"Are you alright," Tyrion asked.

"Whose blood is that?" Jorah wondered.

She'd barely settled on her own two feet before Tyrion and Jorah were beside her, ushering her to the small council chamber. When he noticed Amara cuddled against her breast, Tyrion spoke again. "You took Amara on Drogon?"

"Where is Missandei?" she asked neither man in particular.

"Wandering about the courtyard where Amara plays," Jorah said with acid in his voice. "She refuses to speak."

"Come your Grace," Tyrion pleaded, "tell us what is going on."

Both of her advisors slowed when they neared the door to their meeting room but Daenerys kept marching past. She still hadn't let Amara out of her arms. She wasn't sure when or if she'd ever be ready to let her go again.

"Khaleesi," Jorah reprimanded. "We must speak."

"I must see Missandei and then I must tend to Amara," she countered, leaving no room for complaint. "You're both welcome to join me."

Once they were back in step with her it was Tyrion who tried a softer, gentler approach. "Several of the Unsullied are dead, a Dothraki too. Missandei was injured while you, Amara and Arya all gone. We assumed the worst. Even Grey Worm is missing. I have scouts and spies searching in every direction."

"I know," she mentioned casually. As they passed an Unsullied she stopped walking. "Soldier, Grey Worm is riding West, ready the army and make sure you join him before he arrives in Kayce. My orders will follow."

He took off running to ready an attack he knew nothing about and she took several quick steps of her own journey before Jorah's strong hand yanked her to another abrupt halt. She looked up at him with fire burning in her, as she ripped her arm free of his hold. "You need to tell us what's happened! You can't just send out the army."

"Yes, I can!" she roared with absolute confidence. "They are my army and they serve me. I want them riding to Kayce as soon as possible."

For the second time Tyrion tried to guide the conversation back to the details he felt were most relevant. "What happened, your Grace?" he tried softly.

"Viserys hired a Faceless Man to kidnap Amara." As she gave a voice to the horrors of the day she couldn't help but hug Amara a little bit closer, kissing the top of her head. "I will explain everything," she promised, "after Amara and I check on Missandei."

While Tyrion went to prepare a room for the meeting, Daenerys sent Jorah to check on the Unsullied, if for no other reason than to put some distance between them. She didn't have the time or the energy to deal with him. Later, there would be no shortage of opportunities for him to voice his opinions and point out her faults, but that time wasn't now.

When she and Amara arrived in the courtyard Daenerys almost didn't recognize her friend. She was staring off into space, so focused on her thoughts that the usually observant woman hadn't noticed their return. She had one arm pressed to her stomach as though she'd been vomiting, while her other hand sat on her lap, twitching wildly. Blood matted several of her usually bouncy curls to the back of her head.

In her mind, she heard some of Arya's final words; 'Tell Missandei I'm sorry.' Even in the serious and dangerous situation they found themselves in, it was still important enough for Arya to say it. Daenerys thought back to when Missandei pointed out to her that Arya wasn't the type to say things she didn't believe. That idea comforted her then, and it did the same now.

She easily could have sought out Missandei after her meetings, after she'd explained everything and given her orders but that would have been cruel. After all Missandei had been through, after all she'd done to make Daenerys a better Queen and a better person, she owed her. Daenerys knew how deeply Missandei loved Amara, and she knew from her little girl that that love was very mutual. She couldn't allow her to stew in her guilt and fear a moment longer than necessary.

Setting Amara onto her own two feet for the first time since picking her up in Kenning's home, she squatted down next to the child. "Aunt Missandei has really missed you. She was afraid you got hurt. I want you go over there and give her the biggest hug you can to show her you're alright."

Amara didn't need to hear that request again. Like lightning she bolted across the courtyard. Her heavy steps and panting breaths getting louder the faster she tried to move. When sounds finally pulled Missandei into the present Amara was nearly upon her. She popped up from where she'd been sitting on the grass and gasped.

Approaching slowly, Daenerys could see big tears glistening in Missandei's brown eyes. Her whole body shook and her hand hung in the air, clearly undecided between covering her mouth in surprise, or reaching out to confirm Amara was really there.

"Aunt Missi!" Amara shouted. Just as her mother instructed Amara hugged Missandei tight, even grunting with effort and closing her eyes as she squeezed.

By the time the hug was over, Missandei was crying. "Amara, I missed you so much." With a hand on each of her little shoulders, she nudged her back to get a full look at her. Daenerys watched as her eyes narrowed at the bruise on her face and then she noted how that anger shifted when she saw the blood on Amara's dress. "Are you hurt?"

