He felt no desire to enter the meeting room, so he waited outside under the guise of tying his boot. Even with several feet between him and the closed door he didn't need to wonder what was being discussed on the other side. He could hear Robert's booming voice as he made his disapproval widely known.

"How are they doing this!?" the King shouted.

Ned had to tilt his head to hear Jaime's more subtle voice. "No survivors have returned from our last five scouting parties."

The crashing sound made it clear Robert was still unhappy. "I thought I told you to send assassins and extra guards in scout armor."

"I did," the Lannister insisted. "None of them have returned. At this point sending out more men will only add to our losses."

"Where are they now? Where are they hiding?"

"Somewhere near where she brought the ships ashore. Five patrols and not one survivor left to tell the tale. They attack at night and don't even leave bodies behind," Jaime recounted as if he was reading from a report.

"What do they do with the bodies?" Robert asked, his fury momentarily melting to curiosity.

"No one knows. They're savages so it really could be anything."

Ned resisted the urge to groan as he listened. Robert was already angry enough with Jaime poking him to make it worse. "Fuck them!" he decided loudly. "Fuck'em, fuck the Stark, fuck the Targaryen and fuck those unwashed pricks. This isn't Essos. We can withstand a siege for years. We'll be fine."

In the hall Ned grimaced as he heard the way his friend spoke of his family. Straightening up and squaring his shoulders he prepared to enter the room when he heard Jaime respond. "We can withstand a siege," he agreed, "but it'll be harder without merchants and their goods."

"What do you mean?" Robert asked in a tone that left little question to how annoyed he was to even need to ask.

"In addition to the scouts who have gone missing, so has every merchant we were expecting. I've heard of at least six traders who are several days late or worse. They were arriving from different directions, and all were stopped, so I think it's safe to assume they have the capital surrounded."

"It doesn't matter!" Robert shouted, before Ned heard another set of objects being knocked to the floor. "Those whores can wait outside the city as long as they want, they'll never be able to get in. This is the safest city in the world and my guards are the finest who have ever lived." The slurping told Ned this important military briefing was being clouded by wine. The friend he followed in the Rebellion never would have drank during such a meeting. It reminded him just how much they'd all changed. "Tell me of the army."

"Word has been sent everywhere but the North," the Lannister explained. "The Iron Islands have pledged any boats we require and they're also sending a substantial force. Half the Lannister troops arrived yesterday to reinforce the city and the keep and I had an additional ten thousand men dispatched to Dragonstone."

"Dragonstone?" Robert repeated before he belched. "Why are you sending troops there? They're coming for the Iron Throne and the fucking Iron Throne isn't in Dragonstone."

"I thought maybe the Targaryen would want to claim it," Jaime justified. "I also thought it best to support your brother."

"Fuck Stannis," Robert said without hesitation. "We know they're coming here. We need our troops here. Order half the men returned. What about the other houses?"

Ned could all too easily picture the accompanying shrug to go with the dramatic sigh he heard. "The Tyrells offer gold, which is good because we'll need it if this turns into a year long siege."

"Take the gold, the Tyrell's can't fight for shit anyway. What of the rest?"

"Renly is leading the majority of his force from Storm's End to support us. I expect they'll meet up with the Lannister forces and arrive within the week. With the extra recruitment we've done in preparation, our numbers will be the highest since before you took the throne."

"Will it be enough?"

"I'm not certain," Jaime said, sounding remarkably sincere.

This news didn't improve Robert's mood. Three words in, he was once again yelling. "If you don't fucking know who does?!"

"Your Grace, no one knows how many Dothraki the Stark girl really has."

"The Starks know," he countered. "The second Ned gets back tell him I want to see him, and send word to Robb. He's my Warden in the North and if I call my banners I expect him to answer."

"Are you sure that's wise? It may be best to leave the Starks safely tucked away in the North, where they belong."

"Yes, I'm sure," he said slurring his words slightly in his haste. "Send a raven to Winterfell and tell them to begin marching South immediately. Do the same with the girl's aunt in the Vale. We'll see if this Arya wants to go to war when it's her family lined up against her."

"I'll send the ravens as soon as we're finished," Jaime promised. "The Frey's are sending troops, but who knows how much help they'll actually be."

"What about the dreadful cunt from Dorne?" Robert asked with malice.

"We received word earlier today, she complies with your request for her armies and is mobilizing her troops right away," Jaime said, once again sounding as though he was reading. "It'll likely be weeks before we see the first of her soldiers and I don't think Arya Stark and her savages and going to sit and wait for everyone to arrive."

