The First Step of Revenge:

Tyrion Lannister sat at his desk in the Hand's chambers. He was under a lot of stress; this job was even more difficult than he thought it was going to be. He remember how his father would talk about being Hand of the King for Aerys II when he was going mad but Tyrion now believed that he had it easy. King Joffrey was even worse than Aerys II, he had only been king for about a month and already the Seven Kingdoms was in a state of war, a war where the odds were against them. Aerys II had only become mad latter in his years but Joffrey was already mad, mad with power. Joffrey thought he could do whatever he wanted and have whatever he wanted. King Joffrey had already forced himself on the hostage Astrid Stark and if word of that got out then it would justify the rebellions even without the rumours that were now spreading about his brother and sister. He had heard the rumours of them being very close but he was unsure if they were true. Stannis Baratheon had spread ravens across the Seven Kingdoms saying that Joffrey, Tommen and Myrcella were all bastards born of incest between Cersei and Jaime and as a result, none of them had a claim to the throne and as the oldest Baratheon, Stannis was the rightful King. Tyrion remembered Cersei flowing into a rage about this and Baelish had calmed her by suggesting that they spread rumours of Stannis' only child, a little girl called Shireen being a bastard born between Stannis' wife and the fool known as Patchface. Tyrion doubted any use will come but it would enrage Stannis and insult his sense of honour.

Tyrion remembered the chat he had just had with Joffrey just a few days ago and he was really worried about the future.

Flashback:

Tyrion was meeting Joffrey in the Throne room and had rested that the minimum would also be there. Joffrey had brought his Kingsguard Meryn Trant, Preston Greenfield, Mandon Moore and Boros Blount while Tyrion had brought Bronn and his hill tribesmen with him.

"What is it?" Joffrey demanded in a rude tone "I am the King and I have very important business to deal with."

"Business such as forcing yourself on our hostages?" Tyrion questioned

Joffrey glared at him "I don't know what you are talking about?" he denied

"Yes you do." Tyrion snapped "You forced yourself on Lady Astrid Stark."

"That bitch needed to be taught a lesson!" Joffrey snapped "She needed to learn who's in charge around here now. I am the King and I deserve respect."

Tyrion narrowed his eyes "That Bitch happens to be the oldest daughters of Lord Eddard Stark, a traitor to you but the lords of the North don't see him in that way. Your rash action in killing him resulted in all of them rebelling against us and prevent any chance of peace with the north which we needed while we face the Baratheon brothers. And now the Starks have your Uncle Jaime hostage and if they learn what you've done, what do you think they're going to do with your uncle. Lady Astrid is a valuable hostage, not your plaything."

"I am the King!" Joffrey snapped "I can do what I like!"

"And I'm acting Hand of the King!" Tyrion snapped "My duty is to keep order in this city and make sure we are ready to face an attack when it arrives. As of now, Lady Astrid has been transferred to be held under my orders. I've already written to father and he wrote back and he too is cross with you. He said that if he was here then he would have had an even worse talk than I've had with you. He told me to bring you to heel and if that means taking rash actions then so be it, he would do so much worse than what I would do!"

Joffrey and Tyrion glared at each other until Tyrion announced "Now if you excuses me, I have to make sure that this group of fools you call the City Watch will at least be able to defend the city instead of fleeing."

Flashback ends:

Tyrion knew that his job to bring Joffrey to heel was going to be difficult. He was quick to anger and stupid enough to do things without thinking. He did not think of the consequences and his actions were making things even more difficult for him. Joffrey and Cersei had once again done something stupid, following the rumours spread by Stannis; Commander Janos Slynt had taken the Gold Cloaks around King's Landing and had murdered every child who had black hair as a way of eliminating the bastard children of King Robert. Tyrion did not know who had ordered this massacre; he knew that Cersei could have done it as she had ordered Robert's bastards killed once before in Casterly Rock but it could have also been done by Joffrey.

