In the morning, Rey had finally managed to make Finn lend her one of his old swords. He had insisted that they were all too heavy, but Rey wouldn't even hear about that. All she wanted was to try something else than the wooden stick she was training with or the wooden staff that has been her companion ever since leaving Braavos. She wanted to wield a real sword, to feel the steel in her hand, to feel strong, to feel that no one could harm her anymore.

And most of all, she wanted to forget about that look that haunted her. She wished she had been that strong that day in the crowd, and let her impulse drive her to strike Ben down. That made her chench her fist so hard around the staff, her knuckles went white.

She went to her place, in one of the layered gardens of the Red Keep. From there she could see the sea and the Blackwater Bay spreading to the east. She hoped that her master at arms was there, so she wouldn't be alone. She wanted someone to keep her mind off the events of the past day. And she had serious questions to ask him.

And as she reached the garden where she usually did her rounds, she saw that her master, a man around fourty years, was waiting for her. He was the one who's been training her since she'd arrived in King's Landing. And she had considered him her best friend. But now, she could not think that anymore.

"Morning, Rey." he greeted her with a joyful smile.

"I'm sorry I'm late." She mumbled quickly, not looking up at him. Instead, she drew her sword, ready for training. Usually, they would have a talk before but she was in no mood for that now.

"No, it's alright. I didn't have a very good day either." he smiled. "I have a lot of knightly work to do these days." he chuckled.

Rey made herself smile. But the little grin was off her lips as soon as it appeared, replaced by a mask of a face. "I understand." she said, mechanically.

"But are you alright?" he tilted his head to one side and squinted at her.

And it was more than she could stand. She shook her head, as if trying to shake some invisible tears off her face. Her chest felt heavy with sorrow, and with betrayal.

"Why... Why did you fight for him? Why did you save him?" she couldn't believe it. And tears spilled from her eyes. Her lower lip quivered as she said those words, almost shouting. And the hand on her wooden sword trembled.

And she could see him sigh heavily, as if not knowing how to explain it.

" I..." he began, but trailed off. "Ben had been my apprentice long ago, when he was just a child." he gulped down the guilt as he looked at Rey's year streaked face. "And I knew that the fate was not done with him. I was not done with him. If I wouldn't have tried, I would have failed Ben, I would have failed as a mentor. And, because I was his master too, I should have watched him closely, guided him. But I never saw into his soul, I never helped him as I should have done."

She had never known that. And somehow, it made her sad for Ben. Am I mad to be sad for him?! She scowled at herself. But for her master, she was sad, indeed.

"I'm sorry." she mumbled.

But her master smiled affectionately. "I don't ever want to do the same mistake again." he said. "And... By fighting for him, I hoped I could pay for my own actions toward him, and give him a chance."

Rey nodded. "I understand." She didn't know what else to say about the notorious killer.

"Shall we get started then?"

And the thought of fighting brought the happiness back inside her.

"I'm always ready!" she said.

"Okay! You go first!"

She stepped toward him and stabbed, but he parried the attack easily. She grunted and gritted her teeth. But then it turned into a laugh. This session was like a break from everything bad. It made her live the moment.

He prowled around her in a small circle, sword in hand, forcing her to turn.

"Get your sword up."

Rey raised it above her head, and grimaced. It was heavy. And as if her master had read her thoughts, he said,

"It's as heavy as it needs to be."

And he slashed at her side again, but she deflected his blow with one swift swish, constantly moving. The blades clacked against one another. Then she spun around and ducked a blow, and sent another one at him, but he brought her sword down in a cross with his. Her arms were skinny, but strong. Then she spun again and again, quick as a snake, sending more and more blows.

But her master stopped. And she suppressed a laugh as she wiped the sweat trickling from her hair with her white sleeve.

"I'm sorry now, but I need to attend some work. I hope you understand me."

"Sure." She had to admit she was taken aback a bit. She didn't want the training to end so fast.

"Go on and train on your own, you're doing great!" he said as he left for the palace. "Maybe I'll come to show you a couple of schemes later if I'm done with my work in time!"

"Thank you!" Rey shouted gladly after him and he smiled in return.

She turned around, a great smile spread across her face. And then she put on a determined look and lunged forward, with the sword pointed at the invisible enemy. She slashed right, down and retreated with two paces, spinning around and slashing again. For her, fighting was like dancing under the sun. She let out a sigh of tiredness and relief at the same time. She knew she belonged to the North, even though she'd left it so long ago. But she wanted to be nowhere else at that moment. She liked to stay up in that place and train until she got tired and look up at the blue sea and walk in those gardens and sit under the trees to read what Leia was giving her from the royal library. Those books about history always made her want to lose in them, even the ones for kids, with mighty heroes.

