacon for men to prove their dominance and power in an attempt to garner her sex, for now simple coin could not capture it. She seemed to have an abnormal effect on the actions of those around her, even Mykel knew he was acting out of character.

"I'm sure they do friend, I prefer to walk my road with a clear head however" replied Mykel, it seemed enough to settle the situation down for a moment as the slightly tipsy sellsword retreated back to his own seat. Mykel wondered if Amelie would see the confrontation the way he did, if it were avoidable by any decent means then it simply should be done. Nor did he wish to tarnish the generosity of the establishment by spilling blood between it's walls. He found that most men were all words, especially those from higher status such as a king or noble. Most could be indulged with words, the others who did not met the cold of his steel.

He rested his free hand upon her leg, to reassure her once more and to remind himself of the prior night's actions. He remembered rising up her right leg to enter her deeper, the memory made him smile as he took another gulp from his flagon. The water itself was warm and unsatisfying, but kept his fear of dehydration at bay. Mykel made a mental note to refill his provisions before he left, possibly finding a way to pay the landlady for a spare canteen for Amelie. She would be carrying more and more during her travels, possibly a weapon heavier than a simple knife as her arms grew stronger. Until then however, he was happy to shed the bled needed if the situation occured.

[Penelope Jones]

Amelie almost fainted with relief when Mykel strode through the tavern door. She wasnt sure what she was going to do next, perhaps wait for him for some times before questioning Bess and of course anything she could to keep her distance from the man sitting close to her. She could smell the stench of filth and ale from him, her stomach rolling in disgust. Glancing at Mykel as he confidently strode towards her, she felt her heart rate slow down, at peace knowing he was near once more. She didnt trust her voice to cover her insecurity so she smiled weakly to him as he sat down, thankfully blocking her view of the nuisance at the end of the bar. She relaxed visibly as he bantered with Bes, from what she gathered he had gone hunting. 'Didnt he mention that yesterday that he would show those boys to hunt?' she mentally scolded herself for panicking.

As Bess slid the meat in front of the pair, Amelie felt her stomach grumble in anticipation. It wasnt much and she had survived on less but Amelie was elated none the less as she picked at it with Mykel. It tasted better than the food she was used to. She was hesitant to eat too much knowing that Mykel keeping up his strength was the main prerogative as he would be the one protecting them both. Folding her hands in her lap she felt him lean in to whisper a question about armour and Amelie felt her body begin to tingle as she remembered their nights activities, his body whispering in her ear about a journey.

Wary of the ears around her listening in to their converstation, Amelie merely slightly nodded her head to show Mykel his armour was safe, tucked away in their room. How she wished they could return to the room now, her body was sore from their love making but she knew she definitely wanted more. "Thank you Bes," Amelie acknowledged the cups of water Bes put in front of the two without a word, obviously seeing the tender moment between the two. "No problem luv," Bes replied with her warm motherly smile, her wet hands wiping off her stained apron before going back to cleaning the bar. Taking a drink of the warm water, Amelie braved a glance over the rim of the cup. Mykel was right, the other patrons merely glanced their way, looking more wary of Amelie and Mykel than Amelie felt.

The easy noise of the room was shattered by the laughing of the drunken man next to Mykel. Amelie had known he was trouble when she spotted him and knew her beauty to be more of a curse than a gift at times especially this time. She flinched visibly at his crude words about her. She was used to talk over making someone moan and scream but coming from his lips, she felt her skin crawl at the thought. She feared Mykel would retaliate against the deserving fool but he surprised her even more by using his words rather than his weapons. As his hand rested on her leg, she felt heat flush her cheeks as her thoughts began making the same trail as his. And something new began to ignite in her, anger at the insult Mykel was forced to take because of her. Perhaps if she hadnt come with him he would be free to retaliate she wondered.

Pushing herself from her stool, she stood next to Mykel, leaning her body to his. "If a real man drinks ale, I wonder why you have an undeserving cup?" she laughed coyly, her eyes sweeping the room catching the glances of the other patrons. She felt her other side, Glamour coming through now, knowing she could captivate the room. In response, she heard he murmured laugh throughout the other tables. "And take my word for it," she began, weaving around the back of Mykel, her hands draped posessively around his shoulders and down his chest. She felt him still under her touch, as if frozen. "My lover needs no ale to prove his manhood, werent my screams enough proof last night?" she tugged teasingly at Mykels ear lobe, her eyes flashing the man a warning glare as she heard the laughs around her raise in noise.

"Yeah, yeah whore," the man replied dismissively with a wave of his hand but Amelie knew his confidence wasnt as strong as he had thought.

"Watch your tongue John when speaking to a beautiful lady," she heard one of the other men warn the drunken John, nods of encouragement aiding him. Feeling the pressure of the room, John's sarcastic comments came no more as he drained his cup. Shoving his seat back hard enough to almost tip it over, he glared around the room before taking his leave.

Tipping her head in the mans direction, Amelie gave a little bow, her silver hair falling over her shoulder. "Thank you kind man, I fear if my lover were to get involved we might end up with a few blood stained walls," she laughed knowing she held the crowd in her palm at that moment. "I would hate for him to waste any energy on someone as foul as that, perhaps I want it all for myself," she laughed mischievously as she kissed Mykels cheek before resuming her seat next to him, her hands coming down to hold one of his hands. Once her touch was gone from his shoulders, Mykel turned to her and she feared whether or not he would be happy with how she had handled the situation.

[JJ York]

There was a small silence in the room, an uneasy one at that after his run in with the drunk patron. It didn't matter much to Mykel at all, soon both he and Amelie would take the long road to experience Westeros in all its glory. Such men would hold their tongue's in such circumstances, for Mykel would not be as forthcoming. He could hear slight muttering under the mans breath regarding the masculinity of those around the room. Mykel devoured his meal quicker than he would of liked and finished his cup of water, he prepared himself to leave the establishment before things got out of hand. That was however until Amelie rose from her seat, his heart raced as he placed a hand across her abdomen in an attempt to block whatever insane thoughts she had, it was gently swatted away.

"If a real man drinks ale, I wonder why you have an undeserving cup?"

Mykel could of sunk his head into his hands at that very moment, not out of fear of what this drunken man could do but at the situation that Amelie was going to put him in. As he thought these things however, he did not feel one ounce of disappointment or disregard for his companion's actions, strangely he respected them and honored them. It puzzled him, had his heart truly conquered every brain cell he had? Just what effect did this silver haired woman have upon him that no other had ever done? Before he could question the matter further, Amelie continued to berate the man further regarding Mykel's sexual prowess. He sighed slightly but held his steely gaze forward towards the man as the other patrons began turning to Amelie's side.