"Nope," she declared happily, shaking her head to ensure the message got across. "I miss you too. I sorry you got hurt, I told him not to hurt you again or he be sorry," she rambled, not stopping for unnecessary oxygen as she rushed the words out with only the briefest pauses in between.

This was news to Daenerys and the Targaryen couldn't hold back her smirk. To most mothers, and certainly to most Ladies, hearing that her daughter threatened the kidnapper on behalf of a former slave would have been abhorrent but Daenerys was undeniably proud of her girl. It was proof that the make-shift family she'd been trying to build for Amara was working. It gave her hope for the future.

"Little Dragon," Missandei said as she kissed her forehead, "that was very sweet and brave. I'm so lucky to have you watching over me. I love you."

With a gentle touch Amara brushed away all evidence of tears from Missandei's face. "Mama, she not crying no more!"

At the mention of Daenerys Missandei had released Amara and urged her off to the side slightly. Daenerys felt horrible when all the happiness she'd seen just moments before vanished. "Your Grace," she said in a gasp. She took two hurried steps toward the Queen before she thought better of it and sank to a knee, bowing her head, giving Daenerys a much better view of her injury.

Rather than pull Missandei up or order her to rise, Daenerys fell to her knees right there in the grass in front of her friend. With two fingers under her chin she tilted her head back until their eyes met. Daenerys could tell she was just seconds away from another round of tears. "This wasn't your fault," Daenerys said, hoping to set the tone right away. "I don't blame you, Arya doesn't blame you and thanks to what you remembered we found Amara and she's perfectly healthy."

"He didn't harm her then?" Missandei asked, her dread at the potential answer obvious. "I tried to stop him Daenerys I swear I did, but he was too fast."

"He was a skilled assassin, none of us could have hoped to fare any better than you did."

"I'm so sorr…" she tried to say again.

Daenerys pulled her in for a hug and set her mouth above the translator's ear. "I don't blame you Missandei, this wasn't your fault. Arya wanted you to know she's sorry for what she did."

"I deserved far worse," she said looking down at the ground and away from Daenerys's eyes.

"How can you say that? You were alone in a room with a killer and my daughter. When you knew he meant to take her, did you try and stop him?"

"Of course, I ran straight for him, but he was far too fast and strong."

"Why do that? You could've been harmed, you were harmed."

"I love Amara," she said with conviction. "If I could have given my own life to stop that man from taking her I would have."

Daenerys gave her a triumphant smile. "Exactly! Which is why I could never blame you for any of this." Tentatively she reached into Missandei's hair and felt around for the wound. "Why haven't you sought the Maester's aid?"

"It's nothing, your Grace, I assure you."

Daenerys smiled fondly. "I think I'll trust the Maester's opinion over yours."

"I'll go soon," she promised. After looking down for a long stretch of time her head snapped up and she met Daenerys's eye. "I just couldn't go and get help for my little bump, not when I didn't know what happened to her." As she neared the end of her statement, she paused to sigh and then finished with, "It wouldn't have been right."

Daenerys understood and it was one more piece of evidence confirming Missandei's selfless dedication to her daughter. "Amara is back home where she belongs and this will all be over soon."

"Any word from Grey Worm?" she asked, her reasoning clear.

"He rode West after the kidnapper. If he follows the same route we did, he'll arrive in Kayce. I've already sent the Unsullied to join him and I plan on sending Lord Kenning a raven or two right away."

With Missandei on one arm and Amara on the other Daenerys knew only one thing was missing and that was what she intended to fix next.

R-C

The pain was her first real hint. There was a lot of it, from different spots, too much for her to be dead. Her limbs felt heavy and unresponsive so she focused on what she could see and hear. Her vision was spotted, like trying to squint through a Northern snowstorm. She blinked as rapidly as she could in hopes it might help, but it only made her dizzy. Her ears were equally unhelpful. She was certain she could hear talking nearby, but she couldn't make out any words. Each time she tried to concentrate it did nothing more than exhaust her and push her down into oblivion.

This time there was no alternate world with her lost family. There were no dreams of Amara or Daenerys, there wasn't even agony and regret. She felt empty.

For an untold period of time she was certain that each time she drifted to sleep, she would never wake up. This didn't concern her, but she didn't yearn for it the way she once had either. She tried to count the number of times she came to, but only got as high as six.

