Before we return to the distasteful scene that Jaime and Sansa happened upon at King's Landing, we must look in on what is happening at Dragonstone...

Robb was unaware of Tyrion's arrival by way of Visarys, at all. He had taken it upon himself to creep down to the dungeons and visit Melisandre. He understood that Jon thought the woman had no information to offer. He did not agree.

He could not help but think about how everything had begun. Joffrey's execution of Ned...his becoming King of the North...then...

It was all lost when Daenerys Targaryen flew in with her dragons and wreaked havoc and gained complete control...seemingly. He could see the look of contempt in Bronn's eyes and others, when they looked at him. They thought he and his wife, Talisa, had run from battle.

There had been NO BATTLE! Anyone that had been foolish enough to take on the 'Mother of Dragons' in that battle, no longer breathed life. He kept out of sight to strategize. He hadn't meant for anyone to think he had went into hiding.

He also had not planned for his mother and uncle to be killed, his sister to be married off to Tyrion Lannister, nor his bastard half brother, to be the presumptive heir to the throne. Jon a Targaryen? It did not seem possible.

And yet that dragon creature did everything Jon commanded. Only a Targaryen had that much control over one of those beasts. And now Robb understood why his own father, could not reveal Jon's true identity. The idea of even one Targaryen wandering around these parts back then, would've brought out supporters for Jon, even as a child, to usurp Robert Marathon.

And Robert, most likely, would've had Jon killed.

He held his torch very tightly as he came upon the guard near Melisandre's cell.

"I need to see her." he said stoutly.

"I have orders from King Jon not to let anyone in there." the guard said matter-of-factly.

King Jon? Robb thought with disgust. He knew he should not feel this way, but he did. It was not right. Many of his men had died for him to be named the eventual king. Robb took a deep breath. He just had to tell himself that as long as Joffrey Baratheon was not sitting on that throne, anyone was somewhat better than him.

"My brother is allowing it." Robb replied.

"Your brother? The cripple? You are no brother of Jon Targaryen. Now step back."

"You see here!" Robb snapped. "You will allow me in this cell or..."

"Or what, Stark?" the guard jeered. "You'll challenge me and then run off? I take my orders from the true king of the realm."

Suddenly, the guard began to choke! Robb stepped back, clutching his torch and realized that from within the darkness of her cell, Melisandre was causing this disruption.

So did the guard! He motioned wildly to his keys that Robb took off of him. The moment they were in his possession, the guard seemed able to breathe again. He hurried off wildly, tripping once, then running from the dungeon area. Robb gently unlocked the door and stepped inside.

"Robb Stark. The true king of the realm." Melisandre stated. She was now completely naked.

"I see you have discarded your red cape." Robb felt obliged to say.

"Only because I had no pillow. What brings the true king..."

"Please, " Robb said impatiently, "do not play that foolish game with me, that you did Stannis. You no more believe I am a true king than Stannis was."

Melisandre smiled tolerantly.

"I know what you believe, Robb Stark. I know that you always meant to sit on the Iron Throne. Then an unproven claim took that all away."

"Jon is a Targaryen." Robb allowed.

"Says who?" Melisandre now snorted. "No one. He can control a dragon. I controlled them with magic. So taming a beast is no claim, as far as I am concerned."

Robb frowned.

"You controlled the Targaryen dragons with magic?"

Melisandre now grinned!

"I STILL am. And I could stop, even from this cell. Then where would King's Landing be?"

Robb stared at her. Hard. He knew he had been right to come down here! Melisandre walked up to him and stroked his cheek.

"Jon Snow will never sit on the Iron Throne. He will never be king. And if you want to know why, then I need your help in leaving this place."

"I cannot help you escape." Robb said firmly.

"If you want to protect your wife, and the child she is carrying...oh...yes, you are wondering HOW I knew that, aren't you? I have revealed two things already, that you did not know before coming to this dungeon. Help free me and you will learn the answers to all of your questions."

Robb said nothing and Melisandre dropped her hand from his face.

"I could be of great help to you, like I was to Stannis. You started the fight for the throne and now someone that is not even your brother, thinks he is close to accomplishing this. Free me and find out who you truly need to fear."