It was truly bizarre, Amelie was a stranger to these people, not a noble or captain of a platoon. She held no true authority or status but these men acted as if she were, was her beauty truly this powerful... he had seen such things as a curse in his lifetime prior. He had met noble wives that were almost sold off to the highest bidder due to their pretty faces to live with men that they despised but must respect. Maybe the others were more alike the landlady than he had predicted, Sellswords in the middle of a war were generally the most happy, especially when houses warred against one another. It was easy to use one's trade for coin, there was plenty of coin to be had.

He was truly shocked to hear her openly speak regarding her volume of love making the night prior, it had however put this John in a state of verbal retreat. This moment forced Mykel to hold Amelie closer to him with his free arm. Did Amelie believe now that she had entered a relationship with him? Mykel didn't know what to make of that, considering the circumstances of their meeting. He was enthralled with her of course, in a way he hadn't been before, but it was a feeling of unease. There was something about her that was different, some sort of darkness, some sort of power that he did not understand. It puzzled him, Mykel had traveled far and experience many things in his life, he had definitely experienced more than secluded Kings and withdrawn soldiers. While there were always something else to learn in Westeros, he had met all the different types of people he thought possible, it was rare to find someone out of the norm.

Her words were enough to force this John to exit the room and with it dropped the intensity that stuffed the warm air. Amelie spoke to the other Sellsword who came to her aid in an very open manner but he seemed to respond respectfully enough. As she sat down, her hands drifted from his shoulders down to his hands and a shift in his movement was very obvious. He hadn't noticed it but while Amelie's display had occured, he hadn't moved his body at all, he had barely taken the time to breath in and out. It were like an outer body experience, and as her hands moved away, he re-entered the realm with a thud, as if he were just waking from a dream. Mykel frowned for a second but shook his head to rid himself of such thoughts, it could of been a bad batch of smoking tobacco giving him funny feelings.

"Your lover..." said Mykel silently to her "Is that what we are... Lovers Amelie. In your new life, i would not take you to settle on the first man who sees you. I cannot promise you a lover's life, I am the Wanderer, i'll never stop wandering. That life may not be for you"

Mykel struggled to find the correct words to use, he felt out of place around a tavern of which seemed to revolve around their actions "You do not know me Amelie, why do you trust me so? Or does the word lover mean less to you than it does to me?... I apologise, the words are coming out heavy but i do not wish to burden you with them...". He swallowed hard and sighed once again while rubbing his eyes, if any woman had spoken for him before hand he would of respectfully decline her defense but all he cared about was making sure that Amelie was set on her new free life. It worried him just how different he was acting, in the space of three days everything in his life had changed multiple times.

"You will not be able to use words to solve every conflict either..." muttered Mykel, still holding his maiden's hand tightly in his own "You gutted a man with expert skill with a knife, i must see what you are capable of without blacking out. It would be safer to train you with the art of the knife before we leave... Do you think you will be able to use a bow also?"

Mykel knew he was changing the subject but it was one he was much more comfortable in, he was in control here. He knew the roads of Westeros and he knew how to survive, it would show her that he did not need saving in the future. The issue of confidence was becoming more apparent as time wore on, at times Amelie showed glimpses of the confidence fit for a Monarch, other times she was a scared rabbit fearing her demise. Mykel had to be stronger now for both of them.

[Penelope Jones]

Amelie could feel the steady race of heart begin to slow down as she returned to her normal state, all confidence of Glamour leaving her. Lifting her cup to her lips, she drained it dry, catching a sly smile from Bess that seemed to be proud of Amelie. She had wondered the reactions of Bess and Mykel to the situation, Bess' intrigued her but she felt she was dreading Mykels. It wasnt often a woman came to the aid of a man, how would he take it? Did she really come to his aid, she wondered to herself, asking whether or not his ego would be hurt. Brushing the thoughts aside she turned her body to his so she could listen to his words, he hair shielding his lips from prying eyes.

"Mykel," she began softly at his question of their status together, a blush flushing her cheeks. "I like you, I feel free with you," she paused, her hands resting on his. "I believe we could be lovers, in the true sense of it but I think it may be safer for everyone to assume we are lovers for safety, no?" she questioned. Surely men would give her a travel free of advances if she had a lover at her side. The last thing she needed was more unwanted attention from patrons. "I feel safer with you than I have ever felt with anyone else. I wont throw the word lover around needlessly, but I feel an attachment to you that isnt just from necessity," she paused, her hand trailing through his hair lightly. "And I already told you last night," she whispered in his ear as she felt her lips tugging up in a sly smile as she remembered the moment. "I will follow you wherever," she pressed a kiss to his cheek, soft a light and full of mischief. She hoped to take the sting out of the awkward moment that seemed to have passed between them.

When the talk turned to the weapons, Amelie straightened up in her seat, smoothed down her skirt and began braiding her long silver mane into a long plait that hung over her shoulder. If they were to talk of business, she wanted to show him she could behave and act as much a warrior as he needed. She would be prepared to battle with him and not be a wilting flower always needing protection. "I would love to learn any weapons you have the patience to teach me," she answered eagerly as the idea of taking care of herself shone like a dream she could catch. "Shall we begin our lesson and furthur talks outside?" Amelie asked with a brief nod towards the rest of the room, showing him that she didnt want other to know of their plans. "Perhaps we should head to our quarters to discuss it all, gather up our tools for this lesson," she added in a revised decision, remembering that his leather breaches were upstairs as well as her knife. Being in their room and reminded of their love making would definitely be a challenge for them to behave, a challenge she intended to win.

[JJ York]

Mykel couldn't help but feel uncomfortable at the moment, the weird out of body experience coupled with almost every eye in the tavern falling upon his existence made him want to leave the bar. Thankfully, the excuse of training Amelie with some form of weaponry was one that he welcomed with open arms. It was a place that he could be back in control, it would also mark off one of his mental objectives he had set for the day. Mykel wasn't stupid, he knew that Amelie wouldn't be an expert killer by a few hours of training but knowing which end to point the sword was a lesson he wished to teach her. She had seen blood and gore, her glorious disemboweling was still vacant in her mind. Such skill could not be so easily forgotten, Mykel had yet to admit to her that he couldn't wield a knife in such a manner as she had done.

