In Town

I got quiet for a minute. Yeah being called an uncle was great... but that wasn't what I really wanted... "Thanks Asher. I'll uh... I'll let you know."

"Hey, Q?"

"Yeah Ash?"

"I really do know how you feel right now so...no rush." I told him as the four of us got back into town and it was getting pretty busy "Looks like everyone is ready for some enjoyment."

I swallowed and nodded then looked around. "Looks like it. About damn time we had something good happen around here. Let's go see how things are coming," I said and headed to the mess hall.

We had been on the run for weeks now and even though I was exhausted they had been the best weeks of my life. Sleeping next to Ian every night and being with him every day was amazing. I had no idea I could love someone this much. We finally walked up on a camp site or more like...some little town. "Do you think this where those runaways are?"

"It has to be. It's far enough away and it's obvious there's people living here. Look, there's smoke coming out of some of the chimneys." I smiled as I pulled her close to me. We could make a home here, her and I together.

"Do you think they'll be okay with us coming here?"

"I sure hope so. There's only one way to find out though." I gave her a squeeze and we headed cautiously into the camp. 

We hadn't made it very far when we seen two people. A man and woman come out of a cabin and it looked like something was going on. He spotted us and she walked away into the woods "She looked...familiar."

"How so? Was she from the Capitol or something?" 

"If I recall correctly, she was a missing person. Never found." 

"Huh. Guess we know where she ended up then," I said as the guy got within range of us and stopped. 



I took in their clothes, tattered and torn a little but obviously expensive. "What are your names and where do you come from?" 



"I'm Ian, and this is Joy Anna. We escaped from the Capitol. We're traveling alone, and no one followed us." 

I didn't know what to say to him, but he was analyzing us. I didn't blame him though, I'd be the same way.

"What brought you out here?"



"I was a soldier to the president. Joy here was his servant. We want to be together and he doesn't allow that sort of thing. So we left."



I looked at the girl. "Is that the way of it?" I asked, watching her eyes.

"Yes." I nodded.

"And how did you learn about this place? Did someone tell you?" 



I shook my head. "We didn't know if anything was out here or not. We just knew this was the general direction everyone else went when they left. And we were just... we were hoping." 



I nodded slowly, not entirely sure if I trusted them or not. "Alright. Why don't I show you around, you can pick out a cabin and get settled in. We don't turn anyone away here." 

"Really? Thank you. Thank you...so much."


Katy had just finished making breakfast and she was cleaning the kids up when I stepped outside for some fresh air. I turned around and spotted Jon talking to...wait. What the fuck? Oh, hell no. I started walking in their direction "What the hell are you two doing here?" 

I put my hands up to show I wasn't holding any weapons. I recognized him, he'd been in the jail awhile back. And he was who Tywin was looking for the murder of those two soldiers. "We don't want any trouble. We escaped from Kampfer, just like you guys did. We just want to live in peace. He would've killed us both if he found out we were together. We had to leave." 



I turned and looked at Preston. "What do you know about them?" I asked, waving my hand to cut the guy off when he started to talk again.

"He was a soldier to Tywin Lannister and she was his mistress." I told Jon and then looked over the two of them "Neither of you want trouble but do you think someone like him would let his sex toy run off with another man and not do anything about it. You being here will fuck us all."


"You're Preston Ford and you're right, I imagine Tywin isn't happy but he isn't happy with you either. Or the rest of the runaways. I'll tell anyone anything they want to know about him."

"So will I. He usually always had Joy with him and I was her bodyguard. We have a lot of intimate information about him." 



I ran my hands through my hair. "Fucking hell. I need to talk to Jack. Or Brett. You can stay until I do... then whatever they decide is the final decision. If they decide you can't stay here... then you'll have to move on."



"Understood. And... if they do find us out here... I was trained with his soldiers. I know how they fight, and I know all their tactics. I can help." 

Preston Ford was glaring at me which was understandable. "You risked a lot to keep your family together. That's admirable."



"I wouldn't label me a saint, just yet."


"Oh, not at all. I know a lot about you so the word saint isn't something I'd necessarily use."

"That's not a word you could use to label hardly any of us out here," I said as I led the way back to camp.

"Oh, I don't."

"Good," I said and led them to the mess hall. "If you're hungry, feel free to eat whatever. Breakfast was made not long ago and it looks like there's plenty left."