"They aren't going to have a choice," Robert said after a self-congratulatory laugh. "The gates are closed and as you said, more troops will be arriving everyday. By the time they get here from Winterfell the majority of our forces will be in place. The rest can fill in the gaps as others fall."

Ned had heard enough, more than enough in fact. He knew he couldn't avoid Robert forever, but he could for now. As he turned away from the door where he'd been listening the guard stationed there spoke. "I never saw you here m'lord."

"Thank you," he said before he began the familiar route to the Hand's Tower.

R-C

With every step they took toward King's Landing Daenerys felt Arya was moving further and further away from her. Not physically, Arya rode at her side almost constantly during the day and slept in her arms at night, but the void was growing nonetheless.

It began almost immediately after they left Winterfell on their return trip from the Wall. They stayed only a single night in her love's former home before Arya was ready to move out, eager to catch the others. Daenerys offered to extend their stay longer, she encouraged it even, but Arya was determined.

Outside Winterfell's gate, a chill that had nothing to do with the weather settled over her Khal. Each day it got worse, but Daenerys thought she could handle it. When they crossed the border into the South, she realized just how wrong she'd been. Once they were in 'hostile territory' as Arya termed it, she refused to leave the Queen's side for a moment, expecting spies and assassins to be lurking behind every tree and bush. At night, she remained outside their tent, on guard, ready and willing to fend off whole battalions of enemy soldiers should the need arise. When she did sleep, it was only for minutes at a time, and always while sitting straight up. Daenerys had tried everything she could think of to lure her into the tent and had always been politely rebuffed. If she didn't know how hard it was for Arya to be back, she might have taken it personally.

After they met up with the khalasar Daenerys had hoped Arya's attitude would return to normal, but she was quickly disappointed. Within seconds of the first Dothraki noticing their approach Arya was shouting orders. She commanded groups of one hundred spread in all directions. When they reached the camp, she gave similar orders to others. By the end of their first meal back among their people more than half the army was moving about the area, prepared for danger.

Daenerys tried to discuss their next move, but Arya insisted they'd do that later, favoring training with the men instead. As she went off to practice her skills of death, Daenerys went in search of Ser Jorah. She had a message to pass along from his father.

She found him in his tent, reading a book. He looked up when she entered and smiled. "So, you've returned from the Wall. Quite a sight, isn't it?"

"I've never seen anything like it," she admitted honestly.

"And you met the Stark's bastard brother?" he asked, his tone turning sour.

"As well as others," Daenerys said carefully. "I spoke to your father."

"How is he?" Jorah asked quickly, unable to hide his real concern and curiosity. It made Daenerys smile. Her knight almost never showed his feelings.

"He's well. I see much of you in him, he's a brave and intelligent man who wishes what is best for those around him."

"I don't know about that Khaleesi, I've failed…"

She wouldn't let him berate himself, not now, not about this. Holding up her hand she silenced him. "I spoke of you to him briefly and he asked that I wish you well."

"I find that hard to believe. As you know he and I did not part on the best of terms."

The doubt she saw in his eyes then was almost painful for her to look at. "You doubt me Ser?" Daenerys asked, giving him a glare that wasn't nearly as threatening as she pretended it might be.

"Of course not."

"Very well. I told your father that you rode with us, and that I knew you to be an honest, fair and honorable man. He was pleased by this and asked me to pass along his well-wishes."

She thought she saw a tear glistening in the old knight's eye, but it must have been the light as it was gone the next time she looked. "That was very kind of you Daenerys, thank you."

"Before you return to Essos, if you choose to return to Essos when this is through, I think you should ride for the Wall and speak to him yourself."

"I go where you go Daenerys, I am sworn to you," he told her without any doubt.

She nodded in understanding and then got an idea. "If that's the case, then perhaps I will order you to visit your father. What would you say then?"

"I will do as you command Daenerys, always."

R-C

As she had every night since it started she went to Arya sitting outside their tent and tried to seduce her inside. Usually it was with the promise of sleep, other times sex, food or wine but her offers didn't matter because Arya always refused. The only thing she hadn't done was order Arya to join her, not liking the idea of making her choose between obeying and their safety. Still, if things kept on this way, she might have to rethink her strategies.

"Come to bed with me. The guards will keep us all safe. We'll have plenty of warning if trouble comes."

"No," she said, shaking her head in a lazy motion. Daenerys could see the dark circles under her eyes, and the vacant stare that had come from weeks of barely any rest. "I need to…"

"You need to sleep," Daenerys said for her. "You can't protect any of us in your current state."

