Hello everyone,

Happy NEW YEAR and I hope you enjoy this chapter :)

Sorry this chapter was a bit late (I was fiddling with the last scene and lost track of time)

Chapter 40: The Turning Tide

A week later ….

Last Hearth, One week ride from Winterfell, Seat of power of House Stark in the North, Capital of the Kingdom of the North

Robb, Jon and Mance watched as a few dozen Northmen made their way back from the gates of Last Hearth. Robb and his rag band of an army had been staring at the gloomy gates of Last Hearth for the best part of an hour, waiting for Smalljon Umber's invite to enter.

"And?" Robb questioned the returning men as Mance and Jon sat still on their horses beside him.

The leading solider gave Robb a nervous look. "He said he wouldn't open his gates for the man that let the Wildlings through the Wall and that …. that you were no King."

Robb gripped the reins of his horse tightly as anger radiated through his body. He looked up to the snowy sky as he let out a deep breath that turned into a misty fog. Failure always seemed to be one step ahead of him.

He had had enough of lesser men trying his patience and dictating what he could and couldn't do. He was done with traitorous lords forgetting their vows and being merciful with those that had wronged him. From now on there would be no second chances for those that sought to get in his way.

This ends now, Robb thought.

"Go back to Smalljon Umber. Tell him if he thinks I am no King, that I am nor worthy of the North, tell him to meet me in the shadow of Last Hearth's walls and we will settle this the old way."

"Robb," Jon said in a concerned voice.

Robb ignored him and addressed the soldier, "You heard me. Now deliver my message."

The soldier bowed and the group of Northern men turned their horses and kicked onwards to the gates of Last Hearth again.

"We could take the Last Hearth by force if necessary," Jon pleaded wanting to avoid the one-on-one combat scenario.

"Yes, and we would probably lose half our army in the process," Robb replied as he dismounted his horse and drew his sword.

Mance watched silently as the two brothers continued their exchange of words.

"You don't have to risk yourself Robb. I can fight instead," Jon offered knowing that he was his brother's equal with a sword but not when it came to war strategy and battle tactics. If the North was going to be ripped from Ramsey Snow's grasp it would require Robb's strategic ability and Stark name.

"What type of King would I be if I let other's fight my battles for me?" Robb countered.

"A smart one," Mance interceded.

Both Robb and Jon snapped their heads back to look at Mance. The King Beyond the Wall simply matched their stares with his cold grey eyes. He held no fear for mortal men.

Robb returned his cold gaze to his brother, "I will fight Smalljon Umber. I will kill him. Then we can rest in Last Hearth and plan our next moves."

Before Jon could continue to argue Robb walked out into the snow-covered ground between his army and the walls of Last Hearth and waited with his sword in hand.

Smalljon Umber and Robb stared at each other through the cold air. Both held one-handed swords and stood a dozen metres apart.

The physical resemblance to his father was clear but Greatjon's good nature had not been passed down to his son as was evident from the blatant betrayal of his King. The only personality trait Greatjon had passed down was his love of fighting.

The Umber held a malicious smile on his face as he advanced towards Robb. He probably thought this was his lucky day. The day that he would kill a King.

"You would dishonour your father in such a way," Robb threw at Smalljon Umber.

"My father was a cunt," Smalljon replied as he readjusted his hands on his sword.

Robb let the lumbering man come towards him as he prepared to unleash all his tension and rage. He was Robb Stark, King in the North, eldest son of Eddard Stark. Who was the Umber man to deny him his birth right and stand in the way of him rescuing his sisters?

He was no one.

Smalljon pulled his sword back to start his swing and that is when Robb's burring fury took over.

Robb brought his own sword up to parry the bigger man's strike and once their swords had clashed Robb stepped forward slashing and stabbing as his anger ebbed out of him into his sword strikes. All Smalljon could do was block and step back each time Robb stepped forward.

Then Robb saw the opening.

Robb quickly manoeuvred himself to Smalljon's side as his opponent tried to recover his balance from Robb's last slash and brought his sword down with all his burning might.

Smalljon's sword fell the floor, with his hand still around the handle.

The current Lord Umber collapsed to the floor holding his bleeding stump as he howled in pain looking up at the King in the North.

