AN: Thanks to PorcelainPuppetLady and dangerousgames87 for your reviews.

Chapter 8: Selfish Kindness

Tyrion forcefully opened his eyes but his surrounding looked blurry to him. He blinked couple of times and though it cleared his vision but he couldn't recognize the room he was sleeping in. It didn't seem like one of the brothel chambers. So how did he end up on a bed? A comfortable one at that. Tyrion's headache prevented him from thinking too hard. He was just about to get out of the bed and inquire about his whereabouts when the door opened and a girl entered the room.

"Good morning my lord!" The girl said seeing him wake. Tyrion looked at the girl carefully. He didn't remember seeing her before. Definitely not one of the whores he fucked in Winterfell.

"You must be wondering where you are. This is my cottage. You must've gotten very drunk at the feast last night. I found you passed out at the back of the grand hall. There was no one around that time whom I could've asked to take you back to your chamber and I couldn't leave you lying on the ground either; so I brought you here. I hope you don't mind me doing that my lord." The girl seemed to be speaking the truth. But why did she bother in the first place? Was it because he was a Lannister that the girl couldn't leave him passed out on the ground? Many would've just walked by. So why didn't she? Tyrion wondered in his mind.

"No of course not. It was very kind of you. Though I was actually wondering who you are?" Tyrion asked curiously. He tried to get off the bed but when he couldn't, he gave up and stayed on the bed. As pleasurable as drinking was, hangover was clearly not.

"My name is Hope. I assist Lord Baritone in his work." She said while she poured some kind of drink in a horn mug. She walked over to Tyrion and handed the horn over to him.

"It'll help with the headache." He took the horn without question and took a sip from the drink without thinking for a second that it might be poisoned. Tyrion was inside the room, not to mention unconscious for hours. If the girl wanted to kill him, she'd have done it already. And definitely not wait for him to wake up.

"Hmm it's good." He said about the drink and it actually did taste good. Though Lord Tyrion couldn't tell what the hell it was.

"And useful too for hangover" said Hope with a smile.

"Are you hungry my lord? I mean I've cooked breakfast. So if you wish-" She suddenly stopped talking as if thinking of something. "I apologize I shouldn't have offered. You are a lord. You wouldn't want to eat breakfast with a peasant girl. I'm really sorry my lord." Saying that Hope turned to leave the room but Tyrion stopped her.

"Actually if your food is as good as this drink then I'll be delighted to have my breakfast here." She smiled at him. Hope was expecting it. She had heard that Lord Tyrion knew of compassion and kindness. And after overhearing last night's conversation between him and Jon, she believed it.

"You honor me my lord. Do you want me to serve your breakfast here?" Hope asked sounding very enthusiastic about it.

"No no I'll eat at the table" said Tyrion and Hope nodded her head.

"It's downstairs. There is water over there if you wish to freshen up." She said pointing at the tub filled with warm water. Tyrion looked and simply nodded his head. Hope left the room to give the little lord some privacy. Once Tyrion was done freshening up, he went downstairs. He saw that breakfast was already served and there were actually a couple of dishes at the table. The girl was no way a poor peasant girl. Tyrion obviously found that interesting. Not to mention how did a girl end up working for a lord in Winterfell? It must be quite an interesting story. He thought to himself.

"The food looks delicious" said Tyrion as he approached the table. He took a seat and Hope proceeded to serve him.

"Do you live here alone?" He asked sounding casual but Hope knew that he was curious to know about her.

"No my lord, I live here with a friend. She is out at the moment." Hope finished serving the lord and took a seat on the opposite side of the table. Tyrion started eating and he did not regret his decision of having breakfast there. Hope on the other hand for some reason couldn't help but stare at Lord Tyrion which he noticed right away. He sighed out a little then said-

"Go ahead, say whatever you have to say about my size." Hope quickly dropped her gaze and apologized.

"I'm sorry my lord. You just reminded me of someone." Hearing that Tyrion snorted a little.

"Who could I possibly remind you of?" After all he was a dwarf and there weren't very many of them.

"Someone I knew" said Hope quickly and she intentionally changed the subject as if uncomfortable to speak about it further.

"Do you like the food my lord?" She asked which thankfully put a stop to the previous conversation.