Tired as she was, those words got through the haze and she didn't miss the hurt that passed across Arya's face. "I will always be able to protect you," she said a little too harshly.

"I know," Daenerys corrected, "so come and protect me from inside our tent."

With only a look she knew Arya had no intention of joining her so went ahead with her next idea. Instead of going into their tent Daenerys went in search of some of the best warriors in their khalasar. She chose ten in all and asked them to follow her. She led them to the spot where Arya sat and then issued her orders. She instructed the men to circle the tent. They did and Daenerys tried again, "There, we'll be safe, now come to bed."

When Arya surrender she quickly dragged her into the tent before she could change her mind. As much as she wanted to take advantage of the privacy and make love to the woman who mattered most to her, tonight was not for that, even if it had been weeks.

R-C

She woke first and watched Arya catch up on her sleep. She was certain there was work for a Khaleesi on the outside of her tent, people who wanted her opinions, her aid or her attention but they'd all have to wait. She wasn't moving an inch as long as she had Arya in her arms.

It was nearly an hour or perhaps more when her staring was interrupted by a gravelly voice. "Don't you have better things to do?"

She smiled and leaned down off her elbow to kiss Arya's lips. "Not one."

A grey eye opened and the lips she had just kissed shifted downward. "I find that hard to believe," she grumbled.

Daenerys kissed her again. "Don't doubt it for a second."

For a moment neither of them moved and then to her disappointment Arya rolled away and began to sit up. As soon as she recognized what was happening Daenerys threw herself into the other woman and tried to keep her in place. "Daenerys," she complained. "I need to go check on things. I slept too long."

"You needed to rest. It's not helping anyone for you to put yourself at risk like that."

Arya sighed, trying again to sit. This time Daenerys didn't stop her, but she quickly crossed the bed to climb out right beside her. "You don't understand," she finally said.

"You're right," Daenerys agreed. "I don't understand why you'd do this to yourself."

While she watched Arya covered her face in her hands and scrubbed hard as if she were trying to remove something from under her skin. "I brought you here. You're in this horrible place because of me and if anything happened to you, it would be my fault."

"I'm not quite as helpless as you make me out to be," Daenerys declared with a smile. Trying to lighten the mood she added, "Unless you were lying when you said I was getting better with my arakh."

A head spun around and Arya's eyes were alight with passion. "I wasn't lying," she said seriously. "I'd never lie to you, but this place is nothing like Essos, it's nothing like Winterfell. These people make treachery and betrayal an artform. They will greet you with a smile, while they cut your coin purse and they'll lie to you until they've used you to their satisfaction. When they're through they'll order one of their men to take your head. I've seen it and it would kill me if it happened to you."

Pulling on a pair of pants, Daenerys tried to reassure her. "Nothing will happen to me. I have you."

"You're right," she responded ominously, "nothing will."

Across the tent Arya was nearly completely dressed, although her braid looked wholly unkept. Before she could order the taller woman to sit so she could tend to it, Arya was calling for Kovarro. Daenerys listened as Arya gave the Blood Rider directions and told him to get people moving in that direction.

"Where are we going?" Daenerys asked, although she feared the answer. She could see the tension in Arya's bare shoulders, as well as in her neck and it made her nervous.

She adjusted the fabric that made up her shirt and went to work tying her boots before she answered. It was unexpected when Arya looked up from her task and smiled at the Khaleesi. "You were kind enough to visit my home, I figured I should return the favor and escort you to yours."

She heard herself gasp at the news. "You don't mean…"

"Dragonstone," Arya finished for her. "We're returning to the boats and going on a sunlit sail."

R-C

"Tell me," Jorah said as they sat around a fire eating their dinner together, "just how do you plan to take Dragonstone away from Stannis Baratheon? By now Robert's spies have told him you're here, and he's reinforced every castle he and his allies hold, including Dragonstone."

Next to him, in another language, Kelo asked why Arya had sent half their army away."

They'd been asking these questions for days, but apparently now, as they neared her birthplace she was finally prepared to answer. She addressed the Blood Rider first. "Worry not my friend. When the raid to end all raids comes, we will all be together."

"What does that mean?" Jorah asked coldly.

She turned slightly to face him, her face even. "We will take Dragonstone the same way we take anything. We'll circle the city and make our demands."

He scoffed in reply. "Stannis Baratheon isn't going to give you anything as tribute and the walls will keep us at a severe disadvantage."

"The only tribute I want from Stannis is his brother's head. If I have to climb the walls of Dragonstone myself to get it, I can live with that."

"You won't even get close. Didn't you hear me, King Robert knows you're coming."

