The morning sun had only just begun to rise when Mina stepped out of the room Thor had stayed in. Stayed in as in he wasn't there anymore. By the time she got up, she saw a little food on the side of her bed, surely the man who she spent her last night with left it there for her.
Heat crept up to her face, as her cheeks flared up and a big blush fought furiously to make its mark known while she spectacularly failed at keeping calm.
A sweet pain ran through her the moment she tried, this pain was similar yet different than the few times she had shared her bed with others. It wasn't often, three times in her 16 years of life, but this time it was different.
The pain brought more blush to her face, this time unlike the tears she used to wipe. She slowly brought her fingers and traced them to her lips, remembering those furious kisses and the moans she was making.
She never felt that desperate and hungry before. Shaking her head, she brought herself out of the daze and looked around.
Thor wasn't there. He left food for her, but why leave? A little pang of fear arose inside her head when she thought he had already gone.
She got up immediately. Pain rocking inside her be damned.
As she walked down the hallway, her father was already waiting.
"Father," she said, stunned to see him there, a conscious feeling appearing on her face. Like he caught her red-handed while doing something bad. Though that wasn't the case, and when she realised it was him who sent her to Thor in the first place, her evading eyes snapped to him.
He looked her up and down, sharp-eyed and curious.
"Well?" he asked, voice low. "Was the lord pleased?"
Mina blinked, then frowned. She had expected this question, but it still stung.
Her mind went back to what happened last night, and her mood lightened up. Though she immediately stopped that line of thought, it would be hard to stop the blush already forming otherwise.
She by no means regretted going to Thor's room last night, even though it was on her father's call. In fact, that was one of her most precious memories now.
That man had shown her enough respect and love in a single night than she had ever gotten in her entire life. No, she'll never forget that night.
However, her father asking this... it stung. He sold his daughter and didn't even feel remorse.
She crossed her arms, trying not to let the blush return. But she couldn't help the tiny smile tugging at the corner of her lips.
Instead of answering straight away, she gave her father a mock glare.
"He told me to give you a message," she said firmly.
Her father raised an eyebrow.
"He said the gold dragons he gave you… Were for bread," she said, voice flat now. "And to make sure men who bake such good bread don't meet unfortunate ends. And nothing else."
Her father's mouth opened, then shut again. He looked a bit unsure now.
Yesterday when he had gotten that gold dragon from the lord who killed those men, he thought he was paying for his daughter.
Why else would a lord of high station like him go out of his way to save his daughter? His daughter was pretty, much like his deceased wife, but the lord would have access to many like her daughter and more in the kingdom. Why her then?
He didn't know, but not listening to the lord after he accepted the gold was inviting the Stranger. He knew what the man was capable of. Him single-handedly taking down those men, unarmed, was the proof of that.
Mina tilted her head slightly and added, "He completely refused to touch me when he learned you sent me. Just to let you know."
Her father said nothing.
She didn't wait for him to say more. She turned and walked out.
---
Turns out the meagre mortal workout I had last night wasn't enough to satisfy me. Turns out that mortal girls are quite fragile. Even when weak, I had to be very cautious with Mina.
I was hardly tired so once again I was ready to get up in the morning and back to my daily training.
By the time I finished my morning exercises outside the tavern, my body was warm and muscles loose, which definitely didn't help me in terms of dispelling my raging hormones but it still made me tired enough to put my mind back into the game.
After coming here, I always started my day like this—training, moving, keeping sharp. Even now, while travelling, I try not to break the habit.
Wiping sweat from my brow, I walked back inside the small tavern. The smell of warm bread and stew hit my nose. I have to say I was hungry and that bread was really good. I found Ned Stark sitting at the table with Arya and Sansa beside him, quietly eating their breakfast. Or at least, it was quiet until Arya opened her mouth.
Mina was just placing a plate down in front of Sansa when her eyes caught mine. I smiled at her—a bright, kind smile.
Mina turned red like a ripe apple and nearly dropped the plate. With a squeak, she turned and hurried back to the kitchen, her hands covering her face.
I had to school my features not to break out into a smirk at this.
Ned gave me a calm look. "You were gone," he said simply. He sent a questioning glance at me.
Before I could even answer, Arya leaned forward, smirking. "He trains every morning," she said proudly. "Hammer swinging, smashing things, perfect dialogue for every response, strength drills, sometimes he practices his battle cry as well..."
'Why in Odin's name does she know that?'
Sansa had a little wide-eyed surprise at this but then she immediately felt a pang of jealousy and rounded on her little sister. "Must you always speak like a stable boy?"
Arya scowled. "Must you always sound like a queen?"
Ned sighed.
He turned to me with curiosity, though, who practices battle cry early in the morning?
"Let them be. It means they've some strength left in them." I quickly changed the topic and got some bread of my own.
"We can't stay any longer," he said quietly. "We've had a day's rest. It's time we head north. Every hour we wait, the roads grow more dangerous."
I nodded. "Agreed. The sooner we reach the North, the better. More important things are waiting there anyway."
Ned at this looked at me, like trying to see through me. He knew that I was talking about the White Walkers, but he felt that there was more.
"Ah, handsome knight and you. You can't even replace a knight's horse, horse face."
"I will, you'll see. And when I do, I'm not gonna come to save your lady arse on fire."
Sansa looked scandalous.
"Who wants your help anyway? I'd rather cross the Wall before asking for your help."
"Huh..." Arya was gonna say something but stopped midway.
"Really... shame." She puffed her chest and got closer to Sansa. She cupped Sansa's face with her hand, making her confused about what she was up to.
"But I have faith my charm will pull you to me." Arya grinned.
cough cough...
I almost spewed out my half-chewed bread on Stark's face.
'How in Odin's name did she hear that?'
It's possible I said the same thing to Mina last night, even did the same chip-up techniques from anime and movies.
Sansa spat a grinning Arya away and looked at me worriedly, offering me ale to soothe my coughing.
I took it gracefully but my eyes were on the little menace grinning at me. She crossed her hands, the same Wakanda style I unwillingly taught her while playing with her, and started to shake her shoulders up and down while still grinning, giving me a smug look.
Ned Stark was looking between me and his younger daughter with confusion. Not getting what was going on.
"Let us finish our meal and ride soon. Trouble follows the lion's banners—and I'd rather not greet them here." I said after getting my coughing under control while glaring daggers at the little she-wolf who was still smirking at me like she had dirt on me.
Perhaps I don't have to save all the Starks in this quest. One less won't melt down the Wall, would it?
xxx
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