c29

Bloodstone, the Stepstones…

Harry sighed as he sat at his desk and worked through the enormous pile of paperwork that came with running the vast territories he had under his control, increased by the recent addition of Myr and the Disputed Lands. It would be a while yet before it all calmed down so for now he was very busy with his inner circle trying to deal with it.

That was until a one of their guards came running into the room with an urgent message from Highgarden, he took it and read it, seeing immediately that it was from his grandmother and when his eyes moved down the page he tensed and his gaze became angry. He leapt to his feet and told the guard with a sharp and stern voice.

"Get the Silence ready to sail immediately and a company of our best men to join me, I have to sail to the Reach."

"My lord, what has happened?" The guard asked and Harry grimaced as he answered.

"My brother had been kidnapped."

-x-

Karhold, the North...

The cold northern air made Harald breath in deep as he looked around with satisfaction, he honestly had never felt better. The Starks had been dethroned and at last they had a true Northerner in Winterfell, he had heard that the Stark girls were planning on some kind of rebellion but they were only half southern girls, what threat could they pose? He thought laughing quietly to himself.

A commotion in the yard though stopped him from laughing as he looked down, his men he noticed looked excited for some reason and he wondered if some merchant or attractive woman had arrived and went down the steps to see for himself only to freeze when he saw just what had his men so excited.

Torrhen, his elder brother the one he had left for dead in the south on the understanding he would be executed stood whole and healthy in the yard. He shook men' hands and smiled as they greeted him and when the maester came up to him gave the man a hug which the older man returned at once.

"TORRHEN!" A voice called out with excitement which only made Harald wince as Alys their younger sister appeared and ran over to embrace their brother, Torrhen far bigger and stronger than any of his siblings caught her and twirled her around in his arms which made a laugh ring around the yard. Harald meanwhile feeling very nervous at what his older brother's return could mean as quietly as he could towards the stables to get a horse and ride for Winterfell immediately to seek his lord's help. However he was stopped in his tracks by the sharp voice of his sister.

"YOU TOLD US HE WAS DEAD!" The accusation echoed and Harald looked around to see all eyes had now focused on him and his nervousness became true fear as he saw the angry and betrayed look in his brother's eye. Torrhen knew Harald thought with fear what he had done to their father and too him as well.

"Arranging for your father to die and your brother to be abandoned and then executed so you could rule here at the foot of House Bolton? Honestly I have never heard such a story in the history of House Karstark, stabbing your own kin in the back for a scrap of power from the greatest group of traitors in the North." An unfamiliar young female voice said, the crowd parted slightly as two girls accompanied by two enormous direwolves and an entourage of knights and a very tall woman walked forward. Whispers immediately broke out, "Its the Ladies Stark" and Harald felt instantly angry that his brother had allied himself with them but was not able to say anything as Torrhen came over and with a single hard punch, knocked him out.

-x-

"Take him to the cells, we will deal with him later." Torrhen ordered before turning to his sworn ladies. "What shall we do with him?"

Sansa shared a look with Arya, the Night's Watch might be too good for such a traitor and Jon was still there they both remembered. They did not want to have to give their half brother such a headache to deal with. Then Arya had a flash of inspiration.

"Don't let the Boltons know that you have regained control of House Karstark." She blurted out and everyone looked at her with surprise. "If the Boltons think they still have your men they will be far more complacent."

"Good idea Lady Stark, with your men and mine we have far more cavalry than they do so it will give us a great advantage on the field." Ser Lothor Brune said with an eager grin, it had taken time but he had managed to restore his five hundred horsemen and now stood ready to work with the Stark girls...they might be women he thought with some chauvinism but so far they were far better than most of the men he had served in his life. So he would put his men to their cause, see if they like their brother was worth the effort.

Sansa meanwhile was taking stock of the situation; thanks to the return of House Karstark to the fold and Ser Lothor Brune bringing his men to their side along with the Forresters, Mormonts and Manderlys they had around nine thousand men, nearly half of which was cavalry. Not a small number but even with that she knew to be careful, the Boltons had considerable numbers on their side too and they still didn't know for sure just who was on their side yet.