"Of course, he does," Arya accepted. "If my father hasn't told him by now, then the man I sent to warn him surely has."

Daenerys smiled. She'd briefly forgotten about the bandits and the message Arya insisted one of them pass along. She pictured the man holding the head of his leader. Her woman was nothing if not creative.

"Why would you do such a thing?"

"Because," Arya began, "no matter how much I wish otherwise, King's Landing is nearly impregnable. It could withstand a siege for years. Robert would likely die of old age before I could lure him out. But, if I hold Dragonstone…"

"He still won't meet you," Jorah said cutting her off. "You knew Robert, did he strike you as a sentimental man? He won't leave King's Landing to talk to you, let alone fight you, not even to save his brother's life."

"I know that," Arya said confidently.

She couldn't help it, she had to ask. "Then why are we taking Dragonstone if you know he won't meet with you to save Stannis?"

She shrugged her shoulders and flashed a smirk at Daenerys that made the Queen want nothing more than to kiss her senseless. Somehow, she refrained. "As Jorah accurately stated, Robert knows we're here. That's why I never mentioned Dragonstone to my brother or my father, and it's why I sent that bandit to warn him I was coming to King's Landing. I want his entire focus on the Red Keep. Then he won't be ready when we take Dragonstone."

"It doesn't get you any closer to meeting with Robert," Jorah complained.

"No, but it will give us a nicer place to sleep until we arrange all the details." Missandei and Daenerys laughed, while Jorah found the jest far less humorous.

R-C

The boats were right where they'd left them, along with nearly all of the Dothraki Arya had assigned to guard them. Upon seeing her, the Commander hurried to her and proudly proclaimed, "The cowards can't fight! They run!"

Arya didn't doubt they did. She'd left thousands of her hardest killers to watch over the boats, knowing they'd be a prime target for Robert and his men. Arya couldn't afford to have Robert seize the boats or sink them, so she assigned men to kill anyone who got close. The last thing she wanted to do was get stuck on this fucking continent with no way home. She instructed her men to strike at night, sneaking up on the enemy to kill them quietly, while keeping their numbers hidden and leaving nothing behind in their wake. She'd also asked that they keep the heads of every man they killed as well as any banners and anything with a Baratheon sigil on it.

When she saw no fewer than a dozen large sacks she knew she had Robert's attention. She feared the men might be bored in her absence, but Robert had helpfully ensured they stayed busy. He'd sent many against her people, and they'd died just as she knew they would. "They no come for twenty days!" he said in the common tongue, a skill Missandei was a teaching a group of the military leadership.

Arya was pleased by this. The mighty King Robert had apparently learned that her men weren't to be taken lightly and he had chosen to leave the ships alone.

Eager for a fight, the Dothraki boarded in what she was certain must have been record time for an army of their size. Arya and Daenerys's ship led the way. When they were nearly in range of the castle's defenses, Jorah approached the spot where they sat cuddled together. "We should pull back, we are nearly in range. Let some of the other ships go first."

She pushed Daenerys forward slightly so she could stand up and stare at the older man. "I will not hide behind my men, but if you find yourself frightened, you're welcome to remain on the boat." It was a low blow and they all knew it. It had already been decided that Jorah would remain on the ship to guard Daenerys until Dragonstone was secure.

R-C

It looked as though the sky was on fire. Large flaming balls of Gods knows what were flying through the air toward the fleet. Rocks of all shapes and sizes sent in their direction, some landing in the water close enough to cause the sea to spray on her face. Arya had everyone on the deck and ready, firing arrows back at the men lining the castle walls. Daenerys felt regret and disappointment each time she saw one of the men standing around her fall. Her sorrow was only multiplied when one of the ships sunk.

The instant the land was close enough, Daenerys stood back and watched every Dothraki flood over the side of the ship, most didn't even wait for the boat to strike the shore, needing to be on solid ground, even if it wasn't particularly dry. Arya hesitated briefly, verifying that Jorah was staying behind to protect Daenerys and then she took off toward the violence. She'd seen Arya survive no shortage of fates that would have ended others but she had to admit this time she had her doubts.

The female Khal ran up the beach with her head down and a shield up. On her back her arakh was strapped and on her hip, she wore the thinnest sword Daenerys had ever seen. She learned it was a gift from Jon, her first real sword and it was obvious from the way she shined it until the early morning hours just how deeply she cherished it.

Arrows rained down on her people while she watched from a safe distance away. After dropping off their fighters, Jorah ordered the crew to take them out into open water, where they'd be safer. The boat rocked, as if the water knew what was happening. She did her best to try and spot Arya as the Dothraki began climbing Dragonstone's walls, but she couldn't make out the small figure among so many men.