But while the massacre was horrible, it was an opportunity to remove a threat to Tyrion. Many children had been killed throughout the city and now the smallfolk were on the verge of rioting, Tyrion knew he would have to calm them down otherwise they could overwhelm the city guards and hand the city over to Stannis. While there was nothing Tyrion could do against Cersei or Joffrey except scold them, the man who led the massacre was a different story. Tywin had ordered Tyrion to remove Janos as lord of Harrenhal as he did not deserve the title and now Tyrion had the opportunity to do this. He had called Janos into his office and questioned him on whether or not he regretted his actions.

Janos did not regret anything, not the massacres of children or betraying Eddard Stark. Janos had begun to get angry when Tyrion had started to question his loyalty and tried to leave only to find the door blocked by several of his own guards, it turns out that the good ones weren't too happy about what Janos had ordered them to do and one of them lost a nephew in the massacre. Janos had been thrown in the dungeons and Tyrion had arrested the other corrupt officers and replaced them with loyal and good soldiers led by Ser Jacelyn Bywater. Bywater was a veteran soldier from the Greyjoy Rebellion and was also a good commander, he only problem was that he was also someone who was loyal to Varys but right now, he was the best man for the job.

Tyrion's door then opened and his squire Podrick Payne walked in "My lord." He greeted "Your men have brought Lady Astrid like you requested."

"Bring her in." Tyrion ordered "And pour a few goblets of wine."

Podrick poured a few goblets of wine and Bronn brought Lady Astrid into the room, after getting her out of the chambers, Tyrion had ordered a few servants to clean her up and make sure she was fit to be presented, the servants had done a good job of cleaning the sweat and blood that she had been covered with when she was first found, the bruises on her body had also healed and now she looked like nothing had happened to her. Of course she still had an unhappy look on her face about having to be in a southern dress but at least this one didn't place her breasts on full display and was also more her colour since the dress was grey instead of Lannister Red.

"Lady Astrid" Tyrion greeted "Please, have a seat." Astrid then sat down "Wine?"

Astrid shook her head "I don't drink strong wine like the south; I prefer Northern Ale or Mead."

"Well sadly we don't have those." Tyrion replied, "But I didn't bring you here to talk about wine." He drank a mouthful from his goblet before looking at her "I brought you here because I need to understand what happened here. I know how this war started in the Riverlands but what happened here at King's Landing."

"Mother was a fool to take you." Astrid replied "I know what your father is capable of and that he is not a man to be messed around with. I'm not dumb but I will protect my family. After Bran's fall mother believed the Lannister's were up to something. After Jaime hurt my father and fled, everything fell apart, father tried to send us home as it was getting dangerous but then the King died. One of the first things Joffrey ordered was our household to be massacred and my sisters and I captured. Arya escaped but Sansa and I were captured. After father was killed, I kind of threatened him and then he had his way with me."

Tyrion sighed "Everything has gone to shit." He stated "Father wanted your father alive to help bring peace with the north but that's gone now. You may be a hostage along with your sister but after my nephew's actions, you are no longer in his custody. You are both under my custody; my father has ordered me to bring that boy king to heel and his mother too."

"Well both of them believe that they have all the power they want." Astrid stated

"I intend to show them that they don't." Tyrion stated "One of them has already ordered a massacre of children throughout the city and now Janos Slynt lies in a cell waiting transportation to Castle Black."

Astrid narrowed his eyes and then spat on the floor "Child killers are the worst of the worst. Janos doesn't deserve to be among the Night's Watch, he deserves Death."

"Maybe." Tyrion stated "But the Night's Watch needs men; I know it from what I saw. I told Lord Commander Mormont that I would help send more men and I intend to do that, all corrupt officers and soldiers will be sent to the Night's Watch as recruits." Tyrion at Astrid's look "Listen, I know you don't trust me but I want you to know that I mean you no harm, as long as you are under my protection, you and your sister will not be harmed and I must ask you to let go of your anger, I have a city to prepare to defend and I can't do it if your causing trouble."