"How in the devil did you get here?" Jon asked, shocked at Tyrion's sudden appearance at Dragonstone.

"Visarys came to fetch me," Tyrion said wryly, "I must say, it seems fitting that you are here. This was your true father's home."

Jon nodded.

"Yes. My thoughts exactly. Tell me how Sansa is?"

"None of us our well, Jon..."

"It's your Highness, my lord," Bronn reminded him, "he's the true ruler..."

"Yes, yes, Bronn," Tyrion interrupted impatiently, "but practicing saying it aloud, doesn't make it so. Jon, Sansa and I were taken prisoner. The only thing that is keeping Sansa and our unborn child alive, is Queen Margaery's affection for her. I have heard that you have the Red Woman here. She would be a LOVELY bargaining tool so that I can retrieve my wife."

"Tyrion, I cannot..."

"Cannot what?" Tyrion asked sharply, "please tell me you didn't just refuse to help Sansa?"

"I am not refusing to help with anything, Tyrion," Jon said calmly, "but I cannot just trade such a valuable prisoner, in order to get your wife back."

"SHE IS YOUR SISTER!" Tyrion snapped. "Did we not take you in at Winterfell, some time ago? And at our own peril? We were attacked by those creatures because of you!"

Jon raised a brow.

"You brought some of that on yourself, I seem to recall. I am not saying that I do not care about Sansa's fate. I am saying that the Red Woman is someone that the crown wants very much. And she can be of use to us in securing the throne."

Tyrion looked from Jon to Bronn.

"Are you both mad? You would use sorcery to help you obtain that throne? That would make you no better than Stannis."

Before Jon or Bronn could object, Robb came in to the room. His eyes narrowed when he spied Tyrion.

"What. Is. He. Doing. Here?" Rob hissed. "Where is my sister?"

"Not very safe at the moment," Tyrion admitted, "Queens Cersei and Margaery are keeping us prisoner. But Margaery's great affection for Sansa has kept her from the dungeons."

Robb moved closer to his 'brother-in-law'.

"Why are you here without her? How did you know we'd be here at Dragonstone?"

"I didn't. Visarys plucked me out of a crowd and flew me here." Tyrion replied.

"THAT is where that dragon went? He was in King's Landing?" Robb asked, now appalled. He tore his eyes off of Tyrion and faced Jon.

"I have seen the Red Woman." he admitted. Tyrion immediately sensed that this would be a problem!

"No one was to see her." Jon said.

"Jon, listen to me! That woman knows something. She is sure you will never sit on that throne. She also revealed that SHE controlled the Targaryen dragons by way of magic. She does not feel that your being able to control Visarys, truly gives you a claim to anything."

"You mean YOU don't feel it does, isn't that it, Robb?" Jon asked tiredly. "But the news about the magic is interesting. If she can control them, and I'm assuming it's from afar, then maybe she can be used to kill the remaining dragons."

"She wants her freedom, Jon." Robb told him. He left off the part about Melisandre believing that HE had the true claim and not Jon...

"Pardon me, but does no one give a damn about Sansa? I cannot go back to King's Landing without being thrown in chains! I will also be executed...yes, Robb, I can see by the look on your face that you could care less! But I care and so will Sansa! She has to be rescued!" Tyrion insisted.

Bronn interrupted.

"I still have eyes and ears at King's Landing. Why don't you send a raven to my lady, letting her know that you are still alive?"

Tyrion began to pace.

"If the note fell in to the wrong hands, then Cersei would know I am still alive and begin searching. Or worse yet, she might torture Sansa to find out where I am...I will send a message to Jaime."

"You expect the Kingslayer to protect your wife?" Robb snorted.

"Yes," Tyrion said defiantly, "until I can do so myself."


"Your grace, are you alright?" Sansa called out fearfully. Jaime had slowly released Sansa's hair, as they took in the unnatural looking sight, of a naked Joffrey standing in Queen Margaery's doorway. Margaery put on a robe and joined Joffrey in the doorway.

"Joffrey, put something on."

"Why? Sansa could stand to look at a real man. And my uncle..."

