The Dagger in the Dark

The Dagger in the Dark

Theon POV

Thoros helped me to climb down from the Tower of the Hand. Using the rope, I left the Tower unnoticed. With my cloak covering me, I left the Red Keep premise. The guards were lax, to say the least. It wasn't difficult to sneak around them using shadows and the darkness of the night.

I didn't relax even when I left for the streets. I moved from one street to another, avoiding everyone from Goldcloaks to beggars. It took some time to reach the place where I would meet Eri. Anguy has delivered my message to her, and I believe she should not betray me, at least for now.

Still, I stopped when I arrived and saw Eri waiting for me. Firstly, looking at the surroundings, ensuring nobody was near. After making sure that she had come alone, I moved to her.

"Eri," I called her out in a low voice.

"Theon," She answered.

"Let's keep this short," I told her. "I need your help."

"What can I help you with?" She asked, distressed. "I am afraid, Theon. That is why I have come here. I think Lord Baelish will kill me."

"Then it is more of the reason for you to help me," I replied. "I am going to kill Littlefinger."

"What?" She asked, shocked.

"He tried to kill me, and I don't believe he will stop," I explained. "Help me, and I will get rid of him. Then you won't need to be afraid of him anymore."

"This is madness," She said mostly to her.

"This is the only way," I told her. "You know how horrible of a person he is. Let's take him out together."

"How?" She asked.

"I only need you to watch him," I inform her. "For a few days, watch him. When he comes into his brothel, how long does he stay there, and how many guards does he have? And so on. I will take care of everything else."

"If I help you, then what happens afterward?" She asked me.

"He should have ledgers in his solar or somewhere in the brothel. I will get it for you," I told Eri. "With it, you can take over the brothel. Do you know letters and numbers?"

"I do. My father was a merchant. He taught me," She replied.

"I will send Anguy to you after a few days, write everything you know and give it to him."

Afterward, I waited until she left and turned to move back. Just as I was about to leave, I saw a kid in the corner of my eye. Without thinking, I turned and ran to him. I caught him hiding in between two buildings.

"What's your name?" I asked. "Answer, what's your name?"

The kid kept quiet, he was no older than Bran. I cupped his face and opened his mouth. There wasn't a tongue in it. Damn Varys, the kid, was one of his little birds. I knew what I needed to do. I took the Valyrian dagger from my belt.

…

After climbing back to the Hand's Tower, I took my cloak off. Thoros was still here, looking at me. I looked back at him but didn't say anything. Dropping myself to my bed, I buried my face in the pillow.

I don't remember when I cried last time. Not in my previous or this life, but now I wanted to cry like a little child on my pillow. I hate it all, this cruel world and what it started to make me into. I wanted to go back home, where I was safe, where I didn't need to fear myself.

I could only cry for my home because it was impossible to return. I was stuck here, and I knew it. For whatever reason, the gods decided to get me into this world. I would always hate them for doing so.

But I couldn't blame anyone else for what I did. I did it for myself, for an act of revenge that I couldn't let go of. The only thing I could tell myself was that I did what I must have done even if the kid was just a child no older than Bran. He shouldn't have been there.

Thoros didn't say anything, but I could hear his movement in the room. I just laid on the bed silently till I fell asleep.

…

The next few days, I pretended to sleep. Lord Stark came every day to check on me. Jory and Harwin watch me in the day, and Thoros come to stand guard at night. I waited for Anguy to return today. It would be a stretch to pretend any longer. I wanted to finish it sooner rather than later.

It was early evening when Thoros relieved Harvin. After Thoros entered my room, the first thing he gave me was some meat and bread. I was tired of being fed porridge and soup. Something with a real substance was a nice change. But most importantly, Thoros gave me a letter.

I read it and reread it over and over. I had to make sure I didn't miss anything. After memorizing the contents of this letter, I burned it. There can't be any traces left to point at me. After eating, I dressed in a dark cloak and took the dagger.

"So this is it?" Thoros asked me before taking out the rope.

"I hope so," I answered. "Thank you, Thoros. I wouldn't have been able to do this without you."

"I hope I didn't get you killed," He replied.

"Just bring me back to life if you feel too bad," I responded halfheartedly.

"If only I had the power to do so," He said. "Don't get yourself killed, and you owe me a drink."

"After all of this, I will give you as much wine as you can drink," I told him and then took the rope.

Descending from the Tower of the Hand wasn't very difficult. Thoros held the rope, and I had to ensure I wasn't spotted. Clinging to the wall, avoiding windows and any light source, was the only thing I had to do. The good thing was that I had strong hands from practicing so much with a bow.