Suddenly she was cold, so very, very cold. Although her eyes wouldn't open she naturally assumed she'd fallen through the ice at Winterfell. As she shivered and struggled to swim for the surface she tried to remember what she'd been chasing after, was in Jon, a rabbit maybe or Nym?

When her eyes finally cooperated, she knew she wasn't in Winterfell and she hadn't fallen through any ice. Instead she was in the Kayce dungeon, stripped naked and being splashed with buckets of cold water to revive her.

"I think she's alive," Kenning said smugly to one of his brothers.

"Look at all those scars," a woman said in a judgemental tone as she pointed.

"She's the one who killed the Great Lord Kenning and our garrison?"

As her blurred eyes skimmed the crowd she noticed one man standing separate from the others. He wasn't speaking, only watching and showing no emotion. Jaqen hadn't returned to the Temple yet, because she wasn't dead. The question was, why wasn't she? She would have died without aide which meant that Kenning, Jaqen or both saw to her wounds. Since both intended to kill her, she just didn't understand.

"I captured the Rabid Wolf," he declared, speaking to his crowd. I guess I'll have to pay myself that bounty now." Luckily, before long the answer to her nagging question was forthcoming. "I bet you're wondering why you aren't dead."

She stopped looking around her and focused on Kenning alone. She coughed to clear her throat and then replied honestly. "The thought had crossed my mind."

Kenning laughed and like a proper court the fools behind him followed quickly. "Don't worry Arya Stark, you'll die soon but first I wanted to make sure we had a chance to talk about your last trip here, and of course my father. To that end I had the Maester ensure your health, for the time being at least."

She scoffed without humor. He kept her alive so he could kill her slower. He really was petty. She'd done similar things she knew, worse things, but she classified herself as just as petty, just as vindictive as Kenning, if not more so.

With her limbs stretched to their limits and held in chain only her head was available to help. She cocked it to the side as if thinking and then winked at the Lord, while all his family and court listened nearby. "Hmm Father Kenning, small, coward of a man if I remember right, I think I hung him."

A murmur weaved through the onlookers and just as she expected Kenning was enraged. He closed the space between them in a single stride and slammed his fist into her face, breaking her nose and sending it off to the right at a strange angle. As blood pooled on her upper lip she was forced to swallow some as she tried to speak. "You hit like your father," she told him, "like a girl."

She grinned and watched the approaching fist. It was harder than the first and provided her a return to nothing.

R-C

Daenerys had never allowed Amara to join her in the small council room. Yelling amongst the people she loved most didn't seem like a healthy learning tool but today was a special occasion. This meeting couldn't wait and Daenerys was fully unprepared to let Amara go anywhere she herself couldn't see. She set her daughter down in Grey Worm's unused seat and made sure she had her wolf toy to keep her entertained. Amara was about to get her first real lesson in the discourse of governing.

"Finally!" he said as he threw up his hands. "Are you ready to tell us what's been going on?" Jorah snapped once she was sitting at the head of the table.

Tyrion's soft touch calmed her. "What happened Daenerys? I didn't even realize you were gone. I had the servants looking everywhere for you. I thought you might be in the dungeons with Viserys, but I found him there with the Dothraki, getting whipped while he hung upside down."

There was no love lost between Viserys and the Dothraki. They believed her brother killed their Khal and they could never forgive such a slight. She imagined the scene Tyrion described perfectly and she felt nothing at all. Not relief that it was over, not happiness that he was suffering, not even regret for what she knew needed to be done next. She was all out of feelings for Viserys. He'd gone too far.

"Viserys arranged for one of the Faceless Men to kidnap Amara," she said quietly, her eyes drifting to the tired little girl sitting in the oversized chair. "He bargained with Lord Kenning in Kayce."

"You should have told us. We could have ridden West. We could have gotten her back. Going off alone, even with Drogon risked too much."

She ignored Jorah's comment and spoke to Tyrion. "Viserys told us when we spoke, to try and earn a stay to his execution. By the time we got upstairs it was over, Missandei was unconscious, the Unsullied and Dothraki were dead and Amara and Grey Worm was gone."

"Did Arya take her?" Jorah asked suddenly. "I knew we couldn't trust her. Those assassins are as devious as they are deadly."

This time Daenerys could not let the comment pass. Arya had risked her life to ensure Daenerys and Amara escaped. She wasn't going to let anyone, not even Jorah ridicule that sacrifice. "Arya did nothing wrong. In fact, she flew with me to Kayce to bring Amara home."

