Hello everyone! I have reached 50 chapters. Who would have thought.

It might be too much, but can you people tell me of my progress as a writer. I need to know how much I have improved.

Btw, my birthday is coming up on 3rd; and the best gift possible would be getting 400 favourites on this story. ;)

Anyways, this is a filler chapter, but not an unimportant one. Hope you like it.

Chapter 50

The soup was bland as always, leaving no reason for Oberyn Martell to take time in savouring the 'delicacy'. I would kill for some snake stew, he mused as he looked at the food piled on his dinner table; kidney pie, venison and the soup. Beside him, his paramour Ellaria and squire Damon were eating in silence; although both had relatively higher spirits than Oberyn.

The Red Viper hurriedly finished the entire bowl in quick gulps, and finished his dinner. He was used to having hot meals, hence didn't mind the burning in his mouth.

"Prince Oberyn," one of the guards called on him soon after. "We have a problem my prince."

"What is it," Oberyn drawled, irritated by the interruption. He was going to call it a day and enjoy the worldly pleasures of the bedchamber with Ellaria, and at such a time the guard seemed to be nothing but an annoyance.

"We have a dispute among the guards about the night duty my prince," the soldier said. "It would be good if you take a look in the matter."

Oberyn turned to face the man, his teeth gritting against each other. "I had told you people before didn't I," he spat, "that you take these stupid matters to my squire. Why don't you listen?"

"With all respect Prince Oberyn," the man replied, "the men follow you not your squire. It is your duty as the leader to settle these issues."

But I am not leader am I, Oberyn thought, I am not a bloody politician. That was always Doran, standing in the Water Gardens looking at children laughing and bathing, taking care of everyone around him in the way he thought was best. Oberyn, on the other hand, was a viper. He had commanded men to fight, and to win battles by losing the least number of soldiers possible. He had won numerous single combats, and had taught a lesson to those who had offended him. However, taking care of these 'everyday issues' was taking a toll on him. This was the reason why I had left the Citadel.

This is not what I signed for. I wanted vengeance, not a bloody huge castle in the middle of nowhere.

Vengeance was denied to him at almost every turn. For the last 16 years Oberyn had had wet dreams of Ser Gregor Clegane impaled on his spear; but he was denied of any revenge when Harrion Karstark crushed the Mountain's chest. He joined the Northerners after sensing an opportunity, an attacked and captured Harrenhal for Amory Lorch. Watching Ser Amory being devoured by the bear to the last morsel was as satisfying as heaven.

Oberyn wanted Lord Tywin next. But again, others got to his desire before him. Stannis killed Lord Tywin; and the news of his death was not enough to quench the steaming blood in Oberyn's heart.

And now here he was, sitting in Harrenhal of all places, bowing to a Northman. And for what, he asked himself.

This one act of which Oberyn was truly proud was sending Qyburn to King's Landing where he claimed to know the cure to the suffering of King Joffrey. Qyburn had saved Joffrey from succumbing to his burns, but healings were always messy whenever Qyburn was involved.

After curing Joffrey, Qyburn had gotten a place in King's Landing, and had become Cersei's close confidant; and Oberyn had got a pair of listening ears and reporting mouth in King's Landing. From what he had heard, the Iron Bank of Bravos emissaries had arrived come to the city, asking for the huge debt the Iron Throne owed them. Good luck dealing with them Lannisters, he smirked.

He walked into his bedchambers, and found Ellaria already in their bed waiting for him, wearing nothing but her golden necklace and anklets. "Come lover," she moaned. "Tonight I will show you what heaven feels like."

Oberyn chuckled. He got into bed, and Ellaria got on top of him. He leaned his head back and closed his eyes, and let his paramour do her 'magic' on him.

As expected, he woke up late the next morning. Someone was rapping his door urgently. "I am coming," he snapped, and opened the door after hastily dressing himself.

It was Damon Sand at the door. "Oberyn, there has been a message from Qyburn." He handed a parchment to Oberyn. It had only one sentence.

9 thousand kittens come for the elephant by the lake.

Wonderful. Oberyn guffawed loudly. Qyburn always thought himself to be good with the veiled messages, but always ended up being comic. "What does this mean my prince," Damon asked.