"Mmm you cooked everything deliciously my dear." Tyrion said sincerely. Thanks to Alais; Hope knew how to cook well. After all Alais worked in a wealthy lord's kitchen for a time being. She taught Hope everything she knew. And Hope knew that it takes mainly two things to make a man happy, food and fucking. After a moment of silence Tyrion spoke up again.

"You never told me your last name Hope."

"I'm a peasant girl my lord. I don't have a last name." She said very convincingly. However, lord Tyrion looked up and looked right into her eyes as if he knew she was lying.

"I never met a peasant girl before whose life is so comfortable." He said more to himself than to Hope.

"Well there's a long story behind this comfort." She said, intriguing the little lord even more.

"Please do tell. I've got the entire day." Hope stayed quiet for a moment as if contemplating whether to tell Tyrion her story or not.

"I'm not from Winterfell my lord." She started talking and Tyrion paid full attention to her.

"I grew up across the narrow sea. I was actually a well known singer over there and used to live a rather luxurious life. I used to sing songs at feasts, and celebrations and many other events. You must know how generous lords and ladies can be when they are pleased. Let's just say I've received plenty of expensive gifts in my life. Actually I have those gifts to thank for this comfortable life."

"So what happened? Why are you here?" Tyrion asked very curiously and this time he didn't bother to hide his curiosity. Hope on the other hand sighed out heavily.

"My mother died. Her death put me on a journey. I left home since I couldn't bare to live there anymore without her. I started traveling from one place to another. Before I knew it I turned into an adventurer from a singer. I'm always willing to go to new places and learn new things. And that's what brought me here to the north. My adventurous soul never lets me stay in one place for long." Hope wasn't lying though. She just wasn't telling the entire truth.

"Well I think I've finally met someone who is as knowledgeable as I am, maybe even more. Whatever I know I've learned them from reading books but you have real life experiences. You must know stories I will never read in a book." Tyrion sounded very fascinated about it.

"You must tell me about some of your adventures some other time. But I must ask if you are an adventurer then why have you settled down in Winterfell and working for a lord?" He asked wondering about it. Hope had the answer prepared.

"As an adventurer I came to the North for only one reason. To see the wall- the greatest structure of this world. Even while living across the narrow sea, I've heard about the wall's magnificence." She sighed out heavily before continuing.

"But I cannot go to the wall. Women are not allowed there. I'm staying in Winterfell and working for Lord Baritone hoping that one day he'd be pleased with me enough to give me permission to go to the wall. If I have a lord's permission letter, the brothers of the night's watch will have no choice but to open their gates for me." This time Hope blatantly lied but Lord Tyrion would never know that, would he?

"That's a very practical plan but- it'll take you years to please Lord Baritone enough to make him give you permission to go to the wall." Hope sighed out heavily once again and nodded her head in agreement.

"I know but how else can I go there?" She spoke with sadness in her voice.

"You could come with me" said Tyrion just like that. Hope snapped up her head and looked at him with shock and disbelieve in her eyes. Even though that was exactly what she was trying to achieve here and the sole reason behind her kindness towards Lord Tyrion. She obviously heard him saying last night that he wanted to go to the wall. Hope simply wanted him to tag her along. If she had gone to Lord Stark for permission, he would've refused her right away. Not only Hope was a woman but his niece as well. She doubted he'd even let Jon go. But the way Jon was determined, Hope knew Lord Stark wouldn't be able to refuse him. So she must go to the wall too. And Lord Tyrion would help her with that, unknowingly of course.

"I don't understand. What do you mean my lord?" Hope asked pretending to be confused.

"I'm going to the wall once the king leaves for the capital. If you want, you can come with me. Trust me the brothers of the Night's watch won't be able to not welcome a companion of the queen's brother."

"That's- very kind of you my lord but why do you want to help me?" She couldn't help but ask. Also it made the act more genuine.

"I will tell you why when you will tell me why you helped me? You saw me passed out drunk on the ground, why bothered bringing me to your home?" Tyrion wanted to ask this question since he woke up and found himself in this cottage.

"I told you, you remind me of someone." Hope said which was true, just not the true reason why she did everything.