Their personal escorts stood around her and Arya with great vigilance as the Karstark men crowded around them, Lady Brienne and the company of Riverlands knights from their great-uncle as well as Gendry the former blacksmith who continued to follow Arya around. Her sister was a little uncomfortable about it but the young man's crush on her was at least true in his 'admiration' of her Sansa thought with some amusement. Arya had never really thought about boys in that way before as her body was blossoming she would soon see things in a different light.

-x-

Winterfell, the North…

Roose Bolton looked at a map of the North and frowned, the balance of power was looking alarmingly even to him right now. Although he had the Karstarks, the Glovers and the Skargosi on side he looked into what houses were staying neutral and those that would likely side with the Starks. Adding it up he was worried that their numbers were roughly even so he was worried that they might have a chance of taking Winterfell and he needed more allies, hopefully the ones sitting right across from him.

Other than his own house the two houses that had the most issues with or hatred towards House Stark were the Ryswells and the Dustins. Lord Ryswell had been insulted by Brandon Stark when he had refused to marry his daughter Barbrey after seducing her and then he lost sons & brothers in Robert's Rebellion and received nothing in return. Lady Barbrey Dustin on the other hand aside from Brandon's abandonment and her uncles and brothers dying, had her husband Lord Dustin who had perished at the Tower of Joy which left her with no heir and too much a shrew to get another husband. That hatred was something Roose hoped would be enough to get them on his side.

"The Starks of the last three generations have cost us all much, led us to disaster. Would you really enjoy having another Stark ruling the North especially two southern educated girls?" Roose asked them and he saw the uncomfortable looks on their faces that told him they weren't in any way happy about it. Lord Ryswell meanwhile was more cautious than his daughter Lady Dustin who looked ready to join right now and asked.

"Who exactly have you got on your side? I won't risk my house if you stand alone."

Roose appreciated that caution, he did not want men at his side that were governed by emotion but instead by practicality. For one it was easier to convince them too see his point of view so Roose answered his question.

"The Skargosi and the Glovers have already come over to my side for one reason or another, not least because of the wealth and extra lands promised to them including Bear Island for the Glovers but also the Karstarks have been with me since the start but you know that already." Roose said and a calculating look appeared on Lord Ryswell's face.

"Tell us more." Lord Ryswell said and Roose never a man to smile covered up his feeling of satisfaction as he knew he had them on board. A servant brought him wine and he sipped it, not noticing the maid was in fact a disguised Myranda who smirked as she walked away.

-x-

Roose's satisfaction was greatly misplaced as he again forgot about Ramsay, the vicious bastard was far smarter than he had ever imagined and knew full well what his father was planning...to replace him with that thing growing inside of the fat new wife. He preferred being an only child Ramsay thought with a great anticipation as he made sure that things stayed that way and that he would no longer have to deal with his father's attempts to replace him.

He smirked as he waited in the kennels with Reek cowering in a cage nearby, Reek was silent with terror not able to say a word unless he wanted him too something that made Ramsay feel a great sense of pride, he could break anyone and make them a worthless shell.

His smirk only grew more sinister as he saw his paramour and partner in sadism Myranda leading the heavily pregnant Walda towards the kennels with a look of kindness that he knew gave her a thrill, making people believe that she was good and on their side before taking great enjoyment in their shock, horror and betrayed looks when the truth was revealed. It was an activity that they enjoyed so much together.

Walda was grateful as Myranda helped her across the yard and towards the keep where her husband had apparently sent for her, she had no idea Ramsay thought still grinning over what had happened to her House in the south. His father had decided to keep it from her until he had his new heir but Ramsay really going to enjoy making sure that didn't happen.

However he suddenly ducked behind a column as Myranda led Walda inside the kennels, telling her it was a shortcut before Ramsay stepped out into view. Walda instantly lost her smile and turned to Myranda who quickly started smirking her own sinister grin as she backed away and firmly shut the gates to make sure there was no escape.

Terror started to appear in her eyes and that only spurred on Ramsay and Myranda more, Reek looked at Walsa with sympathy but could say or do nothing to help her.

"Ramsay please! I'm carrying your brother." Walda pleaded her hand going to her large belly, Ramsay was unmoved and kept his smile in place while Myranda gave an excited giggle.

"I prefer being an only child." Ramsay said and gave a sharp whistle.

Walda screamed as his mutts charged out of their kennels and leapt at her, the snarls and tearing of flesh made Reek wince but Ramsay and Myranda only looked excited, almost organismic at its brutality.