"It means," Oberyn began, "that a Lannisters are sending 8000 men to take Harrenhal back. It will help them that's true. Harrenhal is a strategic location, and can be defended from attacks from the West if the defenders are vigilant."

"But we are well defended and well supplied aren't we," Damon asked. "Won't it be a waste of men for them?"

"Not really Damon," Oberyn smiled, "the Lannisters are desperate. They want a piece of action, and they want to prove the Iron bank that they are eligible to rule. Winning back Harrenhal will help them in this."

Damon became silent. "Come now Damon, it is a good thing," Oberyn said. "It means I am being sent Lannisters to kill. Send a letter to Ned Stark, asking him to send Dornishmen in Riverrun here, as soon as possible. We will also need some of his men. Add that too in the message."


The camp was being made by the Unsullied while everyone waited. Jon was standing away from everyone, holding the reins of his horse as it drank water from a creek

"Have some more if you want," Jon urged his horse. He wanted to spend as much time away from Daenerys as he could. He had not spoken to her ever since their conversation while riding, and Jon had still not thought of what to tell her when she asks about her father and family.

He heard footsteps approaching, and turned around to see Ser Barristan Selmy approaching him in large strides. He covered the distance between him and Jon quickly for a man of his age, and grabbed him hard by the collar of his doublet.

"Do you have any idea," the knight spat as he twisted Jon's doublet roughly, "what you have done?"

"What is the matter Ser Barristan," Jon asked, though he vaguely knew what he was talking about.

"Telling her the truth," he almost shouted, "have you lost your wits bastard? Do you have any idea what you have done?"

Jon pushed Barristan back, and smoothed his doublet. "I did what I thought was right," he argued. "She has the right to know. Her brother has filled his mind with lies."

Some of the fire left Ser Barristan's eyes. He began after a while, "I had thought the same at first Jon Snow," he said, "but later I thought to leave it alone. Daenerys is not ready for the truth. Do you know why Daenerys didn't lose her pride when everything else was lost to her?"

Jon had heard the story before. She had lost her Dothraki husband, and her unborn son was killed by a witch. Most of her followers had left her too, and she was starving in the middle of nowhere with three baby dragons. Yet Daenerys Targaryen kept moving forward. She got an invitation to stay in Qarth, from where everything started looking up for her. He had known it from their first meeting that Daenerys was a strong woman, but he never wondered from where she got her mettle.

"That's because she has always looked up to her dead family. She was always proud of the greatness of her ancestors; her brother Rhaegar; her father Aerys."

"Aerys?"

"No one has told her about Aerys except Viserys; and from what I hear, he was half mad himself. She believed that she owed it to her family to avenge their deaths, and to once again see the Targaryens restored to power." The old knight glanced at the silver haird queen who was talking to the commanders of the Unsullied. "What do you think will happen to her strength when she is told the truth about the people she looked up to?"

Jon felt abashed. He should have thought it through. He hung his head, thoughts buzzing in his head.

"Nothing can be done now, so think very hard." Ser Barristan said in a strained voice. "It might burn your small head. Come now. We have tell our queen that her father was a madman."

Jon felt compelled to speak. "I know that she will find out the truth soon enough, why not now. Her false belief has to be nipped in the bud."

The old anger had returned in the old man. "Then you know nothing Jon Snow."


"Maester Luwin," someone was banging the door. "I am coming," Luwin replied, irritated by the disturbance. He walked towards the door with ponderous steps, and opened it. "What is it," he asked the soldier at the door. "Is something wrong?"

"It's the prince Maester," he gasped. "Prince Bran is gone, and the Reed children too. We looked everywhere. We found this note in his chamber."

The man handed Luwin the parchment, which only contained two sentences.

Sorry but I have to leave, but I have to be somewhere else Maester Luwin. Because Winter is Coming.

I have mentioned in the Robb Olenna chapter that Sansa, Arya and RIckon are going RIverrun for the wedding. That would be the perfect time for Bran to leave the castle. He sneaked out of the castle with the help of Reeds and Hodor.

I always wondered why Ser Barristan never told Dany the truth, and the reason I think why is mentioned here.

Please review.

TheSwordInTheDarkness310