After getting to the ground, I moved in shadows and avoided the guards patrolling. Nobody could see me or hear me. So I moved carefully, sometimes waiting for minutes for guards to turn in one direction before moving again.

The night was dark, without a moon. The streets of King's Landing were quiet and empty. But even then, I moved carefully. With each turn of the corner, I first checked to see if it was clear for me to move. Walking along the walls of houses, I soon reached my destination.

Littlefinger comes at midnight and enters his solar on the third floor, alone. Nobody is near him at this time. One gold cloak stands guard at the stairs leading to the second and third floor. The gold cloak enters his guard an hour before Littlefinger comes. There isn't any other way to come to the upper floor otherwise.

After reading this information, I knew what I had to do. I waited for the gold cloak to come into my view. Stepping behind the gold cloak, I took a fishing line and wrapped it around his neck. He didn't make any sound before he died.

After dragging him back to a dark alley, I stripped him of his armor and put it on myself. I was lucky as the gold cloak was a similar size as me. Still, his boots were a bit small for me. I endured this mild inconvenience, walked inside the brothel, and stood on the second-floor stairs.

The helm partly covered my face. To make sure Littlefinger did not recognize me, I lowered my head. I made sure to stand in the shadow and not in the direct light of candles. The rest was up to luck. If Littlefinger looks directly at my face, I will kill him there and try to run afterward. It was the only choice I had.

After an hour of standing without moving from my spot, my target appeared. Littlefinger walked in, taking only a glance around him. He looked frustrated, probably because he didn't manage to kill me. He went past me without even taking a look at me. So far, everything went as planned.

From Eri's letter, I knew that Littlefinger stayed in his solar for about two hours. The gold cloak stays until dawn. So I had to make sure to move when people on the first floor were busy and wouldn't notice my disappearance.

I waited for almost an hour and moved only when I was sure most people were too entertained to notice me. Slowly but surely, I climbed the stairs, passing the second floor and then entering the third. I could predict which room was Littlefingers just from the design of the doors.

At first glance, it looked simple and unassuming, but taking a longer look, you could see silver and gold engraved in it. Pretentious bastard, he likes to show his wealth subtly. Too bad it will be one of his mistakes that dooms him.

"My lord, there is a problem," I knocked at the door and called out.

"What is the problem?' After a few moments, he opened the doors and asked me.

"Is me," I said, pushed him inside, and closed the doors behind me.

Before he could yell or make any other sound, I covered his mouth. Littlefinger was surprised and confused until I took off my helm. I could see that he understood how fucked he was from his eyes. I enjoyed that look more than I wished. I put the dagger he used to kill me at his throat and decided to play with him a bit.

"I have some questions for you, make any loud sound, and I will make sure you stay silent forever," I told him, and he nodded in understanding. "Good, nobody has to die today, so please don't make me kill you."

"I will tell you everything I know," He replied, and I could see his eyes curve in mockery.

"I know someone hired you to let the assassin in the room where I stayed," I began. "Tell me who wants me dead, and I will be gone."

"I don't know, I swear," He responded.

"Don't play stupid. Only so many people could afford to give his assassin a Valyrian steel," I played along with him.

"If I tell you, he will kill me," I liked how he acted so harmless and afraid.

"I will kill you sooner than him," I told him. "And if I get to the man who wants me dead first, you don't need to worry about him."

"Fine, just please don't hurt me," He said. "It was Tyrion Lannister. He felt insulted after you took his gold from him. He didn't have anything to pay his assassin, so he gave the dagger to him as a reward. I only helped because he promised to help me in the future."

"You were afraid of the dwarf?" I asked.

"It's his father that I am afraid of," He answered. "If he finds out that I sold his son out, I won't be left alone."

"I see," I replied.

Looking at his hopeful expression, I pulled my dagger from his neck. Littlefinger let a smile slip before masking it with a relieved sigh. He looked at me and was about to say something when I buried the dagger in his heart. It went smoothly without any resistants.

"Do you think I would be stupid to believe you?" I asked at his shocked face. "Or were you thinking I was kind enough to let you live?"

He fell to the ground bleeding from his chest. It was his mistake for messing with me, so I didn't take a second look at his dead body and moved to his desk. On top of the desk was a book. Opening it, I saw that it was his ledger.

Was he arrogant in himself to leave it on top of his desk, or did he not imagine something like this would ever happen? It doesn't matter either way. In the book, I could see sums and locations written down. Taking the book, I walk out of the room.

It seemed that everyone was busy, and nobody even noticed me. Making sure that my armor didn't have any bloodstains, I walked down. Only stopping to look around, I walked towards the exit. There I was met with Eri. Without stopping, I handed her the book and left.