Yet there was still something that missed: the belonging she has been seeking since her family had died.

As she wheeled around, spinning and twirling the sword, lost in her movements, she bumped into something. Not something...someone.

And as she tripped and fell, her sword slipped from her grasp and flew a couple of feet across from her, clattering on the stone floor. But right then, out of nowhere, two strong arms caught her before she could hit the ground. She began to mumble a 'Thank you', but then she looked up and realized... It was him, that nightmarish appearance that haunted her dreams.

And he was looking deep into her eyes, as if allowing her to realize who was holding her. And there was no menace on his face, but rather understanding and concern. Yet all she wanted was to slap his face, and turn his eyes away from her. She felt a deep fury welling up inside her.

And it was so hard to believe he was not going to kill her, since she'd only seen him killing. It was so hard to believe it was the same person who had killed her father and who was now holding her so carefully.

But his sudden question broke her from her thoughts. "You alright? I didn't want to interrupt-"

And he never got to finish his sentence, for Rey's movement startled him. She pushed away, breaking free from his arms and jumped to her feet. And she was glaring at him with such hatred...as if he was her worst enemy. And maybe she was right.

" Go away and leave me alone!" she spat as he walked to the place where her sword had fallen. He retrieved it and handed it to her. His eyes were never leaving hers.

Rey looked at her sword and snatched it from his hands, angrily. As if he had stolen it and she was taking it back. How she would have loved to stick it through him like he did to so many innocent people! But she thought about Leia. And how much she had wanted her beloved son back home.

A soft breeze blew past her ear and rustled the loose strand of hair that had escaped her three buns during the fight.

Rey turned her back on him and walked away, her footsteps echoing softly on the slate floor. She let out a nervous sigh. He was still there, she saw out of the corner of her eye. And she clenched her teeth in frustration and almost yelled. "Go-the hell- away!" she'd forgotten that she has been a slave and he was the Heir to the Seven Kingdoms. She had forgotten that he could do anything he wanted with anyone who showed disrespect.

But he did not seem to mind her unkind words and ignored her briefly. "Who are you?" he asked, as if he was genuinely curious.

That calm in his voice annoyed her more than anything. She squeezed her eyes tight, hardly managing to keep her anger at bay. "Someone you have nothing to do with!" and she turned her head slightly in his direction. "Now leave me alone, Your Grace!" she said the last two words in a mocking way.

For a few of moments she felt his stare still on her. But he left, saying he was sorry once again.

And she couldn't help but look in his wake as he was heading back. She had been too harsh with him, she reflected. After all, he had helped her, he did not deserve that. There was something different about him. Maybe he has really changed. She began to feel sorry for him. But she wouldn't let those feelings take hold of her. No, she wasn't going to yield to him that quickly.

All of a sudden Rey was smacked in the face with the end of a wooden staff. "Ow!" she drove her hand to where her skin has already begun to ache. She looked down at a young boy who was training alongside her.

"You should be more careful." She smiled at him, rubbing the spot on her face where he had hit her.

"Sorry." he said as he returned to his work.

   Rey smiled at all the other apprentices and squires that were exercising their fighting skills. She liked to train in group with them sometimes.

   But now she decided she needed to find Rose and Finn. She needed to talk to them. And she missed the long nights they spent together, telling each other about their own issues.

   She set the sword in her belt, strapped the staff across her back, and made for the Red Keep, down the steps. She hoped she would find them there.

She walked at a joyful step the winding streets back to the crowded plaza in the center. With the little coin she had gotten from Leia, she planned to buy herself something to eat for supper. So she headed for Aegon's high Hill.

The merchants were shouting at the passersby to come and see what they've got to give. She looked at their products: steaks, bread, fruits, sweets. It all made her mouth water. And then her eyes wandered at the clothes merchants, and noticed the colorful silks they had, lined on their tables. She made to touch the fabric of one violet silk gown. She had never touched a silk so soft in her life, and her lips parted at the contact. She hated dresses and girls' clothing, yet she imagined herself wearing that gown.

   "Hey! Take your hand off, filthy beggar!" the merchant yelled at her and snapped her hand away.

   "Ow!" she retreated it immediately, and rubbed it where he'd hurt her. And, as if in return, she drew her sword. But two knights passing by grabbed her arms, and she had to beg for forgiveness to be let go of.

   She walked away, but not before throwing one more fierce look at the fat merchant and at the two golden knights. I must be fierce like a wolverine! She thought.

