77 Blackfyre

"My... My Lord... Is this what I think it is?" Ser Arthur and Hightower trembled as they looked at the object as Brendan placed his hand on it's hilt.

Not being sure if it's his imagination or not he concentrated to feel the power flowing from him into the sword's core. 'It can use my magic to straighten itself?' Brendan was surprised when almost unnoticeable humming came from the blade every time he willed his magic to flow inside the weapon.

"I'll be damned... Fucking Blackfyre..." Lord Brendan was mesmerized by the beauty of the Targaryen heirloom sword.

Puling it out from the sheath he didn't feel any weight in his hand even though the sword was not much smaller then that of House Stark ancestral sword Ice.

The red gem at the top of the hilt gave people the mirage of dragonfire burning brightly inside, the perfectly balanced blade with dragons inscribed on it made it look as ferocious as it did majestic.

"Looks like the Spider with his fat cheese merchant friend isn't as loyal to King Robert as he claims to be. So that was his game all along..." His men understood his words except for the new additions.

Looking lost Brienne asked first "My Lord, is that sword important?" she looked at the perfectly crafted weapon.

"You can't even imagine, this blade is Targaryen ancestral sword, the sole reason for every Blackfyre rebellion there was..." They could hear her breathing hasten.

"Y-you mean that Blackfyre?" The Damme couldn't believe it, but looking at the fire red gem, dragonheads hilt and Valyrian steel blade she remembered the details that the maester tough her about in her youth.

"Seems like we will have to expand our forces again." Ser Hightower was already thinking about the future. "If the Golden Company gathers the Blackfyre loyalists, Spider and the free cities intervene things might get ugly my Lord." Especially now when he was a father he was more inclined to live by the wise words "Better safe than sorry."

"Already ahead of you Ser Gerold, what do you think my mother is doing?" The boy smirked as he admired the blade.

Everyone was surprised at his words not understanding his thoughts, yet not asking anymore as they knew he will tell them everything in due time like he always does.

The old King guards liked how different he was to their previous Lords.

One scared of everything started to keep his secrets in his crazy head and burn people with wildfire and the other 'kidnapped' a girl just to fulfill some baseless prophecy igniting the whole kingdom in the fires of war while he was at it.

Brendan unbuckled one of his swords and handed it to Sandor.

"My Lord?" the usually quiet man took it, not understanding what was going on.

"Take it hound, you're the only one not counting our new friends who doesn't have Valyrian steel sword, and now you do. I'm sure that it can cut any mountain in half... Give him a good name, or your children will." Brendan clearly indicated in his words the hope for his friend to start a family and that the sword can be a family heirloom after his revenge is over and done with.

Seeing his Lord give away such a precious weapon Sandor dropped to his knee without a word.

He didn't say anything as no words were needed, he experienced more love and affection in this group of people than even from his family. In his heart they were his kin now.

"Now the question is what will we do about the Spider?" Arthur asked, small smile still lingering on his face after seeing their Lords generosity.

"Do we have to do anything? Things as they are going now are exactly what we want and need. After we return home I will go and swear the oath to the Warden of the North taking over the House officially." Lord Brendan finished placing his new sword on his belt. "There will come a time for the eunuch as well. More importantly, Rina. You did a great thing by getting the sword, what is it that you wish for your service?" The boy looked at his magi awaiting her reply.

"I will tell you in the future my Lord." She looked at him mysteriously.

=== Lady Dustin ===

Lady Dustin walked with her guards in a foul mood, her son's men and the young Lord were supposed to meet with her entourage the day before, but the messenger that arrived informed her otherwise.

She still could take it, she waited for her boy almost five years so the difference of one day more was still something she could manage although unwillingly.

What irked her the most about the situation was the new arrivals to her small encampment.

In the morning her guards commander Ser Hadrian came in a hurry urging her to get dressed as they were being surrounded by a force of knights flying the golden rose on green field banner.

Like she would be afraid of the flower knights even if they outnumbered her 50 guards 3 to 1.

Being "invited" by the one of who she assumed was the Queen of Thorns she walked up to the biggest tent with few of her men trailing behind her and on her sides guarding their Lady meticulously.

Her cold eyes glanced at the men around her.

The Tyrell knights could keep their mannerisms as refined as they wanted, but she clearly noticed the biggest difference between her guards and them. The lack of the smell that was lingering around her men at all time to which she got used to. The smell of blood.

Seeing them puffing up their chests to look menacing and threateningly she almost burst out laughing at their antics which were not more than a child's play in her eyes.

"Remove your hand from your sword boy or you will lose it following by your head." Lady Dustin looked up after they stopped in front of the entrance to the green tent embroidered with golden roses all around.