Astrid sighed "Alright, I'll let go of my anger for now. But if that little shitbag of a King lays and hand on me or my sister again then I won't let him get away with it."

"Don't worry. If he does then he'll face the consequences." Tyrion stated but he did not see the look that Astrid had on her face which was a look that she was planning something, nor did he notice the letter opener that went missing from his desk which Astrid had sneaked into the sleeve of her dress.

...

Arya Stark drank some water from a nearby stream; she was on her way north being hidden amongst a group of Night's Watch Conscripts. The Wandering Crow Yoren had helped her escape from King's Landing after cutting her hair. She had been able to watch Astrid's threaten the King just before Yoren dragged her away. Yoren had warned her to be careful around the recruits, half of them would turn her over to the Queen for a reward and the other half would do the same except they'd rape her first. After meeting the recruits, she remembered being threatened by two of them, two orphans called Lommy and Hot Pie but then a blacksmith's apprentice called Gendry had helped her. Arya couldn't deny it but Gendry was handsome, he had thick muscles and he was skilled with a hammer. Astrid's Direwolf Huntress had been hidden amongst some supplies and after leaving the city, Arya had released the wolf who had then ran off as it was unsafe for her to remain on the path, she would draw too much attention. Arya was sad to have to chase Huntress away but there was no other choice, at least Huntress would be able to survive in the wild which made her wonder how her Direwolf Nymeria was doing.

Arya soon walked back after having her drink and saw the men helping gather firewood. She soon passed the cage which Yoren had warned her had the worst of the recruits in "Hey, pretty boy." One called

Arya turned and glared at them "What do you want?" she demanded

"A man has a thirst." A man with long red hair called "A man does not drink for a day and a night. A boy could make a friend."

"I have friends!" Arya hissed

One of the other men slammed against the cage "Give us beer before I skin you!"

The red haired man sighed "A man does not choose his companions, these two they have no courtesy. A man must ask forgiveness." Arya was silence for a few moments "This man has the honour to be Jaqen H'ghar, once of the Free City of Lorath."

"Beer, get us beer you little shit!" the other man growled

Arya dropped the pile of wood "You should have asked nicely." She took a stick and whacked the cage before backing away as the man plus the third man in the cage growled at her.

"Come closer, and I'll shove that stick up your bunghole and fuck you bloody!"

Arya didn't know what to do but if Astrid had been here, she probably would have stabbed the man for speaking like that.

"The boy has more courage than sense." Jaqen stated

Then Gendry came to led Arya away "Yoren said that we were not to go near those three." He stated

"They don't scare me!" Arya hissed

"Then you're stupid." Gendry snorted "They scare me."

Arya didn't reply but widened her eyes when she saw two Gold Cloaks riding towards them on horses. "What are the Gold Cloaks doing this far from King's Landing?" Arya questioned with fear in her voice, they were in the near the Riverlands and the Gold Cloaks did not come this far. They must have been sent looking for her.

Gendry noticed Arya hid behind a small hill so she could not be seen "What are you doing?" he questioned, he was just as confused as to why the Gold Cloaks were here but was confused as to why Arya was acting strange.

"They're looking for me." Arya replied

Gendry just looked at her and then at the leading Gold Cloak when he spoke to Yoren "Are you in command here?" he demanded

Yoren approached the two Gold Cloaks "You're a long way from King's Landing." He stated

"I asked you a question!" the Gold Cloak snapped

"Aye you did." Yoren stated "You asked without manners, now what are you doing here, the Night's Watch doesn't get involved with politics and prisoners belong to us."

The Gold cloak pulled out a sealed scroll "I have a royal warrant for the arrest of one of these gutter rats you're transporting." He stated and handed it to Yoren

Yoren snorted and didn't even read the letter and instead threw it aside "May I remind you that people who are conscripted into the Night's Watch are no longer bound to be handed over. I don't care who wrote this, these gutter rats are now members of the Night's Watch, the only reason I would hand one over is if they deserted. These people are beyond the reach of Kings or Queens."

