"Estella, where are you?" she heard her mother calling. She picked up the last apples from the ground, checked them for worms and put the good ones into her basket.

"I'm here, mother," she called back as she made her way back to the little cottage her family called home. It was a home as simple as a home can be. Before the war, she had shared the cottage with her parents and her three brothers. Now she inhabited it with only her parents. Her brothers Dustin, Dendrick and Dean left their lives somewhere in the riverlands. At least that was what she and her parents believed. The war was over but her brothers had not returned home. Was there any other possibility left but death? Estella didn't think so, and it shattered her heart. Her father, who used to be a man as strong as a bear, had grown frail. Her mother, once full of energy, seemed to be fighting tears at every moment. It was up to Estella now to manage the property. She took care of the animals that were left, chickens, two pigs and a horse she had found weeks ago near the river. She cooked, she maintained the garden, and most of all, she took care of her parents, trying to make them smile and forget about their misery as best as she could.

"What is it?", Estella said, as she stepped up to her mother.

"Old Will Brix rode by a few minutes ago. He told your father that a host was about to arrive within a day's time. A host, Estella! Gods, what shall we do?" Her mother seemed most desperate, Estella could see the fear in her eyes, even more tearful than before.

"A war host?"

"I don't know. Old Will didn't say. But what if? They're going to kill us!"

"Calm down, mother, it will be alright...", but she wasn't sure.

The past few weeks the family had been confronted with outlaws and former soldiers, wolves and lions alike. But a host – that was new. And it scared her. She had felt it was her responsibility to take care of the outlaws, to keep her family save. It had been easy. All she had to do was lead the one who seemed to be in charge into the barn, trying to satisfy him, kiss away any aggressiveness she sensed, moaning words of loyalty. It was easy with a group of small men. But it wouldn't be as easy with a host, let alone a war host.

"Is that a horse?", her mother shrieked.

Estella heard it too. A horse, quickly approaching the cottage but still hidden behind a hill.

"Mother, get inside, be quiet, don't say a word. I will take care of it!", and she gave her mother a little shove before turning towards the sound of hooves.

It was one single rider. Crimson red. A Lannister man.

"You there!", he called from afar.

Estella stood still as a tree and waited until the rider stood right before her. He was a seasoned man. She could tell that he had fought many wars, but oddly, he did not scare her.

"Is this your ground?", he asked.

"Yes, it is indeed."

"In a few hours a host of Lannister men will arrive here. It seems a good place to camp out..." He looked at her, awaiting an answer.

She hesitated. "We can't feed a host of soldiers."

"That won't be necessary," he said. "All we need is your ground. It is well protected by the hill and the forest. Prepare for us. Our commander will be here in a few hours. We won't stay long. One night, maybe two."

"Well then," Estella shrugged. "In that case me and my family welcome you to our property."

"Good girl," the soldier chuckled as he turned his horse.

"Wait!" The Lannister man paused. "Who is your commander?"

He turned to face her. "The one and only Jaime Lannister himself."