First off, thank you all for your support in the whole 'take your time' thing, but I was just kinda making a joke. You know, 'I'm annoyed… I'll just kill a character on a whim'. I suppose sarcasm is hard to convey but… well, no worries – it's really reassuring that there's people that really want to read the next chapter.

Wow, all those characters sent in – it's awesome! I'm loving my new characters. We're coming up on 70 named characters – that's not even including people like Florian Hightower, Kenn Stark, Captain Hura etc etc. So, like… crazy.

Anyhoo, this chapter is very Winterfell-oriented. It's because I didn't really have much of a story to tell for the other characters, but I didn't want to just act as if they don't exist. I promise, the next chapter will be a lot better.

6 chapters left? How did that happen? This is most likely going to be the longest instalment so… man, I really hope you guys are enjoying the ride. It's been kinda phenomenal to create this 'world within a world' with you all and… I dunno, I'm just really happy to have you all on board. In fact, it's this prolonged support that's got me thinking of other SYOC's set within this universe. But, that won't be for… well, a while.

Vysella Targaryen – The Red Keep, King's Landing, The Crownlands

Laena had always been difficult as a child. Much like Draegor, and similar to Visenya, she demanded attention. However, whereas Draegor loved attention and Visenya naturally exuded charisma, Laena simply hated being ignored. And, being the second-born and a girl, she learnt that she would never be given as much attention as her brothers at a young age. And so, she adopted the persona of an unruly and wicked dragon.

I thought Laena would've changed after her chambermaid was driven to the point of setting the bed aflame while she slept. But it seemed the deformities upon her face only served to steel her nature. Always jealous of Visenya's beauty and ease with others, Laena was often known as 'the Burnt'. A name that paled once it was common knowledge that she burnt Winterfell on the orders of the naturalborn Usurper, Aeron. Laena Targaryen, the Princess of Ashes.

Laena sat opposite me in my chambers, drinking wine and wincing slightly as the red drink dripped over her corroded skin.

"Have you seen the Maester? He could brew you a tonic…"

"Or a poison," Laena replied curtly. I glanced my eyes over to the door, expecting to see it burst open by the titan, Lord Mikal Drake. Thankfully, it stayed firmly shut. I turned back to Laena.

"You shouldn't say such things."

"He won't kill me yet," Laena said with a sigh. "He wants a child with Targaryen blood."

I nodded. "He's always had a keen mind."

"I won't carry a bastard's bastard."

"Rhaegon legitimized Aeron with a King's decree; Aeron wouldn't dare name any child of his Waters."

"I don't care about that." Laena grunted as she stood up. "I won't have him spill his seed inside of me."

"Then he'll continue to try," I warned her. "Laena, you need to think about leaving."

"Leaving?" Laena frowned. "What are you talking about?"

"King's Landing… it's not safe for you anymore."

"Nowhere is safe-"

"But it's dangerous here." I looked over to the door again. "Once you give Aeron an heir, there'll be no need to keep you alive. You'll just be a constant reminder that there are other Targaryens with more claim to the throne."

"Aeron won't kill me while Viserys-"

I placed a hand on Laena's. "I cannot tell you how much it warms my heart to know my son is still alive. But he still could have died. He still may. And if he does, Aeron will have no need for you as a hostage."

"What about you, mother? You're a hostage, also."

"I know, sweetheart. But I've no dragon. I'm growing old… I was already besieged back on Dragonstone. I've been ready to die for a time now."

Vorian Dayne – The Prince's Pass, Dorne

The Martell forces arrived at long last. My mother's banners of the speared sun swept along the stone pass like an orange sea. I sat next to my captain, Hura, drinking a Dornish red as we watched fresh soldiers strengthen our patrols. Uncle Nyra, five years my elder and youngest brother of my mother, rode up towards me in his lovely armoured robes.

"Nephew, we didn't expect you to have taken the pass…"

"Desert Dogs are not the most obedient," I said with a smile to Hura, who grinned and poured more wine into my goblet.

"But they are the most loyal," Hura responded.

"I'll submit a garrison of twenty men to help you maintain control over the Pass." Uncle Nyra told me, "Another garrison will head to the-"

"Twenty men?" I frowned. "I'll need three times those numbers in order to break through the Tyrell lines-"

"You'll be doing no such thing," Nyra stated. "King Jiridun has no wishes to take land we cannot hold. We shall remain in our Kingdom, and erect walls to repel the Targaryens and their…"

"The Targaryens are not disheartened by walls." I stood up and pointed at my uncle. "Lest you remember, they have dragons. Winged beasts? Breathing fire… Quite. Fucking. Loud."

Nyra dismounted his horse. These fucking men – born noble and never had to fight in battle. Now all he cared about was throwing his weight around. Orders from my uncle, the King.

"Remember your place, Dog," He growled. "Or I shall forget the blood we share."

"Dogs are vicious," I replied, "they often bite. Aeron the Usurper killed my youngest brother. He killed Edgar." I reached over to grab my spear from the sand. "I swore that I would kill any and all that stand between my brother and I. Be they Reachmen, or kin."

