In defense of his Lady (Nymeria)

[Ser Uther Sand]

Word had reached the Red Keep long ago that the forces of Stannis Baratheon had been sighted, marching from the North and sailing in towards the Blackwater Rush. On one hand, Ser Uther Sand felt that he should be all the walls beside Lady Lena Arryn of the Vale or perhaps Ser Torin Lannister, maybe even the King himself. But he was also sworn to protect Lady Nymeria Sand. Dorne had no army in King's Landing and she was a daughter to Oberyn Martell. He was to protect her.

Ser Uther Sand was Sword of the Morning, and none would harm Lady Nymeria Sand while Dawn was in his hands. He was no fool, Stannis was an honourable man but there would be many in the army lacking honour. If the Red Keep fell, how many would try corner the beautiful woman that sat on the King's Small Council? One? Ten? A hundred? Last time King's Landing had had been attacked, Elia Martell was raped and murdered with the blood of her babes still on the killers hands they said. The Bastard of Starfall would not let such a thing happen to his Lady.

She had arrived only a few moments ago, to hide in his Quarters. Hers were much more comfortable then his but his were more out the way, a less prestigious part of the Castle. Less likely to find the most prestigious victims were the most dangerous looters and rapers outside the gates were search first. It was also at the end of a hall, if he had to fight he'd rather there be only one direction his enemy could come from.

He was adorned in a simple white cloth tunic and matching breeches, not yet in his armour which was upon a stand, his greatsword upon a wall mounting behind it. "Would you like some wine my Lady? I have a red from home." Perhaps some wine would calm her nerves, though she seemed as confident as anything.

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No, she wasn’t exactly thrilled she’d be missing out on most of the battle. Lady Nymeria was a born fighter, she spent most of her days travelling through the woods or in the snow. She was almost one hundred percent positive that she could keep herself safe and protected if it really came down to that. Of course she had managed to conceal at least three weapons amongst how she was dressed. Nymeria had found herself nervously wringing her hands together. Had she grown to care for the man who had sworn to protect her? Stranger things had happened at one point in time, so why would her caring for someone be such a surprise to her? Perhaps it is because you know not of love, and you have no desire to know that feeling? she thought to herself. Loose hair barely brushed her neck and shoulders as it fell from the plait that it was in.

Nymeria had somehow managed to still be very confident in what would happen. She had to put her trust in Torin that he would be able to guide the battle in the direction so that Kings Landing would not fall. She was confident that he would be able to do so and she was confident that the young man who stood before her would not take his final breath in order to die protecting her. Even though she would not be the one to cause his death, her hands would still be tinted with his blood if he died protecting her. And that was an idea that she did not like. As Ser Uther spoke, Nymeria simply looked up from the chair on which she was perched. She offered him a sweet smile and shook her head, “I am fine Ser,” adding wine to her, would make her well… she’d be rather interesting to say in the least. “I will drink once this battle has ceased.”

“I am not sure how I can express my gratitude for what you are doing Ser, duty or not.” She looked up at him, even in her eyes, the gratitude was clear to see. She had spent so long taking care of herself and being her own protection, that she had forgotten what it was like to have someone else willing to protect her. Someone who was sworn to protect her. She just wasn’t used to it yet. Then again, she hadn’t thought that she would have been on the small council in place of her father. True, she did intend on making a stop in Kings Landing, but she the intention to fill her father’s place wasn’t exactly there at first thought. Once she had received word, her intentions had to change.

Her green eyes drifted to the armor that was on its stand before they drifted back to Uther, “May I offer you assistance?” she asked with a slight head nod to his armor. “I used to help my father.” She admitted. True, she did have her own, but she often had help with suiting up. Like most of her wardrobe, her armor had clasps in places that were hard for her to reach. Nymeria found herself standing up as she walked towards Uther, “I truly hope that you will return to me safely.” She said after a moment, her eyes holding his.

[Ser Uther Sand]

"There is no need to express your gratitude my Lady, it is an honour to serve." He still remembered the first night he had spent in King's Landing when she came to him in the night, gratitude for loyalty had never made him so guilty and though he prayed for purity and strength he never resisted. When she offered to assist he just gave a nod of his head. "Yes my Lady. I would appreciate that." he knew she was experienced with weapon and armour, she knew how to help him into it.

He rose from where he was and stepped towards the stand that help up his armour, it made him so proud to wear it. Every day he wore it. Every single one. "It is said by many men, but I shall say it again. Stannis's men will get at you over my dead body or not at all." this day he would be like his Uncle Ser Arthur Dayne or the White Bull, Gerold Hightower. Unyielding as Valyrian steel in his defense and duty.

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“Honour or not, I am still thankful for what you are doing.” She looked up at Uther. Of course his first night was still embedded into her mind. How he touched her, held her. The feelings that went through her mind and body, were ones that she would not soon be forgetting. Perhaps that was what had spiked the feelings that she felt towards him. Now understand that Nymeria was the type to bed a man one night and be gone before the light of dawn appeared. She hadn’t know what it was like to want to be with the same one, nor did she know what it was like to actually fear for another man’s life when presented with a battle. This was very new to the young maiden.

No words were spoken as she tightened the straps of his breast plate. Her hands were steady as she did so. When her father would go into a battle or even a tournament, she would find that he hands were shaky and that she wasn’t able to fully focus on what she was doing. She was also barely twelve when she would assist her father. Nymeria was never one for words, most of the time she kept her mouth shut and would only open it if she felt that what she had to say would add to the conversation or would be of some importance.

As she fastened a clasp, Nymeria still had little to say. Perhaps words would have been useless at this point. Her fingers stayed in place for a moment, resting on his side in a way. She was keeping her eyes to the ground, for fear of him seeing the fear in her eyes for him. As easy as it was to be calm and confident on the outside, what she felt on the inside was the complete opposite. “Then I will only pray that it is not at all.” She said truthfully. If he was to die, then she was confident she would be able to fight off Stannis’s men, but she did not want to have to have that happen. That would have meant that Uther had died for her.

Gently, she placed a gauntlet upon his arm. She had woven a ribbon that she wore in her hair into the lacing along his chainmail, for good luck of course. Once again, something she did for her father as she helped him into his armor. She tucked her stray hair back behind her ear. It was now that she finally truly looked like the Lady that she was supposed to be. Nymeria, as silly as it was, was wearing the same green ensemble that she had on the day that he had arrived. It was her a flame of hope, she was not sure why, but it did.

[Ser Uther Sand]

Princess Nymeria aided him in placing on his armour. It had once been a suit of Kingsguard armoured belonging to his Uncle, Ser Arthur Dayne but for the cloak which was of wolfskin. He had changed the colours of course, it would never be tolerated that a bastard adorn himself like some kind of eighth brother. But sure enough here he was, his armour now in lavender put dedicating himself to protecting someone either way.

When he was fully adorned in his armour he took up his sword, the unique Greatsword Dawn, the finest blade in all the world as far as he knew. "My Princess, do you have Ladies in waiting in your service? They might be safer here, and keep you company while I stand outside. I could surely fetch them." He knew Princess Nymeria could never life with herself if she was safe behind Ser Uther while her Ladies in waiting were being raped by the men of Stannis. Such terrible things happened during war when men ran rampage everywhere and Captains or Commanders only had enough eyes to watch a few.