Elsewhere Roose was screaming in pain as it felt like his inside was on fire, Maester Wokkan was struggling to find a treatment but too late did he discover that it was not a single poison but several particularly toxic mushrooms that everyone in the north knew to avoid mixed in with the wine. Roose coughed up blood as his stomach ruptured, he was staring at the door when Ramsay entered and saw the vicious smirk on the face of the bastard he had sired, he glared at him cursing Ramsay for all time. His own death had been at the hands of the vicious son that he should have disposed of years ago, he knew as the pain intensified that Walda and their child were dead already or soon would be so oddly as he slipped into death he hoped the Stark girls would win back Winterfell, solely because it would mean the death of Ramsay if they won.

Castle Black, the Wall…

Samwell had loaded up the cart and Gilly was sitting on it with baby Sam ready to depart, Samwell turned to Jon who watched them leave with a small smile.

"If the Citadel has anything on the Walkers, I'll find it." Samwell said with a smile as he took the reins and started them off, Jon giving him a grateful nod.

"I've heard the Citadel has so many books they could fill a keep with them, I really wish I could see it." A small voice said nearby and Jon turned to face the young Lady Shireen Baratheon who was told softly by Ser Davos Seaworth.

"Its too dangerous for you to ride to Oldtown your grace. The Tyrells are partly responsible for the death of father and I cannot guarantee your safety there."

"We're not safe anywhere." Shireen said giving a fearful look towards Melisandre who seemed to be lingering in the background. Jon and Davos noticed it too and despite the woman coming to the aid of the Watch, vowed silently to themselves to keep her away from Shireen.

Meereen, Slaver's Bay…

Daenerys sat in her rooms nursing a goblet of wine as she struggled to cope with the new reality she was faced with, no longer it seemed was she the only dragon in this world...now there was another that apparently was more able to take the Iron Throne that she was. One with heirs and dragons of her own, it was a bitter potion to swallow as she sat there sullen. She honestly knew that the world was unfair, she had known that her entire life but right now it hurt more than usual, all her dreams and focus now seemed so far out of reach it might as well be in the next world.

She could not help but hate her...Rhaenys Targaryen who had stolen her birthright, who would one day be queen and unless she fought her and won the Iron Throne would never be hers. And from what the Spider had told her there was a good chance she would be beaten in a direct fight...by her dragons.

Five other dragons all apparently bigger and stronger than hers, it was bloody humbling she thought. She had started to think privately to herself that her having restored dragons to the world was a sign that she was meant for great things...to restore her family to the throne and more. But her niece had done it years before she had and with more of them, not to mention Rhaenys had far greater control of them than she did. It was a kick in the teeth that she could have done without as now she was lost and had no idea just what to do. Go home and start a war or stay where she was and never see home again, it was horrible and she desperately wanted to go to Westeros but as a queen, a liberator and a restorer not as an invader or a warmonger.

She had not talked to her advisors about this so far as she knew what most of them would say, Grey Worm and Missandei would tell her to go and do what made her happy, Yara would want to go as it meant like her that she could return home, Joss Waters and Ser Barristan would advise that conflict with her own family would be fatal to her rule, Daario would want her to stay so he could continue sleeping with her and possibly become king. There were a lot of different opinions flying around and she really needed a new opinion on the situation before deciding on what to do, so she had turned to the most surprising of her newest followers...Tyrion Lannister.

The small bearded man sat opposite her in his chair drinking wine although how someone so small could drink so much was a question that she had asked herself a few times since they had met the previous day. He poured her a drink too thinking she suspected that he should be polite.

"So have you decided yet? Whether I am worthy of your service?" She asked him, needing to know where he stood on such matters and if she could count on him. He countered with a question of his own.

"Have you decided yet whether you are going to have me killed?" Tyrion asked her and she was a little irritated by this but answered in hopes of getting to the point.

"That's probably my safest option." She admitted still not sure if having a Lannister in her court would be a smart idea after what had happened last time a Targaryen had trusted a Lannister.

"I can see why you would think so." Tyrion admitted taking a sip of his wine before sipping a verbal dagger in. "It's what your father would have done." Daenerys honestly given all she had learned from Ser Barristan about her father disliked the comparison intensely and responded in kind.

"And what would your father have done?"

