𝖽𝖾𝖺𝗍𝗁

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THE WOODEN SWORDS CLASHED against each other as the two young kids tried to fight. One, a girl no older than eight with hair as dark as her eyes and the other, a boy about the same age with dirty blonde hair and eyes as clear as the spring sky. His shirt was stained and his trousers were surely too big for him. He was the son of one of the men responsible for weapons.

The boy's sword hit the girl's with great force and she tried to block his attacks, but the boy was more skilled. Meera tried to aim for his knees, but he caught the offensive just on time and know their swords were rubbing against each other causing the wood to make a rattling sound.

The small fight took place under the protective eyes of Lord Thorne's hawk, Ash. The prey bird watched Meera carefully, ready to fight any potential danger to the girl.

The boy was a far better swordsman than Meera and she tought that one day he might become a knight. His sword hit hers several times until she fell on the ground letting her sword to drop right next to her.

But the young girl won't give up yet. Meera leaned a little on her back and before the peasant boy could react she kicked him in the knees, got up and picked her sword and pocked him in the chest as he was still on the ground.

"I win," Meera said in a singing voice "I win."

"It's not fair! You cheated!" said the boy wiping the dust off of his already dirty clothes. "Cheater."

"I prefer winner."

"Dad!" yelled the boy to his father as they both ran to the man "She cheated, you aren't supposed to kick the other one."

"Says who?" asked Meera. "I won."

"Tell her it's not honourable dad! A knight never cheats." cried the boy.

" I call it a creative way of winning." she shrugged. "And I'm not a knight, I am a lady." continued Meera smiling mischievously.

The childish quarrel amused the man and putting his hands on the kids' shoulders he said."I declare both of you winners."

"Well, if you must..." said the young lady kicking a small rock on the ground.

The hoarse call of Ash, the grey hawk, suddenly filled the whole scene and the bird flew and landed on Meera's shoulder.

"Ash?" she asked as the bird grew more and more aggitated. Meera stroke his head but instead of calming he sunk his sharp claws into her causing a small amount of crimson blood to fall down her fair skin. "Ash you're hurting me!"

"Where is Beric? He was to take care of Ash." said the boys father trying to help Meera. Ash's grip loosened and he flew away, screeching louder and louder and circling the castle's tower. "What is the matter with it?"

"He was aggitated these days. But he is old." Meera said looking at the sky. "He served my father well in his hunting trips. I went with him and he promised to get me hawk too and we'll be go hawking together when he is back in good health." she ranted. It wasn't clear if the dark eyed lady was simply telling a story, or if she was trying to convinve herself that her father will recover.

"Lord Thorne is one of a kind. A fever won't take him away that easy, worry not my lady." said the man forcing an encouraging smile, even if he knew that only a miracle sent by the Seven will keep his lord alive.

"My lady?" Meera turned her head to see a maid walking her way with her hands at her back. "You father requests your presence."

Meera gulped and prayed it wasn't what she expected. But lady Meera Thorne is never wrong.

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Meera followed the maid through the silent corridors of the castle. Everything was made of hard stone, including the stairs that she was now climbing. The colouring of the place was ghostly, with occasional shades of red from the banners.

On the top of the stairs stood Meera's mother, Celia. Dark glossy eyes were staring back at her own and Celia extended her hand for Meera to take.

Celia was as beautiful as she has always been. Dark eyes, dark hair and hair skin, features that she passed proudly to her only child, the light of her world.

"Father will die, won't he?"

Celia took a deep breath as she held her daughter with one hand and pushed the door open with the other. "Yes." There was no point in lying to her daughter now.

"Father!" Meera exclaimed breaking from her mother and running to her father's bed.

Lord Thorne laid on his back, covered with a black thick blanket.

"Take this off, I'm burning in here!" he said gesturing to the blanket that was just mentioned. After a servant did as he was told, lord Thorne turned his attention to his daughter. "Meera, my only child, the light to my days, delight to my heart and eyes."

"Father..." Meera wanted to say something, but as bitter tears flooded her eyes and sharp knives stabbed her heart she could not finish.

"Do not shed tears for me, my dear, as in every man's life there comes the time to..." the lord's speech was cut by a series of deep coughs, but he continued. "Yes, a time when man must forget his worries as The Stranger will take him."

"I don't want you to die!" Meera screamed with her voice drowning through tears. "The Stranger can have someone else. I will not allow him to have you!"

Lord Thorne chuckled at his daughter's words, but his joyous giggle turned into another series of coughs. "We don't doubt The Strager's wishes, little bird. But I have kept my promise and I gift you your own hawk."

Meera's cries were so loud and bitter, even the long wished bird couldn't at least tame them.

"I love you more than I love my life." Lord Thorne said. "And I love your mother as well. May the Seven guard you from the horrors of this world." And with these last words he died. The life slowly left his glossy eyes, leaving behind dull and dark orbs. His once rosy cheeks were now colorless and the man everyone loved was now just a phantom who will soon become a memory.

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It has been barely sixteen days since Lord Thorne's funeral. The girl knew because she counted them. Now Meera's older uncle was the lord and her aunt was the new lady Thorne. Meera's cries were deafened by the annoying screeching of Rust, the hawk gifted by her late father.

Rust was still small and he got himself the name due to the color of his tail and feathers. His belly was white, while the rest of his body was copper colored . The young hawk had a challenging temper which made Meera angry at times.

She tried to stroke Rust's head but he bit her. "You are mean." But the bird only tilted his head to the side, looking Meera in the eye. "I like Ash better." And Rust bit her once again.

The small quarrel between Meera and her hawk was interrupted by a knock on the door."Come in."

It was he mother followed by a servant. "Have you packed?"

"Yes, mother. I only need to get Ash into his cage." 

"Hurry, dear. We are leaving." said Celia.

"Well what if I don't want to go? Nobody can make me." Meera replied sharply before closing the door to Ash's cage.

"Then stay here." Celia shrugged. "Guess I will be the one to meet with uncle Rickard. Such a shame."

Meera's eyes widened at the mention of her favourite uncle, member of the kingsguard. "I changed my mind. I will come."

"Good."

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a/n: I hope I didn't make any grammar or spelling mistakes but anyway, here is the first chapter. Hope you guys like it and maybe give me some feedback on it<3