Robb looked down at the withering Lord that had the audacity to challenge him and block his path back to his sisters. The sudden terror on his face meant nothing to Robb. Both his hands tightened around the handle of his sword as he brought it down, again and again and again until the traitorous Lord's blood had melted the snow around his cooling body and his screams had left the icy air.

Sometimes sons were not their fathers and that statement was none truer than when Robb looked down on the mutilated corpse of Smalljon Umber. A pathetic excuse for an Umber, Robb thought, maybe his son will do better.

Robb gave the corpse below him one last look of repugnance before calling out for his army to approach Last Hearth. As the adrenaline pumping around his body started to fade away, he too proceeded towards the still closed gates as he dragged the body of the late Lord Umber behind him.

He allowed himself to smile as the gates opened ahead of him. This was his first victory against Ramsey Snow and he endeavoured to make sure there were many more to come.

Same day …

Baelor's Sept, King's Landing, Seat of power of House Baratheon (Lannister) in the Crownlands, Capital of the Seven Kingdoms

Kenna leaned into Lord Royce's shoulder with her arm intertwined with his as they descended down the steps just outside the Sept of Baelor. Lord Royce's presence was the only thing that made her feel truly protected and reminded her of her life before she had been dragged to this shit pile of a city.

Since the departure of Tywin's and the Tyrell's forces from King's Landing the city had felt empty to Kenna, especially at court where the absence of the male nobility was visible often with Tommen and Tyrion being the only high-born males in the room.

Kenna refocused her minds thoughts to the current task at hand. Surviving the latest Westeros wedding.

The marriage ceremony between Margaery and Tommen had been pleasant enough. Sweet words had been said, vows had been spoken and joyous clapping had thundered around the Sept when the two had kissed and pledged their love.

As they reached the bottom of the steps they were greeted by an eerie sight.

Cersei stood there watching the procession of her son and Margaery with a false smile plastered on her face as the wedding party made their way back towards the Red Keep.

Kenna indicated to Lord Royce that she would be fine to carry on alone as she disengaged from him and stood beside the former Queen regent.

"A lovely ceremony," Kenna said diplomatically.

"Was it," Cersei snapped. "My son has married a harlot."

"I recall your other son marrying the same harlot," Kenna said slyly.

"You dare mention Joff-,"

"It must be strange for you now with so few Lannisters being in King's Landing. You must feel lonely. Your brother, father and daughter are in Dorne as well as most of your soldiers and lovers," Kenna said to the open air in front of her knowing her last words had knocked Cersei's fake smile from her face and she couldn't help herself so she continued to needle Cersei. "You only have Tommen and Tyrion for familiar comfort and both will be sadly very busy ruling the Seven Kingdoms. What will you do with your time now?"

Cersei turned to Kenna and closed the space between them, "I will do what I have always done. Protect my family no matter the cost."

"I am sure Tyrion will rejoice at your words," Kenna slyly said.

Cersei recaptured her air of fake pleasantries and drew Kenna into what probably looked like a friendly hug of joyfulness that was expected for a happy occasion such as a royal wedding.

"One day Lady Kenna I am going to take everything you hold dear and set it on fire," Cersei whispered into Kenna's ear before stalking off into the trailing wedding party.

Kenna lightly nodded at Cersei's strong words, as if she agreed that Cersei would certainly try to carry out her threat and held the chuckle that was on the tip of her tongue. She had grown accustom to Cersei's attitude towards any perceived threats against her family over the past few months she had spent being a captive in King's Landing.

But really, the former Queen was just a cat trying to roar.

Cersei held no power in King's Landing anymore. In the absence of their father Tyrion had the remaining Lannister men's' loyalty as acting Hand of the King and Cersei no longer commanded the position of Queen and therefore had no control over the crown's men.

What she thought she could achieve or defend was beyond Kenna but it was amusing to see someone so use to commanding power not realizing when it had slipped from their grasp.

Kenna still had a little grin on her face as Lord Royce rejoined her.

"Did Cersei say something funny," Lord Royce inquired in a quizzical tone making it clear he doubted the possibility that Cersei had a sense of humour.

"Not intentionally," Kenna replied as the two Vale nobles looked out into the streets of King's Landing as the wedding party continued on its way towards the Red Keep.