"My father publicly sentenced me to death, I would have thought his opinion on having me killed were abundantly clear." Tyrion she noticed as he said that was with a mocking disgust, he hated his father with a passion she realised and wondered why.

"Is that why you killed him?" She asked wondering if Tywin had been willing to sentence his own son to death what else had he done to him. However seeing the pained look on Tyrion's face as he answered told her it must be worse than anything she had imagined.

"Someday if you decide not to execute me I'll tell you all about why I killed my father but on that day should it eve come we will need a lot more wine than this." He said, unknown to Daenerys thinking of his lost wife and the role not only Tywin and Jaime had played but also his own position in that sordid story. If he ever did tell her about it he would need to be very drunk indeed.

Daenerys took a sip of her own wine before making an admission of her own.

"I know what my father was...what he did...I know the Mad King earned his name. Ser Barristan told me." She said taking a sip of her wine to strengthen herself for that omission.

"Ser Barristan's integrity is a thing of legend, he has never spoken such a falsehood before." Tyrion said admiring the old knight for his honesty which could well have gotten him killed. "So here we sit two terrible children with two terrible fathers."

"I'm terrible?" Daenerys said with slight surprise and a bit anger.

"I've heard stories." Tyrion said earnestly not holding his verbal punches.

"Why did you travel to the far side of the world to meet someone terrible?" She asked not liking the accusation in the slightest.

"To see if you were the right kind of terrible." Tyrion answered, which confused her.

"And what kind is that?"

"The kind that stops your people from becoming something worse." Tyrion said and she grimaced as he thought about her most recent decisions.

"Well I did reopen the fighting pits, under my rule murder will once again become entertainment." She said bitterly only to be surprised again when Tyrion gave words of approval.

"Yes that was wise, and you agreed to marry someone you loath for the greater good. Very impressive." Tyrion told her before looking into the distance as if lost in his own thoughts. "My own sister married someone she loathed, not by choice and certainly not for the greater good gods forbid. She ended up having him killed." She said looking at her with a probing look that she honestly was uncomfortable with as she stared back.

"I hope it won't come to that." She told him and that seemed to have an effect although she was not sure what.

"Perhaps Varys was right about you after all." He said taking another sip of his wine.

Her mind turned to Varys again, her hatred of him still lingered even if he was the reason she and Viserys had stayed alive long enough to grow up. She did her best to put that aside for the moment as she came to what she really wanted to talk about.

"I'm not going to kill you." She said seriously. "Nor banish you, I want you to advise me...especially on the Tyrells of Bloodstone, while you can speak in complete sentences." She added taking the wine from his hand before he could get too drunk.

Tyrion frowned at the wine being taken away but more-so on what she was asking about, a secret that he like her had only just learnt but had more to say on so he did his best.

"The Tyrells of Bloodstone are probably the single most powerful house in all of Westeros now, aside from their own considerable army and navy both of which are experienced and well equipped." Tyrion said being as honest as he could with what facts he had. "They have both the Reach and Dorne on their side not to mention large portions of the Stormlands which gives them more than enough men to take Westeros by force if they so wish. I suspect the only reason they haven't so far is to remove all support my sister might have before seizing the throne which implies they had trying to limit the killing as best they can but when they do make a move it will certainly be...spectacular." Tyrion told her before moving on to its leaders.

"While I know nothing of your niece I have met Lord Harry Tyrell several times and he is without a doubt a force in his own right, I saw him fight in the defence of Lys which now bends the knee to him not to mention he saved my life in the Trial by Combat by killing five knights of the Kingsguard in minutes although admittedly only a couple of them were anything more than thugs. He is an expert warrior and one of the finest generals you will find in Westeros, he defeated the defences of Dragonstone in less than a day, not to mention he led the Sacking of Volantis and crushed the Iron Born. He has a code of honour but given how well he hid having a Targaryen for a wife all these years he has considerable skill as an actor, he has a capable court of his own and the wealth to back his army. Conflict with him is sure to bloody and harsh." Tyrion told her thinking much on the man he had honestly respected, maybe respected even more now because he and his wife had fooled everyone and now stood ready to establish a new dynasty of their own.

Daenerys absorbed this information and pondered, she had always imagined there were those who would support her when she arrived in Westeros because of her family name now however the overwhelming force her niece apparently commanded was troubling.

