Chapter Text
Astryr felt the panic bubbling up her throat as she finally slowed down. Her hands grasped the stone wall, the chill grounding her. She wasn’t usually in the Prince and Princess’ quarters, but had been asked after their dinner to help with the Princess’ bath.
Taking a deep breath, Astryr patted down her skirts and tried to ignore the embarrassment she felt from what had just occurred. A small scuffle like noise caused her head to shoot up as a familiar, slightly arrogant, face appeared around the corner. Ser Criston Cole barely glanced at her as he walked past, an interaction she was actually quite pleased to have for once. Usually his refusal to acknowledge her irked her, but this time it was welcomed. Moments later the Queen walked by, though this time Astryr was not ignored.
“Lady Havenwood, I expect my bath ready after I have met with the King”. Her command was direct, though her eyes were not focused on Astryr, rather the entrance to the King’s chambers.
Bowing, Astryr replied and slowly made her way to collect some more water. It was supposed to be an honour, serving the Queen. That’s what her uncle said anyway. The Havenwoods were a minor family in the Riverlands, overseeing a small castle. The truth was that they were neither rich nor influential. The only reason she was in her current position was because thirty years ago King Viserys had enjoyed a good meal with her father and somehow that friendship had lasted till her father’s death. As a reward of friendship, if you could call it that, Astryr was allowed to stay in the Red Keep. While in King’s Landing, she would serve the Queen and wait to get courted by another noble man. Both of these did not appeal to Astryr.
It was not as though she had much of a choice. But Astryr had hoped she would just find someone when the time was right. Of course she recognised her own naivety in this way of thinking. Most women did not have a choice, not really. Still, if she could hold onto her own agency a little while longer she would do.
It was not that she was ungrateful either. It all boiled down to what the Red Keep signified to her. Servitude and loss of freedom. Not to mention that the general atmosphere was unusually tense. It was as though the walls had absorbed the underlying worry that had wound its way through the royal family. The King’s ailing health was an oppressive anxiety that most inhabitants seemed to feel. Even Astryr had started to feel it.
She had only been in the Red Keep, serving the Queen, for six months and she was already counting the days she could escape back home. In a rare twist of fate, her uncle turned out to be one of the few men whom she had encountered that did not want to sell her off as a prized mare. Instead, he had taught her to read and write, and let her watch his management of a small community. She was quite interested in the day to day lives of those who lived in their community and found helping them rather fulfilling. Even if it did entail catching a sheep that had gone awry.
It was because of her uncle’s belief in her that he too was at first against her going to King’s Landing. He did respect, however, that turning down a gift from the King would not be in good taste. He had planned to give her an excuse to leave after six months of being there, and yet she had not received word from him.
Grabbing another bucket of water, she made her way back to the Queen’s quarters, wondering if her uncle would send a letter soon. She cringed as some of the water sloshed over the side, wetting her own shoes. The image of the prince came to mind.
She had not expected to find herself interested in the prince. In fact, when she first arrived, she had watched in interest as a tall young man with, what she could only describe as having fantastic hair, fought rigorously against a knight. A knight she would soon know to be Ser Christon Cole. She had not seen the prince again until a few weeks later, when she was walking around the courtyard on one of her only days off. The Queen had given her permission to familiarise herself with the Red Keep, an act Astryr had first thought of as kind but later accepted was most likely to get rid of her for the afternoon. Walking through the courtyard, she had caught sight of long silver hair once more and before she could help herself, she followed.
Astryr was nimble, like a cat. From a very young age she had often crept up on those around her, scaring people half to death by accident. She would argue that it wasn’t her fault she was so light footed, though she would only admit to herself that she quite enjoyed creeping up on others. She had learnt on many occasions though that spying did her no favours. She had learnt this lesson again when she followed the prince, carefully walking just far enough behind him. At this stage, she did not know his name or station. Though his hair did tell her he was likely a Targaryen.
Perhaps it is hard to believe that in two weeks of being in the Red Keep, Astryr hadn’t laid eyes on a single Targaryen but you would be surprised how large the castle really is. Not to mention, she had been confined to laundry duty for some reason. She wondered if it was some odd test to see if she was robust enough. It was that or she was being messed with. She suspected the latter.
After following the man for a few minutes, she had practically thrown herself behind some bushes when he turned around. He had obviously felt as though someone had been watching him. It was while he looked around, scanning the area, that Astryr saw his eyepatch and she suddenly realised who he was. The other women had been gossiping while she was down there. They didn’t seem to care who they were talking in front of, though if Astryr was to be honest, she was not much higher in station than those other women. She had been listening in and overheard them discuss the prince with the missing eye. They called him Prince Aemond. Astryr had used the conversation as a way to join in, asking them questions in which she was told the whole gruesome tale by the women who seemed quite joyous to go into the details.
As she hid, watching the young man, she felt a pinch of sympathy. Though he was imposing, and had a jaw that she was sure could cut glass, she could sense he was not comfortable. Whether with his surroundings or himself, she was uncertain. Saying that, he was clearly under the impression he was being watched, so she wasn’t surprised his aura would have been off anyway.
She had tried not to think of him much after that event, but every time she caught a glance of him, she became intrigued once more. Worried he may have seen her the first time round, Astryr made sure to watch him from the shadows. She just didn’t expect to walk straight into him.
Finally reaching the Queen’s quarters, she was thankful some other maids were there with water, otherwise the bath would take her hours to fill. Once it was ready, Astryr was dismissed, and made her way back warily to her quarters. She had heard rumours of Prince Aegon and his wandering hands. She was pleasantly surprised his brother had sent her away before she too fell victim.
After getting lost a few times, Astryr finally found her room. Though she felt the hairs on her neck prick up, as though she were being watched. As discreetly as she could, without whipping her head around, she titled her neck, looking through her peripheral vision. As quickly as it had been there, the movement was gone. In a rather brave move, she walked over to the passage way and stared down the dimly lit corridor. She didn’t really know what she would do if there turned out to be someone stood there. She had not really thought that far. Thankfully, there was no one there. But, on the stone at least a foot above her head, was a single long silver hair. She smiled.
It seemed she had a shadow.