last of the Lions

He walked through the dark passage way leading the woman behind him. His heart hammered and he was sweating rivers. His hand's felt clammy. Holding the torch aloft he stopped in front of a wooden door. It was sturdy. Not like the lighter doors you found in most brothels. He knocked three times fast and three times slow. A voice told them to enter and he opened the door bowing to the woman behind him. She strode past without a moments ado and he closed the door again.

Inside Cersei shed the heavy cloak and pulled off her gloves. The days were getting cold fast. On the bed her darling boy slept and Ser Osmund kept watch over him. How her sweet Joffery looked pale and drawn out. Inadvertently her hands balled into fists. The wretched usurper did this to them. The wretched Stark boy and his family of fucking wolves. They have taken everything from her but by the Gods he's not going to take her sweet child. She'd have her revenge. She was a Lannister and a lion as well. She'd see them all burn!

As she sat down beside her Joffery, smoothing his hair kettleblack spoke up. "Qyburn was here, your grace, a little while back." One of her very few trusted advisers remaining was Qyburn. The rest had betrayed her without flinching. All because I'm a woman and not a man! "What did he say?" She asked.

Ketttleblack fidgeted, "He says the Northerner hasn't called the old court and it's advisers and so Qyburn cannot do much."

Cerseri cursed inwardly. That bloody bastard Eddard Stark had ruined everything and now his filthy son has seen it through. If only those weasel faced fucks had managed to kill him.

"the gate won't open for two days." She told him. "But once it does we'll make it for Casterly rock and stay there. If the gods are good the little mutt and his savages will be roasted and by then winter will be here completely."

Ser Osmund nodded but did not seem particularly happy. He may betray her as well. Osffryd was dead and Oswell missing. She'd need to keep an eye on him.

Young Perrin Aybara and his friends Martim Couthon and Rand-Al Thor were waiting outside the blue silk brothel. It was a three storied wooden construction and at the moment totally silent. They waited until they heard the signal. The hoot of a screech owl was heard and they pulled their weapons. The distant sound of a door being broken down, steel clashing, men dying and women screaming came.

Cersei jerked awake from her troubled sleep. Joffery had woken up as well. She could see his terrified eyes. Sound of a great commotion could be heard. Shouts and screams livening the night. They have come! Her heart was at her throat but if they thought it would be so easy they were fools indeed.

"Mother." Came Joffery's voice. "What's happening?" Her heart wrenched hearing fear in his voice. She gripped he's shoulders. "Listen to me sweetling, you must get dressed now. Right now and fast. We have been betrayed."

Again she the thought sourly. As soon as they were done kettleblack and Boros Blount burst into the room ,naked swords in hand. For one moment she thought they had turned as well but no they had not. kettleBlack ushered everyone towards the back door while Blount was at the rear.

Muffled sounds came from all over the house and in spite of the danger she could not help but smile. "Brainless fools!"

Out the cellar and through a corridor they were at the back door. Blount and KettleBlack stepped out and immediately Cersei's blood ran cold. Outside three men stood blocking the narrow alley. They wore dark clothes underneath boiled leathers.

Each of them had bared long swords and axes in hand. The thick hair and beards marked them for Northerners. One of them was extremely tall. As tall as the hound or taller. Another was very broad with an axe. The one in the middle was lean and long limbed.

He stepped forth. "We can do this the easy way, whore queen." Cersei stepped back as Blount and Kettleblack engaged them. Joffery was now sleet white and shaking. They had to get out. It was obvious Kettle Black and Blount won't win it here but the house was of the question.

That's when she saw the ladder using which they could get to another alley. When they were half-way up she looked down, the thick Northerner was down as well as Blount who was dead by the looks of it. Kettleblack had surrendered. If the bastard fought on they could have been gone. Just then Joffery missed his footing and they both went crashing down.

Bryden breathed a sigh of relief as Lucas Blackwood told him they had been successful. He nodded to the men holding Qyburn. They had no need of him anymore. Once again his plan had borne fruit. The moment he saw Qyburn he had been suspicious and as it turned out he was right.

He walked along the road heading back to the red keep. It was bloody cold! The air was frigid and the wind like icy daggers. He tugged his cloaks hood up. Someone fell in step beside him and Brynden was Surprised to see it was the hound. He frowned. He had less than no love for the man and Clegane knew it. His face was much worse than before though. Long lines of Scars now accentuated the burn marks.

"The little bird doesn't like it here." Clegane said in his usual raspy voice. Why is he telling me this? "What do you mean?" he cautiously answered. In truth he has not had a great deal of time with the girl. She looked just as cat had when she was her age.

"This place, this fucking place and the fucking people in it. She doesn't like it." Clegane growled with obvious irritation. "She wants to leave."

Again why is he telling me! Brynded wondered. True he had saved Robb's life in the battle with Robert Strong and due to Sansa's request had been made her sworn shield but Brynden did not trust him.

"What do you want me to do about it?" he snapped.

"Talk to her. Tell her some clever lie or say pretty words to calm her. What the fuck do I know? Just make her stop whining to me."