"If I decided to go to Westeros I too would have a large army and dragons at my back, why should I accept her rule when I have a claim of my own?" She asked and Tyrion gave her a dead-panned look before drawing a lesson that might make her understand his point.

"When Jaehaerys the first and Viserys the first ruled Westeros it was known as the golden age, wealth and food were plentiful even for the common folk. The coffers were full and peace firmly reigned under a large and powerful House Targaryen which had more members and dragons than ever before...then when Viserys died two Targaryens both put forth a claim for the throne Rhaenyra his eldest daughter and Aegon his son. Rhaenyra was the designated heir but Aegon was Viserys' oldest living son and more crucially a man, both had dragons and many supporters which all erupted in a war known to all of Westeros as the Dance of the Dragons. The Black faction of House Targaryen versus the Green faction of House Targaryen and they fought for two years over who would rule. When the dust settled, both claimants were dead as were most of House Targaryen and their dragons. Aegon the third who took the throne when still a child hated dragons forever more after seeing them kill his mother and allowed House Targaryen's dragons to die out rather than save them. Your house never really recovered after that and never again were they so numerous or had dragons, until now that is."

Daenerys had never heard that story before and it troubled her, she had never known that her house had lost their dragons due to infighting between siblings for power, for the Iron Throne and uncomfortably she could well see herself and what she imagined her niece would look like fighting with their dragons in the skies of Westeros. That her dragons and her niece's would die and them too, leaving Rhaenys' children to pick up the pieces just as Aegon the third had done. It was sobering and the image disturbed her more than she liked to admit.

But was it enough to give up the Iron Throne for she thought, not sure what to do.

-x-

The Red Keep, Kings Landing…

Tommen looked so small on the Iron Throne Jaime thought with worry, even with his recent growth spurt he was still only a lad and looked so confused at all that was going on around him especially when Cersei had been arrested for incest and having Robert killed. Jaime honestly was so concerned that the throne and the pressure of the crown could break his secret son.

"Ser Jaime...Uncle what am I to do?" The young lad said with a glistening in his eye, which made him look even more vulnerable. "Mother is imprisoned and I do nothing! People must think me so useless, so stupid but what should I do?"

Jaime wanted to wrap Tommen in a hug but he couldn't as regardless of their connection Tommen was the king and he a member of the Kingsguard, he couldn't be too familiar much to his own regret. Still he could provide some comfort.

"You are preventing another war in the heart of the city by not being aggressive, you are doing your duty by the people by making sure they are fed and safe and running your country. It is not your job to rescue your mother from a prison of her own making, besides she is a cunning woman I am sure she can get out of it." Jaime said with a smile which Tommy did return albeit much dimmer.

"True are Ser Lannister's words, your mother committed these crimes and she will face judgement but now she will be released by admitting her crimes and doing a Walk of Atonement. It will cleanse her of her crimes by stripping her of her pride young king." The High Sparrow said as he entered the throne room like he owned it, Jaime gritted his teeth with irritation but what really worried him was that Tommen had given the High Sparrow his full attention. Jaime grew very concerned about the hold the Faith had gained on his son and he seemed powerless to stop it.

-x-

Cersei had never felt so full of hate.

As she walked through the streets of the city, feeling the dirt on her naked feet and the impacts of rotten food and muck that was being thrown at her, the wind around her exposed neck as her long golden hair had been cut off, the indignity of it...she refused to let them see her tears of distress they did not deserve to see her weak.

She endured the words being directed at her by all the peasants around her and the calls of "Shame" by Sister Unella who she swore to herself would die screaming.

She much to her own relief arrived at the gates of the Red Keep where guards stopped the screaming peasants from following her in and she found one of her maids and Qyburn waiting for her with a half dozen men dressed in red lion themed armour.

"Your brother has arranged for the guards, a bath and a change of clothes for you immediately your grace." The maid said offering her a cloak to wear which she quickly took and despite her recent difficulties with Jaime, Cersei did feel a spark of gratitude for that at least. But she turned to Qyburn next who smiled as he said.

"These are your new guards, assembled from the volunteers that survived my training." He implied and she knew full well they were the products of his experiments but the complete lack of feeling in their eyes, the completely still way they held themselves made her smile a little.