"Do it because your queen orders it!" Margaery sighed impatiently. Joffrey grinned at Sansa, before turning and walking off in the depths of the royal chamber. Jaime stared at Margaery. Very good, he thought. Clearly she planned to use Joffrey against Cersei in some way.

Jaime moved past the two women and entered the inner sanctum, without receiving express permission from Queen Margaery. Margaery was about to call after him, when Sansa turned her around to face her!

"I do not mean to be so forward, your grace. But if Joffrey forced himself on you in someway..."

"Oh, Sansa! Joffrey has not forced me to do anything. I am securing my future as the one and only queen of this realm." she said, touching Sansa's cheek.

Sansa stared at her in horror!

"How is sleeping with Joffrey going to accomplish that?"

Margaery linked arms with Sansa.

"I want you to pay my grandmother a visit. On this evening. You can be a part of this as well."

"Your grace, I WANT you to be queen. I would do anything to help you stay queen. But I have to know what has become of my husband! Please, send men to find out what happened today! Visarys knows Tyrion. He would not hurt him."

"He probably took him where Jon Snow is. Sansa, he is an enemy. If I find out Jon Snow is there, I will have to tell Cersei. Also, Tyrion IS Cersei's prisoner."

"Please!" Sansa begged. I have to know if my child will have his or her father in their life."

Margaery patted Sansa's arm.

"Go and see my grandmother. Do as we ask, and I will see to Tyrion."

Meanwhile, Jaime confronted Joffrey!

"You are playing a very dangerous game, Joffrey. If your mother finds out you are bedding her enemy..."

"Tell me, uncle, why haven't you killed yourself? You should have, before you allowed my mother to suffer the indignity of having people think she spread her legs for you, willingly."

Jaime's jaw tightened.

"Unwillingly?"

Joffrey sighed, pulling on his breeches.

"I have no doubts whatsoever, that you forced yourself on my mother's person. On more than one occasion. But no children came from any of your beastly attacks. Tommen, Myrcella and myself, are Baratheon's! We look just like our late father, there is no question of it."

There was SO much Jaime wanted to say in response to that idiotic bit of drivel, that had just left Joffrey's mouth. But he held his tongue on that particular subject.

"What has she promised you?" Jaime asked quietly. Joffrey smirked.

"The crown, what else? I will be King."

"You will be the husband of the queen, which is not the same as being 'King', Joffrey, you dolt! How stupid are you?"

"Not as stupid as you are, uncle. Before you take up for my mother, you should know that she had plans to force you to set aside your marriage, to that giant beast you were with. She was going to make ME marry her!"

Jaime backhanded Joffrey and he fell against a table! Joffrey honestly, had not expected to be struck, so he backed back a little.

"It is true, uncle!"

"Oh, I have no doubt it is true. Don't you EVER refer to my late wife by such names, or I will send you crawling to Queen Margaery's bed, are we clear?"

"Uncle, let ME make something clear: I will be King again. And when I am, Uncle Tyrion will be executed and you will find a new home in the dungeons. Now move aside."

Jaime clenched his teeth, but stepped aside. He had no doubts whatsoever, that Joffrey intended to carry out that threat. But Queen Margaery Tyrell did not strike him as a stupid woman. And neither did her grandmother, the Queen of Thorns. What were THEY up to?


Lady Oleanna forced Sansa to drink a small cup of brandy.

"It will give the child you carry strength." she said, then watched very carefully as Sansa drank every drop.

"My Lady, I fear for Queen Margaery! Joffrey is an animal! He murdered your grandson and came to Winterfell to murder me! He killed a childhood friend of mine while he was there. Whatever she thinks she's doing, she will not win."

"Of course she will win, my dear. I will help her and so will you. Sansa, you do agree that Margaery should be the only queen, do you not? You have no loyalty to your bastard brother, Jon Snow, do you? I know Lord Tyrion and yourself, gave him refuge from Daenerys Targaryen and Stannis Baratheon."

Sansa slowly set down the cup.

"Daenerys Targaryen would have turned out to be as mad as her father. Eventually. Stannis I loathed and you know why. Yes, Jon is my brother. But I do believe Margaery would be a good and just queen."