"Where is she, huh? Where is our conquering hero?"

Again, Tyrion tried to keep the conversation moving. "What happened then?"

"Very little," she admitted. "Once I was away from Drogon Kenning's sell-swords surrounded me and took me inside. "Arya entered through an upstairs window. She found Amara and called for me to come upstairs, but by then I'd been taken to Kenning." She paused and looked to her daughter who was captivated by the heated conversation. At some point, she had given up the chair of her own in favor of a spot on Missandei's lap. "Arya wounded Kenning and I managed to get Amara. She protected us and told us to run." She felt shame as she confessed what she'd done. "We left her there. She's wounded! We need to hurry."

Tyrion gave her a sad look that turned her stomach. "I mean no disrespect your Grace but the likelihood of Arya being alive is low. She hung Lord Kenning's father and he is not known for his patience nor his mercy. Then there is the Faceless Man, if Kenning hasn't killed her, the assassin likely has."

"I know that!" she screamed, bringing her hand down hard on the table. "I know," she said again, her volume more regulated, "but we have to try, I can't leave her there like that."

"At least she died doing something useful," Jorah commented snidely.

Daenerys had heard enough. She went directly to Jorah and leaned into his space, unbothered by the fact that she was so much smaller than he. "One more word," she threatened. "One more word about Arya and I'll see you sent across the sea to hold Meereen with Daario."

When she looked back to Tyrion the Lannister seemed almost impressed. "Will you and Drogon be joining the Unsullied in their journey West?"

"Drogon will," she decided, "but I need to stay. Amara needs me here and I'm not ready to let her out of my sight."

"What of Lord Kenning?"

"Send ravens ahead of the troops. Tell him I'm willing to negotiate the terms of our marriage, provided Arya Stark remains alive and unharmed."

"What?!" Jorah shouted. "This is madness. You can't give up your throne for this woman. If you show weakness now, your enemies will circle around you like buzzards."

"That is a matter for tomorrow, today I need to ensure Arya is safe."

Even Tyrion didn't seem to agree with her plan. "Your Grace there must be another way."

"You are my advisors," she reminded them harshly. "On this particular matter, I require no council or advice, my decision is made. Now do as I command."

Walking to where Missandei and her daughter were whispering together she plucked Amara up and pulled her in close. "Come on sweetheart, let's go give you a bath." On her way, out the door she slowed when she passed Tyrion's seat. "Send the ravens, please."

R-C

The next time she woke she was alone in a cell with Jaqen. Like her he was inside the bars. Unlike her he was dressed and hadn't been subjected to regular beatings and floggings. Each time she tried to rest cold water was splashed on her face. It happened so frequently her skin was turning blue and bits of ice formed on the ends of her eyebrows, hair and nose.

"What are you still doing here?" she asked in a gravelly voice, one desperately in need of water. She couldn't remember the last time she'd been given a drink, or a scrap of food. Days at least. "Isn't your service complete? You kidnapped Amara and delivered her to Kenning for Viserys."

"You still live," he remarked. "I can not return with the Gift ungiven."

Her parted lips closed in a tight line and she forced herself as upright as she could in her chains. If she was going to die, it was going to be on her feet, or as close to them as she could get. "Do it then," she challenged fearlessly. "What are you waiting for?"

He leaned in close, his breath blisteringly warm on her cold skin and for a moment she thought he intended to honor her request, but then he just chuckled. "Lord Kenning has plans to make you suffer before you die."

She thought of her first visit to Kayce. While getting patched up by the Maester, he predicted that the Gods would one day punish her. Perhaps he was right. Perhaps this was her punishment for all the horrible things she'd done. Maybe it was finally her turn to pay.

R-C

"Are you sure you want to do this?" Tyrion asked for the third time since they arrived. They, Missandei and Amara were all up in the tower. Daenerys sat at one of the tables, writing as furiously as she could. In some ways, this felt as though it might be the most important letter she had ever written, but there was no time for Tyrion to edit it, or for her to fret over every word. The ravens needed to be in the air already. Next to her, Tyrion prepared the fastest bird. "I understand you want to save her, but it may already be too late."

"Then I have nothing to lose. If she's already dead the marriage proposal dies with her."

"And will you keep your word if Kenning releases her?" he questioned. "I'm not certain how your husband will take to your former lover, and his former captive living down the hall. Not to mention Arya, if she had to see him everyday…"

"I know Tyrion!" she assured him in a hard voice. "Let's just find out if she's alive and then we can worry about the rest of it."

