SANSA

She sat all alone in the tent, waiting. She thought that she heard thunder, close by, but it couldn't be. The sky had been clear only moments ago, when she had looked outside, and there was no sound of rain, just a light drizzle. She could also hear distant shouts, feeling worried about what would happen. Antonius had told her to stay, but she was starting to feel more and more worried. Again she felt helpless, just like she had felt only days ago, like she had been feeling ever since Joffrey had betrayed her. As though she had no control over what was happening.

She hated it, the waiting. She could even understand Cersei, why she had been drinking during the battle. There was no more noise, only the soft rain, barely audible. She heard screams, but that was hardly, and then, silence. Nothing. And the silence lasted, until there was a far louder sound, louder than any thunder. The tent was almost blown open by some fierce wind, but the flap closed again, and there was no more sound.

Now she really couldn't stop her curiosity, and she stepped outside. There were only a few skeletons between the tents, and they didn't seem to notice her. There were voices coming from the tents where the prisoners were being kept, clearly panicked. But she did not go there. Her attention was drawn to a plume of smoke, just ahead of her. Rising and black. It seemed horrible. And she heard screams and shouts, coming from the dense smoke. She remained in place, as she watched and listened.

Around her she could see things, and looking closer, she found that they were parts of bodies, thrown through the air. The sight brought tears to her eyes, and sickened her. She bent forwards, and threw up. The sight was terrible. She hated it, she wanted to run away, but she couldn't. She felt too weak. She closed her eyes, hoping to not see, but the sight was burned on her irises. She opened them again, and saw something even worse. An arm, just a few feet away from her, was moving. Trying to drag itself forwards, but failing. If it had been something else, it would have been funny to see it trying to move, but now it was just even more sickening. But at least she couldn't throw up more, even though she felt the urge.

And then again, the sound of thunder, and a flash of light, in the smoke. Soon it was followed by another, further away, but still loud. She could hear the clash of metal, and after some time, she started being able to see. Another roar came, accompanied by light, but now she could see that it was like flames being breathed out. Were there dragons there? She shivered, but had to keep watching. She started being able to make out forms, men and horses, intermixed in the chaos and darkness and smoke.

The shouting and screaming decreased in volume as another dragon breathed, what else could it be? She saw a whole group cut to the ground, but the fighting continued. There was a strange smell in the air, and her eyes felt like they were burning, not intensely, but enough to bring more tears to them. After several more roars it seemed that the battle had at last ended, there were only the moans of the wounded, but no more shouts, and no more fighting. The dragons were silenced at last.

She slowly got up, the arm had gone only a dozen feet, but was limp again. That at least was a relief. Until she saw the shapes from the smoke come closer. There were men, armoured men, driven out by the dead. There were so few of them, and all of them looked wounded, missing limbs and bleeding from a dozen wounds. And she saw the dead soldiers, they looked battered, also missing parts of their bodies, but still marching, or, in some cases, hopping. Parts of the ribcases were gone as well. There were no more horses, only people walking.

There also were some who were being carried, but only a few. And one who did not seem to belong in such a place. A woman. She was short and dressed in black and steel, her face covered in blood. And she seemed to be looking right at Sansa, with strange, yellow eyes. She walked towards the imprisoned lady, and gave her a smile. Only then did Sansa recognize her, the countess, her captor and Antonius' master.

"I am truly sorry that we meet again in these circumstances, my dear Sansa, but it appears that there was someone calling himself a king who decided to oppose me. But that little issue has been dealt with.", she sounded friendly, despite the traces of battle, "And I am sorry for keeping you like this, but I was indisposed these last few days. Now, please, come with me, it will do me good to speak to a proper lady again, and we can refresh ourselves together."

She put a gloved hand on Sansa's shoulder, and guided her to the large black pavilion that dominated the camp. Sansa gathered her courage and asked: "How is ser Antonius?"

"You must mean von Greif. He is still in one piece, unlike some of the others. But please, do not worry about him, he has seen worse in his service to me. For now, we must focus on your own wellbeing."