The Gold Cloak didn't care and began to draw his sword only for Yoren to place his dagger on the man's leg "It's a funny thing, people worry so much about their throats that they forget what's down low." Yoren smirked "Now I sharpened this blade this morning, I could shave a spider's arse if I wanted to. Or I could sever this artery in your leg and no one will know how to fix it. You'll just bleed to death with just a small leg would." There was silence and then Yoren nicked the Gold Cloak's sword and threw it aside where another recruit picked it up "Now we'll just keep that, good steel is needed at the Wall." The other recruits all began to surround the Gold Cloaks and they were outnumbered "It seems you have a choice here, you can die here at these crossroads a long way from home, or you can run back home and tell your masters that you didn't find what you were looking for."

The Gold Cloak wasn't ready to give up "We're looking for a boy named Gendry." He called out which made Arya look at Gendry in shock, these Gold Cloaks weren't looking for her but for him. But why, what had Gendry done that made him a wanted man. "He carries a Bull's Head Helmet; anyone who turns him over will earn the King's reward." He then glared at Yoren "We'll be back with more men! And I'll be taking you head home as well as that bastard boy!" they then rode off which left Arya both worried and confused, if they came back then she could get captured again but she was confused as to why they were after Gendry and not her.

...

Night had fallen on King's Landing; most people had gone to bed. The only light came from the torches that the guards on patrol were carrying. With the war going on security of the King and the royal court was important. While it didn't happen often, sometimes there could be assassins sent by the enemies of the King and Cersei was taking no chances, she had made the security of Joffrey a top priority.

But there was one person who was not asleep; Astrid Stark was already beginning her plan to start getting revenge on those who harmed her family. She couldn't do anything to the King but there were others who she could target but there was one who she had to take out now otherwise he would be out of her reach. She was in her nightclothes but she had placed a thick grey cloak over them which should make it hard for others to see her. She was also wearing a pair of gloves.

There were guards outside her room but that was not the only way of getting out. When she was younger, just like her brother Brandon, she was a good climber and now it was time to put those skills to use. She opened her window and began to climb down the wall slowly using the window sill as well as small statues built into the walls. Eventually she made it to the ground. Because of how dark it was, no one could see her because the guards were looking the wrong way but there were still a few guards patrolling the gardens.

Astrid had been brought to King's Landing once before and she remembered the secret tunnels that had been built around the Red Keep and the city. While she couldn't use these tunnels to escape as she had no way of getting back north, she could use the tunnels to sneak around the Red Keep. And she knew where there was an entrance to one of these tunnels. Astrid carefully crept through the gardens until she came to some bushes. There hidden among the bushes was a small iron drain cover that led into one of the tunnels, this one had been left forgotten and it didn't take much effort to lift it from the hole, the most difficult part was doing it without noise as she would alert the guards. After Astrid had removed the cover, she was just able to squeeze through the hole which led her to the tunnels.

The tunnels were pitch black and she could not see a thing so Astrid lit a torch which she had taken from a guard earlier and began walking along the tunnel, years ago, she had used this tunnel while exploring when her father had brought her to King's Landing and she knew it led to the dungeons and towards her target. Eventually she came to a dead end but she knew how to open a secret passage, by leaning on the edge of the wall, she opened a small gab to squeeze through and now she was in the dungeons, she was not in the Black Cells which were kept completely dark but in the cells closer to the surface, there were torches on the walls so Astrid put hers outs and used the torches on the walls to see where she was going. If a guard came along, she would hide under her cloak in a dark area where she could not be seen unless a guard came close. But most of the guards had settled down for the night or were drinking and playing games as she found a large group of them doing in a storage room. She found one guard passed out drunk and he had a set of keys on him so she carefully took the keys from the belt, being careful not to rattle them and create a lot of noise.