Nyra scoffed. "You and your measly pack of dogs will stand against the Reachmen alone?"

"We made it this far."

"And if you get to King's Landing? You see the, what was it- 'fucking loud' dragons?"

"Then I suppose we'll die gloriously in the name of family. Not cowering behind walls."

Evalyn Stark – Winterfell, The North

I had been sat in my room for one day since Lord Ichabod's beheading. I knew that he betrayed Markas, and Finn did have his reasons for executing him but… right then and there? We needed Cerwyn's men to win the war. Seven Hells, Finn had already lost the Battle for Winterfell until Viserys and Visenya arrived with their dragons.

The Cerwyn forces were marching home now. I don't think all of them wanted to, but they were scared of being called 'Oathbreaker' by their fellow soldiers. I couldn't blame them – I'd have done the same.

But, what's more is that I had given a ruling. I was Lady of Winterfell now, and Finn completely disregarded me. It was as if he hadn't even noticed I'd come to a decision. Or perhaps he just didn't care. I didn't know which was worse.

I sat in my room, trying to write down all the alchemic recipes from my mind. I couldn't remember them all. I was half way through correcting my recollection of a poultice when the door knocked.

"Enter."

The door opened and Finn walked in. He looked like Father in his large cloak, though he was younger. I cast my eyes away from him and scratched my quill against the parchment.

"You didn't join me for lunch," Finn said, his voice still hoarse.

"Why are you here?"

Finn bit his lip and walked forwards, producing a series of books wrapped in a belt. He set the heavy tomes down at my writing desk with one hand.

"The men recovered some books from the library that didn't perish in the fire or be torn apart by Raff's…" He shrugged and cleared his throat. He glanced around my room; my bed, my cabinets, my old dolly that I'd found stuffed under my mattress. Finn picked it up, smiling as he turned it over in his hands. "You should be in Father's chambers."

"These are mine."

"You're the last Stark of Winterfell, Evie. Father would've wanted you to-"

"I like mine," I said firmly, pausing from my writing to look up at him, "besides, wouldn't you feel more at home in them?"

Finn frowned and set my doll down on my bed. "What's that supposed to mean?"

Ever so clueless. Standing around in my room and telling me where I should be. Not so much as an apology. I let out a scoff and returned to my writing. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Finn linger before he cleared his throat again.

"Can you take a break? And walk with me?"

"I'd rather not," I replied curtly.

"Evie," Finn said as I looked up to his dark eyes wide and trusting, "this is serious."

Walking along the battlements of Winterfell, I could see everywhere. Castle Cerwyn in the distance, with the armies marching. In the sky, two dragons spiralled around each other, echoes of their screeches shaking across the sky. Finn's eyes lingered on them as one hand rested on the hilt of Father's greatsword, Ice. The Lord of Winterfell always wielded it – it was mine, by right, I suppose. But… well, I'd never had an intention of fighting with a blade. Finn could use it, but- well, I didn't want him to think that I was supporting him in acting this way.

"We need to shore up our walls," Finn informed me, "if Alvar Bolton presses an attack and we can't close our gates or defend our castle walls, we'll lose the-"

"Is that why you brought me down here?" I raised an eyebrow. "To tell me about battleplans you've already made?"

"It's your home as well, Evie." Finn turned to me. "You've a right to know."

"Oh, I do, do I?" I shook my head and walked ahead. "How noble of you…"

"If you've got something to say, Evie, then say it."

"You shouldn't have done that."

"Done what?"

"You know what."

Finn let out a frustrated sigh. "How am I supposed to fight against traitors and Oathbreakers if I don't execute traitors and Oathbreakers?"

"Markas never executed anyone-"

"Well, I'm sorry, Evie, but I'm not Markas!" Finn's voice cracked just as much as mine when saying his name.

"Yes, you're not a Stark, as you keep on reminding us all…" I rolled my eyes. Finn grabbed my arm and stopped me.

"Do you think that I wanted to do that?" Finn asked me quietly. "You think I don't know that Cerwyn soldiers are leaving because of it?"

"Is that so hard to believe? You've always been as dull as rocks – you didn't think things through, you just acted first as you've always done."

"He betrayed Markas, Evie. Markas. The law is clear, and I will continue to carry out the law as Father would've…"

I let out a growl of frustration. He hadn't seen Father in four years – he had no idea how Father would've acted. "You could've imprisoned him," I insisted, "you could've had someone else execute him."

"No I couldn't, Evie."

"Why? Why did you have to kill him?"

"Because that's what Father taught me!" Finn rubbed his forehead. "Killing isn't something to be taken lightly. If you can't take a man's life yourself, maybe he doesn't deserve to die." Finn put a hand on my shoulder. "Evie, I know Father and Markas tried to protect you from all this, but this is how war is. It's how it's always been. There are always enemies on both sides."

"Who's next then? Lord Glover? Lord Rolan? Lord Jon?"

