Varghaz zo Loraq

“WAKE UP!” and I was slapped so hard I bit my tongue. I must have fallen asleep. When I opened my eyes, I saw Varghaz zo Loraq staring at me with a smile I had never seen before on his handsome face.  My eyes widened when I realized I was bound.

“It wasn’t supposed to be like this Noelle.” He grabbed a fistful of my hair and brought his face close to mine. I felt his hot breath on my cheeks. “I loved you!” He hissed through clenched teeth. “but this humiliation, this shame! I can never forgive!”

“Varghaz, please let me go. My father will be looking for me. If I don’t…”

He laughed.  ”You think I care about your father? He’ll be dead before day breaks and you and I will be far away from Meereen. Please don’t argue with me. I might have to hit you again.”

“You would strike a defenseless woman? Bound even! Release me immediately!”

Varghaz pulled out a dagger and placed the blade under my throat. He traced the cold steel from my neck to my cheeks underneath my right eye.

We used to pretend we were pirates. We would play for hours on the north shores of Slavers Bay as the ships bounced in the waves. We would dream sailing through the Narrow Sea and dream of adventures until the sun set. But this was no game. We weren’t playing now and my restraints were real and cutting through my flesh. I can’t remember how I ended up bound. I knew we were somewhere on a ship. I could smell the salt of the sea air.

I closed my eyes as my heart pounded with fear. Each moment could be my last. I knew what I had to do. I waited til he was close and brought my knee to his groin as hard and fast as I could and caught Varghaz off guard.  He dropped his dagger and fell to his knees. Then I jumped and kicked the beam that held my chains and it fell on Varghaz pinning him to the floor. Just then, two men rushed into the room from the noise. I found the dagger and cut their throats. I ran then with my hands still bound and jumped into the water. Earlier that night I had dressed in silks for Varghaz’s name day. He had pulled me aside to ask for my hand. I had refused him and now my silks were as rags and I was covered in blood. I wanted to sink to the bottom as the surface grew further and further away.

The only father I had ever known, Ser Thomas had been a knight. In service to the Mad King. He fled south to Essos during the Robert’s rebellion and the death of King Aerys II Targaryen. He taught me how to fight.

“Why did you run, father?” He would only smile and tell me he followed my mother. He loved her so and loved her still. I never knew whom my real father was. A great sadness would fill my mother eyes when I once asked. She told me that he was Dothraki.

I swam back to the surface and stumbled on the sand. I needed to get home.