"Perhaps you should rest Khaleesi," Jorah tried, "I fear it's going to be a long day."

She smiled weakly at him, the best she could do given the circumstances. "Thank you, but I think I'll stay." She heard him walk away but didn't look, too captivated by what was happening in front of her.

Missandei came up beside her and put a comforting arm across her shoulders. "She will be fine Khaleesi," she said, uttering the exact words Daenerys was desperate to hear.

"I hope so," she said as she ran her hands through her hair in a nervous gesture. "I don't think I could lose her, I don't think I could survive that again, not now."

Missandei gave her a reassuring smile. "She would fight the Gods for you, without her weapon and she'd win. This," Missandei said, pointing toward the island, "this, is nothing."

She hadn't thought anything could cheer her until Arya returned and Daenerys could see with her own eyes she was unharmed, but somehow Missandei had done it. That wasn't the only reason she loved the former slave, but in the moment, it might have been at the top of the list.

R-C

Hundreds had died, maybe more. Her steps faltered as she watched boiling tar being poured over the wall and onto her friends. Had she been wrong to come here? Had she been selfish and prideful as Jorah claimed? She didn't know. Next to her a man fell from an arrow and Arya stopped to remove it from his arm, covering him with her shield as she did. As soon as he was unburdened, he was on his feet and running back to the battle, trailing blood behind the arm he could no longer use. No Arya realized, Drogo wouldn't have doubts about his objective. He wouldn't question the lengths or the costs to keep Daenerys safe and she knew she shouldn't either. She hadn't decided this, Robert had when he repeatedly tried to kill her. She was in the right this time, it was the King who was wrong.

With newfound confidence, she pushed one of her men away from the ladder and led the climb. She didn't slow when the first arrow pierced her back, or the second, they simply motivated her to keep going. The first swing of a sword nearly took her head. She leaned to her left at the last moment and then vaulted onto her opponent before he could try again. By the time she'd snapped his neck, Dothraki were on the walls all around her, slaughtering men with both hands.

The archers had the advantage when they were shooting down at the Dothraki on the beach, but now that they were all on the walls together, Arya's people were in control. The fighting was fierce, violent and messy, everything the Dothraki had been promised. It took only minutes for Stannis's substantial forces garrisoned on the walls to fall. Once they had, Arya ordered the wounded be tended to, while bowman began shooting down at the bulk of Stannis's forces. Arya removed the arrows from her back and quickly patched up the minor injuries before she led the Dothraki down into the yard.

The battle grew more intense with every second. With thousands of men trapped in the box of the courtyard, the deaths were heavy on both sides. People were packed together so densely it could often be difficult to take a full swing with her weapon. She knew there would be losses, but she also knew her khalasar would win. Arya counted on the fact that her move for Dragonstone would be unexpected, even to her own people. Surely the King would reinforce the castle and send his brother extra troops, but not enough to repel them. Robert's strong sense of self-preservation would keep him focused on knocking back an attack on King's Landing not Dragonstone.

Stannis hid inside his castle but it wouldn't change the outcome. Just as she had cleaved a man intent on killing her, an attacker she didn't see struck from behind. The sword opened her back, starting up under her hair and stretching down past the center of her spine. The slice got through the skin and muscle alike and Arya knew she was in trouble. In one stroke, her arm fell immobile at her side. She could feel the rush of blood on her skin, and although she tried to turn she expected death would come before she set eyes on her killer. Instead there was a grunt and she felt the weight of a body collapsing into hers. She nearly fell over, leaning on the nearest person in the tightly packed space to remain upright. Harvin was there with an arakh in each hand and both were buried into the enemy, one in his back, the other the side of his neck.

She rewarded her friend with a grisly smile before she sank to her knee beside the dead man. This battle needed to end soon or she'd bleed to death before Robert was held accountable for his crimes. As if he knew what she was thinking Harvin picked up her blood stained arakh and she took it in her working hand. She wasn't as talented with this limb as she was her dominate one, but she could still kill.

By the time she reached the doors dozens of Dothraki were ramming at it to break through. Fighting had slowed, as many retreated to the safety of the castle, but it was far from over. Few of Stannis's men were willing to surrender, choosing instead to fight to the death. Arya admired them. If only they were fighting for a Lord worthy of their dedication.