Finn's face hardened. "I will deal with the Lords of the North however-"

"Oh, clearly. You're such a natural leader, Lord Snow…" I enjoyed seeing his brow furrow in confusion and hurt. He deserved it – things had changed since he'd left. I walked towards the battlements, watching the Cerwyn troops leave. What a dolt Finn was.

"That's the heart of it, then?" Finn barked at me. "It rubs you wrong that the men listen to me now? The Bastard of Winterfell?"

"It's not like that, Finn, you know it isn't!" I spun around and pointed a finger at him. "You wouldn't even be here if it wasn't for me! Markas is dead, Tylan is dead, Father is dead, Mother is- everyone is dead, Finn. Father's name is kept alive solely through me. I was here, surviving, while you were off gallivanting with any common whore you could-" I caught myself quickly. I was angry – I didn't mean to say that. Out of respect for the dead, and what she meant to Finn, and what she had done for me. I suppose I just… I wanted Finn to be upset. And I'd succeeded; Finn scowled and recoiled, a face cracked with pain as his dark eyes narrowed at me. "I didn't mean that," I quickly said, grabbing his hand, "Finn. I'm sorry."

"Is this the sort of person you are now?" Finn was taken aback. "You care more about who's in control rather than what's done?"

"I care that you undermined me in public, and killed one of our strongest allies! How are the Lords of the North going to listen to me now?"

"If you want to lead the North, lead the North!" Finn snapped at me. "You might have been here while I was off with whores, but I gave up my life across the Narrow Sea for this castle. I was the one on these castle walls, fighting for it!"

Finn leant against the battlements and breathed deeply. I'd never seen him serious when we were growing up. Back when I was Little Evie, always crying when he big brothers wouldn't let her play with them. Always trailing them around the keep with my dolly as they re-enacted Great Wars.

"We never used to fight like this," I stated, looking at the space in the courtyard where Finn knocked Markas a little too hard on the head once.

"Of course we did." Finn scoffed. "It's just that Markas used to force us to make up."

"He did?" I frowned at Finn.

"Why do you think my sparring swords kept ending up in your room?" Finn muttered, "Markas would always force us to talk."

I grinned at the memory. Although Markas wasn't a great fighter, he knew people. Knew how to make them talk and band together when they needed to. Perhaps that was how he got so many Lords of the North to follow him.

But, Markas was gone. And now it was just me, and my half-brother, Finn.

"Finn, I know you want to do whatever Father did but…"

To my surprise, Finn didn't interrupt me. He just looked up when I grew silent. "But?"

"Finn, Father wasn't smart," I confessed. "He made reckless, stupid decisions. Markas made reckless decisions. And now you're going around, executing Lords without a second thought… I know you're not used to it, but you need to start listening to me."

Finn bit his lip again, slowly nodding. "Okay, fine. What do we do next?"

I took a breath to ready myself for Finn's criticisms. "Viserys has two dragons, and if we swear-"

"Oh, aye, go South and fight another King's war - that's sound advice, that."

"He won the battle for us, Finn. You'd lost before he arrived with his sister. And he has two dragons." Finn shook his head and started to walk away. I jogged to keep up with his long strides. "If we bend the knee and swear fealty, he'll ally with us against the Boltons…"

"Evie, you just said I need to be smarter than Father. Marching South and fighting a King's war is not smart. That's exactly how this war started."

"Aeron burnt our keep," I stated. "He burnt Storm's End- I was there! He can't remain on the Iron Throne…"

"Who says he will?" Finn said nonchalantly, "Maybe the Targaryens will all kill each other and we'll reclaim the North as an independent kingdom."

"Then what? You'll call yourself King?" I let out a chuckle of disbelief. "What, Finn Snow, the King Who Re-Claimed the North?"

"Don't be ridiculous…" Finn stopped and turned towards me. "I'm trying to protect us, Evie. We're the only ones left. We only have each other, and I…" Finn clasped my shoulders, "I need your support."

"I won't support you in a stupid decision."

Finn shook his head and turned to face the courtyard below us. The masons had just exited the Crypts of Winterfell. Finally finishing the statue of Markas, I supposed. Finn's broad chest rose heavily before he murmured quietly to me. "Tell Lord Rolan I'll be with my brother in the Crypt."

I will be setting chapters in the Vale, King's Landing and Castle Black, but most of the chapters are going to be based in Winterfell for obvious reasons – they're going to be more interesting to read about. There'll be some King's Landing coming.

Now, I know what you're all eagerly awaiting for Viserys to talk to Evie and Finn and so on, but patience is a virtue. The next chapter is named 'The Realms of Men' and takes place at Castle Black, Dragonstone and Winterfell.

I'll probably upload it after the weekend – I want to get through this instalment as quickly as possible so I can properly plan the fourth & final instalment.

R.

P.S. Can everyone say in a review whether they'd want a short prequel to this series? There's been some interest, but my next project after Three Heads of the Dragon 4 will either be this prequel or a story with a new cast… or, mostly new… as I said, too many ideas.

P.S.S. Can we appreciate that the acronym (or is it initialism?) for this series spells 'THotD'. Gotta love life's little jokes.

Okay, I'm done now. See y'all next time!