Brynden made a non-commital grunt. There was no place to send the child. Winterfell was in ruins. The Riverlands burnt. That only leaves the Eyrie where little finger had Lysa wrapped around his little finger. Besides there was a great deal of suspicion on Littlefingers motives.

The queen of thorns had shared some rather interesting tales about him confirming Cats doubt about the man. Of course they knew how he had also betreayed Ned so sending Sansa there was out of the question.

Suddenly his mind hit on something. Maybe it was possible. Sansa would be safe and they could get rid of Littlefinger! He looked at Clegane who was glowering at him. "We need to talk to the King now!."

"How much longer?" The boy whined for the hundredth time. Osha resisted the urge to hit him over the head. It was bitterly cold with gale winds cutting their faces were all bundled in furs yet were all shivering. The kneelers did not seem to mind much though.

That surprised Osha. Perhaps they weren't as weak as she believed. The boy however had gotten increasingly louder as they traveled north.

She looked at him carefully. Sat on top of a shaggy Northern garron his furs hid most of his features. Only his face poked out of the hood. The strangest thing was he did not seem to feel the cold at night at all! Even the Scagosi were grumbling about it but he never said a word. His wolf seemed to be thoroughly enjoying the weather.

The boy had a striking resemblance to his lord brother. She knew he was king now but Osha was and still is a wildling and she cared not for such titles. A man's worth was in himself not some stupid title but Rickon Stark certainly could have passed as a seven year old RObb Stark with long hair falling to the smell of his back.

Vivid blue eyes were not as gentle or trusting as they had once been. The years hiding out in Skagos had taken a toll on the boy who had been uncontrollable before now turned into a stubborn rock. He was much leaner and taller than most boys his age. And of course the Scagosi had their effect on him as well. He had taken to their beliefs and thoughts with great Fervor and now he was more wildling than kneeler which worried Osha to no ends.

One of the boys Scagosi protectors said something to him and the boy laughed. Osha caught the words old bugger and tight cunts. Looking to the side she saw the big kneeler frown at the men. He was the leader of their escort and had a ridiculous merman on his surcoat. Osha snorted to herself. These fucking kneeler's and their little drawings!

The boy was laughing now at something the scagosi said. Osha paid them no mind. He had gone through worse things than listening to lewd stories. At first she had been apprehensive of the island people. Though they were much like her own people there were the stories of cannibalism. It turned out to be untrue but still great dangers were present.

From the few things she learnt in her time with the Starks was the fact the Scagosi had no love for them. So when they had been discovered by a Scagosi chieftain and his people and the boy foolishly set his wolf on them she thought this was it. But apparently the boy's connection with his beast elevated himself to a position of great respect. They saw it as a sighn from the old gods. Ever since then they had been with the boy.

She counted herself lucky that the boy had not set his wolf on any of the kneelers yet. He was a good boy but he was angry, full of bottled up rage which his wolf reflected. But through it all she had managed to protect him and guide him as best as she could.

Four long years had gone while Osha kept her watch. She owed the wolves a blood debt and she would repay it. In the distance a hazy outline came in view she knew what it was. They had reached their destination.

Jon cursed under his breath. It had been a long day and getting longer. In his Solar the officers were again debating about the course of action. "The supplies from Braavos are good but supplies don't help in war. We need soldiers." Bowen Marsh screamed. As if you knew anything about war!

"And where the fuck are you going to get soldiers?" Yarwich growled. "You going to whip them out o'yours barrels are you Marsh?" The old Pomegranate looked livid at the taunt. Before he could say anything however Iron Emmet cut in. "What about the Northern houses? Surely they must understand the gravity of our situation?" he asked Jon.

Jon sighed. An old point this. Though the Northern Lords have come to believe the Others had truly returned they weren't enthusiastic in helping out. Specially with Stannis Baratheon present with he's men.

"I have written to house Ryswell and house Dustin as well. They had pledged the fewest men in my brother's army so they have a lot of men. But I get no reply." He told the assembled men. "Only some sort of threat will move them but I do not know what." He left out the part that was the third letter. He needed more northmen here to keep King Stannis in check.

Sam who had been quiet spoke up now. "But if someone else were to command them my lord. Someone they are pledged to serve? Someone who can threaten them if they do not comply?."

The entire room went silent. "What are you talking about man?" Snapped Lathers. Sam smiled, "Rickon Stark. My Lords. Once he arrives we can affix his seal on a letter and send it to winterfell. King robb has told Lord Manderly and Lord Glover to govern the North as regents. If they can directly command house Ryswell and Dustin with the prince's authority it will be done,"

A shocked silence dominated the room. Jon could see the merits. If house Ryswell and Dustin did not harken to a direct command from the Stark in Winterfell they would be branded traitors. Genius. He stood up. "Well my lords it appears we have our solution. Now we need my brother to arrive."

"He has arrived my lord." Everyone looked at the door where Satin was standing, breathing heavily, clearly having run the entire way. "A large company of men are coming. Nearly five hundred strong." he said between breaths. Everyone looked at Jon. He felt his insides turn to water. His baby brother. Jon will see him now! After four years. He nodded curtly. "The council is done."

Hey everyone,I'm sorry this took so long and even more for the fact that there will be no updates untill december. read and review!