"Meet me outside by the carpentry, we'll test you with a few weapons. Try not to attract any more attention from excited sellswords yes?" said Mykel in a dark tone, for he was confused and in a hurry. Not being with his armor had made him jittery and with fear, of the items he held of value, his leather strapped armor and his boots were by far the most needed. He had tasted steel upon his flesh before and each time he cheated death's embrace, every precaution he had available to avoid such an end he would take. Also he would have to procure some mail for his new companion, something that fit her slender body well. He had spent much time exploring her dimensions, her various curves and mounds.

Mykel raced to his room with speed and took his armor from its confines and spent awhile putting it in a different hiding area, one that was incredibly hard to find. He had cracked apart the back of a wardrobe that had been built into the very foundations of the tavern and fitted the leather strappings into the fold, it would be difficult for him to get his armor out let alone any other prying hands. He did contemplate taking the time to put the armor back on, but he had made a promise to bed Amelie once more before leaving the tavern for good, he did not wish to have to wait thirty minutes for the release of his garments.

The sun had dimmed slightly now and the landlord had seemingly moved to a different job, just outside the carpentry stood Amelie enjoying the cooling breeze. She hadn't noticed him yet, his soft feet were a constant walk of his for many years, he took the time to breath in and out. Lovers... She had him enthralled for sure, but he had never truly loved a woman before. He was sure what he felt wasn't love, he was wary of the emotion he felt around her, both divine and bizarre. Mykel didn't believe in love at first sight, and what a first sight he had embraced her with. Stranger things had happened in Westeros, dragons flew the skies and white walkers stalked the darkness as the stories told. It was easier to shut down his mind as he had done since fleeing Storm's End and simply enjoy her womanly companionship, with all the pleasures that came with it.

"Amelie" he called to get her attention "Take these, they are different from the knife you had beforehand, they are dirks, you see they are curved from the hilt. But first i want to try you with a bow, for a true wanderer should use his sword for a last resort". Mykel took out his worn bow and looked for a target to use, a tree across from the mud road beside them was of a good length for her to begin. As he handed the bow over to her, Amelie's hands grasped it like a toy, like a child learning to speak for the first time. After reminding himself that she was no seasoned hunter, Mykel walked around to her back and held it for her to show the correct way.

"Back straight now, grip the arrow gently and aim just above your target. Breath in and out, take the shot when everything seems fine, the very moment that the wind slows and your eyes focus. Do not rush, for your enemy does not know you exist" Mykel held his hands against her stomach and pushed it in with every breath. Everything seemed good, Amelie looked down the sight of the arrow and rose slowly upwards to compensate for the drop in velocity, her breathing was rhythmic and focused. However as she pulled back the relatively weak bow string for the shot, her arms wobbled under the pressure and her aim flustered under the pressure. Mykel tipped the bow downwards immediately, in fear she would fire in a waywardly fashion and cause an incident.

"I'm sorry Mykel... I..." Mykel cut Amelie off to spare her embarrassment "Your arms are not yet strong enough, this is a weak bow Amelie, practice when you can and maybe once you are better i will see fit to purchase your own". In truth, Mykel was slightly disappointed, he had guessed that Amelie may not possess the strength to use some of his own weaponry but it would of been useful if she had done. He immediately pushed aside any thoughts of teaching her to use a sword, for it's heavy steel far outweighed the bow. It seemed that Amelie would grace the beautiful art of the knife to begin with, how unfortunate that it was not a profession that Mykel knew all that well. It was the trade of tricksters, thieves and assassins, not one of a wanderer.

"These dirks, they are meant for quick strikes to your enemy. They are designed to be able to kill a man before he can swing a broadsword. They are not for the faint of heart, blood will spill out heavily if you are successful, but surely you already know this..." stated Mykel as he took out his sword and leaned against it's hilt, the steel unwavering against his own weight. Amelie looked at the curved dirks that he had given her and held them tightly in her grasp, but her look towards him afterwards was one of needed direction. Mykel nodded toward a close tree "Show me what you know".

What he witnessed was something truly bizarre, Amelie's strikes were that of a predictable novice. She stabbed wildly and without conviction, almost with the feeling of anxiety with every swing. Mykel had killed men who attempted this method of attack, for it was easily beaten by a well trained man with no weapon at all. How had a Baratheon soldier allowed himself to be gutted in such an eloquent way considering Amelie's blatant lack of talent with the weapon? It truly made no sense at all... his brow furrowed as he brushed his light hair in a small tick of frustration.

"Stop... please..." ordered Mykel, he then paused and thought for a moment while Amelie stared worried in various directions, not wanting to catch his eye sight "You truly know nothing... You have never used a knife before today have you? Speak truly for I will know"

His words damaged the silver haired maiden like a scolded child, her look was one of almost heartbreak "No i haven't... I'm sorry Mykel...". Stryker shook his head, not at her lack of skill but at his incorrect assessment, maybe something else had occurred in that tent when Amelie blacked out. The guard couldn't of killed himself in such a painful way, there wasn't enough time for anyone else to enter the tent before him... it must of been her, there was no other alternative.

"Amelie... as i said before, you killed that Baratheon soldier with more skill than i could muster with these weapons. I've seen worse assassinations by professionals..." Then it hit him, had Amelie reacted that way because she was pushed into the moment? Mykel had experienced the feral combat high before, performing miracles of death when his life was but a sword slash away. Some held that fire close inside them, the ability to fight in the face of death instead of cowering from its so called inevitability. Could Amelie do the same again? Could she gut a man with such speed and precision if pushed once more, he needed to know as their lives would depend on it. Mykel simply needed to know if he could rely on her to do some damage if the moment occurred in the near future, before he could instill some skill in her.

"Was it because he pushed you Amelie... LIKE THIS!" with little power he threw her to the floor, she offered no resistance at all. He wouldn't hurt her, and it pained him to force her into this but it would be for her good. Mykel only hoped she would see it the same way he did. Slowly, Mykel took out his sword and looked around, there were no one around since they had traced across the mud path away from the tavern. Amelie landed upon the floor with a thud, Mykel slowly stepped towards her with his sword in hand.

"Come on Amelie... Show me what you can do..."