"She is trying to be, my child. But she cannot as long as she has to share it with Queen Cersei, who is anything but 'good' or 'just'."

Sansa nodded. She couldn't agree more. Lady Oleanna slowly touched her arm.

"My dear, what Queen Margaery and I are going to ask of you is going to appear to be unseemly, uncomfortable and quite unfair. But you must think of the realm. That is the only reason my granddaughter would sully her bed with Joffrey's presence."

"I understand that she plans on turning Joffrey against Queen Cersei in someway."

"Yes," Lady Oleanna said slowly, "but the Kingslayer could be a problem as well."

Sansa frowned.

"Jaime? In what way? He has no claim to the throne."

"He has lost his wife. Probably the only woman he has ever been with besides his sister. Chances are that Jaime Lannister will return to Queen Cersei's bed. If that happens, he will do anything and everything to thwart Margaery."

"What is it you are asking of me, my lady? I will do anything to help Queen Margaery."

Lady Oleanna smiled wanly.

"I know you would, my dear. Do you trust that I have been around many years? That there are things I just know on instinct?"

"I suppose." Sansa replied, not quite understanding where this conversation was going.

"I am just going to say this, my dear: my granddaughter and I would very much like for you to keep Jaime Lannister OUT of Queen Cersei's bed."

Sansa didn't think she had heard her right.

"I'm sorry? I don't follow..."

"Oh I think you do."

"No, I don't! I cannot abide him! And I want to, because Tyrion is so fond of him, but he crippled my brother to cover his incestuous...THING with Queen Cersei! And Brienne was too good for him! And he feels the same about me. I just don't see how you believe that my being nice to him, will keep him from conspiring against Queen Margaery."

Lady Oleanna burst out laughing, adding to Sansa's confusion! Then the Queen of Thorns peered at her. No, Sansa Lannister was not being obtuse. She truly did not understand what was being asked of her.

"Dear, we need for you to be more than just 'nice' to him in conversation. We need for you to lure him into your bed."

Sansa slowly stood up, barely able to breathe!

"My Lady," she stammered, "you cannot mean to suggest that I betray my husband with his own brother!"

"You have betrayed him before?" Lady Oleanna pried gently. But Sansa stood up for herself!

"Sandor Clegane protected me, when he could, from Joffrey's viciousness! And the last man I wanted to be married to was a Lannister one! The only reason he was at Winterfell was to make sure Tyrion didn't mistreat me in anyway. I had plans to leave Tyrion for Ser Loras!"

"i remember, my dear."

"Tyrion lied to me," Sansa said, looking away from her, "in order to to put a child within me. Only I started not to mind the marriage bed with him. Sandor Clegane could not hide his feelings for me once he learned I shared a bed with my husband. And I didn't try and fight him either."

"He is dead because he could not control his passion for you." Lady Oleanna soothed. "That is not your fault."

"It is," Sansa whispered, "because by then Tyrion did mean something to me. And I had settled into the marriage. I just fear I will never see him again. I fear we will never have a second chance."

"Sansa," Lady Oleanna scolded, "Queen Cersei means to kill your husband, if he is alive. My granddaughter can send men to find him, but she will be obligated to return him here, where he will surely suffer the same fate as his mistress! Your taking the Kingslayer as your lover, is not 'betraying Tyrion with his brother'. It is saving your husband! You will get him to trust you and the best place for trust is IN bed! He will alert you to what Cersei is planning. My dear, once my Margaery takes power, Tyrion will be safe. You both will be safe, as will your child."

"My lady, I am just barely showing! I cannot get Jaime Lannister to show any interest in me!"

Lady Oleanna raised a brow.

"My dear, as I have said before, I have been around a long time. You have not noticed because you have been so wrapped in your own thoughts and feelings. But even when Brienne Lannister still breathed life, Jaime's eyes glanced your way, more than once."

Sansa didn't believe that. Or she didn't want to. And while Lady Oleanna made sense, she did not think she could convince Tyrion, if he ever found out, that she had sought out his brother's bed to 'save him'.

"May I give you my answer in the morning?" Sansa asked dully.

Lady Oleanna nodded.

"Of course." she replied.