When the door broke, Arya and her Blood Riders were the first through it. Although she'd never admit it, she was glad they were there, since every step sapped more of her energy. "Stop!" Kovarro said as forcefully as he dared as they weaved through the labyrinth of hallways, doing battle with any Baratheon loyalists they discovered.

"I'll stop when we're done!" Arya said before she forced Needle through a man's neck, striking in the narrow gap between the bottom of a helmet and the top of a breastplate.

R-C

Ned knew something was wrong the moment Varys walked into the room. He glanced sideways at the Northern man and if Ned didn't know better he looked almost sad. Fear tied a knot in his stomach as he steeled himself for what he might hear.

"What is it?!" Robert asked, his face red from a mix of anger and drink. Since Ned got back from the North, Robert's mood had been most foul. He berated the servants, yelled at anyone and everyone and looked at his best friend with contempt.

"My King, I just received word…"

"Of what!" he screamed.

Again, Varys spared a glance in Ned's direction, but then his eyes were back on the ruler. "It seems the Dothraki are attacking Dragonstone."

"What?!"

All around them, others spoke, until they were drowned out by Robert's shout. He turned to his wife's brother. "Send reinforcements at once!"

Before Jaime could reply, Varys did. "I fear it wouldn't matter. I hear the fighting has already begun and some accounts even suggest they may already be inside the walls!"

Robert's anger vanished and he looked too stunned to say anything. That lasted only briefly before the anger returned tenfold. "Why are we just hearing about this now!? Why do we pay our scouts and our spies anything if they aren't going to warn us before its too late? I want all of their heads!" he decided rashly.

"I suspect its too late for that as well your Grace. This word didn't come from the island, but rather from men and women who saw the boats earlier today, a fishing vessel even claims to have seen flaming arrows." He paused and then said, "If I had to wager a guess, I'd say the reason we heard no news of this, is because our people on the island are already dead."

"Damn it!" Robert shouted, swiping his hand widely and nearly hitting his wife, before he cleared the table of half its contents. "She means to fucking drive me mad."

Ned watched as Jaime took a step forward until his sister's hand stopped him. "Why would she attack Dragonstone, what does it get her?"

"The Targaryen is obviously pulling her strings and trying to reclaim her birthright," Cersei chimed in.

Turning to Ned Robert marched closer, a furious look in his eyes. "What do you know of this?"

"Nothing," Ned replied honestly. "What I told you is what I know. Arya was upset about your attempts to kill the Targaryen girl and she intended to come here to seek an audience. She told me she intended to get your pledge that you'd never again send assassins after her friend. That's all I know."

While that wasn't entirely true, Ned didn't think Robert needed to know his daughter intended to murder him. He'd never lied to Robert like this before, not in all the years as his Hand and not in the years before when they fought side by side, but he had little choice. This was his child.

"And if I have you taken to the dungeon and strapped on a rack?" Robert threatened.

He didn't flinch, he didn't even blink. "You're the King," Ned reminded him. "If that's what you want, so be it, but my answers won't change. I knew nothing of this."

With a huff of disapproval Robert pivoted and glared at the male Lannister. "Double the guards and find more recruits."

"They're already being double."

Robert clearly did not want to hear it. "Double them again!"

R-C

They found Stannis barricaded in his throne room with two dozen of his men. The fighting was over quick, each of them dying. They were good soldiers, maybe the best he had and they didn't go alone, but they were swarmed by the rush of shrieking Dothraki and overwhelmed. Arya ordered the men to begin rounding up prisoners. As the warriors coated in blood began moving about Arya took a perverse pleasure in the fear she saw on the Baratheon's face. He didn't know their language and likely thought she was ordering his death.

Only the Blood Riders remained with her. "What did you say to them?" he asked when the majority of the Dothraki left the room.

"I told them to round up the survivors and toss them in the dungeon," Arya said as she limped closer. She'd taken an arrow in the thigh during the fight to the throne room, one more scar to add to her collection.

"So, it's true, the Stark exile leading savages, I had my doubts." Stannis stood against the room's rear wall, dressed in full armor and although he held his impressive sword, it was resting at his side in an unthreatening manner.

"Believe it, and you'd do well not to call them savages again, unless you want to see just how right you are."

He looked offended by her words. "What does it matter? You're going to kill me anyway."

She chuckled as sweat moved down her face. She didn't need a mirror to know she was pale. The only reason she could remain on her feet was willpower alone. "If I wanted you dead, I'd have killed you already. I just need a word with your brother and then you can go back to playing in someone else's house."

Now it was Stannis's turn to chuckle. "Oh, that's right, I heard you came with the Targaryen, where is she?"