[Penelope Jones]

Amelie lay sprawled on the floor, her breathing coming in rasps as her head swam with confusion. She knew she wasnt the most capable person with a weapon, but had she really been so bad that Mykel had grown tired of her? And to push her like that? Amelie couldnt help the sob that escaped her lips as she crawled back from the imposing Mykel. She didnt stop until her back came up against the tree not a few feet behind her. Tentatively, gripping her dirk tightly, Amelie began to stand up, her stance defensive with one foot infront of the other and her hands hanging loose, ready to strike should Mykel come closer. She didnt miss the fact that he had taken his sword out and was now aiming it at her. Her body shook uncontrollably as tears began to brim her lashes.

"Mykel..." the worst came out in a chocked sob. Looking around her, Amelie noticed just how isolated they had become. She had no hope of someone witnessing it and perhaps helping. She dared not look Mykel in the eyes for fear of what she might see looking back at her. How could she have been so foolish to believe someone could actually enjoy her company. Perhaps it was all for the sex and now that she proved useless with weaponry, he had no use for her anymore. She was most likely just another whore to him, worthless and expendable.

"I'll do better, I'll practice," she pleaded as she tried to make herself as small as possible, hiding from Mykel. Perhaps she could placate him with promises? Her hand gripping the dirk was shaking so much with fear, its knuckles began turning white. She hated how pathetic she might seem in his eyes but she was not above pleading for her life. She had done it many times when she needed to and had never regretted it. Of course begging chipped at her ego but one didnt need an ego to survive. The true betrayal of Mykel hurt more than any physical injury he could have afflicted on her. It felt like a thousand slaps across the cheek. Had he not promised to protect her mere hours before? Werent they lying in bed, moaning in pleasure a mere stones throw from where they stood now? Yet here he was pushing her to the ground, bringing up memories of the Baratheon soldier she had no recollection of slaying.

"I cannot fight you Mykel, I cannot be the person that slayed the soldier, I dont remember any of it," she sobbed, tears streaking her cheeks as she watched him pace back and forth, his hand still gripping his sword. "I.. I..." she began, a sob chocking the words in her mouth where they formed. Her memory began flipping through the images of the soldier, his entrails all over the encampment floor, blood staining the room. Had she really done that or had someone else? She was vaguely aware of the distant stinging still in her back from the bruises she had taken. "Please dont hurt me," she pleaded, her doe eyes full of tears reaching his gaze. The shock of his betrayal was that great that she didnt have the courage to fight against him, to fight for her life physically. Besides, she had seen Mykel in action and it wasnt something she had ever wanted to take part in. "I cannot fight nor defend myself," she added defeatedly, the fight failing to ignite inside of her.

[JJ York]

At first Amelie gathered herself after the fall and stood in a make shift defensive stance, despite it being completely wrong it was forthcoming. He studied her movements, how her hand gripped the dirk tightly and her legs good space apart for maneuverability. However all the good signs stopped when his eyes found hers for a slip second, Amelie was on the brink of tears and was even too afraid to look into his own gaze. His body language sunk visibly, it truly harmed him to make her see him this way. It was better to train under these conditions with a man who truly would never hurt her, the idea of bruising her body caused bile to rise through his stomach. He did not know why he cared so much for her, enough to play the bad guy for just ten minutes. Maybe with his actions now he was sacrificing bedding her later on also, but he was happy to sacrifice such pleasures for the protection of her life in the long term.

Amelie did not know it, but Mykel was scared just what she was capable of when that moment struck. He saw her in somewhat superstitious awe, like a hidden assassin hidden in the depths of a terrified woman. As much as he was imposing, he also stayed a wary distance away and his sword was never far away from clinching into a decent defensive stance. However any fears that she may strike him with the fury of a thousand strikes were quickly put to bed, as she broke down into tears and dropper her dirk. Mykel almost went to reach out to her, but he knew he had to push her a little further, despite all the words of mercy she begged for. Soon she would know, that her life were never in danger, but for now Amelie needed to think her end was close, she had the tools close to hand to stop him.

As each moment passed, more tears dribbled down Amelie's soft cheeks. She seemed truly helpless and unable to defend herself. Maybe this was what the Baratheon soldier had seen last, a vulnerable woman who cried against his violent advances. In that moment, Amelie could turn into what he needed to know she could be, a cold blooded killer. Mykel's knees felt weaker with every sob and his heart wretched with every tear, he promised himself one more push, one big enough to truly tell if she could harness the fear into killing skill. He walked over slowly, menacing with every step and gifted himself the meanest look his could muster. Mykel had seen the faces of rapists and murderers, even the most disgusting look upon a man who murdered first then raped second. His attempt at emulation wasn't too bad, Amelie's look of fear gave him some conviction.

"You useless cunt. I should of left you in Storm's End, to be taken by all of Stannis' soldiers over and over again" stated Mykel with fake venom, he now stood over her body, his sword waving over her fallen state "This won't be quick... no... it'll be deliciously slow..."

For a final attempt, he swung his sword towards her but curved upward at the last moment to catch the tree. It was a clear miss, by half a meter as he had intended. Amelie let out a shriek of fear and shook for a moment, silent and wavering under the pressure. It felt like an hour until her eyes finally peered out of her hands, Mykel dislodged the sword and laid it at her feet. Mykel stepped backwards with his hands in the air, she truly did not possess the skill he thought she did. It mattered not to him however, he still wished to travel with her... he only hoped she still retained the same ambitions. He had stayed true to his word, he hadn't hurt her bar the slight throw to the soft ground. Moments passed as Amelie peered out to him, her eyes growing more puzzled as time continued. Finally Mykel decided to speak to her and try to explain his intentions.

"I'm sorry... I needed to see if you could..." Mykel swallowed hard and sat against a tree "If you could do what you did if the worst happened. I take my promises strongly, i will never hurt you. You have nothing to fear...". As much as Mykel wanted to walk over to her fear shaken body and hold her reassuringly, he sensed his physical presence was something she did not desire. Despite not regretting his actions, a part of himself felt poisoned as if he had burnt some of his very soul from within. That menacing Mykel had never lived a day, after acting the part for a few minutes, it was enough to put him off being a degenerate forever.

"I had to know what you were capable of... if you still wish to travel with me, I will do the fighting. I can train you to defend yourself, so that one day, if a man does this who wishes to harm you, you will kill him like the dog he is" explained Mykel, every time he thought of a man hurting her, it was his evil Mykel he pictured. Like a faceless soldier, an entity of pure fear and aggression. "Yes i will do the fighting..."

"I'll do the fighting..."