Kenna spotted her good-sister and good-brother in the crowd. Sansa was staying close to Tyrion as they both navigated the throng of Tyrell women who were prancing around Margaery and Tommen.

She wondered if Tyrion kept Sansa informed of what was happening in the North. Kenna had to do with what gossip the court spat out and the current whispers were not in favour of the King in the North. From what she had gathered House Bolton and House Karstark were in open rebellion against Robb and Winterfell had been taken again.

Kenna clenched her teeth together.

She should be with Robb helping him, not stuck in King's Landing playing the docile prisoner. One of the only positive outcomes of taking up arms against the insult of Eddard Stark's death had undoubtedly been meeting the dead man's son.

Robb had reminded Kenna so much of his father and the pleasant memories in her childhood of growing up in the Eyrie. When they had first met Robb had been idealistic believing in doing what honor and honesty demanded, he had been tactically brilliant on the battlefield but naïve to the true nature of war and ruling.

Simply put Robb Stark was a good man fighting for what was right and Kenna had been surrounded in the filth of deceit in King's Landing for so long she feared she had lost her way by playing the great game. She missed and craved that friendship and sense of being just and righteous in her actions.

Kenna's reminiscing was interrupted when Kenna noticed a grubby street urchin watching her and Lord Royce intently. The girl was holding something against her midriff.

Kenna beckoned for the little girl to approach. The child did so in a quick dash motion and held out a letter. As soon as Kenna hand enclosed around the letter the girl shot off into one of the alleyways where she had undoubtedly come from.

"My Lady?" Lord Royce asked eyeing the piece of paper in her hand.

Kenna shrugged as her fingers started to open the unsealed letter.

'My dear Lady Kenna,

If you are reading this letter then I am no longer in King's Landing and you are most likely residing in the Black Cells for the murder of Lord Tywin.'

Kenna licked her lips, guess again Lord Varys. It was nice to know that Lord Varys wasn't omniscient.

Kenna continued to read the letter.

'I want you to know that it was not a personal choice to frame you, just a convenient one. The true culprit was Prince Oberyn. I am writing this so you may defend yourself in the trial to come and use this letter as proof'

Kenna scoffed. Varys wasn't naming Oberyn so Kenna could hypothetically defend herself in a trial. If Kenna had announced Prince Oberyn as the murderer in a trial with Vary's letter as her proof it would have caused his arrest and led to a war with Dorne.

Kenna appreciated Vary's luck or perhaps he had calculated all the outcomes possible because despite Tywin's assassination attempt not going to plan it looked like Varys had gotten what he wanted anyway.

Chaos and infighting in Westeros, to make it easier to be taken by an outside force.

Kenna smiled, that is exactly what she wanted too to a certain degree but she suspected Varys had backed a different horse to her.

'I pray that you will survive the coming tribulations and hope that we will meet again, that one day you will understand my actions and what I hoped to achieve by them.'

'The waves bring what you seek.'

Kenna folded the letter up and tucked it away against her bosom and the fabric of her dress.

"Kenna," Lord Royce said gently trying to decipher the joyous expression that had crept over her face.

The waves bring what you seek, Kenna repeated in her mind.

The eunuch knew what my plan was from the very beginning and he did nothing to stop it, Kenna realised as she looked up into the concerned eyes of her mentor.

"They are coming," Kenna replied as her eyes shifted to scan the horizon in eager anticipation.

A few days later ….

Last Hearth, One week ride from Winterfell, Seat of power of House Stark in the North, Capital of the Kingdom of the North

"Will they continue to fight for me or will they cut and run do you think?" Robb said as he observed the Wildlings wondering around Last Hearth's open-air courtyard still harbouring feelings of suspicion.

"The Wildlings are simple and honest folk," Jon stated as he leaned against the wall beside Robb and copied his sibling in watching the Wildlings gawk at the stone buildings that now surrounded them. "They do what they say they will do. They don't deal in the tricks and manipulations that the South is famous for."

Robb shuffled on his feet trying to rid himself of the numbness that had started to creep into his stationary body, "Mance Rayder doesn't strike me as simple."

"No but like those he leads he values strength above all else and by defeating Smalljon Umber you have demonstrated your strength to him and commitment to settling the Wildings south of the Wall."

"Mmm," Robb agreed while watching the Wildlings mill about and glance around Last Hearth in astonishment at the complex structures that made up the Umber seat as if it would all disappear in a blink of the eye.

