280 AC
Flea Bottom, Kings Landing,
Two weeks after Davos pledged his loyalty.
Davos, ever since he was a little boy, always knew he was meant for more. Beyond the muck and the grime of Flea Bottom, he was always destined for more. He tried to find it first as a smith. That didn't work out, so he tried being a mason. That didn't work out. This went on and on. Till one day, Davos gave up. Davos lamented, when he was a kid, at the cruelty of it all. He could not progress further, more than his lowborn status.
Can a man not want to dream for a greater life? He heard about the dashing knights, the heroic tales, all the blasted glory in the world to win, yet here he was in Flea Bottom. The place where his father died, and his father before him, and his father after that. Generations, and yet, nobody could change their fate.
Why was the world like this? Why do the low have to suffer under the high?
His thoughts now coming back to the present. He was coming back from a special mission from Lady Dallon. She had asked him to recruit some people, trustworthy folks who Davos could count to help with her 'hospital'.
Every single person in this accursed place at least knew of the blessings of the Lady. "Sweet Healer, the Maiden Reborn, Touch of the Gods." Davos smiled at that.
Lady Dallon was truly a light like no other. When he had pledged his service to her, the very next day, she asked him about who he was, what his children were like. His 'goals', whatever that word meant. His dreams he did know. But she wasn't asking of dreams of the night. She laughed at him when he looked lost at that. Rather, she was asking what he wanted to be in life. Davos never knew of anybody, lowborn or high, asking another for what they wanted to be in life, barring their immediate family.
Lady Dallon was unlike any other person he had met. His fatherly instincts were always fierce around her. Even if they got through him, they would have to face Bart and, most of all, Sam. Davos laughed at that. The autumn-haired boy was practically her shadow. He would follow her to the seven hells if she asked. Just as Davos would.
Davos was coming up to the inn. Behind him were the two 'nurses' to be trained. Maria was to his left, a sun-kissed woman, with deep brown eyes and black-as-night hair. She was wearing simple garments. The other was Clement, blonde-haired and blue-eyed, taller than both Davos and Maria. She was burly too, wide shoulders, with hands one would see in a smith.
He could pick out a huge queue to enter the inn. It was always like this. Crowds would line up for a while just to catch a glimpse. The one thing he never ever thought would happen was that everybody would keep to the secret of Lady Dallon whenever Gold Cloaks would come and ask. It moved him to tears. Every single fool, cutthroat, or kind all didn't want to give her up to scum that donned the gold.
The crowd was huge. He had to wade through the sea of people, but everybody would part all the same. Davos was his Lady's right-hand man. All knew the connection he had with her, lest they displease her by messing with him. The newly enshrined guards of the Dallon were at the door. Davos chuckled at this.
Many men were begging Bartimos to serve Lady Dallon, Bart realizing the sheer labour he could have if he got these scrawny fools to work in the name of the Lady. Quickly organized and gave the men garments stitched with the red 'Medics Cross' on their chests. This led to Bart getting many whacks on the head by Lady Dallon for abusing his power. Davos howled when he saw how red Bart's head was after the ordeals.
The two guards who were keeping the crowd at bay from the inn saw Davos and bowed their heads. Davos didn't want to get used to that. He liked it, yes, but Davos only wished to serve his Lady. Anything other would detract from this. The doors opened, and it's as if the inn was transformed. Gone were the dirty walls. Gone was the mould. Gone the rotting. It was scrubbed spotless. The floors glinting. The candles everywhere, giving a regal golden glow to the inn. Bart was behind the counter serving. Other patrons were laughing and drinking merry. Lady Dallon was upstairs. She had repurposed the rooms above.
One was for her healing, the other was for her teachings. If Davos remembered correctly, she was teaching 'Sign Language' this day.
Davos didn't know what 'Sign Language' was, but she had asked specifically for a lot of children to join her. It was for her to teach the deaf how to speak. Davos knew his Lady could heal all, but she couldn't be everywhere. She couldn't save every single person. If there were deaf people who were born long after she is gone, if they didn't have a world where people could speak to them and hear them all the same, what world would that be? She had wished for every single person to use this. It was also great for secrecy. Many would not know what they were saying and communicating.
Davos turned his mind back to the present as he walked through the patrons, his two nurses falling in step behind him. He got to the stairs where another duo of guards were. They parted. He climbed the stairs and could hear children giggling.
He got to the room where Lady Dallon was teaching. She was wearing a bird mask and acting like a bird. Davos tried to stifle his laugh. The children all huddled around her were in an uproar of laughter. Lady Dallon was oblivious to him at the doorway with two new spectators, who Davos could hear stifling their laughter.
She was playing the part well. Until she turned and saw Davos. She quickly took off the mask and pointed at him.
"Not a word, D!" she belted.
She then turned to the children, who were calming down, and signed to them.
"Children, remember, this language is for you to better know each other, and if one day you find someone who cannot hear, teach them this. Give them the wonderful gift of understanding. Now scram!"
She let out a big roar.
The children, all giggling, ran out, their families all downstairs.
Davos waited for the whole room to clear before getting to one knee.
"My lady, I have faithfully carried out your task. Here behind me are people I trust with my life. Maria and Clement. Your nurses."
Davos was looking at the ground, so he couldn't see Lady Dallon's reaction, but he felt a hand on his shoulder.
"D, if you don't get up, I'm going to serve ya rotten pie. Do you like rotten pie?"
Davos gulped and stood with great haste.
"Good, now where are my manners. Nice to meet ya. Call me Amy or Lady Dallon, whatever you prefer. This knucklehead doesn't stop with Lady Dallon, so I guess if you guys are comfortable with that. But I am so very glad to meet ya."
She let out a hand. Davos had already warned the nurses of Lady Dallon and her customs. They obliged. Davos smiled. His task was complete. He could now have a good drink until he heard, as he was leaving.
"D, I need another task."
"Anything, my lady. Need you only ask."
"Could you get me a sword?"
A sword? Davos was unsure why his Lady needed a sword. She didn't need protection. Her guards carried daggers, hammers, and clubs.
"Little Sam has been pestering me about seeing a real sword, and I can't just up and walk about. I'm too famous out there. I just need it. His nameday is soon."
Davos nodded. It would be easy, yes, but Davos didn't want to get any sword for his Lady. It had to be a special sword. Davos would oblige, and his Lady would be none the wiser.
"Why have you got a crazy look in your eyes, D?"
Davos simply nodded, bowed, and left. He had a sword to find.