[Penelope Jones]

Amelie felt bile rise to her throat as her screaming passed almost as quickly as Mykels sword. What sort of torture was this that he was doing to her? She couldnt believe he would hurt her like this and to say the things he had said to her was beyond cruel. Wrapping her hands tightly around herself she braced herself against the bark of the tree and huddled low to the floor. She could feel the grass beneath her feet and smell the breeze carrying the smell of fresh bread from the tavern, like life was still normal. But it wasnt for Amelie, she could feel her reality slipping. Her eyes began to loose focus, the edges of her sight blurring as her heart beat through her chest. Amelie placed a hand over her heart in an attempt to keep it in place. She could feel a cold sweat beading on her forehead as her body shook with her emotions. She wasnt sure which she wanted, for Mykel to finally end her torment, not just from his hands but all of the people to come. Or perhaps did she want to live, for Mykel to change his mind? And if he did, how would he treat her?


"I'm sorry... I needed to see if you could...If you could do what you did if the worst happened. I take my promises strongly, i will never hurt you. You have nothing to fear...". she heard Mykel faintly stutter out, but it sounded hazy to her, distorted. Peering from out from beneath her shelter of her arms, Amelie saw that Mykel looked almost as stricken as she had felt, leaning up against a neighbouring tree. Her mind was swimming with contradictions now. Mykels actions only moments ago were cruel and his words still left a sting behind. But now he was saying it was a test? How could someone be so cruel to test someone in such means. She couldnt form the words to respond to him, instead she concentrated on her breathing, steadying her centre of control. 'Amelie, get up and return to the tavern. Leave Mykel where he sits,' she ordered herself sternly.

"I had to know what you were capable of... if you still wish to travel with me, I will do the fighting. I can train you to defend yourself, so that one day, if a man does this who wishes to harm you, you will kill him like the dog he is. Yes i will do the fighting..." Mykels words interrupted her internal thoughts, clearer than before as she felt the shaky haze leave her finally. Focusing for a moment on his words, she felt the bile rise once more and this time it surfaced. Standing quickly and turning her back to Mykel, Amelie heaved into the bushes bring up what little food she had put into her stomach. Wiping her mouth with the back of her hand Amelie caught her breath for a moment. Picking a loose piece of skirt, she wiped the last of her tears from her lashes before facing Mykel, her body still stood on shaking legs. She held her hands at her sides stiffly, trying to stop them from trembling. She felt a fire fueled by anger starting in her as her brain began to process everything that had transpired.

"You do these things to me?" she began, her voice small as she found the courage to raise her gaze to his. "Mykel, you say these awful things to me, call me a whore and you threaten my life," she added icily her trembling finger pointing to him accusingly. "And then!" she laughed harshly moving closer to him. "And then you have the nerve to tell me you are testing me" she finished, her eyes blazing with the fire of her anger. She could tell looking at Mykel that he was stricken by what he had done but she found his sad gaze could not calm her anger. Pacing back and forth, Amelie wrung her hands together to try and shake her anger off, her face in a seemingly permanent scowl. Running her hands through her hair, she tried to take a few deep breaths. "Regardless of motivation Mykel, you cannot take back what you have done," she cried, exasperated. "You took a swing at my head," she added, her voice rising in frustration as she gestured wildly to the tree behind her, her eyes wild with fury as was her body language.

"Let you fight for me? For you to protect me?" her laughter held an edge to it, making it clear to Mykel her sarcasm as she buried her face in her hands, her silver hair spilling forward from her braid as she knelt on the grass. Her body felt wired, jittery with emotion like it would explode. She needed to find an outlet to let it pour into for fear she would pass out from it all. Drigging her hands into the grass, she felt the blades of grass and dirt line her finger nails. She found the process soothing as they sat in silence for endless moments. Only the sound of her slowing breathing comforted Amelie as she closed her eyes briefly.

"I have never been so betrayed Mykel," she began softly, her lip trembling at the admission. Avoiding his eyes she looked over towards the rest of the forest as she sat back on her heels. Tucking stray strands of her hair behind her ear, she played with the tail of her braid for a moment, a comforting gesture since she was a child. "I trusted you, after everything that has passed between us, I trusted you," she said sadly, tears threatening to spill once more. Wiping her eyes, she stood up, dusting the dirt from her knees abruptly. Straightening her skirts, she met Mykels gaze, her posture straight and proud. "I will not be toyed with in such a cruel manner. I am not a play thing nor a test subject," she began, anger tinging her words. "I am a woman Mykel and someone that trusted in your words of protection," she shook her head sadly. "I will take my leave. Perhaps I will be lucky enough to escape some fights along my travels but I will not be needing you for protection. I would rather take my chances," she held what dignity she had left and turned from Mykel wishing she had had the courage to at least strike him. Her palm itched with the need to do it but she couldnt trust herself to stop at just one.

She hurried her steps towards the tavern, anxious to make it to her room where she could hide behind private doors. At least she could let her emotions spill out there without eyes on her judging her or taking advantage of her. After a few moments she had reached her destination. Pulling the tavern door open, Amelie hurried inside, avoiding Bes' questioning look, no doubt she was taking in the state of Amelies attire. Taking the stairs two at a time, Amelie reached the floor of their room where she had had the run in earlier. At least this time no one stalked the hall ways waiting to bait her. Instead she had an uneventful walk to her room. Unlocking the door, she hurried inside, her eyes burning with hot tears as she slammed the door shut behind her. She didnt have the presence of mind to lock it with a key, but she figured she had no need to. She had her dagger for protection now, she remembered as her hand found the hilt of the blade, like a child seeking their mothers hand. Walking the short distance to the sink, Amelie found the basin of water and began splashing her face as silent sobs shook her body.

[JJ York]

Mykel couldn't meet her eye as she spoke to him, her words full of malice and the sting of what she saw as betrayal. His acting skills had been better than he had planned them to be, part of him hoped that Amelie would of seen through his performance. He did not regret his intent but it was hard not to hate himself a little for giving Amelie this feeling of darkness, it hurt to hear her words of hate. She did not understand and now nothing Mykel would say would change her mind. It would be for the better he decided, if she could not deal with this level of horror then the open road wasn't for her. What sorcery had caused him to think this way? Caught in a strange reluctance to follow the intelligent path.