She wasn't surprised at her most loyal knight words, his temper changed as well after the death of the little child 4 years ago.

"Let our guest enter for Gods sake!" The command issued from the inside diffused the staring contest that took place between the two groups of knights.

Forcefully pushing the young man to the side with one swift move, immensely surprising the flower knight at that by the sheree strength of the old man the flaps were lifted by Ser Hadrian revealing the lavishly decorated inside.

Wherever Lady Dustin looked there were roses.

"As expected." she whispered while entering.

Inside, two women were waiting. The famous Queen of Thorns and a cute girl glued to her side.

She momentary stopped her step and remembered little Bri being the same with her and she felt her irritation getting stronger again.

"The famous Winter Queen! Or would you prefer Ice Demoness? Or Winter Rose? They have so many names describing you making it hard to follow." The older Lady was enjoying her snack while looking up at her guest.

"Whatever makes you feel... alive Lady Olenna," Barbrey moved the chair to sit down. In no extent did she feel interior to the dangerous adversary in front of her. "Or would you prefer Queen of Thorns?"

The eyes of the two of the most powerful women in the kingdom met, neither one of them giving ground.

"Why am I not surprised... I heard you are a meek and weak minded person after your meeting with the Lion, yet why do I feel like that the moniker Ice Demoness suits you better?" Lady Olenna leaned back while interlocking her fingers on her stomach. "Tywin really dig out his grave while messing with you, you don't need to confirm or deny. I already know how the man underestimates women." she looked at her granddaughter and lovingly brushed her hand over her hair.

The girl was a smart one, even Lady Dustin could clearly see the intelligent look that the child still clumsy tried to hide from her behind the facade of childishness.

"And mind me asking what is the reason for your surrounding us and blocking our path? Last time I checked there was no law against traveling through Lord Tarly's land." Lady Dustin asked keeping her emotionless face.

Yes, it wasn't the first time the 2 Ladies bumped heads, yet it all happened in the shadows before. Yet now the old cot made her move in the open.

"I have to thank you for you lovely message. Going to sleep in my chambers just to wake up and see a letter on my nightstand. Not mentioning the same thing happening in each of my family members chambers couldn't be clearer. Yellow paper with a naked rose with fallen petals below it was it? I have to admit, the poetic consignment was nothing I would expect from Northmen." This revelation finally managed to change the look on the child's face.

Now she knew the reason for her grandma's wrath at that time, it was still livid in her head as she received one too. It was the only time she could see the unshakable woman in the child's eyes feel fear.

Under the curious look of the child Lady Dustin didn't budge.

"I'm happy you liked it." she didn't deny any of it at all.

"Care to tell how you did it? I would sleep better knowing that I don't have to change our servants so often." Olenna said in a joking manner.

"Who said I want you to sleep better Lady Olenna?" The irritation at the useless chitchat overflown making the Queen of Winter stop holding her tongue.

"Lady Dustin. You're a smart lass, I'm sure you understand your situation. Loosing the trade with the North is acceptable, there is always someone willing to buy our food and wine, but please enlighten me... What were you doing in Dorne?" The atmosphere got colder all of the sudden, both powerful women looked at each other making the child realize that this was exactly how the game she wanted to join so much really was. It scared her. Yes, but at the same time immensely excited her.

With one word from any of them, hundreds of thousands of men would willingly gave their life. This was the Game of Thrones in all it's majesty.

"Holidays, you should try it." Lady Dustin offhandedly said not breaking the eye contact with the Queen of Thorns.

"We tried that in the past, didn't go well for my kin. 100 scorpions or something as I remember. Yet just after the Dornishmen magically changed parts of their desert close to the Greenblood river into prosperous farmland and increased their military might from 40 to 50 thousand with the help of that land you, as one of the few Houses even allowed to enter Sunspear not mentioning meet their Prince went there."

Barbrey had to admit that the intel the old cot got was impressive.

"I like their wine you know. The sweet aftertaste it leaves is addicting."

"Oh I'm sure of that, you have your vineyard there after all... Do you take me for a fool Lady Dustin? With one word from my mouth your men will be dealt with and you will disappear from this world leaving you son behind for the dogs to fight for everything you worked so hard.

"With your sorry excuse for knights? Please, be my guest. Even so you clearly don't know my son if you are willing to speculate this type of ending. Lady Olenna you still don't understand. We do not fear any dogs, we breed them..." Before the argument managed to escalate a servant hastily entered the tent and whispered into the Queen of Thorns ear making her grip Margaery's hand nervously.

"It seems you are about to meet my boy though..." Lady Dustin finally smiled feeling the earth under her feet shake as did everything on the table indicating the approach of a numerous cavalry force. "Even roses can't survive the winter my Lady... and Winter is coming..."