Everywhere she went in King's Landing, even in the Flea Bottom, the people knew her and respected her. They knew her as the one who had the power to change one's heart, for her optimism. As she entered the bakery, she was greeted by the woman who held it.

"Rey, isn't it?"

"Yes! How are you doing?" the young girl asked joyfully as she closed the door behind her delicately, as if she were some lady, not someone training to be a knight.

But the woman's eyes darted to the leather covered hilt at her belt. "Are you a knight yet?"

"Oh, no. It's borrowed from a friend. But I shall be a knight soon enough." She smiled proudly.

   And the woman came to her and placed a hand on her cheek. "My sweet Rey, my brave child." her eyes were threatening to spill with tears. "I always knew you can do anything you keep in mind!"

She gladly ate the muffin she had bought as she climbed up to the Red Keep again. The food has not been much, it barely filled her stomach, but it was better than nothing. As she walked she wondered what her friends had to tell her about their day. And her, should she tell them about the meeting with Ren?

There were knights at the gates, and that would give her some trouble. As she tried to pass unseen, one of them layd a hand on her shoulder and yanked her away harshly.

"What are you doing here, beggar?" he asked.

"I'm no beggar!" she returned his words, as if it were a slap across the face and tried to make her fierce face.
"Let me in!"

"No! We're not allowed to let anyone pass, dumb street child!"

"Leia is my master and she had requested to talk with me right now! She'll know you have stopped me if you won't let me pass!"

Then the knight seemed to consider what she said. At least he fears the queen, Rey thought.

"Well then, if it is so, then wait here until I go to speak with Her Grace to see if what you say is true." he threw her a hard stare, as if he were steel, led her and told her to sit on a warped wooden bench in the middle of the people moving here and there.

She nodded in response. But she knew she was not going to obey him. No way was she going to do that. As soon as she got the chance, she sneaked away and got lost in the crowd of people. Her brown leather tunic and her worn shirt helped. And finally she got to the secret way she knew since she was only a young girl when she was first brought here. That entrance led to the kitchen. And all those warm and inviting smells suddenly filled her nose. And the chill air in the stone palace compared to the burning sun outside was wonderful. But she had to hurry.

She got out of there and went straight into a long corridor that was guarded. She had to pass as a servant. But the sword at her belt would give her in.
Rey had never understood the Red Keep. For her, it was all a tangle of corridors and stairs and rooms. She only hoped she would find back the entrance.

As she walked forward under the high ceiling, she heard someone following her and she drove her hand to the hilt. She turned her head only to realize it was just her master at arms. She let out a sigh of relief.

"I could hear your steps from a corridor two walls away from this." he laughed. "A smart girl walks barefoot."

She put on an annoyed face. But he was right: her leather boots made such noise she was glad it hasn't been someone else who caught her.

But as she ascended the steps, carefully walking near the wall, she heard voices coming from the room she'd just passed. There were three: Leia's worried one, Han's angry one, and another she didn't know and that she supposed it had to be their son's.
As she crouched near the door to look through the locke, she saw them three. And they were arguing.

"... I already told you! Our kingdom is at stake! Our family is at stake! Snoke's empire is rising and you'll need to face it. But first you need an heir, do you understand me!? What if you die in battle and there's no one to carry on the lineage?" she glimpsed Han yelling at his son. And then Leia stepped between them.

"I don't know her, she does not know me. Everybody hates me, and maybe she does, too." Rey heard Ben say desperately.

So they planned to wed him, Rey thought. And she already pitied the one they've chosen. Poor girl.

"... And I don't want to ruin any lives any more." Ben said, convinced.

"No, I'm sure it won't go that way. You need to take it easy, I know it's hard." Leia said to her husband and son.

"Shut up!" commanded Han.
Rey was surprised. He has never seen him being so harsh with his wife.

"And you do as I say, son! You will need a queen one day! You'll wed the girl Rey and get done with it!"

At the mention of her name, Rey gasped and felt her knees buckle under her. No no it can't be possible, she thought. She felt tears threatening to spill from her eyes and her hands began to shake. She couldn't stand, couldn't breathe. It felt like the air had been pushed out of her lungs. And she slid to the floor, knees folded beneath her frail form.

She couldn't hear anymore, everything around her became a blurr. And she realized she was angry, scared and lonely. The ones who have been like a family now turned out to be her traitors, the ones who have freed her from her slaver right before she was about to be sent to Essos. And who knows where she would have ended up.

She gathered all her strength she got left and made to go. She hoped she had misheard. But she knew she hadn't. She knew it was true. For somehow, in some inexplicable way, she could feel it.

*This is the longest chapter I wrote so far. I do hope you have the patience to read it! Thank you for your support in the previous chapters!*