Arya smiled in spite of the situation a she thought about Daenerys. "Perhaps I'll escort her down to the dungeons later so you can meet her."

"If you live that long," he countered with a smug grin, looking at the pool of blood forming under her. "That doesn't look good."

Her smile turned into a smirk. "Maybe not, but I'd still rather be in my boots than yours. What do you think Robert'll do when he finds out you lost Dragonstone? You'd probably be better off to have me kill you now," she said weakly as she wobbled slightly.

The smugness was gone now and it almost made Arya forget about the heaviness of her eyes. "Robert…"

"Robert will put you on a rack," she said with confidence. "Now put down your sword." She needed to speed this up, she didn't have long. Whistling she ordered the Blood Riders forward. Stannis looked ready to die in glory for the first few of the Dothraki's steps then thought better of it. Kelo and Kovarro took the King's brother and escorted him from the room. She stayed on her feet just long enough to let the door close behind them and then she collapsed onto the stone floor, landing in her own blood while Harvin worried over her. Seconds later her eyes fell closed and she sank into a blissful, black emptiness.

R-C

Daenerys felt her body sag with relief when she saw a man on the beach waving a Baratheon banner above his head. That was the sign that the fighting was over and that Daenerys, Missandei and the others could safely join them on the island. From the moment they went over the walls, the Dothraki were largely hidden from view and Daenerys was clueless to how things were going. A few stayed on the walls, keeping an eye out for potential reinforcements, those she could see, although apart from dealing with an occasional straggler there wasn't much to witness. The masses went down to take the castle and left her line of sight. The boat moved far slower than she liked but she resisted all urges to order they go faster. She was the first one out, getting her feet wet carelessly and barely noticing as her violet eyes moved from side to side, searching out the woman she loved.

It was Harvin who found her first, taking her by the arm and pulling her with him. "We must hurry," he said and Daenerys felt all the Dragon blood leaving her body. Suddenly she wasn't overheated, but frozen to the core. That wasn't good at all. Her first instinct was to curse Arya for throwing herself in danger when she had an army to support her, but that thought quickly faded. Arya was right when she told Jorah that she wouldn't hide behind her people and Daenerys commended that. It was a brave and selfless thing to do. It's why the warriors, the men followed her.

She barely took note of the dragons carved into the stone as she made her way down the halls. This was where she was born, where a large percentage of her family died and none of that mattered now. If Arya died, she would regret coming here for the rest of her lonely days. Nothing she could learn about her family could ever be worth that.

In the throne room, she found Arya laid out on her stomach while no fewer than three different sets of the khalasar's healers tended to her various wounds. Pulling out of Harvin's grip she rushed to Arya's side. Kneeling next to her face she had hoped to see grey eyes looking back at her, but she was unconscious.

"How bad is it?" Daenerys asked the healers, not caring who answered.

One of the women looked up and shook her head sadly. "Very bad Khaleesi. We do not have the skills to save her I think."

That was just entirely unacceptable. With tears stinging her eyes she struggled to look past her terror for a solution. What would Arya do? If it was her dying on the floor she wouldn't simply let it happen. There had to be something.

"I'm sorry Khaleesi," Jorah said softly, trying to put his arm around her. Damn him, she didn't want to be comforted.

She shrugged him off and stepped away. "No, no! There has to be something we can do."

"You heard her, none of our healers are skilled enough to save her. Its up to the Gods now. They'll do everything they can."

His words repeated in her mind and she felt as if she might vomit. "Fuck the Gods," she blurted out. "Fuck them. I won't let her die."

As Jorah's deceptively kind words continued to taunt her she finally focused on the important few, 'our healers.' "You're right," she said suddenly. Jorah gave her a pitiful smile as he thought she was accepting Arya's death. That would never happen. "Our healers may not be able to save her, but we aren't in Essos anymore. Find me the… what is it, the Maester. Find me the Maester and bring him here."

"He may be dead Khaleesi," Jorah unhelpfully guessed.

She wasn't willing to consider that. "No, Arya wouldn't have killed someone who didn't have a sword in their hand. What was done with the prisoners?"

"They were taken to the dungeons Khaleesi," Kelo said as he alternated between Daenerys's face and his fallen Khal.

"Go find him and bring up this Stannis too, I think we need to meet."

R-C

The minutes while she waited for Kelo to return felt like torture. In that time, those tending to Arya's leg had stopped their work, content with the result. Through sobs Daenerys learned that in addition to a vicious cut that did the most damage, she'd also taken three arrows, two in the back while climbing the wall and one in the leg before she reached Stannis.