With her offer penned she went to Amara and picked her up. Carrying her over to the cage that held their ready raven, Daenerys poked two fingers through the wire and urged Amara to do the same. Side by side mother and daughter petted the top of the raven's head. "The bird needs to fly, really fast," Daenerys explained, "so we need to say a prayer and wish it luck. Can you help mama do that?"

"Why?"

"It's for Arya honey."

And just like that, that was all Amara needed to hear. First, she petted the bird again and said, 'good luck' three separate times before she closed her eyes, and bowed her head to pray. Watching Daenerys couldn't help but whisper a prayer herself. She could only hope it would be enough.

R-C

Each morning, or what she assumed was morning, when Kenning came down to the dungeon to beat on her for his daily exercise she was disappointed to have survived the night.

After four days of beatings he took her outside. The sun was so bright it hurt her eyes and she curled away from it, only to be knocked into the dirt by the guards. She fell face down, unable to protect herself with her hands so tightly restricted. When they stood her up she was facing a tall tree, she recognized it at once, it was where she'd hung Kenning's father. A rope was already waiting and she thought of Amara and Daenerys. She hoped they would forgive her for all she'd done wrong, more importantly she hoped she'd get to see them again. Unsure of what awaited her in the next life, she knew this – she'd wait for them forever.

The whole surviving Kenning family stood out by the tree. On a distant hill, many of the smallfolk gathered too. She couldn't see Jaqen but she knew he was there, wearing the face of a stranger, just waiting for her end. The Lord was in front, of course. He made a show of kicking her to the ground when she was close enough and berating her. He accused her of murder, the murder of their Lord father and the Lannisters too. She of course was guilty.

Her mother would be disappointed, but she saw no point in being polite to the people who were going to kill her. "Aye, I killed him," she said as she struggled unsteadily back to her feet. "I killed them all and so many more too. Did you hear about Dreadfort? That was me, the Twins, me too. Casterly Rock… anywhere and everywhere my family was harmed I brought the sword. I regret none of it, expect maybe sparing you."

After a rather violent beating that had her hovering near unconsciousness James dragged her to stand under the tree's branch. With a wave, he instructed two of his men to lift her onto the stool. Once she was, Kenning climbed up next to her and using a rough hand forced her head through the opening in the rope. With a nod one of his men tightened it.

He kicked the stool she was standing on without ceremony. As the rope bit into her neck she could taste her blood and felt as if her tongue was swelling inside her mouth. She thrashed, swinging from side to side as she sought purchase. Her dirty toes clawed for solid ground but found nothing.

With the last bit of her strength she thought of Daenerys, Amara and Sansa. She pictured them together, happy and laughing. It was a good end.

"Cut her down," Kenning ordered. The rope suddenly slack, sent her falling to the hard ground on her already injured legs. She screamed and crumpled as she attempted to protect herself. Refilling her lungs hurt almost as badly as the time she spent not using them. "Don't worry," Kenning mocked from over her. "We're going to do this every day until you either die of old age or we accidentally hang you too long."

R-C

"Any news?" Daenerys asked, as soon as Tyrion's small form appeared in the doorway.

It had been eight days since she sent a marriage proposal to Kenning, but he hadn't replied. The Unsullied had met up with Grey Worm and they were continuing West, although they had very strict instructions to keep off Kenning's land until they knew if Arya was alive.

"Still nothing," he admitted sadly. "We did however receive another batch of notes and cards to honor Amara's safe return. Some houses sent gifts, others just their well wishes."

"Send the gifts to the orphanage, the children there need them far more than Amara does," she decided hastily.

Tyrion surprised her by smiling. "There was one letter that stood out from the rest, your Grace?"

"From who?" she wondered, genuinely curious.

"Lady Stark. She offers her thoughts and prayers as the others have but she also is sending a vanguard of Northern soldiers South, to act under your command, and to ensure Amara is sufficiently protected."

Daenerys had not been expecting that. "That is very generous. Please thank Sansa for her kindness and ask that she lead her soldiers. Tell her Amara and I look forward to a visit."

Tyrion began writing even before she had finished speaking. Although she said nothing she had a hunch that it wasn't just she and Amara who looked forward to seeing Sansa Stark again.

R-C

"W…why are y…" she stopped to cough and brought up a mouthful of blood and bile. "Why are you letting … him do this?"

