Flea Bottom

It was early in the morning when Griffith snuck through the Red Keeps front gate and into the main part of the city, where merchants had begun opening their shops.

He had chosen to switch his usual garbs of silk and velvet for a more simple style, a tunic of boiled leather and a pair of linen breeches.

Stepping into the rat-infested alleys of Flea Bottom, Griffith made sure that the lute he had decided to take with him was still firmly slung over his back.

He wasn't too nervous but the starved and sullen faces of the men and women he passed unnerved and disgusted him.

A group of meen looking thugs gazed at him out of a small inn, which caused Griffith to wrap his fingers around the dagger tucked under his tunic.

His eyes wandered over the houses which had a slight lean to them causing them to almost connect at the top, blocking out the sunlight.

Feeling something slippery underfoot, he looked down only to see a puddle of blood.

Eyes narrowed he followed the trail which led away from it and into a side alley.

He sighed, but having the feeling that if he didn't take this opportunity he would come to regret it, he stepped into the alley.

It was dark and humid the kind of place you wouldn't want to be in any longer than you had to even if you grew up in the streets,

Griffith glanced back, hearing heavy footsteps approach, he sighed in relief as two gold cloaks passed the alley.

He didn't want to know what it would have done to his reputation if he had been found down here in the slums.

Turning back to the trail of blood, he soon spotted its origin, a boy, of about the same age as him but built like a wall, sat there, blood oozing from a wound in his side.

Griffith's eyes narrowed, and a small smile appeared on his face, "Perfect."

He then spun around and strode back out of the alley.

The gold clocks had disappeared by now and slowly the people were emerging out of their homes, sleepy-eyed and yawning.

Griffith looked around and for a second his eyes wandered across the thugs' faces but they weren't fit for their desired purpose so he sneered and moved on.

He then noticed two young men with rusty old swords strapped to their sides standing under a low hanging roof, he chuckled and slowly approached them a hand raised in greeting.

"Hey there." the shorter of two said motioning towards him.

Griffith smiled kindly and offered him his hand, "Griffith Snow."

"Dorin, just Dorin," the short one said, taking his hand, "and this is Malrik, he's not very talkative."

Griffith chuckled, "I can see that."

Malrik's eyes narrowed, "What do you want?"

He had an accent, but Griffith didn't know from where it was, if he had to guess though it might be somewhere in Essos, but he wasn't sure.

Smiling Griffith pulled out two silver stags from his pocket, "I have a favour to ask of you."

It was a few minutes later when the two men finally heaved the giant boy into an inn's room.

They had enthusiastically accepted his offer to carry the boy and Griffith had played the inn owner once for the room and twice to keep her mouth shut.

Rolling the boy onto the singular bed in the small room, Dorin looked up at Griffith, "Now pay us!"

Griffith chuckled, "Of course," and flipped the two coins at them, "But before you go hear me out."

It was a few hours later when the giant boy finally opened his eyes, he gasped as the wood ceiling above him came into focus.

He quickly sat upright and immediately regretted it as pain raced through his abdomen.

"Shit!"

"Finally!" he heard a boisterous voice say from the corner of the room.

He spun around and his eyes immediately landed on a young man with short-cropped blond hair.

"Now now Dorin, be nice to my patient." he heard a soft voice say from next to his ear.

A shiver ran down his spine as he spun around again only to come face to face with a, boy?

He blinked, and the boy smiled, "Good morning I hope you slept well."

"I…I, thank you." was all he managed to say.

"No problem, I'm Griffith by the way." the boy said, sitting down on the bed.

"May I ask, what happened to you?" Griffith said, leaning closer.

Glancing back and forth the boy nodded, "I… I was attacked by some guys I know."

Griffith smiled sympathetically, "I'm sorry to hear that."

He then frowned and scratched his sharp chin, "Well, I might have a solution to that problem but…"

The boy's eyes widened, "But what."

"But it might be too difficult for you and you might be in danger."

He frowned and sat up straight, "Tell me… please."

This caused Griffith to smile, "You'd have to join me."

***

I hope you enjoyed the chapter and please tell me if you see any mistakes.

Easter's coming up and we have Salmonella in one of the most popular chokolat brands in Europe, life's great.

Then I hope you have a nice day or night depending on where you are, goodbye ;)