They would be useful to her in the days ahead Cersei thought to herself, but first she would have to see if there was any truth to something her brother had told her once years ago while basking drunk in the afterglow of sex...about what the Mad King had been planning to do to the city before Jaime had killed him.

Highgarden, the Reach…

Harry rode with his men to the castle he had been born in with all speed, he could not believe that Loras would be so stupid as to be lured into such an obvious trap but then again Harry thought as he pushed Storm hard to reach the castle as soon as possible, he was very much their father's son.

The castle gates were open allowing him to ride straight in, and he leapt from his horse at the stables, allowing the stable-boys to tend to his horse while the rest of his men did and the same and followed him. He could only hope the situation had not gotten worse since he left Bloodstone but he knew that typically if it could go wrong it would. The servants all looked very relieved at the sight of him, taking comfort in his presence and sure things would soon be back to normal.

He walked quickly through the corridors to his grandmother's personal solar, the first thing he noticed in alarm was that she seemed to have aged years since he had last seen her at the wedding of Margaery and Dickon. He did not like it at all and was hit with the fact that his grandmother was getting far too old to keep up with all this.

"Grandmother." Harry said with worry, she turned to face him but did not admonish him for his concern which only made that grow bigger.

"Harry, I am glad you came." She said with a tired voice. "I don't know what possessed Loras to go there."

"His own pride probably but I will get him back grandmother." Harry told her, not sure how he would achieve this but he would try. Olenna then revealed what she had learnt of the situation since sending the letter.

"That had occurred to me." She said a bit of her old fire coming back into her eyes much to his relief. "But this 'High Sparrow' is smarter than I had hoped, he keeps moving Loras around so we can't rescue him as he is never in the same place for long enough for my spies to pin him down. The only good bit of news is that he has broken his alliance with Cersei Lannister so she no longer has any sway over Loras' fate."

That was interesting news Harry thought but not useful to him as given the size of Kings Landing finding Loras in time to rescue him even with magic was going to be tricky since he didn't even know where to start. He would try with the glass candles but recently they had been difficult to light and whenever they did all you could see was the White Walkers like they were so powerful they drew its gaze which was troubling but he would try.

He took his grandmother's hand and squeezed it, she shook her head at the gesture but squeezed back all the same, glad to have her family behind her although both decided given Margaery recently discovered pregnancy it would be best to keep her in the dark until the situation was resolved.

Winterfell, the North…

Ramsay Bolton stood in the hall of his castle feeling more pleased with himself than ever, finally he had no one left to prevent him following his own desires and wants and right now he was wondering if the Stark girls were stronger women than he had dealt with before? Could they withstand it when he played with them? Would they scream? What would it take to make them scream? He honestly was considering taking them alive just to play with them and the one that survived would be his wife, it would be amusing if nothing else to see Myranda squirm and fume at their presence. If she tried to kill them before he wanted then he would of course give her the same treatment he had to all the other girls he had gotten bored with over the years...perhaps he thought to himself he might name a dog after her.

But what really put a smile on his face was the fact that the Umbers, supposedly one of the most loyal vassals of House Stark were here bending the knee to him in hope of getting help against the wildlings but not just that, better was the fact the quivering in front of him was Rickon Stark, the last son of Eddard Stark.

We'll see what the boy's sisters did about that he thought with a sinister grin.

-x-

In the far north as he taught Brandon Stark to wield his power the Three Eyed Raven kept a firm watch on events unfolding south of the Wall and beyond. He saw Rickon Stark being handed over while his sisters remained unaware he was even alive.

He saw at Castle Black the pathetic and worthless traitors ambush and betray Jon Snow, stabbing their blades into him but although this worried him immensely given the powerful Others were descending the south his visions told him not to count the wolf/dragon boy out yet.

He saw in Highgarden the Tyrell boy and his grandmother plotting to rescue the other boy Loras who sat dirty and disgraced in a dank and dark cell.

He saw the plotting of the jealous Cersei Lannister as she sat in her bath, planning to destroy her enemies in the worst possible ways

He saw in Meereen his many time great niece being ambushed by men in harpy masks and flying away on the back of her dragon towards Dothraki lands were she might find a larger army or the end of her journey.

He frowned in his cave, not seen by his young guests or Leaf but things seemed to be coming to a head he thought and the future of the entire world may well be decided in the next few days.