After she had the keys, she careful looked through the bars of each cell until she found the cell she was looking for. Before she entered the cell, she looked around to make sure that no one was looking then she unlocked the door.

"Well it's about time!" the prisoner growled "I am good friends with the queen and I am a Lord, I should not be kept like this."

"If you think I'm here to free you Slynt then you're wrong!" Astrid hissed and she glared at the prisoner Janos Slynt from under her cloak. The prisoner was Janos Slynt, former commander of the Gold Cloaks, the man who had betrayed her father and led the massacre of her household. He was also responsible for leading the massacre of children throughout the city which was why he was in this cell. Janos had been stripped of his armour and was dressed in rags. He was also chained to the wall as he kept fighting the guards who imprisoned him.

"Then why are you here?" Janos demanded "And who are you."

"Who I am doesn't matter." Astrid stated, it was clear Janos did not know who she was "No one even knows that I am here and the guards here are too drunk or playing games. I would like to know why you committed these acts, murdering innocent people."

"I only did as I was told." Janos hissed

"Is that supposed to make it any better?" Astrid questioned "You willingly killed children, one of the worst acts a man could perform. You also betrayed a man who you were supposed to protect. It was your duty to protect Lord Eddard but instead you betrayed him."

"Lord Stark was committing treason! Janos hissed but Astrid then slapped him.

"My father was no traitor!" Astrid snapped "I spoke with Tyrion, you betrayed him in return for a lordship which has now been stripped from you."

"You!" Janos gasped when he realised who it was "How did you get here?"

"There are ways of getting around the Red Keep without being seen." Astrid replied "I've been here before and seen the tunnels dug all throughout the city. All I did was sneak through them, most of these tunnels have been forgotten due to neglect but they're still here. And after what your King did, did you think that I would just sit around. That is not what I do, you think that I'm a reckless savage girl but I'm not. I just plan ahead, soon everyone who hurt my family will pay, the King may be out of reach for now, but his time will come. As for you, you would have been out of my reach soon, but I decided that you don't deserve to be sent to the Wall. The Night's Watch may be seen as a dumping ground for criminals by the South, but it is meant to be place for warriors. You are not a warrior; you are just a traitorous coward. You do not deserve to be part of the Watch; I was no going to let your acts go unpunished."

Janos prepared to snap back only he started chocking when Astrid thrust the letter opener she nicked from Tyrion's office into his neck after she withdrew it from her sleeve. Astrid then pushed Janos against the wall and withdrew the letter opener and thrust it into Janos' belly again and again until Janos collapsed to the floor. Then Astrid stabbed Janos over and over even when it was clear he was dead. When she was done, Astrid just spat on the body then she left the cell, locking it behind her and then placing the keys back on the drunk guard. Then she made her way back the way she came and into the secret tunnel. As she approached the drain cover, but before she climbed up, she took her cloak and gloves off and using the torch she taken, she lit them on fire to destroy any evidence, they were covered in blood from her killing of Janos and she didn't want to be found out. She also dropped the letter opener before climbing out of the tunnel where she carefully place the drain covers back in place. Then she was able to climb back up to her room where she washed her hands in a bowl of water to wash off the grime she had gotten from climbing before she went back into bed. To everyone, it looked like Astrid had never left her room; no one knew that she had taken the first step of her revenge on those who harmed her family.

Chapter End:

Notes: Well another chapter finished and now we can see what Astrid is capable of. This is the reason why Astrid never escaped King's Landing and even if she did, she would likely just get captured by the Lannisters at Harrenhal just like Arya and I don't want them sharing the same story. If you're wondering how Astrid knew how to get to Janos, well her father brought her to King's Landing once before to try and put an end to her aggressive behaviour but what she saw only made her angrier at the south. But she found the secret tunnels and all she did was take a route she's found before. She's also smart as she destroyed the evidence that she had killed Janos by wearing the cloak and gloves to prevent her from getting covered in blood and then she destroyed that evidence.