Suddenly all the Wildlings started to tear their attention away from the surrounding architecture. Robb and Jon's eyes searched for what had captured the Wildling's attention.

Robb's eyes lit up in recognition as he saw Mance and a dirty looking woman walking beside him.

Robb strode towards the two Wildlings as Jon trailed behind him.

Rob hesitated to speak as if he was having trouble deciding what words would express his feelings most clearly in the moment.

"Osha, I heard you were dead," he settled on.

"Did a small, pasty looking bastard tell you that?" Osha replied gruffly.

"Ramsey Bolton informed me that you had died protecting Rickon from your own kind," Robb confirmed.

"That isn't true," Osha snarled, "that bastard said that you had sent him to find Rickon and then … then he stabbed him. He was only a little boy and that bastard stabbed him. He smiled as he did it too …. like he enjoyed what he was doing."

Jon noticing how Robb winced upon hearing Rickon's true fate took up the mantle of questioning Osha.

"How did you escape Ramsey?" Jon asked.

"I didn't escape Ramsey. He said he had places and people to visit. That he had no time to … enjoy me. He let me live so one of his men," Osha spat into the floor, "could have his fun chasing me down."

"And," Jon prodded.

"And when that man caught up to me, he found out that chasing me wasn't worth the effort," Osha said with a deadly gleam in her eye. "I had a knife hidden in my furs and when he got close enough, I jammed it in his eye. Oh, how he howled in pain. He howled even more when I jabbed his other eye out too."

"How did you end up in the Umber's cells?" Robb questioned having recovered from imagining Ramsey stabbing his little brother to death.

"Some Umber men came across me covered in blood. I said it was animal blood but they didn't believe me," Osha shrugged.

"I am impatient to meet this Ramsey Snow that everyone is talking about," Mance stated grabbing the attention of the two noble men and Wildling woman.

"You will meet him soon enough," Robb assured the Wildling leader, "but there are others that we must deal with first to ensure that there will be no help for Ramsey when we besiege Winterfell."

"When do we leave then?" Mance asked, keen to establish his people in the Gift as soon as possible.

"At first daylight tomorrow," Robb answered authoritatively.

A few days later, midday …

Outer Walls of King's Landing, King's Landing, Seat of power of House Baratheon (Lannister) in the Crownlands, Capital of the Seven Kingdoms

Kenna stared out into the waves that swayed in the distance as the wind whipped her hair around her face every so often trying to forget the half dozen Lannister guards that surrounded her position. She had been watching the same spot for too long as her mind was starting to play tricks on her moulding the fog that hung-over Blackwater Bay into ship like shapes. She squinted her eyes into the fog and instead of seeing a ship she saw Balerion flying towards her as if he were racing against something.

Kenna held out her arm signalling for Balerion to join her and after a few moments the falcon descended on to her arm in a flurry of wings and made its way up her arm to sit contently on her shoulder.

She sighed as she let her head dip down towards the top of the wall where her hands currently rested. Kenna's hope and patience was being tested and it was wearing her down.

"So, this is where you have been hiding these past few days," Tyrion's said in a playful voice with Bronn walking closely behind him.

"Just enjoying the freshness of the impending winter Lord Hand," Kenna replied as the crisp air hit the back of her throat as she sucked in a breath.

"Really? Here I was thinking you were avoiding me because you just can't handle losing to me another time at cyvasse," Tyrion teased.

"You do know that you haven't beaten me at cyvasse," Kenna said turning to face the little Lord.

"Mmmm I recall never having lost to you," Tyrion replied watching Balerion carefully, he knew what the bird had done to See Meryn's face.

"Not quite the same thing as winning is it though. We have never actually finished a game of cyvasse. You always make it into a drinking contest. And that is something you can claim to beat me at. But not cyvasse."

There is only one person who has beaten me at cyvasse, Kenna added as an afterthought in her mind.

"Besides my Lord Hand I doubt you would be able to see through what was a real win and what was a tactical loss," Kenna said cryptically.

"A tactical loss? Why would you lose on purpose?" Tyrion asked interpreting Kenna's words correctly.

"Because the opponent gives away what they think is a winning strategy and reveal what their tactics are while you reveal nothing and give your opponent false confidence in their skills."