"And who is this person may I ask?" Tyrion spoke softly yet Hope knew he wouldn't drop the question without an answer this time. Since she didn't wish for Lord Tyrion to take back the offer of help, she decided to tell him the story. Besides, telling the story wouldn't cause any harm. Except that it'd make Hope sad to recall it. A genuine sadness came over her face this time as she started talking.

"You are not the first dwarf I've met Lord Tyrion" said Hope. Tyrion stayed quiet, wanting her to continue. Hope let out a deep breath and continued.

"Those days, me and my friend were thinking about crossing the narrow sea. We had seen enough of Essos and wanted to have adventures in Westros. There was a traveling theater troupe wanting to cross the narrow sea as well. They thought they'd earn more money in Westros. My friend and I started traveling along with them. Hoping to cross the sea with the troupe. I sang in their shows as well so they gave us food to eat. In that troupe there was a dwarf named Dinky. What an amazing actor he was! He was the main reason people watched their shows."

'Was?' Tyrion picked up on that immediately but didn't interrupt Hope.

"The other actors of the troupe were very jealous of him. Behind the stage everyone picked up on him. Even the owner himself despite the fact that Dinky brought in the audiences."

"I never stood up for Dinky or let my friend do it. Defending the dwarf meant going against the entire troupe. I just didn't want any trouble with anyone and wanted to peacefully cross the sea. However I used to feel bad for Dinky. It made me share my food with him when someone would ruined his meal by putting something disgusting in it; which was a daily affair. Such a tiny gesture of kindness it was." Hope said with a lost look on her face because she was indeed lost in the past.

"I never realized what affect it had on him. At least not until he died to save me and my friend." Hope's eyes became shiny with tears. Even Tyrion felt bad hearing this though he never met the dwarf named Dinky and never would.

"After Dinky's death I was left with nothing but regret. Now I wish I had done more than share a bit of food with him. Sometimes I blame it on human nature in order to not feel guilty. We never learn until it's too late, do we?"

"No we don't" agreed Tyrion. Hope wiped away the tears that she didn't let escape her eyes. A moment of silence passed between them before Tyrion spoke up again.

"So will you accompany me on the journey to the wall? I believe it'll make the journey very pleasant if you come. And as for why I am helping you? Well you did put me in your debt by providing me comfort and such delicious food. And a Lannister always pays his debts." Hope pretended to think about it for a moment.

"Well I certainly don't wish to wait for years to visit the wall. It'll be my honor to be your companion on the journey my lord."

Lord Tyrion left the cottage after finishing the breakfast. He said he was going to pay a visit to the brothel in Winter town. It was his favorite place in Winterfell. Truth to be told, Hope was a little confused about Lord Tyrion. She heard from plenty of sources that he was a perverted little imp. Yet never once he looked at her in a dirty way. What kind of a pervert is actually decent? Usually perverted men are just pervert. Shaking her head to herself, Hope started cleaning up the table. The front door suddenly opened and Nessysa entered.

"What did he say?" She asked anxiously. Hope obviously knew who she was asking about.

"Lord Tyrion said I can go with him to the wall" said Hope and Nessysa let out a sigh of relief that her friend accomplished in her task.

"Good." She said but then she frowned in confusion.

"Then why do you look sad?" Nessysa asked. Hope looked at her friend before answering-

"Dinky came up while conversing with Lord Tyrion."

Flashback

Free City- Myr

Nessysa was sleeping peacefully but Hope couldn't sleep. She was feeling restless for some unknown reason. Hope and Nessysa were traveling with the theater troupe for a while now. Soon they would board a ship and cross the narrow sea. Suddenly Hope sensed someone standing right outside their tent.

"Who's there?" She asked out loud. She quickly lit up a candle as well. Before Hope could go out and see who was outside, a child entered the tent. Though when she looked properly she realized it was actually Dinky who came in.

"Dinky what are you doing here?" Hope asked feeling both startled and confused.

"You must leave. Leave right now." He spoke with great urgency and alarm in his voice. He even looked scared. And it confused her very much.

"What are you talking about Dinky? Why should I leave?" Hope asked. Due to all the talking, Nessysa woke up as well.

"What is happening? Hope? Dinky what are you doing here?" She asked with sleep tangled voice and felt confused like Hope.

"He is coming for you. Please run while you can" said Dinky to Hope and he was dead serious about it. Hope and Nessysa looked at each other.