It was hard to keep track, since she was unconscious and undernourished so much of the time, but she thought he'd hung her eight times or so, maybe more. She knew she wouldn't last much longer. Her neck was lined with purple and black, angry bruises layered atop each other. Breathing was a challenge, even after the rope was removed and her vision was dim around the edges, near constantly. She didn't know how much longer she'd be able to speak, so she picked now, when they were alone, to have their final conversation.

"I do not know what you mean."

"The Ja…Jaqen I met would have killed everyone in the keep, to reach his tar… target." She paused to cough and then did her best to proceed. "Kill me, it'll be done."

"Maybe I feel a girl deserves the punishment," he said with no emphasis. "You betrayed the Order, you tried to kill our leader."

"H… he was …tr…rying to kill me," she croaked.

"You should have died with honor then, taken a knee and accepted the Gift. A girl disgraces us all."

"Is that what you would have done Jaqen?" she asked in her uneven voice. The only evidence he left was the sound of the door closing behind him.

R-C

"Mama wolf'ses be okay?" Amara asked without opening her eyes.

Since their return from Kayce, Amara spent every night sharing her mother's bed. Daenerys rarely slept, but when she did, it comforted her to be able to wake up and have Amara's face be the first thing she saw. She also liked to be close because despite of how brave she was during the daylight, acting as if the kidnapping never happened, at night Amara's dreams plagued her. Each time she woke, scared or crying Daenerys would hold her, sing to her in Valyrian and promise it wasn't real. If only such tricks worked on her own nightmares.

Daenerys rolled onto her stomach and slid down so her face was level to Amara's. "You know your mama is the Queen, right?"

"Uh-huh," she said after a yawn.

"Well that means that your mama can do things that other people can't. Special things, like making sure Arya and Nymeria are okay. We're going to hear from them soon, I just know it." Satisfied Amara gave her mother a wide, sleepy smile before she surrendered to her exhaustion.

R-C

Rain pelted her naked body as she was once again escorted to the tree and propped up on a stool. Unable to stand under her own power any longer guards held her steady until Kenning kicked her legs out from under her. They had a well-oiled system now, one developed through trial and error and repetition. The family was with him again, each one eager to see their father avenged when her neck finally snapped.

When she wasn't immediately forced into the noose it took her several seconds to realize the siblings were in the midst of a heated conversation. "Don't do this James, you could kill her."

"If she dies, so be it. She deserves far worse."

From under an umbrella the sister she knew as Claudia held up a scroll. "This says we can barter her for everything we want. Don't be selfish James. Think about us, think about the family. You owe it to the rest of us to hear her out."

"She's a lying bitch," he spat. "I'll never be able to trust her, no matter what she writes. She'll likely have one of her savages gut me."

"We'll take precautions brother," a taller man said to his elder. "Keeping her alive for now is best," he said with a wicked smirk, "it won't always be so. Once you're King, and Daenerys understands how things are done in Westeros, she won't stand in your way when you say this one needs to die."

"She will," he disagreed. "She's defiant Raul, you didn't see her. She fights every step of the way."

The bigger of the Kenning's laughed. "Worry not, we will break her in, just as you do any wild beast, with force."

"I'm not sure," James said casually. "I have Arya Stark here now and I know the Targaryen will never let me kill her. Perhaps I should just take what I can get."

"Accidents can happen, James," a hidden woman said from among the men. "They can happen in King's Landing as well. Take the Queen's offer, marry her, become King and then do as you wish."

Gripping her scarred neck, Kenning removed her head from the rope and then kicked the stool out from under her, as he had done so many times before. She fell like a stone and he drowned her in sharp, brutal kicks to the back and legs. "Why in the name of the Gods are you so important?"

Unable to speak she just stared up at him, marshalling whatever defiance she could. The last thing she heard before the darkness took her was Kenning saying, "Pick her up and bring her inside before she freezes and ruins everything. We're leaving for King's Landing at once."

R-C

Author's Note: Thank you to those of you still along for the ride. This story turned out nothing like I originally imagined. From the moment Daenerys found Arya in Amara's bedroom and they got into a fight, I've been completely off script. I hope it hasn't been too obvious.

Thank you for the comments, I appreciate those who take the time and they really do inspire me to write more often, so thanks.

So in summary: Sansa's bringing friends, Amara is back at home and Kenning is escorting Arya back to Daenerys. Need her to be there for the wedding, right?

Thanks for sticking with me on this.

RC