"Maybe, but you lose the game," Tyrion pointed out growing concerned with the topic they were discussing.

"Yes, you lose a few early battles here and there but the knowledge you can pick up about how your opponent thinks could ultimately win you the war in the end. Besides Robb Starks current situation demonstrates that winning battles does not guarantee that you will win the war."

"When did we start discussing the war my Lady?"

When did we ever stop discussing the war?" Kenna shot back with such venom that Balerion took it as a hint to soar into the sky.

Tyrion was about to reply when the bells of the city started to ring out.

"Fuck," Bronn swore, "King's Landing is under attack."

"What," Tyrion gasped at his sell-sword friend not quite believing what he was hearing and was being told.

"Oh, fuck me," Bronn shouted as he pointed behind Kenna.

Tyrion's focus followed his friend's finger. His eyes went wide and his skin turned a shade paler.

Kenna too turned around to once again face the sea. What she saw almost made her cry in joy and relief. She had waited and waited for this moment. Kenna had gambled on predicting the movements of the most stubborn man alive in all of Westeros and she had called it right.

He had not let her down.

She saw the burning stag sigil of House Baratheon of Dragonstone drifting through the mist. She saw the proud white falcon of House Arryn amongst a light blue background burst through the fog that hovered over the calm waves. She saw burgundy sails displaying a cluster of gold skulls hanging from a red spear.

Ah so he spent my money well, Kenna approved.

The Golden Company was one of the largest and most skilled sell-sword companies in Essos and had a reputation of never breaking a contract. A good choice when one was trying to reclaim the Iron Throne.

"How did we not know they were coming?" Tyrion asked in a wavering voice before his face shuddered in realization. "Varys … he knew Stannis was coming but neglected to inform us. Fucking eunuchs. They can't be trusted," Tyrion growled in frustration at the true extent of Vary's betrayal.

"You should go. Your city needs you. Again," Kenna said calmly still looking ahead into the oncoming mass of ships that were becoming more visible the closer they got to King's Landing's walls.

It would only take another few hours at the most before they would land on the shores of Blackwater Bay and start battering down the gates of King's Landing.

Tyrion eyed Kenna's back and clearly had something to say to her but thought better of it. He rushed back towards the Red Keep to prepare the defenses of King's Landing with Bronn in what little time remained leaving Kenna alone with her Lannister guards.

Since Kenna had arrived in King's Landing she had felt like a feather on the wind. She had been pushed around and controlled. But now within sight of Stannis's attacking fleet she felt back in control, like a falcon coasting on and using the wind to propel her in whatever direction she wanted to go in.

Her internal musings were interrupted when one of her Lannister guards tugged at her shoulder.

"M'lady we need to escort you to Maegor's Holdfast."

Kenna silently nodded in agreement. All highborn woman would congregate at Maegor's Holdfast till the men had battered each other into submission. Kenna couldn't think of anything worse than being trapped in a room full of crying drunk noble woman. She hated most of them enough when they were sober.

Author' Notes:

Badass Robb mode activated :P

What did you think of Kenna and Cersei's little chat and the Vary's letter?

Tada Osha is alive! Which means Locke is a pile of frozen meat scraps right now – YAY!

Take a bow if you guessed or had an inkling that Stannis was heading for King's Landing I have kept that story plot very low key as I wanted a stunning entrance where everyone was caught off-guard :)

Reviews:

Dez Guardius – I am basing this story on the TV show and I haven't factored into the book Tysha Tyrion info so in this story Tysha was a whore and it was all a set up by Jamie to be kind to Tyrion but Tyrion still harbors resentful feelings on how it all went down (sorry to be vague don't want to give too much away).

Raw666 – Varys was smart and left King's Landing just before Oberyn tried to murder Tywin so he is in the wind for now.

NCVII – That is the best first sentence of a review I have ever read LOL. Robb and Jon together is a strong combo and I always thought they would be able to achieve a lot if thrown together as Robb is the tactician and strong leader that the North deserves and Jon keeps everyone around him honest and if Jon is the Prince that was Promised he has the Lord of Light watching over him. I agree with your characterization of Robb and I like the history lesson that was chucked in too :)

Haha I tried to make the Oberyn, Tywin, and Tyrion scene play as one long WTF/OMG moment as there were a few big twists that came in short succession but I just wanted readers to be a bit shook while reading it :P Regarding Tysha please read my response to Dez Guardius. I didn't know the book version of events when I started planning this story so I am afraid I won't be referencing those events in this story.