He felt like he were ten years old again, receiving word of his father's suicide and watching his mother's reaction to the dreadful news. A feeling of helplessness, a feeling of unwanted conviction and other feelings that he couldn't describe with simple words. The entire situation festered in his stomach like acid in his bowels, it had been a long time since he cared enough to grow this upset. He did not show it however, his face remained a steely gaze looking at the floor where Amelie stood. He heard her laugh slightly but the words had dulled in his ears, his mind was locked in the memories of his childhood. Learning from a Baratheon knight that his mother had ended her own life also, leaving him alone and on the brink of his own military greatness. All the times he was in the midst of battle, all the times he had wandered from this town to the next, he never wanted the feel the anxious bile in his body as he felt it now. The feeling itself was shocking, he had spent a long time thinking that his personal wounds had been sewn shut, but here they were festering like a virus.

"I will take my leave. Perhaps I will be lucky enough to escape some fights along my travels but I will not be needing you for protection. I would rather take my chances,"

Her words were enough to pull him out of his daze, he looked dimly towards her escaping steps. Did she truly think he was some monster? She did not realise that his sword would never grace her skin, he could of killed and raped her a thousand times over during the walk from Storm's End. This kind of woman wasn't someone Mykel could survive with, a bumbling pretty face who could not defend herself. It saddened him to think their paths were splitting now, not every man she would face would show the same restraint he did, it was almost assured that her sex would be violated. Her strange affect she had on men got her into more trouble than good. It saddened him even further to realise that he would never share a sexual connection like this ever again, every woman was not of the same quality.

Mykel decided not to follow her, not yet. He had one last gift to give her before he made his leave. His destination? Mykel had none and it made him happy to follow no set path. It made the chances of running into her again rather slim, something that he definitely didn't want to do after the present incident. However he knew that she had no money and would likely stay in the tavern for awhile longer, a little more game would help her path. Although he had already apologised to her, an unknown token of his generosity would set his heart on a lighter beat. He would be able to sleep better knowing she were safe for at least a few extra days. By then the battle between Stannis and Joffrey would be over, and the political landscape of Westeros would be a much clearer picture.

It took just over two hours to hunt two more large deers, he deemed it enough to pay her way. Her small frame did not require much food and in truth he could sense that Bes enjoyed her company. Having a family of men gave a mother such a crave for other females to interact with, he sensed no problems with his plan. As the time passed he had formulated a plan that would sidestep away from the anxious feeling inside, he would gain his items and leave. While it meant having one more moment with Amelie, one more awkward moment, afterwards he would continue his life as he had done before his ridiculous idea to return to Storm's End. In his eyes, it was a fine way to finish this chapter of his life.

He entered the tavern once again, Amelie was not in sight at the bar area or any of the patrons that had graced his presence earlier. With a loud thud, he slapped the two deer carcasses on the bar and waited for Bes to emerge from the cookery on the other side. She did so with a large smile and nodded in approval to the successful game.

"I will be taking my leave earlier than expected, I hope this is enough to facilitate my... companions future stay. Unfortunately i have no coin" explained Mykel but Bes simply smiled back at him. "Of course my dear, with the new travelers i could do with all the meat i can get... Is there a problem?". Mykel shook his head in response, not able to formulate a lie with his words and took his leave. He raced up the steps and quickly found himself at the door to the very room he had shared with Amelie less than a few hours ago. The room felt alien to him now, as if he were entering a place he had never been too. For while the walls remained the same, his reception had changed exponentially.

Mykel took a deep breath and opened the door, the first thing he noticed was the lack of light. He must of stood at the door for a long time as the darkness of night had crept past him, only a few candles flickered across the wooden room. The familiar noise of Amelie's sobs floated quietly around the room, like faint whimpers in the candlelight. Amelie's sobs sunk his heart into the depths of his soul, his feet felt like steel weights unable to move. Mykel contemplated sneaking through the room to gather his gear, but his hiding spot for his armor would require him making quite a bit of noise. He would have to at least speak to her before leaving.

"Amelie... it is me Mykel. I'm just here to gather my things, i've already taken care of your payment with Bes, you can stay for awhile longer until you find your path. For what it's worth i truly would of never hurt you... The next man who puts you in that position wont miss their sword... remember that Amelie, I hope you find happiness... i'm sorry" he had rehearsed the words numerous times but it didn't dull their meaning, he couldn't see her face so proceeded to unhinge his armor from the wooden crack he had created earlier. He had worried that she would of damaged it in a fit of rage but his valuables remained safe and sound, even the worthless trinkets she had given him when they first met.

Some madness sparked up inside of him before he took his leave, Mykel slowly walked over to the bed where Amelie whimpered on her side. She covered her face with her forearm, but he gently moved it so he could look deeply into the one beautiful eye that looked outward. At first she refused to match his gaze but she soon locked her eyesight with his own and did not waver. Mykel brushed her hair back with his heavy hand and gentle wiped away a stray tear from her eye, he said no words to her. There was nothing else left to say at this moment, it was enough to show her that she was safe in his arms, just as she had been always.

Finally some words rose in his throat while he stood up to take his leave "I don't think i'll ever forget you Amelie, i hope the memory of our short time together lives on forever in my dreams"

[Penelope Jones]

Amelie had busied herself back at the room, tidying it to keep her mind occupied as she mentally prepared for an argument with Mykel. Some while had passed and the room was as tidy as a pin before Amelie's thoughts drifted to the chance that perhaps she wouldnt get a chance to have another argument with Mykel. She had prepared her speech to perfection, her words would cut deep but now that it seemed she was truly alone, her heart sank in her chest and for a moment she felt something akin to loss. A feeling she was not familiar with. While she had lost people in her life, this was different, she cared more about this loss. It was then that the soft tears began fill Amelies eyes and spill over. Taking to the bed, she whimpered for what felt like hours, her eyes felt puffy and she knew they would be red. She cried all of her emotions out. Her guilt for killing a man, her fearfulness at the hands of that same man, her hatred and outrage at what Mykel had done. All of these feelings churned inside of her, each tear brought on by something new but nothing could compare to the tears brought on by the love she had felt for Mykel.