"Who is coming for me? Dinky explain everything to us first." Hope said. She wasn't going to run without knowing why.

"A red priest is coming over here to take you away. I've seen it with my own eyes. He even paid Maronos (the owner) so that no one stops him." Hearing about a red priest both Hope and Nessysa grew worried. They knew better than to underestimate the worshipers of the lord of light. The reds were willing to do anything and everything to please their lord. Hope wasn't surprised though that a red priest wanted her. She has royal blood in her veins. Not to mention royal blood of great power. Any red priest would want her for great many purposes. The question was how did one find her in a theater troupe? Hope and Nessysa were always careful about avoiding the reds. Clearly they should have been more careful.

Within five minutes, the girls sneaked out of the tent and started running away along with Dinky. They couldn't get very far when they heard people coming for them. Since the red priest paid a huge sum of money to Maronos, he was more than willing to help the priest capture Hope and Nessysa. All the men of the troupe started chasing them.

"We cannot outrun them. We must hide" said Hope realizing if they simply kept running, the men would surround them soon.

"I'll distract them" spoke up Dinky to which Nessysa immediately objected.

"No you have helped us escape. They will kill you." She said worriedly.

"I don't think so. Maronos needs Dinky to run his theater even though he'll never admit it. He isn't stupid enough to let anyone kill Dinky and lose popularity of his shows. I can't risk the red priest getting to me Nessysa. I have to find my brother." Saying that to Nessysa, Hope turned to look at the dwarf.

"Dinky please keep them distracted for as long as you can." He simply nodded his head. Nessysa also didn't protest since she knew how much it was important for Hope to find her brother. And for that they needed to cross the narrow sea without getting into trouble with a red priest. Hope on the other hand sighed out heavily before saying.

"Thank you for everything friend. I'll never forget about you." She embraced the little man who returned the hug just as much enthusiastically. But he pulled away quickly.

"Now go and hide somewhere." Saying that Dinky started to run towards the men. And Hope and Nessysa ran the opposite way. They came across a house where many large wooden barrels were kept on the terrace. The girls climbed to the terrace and hid inside a barrel each. They stayed hidden there till the morning. They only came out when they felt absolutely safe.

"Anyhow we have to board a ship today and leave Myr. I don't think the red priest will stop looking for me anytime soon." Hope said. Nessysa agreed with her and the both of them carefully started going towards the nearest dock where they could board a ship. The ships available at that dock wouldn't take them across the sea but it'd get them away from Myr at least. On their way though, Hope noticed Nessysa being very quiet.

"What is it?" She asked her friend. Nessysa shook her head in reply.

"Nothing. I was just thinking about Dinky. I hope he is alright." She said more to herself than to Hope. Nessysa was really sympathetic towards the dwarf ever since they met him. It was just that she knew how it felt to be tormented by people. Before she found Hope, her life wasn't very livable. To some level Nessysa could relate with Dinky in a way that Hope couldn't. Therefore she felt more for the dwarf then Hope did. But Hope considered Dinky her friend. Specially after what he did for her. And it was one of Hope's codes- 'never leave a friend behind in danger'. So she stopped walking and looked at Nessysa who looked back at her with confusion.

"We are going back to the troupe." Hope stated at once.

"What? Are you mad?" Nessysa exclaimed with shock.

"We'll leave Myr together. You, me and Dinky. After what he did for us, everyone in the troupe will make his life more miserable than it already is. We can't leave him behind to live a life like that." Nessysa would've argued but she too didn't want to leave Dinky behind. So she agreed with Hope and they went back to the spot where the theater troupe had camped. The girls were lucky because the troupe was performing a show again so everyone was busy there. Dinky wasn't on the stage which didn't surprise the girls. He must be lying somewhere badly beaten up. Hope and Nessysa easily sneaked into the troupe's campsite. Since it was no camp of royalty, there obviously wasn't any guards there. They quietly started searching for Dinky but he was nowhere to be found. Both the girls started getting worried. Not to mention the risk they were taking by being inside the camp.

"Where the hell is he?" Hope whispered out in frustration. They were in the storage tent where the troupe kept everything stored after a show. All their costumes and make ups and other things needed for a performance was there. Suddenly Nessysa almost let out a scream. She quickly put her hands on her mouth to stop that scream from getting out.