It is not bad that you root for Tyrion above Kenna. Although Kenna is my OC she isn't the only character in the story and she isn't perfect so I don't mind if people don't like some of her actions here or there and feel more attached to my versions of other characters because the story isn't just about one character. It is about how all the characters react to a new version of their universe that has changed based on Kenna's actions and introduction to the story.

I like my eunuchs smart and sneaky ;P Varys is no longer in King's Landing and he is probably going to end up where you think but I couldn't possible confirm or deny the whereabouts of a fugitive Master of Whispers ;P

"sucking his thumb whilst Davos sits there jealous" made me laugh so much XD Stannis the Mannis is back baby! And he is here to take over! He already has hired the Golden Company (Chapter 29) with the money Kenna stole from Casterly Rock and has Kenna's 3,000 men, a few dozen Arryn ships and Lord Grafton to help take capture King's Landing.

Ah yes the Spanish .. I mean Dornish :P Doran will enter the picture next chapter and Tywin will have to endure a lot of sass. It looks like your review cut off but I think I know where you were heading with it LOL

White Walker (Commented on Chapter 38 39) – Really top 3?! Awesome :D There are some characters which I would have loved to write about earlier on in the story (i.e Danny, Jon) or gone into greater detail with (i.e Stannis, Tyrells, Arya Hound) but I have been trying to keep the story quite streamlined and get the pacing right for the overall story. The Night King is ARC III territory which I have mostly bullet pointed now and my idea on how the Long Night will playout is different from the show for sure XD Can't wait to write that part of the story to be honest. Yup Ygritte is alive and will keep Jon sensible … for as long as she remains alive ….. :P

I really am trying to make Friday my posting day but things keep getting in the way and I end up posting on different days. Yeah you did and I couldn't resist making a sly comment (I think) in my reply to you. But no one died in the encounter I wrote. Arya gets busy soon ;) Yeah, I know I was like is it too cheesy to mention the coincidence then I remembered I like cheesy humour XD

Janae.K – Aw thanks for saying that :) I thought if I am adding an OC and making House Arryn actually get involved quite a lot of stuff should change because of those two things. I wonder that too ….. Tywin and Oberyn make an appearance next chapter :) Wait no more for Stannis the Mannis for he has (finally) arrived. Oh boy am I going to enjoying writing out that scene (Jamie Cersei finding out about Kenna/Tywin) ;P Ramsey sure is screwing things up in the North :( Greatjon was a character that really grew on me. I had planned to kill him during the Red Weddings (Chapter 12). Tormund got returned to the dirt because he killed Greatjon and because Mance is still kicking around so he didn't serve my plot in a significant way. I had to google what HBIC meant (head bitch in charge?) but I totally love Tyrion in positions of power too! Thanks girl! Appreciate the love in the review :)

NightlyRowenTree – Thanks! Hope you had a good New Year too :)

PinkFlower2 – Aww thank you so much! That is so kind of you to say! I endeavour to keep the quality as high as I can :)

RIPs

Lord Smalljon Umber (Killed by Robb with multiple sword strikes to the body so that he bled out on the cold snow)

It felt right that in the same chapter in which I confirm Locke's death that another character would have his hand cut off LOL. His death was deserved because he had the coolest father ever and he was a douche of a son! He betrayed Robb by siding with Ramsey due to his hatred of the Wildlings and he choose wrong! Let's hope the adorable Ned Umber will rule Last Hearth better (I am telling you now Ned Umber doesn't end up pinned to a wall, screaming while flames engulf him).

Locke (Killed by Osha with a knife through the eyeball as he tried to rape her)

I know it is Game of Thrones and all but Osha is a wildling so she can handle herself and I am going with the scenario that Locke was thinking with his cock and not his head so Osha had an opening and well …. Locke lost both eyes and his life.

Next up: Stannis gets a second chance to fight for what is rightfully his, Sansa's hands get dirty, the Northern Civil War rages on, Doran and Tywin cross words.

If you are enjoying this story please review and subscribe!

See you guys next chapter