It was a strange spot to find herself in, while one part of her hated him for what he had done, another part simply wanted to be in his arms. She had never been at such war with herself before and felt it was like some sort of madness. As her tears began to subside, she felt her eyes grow heavy and she dozed for a moment. Her dreams brought no rest for Amelie however, she dreamt of Mykels arms around her, of the night they made love. It felt so real that when Amelie woke from her light slumber, she forgot for a moment about her tears until she felt the wetness from her pillow. She was aware almost instantly that this was not her dream anymore, the room seemed lifeless with all the colour drained. The sun had departed leaving nothing but darkness in the room, something that seemed to reflect Amelies mood as she began to think once more on the events of today. Perhaps she was too harsh? What Mykel said just as she left made sense. It hurt yes, but wasnt it better to be prepared by someone that cared for her than left to the wolves? 'You have to be cruel to be kind,' was a saying that sprung to Amelies mind, it was one often used in the whore house when preparing the new comers.

Stiffling a sob, she buried her head back in her pillow feeling helpless. If Mykel had truly left, she had no coin and no way of paying the landlord. Perhaps one of his sons would take her on as a whore in exchange for bed. It would probably be the best scenario for Amelie she had to admit to herself. For now she couldnt look at any aspects that might help her, for now she wanted to surrender to her sobs. Crying was something she rarely did, she tried to keep her composure as much as possible but all of those times when she needed to cry and didnt, they were being set free. She felt a weight being lifted from her shoulders as she cried unashamedly, feeling pity for herself and unable to admit it out loud, she was missing Mykel.

As if by magic, the thought of Mykel brought him to their room door. Her back was to the door but she heard it open. Her body felt like lead, unable to peer around to see if it was Mykel or a stranger at her door. In that moment she didnt care, her tears continued but she could feel them sobering in the light of company. A few whimpers still escaped her lips as she hid her face under her arm. Upon hearing Mykels voice, Amelies heart did a familiar stutter in her chest which seemed to spur on her tears. His voice sounded so defeated, so sorry for what had happened. Amelie was unsure of what to do. She wanted to run to him, to beg that he might forgive her for her misgivings. She would tell him she understood why he did what he did and forgive him for it and kiss him til their lips hurt. That was what part of her wanted to do, but she couldnt. She found herself almost frozen in the bed, afraid to move and not trusting her voice. Could she truly trust him? Yes his reasoning was sound, but it didnt retract the fact that what he had said was cruel. She was truly torn, aware that if she wanted to beg him to stay, now was the time she needed to say it. As the moment began to slip past, Amelie still lay frozen in the bed as fresh sobs threatened to escape just as Mykel was about to walk away.

Feeling his hand move hers, was like being injected with some sort of opium. His touch vibrated throughout her body as her forearm fell away exposing her face, now left bare with emotion. At first she couldnt look him in the eyes, afraid at what she would see there. Any resolve at hating him she knew would fade if she saw love or caring in his eyes. If she found the eyes of hatred she had seen earlier, she wouldnt hesitate to hurt him or flee. Scolding herself for being so childish as being afraid of eyes, she steeled herself some courage and rose her gaze to meet his. As soon as they had locked, she felt a fresh wave of emotion rock her body, he looked like her Mykel again. His eyes held no malice, no hatred only sorrow and love. The same eyes that had saved her from a terrible fate, the ones that had brought her pleasure like no other ever had, ones she could trust and that held a thousand stories behind them. He looked at her for a moment, their gaze never moving as he brushed a stray strand of silver hair from her face and wiping a tear. The gesture was so gentle and caring that Amelie almost purred at his touch. He began to move away, the spell pf their touch seemingly broken.

"I don't think i'll ever forget you Amelie, i hope the memory of our short time together lives on forever in my dreams", she heard him say before he began to leave her side. Pushing herself from the bed, she swung her legs over the side before catching Mykels arm as he turned to leave. Pulling herself up, she all but threw herself into his arms. Wrapping her hands tightly around him she buried her head in the crook of his neck as she whimpered, "Please Mykel... please... Don't leave me, dont go," she pleaded as she clung to him tighter, her body pressed against his. She could hear the catch in his breathing at her advances, knowing she had probably surprised him with her affectionate display. [i]"I'm sorry Mykel, I'm sorry..." she sobbed as all of her senses became clouded by everything familiar with Mykel, how could she ever believe he would hurt her so cruelly?

[JJ York]

Mykel almost escaped the awkward situation, his feet were already out of the room by the time he heard Amelie's movements. It was enough to convince him to turn around to see her once again, just in case she wished to hurl her final vile words at him before leaving. As soon as he did so, Amelie's body crashed into his own and embraced him like a companion once more. After a few steps back to brace the impact, Mykel attempted to worm his head around the situation. Maybe his words had finally made their way into her mind, maybe this was how the Baratheon soldier had last seen Amelie before he died. Part of him was blissfully content if that were her intention, the terrible feeling inside his body was something he wouldn't wish upon anyone.

"I'm sorry Mykel, I'm sorry..."

"Wha..." Mykel's words were not arriving, instead he held Amelie for a moment and gently hoisted her up to his level. She may of taken it as a romantic gesture but his intentions were to avoid slipping behind himself onto the floor. With his free hand, Mykel closed the door once again, the click of the latch echoed throughout the room. Some of the candles fluttered with the escaping wind but still burned brightly, infusing the room with a golden glow. It was then that Mykel questioned the wooden aesthetic of their surroundings, one fiery arrow could bring the entire foundations down upon itself. Feeling as if he were letting his thoughts escape the current moment, Amelie's hands dug deeply into any hook they could.

"You spend much of your time apologizing Amelie, for incidents that are not your fault..." Mykel used his finger to raise her eyes upward and to calm her tears "I promised i would protect you, sometimes that will mean i will have to play the bad man. Thing's aren't always as straight forward as Westeros' playwrights like to suggest". It seemed as if he had gained his companion once again and it gave him a smile to enjoy, the acid feeling in his gut dissipated into nothingness. They shared a bond, Mykel and Amelie, one that was amazingly strong for the time they had spent together. There was nothing like death and fear of one's demise to bring people together, it would be the promise of future adventures that would bind them for the future. Her cheeks were puffy from the hours of crying, Mykel knew that their small time apart had given them time to reflect on both their actions. But now in that very moment, there was nothing else but the connection they shared.

Using what remained of his strength, for most of it had been sapped with the days hunting and training, Mykel picked Amelie up gracefully and carried her to the bed. He took each step slowly, feeling the fatigue once more beginning to ache upon his shoulders. It was early in the night to be sure but the sleep debt he had endured on his trip to Storm's End was beginning to weigh heavy. His plan remained the same, he wanted to leave in the morn and get as far away from King's Landing as he could, that meant going north. Now that the news of Robb Stark's rebellion had come to heat, the northern lands were basically empty and would provide many areas to slip by unnoticed. Part of him also wanted to be as far away from Stannis Baratheon as he could, but that card he was holding close to his chest.

