Fandom A Song of Rivers and Frost

[St. Boethius]

The last note of the song of ice and fire has been sung. The White Walkers have all but been killed and the Night King has relinquished his crown to another. A Survivor captured by the descendants of the first men and kept in a cage like a beast. Allowed to live because of his weakened state he is poked and prodded by the meisters day in and day out. The creature's only solace is the window from his cell. Where he is allowed to watch the people of the capital mill about their business. He has no love for the humans, but has found that the few he has met do not represent all of them. Finally after years of torment at the hands of the royal family the Walker is pitied by spy master and under the cover of night is released from his cell. Knowing he will surely be captured again he makes a mad dash out of the city. His long legs carrying his faster than a normal human, and any human who attempts to stop him his simply trampled over. He can hear the alarm bells now and soldiers rallying. He may have forced his way out of the city, but he wouldn't stay free for much longer. He needed to disappear.
Eliasdagood

 

[Eliasdagood]

Minerva Calistria is beyond frustrated. The annual meeting of prominent merchants is going about as well as it usually does. While her back is turned, the others mock her, and to her face they attempt to manipulate her into giving up some of her territory or resources at unfair prices. She’s heading toward her small coach when she feels the hairs on the back of her neck and arms shoot straight up.

She turns her head, emerald green eyes widening as she sees something she never imagined she would lay eyes on. She’s heard stories about such creatures, but never seen one… oh, he’s gaining on her fast. She jumps up into the covered coach, trying to get out of the way, and pointing out an excellent escape route in the process.

 

[St. Boethius]

Graxag stopped only long enough to see the woman point in a direction that lead into some dense woods. He needed to make a quick decision least his lead evaporate and he was captured again. So Graxag grabbed the woman and ran into the forest. Normal merely touching his skin would cause her to freeze to death, but Graxag had been severely weakened during his time in the capital. He couldn’t muster enough strength to kill her anymore than he could change the weather or raise wights. After what felt like minutes of sprinting Graxag finally mad to rest and carefully put the woman down before all but collapsing against a tree.
Eliasdagood

 

[Eliasdagood]

She wasn’t expecting to be grabbed out of her ride, but that’s what happened, and she certainly knows better than to scream. That would just give him a reason to want her quiet.

He’s going the direction she gestured toward, so maybe this means he wants a local guide… it would explain why she isn’t dead, if a bit chilled. Once Graxag sets her down, making no attempt to restrain her, she gets up, tilting her head. “If you wanted to keep me around, you might have just gotten in the coach with me. It would have kept you hidden better.”

There’s fear in her voice, which she mentally slaps herself for. She’s the head of her house, if someone perceived weakness in her, she puts the others in danger.
St. Boethius

 

[St. Boethius]

Graxag looked at the woman with confusion. He would speak, but to her it only sounded like ice cracking and breaking. Graxag was tiring to say that he doubted he would be small enough to fit and his weight would drag down the wagon , but he did not know her tongue. Just by looking at her He knew she was frightened, but he needed to keep moving. The last thing he needed was to be found. So he got up from the now chilled tree and scooped her up again. This time keeping her head facing the same way so that she could give him directions.
Graxag continued deeper into the woods the capital was now out of sight and a fog had descended on them. Completely lost he would have to rely on the woman to guide him.
Eliasdagood

 

[Eliasdagood]

She sighs, wishing she understood. “So, just to be clear, you can understand me, right? Because I have absolutely no idea what you just said.” She mutters. “The road toward my home is that way, assuming that’s where you’re trying to go. But I would keep a good distance from it so you don’t get seen.”

She probably doesn’t want to be seen with him either. Not until she’s home, anyway. Her house will hide him, as they hide whoever else requires it of them. She just knows they’ll get a lot of threats about it if people know they’re hiding him.
St. Boethius

 

[St. Boethius]

Graxag only gives a small grunt in response to her question. He had picked up some of the language, but he was far from speaking it and still only barely understands what he hears. After following the road for a ways he noticed a structure and let the woman down. While he was still hidden in the trees. Now he was going to have to trust her, or be prepared to kill them if they should alert the other humans. It left a distasteful feeling if he would be forced to do that, but his survival was what mattered now.
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[Eliasdagood]

She sighs, irritated, but looks up at him, trying to figure something out by the looks of it. “Stay here.” She whispers. Then she turns, and starts walking toward the smaller buildings, praying to gods old and new that he will listen to her.

 

[St. Boethius]

Graxag remained in the tree line awaiting to see if he had been betrayed.

 

[Eliasdagood]

After a while, she comes back, wearing a cloak to cover her face, and driving a large, sturdy cart with furs inside. She steps down, trying to calm the very spooked horse pulling it, before beckoning to him. “Get in. I’ll hide you under.” She whispers.