"Be proud Khaleesi," Harvin told her quietly. "She didn't fall until after the man was gone."

Daenerys smiled against her tears. "Of course not. She'd never give him the satisfaction."

"She's strong," Missandei said, kneeling next to Daenerys, without worry for the blood ruining her silk dress. "She'll be fine."

Daenerys didn't need to reply because Kelo chose that moment to return with another two Dothraki. They had who she could only hope were the Maester and Stannis, each with their arms were bound behind their backs.

At her command Kelo cut the Maester's binds. The healer was younger than she expected, a man in his thirties if that. He had bright blonde hair and clear green eyes. "Save her and I'll spare your life," she told him, switching from Dothraki to his language.

His eyes flickered to his Lord and although it was almost unnoticeable, she caught the slight shake of Stannis's head. She lashed out, slapping him in the face. Kicking him with her bloody boot she hit the back of his knee and forced him to the floor in front of her. Gripping his hair, she guided his eyes. "Do you know who I am?"

"I could guess."

"Don't guess," she said, slapping him again. "I am Daenerys Stormborn of House Targaryen. I was born here and now I've returned. If you value the lives of your people, I suggest you tell the Maester to get to work, or else men, women and children will needlessly die."

"Do what you will!" he challenged. "No one here will ever help the Mad King's daughter."

Furious she hit him again, and then again. Jorah prevented her from continuing and he carried her away while she fought against him the whole time.

"Beating him won't get results," Jorah predicted.

"What would you recommend?"

"Khaleesi if I may?" Missandei said gently. "While this Stannis might be ready for his people to die, the Maester seems far less certain. He looked horrified by his Lord's words."

Suddenly Daenerys had another reason to adore Missandei. She'd been so focused on Stannis she'd forgotten the other man, totally missing his reaction. Her tongue shifted back to Dothraki. "Find me his wife, find me his children, if he doesn't have any, bring me someone else's.

"Khaleesi, you can't do this," Jorah decreed.

Calling on her inner-Arya she glared at him rudely. "Watch me."

"I understand you're upset, but killing women and children won't help."

"You understand?" she questioned coldly. "You understand? These people killed Drogo and now they've nearly killed her too. I won't let it happen."

Jorah shook his head. "Arya brought this on herself. No one made her come here and she knew the risks."

Her hand blurred out and she slapped her knight just as she'd done with Stannis. "Wow," Daenerys said in disbelief. "You really do hate her, don't you?" She didn't wait for a reply. "Go and…" Any pretense she might have considered, wasn't worth the energy. "I don't give a fuck where you go, just get out of my sight."

Jorah was surprised by her outburst but he obeyed as he always did. Seconds after he was gone, Kelo and Harvin brought in a group of two women and one little boy. From the look on the Maester's face, Daenerys knew she'd found her leverage. "What's your name?" she asked him as the captives were forced closer to the danger.

"R…Robb," he stammered.

"Maester Robb, likely named for the King I'd guess." He answered with a nod and she kept going. "Do you believe in the Old Gods or the New Robb? I know your people tend to favor one over the other."

He refused to take his eyes off the civilians who were just feet away looking utterly petrified. "T…the New."

Walking over to the women Daenerys put an arm over the younger one's shoulders. Her hand ruffled the boy's dark hair. "Them too?" She didn't need him to answer. "It really doesn't matter," she said after a laugh that sounded demented even to her own ears. "I'll send them to whatever Gods they want if you don't start saving her life."

The women cried in fear and under any normal circumstances that might have stopped Daenerys from pushing further, but she didn't have time to play nice, more importantly Arya didn't have time. The Dothraki healers were doing what they could, but by their own admission they didn't like their chances. Picking up the young boy she carried him over to stand next to Robb. "What's it going to be? Are you going to save a life, or am I going to take one?"

From where he was watching, Stannis made his opinion clear. "Don't do it!"

"Shut up or I'll take your tongue!" the Dragon roared. "Robb this choice is yours, not his. Their blood will be on your hands, not his." When she wasn't convinced he would agree she went further, "Once they're dead I'll just send for others. I'll eventually find someone you care enough about to help." Daenerys gestured to Arya's lifeless body. "If she dies, no one will leave here alive."

She wasn't in the mood to be strung along or toyed with. Glaring at him, her voice was ice. "Missandei, your dagger please."

She stepped forward dagger in hand and Robb's eyes bulged out in response. He weighed his options for less than three seconds. "Fine, I'll do it, just let the boy go."

She set the boy down between the horrified women and they quickly clutched him in tight arms. "What happens to them is up to you, so I suggest you get started."

R-C