Mykel laid Amelie onto the bed softly and sauntered to join her, after taking off his armor of course. For awhile he laid beside her, stroking her hair from side to side and wiping the odd escaping tear. He knew that she had been crying violently, for her eyes were at peace but her body's reflexes were not. From time to time he let out a small laugh as she attempted to fight against her tuck in her heart, then slowly he moved the strap of her dress from her shoulder. He did not mean it sexually but a way to sooth her, and feel her soft skin. Her body and mind must of taken a major hit in the last 48 hours, Mykel knew he had chosen the wrong time to test her mental aptitude.

"I am sorry Amelie... But i fear i cannot simply disconnected myself from you so easily. Do you trust me? I truly need to know" asked Mykel, his hands rubbed her shoulders gently and then rose up to her cheek, his lips met hers once again but only for a brief moment. As soon as he tasted her once again, he gave himself a more complete kiss and backed off afterwards, hoping he hadn't overstayed his boundaries once more. He cared much for her comfort, he had already scared her to the brink of oblivion, he would play this scene with more finesse.

All he wanted to do was to listen to her voice, see her eyes glimmer in the dying candlelight and slowly drift into welcoming dreams. He had promised to have her once more before they left, but situations changed and much had occurred on the day. As much as he attempted to refrain from invading her personal space, he shuffled across the bed to close the space, moving his hand down her back to unlatch her dress. Everything he did was with a slow pace, giving her plenty of time to contest his actions, but she did not. Amelie's garments drifted from the upper half of her body with grace, revealing her tender breasts that were slightly damp from her tears. His hands then rubbed slowly across her back while he kissed every inch of skin he could find upon her.

Mykel did not care if this would leave to him having his way with her, he truly wanted to make amends in a way he had never done before. While his urges rose up in the pit of his very being, he curbed them in order to continue to say sorry to her through his exploration of her body.

[Penelope Jones]

Amelie let Mykels soft words and soft kisses sink into her body. As his lips met her skin with each pucker of his lips, she felt a knot that had been settled in her stomach ease. Things were going to go back to how it was before, she knew it now. How could she ever have doubted this man? Nuzzling her head deeper into the pillow Mykel had kindly laid her on, she mewed contentedly as he brushed her hair from face. Her body felt like it was floating above them both, hovering just beyond the realm of dreams. 'Perhaps this is a dream,' she thought idly to herself as Mykel began removing her garments and exposing her breasts. As the cold air hit the wet patches from her earlier tears, she felt her nipples harden into peaks as goosebumps trailed her body. As his hands blazed a trail of heat across her body, she felt it react instinctively as it rose to meet his touch, her hips beginning to move in a rhythm.

"Mykel," she said in an almost whispered groan of pleasure. "I trust you with my life," she offered the answer to him as more kisses trailed her back, leading him towards her bum. Clutching the sheets in her hands, she let out a moan of pleasure as he began removing the rest of her clothes. She felt the pressing need of his erection on her back, but felt he wasnt rushing towards his pleasure, more like making up for his misgivings. And this was an experience completely new to Amelie, her pleasure had never been put above a mans before. She had had sex with women before and found the love making to be intense and sweet, but men usually wanted a lot of praise and it was over quickly. Mykel was different, he treated her with respect in the bedroom and put her pleasure above his in his attentive strokes. She mewed once more, unable to contain herself.

As Mykel's lips trailed along her bottom, she felt the goosebumps rise as her sex flooded with heat. She would have him again tonight, there was no way she could not. She needed him like air and felt almost delirious with lust for him but decided to let Mykel set the pace for their night. His hands snaked around her torso, splaying his fingers out possessively as he gently rolled her on her back. With her body completely exposed to his eyes, Amelie felt her cheeks flush as she moved her hips almost instinctively. She heard a small gasp leave Mykel as his eyes roamed her body. Perhaps she still took his breath away. With a small smile, Amelie closed her eyes as her dream like fantasy continued. Mykel's kisses travelled along her neck line first as his hands ran across her breasts. As his kisses traveled lower, she gasped with sudden pleasure as he ran his tongue along one hard nipple, then another before traveling further south still. As his hands gently parted Amelies legs, she blushed at how desperate she was for his touch. She realised that should he enter her, she would probably shatter into a million pieces at once in pleasure. As he blanketed her body with his, she tried to wrap her legs around his hips, only to find he resisted. Instead of entering her like she thought he intended, he moved down the bed even more until his kisses began at the tip of her curly nether hair.

"Not yet little one, I have more kissing to give," he said to her, a smile tugging at his lips as he gently nuzzled her sex. Rising her hips to meet his touch, Amelie moaned loudly, surprising herself by how much she wanted him. He braced his hands on her hips as he guided her legs over his shoulders, spreading them some more. She almost shattered into an orgasm as soon as she felt his tongue snake along her opening. It was gentle and soft, reaching places she couldnt imagine. Gasping his name like a reverend prayer, she grasped the sheets beneath her as she writhed beneath his touch. Each stroke of his tongue sent her body into overdrive. She felt her sex flood with pleasure as her climax built slowly. Amelie was powerless against him like this, unable to do anything but groan his name like a talisman as his tongue devoured her, snaking around her nub until it felt like it would burst. 'Mykel, she gasped as she buried her face in the pillow in an attempt to quell her noise.

As his mouth broke away from her sex, she felt her heart rate begin to slow down. Her face was truly flushed now, a small sheen of sweat beading her brow as her climax began to wane. Pushing her legs further apart, she saw a mischievous grin spread across Mykels lips. 'I am not done with you just yet Amelie," he said in a husky tone filled with promise. Before Amelie could respond, she felt Mykels fingers tease her entrance for the briefest of moments before entering her fully. Gasping with please, Amelie almost sobbed for release, begging Mykel for more yet afraid to have it come to an end. 'Do not fear Amelie, I have plans for us tonight,', his voiced promised a pleasure Amelie could only dream of. And true to his word, she felt her climax ripple through her body as his fingers worked through her and his tongue once more, snaked its way around her hooded nub. She gripped Mykels arms tightly, her nails finding purchase as she moaned uncontrollably, her sex flooding the sheets and Mykel. She knew however this would not be the end of her climax for the night, she knew he would fulfill his promise and she eagerly awaited it.

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