 

[St. Boethius]

Graxag simply nodded and crawled inside the cart. Hiding himself under the furs that were in cart. Once more he would have to trust that when he emerged from the cart he wouldn’t be facing a whole bunch of swords.
Eliasdagood

 

[Eliasdagood]

She turns the cart around, and heads back down the road, not being questioned by anyone. She gets the cart into the courtyard of her private part of the hold, and once she’s sure no one is around looking for her, she goes back to uncover him. “Alright. We’re safe here. I’m still not sure what to do, but at least in this part of the hold you won’t be found.” She doesn’t even know he understands her. Sometimes Minerva seriously has no idea what she’s doing.
St. Boethius

 

[St. Boethius]

When Graxag crawled out of the cart and wasn’t met with soldiers and archers he was more relieved than when he had finally managed to escape. Once again he only managed to understand part of what the human was saying, but now that she proved that she was trust worthy Graxag felt the need to express his gratitude. The giant of a man knelt on one knee and bowed to Minerva “I.... Graxag... Cryia”
Graxag would repeat that word a few times in order to show his thanks. Much to his embarrassment Graxag’s stomach didn’t care to the mood and began to rumble demanding food.
Eliasdagood

 

[Eliasdagood]

Minerva watches him, thinking she understands what he said for the most part. “Graxag…” She tries to repeat the word, which sounds so harsh, like breaking stone. She puts a hand to her chest. “I am Minerva.” She says, hoping he will understand. She hears his belly rumble, and chuckles softly. “Mm, me too… oh dear gods do you even eat like we do…” she sighs. “Well, one way to find out.” She says, turning toward the pantry building. “This way.” She says, beckoning with a hand.

 

[St. Boethius]

“Minerva...” Graxag said to himself as he followed this now trusted human into a storage room where they kept thier food. While nothing looked appetizing at first Graxag managed to find some neat hanging on a hook. Graxag would gesture to it and make a sort of grunt to let Minerva know he could eat it.
Eliasdagood

 

[Eliasdagood]

She nods, and goes to get it. She grimaces slightly, trying to find words. “Like this?” She asks. “No cooking?” She heard that the walkers really don’t do well with fire. So chances are that if meat is all they eat, they probably can’t cook it. She hands it to him, immediately wanting to wash her hands. Just because she handles such things on a regular basis doesn’t mean she likes it.

 

[St. Boethius]

Graxag nods to Minerva, “No... Cook” After Minerva gets back from washing her hands she would find Graxag sitting in the Pantry tearing off pieces of now frosted over flesh. With his strength returning Minerva would note that the air around him was significantly lower in temperature.
“Minerva... Good”. Graxag said as he continued eating the meat bit by bit. He wanted to show his appreciate so with his new found strength Graxag held out his hand to Minerva and clenched it into Fist when he opened it again he was holding a small very thin object. “Break if trouble.... Graxag... help.”
Eliasdagood

 

[Eliasdagood]

She watches him with fascination, even as she starts shivering in the cold. He’s growing stronger. She can tell that much. She’s fairly certain if he picked her up now she would freeze to death before long.

She smiles softly, hearing his words, and steps forward to pick up the strange object, beads of water freezing to her hands. “Thank you, Graxag.” She replies. She sits next to him. “If you need… home. Safe place, Graxag can stay with Minerva.” This is not the first time she’s dealt with a language barrier. But it’s hard to speak with her teeth chattering.

 

[St. Boethius]

Graxag nodded and repeated his word for thanks to her. “ Go.... Warm... Graxag... hide.” The white walker now finished with the meat dropped the bone only to have it shatter from the cold. It was becoming very clear that the room Minvera had stashed Graxag was quickly becoming inhospitable the stronger he got. A thin layer of frost was even starting to form at his feet. He would stop it, but this much was necessary for his survival. He didn’t want to in convenience her any longer and hid himself in a corner behind some supplies.
Eliasdagood

 

[Eliasdagood]

Minerva nods. “I will come back tomorrow.” She says. She leaves the building, and sighs with relief, before locking it, and taking the key. She doesn’t want anyone to find her new guest before they were ready. She has studying to do. On the bright side, it will be much easier to preserve things in that room now.

She heads up to her room, and falls asleep quickly, under several blankets as she tries to get warm after having all her heat seeped our of her.

 

[St. Boethius]

Graxag doesn’t have a need for sleep as most of the time it isn’t a luxury he can afford, and tonight would be no different. Graxag would slowly gather his strength and turn his makeshift home into the icebox that he found comfortable. He never left the room and only ate another leg of meat during the night. With the room covered in ice by the dawn not even the rays of the sun could penetrate the room and finally feeling safe Graxag nodded off for a little bit.
Eliasdagood

 

[Eliasdagood]

Minerva has some house affairs to deal with in the morning, as well as a short dispute with another house head over use of the river between their territories, but after that, she puts on the winter outfit usually reserved for the northlands, and heads into the pantry, almost slipping on the icy floor. She closes the door behind him, squinting slightly as she tries to see in the dark room. She wasn’t foolish enough to bring a torch. “Graxag?” She calls softly, looking around for him.

 

[St. Boethius]

Graxag opened his eyes when his name was called, his deep blue eyes radiating like a beacon in the darkness, “ Minerva... greeting.” The walker said with a dip of his head. “ What.... need?” He asked wondering if she needed something from him.
Eliasdagood

 

[Eliasdagood]

She shakes her head, smiling slightly. “I was about to ask you the same thing.” She says. “Are you…” she pauses, trying to think of words he will know. “Do you have what you need?” She asks. “Do you want anything?” She doesn’t want him to be unhappy in her home if she can help it.

 

[St. Boethius]

Graxag shook his head, “ only need meet for strength, but no too much.” Graxag said gesturing to the pantry. “ Then help. Clear debt.” Graxag said firmly. He knew he was a fugitive but Minerva opened her home to him in his time of need. He would nod forget that. In his culture such things were not taken lightly and were in fact treated with great respect. “ Strong then help.”
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