"What happened?" Hope asked worriedly. Nessysa was looking inside a wooden box with wide eyes. Hope walked over to the box and looked inside herself. There was a dead body inside. No doubt the body of a dwarf. But it was headless. Hope quickly averted her eyes and gasped out loudly in shock. They killed him. Dinky was dead. The realization made Hope feel sick and guilty at the same time. Bile rose in her throat and she felt like throwing up. Neither could stand there any longer and ran out of that tent only to hide behind another one.

"We must leave." Nessysa said when she got her voice back. Even though Hope was feeling weak in her knees but she started running along with her friend. However while passing by the stage where the actors were performing, the girls had to stop again. Dinky was on the stage this time. Well his head was. And it was being kicked around among the actors. The act was about a traitor dwarf who was being punished for his deeds. The entire crowd was enjoying the scene of a couple of men kicking around a dwarf's head. Only two girls had tears in their eyes.

End Of Flashback

"You still feel guilty about Dinky." Nessysa stated and she sighed out heavily afterwards.

"Why shouldn't I? He died because of me." Hope may have said that bluntly but it hurt nonetheless. Even Nessysa didn't deny it since it was indeed the truth. Hope was the one who asked Dinky to distract the men rather than make him come along with them. He'd have lived longer if he had run away with them. Nessysa walked closer to Hope and put a hand on her shoulder as a gesture of comfort.

"You are a Targaryen Hope. Having people die for you is something you need to get used to of." In response Hope only exhaled a deep breath. After a moment of silence, Nessysa spoke up again.

"A friend of ours in the south intercepted a raven. It was carrying the words of a possible wedding." She said surprising Hope a little.

"A wedding?"

"Your aunt Daenerys is planning to marry a Dothraki horse lord" said Nessysa taking a seat at the dinning table.

"I always thought uncle Viserys will marry her" said Hope more to herself than to her friend. A brother marrying his sister was after all the Targaryen tradition.

"Clearly your uncle needs an army more than he needs a wife. He chose to marry off his sister to a Dothraki for a reason." Hope couldn't help but snort at that as Nessysa said it.

"A wife in exchange for an army. Sounds like a very good deal. Thank the gods my uncle is unaware of me otherwise I'd be the one sold to a Dothraki" said Hope appreciating her decision to not go to her uncle and aunt when she learned about them being alive. She had her reasons though. Besides, Hope heard from trusted source that her uncle Viserys was more like the mad king than her father Rhaegar. It discouraged her further to have a family reunion with them.

"Or he would have married you himself" said Nessysa thoughtfully which made Hope raise eyebrows at her.

"Think about it. You are the crowned prince's daughter. Marrying you would've made Viserys' claim on the Iron throne more legit." That statement suddenly made Hope aware of something. Something that worried her.

"But he will see my brother as a threat. Jon isn't going to stay hidden in the shadows forever. One day Viserys will learn about him and-"

"The things that we've heard about your uncle, he will definitely try to kill Jon" said Nessysa exactly what Hope was thinking. She started pacing restlessly while thinking of something deeply. Then she abruptly stopped and looked at Nessysa.

"You are not going South anymore." Hope said suddenly making her friend look at her with confusion.

"I need you to spy on my uncle and aunt for me. They are a threat to my brother's life. I need to know about their every move. Their strengths and weaknesses. You are the only person I trust Nessy. Please do this for me." Nessysa didn't want to leave Hope and go back to Essos but she understood that the task needed to be done. Therefore she nodded her head.

"Alright Hope, I will go. But what about the white walkers?" Nessysa asked worriedly. They still knew nothing about how to kill them.

"Let me worry about the white walkers. Besides, I'm going to the wall. I'm sure the brothers of the Night's watch will be able to tell me a few useful things about the white walkers, specially how to kill them." Hope really hoped for it though she had her doubts. Nessysa also doubted that the brothers of the Night's watch in present times knew much about the white walkers themselves. But there was nothing she could do. She needed to help Hope in another matter.

"Well you've already found a way to go to the wall but have you figured out a way to stay there?" Nessysa asked curiously.

"Not yet but I will" said Hope confidently. Little did she know even the fate was on her side?

AN: Please review and let me know what you think.